As a reminder, here's the cast--
Me--got hooked on Walt Disney World on a family trip during Christmas Break 1971.
DH, Rick--First trip to Disney World was with me and our infant daughter in 1986. He indulges my addiction.
DD, Elsie (18)--Freshman in college who wants to apply for a job as Cinderella.
DS, SaxPlayer (15)--Sophomore in high school, reformed roller coaster enthusiast, plays Bari Sax in high school marching band.
I woke up the morning after Christmas to the sound of SaxPlayer's alarm. Since he'd be spending the next 20-22 hours on a bus, I made him eggs and sausage for breakfast. (I'm not a big breakfast eater and my poor kids are generally on their own for the most important meal of the day.) After breakfast, we put his bags in the car and he drove us to the high school where the band was boarding their buses.
When we got to the high school, there was the usual pandamonium and late start. Oh well. SaxPlayer approached me a few times to give me a hug and say goodbye (I think he was trying to give me not so subtle hints). Finally, after taking care of a few last minute loose ends with the school nurse, I left the high school.
At home, DH, Elsie and I untrimmed the tree so we could take it down before we left. We had a real pretty Frasier Fir, but I didn't want it in the house while we were away. After dragging the bare tree into the back yard, I got myself ready for our departure.
We took the long way to Orlando. We flew from O'Hare to DFW and had a 2 1/2 hour layover in Dallas. We grabbed some dinner at the Dallas airport. There was a cute little dauchshund waiting at our gate, which provided some entertainment to pass the time. I also brought The Da Vinci Code to read, and it definitely helped make the time go quickly. I recommend it!
We got to the Orlando airport close to on time and grabbed our luggage. The Thrifty shuttle was pulling up to the curb when we stepped out of the airport. We had to wait in line quite a while at the rental counter. DH waited with me, and let the agent talk us in to a more expensive car. GRRR. I've never really gotten the hard sell to upgrade a car rental like I did at Thrifty. I think I should have involved DH in the car renting decision earlier and compared rates on the car size he really wanted.
We spent our first night at the Holiday Inn Select by the airport. I'd gotten a good rate on Priceline ($30 to $35). They assigned us to a smoking room. It was REALLY smokey. Elsie and I have asthma, and DH has recently quit smoking (he never smoked at home or around the kids or me). I went back to the desk and the night manager told me that was the problem with the internet--they assign any available room and that's what he had available. I thought I'd checked that we wouldn't get stuck with a smoking room...I need to check that out before doing Priceline again. I explained the health issue and he eventually found us a non-smoking room. It was okay, especially for the price I paid, but I wouldn't go out of my way to stay there again.
It was pretty late by the time we got the room straightened out so we went to sleep to get ready for our vacation to really begin!
Me--got hooked on Walt Disney World on a family trip during Christmas Break 1971.
DH, Rick--First trip to Disney World was with me and our infant daughter in 1986. He indulges my addiction.
DD, Elsie (18)--Freshman in college who wants to apply for a job as Cinderella.
DS, SaxPlayer (15)--Sophomore in high school, reformed roller coaster enthusiast, plays Bari Sax in high school marching band.
I woke up the morning after Christmas to the sound of SaxPlayer's alarm. Since he'd be spending the next 20-22 hours on a bus, I made him eggs and sausage for breakfast. (I'm not a big breakfast eater and my poor kids are generally on their own for the most important meal of the day.) After breakfast, we put his bags in the car and he drove us to the high school where the band was boarding their buses.
When we got to the high school, there was the usual pandamonium and late start. Oh well. SaxPlayer approached me a few times to give me a hug and say goodbye (I think he was trying to give me not so subtle hints). Finally, after taking care of a few last minute loose ends with the school nurse, I left the high school.
At home, DH, Elsie and I untrimmed the tree so we could take it down before we left. We had a real pretty Frasier Fir, but I didn't want it in the house while we were away. After dragging the bare tree into the back yard, I got myself ready for our departure.
We took the long way to Orlando. We flew from O'Hare to DFW and had a 2 1/2 hour layover in Dallas. We grabbed some dinner at the Dallas airport. There was a cute little dauchshund waiting at our gate, which provided some entertainment to pass the time. I also brought The Da Vinci Code to read, and it definitely helped make the time go quickly. I recommend it!
We got to the Orlando airport close to on time and grabbed our luggage. The Thrifty shuttle was pulling up to the curb when we stepped out of the airport. We had to wait in line quite a while at the rental counter. DH waited with me, and let the agent talk us in to a more expensive car. GRRR. I've never really gotten the hard sell to upgrade a car rental like I did at Thrifty. I think I should have involved DH in the car renting decision earlier and compared rates on the car size he really wanted.
We spent our first night at the Holiday Inn Select by the airport. I'd gotten a good rate on Priceline ($30 to $35). They assigned us to a smoking room. It was REALLY smokey. Elsie and I have asthma, and DH has recently quit smoking (he never smoked at home or around the kids or me). I went back to the desk and the night manager told me that was the problem with the internet--they assign any available room and that's what he had available. I thought I'd checked that we wouldn't get stuck with a smoking room...I need to check that out before doing Priceline again. I explained the health issue and he eventually found us a non-smoking room. It was okay, especially for the price I paid, but I wouldn't go out of my way to stay there again.
It was pretty late by the time we got the room straightened out so we went to sleep to get ready for our vacation to really begin!
