Whew. Finally I can take off this disguise. I can finally breathe. I felt free and alive. I felt like me again. I just said this yesterday when we were watching the video of our trip. It feels so weird to be able to talk freely about WDW. I stop to think if I have to sensor anything and I dont. DISNEY! DISNEY! DISNEY! I said it three times for good measure. And because I could.
I feel good!
We head out and catch the shuttle. The boys are just chatter boxes. They are making up their game plans. What rides they have to go on. What rides they think theyll try. Asking our opinions and making me very happy. Changing their minds 100s of times. I know how that feels.
The people who were riding the shuttle with us smiled and laughed at my boys. Nanee told them all about the surprise. She does that. Talks to people. All the time. Even when they dont want to. Im used to it. Tim still isnt. They get dropped off at another terminal. First.
We get to the new Northwest Terminal. Its been around 4 years now give or take a few years, Im no expert so dont go quoting me, and it is nice. Theres a very small version of the monorail there. Takes you from one side to the other. Tim takes the kids on it to pass the time.
I get myself a star bucks coffee and pick up some fruit. We share the fruit, not the coffee.
Theres an underground tunnel that goes under the runway connecting Northwest to Delta and Continenta. You get to see a light show of some kind. Ive been told. Tim took the boys there too. They are so just so excited.
They get some potato cakes from the overpriced McDonalds and its time to board. We have a whole row. I put Mal in between Nanee and I and the boys across from us.
As we are on board I start to smell peanuts. Its a very strong smell. That means its very close. Light bulb goes off. When I booked with northwest I inquired about my sons allergies and what theyre procedures are. The responses I get are pretty typical. They cant guarantee a peanut free flight because of what passengers bring on the plane. I get that. They will make a note in the manifest that there is a passenger with a peanut allergy on board. The boarding stewards are to make an announcement and ask the passengers about to board, to not consume any food containing peanuts while on the flight. Ok. Thats nice. I understand that wont be a guarantee either, but at least it puts out an awareness.
They did no such thing. So I point it out to Tim who was sitting with the boys. The man in front is inhaling them and not very careful. The girls behind them are eating peanut butter crackers. Those make the messiest crumbs. I get tense. Im just worried. What can you do up in the air, with only 2 epis? Not a whole lot. So I pray.
Then the stewards start selling their snacks and they have peanuts. So I was lied to. I am just very thankful my son doesnt seem to be smell sensitive. Just ingestion. And thats not a pretty sight or experience. Otherwise wed be doomed to drive to Disney every time.
The flight was fine. 2 hours and a few minutes. Nothing special. Mals first plane ride and it didnt phase her one bit. We did have to be de iced. That was cool.
You drive up to these huge mechanical arms that blast something at the plane and you cant see a single thing. Its like you are in a very thick fog. They have one on each side of the plane.
Ya, I dont get out much. Get your laughs over with.
I think it put us back 30 minutes. We made most of that up in the air. Dont cha just love that! No speed limit signs up there. Punch it pilot, Im in a big hurry to see a mouse and a castle!
The landing for me was horrible. I am an ok flyer. Just hate to take off landing. As long as theres no turbulence, Im a happy camper. I wear those pressure point wrist bands. Im not sure they help, but if I think they do, then they do. Its all mental with me. They did help because I didnt actually use the barf bag. I just held it for a few minutes. Closely.
We land, get our luggage, yep, sorry Magical Express, maybe next time, and hop on the shuttle to pick up the rental car.
We walk in and they are laughing at us. Look at all that luggage!
You gotta lotta stuff there mee-ster. Wont fit in small mini you reserved. You have to upgrade to the big mini.
Suckers!
We pay more and we are off. Just getting us ready for Disney
Car was still wet from the car wash. Plus it was still cool from the last family that just used it.
Thats some production line they got there.
Pull em up, clean em out, wash em up, load em up. Send em off!
Just getting us ready for Disney.
We hit the road and a few tolls later, except the one I drove through that was the scanner by complete accident. I did stop so we could pay the toll. I did. But there was nobody there to except our coins. So if they got us on tape blowing the toll booth, they should also see us trying to be honest. My kids practically had a heart attack and were sure that a cop was coming to get us.
Well we had a stop to make before we actually get to Pop Century. We needed some stuff. Some breakfast type stuff and a cooler for milk. So we went to publix. Nice place.
They actually pushed my cart to my car for me? As a courtesy. What a concept.
I only get that service here when the packer cant get everything to fit back in my cart and has to use two. Sometimes after theyre done I have to stand there and ask if they are coming with me. Seriously.
I come out with my 5 bags and 2 cases of water and DH is wondering where we are going to put all this. He didnt say it, but I could tell. I read his body language. I knew itd be tight, but where theres a will theres a way. We figure it out and move on. Squished but mobile.
Then we saw this:
Then this:
And then this:
We pull into the check in area. Yes we are here and we are checkin in! Move out of our way we have arrived!
Whoa. That line is long. Thats right. The Magical Express bus beat us back and I was feeling annoyed. Oh well, we are in Disney right?
I tell Tim take the kids to the TV room, Ill stand in line with my envelope. I waited. Waited some more. Then a lot more. Why do these people have soooo much to talk about? I just want my room. And food. And my DH keeps walking by me and looking at me and hes running out of things to keep the baby occupied. Please hurry up with your conversations so we can just get to our rooms! I waited a bit more.
Thats ok; some disers trip reports conditioned me for this. Im not gonna name any names, but you all know who you are.
Ah Im next. I start to rock back and forth. Getting antsy. Yes! My turn!
I give her the spiel. Checking in. Name, both ressie numbers etc. Ask about the special room cleaning. She tells me theres nothing listed for it. There should be because a CM suggested I do this last month and she made sure it was there and all the times I called back to make changes every CM read all my special notes to me and it was there.
She makes a phone call.
If you want it, it will take 2 more hours for your room.
Buy now Tim is standing next to me. He looks like his team just lost the game in over time. I asked what more would they do. And all they would do is purify the air.
Nope, dont need it. Ill inspect it, and if I have a problem Ill be calling you.
Upon arrival I had 2 packages waiting for me from past guests who are DISers. A collage of things to decorate my window and door. That was a lot of fun. And getting special packages left for you at the front desk makes you look really cool and feel very special.
I didnt request a room location. Doesnt bother me where its at. I just want a nice clean room. And it was. Before we got there that is.
We head to the car to drive to the 80s section. Boxes are placed on laps and we do the few minutes drive to the back. Park, open doors and everything explodes out of the car, even children and grandmas.
We are given rooms 7347 and 7348. We are on the third level closest to the parking lot. Works for me. Our room was 20 paces from the elevator. Again, works for me.
That one of the boys all excited is great! And what a cutie patootie Mal is! 
And we are both writing about the same day at the same time. 
I am going shopping tomorrow in Chicago though, so I won't be getting too much writing done. Can't wait to read more of yours though! And I'll try to catch up when I get back.
It was fun surprising them. But I don't think I'll ever do it again. I love sharing the excitment with them and I missed that this time. The dis saved my sanity and allowed me to pull it off.
)
