Angrypenguin
Disney n00b!
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2007
- Messages
- 797
Hi all! Ive been a lurker on these boards for awhile, but never posted that often (too shy I suppose) but I thought Id take a crack at writing a trip report from our fantastic vacation, running from August 29th through September 3rd. Hopefully you nice people on the DIS will read and enjoy it!
Now, for a quick rundown of our beautiful cast; I was going to change the names, but figured since almost no one will actually know who we are anyways, and coming up with aliases will surely confuse my addled mind, I kept them the same.
Me: 25 year old ABC (American Born Chinese yes, its a term that our parents have given us). Im an engineer in the defense industry, originally from the Detroit area, now living in sunny Los Angeles.
Julie: My girlfriend of almost 5 (five!!) years
. We did the long distance thing for a bit, but now were together in California.
Alison: One of my best friends since back in the day. Still holds down the fort back in Michigan.
Matt: College buddy from Michigan, now working up in Seattle.
Other Kevin: One of my other best friends, coming from Washington DC.
Now, a little background I suppose .
Last year Julie (DGF) had been working down in Orlando. I went to go visit her, and didnt know too much about Disney World at the time, but we ended up going because it sounded like something interesting to do (Epcot and Animal Kingdom, for those keeping track.) Well, needless to say, I was blown away by the cleanliness of the parks, the attention to detail, and the overall atmosphere of the place. I began hunting around online on Disney information, because thats what good nerds do, and I discovered the DISboards and came to a shocking realization. We. did. it. all. wrong. The monorail, ADRs, fastpasses, it was almost too much information for my large head to handle. Yes, I have a large head. I was born at over nine pounds, and I think 7 of it was just my noggin. Needless to say, I immediately started devising an evil plan to go back.
In January of this year, I was determined to gather all my friends together and take a trip. Now, weve all been friends for quite awhile, but since were all spread around the country, we only get to see each other on holidays since were all originally from Michigan. I started brainstorming places to go, things to see meanwhile, I couldnt get rid of that nagging Disney itch. Then it hit me like a Bobby hits Whitney
. Lets go see the mouse!
I wrangled a commitment and a date from everyone, and booked the five of us a family suite at ASMu plus dining. I checked the disboards religiously, and at 180 days out, with my phone at the read, made our ADRs.
And then it happened. Free Disney Dining.
Recalculating our finances, it only ended up being marginally more for us to upgrade to a Deluxe. Next thing I knew, we had two rooms at the elegant, adventurous, Animal Kingdom Lodge. I was happy. I was jubilant. I was anxious. You mean I have to wait 7 more months? Isnt there some sort of counseling group to help with this sort of waiting?
Turns out our perfect vacation would get even more perfect in my eyes. About a month out, I received a call from a nice CM graciously informing me that we were being booted from AKL due to construction. I was offered any deluxe resort as compensation .although I suspiciously noted that the CM left the Grand Floridian off the list. Now Im never one to agree to anything without attempting to swing a deal, so five minutes later I had gotten us two rooms at the prestigious Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. To think I was excited before, my excitement level reached DEFCON five. I actually had to change my pants.
Next installment .arrival day, and are you all by yourself?
Note: Pics will come once I'm back from my little business trip. Soon, I promise!
Now, for a quick rundown of our beautiful cast; I was going to change the names, but figured since almost no one will actually know who we are anyways, and coming up with aliases will surely confuse my addled mind, I kept them the same.
Me: 25 year old ABC (American Born Chinese yes, its a term that our parents have given us). Im an engineer in the defense industry, originally from the Detroit area, now living in sunny Los Angeles.
Julie: My girlfriend of almost 5 (five!!) years
. We did the long distance thing for a bit, but now were together in California. Alison: One of my best friends since back in the day. Still holds down the fort back in Michigan.
Matt: College buddy from Michigan, now working up in Seattle.
Other Kevin: One of my other best friends, coming from Washington DC.
Now, a little background I suppose .
Last year Julie (DGF) had been working down in Orlando. I went to go visit her, and didnt know too much about Disney World at the time, but we ended up going because it sounded like something interesting to do (Epcot and Animal Kingdom, for those keeping track.) Well, needless to say, I was blown away by the cleanliness of the parks, the attention to detail, and the overall atmosphere of the place. I began hunting around online on Disney information, because thats what good nerds do, and I discovered the DISboards and came to a shocking realization. We. did. it. all. wrong. The monorail, ADRs, fastpasses, it was almost too much information for my large head to handle. Yes, I have a large head. I was born at over nine pounds, and I think 7 of it was just my noggin. Needless to say, I immediately started devising an evil plan to go back.
In January of this year, I was determined to gather all my friends together and take a trip. Now, weve all been friends for quite awhile, but since were all spread around the country, we only get to see each other on holidays since were all originally from Michigan. I started brainstorming places to go, things to see meanwhile, I couldnt get rid of that nagging Disney itch. Then it hit me like a Bobby hits Whitney
. Lets go see the mouse!I wrangled a commitment and a date from everyone, and booked the five of us a family suite at ASMu plus dining. I checked the disboards religiously, and at 180 days out, with my phone at the read, made our ADRs.
And then it happened. Free Disney Dining.
Recalculating our finances, it only ended up being marginally more for us to upgrade to a Deluxe. Next thing I knew, we had two rooms at the elegant, adventurous, Animal Kingdom Lodge. I was happy. I was jubilant. I was anxious. You mean I have to wait 7 more months? Isnt there some sort of counseling group to help with this sort of waiting?
Turns out our perfect vacation would get even more perfect in my eyes. About a month out, I received a call from a nice CM graciously informing me that we were being booted from AKL due to construction. I was offered any deluxe resort as compensation .although I suspiciously noted that the CM left the Grand Floridian off the list. Now Im never one to agree to anything without attempting to swing a deal, so five minutes later I had gotten us two rooms at the prestigious Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. To think I was excited before, my excitement level reached DEFCON five. I actually had to change my pants.
Next installment .arrival day, and are you all by yourself?
Note: Pics will come once I'm back from my little business trip. Soon, I promise!
)
