SSRmonkey
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 25, 2008
- Messages
- 323
I'm baaaacck!! I'm so excited to be back in the Happiest Place on Earth! Mom and Dad were lucky enough to get an extra day off from work, so we started our trip from PA on Friday morning. After a quick stop at McDonalds for breakfast, the journey began. I really tried to get mom and dad to stop at Dirty Ernie's Rib Pit in West Virginia, but after our last WV experience, I was overruled.
After a long day in the car we finally made it to Daytona Beach. I was hoping it was bike week--I love Hell's Angels--but it was just another normal weekend. After sleeping off the road trip, we got up and hit the beach. The waves were crazy and there was a sign to watch for wildlife. After wandering around the beach for a bit, I stumbled upon this...
Koala mistook my screaming for joy for pain and decided he needed to help me by taking a page from Chandler and Joey in Friends...I won't go into detail, but let's just say Koala's Little Swimmers came off. (If you haven't seen that episode of Friends, research "What to do when stung by a jellyfish".)
After I finally got him calmed down we thought we better leave the beach. We headed to Orlando and hit up Prime Outlets because we knew we couldn't check in yet. After that we got our first Wetzel's Pretzel (original, of course). With a nice view of SSR, the day started out great!
Because we left a day early, we didn't want to use our points to stay another night at SSR, so mom got a cheap reservation online for Port Orleans, French Quarter. I was confused...didn't know the French used American currency. Anyway, we checked in but the room still wasn't ready. On the way to the car we got asked to keep a diary for a week about where we go and how much money we spend, etc. One of the things it asks you to keep track of is how many merchandise locations you walk through every day. Isn't the whole park a merchandise location? I'm just going to put 1000 for each day. That pretty much sums that up.
We decided to head to Epcot and see what trouble we could get into. Our first Soarin' experience of the trip was great. Middle section, middle row. And I think there were new scent canisters! Awesome!!
After that we rode Figgy and wandered over to Test Track to see how long the wait was. Too long, so we went on Spaceship Earth. Still no text from Port Orleans about our room so we called. The room was ready so we went back to the resort.
Once we got there we realized how spoiled we are being in DVC and how nice the DVC resorts are. Not that the others aren't nice, but I really appreciate SSR even more now.
After dinner at Earl of Sandwich--yum--we wandered around DTD for a while and then headed to the other outlet mall for a bit. Then it was back to the resort. I've found I can get into more "situations" (shout out to "The Situation") after dark, so we prowled around a bit.
I think this tree needs to shave.
I wish my saxophone had a water feature.
Creepy...
There was a chance of rain, so I'm glad I know where to come in case I need an umbrella.
Hitching a ride to the parade.
Today we checked in to SSR and did a whole bunch of fun stuff. I'll fill you in about that later. Now it's off to dinner and to pick up the rest of our travelling party at the airport! More friends to party with!
After a long day in the car we finally made it to Daytona Beach. I was hoping it was bike week--I love Hell's Angels--but it was just another normal weekend. After sleeping off the road trip, we got up and hit the beach. The waves were crazy and there was a sign to watch for wildlife. After wandering around the beach for a bit, I stumbled upon this...

Koala mistook my screaming for joy for pain and decided he needed to help me by taking a page from Chandler and Joey in Friends...I won't go into detail, but let's just say Koala's Little Swimmers came off. (If you haven't seen that episode of Friends, research "What to do when stung by a jellyfish".)
After I finally got him calmed down we thought we better leave the beach. We headed to Orlando and hit up Prime Outlets because we knew we couldn't check in yet. After that we got our first Wetzel's Pretzel (original, of course). With a nice view of SSR, the day started out great!
Because we left a day early, we didn't want to use our points to stay another night at SSR, so mom got a cheap reservation online for Port Orleans, French Quarter. I was confused...didn't know the French used American currency. Anyway, we checked in but the room still wasn't ready. On the way to the car we got asked to keep a diary for a week about where we go and how much money we spend, etc. One of the things it asks you to keep track of is how many merchandise locations you walk through every day. Isn't the whole park a merchandise location? I'm just going to put 1000 for each day. That pretty much sums that up.
We decided to head to Epcot and see what trouble we could get into. Our first Soarin' experience of the trip was great. Middle section, middle row. And I think there were new scent canisters! Awesome!!

Once we got there we realized how spoiled we are being in DVC and how nice the DVC resorts are. Not that the others aren't nice, but I really appreciate SSR even more now.
After dinner at Earl of Sandwich--yum--we wandered around DTD for a while and then headed to the other outlet mall for a bit. Then it was back to the resort. I've found I can get into more "situations" (shout out to "The Situation") after dark, so we prowled around a bit.
I think this tree needs to shave.

I wish my saxophone had a water feature.

Creepy...

There was a chance of rain, so I'm glad I know where to come in case I need an umbrella.

Hitching a ride to the parade.

Today we checked in to SSR and did a whole bunch of fun stuff. I'll fill you in about that later. Now it's off to dinner and to pick up the rest of our travelling party at the airport! More friends to party with!
