We woke up with the alarm at 8am. The bed was so comfortable that neither of us really wanted to get up. By the time we did, the breakfast room was almost closed. The hotel had a free continental breakfast, which was more than enough for both of us. I had raspberry yoghurt, a banana and some water. Dave had quite a bit more.
Back to the room to check our email one last time, and watch the Regis and Kelly wedding. Then it was time to get the shuttle to the airport. This was the first time we had flown Southwest Airlines, so other than watching Airline every Monday night, we werent quite sure what to expect.
We found the check in counter easily enough and there was barely any lineup. We already had our boarding passes, so it was just a matter of checking our bags. Through security we both had to take off our shoes and down to the gate. We stopped to grab a sandwich, drink and cookie for the plane and found a seat to watch the planes come and go. At about 1145am we headed to our own gate, and noticed people already starting to line up for boarding. We joined the A line.
After waiting about 30 minutes they called the preboarding. Only a couple of passengers an elderly lady and a companion, and a family with 3 young children, probably because the Southwest guy announced, If you dont need my help to walk down to the plane, then you dont need to preboard! We missed the exit row seats but Dave still found a seat that pleased him full window, behind the wing.
The flight passes fairly quickly. Dave has the window seat, and I am on the aisle, the middle seat is open, so I stretch across both, read my People magazine and my book and nap.
We land in Kansas City, its -22F and snowing outside. Good thing we dont have to get off the plane, lets hope they dont take our baggage off the plane! (How was I to know that 10 days later this statement would come back to haunt me.) After they had let all the departing passengers off we were given the opportunity to switch seats, but we are happy where we are. 20 minutes later we take off for Orlando. I hope its warmer than -22F there.
Again I read and nap all the way to Orlando. Why does doing nothing make me so sleepy? As we are preparing to land in Orlando we are treated to some of that famous Southwest humour:
Southwest Airlines is an environmentally friendly airline and we like to reuse and recycle. Ladies please wipe your lipstick of your glasses, so we can use them again on the first flight tomorrow
Please wait until the plane has come to a complete stop and the fasten seatbelt sign has been turned off, then you can stand and take all your gear off ..the plane.
Okay were here .Get out!!!!
Everyone from out flight is standing at the baggage carousel waiting for our bags, we are all standing just waiting and waiting, Dave notices our bags going round and round on an entirely different carousel. We get our bags, I think we are the only passengers who noticed, on our way it we let other people know that they are waiting at the wrong carousel.
We find the emerald aisle, after getting lost briefly. There are no cars, so I go into booth, they lady tells me to wait for manager, there are about 6 groups waiting. The manager eventually arrives, he takes one look at all of us and says We are not bringing that many cars over from B. Just take any car from the executive aisle except the SUVs. We choose a new Buick LeCross with leather seats, satellite radio and remote start.
We got lost trying to find the Emerald aisle but we drive to POP Century without incident. We join the check in queue, why are so many people checking in at midnight? We wait forever, the desk is fully staffed but its taking forever. Yeah its our turn. Now we know why its taking so long. The CM confirms our booking and then repeats absolutely everything we say: Staying 3 nights? Dave and Rachael Qualley? Accommodation prepaid? Do you want to leave a credit card for room charges? Do you need passes? You have annual passes? How often do you come to Disney World? This is your second trip? Have you stayed at POP before? Where did you stay? Here is a map of the resort. We are here. Your room is here. Park here. Do you have a car? Do you need a parking pass? Dont drive. Use our buses, its quicker and cheaper. The hippy dippy pool is here, the computer pool is here, the bowling pin pool is here, the food court is here, the arcade is here, the laundry rooms are here, the pool bar is here, the elevator to your building is here and the stairs are here. Do you need dining suggestions?
Oh my god; just shut up and give me my key. Maybe I would appreciate his spiel more if it wasnt after midnight and I hadnt just traveled across the country, but all I wanted was my key so I could go to bed.
We had requested non smoking, high floor, king bed, 50s building, and a view of lake. We get non smoking, high floor, two single beds (it says they are queen, but we have a queen at home and these beds are not queen beds), 80s building, and a view of car park. I know they are only requests and not guaranteed so 2 out of 5 requests are not bad. We call to see if we can switch to a king bed. The conversation goes something like this: We just checked into room 9317 and we have two very small beds, is there a possibility of switching to a room with a king bed? No. Im sorry, No what? No you cant switch. Why not? We dont have king beds. You dont have any king beds available? No, we dont have king beds, and the CM hangs up. Okay I am way too tired to deal with this now; I will try again in the morning.
We take a walk to stretch our legs and get some fresh air and then we both fall asleep before our heads hit the pillow.
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Back to the room to check our email one last time, and watch the Regis and Kelly wedding. Then it was time to get the shuttle to the airport. This was the first time we had flown Southwest Airlines, so other than watching Airline every Monday night, we werent quite sure what to expect.
We found the check in counter easily enough and there was barely any lineup. We already had our boarding passes, so it was just a matter of checking our bags. Through security we both had to take off our shoes and down to the gate. We stopped to grab a sandwich, drink and cookie for the plane and found a seat to watch the planes come and go. At about 1145am we headed to our own gate, and noticed people already starting to line up for boarding. We joined the A line.
After waiting about 30 minutes they called the preboarding. Only a couple of passengers an elderly lady and a companion, and a family with 3 young children, probably because the Southwest guy announced, If you dont need my help to walk down to the plane, then you dont need to preboard! We missed the exit row seats but Dave still found a seat that pleased him full window, behind the wing.
The flight passes fairly quickly. Dave has the window seat, and I am on the aisle, the middle seat is open, so I stretch across both, read my People magazine and my book and nap.
We land in Kansas City, its -22F and snowing outside. Good thing we dont have to get off the plane, lets hope they dont take our baggage off the plane! (How was I to know that 10 days later this statement would come back to haunt me.) After they had let all the departing passengers off we were given the opportunity to switch seats, but we are happy where we are. 20 minutes later we take off for Orlando. I hope its warmer than -22F there.
Again I read and nap all the way to Orlando. Why does doing nothing make me so sleepy? As we are preparing to land in Orlando we are treated to some of that famous Southwest humour:
Southwest Airlines is an environmentally friendly airline and we like to reuse and recycle. Ladies please wipe your lipstick of your glasses, so we can use them again on the first flight tomorrow
Please wait until the plane has come to a complete stop and the fasten seatbelt sign has been turned off, then you can stand and take all your gear off ..the plane.
Okay were here .Get out!!!!
Everyone from out flight is standing at the baggage carousel waiting for our bags, we are all standing just waiting and waiting, Dave notices our bags going round and round on an entirely different carousel. We get our bags, I think we are the only passengers who noticed, on our way it we let other people know that they are waiting at the wrong carousel.
We find the emerald aisle, after getting lost briefly. There are no cars, so I go into booth, they lady tells me to wait for manager, there are about 6 groups waiting. The manager eventually arrives, he takes one look at all of us and says We are not bringing that many cars over from B. Just take any car from the executive aisle except the SUVs. We choose a new Buick LeCross with leather seats, satellite radio and remote start.
We got lost trying to find the Emerald aisle but we drive to POP Century without incident. We join the check in queue, why are so many people checking in at midnight? We wait forever, the desk is fully staffed but its taking forever. Yeah its our turn. Now we know why its taking so long. The CM confirms our booking and then repeats absolutely everything we say: Staying 3 nights? Dave and Rachael Qualley? Accommodation prepaid? Do you want to leave a credit card for room charges? Do you need passes? You have annual passes? How often do you come to Disney World? This is your second trip? Have you stayed at POP before? Where did you stay? Here is a map of the resort. We are here. Your room is here. Park here. Do you have a car? Do you need a parking pass? Dont drive. Use our buses, its quicker and cheaper. The hippy dippy pool is here, the computer pool is here, the bowling pin pool is here, the food court is here, the arcade is here, the laundry rooms are here, the pool bar is here, the elevator to your building is here and the stairs are here. Do you need dining suggestions?
Oh my god; just shut up and give me my key. Maybe I would appreciate his spiel more if it wasnt after midnight and I hadnt just traveled across the country, but all I wanted was my key so I could go to bed.
We had requested non smoking, high floor, king bed, 50s building, and a view of lake. We get non smoking, high floor, two single beds (it says they are queen, but we have a queen at home and these beds are not queen beds), 80s building, and a view of car park. I know they are only requests and not guaranteed so 2 out of 5 requests are not bad. We call to see if we can switch to a king bed. The conversation goes something like this: We just checked into room 9317 and we have two very small beds, is there a possibility of switching to a room with a king bed? No. Im sorry, No what? No you cant switch. Why not? We dont have king beds. You dont have any king beds available? No, we dont have king beds, and the CM hangs up. Okay I am way too tired to deal with this now; I will try again in the morning.
We take a walk to stretch our legs and get some fresh air and then we both fall asleep before our heads hit the pillow.
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
