Parrotheader
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2002
- Messages
- 178
This covers the 7-day land/sea vacation of Keith and Holly from Birmingham, AL as told by Keith (Parrotheader.) Were both 26 with kids still a couple years away. Holly had previously been to Disney World twice (one trip she was too young to remember) and Keith had been 5 times. We're BOTH cruise rookies. Pictures of our trip can also be found at:
http://www.luckie.net/disney/
Day 1 The Flight Down and the Marriott Cypress Harbour
Saturday, May 25
After months of anticipation, planning and reading up on the DIS boards, we awake with our bags and Tucker (our 1 year old Border Terrier) all packed and ready to go. This was our first BIG vacation, especially financially, since our honeymoon two and a half years earlier. My parents swing by to pick us up and take us to the airport. On the way, we drop Tucker off at Hollys parents. Hell be splitting time between the grandparents while were gone. Off to the airport an hour and half early (because its Memorial Day weekend) and we end up waiting an hour after breezing through check-in and security. The flight to Charlotte is on time where we get to enjoy a wonderful 3-hour layover (3 out of 4 of our flights changed after our initial booking causing LONG layovers.) We kill time by eating at Cheers, napping and reading. Holly is a VERY fast reader and polishes off half of a 350 page novel in just one hour while I plod along at a measly 50-60 pages an hour. Then its off on our flight to Orlando!!
After arriving in Orlando around 6:15, we get our rental car (a kicking Mitsubishi Lancer . . . fear the power) and drive to our hotel for the first night, the Marriott Cypress Harbor. In a word, AWESOME. The grounds are beautiful and the accommodations amazing. Luxurious two-bedroom suites complete with a screened-in porch overlooking the beautiful central lake and a large hot tub in the bedroom (which we used immediately.) A place like this would have cost a FORTUNE on-site, but we got it for a great deal through Marriott Rewards. We ordered pizza from the Pizza Hut on site and just relaxed on the porch for a bit.
Holly was tired and crashed pretty early that night. I decided to venture out and explore a little for our next day. I have a fantastic sense of direction and I USED to know my way around Disney World really well. But things have changed tremendously in the 5 years since Ive previously visited. The highway system (with tons of confusing on-ramps, off-ramps, one way roads, and interchanges) had me spinning. Add to that the fact that I was exploring after dark (when its harder to get your bearings) and as the parks were letting out (with heavy traffic) and I was in trouble. When the entire park of Epcot went past me on the WRONG side from what I was expecting I knew I was not in Kansas anymore. I somehow found my way back to the Cypress Harbor and went to sleep.
Up Next:
Day 2 - On to Port Orleans and Disney World
http://www.luckie.net/disney/
Day 1 The Flight Down and the Marriott Cypress Harbour
Saturday, May 25
After months of anticipation, planning and reading up on the DIS boards, we awake with our bags and Tucker (our 1 year old Border Terrier) all packed and ready to go. This was our first BIG vacation, especially financially, since our honeymoon two and a half years earlier. My parents swing by to pick us up and take us to the airport. On the way, we drop Tucker off at Hollys parents. Hell be splitting time between the grandparents while were gone. Off to the airport an hour and half early (because its Memorial Day weekend) and we end up waiting an hour after breezing through check-in and security. The flight to Charlotte is on time where we get to enjoy a wonderful 3-hour layover (3 out of 4 of our flights changed after our initial booking causing LONG layovers.) We kill time by eating at Cheers, napping and reading. Holly is a VERY fast reader and polishes off half of a 350 page novel in just one hour while I plod along at a measly 50-60 pages an hour. Then its off on our flight to Orlando!!
After arriving in Orlando around 6:15, we get our rental car (a kicking Mitsubishi Lancer . . . fear the power) and drive to our hotel for the first night, the Marriott Cypress Harbor. In a word, AWESOME. The grounds are beautiful and the accommodations amazing. Luxurious two-bedroom suites complete with a screened-in porch overlooking the beautiful central lake and a large hot tub in the bedroom (which we used immediately.) A place like this would have cost a FORTUNE on-site, but we got it for a great deal through Marriott Rewards. We ordered pizza from the Pizza Hut on site and just relaxed on the porch for a bit.
Holly was tired and crashed pretty early that night. I decided to venture out and explore a little for our next day. I have a fantastic sense of direction and I USED to know my way around Disney World really well. But things have changed tremendously in the 5 years since Ive previously visited. The highway system (with tons of confusing on-ramps, off-ramps, one way roads, and interchanges) had me spinning. Add to that the fact that I was exploring after dark (when its harder to get your bearings) and as the parks were letting out (with heavy traffic) and I was in trouble. When the entire park of Epcot went past me on the WRONG side from what I was expecting I knew I was not in Kansas anymore. I somehow found my way back to the Cypress Harbor and went to sleep.
Up Next:
Day 2 - On to Port Orleans and Disney World
