ClareH37
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2006
- Messages
- 1,880
To cut a very long story short, I changed my resort from a split stay at the Portofino and Yacht Club CL, to YC/BC CL, Animal Kingdom Lodge CL, Yacht Club CL, Yacht Club WV, Yacht Club CL and finally settled for the Boardwalk Inn CL - why I couldn't have just gone with the Boardwalk Inn in the first place as I love the CL there is anybodies guess but the 40% general public discount helped in my decision 
And I won't even go near the ADRs, I made so many changes I probably messed up the Disney Dining system. 
I opted for a 7 night stay with 7 day park hopper and deluxe dining plan - and the best bit, I was going SOLO!!
I had been planning this trip for ages but then *that* volcano in Iceland erupted and my plans were thrown into disarray. Things started to settle down after the initial big eruption and I started to look forward to the trip, but then with a few days to go the ash cloud came back
I scared myself silly with first of all thinking I wouldn't get away, then if I did get away was it safe, etc., etc.
In the end as the flight was still flying I decided it must be safe
So, with less than 24 hours to go I finally started to pack and write out my luggage tags. As last year, I was travelling with Virgin Atlantic, Upper Class - as a nervous flyer this does help a little, OK probably a lot, to help calm my flight anxiety.
At 6 am my car arrived and after a somewhat hair-raising journey (think Big Thunder Mountain Railroad but in a car!) I arrived at Gatwick Airport just 25 minutes later (I usually allow around 45 minutes-1 hour to get to Gatwick), it was very busy, surprising given it was outside the UK school holidays, but thankfully I was checked in quickly and was soon through security enroute to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse (lounge for Upper Class passengers).
I was glad of the peaceful haven of the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. First things first, even before I hit the alcohol, I went to book a treatment at the Cowshed Spa and ended up booking the 'hot stone hand and arm treatment' but without the hot stones for a little later - it was blissful and involved a massage of the hands/arms/shoulders, exfoliation and tidying up the cuticles.
Before the treatment I grabbed a seat by the window to watch the planes, and ordered a Bellini (first of 3) with a bowl of cornflakes. I plugged myself into my iPod, read 'Hello' and texted a couple of friends who helped calm my pre flight nerves especially when I had a 'freak out' moment when 3 young middle eastern gentlemen arrived not speaking English (sorry, I don't wish to offend anyone and I actually feel bad for even thinking it, but I couldn't help thinking about certain issues), however, all was well (with me) when it materialised they were flying to Las Vegas and not Orlando.
Flight was boarding/departing on time according to the Clubhouse so I made my way down to Gate 13 (my second freaking out moment, was no. 13 going to be a lucky omen or not!) and bypassed the long line (full flight with 454 passengers) to the priority line, straight through - the security checks are now only random - and plonked myself down in a seat. Spoke to a lovely family whose daughter was crew and the mum was very nervous too so we tried to reassure each other lol we were both Disney nuts so even better!
1 hour later we finally boarded, we were delayed due to the cleaners not cleaning properly and the Captain calling them back on, by which time we had missed our take off slot. The Captain then advised the flight would take longer than usual (up to 2 hours) as we were travelling an alternative route to avoid the ash cloud, he also asked people not to worry. We ended up travelling down through Spain/Portugal then across to Canada and down to Orlando - one very long flight.
The FSM (Flight Service Manager) came around to introduce herself and neither of us could believe it but we went to school together over 20 years ago - we both looked at each other, said OMG I know you, and burst out laughing. Needless to say a great flight followed with lots of chatting/reminiscing, despite a fair amount of turbulence and the time factor.
Time passed by slowly with the extra time and I really started to wonder if we'd ever get to Orlando, but obviously we did! The plane landed, the doors opened and I was out of that door like a horse out of the starting stalls lol, straight into immigration where there were literally only a few people there. I had been stressing about being quizzed as I had heard 'stories' of international solos being given extra questions, I needn't have worried, another minute and I was throw where my luggage was already waiting for me on the carrousel, I then made my way to the Magical Express, checked in (no-one in line) and waited another 10 minutes for the bus to depart - very very easy, it only took me a maximum of 15 minutes to get from the plane to sitting on the Magical Express. The bus stopped first at Port Orleans Riverside, then Boardwalk before heading onto the Beach Club. There were a few of us getting off at the Boardwalk, I advised the valet I was staying club level and I was taken up to the lounge to check in where I was warmly greeted by the wonderful cast members I had met the previous year. I was finally home
I was allocated room 4237 which is a king size Boardwalk view directly opposite the lounge, perfect location.
I was so very tired but hungry, so opted for room service, I was on the deluxe dining plan and the cast member taking my order 'talked me into' ordering fruit/cheese plate, followed by a cheeseburger with house chips. When it arrived there was way too much food, I took a half hearted photo (minus the burger!), but you'll be glad to hear the photos improve the next day.
By the time the food arrived (30 minutes later) I was just too tired to eat I hardly touched the food I was so tired, I had a lunch booked at Tokyo Dining the next day but decided to hop over to another park first, whichever bus came along first - I then fell asleep with the lights still on I was that tired!
And I won't even go near the ADRs, I made so many changes I probably messed up the Disney Dining system. I opted for a 7 night stay with 7 day park hopper and deluxe dining plan - and the best bit, I was going SOLO!!
I had been planning this trip for ages but then *that* volcano in Iceland erupted and my plans were thrown into disarray. Things started to settle down after the initial big eruption and I started to look forward to the trip, but then with a few days to go the ash cloud came back
I scared myself silly with first of all thinking I wouldn't get away, then if I did get away was it safe, etc., etc. In the end as the flight was still flying I decided it must be safe
So, with less than 24 hours to go I finally started to pack and write out my luggage tags. As last year, I was travelling with Virgin Atlantic, Upper Class - as a nervous flyer this does help a little, OK probably a lot, to help calm my flight anxiety.
At 6 am my car arrived and after a somewhat hair-raising journey (think Big Thunder Mountain Railroad but in a car!) I arrived at Gatwick Airport just 25 minutes later (I usually allow around 45 minutes-1 hour to get to Gatwick), it was very busy, surprising given it was outside the UK school holidays, but thankfully I was checked in quickly and was soon through security enroute to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse (lounge for Upper Class passengers).
I was glad of the peaceful haven of the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. First things first, even before I hit the alcohol, I went to book a treatment at the Cowshed Spa and ended up booking the 'hot stone hand and arm treatment' but without the hot stones for a little later - it was blissful and involved a massage of the hands/arms/shoulders, exfoliation and tidying up the cuticles.
Before the treatment I grabbed a seat by the window to watch the planes, and ordered a Bellini (first of 3) with a bowl of cornflakes. I plugged myself into my iPod, read 'Hello' and texted a couple of friends who helped calm my pre flight nerves especially when I had a 'freak out' moment when 3 young middle eastern gentlemen arrived not speaking English (sorry, I don't wish to offend anyone and I actually feel bad for even thinking it, but I couldn't help thinking about certain issues), however, all was well (with me) when it materialised they were flying to Las Vegas and not Orlando.
Flight was boarding/departing on time according to the Clubhouse so I made my way down to Gate 13 (my second freaking out moment, was no. 13 going to be a lucky omen or not!) and bypassed the long line (full flight with 454 passengers) to the priority line, straight through - the security checks are now only random - and plonked myself down in a seat. Spoke to a lovely family whose daughter was crew and the mum was very nervous too so we tried to reassure each other lol we were both Disney nuts so even better!
1 hour later we finally boarded, we were delayed due to the cleaners not cleaning properly and the Captain calling them back on, by which time we had missed our take off slot. The Captain then advised the flight would take longer than usual (up to 2 hours) as we were travelling an alternative route to avoid the ash cloud, he also asked people not to worry. We ended up travelling down through Spain/Portugal then across to Canada and down to Orlando - one very long flight.
The FSM (Flight Service Manager) came around to introduce herself and neither of us could believe it but we went to school together over 20 years ago - we both looked at each other, said OMG I know you, and burst out laughing. Needless to say a great flight followed with lots of chatting/reminiscing, despite a fair amount of turbulence and the time factor.
Time passed by slowly with the extra time and I really started to wonder if we'd ever get to Orlando, but obviously we did! The plane landed, the doors opened and I was out of that door like a horse out of the starting stalls lol, straight into immigration where there were literally only a few people there. I had been stressing about being quizzed as I had heard 'stories' of international solos being given extra questions, I needn't have worried, another minute and I was throw where my luggage was already waiting for me on the carrousel, I then made my way to the Magical Express, checked in (no-one in line) and waited another 10 minutes for the bus to depart - very very easy, it only took me a maximum of 15 minutes to get from the plane to sitting on the Magical Express. The bus stopped first at Port Orleans Riverside, then Boardwalk before heading onto the Beach Club. There were a few of us getting off at the Boardwalk, I advised the valet I was staying club level and I was taken up to the lounge to check in where I was warmly greeted by the wonderful cast members I had met the previous year. I was finally home
I was allocated room 4237 which is a king size Boardwalk view directly opposite the lounge, perfect location.
I was so very tired but hungry, so opted for room service, I was on the deluxe dining plan and the cast member taking my order 'talked me into' ordering fruit/cheese plate, followed by a cheeseburger with house chips. When it arrived there was way too much food, I took a half hearted photo (minus the burger!), but you'll be glad to hear the photos improve the next day.
By the time the food arrived (30 minutes later) I was just too tired to eat I hardly touched the food I was so tired, I had a lunch booked at Tokyo Dining the next day but decided to hop over to another park first, whichever bus came along first - I then fell asleep with the lights still on I was that tired!
I'm working on it (have to resize photos) so next day will probably be tomorrow.
It looks so bright and airy that I am starting to suspect that I won't miss the GF at all! 
