*Marty_Mouse_House*
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2004
- Messages
- 60
Trip Report for DisneyWorld March 1-5, 2008
Me: 40-something
DH: 40-something
Now College Son: Age 18
Beagle: Age 13
Day 1 --
In the past, dis-boarders may have read some of our other Trip Reports with the Beagle being featured prominently. I just wanted to let you know that she is still with us - age 13 - and is as active and beloved as ever.
It's college Spring Break Time and it's time to plan a trip to our favorite vacation destination. DH and I wondered if our now-freshman college-aged son even wanted to be seen with his Mom and Dad on College Spring Break. We're hearing tales of other "Spring Broke" destinations of mysterious far-away places including Panama City and Langerado (which none of us had ever heard of ... we finally had to look it up on the internet). But it's not long before our son announces that he is looking forward to going to Disney on his Spring Break (and with us even!) We raised him right!
We spent a fair amount of time figuring out travel logistics. Our son doesn't get out of classes until Friday at 3:00 pm (I know, I know -- who takes a class on Friday afternoons at 2:00 pm?) So, do we pick him up on Friday and start the 10 hour drive from campus arriving on Saturday afternoon - or do we drive him home first and then leave on Saturday morning, etc. We were very seriously considering the first alternative especially since the deeply-discounted airlines (Allegiant) did not have a plane arriving and leaving on the days that we needed it so that's out. One night at 11:00, DH happened to be looking at the Delta site and came racing in (I had been sleeping by this time) and said, "We need to make a decision right now! Delta has a discounted air fare for when we need it for $75 each way!" He's jumping up and down and I'm barely awake enough to say - "You better hurry up and reserve our flight!" He got back to the computer, and it was still there so 3 seats were booked in short order. It had been a long time since I had ridden a "full service" airline. I was at least looking forward to my soft drinks and snacks for free.
The next day, it was my job to secure the rental car online. Since we were arriving at the Orlando airport (instead of the Sanford airport which we had done the last 2 times though Allegiant), we were able to use the Emerald Aisle at National Rental Car. On a previous trip, it had been fabulous to just sach-ay our way through the airport, cross over to the Florida-landscaped breezeway to where the cars were parked and choose the make, model and color of our choice. On that previous trip we lucked out and got a brand new Buick with less than 20 miles on it! Considering another rental car agency was not even an option. This time, at the National site I used the appropriate discount code, got a good deal for $37.50 per day and chose the intermediate model so that we would qualify for the Emerald Aisle.
The big day drew closer. It was time to pick up the boy on campus (a 3 1/2 hour drive away). Earlier in the week, the 2:00 professor announced to the class that he was not going to go over any new material, so that if you could not make it to class on Friday at 2:00, he was not going to hold it against anybody! What a nice man! Since the Friday morning class has already been canceled, DH picked up DS on Thursday for the uneventful trip home.
It is always a happy reunion when Mother and Son get together. I am regaled with statements such as "Mom, I'm thinking about skydiving" and the like. Mom's response is always, "Well, you can keep thinking." Other statements were announced such as "Mom, I have discovered the joys of drinking coffee". Mom thinks, "That's better than discovering the joys of drinking something else!" So, after work on Friday, everybody packed, the Beagle was placed in the premium kennel she has used ever since she was a puppy, and the next day finally arrived.
Arrival at the airport was uneventful. I had the digital camera snapping away with photos such as DS in front of the plane we were going to ride in. DS and me in the terminal. DS and DH in front of the ticketing booth, etc. We took our seats which were configured 2 + 2 with DS and me on one side, and DH across the aisle (sitting next to the stranger, hee hee). We took off and DS and I started perusing Star Magazine. I got a free subscription for buying a disposable razor and had it sent to the boy's campus mailbox - just so he would have some sort of mail on a regular basis. He's the first to hear all of the important world events, such as Angelina's expecting twins, etc. Anyway, now he saves them all for me and we laugh at the celebrity outfits where they write things like "Punky Brewster meets Bride of Frankenstein" or "Pepto Abyssmal". So we were flipping through the latest issue of Star and shortly thereafter I viewed the flight attendant making her way down the aisle with the coveted inducement - free snacks! Cookies, cookies, cookies, that's all I could think of. (It's the little things that make me happy.) She presented a very pretty wicker tray to our aisle and asked, "Would you care for peanuts, crackers or cookies?" We very politely nodded our heads and chose. I picked first. I picked up a thing that looks like a cookie package and smiled smugly. DS picked up a red package, and DH picked up a red package too. I looked at my package - it's the Cracker package! And it's got cream cheese and chives in it! No offense, but there's no way I am going to eat cream-y cream cheese and chives on an airplane. And since it is still sitting on the kitchen counter to this day, it's obvious I'm not going to eat it on land, either! I messed up and now I don't have my free cookie! The inevitable is coming. DH leans over and asks, "What did you get?" "Oh, I got these little crackers," I say, "but I'm going to save them until later." Of course, DS starts eating his package, and it's a Delightful cinnamon/gingersnap type cookie - only the very thing I was looking forward to. After the first pass-through, the flight attendant came back down the aisle taking drink orders. I am determined not to mess this up and quickly ordered my apple juice with ice. DH looked over and started to feel sorry for me, and handed me his red cookie package. He's one in a million!
After the drink orders were taken, I couldn't believe it, but the flight attendant came back down the aisle with the wicker tray again! She was asking every seat if they would like any more peanuts, crackers, or cookies! Yay! I chose the right thing this time. Meanwhile, DH got a little gleam in his eye. He informed me that he was going to procure TWO packages of cookies this time. I was aghast. "You can't!" I exclaimed. I looked at him closely as the tray was being offered. I don't want to promote bad behavior here so I will just have to leave you guessing as to whether he actually took 1 or 2!
We were just gearing up for the flight to land soon, when the flight attendant passed through again. We couldn't see what she had on the tray until she got closer. She's progressing down the aisle and there was a tray with little white styrofoam cups and red stir sticks sticking up. Could it be....? She got to our aisle. "Would you care for coffee?" Our son couldn't believe it. Of course he takes one - our son's airline flight had been made complete. Coffee on an airplane! Who would've believed it? Fantastical things happen when you're going to Disney!
The flight arrived and we said goodbye to the best Flight Attendant ever! We only had carry-on luggage so we didn't have to wait at baggage claim and proceeded directly to National Rental Car. I already informed DH and DS that I was not picking any pokey sedan for the rental car - I was going to choose the biggest SUV they had in the lot. We proceeded down the Emerald Aisle and there were 3 SUVs to pick from. Two white ones and a blue one. I didn't know the models - I just knew that I was going to pick the biggest one. We took our time and looked them all over. Finally, I settled on a white one - a Saturn Vue. It was as big as a truck! We loaded up and noticed it had 3000 miles on it.
Next Report: Straight To Animal Kingdom!
------------------------
Previous Trips - Almost 40 trips in 34 years staying at --
Fort Wilderness Campground, Fort Wilderness Cabins, Yacht Club,
Caribbean Beach, Polynesian, Beach Club, Swan, Dolphin, All-Star Sports,
All-Star Music, All-Star Movies, Port Orleans Riverside, Contemporary Resort
Me: 40-something
DH: 40-something
Now College Son: Age 18
Beagle: Age 13
Day 1 --
In the past, dis-boarders may have read some of our other Trip Reports with the Beagle being featured prominently. I just wanted to let you know that she is still with us - age 13 - and is as active and beloved as ever.
It's college Spring Break Time and it's time to plan a trip to our favorite vacation destination. DH and I wondered if our now-freshman college-aged son even wanted to be seen with his Mom and Dad on College Spring Break. We're hearing tales of other "Spring Broke" destinations of mysterious far-away places including Panama City and Langerado (which none of us had ever heard of ... we finally had to look it up on the internet). But it's not long before our son announces that he is looking forward to going to Disney on his Spring Break (and with us even!) We raised him right!
We spent a fair amount of time figuring out travel logistics. Our son doesn't get out of classes until Friday at 3:00 pm (I know, I know -- who takes a class on Friday afternoons at 2:00 pm?) So, do we pick him up on Friday and start the 10 hour drive from campus arriving on Saturday afternoon - or do we drive him home first and then leave on Saturday morning, etc. We were very seriously considering the first alternative especially since the deeply-discounted airlines (Allegiant) did not have a plane arriving and leaving on the days that we needed it so that's out. One night at 11:00, DH happened to be looking at the Delta site and came racing in (I had been sleeping by this time) and said, "We need to make a decision right now! Delta has a discounted air fare for when we need it for $75 each way!" He's jumping up and down and I'm barely awake enough to say - "You better hurry up and reserve our flight!" He got back to the computer, and it was still there so 3 seats were booked in short order. It had been a long time since I had ridden a "full service" airline. I was at least looking forward to my soft drinks and snacks for free.
The next day, it was my job to secure the rental car online. Since we were arriving at the Orlando airport (instead of the Sanford airport which we had done the last 2 times though Allegiant), we were able to use the Emerald Aisle at National Rental Car. On a previous trip, it had been fabulous to just sach-ay our way through the airport, cross over to the Florida-landscaped breezeway to where the cars were parked and choose the make, model and color of our choice. On that previous trip we lucked out and got a brand new Buick with less than 20 miles on it! Considering another rental car agency was not even an option. This time, at the National site I used the appropriate discount code, got a good deal for $37.50 per day and chose the intermediate model so that we would qualify for the Emerald Aisle.
The big day drew closer. It was time to pick up the boy on campus (a 3 1/2 hour drive away). Earlier in the week, the 2:00 professor announced to the class that he was not going to go over any new material, so that if you could not make it to class on Friday at 2:00, he was not going to hold it against anybody! What a nice man! Since the Friday morning class has already been canceled, DH picked up DS on Thursday for the uneventful trip home.
It is always a happy reunion when Mother and Son get together. I am regaled with statements such as "Mom, I'm thinking about skydiving" and the like. Mom's response is always, "Well, you can keep thinking." Other statements were announced such as "Mom, I have discovered the joys of drinking coffee". Mom thinks, "That's better than discovering the joys of drinking something else!" So, after work on Friday, everybody packed, the Beagle was placed in the premium kennel she has used ever since she was a puppy, and the next day finally arrived.
Arrival at the airport was uneventful. I had the digital camera snapping away with photos such as DS in front of the plane we were going to ride in. DS and me in the terminal. DS and DH in front of the ticketing booth, etc. We took our seats which were configured 2 + 2 with DS and me on one side, and DH across the aisle (sitting next to the stranger, hee hee). We took off and DS and I started perusing Star Magazine. I got a free subscription for buying a disposable razor and had it sent to the boy's campus mailbox - just so he would have some sort of mail on a regular basis. He's the first to hear all of the important world events, such as Angelina's expecting twins, etc. Anyway, now he saves them all for me and we laugh at the celebrity outfits where they write things like "Punky Brewster meets Bride of Frankenstein" or "Pepto Abyssmal". So we were flipping through the latest issue of Star and shortly thereafter I viewed the flight attendant making her way down the aisle with the coveted inducement - free snacks! Cookies, cookies, cookies, that's all I could think of. (It's the little things that make me happy.) She presented a very pretty wicker tray to our aisle and asked, "Would you care for peanuts, crackers or cookies?" We very politely nodded our heads and chose. I picked first. I picked up a thing that looks like a cookie package and smiled smugly. DS picked up a red package, and DH picked up a red package too. I looked at my package - it's the Cracker package! And it's got cream cheese and chives in it! No offense, but there's no way I am going to eat cream-y cream cheese and chives on an airplane. And since it is still sitting on the kitchen counter to this day, it's obvious I'm not going to eat it on land, either! I messed up and now I don't have my free cookie! The inevitable is coming. DH leans over and asks, "What did you get?" "Oh, I got these little crackers," I say, "but I'm going to save them until later." Of course, DS starts eating his package, and it's a Delightful cinnamon/gingersnap type cookie - only the very thing I was looking forward to. After the first pass-through, the flight attendant came back down the aisle taking drink orders. I am determined not to mess this up and quickly ordered my apple juice with ice. DH looked over and started to feel sorry for me, and handed me his red cookie package. He's one in a million!
After the drink orders were taken, I couldn't believe it, but the flight attendant came back down the aisle with the wicker tray again! She was asking every seat if they would like any more peanuts, crackers, or cookies! Yay! I chose the right thing this time. Meanwhile, DH got a little gleam in his eye. He informed me that he was going to procure TWO packages of cookies this time. I was aghast. "You can't!" I exclaimed. I looked at him closely as the tray was being offered. I don't want to promote bad behavior here so I will just have to leave you guessing as to whether he actually took 1 or 2!
We were just gearing up for the flight to land soon, when the flight attendant passed through again. We couldn't see what she had on the tray until she got closer. She's progressing down the aisle and there was a tray with little white styrofoam cups and red stir sticks sticking up. Could it be....? She got to our aisle. "Would you care for coffee?" Our son couldn't believe it. Of course he takes one - our son's airline flight had been made complete. Coffee on an airplane! Who would've believed it? Fantastical things happen when you're going to Disney!
The flight arrived and we said goodbye to the best Flight Attendant ever! We only had carry-on luggage so we didn't have to wait at baggage claim and proceeded directly to National Rental Car. I already informed DH and DS that I was not picking any pokey sedan for the rental car - I was going to choose the biggest SUV they had in the lot. We proceeded down the Emerald Aisle and there were 3 SUVs to pick from. Two white ones and a blue one. I didn't know the models - I just knew that I was going to pick the biggest one. We took our time and looked them all over. Finally, I settled on a white one - a Saturn Vue. It was as big as a truck! We loaded up and noticed it had 3000 miles on it.
Next Report: Straight To Animal Kingdom!
------------------------
Previous Trips - Almost 40 trips in 34 years staying at --
Fort Wilderness Campground, Fort Wilderness Cabins, Yacht Club,
Caribbean Beach, Polynesian, Beach Club, Swan, Dolphin, All-Star Sports,
All-Star Music, All-Star Movies, Port Orleans Riverside, Contemporary Resort
I love your picture of the monorail and the castle in the background! Can't wait to read more.
...and spend those Disney Reward dollars from Visa. Nice picture of the Yacht/Boat Club. Keep those cards and letters coming. Waiting for Part 7.
I've never seen three FUZZY rhinos before. Neat! I like the T-Rex photo, also. Very professional. Let's see: OWB, whip, and Halloween. I'll bet this guy is a riot! Keep your TR's coming.
