Here's another attempt at a trip report. Who knows, I might make it to Day 7!
Our cast: DD6, DMIL (known to dd6 as "Nana"), DW, and me "Pluto's Pup"
Our final countdown began Jan. 1st. DD6 & I made a countdown calander. Each day we placed stickers on the calendar adorned with DCL pictures. By Thursday Feb. 26 it was down to "One Day"! DMIL had arrived, and we were getting our last minute things together. Tomorrow we were off to Florida!
Friday 2/27 I was up early (5:30) as usual trying to get suitcases in the car. Eventually, everyone was awake, excited, and ready for the drive to the Harrisburg airport. Normally, we like to fly out of our local airport (Williamsport,PA). Unfortunatley, when there's even a chance of snow it closes. So to avoid any delays, we opted for Harrisburg. As we got closer to the airport everyone seemed to get more excited. Soon we arrived, checked in, and had a quick snack. DD6 settled in with her "surprise bag" and waited for our flight. Every trip DD6 gets a surprise bag filled with crayons, activity books, etc. It has been great during previous flight delays, and during the flights themselves. Soon our commuter flight to Washington DC/Dulles flight boarded. Lets just say it wasn't a smooth flight. I don't mind flying, but this flight felt like I was in a washing machine! Fortunately, our flight from Dulles to Orlando was somewhat better.
We arrived in Orlando about 3:30p, collected our "mound of luggage", quickly got our Avis minivan, and off to Cocoa Beach. DW was hungry so before we checked in at our hotel, we stopped at Perkins, across the street from the Holiday Inn Express. Last year we really enjoyed Kelsey's, next to the Radisson, but DMIL wasn't excited about Italian food (diet concerns). So it was Perkins. The food was ok, but the service...well, it was soooo baaaad, it was funny! When the waitress brought out my meal, DW looked at it and asked what the plastic bag was on my plate. It was carrots still in a plastic bag! They obviously heated them, placed them on my plate, but never took them out of the plastic bag!
Soon we checked into the Cocoa Beach Holiday Inn Express. We were well pleased! The front desk staff was very friendly, the standard room had two queen size beds, coffee maker, microwave, and fridge. The following morning they had a nice continental breakfast consisting of bagels, toast, cereal, muffins, fresh fruit, various coffees, juices, etc. We would not hesitate to recommend the HIE. The past two years we stayed at the Radisson. This year they couldn't guarantee a non-smoking room, and in the past their front desk staff seemed clueless. Big thumbs up on the HIE!
Soon we were off to sleep, because tomorrow was the big day...Mickey's Boat! Uh, did I say sleep...I know I was excited, and I've been told I snore, but DMIL (truly a sweet woman) RATTLED THE RAFTERS with her snoring! Throughout the week DMIL and I would have a contest as to who could snore the loudest with DD6 as the judge!
Tomorrow we board "Mickey's Boat"!
Our cast: DD6, DMIL (known to dd6 as "Nana"), DW, and me "Pluto's Pup"
Our final countdown began Jan. 1st. DD6 & I made a countdown calander. Each day we placed stickers on the calendar adorned with DCL pictures. By Thursday Feb. 26 it was down to "One Day"! DMIL had arrived, and we were getting our last minute things together. Tomorrow we were off to Florida!
Friday 2/27 I was up early (5:30) as usual trying to get suitcases in the car. Eventually, everyone was awake, excited, and ready for the drive to the Harrisburg airport. Normally, we like to fly out of our local airport (Williamsport,PA). Unfortunatley, when there's even a chance of snow it closes. So to avoid any delays, we opted for Harrisburg. As we got closer to the airport everyone seemed to get more excited. Soon we arrived, checked in, and had a quick snack. DD6 settled in with her "surprise bag" and waited for our flight. Every trip DD6 gets a surprise bag filled with crayons, activity books, etc. It has been great during previous flight delays, and during the flights themselves. Soon our commuter flight to Washington DC/Dulles flight boarded. Lets just say it wasn't a smooth flight. I don't mind flying, but this flight felt like I was in a washing machine! Fortunately, our flight from Dulles to Orlando was somewhat better.
We arrived in Orlando about 3:30p, collected our "mound of luggage", quickly got our Avis minivan, and off to Cocoa Beach. DW was hungry so before we checked in at our hotel, we stopped at Perkins, across the street from the Holiday Inn Express. Last year we really enjoyed Kelsey's, next to the Radisson, but DMIL wasn't excited about Italian food (diet concerns). So it was Perkins. The food was ok, but the service...well, it was soooo baaaad, it was funny! When the waitress brought out my meal, DW looked at it and asked what the plastic bag was on my plate. It was carrots still in a plastic bag! They obviously heated them, placed them on my plate, but never took them out of the plastic bag!
Soon we checked into the Cocoa Beach Holiday Inn Express. We were well pleased! The front desk staff was very friendly, the standard room had two queen size beds, coffee maker, microwave, and fridge. The following morning they had a nice continental breakfast consisting of bagels, toast, cereal, muffins, fresh fruit, various coffees, juices, etc. We would not hesitate to recommend the HIE. The past two years we stayed at the Radisson. This year they couldn't guarantee a non-smoking room, and in the past their front desk staff seemed clueless. Big thumbs up on the HIE!
Soon we were off to sleep, because tomorrow was the big day...Mickey's Boat! Uh, did I say sleep...I know I was excited, and I've been told I snore, but DMIL (truly a sweet woman) RATTLED THE RAFTERS with her snoring! Throughout the week DMIL and I would have a contest as to who could snore the loudest with DD6 as the judge!
Tomorrow we board "Mickey's Boat"!
