Majestic
WILDERNESS LODGE VET
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2003
- Messages
- 1,964
9/12/03 Day One.
The beginning of a long day. We have waited for MONTHS to be able to go and its hard to believe that the time has finally come. The limo driver showed up in a nice new van this AM at 5:05. We were on our way to the airport by 5:30am. Plane was supposed to leave at 9am but we didnt take off until 9:40am or so. After a nice smooth flight, we arrived at MCO around 11:55am. (10 minutes late of our 11:45am arrival time)
We go and get our luggage. No problem. Go and pick our rental car. Problem. See, I joined the National Rental Car Emerald Club to take advantage of Emerald Aisle and Reserve so I can get a car and leave without going to the counter. We chose a brand new Dodge Intrepid. Nice car. (Full Size) Drive out of the garage and I hand the teller at the booth my Emerald Card. She asks for my ID. I told her they said I dont need ID just my card. Regardless, I gave it to her. Then she asks for my credit card. I told her I didnt have it and that the girl on the phone said I wouldnt need it. She said that she needed it because the card on file didnt go through!!! I was shocked but then remembered (bad timing eh???) that my wife lost her credit card a week ago and she called to cancel it. They cancelled both hers and mine and re-issued new ones. Of course, I didnt have my NEW one. That would have been too easy. Anyway, we used my wifes Disney Credit Card and she added me on as a user. We are on our way. Finally.
The weather is really nice out here today. Get to the lodge around 1:25pm. The hotel is supposedly booked solid but there doesnt seem to be many people around. As always, we walk in and catch our breath at the view of the lobby. I just cant get over how great this place is!!! The concierge manager, Mark, comes downstairs to take us upstairs. While my mother in law is checking in, they offer her the ability to upgrade to concierge for $40 a night. She takes it but keeps her room on the 6th floor so she can smoke. (No smoking on the 7th floor eh?? Not that I care.) I ask for flag family availability and expect a long list. NOPE! This time, we are selected and penciled in for the morning of the 18th! I AM REALLY PSYCHED ABOUT THIS! More info in the report that day.
We head right to room 7058. (Right next door to the room you stayed at Beth!) It has a great view of the castle and Contemporary but it is pretty noisy down below. Not sure if we will be able to deal with it the whole time. Hoping to catch the fireworks once before we change rooms. Mark, the concierge manger, tells us that there should be no problem getting us a courtyard view. Probably Sunday night.
After settling in, we all decide to go down to the canyon to have some chow (lunch that is). I LOVE THE PULLED PORK SANDWICH!
After lunch, we take my in-laws on a tour of the lodge. They love it of course. Julia (DD) is now antsy and wants to go swimming so its off to the quiet pool for some water sports.
The quiet pool by the Villas is just that. Not many people around. Julia LOVES swimming and the water is a really nice temperature. We stay in the pool till we all look like the Raisin family and decide its time to call it quits. We head up to the room to get ready for the night at Downtown Disney to do some shopping for Julias birthday tomorrow. On the way up, we notice that they have Lobster Bisque at the concierge table! My wife has two cups of that while I chill with a nice cold glass of Berengers White Zinfandel. Did I mention that I am REALLY liking this Concierge thing. Not sure how I will do without from now on.
Around this time, we happen to bump into Corky!! She is really friendly as I suspected. I take her to our room so that we can compare views of the castle. We also talk about getting together on Sunday to let Jared and Julia play for a while together. Corkys hubby Fred is a nice guy too.
After all the preparing, we load the car up and head on over to Downtown Disney. 2 minutes into the ride, Julia is OUT COLD SLEEPING! Ugg! Should have known. She had a busy day. Oh well. Daddy (Me of course) decides to stay in the car with DD and let mommy go shopping with her family. After and hour or so Renee comes back with bags in hand and we return to the room for the night.
A quick snack then its off to bed. Tomorrow its Chef Mickeys for breakfast and the Magic Kingdom the rest of the day.
The beginning of a long day. We have waited for MONTHS to be able to go and its hard to believe that the time has finally come. The limo driver showed up in a nice new van this AM at 5:05. We were on our way to the airport by 5:30am. Plane was supposed to leave at 9am but we didnt take off until 9:40am or so. After a nice smooth flight, we arrived at MCO around 11:55am. (10 minutes late of our 11:45am arrival time)
We go and get our luggage. No problem. Go and pick our rental car. Problem. See, I joined the National Rental Car Emerald Club to take advantage of Emerald Aisle and Reserve so I can get a car and leave without going to the counter. We chose a brand new Dodge Intrepid. Nice car. (Full Size) Drive out of the garage and I hand the teller at the booth my Emerald Card. She asks for my ID. I told her they said I dont need ID just my card. Regardless, I gave it to her. Then she asks for my credit card. I told her I didnt have it and that the girl on the phone said I wouldnt need it. She said that she needed it because the card on file didnt go through!!! I was shocked but then remembered (bad timing eh???) that my wife lost her credit card a week ago and she called to cancel it. They cancelled both hers and mine and re-issued new ones. Of course, I didnt have my NEW one. That would have been too easy. Anyway, we used my wifes Disney Credit Card and she added me on as a user. We are on our way. Finally.
The weather is really nice out here today. Get to the lodge around 1:25pm. The hotel is supposedly booked solid but there doesnt seem to be many people around. As always, we walk in and catch our breath at the view of the lobby. I just cant get over how great this place is!!! The concierge manager, Mark, comes downstairs to take us upstairs. While my mother in law is checking in, they offer her the ability to upgrade to concierge for $40 a night. She takes it but keeps her room on the 6th floor so she can smoke. (No smoking on the 7th floor eh?? Not that I care.) I ask for flag family availability and expect a long list. NOPE! This time, we are selected and penciled in for the morning of the 18th! I AM REALLY PSYCHED ABOUT THIS! More info in the report that day.
We head right to room 7058. (Right next door to the room you stayed at Beth!) It has a great view of the castle and Contemporary but it is pretty noisy down below. Not sure if we will be able to deal with it the whole time. Hoping to catch the fireworks once before we change rooms. Mark, the concierge manger, tells us that there should be no problem getting us a courtyard view. Probably Sunday night.
After settling in, we all decide to go down to the canyon to have some chow (lunch that is). I LOVE THE PULLED PORK SANDWICH!
After lunch, we take my in-laws on a tour of the lodge. They love it of course. Julia (DD) is now antsy and wants to go swimming so its off to the quiet pool for some water sports.The quiet pool by the Villas is just that. Not many people around. Julia LOVES swimming and the water is a really nice temperature. We stay in the pool till we all look like the Raisin family and decide its time to call it quits. We head up to the room to get ready for the night at Downtown Disney to do some shopping for Julias birthday tomorrow. On the way up, we notice that they have Lobster Bisque at the concierge table! My wife has two cups of that while I chill with a nice cold glass of Berengers White Zinfandel. Did I mention that I am REALLY liking this Concierge thing. Not sure how I will do without from now on.
Around this time, we happen to bump into Corky!! She is really friendly as I suspected. I take her to our room so that we can compare views of the castle. We also talk about getting together on Sunday to let Jared and Julia play for a while together. Corkys hubby Fred is a nice guy too.
After all the preparing, we load the car up and head on over to Downtown Disney. 2 minutes into the ride, Julia is OUT COLD SLEEPING! Ugg! Should have known. She had a busy day. Oh well. Daddy (Me of course) decides to stay in the car with DD and let mommy go shopping with her family. After and hour or so Renee comes back with bags in hand and we return to the room for the night.
A quick snack then its off to bed. Tomorrow its Chef Mickeys for breakfast and the Magic Kingdom the rest of the day.
!)
