jsmla
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2001
- Messages
- 4,498
6:00 am
The ringing. Please, stop the ringing. STOP THE RINGING! Oh, it's my wake-up call. I bang my hand randomly in the general direction of the nightstand till I knock the phone off the hook. Boy, is it early. Really early. It's still night-time outside. I turn on the lamp and look over at my beloved. He's got the covers and a pillow jammed over his head. The Prince is not an early riser.
Me: "Come on, babe. Time to get up."
PC: (Prince Charming, not Politically Correct-Scott's a Republican): "Mmmph"
Me: "Rise and shine sweetie!"
PC: "Ugh, mmmph. Stop it."
Me: "It's a beautiful Disney Day!"
PC: "Cut it out, I mean it!"
Me: "We have to check into the hotel before they give away all the good rooms."
PC: "I don't need a good room. I need for you to leave me alone."
That's okay, I'm not a rookie. I get this man up for work 5 days a week. I get up and turn on ALL the lights AND the TV. I go into the bathroom, put on the coffee and take a shower. I leave the door open. I blow dry my hair. I drop stuff on the tile floor. I sing Part of Your World, badly. (For the record, our room was at the end of the hall and the room next to us was the unoccupied living room part of a suite.)
6:30 am
The combination of light, noise and the aroma of coffee does its job. The Prince is sitting hunch-shouldered on the side of the bed. His arms are sagging almost to the floor. His mouth is hanging open. His eyes are still closed, but he is up. I bring him coffee. Nice, strong, black coffee.
6:45 am
I'm all dressed and packed up. The Prince (Well leave off the Charming part for now.) is still sitting on the edge of the bed in his underwear. I thrust clothes at him. I'm considering dressing him myself when he finally heaves himself upright and lumbers into the bathroom.
7:15 am
I start yelling at the bathroom door.
"Come on, come on, come on. It's time to go. What are you DOING in there? I'm not kidding. Let's GO!"
Let's just fast-forward over the next 30 minutes. This scene will be repeated in one form or another almost every day of our trip. Almost every day of our lives. It's 8:00 am and we're finally on our way.
Port Orleans French Quarter is a lovely resort. It's like they took away all the stuff I hate about New Orleans (I went to high school in the N.O. 'burbs.) and left the pretty things. I shunt Scott off to the food court for more coffee and check us in. Glory be! There's a lovely third floor courtyard view room available! In building 5! Exactly what I asked for. Best of all, it's ready now! We grab the suitcases, throw them in the room (a very pretty room too) and are back to the car in no time. Time for Epcot!
Epcot is just opening when we arrive. There are quite a few people around but the crowd's smaller than I expected. We make a mad dash for Mission Space. Scott wants to ride. I know this ride makes quite a large number of people sick and Scott is extremely susceptible to motion sickness. He can't ride the Tea Party or the Tower of Terror. He can ride Star Tours if he closes his eyes during the iffy bits. I never in a million years thought he would be able to ride Mission Space, but he can. He got all huffy last summer when I suggested that Space might be too much for him to handle He had to ride it then, if just to prove his manhood. He followed all the instructions (keep your head back, your eyes open and stare straight ahead at the screen) and and just loved it! (I think it makes him feel all brave and grown-up to ride Space, just like a big boy
). I guess we have a new Disney tradition on our hands. Okay by me, I rarely get motion sickness. I have the famous Cajun cast iron stomach. I can ride the Teacups 5 times in a row. I can sail on choppy seas. I can eat street food in Mexico. I drive Scott nuts.
We're able to hop right onto Mission Space and ride. I'm the commander (Disney obviously knows who should be in charge of things.) and Scott is the navigator. I never, ever feel the spinning, even when I take my eyes off the screen to check on Scott. We both really enjoy this ride. Scott's only a tiny bit woozy afterward. I'm fine.
So far, so good. It's an absolutely georgeous day. We've put the ugly Bathroom Incident behind us. We're having FUN! It's off to Test Track.
Whooah! Look at that line! I guess everyone at Epcot decided to ride Test Track this morning. Time for a Fast Pass.
Next is Ellen's Energy Adventure. I think this is really funny. I am also a big Jeopardy fan. Scott's not so keen. He's at work during Jeopardy and doesn't quite approve of Ellen (see PC comment above). I like anyone who can make me laugh. I'm also a big school dweeb and enjoy the more informative aspects of Epcot. (7 years of college and still can't get a job. Scott was a business admin. major. Scott has a job.)
After Ellen we head over to Ice Station Cool. I sure hope that noone remembers me. The last time I was in there I had two teenagers with me. DS Sam can drink an unlimited amount of soda.
Sam didn't use the little dixie cups. Sam used his ASMu mug. I'm just glad he didn't stick his head under the spout and guzzle straight from the tap. Scott and I are all grown up so we stick to the little cups. Scott is not really a big soda guy but, hey, this stuff is free. Free. Disney. You've gotta at least try it.
Time for Test Track. Lines are still huge! This is a fun ride, but come on, it's not so fantastic that I'd stand in line for an hour for it. Fortunately, we have our Fast Passes. We still have to queue up, though. It's about 15 minutes before we actually make it into the briefing room. I love thrills. I just want to be absolutely sure the thrill won't kill me. Me or anyone I love. I cut Scott off from motorcyclyes when we married. Test Track fufills that "need for speed" feeling without the added worrying prospect of having your head dashed to pieces on the interstate. I like Test Track.
11:00 am
Yippee! Time for my favorite part of WDW, the World Showcase. It's got everything. Food. Travel. Alcohol. Our first stop is the Rose and Crown. They don't start serving till 11:30. Poop. I'm sure this is a clever ruse to entice Scott into the gift shops. He loves the shops in Canada and Norway. He can spend hours fingering clothing that he will never, ever buy. For one thing it's way too expensive. The Norway shop has $200 sweaters. For another, we live in south Louisiana and he could only wear his nifty sweater once every 10 years or so. If he lives to be 90 that's four times. $50 a pop. Still, I don't complain. Scott would love to move to the Rockies. Specifically he would love to move to Wyoming, although any combination of snow and mountains would do. Scott is never moving to Wyoming, not unless he goes without me. (See honeymoon story). So I wait patiently while Nanook of the North wistfully browses over wool sweaters and polar fleece lined parkas.
11:30 am
Now we're talking. It's beer time at the Rose and Crown. I know it's early but I've been up and at it for over 5 hours now. Since we usually get up around noon on Sundays, it's really after 5:00.
Besides I only have a little one. Boddington's in case you were wondering. The Rose and Crown doesn't serve MillerLite so Scott tries a Harps. It's a little strong for him but he manages to choke it down. He's really more of a Dos Equis man. We snag a seat on a bench outside the R&C and people watch in the warm January sunshine while we sip our beers. How could the World Showcase possibly not be everyone's favorite part of Disneyworld? Okay, everyone over 21.
12:00 pm
Lunchtime! Isn't this just the best day ever? We have a PS for noon at Chefs de France. I'm excited about this lunch. I LOVE France. Paris is absolutely my favorite city in the whole wide world. If you've never been, drop everything and go. Right now. You won't regret it.
We split the French Menu. This is a bowl of onion soup (we order an extra bowl), a Croque Monsieur (a grilled ham and cheese sandwich on yummy thick bread), salad and a creme brulee. Everything except the salad is wonderful. The salad greens are limp and the tomatoes are pink. Still, I think it's the best meal for the money in WDW. We get a great table by the windows. Can today get any better?
Lunch puts me in the mood for Impressions de France. I'm afraid Scott is not as enthralled with the French as I am. I'm probably to blame. Il ne parle pas francais. I'm bossy enough in English. I'm positively obnoxious in French. In Paris he HAS to go to the Louvre. He has to go to the Louvre because I will not help him get back to the hotel. Even if he finds the hotel, he may not be able to get the room key because the staff does not always speak English. He needs me for everything; to eat, to ride the Metro, to find the toilet. I love Paris.
Impressions de France is practically empty so Scott gets to watch the movie (again) enhanced by my running commentary.
"Look, babe, the Eiffel Tower!" "The Seine" "Oh, look! It's Chenonceau". "Oh, honey, I wanna go back. Let's go next winter. I can park you in the Louvre food court for 4 hours and later on order you up some snails in leek sauce with a side order of calf's brains."
Unfortunately, we have to cut the fun short for now. Time to tend to a few of the more mundane details of vacation. Back into the car. A trip to Winn Dixie for snacks, breakfast stuff and beer. Unpacking. Removing the bedspread.
Afterward Scott takes a nap and I watch the Japanese channel on the TV. Yes, I know I'm a dork.
Jennifer
The ringing. Please, stop the ringing. STOP THE RINGING! Oh, it's my wake-up call. I bang my hand randomly in the general direction of the nightstand till I knock the phone off the hook. Boy, is it early. Really early. It's still night-time outside. I turn on the lamp and look over at my beloved. He's got the covers and a pillow jammed over his head. The Prince is not an early riser.
Me: "Come on, babe. Time to get up."
PC: (Prince Charming, not Politically Correct-Scott's a Republican): "Mmmph"
Me: "Rise and shine sweetie!"
PC: "Ugh, mmmph. Stop it."
Me: "It's a beautiful Disney Day!"
PC: "Cut it out, I mean it!"
Me: "We have to check into the hotel before they give away all the good rooms."
PC: "I don't need a good room. I need for you to leave me alone."
That's okay, I'm not a rookie. I get this man up for work 5 days a week. I get up and turn on ALL the lights AND the TV. I go into the bathroom, put on the coffee and take a shower. I leave the door open. I blow dry my hair. I drop stuff on the tile floor. I sing Part of Your World, badly. (For the record, our room was at the end of the hall and the room next to us was the unoccupied living room part of a suite.)
6:30 am
The combination of light, noise and the aroma of coffee does its job. The Prince is sitting hunch-shouldered on the side of the bed. His arms are sagging almost to the floor. His mouth is hanging open. His eyes are still closed, but he is up. I bring him coffee. Nice, strong, black coffee.
6:45 am
I'm all dressed and packed up. The Prince (Well leave off the Charming part for now.) is still sitting on the edge of the bed in his underwear. I thrust clothes at him. I'm considering dressing him myself when he finally heaves himself upright and lumbers into the bathroom.
7:15 am
I start yelling at the bathroom door.
"Come on, come on, come on. It's time to go. What are you DOING in there? I'm not kidding. Let's GO!"
Let's just fast-forward over the next 30 minutes. This scene will be repeated in one form or another almost every day of our trip. Almost every day of our lives. It's 8:00 am and we're finally on our way.
Port Orleans French Quarter is a lovely resort. It's like they took away all the stuff I hate about New Orleans (I went to high school in the N.O. 'burbs.) and left the pretty things. I shunt Scott off to the food court for more coffee and check us in. Glory be! There's a lovely third floor courtyard view room available! In building 5! Exactly what I asked for. Best of all, it's ready now! We grab the suitcases, throw them in the room (a very pretty room too) and are back to the car in no time. Time for Epcot!
Epcot is just opening when we arrive. There are quite a few people around but the crowd's smaller than I expected. We make a mad dash for Mission Space. Scott wants to ride. I know this ride makes quite a large number of people sick and Scott is extremely susceptible to motion sickness. He can't ride the Tea Party or the Tower of Terror. He can ride Star Tours if he closes his eyes during the iffy bits. I never in a million years thought he would be able to ride Mission Space, but he can. He got all huffy last summer when I suggested that Space might be too much for him to handle He had to ride it then, if just to prove his manhood. He followed all the instructions (keep your head back, your eyes open and stare straight ahead at the screen) and and just loved it! (I think it makes him feel all brave and grown-up to ride Space, just like a big boy
). I guess we have a new Disney tradition on our hands. Okay by me, I rarely get motion sickness. I have the famous Cajun cast iron stomach. I can ride the Teacups 5 times in a row. I can sail on choppy seas. I can eat street food in Mexico. I drive Scott nuts.We're able to hop right onto Mission Space and ride. I'm the commander (Disney obviously knows who should be in charge of things.) and Scott is the navigator. I never, ever feel the spinning, even when I take my eyes off the screen to check on Scott. We both really enjoy this ride. Scott's only a tiny bit woozy afterward. I'm fine.
So far, so good. It's an absolutely georgeous day. We've put the ugly Bathroom Incident behind us. We're having FUN! It's off to Test Track.
Whooah! Look at that line! I guess everyone at Epcot decided to ride Test Track this morning. Time for a Fast Pass.
Next is Ellen's Energy Adventure. I think this is really funny. I am also a big Jeopardy fan. Scott's not so keen. He's at work during Jeopardy and doesn't quite approve of Ellen (see PC comment above). I like anyone who can make me laugh. I'm also a big school dweeb and enjoy the more informative aspects of Epcot. (7 years of college and still can't get a job. Scott was a business admin. major. Scott has a job.)
After Ellen we head over to Ice Station Cool. I sure hope that noone remembers me. The last time I was in there I had two teenagers with me. DS Sam can drink an unlimited amount of soda.
Sam didn't use the little dixie cups. Sam used his ASMu mug. I'm just glad he didn't stick his head under the spout and guzzle straight from the tap. Scott and I are all grown up so we stick to the little cups. Scott is not really a big soda guy but, hey, this stuff is free. Free. Disney. You've gotta at least try it.Time for Test Track. Lines are still huge! This is a fun ride, but come on, it's not so fantastic that I'd stand in line for an hour for it. Fortunately, we have our Fast Passes. We still have to queue up, though. It's about 15 minutes before we actually make it into the briefing room. I love thrills. I just want to be absolutely sure the thrill won't kill me. Me or anyone I love. I cut Scott off from motorcyclyes when we married. Test Track fufills that "need for speed" feeling without the added worrying prospect of having your head dashed to pieces on the interstate. I like Test Track.
11:00 am
Yippee! Time for my favorite part of WDW, the World Showcase. It's got everything. Food. Travel. Alcohol. Our first stop is the Rose and Crown. They don't start serving till 11:30. Poop. I'm sure this is a clever ruse to entice Scott into the gift shops. He loves the shops in Canada and Norway. He can spend hours fingering clothing that he will never, ever buy. For one thing it's way too expensive. The Norway shop has $200 sweaters. For another, we live in south Louisiana and he could only wear his nifty sweater once every 10 years or so. If he lives to be 90 that's four times. $50 a pop. Still, I don't complain. Scott would love to move to the Rockies. Specifically he would love to move to Wyoming, although any combination of snow and mountains would do. Scott is never moving to Wyoming, not unless he goes without me. (See honeymoon story). So I wait patiently while Nanook of the North wistfully browses over wool sweaters and polar fleece lined parkas.
11:30 am
Now we're talking. It's beer time at the Rose and Crown. I know it's early but I've been up and at it for over 5 hours now. Since we usually get up around noon on Sundays, it's really after 5:00.
Besides I only have a little one. Boddington's in case you were wondering. The Rose and Crown doesn't serve MillerLite so Scott tries a Harps. It's a little strong for him but he manages to choke it down. He's really more of a Dos Equis man. We snag a seat on a bench outside the R&C and people watch in the warm January sunshine while we sip our beers. How could the World Showcase possibly not be everyone's favorite part of Disneyworld? Okay, everyone over 21. 12:00 pm
Lunchtime! Isn't this just the best day ever? We have a PS for noon at Chefs de France. I'm excited about this lunch. I LOVE France. Paris is absolutely my favorite city in the whole wide world. If you've never been, drop everything and go. Right now. You won't regret it.
We split the French Menu. This is a bowl of onion soup (we order an extra bowl), a Croque Monsieur (a grilled ham and cheese sandwich on yummy thick bread), salad and a creme brulee. Everything except the salad is wonderful. The salad greens are limp and the tomatoes are pink. Still, I think it's the best meal for the money in WDW. We get a great table by the windows. Can today get any better?
Lunch puts me in the mood for Impressions de France. I'm afraid Scott is not as enthralled with the French as I am. I'm probably to blame. Il ne parle pas francais. I'm bossy enough in English. I'm positively obnoxious in French. In Paris he HAS to go to the Louvre. He has to go to the Louvre because I will not help him get back to the hotel. Even if he finds the hotel, he may not be able to get the room key because the staff does not always speak English. He needs me for everything; to eat, to ride the Metro, to find the toilet. I love Paris.
Impressions de France is practically empty so Scott gets to watch the movie (again) enhanced by my running commentary.
"Look, babe, the Eiffel Tower!" "The Seine" "Oh, look! It's Chenonceau". "Oh, honey, I wanna go back. Let's go next winter. I can park you in the Louvre food court for 4 hours and later on order you up some snails in leek sauce with a side order of calf's brains."
Unfortunately, we have to cut the fun short for now. Time to tend to a few of the more mundane details of vacation. Back into the car. A trip to Winn Dixie for snacks, breakfast stuff and beer. Unpacking. Removing the bedspread.
Afterward Scott takes a nap and I watch the Japanese channel on the TV. Yes, I know I'm a dork.
Jennifer
