Ringing in the New Year Disney style

[SnackyStacky]

I don't know why I'm even beginning this! I always start a trip report and it fizzles out as life gets in the way.

But, what with hope springing eternal, I'm going to give this a go again. And since our trip will span 2 years, we'll call it a New Year's resolution to finish the dang trip report.

First up - the dates. Did I grab your attention with the 2 years thing? Yeah, don't be too impressed. We'll be checking in on December 30th of this year, and leaving on January 7th of 2011.

Currently, we have a Magic Kingdom view room in the Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort. My heart was longing (and that's a conservative description) for the Beach Club. But depending on how this goes, I have no idea if we'll ever plan on traveling over the New Year's holiday again. So I figure we'll splurge on the room so that when our then-4-year-old is too tired to breathe, we can be in our comfy, lovely Tower room and watch the fireworks! Besides, I'd like to be able to proudly say we've stayed at ALL of this Disney resorts! We've been to the Beach Club, but never the Contemporary.

Not to mention, I'm a bit of a control freak. I don't like relying on Disney transportation. In the end, it's a metropolitan mass transit system. I'm from Buffalo and we have THE most pathetic excuse for mass transit. I don't like it, I've grown up that way, and I'm an old man at heart, so I'm set in my ways. The Contemporary is the ONLY resort where you can be completely independent of Disney transportation, even with a rental car. No matter where you stay on Disney property, you HAVE to rely on a bus, boat or monorail to get to the Magic Kingdom. And no matter how cool the monorail is - moving like cattle through the monorail line at park closing - ESPECIALLY among Christmas crowds - is the pentultimate of not cool. At the Contemporary, we'll be able to walk right back to our room. BONUS!

And lastly - the room type I have is the only one I can think of where when you want to refill your mug or grab a snack, you don't have to: a.) pay INSANE prices for a main building club level room (ie: the Grand Floridian), b.) have a GPS and back up hydration as you journey the endless hallways to get to the lobby or c.) expose yourself to the elements.

And really - how stinking cool that I'll see the Magic Kingdom from my balcony, and have the monorail RIGHT below when I step out of my door?! (And yes, I realize the irony of finding this as a plus when I just complained about the monorail two paragraphs ago. Keep that right to yourself! )

Anywho - who the heck is going?

Well, me. I'm 30. If you'd care to split hairs, I'll be 31 when we travel. I'm a Disney specialist agent with Dreams Unlimited Travel. I won't attempt to quantify my Disney obsession. We're on the DIS. And frankly, anybody who's reading this drivel from a complete stranger is most likely just as obsessed as I am.

My wife! She loves Disney too, but not to the extent I do. She secretly longs to visit other destinations, but I'm not the only one making the trip decisions! While she still wishes to go elsewhere, I know she still does love going to Disney. And besides - this entire trip? ALL her idea. I actually didn't initiate this one.

Wife's best friend. I guess you would say either "BFF" or "bestie" (besty? - that looks way too much like Betsy) Anywho - they met one another in law school. Both only children - so they've sort of become sisters by default. They love each other, would do anything for each other - and one can drive the other one crazy like nobody's business. I HAVE a female sibling by blood. That's a sister!

And lastly - the girl. That's what we call our 3 year old daughter. Again - for those frugal few who enjoy multiple hairs from a single strand of hair - she'll be 4 when we travel. She, unfortunately, inherited my OCD need for control. And now that I live with it - I have to wonder why my wife married me. That control thing is insane! She's REALLY verbal. So verbal, in fact, that I've searched the pharmacies for Mouth-Modium. That's Immodium for the verbal diarrhea from which my daughter suffers. She could talk to a tree stump. She's crazy smart, lots of fun, and very friendly with a sixth sense. If she doesn't trust you, she won't speak to you. But if she senses that you're someone to trust, please be ready to talk for-ever. She's a seasoned veteran with three trips to Walt Disney World and a trip to Disneyland under her belt.

Here's the fam at daughter's dance recital last weekend:

We're in Buffalo, BFF is in Phoenix. She wasn't at the recital - and besides, she'd put a hit out on me if she ever found out I posted photos of her. So no pictures of BFF.

And so that I get in the habit of posting back to this thread - I'll post our dining plans and some charming anecdotes later.

And for the love of God - I wrote the book on lurking. AND I'm horrible at finishing trip reports. I'm twice stepping out of my comfort zone. Show some love. Subscribe!!!! I'll beg!!!

<---- see?

PRE TRIP: "BUT I WANNA STAY AT THE HOTEL WITH DUCK POOP!"
PRE TRIP: Dining Plans
PRE TRIP: Some photos. Cause it needed an update.
PRE TRIP: The nightmares start
PRE TRIP: Transportation is DONE!
PRE TRIP: In which the trip is in jeopardy
PRE TRIP: In which the trip is on!
PRE TRIP: The one with all the dining
PRE TRIP: Geeky Geekdom
PRE TRIP: The One With the Candlelight Processional
PRE TRIP: The one with the trip report in a trip report
PRE TRIP: The One That's Bittersweet
PRE TRIP: The One With the Spectacles
PRE TRIP: The One With the First Set of Documents
PRE TRIP: The One With All The Haste

 

[pixiedust9]

Love the family picture...and have to laugh. When I first saw it, you reminded me of my daughters 5th grade teacher...then I saw the name...his too is Dan. And the best part...we live just outside of Buffalo!!! So....I wonder???? Anyway...my family did New Years this past year. I LOVED IT!!! would so do it again. The crowd on NYE was CRAZY...but I told my family not to plan on riding anything, I wanted to be in MK at rope drop and we were spending the day. That being said, we were there for rope drop, went on a bunch of rides and had such a good time. I can't wait to hear more...and find out if you are my daughters teacher....lol

 

[SnackyStacky]

Love the family picture...and have to laugh. When I first saw it, you reminded me of my daughters 5th grade teacher...then I saw the name...his too is Dan. And the best part...we live just outside of Buffalo!!! So....I wonder???? Anyway...my family did New Years this past year. I LOVED IT!!! would so do it again. The crowd on NYE was CRAZY...but I told my family not to plan on riding anything, I wanted to be in MK at rope drop and we were spending the day. That being said, we were there for rope drop, went on a bunch of rides and had such a good time. I can't wait to hear more...and find out if you are my daughters teacher....lol

HEY! A reader! YAY!

Sounds like a big coincidence. My mother is retired from elementary teaching in the West Seneca district, but I'm not a teacher. I'm a HORRIBLE teacher. I have a unique talent to make small children weep. Just ask the girl!

We've already planned to minimize park time until the crowds start heading home on January 3rd and 4th. But it'll be interesting. We're normally September/late January people. So we're used to relatively empty parks. I think we're going to have a bit of shock this time!

 

[SnackyStacky]

I'm a resort snob. There's no two ways about it. I like to be comfortable, and if that comes with a bit more of a price tag, I don't have a problem paying it.

Having said that, we've stayed at and enjoyed all levels of Disney resorts. One of our very favorites is Pop Century. If you were to ask me if I'd want to stay at Pop Century or the Polynesian, I'd probably pick Pop Century. (If Pop Century offered queen size beds, I'd DEFINITELY pick Pop Century).

So where is this going, you may be asking yourself.

In September of 2009, we stayed in a delightful room at Caribbean Beach. It was a corner room in Barbados, building 13. A bit of a walk to Old Port Royale, but I like a bit of walk! And we were right next to the parking lot, which we enjoy. In fact, here's the girl decked out in her Jasmine finest, just outside our door:

We like being near the parking lot, because we rent a car. So for us, being next to a parking lot, is like having a preferred room right next to the bus stop. So bonus!

Anyway, one of the problems with exterior corridors, such as those at Caribbean Beach, is that wildlife shares them with you. In some cases, they also share your room.

We came back to our room after a long day in the parks and wife says to me: "There's a frog in the corner."

Deadpan serious, I said to her: "A real one?"

I have no idea why I asked this. Perhaps I was so deliriously tired that I assumed Disney would come and put an animatronic frog in our room to entertain us as we fell asleep.

Anyway, said frog was in the corner just behind the door.

But upon attempting to shoo it out, it instead made a b-line for the corner of the room where the HVAC unit was. My cousin, traveling with us, was able to round up the frog and get it out.

But I digress. I was discussing exterior corridors.

Daughter was not allowed to go out without wife or me because the walkways were just LOADED with duck poop. The girl asked us why she couldn't go out. Wife told her that there was too much duck poop and with flip flops, it may end up on her feet.

Surprisingly, the girl was okay with this explanation.

Fast forward to the planning for this trip. I'm just too excited that we're staying at the Contemporary. I mean - what kid hasn't DREAMED of staying here as they rode the monorail and it glided through the Grand Canyon Concourse? I know I did! And because we drive, we go to the Ticket & Transportation Center and ride the monorail every time we go to the Magic Kingdom. So I KNOW she knows what I'm talking about.

So we used this as a selling point. And we asked the girl if she knew where we were staying. She says: "The hotel with the duck poop!"

"No", we exclaim. "We're staying at the hotel that monorail goes right through!"

The girl ponders for a few moments, and her face contorts into what wife calls "the stink eye".

"BUT I WANNA STAY AT THE HOTEL WITH THE DUCK POOP!"

The daughter, with whom I share genetic material, wants to stay at a hotel with duck poop. This resort snob is so proud he could just plotz.

 

[LovingDisny]

You have a beautiful family. I am subbing. That is too funny about the Duck Poop and so something my DS who is 4 would say. Our trip is coming up fast and I am super excited so i am really enjoying reading your PTR. our trip
is 6/4 - 6/12 at POR. it will be DS4 first trip and DS12 second. Can't wait to read more of your plans. Maybe you can look for some pictures of ducks at the Contemporary. I mean if the Monorail, Chef Mickeys and the MK view does not convice her

 

[SnackyStacky]

You have a beautiful family. I am subbing. That is too funny about the Duck Poop and so something my DS who is 4 would say. Our trip is coming up fast and I am super excited so i am really enjoying reading your PTR. our trip
is 6/4 - 6/12 at POR. it will be DS4 first trip and DS12 second. Can't wait to read more of your plans. Maybe you can look for some pictures of ducks at the Contemporary. I mean if the Monorail, Chef Mickeys and the MK view does not convice her

Well whaddaya know - another reader!!!

Thanks for the compliment!

I'm going to work on her. She WILL be excited to be in the monorail hotel, darnit, if it KILLS mel!!!!

 

[LovingDisny]

Your welcome. Good luck with the convincing. I'll be tuning in to see how it goes.

 

[SnackyStacky]

On our way to daycare this morning, I tried again.

Me: "So which hotel are we staying at when we go to Disney?"
The Girl: "The one with the duck poop?"
Me: "Don't you want to stay RIGHT next to the Magic Kingdom? And have the monorail just outside your door?"
The Girl: "No, Daddy. I want to stay at the hotel with the duck poop."



It's a losing battle.

ANYWAY - real point of posting today is dining! With no park hours for January, it's tough to figure out what to do, but I've made a best guess based on last year's hours and we'll tweak as needed. Fortunately, most people will be leaving on January 3rd, and resort package reservations for 2011 haven't opened up yet. So we should have an easy time if anything needs to be changed.

Here goes!

Thursday, December 30:

• Candlelight Processional Package: Restaurant Marrakesh, 6:45 pm show, 4:15 pm dinner time. Restaurant Marrakesh is a first night tradition for us. Plus, I've always wanted to see the Candlelight Processional. Since this is the last day for it, I'm hoping this one works out. If it doesn't, no biggie! We'll just try again on another trip.

Friday, December 31:

• Tusker House, 8:00 am. Never tried this one before.
• Chef Mickey's, 6:00 pm. Never been here for dinner. But the plan is dinner at 6, and then up to the room to relax and camp out until New Year's Eve fireworks.

Saturday, January 1:

• Fantasmic Dinner Package: Hollywood & Vine, 4:00 pm dinner time. Never been here for dinner, and we've never tried the package. Wife and I aren't too big on Fantasmic, but we think The Girl may like, so we're going to see if this works out. Fantasmic was shown last New Year's Day - but I'm not sure if that's because it was shown on Friday's, or if it was because it was New Year's Day. We'll see! Like the Candlelight package, if this doesn't work out, no biggie.

Sunday, January 2:

• 1900 Park Fare, 8:30 am. Never tried this one before.

Monday, January 3:

• Garden Grill, 5:00 pm. Wife and I had a spontaneous lunch here on our honeymoon in 2004. We LOVED it and haven't been back since! They've revamped it since we were last there, so I hope we still enjoy it as much as we did then. I LOVED the Strawberry Shortcake with biscuits!!!

Tuesday, January 4:

• Le Cellier, 5:00 pm. Hope springs eternal. Although, there's some rumored changes coming to Le Cellier. We may need to tweak this one. I think if the proposed changes happen, and we decide against Le Cellier, I'd like to try Tokyo Dining. We've never tried Le Cellier OR Tokyo Dining.

Wednesday, January 5:

• Boma, 5:00 pm. We've done breakfast here a lot, but no dinner since 2005. It's time! We love it!

Thursday, January 6:

• While The Girl spends time at The Cub's Den, Wife and I are hoping to go to Artist Point. We try to do one signature dining experience per trip. (We usually go without the dining plan for reasons beyond our control). I wanted to try something new, but wife truly loves Artist Point. We ate here at a GORGEOUS window-side table on our honeymoon, and again before a cruise in 2009. She loves it. She had actually decided on the Yachtsman, but wanted the comfort of something she knows. (And she's usually adventurous, so we'll let this one slide! )

Friday, January 7:

• Chef Mickey's for breakfast. It's painful to just even write about the last day!

Not too much new this trip in the way of dining, but revisiting some old favorites.

And I'll beg again for more subscribers. Please come join my little circle of dysfunction. I like to try and put the "fun" in that dysfunction!

<---- See? More begging!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Ok, ok, enough begging, I'm in! I'm attempting my own PTR right now, too. Maybe we can be buddies and make sure the other doesn't fall off the face of the PTR canyon?

Your little girl is adorable.

Random, but do you mind me asking where DW went to law school? I'm (fortunately? unfortunately?) in the process of applying to law school right now. So, if I see the words "law" and "school" in the same sentence, it sparks immediate ADD and I have to know where the attorney attended school.

But, back to the fun part.

We stayed at POP last December, and I have to agree, it was great. I was really worried about it, but beyond surprised that it was fantastic!

I have to tell you that the resort with the duck poop was my favorite when I was little, too. I still think it's a nice mod, but I have no clue why I was so obsessed with it then. I would refuse to stay anywhere else; maybe it's just a little girl thing? They might possibly infuse some sort of scent in to the rooms that only little girls can detect, and it draws them back every time?

Funny CBR story; they used to have the beds on these really, really tall platforms. The bed closest to the wall was less than a foot away from the wall. Well, one night (6 years old, at the time), I rolled right off the side of the platform bed and got stuck between the bed and the wall, suspended about a foot off the floor since the bed was so high up. My parents had to do a lot of re-adjusting with the mattress to get me out, and I STILL wanted to go back there again the next year.

Tusker House breakfast is FANTASTIC. I've been to every park breakfast ADR, and it is by far my favorite.

I have to tell you that we used to love Chef Mickey's for dinner, but were beyond disappointed last December. I'd been reading reviews that it had gone downhill, but thought to myself "never!" and booked it anyway. Well, they were right and I was wrong. The food was awful and the selections were pathetic. I am hoping and sending pixie dust your way that you have a better experience!

How was breakfast at Boma? I'm considering this one for our trip but wasn't completely set on it.

Phew; long post. And, end.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Ok, ok, enough begging, I'm in! I'm attempting my own PTR right now, too. Maybe we can be buddies and make sure the other doesn't fall off the face of the PTR canyon?

Deal! You're on!

Your little girl is adorable.

Thank you!

Random, but do you mind me asking where DW went to law school? I'm (fortunately? unfortunately?) in the process of applying to law school right now. So, if I see the words "law" and "school" in the same sentence, it sparks immediate ADD and I have to know where the attorney attended school.

Wife went to But, back to the fun part.

We stayed at POP last December, and I have to agree, it was great. I was really worried about it, but beyond surprised that it was fantastic![/QUOTE]

I know there's plenty of Pop Century fans, so it's always nice to meet one!

I have to tell you that the resort with the duck poop was my favorite when I was little, too. I still think it's a nice mod, but I have no clue why I was so obsessed with it then. I would refuse to stay anywhere else; maybe it's just a little girl thing? They might possibly infuse some sort of scent in to the rooms that only little girls can detect, and it draws them back every time?

I don't know what it is! It's a great resort! Loved it! But I'm ready to try something new!

Funny CBR story; they used to have the beds on these really, really tall platforms. The bed closest to the wall was less than a foot away from the wall. Well, one night (6 years old, at the time), I rolled right off the side of the platform bed and got stuck between the bed and the wall, suspended about a foot off the floor since the bed was so high up. My parents had to do a lot of re-adjusting with the mattress to get me out, and I STILL wanted to go back there again the next year.

The Girl would do something like that. Only it wouldn't have been because she was sleeping and rolled off the bed. She would have been trying to make a fort or some such nonsense. We walked in to her room the other night. Her arm, furthest from the wall, was fully extended. She'd then roll herself, the arm would go UP into the air, and slam into the wall. She was doing this wide awake and completely on purpose.

Tusker House breakfast is FANTASTIC. I've been to every park breakfast ADR, and it is by far my favorite.

I have to tell you that we used to love Chef Mickey's for dinner, but were beyond disappointed last December. I'd been reading reviews that it had gone downhill, but thought to myself "never!" and booked it anyway. Well, they were right and I was wrong. The food was awful and the selections were pathetic. I am hoping and sending pixie dust your way that you have a better experience!

Glad to hear about Tusker House. Chef Mickey's is really for the convenience factor. Eat dinner right in the hotel! And plus, it's so loud that if The Girl is somewhat irritable, it won't matter. Her noise will blend right in.

How was breakfast at Boma? I'm considering this one for our trip but wasn't completely set on it.

Phew; long post. And, end.

Breakfast is delicious! Like dinner, there's a nice assortment of stuff you might not normally eat, right alongside the standby foods. (eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes). We've eaten there quite a bit and can't think of a single bad experience.

Glad to have you along!

 

[LovingDisny]

Plans sound great so far. We did the breakfast at 1900 park fare on our trip in 2004. I know that was a while ago, but we loved it! The food was great, and the atmosphere was amazing. I love the Grand Floridian. We are doing Chef Mickey's for dinner and Tusker house for breakfast on our trip that starts next week I will let you know how those go when we get back. Hopefully Chef Mickey's has improved!!!

 

[pixiedust9]

Hi again! They say everyone has a twin, I guess your twin is teaching at my daughters school...and we live in the West Seneca School District. My whole family went to Northwood, but bad things have started happening so it was time to leave....Anyhow...I am a huge fan of Pop Century, its such a fun resort. I love your dining plans. I hope to get back sometime next year...so it will be nice to read someones plans...we did the CP when we went in December. LOVED IT!!! I can't wait to read more

 

[SnackyStacky]

Plans sound great so far. We did the breakfast at 1900 park fare on our trip in 2004. I know that was a while ago, but we loved it! The food was great, and the atmosphere was amazing. I love the Grand Floridian. We are doing Chef Mickey's for dinner and Tusker house for breakfast on our trip that starts next week I will let you know how those go when we get back. Hopefully Chef Mickey's has improved!!!

Can't wait to hear! I've actually never set foot in the Grand Floridian. It'll be nice to check it out! It's never been one that's had ANY appeal for me. But I've seen some photos of the renovated rooms and they're BEAUTIFUL. May have to give it a try!

Hi again! They say everyone has a twin, I guess your twin is teaching at my daughters school...and we live in the West Seneca School District. My whole family went to Northwood, but bad things have started happening so it was time to leave....Anyhow...I am a huge fan of Pop Century, its such a fun resort. I love your dining plans. I hope to get back sometime next year...so it will be nice to read someones plans...we did the CP when we went in December. LOVED IT!!! I can't wait to read more

Wow - I'd be interested to know who your daughter's teacher is, and what's up at Northwood. My mother retired from Northwood after the close of the 2001/2002 school year!

I'm definitely hopeful for the Candlelight! I've seen all the Christmas Samantha Brown/Travel Channel/HGTV specials - and the Processional looks amazing. I'm also a musician. So I just drool over the full orchestra and 250-voice choir!!!!! (More those than any celebrity narrator! )

 

[pixiedust9]

I will send you a PM...somethings just are not meant to be public. Anyhow, when I was planning our trip last year I mentioned to my dad that I wanted to see the CP. I got this look from him when I told him what it was all about, but he told me that he wanted to me experience all Disney had to offer around the holidays so fine...he would nap. The day of the show, we went December 29th at 8...my dad was speechless. It was an amazing experience, one we would all do again. I have no idea how many other people where there....once the music started and the singing...you get sucked right in. I taped it, my daughter took pictures, neither do it justice. Someday we will go again..I can't wait to hear what you think about it.

 

[HeatherBelle614]

I've decided that you need to update.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Thanks, fellow trip-report-slacker-in-recovery!

But there's nothing really to update yet!

I'll be able to start making dining reservations in about a month. But since the last update, no entertaining stories, no changes of plans.

I have been trying to get onto club level at the Contemporary, or a 1 bedroom Magic Kingdom View at Bay Lake Tower - but neither of those options has opened yet.

Disney STILL hasn't opened Candlelight Processional dinner packages.

And the girl hasn't really said anything about the duck poop hotel recently.

Heck, I haven't even done trip shopping yet!!!!!

So while I'd love to post an update, I don't have one yet!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Pardon me, but that sounds like an update to me.

Hopefully the duck poop hotel will have slipped her mind! Haha.

I really wanted BLT, too. It was completely booked and I doubt anything will open! I hope you have some better luck!

 

[SnackyStacky]

How about some photos?

I still feel as though what I posted isn't worthy of the purple "LOOK AT THIS ONE! IT'S AN UPDATE!" font.

So some photos from the last trip? They're playing in slideshow format as my desktop wall paper, and I never finished my last trip report.

Here goes!

The girl's face says it ALL!

Meeting June, from Little Einsteins.

Another one where the face just says it all.

This one comes with a wee bit of a story.

We'd been walking around Epcot, and we were all in that heat-and-humidity induced stupor that comes with pounding pavement to the tune of 10 plus miles per day in Florida. So we were all a bit bleary. Nobody was really cranky - it was the kind of mood that makes you realize why life in the south truly does move slower. It has to. People would otherwise die of heat exhaustion.

Anyway, we were coming up on the China pavilion from Norway. (That's clockwise around World Showcase Lagoon, if you're keeping score). Wife and I spot Mulan.

"LOOK! It's Mulan!", we exclaim to the girl.

Her eyes begin to glow, and she's positively giddy as she works up from a slow walk to a heavy run. Well, as heavy as a just-turned-3-year-old can run. There's a Photopass photographer standing by and she is READY to go, Mulan opens her arm ready to give a big hug, wife and I have our camera at the ready.

And the girl runs DEAD past Mulan toward the Temple of Heaven. It took us about 2 minutes to finally redirect her attention to the REAL Mulan; not that silly temple posing as Mulan. The excitment lit up in her face, and she really DID run to Mulan and started chatting.

Would LOVE this shot if the girl would SMILE!!!!! The only time we got smiles was if there was a character. That's cousin all the way to the right. She joined us for a few days.

She had been DREAMING of this moment. Ariel (or as the girl calls her, "Mermaid") is her absolute favorite.

HEY! A non-character smile!!! Who wouldn't, though? It's always, fun and rather theraputic, to pound the bejesus out of a drum!

Another small story here. I had made a reservation for Kouzzina for opening night. I didn't really expect too much, because I knew they'd have a press event, and it would be open before. So we sat down - and who is moving from table to table but Cat Cora! So she graciously posed for a picture. This was my one and only celebrity sighting in all of my Disney trips.

This face just SCREAMS: "I'm up to no good".

LOVE this picture. She wanted her face painted, so we got her face painted. I'm really surprised she sat still through it, but...

...she did.

Not bad for an iPhone shot!

And, as usual, I shall continue to beg for more readers. I know it's nothing spectacular now, but I'll WOW you with my creative writing skills!

And for those of you who don't like to read a lengthy, photo-laden trip report, I PROMISE I'll include a short synopsis with review of resort, restaurants and all that jazz too.

Please? Pretty please? With a Mickey-head-shaped cherry on top?

 

[SnackyStacky]

So I think we've all been there. In two places, actually.

The first - the Disney nightmares. You know what I mean. When a perfect night's sleep is ruined by deviant imagery of your trip to Walt Disney World slowly slipping into the seventh circle of hell.

Not fun.

But I think we've all had that recurring dream where we're trying to accomplish something, and no matter how hard we try, it can't be done. It feels like it's done, but then within a moment, we realize it isn't. And just like that Greek myth of Sisyphus - the one who who was doomed to push a rock for all eternity? - we find ourselves starting the struggle all over again.

Last night, those two horrible things crossed and I had a WRETCHED nightmare.

So wife, the girl and BFF arrived happily at the Contemporary, and we checked in. In the dream, I was part of a Grand Gathering of about 4 rooms. NO idea who was occupying the other 3 rooms, but it's really not essential to the story.

Anyway, our room wasn't ready, but we were given ANOTHER room to crash in until our PERMANENT room was ready. I don't know why we couldn't just stay in that room - but it's a dream. So logic is really an expendable commodity.

So we get into the room. It's BEAUTIFUL. It's on the 10th floor or so, it overlooks the Magic Kingdom, it's spacious, it's well appointed, it's comfy....you get the idea. Well, our rooms were ready and they called us back down to the front desk to get our real room keys.

We proceed down to the desk, and are given the room keys, and I find out we're in a room on the second floor. Again - impossible, since I think that guest rooms don't start until the fifth floor - but I digress. Here's one of the fun parts. All of the people working the front desk? I know all of them. One of them is a former co-worker and still friend of mine, the other is my aunt's mother! (Without digging too deep into the family tree - this is NOT my grandma - she's my aunt by marriage). Well, I went over to aunt's mother and we chit chat for a moment. And I politely ask - I've been to Disney so many times. I always make room requests, and they're NEVER honored. But this one is important. Are there ANY rooms on a higher floor? She checks, and there are. I'm happy, and am given keys to room 2081. I don't know why. I guess I should play that number in the lottery.

Back to the dream! I drag ALL the luggage up to a higher floor. I have no idea which particular floor, but I'm seeing all kinds of rooms. I can find 2080 and 2082 - both are GORGEOUS suites. But 2081 is nowhere to be found. I must have walked up and down the hallways about 10 times in the dream. There was also a station with resort employees in the middle of the hallway and they finally took notice of me and asked if they could help. I told them I was looking for room 2081. They told me if they could just see my key, they'd be happy to help me.

In the dream, all of the keys had room numbers printed on them. I found about 200 different keys, but none of them were for room 2081. I was getting EXTREMELY flustered, and could feel all the blood RUSHING to my face.

And I woke up.

Not only could I not find the right room, I couldn't find the key to prove I was able to be in the room that I couldn't find!!!!

It was so incredibly wrong on so many levels and dear GOD please don't ever let me have that dream again!

And another desperate plea for readers. You know you wanna!

 

[devonsmommy]

Hello!
I'm joining in! We will be there some of the same time as you, and also at the Contemporary, Magic Kingdom View.

Your daughter is adorable! I have that same picture of my dd and the drum from last year.

I can't wait to make our dining reservations.