The Flying Fiasco turns to Disney Devine!

[LaurenT]

President's Week 2011
Chapter One - Getting There!
We set out on a great adventure - two moms and their 7 year old daughters spending a week in Disney! Becky and I are old hands at WDW now, Christine and her daughter Nora had never even been to Florida before - in fact, they had never traveled to a warm climate during winter months - I was very excited to share my passion with them!
To make sure everything went smoothly, I booked us on the first flight out - that way, if there were any delays, we'd still get to Disney in plenty of time to squeeze some magic out of our arrival day.
The alarm went off at 2:30 am - I showered and dressed and went downstairs to do those last minute things that you do...I remembered that I wanted to print the receipt for the baggage payment I had made when I checked in the night before....and figured I'd also check the flight status just in case there was some delay - but the weather was perfect.
I stared for some time in disbelief at the word "canceled" next to my flight number. Canceled? So, what does that mean? Is that it? Is my trip over before it began? Sigh!
I called the airline....the best they could do was have Becky and me leave the following morning and then put Christine and Nora on a flight that afternoon. That would have completely killed not only our arrival day, but the entire second day of our trip! I won't detail the 4 hours I spent trying to find a better solution - between phone calls and web searches, but by 8 am I had found 2 additional seats that opened on my flight and a connection for Christine and Nora that would put them in Orlando just an hour and a half after us. Good - I would check both bags under my name, pick them up, rent the car and go back inside to get my friend when she arrived. This way we could still do something on Sunday afternoon (though, keep in mind that by that time we will have woken up at 2:30 am two mornings in a row).
So, with our new plans in place, we took the girls for a pedicure, a showing of Gnomeo & Juliet (quite good) and lunch...our formal vacation was just hours away!

 

[LaurenT]

Chapter 2
The Adventure Begins
Well, waking the second morning at 2:30 am was a bit more difficult, but we managed to get up and out and to the airport - the traveling this day went off without a hitch. By the time I had retrieved our bags at MCO and rented the car, Christine and Nora were just minutes from landing. They walked out of the secure area and to the car and off we went (Enterprise as kind enough to let me leave the car there while we went to get our friends).

Our timeshare had our unit all ready for us (I had called the day before and let them know that since I had it reserved as of Sat, I expected the room to be ready and waiting for us whenever we showed up on Sun). So, we unloaded the bags, headed out to the super Target to load up on staples for the week (cereal, fruit, water, coffee and of course, wine) - stocked up the kitchen and headed to Epcot.

The ride over was bitter sweet...Soarin' is my favorite ride in the world, but I knew we have no chance at a fast pass and that the lines would be well over an hour's wait. I didn't want Christine's first impression to be long waits, so I had resigned myself to waiting until our full Epcot day...Thursday!

We parked and took the tram in, as our CM repeated at least 10 times that we were parked in Create 50. It seemed to be a running joke between him and to of the passengers. It was nice for Christine's first experience to be one of how friendly the staff is at WDW....and for the rest of the trip, though I'd have to check the notes on my phone for the daily parking location, we always remembered that we were parked in Create 50 the first day!

We were headed for the turnstiles when a woman broke off from her family and approached me. She looked SOO tired...she said, "we're leaving, would you like these?"... fanned out in her hand were 5 fast passes to Soarin'! I hugged her! She must have thought I was nuts - and I explained why I was so happy, but I'm really not sure she cared, lol.

So, with FP's in hand, we entered the park. It was about 4:30 by now. We went to Innoventions and did Storm Struck, then went to check on the Disney Visa photo area, but they were closed for the day. So, we did Spaceship Earth, Nora loved the little episode that you make with your picture in it on the way down.
From there we did Mission Space: Green - great reviews on that as well (I was happy no one got queasy).

We passed Mexico on our way to our ADR and ran into the first sign of Pres Week crowds! I had taken them into the pavillion to hop on the boat ride and there was a very long line! I was kind of surprised! We asked the CM by the line how long it would be and were told 15 min....I thanked her and said we'd try later - that we were headed for an ADR...she said "no problem, come..." and opened a side gate that let us right onto a boat! Soarin' FP and now this...we were being sprinkled with alot of pixie dust!

Then it was on to dinner at Nine Dragon's (my options were limited since my original ADR was for a lunch and I had to cancel that one due to our lost day). I had read so many bad reviews that I was somewhat nervous having this be the first meal at Disney for my friend, but there were a bunch of Diser's on the restaurant board that enjoyed it, and our daughters are both adopted from China, so I gave it a shot. I enjoyed my meal..perhaps more because I wasn't expecting much. The dumpling appetizers were the best part, but the fried rice was good too. Christine also loved the apps and enjoyed her tofu, though commented that it could have used more flavor.

After dinner we made a bee line for Soarin'. The ride blew Christine and Nora away, as I had hoped it would. I looked over at her a couple of times and there was a look of sheer joy on her face! It made me so happy to share this magic with her!
With the evening's highlight done, we left the park and got back to our car just as the fireworks for Illuminations began.
A great time was had by all - we were finally here!
Next: Jedi Warriors and the Running of the Bulls!

 

[LaurenT]

Chapter 3
Jedi Warriors and the Running of the Bulls!
We arrived at DHS at 8:30 am and already there was a crowd! People seem to know that, if you're going to make one rope drop during your trip, this is the park you need to make it for! But, we have a plan! Christine has achilles tendonitis, so I always try to account for that and take the pressure off of how much walking, standing she has to do.
Armed with a map and instructions on where to head for Jedi Training sign up, I leave her and the girls mid crowd and work my way toward the front of the rope (just filling in empty spaces...not pushing through anyone!).
I stop about 5 people back from the rope - when I feel I can't go any further without being rude. There I strike up a conversation with a family of three...First Time Visitors..how lucky are they? They really want to do Toy Story Mania because they've heard how fun it is...but they had no idea about the "running of the bulls"...so why did they wind up here - near the front of the rope? Their hotel (I think it was The Swan) told them that DHS opened at 8 this morning!
The husband was very interested in my plan to get FP's without waiting 15 min in line, so I told him to stay with me and have his wife and son meet him at the ride.
The little show begins and, before you know it, we're all screaming "Hollywood, Here We Come"! The crush of people begins and as we proceed, spaces open up, walk quickly and move into any space toward the right that opens (FP machine's are on the right as you approach TSM...if you wind up on the left, you'll have to cut cross the crowd, not an easy thing to do). He stuck with me the whole way and we wound up 4th and 5th in line for a FP...9:45 return time! He turned to look and the line just to get a FP...his eyes widened in disbelief and then he looked at me and said, emphatically "Thank You!"....you're welcome! Have a great trip! I love helping first timers!
Now, for those of you who don't quite get why having a 9:45 return time for TSM is pure Disney gold, you'll find out in a bit! Keep in mind that the people at the end of this FP line, though they also arrived at the park in time for opening, will wind up with a return time for noon!
Ok, I have TSM handled, now to find Becky and our friends. I head off to the Jedi sign up area...they are still in line, but close to the front. I duck under the ropes to join them (do not do this for rides!..but since I am obviously not taking a spot for a show, it's ok). When we get to the front, the girls are interviewed: "do you promise to follow the instructions of the Jedi Master? Are you willing to take on Darth Vader? (I was worried Becky might no agree to this, but she did)" They receive slips telling them to come back 30 minutes prior to the 11:45 show. Next to the sign up, Darth and two storm troopers are doing meet and greets....well, they would be, if there were any guests there to do them with! Here it is Preident's day - a 10 on the crowd calendar and we have Dath and the storm troopers to ourselves! Why? I think the people who got their slips headed over to TSM and the people who started at TSM are now at the back of this line....that's why it's important to split up if you can!
Next up: Hollywood Here We Come

 

[LaurenT]

This is my first trip report...
If anyone is actually reading, please let me know and I'll continue.
I do need to get some work done, but if anyone is out there, I'll add to it whenever I have time until the trip is completely documented...
Thanks,

 

[housetomouse]

Hi! I must be the first! I noticed your trip report because I remember reading about your air travel problems on another board. I'm enjoying reading about your time in the parks, hope you keep writing! Thank goodness the trip has gone better than the way it started off.

 

[BridgetR3]

I'm here. I remember reading about your flying fiasco as it was happening that day. Glad to hear that it started going better after that.