Hi gang!
Here is the first installment of the tale of my trip. I think I'm going to start a trip report over on the trip report board as well. It's great fun to relive the trip by sharing it with you!
September 3rd-4th, 2008
After all the complications and difficulties of this year I was at a pretty low ebb by the time departure day arrived. I was incredibly excited to get away to a place where everyone would take really good care of me and I could bask and play in an extremely creative environment. The schedule had been honed and polished, my fun summer clothes were packed, and Pal Mickey had fresh batteries. I had already shipped a costume for
MNSSHP to the hotel, so I was ready to join in the delights of the days ahead.
I had a long last day at work, working as emergency doctor starting at 7 am. The afternoon was a little complicated when a sudden influx of cases really challenged my timing to get everything done, handled and in the case of unfinished things, passed off to the Docs who would handle them in my absence. I was more frantic than I would have liked when I finally scrambled out of work, raced home and went through the final packing moments. I did manage to squeeze in a shower, which would help the long night and next day after the flight.
For years I have taken the redeye to Orlando from Seattle, loving gaining a day of play versus spending a day in the air. With the consolidation and reduction of everything, Alaska has canceled their direct night flight as of my next trip, so this is to be my last happy swift flight through the dark to an Orlando sunrise.
I got to the airport in time enough to poke around the shops a little bit before going to the gate. Here we are waiting around:
They are so excited about getting on the plane!
It seemed to be taking a long time, so Mickey thought he might just start the announcements a little early. "Alaska Airlines announces the boarding of Flight 10 to Orlando, beginning with Circusgirl, Mickey, Minnie and Pluto!"
The flight didn’t look completely packed which was good for me in this moment but perhaps related to its demise . In fact I wound up with an empty middle seat next to my window. The aisle occupant was on her way to a Florida vacation with her family, with a skimpy two days allocated to WDW. I was horrified to find she didn’t know when the parks would open and close, didn’t have a plan, didn’t know that MNSSHP would close the MK at 7:00 on her MK day, and worst of all, had no ADRs. She mentioned that she had been a caterer and considered herself a foodie. I immediately started mapping out a plan, suggesting restaurants and times that might facilitate some last minute dining and suggesting that she and her family go to the Halloween Party to take advantage of the extra time and many special highlights and activities.
It was an uneventful, quiet flight (aided of course by mask, noise canceling headphones and my own comfy blanket). I must look ridiculous, but I can actually get a few hours of decent sleep if I am properly cocooned.
Sunrise over Orlando was a beautiful sight to my slightly blurry morning befuddled self, as was the announcement that it was 75 degrees at 7:30 in the morning. After a long cold rainy summer in Seattle, I couldn’t wait to be hot, hot, hot!
I hustled off the plane and to the happy train to the terminal for my first ride of the trip, and then went right to the rental car area. One of the tips I picked up from the Unofficial Guide is to go and rent your car before picking up luggage. The luggage is always super slow in Orlando, and you can rent the car and be back in time to pick up the luggage, and miss standing in line behind everyone else who got their luggage first. I actually had to wait quite a few minutes for my bags after getting to the carousel. I was restless. After all, I rent a car because I can’t bear to lose a minute waiting for a bus. C’mon, people, these are Disney minutes I’m wasting!
I wheeled my stuff outside and got my first lovely wash of tropical warm air. Over to the garage, up the elevator and over to hunt the aisles for a terrific car for the trip. I can hardly believe it when there is a Prius in my car class. Awesome! I got some instructions in how to work the Prius’s starting and stopping and then I was off to sail to the land of Mouse. I loaded some Hawaiian music in the CD player and rolled down the windows to bask in the warmth.
I made a quick traditional stop at the CVS to pick up bottled water. At $1.19 a gallon it is a big savings. I use a couple of smaller bottles I got for flight to carry in my bag, and refill from the big containers.
Then I cruised under the Welcome archway with a big smile and made the short jaunt to the Caribbean Beach. My room wasn’t ready - no surprise and not a big deal - so I took off for a quick shopping run at DTD. I had planned my first visit to Goofy’s Candy Company after seeing the pictures of the elaborate treats on the food photo threads. The DIS could also be known as The Other Shopping Channel, as it is a gateway to many essential acquisitions I would otherwise have known nothing about. On this trip alone I have Allison’s Cooling Neck Wraps (neck wraps in cute Disney fabrics that puff up to a gel cooling wonderfulness after being immersed in water), a cute Baggallini backpack, a Misty Mate Cool Blast Mister, and an adorable Mickey rain jacket that folds up in a handy travel pouch.
Goofy’s Candy Company lived up to its reputation, and the CM helping me was utterly delightful. I couldn’t believe I could just have someone make me a rice krispie treat smothered in dark chocolate, crushed peanut butter cups and more dark chocolate. I ran through the World of Disney, looking for things I might want to come back for (I get a 10% discount with my annual pass) and through Basin sniffing gorgeous bath products. Then it was time to head to the Polynesian for my breakfast at Kona Cafe.
The CM at the gate remembered me from my last trip, so I had real aloha when I arrived there. Kona featured an abundance of breakfast (The Big Kahuna and a press pot of fragrant, life giving Kona coffee were my selections) plus the bonus of being surrounded by tropical lush plant life in the atrium lobby with the soothing sound of fountains flowing in the garden. I had a great Disneyversation with two gals sitting next to me, the first of many during the trip. Here is a picture of my delectable food:
The macadamia-pineapple pancakes with special macadamia butter were dreamy, the French Toast delectable, the eggs were perfect over easy, the potatoes slightly crisp outside and just right inside, and the bacon and sausage just plain delicious. I got a side of biscuits because I need something to eat the yolk of the eggs with and they were also lovely - hot and fluffy.
After breakfast I called the CBR and my room was ready, so it was time for another tradition - the finding of the room. I love the CBR and have stayed there for at least part of all my Disney visits for many years, but their room directional signage is not very helpful in defining the actual direct shortest way to the room from the parking lot. I have learned not to set off precariously balancing all my bags while crisscrossing the walkways looking for my destination. I brought my small suitcase and camera bag and started exploring the paths and gardens of Jamaica. My room was a water view (I got such a good AP deal I decided to go for a room that would absolutely not face the parking lot) so I knew it would be a ways in from the parking. This room was the toughest I’ve ever had to find and it took me 3 or 4 trips before I could go directly there on the shortest path. I got my stuff hauled in and started to unpack.
The location was terrific, right next to the bridge to Old Port Royale, and with a view of the island, lake and new pool complex.
A blissful post all night flight shower was next, and then I was clean, upacked and ready. I needed to do my final out of Disney errand (that would be OODE in DIS- speak) to pick up groceries. My list mostly consisted of half and half for coffee and fruit for breakfasts, and I ended up getting some ziplocs and small containers as well as a veggie peeler for my peaches and nectarines. As of my last trip I bring my own kettle, filters, filter cone and dark dreamy delicious Peet’s French Roast coffee to give my mornings the start they deserve.
After getting back to the room with my grocery booty I decided to walk to Old Port Royale, check out the progress on the pool and just enjoy the lilting Caribbean music and beautiful sun. There were tropical colors bright in the perfect sunlight, lush gardens with little rushing lizards, turtles swimming through the water and elegant white birds stalking deliberately at the water’s edge. The pool complex looked really close to done, and I will wonder every day if it will open while I’m still there.
Next up - dinner at Blue Zoo. Oooooh.
21 times for Toy Story Mania!!! Sounds awesome!
Maybe you're blonde too...but I don't recall any dumb blonde jokes the refer to men. Darn it...... !
I was thinking about this board and the people who have come and gone during the CMO contest and after and you came to mind as such a genuine person.
Ann (Disney Fan) 
