The Battle For My Wallet VI: The Trip Report That Isn’t a Trip Report (P.24, 11/24)

[AshClan]

This was a great, touching, exciting chapter, Z. Nice job. Just a few comments......

It’s funny to me that I, the original omniscient narrator, me of perpetual inner monologue, needed to be counseled to pay attention.

It's all that narrating and inner monologue that KEEPS you from paying attention. Duh.

Which was pronounced “con-see-air” by a lady on the Monorail who wanted us all to know she was staying in a more expensive room than we were. To which I thought, “if you can’t pronounce it, you probably can’t afford to stay there. Hopefully, you’ll learn how to pronounce the word before you pay off your credit card.”

DED

Then we stacked up our empty suitcases in the huge empty space in the toilet part of the bathroom.

Seriously? Dude! I certainly hope you always turn on the light when you get up in the middle of the night. Just sayin'.

The beds were softer than Sean Hannity’s interview questions of Sarah Palin. But not squishy.

Like.....John McCain's cheeks? I don't know. There's gotta be a good line in here but I just can't come up with one. LaLa, Frick, Tinkerbellarella, somebody help me out....

One cool thing about the Contemporary was the computer in the room with internet access and an online concierge.

Now that's a huge selling point right there. How awesome to not have to lug my laptop with me.....

It would also be nice if people didn’t drive around with bumper stickers that read, “Mean People Suck.” For some reason, I always assume they’re talking about me.

That's probably because they are.

When the show was over, we just went back into our room. There were no crowds. No pushing. No shoving. No snarky CM asking you to return your stroller. No schlepping to a bus, a boat or a Monorail. No smelly people. No sweaty arms. No stench of pee.

Wish we could say the same about your suitcases.

 

[ZZUB]

I am so glad I was denied. Well, my husband really loves the Contemporary, too, and didn't want to change.

In my mind, the Contemporary is Disney's true flagship resort. I mean, it's the original! The monorail runs right through it! You can walk to Magic Kingdom! You get to wave a napkin in the lobby!

I am so SO happy it met your unreasonably high expectations, Zzub. It look like your vacation began in a practically perfect manner.

I'm glad for you that you're going back to the Contemporary. If your last stay there was in 2005, I'm thinkin you had the old rooms. I think you'll enjoy the new ones. I agree with you about the Contemporary being THE classic Disney hotel (as well as the Polynesian).

I loved that you could hear the WDW Railroad whistle breaking the calm silence of the morning. Even though we only had 3 nights there, I spent each morning on the balcony thanking God for how lucky I was to be there, and we spent the evenings enjoying Wishes from our balcony, we loved watching TinkerBell fly from the perspective our room gave us.

Thanks again for sharing this non-TR with us, I am enjoying it very much.

I loved hearing the train. One morning, I watched it roll out and stop in a holding position until it was cued into the station for the opening show.

What a lovely way to start the day off ZZUB. Thank you. The view from your room is magnificent, parking lot or no parking lot, zoom or no zoom. I'll admit, it's now recently become a slight dream of mine to stay at the Contemporary. Maybe in 35 years, right? I love how you add your words of wisdom and incorperate your faith into your entries. It makes me step back and realize how truly blessed I am for having the experiences I've had. Thank you.

The view was excellent. But so was the room. It was plenty large and plenty nice. Plus, there's something cool about going up from the 4th floor in the Contemporary. Just about everyone else is heading down.

ZZUB, I have read several of your trip reports before. They are always great. We may not see things the same way politically, but there is one thing we agree on. We love Disney. And now you have made me want to stay at the Contemporary. I have never really been an MK resort person. I adore Epcot, so that has been my resort area. I think I will have to stay at the Contemporary some time.

I'm glad that even though you and I don't agree about politics, you continue to read along. While I very obviously support one party over the other, I try to make sure to land just as many jokes at my party's expense. Fact is, neither one of these tickets is particularly superlative.

As for Epcot area v. MK area, we've recently become enamored of Epcot. But as I consider resort options each year, I come back to the conclusion that for ease of transportation, the MK area is preferable to both the MK and Epcot. I just read a great article on this topic on Tikiman's website which confirmed my suspicion. In other words, even if Epcot is your first choice, don't rule out the Contemporary or Polynesian. I think you'll find you can get to Epcot pretty quickly from there.

This was a great, touching, exciting chapter, Z.

Exciting? Really?!

Seriously? Dude! I certainly hope you always turn on the light when you get up in the middle of the night. Just sayin'.

It might help if you understood the layout of the bathroom. The toilet is on one side and the empty space is opposite. In other words, our empty suitcases were no where near the toilet. Aim or no aim, it would be virtually impossible for your bags to get hit with schrapnel when they're behind you.

Now that's a huge selling point right there. How awesome to not have to lug my laptop with me.....

The internet access was handy. The online concierge would be a cool feature. If it worked. More on that later. It did allow us to check our dining credits and such.

 

[TarzansKat]

Chapter Three: Can Amazing Be a Souvenir?

Apparently, it can.

Which is a heck of a roundabout way of saying, I took my time and savored this experience. I disciplined myself to not rush through it.

This is wisdom that must be passed on through the ages. And you know where mine came from? The owner of the nail salon where I got a manicure before my wedding. She told me, every now and then, during the ceremony, reception, etc, to just stop and take it all in. And because of that, I have these very, very clear memories of my wedding as well. Which is funny, because I can be particularly horrible about remembering things. But that I remember.

And really, isn't that a philosophy we should apply in life, and not just on vacation? Stop, breathe, look around and soak it in. Because life goes by too fast. I know you know this. Your analogy just really hit home for me.

But back to check in. I had the most efficient check in CM ever. No long boring recitation about how the Dining Plan works, no explanations for how to maximize our trip. No hard sell for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. And soon enough, I had our keys in hand and we were headed up to our room.

Without any hard-selling, how can this possibly be a battle for your wallet???

It's the famous ZZUB FOREARM!!!!

And so it was that each morning I’d eagerly climb through the dark curtains in our room and out onto our balcony. To sit a spell. To pray. To read God’s Word. To watch the Magic Kingdom wake up. And to breathe.

__

I hope it won't unnerve when I tell you that lately, I've been trying to channel my inner ZZUB. Oh yes, you read that right. Doesn't everyone have one?

In all seriousness, lately, I've been doing my fair share of why, God? Or what next, God? And then more, why, God? And I think of you. I think of how even though you have doubts, you have faith. And your strength reminds me that I am strong in my faith as well. That this too shall pass.

And more often in Disney than real life, although I'm working on it, I try to remember to stop, breathe, look around and soak it in.

Thank you for writing an installment that reminds me of that.

 

[kathymc]

Well since I didn't pay the conference rate, you can bet Mrs. The King's butt, I DID NOT HAVE AS MUCH MAGIC AS YOU DID! You have now RUINED my trip. How can I even enjoy the memories knowing that someone else had the same room for half what I paid?!!!!!

That's awesome that you got bumped up there for that length of stay. No beating that view, is there?

Dont worry ZZUB, now I see that you had a much better room than I did. I was way way way down at the very very very other end, so your room was so much more better than mine was.

I would have paid triple for yours.

PS - We were a little country come to town also but it was the little night lights in the bathroom that did it for us

 

[aggie98]

Wow - I just wandered over here from your bread crumbs in the CR thread. Your writing style is great! Thanks for sharing your experience.

Now I'm hooked and will probably spend the rest of the day reading the first 10 pages of your trip report.

 

[Mrs. The King]

“ZZUB, it’s gonna go fast. Remember to breathe. Take it in.”

Can I get the name of your best man? I would like to keep him on my shoulder to remind me of this on a daily basis.

“be the difference.”

Dude. Wow. That is so deep. Are mullets required when you say that out loud?

I asked whether they were able to give us a king room.

I am shocked and honored that you would want one of the rooms I had occupied. It is a surprising quirk from you considering your penchant for cleanliness.

But, in order to get a King room there is a secret hand shake, a vaccination, and an interpretive dance to a Bon Jovi song that must be completed in a leotard. Unfortunately for my fans, the waiting list for one of my rooms is longer than Club 33's. Better luck next time Zzub.

Rooms on this side of the building start on the sixth floor which means the eighth floor is three up.

Is this some kind of crazy lawyer bingo you play?

The reason they couldn’t give us a king room?

You understand now

The Magic Kingdom was so close.

Flat out awesome!!

There are exactly five moments in my life when the thing I anticipated was actually better than I thought it would be:

I guess you don't check before you flush. I am constantly amazing myself.

Mrs. ZZUB had come up behind us and snapped another sweet picture. Me and my girls.

Go Mrs. Zzub. Woman rock.

Firm but soft. Like a good biscuit.

Good biscuits are flakey, too. I guess all the left over skin shed from previous guests counts as flakes.

No smelly people. No sweaty arms. No stench of pee.

I guess our families will never vacation together then.

Not surprisingly, my favorite part of the Contemporary was the view from our room. I spent a lot of time on the balcony.

And that is how the balcony at the Contemporary is done folks

I could see a 14 year old boy looking back up at me. Well not at me as much as the building I was in. I owed it to him to not take for granted that I had that view for nine days. I owed it to him to listen to the sounds of the boat horns and rumble of the busses and the purr of the Monorail as it glides along the track.

Touching and sweet. Dreams do come true.

And so it was that each morning I’d eagerly climb through the dark curtains in our room and out onto our balcony.

Anyone else picture Golam in a polo shirt holding a coffee cup after reading this? I think it is the word "climb" that triggered it.

 

[samc]

I remember seeing my soon-to-be wife at the end of the aisle. She looked amazing. And even though I’m sure there wasn’t a spot light on her, she was glowing and brilliant in the candle lit church we were married in. Our flower girl was obsessive of compulsive and was placing the flowers individually on the runner. Which made my bride’s progress down the aisle slower than it would have been. But that just gave me more time to stare at her and memorize how incredible she looked.

aawwwwwwwwww!! so sweet and such a beautiful moment to memorize!

This time, the thing I wanted to see more than anything was the view. But you don’t open the biggest present first Christmas morning. You don’t take too big a bite of the jelly donut either. You take your time.

There are exactly five moments in my life when the thing I anticipated was actually better than I thought it would be: the first time I set foot on campus at Alabama, the first time I saw the Pacific Ocean, the first time I saw my bride, the first time I held my child and the first time I walked out onto my balcony and looked out at the Magic Kingdom.

But it would also be nice to beat Kentucky by more than 3 points. And it would be nice if our government didn’t convince us there was a financial crisis which “needed” to be remedied by a $700 billion dollar bailout which hasn’t seemed to calm the markets.

Thank-you!!!

Why did I think God didn’t want to bless me with this? Have I become so cynical that I expect God to Himself be ironic? Allow me to realize a desire of my heart only to be disappointed by the experience. Is that really the God I serve?
No. It isn’t. God loves His children. He loves us enough that He wishes for none of us to perish. He loves us enough that He sent His Son as a sacrifice for us. Knowing that, then, why did I think He didn’t want to bless me?
And so it was that each morning I’d eagerly climb through the dark curtains in our room and out onto our balcony. To sit a spell. To pray. To read God’s Word. To watch the Magic Kingdom wake up. And to breathe.

so glad I got caught up today becuase I really need to hear/read that.....thank you for reminding me how much God loves us!!!

And.....just for fun I thought I'd share our unexpected additions - DS named the one on the right SABAN!!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I enjoyed reading your whole trip report, so thank you for posting it.

 

[bridgie04]

eagerly awaiting more.

 

[jaycns]

I usually just silently read trip reports (and have read all of your previously posted ones) but I have to comment now...your description of the CR put the biggest smile on my face. It's my "top" WDW resort and I adore almost everything about it. I very much enjoyed that installment of your not-a-trip-report-trip-report. Thanks for bringing a big smile to my day!

 

[skifast22]

Thanks for the great report! I've only read your entry on p10 about first entering the CR and your room, but now I want to read the rest when I have more time. That entry was excellent though. I remember having many of the same emotions during my first stay last year. I'm hoping (and I'm sure it will) be just as special for my next stay next year!

 

[GreatBiscuit]

The beds were softer than Sean Hannity’s interview questions of Sarah Palin. But not squishy. Firm but soft. Like a good biscuit.
__

Even had I not possessed a "someday fantasy" of lodging at the Contemporary since first glancing said establishment as a 12 year old lad; this line alone would have convinced me that such a goal necessitated a spot on my life's dream list. Loved the installment, the testimony, and the reminders to cherish the gifts as they are given.

 

[Angelrose]

Zzub, you have such a beautiful way of looking at things. This was a wonderful installment and I can't wait for more.

 

[aharbin88]

Does the monorail really purr?



go vols....

 

[chicagoshannon]

WOW! That view is fantastic! Can't wait to read more.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Chapter Three: Can Amazing Be a Souvenir?

Yes. But you cannot ship it back to your resort.

Which is a heck of a roundabout way of saying, I took my time and savored this experience. I disciplined myself to not rush through it.

I'm sorry, do you tell a story in any way other than roundabout?
I hadn't noticed.
(And I most certainly hope not. )

Which was pronounced “con-see-air” by a lady on the Monorail who wanted us all to know she was staying in a more expensive room than we were.

Or who wanted you all to think she was the worst French-speaking French person ever.

Gosh.
First a leg.
And a goatee.
Now a forearm.
I feel like I really know you now. That forearm says so much.
I'm printing all of these so that some day I'll have a complete picture of ZZUB.

The room looked familiar.

Funny. That's EXACTLY how I felt when we walked into our room at the Poly, even though I'd only ever stayed there in my dreams.

I love the lone pink Croc. I would've thought your feet were bigger than that, though.

Mrs. ZZUB had come up behind us and snapped another sweet picture. Me and my girls.

Wait.
We're not getting a piece of this one? I was really holding out for a top right shoulder blade to add to my ZZUB puzzle pieces.

I’ll tell you plain: we loved the Contemporary. If it was a cake, it would be Butter Grilled.

::sigh::

No stench of pee.

Good LORD Z, from exactly WHERE do you watch Wishes? The third stall from the right of the restrooms near the Crystal Palace?

And before the busses started running, I could even hear the music coming from Tomorrowland.

And for this alone I would be sold.
The MK "waking up".

Lovely installment Z.

 

[BLLB]

Amazing as always. Thank you for sharing your story.

 

[guitarob]

Does the monorail really purr?

Purring monorail?

 

[ZZUB]

Without any hard-selling, how can this possibly be a battle for your wallet???

There wasn't much of a wallet left to fight over. After I ponied up for a MK view in the Contemporary, am I really going to scrap over a $25 American Girl style doll outfit for ZZUBY?

But I'll have you know, we still only bought one refillable mug. So there, Disney!

Dont worry ZZUB, now I see that you had a much better room than I did. I was way way way down at the very very very other end, so your room was so much more better than mine was.

I would have paid triple for yours.

PS - We were a little country come to town also but it was the little night lights in the bathroom that did it for us

Would you be willing to post pictures of your view? I've read that it's pretty much the same from every floor and the same from either end of the building. I'm curious whether that is true.

And if by nightlights in the bathroom you mean the back light on the mirrors, yeah, we were all "gollllllly! Look at that!" We really belong in a Travelodge. NOLaLa.

Wow - I just wandered over here from your bread crumbs in the CR thread. Your writing style is great! Thanks for sharing your experience.

Now I'm hooked and will probably spend the rest of the day reading the first 10 pages of your trip report.

Thanks for coming on by. I hope you enjoyed the read and stick around for more.

Can I get the name of your best man? I would like to keep him on my shoulder to remind me of this on a daily basis.

I'm pretty sure he'd injure your shoulder after awhile.

I guess our families will never vacation together then.

Why did I even get up this morning then? After my dream of staying in the Contemporary, my next dream was to vacation with the Kings. And I think you know why, too.


Your parent's cast member discount! Duh!!!

I usually just silently read trip reports (and have read all of your previously posted ones) but I have to comment now...your description of the CR put the biggest smile on my face. It's my "top" WDW resort and I adore almost everything about it. I very much enjoyed that installment of your not-a-trip-report-trip-report. Thanks for bringing a big smile to my day!

Thank you for coming out of lurkdom to let me know you enjoyed what I wrote.

Thanks for the great report! I've only read your entry on p10 about first entering the CR and your room, but now I want to read the rest when I have more time. That entry was excellent though. I remember having many of the same emotions during my first stay last year. I'm hoping (and I'm sure it will) be just as special for my next stay next year!

I sure appreciate you stopping over here. I read a lot of your posts on the Contemporary thread on the resorts board and I appreciated the info you posted.

Yes. But you cannot ship it back to your resort.

Wrong again! You CAN ship it back to your resort. Only it won't show up until after 2:00 the next day.

Gosh.
First a leg.
And a goatee.
Now a forearm.
I feel like I really know you now. That forearm says so much.
I'm printing all of these so that some day I'll have a complete picture of ZZUB.

You left out my massive, impressively huge for a guy my age who works 8 billion hours a week, biceps.

I love the lone pink Croc.

Welcome to the life of ZZUBY's dad. She's in the door and the shoes come off. Wherever they happen to land. We're working on that in our house.

We're not getting a piece of this one? I was really holding out for a top right shoulder blade to add to my ZZUB puzzle pieces.

You almost did but Mrs. Z called no joy. There was no way to crop the girls out of the picture and even though it only shows the back of them, our rule is no pictures of us or the kids, especially the kids.

::sigh::

Preach it, sister.

 

[LegoMom3]

Purring monorail?

Ok, since guitarob posted this, I'll just chime in and say that my DH had this on a shirt and wore it once or twice while we were there. So, if you happened to see a guy in a white shirt with this picture on it, that was us. Since we continue to wonder if we were there at the same time. Because all I get of you is hairy arms and hairy legs and shoes....

Just sayin'....



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