Pirates Have Taken Over the Magic Kingdom: A 1 Nighter

[lizardqueen]

OR

"How my "me time" getaway turned into a dysfunctional family nightmare!"

PRE TRIP RAMBLINGS

I REALLY wanted to experience the Pirate & Princess Party. So, I picked March 5th, decided I would only stay for 1 night and that is how this trip came about!

While technically my family came along, I planned and spent this trip (for the most part) as a solo escape. So I'll be focusing mostly, on me! However, I'll introduce everyone so you'll know who I'm referring to... Saavy?

Also, I've not yet downloaded (uploaded?) my pics from this trip yet. So hopefully, I'll get the chance to do that in the next couple of days and then I'll add them in as well for your viewing pleasure!

WHO WE ARE

Me -- Shell, 30 -- lover of all things Disney, just tryin' to get a little break

DH -- Jamie, 31 --isn't going with us, but got roped into being our airport chauffeur

The "Gang"
Dad, 51 DSis, EB, 25 DBIL, Rich, 25

All have been to Disney before -- they just sort of invited themselves along & I didn't have the heart to say no (which I should have). Unfortunately, my Dad and EB developed a serious attitude problem early on and it stayed throughout our trip. So I'm not sure how much of the trip they enjoyed. Rich said he had a good time though.

So, until my pics are up, here are some very vague likeness' of us:

me DH Dad EB Rich

 

[lizardqueen]

It is late (or REALLY early) depending on how you look at it, it's well past midnight and I am still wide awake watching Man on the Moon. Then, as Tony Clifton is belting out a jaunty tune, I feel myself falling into a deep slumber. What the -- BEEP, BEEP, BEEP -- it is now 2:45 am and thanks to the blaring annoyance of my alarm clock, I am "up n at 'em" as Mickey would say. Being the amazing wife that I am, I let DH sleep for the next 20 minutes as I'm getting ready. Then all peace is interrupted as I pester him with the "I'm Too Excited" chant until he bats me away & grumpily rolls out of bed. DH is not real thrilled that he will be carting us to the airport, but he is doing it anyway (probably to keep the peace with my family). Is he one heck of a guy or what?

So we are out the door by 3:30am and are picking up the gang by 3:45am, AND by 4am we are on our way to Philadelphia! HOORAY!!! I think we made it to the airport in record time (right around 45 minutes), DH pulled up in front of the AirTran counters, we said our goodbyes and my trip officially began! I had taken the liberty of printing everyone's boarding passes the day before & since we only had carry ons, we joined the security line -- after I briefed the gang that is. I fly several times a year, and they haven't flown in ages. So, I felt like a mother hen making sure everybody had there ID's and boarding passes ready, nothing in their pockets and knew not to joke about bombs with the security guys . Even though I was flying Southwest and they were all flying AirTran, and even though our terminals past seperate security gates, I went through security with them & saw them safely to their gate. After a few minutes, I said goodbye and was off to Southwest. Security lines were awful this morning in Philly. That is where I always fly out of and I have never seen them so bad. Luckily, there were no major hold ups in line and I made it to my gate with time to spare. Boarding started at 6:40am and by 7:05am, we were already cleared for takeoff and in the air. The gangs flight was scheduled to leave approximately 10 minutes before mine, so I prayed that their flight had gotten off to as smooth a start as mine and I sat back to relax. The flight was only about half full, so it was nice to stretch out -- I got a window seat in a row all by myself. I am a terrible flyer, and I was so proud that here I was, on a flight without any familiar faces around me and I was actually enjoying it. Anyway, the flight went by fast and without any problems and at 9:25am, we had landed and were off the plane -- 20 minutes EARLY!!! WOOHOO!!! The gangs plane landed shortly after mine and after meeting up, we were on our way to the Disney's Magical Express area. I cehcked us in while everyone else relaxed across from the check-in area. Some many moons went by as they tried to get our ressie fixed. They had us staying at Fort Wilderness instead of Pop Century. Finally, we were que'd and then put on our shuttle to Pop! We waited maybe 2 or 3 minutes after getting on the bus, we were off.

This is when my Dad started his all trip complain-a-thon. Now, in his defense, he has never been much of a conversationalist and where he thinks he's being funny, he's really being a PITA. I love my family, so I will try really hard not to mention (at length) any more of the issues we had -- 'kay?

 

[lizardqueen]

So, YAY, here we are passing under the Walt Disney World arch & that familiar feeling of enchantment washes over me. Pop Century is the first stop for our shuttle & I was happy to finally have reached our destination. Off the bus and EB & Rich went to get some food while Dad checked out the shadowboxes in the lobby and I checked us in. There was hardly anybody in line and after spending only maybe 10 minutes chatting with a very lovely CM, we were checked in and on our way to our room. Our room was located in the 80's/Roger Rabbit section -- building 7 room 7132. I think we were in the very furthest section from the lobby. Not complaining though cause it was a beautiful walk to take. What made our location extra fun was the gin-normous PacMan icon directly above our door!

Anyway, here it was 11am and we were all settled in for our short stay. After Dad and I dropped our bags in the room and relaxed for a few minutes, we headed out to Everything Pop for some lunch. Of course, I HAD to have my favorite Pop food -- a cheesesteak wrap , a nestea and a huge vanilla cupcake. What I was really craving was a big ole piece of tye dyed cheesecake, but there was none to be found . Dad had a chili cheese dog and an orange juice (what a combo). Everything was delicious and cost just a little over $22. We sat in the food court and just enjoyed each other's company. With lunch out of the way, we headed out of the food court and ran into EB & Rich who were on their way to MGM and my Dad decided to join them. Me? Well, I was finally alone. I took a nice (but short) stroll around the resort, picked up my park tickets at the concierge desk and was off. I caught a bus to the MK (only waited about 5 minutes for one) and as we rounded the corner near the Contemporary and I got my first glimpse of Cinderella Castle, I couldn't help but get a little emotional. Just a few short months ago, I was here with the kids, DH and my in-laws and I guess it just hit me hard that the kids are really gone. But, I was at the Happiest Place on Earth, so I pulled myself together, jumped off the bus and headed straight for the resort monorail for a nice relaxing ride to the Polynesian. I had always wanted to look around here and today was going to be my first chance.

 

[lizardqueen]

First impression of the Poly? WOW! It was huge and gorgeous. I checked out the lobby and the different levels and spent time looking around the different gift shops. The items in the art gallery were just amazing and I really hope that on my next trip I can make a purchase there. Absolutely fantastic work. Overwhelmed, I sat down on one of the benches by a waterfall and just took everything in. It was at this point that I remembered "Hey, this is where Sunset Pointe is", so I set out on a mission to find it. Along the way, I checked out the volcano pool which looks totally cool. I came across the beach and at the far end finally saw Sunset Pointe. I couldn't take a walk up there because there was a wedding going on. My God, I remember taking it all in thinking this is pure bliss. I found a hammock on the beach that was calling my name (although getting in and out of it proved to be pretty comical) and relaxed while watching a couple begin their happily ever after together. At least an hour went by and I REALLY didn't want to leave this spot, but the thought of meeting the Captain brought me back to reality, FAST.

So I hopped on the monorail, said goodbye to the Poly and headed to the Grand Floridian in search of some Alice in Wonderland merchandise. No such luck. I did spend some time on the 2nd floor balcony listening to the pianist in the lobby. It was another "kid moment" for me. If I closed my eyes I could see DD in her sparkly Cinderella gown twirling around the lobby and saying "dance with me Momma". It was real enough that I could almost touch her. When I was done, I blew the piano player (& the memory) a kiss and bid farewell to the GF. This part of the afternoon was extremely healing for my soul.

Back on the monorail and I arrive at the MK front gate a couple of minutes before 4pm. They had the right side of the entrance (turnstiles and train station area) already set up for the Pirate and Princess Party and you could feel the excitement in the air. After getting my loot bag and map (the bag was pretty tiny, it was black velvety type material and had Pirate and Princess Party in metallic lettering on the front, I got a locker for some of my stuff and entered my favorite place on earth! They were only charging $2 for the locker rentals, which was totally refundable when you turned your key in. I think that may have been because they were clearing everyone out for the party.