Scottish-Helen
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2002
- Messages
- 726
The cast - Helen 33, has obsessive compulsive Disney planning disorder,
Ric 33, LSH or long suffering husband who would rather go skiing
Mum and Dad 68, persuaded to come along for week 2
Day 2 - Sunday April 23rd 2006
Did my usual first morning thing and woke at 3am. Half went back to sleep until about 6.30 then got up and went down to the business centre to print off our new car voucher which should have now been emailed to me.
We left on the now very familiar shuttle bus at 7.10 to go back to the airport to collect the car. The car hire area was completely deserted except for staff, what a difference from the zoo we had experienced the day before. The lady on the Dollar counter took our voucher with no problems (phew!) and asked if we would like to upgrade from our economy 2 door to a Chrysler cruiser for 9$ a day. No thanks, we've already shelled out enough on car hire thanks. When we got to the parking garage surprise, surprise we had the cruiser anyhow. Out of all the times (quite a few) that I have booked an economy car we have only actually once got one. I now felt as if our luck was changing and it was time to start the holiday properly.
It was still nice and early and it was very foggy outside. We headed out on the 528 to Disney. We arrived just after 8am and got parked right near the front in Journey 1 - 6 no tram needed. Our first stop was guest relations where I was to pickup my travel agents ticket and Ric was to upgrade to an Annual Pass. We were done here by 8.30 so we got in line to wait for the park to open. I was now literally pinching myself as I couldn't believe I was finally here. We were kept at the turnstiles until 8.50 then they let us in as far as the fountain for rope drop. Soarin was what I was here for and we were right at the front of the rope as they walked us up to the land pavillion. I grabbed us a fastpass then we got in the short standby line to ride. What a fantastic experience this ride is, I had a tear in my eye as we flew over Disneyland
. We next headed over to the Living Seas and had a look around while we waited for them to open the waiting area for the first Turtle Talk at 10am. This was another new attraction for me and I had heard good things about the show. Turtle Talk exceeded my expectations, the way Crush interacts is amazing!. After this we walked over to Test Track to get fastpasses, it was 10.25 and our return time was for 11.05. We went back to the land to ride Soarin again but the ride was down. Ric was starving so we went to Seasons to grab a quick bite to eat. I got a tomato and mozzarella salad and a banana and ric got little mini pitta breads and a tub of tuna mayo. It was a strange combination but was very nice. We arrived back at Test Track at 11.05 on the dot and got in the fastpass queue. I had forgotten just how much fun this ride is.
As Siesta Key is a 2 hour drive away Ric was keen to head off as he was doing the driving. I didn't want to go so early but I knew we would be returning in a few days time. It was an easy drive down to Siesta Key and we arrived at the Banana Bay Club Waterside at 2.10pm. Check in was 3pm but our room, no 6 Sunset Suite had just been cleaned so we were able to check in straight away. I had found this property on tripadvisor which is one of my most frequently used websites as I am not just a disney geek but a travel geek in general (well I am a travel agent after all). The room was a good size with a kingsize bed, sofa, kitchenette and bathroom. It had been decorated recently and was very clean but was not all that modern. We had a side door which was the main door to get in then a back door onto a screened porch with table and chairs, then a sand area with 2 sun loungers. This all looked out onto a river and was very pretty. You are really paying for the setting.I will try and post piccies at a later date.
We jumped back in the car after a while to have a look at Siesta Key Village. I had only been to St Petes and Clearwater for days out and to be honest hadn't really liked the look of them. Siesta Key is just beautiful though. There are no high rises or big hotel chains there and the beach just has to be seen to be believed (It has won loads of awards). We ate at a fish restaurant called Captain Curts and both had Mahi Mahi which was v nice.
We got back to Banana Bay when the next disaster happened. The owners were away and had left us the key in an envelope taped to the office door. I am a bit funny about security in hotels and usually lock myself in the room with the latch on. When we went out for dinner we left by the second prch door which you lock and then pull shut. We had keys for the other door which was to the side. We went to let ourselves in but I had put the latch thing on
I had visions of us having to kip on the sunloungers all night or in the car.I had left a folder on the porch table which had details about where we were staying, local info etc and it had some emergency numbers on it. Luckily I also had my mobile and a US sim card. I rang the first 3 numbers...no answer. I was starting to go into meltdown again now. I rang the last emergency number and the owner answered. They sounded like they were on a night out and I felt awful disturbing them. I could hear him saying that we we had locked ourself out and him saying that someone else had done the same the other week. He had to guide me by phone to where the office key was hidden and then direct me to a box with spare keys. It was like that Anneka Rice programme that used to be on TV. Anyway we managed to get back in and that was another drama over.
Tomorrow- Lazy beach day on possibly the best beach in the world
Ric 33, LSH or long suffering husband who would rather go skiing
Mum and Dad 68, persuaded to come along for week 2
Day 2 - Sunday April 23rd 2006
Did my usual first morning thing and woke at 3am. Half went back to sleep until about 6.30 then got up and went down to the business centre to print off our new car voucher which should have now been emailed to me.
We left on the now very familiar shuttle bus at 7.10 to go back to the airport to collect the car. The car hire area was completely deserted except for staff, what a difference from the zoo we had experienced the day before. The lady on the Dollar counter took our voucher with no problems (phew!) and asked if we would like to upgrade from our economy 2 door to a Chrysler cruiser for 9$ a day. No thanks, we've already shelled out enough on car hire thanks. When we got to the parking garage surprise, surprise we had the cruiser anyhow. Out of all the times (quite a few) that I have booked an economy car we have only actually once got one. I now felt as if our luck was changing and it was time to start the holiday properly.
It was still nice and early and it was very foggy outside. We headed out on the 528 to Disney. We arrived just after 8am and got parked right near the front in Journey 1 - 6 no tram needed. Our first stop was guest relations where I was to pickup my travel agents ticket and Ric was to upgrade to an Annual Pass. We were done here by 8.30 so we got in line to wait for the park to open. I was now literally pinching myself as I couldn't believe I was finally here. We were kept at the turnstiles until 8.50 then they let us in as far as the fountain for rope drop. Soarin was what I was here for and we were right at the front of the rope as they walked us up to the land pavillion. I grabbed us a fastpass then we got in the short standby line to ride. What a fantastic experience this ride is, I had a tear in my eye as we flew over Disneyland
. We next headed over to the Living Seas and had a look around while we waited for them to open the waiting area for the first Turtle Talk at 10am. This was another new attraction for me and I had heard good things about the show. Turtle Talk exceeded my expectations, the way Crush interacts is amazing!. After this we walked over to Test Track to get fastpasses, it was 10.25 and our return time was for 11.05. We went back to the land to ride Soarin again but the ride was down. Ric was starving so we went to Seasons to grab a quick bite to eat. I got a tomato and mozzarella salad and a banana and ric got little mini pitta breads and a tub of tuna mayo. It was a strange combination but was very nice. We arrived back at Test Track at 11.05 on the dot and got in the fastpass queue. I had forgotten just how much fun this ride is.As Siesta Key is a 2 hour drive away Ric was keen to head off as he was doing the driving. I didn't want to go so early but I knew we would be returning in a few days time. It was an easy drive down to Siesta Key and we arrived at the Banana Bay Club Waterside at 2.10pm. Check in was 3pm but our room, no 6 Sunset Suite had just been cleaned so we were able to check in straight away. I had found this property on tripadvisor which is one of my most frequently used websites as I am not just a disney geek but a travel geek in general (well I am a travel agent after all). The room was a good size with a kingsize bed, sofa, kitchenette and bathroom. It had been decorated recently and was very clean but was not all that modern. We had a side door which was the main door to get in then a back door onto a screened porch with table and chairs, then a sand area with 2 sun loungers. This all looked out onto a river and was very pretty. You are really paying for the setting.I will try and post piccies at a later date.
We jumped back in the car after a while to have a look at Siesta Key Village. I had only been to St Petes and Clearwater for days out and to be honest hadn't really liked the look of them. Siesta Key is just beautiful though. There are no high rises or big hotel chains there and the beach just has to be seen to be believed (It has won loads of awards). We ate at a fish restaurant called Captain Curts and both had Mahi Mahi which was v nice.
We got back to Banana Bay when the next disaster happened. The owners were away and had left us the key in an envelope taped to the office door. I am a bit funny about security in hotels and usually lock myself in the room with the latch on. When we went out for dinner we left by the second prch door which you lock and then pull shut. We had keys for the other door which was to the side. We went to let ourselves in but I had put the latch thing on
I had visions of us having to kip on the sunloungers all night or in the car.I had left a folder on the porch table which had details about where we were staying, local info etc and it had some emergency numbers on it. Luckily I also had my mobile and a US sim card. I rang the first 3 numbers...no answer. I was starting to go into meltdown again now. I rang the last emergency number and the owner answered. They sounded like they were on a night out and I felt awful disturbing them. I could hear him saying that we we had locked ourself out and him saying that someone else had done the same the other week. He had to guide me by phone to where the office key was hidden and then direct me to a box with spare keys. It was like that Anneka Rice programme that used to be on TV. Anyway we managed to get back in and that was another drama over.Tomorrow- Lazy beach day on possibly the best beach in the world
Great report so far,
