The Cast: Al - That's me - Age doesn't matter
Marie - Dear Wife - Same age
Our Priors:
1980 - Off - Site
1983 - Contemporary
1987 - Polynesian
1989 - Grand Floridian
1992 - Beach Club
1994 - Beach Club
1995 - Dixie Landings / Beach Club
1996 - Boardwalk
1997 - Wilderness Lodge / Beach Club
1999 - Disney Paris
2000 - Boardwalk
2003 - Boradwalk
2004 - Boardwalk
Part 1
This is it, the first Disney vacation in twenty-one years without our beloved daughter who is away at school. Though she was mortified that we would even consider going to Disney without her,we decided to risk the mental scars this would incur and just do it. The fact that she had spent eight weeks in Italy on a study abroad program this summer made that decision just a tad easier.
The reservation process started in August and was quite involved. First off, we couldn't get a reservation at either Beach Club or Boardwalk, our favorites. We were told to keep trying which, of course,we did. We even tried the Swan & Dolphin and were told one was totally booked for October and the other was filling fast. We could have booked one of them for like $290. but, I don't know, forget proximity,they're not Disney to me. I've always thought, "What the hell was Disney thinking putting these eyesores on the Disney landscape". After a few more phone calls,the wife was getting a little nervous and took the Animal Kingdom Lodge at $400. a night, just to get a foot in the door. After a few more calls, we were able to switch to the Boardwalk,standard view. Then the October discount rates came out and we were able to switch to a water view. Does any of this make sense? We went from no vacancy to water view available at the discount rate. To make an even longer story short, we ended up with 5 nights at the Boardwalk, water view, AP rate. D-Day planning couldn't have been any more complicated.
Since we had two weeks to fill, we decided to drive down and make a few other stops. Instead of the usual get on I-95 and go like a bat out of hell ( All Hail Meatloaf ), we decided to take the scenic route over the Chespeake Bay Bridge and more or less along the coast to Charleston,SC. After two nights in Charleston we would move on to Disney. After Disney, we'd make other stops on the way home.
October 9th was our departure date so when on the afternoon of the 7th I started getting this scratchy feeling in the back of my throat, I was not happy. Friday the 8th was to be a busy day and I felt like crap. I went to work for half a day, finishing at 11 am. I then spent a couple hours running around for last minute items and packing. Then I had a wonderful ride into Philadelphia to pick my daughter up from school so she join us on our traditional night before vacation dinner. If you have never experienced it, Friday rush hour traffic in Philadelphia can be a joyous adventure. I don't remember much about our kick off dinner except that I couldn't taste anything and DayQuil and wine don't mix very well.
Next morning, we were up bright and early and out the door. The drive wasn't too bad except for when I momentarily lost my way and Marie was yelling at me to stop and ask directions even as I calmly assured her that I knew exactly where we were. When I finally did stop, a kind gentleman told me that I was on the road to nowhere and in two more miles I'd be in the Atlantic. Well, excuse me.....must have been the cold medicine.
Stayed in Jacksonville,NC for the night. Went to the local Cracker Barrel for dinner, back to the motel, had a good shot of NightQuil and slept like a baby.
Arrived in Charleston,SC the next afternoon and checked in to the French Quarter Inn. Nice hotel, we highly recommend it. Spent the next day exploring Charleston. I was still popping cold pills but feeling much better.
We arrived at the Boardwalk late in the afternoon of the 12th. We checked in and actually had a choice of three rooms. We took a third floor water view, which turned out to be a great choice. The CM informed us that we had been upgraded to concierge service. It was a nice gesture but one we didn't take advantage of, we didn't even ask what that entitled us to. I had expected turn down service but didn't get it. No matter.
Let me take a moment here to vent on the one thing that has always irked me about check in time and that, my friends, is the dreaded triple tip. The first guy takes the bags from the trunk and gives you your claim ticket. You tip him. The valet hands you a claim ticket. You tip him. Then the third guy brings the bags to your room. You tip him. As much as I enjoy throwing money away, this is a bit much. Taking the bags from the trunk and putting them on a cart is worth about a buck in my book. I'm already being charged for the parking place so I can be charged to stay at their hotel and I should feel obligated to tip the guy to take my car to my rented space? And how hard is it to wheel the cart onto the elevator,wheel it down the hall to my room and set the bags on the floor? It's not like the guy is schlepping across artic tundra with the bags strapped to his back. I think I'd feel better if they just added a charge to the bill and gave the guys a raise. Ok, I feel better now.
We arrive at room 3241 and throw open the door. Nice room,two queen beds and a pull out sofa, that's a lot of space for two people. We could fit the Brady Bunch in here. Nice view too, right above Spoodle's. Our bags arrive promptly, I generously tip the nice gentleman, we unpack and head out. We walked to EPCOT and had a short wait at the ticket booth to turn our AP vouchers into passes. ( The CM at check-in hadn't even asked to see them, I guess they have it on their computer. ) You have got to love the food and wine festival. So much wine and so little time. I made it all the way to France before stopping for a sample. We continued around World Showcase sampling here and there and by the time we reached Mexico I was in a Disney state of mind. We made another trip around and plopped down at a picnic table in front of Germany. We had about an hour till Illuminations but this was the perfect seat for the show. I'll always like what I believe was the original Illuminations best, where the fireworks were timed with the classical music. Oh well.
We were pretty tired out so we wandered ( I may have staggered ) back to the Boardwalk. I think I watched a ball game for a while, Marie was out almost immediately.
To be continued................
Marie - Dear Wife - Same age
Our Priors:
1980 - Off - Site
1983 - Contemporary
1987 - Polynesian
1989 - Grand Floridian
1992 - Beach Club
1994 - Beach Club
1995 - Dixie Landings / Beach Club
1996 - Boardwalk
1997 - Wilderness Lodge / Beach Club
1999 - Disney Paris
2000 - Boardwalk
2003 - Boradwalk
2004 - Boardwalk
Part 1
This is it, the first Disney vacation in twenty-one years without our beloved daughter who is away at school. Though she was mortified that we would even consider going to Disney without her,we decided to risk the mental scars this would incur and just do it. The fact that she had spent eight weeks in Italy on a study abroad program this summer made that decision just a tad easier.
The reservation process started in August and was quite involved. First off, we couldn't get a reservation at either Beach Club or Boardwalk, our favorites. We were told to keep trying which, of course,we did. We even tried the Swan & Dolphin and were told one was totally booked for October and the other was filling fast. We could have booked one of them for like $290. but, I don't know, forget proximity,they're not Disney to me. I've always thought, "What the hell was Disney thinking putting these eyesores on the Disney landscape". After a few more phone calls,the wife was getting a little nervous and took the Animal Kingdom Lodge at $400. a night, just to get a foot in the door. After a few more calls, we were able to switch to the Boardwalk,standard view. Then the October discount rates came out and we were able to switch to a water view. Does any of this make sense? We went from no vacancy to water view available at the discount rate. To make an even longer story short, we ended up with 5 nights at the Boardwalk, water view, AP rate. D-Day planning couldn't have been any more complicated.
Since we had two weeks to fill, we decided to drive down and make a few other stops. Instead of the usual get on I-95 and go like a bat out of hell ( All Hail Meatloaf ), we decided to take the scenic route over the Chespeake Bay Bridge and more or less along the coast to Charleston,SC. After two nights in Charleston we would move on to Disney. After Disney, we'd make other stops on the way home.
October 9th was our departure date so when on the afternoon of the 7th I started getting this scratchy feeling in the back of my throat, I was not happy. Friday the 8th was to be a busy day and I felt like crap. I went to work for half a day, finishing at 11 am. I then spent a couple hours running around for last minute items and packing. Then I had a wonderful ride into Philadelphia to pick my daughter up from school so she join us on our traditional night before vacation dinner. If you have never experienced it, Friday rush hour traffic in Philadelphia can be a joyous adventure. I don't remember much about our kick off dinner except that I couldn't taste anything and DayQuil and wine don't mix very well.
Next morning, we were up bright and early and out the door. The drive wasn't too bad except for when I momentarily lost my way and Marie was yelling at me to stop and ask directions even as I calmly assured her that I knew exactly where we were. When I finally did stop, a kind gentleman told me that I was on the road to nowhere and in two more miles I'd be in the Atlantic. Well, excuse me.....must have been the cold medicine.
Stayed in Jacksonville,NC for the night. Went to the local Cracker Barrel for dinner, back to the motel, had a good shot of NightQuil and slept like a baby.
Arrived in Charleston,SC the next afternoon and checked in to the French Quarter Inn. Nice hotel, we highly recommend it. Spent the next day exploring Charleston. I was still popping cold pills but feeling much better.
We arrived at the Boardwalk late in the afternoon of the 12th. We checked in and actually had a choice of three rooms. We took a third floor water view, which turned out to be a great choice. The CM informed us that we had been upgraded to concierge service. It was a nice gesture but one we didn't take advantage of, we didn't even ask what that entitled us to. I had expected turn down service but didn't get it. No matter.
Let me take a moment here to vent on the one thing that has always irked me about check in time and that, my friends, is the dreaded triple tip. The first guy takes the bags from the trunk and gives you your claim ticket. You tip him. The valet hands you a claim ticket. You tip him. Then the third guy brings the bags to your room. You tip him. As much as I enjoy throwing money away, this is a bit much. Taking the bags from the trunk and putting them on a cart is worth about a buck in my book. I'm already being charged for the parking place so I can be charged to stay at their hotel and I should feel obligated to tip the guy to take my car to my rented space? And how hard is it to wheel the cart onto the elevator,wheel it down the hall to my room and set the bags on the floor? It's not like the guy is schlepping across artic tundra with the bags strapped to his back. I think I'd feel better if they just added a charge to the bill and gave the guys a raise. Ok, I feel better now.
We arrive at room 3241 and throw open the door. Nice room,two queen beds and a pull out sofa, that's a lot of space for two people. We could fit the Brady Bunch in here. Nice view too, right above Spoodle's. Our bags arrive promptly, I generously tip the nice gentleman, we unpack and head out. We walked to EPCOT and had a short wait at the ticket booth to turn our AP vouchers into passes. ( The CM at check-in hadn't even asked to see them, I guess they have it on their computer. ) You have got to love the food and wine festival. So much wine and so little time. I made it all the way to France before stopping for a sample. We continued around World Showcase sampling here and there and by the time we reached Mexico I was in a Disney state of mind. We made another trip around and plopped down at a picnic table in front of Germany. We had about an hour till Illuminations but this was the perfect seat for the show. I'll always like what I believe was the original Illuminations best, where the fireworks were timed with the classical music. Oh well.
We were pretty tired out so we wandered ( I may have staggered ) back to the Boardwalk. I think I watched a ball game for a while, Marie was out almost immediately.
To be continued................
