The horse girl, her big guy and WDW..a trip report! Update 8/4-Day 10, pg 26!

[DISNEYLOVER70]

Just found your PTR and I am so glad that I found you in time to read your report when you get back!! I live in the Rochester area as well, nice to know I have another "disney freak" so close!! I take a lot of slack from my family as well as my husbands about my Disney addiction. Oh well, I always say, it beats a smoking or alcohol addiction anyday and when you figure out the costs of those addictions compared to my Disney vacations, it is probably pretty darn close!!

Hope you had a great trip!!!

 

[KatGarcia]

I hope you are having the best Disneymoon ever!!!! Can't wait to hear all about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[punkin413]

well, you should be back by now.....so where are you?????? just kidding. everyone's allowed a rest-up grace period after their trip before they are required to report in to their TR readers! i hope you had a wonderful time! i was thinking about you when i heard on the news that there were lots of flight delays because of the terrorist activities in europe. i hope everything went well with your travels!

 

[Eventer98]

I'm back everyone!!!!

My TR is finished for the most part..I just have to edit it and add pics. Once I upload them..that will take forever!!!

I will try to have the first installment up tonight but at least you won't have a week or more between installments!!

 

[punkin413]

I'm back everyone!!!!

My TR is finished for the most part..I just have to edit it and add pics. Once I upload them..that will take forever!!!

I will try to have the first installment up tonight but at least you won't have a week or more between installments!!

you are a rock star. it's been almost 2 months and i'm still not done with mine!!!

 

[Eventer98]

Just found your PTR and I am so glad that I found you in time to read your report when you get back!! I live in the Rochester area as well, nice to know I have another "disney freak" so close!! I take a lot of slack from my family as well as my husbands about my Disney addiction. Oh well, I always say, it beats a smoking or alcohol addiction anyday and when you figure out the costs of those addictions compared to my Disney vacations, it is probably pretty darn close!!

Hope you had a great trip!!!

Awesome to find another DIS'er from Rochester and one that is reading my TR! I am uploading tons of photos now so I am still on track to post the first installment tonight!!

 

[twob4him]

I'm back everyone!!!!

My TR is finished for the most part..I just have to edit it and add pics. Once I upload them..that will take forever!!!

I will try to have the first installment up tonight but at least you won't have a week or more between installments!!

Yaaaa you are back!!! Can't wait to hear all about it! Yes, it took me two days to get the 295 pics uploaded. And videos take forever too
Anyways, I hope you had a loverly trip! I see you posted on my trippie too...thanks!

 

[Eventer98]

Day 1, Part 1!!!

So the morning got off to a good start…I couldn’t sleep the night before. I kept waking up every hour or two to see if it was 7am yet! Finally at 6:15 I gave up and just got up. Actually, I'm glad I did b/c we were out of the house with 5 min. to spare later on. I finished some laundry, fed the dogs, packed the car and then woke up DH. After he showered I cleaned the bathroom and then we were ready to go. We had to take my youngest dog Pippin to my dad’s 30min away, in the opposite direction from DH’s parents, where the other two dogs were staying. I didn’t want to come back for them later so we all piled into the car.

A funny little thing happened on the way out of our street. WE DIDN'T REMEMBER TO CLOSE THE HATCH!! What in the %^& were we thinking?? So when we pulled out of our street, on to the semi-busy main street, two of the containers of dog food fell out!! I freaked out of course b/c of my fear of “losing things” and told DH to quickly turn around before someone ran them over. Luckily, the fell pretty much in our street so I didn’t have to risk my life to get them. One of them had opened (why did I not remember to take a pic?????) and I scooped up the dog food and put it back in. I didn’t want to go back to the house for more and I did manage to save all but maybe a cup. So after that DH was a little cranky for a few minutes….tried to ask me why I had left it open. HA HA! Nice try DH but it wasn’t just me. Either way we arrived to my dads ahead of schedule. He works the B shift (2pm-1am) for the airport so he was still sleeping when we got there. I left my puppy and we were off to the in-laws.


When we got there I gave my MIL the directions on the other two dogs. My 7yo dog is a bit picky and doesn’t always eat her food. Told MIL to give her 20 min to eat and then pick it up and save it for the next feeding. She seemed shocked and I told her it would be fine. I won’t allow her to just
“graze” all day…she is on a diet and needs to eat when I put it down. She always does for me but will sometimes give DH problems when I am not there. MIL said she would do her best..whatever that means. I didn‘t think it was that hard?! DH’s old dog is easy as pie..just barks in the house so she wears a barking collar. Told MIL to put it on when she barks in the house. She said she wasn’t ok with that. I said it won’t shock her..she knows when it’s on and won’t bark. Oh well..it’s their ears!!

We got to the airport with 2 hours to spare. I like it that way. I don’t like to feel rushed b/c then I panic and think I forgot something. We found out at check-in, from a nice guy named Pedro, that we can get upgraded to FIRST CLASS if DH shows his Navy ID at the gate!! That’s assuming there are any first class seats left. We were not told this last year. Even though DH is technically out of the Navy he still has his ID b/c he used his remaining vacation to get out early making his ID is good until 7/12.

Here's Pedro who also doubles as a baggage guy!!

We got to our gate and saw the plane was delayed 20 min…I have never had an AirTran flight delayed so I guess I’m due. It worked out though b/c the night before I was thinking our flight left at 12:45 and then when I checked in I saw that it was scheduled for 12:30. As soon as we saw the guy turn on the computers at the check-in counter DH headed over. Apparently, the guy had been in the Marines for 8 years and said there wasn’t a problem putting us in FIRST CLASS! Can I just shout that again?? FIRST CLASS!! I am your typical penny pincher (ie. When the dog food spilled I cleaned most of it up from the road..did not want to waste it!! ) I have never flown first class so I was a little excited!!

Here is our plane..how exciting I know!!

It was also nice to board the plane first..although there were a few people trying to board from coach. How rude!! The seats on this Air Tran plane weren’t leather though….fake suede I think. But a ton more leg room for DH. I have to tell you though that the service in first class was less attentive then coach. The attendants started getting snacks/drinks for them before they came to us. Granted, they did offer us a drink before take off but we had 3 minutes to finish it before it was whisked away. Needless to say I didn’t. I also waited quite awhile for headphones. I know there is a bucket of them when you board but I didn’t grab one. Does that mean I am doomed to not listen to my Daughtry CD the whole flight? Oh I think not!!!

Ok…finally got the headphones. How delightful that Air Tran lets you keep them for any “future flights.” I’ll probably lose them by then!!

DH with his headphones while reading his sports mag

We also got our upgraded snack…DH choose the mint cookies and I went for the lemon. Thinking the lemon ones would be less in fat. Nope. The chocolate cookies had 1 less gram of fat. Oh well. It’s vacation right??

I still can’t help thinking about fat grams. So all in all I don’t think first class is worth another $150-$200 a ticket. The attendants aren’t all that much friendly but it was swell to leave the plane first and head for Magical Express a whole 5 minutes faster!! Next up…our journey on Magical Express and check-in!!

 

[twob4him]

I am first....just ignore my pm Tara
OK now I gotta read it!


Ohh that was a great start....I am the same way about being late...I hate to be rushed. Sorry that 1st class wasn't that impressive. Wait to you hear what my airline did to us on the way home...so I am dying for more....how was ME??? How was check in??? So many questions!!!

 

[Eventer98]

MODERATORS-can you please move my report to the TR board since I just posted my first installment? Thanks!!

 

[punkin413]

great first installment! i can just picture you out in the road scooping up dog food! can't wait for more!!!!!

 

[winkers]

Thank heavens it was only dog food that fell out! My trips always seem to start with something like that happening! And first class!!! That's so cool! I'd love to fly first class, but I'm too cheap also to pay extra for it.

 

[DisneyObsession]

Tara...Great first installment!!!

Did you fly out of Rochester Airport? My SIL lives down the street from there, so we pass it when we visit her. It's bigger than I expected it to be.

DH & I flew first class to Reno one year since he had frequent flyer miles he could use. It was great!!! we were on US Air and had the best service, biggest seats and an actual meal with real dishes and silverware! I'll never spend the extra money for it, but will take it free whenever I can!

 

[lexmelinda]

Tara....I'm so glad you're back and I loved the cheap-skate's review of first class! Cause it takes one to know one.

I'm still waiting on a rock-bottom DING to book air fare or else we'll drive again.

Can't wait to hear about ME and your Welcome Home check in!

 

[DisneyJo]

Welcome home Tara, great start, I can't believe you've written your whole TR already

 

[belle8306]

Great start! It is cool that you got an upgrade! I have never flown first class either. I would love the extra leg room though! I am looking forward to the rest!!

 

[Eventer98]

I am first....just ignore my pm Tara
OK now I gotta read it!


Ohh that was a great start....I am the same way about being late...I hate to be rushed. Sorry that 1st class wasn't that impressive. Wait to you hear what my airline did to us on the way home...so I am dying for more....how was ME??? How was check in??? So many questions!!!

I will have the next installment up later tonight! I have an eye appt. at 7:30 and then I will be all yours!!

great first installment! i can just picture you out in the road scooping up dog food! can't wait for more!!!!!

Can you also hear the lovely potty words that were coming out of my mouth as well??

Thank heavens it was only dog food that fell out! My trips always seem to start with something like that happening! And first class!!! That's so cool! I'd love to fly first class, but I'm too cheap also to pay extra for it.

I would never pay extra for it either..coach is fine with me!! I just hate waiting to leave the plane..I am not patient!! 1st class was awesome b/c we were the 2nd ones out!!!

Tara...Great first installment!!!

Did you fly out of Rochester Airport? My SIL lives down the street from there, so we pass it when we visit her. It's bigger than I expected it to be.

DH & I flew first class to Reno one year since he had frequent flyer miles he could use. It was great!!! we were on US Air and had the best service, biggest seats and an actual meal with real dishes and silverware! I'll never spend the extra money for it, but will take it free whenever I can!

No full meals for us..just the "deluxe" bag of cookies and a whole can of coke...not just the small cup.
I did fly out of Rochester...I believe it's cheaper to fly out of there to get to Orlando. I used Buffalo once to go to CA...I think it saved me $75. Rochester expanded about 10 years ago I think when they went "international."

Tara....I'm so glad you're back and I loved the cheap-skate's review of first class! Cause it takes one to know one.

I'm still waiting on a rock-bottom DING to book air fare or else we'll drive again.

Can't wait to hear about ME and your Welcome Home check in!

Check back tonight for more!!

Welcome home Tara, great start, I can't believe you've written your whole TR already

Yeah I have trouble sitting still in a hotel room so it gave me something to do after the parks and before bed!! I typed most of it out on our balcony at SSR, viewing Pleasure Island and listening to the music coming from the clubs!!

Great start! It is cool that you got an upgrade! I have never flown first class either. I would love the extra leg room though! I am looking forward to the rest!!

Thanks for reading....the extra leg room was great for DH. I am too short to notice. I could have 12 inches and be fine!!

 

[Eventer98]

Day 1, part 2

So we landed only 4 minutes behind schedule and headed to ME to check in! I am amazed there aren’t better signs to get you there without pulling out your ME map book thing a thousand times like everyone else. We finally got to Terminal B, Level 1 and found a 2 minute wait to check in and then no wait at all to get on the bus. Once on the bus we waited about 5 minutes, which seems like forever but actually wasn’t. We were three rows back from the TV and I could hardly hear it. I recommend if you have kids to sit a max of 2 rows back if they want to watch the video. I love that video...it just makes you realize that you are going to WDW and are only 20 minutes away!!!

We arrived at CSR and found about a 10min. wait to check in.

Not too bad. They had us listed as being with a convention, not on our honeymoon! We easily had that changed and also got our “Just Married” pins. Super nice.

We were located in the Ranchos section like I had requested.

It was quite a long walk…especially since I had not put sunscreen on and I could feel my neck burning!! The walk was beautiful though and I really liked the grounds. Being DVC I doubt we will stay here again so I wanted to take a bunch of pics. I know DH was sweating to death but he was patient. We were right near the awesome pool with the Aztec statue thing!! When we walked by it was packed full of people but it was about 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon.

I liked our room….you could easily do a family of 4 in there. In the value resorts I felt very smothered but the moderates seem to have more ’walking around” room.

We were on the 3rd floor, which was nice, but our view was the parking lot!!

The only good thing was I could stand on our balcony and watch the buses go by (the bus stop was a min away) and know how much time we probably had until the next bus.

No towels animals either..this is the only "decorative towel" that greeted us ALL WEEK!!

After getting to our room we debated what to do next. DH mentioned a movie??? WHAT?? I think he said that b/c he was still hot. I told him I didn’t come to WDW to go to a movie..unless we got rained out of something else later on. We were both super hungry as well so we decided to go to Downtown Disney for a snack. I also wanted to find a trial size of sunscreen until my bags arrived from ME.

Cont. in the next post!!

 

[Eventer98]

We headed to the bus stop and caught the DD bus with 1min. to spare..so far so good on the Disney Transportation.

Last year we mainly used Shades of Green transportation and got spoiled…we hardly waited and hardly stood while on the bus. Well this bus to DD was packed!! We had to stand, which was ok, but I was self-conscious thinking I could have used a retouch on the deodorant!! DH said it was in my head but hey, I’m a girl….I think about that stuff! The bus was pretty hot too…..something I should have appreciated. All the rest of the buses that day were like 60 degrees and I froze!! It seemed to take forever to get there but we eventually did and made our way to a snack stand. I didn’t want to fill up before Ohanas, even though by this time it was still 3 hours away. I am use to my low fat diet and I knew too much food would fill me up for the night! So I tried to get a fruit cup but they were out. The only other items they had was ice cream, hot dogs and popcorn. Not a popcorn fan…yep, you heard me. Not a plain or butter popcorn fan. So we trekked on.

We made our way to the World of Disney…..I love this store but it is very overwhelming!!

I knew if I spent $25+ I would save 10% with my Disney Visa so we decided we would do all the relative/souvenir shopping in one trip later on..probably when DH and DBIL were golfing. We ended up getting gummy bears and those small boxes of cookies to tide us over. It was just the right amount b/c on the way to Ohanas my stomach was growling again!!

I ended up buying a blue WDW cup for my nephew. He will be 2 in August so I don’t plan on getting him a bunch of junk he won’t appreciate. A cup with water around the inside worked for me!! On the way out a CM congratulated us on the wedding and told us something about the Bible and chapter 3?? He was from an African country and I could not completely understand him. He meant well regardless and it felt nice to be noticed. After that we sat on a bench and people watched. I never found my sunscreen but managed to stay in the shade the rest of the day so I didn’t burn.

We were trying to decide if we should go right to Ohanas (it was only 7:15) or go back to CSR to see if our luggage was there. We decided on CSR b/c I realized the battery in my camera was dieing (it dies way to fast!!) and I didn’t want to deprive my readers of Ohanas food pics!!

We should have just went to Ohanas.

It took forever to get back to CSR. Not only did we have a 10 min. wait for a bus but we were the last stop. I think we finally got there around 8:15. DH went back up to the room on his own b/c I did not have on my lovely Sketchers..just some Payless ballet shoes. My dogs were barking!! These shoes have lovely straps across the top of your feet and boy were they tight!! My feet were definitely swollen!! Anyway, he was back down by 8:30 and we had a 1 min. wait for the MK bus.

When we got to the MK we now had to decide on the monorail or boat to the Poly. We choose the boat…last year we did a ferry to WL but these boats to the Poly were a bit different.

It was a beautiful night too so how could we not?? The captains name was Al and he passed on congrats to us as well. Seemed to be that about 75% of the CM’s commented…what a great feeling!!! After dropping off some people at the GF we were able to see the tail end of the Electric Water Pageant. Another thing we had missed last year!! We plan to catch it this year after the Trails End Buffet next Sunday…if our plans don’t change?! We love the Poly and I hope it expands to include DVC villas someday!!

We checked in at the podium at exactly 9:15...I told them I was willing to wait for a window seat. We didn’t mind waiting b/c our Hawaiian singer guy was in the lobby.

More congrats on the wedding from the CM as well! I went to the bathroom and our pager was already going off. Our hostess said we had a great table!! She wasn’t kidding!!! My seat was directly in the line of the castle. Debbie was our “cousin” and did a great job! Of course the food needs no explanation!!

the salad

chips/dipping sauce

mixed veggies

shrimp

scalloped potatoes

chicken wings

AAH!! No pics of the dessert..sorry readers..I don't know how I missed that unless the pics are MIA!

DH filled up on the chicken wings while I scarfed down the salad and chips. The only food that we aren’t a fan of are the mixed veggies. Too crunchy for my tastes. Not bad by any terms but just not our favorite part.

Wishes started at 10pm and it was great as usual! I thought they had dimmed the lights last year but they didn’t this year. I could be off my rocker though on that one. Right after Wishes we finally got the bread pudding. This is my favorite dessert in ALL OF WDW!! I had waited 10 months for this!! It didn’t disappoint. DH even had some and he never does dessert.

I don’t know how I walked out of there (I actually undid that lovely top button on my pants since I had a long shirt on!!) We contemplated how to get back to CSR and decided on the monorail to MK and then a bus.

I warned DH that MK would be packed with Wishes ending 45 min. ago but we braved it. Sure enough there was that lovely herd of cattle but we only waited 1 min. for our bus. We shared it with about 10 other people..not too bad since the bus we saw leave right before we got to the line was overflowing!! Our bus driver definitely had the Disney spirit ..maybe even too much?? He was singing and talking non-stop. I think he must have commandeered the Jungle Cruise in another life!! It would have been appreciated more if it wasn’t going on 11pm!!

So overall it was a great start to the day…to me it still didn’t feel like we were in WDW 100%. Only b/c we hadn’t done any parks. We did see TOT of course from the road but it still didn’t seem real. Up next…tomorrow at MGM.

 

[lexmelinda]

You got a lot in on the first day! Wow!

So what's up with ME? You have to find the ME check in counter? Are there several in the airport and you have to find the one for your resort?

I agree with the cup for the 2 yr old! Perfect gift! Plates/cups/bowls or bath towels with their favorite characters are always a big hit with the 2's I've found.

Dinner at Ohana sounds wonderful! We haven't eaten there before but have an ADR in Sept. Mmmmm.....bread pudding.

You're off to a great start...keep it comin'!