Grumpless In Orlando UPDATED! 10/18

[MEK]

Glad I just checked FB. Only a day late. So glad you started and your TR title is perfect. Love it!

Ahhhhhhh - love the Beach Club and can't wait to see it again a few weeks from now (well, technically staying at the Boardwalk, but its close).

 

[2Tiggers]

Awesome!! You started your TR!! I have been waiting to read all about it! Can't wait to hear your opinion on BC, SAB, ooey gooey toffee cake, which purse you bought, and all the other dis stuff!

Ok, now I have to go back and read your first post...

 

[IheartDDuck]

Coming along!

I love the Beach Club too. It's one of my favorite resorts.

 

[Reberella]

Following along! How could someone not like Disney?!?! My mom's the same way, I just don't understand...
I love the Beach Club too! It's so beautiful, it's my favorite resort

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I'm in!!! thanks for the FB heads up! Although I wasn't on FB yesterday and almost missed it!

I totally understand about people not liking WDW - but only if they've gone and tried it. My brother has no interest in it, won't go, says he won't like it. He's been to Disneyland twice as a kid and that's it. Now he's a grump about WDW. Fine with me. Less people to get in my way!!

 

[MiaBella05]

joining in

 

[jenseib]

So glad I am not too far behind!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Here, Michelle!!!

 

[MelMel11]

Count me in!!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

one TR I am NOT behind on. I'm here and can't wait to hear all about it.

Great intros.

Hi Kathy!

I'm still not caught up on all my subscriptions from when I went to Disney! Life has certainly been crazy around here lately. I can say that your new TR is the only report I'm not behind on right now as well

I'm here and can't wait to read along! Your Mom is beautiful by the way

Hey there, thanks for coming over!

Thanks, I think my mom is a pretty lady too

Yay Michelle, you started! I have a Grump at home so totally get it! Excited to read along!

Hey Kelli! Your trip is getting so close! Are you going to do a TR?

I'm here Michelle

Haven't been on DIS in soooo long!! It's nice to be back & I promise to keep up!!!!

Hey there Hope, I've been struggling to find time to DIS myself, so I totally understand!

I'm here! I'll try to stay caught up!

Thanks for joining in! It shouldn't be hard to keep up with this one, it will probably be rather slow going....

I'm in! Can't wait to hear all about it.

Jill in CO

I'm excited to tell you guys about it, if I can only find time to do it!

 

[SoonerGirl]

here

Wow, the elusive shocker is here!

LOVE the title! Going back to read....

Didn't you just love pulling up to the Beach Club when you arrived? To me it's just the best feeling ever.

I thought you would get a kick out of the title

When you told me I would love the BC, I never doubted you, and it proved to be everything I hoped it would be!

I'm here! Welcome home, can't wait to read all about it!

Hey Cynthia! I've been home a month now and still haven't gotten my first update done, it's not looking to good - I need to get my butt in gear!

i'm here too

Thanks for joining in!

This is from your pre-trip report, of course.

I almost called you out on Facebook, too.
I decided to take the quieter route on the DIS and then give you a few days.

Looking forward to reading about the fun!

You need to call me out again to get me moving on this thing! Of course, you are in Disney now, making great new memories of your own

Sooner Girl, you must have something rockin' awesome going on here! This guy never comes to DIS town any more.

I know! I was pretty pumped to have a shocker sighting here!

Here for the fun!! I had no doubt that you'd love the Beach Club but happy to hear it confirmed!

Hi Christine! Yep, loved it, wish I were there now

Jumping in to join your TR! Now to go back & read.

Hey Doris, thanks for joining in!

 

[SoonerGirl]

I'm here! Glad you enjoyed the Beach Club...it is a great resort.

Hey Sarah! The location just can't be beat, especially for an Epcot lover like me

I'm here too....

Hey Sharon, you must be about out of popcorn by now with as long as you are having to wait for an update

joining in

Thanks for jumping on board!

I'm here!!! Can't wait to read all about it.

Hey Erika! I hope to get it rolling soon......

Joining the fun.

Thanks for joining in!!

Glad I just checked FB. Only a day late. So glad you started and your TR title is perfect. Love it!

Ahhhhhhh - love the Beach Club and can't wait to see it again a few weeks from now (well, technically staying at the Boardwalk, but its close).

Hey Mary Ellen! The title struck me one day while I was strolling from the BC to Epcot. I was thinking how nice it was not to have the Disney Grump putting a damper on my fabulous trip

Awesome!! You started your TR!! I have been waiting to read all about it! Can't wait to hear your opinion on BC, SAB, ooey gooey toffee cake, which purse you bought, and all the other dis stuff!

Ok, now I have to go back and read your first post...

I'm sorry it is taking me so long to get this thing going! There is a bit of a story involved with the purse........

 

[SoonerGirl]

Coming along!

I love the Beach Club too. It's one of my favorite resorts.

Thanks for joining in!

I totally get why the BC is one of your favorites, it's one of mine now too!

Following along! How could someone not like Disney?!?! My mom's the same way, I just don't understand...
I love the Beach Club too! It's so beautiful, it's my favorite resort

I made some mistakes with my DH early on that pushed him over the edge where Disney is concerned. I learned my lesson, but it was too little too late, I can't get him to go again now. Oh well, won't keep me from going!

I'm in!!! thanks for the FB heads up! Although I wasn't on FB yesterday and almost missed it!

I totally understand about people not liking WDW - but only if they've gone and tried it. My brother has no interest in it, won't go, says he won't like it. He's been to Disneyland twice as a kid and that's it. Now he's a grump about WDW. Fine with me. Less people to get in my way!!

Hi Sherree! I meant to send out a PM too, but I haven't done it, just like I haven't written anything here yet

I agree, if someone has gone to Disney and it is just not for them, that's fine, but don't knock it if you haven't ever been! I have a friend that talks bad about it everytime I go and he has never been himself, I told him he has no right to an opinion unless he has gone at least once

joining in

Thanks for joining in!

So glad I am not too far behind!!

Hey Jen! Probably won't be hard to keep up over here. I hope to update once a week, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to

Here, Michelle!!!

Three cheers for Jackie's arrival

Glad to have you here

Count me in!!!

Thanks for jumping on board!

***************************

I am so very sorry that I have not updated yet. I am on the board for the high school basketball booster club and right now I am just covered up with trying to get the new year going. Fundraisers, pictures, program layout, banner sales, gearing up for concessions, etc - it's a lot of work! I will do my very best to update this at least once a week, but I'm not making any promises, I hope you all understand!

It is my goal to get an update up later today, but of course that was my goal yesterday as well. I thought if I came by here and put it in writing that would make me move up on the to do list

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Michelle don't worry about the updates. I've been home almost a month myself & can't seem to get my TR started. Life has been speeding along to fast lately for most of us!

 

[Poolrat]

Finally made it over here - still need to read but along for the Grumpless ride.

 

[alwayspooh]

I'm here, a little late but here and am glad I haven't missed to much yet.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Michelle don't worry about the updates. I've been home almost a month myself & can't seem to get my TR started. Life has been speeding along to fast lately for most of us!

Well let me know when you get it started, I'll do my very best to keep up!

Finally made it over here - still need to read but along for the Grumpless ride.

Hey Pat! I still need to get caught up on yours! I'm so far behind, it's almost depressing.....

I'm here, a little late but here and am glad I haven't missed to much yet.

Hi there, thanks for joining in! I'm afraid this one is going to be slow going, hopefully not so bad that I lose all my readers though!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Before I start my update I have a couple of things I would like to share......

First, I'm beyond excited to announce that I am going back to Disney World!!! Several weeks ago I applied for an agent education program in December and was immediately waitlisted. Well, a couple of days ago I received my confirmation, the waitlist had come through The AEP is from Dec 12-16 and I am going out on the 9th to have a few days to see the new Fantasyland and ride the reimagined Test Track before the conference starts. I'm staying at Pop for my pre-conference days, first time at a value for me, but after 9 days at the Beach Club last month, I needed this trip to be a little more economical!

I'm excited for many reasons, new Fantasyland, Test Track, the Christmas decorations, my first Disney conference, AND Happydog is going to be there the 9th-11th and we are already making plans to meet up for dinner and drinks at the Blue Zoo!!!

Second, I have to brag on my eldest for just a minute. On Monday I had to go up to the gym to deliver some fundraiser stuff to be distributed to the basketball players after practice. I had to wait a few minutes to talk to the coach because he was chatting with a player that graduated last year and two coaches from a small local college. Anyway, those two coaches from the college stayed and watched practice. Justin told me last night that yesterday his coach pulled him aside and told him that he was one of 3 players that those coaches came to watch! Justin said he had a really good practice on Monday too. It's just a small school, but it still made him feel really good that as a junior, they were there to watch him

OK, without further adieu.......FINALLY, an update

Departure Day, Saturday September 1st

So I can never sleep the night before any trip, but the insomnia is multiplied when the trip is to any Disney destination, I am just too excited to sleep! I did manage a few hours before my alarm went off at 4:15am. I took a shower and got ready, because I just can't function if I don't shower in the morning, then I woke Jared a little before 5. He is sooooo not a morning person, but on this particular day, he didn't complain at all. The Grump, however, complained endlessly that I made him get up before dawn on a weekend. Regardless, he helped me pack up our last few items, and loaded the car. We swung by and picked up Mom and then headed to the airport. Our flight's scheduled departure was 6:55am, we don't live too far from my mom's house or from the airport so the Grump got us there in plenty of time.

I've rarely encountered a long line at our airport here in Oklahoma City, and thankfully today was no different! I think we all kind of dozed off and on during the first leg of our flight to Houston and when we finally landed our tummies were rumbling. As soon as we disembarked we could smell Cinnabon, so of course that is what we ate for breakfast - hey, we are on vacation, it's allowed!

Our layover wasn't too long and by the time we finished our breakfast it was time to board. I encountered a not so nice young lady during boarding too, she was, shall we say, vertically challenged, and she was having a hard time hoisting her carry on into the overhead bin. So, I put my hand under her suitcase and helped her. Instead of a smile and a thank-you, I got a dirty look for my efforts! Guess she didn't like me touching her stuff....

There were quite a few screamers on this flight and I was afraid we were going to have to listen to them all the way to Orlando, but thankfully they calmed down after about 30 minutes and the flight wasn't too bad! I tried to sleep some, but of course, I couldn't, so instead I looked at my watch about every 10 minutes.

Finally, we arrived, right on time too, I love Southwest for mainly this reason, they are very rarely behind!

I got a chuckle as I was waiting to get off the plane because there was this large family in front of me that had the yellow DME tags on all of their carry-ons. I so wanted to tell them that they only needed to put those on their checked luggage, but I refrained.

We made our way to the faux monorail

And, from there down to the Magical Express area. Before we knew it we were being loaded onto a bus. I was bummed because it was a Mears bus instead of a Disney one, but I guess once you are actually inside you can't really tell the difference anyway.....

Mom took this picture as we were waiting to leave

It was less than 10 minutes before we were on our way and by 2:00 we were passing under these gates

The Beach Club was the 3rd stop, so it took about another 25 minutes before we arrived at our final destination.

We were greeted right away by a cast member who escorted us to the check in desk, but when we got there she felt like the line was too long, so she took us over to the concierge desk to check in instead. Here we walked right up with no wait - score!

Grace was the CM that checked us in and she was super nice. Told me we had a room on the 3rd floor with 2 queens, a day bed and a small balcony. I told her that would work just fine, not realizing at the time just how small the small balcony would be....

Continued in the next post

 

[SoonerGirl]

We made our way to our room

And I took a few quick pictures

I always love to see the Mickey head on the bed when I arrive!

Hidden Mickey on the wallpaper

And on the coat rack

I totally cracked up when I saw our 'balcony' Jared and I couldn't even both fit out there at the same time, if you pulled the chair from the desk out onto the balcony, the door wouldn't even close - it was that tiny! It was nice to have however, because our phone and internet connection inside the room was so lousy, it was great to be able to go open the door to jump online or make a phone call

We did have a pretty nice view though

Straight ahead

To the right

And to the left

And Jared showing how 'large' it was

Once pictures were taken, we grabbed our park bags and headed out!

(sorry these pictures are so big! Photobucket changed their site and I guess it didn't retain my size preference during uploading. I'll see if I can fix it before the next update!)

 

[ariel1025]

Ahhhh, check-in day, my favorite day of any vacation. The entire trip stands before you and every single thing gets you excited!!

I love Southwest for their on-time arrivals as well, but lately they have been much more expensive than other airlines out of Albuquerque; even when you account for paying to check your luggage

I had no idea there were balconies that small or that internet service was so bad inside the rooms

But, hey, you're at Disney which is all that really matters

Oh, and, way to go Justin My Husband played basketball at Newman University (in Wichita). So I know how exciting the idea of playing can be - even at a small school. And getting looked at, as a Junior, that is A-mazing!!

Congrats on getting into the AEP program too!