Birthdays, surprises, Magic & Merriment *3/25 New PTR Link We leave in 47 days*

[mrsksomeday]

Tracy, you could never bore us Darlin! We LOVE you!!!!!

Awww, thanks!

 

[mrsksomeday]

Stayne - Knave of Hearts: You're all mad.
The March Hare: Thanks very much.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our trip dates were November 30th – December 13th, or so everyone on the DISboards thought. We added Nov. 29th so we wouldn’t arrive the day we were going to a MVMCP.

As always, I was apprehensive about the airport, but this time it was worse. All the talk about the pat downs and the x-ray machines, I didn’t want there to be any delays, I wanted to get through it asap. I had a ton of stuff that I had to put in the bins including the air pump for his cushion, wheelchair charger, and the tire pump. I could see how this could get some looks when it went through the machine:

We loaded down his chair:

Got the bags ready to load in the van:

and took off to St. Louis to spend the night. We do a park and fly at a hotel right across from the airport, it helps me be less stressed out. We laugh like crazy on the ride to the airport because we swear the driver is a former Nascar racer.

The curbside checking area was a mess, people and bags everywhere. This was on a Monday at 5:25am, I wasn’t too concerned yet until we walked in the doors to go to the Southwest check in area. We don’t do early check in online because they have to check his wheelchair, fill out paperwork on it etc. We got in the line and a skycap from the curbside came in and said “you are not waiting in that line”. He said give me your info and I will take care of it. He took the confirmation, the I.D’s and went to a computer outside letting us stay in.

I took this picture at 5:31am, this was the line to go through security:

Our flight didn’t leave until 7:50am but I was worried we would be cutting it close because the line grew and grew. He came back, handed us our boarding passes and said “follow me, you aren’t waiting in that line”, we looked at one another and followed. He took us to the “crew line” and they let us right through, we thanked him verbally and monetarily and were through security within 20 minutes, 10 of that was the pat down Bill got, they checked all parts of the chair, chemical swabbed 5 different places on it and really felt him up, sadly it was a guy that did it. All I had to do was walk through the metal detector and after I did I wished the guy a good day and thanked him for trying to keep us safe, he said no one ever thanks them and said he wished there was more people like me. I wanted to start our trip out spreading pixie dust!

When we got to our gate we went up to the desk and got the wheelchair paperwork together, got the pre-board envelope and sat down. We are always pre-boarded so I can lift Bill, get him settled, take parts off the wheelchair, and they can take it down to the belly of the plane. St. Louis really does know what they are doing with the wheelchair and that makes me feel at ease. One of the flight attendants was really handsome and so was the co-pilot, woo hoo eye candy on the way to our happy place.


We landed and made our way to the mini monorail. I spotted a very frustrated family. Mom, Dad, 5 year old girl, and about a year old girl. The parents were quietly arguing and looking lost. Then I spotted it, the Disney Magical Express booklet. Awww, they had to be first timers or first time using the DME. I asked Bill what I should do, I didn’t want to intrude but they looked like they were going to strangle each other. Then I saw them walk toward the monorail and I thought I would stay out of it. Oh no, they started to walk away again. I finally walked up with my booklet and said “excuse me, are you looking for a way to get to the Disney Magical Express”? They both visibly relaxed and said yes but they didn’t know how to get there. I said “follow us, we are veterans”. They thanked us about twenty times and we were on our way. I explained where to go, to just get to the lower level and walk well FOREVER. I told them it was WDW getting us used to walking and lines. They hung back from us but the husband never let us out of his sight and when we got in line to go to the check in he thanked us again as he went with his family to go to the bus lines. We have to go to the counter because of the wheelchair and needing an accessible bus.

We got a great Cast Member and she escorted us to the benches to wait, I snapped this picture:

We waited about 20 minutes then the bus arrived. I will NEVER, ever get used to seeing Bill up that high hanging off the bus:

I got in the front seat for two reasons, my butt is huge and I don’t like scooting past everyone by sitting in the back and I wanted to try to get a picture of this:

Soon enough we saw this:

I got off the bus and watched all the people stream into the lobby as I waited for Bill.

The code I had used was for a standard room and I hoped we weren’t too far away from everything.

Next installment… Where did we end up? Also, meeting Toni and Terry, will they like us, heck will we like them??

Meeting TnT (was it dynamite?)

 

[oregonmommyof2]

Great update!! But honestly, I can't wait for the next one, when you finally meet these Terry and Toni people... They sound awesome from your descriptions...


Glad you got pixie dust at the airport and also gave it in Orlando!! You are so nice to everyone!! And very helpful!!

I don't know how you aren't under Bill when they lift him, yelling, "Hang on Bill!!!"

 

[princessjv]

My interent had a toot in the middle of my last post. Appologies if I am redundant.

Bill was up high! Did he like the ride? Too bad the pat down wasn't... better. Man they checked him over! I guess that's a good thing. Great mojo for moving through the airport.

I'm bummed we missed each other by that much.
{which is better than that much, but still too much}

 

[RunningGirl]

Good karma. You're nice to people, other people are nice back. Glad you got to skip that huge line! And if I were Bill I'd be having a panic attack being loaded onto the bus like that - more scary than TOT for me!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

What a wonderful airport employee! A little bit of pre-WDW pixie dust. Hopefully it was a sign of things to come.

 

[mickeyfan71]

Love that the pixie dust started before you made it to WDW! Sometimes I wish I lived far enough away from WDW to fly but I think I'll take driving over going thru security at the airport!

 

[disneyeeyorefan]

Yeah for another update as I sit here on another SNOW DAY

 

[WDWFigment]

Can't wait to read your thoughts regarding Magic & Merriment. We were there, too!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I would be FREAKING out!! Holy smokes, that is high. Does it make Bill nervous??

How incredibly sweet of the man in the airport to bring you two through the crew line! And I love how you spread the pixie dust to him and that family in the airport. What an excellent way to start the trip!

I can't wait to read all about this-surprises are always fun and it sounds like there were more than what we expect from the PTR!!

 

[piglet50]

i am glad to see this trip report. i've read all of your others and have really enjoyed them. i don't comment much but wanted to thank you for sharing.
it.

 

[mom2mek]

You are a brave woman - traveling the day after Thanksgiving weekend!! I hear SW is the way to go when flying into or out of St Louis (brother lives there). They have that whole terminal all to themselves, right? It sounds like you got some great service there with the skycap!! I'm sure that family in MCO was relieved to have some help - it's not difficult to find but I can see how someone who has never been there and doesn't do a lot of research could get mixed up. Thank goodness for you guys!! I'm sure you helped start their vacation out on the right foot!

Sara

 

[ddstratton]

Our trip dates were November 30th – December 13th, or so everyone on the DISboards thought. We added Nov. 29th so we wouldn’t arrive the day we were going to a MVMCP.

Good idea!!

As always, I was apprehensive about the airport, but this time it was worse. All the talk about the pat downs and the x-ray machines, I didn’t want there to be any delays, I wanted to get through it asap. I had a ton of stuff that I had to put in the bins including the air pump for his cushion, wheelchair charger, and the tire pump. I could see how this could get some looks when it went through the machine:

Yeah, I could see getting some looks at security....

The curbside checking area was a mess, people and bags everywhere. This was on a Monday at 5:25am, I wasn’t too concerned yet until we walked in the doors to go to the Southwest check in area. We don’t do early check in online because they have to check his wheelchair, fill out paperwork on it etc. We got in the line and a skycap from the curbside came in and said “you are not waiting in that line”. He said give me your info and I will take care of it. He took the confirmation, the I.D’s and went to a computer outside letting us stay in.

I took this picture at 5:31am, this was the line to go through security:

Yikes!!! Scary crowd. How nice of the skycap!!!

Our flight didn’t leave until 7:50am but I was worried we would be cutting it close because the line grew and grew. He came back, handed us our boarding passes and said “follow me, you aren’t waiting in that line”, we looked at one another and followed. He took us to the “crew line” and they let us right through, we thanked him verbally and monetarily and were through security within 20 minutes, 10 of that was the pat down Bill got, they checked all parts of the chair, chemical swabbed 5 different places on it and really felt him up, sadly it was a guy that did it. All I had to do was walk through the metal detector and after I did I wished the guy a good day and thanked him for trying to keep us safe, he said no one ever thanks them and said he wished there was more people like me. I wanted to start our trip out spreading pixie dust!

Again - how nice of this skycap! I've heard some interesting stories about these new pat-downs... I think it's great that you started spreading your own pixie-dust by thanking the security guy!

We landed and made our way to the mini monorail. I spotted a very frustrated family. Mom, Dad, 5 year old girl, and about a year old girl. The parents were quietly arguing and looking lost. Then I spotted it, the Disney Magical Express booklet. Awww, they had to be first timers or first time using the DME. I asked Bill what I should do, I didn’t want to intrude but they looked like they were going to strangle each other. Then I saw them walk toward the monorail and I thought I would stay out of it. Oh no, they started to walk away again. I finally walked up with my booklet and said “excuse me, are you looking for a way to get to the Disney Magical Express”? They both visibly relaxed and said yes but they didn’t know how to get there. I said “follow us, we are veterans”. They thanked us about twenty times and we were on our way. I explained where to go, to just get to the lower level and walk well FOREVER. I told them it was WDW getting us used to walking and lines. They hung back from us but the husband never let us out of his sight and when we got in line to go to the check in he thanked us again as he went with his family to go to the bus lines. We have to go to the counter because of the wheelchair and needing an accessible bus.

More pixie-dust spreading!! I'm sure that your help put a different spin on their vacation. You got them pointed in the right direction, instead of them being frustrated and lost.

We waited about 20 minutes then the bus arrived. I will NEVER, ever get used to seeing Bill up that high hanging off the bus:

Yikes! Scary-high.

Next installment… Where did we end up? Also, meeting Toni and Terry, will they like us, heck will we like them??

Ohhhh.... Looking forward to the next installment!

 

[Native NYer]

You're reports are great! Joining in early for this one

Now, going back to read

 

[pooh'smate]

Great update. It was so nice of the skycap to get you in without going through that line.

Bill sure was up there pretty high. I can't wait only 11 days until my first ride on ME.

Looking forward to the next update.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Great update!! But honestly, I can't wait for the next one, when you finally meet these Terry and Toni people... They sound awesome from your descriptions...


Glad you got pixie dust at the airport and also gave it in Orlando!! You are so nice to everyone!! And very helpful!!

I don't know how you aren't under Bill when they lift him, yelling, "Hang on Bill!!!"

Ahhh TnT are alright . I can't stand to look when they lift him up like that.

My interent had a toot in the middle of my last post. Appologies if I am redundant.

Bill was up high! Did he like the ride? Too bad the pat down wasn't... better. Man they checked him over! I guess that's a good thing. Great mojo for moving through the airport.

I'm bummed we missed each other by that much.
{which is better than that much, but still too much}

They have felt Bill up like that for years. I think it is that devilish smile he has.

Good karma. You're nice to people, other people are nice back. Glad you got to skip that huge line! And if I were Bill I'd be having a panic attack being loaded onto the bus like that - more scary than TOT for me!

We were very fortunate to not have to be in that line, I felt really about about it though and kept saying sorry to people.

What a wonderful airport employee! A little bit of pre-WDW pixie dust. Hopefully it was a sign of things to come.

That guy at the airport was an angel. He really put me at ease, I was almost in panic mode.

Love that the pixie dust started before you made it to WDW! Sometimes I wish I lived far enough away from WDW to fly but I think I'll take driving over going thru security at the airport!

The security at St. Louis isn't that bad at all. Orlando can be crazy sometimes but we are used to it.

Yeah for another update as I sit here on another SNOW DAY

Oh no, not another snow day, this is awful for you!

Can't wait to read your thoughts regarding Magic & Merriment. We were there, too!

Hello fellow D23er. I am going to be brutally honest about what I thought about Magic & Merriment.

I would be FREAKING out!! Holy smokes, that is high. Does it make Bill nervous??

How incredibly sweet of the man in the airport to bring you two through the crew line! And I love how you spread the pixie dust to him and that family in the airport. What an excellent way to start the trip!

I can't wait to read all about this-surprises are always fun and it sounds like there were more than what we expect from the PTR!!

He said it makes him a little nervous, he is always concerned about how well trained th bus drivers are with the lift. There were many surprises, more than I ever knew.

i am glad to see this trip report. i've read all of your others and have really enjoyed them. i don't comment much but wanted to thank you for sharing.
it.

Thank you so much for joining us!!

You are a brave woman - traveling the day after Thanksgiving weekend!! I hear SW is the way to go when flying into or out of St Louis (brother lives there). They have that whole terminal all to themselves, right? It sounds like you got some great service there with the skycap!! I'm sure that family in MCO was relieved to have some help - it's not difficult to find but I can see how someone who has never been there and doesn't do a lot of research could get mixed up. Thank goodness for you guys!! I'm sure you helped start their vacation out on the right foot!

Sara

I knew it was nuts to travel that day, but we wanted to add that day so we went for it. We really do like the employees at SW, they really take care of us and Bill's wheelchair. I hope I helped that family enough, they were frazzled .

More pixie-dust spreading!! I'm sure that your help put a different spin on their vacation. You got them pointed in the right direction, instead of them being frustrated and lost.

Yikes! Scary-high.

Ohhhh.... Looking forward to the next installment!

I hope they had a great trip, although, makes me wonder how much planning went into the trip if they were freaking about how to get to ME .

You're reports are great! Joining in early for this one

Now, going back to read

Thank you so much for joining us~

Great update. It was so nice of the skycap to get you in without going through that line.

Bill sure was up there pretty high. I can't wait only 11 days until my first ride on ME.

Looking forward to the next update.

That line was almost twice that size by the time he got done with our paperwork, it was crazy.

Congrats on your trip, I hope you have a magical time. It is such a fantastic place to be.

 

[eandesmom]

for airport pixie dust! I'd never been through an airport with someone in a wheelchair until my Germany trip 2 weeks ago. My mom had one, on doctors orders, as she recovered from her hip surgery. The airport, and airlines, were outstanding about whisking us through and like you, the lines were unreal, I can't imagine how much longer it would have taken without the wheelchair express. I am SO happy they took good care of you and for passing on pixie dust to lost first timers. I have no doubt that you are pixie dusted at some point in the future as a result!

GREAT start Tracy and Bill!

He does look SOOOOO high up there...that would freak me out.

 

[mrsksomeday]

for airport pixie dust! I'd never been through an airport with someone in a wheelchair until my Germany trip 2 weeks ago. My mom had one, on doctors orders, as she recovered from her hip surgery. The airport, and airlines, were outstanding about whisking us through and like you, the lines were unreal, I can't imagine how much longer it would have taken without the wheelchair express. I am SO happy they took good care of you and for passing on pixie dust to lost first timers. I have no doubt that you are pixie dusted at some point in the future as a result!

GREAT start Tracy and Bill!

He does look SOOOOO high up there...that would freak me out.

It really does show a different perspective when you travel with someone in a wheelchair, doesn't it? Some things are faster, most of the time things are a lot slower though.

I like helping people that have that "I don't know what the heck we are doing look". I remember having it and being frustrated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ok it seems that when I said "TnT are alright" I might have upset someone so I will say how I really feel about them. They are ......

Fantastic

Fabulous

Amazing

Marvelous

Spectacular

and....

Wonderful!!

 

[oregonmommyof2]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/FONT]

Ok it seems that when I said "TnT are alright" I might have upset someone so I will say how I really feel about them. They are ......

Fantastic

Fabulous

Amazing

Marvelous

Spectacular

and....

Wonderful!!

That sounds way better then "alright"

I know you love me... And the feeling is mutual...

 

[eandesmom]

It really does show a different perspective when you travel with someone in a wheelchair, doesn't it? Some things are faster, most of the time things are a lot slower though.

It really really did. All of the above! Honestly I was worried about them making it through their connection and then the rest without me as my Dad had to schlepp everything. Actually I schlepped it all for the first leg but after that they were on their own.

While it's different equipment, she had her share with the sleep machine, her major camera gear, 2 metal hips, etc. SO much stuff! Ok, the hips weren't part of the stuff but still....it impacted her going through security. I am seriously for all that you do. Which is easily 10x more than what I was part of.

I like helping people that have that "I don't know what the heck we are doing look". I remember having it and being frustrated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ok it seems that when I said "TnT are alright" I might have upset someone so I will say how I really feel about them. They are ......

Fantastic

Fabulous

Amazing

Marvelous

Spectacular

and....

Wonderful!!

aww...we KNOW you love them. I didn't remotely take it that way. Allright is like....the BOMB!