My very first PTR - Can you hear the music? ~ We're off tomorrow & it's MAYHEM here!

[lisalonglash]

Oh Lisa, I can only imagine what you were feeling like! I was getting a bit anxious reading your post. I actually read ahead to see if you were able to get them and then went back to read the rest!

Awww, sorry to freak you out I still freak out everytime I remember it LOL

Hi Lisa

I feel like I am MIA on the boards lately and have had your TR open for 2 days to catch up....

I am so GLAD you realized what you forgot and that it was found and handled so wonderfully...YIKES I would have been right w/ you!

Glad the 2nd flight went well and can't wait to "hear" the smiles of arriving at WDW!

Scrappie J-

Hey J! I feel the same - every time I manage to get on the DIS, something or someone interrupts me

Thanks! Update coming up as soon as I get our homeschooling reports done and submitted (will be today or tomorrow)

Oh goodness Lisa! I hate those moments of panic! I'm glad yours turned out so well!

On to WDW!!!

Thanks! I so dig the dancing banana!

 

[Queenofallthings]

When I first started reading your last installment I thought, "Oh thank goodness it's just a hat, she can at least buy another one" then I continued reading and when I saw the words "all of our passports" I had a little vomit in the back of my throat....no way to pretty it up.....I was sick for you....moment was over and everything is fine....but man, I don't know what I would have done. I am going to point out to Peg though, this is exactly why I check 17 times for our passports everytime I have to have them outl.

Can't wait for more my friend

 

[praisehisname]

Hi, Lisa! I just found your report and am reading along. Great job so far!

Denise

 

[wdwtwins]

I would have FREAKED OUT!

 

[lisalonglash]

When I first started reading your last installment I thought, "Oh thank goodness it's just a hat, she can at least buy another one" then I continued reading and when I saw the words "all of our passports" I had a little vomit in the back of my throat....no way to pretty it up.....I was sick for you....moment was over and everything is fine....but man, I don't know what I would have done. I am going to point out to Peg though, this is exactly why I check 17 times for our passports everytime I have to have them outl.

Can't wait for more my friend

Thanks, Queen! Yep, that's about how I felt LOL Feel free to use me as the reason for frequent passport checking

Hi, Lisa! I just found your report and am reading along. Great job so far!

Denise

Welcome, Denise!! I hope you enjoy my little TR

I would have FREAKED OUT!

I DID freak out, but mostly inside

 

[lisalonglash]

When I left off last update, we had just landed in Orlando – with our carry-on luggage intact! As soon as all those way-too-slow people ahead of us in the plane deplaned, we were off that plane and on the way to Magical Express faster than was safe, probably LOL.

We found the ME counter with no problem and were happy to see that the line-up was minimal (pretty impressive for 9:30am on a Saturday!). While Grumpy did the ME paperwork thing, I took the boys and our carry-ons outside. No way was I going to wait one minute more than necessary to get out into that gorgeous climate!!! Grumpy soon joined us and we waited not more than 3 minutes for our bus to ASMusic! I was secretly a teensy bit disappointed that our ME bus was a cruise line bus and not an actual ME bus, but I got over it in a second or two. With our carry-on bags loaded under the bus by our very friendly drive and all of us in our comfy ME seats, we were finally off to the resort!

I don’t know about you, but I enjoy the ME bus movie. It’s like the official start of vacation when that movie begins . During our drive to the resort, I spent most of my time swivelling my head between the movie and the palm trees outside! I can’t even tell you how much I love palm trees. I’m thinking of getting another tattoo – if I do, it will be a French palm tree with Tink flying over it. Yes, I love palm trees THAT much!

Grumpy was starting to perk up, knowing that the journey to WDW was nearly over and that he would not have to drive again until we returned to the SeaTac Airport. The boys were very excited about seeing Disney again. I was excited just to be there with my family.

The ME bus went straight to ASMusic (yay!) and we happily got off. The driver got our carry-ons out of the bus for us and off we went to the registration desk. I got Grumpy and the boys organized in the TV area and went to the “Online Registration” line. Guess what?! There was a significant line-up for regular registration, but NO LINE for the online registration! Score! They had the folder ready for me, but I wasn’t happy with the room they’d assigned for us (even though the room was ready) and I asked for a room in the area I’d wanted. The very nice CM was happy to change our room, but told me that the new room wasn’t yet ready so they would text me on my cell phone when it was. Fine with me!

Our plan had always been to check in, store our stuff with luggage services (we just assumed our room wouldn’t be ready) and hop the bus to Downtown Disney. Going to DTD on our arrival day and our departure day is something we’ve done both of our Disney trips – I guess I’d call it a tradition for us (can you still call something a tradition if it’s only happened twice? ).

I went to the loo to freshen up (aka trade my capris and hoodie for shorts and a tank!) and went back to the TV area to sort out which bags we’d be storing at Luggage Services until our room was ready. Well, while I was in the loo, turns out that they had already texted us that our room was ready! Like, 5 minutes after I’d checked in – pretty darned impressive, especially for a Saturday morning! Score again! So, change of plans.

Grumpy and I gathered children and carry-on luggage and off we went to find our room. For us, this was a perfect room location – facing the Calypso pool and in the second section of Calypso 10 building, ground floor. I know many DISsers much prefer top floor, but, for me, ground floor is absolutely critical to my vacation enjoyment. You see, we live with my sister-in-law in a house – we live upstairs and she lives downstairs. Now you understand why having a ground floor hotel room is important, right?

We loved our room – those who don’t like pool area noise probably wouldn’t dig our room location, but we were so tired at the end of every day that it just did not impact our sleep at all. Speaking of pool noise, I have to say that the daily pool activities and the evening pool movies were sooooo much fun! Tigger was in his element each evening – he participated in most of the pool activities we were there for, and we saw some of the evening movies too. Our experience with the activities was so positive that we would definitely pick ASMu to stay at again, no question.

Here are a couple of craptastic pictures (to borrow Jenn's phrase LOL) of the lovely Calypso pool:

Oh, how I miss that pool with it’s palm trees!!!!

So, we went to our room, dumped all our stuff and took off for the bus stop. Only 11am or so and we were checked in, in our room and then off to Downtown Disney!

 

[jordanyosh]

some good mojo for sure!

those pix feel like vacation! warm weather, palm trees, a pool......

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

I don't know about you but I wish I were there right now for sure. It would be hard to leave that pool. How lucky to get your room so early. Sure beats your flight to Orlando. Well deserved after your airport experience.

Ginny

 

[MouseKTeer]

Joining in

After your scare with the messenger bag, hope things went well from then on!

 

[jcc0621]

You're there. You're there

We always do DTD on our last day too

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

for the room mojo!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

I love that ME movie too. It is the perfect thing between getting to the Orlando airport and getting to your resort....

Craptastic photos....

 

[inkedupmomma]

"craptastic" is a great word, isn't it?? I try to use it as often as possible!

Awesome news on the getting a room where you want and ready in no time! and yes, I call something a tradition the minute I decide that i want it to be just that! So yes, that is your tradition!!

Can't wait to hear how the rest of your day/ night went!

I also agree that the pool activities/movies are AWESOME! That was one thing we missed at CSR this year!

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

I'm subbing in!

Your travel day was ROUGH! I can't believe all of the things that happened to you in a short amount of time. I would have been in full panic mode too! So glad that you arrived and the pool pictures are wonderful!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Wow...great luck with the room situation! Good for you!

Those pool activities sound like fun. I hope you are going to share more pictures and stories about those later!

Yay for being at Disney! I always feel like I just have to take a deep breath and look around me a few times before I really believe I'm finally there!!

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[praisehisname]

It sounds like things really moved smoothly for you on arrival day! Looking forward to hearing about DTD!

Denise

 

[lisalonglash]

some good mojo for sure!

those pix feel like vacation! warm weather, palm trees, a pool......

It was! Thanks, I miss that pool something fierce!

I don't know about you but I wish I were there right now for sure. It would be hard to leave that pool. How lucky to get your room so early. Sure beats your flight to Orlando. Well deserved after your airport experience.

Ginny

Oh, me too, Ginny! Thanks

Joining in

After your scare with the messenger bag, hope things went well from then on!

Welcome!!!! I hope you enjoy my little TR! Thanks, yes, everything afterwards was an improvement - well, mostly everything

You're there. You're there

We always do DTD on our last day too

I WISH I was still there, J! So, I'm in good company with our last day at DTD then

for the room mojo!

Thanks, Lessa!

I love that ME movie too. It is the perfect thing between getting to the Orlando airport and getting to your resort....

Craptastic photos....

So glad you agree - thought it was just me!

"craptastic" is a great word, isn't it?? I try to use it as often as possible!

Awesome news on the getting a room where you want and ready in no time! and yes, I call something a tradition the minute I decide that i want it to be just that! So yes, that is your tradition!!

Can't wait to hear how the rest of your day/ night went!

I also agree that the pool activities/movies are AWESOME! That was one thing we missed at CSR this year!

It is a great word - thanks for letting me borrow it! OK then, so that's our tradition! Isn't ASMu so much fun!? I wanna live there - wahhhhh

I'm subbing in!

Your travel day was ROUGH! I can't believe all of the things that happened to you in a short amount of time. I would have been in full panic mode too! So glad that you arrived and the pool pictures are wonderful!

Welcome!!! I hope you enjoy my little TR! Yes, looking back at our trip to WDW, I can't believe everything that happened either - I'm just glad we survived it all Thanks!

Wow...great luck with the room situation! Good for you!

Those pool activities sound like fun. I hope you are going to share more pictures and stories about those later!

Yay for being at Disney! I always feel like I just have to take a deep breath and look around me a few times before I really believe I'm finally there!!

Can't wait to hear more!

Thanks! I will share everything I can remember (and everything Tigger and Mickey can remember) about the awesome pool activities

I feel exactly the same way! Soooooo happy to be there

It sounds like things really moved smoothly for you on arrival day! Looking forward to hearing about DTD!

Denise

Thank you! Yes, DTD will be my next update. Suffice it to say that the Lego store is our "black hole" - hard to extract our boys from there

 

[eandesmom]

Off I went to the arrival terminal, walking briskly. Suddenly, I had a true moment of panic. You know those moments when you think of something and your heart races, you break into a cold sweat and all sorts of awful things run through your head? You see, I'd just realized that not only had we left Tigger's hat on the plane, I had left my messenger bag as well. My bag. With ALL of our passports. Left it on the plane. and and some more!

I have to say the Delta gate agent was super! She not only let me onto the plane to get Tigger's hat, she'd been waiting for me and had intended to bring the bag to me if I hadn't shown up, as her next gate assignment was right next to our departure gate! Another massive check mark next to Delta in my head!

I was hoping for a proper southern breakfast, but alas, it was just not to be. They came back with Pizza Hut breakfast! Did you know that Pizza Hut sells breakfast sandwiches and hash brown patties? I sure didn't and I wish I had never found out - it was gross

I had a similar experience with Delta...I left my laptop bag in the upper bin, forgot I'd put anything up there as I often don't. So glad it all worked out! talk about stress.

I thought of you this morning as I perused hotel rates in Vancouver for thanksgiving weekend, DH and I are headed up there for an anniversary getaway!

Actually I priced Banff too but I can't justify it! Killer deals though!

The ME bus went straight to ASMusic (yay!) and we happily got off. The driver got our carry-ons out of the bus for us and off we went to the registration desk. I got Grumpy and the boys organized in the TV area and went to the “Online Registration” line. Guess what?! There was a significant line-up for regular registration, but NO LINE for the online registration! Score! They had the folder ready for me, but I wasn’t happy with the room they’d assigned for us (even though the room was ready) and I asked for a room in the area I’d wanted. The very nice CM was happy to change our room, but told me that the new room wasn’t yet ready so they would text me on my cell phone when it was. Fine with me!

Our plan had always been to check in, store our stuff with luggage services (we just assumed our room wouldn’t be ready) and hop the bus to Downtown Disney. Going to DTD on our arrival day and our departure day is something we’ve done both of our Disney trips – I guess I’d call it a tradition for us (can you still call something a tradition if it’s only happened twice? ).

I went to the loo to freshen up (aka trade my capris and hoodie for shorts and a tank!) and went back to the TV area to sort out which bags we’d be storing at Luggage Services until our room was ready. Well, while I was in the loo, turns out that they had already texted us that our room was ready! Like, 5 minutes after I’d checked in – pretty darned impressive, especially for a Saturday morning! Score again! So, change of plans.
For us, this was a perfect room location – facing the Calypso pool and in the second section of Calypso 10 building, ground floor. I

I had the same experience at ASMusic after the red eye...it was a beautiful thing and is what sold us on staying on property forevermore in the future. We all went straight to bed! And ended up with a great park day that we'd assumed would be a wash as a result.

I love the look of that pool. Our room wasn't really near it but we walked by it!

 

[lisalonglash]

I had a similar experience with Delta...I left my laptop bag in the upper bin, forgot I'd put anything up there as I often don't. So glad it all worked out! talk about stress.

I thought of you this morning as I perused hotel rates in Vancouver for thanksgiving weekend, DH and I are headed up there for an anniversary getaway!

Actually I priced Banff too but I can't justify it! Killer deals though!

Whoa, so glad you got your laptop back!!

If there's anything I can help you with for your anniversary trip, just let me know

I had the same experience at ASMusic after the red eye...it was a beautiful thing and is what sold us on staying on property forevermore in the future. We all went straight to bed! And ended up with a great park day that we'd assumed would be a wash as a result.

I love the look of that pool. Our room wasn't really near it but we walked by it!

That pool is sooooo much fun! I soooooo miss it!!

 

[lisalonglash]

So, we arrived at ASMu, were checked in and were able to put our stuff in our room by 11:30am. Jenn says I’m allowed to call this a tradition, so I’m going to – our tradition is to go to DTD on our arrival day LOL

We caught the DTD bus in front of the resort and were on our way! Of course, I spent most of my time admiring the palm trees , while Grumpy and our boys spent most of their time deciding which store to visit first! We arrived at the Marketplace and, although Grumpy and I were trying to look in other stores, the boys were impatiently trying to steer us to “the money vacuum”, “the black hole that sucks our boys in and brainwashes them into thinking that they never want to leave”. Yes, I do mean the Lego Store. I didn’t take many pictures the first day (yes, I know, hit me later), but if you like, I could post links to the several sets of Legos the boys purchased with their money that day. Yes, I said several.

After we managed to extract the boys from the money vacuum, we wandered around and admired the many stores and restaurants. We went to DTD twice last year too, but somehow we just felt like we had more time to relax and just take everything in this time kwim? Other than the black hole, there are certain places we “must” go when at DTD – these include Magic Masters, Goofy’s Kitchen, Mickey’s Mart and Team Mickey.

Magic Masters was fantastic, as usual. The two guys working there (I don’t think they’re CMs, are they?) were great – they performed various magic tricks, engaging those of us in the store. Tigger took a price sheet (if anyone would like to see the price list, I will post it after I get my camera to work again so I can take pictures of it) to peruse at his leisure. Smart boy, as last year, he got overexcited and spent his money on a trick with little parts that were promptly separated, making the purchase useless. He actually did not end up purchasing anything at Magic Masters this trip, but I’m sure he’ll remedy that another time.

We decided to bypass Goofy’s Kitchen this day, as we wouldn’t have a fridge until the next day and we knew from experience that there was no way the treats would stay nice without refrigeration. Mickey’s Mart was quite a letdown this time – we looked through most of it, but the items for sale there were pretty much garbage quality. Team Mickey was a fun store – Grumpy spent a fair bit of time trying to find an Arsenal (British football/soccer team) shirt here, to no avail (he’s since found the shirt here at home, so now he and Tigger both have one LOL).

We had entirely too much fun with something I’d decided we were doing this year. Last year, the boys did the “make your own light saber” thing at Once Upon a Toy, along with the “fit as many Lego pieces as you can inside the little bin” thing. This year, we were going to do the Mr. Potato Head parts! Yes, the boys are technically too old to play with Mr. Potato Head, but don’t tell them that – they and I have entirely too much fun with Mr. Potato Head, Mrs. Potato Head and their tater buddies! It must’ve been a riot to watch me, Tigger and Mickey going around and around the bins looking for just the right pieces, then handing said pieces to Grumpy (the master box packer, dontcha know? LOL) and hoping to fit “just one more” piece in the box . Is it bad that not only did we buy two boxes worth on this day, we also filled another box on another day at MK? The Potato Head People here now have a lot of stuff to look “just right” for any occasion.

We had our very first ADR of this trip coming up. We took a bus directly from DTD to the Wilderness Lodge. We wandered around some and admired the theming and amenities there (to be honest, this theme doesn’t appeal to Grumpy or me, but that’s probably just because of our easy access to areas and facilities that are similar). Now, we did something that we probably shouldn’t have, seeing as we’d never been to this resort before. We split up to go see different things – Tigger and I went to see the beach area, Mickey and Grumpy went to check out the lobby some more. Guess what? We lost each other Tigger and I returned to the lobby, couldn’t find Grumpy or Mickey, walked all around the resort again looking, to no avail. We returned to the lobby, figuring that we’d just missed them walking around and we decided to wait for them. Well, Tigger got a little impatient with this waiting thing, so I sent him down to the beach area to see if Grumpy and Mickey had gone to the little playground. I have been working on giving Tigger more freedom and independence – I figured a Disney resort was a good place to let him stretch his comfort zone. So, off he went. A couple of minutes later, Grumpy and Mickey wandered over to me. Turns out, they’d been in the lobby THE WHOLE TIME! I dunno, Tigger and I BOTH looked in the lobby and didn’t see them So, now we were waiting for Tigger to return. Finally, he showed up with a CM! Turns out that he’d gone to the playground at the beach, then gotten a little anxious, so he’d found a CM to walk him back to the lobby. Good thinking, son! So, now that we’re finally all together again, we were ready to go enjoy our first ADR of the trip. I’ll bet you can guess where we were going….