No Day But Today- FINAL post on page 40!

[iggbees]

i thought i'd wish you a happy trip since you're leaving before me. maybe i'll catch you in the parks or the wl or somewhere. i'll have my lgmh on my lime green timbuk2 bag!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

How is it that I always block this part of the trip out of my memory???

I am stress city today! I’ve had a lot of my stuff packed for weeks now, but I just now sat down with my packing list to make sure I had everything together. I’ve been doing the “suitcase inside a suitcase” thing for years, so that on the trip back, I have a whole extra suitcase. This trip? It might not work!!! I’ve already got them almost full, and still have a lot left to pack! I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to give in and actually use both suitcases for the trip there! There’s hardly any space left, and I still have a few fairly large things (Crocs, Stitch) to pack!

I was planning on picking up my luggage myself at MCO, rather than having Magical Express do it, since it will be around 11pm by the time I get to the resort, and I’d rather not wait up for two hours for my bags. I looked it up on the DIS, and apparently if you arrive late, they will hold your luggage and deliver it in the morning instead, if you request. I wonder if, since I’ll be moving to WL the next day, I could just have them hold it in bell services overnight, and then have them ship it to the WL the next morning? Would I ever see my bags again? (I’ve had a few bags get a little “lost” for a few hours when I have them shipped between resorts, so I’m worried that this would overcomplicate things!) Blarrgh!

I’m going to go hit the treadmill for a “must make Crocs nice and squishy before trip!” mile or two, which will also hopefully help me stop stressing!

Maybe I can just rent a llama to use as a beast of burden to carry my luggage for me? I mean, how cool would THAT be?

 

[tinkerbell87512]

Maybe I can just rent a llama to use as a beast of burden to carry my luggage for me? I mean, how cool would THAT be?

hahaha omg thats sooo funny! ....deep breath....stop stressing....your going to DISNEY!!!! Wahoooooo! LoL I just want to say have a wonderful vacation and enjoy every minute. I cant wait to read your trip report when you return! Have a safe trip and heres some extra pixie dust for you

 

[mlill]

Have a GREAT time!!!

I can't wait to read your trip report when you get back!

-Michelle

 

[__disneygirl]

Hi Crystal..I am so happy to see you doing a trip report! One of your old reports was actually the FIRST one I ever read and I loved it!

I love your Steve Irwin tribute Crocky! That is awesome. I think some people (very UN-Disneylike people) would say it's silly but I strongly disagree because Steve was awesome and Crocky is just adorable. Also, I have to sleep with Stitch every night or I feel like something's missing... I bring him to WDW too!

I love how you resort hop. I can't wait until I can go on solo trips, i'll probably do the same thing. I visit so many other resorts during my trip anyway - to eat or just look around!

Have an AMAZING trip - can't wait for the report!!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

So, who else here has been up since 6:30am? A show of hands?

It's 8am here, so 9am at WDW, which means the MK has just opened its gates, and people are killing each other to get to Space Mountain. Tomorrow, that's me! (Except I'll be on my way to the Captain Jack Ride...err...Pirates! Arr!)

I've got everything packed except for all of the stuff I'll need for my shower/makeup process today. I was a little worried that my big suitcase would exceed my 50lb limit, because it has my laptop in it, and that alone weighs about five thousand pounds, but the suitcase ended up only weighing 30! Yay! (I used to take my laptop as a carryon, but it's so flippin' heavy that it really slows me down when I'm trying to make it all the way across an entire airport to catch my connecting flight! Plus I usually end up on tiny planes for the first leg of my flight, which means no room for it!)

I was driving home from hanging out with some friends yesterday afternoon, and noticed that it was just after 6pm. "Hey, I'll be in the air at this time tomorrow!", I thought. That got me thinking. My flight leaves at 6pm, and I get into MCO around 9:45pm. Take out the 45 min layover, and that's three hours. But wait! With the time change, that's only two hours! And I know there's no way that each of my flights is only an hour each! Does my airline know how to bend the time/space continuoum or something?

When I got home, I logged on to see what was up with my flight times. Guess what? My flight doesn't leave at 6pm- it leaves at 3:30! If I hadn't thought to double check, I would have missed my flight!!! I've spent WEEKS thinking that it left at 6! Today is actually my payday, but we can't pick up our checks until after 3, so I've had this grand plan about picking it up on the way to the airport. Guess not!

I was able to check in for my flight online- yay! I have seat 1D on my first flight- front row, baby! (Too small of a plane to have first class, but I am deeming myself so anyway!). Sadly, on the next flight, I'm in a row with two other people. Boo! I had a horrible time with that last year because I was at the window, the two people between me and the aisle were fast asleep, and I REALLY needed to get to pee! You can only sit there debating "Should I wake them up? No, I don't want to do that. But I might die! Can I just wait till we land? NO! But I can't get out! But I can see land, so we must be landing within half an hour or so... but I can't wait half an hour!" before you say screw it and wake the people up!

I know this is silly, but am I the only one that gets self-conscious about what I'm reading/writing/doing when I'm stuck sitting next to strangers? I have no idea why I'm so concerned about their opinion of me- I could normally care less! But I freak out that if I write in my trip journal, they'll be sitting there reading what I'm writing, etc. Maybe I'm not self conscious, just private? But then why would I be telling my life story to you people? Oh well, being stuck next to two strangers is exactly why I bought an iPod for this trip! (Did I tell y'all that story? It involves me vowing to never shop at Wal-Mart again... a vow I kept for almost an entire week!)

There is supposed to be light snow in Chicago this evening just about the time I'm connecting there- brrrr! One of the bad things about the small planes I always seem to end up on is that a lot of them let you off outside, instead of using one of those lovely tunnel things that lead into the airport. I guess they aren't tall enough or something? (My other complaint with them is that they're freaking short! I'm just over 5'10, and I can never stand up straight in them! I bet you can imagine the legroom!)

On the bright side (oh, awful pun!), the weather for Orlando is looking up!

Here's the forecast from when I checked it yesterday:

Compared to checking it this morning:

Two days of rainyness have turned into clouds! Yay!

Now I'm going to run off and shower, get pretty, and finish packing! Hopefully I'll have time to check in here one last time before I go!

 

[Philadisney]

Wheee! Have a fantastic flight!
And yes, I too am paranoid that whoever I am sitting next to on an airplane is reading my journal/letters over my shoulder!

 

[arizonacolbys]

Have a Great trip!!! Your weather forecast looks awesome (I'm still 9 days out, but our forecast is looking better this morning, too! ) & you'll love the ipod for the flight. It really made flying alone every other weekend over the summer bearable!

We can't wait to hear all about your trip after you get back!! Enjoy all those great resorts!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I'm leaving my house in less than an hour, and if all goes well, in about 11 hours, I'll be settling in at All Star Music for the night! I'm half nervous, half excited, and mostly freaking out! So I thought I'dd add one last post here before I hit the road!

I'm a big fan of travel in general, although I've yet to travel anywhere near as far or wide as I'd like yet! One of the great things about WDW, especially if you're going solo, is that it is a very safe adventure, pardon the oxymoron!

I've had all sorts of crazyness going on here lately, mostly revolving around the dance studio that has been my family for the past two years suddenly being shut down, and the 8 of us fighting to stay together one way or another. I've ben doing a loooot of thinking. We've also been all reading a book called The Artist's Way, about unblocking creativity, and that's made me think even more. So this trip is sort of 60% regular Disney vacation, and 40% artist's retreat, to figure out what some of my goals are, what direction I want to go in, etc.

So, since I've been all deep thinking an philosophical lately, I thought I'd share some of my thoughts on Travel, Philosophy, and where Disney fits in to it all: (aka how to kill time before you leave your house for the airport!)

In preparation for this trip, I spent a lot of time on the DIS boards and other internet sites, got the newest version of the Passporter (My old one was getting pretty worn!), and subscribed to Tour Guide Mike.

Tour Guide Mike and I do not have the same Disney philosophy. If you’re a TGM subscriber and you’ve read my past reports, you probably could have figured that out and saved me $20, but I had to satisfy my curiosity and see if I was missing out on something.

(TGM does offer a refund if you’re unhappy- I didn’t go for that since I did find it interesting to read through his info- I’m just saying that his style doesn’t fit my style of Disneying. The only info I’ll probably apply to my trip is the list of least crowded park days, and even that will probably be ignored in favor of whim.)

So if “we can fit in almost the entire MK before lunch with minimal lines!” isn’t my style of Disneying, what is?

Or, in a broader sense, what is my philosophy for travel in general?

Let’s put it this way: if I were to start my own religion, Rick Steves would be on a stained glass window in the church. So, I’ll quote from Rick’s travel philosophy from his “Europe through the back door” book. It’s a start:

“Travel is intensified living- maximum thrills per minute and one of the last great sources of legal adventure. Travel is freedom. It’s recess, and we need it. …Extroverts have more fun. If your trip is low on magic moments, kick yourself and make things happen. If you don’t enjoy a place, maybe you don’t know enough about it. Seek the truth…Of course travel, like the world, is a series of hills and valleys. Be fanatically positive and militantly optimistic. If something’s not to your liking, change your liking. Travel is addicting. It can make you a happier American, as well as a citizen of the world. Our Earth is home to 6 billion equally important people… Travel changes people. It broadens perspectives and teaches new ways to measure quality of life. Many travelers toss aside their hometown blinders. Their prized souvenirs are the strands of different cultures they decide to knit into their own character.”

Some of those points can obviously be applied to Disney- (addicting? Nah!) the one about magic moments almost sounds like it was written for WDW. But what about all the parts about culture and seeking truth and changing how you see the world? Can all of those things that apply to trekking across the world really apply to a fantasy land of theme parks?

We’re about to find out.

You may be planning a trip to a place with rollercoasters and formulating a strategy to conquer the parks. This time, I’m approaching things a little bit differently.

I’m planning a journey into the jungles of Africa, to observe the behavior of a pair of gorilla tribes. I’m setting off for Nepal to make my way towards a spectacular mountain, prepared to run into the guardian that lives within. I’m traveling to an enchanted medieval village, complete with a spectacular castle, that seems to have a population mostly made up of wonder-eyed children. I’m staying in a room in an African game preserve, glad that this particular one doesn’t involve the need for malaria pills. I’m slipping back into a lost era of Hollywood, to drink in the sights and sounds, and maybe sign a few autographs. I’m spending an afternoon at a sidewalk café in Paris, enjoying the local cheese and fresh baked baguette, watching the people pass by. I’m wandering the twisting streets of Morocco, until I stumble upon live drummers, and give in to the desire to dance to the music.

I’m slowing down. Drinking it all in. Taking the time to make new friends, find new corners of the parks I’ve never noticed, learn all the secrets of my favorite resorts. I’m changing my point of view.

I’m traveling.

Now, bring me that horizon!

 

[DisneyJo]

I’m planning a journey into the jungles of Africa, to observe the behavior of a pair of gorilla tribes. I’m setting off for Nepal to make my way towards a spectacular mountain, prepared to run into the guardian that lives within. I’m traveling to an enchanted medieval village, complete with a spectacular castle, that seems to have a population mostly made up of wonder-eyed children. I’m staying in a room in an African game preserve, glad that this particular one doesn’t involve the need for malaria pills. I’m slipping back into a lost era of Hollywood, to drink in the sights and sounds, and maybe sign a few autographs. I’m spending an afternoon at a sidewalk café in Paris, enjoying the local cheese and fresh baked baguette, watching the people pass by. I’m wandering the twisting streets of Morocco, until I stumble upon live drummers, and give in to the desire to dance to the music.

I’m slowing down. Drinking it all in. Taking the time to make new friends, find new corners of the parks I’ve never noticed, learn all the secrets of my favorite resorts. I’m changing my point of view.

I’m traveling.

Now, bring me that horizon!

What a wonderful way to look at your trip, have a great time and I hope you fulfil all your dreams.

 

[__disneygirl]

Wow you COMPLETELY have the right idea! I plan to do Disney the same way. Really slow down and absorb. Have a magical trip!! It really sounds like you will! Can't wait for the report. :]

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

WHO is posting a hello from the Wilderness Lodge? Why, I am! Woohoo!

I woke up at 6:30am, and am killing some time before the lodge tour at 9am. After that, it's off to Animal Kingdom!

I only took 430 photos yesterday, sorry so few! (HAH!) Someone remind me to pay for extra bandwidth when I get home!

 

[Prinny27]

Have a great time!

 

[iggbees]

yay! i'll be there tomorrow! where are you using internet?! cool! have a great time!

 

[GorshGoofy]

Crystal: Just found your trip report and am looking forward to reading more. I agree with you about solo trips. I've had a great time going solo! However, I'm a week away from taking my new bride on her first trip since she was 15 (30 years ago)! I'm hoping this trip with make her as much a WDW fan as I am. Hope you have a magical time!! Keep those reports coming!!

 

[Philadisney]

Your description of your trip in your last pre-trip post is fantastic! I always try to get lost in the parks, allow the line of what's "real" and "not real" to become blurred, and I can't wait to see all of your lovely pictures & insights to come! Man, I wish I was lounging around the WL right now instead of at my desk. Have fun!!!!

 

[tinkerbell87512]

Ohhh I hope your having a wonderful trip! your outlook on your trip is the way i look at mine. relax, let it all soak in. Cant wait to hear all about your trip!!!! enjoy!!!

 

[lizardqueen]

I am SOOO jealous. Have a great time and I can't wait to read the rest of your trip report when you get home. Can't wait to see your pictures either. Say hello to Mickey for me!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

You know, I could tell you all about what happened today, but I think I'll just let this picture speak for itself until I get back!

Feel free to guess what's going on here! Best guess wins a dole whip!

 

[__disneygirl]

I remember her from your previous reports... is something involving Botany going on?