Girls Scout Leader
<font color="red">Brave And Fearless Leader Willin
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2001
- Messages
- 808
Day #1
2 years ago, when the beginnings of the trip plans unfolded, I had envisioned taking a group of proper young ladies, fresh from the Northern Wilderness to learn of the joys and adventure in traveling to Walt Disney World.
Boy, was I delusional.
They did learn alot. We all did. And this is how it all went.
I will try to divide the travelers up by rooms, because that is how it seemed to shake out unintentionally. Since there were 4 adults, it seemed best to put 2 adutls in each room. The girls were assigned with thier mom/chaperones.
Room #1
Penny (Me) I've been to WDW a few time,s lastly in 2000 with my DD, DS and Hubby.
Cindy. She's actually my aunt, but we were raised more like sisters. When I needed another chaperone, she was more than willing!
Girl Scout #1 is actually my daughter Beki (15) and rather seasoned traveler
Girl Scout #2 Barb (16) and not much of a traveler. Rather a follower.
Girl Scout #3 Sera. Has been to Florida numerous times. Self proclaimed chicken, but it's all show.(15 yrs)
Room #2
Leota. Our Military Sponsor. If not for her, we could not have gotten such great deals. Mom to:
Girls Scout #4 Danielle. More mouthy than I permit, and out to have a good time. (16yrs)
Sarah. Frusterated smoker, finally learned why you cannot walk from park to park. Mom to:
Girl Scout #5 Jo. Bold, outspoken, rather wild. Glad her mom was along. (16)
Girl Scout #6 Jenn. Quiet, but getting more open like Jo. (15)
Friday morning was EARLY! When I was in the beginnings of the reservation process, I got the best deals from Northwest Group Sales. They wanted us to fly out of Detroit, which is about 3-4 hours away. I good-naturedly whined about the distance, she called back the next day and Northwest flew us from Saginaw, changing planes in Detroit for the same price. The Saginaw-Midland-Bay City airport is 1 1/2 hrs away, and with a fight of 8:30 am, I had eveyone meet and carpool from here at 5:30am. With 3 vehicles, it left room for breakdowns, stragglers, etc. And we made it there in plenty of time. Cindy drove with Beki, Sera and Sarah and left her car there for the week. About $20 parking fee. Letoa and My Hubbys also drove.
The girls were initially excited, but then came the long wait. Security was fast...they only openend and searched once suitcase out of 12.
WE said goodbye to the hubbys and my son who had come along and checked in. The guard was really teasing the girls. They can take it and dish it right back. He teased about then having to wash the outside of the plane with a toothbrush, one girl wanted a window seat so was going to duct-tape her to the underside of the plance so she could see.
Anticipation was rising, as we took a poll to see who had flown before. 2 girls had, all adults had. The other 4 were ying-yanging between excited and scared. But knowing these so well, I knew that the scared ones were putting on a show. Only one, Barb, worried me the most. She is quiet, reserved and just follows the group a step behind. So much unlike the rest. You never really know how she feels.
Onto the plane, and they all had to jocky for position. Some wanted window, or sit between friend,Etc.Wo cares, get in, sit down and shut up.
:
The take off was smooth, and it was a fight to get them to open thier window shade. Like I said, it was all show and getting old. Take alook, it's beautiful! Barb did great. Preassure got to her a bit. Had many questions. Can the plane still be in the air but not going anywhere? No, honey, the plance can't hover. What are all the bumps? Why arent we sucked to the back of our seat if we are really going that fast?
The flight was so short that there was no beverage service, and it seemed like as soon as we leveled off, it was decending.
Detroit's Northwest Treminal is huge. The non-travelers thought that not having to gather luggage and re-check it was rather cool after they finally understood that the airline would take care of it.
The girls found Taco Bell and pigged out waiting for the next flight. They learned how to navigate the people mover, the express train, etc, metal detectors, etc.
Back in the air, on the way to MCO. There was unlimited non-alchohol drinks, of course, and braided pretzles. There was meals-to-buy, like a grilled chicken salad for $10, so they were glad they found Taco Bell. There were other choices as well. (on the plane and in the airport).
Upon landing, we followed the other sheep to baggage claim. This was an adventure in itself. But I had a surprise up my sleeve. Orriginally I had our groud transportation through Happy Limo for a streach. Then the e-mailed me last winter about the newest...Hummer Limo, "The longest in Orlando". With some moneyshuffling, I managed to book that for the trip to the resort, and a van back. But somehow they had gotten it in thier heads a long time ago that I had booked the limo, and even though I told them no, I think they still thought it.
While they retrieved the bags, I spotted Happy Limo driver with "Girl Scouts" on his sign. I walked over by myself and asked "Do you really have the Hummer here?" and he grinned and said he guessed it was a surprise! He gave me directions on where to find the parking space, and dissapeared. I went back ot get my own suitcase to find the girls had gotten it and was waiting with idiot grins on thier faces and cameras out. I thanked them, ignored the cameras and lead the way. Into an elevator that dropped us right where the numbered spaces were. I lead them to the right one and we waited. They were still grinning secrety to each other, and finally one, after seeing many many limos come and go, said Did you get us a limo?" and everyone laughed. I said like that? amd pointed to one of many that were nearby. Nope, sorry ladies, our ride does not look like that. They were siutably disappointed, and bagan puitting the cameras away. Then the biggest, shiniest blackest Hummer pulled up. Thier mouths all dropped when i said "I thought you might like this instead". First was "no way! Are you kidding? Get real" and then it hit them. Wasn't kidding. They screamed and takced me almost to the ground! A van arrived to take just the luggage, so we ahd all 20 spacesto ourselves. What a ride. Iced Coke products in Champange glasses, and the windows were so dark, that people would drive by real slow trying to see the "celebrities" in side. And being the shy ones they are, discovered that you could roll the windows down and wave and act silly to the traffic. The floor was light up neon pink, with lots of neon all around everywhere. The driverappologized that the sound system wasn't working, but they made thier won music. We took lots of pics, they flurted with other drivers, waved to busses and had a ball.
And the grocery stop was too cool. Stay tuned!
2 years ago, when the beginnings of the trip plans unfolded, I had envisioned taking a group of proper young ladies, fresh from the Northern Wilderness to learn of the joys and adventure in traveling to Walt Disney World.
Boy, was I delusional.
They did learn alot. We all did. And this is how it all went.
I will try to divide the travelers up by rooms, because that is how it seemed to shake out unintentionally. Since there were 4 adults, it seemed best to put 2 adutls in each room. The girls were assigned with thier mom/chaperones.
Room #1
Penny (Me) I've been to WDW a few time,s lastly in 2000 with my DD, DS and Hubby.
Cindy. She's actually my aunt, but we were raised more like sisters. When I needed another chaperone, she was more than willing!
Girl Scout #1 is actually my daughter Beki (15) and rather seasoned traveler
Girl Scout #2 Barb (16) and not much of a traveler. Rather a follower.
Girl Scout #3 Sera. Has been to Florida numerous times. Self proclaimed chicken, but it's all show.(15 yrs)
Room #2
Leota. Our Military Sponsor. If not for her, we could not have gotten such great deals. Mom to:
Girls Scout #4 Danielle. More mouthy than I permit, and out to have a good time. (16yrs)
Sarah. Frusterated smoker, finally learned why you cannot walk from park to park. Mom to:
Girl Scout #5 Jo. Bold, outspoken, rather wild. Glad her mom was along. (16)
Girl Scout #6 Jenn. Quiet, but getting more open like Jo. (15)
Friday morning was EARLY! When I was in the beginnings of the reservation process, I got the best deals from Northwest Group Sales. They wanted us to fly out of Detroit, which is about 3-4 hours away. I good-naturedly whined about the distance, she called back the next day and Northwest flew us from Saginaw, changing planes in Detroit for the same price. The Saginaw-Midland-Bay City airport is 1 1/2 hrs away, and with a fight of 8:30 am, I had eveyone meet and carpool from here at 5:30am. With 3 vehicles, it left room for breakdowns, stragglers, etc. And we made it there in plenty of time. Cindy drove with Beki, Sera and Sarah and left her car there for the week. About $20 parking fee. Letoa and My Hubbys also drove.
The girls were initially excited, but then came the long wait. Security was fast...they only openend and searched once suitcase out of 12.
WE said goodbye to the hubbys and my son who had come along and checked in. The guard was really teasing the girls. They can take it and dish it right back. He teased about then having to wash the outside of the plane with a toothbrush, one girl wanted a window seat so was going to duct-tape her to the underside of the plance so she could see.
Anticipation was rising, as we took a poll to see who had flown before. 2 girls had, all adults had. The other 4 were ying-yanging between excited and scared. But knowing these so well, I knew that the scared ones were putting on a show. Only one, Barb, worried me the most. She is quiet, reserved and just follows the group a step behind. So much unlike the rest. You never really know how she feels.
Onto the plane, and they all had to jocky for position. Some wanted window, or sit between friend,Etc.Wo cares, get in, sit down and shut up.
:
The take off was smooth, and it was a fight to get them to open thier window shade. Like I said, it was all show and getting old. Take alook, it's beautiful! Barb did great. Preassure got to her a bit. Had many questions. Can the plane still be in the air but not going anywhere? No, honey, the plance can't hover. What are all the bumps? Why arent we sucked to the back of our seat if we are really going that fast?
The flight was so short that there was no beverage service, and it seemed like as soon as we leveled off, it was decending.
Detroit's Northwest Treminal is huge. The non-travelers thought that not having to gather luggage and re-check it was rather cool after they finally understood that the airline would take care of it.
The girls found Taco Bell and pigged out waiting for the next flight. They learned how to navigate the people mover, the express train, etc, metal detectors, etc.
Back in the air, on the way to MCO. There was unlimited non-alchohol drinks, of course, and braided pretzles. There was meals-to-buy, like a grilled chicken salad for $10, so they were glad they found Taco Bell. There were other choices as well. (on the plane and in the airport).
Upon landing, we followed the other sheep to baggage claim. This was an adventure in itself. But I had a surprise up my sleeve. Orriginally I had our groud transportation through Happy Limo for a streach. Then the e-mailed me last winter about the newest...Hummer Limo, "The longest in Orlando". With some moneyshuffling, I managed to book that for the trip to the resort, and a van back. But somehow they had gotten it in thier heads a long time ago that I had booked the limo, and even though I told them no, I think they still thought it.
While they retrieved the bags, I spotted Happy Limo driver with "Girl Scouts" on his sign. I walked over by myself and asked "Do you really have the Hummer here?" and he grinned and said he guessed it was a surprise! He gave me directions on where to find the parking space, and dissapeared. I went back ot get my own suitcase to find the girls had gotten it and was waiting with idiot grins on thier faces and cameras out. I thanked them, ignored the cameras and lead the way. Into an elevator that dropped us right where the numbered spaces were. I lead them to the right one and we waited. They were still grinning secrety to each other, and finally one, after seeing many many limos come and go, said Did you get us a limo?" and everyone laughed. I said like that? amd pointed to one of many that were nearby. Nope, sorry ladies, our ride does not look like that. They were siutably disappointed, and bagan puitting the cameras away. Then the biggest, shiniest blackest Hummer pulled up. Thier mouths all dropped when i said "I thought you might like this instead". First was "no way! Are you kidding? Get real" and then it hit them. Wasn't kidding. They screamed and takced me almost to the ground! A van arrived to take just the luggage, so we ahd all 20 spacesto ourselves. What a ride. Iced Coke products in Champange glasses, and the windows were so dark, that people would drive by real slow trying to see the "celebrities" in side. And being the shy ones they are, discovered that you could roll the windows down and wave and act silly to the traffic. The floor was light up neon pink, with lots of neon all around everywhere. The driverappologized that the sound system wasn't working, but they made thier won music. We took lots of pics, they flurted with other drivers, waved to busses and had a ball.
And the grocery stop was too cool. Stay tuned!
Too bad my girl scout troop disbanded.
