rgoble5972
Are we there yet?
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2001
- Messages
- 276
Day 8 - Saturday 5/8/04
CAST
Robin/Me - 40; trip planner/recorded; 11th trip to WDW
Paula/Sister to Robin - 30; 5th trip to WDW
We have *got* to get some less depressing music. Or, Now Hiring Smiling Faces.
We were up at 5:00 to pack and get ready to go, knowing that we needed to leave for the airport by 7:30. Of course, we were finished and ready to go by 6:30. Oops. Looks like we overestimated that a tad. We waited around until 7:00 and then broke down and called bell services to come get our luggage.
We got our car from valet and stopped at the new Hess station (formerly the Tiger Mart) to fill up with gas ($9.35).
It always sad having to go, but it seemed particularly harsh to have to leave so early in the day without having had any Disney activities to make it better. We drove by Pop Century one last time and I told Paula about our last trip when Michael said, Just wait until we get off propertythats when the happiness stops. Hes a grim child, I know. Perhaps we should see about getting some therapy for him.
Paula had a Disney CD that we had been listening to in the car, which had been great as long as we were driving around on Disney property but, as we drove to the airport, the songs became more and more depressing. "Reflections" from Mulan, then some very uncheerful song from the Hunchback of Notre Dame, then Bella Notte, and then, the straw that broke the camel's back, When You Wish Upon a Star! Nothing sadder than sobbing uncontrollably as you drive down the turnpike. I finally told Paula that she was going to have to find some less depressing music before I was so distraught that I drove the car off an overpass to end our suffering!
Luckily, we made it safely to the airport where we immediately decided that the Orlando airport is 100% magic-free. Curbside check-in was mobbed with a huge line, so we decided to return the rental car and then just check in normally. We turned in the car and then schlepped our luggage down the elevator. They dont care here. I moaned to Paula as we struggled with our luggage. As we got off the elevator, a woman greeted us, asked us what airline we needed, gave us directions and told us to have a nice day. I stand corrected. But she was the last one that did care.
Check in inside was a little better. Well, it seemed to be moving faster anyway.
At the security checkpoint, I was lucky (?) enough to be felt up by the friendly security personnel. For some reason I kept setting the metal detector off, even after I had removed everything that I could without being cited for indecent exposure. The security people kept asking me if I was sure I didn't have any artificial limbs, joints, dental work, implants, etc. until I was ready to scream. I walked through the metal detector at least 10 times and was scanned by hand three or four times.
Finally they brought over a lady who patted me down and declared me safe for air travel. She was very apologetic but that didn't stop her from doing a thorough job of it. It was quite amusing really--I was actually hurt when she didn't ask me for my phone number.
Then, to add to our insult, we were snipped at by minimum-wage-earning McDonald's employees. Having some time before our flight, we decided to get some breakfast at McDonalds. Paula wanted a sausage biscuit but when I ordered one the clerk barked at me "We don't do biscuits!"
Well, okay, that was our fault as we probably should have looked at the menu and noticed that they only had Egg McMuffins and Bagels, but that's the beauty of McDonalds--you don't *have* to look at the menu, it's supposed to be the same everywhere.
When she settled for a Sausage McMuffin the clerk then snapped "Do you want egg on that?"
"Doesn't it come with egg?" Paula meekly asked.
Yes, the clerk snapped back and Paula said that yes she did want the egg on there then.
I, of course, had to throw them for a loop by ordering a ham and egg bagel but with no cheese. Paula and I were tickled by this time as several other people had come up and tried to order biscuits until all the cashiers were livid with rage. I wanted to tell the other people in line to be sure to ask about their biscuit special, but didn't quite have the nerve.
Every time Paula and I laughed the employees visibly winced. "Look," I told Paula. "They're not used to the sound of laughter, its making them angry."
We had to wait for our order and when the manager-guy handed me the sack Paula swears he said, "Here's your bagel without sauce and a mushroom."
I, on the other hand, plainly heard him say, "Here's your bagel without sauce, and I mashed it for you!"
Well, this sent me off into gales of laughter. How kind of him to pre-mash my breakfast for me--just like Mother used to make! And I don't even know what he meant by "without sauce." I swear I was laughing so hard that I was crying. Nothing sadder than crying at the airport McDonalds. They had a big sign posted that stated, Now Hiring Smiling Faces. I can certainly see why they would need them as there are none there currently.
Our flight home was the Twilight Zone flight of death. There was an entire semi-pro Basketball team on our flight who got to pre-board, a sick child sitting across the aisle from us whom they brought a garbage bag to throw up in, a drink spill in the row in front of us (which woke up Paula from her nap, what with the ice in her shoe), and a Southwest Airlines hater sitting next to us. Its things like that that make you glad to get home.
CAST
Robin/Me - 40; trip planner/recorded; 11th trip to WDW
Paula/Sister to Robin - 30; 5th trip to WDW
We have *got* to get some less depressing music. Or, Now Hiring Smiling Faces.
We were up at 5:00 to pack and get ready to go, knowing that we needed to leave for the airport by 7:30. Of course, we were finished and ready to go by 6:30. Oops. Looks like we overestimated that a tad. We waited around until 7:00 and then broke down and called bell services to come get our luggage.
We got our car from valet and stopped at the new Hess station (formerly the Tiger Mart) to fill up with gas ($9.35).
It always sad having to go, but it seemed particularly harsh to have to leave so early in the day without having had any Disney activities to make it better. We drove by Pop Century one last time and I told Paula about our last trip when Michael said, Just wait until we get off propertythats when the happiness stops. Hes a grim child, I know. Perhaps we should see about getting some therapy for him.
Paula had a Disney CD that we had been listening to in the car, which had been great as long as we were driving around on Disney property but, as we drove to the airport, the songs became more and more depressing. "Reflections" from Mulan, then some very uncheerful song from the Hunchback of Notre Dame, then Bella Notte, and then, the straw that broke the camel's back, When You Wish Upon a Star! Nothing sadder than sobbing uncontrollably as you drive down the turnpike. I finally told Paula that she was going to have to find some less depressing music before I was so distraught that I drove the car off an overpass to end our suffering!
Luckily, we made it safely to the airport where we immediately decided that the Orlando airport is 100% magic-free. Curbside check-in was mobbed with a huge line, so we decided to return the rental car and then just check in normally. We turned in the car and then schlepped our luggage down the elevator. They dont care here. I moaned to Paula as we struggled with our luggage. As we got off the elevator, a woman greeted us, asked us what airline we needed, gave us directions and told us to have a nice day. I stand corrected. But she was the last one that did care.
Check in inside was a little better. Well, it seemed to be moving faster anyway.
At the security checkpoint, I was lucky (?) enough to be felt up by the friendly security personnel. For some reason I kept setting the metal detector off, even after I had removed everything that I could without being cited for indecent exposure. The security people kept asking me if I was sure I didn't have any artificial limbs, joints, dental work, implants, etc. until I was ready to scream. I walked through the metal detector at least 10 times and was scanned by hand three or four times.
Finally they brought over a lady who patted me down and declared me safe for air travel. She was very apologetic but that didn't stop her from doing a thorough job of it. It was quite amusing really--I was actually hurt when she didn't ask me for my phone number.
Then, to add to our insult, we were snipped at by minimum-wage-earning McDonald's employees. Having some time before our flight, we decided to get some breakfast at McDonalds. Paula wanted a sausage biscuit but when I ordered one the clerk barked at me "We don't do biscuits!"
Well, okay, that was our fault as we probably should have looked at the menu and noticed that they only had Egg McMuffins and Bagels, but that's the beauty of McDonalds--you don't *have* to look at the menu, it's supposed to be the same everywhere.
When she settled for a Sausage McMuffin the clerk then snapped "Do you want egg on that?"
"Doesn't it come with egg?" Paula meekly asked.
Yes, the clerk snapped back and Paula said that yes she did want the egg on there then.
I, of course, had to throw them for a loop by ordering a ham and egg bagel but with no cheese. Paula and I were tickled by this time as several other people had come up and tried to order biscuits until all the cashiers were livid with rage. I wanted to tell the other people in line to be sure to ask about their biscuit special, but didn't quite have the nerve.
Every time Paula and I laughed the employees visibly winced. "Look," I told Paula. "They're not used to the sound of laughter, its making them angry."
We had to wait for our order and when the manager-guy handed me the sack Paula swears he said, "Here's your bagel without sauce and a mushroom."
I, on the other hand, plainly heard him say, "Here's your bagel without sauce, and I mashed it for you!"
Well, this sent me off into gales of laughter. How kind of him to pre-mash my breakfast for me--just like Mother used to make! And I don't even know what he meant by "without sauce." I swear I was laughing so hard that I was crying. Nothing sadder than crying at the airport McDonalds. They had a big sign posted that stated, Now Hiring Smiling Faces. I can certainly see why they would need them as there are none there currently.
Our flight home was the Twilight Zone flight of death. There was an entire semi-pro Basketball team on our flight who got to pre-board, a sick child sitting across the aisle from us whom they brought a garbage bag to throw up in, a drink spill in the row in front of us (which woke up Paula from her nap, what with the ice in her shoe), and a Southwest Airlines hater sitting next to us. Its things like that that make you glad to get home.
