AllyandJack
* Here is where a picture of my girls would be, if
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2001
- Messages
- 4,074
Cast of Characters: Me, 28, multiple trips to Disney as a kid and adult; Scott (DH), 37, multiple trips to Disney with me as an adult; Jen (my bestest friend in the whole world), 28, second trip to disney; Shaun (Jen's DH's), 27, first trip to Disney
Our Dates: 9/24-10/4
Our Location: AKL
*************************************************
At home, Scott and I wake up at 4:30am. We're out of the house by 5:20am. So, when the alarm went off at 6am, Scott and I popped up and were ready to go!
Now, on a normal Saturday, going to MK is probably a bad idea. But, with the hurricane looming, we felt it would be and OK day to go. We hit The Mara for some light (and expensive) breakfast items and went to get the car out of valet. We went to the booth and waited. And waited. And waited some more. 
It's 7:30am....where the heck is everyone?? Finally, from behind us we where "Do you need something?" No. I'm just standing here because I can't think of anything else to do. I decided to get up early and come stand here and stare into the valet booth. We finally get the car and head to MK. It's at this point that I realize that I'm not really liking AKL. I can't quite explain it - although later in the trip, I am reminded over and over again - but, I just get a general feeling of not being welcome. 
Oh well...no biggie....
We drove to the TTC and park so close we avoid the tram and can walk right to the monorail. Our first clue that this was going to be a light day is that there is NO LINE for the monorail! Woo-Hoo!!! I step onto the monorail and hear the famous "Please Stand Clear of the Doors." I am here. I'm actually here! Two whole years....two years of mortgage payments and being a lawyer and Scott losing his job and thinking about having kids.....none of it mattered because I was on the monorail heading to MK. I felt a tear come to my eye as we made the trip to MK...by the Poly (to our new guests, Aloha!) and through the Contemporary watching people swing their napkins at Chef Mickey's. Scott and I saw the Wedding Pavilion in the across the lagoon and instantly reached for each other's hand. That was where we got married.
We get there and fly off the monorail and run down the ramp and go through security and the turnstiles and we're in!! The familiar music on Main Street fills my ears. All at once memories flood my mind....me, at 5 years old, with my mom and dad for my first trip. Me, as a child, with my mom and dad staying at the Poly. Familiar sounds and scents. Me, at 19, with my mom, dad and aunt, who passed away 4 months before my wedding. Me and Scott on our very first trip. I remember he told me he used to see pictures of Disney World on TV. His father died when he was 7 and his mother struggled to raise him and his 5 siblings by herself. He never got to go. He used to think that Epcot was stuffed inside Spaceship Earth. He wondered how great it could be if they stuffed all those countries in that one ball.
Finally, the memory of two years ago flashed into my mind. Memories of me and my mom and dad again. Memories of friends and family during E-Night (you should see our Splash Mountain picture!). I stood there for what seemed like hours and just took it all in.
Scott asked me what I wanted to do first. I wanted to do what I hadn't done before: Mickey's Philharmagic!!
Back Later for more....this was the day the cold started, the hurricane really started to freak me out and Jen landed just as the airport was preparing to close!! Coming up soon!
Our Dates: 9/24-10/4
Our Location: AKL
*************************************************
At home, Scott and I wake up at 4:30am. We're out of the house by 5:20am. So, when the alarm went off at 6am, Scott and I popped up and were ready to go!
Now, on a normal Saturday, going to MK is probably a bad idea. But, with the hurricane looming, we felt it would be and OK day to go. We hit The Mara for some light (and expensive) breakfast items and went to get the car out of valet. We went to the booth and waited. And waited. And waited some more. It's 7:30am....where the heck is everyone?? Finally, from behind us we where "Do you need something?" No. I'm just standing here because I can't think of anything else to do. I decided to get up early and come stand here and stare into the valet booth. We finally get the car and head to MK. It's at this point that I realize that I'm not really liking AKL. I can't quite explain it - although later in the trip, I am reminded over and over again - but, I just get a general feeling of not being welcome. Oh well...no biggie....We drove to the TTC and park so close we avoid the tram and can walk right to the monorail. Our first clue that this was going to be a light day is that there is NO LINE for the monorail! Woo-Hoo!!! I step onto the monorail and hear the famous "Please Stand Clear of the Doors." I am here. I'm actually here! Two whole years....two years of mortgage payments and being a lawyer and Scott losing his job and thinking about having kids.....none of it mattered because I was on the monorail heading to MK. I felt a tear come to my eye as we made the trip to MK...by the Poly (to our new guests, Aloha!) and through the Contemporary watching people swing their napkins at Chef Mickey's. Scott and I saw the Wedding Pavilion in the across the lagoon and instantly reached for each other's hand. That was where we got married.
We get there and fly off the monorail and run down the ramp and go through security and the turnstiles and we're in!! The familiar music on Main Street fills my ears. All at once memories flood my mind....me, at 5 years old, with my mom and dad for my first trip. Me, as a child, with my mom and dad staying at the Poly. Familiar sounds and scents. Me, at 19, with my mom, dad and aunt, who passed away 4 months before my wedding. Me and Scott on our very first trip. I remember he told me he used to see pictures of Disney World on TV. His father died when he was 7 and his mother struggled to raise him and his 5 siblings by herself. He never got to go. He used to think that Epcot was stuffed inside Spaceship Earth. He wondered how great it could be if they stuffed all those countries in that one ball.
Finally, the memory of two years ago flashed into my mind. Memories of me and my mom and dad again. Memories of friends and family during E-Night (you should see our Splash Mountain picture!). I stood there for what seemed like hours and just took it all in. Scott asked me what I wanted to do first. I wanted to do what I hadn't done before: Mickey's Philharmagic!!
Back Later for more....this was the day the cold started, the hurricane really started to freak me out and Jen landed just as the airport was preparing to close!! Coming up soon!
