TammiMcMan
Ohana
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2002
- Messages
- 6,308
Again, I present your performers:
Jim - 39, still a romantic after all these years
Tammi - 40, a very lucky lady
Scene 2 The Grand Floridian Welcomes Us
Even after the late night we had, I bounced out of bed at 7:45. We were on vacation and I was determined to be walking down Main Street before noontime. Checkout at the Airport Hyatt was quickly accomplished using the guest services option on their TV and we arrived at Nationals Emerald Aisle by 9am. This is great because you simply reserve an intermediate level car, but when you arrive at your destination, you can choose any car that is in the emerald aisle. Weve had a convertible and an SUV on previous trips. This time around it was only the two of us and I chose a cute Jeep Wrangler. Something wed never be able to get if we had all the kids with us. As we were getting ready to pull out of the airport, DH wants to check for directions first. I told him were all set, we just need to take 417 south. I kind of surprised myself that I had remembered the route. We pulled up at the security shed at the Grand Floridian and gave the guard our names. We proceeded on through to valet parking. Even though it had been 18 months since our last vacation there, it really felt like only yesterday. The same older gentleman was still standing out front, greeting everyone. After leaving our luggage and handing over the keys to the car, we were introduced to Jim from concierge. He had come down to meet and escort us up to the concierge desk for check in. This was the first time we had been greeted outside like that and I thought it was a nice touch. Up to the 3rd floor we went and they had our packet all ready for us. We were shocked to find out that our room was ready for us, as it was still just before 10am. The only request that I made on our reservation was for a king sized bed, as with everything else though, its not guaranteed. Our check in date was January 3rd and I think the fact that it was slow season might have had an affect on the room we were assigned to. We were led up to the 5th floor, which wed never been on before and led to the corner room. My eyes and my mouth couldnt have been any wider when we saw our room. It was a turret room, with a beautiful four poster king sized bed, a sitting area, walk in closet, tub for two and 12 palladium windows offering a panoramic view from the Polynesian all the way over to the Magic Kingdom. It was breathtaking. Our luggage soon arrived and we were unpacked and settled in very quickly. Even though the room was beautiful, I did have a schedule and we were due in the Magic Kingdom shortly. After grabbing a quick bite in the concierge lounge and our complimentary lanyards from Disney Travel, we hopped onto the monorail.
We took some time to browse the 75 Mickeys and then headed into the park with a crowd of people. The Christmas decorations were still up and carols were being played over the loudspeakers. Now maybe it was because Christmas had been over for a week, or perhaps it was the 82-degree weather, but somehow those decorations just didnt do much for me. And after the first few hours, I was really hoping to hear something else besides Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Being just the two of us, we could by-pass Fantasyland entirely, but I really wanted to see Mickeys Phillharmagic. There was only about a five-minute wait and the show was terrific. Haunted Mansion was a walk on and from there we headed over to do Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. Both rides had a 25-minute wait posted, so we decided to fast pass Big Thunder and hop into line for Splash Mountain. Well, I dont know who put up the 25 minutes, but they were off by a good measure. It took us nearly an hour to get through the line. We didnt trust any wait times after that. Now wed ridden Splash many times and maybe gotten a little spritz of water on us, but not this time. Our ride stopped at one point and we just happened to be right beside the waterfall when it happened. DH got soaked before they turned the water down to just a trickle. So it was onto Big Thunder for a blow dry. I havent been on this ride for a long time and it was a lot of fun. I just love the theme and all the detail that goes into the scenery here. It was getting close to 1:30 and we had plans for a late lunch at the GF Café. We hopped aboard the train and made it back to the resort in about 15 minutes. Lunch was wonderful and I remain disappointed that the Café still is not open for dinner. Today the MK was scheduled to stay open until midnight, so we decided to relax a little before heading back in. DH went over to the health club and I found a lounge chair on the beach. We were going to meet back in the room by 5pm. I arrived first and as I opened the door, I was greeted by 13 beautiful red roses from my husband. The arrangement was huge and the vase had Mickey and Minnie etched into it. Well, needless to say DH was greeted with kisses when he arrived in the room. We stopped by the concierge lounge for a glass of wine and a little snack before making our way back into the park. This time we headed for Tomorrowland. We grabbed a fast pass for Buzz Lightyear and then went on the TTA and CoP. By then our fast pass time had opened up and I kicked DHs butt on Buzz Lightyear.
There were two showings of Spectromagic this evening, so for the first one, we found a spot around the hub in front of the castle. We decided to stay there after the show because it seemed like a good spot to view the fireworks. This was our first time seeing the new Wishes and all I can say is wow! It was the most amazing display that Ive ever seen and how they match it all up to the music and story is wonderful. I had tears in my eyes. After the show DH and I strolled hand and hand back towards Frontierland. He had a hunkering for a turkey leg. We sat, ate and people watched for close to an hour. The weather was still very comfortable and I had on my nylon sweatsuit. We did some shopping and grabbed some tollhouse cookies and milk before settling in for the next Spectromagic show. The park was still open for a good hour and a half when it ended, so we took our time heading out and shopped our way down Main Street. The boat was just pulling in when we left the park, so we decided to take that back to the GF. The lake is so pretty at night. When we got back to our room, the bed was turned down and yes we had our very first towel animal. I think it was a duck. We opened up the curtains and had a perfect view of the castle changing colors.
Tomorrow: Spa treatments and a day to relax
Jim - 39, still a romantic after all these years
Tammi - 40, a very lucky lady
Scene 2 The Grand Floridian Welcomes Us
Even after the late night we had, I bounced out of bed at 7:45. We were on vacation and I was determined to be walking down Main Street before noontime. Checkout at the Airport Hyatt was quickly accomplished using the guest services option on their TV and we arrived at Nationals Emerald Aisle by 9am. This is great because you simply reserve an intermediate level car, but when you arrive at your destination, you can choose any car that is in the emerald aisle. Weve had a convertible and an SUV on previous trips. This time around it was only the two of us and I chose a cute Jeep Wrangler. Something wed never be able to get if we had all the kids with us. As we were getting ready to pull out of the airport, DH wants to check for directions first. I told him were all set, we just need to take 417 south. I kind of surprised myself that I had remembered the route. We pulled up at the security shed at the Grand Floridian and gave the guard our names. We proceeded on through to valet parking. Even though it had been 18 months since our last vacation there, it really felt like only yesterday. The same older gentleman was still standing out front, greeting everyone. After leaving our luggage and handing over the keys to the car, we were introduced to Jim from concierge. He had come down to meet and escort us up to the concierge desk for check in. This was the first time we had been greeted outside like that and I thought it was a nice touch. Up to the 3rd floor we went and they had our packet all ready for us. We were shocked to find out that our room was ready for us, as it was still just before 10am. The only request that I made on our reservation was for a king sized bed, as with everything else though, its not guaranteed. Our check in date was January 3rd and I think the fact that it was slow season might have had an affect on the room we were assigned to. We were led up to the 5th floor, which wed never been on before and led to the corner room. My eyes and my mouth couldnt have been any wider when we saw our room. It was a turret room, with a beautiful four poster king sized bed, a sitting area, walk in closet, tub for two and 12 palladium windows offering a panoramic view from the Polynesian all the way over to the Magic Kingdom. It was breathtaking. Our luggage soon arrived and we were unpacked and settled in very quickly. Even though the room was beautiful, I did have a schedule and we were due in the Magic Kingdom shortly. After grabbing a quick bite in the concierge lounge and our complimentary lanyards from Disney Travel, we hopped onto the monorail.
We took some time to browse the 75 Mickeys and then headed into the park with a crowd of people. The Christmas decorations were still up and carols were being played over the loudspeakers. Now maybe it was because Christmas had been over for a week, or perhaps it was the 82-degree weather, but somehow those decorations just didnt do much for me. And after the first few hours, I was really hoping to hear something else besides Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Being just the two of us, we could by-pass Fantasyland entirely, but I really wanted to see Mickeys Phillharmagic. There was only about a five-minute wait and the show was terrific. Haunted Mansion was a walk on and from there we headed over to do Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. Both rides had a 25-minute wait posted, so we decided to fast pass Big Thunder and hop into line for Splash Mountain. Well, I dont know who put up the 25 minutes, but they were off by a good measure. It took us nearly an hour to get through the line. We didnt trust any wait times after that. Now wed ridden Splash many times and maybe gotten a little spritz of water on us, but not this time. Our ride stopped at one point and we just happened to be right beside the waterfall when it happened. DH got soaked before they turned the water down to just a trickle. So it was onto Big Thunder for a blow dry. I havent been on this ride for a long time and it was a lot of fun. I just love the theme and all the detail that goes into the scenery here. It was getting close to 1:30 and we had plans for a late lunch at the GF Café. We hopped aboard the train and made it back to the resort in about 15 minutes. Lunch was wonderful and I remain disappointed that the Café still is not open for dinner. Today the MK was scheduled to stay open until midnight, so we decided to relax a little before heading back in. DH went over to the health club and I found a lounge chair on the beach. We were going to meet back in the room by 5pm. I arrived first and as I opened the door, I was greeted by 13 beautiful red roses from my husband. The arrangement was huge and the vase had Mickey and Minnie etched into it. Well, needless to say DH was greeted with kisses when he arrived in the room. We stopped by the concierge lounge for a glass of wine and a little snack before making our way back into the park. This time we headed for Tomorrowland. We grabbed a fast pass for Buzz Lightyear and then went on the TTA and CoP. By then our fast pass time had opened up and I kicked DHs butt on Buzz Lightyear.
There were two showings of Spectromagic this evening, so for the first one, we found a spot around the hub in front of the castle. We decided to stay there after the show because it seemed like a good spot to view the fireworks. This was our first time seeing the new Wishes and all I can say is wow! It was the most amazing display that Ive ever seen and how they match it all up to the music and story is wonderful. I had tears in my eyes. After the show DH and I strolled hand and hand back towards Frontierland. He had a hunkering for a turkey leg. We sat, ate and people watched for close to an hour. The weather was still very comfortable and I had on my nylon sweatsuit. We did some shopping and grabbed some tollhouse cookies and milk before settling in for the next Spectromagic show. The park was still open for a good hour and a half when it ended, so we took our time heading out and shopped our way down Main Street. The boat was just pulling in when we left the park, so we decided to take that back to the GF. The lake is so pretty at night. When we got back to our room, the bed was turned down and yes we had our very first towel animal. I think it was a duck. We opened up the curtains and had a perfect view of the castle changing colors.
Tomorrow: Spa treatments and a day to relax
