If only Tinker Bell was related to the tooth fairy... (FINISHED 4/26)

[Emma's Dad]

Welcome! ​

For those who know me and have been waiting for this trip report, I sincerely appreciate your patience. It has taken me a long time to sit down and face the details that complete the picture of our latest vacation at Walt Disney World. For those who are just tuning without prior knowledge of who I am or what has caused the delay in my writing, you may first catch a glimpse by reading my first TR from 2009. As for the reason of the delay, you will come to realize as you begin reading the TR. Fortunately for you it will not take long to get the idea.

The following preliminary warnings are declared for this TR:

• I am not a writer by nature... although I do enjoy sharing my experiences with my friends and family. Oh... and by replying to this TR you acknowledge that you will become my friend
• My installments will come in sporadic intervals. Pirates may occasionally invade when crickets are heard.
• It may take a LONG time for this TR to come to conclusion (Last one took a year! LOL!)
• There will be lots of pictures... none of which will include food porn. Now that I'm thinking about it, no form of porn will be shown here.

Trip Info:

When? April 27th - May 4th, 2010

Where? On-site - Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

How? Round trip, non-stop flights with Southwest Airlines. Magical Express to/from resort. Used Disney transportation while at the resort.


Cast of characters (borrowed mainly from my last TR):




Me: Don - Software engineer from Virginia Beach, VA. I love to spend time with my family and don't normally have much time for other hobbies outside of work. Most of my "extra" time is spent either on the computer catching up on the DISBoard (or any other number of geeky-type computer activities), performing some sort of remodeling project for our house, or helping out with our local church. I was also chosen to be the "editor" for the DIS Dad's Club here on the boards. I take NO credit for starting the club... that credit goes to The Disney Fanatic.

DW: Kathleen - My extraordinary, beautiful wife of 17 years and mother to our sweet daughter. She loves her job as a stay-at-home mom and is the PTA president for DD's school. She enjoys watching her favorite afternoon soaps while updating her Facebook page on the laptop. Unlike me, she likes reading spoiler pages for the variety of shows she watches. She is also an avid coupon clipper... she has saved us LOTS of money this year! While not an eccentric fan of all things Disney, she has come to realize that there is something special about WDW. You will not find her in many pictures... fear of the camera! Her favorite character is Tinkerbell

DD(6): Emma - Very much a daddy's girl and is the pride and joy in our lives. She is growing at the rate of 100 grasshoppers a month (if you use the standard "knee-high to a grasshopper" measurement). DD is not a big movie-watcher, but she does enjoy every one of the Tinker Bell and High School Musical movies. Her new favorite cartoon is Phineas and Ferb. Wonder when Disney will have them available for meet and greets? Otherwise, her favorite Disney character is Silvermist.

Thanks again for tuning in and I hope you will be as entertained as you were in my previous TR. There will be some rocky roads along the way this time... more so than any other trip we have been on. Also, it is likely that some of the details are a little blurry since this trip took place 5 months ago! But I expect to see many of the DIS Dads showing up here and providing a little extra help along the way (they tend to embellish a little).


OK... off we go!


Note: The pictures taken for this trip were mostly taken by yours truly. I am by no means a photographer, and the camera used to capture these moments is a Sony Cybershot W55 digital camera. I like it because it's small, quick to turn on, and takes pretty decent pictures (for my eyes anyway).

 

[Emma's Dad]

Here is your quick link to chapters:

Day 1, part 1: "We're going to Disney World!"
Day 1, Part 2: "Check in... or check out?"
Day 1, Part 3: "Seriously?? I should have stayed in bed this morning..."
Day 1, Part 4: "Pin Trading!"
Day 1, Part 5: Ice cream casualty... NOT THE MICKEY HEAD!
Day 1, Part 5a: Conservation Station
Day 1, Part 6: Let's wrap up day 1, shall we?
Day 2, Part 1: EPCOT -"MY DISNEY MAGIC!!"
Day 2, Part 2: EPCOT - "Behold the power of the crayon!"
Day 2, Part 3: EPCOT - "Fairy Power"
Day 2, Part 4: EPCOT - "Butterflies and Beverly..."
Day 2, Part 5: "Bubbles... and it's not a bath"
Day 3, Part 1: "Bad hair day..."
Day 3, Part 2: "Almost got a Buzz"
Day 4, Part 1: "Magic Kingdom: Taking in the sights"
Day 4, Part 2: "Magic Kingdom: Remembering Toon Town - Part 1"
Day 4, Part 3: "Magic Kingdom: Remembering Toon Town - Part 2"
Day 4, Part 4: "If only Tinker Bell was related to the tooth fairy..."
Day 4, Part 5: "Wrapping up day 4"
Day 5, Part 1: "International Travel... and curse you, Tooth Fairy!"
Day 5, Part 2: "Our first trip around the world!"
Day 5, Part 3: "Continuing our trip around the world"
Day 5, Part 4: "The World is a big place..."
Day 6, Part 1: "A secret corridor?!?"
Day 6, Part 2: "Another new dining experience"
Day 6, Part 3: "So long, Hollywood Studios!"
Day 7, Part 1: "Aquatica"
Day 7, Part 2: "Our last night at WDW"
Day 8: "Epcot and then we're outta here!"

All done! Thanks for reading along

 

[that's nice]

Just noticed a little link in your signature so I clicked to check it out and it brought me here... WHAT IS THIS PLACE??????

 

[Emma's Dad]

Just noticed a little link in your signature so I clicked to check it out and it brought me here... WHAT IS THIS PLACE??????

It's the land of the lost trip reports. Ssshhhhhh! Don't tell anyone!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Hey...what's this?

 

[Emma's Dad]

Hey...what's this?

It's a mirage... please keep moving along...

 

[Wherem I Now]

Ooohh, look what I've found. (After Tim and Mark of course)

 

[afwdwfan]

Let's see... today is October 21. I guess that means we should bookmark this page and come back sometime around April Fools Day to see more???

Look forward to reading about the trip!

 

[Emma's Dad]

Ooohh, look what I've found. (After Tim and Mark of course)

Hey, Mike!! You found it! Glad to have you onboard

Let's see... today is October 21. I guess that means we should bookmark this page and come back sometime around April Fools Day to see more???

Look forward to reading about the trip!

So it starts already! Thanks for showing up and lending your support

 

[Emma's Dad]

Our day starts off like any other day... NOT! WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD! Whoohooo! I mean, can you believe it?!? We really are going to Disney today! I can hardly contain myself. It doesn't even matter that it's 4:30 AM and I have about 20 minutes to get showered, dressed, and people in the car so we can drive the 20 minutes to the Norfolk International Airport. Our flight leaves at 6:30, and they always want you there early... but we like to push the envelope. Plus, the early flights seem to have lighter security lines... especially at our small little airport. Still not sure how ORF is an International airport... but I digress. We're going to Disney World!!

We manage to get ready in time and are on our way with no problems. Still going through the mental checklist as we (me, myself and I) are driving. All the important items like the vouchers, plane tickets, and various travel documents are in the laptop bag this time. Guess who is NOT forgetting to laptop this year?? Must have checked that thing 50 times in the trunk when packing. Anyway, we get to the airport and due to timing, I drop off DW, DD, and the luggage at curbside check in for Southwest and I head for the long term parking garage. I end up on the next-to-last level and WAYYYYYY far away from the elevator. I write down where I parked... CHECK. No need for aggravation at the end of the vacation.

I meet back up with my clan at the security checkpoint at about 5:45. I'm starting to sweat at this point because the line is longer than I thought it would be. But, fortunately, the line moves at a good pace. So I have my shoes off and all my stuff loaded in the plastic bins and walk over to the metal detector... whew... no alarms. "Excuse me!" yells the jolly TSA worker behind the fancy x-ray machine, demanding everyone's attention. "Who placed this laptop in the bin??" This sounds serious. Wonder who's laptop he is talki... uh oh. Peanut butter! That's my laptop. I walk over and claim responsibility for it. "Sir, you are going to need to go with this gentleman." Ummmm... ok? So me and this other TSA worker - who is quite larger than I (height and width-wise... and I'm 6'2", 200lbs!) - commence to have a private meeting at a table at the end of the security line. Turns out that you have to take the laptop OUT of the bag and place it in a separate bin. (Insert face-palm here) Oops. A well-seasoned traveler I am not. After a well-deserved lecture about the PROPER way to submit a laptop for security screening, the kind TSA worker gives me a clean report and sends me on my way. Meanwhile, DW is giving me the "Why didn't you read about this BEFORE we got here and WHY are you making us late" look. As timing and luck would have it, DD's Carnation Instant Breakfast decides it doesn't like being held captive in the kid cup we used to transport it and subsequently leaks all over the inside of her carry-on backpack. Gee... this is beginning to be an interesting trip. We get her bag to the nearest restroom and DW manages to get the inside of it clean. Collateral damage included one teddy bear. Not too bad.

We arrive at the terminal just in time for the A group to begin lining up. That's us! I managed to score (3) "A" group seats the morning before as I performed the 24 hour lottery at the computer. Things should be OK from here... we saunter over to our place in the lineup and wait for the green flag. In the few moments we are waiting I notice the sun has surpassed the horizon and a beautiful, colorful sky was appearing beyond the windows. Uh oh. No, I didn't! I frantically search for the "perfect" sunglasses I spent weeks searching for this trip. On my shirt? No. In the backpack? No. Does DW have them? No. Has ANYONE seen them? No. This sucks. I left them on the kitchen counter. Really, this totally blows because my eyes are light sensitive. And you have NO idea how picky I am about my sunglasses (just ask DW). Oh well... guess I have something to look forward to buying from Disney World!

We receive the green flag and off to the races we go. I always enjoy seeing the smiling faces of the Southwest flight crew. Even got to say Hi to the captain this time! Wait... the captain is stopping us. Great... what now? Can't be bad, he is still smiling. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a plastic set of pilot's wings and places it on DD's shirt! How cool is that! DD was glowing with pride with her newly appointed "pilot" status. DW was more interested in finding seats close to the front. She always wants the very front seats but we can't grab them this time. Can't have any carry-on bags on the floor. Instead, we grab the second row and get settled in... DW gets window, DD in the middle, I get aisle.

As folks are still getting settled, a guy starts a conversation with me from across the aisle. Seemed like a nice, young man. Don't remember what we were chit-chatting about, but about 5 minutes later, a flight attendant comes over and sternly asks the man to come with her. Another uh oh. I watch as the pair walk up to the cabin area... and then off the plane. Strange. Not sure what that was about... but another 5 minutes go by and it looks like the plane has been finally loaded and is ready to go. Then another 5 minutes. And another. Then, wouldn't you know it, that same young man was being escorted back onto the plane. He didn't look as happy as before... and even appeared to be ashamed. I wasn't going to poke my nose into his business, but after he got buckled in, he leans over to me and tells me the story. Turns out that as he boarded the plane, he was trying to be funny and said the the captain something along the lines of "Hope you cleared the bombs off the plan." He learned his lesson the hard way. Apparently you get a thorough talking to for comments like that... who knew? I didn't really talk to him the rest of the flight. But I sure kept my eye on him!

DD and I spent most of the flight watching the Tinker Bell movie (original). I had one of those headphone splitters and we each had our own headphones to use. As I mentioned in my original post, DD is not that big of a movie watcher... and I RARELY get to watch movies with her. This was a very special moment for me with her. I showed her how the arm rest comes up and she moved over and cuddled while we watched Tinker Bell chasing the sprinting thistles. Now THIS is what vacation is about

Our flight is a short 1 1/2 hours in the air and I must say this one was very smooth and cloudless. We arrive at Orlando International Airport ahead of schedule and hike to the baggage claim area. We have never used the yellow stickers to have the bags delivered to the room... we're chickens! Besides, we're still young enough to tote around our luggage just fine, thank you. Fortunately, all our checked luggage made the flight with us and recovered them in the same condition we left them in. Off to Magical Express we go!

We are VERY spoiled people. I say that because when we arrive at the ME area... the same as last year... there are no other passengers waiting in line. Nothing but smiling CMs waiting to tend to our every need. We are quickly transferred to one of the buses waiting to head to Coronado Springs Resort. We board the bus and we see an empty bus... except for one lonely couple. Sweet! Another limo ride to WDW! Yeah... we're spoiled.



And here is a familiar view:



I tried to get a good picture of Goofy driving the DVC van... but it's not a very good shot! Reminds me of the DIS Dad's bus we dream about



And here we finally make it to our destination... Woohooooooo!



Next up... Check in... or check out??

 

[carissanboys]

Hey Don Thanks for the PM to let me know you'd started your TR. When I stop by the Dis, I tend to click on that little "user CP" link at the top and just visit my subscribed threads so it probably would have taken me forever to find this if left to my own devices.

I will try to stop by now and again. I admit to feeling a bit in the minority around here for some strange reason.

 

[Emma's Dad]

Hey Don Thanks for the PM to let me know you'd started your TR. When I stop by the Dis, I tend to click on that little "user CP" link at the top and just visit my subscribed threads so it probably would have taken me forever to find this if left to my own devices.

I will try to stop by now and again. I admit to feeling a bit in the minority around here for some strange reason.

Very welcome You know... us guys have to have a small place somewhere in here, right? I'm so happy you stopped by! I'll try to keep the installments at a reasonable pace so you can keep up

 

[carissanboys]

I'm so happy you stopped by! I'll try to keep the installments at a reasonable pace so you can keep up

Oddly enough, I don't think that will be a problem for you.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

OK, I'm here, we can start the TR now...Oh. You started without me.
I see.
Well. I'll just read along then.

How long till the next update?

 

[Emma's Dad]

Oddly enough, I don't think that will be a problem for you.

And so the minority even has a voice! HAHA!

 

[Emma's Dad]

OK, I'm here, we can start the TR now...Oh. You started without me.
I see.
Well. I'll just read along then.

How long till the next update?

I thought you were used to being left behind
How long does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop?

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

"Excuse me!" yells the jolly TSA worker behind the fancy x-ray machine, demanding everyone's attention. "Who placed this laptop in the bin??" This sounds serious. Wonder who's laptop he is talki... uh oh. Peanut butter! That's my laptop.

As timing and luck would have it, DD's Carnation Instant Breakfast decides it doesn't like being held captive in the kid cup we used to transport it and subsequently leaks all over the inside of her carry-on backpack.

I frantically search for the "perfect" sunglasses I spent weeks searching for this trip. On my shirt? No. In the backpack? No. Does DW have them? No. Has ANYONE seen them? No. This sucks. I left them on the kitchen counter. Really, this totally blows because my eyes are light sensitive. And you have NO idea how picky I am about my sunglasses (just ask DW).

Wow. This sounds like one of the Vacation movies. Did somebody place a voodoo curse on you just before you left or something?

As folks are still getting settled, a guy starts a conversation with me from across the aisle. Seemed like a nice, young man. Don't remember what we were chit-chatting about, but about 5 minutes later, a flight attendant comes over and sternly asks the man to come with her. Another uh oh. I watch as the pair walk up to the cabin area... and then off the plane. Strange. Not sure what that was about... but another 5 minutes go by and it looks like the plane has been finally loaded and is ready to go. Then another 5 minutes. And another. Then, wouldn't you know it, that same young man was being escorted back onto the plane. He didn't look as happy as before... and even appeared to be ashamed. I wasn't going to poke my nose into his business, but after he got buckled in, he leans over to me and tells me the story. Turns out that as he boarded the plane, he was trying to be funny and said the the captain something along the lines of "Hope you cleared the bombs off the plan." He learned his lesson the hard way. Apparently you get a thorough talking to for comments like that... who knew? I didn't really talk to him the rest of the flight. But I sure kept my eye on him!

What happens if the captain is a friend of yours named Jack, and you say hi to him?

 

[Emma's Dad]

Wow. This sounds like one of the Vacation movies. Did somebody place a voodoo curse on you just before you left or something?

I was beginning to wonder that question myself. Wait until the next installment!



What happens if the captain is a friend of yours named Jack, and you say hi to him?

Took me a few minutes to get that one!!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

We manage to get ready in time and are on our way with no problems. Still going through the mental checklist as we (me, myself and I) are driving.

Call me a nerd, but we have an actual printed checklist. It's used for every trip from an overnight getaway to 2 weeks in Disney World. There are columns for each member of the family, plus the dogs when they come with us, and 'misc' column that lists every camera, phone, charger, etc. (And yes, there is a "sunglasses" entry under each person. Except the dogs.) Every item gets checked off as it gets packed, then again as the bag gets loaded. Don't want a repeat of that time we forgot the toiletry bag in the bathroom and had to scramble to get DW's contacts prescription faxed to us so she could get another set while on vacation.

I walk over and claim responsibility for it. "Sir, you are going to need to go with this gentleman." Ummmm... ok? So me and this other TSA worker - who is quite larger than I (height and width-wise... and I'm 6'2", 200lbs!) - commence to have a private meeting at a table at the end of the security line.

Could be worse, he could have been putting on a rubber glove that extended to his elbow.

DD and I spent most of the flight watching the Tinker Bell movie (original). I had one of those headphone splitters and we each had our own headphones to use. As I mentioned in my original post, DD is not that big of a movie watcher... and I RARELY get to watch movies with her. This was a very special moment for me with her. I showed her how the arm rest comes up and she moved over and cuddled while we watched Tinker Bell chasing the sprinting thistles. Now THIS is what vacation is about

There you go - the vacation was worth it before it even began!

I tried to get a good picture of Goofy driving the DVC van... but it's not a very good shot! Reminds me of the DIS Dad's bus we dream about

I'm going to build that someday. And it's going to be awesome!

 

[Goofy + 3]

Finally a trip report that I'll be able to keep up with. Glad to get in early on this one. I'm still 10 pages behind on Mark's and feel like I've missed out on all the fun.