Thank you! I'm glad you appreciated the Disney touch! I was going to go with the original version of that song, but I had to do the Disney Rascal Flatts version!
I am SO GLAD to hear that a male is not falling into believing that stereotype. Good for you! There's a lot of bad female drivers out there, but there's also a lot of bad male drivers! How is learning to drive going for you? I remember being awful when I first started. I ran into my driving instructor's mailbox!
Thanks! I'm glad you like the rating system! Don't worry, there will be LOTS of Remys!
Hahaha your whole paragraph about the energy drink had me cracking up. Including a Disney song reference? Bonus points! Poor John, he is so patient with me and my antics. Bless him!
We were so happy to be there, even if we weren't staying a Disney hotel just yet. John was thrilled with that billboard, because that's his favorite ride!
Ahh yay your hotel had Stacey!!! Brilliance. Love the 2012 backpack! I kinda want one even though I have my Vera...
Love the ToT joke. Good one, John!
The hotel looks nice. And if it had Stacey, then it must've been good!
Yay! for making it into Disney!
Stacey at your hotel? How awesome is that?!?
I love the fact that you spent literally no time at all at the Springhill Suites, drop the bags off and head straight to Disney-that's my girl! Lol
Woo hoo, you've arrived! (well sort of). Not so bad for a non-Disney hotel, except the elevator. I have some major claustrophobia issues and would NOT have been able to get back on that thing, in fact, I probably would have just done the steps in the first place and wished DH luck as he went up the elevator with our bags
Can't wait to hear about your evening at MK
The look on your face in the Stacey picture symbolizes pure joy. I love it.
I have that same backpack... only the '06 version. I literally can't go to Disney without it!! It's the perfect park bag!
Yay for Stacey and yay for being so close to the gates of Disney wor- ahem I mean the gates of heaven
I can't believe you had Stacey at the non-Disney hotel! That's awesome!
Non-Disney hotels aren't as good as Disney ones, but to save a bit of money or to make a trip possible that would be otherwise impossible- They are totally worth it!
Gah, I LOVE Stacey! My whole family loves that girl, in fact. Granted, I loved the old song better (I quoted your "hot sauce feeling" interpretation in my last TR!), but when I want to complain about that I'm reminded of a sign that used to hang in my aunt's bathroom that said, "qwitcherbellyachin."
We stopped off for one night and a continental breakfast last trip and encountered that same traffic, but early in the morning. Love that you're punny about it!
Stacey at a non-Disney hotel?? Marvelous!
Cute backpack! I have a similar Cinderella one that accompanies me on every trip.
Yay! The gates! I can't wait to find out where you go/what you eat!
Is that the springhill suites in the marriot village? We're going there in august and I am a Marriott traveler; everywhere we go we always stay at a Marriott chain hotel but never in Orlando before. We haven't been off site until now. Please tell me traffic is not always that bad there since they are right where downtown disney is located!!!!
I am subbing to your TR and I love it so far, love your rating system and yoiur wonderful sense of humor! I can't wait for more!
YAY!!! You had stacey at your hotel!!! That is not the same without stacey!!!
Loving the back pack, I need to get myself one!!
So excited to read more soon!!! Can't wait to see what you got up to in the parks!!! And what park was your first choice!!!
That actually seems like a good hotel (for non-disney at least) We almost stayed there, but I convinced hubby the price difference was not that much to stay on-site and the benefits were better
Cannot wait to hear what comes next!!!
I'm cracking up at "Important information about the continental breakfast" I mean... how much information can there be? You walk downstairs, the food is out...that's pretty much it...
Do I remember?! I watch that movie every year on or right before Halloween. One of the spookiest movies EVER. And oh Jack Nicholson, you flawless actor you.
Aww, love the pic of you guys in the mirror. What a cute couple.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH STACEY!!!! OH THANK THE DISNEY GODS THAT SHE WAS IN YOUR ROOM!!!! The pic of you posing in front of her on the TV should be your default EVERYTHING photo for LIFE. In fact you should probably blow it up to poster size and hang it in your classroom.
hahaha, Babe! I used to love that movie when I was a kid!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!!! YOU'RE THERE!!! I can't wait to read more!
Firstly, love the title! Princess and the Frog, my all-time FAVORITE Disney movie and I love that song, should've been won that Academy Award not the crappy country song from Crazy Heart Anyways...
Wow, you have one cool off-property hotel. That may be the nicest non-Disney hotel worker I've heard of yet, but, in reply to your Shining reference with some variation, "All work and no play makes Joni a dull girl." (Awesome movie! Jack Nicholson is the man!) Until you turn on the TV and then STACEY! Wow, I can't believe they had Stacey at the hotel, so cool! I never even knew there were good neighbor hotels like that in WDW, only thought they were in DLR. Well, learn something new everyday! LOL @ John's reaction to the elevator, this hotel is truly Shining-esque.
Sorry to hear you hit traffic on your way out though, GPSs really are awful when picking a route since they always go for the popular one. But you made it! Gotta love those gates, always prepare the way for an awesome trip!
Can't wait to read more!
I just found this TR today and as a result, went back and read through your first TR from 2010! I really enjoyed it and I look forward to your newest adventure at WDW! In between updates, I'll read your other TR. Until I can get back and visit, I'll live vicariously through your posts!!
Joining in Great start to your trip! You are a lovely couple!
That DH is a sneaky one. He manages to get "the pic" with your complete cooperation! What a guy!!
Love the trip report. With no trip on the immediate horizon, it is always good to live vicariously through others
We stayed at the Spring Hill Suites a year ago on a quick trip down. It was really nice for a non-Disney hotel, but the traffic was brutal every night!!!
My dad is the same way about wanting to drive the entire time. Only recently has he started letting my mom do some of the driving because he's old and his knees get tired. Oh, men and their pride...
I'm sorry about the traffic. I hate it too. Sitting in traffic gives me anxiety. There's nothing worse. OK, there are worse things (ie: death, illness, birds) but traffic is just awful.
QUEEN STACEY! Is it just me or do non-Disney hotels become a lot less gross and uninviting when you discover that Stacey's there waiting to divulge all the must-do's?
YAY DISNEY WORLD!!
Excellent update -- looking forward to the next installment!
We leave for our 10 day trip tomorrow!
Joining in.
This TR has been a great read so far. Thanks!
I totally forget who sang and wrote the original now that I've heard the Rascal Flatts version. I always have to remind myself they only sang it for Cars every time. Probably the original version isn't that great
Exactly! Masochism is a lost culture, all I'm saying.
Driving? Ummm... I'm a nervous wreck and drive fairly slow (I blame my nervous wreck backseat driver mother for that). So far I've only gone on the road once, but I seem to be doing a good job everyone says. I'm going to Driver's Ed and I'm absolutely terrified. It'll be interesting to see how that goes.
WOOT! I like Remys!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Usually people think of my paragraphs as going on and on and on and on... you get my point! And of course I would add a Disney reference. What is a comment without a Disney reference?
That's all that matters, right? And your husband has good taste in rides. Expedition Everest <3
Hey! Joining in a little bit late, I tend to lurk a lot of the time! But I love your TR so far, it's awesome. Love the song lyrics for each chapter
I'm so impressed Stacey was on your TV I wish it was on mine, my family insist on staying offsite so I'm yet to see her
Love your backpack too, so cute!
It's so weird watching you both driving down to Florida, we always fly, well we have to, so seeing all the state signs is so cool! I'm glad it didn't take too long either, but I'm just the same as you, I get beyond frustrated at traffic! Drives me insane!
Can't wait to read more
Great update! Loved the TOT elevator joke! Your hubby sounds like a he was def in the Disney spirit!
I couldn't help but notice your mani/pedi...is that shade Revlon Coastal Surf?
Hey Joni!!!
I'm loving your trip report... Thank you for writing it and making it so much fun to read... All day long I'm checking my email to see if you have posted a new update...
I have a question, Beach club is my favorite resort... and I've stayed there 3 times... I've also stayed at Wilderness Lodge, all of them are Deluxes...
So, We have decided to go to Disney for my 50th Birthday... But we're going on a budget... and are thinking about staying at Port Orleans - French Quarters... You've now stayed at both. So, my questions are... What do you think??? Will I like it??? Will I be disappointed because I can't walk down the halls to the lobby or walk to Epcot and DHS??? It will be Jan... I'm afraid I will be so cold... Should I try to come up with the extra money and splurge for Beach Club or will I love French Quarters???
TexasBelle
Carolyn