Travel Mum
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 26, 2010
Who are we: Myself, DH, DD13, DD10 and DD6
Dates: 29 September 26 October 2011
Includes: 9 nights WDW onsite at POR, 7 nights offsite at Staybridges Suites IDrive, 1 night onsite at Loews Royal Pacific Resort, 1 night Country Inn & Suites Port Canaveral, 7 night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbeans Freedom of the Seas and 1 night Travelodge LAX
Warning: This trip report may take a while to be completed
Thursday 29 September 2011
Well the long-awaited day was finally here and we were a very happy family when the Super Shuttle arrived to take us to the airport. We flew on Jetstar from Wellington up to Auckland and then had a 4 hour wait at Auckland Airport until our QF flight to LAX. Happily I had been given some QF Qantas Club passes to use so we were very comfortable for those hours in transit. We headed to the gate at boarding time but the flight was late to board and then late to take off. Normally that wouldnt worry me but I realised I had deliberately booked us on the minimum legal connection time of 2 hours in LAX in order to get on AAs only direct flight from LAX to MCO. So I really hoped the pilot could make up the time.
Anyway, the flight went well and I got the seats we had booked. As it departs in the afternoon, its a strange time because youre not tired and therefore the girls ended up watching movie after movie. DD6 eventually fell asleep on my lap for a little while but, despite my encouragement for them to try to sleep, my other two didnt really sleep at all on that flight. Hence, arriving into LAX at what was 3am to our body clocks was tough.
Towards the end of the flight, the pilot announced they had not made up time and we were about 45 minutes late giving us just over an hour to connect in LAX!! I stressed and asked the crew if they could move us further forward (we were in the second economy cabin) so we could at least be one of the first economy passengers to get off the plane. Well they did and I was really grateful because they got people to move over in their rows so that each of us could have a forward aisle seat very nice of them. As soon as we could, we dashed off the plane and luckily, at the gate, there were ground staff who gave us a fast pass type thing that meant we had no wait at immigration. Of course we then still had to wait for our bags to come off but, once they did, we put them on the transfer bag carousel and dashed next door to the AA terminal. We were still able to use our fast pass at the security check point there so that was great and we got to our gate in time for our flight.
That flight was uneventful but felt very long as I guess we are now used to flights of that length having in-seat entertainment and, without it, time really drags. We were exhausted though and the children tried to sleep but of course now its not so easy without pillows etc.
Eventually we got to MCO and found out way to the baggage claim. Then, like Battymum mentioned, our baggage claim was on the wrong side for the Magical Express and I am really surprised it is not signposted better. After asking for help, we had to go back upstairs, over to the other side and down again. Checking in at the Magical Express was easy and our POR bus arrived soon. Although we had to wait on the bus for quite a while before it left, I was so relieved that we had taken this option as I cannot imagine what it must be like to get a rental car and have to drive yourself while feeling that exhausted.
Here we are, waiting for our bus to arrive, looking very exhausted but happy to be here except that DD13 was not keen for a photo
Was really excited driving through the WDW gates and then pulling into POR I had been planning this trip for so long and we were FINALLY there!
I jumped off and rushed to get first in queue at the online check in desk (while DH sorted the bags) which I was. I had only paid for a standard room but had checkily asked for an upgrade to a preferred room and was stunned and thrilled that they had given us a room in building 18 which is a preferred location. After check in, I enquired about my packages (Id had quite a lot of online shopping delivered to the resort). They said they would get them delivered but I said we could carry them so the lady went out the back to get them and then she and about two others came out carrying everything. I think they were shocked there was so much but when Amazon ships your order in about 12 separate lots, that is what happens! Between the five of us, we managed to get it all to the room and then it was like Christmas opening it all. Id got my girls a stuffed toy from Disney each as well as my two youngest Disney autograph books and DD13 a pair of Mickey earring so they were all thrilled.
By this stage it was probably about 7pm so we quickly changed and headed to the food court for a quick dinner. We had free dining (fantastic and Id never stay onsite without Disney dining) and really didnt understand how to use it that first night so just stumbled through it. We ate and then went back to the room and, once our Garden Grocer order has been delivered (Id chosen between 7-9 pm as our original flight arrival was going to be later and I could not change the delivery time) we all crashed.
Dates: 29 September 26 October 2011
Includes: 9 nights WDW onsite at POR, 7 nights offsite at Staybridges Suites IDrive, 1 night onsite at Loews Royal Pacific Resort, 1 night Country Inn & Suites Port Canaveral, 7 night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbeans Freedom of the Seas and 1 night Travelodge LAX
Warning: This trip report may take a while to be completed
Thursday 29 September 2011
Well the long-awaited day was finally here and we were a very happy family when the Super Shuttle arrived to take us to the airport. We flew on Jetstar from Wellington up to Auckland and then had a 4 hour wait at Auckland Airport until our QF flight to LAX. Happily I had been given some QF Qantas Club passes to use so we were very comfortable for those hours in transit. We headed to the gate at boarding time but the flight was late to board and then late to take off. Normally that wouldnt worry me but I realised I had deliberately booked us on the minimum legal connection time of 2 hours in LAX in order to get on AAs only direct flight from LAX to MCO. So I really hoped the pilot could make up the time.
Anyway, the flight went well and I got the seats we had booked. As it departs in the afternoon, its a strange time because youre not tired and therefore the girls ended up watching movie after movie. DD6 eventually fell asleep on my lap for a little while but, despite my encouragement for them to try to sleep, my other two didnt really sleep at all on that flight. Hence, arriving into LAX at what was 3am to our body clocks was tough.
Towards the end of the flight, the pilot announced they had not made up time and we were about 45 minutes late giving us just over an hour to connect in LAX!! I stressed and asked the crew if they could move us further forward (we were in the second economy cabin) so we could at least be one of the first economy passengers to get off the plane. Well they did and I was really grateful because they got people to move over in their rows so that each of us could have a forward aisle seat very nice of them. As soon as we could, we dashed off the plane and luckily, at the gate, there were ground staff who gave us a fast pass type thing that meant we had no wait at immigration. Of course we then still had to wait for our bags to come off but, once they did, we put them on the transfer bag carousel and dashed next door to the AA terminal. We were still able to use our fast pass at the security check point there so that was great and we got to our gate in time for our flight.
That flight was uneventful but felt very long as I guess we are now used to flights of that length having in-seat entertainment and, without it, time really drags. We were exhausted though and the children tried to sleep but of course now its not so easy without pillows etc.
Eventually we got to MCO and found out way to the baggage claim. Then, like Battymum mentioned, our baggage claim was on the wrong side for the Magical Express and I am really surprised it is not signposted better. After asking for help, we had to go back upstairs, over to the other side and down again. Checking in at the Magical Express was easy and our POR bus arrived soon. Although we had to wait on the bus for quite a while before it left, I was so relieved that we had taken this option as I cannot imagine what it must be like to get a rental car and have to drive yourself while feeling that exhausted.
Here we are, waiting for our bus to arrive, looking very exhausted but happy to be here except that DD13 was not keen for a photo
Was really excited driving through the WDW gates and then pulling into POR I had been planning this trip for so long and we were FINALLY there!
I jumped off and rushed to get first in queue at the online check in desk (while DH sorted the bags) which I was. I had only paid for a standard room but had checkily asked for an upgrade to a preferred room and was stunned and thrilled that they had given us a room in building 18 which is a preferred location. After check in, I enquired about my packages (Id had quite a lot of online shopping delivered to the resort). They said they would get them delivered but I said we could carry them so the lady went out the back to get them and then she and about two others came out carrying everything. I think they were shocked there was so much but when Amazon ships your order in about 12 separate lots, that is what happens! Between the five of us, we managed to get it all to the room and then it was like Christmas opening it all. Id got my girls a stuffed toy from Disney each as well as my two youngest Disney autograph books and DD13 a pair of Mickey earring so they were all thrilled.
By this stage it was probably about 7pm so we quickly changed and headed to the food court for a quick dinner. We had free dining (fantastic and Id never stay onsite without Disney dining) and really didnt understand how to use it that first night so just stumbled through it. We ate and then went back to the room and, once our Garden Grocer order has been delivered (Id chosen between 7-9 pm as our original flight arrival was going to be later and I could not change the delivery time) we all crashed.