Goofydiane
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2002
- Messages
- 1,104
My first attempt at writing a trip report.....be patient with me.
Who: Diane (me) somewhere between 30 and 40
Mom if I wrote her age down, I wouldn't see tomorrow!
Dad 66 (gives you a clue on mom's age)
Where: Animal Kingdom Lodge
When: November 28 - December 8
Why: It's Christmas time!
Today's Plan: Pack, Shop, Leave
I get up at 7:30am and am packed by 8:00am. We are all showered and out the door by 10:15am. I decided to forgoe heading over to EPCOT to see Off Kilter this morning. I will listen to the CD at work all day tomorrow instead.
We have breakfast at Boma, did a little shopping in the marketplace (2 faceplates for light fixtures and a dish with 2 giraffe's on it) is all I buy. We pack up my parents van and head over to Downtown Disney.
It is noon and we make plans to meet up at 1:00pm. I wanted to go get some stuff at both Days of Christmas and the Gallery. The plan was to have the Gallery stuff shipped, so I didn't have to bring it on the plane. I get to Days of Christmas and the lines are 20 people deep everywhere! YIKES! I really wanted the Four for a Dollar CD of Christmas songs, so I get it and some christmas cards and get in line. I got in line at 12:20pm and by 12:30pm I hadn't moved. I went to a CM to ask if they were going to open another register and she was not pleasant when she said..."NO". I track the manager down and inquire on opening another register....she looks at the lines and gets a register open and I am paid and out the door at 12:55pm. No time for the gallery (my bank account appreciates it). I meet up with my parents and we are off to the airport. I realize I'm heading to the airport 4 hours before my flight...I could tell me dad was tired and they were driving another 90 minutes to Daytona Beach so I figured this gets him there early. I can hang at an airport - I do it often for work.
No problems with check-in. I'm again in First Class (hopefully no kids this time!). I ask about priority security lines and the United agent said "No, not here". I go around the corner and the lines for security are all through the que. When I get to the beginning of the line, I ask the security guy if there is a line for First Class - he let's me in his line. I admit - I'm a spoiled traveler. I travel over 100 flights a year - I hate to wait!. I get to the gate and watch the football game. Atlanta/Tampa Bay and read a People Magazine.
No delays in getting back to Denver, flight was like driving on a dirt road for a few hours. The movie was "Spy Kids 2"....people actually paid to see this movie at the theatre? It was stupid!
Got my luggage with minimal delay and roommate got there about 5 minutes after I got down to wait for him. He said he had a surprise for me when I got home......so 45 minutes of asking questions, with no answers....I get home. Christmas lights are on the house, tree is up and the lights are on, house is clean and......he finished the basement! (bought house with unfinished basement)! WOW...I didn't know what to say.
OVERALL: I really enjoyed myself this trip and we had a great room at AKL. Now that I'm home, I can tell - it was 4519. There are 2 giraffe feeders outside this block of rooms as well as a watering hole. We had animals at all times of the day and night.
Top Three: 1. Morning Safari with the giraffe close enough to touch the safari vehicle. 2. Riding Big Thunder Mountain over and over without getting off. 3. Candlelight Processional - Marlee Matlin was fabulous.
Biggest Complaint: 1. People who smoke outside of the designated smoking areas. 2. Cast Members who ignore and do nothing about the people smoking in the non-smoking areas. (Can you tell I have an issue with this?)
Thanks everyone for reading - and let me know if you have any questions.
Happy Holidays!
Diane
Who: Diane (me) somewhere between 30 and 40
Mom if I wrote her age down, I wouldn't see tomorrow!
Dad 66 (gives you a clue on mom's age)
Where: Animal Kingdom Lodge
When: November 28 - December 8
Why: It's Christmas time!
Today's Plan: Pack, Shop, Leave
I get up at 7:30am and am packed by 8:00am. We are all showered and out the door by 10:15am. I decided to forgoe heading over to EPCOT to see Off Kilter this morning. I will listen to the CD at work all day tomorrow instead.
We have breakfast at Boma, did a little shopping in the marketplace (2 faceplates for light fixtures and a dish with 2 giraffe's on it) is all I buy. We pack up my parents van and head over to Downtown Disney.
It is noon and we make plans to meet up at 1:00pm. I wanted to go get some stuff at both Days of Christmas and the Gallery. The plan was to have the Gallery stuff shipped, so I didn't have to bring it on the plane. I get to Days of Christmas and the lines are 20 people deep everywhere! YIKES! I really wanted the Four for a Dollar CD of Christmas songs, so I get it and some christmas cards and get in line. I got in line at 12:20pm and by 12:30pm I hadn't moved. I went to a CM to ask if they were going to open another register and she was not pleasant when she said..."NO". I track the manager down and inquire on opening another register....she looks at the lines and gets a register open and I am paid and out the door at 12:55pm. No time for the gallery (my bank account appreciates it). I meet up with my parents and we are off to the airport. I realize I'm heading to the airport 4 hours before my flight...I could tell me dad was tired and they were driving another 90 minutes to Daytona Beach so I figured this gets him there early. I can hang at an airport - I do it often for work.
No problems with check-in. I'm again in First Class (hopefully no kids this time!). I ask about priority security lines and the United agent said "No, not here". I go around the corner and the lines for security are all through the que. When I get to the beginning of the line, I ask the security guy if there is a line for First Class - he let's me in his line. I admit - I'm a spoiled traveler. I travel over 100 flights a year - I hate to wait!. I get to the gate and watch the football game. Atlanta/Tampa Bay and read a People Magazine.
No delays in getting back to Denver, flight was like driving on a dirt road for a few hours. The movie was "Spy Kids 2"....people actually paid to see this movie at the theatre? It was stupid!
Got my luggage with minimal delay and roommate got there about 5 minutes after I got down to wait for him. He said he had a surprise for me when I got home......so 45 minutes of asking questions, with no answers....I get home. Christmas lights are on the house, tree is up and the lights are on, house is clean and......he finished the basement! (bought house with unfinished basement)! WOW...I didn't know what to say.
OVERALL: I really enjoyed myself this trip and we had a great room at AKL. Now that I'm home, I can tell - it was 4519. There are 2 giraffe feeders outside this block of rooms as well as a watering hole. We had animals at all times of the day and night.
Top Three: 1. Morning Safari with the giraffe close enough to touch the safari vehicle. 2. Riding Big Thunder Mountain over and over without getting off. 3. Candlelight Processional - Marlee Matlin was fabulous.
Biggest Complaint: 1. People who smoke outside of the designated smoking areas. 2. Cast Members who ignore and do nothing about the people smoking in the non-smoking areas. (Can you tell I have an issue with this?)
Thanks everyone for reading - and let me know if you have any questions.
Happy Holidays!
Diane
