delikado
<font color=teal>Knows how to wave like a madwoman
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2002
- Messages
- 363
Prelude - "I'd like to check-in. Please."
Cast:
Ria (23) - yours truly, vacation planner, wannabe commando, prone to motion sickness
Brent (24) - the boyfriend, tends to wander about aimlessly, first-time Disney guest, afraid of heights
Wake-up time: 4:00 a.m.
We booked our super-early flight (6:00 a.m.) to Orlando with the hopes of getting the most of our time in Disney, not realizing that we would actually have to get up early to catch it. We spent most of the previous night packing (we're last-minute kind of people), so we were treated to four whole hours of sleep before the big day. Lovely. Thankfully, we live less than 20 minutes away from the airport.
Logan Airport was sort of like a ghost town at five in the morning, populated only by weary business people getting on the shuttles to New York and DC, and us. Can someone remind me again why we decided to leave this early? Oh yeah, something about making the most of our trip. I sent Brent to get me a breakfast sandwich from Dunkin Donuts (plain bagel, toasted, with sausage and cheese, please) as I line up to check-in. It was a fairly long line, actually, but strangely there was only one person working behind the fifty ticket counters. I grumbled quietly as I nibbled on my bagel sandwich. Mmmmm...yummy.
The flight was uneventful (only one kid threw up in the back), and before we knew it, we were in sunny, gorgeous Orlando. Brent had never been this far south, so he was quite enthralled by the palm trees that were lining the airport. So cute, that guy is! Sadly, I had to interrupt his amazement at Mother Nature because we had to grab our bags and get to our resort! We met John from Tiffany Towncar in the baggage claim area (he was really very nice), and soon after we were riding in our very own towncar, on the way to Disney's Boardwalk!!! Woohoo!
It took us a little under 30 minutes to get to the Boardwalk, but by the time we finally saw the (impressive) entrance to our resort, I was pretty much bouncing and giggling like a toddler let loose in a candy store.
Finally! After months and months and months of waiting, we were really here! We walked into the lobby and were greeted by a lovely gentleman who welcomed us home. Home? You mean we can stay here forever? What's that you say? We have to pay rack rate? Oh, maybe we'll have to think about that. Still, despite our disappointment at not being able to stay forever, we marveled at the beautiful lobby with its high ceilings and comfy sofas. If we weren't in such a hurry to get to the parks, I think we could've been passed out on those chairs in no time.
After reading many horror stories about long lines at check-in, we were pleased to see that the check-in area was completely empty. Was there something we didn't know about? Have we entered the Twilight Zone without knowing it? We looked around with hesitation as CM (Cast Member) Marisol waved us over with a friendly smile. Okay, now it's time for the funny story of the day. But first, a little back-story: Sometime last year (I think it was in November), Brent mentioned to me that as a child, his family never visited theme parks, and he was always jealous of his little school friends who told him about their trips to Disney and Universal. So I decided that it was time for him to see what all the brouhaha was about... Thing is, I wanted to stay at a deluxe resort with a not-so-deluxe budget. Thanks to this website, I discovered the wonders of renting DVC points! I found a great DVC member who was renting points for the BWV, and within a few weeks, we were officially going to WDW! Things were going great, until I began reading about evil people who rent points out to unsuspecting individuals, only to cancel the reservation after receiving all the money! Eeeek! Paranoia quickly set in, and as our trip grew closer and closer, I became more and more worried that my reservation didn't exist.
Fast forward to 10/16/2003: I handed my confirmation letter to Marisol, along with my passport. Seconds ticked by like hours as she searched the system for my reservation, and once again I was gripped with fear, thinking that maybe Brent and I would have to get a room at a motel on the side of the road somewhere. She looked up after about twenty years and asked, "So are you a DVC member?" Uh oh.
Beads of hot sweat began trickling down my face as I tried to think of something to say. Would we be booted out of Disney World if they discovered that I rented points? Was that considered illegal? Would our faces be put on a blacklist forever? I quickly made up a non-coherent story about family friends and borrowing points, which seemed to suffice, because after more tapping and clicking, Marisol looked up at me and said, "Looks like you're all set. Would you like to purchase park tickets?" YES!!!!!!! I swear I heard violins and angels when those words came out of her mouth. She told me some other things (something about the pool slide not working?), but I was too happy to hear any of it.
Since it was only noon, our room wasn't ready, so we ran to the restrooms to change out of our cold weather clothes. We emerged, ready to face the day and brave the crowds I read about before we left. Off to Animal Kingdom!!!
Cast:
Ria (23) - yours truly, vacation planner, wannabe commando, prone to motion sickness
Brent (24) - the boyfriend, tends to wander about aimlessly, first-time Disney guest, afraid of heights
Wake-up time: 4:00 a.m.
We booked our super-early flight (6:00 a.m.) to Orlando with the hopes of getting the most of our time in Disney, not realizing that we would actually have to get up early to catch it. We spent most of the previous night packing (we're last-minute kind of people), so we were treated to four whole hours of sleep before the big day. Lovely. Thankfully, we live less than 20 minutes away from the airport.
Logan Airport was sort of like a ghost town at five in the morning, populated only by weary business people getting on the shuttles to New York and DC, and us. Can someone remind me again why we decided to leave this early? Oh yeah, something about making the most of our trip. I sent Brent to get me a breakfast sandwich from Dunkin Donuts (plain bagel, toasted, with sausage and cheese, please) as I line up to check-in. It was a fairly long line, actually, but strangely there was only one person working behind the fifty ticket counters. I grumbled quietly as I nibbled on my bagel sandwich. Mmmmm...yummy.
The flight was uneventful (only one kid threw up in the back), and before we knew it, we were in sunny, gorgeous Orlando. Brent had never been this far south, so he was quite enthralled by the palm trees that were lining the airport. So cute, that guy is! Sadly, I had to interrupt his amazement at Mother Nature because we had to grab our bags and get to our resort! We met John from Tiffany Towncar in the baggage claim area (he was really very nice), and soon after we were riding in our very own towncar, on the way to Disney's Boardwalk!!! Woohoo!
It took us a little under 30 minutes to get to the Boardwalk, but by the time we finally saw the (impressive) entrance to our resort, I was pretty much bouncing and giggling like a toddler let loose in a candy store.
After reading many horror stories about long lines at check-in, we were pleased to see that the check-in area was completely empty. Was there something we didn't know about? Have we entered the Twilight Zone without knowing it? We looked around with hesitation as CM (Cast Member) Marisol waved us over with a friendly smile. Okay, now it's time for the funny story of the day. But first, a little back-story: Sometime last year (I think it was in November), Brent mentioned to me that as a child, his family never visited theme parks, and he was always jealous of his little school friends who told him about their trips to Disney and Universal. So I decided that it was time for him to see what all the brouhaha was about... Thing is, I wanted to stay at a deluxe resort with a not-so-deluxe budget. Thanks to this website, I discovered the wonders of renting DVC points! I found a great DVC member who was renting points for the BWV, and within a few weeks, we were officially going to WDW! Things were going great, until I began reading about evil people who rent points out to unsuspecting individuals, only to cancel the reservation after receiving all the money! Eeeek! Paranoia quickly set in, and as our trip grew closer and closer, I became more and more worried that my reservation didn't exist.
Fast forward to 10/16/2003: I handed my confirmation letter to Marisol, along with my passport. Seconds ticked by like hours as she searched the system for my reservation, and once again I was gripped with fear, thinking that maybe Brent and I would have to get a room at a motel on the side of the road somewhere. She looked up after about twenty years and asked, "So are you a DVC member?" Uh oh.
Beads of hot sweat began trickling down my face as I tried to think of something to say. Would we be booted out of Disney World if they discovered that I rented points? Was that considered illegal? Would our faces be put on a blacklist forever? I quickly made up a non-coherent story about family friends and borrowing points, which seemed to suffice, because after more tapping and clicking, Marisol looked up at me and said, "Looks like you're all set. Would you like to purchase park tickets?" YES!!!!!!! I swear I heard violins and angels when those words came out of her mouth. She told me some other things (something about the pool slide not working?), but I was too happy to hear any of it. Since it was only noon, our room wasn't ready, so we ran to the restrooms to change out of our cold weather clothes. We emerged, ready to face the day and brave the crowds I read about before we left. Off to Animal Kingdom!!!
