The first installment is about our travel time--sorry, there are no pictures in this installment. It was late at night and we mostly just saw the inside of airports and buses.
You all know what those look like.
Friday, 2/20/09
I managed to get out of work right on time and Alex was waiting for me. We took the Michigan Flyer from East Lansing to the Detroit airport. Weve been doing this for a few years now and just finally realized that there is a skyway from the parking ramp to the pick up area across the street. Duh.
So for once, we didnt have to dodge cars while balancing several suitcases and carry on items.
We had an uneventful trip down and got our luggage checked very easily. There was a huge line for security but one of the security guards sent us to the totally empty security check point at the hotel in the terminal. It was great!
We had a wonderful gourmet meal at McDonalds and waited for our flight. It was a totally full flight but we were just really tickled to be leaving earlier. As we were boarding, a woman and her family cut in front of me which wasnt a big deal except she blocked the aisle for a full five minutes while she struggled with getting a too big backpack into the overhead compartment. Just a slight vent but does anyone else wish that the airlines would just go back to charging a bit more and checking luggage for free? I'm really tired of everyone carting along all their belongings on the plane now--and using up all the overhead space.
There were also a lot of parents to whom boarding passes and seat assignments appeared to be a complete mystery. Honestly, if your kids are teens, hand them a boarding pass and have them sit down--it's only for 2.5 hours. Some folks spent 15 minutes with everyone in the family switching seats like it was a game of musical chairs with no catchy song playing.
Then, the cutter woman was standing up and complaining as everyone went past about how awful it was that she wasnt sitting with her children. I could understand if her kids were tiny but they appeared to be about 9, 7, and 5. The three children were all sitting together in the row in front of her. Its not like they were miles away and Im not sure if she expected the airline to add a fourth seat for her or what. The minute we were in the air, that woman stood up and hovered over her childrens seats in front of her and stayed there until we were landing and the flight attendants made her sit her behind down. She drove me insane. I told Alex she definitely had the Best Mommy EVER award all locked up for this year. Personally, I have never been in the running for that award. Id have been like the other mother who got to hear the Best Mommys story as she was passing by and said breezily, Oh, yeah, my kids are up there somewhere. She waved a hand languidly toward her seat and was thankful to be able to have some alone time.
We got in to MCO on time and made our way down to baggage claim. Since we were arriving so late to a value resort and were checking out in the morning, it just seemed safer to pick up our own luggage. It was no big dealour luggage came in on the B side so we collected it and headed down one more floor to the ME check in. Just a note on the luggageI think with everyone using ME or carrying all their worldly belongings on to the plane, its SO much easier and faster for the luggage to make it to the carousel now. Our bags had just come out as we arrived and there were only a few bags that joined ours.
We went down one more set of escalators and began the long walk toward the ME counter. For some reason, I was expecting it to be on the left side so it took me awhile to realize that it was on the right side as we were walking down there. The line was very short and we checked in fairly quickly although there was some confusion about the girls coming in the next day and all of us leaving at the same time from a different resort on the way home. (I like to make things complicated.) Alex got annoyed because the guy who waited on me made him go stand at the end of the counter and yet there were whole families camped out with kids running around in the same area.
We were the only ones in the waiting area and were quickly ushered to our bus. I had a horrible headache by this point and, of course, there were some really cute little kids on the bus with REALLY high pitched, screechy voices. Luckily for Alex, the pitch was high enough that he couldnt hear them but he told me he could tell every time one of them would let out a yell because Id flinch. Their parents did try to quiet them down and the dad cracked me up by telling the kids that they needed to talk in teeny, tiny voices. Once we got on the road and the movie started, they settled right down. I knew they were just excitednormally, Id have been excited, too, but by that time, I was ready to go to sleep.
Our bus drivers name was Omar and he did his best to get his bus full of sleepy passengers excited about vacation but the kids were the only ones who really responded. It did make me smile when we got to the WDW gates and he yelled, Were here! Happy Vacation, everyone!
All Star Sports was the first stop and only a couple of people got off the bus there. We checked in without waiting in line and found out we were in one of the football buildings. I dont remember what thats called but in my exhausted state, I remember thinking I must have heard the guy wrong when he told me that our building would be the football helmet on the left.
Sadly, it was only about 37 degrees and as we walked, we could see our breath. Although Id hated to do it, I was glad that Id brought along the heavy winter coat. After walking past the outdoor bar and hearing a bunch of inebriated people, we made it to the football helmet on the left and caught the elevator to the second floor. Our room was on the backside of the building which was fine with us. There was something about the cement walls of the resort that reminded me of a locker room which I guess was fitting for our particular hotel. We had made it from landing at 10:15 to actually getting into our room at 11:55. We both grabbed our jammies out of the suitcase and fell asleep almost immediately.
Next up--a more exciting day and PICTURES.
I've still got 7 months!!! I cant wait! You asked before....we are staying at Pop Century.
I hope you are feeling better and have a GREAT trip! I can't believe we still have 4 months!
I will be thinking of you! Say hi to Mickey for me
Sunnie! I'm glad you're here. Thanks so much for the good wishes. 
I'll be sleeping at Disney World tonight!
