Arrival, Day 1
So, finally off to Magical Express (ME) I go after de-planing. I head for B side, Level 1. I meet a greeter halfway there to tell me to take the elevator down one more level. Transportation Karma is with me since there was an elevator waiting and I hop on it.
I head for the ME line and there was a greeter there asking just for one person to go on the line and rest of the party to wait in the nice lounge opposite, which I thought was a great idea. Since I am a party of 1, I get online. Many more came after me, so I must have made good time. To be fair, most of the people did have to stop and get strollers, etc. Sometimes, it does pay to be solo. LOL!
Anyway, I didnt think it took too long; there were quite a few CMs at the counter. I get my turn, hand in my voucher and instructed to go to Line A. At Line A, I was instructed to get into the Downtown Disney line to await a bus. This line goes to Saratoga Springs, Old Key West and both Port Orleans. Again, the wait isnt too long and on a bus we go. Of course, in my head is the wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round but I digress. They arent too many of us, which is nice.
The driver made a point of saying she can accept gratuities for excellent service which did annoy me since she is doing her job. She was very perky & welcomes us warmly, which is nice, of course, but not to give a gratuity for. While we wait, I talk with my friend Jennifer a bit, who is planning to join me at the parks for 2 days later on in the week. I also see another CM with one of those big Mickey hands to greet kids with, which I thought was great as well. It does start off a trip well.
We watch a video, which surprisingly, takes up most of the trip. LOL
I get off at Port Orleans French Quarter and took a pic of the side of the bus before the luggage cover went up. I predicted I would be at the resort at 3pm-ish and I was. The plane landed at 1:30pm, so not too bad!
The resort is really very pretty (see earlier POFQ review) and there was greeters at the door saying welcome & where people were from. The people in front of me were from Pennsylvania and I said Jersey and they replied that people from Jersey are much more fun. It was funny and just another great way to start a trip.
Since I stopped to take a pic of the bus, I was the first one that had to wait at the registration line. I did not see any special desk for the online check-in. So, as I wait, Im just looking around, staring and taking it all in. I was looking around so much that the reception person had to come and get me. (see above POFQ review for pic of reception desk. did you know the musical notes are "when the saints come marching in"?)
I had a very nice check-in CM, Matt. He answered all my questions (explained to me the Key to the World card is my park tickets, transportation to the Polynesian and where to get the Dole Whip there, etc), even gave me 2 pins birthday and a first visit. On the birthday pin, he put the dot on my i as mickey ears. Very Cute!! I got my $200 gift card, which I almost forgot about and my room request of not Building 7 and not a parking lot view. So, I got Building 5, courtyard. See earlier POFQ review.
I finish with Matt and head over to Concierge to get printouts of my ADRs and finally decide to cancel Yak & Yeti since I switched park days and unlikely to make it back there. We also make small talk about the Segway tour. I cannot wait to go on this tour.
I head to my room at Building 5 it must be the Banjo building since it is part of the logo. I have a courtyard view which is very pretty. I love the street names. I walk in my room to find a Towel Mickey. I think this is standard but I love it anyway.
It looks fine, but I take a wipe and clean down the light switches, remote and door handle. The drawers and table were a bit dusty, so I wiped those down too. But other than that, it all looked good! I did spend some time to check out my bedspread covers and all of its hidden mickeys.
I also take some time to take pics of my pins, keycard and various other items. I had a good ol time. I finished unpacking my carry-on. I really liked the double sink and the big ledge to leave all your stuff on. I also brought down with me a plastic shower caddy that was perfect for the open closet in the changing area/double sink area. I left all my non-essential everyday stuff in there.
After finishing the tour of the room, I touch up hair & make-up. I check out the hairdryer, which seems to be pretty decent. I did bring my own, just in case. I have really crazy curly hair and need a good hairdryer to get it all in decent public-viewing shape. I fix up my purse with my pins and head out of the room for my first adventure to the Polynesian to visit, have me some Dole Whip, watch Wishes and Electric Water Pageant!
I stop to take pics of the courtyard from my room door & street signs. I stop at the food court and it smells great! I decide to wait to eat until I hit the Polynesian.
I also visit the gift shop to see whats there and end up buying a 3-pack earring set since one of the earrings were little itty bitty mickey ears and perfect for me! And at 25% off, so alls good. It should be around 4:30pm around now. My cashier was very nice and helped me figure out how to get the Polynesian. I was still a little confused on transportation options and the MK vs. TTC thing still threw me for a loop.
So, I take her advice and take a bus to the Magic Kingdom and transfer to the Resort Monorail to the Poly. The bus to MK came in less than 10 minutes with no rideshare with POR. At MK, I take a few minutes to locate the Resort Monorail. It comes after a few minutes and the Poly is the 3rd stop in the Great Ceremonial House. I take a few pics. I seriously over-compensated for time and got to the Poly from POFQ in about 20-25 minutes. I budgeted an hour at the fastest!
It smells just wonderful by Kona Café, but I was on a mission to Captain Cooks for some Dole Whip! One does not order by person at Capt Cooks but by machine. You place an order on a touch screen, which I actually thought was cool after one figures it out a bit. I placed an order for Aloha Pork Sandwhich and the Dole Whip came up as a beverage choice. Yes, please! As it turns out, you get a cup from the cashier and go over and do the Dole by yourself since it is in the wall.
By the time I finish this, my sandwich is ready and Dole Whip in hand, it is 5:30pm. All this done in one hour! I take my time eating my lovely sandwich outside and the pineapple coleslaw is delicious!
After I finish, I wander around quite a bit, take more pics and find the Beach to watch Wishes later on. The Beach is actually 2 very narrow strips of sand with Sunset Point in the middle.
I take some time writing in my journal and I should have visited Kona Café, but I didnt think of that then. I thought I had to stay at the Beach since it might be busy. I didnt have to bother at all since I stayed on the second beach and no one was there. It is about 7:40pm now. Wishes starts at 9pm.
It is now getting dusky and very cool. Im getting cold and still didnt think to go inside to the nice warm Kona Café.
I do have a good view of the Castle and tried taking pics but my point & shoot isnt really made for night pics. As of this moment, I am the only person on the beach! I dont know what I was thinking.
There are magical hours until 1am at MK tonight, so I am hoping there will not be a mad rush to the buses. I came to the Poly to watch Wishes and not get involved in the rush out of MK, but I have to transfer there anyway to get back to POFQ. Again, no idea what I was thinking. LOL!!
It is very pretty when the riverboats turned on their lights. After awhile of staring out into Seven Seas Lagoon, I did walk to the first beach for 5 minutes to get warm and stretch my legs.
Wishes started promptly at 9pm. It was pretty but I didnt hear any music, so maybe the first beach at it. I also saw EWP for a minute or two, saw it as a dragon and then the American flag, but then it went dark fairly quickly and turned around the lagoon without the lights! I dont know if that was supposed to happen. But, I was at the second beach, which is another reason to stay at the first beach, I guess.
It was over by 9:15-20pm and I started walking past the first beach (stayed a minute or two to watch the rest of the lights on the Castle) to the Great Ceremonial House to catch the Resort Monorail back to MK. It must be nice to see fireworks from your balcony! People were watching and clapping at the end.
I was able to smell the wonderful smells from Kona and hop on the monorail back to MK within a few minutes. I did hit the Wishes rush, but it was not too bad. I did book it to the POFQ bus, but didnt make the waiting bus. Only 8 people in front of me, so close! But if the bus cant fit anymore, it cant fit anymore. Transportation Karma missed me on this leg. So, we and the 8 people in front of me and now bunches behind me wait quite a bit for the next bus, but probably not more than 20 minutes.
The bus arrives and back to the bus I go since that is protocol. There has to be one bad apple in the bunch and refused to go further back than the back door, because Im guessing, he wanted to be the first out. To where? Our little resort? He was told 3 times and just shrugs. Grrr.
So, people just pushed past him to the back of the bus. Buddy, youre not getting anywhere faster by being a jerk.
Once at POFQ, I order an individual pizza to bring back to my room, along with a juice. It is now about 10:10pm. My luggage has arrived! Yay! I relax, eat, unpack my luggage, ironed & hung up clothes, got clothes & purse ready for tomorrow. I write in my journal and set my alarm for 6am to take advantage of EMH at Animal Kingdom tomorrow morning.
Its now 1:35am in the morning and Ive been up since the previous 6am, operating on 3 hours sleep! Holy Buckets!
Next Up: First Park Day! Animal Kingdom, here I come!
down for her 15th birthday. I still have 3 days left on my tickets, so why not? 
