At WDW with someone who doesn't "get it" -- 2008 version

[Lyndarella]

I am Lyndarella, the princess. I go to WDW because I love it and I am the trip planner. DH is Bob -- he goes to WDW because I love it and I am the trip planner! We are a middle-aged couple. (How did that happen?) Life begins at 40, right?

We have two (somewhat) adult children, a girl and a boy. They are WAY TOO COOL for WDW. We have tried taking them with us, but I get tired of hearing them making fun of everything. Usually, we get a sitter to stay with them while we are gone. Now that they are in their 20's, a good available sitter is getting harder to find... Last year we left them without a keeper (sitter) and decided to try that again this year. Before we left, they were already arguing about whose turn it was to buy the beer........the little darlings.

When you live in northern Minnesota, you are always looking forward to having a winter vacation. As you can see from my signature, we usually take our winter vacation in May. That is because by the time I get DH to agree to a trip, all the good reservations are already taken, and May is the soonest we can get. This year we thought we had rented out our DVC points, but since TWO people neglected to pay us for the points, we cancelled their trips and got the points back. Those points would have expired Oct. 1, hence the trip the last week of September...

I booked flights that leave later in the day this year. DH doesn't start packing until about midnight the night before we leave on vacation, even those times we have to be at the airport at 4:00 a.m... We had all day to get there this time, and were still hurrying at the last minute.

We flew to Minneapolis, then on to Orlando without any problems, except that I hate it so much... I just can't stand to sit for 3 1/2 hours, especially when tied to a chair... I also have bathroom issues... Besides the fact that airplane bathrooms are so creepy, I am afraid to walk down that long aisle, in case I might accidentally bump someone who is writing or sleeping or something. And what about turbulance? What if the pilot says to stay in your seats, and I am already most of the way down that aisle? Do I have to go back then and not get to use the restroom? What if I am IN the restroom when he says to stay in your seats? Will I have to stay in the restroom until we land??

We arrived after midnight (the down side of those late flights!) and found DME to be a wonderful experience. We checked in at Saragoga Springs, and asked for a ride to our villa, since we were unfamiliar with the resort. At about 1:00 a.m. we were hastily dropped off at the curb OF THE WRONG BUILDING!! We walked around for a while, until we found the right place! It was such a beautiful, warm night that we sat outside on a bench for a long time before going up to our room. I think that was the happiest time of the whole week.....

 

[Nancy for Disney]

I love reading about bad vacations. Keep going!

 

[Lyndarella]

Sunday -- the first real day of our vacation!

We arrived at our 1 BR unit at Saratoga Springs around 2:00 a.m. I'd read on the DIS Boards how annoying it is to have luggage from DME arrive in the middle of the night. I was actually looking forward to that annoyance, so we would have all our things available when we got up in the morning! I slept with all my clothes on, and most of the lights, waiting for the luggage.....it didn't come until I called them around 8:00 a.m. I think they were trying to do us a favor by not delivering it during the night!

We spent the day unpacking, getting acquainted with the resort, and picking up a rental car. We rode the bus to Hollywood and took the boat to the Dolphin to get the car. I've always considered the Swan & Dolphin to be the red-haired step-children of WDW. They aren't Disney, and I heard that WDW was sorry they'd let them build there when they put up those giant animals on top that can be seen from everywhere. Actually those hotels are fabulous, and I took lots of pictures.

It was way past time to eat for the first time that day, and there are many places to eat at the Dolphin. Every place I suggested we eat at, DH said it looked too expensive. He wanted to eat at our resort. We did eat there at the Turf Bar & Grill, and it cost $20 each to do so, and that was just for lunch! And I was still hungry afterward!

We bought a few things at the store (bread, butter, milk, and eggs) and rented two Pirates of the C movies. Actually, we own these movies at home, but have never taken the time to watch them.....

We spent some time sitting outside on the bench (DH is a smoker) and then put in the first movie, falling asleep near the beginning.....It was a fairly uneventful day, which was a good thing, compared to the rest of the week.....

 

[Samsma]

so far so good, keep on- we're all in suspense!

 

[Lyndarella]

Monday -- the first real day of our vacation! (Since we arrived late, and spent one day organizing)

What does everyone want to do the first day of a week at WDW? Go to the Magic Kingdom, of course! We decided we would go join that crowd.

Let me explain our different ideas of vacation. I am the person standing by the door, with my hand on the knob, at sunrise. DH thinks vacation is a time for rest. We have managed to reach a compromise, by deciding that vacation is a time for rest. Our average time of arrival at the parks is around 3:00. It drives me crazy!

Usually we stay at another timeshare we own in Orlando, and spend a few nights on Disney property in the middle of the week. This is the first time we have ever stayed the enire week on-site, and I was determined to spend more time in the parks. I thought that I would go to a park each morning, come back at noon, and then DH and I would head out together or hang out doing something else.

Monday morning he said, "Wait, I want to go with you to the Magic Kingdom!" He hurried extra fast, and we arrived at about 2:00.

I need to explain Bob's favorite things to do on vacation. They are smoking and eating, in that order. We usually spend about the first two hours in a park doing those things. Usually we eat at Cosmic Ray's or Pecos Bill's, because they have a massive burger bar with all the fixin's. I wanted to try some place new, so I led us into Liberty Spare. I had not read the DIS boards to find out the menus of those two eating places, and a cm told me they both serve just fish and chicken! DH did not like that, so I tried to think of the nearest large restaurant, and led us on to Pinocchio's Village Haus in Fantasyland. Again, they had just fish and chicken! DH was mad about that and the long walk. The good news is that it didn't take us long to eat. Then we went on Philharmagic, because it was nearby, and I thought (mistakenly) that he had never seen it. (Note: I have been to WDW many more times than he has, because I have a cousin I travel with, who has the same touring style that I have.)

When we came out of Philharmagic, it was raining. Now we all know that it rains for a short time most afternoons in Florida, especially this time of year, so we waited for it to stop. It didn't. We hopped around here and there in the rain (DH refuses to RIDE anything in Fantasyland) and then decided to buy the rain ponchos. He wanted yellow ones LIKE I LEFT IN MINNESOTA , but after walking from store to store, we realized we had to buy clear rain gear. We gladly parted with the $16. He wanted to leave the park, but I talked him into riding the Pirates first. Tried to head there through the castle, but for some reason it was closed off. So we went back around through Liberty Square, and stopped under a roof in Adventureland. It was the Dole Whip counter!

There were several cms in the Dole Whip store dancing around and poking each other. When they noticed all the customers with frowny faces, they started giving out free Dole Whips. I wish I knew how to post a picture of Bob eating his ice cream in his poncho, with rain dripping off his nose --he has the saddest face!

Again DH wanted to leave, but we trudged on to ride the Pirates, which is always wonderful. He suggested we ride the train back to the entrance, so we kept going. There was no line for Splash Mountain (maybe it wasn't running?) and even tho I hate that ride, it's better than no ride. Bob loves SM, but wanted to get on the train ASAP. Eventually, we got "home", drenched to the skin, shoes and all.

We washed our wet clothes, and started the dryer. It made horrible loud squealing sounds! A maintenance guy came to look at it, and said they would fix it the next day. I tried to dry my shoes in the oven, but it didn't have a low enough setting! (Trust me, I have done this on vacation before!)

We started the second Pirates of the C movie, and fell asleep near the beginning, not knowing that the next day was going to be worse.....

 

[Lyndarella]

Tuesday -- the first real day of our vacation! (Since we arrived late, and had one organizing day and one rained out day)

I got up early and made scrambled eggs, like I always do in a villa. I stirred them up in a saucepan (NOT what I always do), because I couldn't find any frying pans. Bob got up, and had caught a terrible cold! He had a sore throat and runny nose, and used about a hundred kleenexes.

Tuesday is normally our "down" day, anyway, as that's usually when we go to DTD and rent a car from one of the resorts nearby. (We have learned the hard way not to rent a car at the airport. I have horror stories to tell about road construction, non-working cars, missing cars, and a shuttle ride to the far side of the state...)

The trash and towel girl came, a maintenance man came, then another maintenance man, and the pile of used kleenex grew into a mountain. It would be easier to be sick in private! Eventually, DH started to feel better, so we went to DTD for dinner. Before we left, we re-washed our still wet clothes, then started the dryer and the dishwasher.

At DTD, I asked Bob if he had any interest in looking in the scrapbook store, and he said he didn't. He asked about a restroom, so I led him to the one by the scrapbook store..... I quickly ran over to take a peek, and the store was empty! (Soon to be a T-shirt store.) People on the DIS Boards generally agree that those Disney scrapbook supplies are not very good, but I always bought some anyway!

We ate at the Rainforest, had drinks, and kept the glasses. It cost over $90! Yikes! I took some wonderful pictures. Then we took the boat back to SSR.

After sitting outside our building on the bench for a while, we went in to discover that the dishes had not washed (it SOUNDED like it was running when we left, but did not heat or dispense soap), AND the clothes did not dry!!

A guy from maintenance came over, started the dryer and told us it works fine, started the dishwasher on another cycle of water-only-no-heat-no-soap, and left! We went to bed confused and exhausted.

 

[snookiedoodles]

keep going, from another Disney Princess with someone who does not get it either!!!!

P.S. I made reservations for next year...I'm not taking him!!!

 

[teruterubouzu]

Oh man, it sounds like you had a rough couple of days. But, yum, free dole whip!

 

[Lyndarella]

Wednesday -- The first real day of our vaction! (Since we arrived late, had an organizing day, a rained out day and a sick day)

I washed out a saucepan and scrambled some eggs. DH was even sicker this day. After breakfast I walked to the store to buy cold medicine. Whatever happened to the idea of going to a park every morning?

On the way back, I ran into the trash-and-towel girl. I told her we needed pot holders and frying pans. She said she didn't understand those words, and followed me into the kitchen so I could show her. (Um, they're missing -- how can I show you that?) I must have mentioned the non-working dishwasher too, because she started it on yet another cycle of water-only-no-heat-no-soap, said, "It works this way," and left.

I called Maitenance to look at the dryer again, and a guy came right over. First I showed him that none of the buttons on the dishwasher worked, and he said they would fix or replace it that day. Yay! Score one! Then he looked at the dryer. We figured out later that it quit turning when it got hot, which took it a couple of minutes, so of course it worked while the guy was looking at it. He said there was nothing he could do as long as it was working, and to call him immediately if it quit again. It quit right after he left.

We made several calls to Maintenance, always to a different person, telling them that he intended to come right back, but no one came.

DH decided we should go to the Animal Kingdom, which was our original Wednesday plan, since they had Extra Magic Hours until 8:00. I wasn't crazy about going with a sick person, but I did want to go to a park......

I took all the dirty dishes out of the dishwasher and all the wet clothes out of the dryer, before we left for the AK. We arrived around 3:00, our usual park time!

By the time we finished smoking and eating, it was after 5:00. All the last shows had already started. We rode on Dinosaur, and I did it with my eyes open this time! (for most of it, anyway) Why is it that ride makes me feel so bruised and battered afterwards? Does it really have to be so bone-jarring?

We did a little shopping, and found a fill-the-Potato-Head-box station there! Seriously, that was the only thing on my shopping list this year, and I didn't know how I was going to get DH to go to the toy store at DTD for it! For those of you who don't know, there are new Disney accessories each year for Potato Heads. I have several of them at home who love to wear the latest Disney attire.......Since PHs can be bought cheaply at garage sales, and take up lots of space in the box, the smart shopper fills the box with just the accessories. Of course, there are always cms circling the display, reminding people that they forgot to put a PH in their box.

We wasted a lot more time, and left around 6:30.

When we got "home" we had a working dishwasher, and no change in the clothes dryer. Made one last call to Maintenance and went to bed.

 

[loopymommy]

LOVE your report! You must be a very patient soul. I would've dropped off the Robitussin CF and been out the door.

Next time the maintenance guys try to leave before they see the problem, have your hubby block the door with his body and a handful of gooey Kleenex. I'm sure that will make the guys wait just a little bit longer.

Can't wait to read more!

 

[Lyndarella]

Thursday!

I scrambled eggs this morning--finally found frying pans in the drawer under the stove!

I was determined to go to the Magic Kingdom this morning for EMH, and DH wanted me to stay with him because he was so sick. He had developed a nasty cough during the night. I must say we had quite an argument about that. I couldn't see where it would help him for me to stay there, so I left.

It wasn't fun at all. I can hardly remember what I did there, but it was in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, where DH doesn't like most of the rides. I felt so bad about leaving while he was sick, that instead of going back at noon, I went back at 10:00. I spent a whole hour and a half in the Magic Kingdom!

Then I started making phone calls to Maintenance about our dryer again. Finally I called the front desk for advice. The cm there cheerfully suggested that I carry the wet clothes down to the Community Center to dry them. Does he know how heavy wet clothes are, and how far I was from the Comm Center? He did offer to put us in a different room, but we didn't want to do that. After all, we had just one day left, DH was sick, and our stuff was spread all over the place.

This cm also said they might not be able to fix the dryer until after we had checked out. Are they that short on Maintenance staff? Surely they have an extra washer/dryer or two--there are hundreds of villas at WDW that need them. I told him I'd wait until closer to check-out to see if I needed to do laundry at the CC; in the meantime I would just hang the already wet ones on the balcony to dry, and he said "Oh, I can't let you do that." I wasn't upset until that point. I was already having issues with there being no access to the back of our building to allow us to take pictures of us on our balcony, and I knew that the jerk at the front desk or anyone else would not be able to see the laundry on our balcony.....

I re-washed the wet laundry. Remember it had been wet since Monday......I hung it on the furniture and railing of the balcony to dry, then I had to iron every piece, even the T-shirts and jeans. As soon as I finished all this, SURPRISE -- we got a new washer/dryer!

In the evening, DH wanted to go to DTD to eat again. It seemed to be his favorite place this year! We ate at the Earl of Sandwich, which was OK. I really like hot food better (you know, a plate of food) but I appreciate anything I don't have to cook myself!

We rented another movie to watch, and you guessed it, fell asleep near the beginning. One more day left of vacation--I didn't know whether to be sad or glad!

 

[Ilivetogo]

What else can I say .... your story is incredible.

I'll wait to find out the end of the cliff-hanger tomorrow!!!

Sorry you "missed" the POC movies ... they're really good!

 

[Lyndarella]

Friday!

After our daily scrambled eggs, we tried to decide how to spend the day. I'm sorry to say that we had a huge fight at that point. We had rented the car, I thought, to drive around and become more familiar with the WDW area. Every time we drive anywhere, we are in a panic because of the traffic and not knowing where we are! Apparently, DH thought we had rented a car just to drive from our room to the boat dock the 2 times we ate at DTD..... He did not feel like going for a drive, and didn't want me to go by myself. It was not a very pleasant part of the trip....

After a while, DH suggested going to Epcot, which lightened the mood considerably! I am always ready to go to a park! We returned the car to the Dolphin, and took the boat on over to Epcot. We arrived at our usual time of 3:00.

Right away we ran into Chip and Dale, with no people around them! We got some great pictures and hung out with them for a while....

This was the first day of the Food & Wine Festival, and as the day progressed, it got more and more crowded. I was not impressed with what I considered high prices and long lines. We had the most fun at "New Orleans" where they had live music, and we got our picture taken with a giant bottle of tabasco sauce!

By the time we made it around to Test Track, it was EMH, but Test Track was broken! DH didn't feel like doing Mission Space, and Ellen was closed, so we waited around with Fastpasses to TT, but it never got going again.

We took the bus back to SSR, packed a little, and attempted to watch another movie. You guessed it, we fell asleep near the beginning of the movie, but we needed the extra rest for our long trip home the next day.

 

[MEK]

OMG - this trip report is depressing. I think you need to leave your DH at home for the next trip. I'm sure he means well, but it sounds like he doesn't really like the parks all that much. Anyway, you are a trooper. I hope you had a good time despite limited park time, wet clothes, dirty dishes, and a sick DH.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

All that and you still sound cheerful and understanding. Next year, leave Hubby at home and give me a call! I'll go to the parks with you all day. We Minnesotans have to stick together don't you know?

 

[Lyndarella]

I always have fun at WDW even when I am with someone who doesn't "get it." However, I was a bit crabby this year, because my idea of going to the parks alone in the mornings never materialized. I guess I'm happy that DH likes having me around instead of NOT wanting me around!!

Stacy -- I've been reading your trip report. You sound like you know how to have a good time!