We were taken to the airport by my daughters friends dad, which was really nice and made everything so easy. We each had 2 bags 1 carry on suitcase and one shoulder bag. I am in LOVE with the x-large Samsonite colorful canvas zip-top totes they sell at the Samsonite outlets. I made good use of my green one on this trip. Perfect as a carry-on tote bag holds EVERYTHING and has a pocket on the outside for my boarding passes, etc.
Me and my tween-travelers made our way through security without event and had 1.5 hrs to spare before boarding.
Went to the USAir Club lounge (which is fabulous at PHL!) and relaxed with our fruit, yogurt and muffins. It was still dark out but the sun was just beginning to break through on the horizon as we sat back and watched the tarmac begin to come alive.
At 7:15, we decided to walk over to the gate, assuming they would board at 7:25 for the 7:55 departure. As we rounded the turn to the gate, I was a little confused. Id expected to see tons of people at the gate, but it was empty. Did they change gates? Just then, I heard this is the LAST CALL for Orlando.
Huh?? I ran to the agent and asked her if they were calling the 7:55. She said yes. I asked if they were leaving early she said yes, they were. Then it struck me: I recall previously being told that the Saturday morning flights to Orlando are routinely oversold. If they leave the gate at the earliest possible moment, they may get away without stragglers getting there in time meaning that USAir wont have to pay to bump people.
We boarded and they quickly got everyone settled. I glanced around and noticed several empty seats, including the two next to me. Suddenly, a young couple with an adorable infant came running onto the plane out of breath, perspiring theyd just made it. Doors closed off we went.
A beautiful flight to MCO. I just LOVE flying on clear, sunny days when theres no cloud cover. My girls (Ill call them my girls for the rest of the trip since typing my daughter and her friend is redundant) were a few rows up. The flight attendant offered to work a switch with the couple seated next to me, but my girls declined. They wanted to sit alone. Good for them!
Upon arrival at MCO, we did have a little trouble finding DME. The airport people gave us bad directions on 2 occasions, sending us trekking into the wrong direction. Finally, someone sent us the right way and we checked into DME. We had no paperwork (no time to send it) so we waited in a short line to get paperwork and then were sent into the DME line for the GF. Another DME line was quite disorganized (due to the group in the line, not Disney) and they were not following Disneys orders on where to stand or how to organize so their group stayed together. This made our wait a little longer than usual but still no more than 10 mins.
We boarded the bus and the driver did a great job of pointing out the alligators along the roadside as we drove along. Yikes! Everyone was in great spirits and I was glad I didnt rent a car. The bus was fun and it did feel like wed started our Disney vacation right away. As soon as we checked in at the DME counter, I told the girls were in Disneys hands now! It felt good for me to relinquish the reigns for a while.
Poly was the first stop for our DME coach. The exit was quick and efficient and we were soon off to GF. As soon as we entered the GF gates, the girls ooohd and ahhhhhhd (as did the rest of the bus).
As we stepped off, I heard someone say Welcome to the Grand Floridian Ms. (Ill substitute Bluewater for my real last name).
I must have looked at her like she was crazy how does she know me? She was holding a clipboard and standing next to her was the concierge manager. She introduced him and then turned to my daughter and wished her a happy birthday. Wow!! How did she know my daughter? The she handed me my birthday button, handed my daughter her birthday button and handed my daughters fiend an Im Celebrating button. 
At this point, I am still a little shocked that they knew who we were (do they take your photo as you check in on the DME? they did have cameras mounted on the computers). The take our luggage off the bus and walk us into the GF, showing us the new marble floors and offering then out the doors on the pool side, giving us a brief tour and lots of information about the resort - then leading us to the concierge building where offered refreshments/snacks and very discreetly checked in.
The girls are thrilled with the selection of chilled veggies and dip, sweets and drinks. We are in between concierge buffet times, so the offerings are not overflowing but are certainly enough for anyone to snack on and we are then taken next door to our building, Conch Key and up to the 3rd floor where more surprises awaited. In our room was a table set with birthday cupcakes, white chocolate Mickeys holding our names on edible banners, drinks, cookies, confetti, balloons and a beautiful gift basket.
Of course, while the girls were diving into the sweet treats, I was enchanted with the view STRAIGHT ON to the Cinderellas castle. I opened the doors and walked out onto the terrace and could almost hear the hallelujah chorus in my mind - and, actually did hear the show that was going on in front the Castle and saw the firworks go off at the end of the show - I could hear every word being said - which was a sign of how close we were to MK. It was picture perfect! Over the years Id read quite a few trip reports where others had gotten this perfect view and while I was happy for those who had seen it, I never really thought it would be such a big deal for me. I dont consider myself to be a Disney fanatic. However, seeing that view made me realize why others had come to treasure it so much. WOW! I'll late tell you about it at night and share photos if anyone is interested
The concierge team was still in our room and they showed us the brochures they had packaged for us all the info about Concierge and the daily schedule for the lounge- what would be available and when. Just then, our bags were brought in by the bellman and he offered to get ice for us.
Everything was just perfect. We really hadnt planned to go to the park on our arrival, as wed planned to swim. But, the girls and I stood on the terrace and looked over at the castle and then looked at each other and said lets go! and just then we looked out and saw the beautiful water launch coming across the lagoon. The dock was just outside of our building, so we walked down and hopped aboard and we were at the Magic Kingdom in just a few minutes. The launch became our mode of transportation for the rest of our GF stay and also at the Beach Club.
Next Chapter: Parks, Pools, a little rain and how we handled it, 1900 Park Fair .and more on the Concierge lounge at GF (from a food and wine snobs perspective).
Me and my tween-travelers made our way through security without event and had 1.5 hrs to spare before boarding.
Went to the USAir Club lounge (which is fabulous at PHL!) and relaxed with our fruit, yogurt and muffins. It was still dark out but the sun was just beginning to break through on the horizon as we sat back and watched the tarmac begin to come alive.
At 7:15, we decided to walk over to the gate, assuming they would board at 7:25 for the 7:55 departure. As we rounded the turn to the gate, I was a little confused. Id expected to see tons of people at the gate, but it was empty. Did they change gates? Just then, I heard this is the LAST CALL for Orlando.
Huh?? I ran to the agent and asked her if they were calling the 7:55. She said yes. I asked if they were leaving early she said yes, they were. Then it struck me: I recall previously being told that the Saturday morning flights to Orlando are routinely oversold. If they leave the gate at the earliest possible moment, they may get away without stragglers getting there in time meaning that USAir wont have to pay to bump people.
We boarded and they quickly got everyone settled. I glanced around and noticed several empty seats, including the two next to me. Suddenly, a young couple with an adorable infant came running onto the plane out of breath, perspiring theyd just made it. Doors closed off we went.
A beautiful flight to MCO. I just LOVE flying on clear, sunny days when theres no cloud cover. My girls (Ill call them my girls for the rest of the trip since typing my daughter and her friend is redundant) were a few rows up. The flight attendant offered to work a switch with the couple seated next to me, but my girls declined. They wanted to sit alone. Good for them!
Upon arrival at MCO, we did have a little trouble finding DME. The airport people gave us bad directions on 2 occasions, sending us trekking into the wrong direction. Finally, someone sent us the right way and we checked into DME. We had no paperwork (no time to send it) so we waited in a short line to get paperwork and then were sent into the DME line for the GF. Another DME line was quite disorganized (due to the group in the line, not Disney) and they were not following Disneys orders on where to stand or how to organize so their group stayed together. This made our wait a little longer than usual but still no more than 10 mins.
We boarded the bus and the driver did a great job of pointing out the alligators along the roadside as we drove along. Yikes! Everyone was in great spirits and I was glad I didnt rent a car. The bus was fun and it did feel like wed started our Disney vacation right away. As soon as we checked in at the DME counter, I told the girls were in Disneys hands now! It felt good for me to relinquish the reigns for a while.
Poly was the first stop for our DME coach. The exit was quick and efficient and we were soon off to GF. As soon as we entered the GF gates, the girls ooohd and ahhhhhhd (as did the rest of the bus).
As we stepped off, I heard someone say Welcome to the Grand Floridian Ms. (Ill substitute Bluewater for my real last name).
I must have looked at her like she was crazy how does she know me? She was holding a clipboard and standing next to her was the concierge manager. She introduced him and then turned to my daughter and wished her a happy birthday. Wow!! How did she know my daughter? The she handed me my birthday button, handed my daughter her birthday button and handed my daughters fiend an Im Celebrating button. At this point, I am still a little shocked that they knew who we were (do they take your photo as you check in on the DME? they did have cameras mounted on the computers). The take our luggage off the bus and walk us into the GF, showing us the new marble floors and offering then out the doors on the pool side, giving us a brief tour and lots of information about the resort - then leading us to the concierge building where offered refreshments/snacks and very discreetly checked in.
The girls are thrilled with the selection of chilled veggies and dip, sweets and drinks. We are in between concierge buffet times, so the offerings are not overflowing but are certainly enough for anyone to snack on and we are then taken next door to our building, Conch Key and up to the 3rd floor where more surprises awaited. In our room was a table set with birthday cupcakes, white chocolate Mickeys holding our names on edible banners, drinks, cookies, confetti, balloons and a beautiful gift basket.
Of course, while the girls were diving into the sweet treats, I was enchanted with the view STRAIGHT ON to the Cinderellas castle. I opened the doors and walked out onto the terrace and could almost hear the hallelujah chorus in my mind - and, actually did hear the show that was going on in front the Castle and saw the firworks go off at the end of the show - I could hear every word being said - which was a sign of how close we were to MK. It was picture perfect! Over the years Id read quite a few trip reports where others had gotten this perfect view and while I was happy for those who had seen it, I never really thought it would be such a big deal for me. I dont consider myself to be a Disney fanatic. However, seeing that view made me realize why others had come to treasure it so much. WOW! I'll late tell you about it at night and share photos if anyone is interested
The concierge team was still in our room and they showed us the brochures they had packaged for us all the info about Concierge and the daily schedule for the lounge- what would be available and when. Just then, our bags were brought in by the bellman and he offered to get ice for us.
Everything was just perfect. We really hadnt planned to go to the park on our arrival, as wed planned to swim. But, the girls and I stood on the terrace and looked over at the castle and then looked at each other and said lets go! and just then we looked out and saw the beautiful water launch coming across the lagoon. The dock was just outside of our building, so we walked down and hopped aboard and we were at the Magic Kingdom in just a few minutes. The launch became our mode of transportation for the rest of our GF stay and also at the Beach Club.
Next Chapter: Parks, Pools, a little rain and how we handled it, 1900 Park Fair .and more on the Concierge lounge at GF (from a food and wine snobs perspective).
I bet you were the only party of 1 adult, 2 girls.
