Sunday, January 22
Everyones coming everyones coming along with a Pretty Pony and another pair of shoes for Princess Chicken Finger.
We have been getting up around 8 or so and today was no exception. Got DGD dressed, medicined up, and fed. GPA and I finished packing up including any foodstuffs. How did we get more stuff than when we came? I had prepared for this and brought along some canvas bags in the suitcases. So the extras could be transported. GPA went to HH and checked out of the Studio and then ----- CHECKED IN to our Grand Villa. Yay! It was ready and not very far at all from where we were. Received phone call from DDIL at approximately 10:30 saying they had landed, had luggage and were in line for Magical Express. Yay! I gave her the room number and told her to come right on over as they are all checked-in and we have their room cards, etc. We loaded up the car and drove on over to our new (much larger) Grand Villa.
DGD is just a little confused as to different hotel, different room, etc, but when she sees the GV she is really excited about the size, all the bathrooms, etc. We set her up to watch a DVD on the portable, while we get things settled down. Checking to see that everything works, etc. I discover that the place is not all that clean, but this trip report is not the place for complaints. I see to what I can, sweeping, dust mopping, wiping tables, etc. And bless GPA who stripped the egg crates off the bed in the Studio and moved them over to the GV and then proceeds to put both on my side of the king size bed. What a guy! The king-size bed now has a very odd configuration as the egg crates provide a 4-5 inch barrier in the middle of the bed! Lots of laughs about that. (But I slept like a baby!)
11:50 and a knock on the door. Bell services are standing there with luggage and I said, Oh, their luggage has arrived and he says, You have family here. Oh my goodness, there they all are. Magical Express really lived up to its name. All people and luggage right on our doorstep! Thats how it is supposed to work. Okay now we are ready to party!
We get organized. People use the bathrooms, suitcases are stowed away, room keys, etc. are passed around and signed, and any other essential info is passed along. Lunch at Olivias is always a tradition. So we walk over. Again, not too far for a comfortable walk and the weather is glorious! GDG is very happy to see mom and dad and her Pretty Pony, which gets accessorized almost immediately. Pretty cute.
Lunch is fun at a big corner table with the sun coming in the French doors. Some plans are made and phone numbers are stored in cell phones so that we can communicate at all times. After lunch, the ladies and their driver (GPA) will travel over to the Publix for the groceries for the week. The men will hang with the kids and relax.
OP = Old People (Grampa and Gramma)
YP = Young People (All of the rest of our group.)
Publix trip is painless. Mostly breakfast stuff and snacks. We manage to get everything we need and then some. Back to the GV and put the stuff away. The Young People (YP) then go over to Downtown Disney for shopping and something to eat for dinner. They try the Earl of Sandwich on our recommendation and are greatly impressed with the food! The Old People (OP) will relax in the villa (I cleaned some more) and then go out to dinner at Outback (off campus). GPA word his Hawaii shirt and our Outback waitress was going there in about 2 weeks and we had such a good time with her, telling her what we saw and through about that trip. Back at the GV after very nice first day all together. Relaxed some more and off to bed.
Day 6 coming up!
Everyones coming everyones coming along with a Pretty Pony and another pair of shoes for Princess Chicken Finger.
We have been getting up around 8 or so and today was no exception. Got DGD dressed, medicined up, and fed. GPA and I finished packing up including any foodstuffs. How did we get more stuff than when we came? I had prepared for this and brought along some canvas bags in the suitcases. So the extras could be transported. GPA went to HH and checked out of the Studio and then ----- CHECKED IN to our Grand Villa. Yay! It was ready and not very far at all from where we were. Received phone call from DDIL at approximately 10:30 saying they had landed, had luggage and were in line for Magical Express. Yay! I gave her the room number and told her to come right on over as they are all checked-in and we have their room cards, etc. We loaded up the car and drove on over to our new (much larger) Grand Villa.
DGD is just a little confused as to different hotel, different room, etc, but when she sees the GV she is really excited about the size, all the bathrooms, etc. We set her up to watch a DVD on the portable, while we get things settled down. Checking to see that everything works, etc. I discover that the place is not all that clean, but this trip report is not the place for complaints. I see to what I can, sweeping, dust mopping, wiping tables, etc. And bless GPA who stripped the egg crates off the bed in the Studio and moved them over to the GV and then proceeds to put both on my side of the king size bed. What a guy! The king-size bed now has a very odd configuration as the egg crates provide a 4-5 inch barrier in the middle of the bed! Lots of laughs about that. (But I slept like a baby!)
11:50 and a knock on the door. Bell services are standing there with luggage and I said, Oh, their luggage has arrived and he says, You have family here. Oh my goodness, there they all are. Magical Express really lived up to its name. All people and luggage right on our doorstep! Thats how it is supposed to work. Okay now we are ready to party!
We get organized. People use the bathrooms, suitcases are stowed away, room keys, etc. are passed around and signed, and any other essential info is passed along. Lunch at Olivias is always a tradition. So we walk over. Again, not too far for a comfortable walk and the weather is glorious! GDG is very happy to see mom and dad and her Pretty Pony, which gets accessorized almost immediately. Pretty cute.
Lunch is fun at a big corner table with the sun coming in the French doors. Some plans are made and phone numbers are stored in cell phones so that we can communicate at all times. After lunch, the ladies and their driver (GPA) will travel over to the Publix for the groceries for the week. The men will hang with the kids and relax.
OP = Old People (Grampa and Gramma)
YP = Young People (All of the rest of our group.)
Publix trip is painless. Mostly breakfast stuff and snacks. We manage to get everything we need and then some. Back to the GV and put the stuff away. The Young People (YP) then go over to Downtown Disney for shopping and something to eat for dinner. They try the Earl of Sandwich on our recommendation and are greatly impressed with the food! The Old People (OP) will relax in the villa (I cleaned some more) and then go out to dinner at Outback (off campus). GPA word his Hawaii shirt and our Outback waitress was going there in about 2 weeks and we had such a good time with her, telling her what we saw and through about that trip. Back at the GV after very nice first day all together. Relaxed some more and off to bed.
Day 6 coming up!
