Blondie
~*~*~*~<br><font color=blue>This TF always enjoys
- Joined
- Aug 18, 1999
We just got back yesterday from our trip to the World, and our stay at the Dolphin. We checked in Sunday 8/17/03 and returned Friday 8/22/03
Here's a few highs and lows.
Highs
- We flew Delta Connections and did self check in at both the Richmond airport and Orlando. What a great concept! We had chosen our seating on the internet before we left, so that was already done. You simply insert a credit card so that they can find your reservation in the system, then you get a screen indicating how many people are on your reservation, how many bags you will be checking and that's basically it! You hit confirm, and it prints out your boarding passes! Beats waiting in a long line of people any old time! There is someone there to take your luggage and then you proceed to security! Simple, easy and quick!
- We had a lovely renovated room on the second floor at the Dolphin facing the Grotto Pool, white sandy beach area and part of Crescent Lake! Really made it feel like a tropical Florida vacation looking over at the waterfall and swaying palm trees!
Here's what we saw everyday outside of our room:
The room was clean, attractive...and oh those Heavenly beds! I've never slept in anything so comfortable before!
Everything was new, the carpeting, new slate foyer, bedding, drapery, night stand, alarm clock, lamps, etc. Very, very nice! From our balcony we could also see the Tower of Terror!
- Got a free upgrade to a PT Cruiser through Dollar Rental. What a cute vehicle!
- The nice CM in Norway who gave us an umbrella escort to Maelstrom in the pouring down rain.
- I got to see some DISers while there, SideShowBob, Nativetxn (Katholyn), Pandy Paws, and MaryAnnDVC! It was great meeting them.
- We met several very nice people this trip, just by starting small chit-chat.
- The frozen Margaritas in Mexico! Great on a hot summer day!
- The frozen slushies in MGM in the Pina Colada flavor! I could've had several a day, but at $3.50, a tad pricey for a small slurpee like beverage!
- People who offer to take your picture so that the whole family can get in the photo!
- Tarzan at the Tarzan Rocks show at the Animal Kingdom! When he finally made his appearance, you never saw so many camera flashes going off! Centerfold material ladies.....yes indeed!
- The friendly British family who gave us their Fast Passes for Test Track because they were leaving and didn't want them to go to waste! Thank you!
- Being able to take our photo at Innoventions West and e-mail it back home:
Lows
- The rain rain rain came down down down! Not your normal run-of-the-mill afternoon Florida thunderstorms either. About 2pm you could see the dark clouds off in the distance. That was your warning to head for the hills or prepare for the worst! Monday the 18th, we were stranded in Norway right outside of the bakery Kringla which has a covered dining area. We were stuck there with about 30 other people! We waited and waited for it to stop, but just as it looked like it was going to let up, it got worse! After an hour of loud thunder and lots of scary looking lightening, we bit the bullet and invested in ponchos in The Puffin's Roost. Then we hoofed it back to the water taxi dock and returned to the Dolphin. I later found out that there was a funnel cloud spotted in Orlando that same night, and I don't doubt it! That was one nasty storm!
- The heat....and the humidity...and the heat! I don't think I can handle anymore trips in the summer months. I don't know how people do this year after year. I think this will be our last summertime trip! I'd rather risk it and have it be a little cool by going in January or February or the fall than be hot like that again!
- People who stand in line, and leave about 30 feet between them and the next person in line because they are waiting for someone to join them and they don't want to lose their place. Move up and close the gap or get out of line.
- Not being able to ride Mission: Space. Not because it wasn't running, it was. I saw the spinning action of the seats, and said no thanks! I have a problem with occasional vertigo, and I didn't want to risk being dizzy and nauseated the rest of the trip, even though I brought my Antivert Rx.
- Witnessing a father wig out on his two young sons at Epcot. The kids looked horrified and the father looked like he was about to lose it. I know kids can be trying, especially when it's hot like it was, but his reaction was uncalled for. I thought we were going to have to flag down a CM and have them call security. Yes it was that bad.
- Picking up our Weimaraner from the kennel, and having him become sick as a dog, literally. Poor thing was up all night vomitting and having the runs. I spent the night on the couch so I could let him in and out all night long, poor baby. Time to find another kennel to board him at.
*edited to add things as I thought of them, to add our Epcot postcards and a photo of the view from our balcony!*
Here's a few highs and lows.
Highs
- We flew Delta Connections and did self check in at both the Richmond airport and Orlando. What a great concept! We had chosen our seating on the internet before we left, so that was already done. You simply insert a credit card so that they can find your reservation in the system, then you get a screen indicating how many people are on your reservation, how many bags you will be checking and that's basically it! You hit confirm, and it prints out your boarding passes! Beats waiting in a long line of people any old time! There is someone there to take your luggage and then you proceed to security! Simple, easy and quick!
- We had a lovely renovated room on the second floor at the Dolphin facing the Grotto Pool, white sandy beach area and part of Crescent Lake! Really made it feel like a tropical Florida vacation looking over at the waterfall and swaying palm trees!
Here's what we saw everyday outside of our room:
The room was clean, attractive...and oh those Heavenly beds! I've never slept in anything so comfortable before!
Everything was new, the carpeting, new slate foyer, bedding, drapery, night stand, alarm clock, lamps, etc. Very, very nice! From our balcony we could also see the Tower of Terror!
- Got a free upgrade to a PT Cruiser through Dollar Rental. What a cute vehicle!
- The nice CM in Norway who gave us an umbrella escort to Maelstrom in the pouring down rain.
- I got to see some DISers while there, SideShowBob, Nativetxn (Katholyn), Pandy Paws, and MaryAnnDVC! It was great meeting them.
- We met several very nice people this trip, just by starting small chit-chat.
- The frozen Margaritas in Mexico! Great on a hot summer day!
- The frozen slushies in MGM in the Pina Colada flavor! I could've had several a day, but at $3.50, a tad pricey for a small slurpee like beverage!
- People who offer to take your picture so that the whole family can get in the photo!
- Tarzan at the Tarzan Rocks show at the Animal Kingdom! When he finally made his appearance, you never saw so many camera flashes going off! Centerfold material ladies.....yes indeed!
- The friendly British family who gave us their Fast Passes for Test Track because they were leaving and didn't want them to go to waste! Thank you!
- Being able to take our photo at Innoventions West and e-mail it back home:
Lows
- The rain rain rain came down down down! Not your normal run-of-the-mill afternoon Florida thunderstorms either. About 2pm you could see the dark clouds off in the distance. That was your warning to head for the hills or prepare for the worst! Monday the 18th, we were stranded in Norway right outside of the bakery Kringla which has a covered dining area. We were stuck there with about 30 other people! We waited and waited for it to stop, but just as it looked like it was going to let up, it got worse! After an hour of loud thunder and lots of scary looking lightening, we bit the bullet and invested in ponchos in The Puffin's Roost. Then we hoofed it back to the water taxi dock and returned to the Dolphin. I later found out that there was a funnel cloud spotted in Orlando that same night, and I don't doubt it! That was one nasty storm!
- The heat....and the humidity...and the heat! I don't think I can handle anymore trips in the summer months. I don't know how people do this year after year. I think this will be our last summertime trip! I'd rather risk it and have it be a little cool by going in January or February or the fall than be hot like that again!
- People who stand in line, and leave about 30 feet between them and the next person in line because they are waiting for someone to join them and they don't want to lose their place. Move up and close the gap or get out of line.
- Not being able to ride Mission: Space. Not because it wasn't running, it was. I saw the spinning action of the seats, and said no thanks! I have a problem with occasional vertigo, and I didn't want to risk being dizzy and nauseated the rest of the trip, even though I brought my Antivert Rx.
- Witnessing a father wig out on his two young sons at Epcot. The kids looked horrified and the father looked like he was about to lose it. I know kids can be trying, especially when it's hot like it was, but his reaction was uncalled for. I thought we were going to have to flag down a CM and have them call security. Yes it was that bad.
- Picking up our Weimaraner from the kennel, and having him become sick as a dog, literally. Poor thing was up all night vomitting and having the runs. I spent the night on the couch so I could let him in and out all night long, poor baby. Time to find another kennel to board him at.
*edited to add things as I thought of them, to add our Epcot postcards and a photo of the view from our balcony!*
I cannot stand the Humidity in Orlando, I get VERY uncomfortable!
