- Joined
- Oct 19, 2004
- Messages
- 15,500
Cast:
Me: Karen (a.k.a Kaz) 40-something. Loves all things Disney, a Kir Royale in Mizner's Lounge and spending slightly less of DH's $$$ than before...
Him: Richard (a.k.a Dick) Slightly older 40-something. Loves most things Disney, a Kir Royale in any Lounge and holding onto his wallet at all times...
Rogues Gallery:
Dick...
Kaz...
I love September. Forget January and it’s New Year status - for me, September's the month full of promise. It’s all clean slates and sparkly new beginnings, smart school uniforms and shiny shoes. The return of routine. And after the months of summer, when Taylor Towers is bursting with testosterone and teen spirit, parental peace reigns once more...
September is the month that features our wedding anniversary and, as the years accelerate at a blistering pace, we are more inclined than ever to celebrate the milestones as we dash past! 25, 26, 27 years of marital mayhem and counting!!!
Finally, I should also mention that September is one of the less manic months for my man of business in his suit and tie. The lull of August is lifting but there’s still the opportunity for him to take time out and party - unlike our jinxed January trips that we’ve been forced to cancel in the past due to worrisome work-related woes. It’s a less than busy month for this most mature of students, too. Lectures don’t resume in earnest until the first week of October so I’m free to flit around till then...
So there it is, September is a veritable super-month for us - I just can’t think why we didn’t work it out sooner! Fortunately, we managed to put two and two together by October of last year, when we were forced (again) to reconsider the existing plans we had in place for a trip together. Some hard drinking - er.. I mean, thinking(!!!), ensured we were able to transfer our Disney cruise plans to the final Tortola offering of the summer and we worked from there. Playing with the dates on the Virgin Atlantic website proved fruitful and we made significant savings by deciding to fly out to Orlando three days prior to leaving Port Canaveral on the Magic - I opted to stay on post-cruise and spend a week with our daughter, Sophie. Richard, unfortunately, couldn’t hide from the office forever so had to fly back on the afternoon we docked...
With flights in place, we booked our pre-cruise/post-cruise accommodation using DVC points, of course! A complex arrangement of 1 night at Saratoga Springs and 2 nights at Wildness Lodge were duly altered at the 7 month window - Bay Lake Tower for three nights became our home away from home...
The year flew by. I made several online ADRs. I cancelled several online ADRs and made different ones. I panicked about the volume of our Fish Extender exchange gifts and bought new suitcases. Richard panicked about changing seats when he renewed his Aston Villa season ticket. It’s the differences that make us compatible - no, really...
Before long, the date of departure was upon us and so, after this long and winding preamble, let the trip report commence!!!
Part One: PRE-CRUISE VIEWS...
Wednesday September 9th 2009.
An early start wasn’t necessary today. We were on the later VA flight and, as the Virgin Clubhouse was out of action, we didn’t feel quite the same compulsion to hurtle down the M23, lips already pursed in anticipation of sipping a Virgin Redhead! We still managed to arrive in good time and swiftly parked in the South Terminal Short Stay car park as, many months before, I had prepaid for 11 days parking and received a most excellent deal in return... We had already checked in online the day before so, before long, were passing through the amusing misnoma that is the ‘Fast Track’ security check. I know speed is relative, but surely the word ‘fast’ implies a pace that is slightly quicker than a sedated tortoise? A sedated tortoise on roller skates would be an improvement - but maybe that’s just me..?
Once airside, we walked towards Books Etc. Except it wasn’t there anymore and appeared to have vanished altogether. I was more than a little saddened by such a turn of events, as a visit to this literature emporium is something of a personal pre-trip tradition. It’s a simple pleasure but I really look forward to buying one of those huge ‘airport only’ paperback editions of a fab fresh-off-the-presses crime novel. After sulking a little, I browsed the outsize offerings in WHSmith but it didn’t feel the same so, without further ado, we decided to check out the V-Room...
I had thought this might be packed but was pleasantly surprised by the plethora of available comfy chairs and the complimentary champagne slipped down very nicely thank you, as we whiled away the time until we could board... Eventually the flight was called and we headed to the gate where there was the usual confusion with some very tense people getting even more stressed but hey, we were on holiday so just chilled until the line diminished and we could saunter on without too much fuss...
Our seats for this trip were 7A/K and before long we were sipping more champagne, nibbling chips and pulling faces at each other across the aisle. Well, I was. Richard had more important things to attend to like deciding whether to wear headphones and sunglasses...
Or just sunglasses...
Or neither...
I decided to take the usual onboard ‘pedi pic’...
...but with a twist as I artistically included the amenities pack - it’s the juxtaposition of pristine upper class toothbrush and dirty lower class Birkenstocks...
Actually, the pedicure deserves an honorable mention. The night before our hols, I had been lamenting the fact that I wouldn’t be able to get one in the airport as usual. So Richard offered to do it for me and, as pedis go, this one was fab - staying put for the entire trip and beyond!!! Round of applause for the man in the suit and tie, methinks...
The flight flew by. (See what I did there???!!!) We landed ahead of time and were swiftly through immigration and baggage claim, before making our way to the Magical Express!!! I guess it’s time to confess that I have mixed feelings about this service. I love the concept of it and, for the first few times we used it, there were no problems. However, our last two experiences have been most definitely painful! They go a little something like this - sitting on the coach and waiting and waiting and waiting... Waiting and waiting... Then waiting some more before finally setting off - only to be the last on a lengthy list of drop offs. This time was the worst as not only were we last BUT we were also in the company of about a gazillion people who it seemed would be checking into the Contemporary for a conference!!! Fortunately, the synapses in my brain were still sporadically sparking, and I worked out that if we wanted to check in before another yet hour rolled by, Richard should wait for the luggage whilst I steamed to the lobby. Which is exactly what I did and, of course, it worked out fine but I think I will pre-book a town car for our next trip...
But enough of the griping! We worked out where to find our room...
...and excitedly made our way to the Bay Lake Tower and room 8008...
This was our first time in a studio and we were pleasantly surprised by the all the space!
We quickly settled in and went to briefly explore the rest of the resort...
We were supposed to be dining at the Wave this evening and had a late 9.20pm reservation. By 8pm however, I was seriously flagging and desperate to climb into my PJs, so we cancelled and ordered that 1st night staple, the room service burger!!! Yummy!!! Post-dinner, I couldn’t resist climbing into the comfy bed and shutting my eyes - just for a moment, you understand... Suffice to say, I didn’t convincingly open them again until the following morning!!! Goodnight...
Me: Karen (a.k.a Kaz) 40-something. Loves all things Disney, a Kir Royale in Mizner's Lounge and spending slightly less of DH's $$$ than before...
Him: Richard (a.k.a Dick) Slightly older 40-something. Loves most things Disney, a Kir Royale in any Lounge and holding onto his wallet at all times...
Rogues Gallery:
Dick...
Kaz...
I love September. Forget January and it’s New Year status - for me, September's the month full of promise. It’s all clean slates and sparkly new beginnings, smart school uniforms and shiny shoes. The return of routine. And after the months of summer, when Taylor Towers is bursting with testosterone and teen spirit, parental peace reigns once more...
September is the month that features our wedding anniversary and, as the years accelerate at a blistering pace, we are more inclined than ever to celebrate the milestones as we dash past! 25, 26, 27 years of marital mayhem and counting!!!
Finally, I should also mention that September is one of the less manic months for my man of business in his suit and tie. The lull of August is lifting but there’s still the opportunity for him to take time out and party - unlike our jinxed January trips that we’ve been forced to cancel in the past due to worrisome work-related woes. It’s a less than busy month for this most mature of students, too. Lectures don’t resume in earnest until the first week of October so I’m free to flit around till then...
So there it is, September is a veritable super-month for us - I just can’t think why we didn’t work it out sooner! Fortunately, we managed to put two and two together by October of last year, when we were forced (again) to reconsider the existing plans we had in place for a trip together. Some hard drinking - er.. I mean, thinking(!!!), ensured we were able to transfer our Disney cruise plans to the final Tortola offering of the summer and we worked from there. Playing with the dates on the Virgin Atlantic website proved fruitful and we made significant savings by deciding to fly out to Orlando three days prior to leaving Port Canaveral on the Magic - I opted to stay on post-cruise and spend a week with our daughter, Sophie. Richard, unfortunately, couldn’t hide from the office forever so had to fly back on the afternoon we docked...
With flights in place, we booked our pre-cruise/post-cruise accommodation using DVC points, of course! A complex arrangement of 1 night at Saratoga Springs and 2 nights at Wildness Lodge were duly altered at the 7 month window - Bay Lake Tower for three nights became our home away from home...
The year flew by. I made several online ADRs. I cancelled several online ADRs and made different ones. I panicked about the volume of our Fish Extender exchange gifts and bought new suitcases. Richard panicked about changing seats when he renewed his Aston Villa season ticket. It’s the differences that make us compatible - no, really...
Before long, the date of departure was upon us and so, after this long and winding preamble, let the trip report commence!!!
Part One: PRE-CRUISE VIEWS...
Wednesday September 9th 2009.
An early start wasn’t necessary today. We were on the later VA flight and, as the Virgin Clubhouse was out of action, we didn’t feel quite the same compulsion to hurtle down the M23, lips already pursed in anticipation of sipping a Virgin Redhead! We still managed to arrive in good time and swiftly parked in the South Terminal Short Stay car park as, many months before, I had prepaid for 11 days parking and received a most excellent deal in return... We had already checked in online the day before so, before long, were passing through the amusing misnoma that is the ‘Fast Track’ security check. I know speed is relative, but surely the word ‘fast’ implies a pace that is slightly quicker than a sedated tortoise? A sedated tortoise on roller skates would be an improvement - but maybe that’s just me..?
Once airside, we walked towards Books Etc. Except it wasn’t there anymore and appeared to have vanished altogether. I was more than a little saddened by such a turn of events, as a visit to this literature emporium is something of a personal pre-trip tradition. It’s a simple pleasure but I really look forward to buying one of those huge ‘airport only’ paperback editions of a fab fresh-off-the-presses crime novel. After sulking a little, I browsed the outsize offerings in WHSmith but it didn’t feel the same so, without further ado, we decided to check out the V-Room...
I had thought this might be packed but was pleasantly surprised by the plethora of available comfy chairs and the complimentary champagne slipped down very nicely thank you, as we whiled away the time until we could board... Eventually the flight was called and we headed to the gate where there was the usual confusion with some very tense people getting even more stressed but hey, we were on holiday so just chilled until the line diminished and we could saunter on without too much fuss...
Our seats for this trip were 7A/K and before long we were sipping more champagne, nibbling chips and pulling faces at each other across the aisle. Well, I was. Richard had more important things to attend to like deciding whether to wear headphones and sunglasses...
Or just sunglasses...
Or neither...
I decided to take the usual onboard ‘pedi pic’...
...but with a twist as I artistically included the amenities pack - it’s the juxtaposition of pristine upper class toothbrush and dirty lower class Birkenstocks...
Actually, the pedicure deserves an honorable mention. The night before our hols, I had been lamenting the fact that I wouldn’t be able to get one in the airport as usual. So Richard offered to do it for me and, as pedis go, this one was fab - staying put for the entire trip and beyond!!! Round of applause for the man in the suit and tie, methinks...
The flight flew by. (See what I did there???!!!) We landed ahead of time and were swiftly through immigration and baggage claim, before making our way to the Magical Express!!! I guess it’s time to confess that I have mixed feelings about this service. I love the concept of it and, for the first few times we used it, there were no problems. However, our last two experiences have been most definitely painful! They go a little something like this - sitting on the coach and waiting and waiting and waiting... Waiting and waiting... Then waiting some more before finally setting off - only to be the last on a lengthy list of drop offs. This time was the worst as not only were we last BUT we were also in the company of about a gazillion people who it seemed would be checking into the Contemporary for a conference!!! Fortunately, the synapses in my brain were still sporadically sparking, and I worked out that if we wanted to check in before another yet hour rolled by, Richard should wait for the luggage whilst I steamed to the lobby. Which is exactly what I did and, of course, it worked out fine but I think I will pre-book a town car for our next trip...
But enough of the griping! We worked out where to find our room...
...and excitedly made our way to the Bay Lake Tower and room 8008...
This was our first time in a studio and we were pleasantly surprised by the all the space!
We quickly settled in and went to briefly explore the rest of the resort...
We were supposed to be dining at the Wave this evening and had a late 9.20pm reservation. By 8pm however, I was seriously flagging and desperate to climb into my PJs, so we cancelled and ordered that 1st night staple, the room service burger!!! Yummy!!! Post-dinner, I couldn’t resist climbing into the comfy bed and shutting my eyes - just for a moment, you understand... Suffice to say, I didn’t convincingly open them again until the following morning!!! Goodnight...
I can't believe you fell over aswell! What are we like???? At least you didn't seem to suffer any lasting injuries. 
I am sure we will meet up soon. 
Nice to know there's a good alternative to Rosa Regale (the Magicale - must give that a go) .. and that you like to make toasts to Justin Lee Collins - Happy Days
