laura74
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2007
- Messages
- 768
Yay! Someone else has joined my party. Welcome!
Do I sound a little over eager? Good thing I'm married because I'd never get a second date that way.
Disney Nomads ... 3 Resorts in 8 Nights! ALL NEW 9/2!
- Thread starter laura74
- Start date
Yay! Someone else has joined my party. Welcome!
Do I sound a little over eager? Good thing I'm married because I'd never get a second date that way.
smidgy
dimples
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2006
- Messages
- 8,146
I decided to stay seated for a while since we arent going anywhere anytime soon. This is unusual for me because usually Im one of those people standing in front of their seat with their head all bent to one side because the ceilings too low. I dont know why I do it but I do. So this time Im going to be more mature and patient and set a better example for my daughter.
me too!
We finally get off the plane and find our friends who are fussing with their luggage and taking turns in the restroom. Sheena decides to look at the silver jewelry cart. Sheena, we say, this is not the time for shopping! You have all week and many stores to visit and this place will be here when Magical Express takes you to the airport a full 3 hours before departure time! She will not be swayed and looks anyway.
[B]I have little tolerance for "shoppers". nebo is lucky, (he just doesn't realize it)[/B]
. Like gum, Diet Pepsi is not available in Disney World and S likes her Diet Pepsi. Score! We find some at the kiosk in the middle of the terminal.
I knew that about diet pepsi (from Utah mama) but not about gum.. which reminds me we need some for our upcoming flight (the only time I chew gum)
Now, we have a very motley looking bunch of luggage. First we have two large neon green suitcases. Back in 1999, when Mr. Squid and I were readying for a trip to Punta Cana we decided we needed some new luggage. Mr. Squid decided to take this task on himself. A few days before we were to leave he calls me at work to tell me about this great bargain he found and what great quality this luggage was. He proceed to talk about the various compartments, locks, wheels and other bells and whistles. Sounds great, I say.
And then I came home and saw them.
Now, I can look back and laugh and Im not quite so embarrassed about them as I was then. It does make it easy to spot them on the carousel and they really do have some nice compartments.
our suitcases are "early garage sale" so nebo finally went and bought a new set,, just one set.. but I cant imagaine having only a carry on!
enjoying your report!
smidgy
dimples
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2006
- Messages
- 8,146
Eh. Not bad but certainly no secret, around the corner Wishes views here. We are right above the marshmallow toasting area and have a view of the lake and the Contemporary pool. Could be worse. (Thats a little foreshadowing there )
uhoh!
Contempo Café is located right next to Chef Mickeys. We had never been there before so we spent a bit of time in front of the menus and reading the directions on how to order. I get a little nervous at restaurants that make ordering so complicated that you need directions at the door.
we never did eat there.. we were also intimidated by the ordering process.
Its got to be her! The Marsupial! My sisters office nemesis! What a small world. I cant believe The Marsupial is at my resort!
A little background: My sister and I both worked at Company Name. And Company Name had quite a few characters and my sister had names for a lot of them. My favorite was Testimonial Pants but there are also favorites like Sponge Lady and Moose Man. The Marsupial, like Testimonial Pants, liked to announce to everyone in a teeny tiny little girl voice all the work she had accomplished. And this happened every single day. And it drove my sister nuts. That and the fact that she complained that she could only wear clothes from Gap Kids. In explanation of the name, my sister would just say that shes marsupial-like.
I LOVE the nicknames you give people!
I explain it all to Mr. Squid who looks at me like Im crazy so I get my phone out to text my sister. The Marsupial is at our resort. She says hello.
And then I realize I sent it to her outdated cell number. I wonder what the recipient thought of that. Probably thought she had somehow intercepted a spy call like "The crow flies at noon."
:rotfl2:this is JUST hilarious!
very funny! I am wondering, though, what did you mean by Nebo not sounding like me? hmm?
Just wanted to let you know I found you and will be following. Enjoying your first day so far. I have contemplated getting APs, but since we live in California, and haven't been to WDW for 6 years, I wonder if it is just my excitement about our upcoming trip.
laura74
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2007
- Messages
- 768
I guess they're worried that people will stick gum everywhere.
I have an obsession with feeling minty clean. I always have those listerine sprays with me. I'm like a 70s lounge lizard spraying binaca before he chats up the ladies. Anyway, I can't sit at my desk spraying listerine because it makes noise so I chew gum. But only for a couple minutes before the taste changes and I get rid of it (in paper of course!). Weird, I know. I'm probably Gum Girl in the office. I can't find the perfect mint either.
Thanks! I love reading about your trips and I'm so excited that you're going on another one soon!
very funny! I am wondering, though, what did you mean by Nebo not sounding like me? hmm?
I don't know. It just sounded Neboish.
Thanks for joining!
Maybe you should get that special pass for WDW and DL!
appleorchard
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2006
- Messages
- 1,607
Your report is absolutely hilarious so far--keep it up and you'll end with as many readers as Nebo. (well, maybe not with your first report, but owning DVC, you can cenrtainly build your audience over time!)
laura74
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2007
- Messages
- 768
I know what you mean about "neboish"!
Thanks so much! I'll have to practice my marketing skills to get more readers!
Sorry Smidgy. I had some freelance projects that I had to take care of first. Gotta bring home extra bacon for more trips! Once coming up momentarily.
laura74
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2007
- Messages
- 768
After the successful shooting of Tinkerbell (Wow! That sounds like we killed her!), I watch the rest of Wishes with 20,000 of my closest friends. We must be friends, right? Because we’re definitely all up in each other’s business.
I dread the end of the show because somehow all 20,000 (or more!) of us are going to have to get up and go somewhere, anywhere. And with extra magic hours plus a regular late night, not everybody is going to be heading like lemmings to the exit. This should be interesting.
I tell Mr. Squid that we should head toward Adventureland because that’s what Josh easywdw says to do. So off we go like a herd of turtles. I have no idea if we are heading in the right direction. I can’t see anything in front of me, to the side of me or behind me. Just a big smush of people slowly inching away from the castle. It feels like this has been going on for hours. When will this crowd break up? It must be even worse for Monkston being butt-level to so many people.
Finally, we break free and head with a smaller crowd to one of my favorite rides, Pirates! I can’t wait to get on our boat and relax and sing ho ho ho! I see it ahead, doesn’t look like there’s much of a line…and it’s closed! What the what??? Now what?
Jungle Cruise is fun at night so we decide to head over there…and it looks like everyone else had the same idea. 40 minutes is too long to wait for any ride, much less one that’s enjoyment rests solely on the comedic talents of the tour guide.
(Aside: Now I’m in a bit of a quandary. I could go on an on about where we went and what rides we went on but I think that will be a bit boring to you dear reader. So I will stick with the highlights. Maybe you want to hear about the new Storybook Circus? I thought so. Fast forward to the circus.)
After some ride riding, we met up with Sheena and company and headed over to Storybook Circus. I’m completely turned around and embarrassed that even with the number of times I’ve been here, I have no idea where in Fantasyland I am. With the dark and the construction walls I am completely confused. Of course I don’t let on. I pretend I know exactly where I am and where I’m going and that all this meandering is on purpose. Finally we get to the new section which isn’t that obvious because there are still walls around the pathway leading to it.
My first impression is very favorable. As usual the imagineers have paid attention to detail. The walkways have animal paw prints and peanuts imbedded in them. The garbage cans are all themed for the circus. Dumbo now has water around it which is a pretty addition.
We decide to ride since there is only a 10 minute wait. I know I said I wouldn’t talk about ride riding but the queue is very odd. After you get to a certain point in the queue, a cast member hands you a plastic ticket. Ok, I think. That’s kind of cute. Then you walk about 15 feet to another cast member who takes your ticket and let you onto the ride. There didn’t see any reason for this other than maybe keeping cast members busy. The ride itself was no different. Up, down, round, round, blah blah.
Goofy is also pretty much the same except with different décor. It was cute but over too quickly.
The best part of Storybook Circus is in the train station. Not the train station itself, though it is quite lovely, but in the train station. The new restrooms in the train station are the best I’ve visited in any of the parks. They have actual counters with sinks and mirrors! No juggling my purse at that little mirror by the door. No trying to stay out of everyone’s way as they try to exit. If I needed to, I could fix my lipstick to my heart’s content. Oh happy day! This is definitely worth a trek from other areas of the park.
The rest of the party wants to go to the speedway and I can do without inhaling exhaust and listening to lawn motor engines so I decide to get a cup of not-coffee at Cosmic Ray’s. It’s now about 12:30 or so and I’ve been up since 5:00 so I need a little caffeine to keep up.
I get in what appears to be the shortest line. It looks like they only have two bays open at this point so if someone gets a hankering for a chicken and rib dinner they are out of luck. The cast member reminds everyone that they can form lines on either side of her. No problem, I think. I can do that. I line up left like a good soldier. I figure this won’t take too long. I’m sure most people are just getting drinks and snacks. I’m just getting a black not-coffee. Easy peasy.
But…
The family in front seems to be leaving all the decision making to the toddler member of their party and Disney being Disney the cast member must just smile and wait patiently. I’m not smiling and waiting patiently. Finally, they move on and there are 3 parties ahead of me. I wait some more and get to the front and just as I’m about to place my not-coffee order, they close the line!
Now that is very un-Disneylike, don’t you think? Shouldn’t they take care of the people in line and then close it? They even do that at the grocery story for goodness sake!
At this point I should have cut my losses but I was all in and went to the other bay. Great. Another line. I tell myself to be patient.
I repeat my mantra. I’m on vacation. I’m on vacation. It’s all good. I’m not in New Jersey now. The south moves slower. I’m on vacation.
Finally, I get my not-coffee, grab a straw to protect my whitened teeth, and take a sip of scalding hot blech. Wow. That’s just as bad as I remember. But I’m on a mission to stay awake, so drink it I must. That new Starbucks can’t be built fast enough!
More rides, more rides, more rides, no Pirates and we decide to ride Peter Pan.
It’s about 1:30 and there’s a 20 minute wait but we figure we can manage that. Sheena and family bail since they have to take the bus back Animal Kingdom Lodge. This is one of our favorites so we stick it out.
I decide to people watch and I’m amazed by the number of sleepy eyed children being propped up by their parents. There are crying children, sleeping children, whining children and yawning children. They don’t look like they’re in the happiest place on earth at the moment.
Peter Pan done, we walk (Walk!! How I love that we can walk!) back to our resort. It’s 2 am and time to call it a night.
I dread the end of the show because somehow all 20,000 (or more!) of us are going to have to get up and go somewhere, anywhere. And with extra magic hours plus a regular late night, not everybody is going to be heading like lemmings to the exit. This should be interesting.
I tell Mr. Squid that we should head toward Adventureland because that’s what Josh easywdw says to do. So off we go like a herd of turtles. I have no idea if we are heading in the right direction. I can’t see anything in front of me, to the side of me or behind me. Just a big smush of people slowly inching away from the castle. It feels like this has been going on for hours. When will this crowd break up? It must be even worse for Monkston being butt-level to so many people.
Finally, we break free and head with a smaller crowd to one of my favorite rides, Pirates! I can’t wait to get on our boat and relax and sing ho ho ho! I see it ahead, doesn’t look like there’s much of a line…and it’s closed! What the what??? Now what?
Jungle Cruise is fun at night so we decide to head over there…and it looks like everyone else had the same idea. 40 minutes is too long to wait for any ride, much less one that’s enjoyment rests solely on the comedic talents of the tour guide.
(Aside: Now I’m in a bit of a quandary. I could go on an on about where we went and what rides we went on but I think that will be a bit boring to you dear reader. So I will stick with the highlights. Maybe you want to hear about the new Storybook Circus? I thought so. Fast forward to the circus.)
After some ride riding, we met up with Sheena and company and headed over to Storybook Circus. I’m completely turned around and embarrassed that even with the number of times I’ve been here, I have no idea where in Fantasyland I am. With the dark and the construction walls I am completely confused. Of course I don’t let on. I pretend I know exactly where I am and where I’m going and that all this meandering is on purpose. Finally we get to the new section which isn’t that obvious because there are still walls around the pathway leading to it.
My first impression is very favorable. As usual the imagineers have paid attention to detail. The walkways have animal paw prints and peanuts imbedded in them. The garbage cans are all themed for the circus. Dumbo now has water around it which is a pretty addition.
We decide to ride since there is only a 10 minute wait. I know I said I wouldn’t talk about ride riding but the queue is very odd. After you get to a certain point in the queue, a cast member hands you a plastic ticket. Ok, I think. That’s kind of cute. Then you walk about 15 feet to another cast member who takes your ticket and let you onto the ride. There didn’t see any reason for this other than maybe keeping cast members busy. The ride itself was no different. Up, down, round, round, blah blah.
Goofy is also pretty much the same except with different décor. It was cute but over too quickly.
The best part of Storybook Circus is in the train station. Not the train station itself, though it is quite lovely, but in the train station. The new restrooms in the train station are the best I’ve visited in any of the parks. They have actual counters with sinks and mirrors! No juggling my purse at that little mirror by the door. No trying to stay out of everyone’s way as they try to exit. If I needed to, I could fix my lipstick to my heart’s content. Oh happy day! This is definitely worth a trek from other areas of the park.
The rest of the party wants to go to the speedway and I can do without inhaling exhaust and listening to lawn motor engines so I decide to get a cup of not-coffee at Cosmic Ray’s. It’s now about 12:30 or so and I’ve been up since 5:00 so I need a little caffeine to keep up.
I get in what appears to be the shortest line. It looks like they only have two bays open at this point so if someone gets a hankering for a chicken and rib dinner they are out of luck. The cast member reminds everyone that they can form lines on either side of her. No problem, I think. I can do that. I line up left like a good soldier. I figure this won’t take too long. I’m sure most people are just getting drinks and snacks. I’m just getting a black not-coffee. Easy peasy.
But…
The family in front seems to be leaving all the decision making to the toddler member of their party and Disney being Disney the cast member must just smile and wait patiently. I’m not smiling and waiting patiently. Finally, they move on and there are 3 parties ahead of me. I wait some more and get to the front and just as I’m about to place my not-coffee order, they close the line!
Now that is very un-Disneylike, don’t you think? Shouldn’t they take care of the people in line and then close it? They even do that at the grocery story for goodness sake!
At this point I should have cut my losses but I was all in and went to the other bay. Great. Another line. I tell myself to be patient.
I repeat my mantra. I’m on vacation. I’m on vacation. It’s all good. I’m not in New Jersey now. The south moves slower. I’m on vacation.
Finally, I get my not-coffee, grab a straw to protect my whitened teeth, and take a sip of scalding hot blech. Wow. That’s just as bad as I remember. But I’m on a mission to stay awake, so drink it I must. That new Starbucks can’t be built fast enough!
More rides, more rides, more rides, no Pirates and we decide to ride Peter Pan.
It’s about 1:30 and there’s a 20 minute wait but we figure we can manage that. Sheena and family bail since they have to take the bus back Animal Kingdom Lodge. This is one of our favorites so we stick it out.
I decide to people watch and I’m amazed by the number of sleepy eyed children being propped up by their parents. There are crying children, sleeping children, whining children and yawning children. They don’t look like they’re in the happiest place on earth at the moment.
Peter Pan done, we walk (Walk!! How I love that we can walk!) back to our resort. It’s 2 am and time to call it a night.
rabbitthecat
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2008
- Messages
- 38
Laura,
I really never post on reports (or much at all, as you can see from my abysmally low post count), but I had to chime in to compliment you on your report. Not only are you an excellent writer, it's also hilarious! Keep up the great work
I really never post on reports (or much at all, as you can see from my abysmally low post count), but I had to chime in to compliment you on your report. Not only are you an excellent writer, it's also hilarious! Keep up the great work
Kgroo
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2006
- Messages
- 356
Laura,
I really never post on reports (or much at all, as you can see from my abysmally low post count), but I had to chime in to compliment you on your report. Not only are you an excellent writer, it's also hilarious! Keep up the great work
Just noticed our ticker dates are the same
laura74
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2007
- Messages
- 768
Oh my gosh! You guys have totally made my day even though it really hasn't started yet. Thanks!
Thanks so much! I'm usually a lurker too but now that I'm writing a TR I leave a post for the writer.
Your DD is right. Every resort should have a monorail running through it!
Thanks so much! Plastic wine cups are the new black! Love it.
Laura,
I really never post on reports (or much at all, as you can see from my abysmally low post count), but I had to chime in to compliment you on your report. Not only are you an excellent writer, it's also hilarious! Keep up the great work
Thanks so much! I'm usually a lurker too but now that I'm writing a TR I leave a post for the writer.
I am reading along
Keep up the good work.
Your DD is right. Every resort should have a monorail running through it!
Thanks so much! Plastic wine cups are the new black! Love it.
laura74
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2007
- Messages
- 768
It was probably about 3 am before we finally got to sleep. You’re probably thinking to yourself, “It’s about time she got to the end of this day already.” And now I have. On to Day 2!
I had every intention of being decadent and sleeping late but my body clock had other ideas.
(Another aside: Please forgive me if I meander between past and present tenses. I still can’t quite figure out which is better. I think present tense may be more engaging to read but then I’ll forget and slip into past tense, because after all, this stuff has already happened. I know the ending.)
I see it’s 8am. Only 5 hours of sleep! At least we are staying in this big beautiful villa so I don’t have to drink my coffee in the bathroom vanity area. Monkston is on the pullout chair but she’ll sleep through anything.
I walk out to the living room and watch my sleeping daughter for a bit. My heart literally swells when I look at her sometimes. Isn’t it amazing how you can see the baby in them when they sleep? I swear her face looks just the same as when she was 12 months when she’s asleep.
Sentimental moment over! It’s time to make the coffee!
I forgot to mention that when we arrived I noticed that there was only one coffee packet in the kitchen. What was that mousekeeper (Giggling, mousekeeper! Too silly but I’ll go with it.) thinking? Does she think I need to cut down on caffeine? That we’re soda-in-the-morning people? Or worse yet, that we’re tea people? (I’m sorry to all you tea people, but I was a waitress at one time and tea people are usually a pain the butt to wait on.) We’re booked for three nights with no maid service. Why one pack of coffee?
Anyway, I called mousekeeping (mousekeeping!) and asked them to bring coffee and more laundry detergent. TIP: When you call for more supplies, make sure you’re on your way out the door so you don’t have to tip! Hmmm…that sounds really awful but this trip report aims to be truthful so judge if you must but be will go broke tipping bell services this trip.
So, now I have three packs of not the greatest tasting coffee but thankfully not the not-coffee they serve in the food court.
The coffee machine itself is not difficult to figure out but I have absolutely no idea how many cups of coffee this packet of coffee makes. I strain my eyes to read the mouse type (mouse type! How appropriate, but that's really what designers call it sometimes) and I see nothing about how much water to add. The coffee pot makes 12 cups maximum but it doesn’t look like there’s enough coffee for that. I go with 8 since I like strong coffee anyway.
(Wow! Did I really just go on for 4 paragraphs about making coffee? I feel for you dear reader. This is going to be a long day.)
I get out my iPad (I love my iPad so much! Monkston will turn it off on me when I pay too much attention to it) and answer some emails and check the news. It’s good that Disney finally entered the modern world of free wifi. Can you believe as early as last year they were charging $15 a day for internet?
I really want to read a book but the book I Kindle book I was reading on the plane was painfully terrible. It was an awful story about a beautiful but brilliant doctor radio host (??) with an advice show and a misogynistic, but handsome comedic radio host (I didn’t find anything he said funny) with a radio show about men being men, and they have to compete with each other to see who keeps their show. It was so so bad I couldn’t bear to finish it.
I have no idea what to download and then I see Hunger Games is really cheap. What little I know about this story sounds really awful but it’s so popular there’s got to be something to it, right? But a book about kids killing each other? I don’t know. On the other hand, the trilogy is only $18. Sold!
And I am hooked. This is not good. I’m in vacation wonderland and I’m going to want to keep visiting this dystopian nightmare. I’m going to find excuses to hang out at the pool rather than go to the park so I can read more Hunger Games.
Our plan for the day had originally been to hang out at the resort, lounge at the pool, rent some sea raycers and just meander rather than tour.
But, we had an annoying errand to run.
Last year when we signed up for DVC, our rep told us we would receive a $500 Disney gift card that would be good for a year. Great! We can use it for our next trip. Sign us up!
As we were packing for the trip Mr. Squid got out the card and noticed that it had expired in January! After many calls, DVC admitted that the mistake was theirs and if we bring the card to them they will issue a new one. Unfortunately we had to go all the way over to Saratoga Springs to do this. And you know how convenient travel between resorts is. And do not even suggest a cab. You don’t suggest a cab to Mr. Squid.
So, now the plan is to go to Downtown Disney, let Monkston spend some of her money and have lunch at TRex before heading over to the DVC office. It all sounds very easy on paper. I just want to get back to resort early enough to get some pool (Hunger Games!) time.
After everyone gets up and has a nutritious breakfast of mini powdered doughnuts, we head out to the bus stop.
I feel like one of the cool kids waiting for the bus at a deluxe resort! Is this how the other half lives?
Actually it feels much like waiting for a bus at a moderate resort.
It’s a beautiful day by the way. Just hot enough to not be uncomfortable and not one bit of humidity. I know this because my hair is a barometer for humidity. Last trip, I would walk out of the hotel room and would immediately feel my hair curling so I do not take this lovely weather for granted.
We wait. Oh look, a bus! To Animal Kingdom. Awwww.
We wait. Oh look, a bus! To Hollywood Studios. Awwww.
We wait. Oh look, a bus! To Animal Kingdom. What the?
We wait some more. Oh look, a bus! Surely this is going to Downtown Disney. It’s going to Animal Kingdom! How can this be? This is a deluxe resort, right? I thought we would be showered in buses.
Finally, FINALLY the bus we want arrives and we are the only ones on it. And here is where it gets strange.
The bus driver starts singing. I mean really belting it out like a lounge singer. Mr. Squid and I look at each other. What do you do in this situation? I guess the polite thing would be to compliment him on his lovely voice, so I do. And he starts singing louder. And he is really going to town, like he’s auditioning for American Idol! Now, he has a pleasant voice but it’s just so strange. I don’t know where to look. Do we clap?
Normally, I wouldn’t be happy about stopping at another resort but I’m just desperate for someone, anyone to get on the bus with us! We stop at the Polynesian and no one wants to go to Downtown Disney. I look out the window with pleading, frightened eyes but no one is coming to help us!
The show starts again as we make our way to the Grand Floridian. Please someone save us!
Yes! Another family is getting on the bus!
We pull away from the curb and the bus driver…acts normal. No singing, just “how you doing folks?” It’s like that frog who only sings for one guy and then when he tries to get him to sing for anyone else he acts like a frog. This guy is now acting like a bus driver. I decide to say nothing to the other family about it.
The rest of the trip went by without incident except I did notice a sign, a Disney sign mind you, that was done in Brush Script! Brush Script! Oh Disney. You wound me.
I had every intention of being decadent and sleeping late but my body clock had other ideas.
(Another aside: Please forgive me if I meander between past and present tenses. I still can’t quite figure out which is better. I think present tense may be more engaging to read but then I’ll forget and slip into past tense, because after all, this stuff has already happened. I know the ending.)
I see it’s 8am. Only 5 hours of sleep! At least we are staying in this big beautiful villa so I don’t have to drink my coffee in the bathroom vanity area. Monkston is on the pullout chair but she’ll sleep through anything.
I walk out to the living room and watch my sleeping daughter for a bit. My heart literally swells when I look at her sometimes. Isn’t it amazing how you can see the baby in them when they sleep? I swear her face looks just the same as when she was 12 months when she’s asleep.
Sentimental moment over! It’s time to make the coffee!
I forgot to mention that when we arrived I noticed that there was only one coffee packet in the kitchen. What was that mousekeeper (Giggling, mousekeeper! Too silly but I’ll go with it.) thinking? Does she think I need to cut down on caffeine? That we’re soda-in-the-morning people? Or worse yet, that we’re tea people? (I’m sorry to all you tea people, but I was a waitress at one time and tea people are usually a pain the butt to wait on.) We’re booked for three nights with no maid service. Why one pack of coffee?
Anyway, I called mousekeeping (mousekeeping!) and asked them to bring coffee and more laundry detergent. TIP: When you call for more supplies, make sure you’re on your way out the door so you don’t have to tip! Hmmm…that sounds really awful but this trip report aims to be truthful so judge if you must but be will go broke tipping bell services this trip.
So, now I have three packs of not the greatest tasting coffee but thankfully not the not-coffee they serve in the food court.
The coffee machine itself is not difficult to figure out but I have absolutely no idea how many cups of coffee this packet of coffee makes. I strain my eyes to read the mouse type (mouse type! How appropriate, but that's really what designers call it sometimes) and I see nothing about how much water to add. The coffee pot makes 12 cups maximum but it doesn’t look like there’s enough coffee for that. I go with 8 since I like strong coffee anyway.
(Wow! Did I really just go on for 4 paragraphs about making coffee? I feel for you dear reader. This is going to be a long day.)
I get out my iPad (I love my iPad so much! Monkston will turn it off on me when I pay too much attention to it) and answer some emails and check the news. It’s good that Disney finally entered the modern world of free wifi. Can you believe as early as last year they were charging $15 a day for internet?
I really want to read a book but the book I Kindle book I was reading on the plane was painfully terrible. It was an awful story about a beautiful but brilliant doctor radio host (??) with an advice show and a misogynistic, but handsome comedic radio host (I didn’t find anything he said funny) with a radio show about men being men, and they have to compete with each other to see who keeps their show. It was so so bad I couldn’t bear to finish it.
I have no idea what to download and then I see Hunger Games is really cheap. What little I know about this story sounds really awful but it’s so popular there’s got to be something to it, right? But a book about kids killing each other? I don’t know. On the other hand, the trilogy is only $18. Sold!
And I am hooked. This is not good. I’m in vacation wonderland and I’m going to want to keep visiting this dystopian nightmare. I’m going to find excuses to hang out at the pool rather than go to the park so I can read more Hunger Games.
Our plan for the day had originally been to hang out at the resort, lounge at the pool, rent some sea raycers and just meander rather than tour.
But, we had an annoying errand to run.
Last year when we signed up for DVC, our rep told us we would receive a $500 Disney gift card that would be good for a year. Great! We can use it for our next trip. Sign us up!
As we were packing for the trip Mr. Squid got out the card and noticed that it had expired in January! After many calls, DVC admitted that the mistake was theirs and if we bring the card to them they will issue a new one. Unfortunately we had to go all the way over to Saratoga Springs to do this. And you know how convenient travel between resorts is. And do not even suggest a cab. You don’t suggest a cab to Mr. Squid.
So, now the plan is to go to Downtown Disney, let Monkston spend some of her money and have lunch at TRex before heading over to the DVC office. It all sounds very easy on paper. I just want to get back to resort early enough to get some pool (Hunger Games!) time.
After everyone gets up and has a nutritious breakfast of mini powdered doughnuts, we head out to the bus stop.
I feel like one of the cool kids waiting for the bus at a deluxe resort! Is this how the other half lives?
Actually it feels much like waiting for a bus at a moderate resort.
It’s a beautiful day by the way. Just hot enough to not be uncomfortable and not one bit of humidity. I know this because my hair is a barometer for humidity. Last trip, I would walk out of the hotel room and would immediately feel my hair curling so I do not take this lovely weather for granted.
We wait. Oh look, a bus! To Animal Kingdom. Awwww.
We wait. Oh look, a bus! To Hollywood Studios. Awwww.
We wait. Oh look, a bus! To Animal Kingdom. What the?
We wait some more. Oh look, a bus! Surely this is going to Downtown Disney. It’s going to Animal Kingdom! How can this be? This is a deluxe resort, right? I thought we would be showered in buses.
Finally, FINALLY the bus we want arrives and we are the only ones on it. And here is where it gets strange.
The bus driver starts singing. I mean really belting it out like a lounge singer. Mr. Squid and I look at each other. What do you do in this situation? I guess the polite thing would be to compliment him on his lovely voice, so I do. And he starts singing louder. And he is really going to town, like he’s auditioning for American Idol! Now, he has a pleasant voice but it’s just so strange. I don’t know where to look. Do we clap?
Normally, I wouldn’t be happy about stopping at another resort but I’m just desperate for someone, anyone to get on the bus with us! We stop at the Polynesian and no one wants to go to Downtown Disney. I look out the window with pleading, frightened eyes but no one is coming to help us!
The show starts again as we make our way to the Grand Floridian. Please someone save us!
Yes! Another family is getting on the bus!
We pull away from the curb and the bus driver…acts normal. No singing, just “how you doing folks?” It’s like that frog who only sings for one guy and then when he tries to get him to sing for anyone else he acts like a frog. This guy is now acting like a bus driver. I decide to say nothing to the other family about it.
The rest of the trip went by without incident except I did notice a sign, a Disney sign mind you, that was done in Brush Script! Brush Script! Oh Disney. You wound me.
Really enjoying your trip. Love the bus driver. Makes you question your sanity for a moment, doesn't it?
I personally love the present tense. It does let the reader be in the moment as your events unfold. I vote for that one!
Thanks for the great story and the laughs!
I personally love the present tense. It does let the reader be in the moment as your events unfold. I vote for that one!
Thanks for the great story and the laughs!
laura74
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2007
- Messages
- 768
Thanks so much!
Yes, I did question my sanity. I wondered if we were going to be part of an improv everywhere routine.
Backstage_Gal
<font color=darkorchid>Let me rephrase the dog ste
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2005
- Messages
- 11,536
Hi Laura!
I hopped over from Ponzi's report after reading your plea, LOL.
I have to say, I am thoroughly enjoying your report, very entertaining, keep it up.
I'll give you an endorsement over there too.
Marita
I hopped over from Ponzi's report after reading your plea, LOL.
I have to say, I am thoroughly enjoying your report, very entertaining, keep it up.
I'll give you an endorsement over there too.
Marita
laura74
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2007
- Messages
- 768
Thanks so much Marita. I am so glad you joined! Especially since we both love like a good glass of wine with our trip reports. I know i sound desperate but you gotta grovel where you can, right?
Feel free to be as sarcastic as you like. Love the atmosphere in Nebo/Ponzi land. Hey, that should be a new expanion at wdw.
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