How Many Rides on Pirates of the Caribbean are Enough? Now Completed 11/4/10

[creativeamanda]

Blast you, report card Gremlins!

That's what was in my mind on the day we left. I was quick to get everything together for checkout at my school. I even told the assistant principal the day before my room was ready for inspection. For those of you who don't know, teachers have to have their classrooms ready for summer cleaning and we are required to checkout.

Well, Coach G says, laughing, "We don't want to keep Mickey waiting, do we?"

Now how did he know I was going to Disney World? He's not on the Disboards, not a Facebook friend. . .heavens, we don't even talk outside of work. Of course, I'm sure that everyone by now knows if there's a school break, I'm going to partially fill it with Disney.

So my room is A-Okay, and I drive the 15 minute drive to dh's school. It's 11:00 am, I've shed my tears over the teachers who were leaving us, and I'm all excited again.

ROADBLOCK.

No leaving for us yet. The school staff could not leave until the report cards were printed. And there was a big internal PowerSchool problem. That originated at the elementary school and had the entire school district on hold.

Only problem? The elementary school had all gone home.

I wait. It's 12 noon.

I go to the bank.

It's 1pm.

I'm getting angry.

At 2pm, dh's principal tells him to go ahead, as he can probably tell I'm a little peeved.

At 2:15 we are on the road. To Orlando.

After an 8 hour drive, and getting lost on the wrong side of Orlando (hint, when you get off the interstate at exit 74B, do not take a left and keep going), we ended up at a moderately comfortable Comfort Suites. We ordered pizza, which was delivered long after Slugger went to sleep, and settle down before our check in the next morning.

Coming up. . .Just WHERE is that room assignment again?

 

[H20DogsNDisney]

Great update hope the rest of the trip went smooth. Can't wait for the next!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Oh man! I bet you were peeved! I would have been! I hope you got the room you wanted!

 

[creativeamanda]

Great update hope the rest of the trip went smooth. Can't wait for the next!

Thanks! I can't wait for the next update!

Oh man! I bet you were peeved! I would have been! I hope you got the room you wanted!

I was! The schools didn't get the report cards out until the middle of the next week!

 

[disney<333]

I'm a teacher too so I know those end of the year check-outs are never fun!
Horray, for getting to Florida!!!

 

[scdvcwannabe]

Ugggg- Powerschool! Don't get me started...

 

[creativeamanda]

I'm a teacher too so I know those end of the year check-outs are never fun!
Horray, for getting to Florida!!!

I love teaching, but sometimes I could throw the technology out of the door.

Ugggg- Powerschool! Don't get me started...

Powerschool still does not work right with Excent. Then top it all off with the fact that Excent is phasing out to Enrich at the same time that Powerschool is still weeding through problems, and neither are going to talk to Powerschool right, I have a headache in front of me this coming school year. I think I am probably going to have to do support for Enrich next year and I don't even have full access to Powerschool, which is going to be necessary because in order for a kid to even show up in Excent or Enrich to write an IEP, they have to be marked in an obscure area of Powerschool.

It's all frustrating, but South Carolina is ahead of times with all of this, they really are.

 

[TarzansKat]

A delay on the way to Disney?

In the words of the Princess Bride (which was on last night) INCONCEIVABLE!!!

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

Can't wait for more!! I so wish we lived close enough to drive to Disney... I'm so jealous of you folks that do!! Maybe someday....

 

[creativeamanda]

A delay on the way to Disney?

In the words of the Princess Bride (which was on last night) INCONCEIVABLE!!!

I know! Darned schools! I hate how work gets in the way of Disney!

Can't wait for more!! I so wish we lived close enough to drive to Disney... I'm so jealous of you folks that do!! Maybe someday....

I love being able to drive to Disney--it is a great thing!

 

[creativeamanda]

So after a rather less than restful night (too excited to sleep, ya know), we got up, repacked the car, and headed back to International Drive.

This was my first experience with the McDonalds on International Drive, and let me tell you, coming from Po-Duck North Carolina, this was like reaching the big city! Make your own pasta at a McDonalds?

Anywho, after a cup of coffee and a Sausage McGriddle, we hopped onto I-4 once more.

It wasn't too long before we were at Exit 67, and were driving under this:

And then, here:

Ah, Port Orleans-Riverside. One of the places I truly consider a second home. I mean, who can't fall in love with this?

We came to the registration desk at POR, where the gremlins in the computers had apprently traveled to Disney. It took a manager to print our KTTW cards, but soon we were being directed towards our building. Not our room, but our building.

I had requested Building 14, 2nd floor. I knew that it was a long shot as to whether or not we'd get the Holy Grail of room assignements. It was with bated breath and a skip of the heart when Mary gave us our room assignment:

It would be about 9:30 when we'd get the text message with our room number assignment:

Yes, it was second floor.

A view of our building from the parking lot. Our room overlooked a courtyard area.

So after I skip a few steps knowing our room was exactly what I asked for, we went on to the bus stop. We were so excited!

Where did we go?

Where else?

I was really early for rope drop, and the kids had enough time to hoola-hoop in the meantime. . .

And then we waited. . .

Coming up. . .am I always weepy when it comes to Magic Kingdom rope drop?

 

[Queenofallthings]

POR looks so beautiful...so happy that you got the room assignment you were hoping for

I completely understand the weepiness at MK rope drop...when they sing that song....I'm done....puddle of tears

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Yippeee on the getting the room you wanted!

Your pictures are beautiful!

I understanding getting weepy at rope drop! I get weepy all the time at WDW! DH thinks I'm crazy!

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

I love the MK opening ceremony I always choke up during the countdown... My son thinks it's hilarious!

 

[SadieDog]

Were you kidding about make your own pasta at McDonalds? Never heard of such a thing.

Loving the pics.

 

[H20DogsNDisney]

Great pictures! Great update

 

[TarzansKat]

Ah, rope drop. To my mind, it is only myth. I've never seen one. I love to live it vicariously through those who actually get out that early, but it's never happened in my family.

Count me among those who has never heard of the make your own pasta salad at McDonald's. Wow.

And POR looks so peaceful, so tranquil. What a lovely place to stay.

 

[__disneygirl]

The answer to the question in your title is: INFINITY! You can never ride POTC too many times. Because, like the Haunted Mansion, you will notice something new every single time. Or at least... my family does.

I'm loving your TR! You have adorable kids. I just updated my TR about our first experience at rope drop and I got weepy just WRITING it and posting the pictures, so you KNOW I was a mess when it was actually happening. It just gets me. Magic

Can't wait for more!

oh, and P.S. How come Alligator Bayou is so sought after? We usually have great luck when requesting room locations, but we've never stayed at PO-R. It is beautiful though so I figure I should educate myself now to save time later if we decide to stay! Thanks

 

[teacher1717]

Great TR so far. I am also a teacher, but I don't get out of school until the 28th (of June). I 'm heading to the world about 2 weeks after school. I can't wait

 

[disney<333]

I always love driving under the sign! Yay, for getting exactly what you requested!!! I can't believe you guys were able to check in and still have plenty of time to kill before RD! You must of been up EARLY.