TLinden16
Scotty and Ray at Jelly Rolls are the best!
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2002
- Messages
- 16,243
Day 1Saturday, December 4, 2004
I woke up at 4:00 to get ready for my 6:30 a.m. JetBlue flight out of Boston. I had arranged for a local car company to come pick me up at 5:00 to take me to the airport. The car arrived 10 minutes early, and I was soon on my way. The ride, normally around 15 minutes, took close to 30 minutes. The tunnel to the airport was closed, so we had to take a round about way to get there. But, I still arrived an hour early for my flight.
There were lots of folks linger around for curbside check-in, so I dragged my stuff inside, and got in line to get my boarding pass and check my luggage. One thing I like about flying JetBlue is that the lines usually arent that bad, as they dont have as many flights as the bigger airlines. I was through the line and ready to head to the gate in about 10 minutes.
I continue to be impressed by JetBlue. The flight crew is fantasticthe flight attendants are just so personable and helpful. They do whatever they can to make sure you are comfortable. I also love the free Direct TV at every seatit really makes the flight fly by (no pun intended). I lucked out on this flight, and had an empty seat next too me, so I was able to stretch out a bit. I sat next to a great family with two little kids, and it was fun gabbing with them about the trips. We realized that we would be on the flight home together as well. The flight was pretty goodwe hit one air pocket that was a bit scary, though. The plane jumped up a bit, and then just dropped. Im a very calm flyer, but that one had my stomach in knots.
My flight landed in Orlando about 15 minutes early. After making a quick pit stop, I took the tram to baggage claim, where I was greeted by my FL Tours driver, Sonny. The luggage was already coming out by the time I arrived at baggage claim, and my suitcase was one of the first ones off the plane. It took less than 20 minutes to get from the plane to the town car.
This was my third time using FL Tours, and I continue to be impressed by the service. The cars are clean and comfortable, and the drivers are friendly and professional. I enjoyed chit chatting with Sonny along the way, and we realized that he had driven some of my friends to their resorts in the past few days. After making a quick stop at Publix for some groceries, Sonny took me to the Swan. We made it in record timeit took about an hour from the time my flight landed until I arrived at the hotel.
After checking into the Swan, I decided to take a walk over to Epcot, as my room wasnt ready yet. I had to renew my annual pass, and there was a long line at Guest Services at the International Gateway, so I walked into the park. I was starving since I had eaten breakfast before I left the house at 5:00, so I grabbed some chicken strips at the Electric Umbrella. I rarely eat chicken strips at home, but its something I always have to get at Disneythey are just so yummy.
After lunch, I went to Guest Relations next to Spaceship Earth to renew my annual pass. I also wanted to find out if I would be able to enter the park at 8:15 on Monday morning so I could walk through to the front gate to meet my tour guide for the Backstage Magic Tour I would be taking on Monday. I wound up having three guest services cast members helping me out because none of them knew the answer to my question. I sure felt bad about monopolizing the time of so many people when the line was out the door, but I appreciated their help.
After finishing up at Guest Relations, I walked to the Epcot Christmas Tree to catch a set by Epcot Vybe. I really love Epcot Vybe. They did a ten minute set of about four or five Christmas songs, and they were as amazing as ever. I miss seeing them as American Vybe in the rotunda in the American PavillionI really like the way they sound over there.
I then headed back to the Swan to see if my room was ready. I was meeting another DISer at 1:00, and I was hoping to stop in the room and freshen up before heading out for the afternoon. My room was ready. I was in room 699. It overlooked the courtyard in the middle of the U shaped section of the Swan. I could see the Dolphin, the Yacht Club, and the Swan/Dolphin Christmas tree from my room. I had a balcony, as well, and I looked forward to sitting out there during my trip. My room was spotless, and showed no signs of wear. There were two queen beds, and they looked as heavenly as their name.
After getting settled in my room, I went to meet up with some DIS friendsfar too many to mention by names. Its so weird meeting people from the DIS face to face for the first time. You spend so much time gabbing, and getting to know each other on the boards and in chat rooms, and when you meet face to face that first time, its amazing to see how comfortable you are with that person. As I get to know folks on line, I often picture what I think they look like, and I have never imagined anyone anywhere near what they acutally look like. The internet truly is an amazing thing we have here. I have yet to meet a DISer I didnt like.
Later in the afternoon, I went to pick up KristaTX and her mom KayTX at the airport with Towncrier. I enjoyed the ride to the airport with TowncrierI had met him last year, but didnt really get the chance to talk to him much, so it was nice to be able to talk to him one on one for a bit. I have gabbed a lot with KristaTX in the chat room, and on IMs, so I was really looking forward to meeting her in person.
After KristaTX and KayTX got settled into their hotel room, we all went over to the Magic Kingdom to catch Wishes, and try to do a few things. We wound up grabbing a quick bite to eat at the Plaza Pavillion. I wasnt very hungry, so I actually ran to the Lunching Pad and grabbed a spicy cheese pretzel (one of my favorite Disney snacks). After eating, we went on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. I always enjoy riding on that one. Its very relaxing. I always love seeing how many people from the other vehicles will wave at memost people just look at me like Im crazy though. Wave people.
We then went to find a spot to watch Wishes. We made the mistake of sitting too close to the castle for Wishes, so most of the fireworks were hidden behind the castle. We sat on the street right in front of the castle on the upper half of the hub, and it just blocked a lot of the fireworks. I made a note to never sit that close to the castle again when I went to see Wishes.
After Wishes, we headed over to check out the Stitch attraction. I was very disappointed in it. I was never an Alien Encounter fan, and I think they took what was a lame ride to begin with and made it even lamer. I think that it is too scary for young kids who love Stitch. I dont want to give anything away for folks who havent gone on it yet, but there is one thing in the attraction that really bothered me, and that I felt was something that should not happen on an attraction. I will most likely be skipping this on future trips unless Im with someone who really wants to go on it.
We then went to ride on Buzz Lightyear. While we were in line, Krista spotted a DISer she knewNebsky, and his wife. We gabbed with them for a while after the ride, and they wound up hanging out with Krista, Kay, and Towncrier the rest of the night. I decided to call it a night after Buzz Lightyearit was now after 11:00, and I had been up since 4:00 a.m., and I could feel it.
When I arrived back to my room, I quickly got changed and into bed (ah, they were as comfortable as everyone said). Unfortunately, my neighbor had their TV on very loudloud enough so that I could hear what the folks on the TV were saying. There was a connecting door in my room, so the sound went right through it. They were watching some movie with a lot of tire screeching and gunshots, so it was very annoying. At 1:00, I called the front desk to see if they could recommend anything I could do to muffle the sound. They offered to send security up to my neighbors room, but I decided I would just deal with it. The TV finally went off around 2:00, and I finally fell asleep, 22 hours after I had woken up.
I woke up at 4:00 to get ready for my 6:30 a.m. JetBlue flight out of Boston. I had arranged for a local car company to come pick me up at 5:00 to take me to the airport. The car arrived 10 minutes early, and I was soon on my way. The ride, normally around 15 minutes, took close to 30 minutes. The tunnel to the airport was closed, so we had to take a round about way to get there. But, I still arrived an hour early for my flight.
There were lots of folks linger around for curbside check-in, so I dragged my stuff inside, and got in line to get my boarding pass and check my luggage. One thing I like about flying JetBlue is that the lines usually arent that bad, as they dont have as many flights as the bigger airlines. I was through the line and ready to head to the gate in about 10 minutes.
I continue to be impressed by JetBlue. The flight crew is fantasticthe flight attendants are just so personable and helpful. They do whatever they can to make sure you are comfortable. I also love the free Direct TV at every seatit really makes the flight fly by (no pun intended). I lucked out on this flight, and had an empty seat next too me, so I was able to stretch out a bit. I sat next to a great family with two little kids, and it was fun gabbing with them about the trips. We realized that we would be on the flight home together as well. The flight was pretty goodwe hit one air pocket that was a bit scary, though. The plane jumped up a bit, and then just dropped. Im a very calm flyer, but that one had my stomach in knots.
My flight landed in Orlando about 15 minutes early. After making a quick pit stop, I took the tram to baggage claim, where I was greeted by my FL Tours driver, Sonny. The luggage was already coming out by the time I arrived at baggage claim, and my suitcase was one of the first ones off the plane. It took less than 20 minutes to get from the plane to the town car.
This was my third time using FL Tours, and I continue to be impressed by the service. The cars are clean and comfortable, and the drivers are friendly and professional. I enjoyed chit chatting with Sonny along the way, and we realized that he had driven some of my friends to their resorts in the past few days. After making a quick stop at Publix for some groceries, Sonny took me to the Swan. We made it in record timeit took about an hour from the time my flight landed until I arrived at the hotel.
After checking into the Swan, I decided to take a walk over to Epcot, as my room wasnt ready yet. I had to renew my annual pass, and there was a long line at Guest Services at the International Gateway, so I walked into the park. I was starving since I had eaten breakfast before I left the house at 5:00, so I grabbed some chicken strips at the Electric Umbrella. I rarely eat chicken strips at home, but its something I always have to get at Disneythey are just so yummy.
After lunch, I went to Guest Relations next to Spaceship Earth to renew my annual pass. I also wanted to find out if I would be able to enter the park at 8:15 on Monday morning so I could walk through to the front gate to meet my tour guide for the Backstage Magic Tour I would be taking on Monday. I wound up having three guest services cast members helping me out because none of them knew the answer to my question. I sure felt bad about monopolizing the time of so many people when the line was out the door, but I appreciated their help.
After finishing up at Guest Relations, I walked to the Epcot Christmas Tree to catch a set by Epcot Vybe. I really love Epcot Vybe. They did a ten minute set of about four or five Christmas songs, and they were as amazing as ever. I miss seeing them as American Vybe in the rotunda in the American PavillionI really like the way they sound over there.
I then headed back to the Swan to see if my room was ready. I was meeting another DISer at 1:00, and I was hoping to stop in the room and freshen up before heading out for the afternoon. My room was ready. I was in room 699. It overlooked the courtyard in the middle of the U shaped section of the Swan. I could see the Dolphin, the Yacht Club, and the Swan/Dolphin Christmas tree from my room. I had a balcony, as well, and I looked forward to sitting out there during my trip. My room was spotless, and showed no signs of wear. There were two queen beds, and they looked as heavenly as their name.
After getting settled in my room, I went to meet up with some DIS friendsfar too many to mention by names. Its so weird meeting people from the DIS face to face for the first time. You spend so much time gabbing, and getting to know each other on the boards and in chat rooms, and when you meet face to face that first time, its amazing to see how comfortable you are with that person. As I get to know folks on line, I often picture what I think they look like, and I have never imagined anyone anywhere near what they acutally look like. The internet truly is an amazing thing we have here. I have yet to meet a DISer I didnt like.
Later in the afternoon, I went to pick up KristaTX and her mom KayTX at the airport with Towncrier. I enjoyed the ride to the airport with TowncrierI had met him last year, but didnt really get the chance to talk to him much, so it was nice to be able to talk to him one on one for a bit. I have gabbed a lot with KristaTX in the chat room, and on IMs, so I was really looking forward to meeting her in person.
After KristaTX and KayTX got settled into their hotel room, we all went over to the Magic Kingdom to catch Wishes, and try to do a few things. We wound up grabbing a quick bite to eat at the Plaza Pavillion. I wasnt very hungry, so I actually ran to the Lunching Pad and grabbed a spicy cheese pretzel (one of my favorite Disney snacks). After eating, we went on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. I always enjoy riding on that one. Its very relaxing. I always love seeing how many people from the other vehicles will wave at memost people just look at me like Im crazy though. Wave people.
We then went to find a spot to watch Wishes. We made the mistake of sitting too close to the castle for Wishes, so most of the fireworks were hidden behind the castle. We sat on the street right in front of the castle on the upper half of the hub, and it just blocked a lot of the fireworks. I made a note to never sit that close to the castle again when I went to see Wishes.
After Wishes, we headed over to check out the Stitch attraction. I was very disappointed in it. I was never an Alien Encounter fan, and I think they took what was a lame ride to begin with and made it even lamer. I think that it is too scary for young kids who love Stitch. I dont want to give anything away for folks who havent gone on it yet, but there is one thing in the attraction that really bothered me, and that I felt was something that should not happen on an attraction. I will most likely be skipping this on future trips unless Im with someone who really wants to go on it.
We then went to ride on Buzz Lightyear. While we were in line, Krista spotted a DISer she knewNebsky, and his wife. We gabbed with them for a while after the ride, and they wound up hanging out with Krista, Kay, and Towncrier the rest of the night. I decided to call it a night after Buzz Lightyearit was now after 11:00, and I had been up since 4:00 a.m., and I could feel it.
When I arrived back to my room, I quickly got changed and into bed (ah, they were as comfortable as everyone said). Unfortunately, my neighbor had their TV on very loudloud enough so that I could hear what the folks on the TV were saying. There was a connecting door in my room, so the sound went right through it. They were watching some movie with a lot of tire screeching and gunshots, so it was very annoying. At 1:00, I called the front desk to see if they could recommend anything I could do to muffle the sound. They offered to send security up to my neighbors room, but I decided I would just deal with it. The TV finally went off around 2:00, and I finally fell asleep, 22 hours after I had woken up.
. Here are a few pics from the MK that night:
