Pirates at the Poly...and the ER - September 2011

[Al and Kate's Mom]

2011 was an interesting year for my family – we had some really good things happen for us (new house, new job for me that I love, new school for the girls) and we had some not so good things happen (my grandmother had a heart attack (doing okay), my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer (fighting away) and I finally sat still long enough to let a doctor formally diagnose my high blood pressure.

So, of the not so good things, my high blood pressure would seem to be the easiest thing to deal with, right? Yeah – not so much. I was diagnosed in early August and put on medication. My doctor said to go ahead with the trip DH and I had planned to Disney, have a good time and not worry about anything.

This is where, if this were a movie, you’d hear ominous music predicting sure disaster, and you’d lean over to your friend and stage-whisper “what an idiot”. At least, that’s what I would do…

So, anyway, just a little backstory to set the scene for this trip.

Cast: Me – Karen, 25 plus some years (okay, plus SEVERAL years); DH – Henry, a little younger than me
When: September 15-21, 2011
Where: The Polynesian Resort (in case you missed the title of this report)

If you have any interest in reading about my past trips, you can take a peek through my pre-trip report Pirates at the Poly Pre-Trip Report. I know - my creativity astounds you...just wait until I really get going!

Next up – Where’s the Airport Shuttle?

 

[Al and Kate's Mom]

The girls don't really mind when DH and I head off to the World without them - they know they'll get to go back themselves sometime, and with us gone, it's livin' it up Grandparent style for them! Mom and Dad (and sometimes DSis Allison) move into the house with them for the time we're gone, and proceed to let them stay up late, eat too much candy and generally have their own vacation - eh, I'd have dug that too when I was a kid!

So DH and I packed up, hugged everyone goodbye, and headed for one of the local airport hotels - we decided to do a Park-Sleep-Fly package since we had an early morning flight, and the airport is about an hour from the house - it was also cheaper to leave the car at the hotel than pay for parking at the airport (we got a REALLY good deal).

Slept okay, got up before the sun and were ready to go - except the shuttle wasn't there...okaaay. Talked with the Front Desk Clerk/Breakfast Attendant/Future Rehab Graduate and he assured us the shuttle was on its way, will be here any minute. Back outside to wait...and wait...and wait. Other people had joined us in our wait, including a flight crew due to take off within the hour...hmmmm....

We waited some more, grumbled some more, talked to Clerk some more...and then a shuttle shows up! But only to take the flight crew. Yeah - I know they're more important than me in this situation, but I think they could have handled some lap-sitters - seriously - what's up?

So we wait a little more, and low and behold - up comes another shuttle - 45 minutes late. Football pads would have been helpful here with the pile up of everyone trying to get on the shuttle - it was a cool preview for the TSMM dash to come!

We made it onto the shuttle, got to the airport and through security with no major mishaps or gropings, and made it to the gate with about 15 minutes to spare - Woo Hoo!

The flight was okay - we flew SouthWest and paid for the early-bird check-in, so we got to sit near the front like I wanted - and arrived in Orlando right on time - VACATION!!!!!!!!!

Next up - arriving at the Poly.

 

[loganpaulsmom]

Sounds interesting can't wait to read more..