Saturday Dec 11
'Twas the night before leaving,
and all through the house,
nobody slept very well,
We were dreaming of a mouse...
We've settled into bed for that wonderful-last-sleep-at-home-before-our-Disney trip. We leave in the morning - time for some sleep...
DS woke up just before midnight - Is it time to get up? He asks.
No! Go back to sleep!!
1:30 - same thing.
and again at 3:30...
He's not excited about going back to Disney World is he?
Finally, after the clock decides we've had enough torture, the alarm goes off at 5:00 am. We're showered, got the coffee on, and wake DS at 5:25.
The phone rings. We get a call from Lorne the limo driver at 5:35 - said hed be by in 5 10 minutes (it was closer to five )
DS slept in his clothes and even though he didn't sleep the best, hes ready and very chipper and happy. DW and I are a little nervous, we always are just before a trip - afraid we've missed something, or haven't thought of everything we need to take, etc, but we're all packed and ready to go though. Limo driver takes the bags out, we say our goodbyes to MIL (they've come to house sit while we're away, and both have doctor's appointments and check-ups scheduled ) and goodbye to our cats (DS says he'll miss them - but somehow I think he'll be too occupied!!)
I gulp down the last of my coffee, and a single slice of toast. We're off to YWG by 5:45 arrive by 6:00 (I checked in using NWA.com but didnt get 3 seats all together for us on our connecting flight (580) from MSP to MCO) the computer showed the entire flight booked, with no room to select any seats - no luck when I asked at check in at Winnipeg, try MSP she advised.
Customs was a breeze with the passports As luck would have it, we get the same Mr Customs guy as last year no troubles for mom this time around, and without Auntie K, and her produce smuggling ways, we were screened and x-rayed without much difficulty. Unless you count having to remove my belt, shoes, hat and sunglasses, cameras, video camera, laptop, etc and being asked to sample my Tims double double in front of the agent
(what, at 6:30 Im going to waste my morning java on some security threat??) but alas no flashing lights or blaring sirens as we left US Customs and headed up to the gate.
We waited for the pre boarding of the flight, while DS snacked on Timbits and chocolate milk. He also kept busy playing with his Yu-gi-oh Egyptian God cards (he printed them off the web - and is very proud of them! - Does anyone understand the rules to Yu-Gi-Oh? or how to play? He keeps wanting to duel - but I know for a fact I don't understand the game, and am pretty sure he doesn't either)
We boarded the plane by 7:00. Tired but anxious to get the trip underway. Before the trip I bought DS a pair of ear bands hearing protectors - they're used in the workshop, and I thought they'd help with air pressure on the flight - they're meant to protect your ears from loud sounds, so they'll be great on any rides in the parks where he might be a little nervous due to volume levels. He likes them!! I hope he uses them in the parks if needed. Take off was easy, wind out of the north, temperature 10 C (14 F) and cloudy. Once we reached cruising altitude the turbulence was very rough so we dropped down to a lower but calmer level and were fine for the remainder of the flight.
Mom brought out the Incredibles toys that MIl and FIL bought for DS for the flights. He was in heaven! As a surprise, we'll be going to the movies at DTD at some point during the trip!
A strong tail wind pushed us to MSP DS loved looking at the tops of the clouds as we approached, and had fun watching us drop through them. Landed without any issue at 8:55 almost 25 minutes early. Gate F13 headed for Gate G17.
Bought paninis (Mmmmmm...) and water along the route, and made our way along the moving sidewalks to the departure gate.
Holy packed Batman! Finally found some seats and sat down to eat and wait Went to buy a book to read on the flight (The Da Vinci Code - great book!) since I was sitting away from DW and DS. As I returned and sat down the gate attendant announced that the following passengers were to present their passes at the desk by the time he was done the list almost half the plane was called!! We were presented with seats all together in row 43 A,B,C! Apparantly, the plane was sold out, but not very well organized, with many parties slplit up. NWA tried their best to put families together on the 757!! Thank you!!
Boarded by 10:00 and DS picked the window seat (Hey! That's Dad's seat!) He was extremely happy that we would all be together for the flight.
He and I played with his new Spongebob invisible pen book for almost an hour he was engrossed with it!! Mom slept while we snacked and played. After mom woke up, DS and I changed seats so he could show her what we had solved in the books. Before we knew it, the pilot announced that we were beginning our descent into Orlando. Again, the strong tail wind pushed us quickly towards our destination. Landed at 2:05 almost a half hour early.
It felt like we hadnt left! Riding the monorail to the terminal brought back the memories of last year sans Auntie K though
Baggage claim area B was crowded, and it took awhile to find our luggage (we found a bag that matched ours but it didn't have the Canadian Flag baggage tag - I had to stop DW from walking off with it!) Finally got our bags and headed down to level 1 to grab our car rented from Alamo no quicksilver kiosk anymore so out to the garage we went. Paperwork took maybe 5 minutes, and we grabbed a Dodge Stratus and stuffed our bags in and headed for the attendant.
By 2:55 we were on the road. The sun came out and welcomed us back to Orlando!! Two tolls on 417 and soon the familiar sites of I4 and 536 came into view!! Over to downtown Dsiney to get our passes. Parking was tough by the marketplace much better by PI. - Have to keep that in mind for next time...
Bought DS some McDonalds - figured if we did it now, we might get away without having to eat there again all week...and sat out in the sun to eat.
Into the Lego store we went, where someone found himself surrounded by Bioncles, lifesize and otherwise!! He showed signs of his mother with oohs and ahhhs, and I gotta buy somethings
We were able to pull him out of there without issue, and went to guest relations to get our MVMCPs and my AP renewal fixed up. - New CM renewed my AP over the phone, but gave me the Charter AP rate (it was a great deal, but my conscience got the better of me- so I had to get it straighened out)
Walked back towards the car and people watched along the way, feeling the tiredness and strain of the early morning begin to pull at us. I felt the stress and tension of the past few months begin to loosen, and soaked up the atmosphere.
We needed to pick up some groceries at Goodings, and finally arrived at All Stars Sports just after 5:15.
Check-in was easy, and we were off to our room by 5:30ish. When booking the room I had requested a non-smoking ground-floor room in a preferred building - got building 1, Room 138. Just what the doctor ordered - a short walk to the main building.
DS was ready to watch TV but agreed to one last trip to the car for the groceries he dropped the apples on the way back and got very upset at himself (tired no doubt) We unpacked and settled in, I walked around our building to get my bearings, and then mom set off to get new mugs and a turkey wrap. DS and mom settled in to watch Little Mermaid and Tarzan as I typed out the days events into the laptop, by 8:00 we were all in bed, DS fell asleep quickly once he stopped fighting it and mom and dad were not far behind
Link to my pictures from the trip!!
Link to Part 4!
'Twas the night before leaving,
and all through the house,
nobody slept very well,
We were dreaming of a mouse...
We've settled into bed for that wonderful-last-sleep-at-home-before-our-Disney trip. We leave in the morning - time for some sleep...
DS woke up just before midnight - Is it time to get up? He asks.
No! Go back to sleep!!
1:30 - same thing.
and again at 3:30...
He's not excited about going back to Disney World is he?
Finally, after the clock decides we've had enough torture, the alarm goes off at 5:00 am. We're showered, got the coffee on, and wake DS at 5:25.
The phone rings. We get a call from Lorne the limo driver at 5:35 - said hed be by in 5 10 minutes (it was closer to five )
DS slept in his clothes and even though he didn't sleep the best, hes ready and very chipper and happy. DW and I are a little nervous, we always are just before a trip - afraid we've missed something, or haven't thought of everything we need to take, etc, but we're all packed and ready to go though. Limo driver takes the bags out, we say our goodbyes to MIL (they've come to house sit while we're away, and both have doctor's appointments and check-ups scheduled ) and goodbye to our cats (DS says he'll miss them - but somehow I think he'll be too occupied!!)
I gulp down the last of my coffee, and a single slice of toast. We're off to YWG by 5:45 arrive by 6:00 (I checked in using NWA.com but didnt get 3 seats all together for us on our connecting flight (580) from MSP to MCO) the computer showed the entire flight booked, with no room to select any seats - no luck when I asked at check in at Winnipeg, try MSP she advised.
Customs was a breeze with the passports As luck would have it, we get the same Mr Customs guy as last year no troubles for mom this time around, and without Auntie K, and her produce smuggling ways, we were screened and x-rayed without much difficulty. Unless you count having to remove my belt, shoes, hat and sunglasses, cameras, video camera, laptop, etc and being asked to sample my Tims double double in front of the agent
(what, at 6:30 Im going to waste my morning java on some security threat??) but alas no flashing lights or blaring sirens as we left US Customs and headed up to the gate.We waited for the pre boarding of the flight, while DS snacked on Timbits and chocolate milk. He also kept busy playing with his Yu-gi-oh Egyptian God cards (he printed them off the web - and is very proud of them! - Does anyone understand the rules to Yu-Gi-Oh? or how to play? He keeps wanting to duel - but I know for a fact I don't understand the game, and am pretty sure he doesn't either)
We boarded the plane by 7:00. Tired but anxious to get the trip underway. Before the trip I bought DS a pair of ear bands hearing protectors - they're used in the workshop, and I thought they'd help with air pressure on the flight - they're meant to protect your ears from loud sounds, so they'll be great on any rides in the parks where he might be a little nervous due to volume levels. He likes them!! I hope he uses them in the parks if needed. Take off was easy, wind out of the north, temperature 10 C (14 F) and cloudy. Once we reached cruising altitude the turbulence was very rough so we dropped down to a lower but calmer level and were fine for the remainder of the flight.
Mom brought out the Incredibles toys that MIl and FIL bought for DS for the flights. He was in heaven! As a surprise, we'll be going to the movies at DTD at some point during the trip!
A strong tail wind pushed us to MSP DS loved looking at the tops of the clouds as we approached, and had fun watching us drop through them. Landed without any issue at 8:55 almost 25 minutes early. Gate F13 headed for Gate G17.
Bought paninis (Mmmmmm...) and water along the route, and made our way along the moving sidewalks to the departure gate.
Holy packed Batman! Finally found some seats and sat down to eat and wait Went to buy a book to read on the flight (The Da Vinci Code - great book!) since I was sitting away from DW and DS. As I returned and sat down the gate attendant announced that the following passengers were to present their passes at the desk by the time he was done the list almost half the plane was called!! We were presented with seats all together in row 43 A,B,C! Apparantly, the plane was sold out, but not very well organized, with many parties slplit up. NWA tried their best to put families together on the 757!! Thank you!!
Boarded by 10:00 and DS picked the window seat (Hey! That's Dad's seat!) He was extremely happy that we would all be together for the flight.
He and I played with his new Spongebob invisible pen book for almost an hour he was engrossed with it!! Mom slept while we snacked and played. After mom woke up, DS and I changed seats so he could show her what we had solved in the books. Before we knew it, the pilot announced that we were beginning our descent into Orlando. Again, the strong tail wind pushed us quickly towards our destination. Landed at 2:05 almost a half hour early.
It felt like we hadnt left! Riding the monorail to the terminal brought back the memories of last year sans Auntie K though
Baggage claim area B was crowded, and it took awhile to find our luggage (we found a bag that matched ours but it didn't have the Canadian Flag baggage tag - I had to stop DW from walking off with it!) Finally got our bags and headed down to level 1 to grab our car rented from Alamo no quicksilver kiosk anymore so out to the garage we went. Paperwork took maybe 5 minutes, and we grabbed a Dodge Stratus and stuffed our bags in and headed for the attendant.
By 2:55 we were on the road. The sun came out and welcomed us back to Orlando!! Two tolls on 417 and soon the familiar sites of I4 and 536 came into view!! Over to downtown Dsiney to get our passes. Parking was tough by the marketplace much better by PI. - Have to keep that in mind for next time...
Bought DS some McDonalds - figured if we did it now, we might get away without having to eat there again all week...and sat out in the sun to eat.
Into the Lego store we went, where someone found himself surrounded by Bioncles, lifesize and otherwise!! He showed signs of his mother with oohs and ahhhs, and I gotta buy somethings
We were able to pull him out of there without issue, and went to guest relations to get our MVMCPs and my AP renewal fixed up. - New CM renewed my AP over the phone, but gave me the Charter AP rate (it was a great deal, but my conscience got the better of me- so I had to get it straighened out) Walked back towards the car and people watched along the way, feeling the tiredness and strain of the early morning begin to pull at us. I felt the stress and tension of the past few months begin to loosen, and soaked up the atmosphere.
We needed to pick up some groceries at Goodings, and finally arrived at All Stars Sports just after 5:15.
Check-in was easy, and we were off to our room by 5:30ish. When booking the room I had requested a non-smoking ground-floor room in a preferred building - got building 1, Room 138. Just what the doctor ordered - a short walk to the main building.
DS was ready to watch TV but agreed to one last trip to the car for the groceries he dropped the apples on the way back and got very upset at himself (tired no doubt) We unpacked and settled in, I walked around our building to get my bearings, and then mom set off to get new mugs and a turkey wrap. DS and mom settled in to watch Little Mermaid and Tarzan as I typed out the days events into the laptop, by 8:00 we were all in bed, DS fell asleep quickly once he stopped fighting it and mom and dad were not far behind
Link to my pictures from the trip!!
Link to Part 4!
