jake&samsmom
Jordan's Mom too!
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2007
- Messages
- 852
As my plane makes its way towards the big blue sky, I say goodbye to Texas and firmly shut the window shade. I was prepared to take a nice, long power nap on the 2 1/2 hour journey to Orlando.
All by myself.
No children to keep entertained.
No husband to elbow in the ribs when he snored too loudly.
No one asking every 10 minutes, "How much longer 'til we get there?!"
Life is good. Peaceful good. It was a wonderful, carefree state of mind.
Up until the two ladies seated directly behind me decided to engage in a boisterous chat-a-thon, with a third one beside them trying in vain to squeeze in a comment here and there.
The man seated across the aisle from me nodded his head in their direction and rolled his eyes.
I desperately needed a nap at this point, knowing I'd be at EPCOT til midnight that day for EMH -- the commando had a full day planned (what? did you expect anything less? )
So I tried to ignore the animated conversation going on behind me, and, to lull me to sleep, begin to count sheep in my head. Except that in my Disneyfied brain, the sheep gradually morphed into white fluffy Mickey head clouds!
I did eventually manage to catch some zzzz's, but not as much as I wanted, because I was suddenly awakened by the pilot's announcement that we were getting ready to land!
I quickly opened my window shade. I swear I caught an aerial glimpse of a waterpark (TL, perhaps?!).
It was a nice, smooth, uneventful landing. I gathered my belongings and headed to the airport monorail.
I just had to sit at the very front of the train on my way to the main terminal:
Getting closer now:
After I disembark from the MCO monorail, I pass by the Airport's Disney store:
I was tempted to check it out, but decided against it since I had an early EPCOT lunch ADR to catch. There'll be plenty of shopping opportunities later.
Being a good Disser (and faithful transportation board lurker) I knew my way around MCO fairly well. It didn't take me long before I reached this:
I was at the DME area by 9:45am-ish, and there were no lines at all! I walked straight up to the desk where a nice CM efficiently checked my DME documents:
He asked me where the boys were, as they were also included in the DME reservation. I replied that they'd possibly be here in a few days.
He told me that if I could, to call the DME toll free number whenever their flights were confirmed so DME would know approximately when to expect them. I was reassured by the CM that they'd be taken cared of since they had valid DME reservations. Now that is what I call first class customer service!
I was then instructed to line up at queue #5:
No lines in here: Yay!
After a wait of 5 minutes or so, my DME coach arrives, ready to take me on my journey to OKW!
I take a photo as the Magical coach pulls out of the airport:
And in a little while, the ride video begins:
I love watching the welcome video! It fill me with even more hope, excitement and wonder! Btw, the driver tells us that the videos are GPS/satellite controlled -- meaning they automatically turn on/off depending on the bus' current location. How's that for Disney Technology?
Finally, we reach the gates that I've been dreaming to see again:
Howdy, Mickey -- I told ya I'd be comin' back to "see ya real soon!"
Our driver informs us that our first stop will be:
Up next:
Room Anxiety Disorder, Lunch in a Cellar, and Around the World in 4.5 hours!
Please Stay tuned!
All by myself.
No children to keep entertained.
No husband to elbow in the ribs when he snored too loudly.
No one asking every 10 minutes, "How much longer 'til we get there?!"
Life is good. Peaceful good. It was a wonderful, carefree state of mind.
Up until the two ladies seated directly behind me decided to engage in a boisterous chat-a-thon, with a third one beside them trying in vain to squeeze in a comment here and there. The man seated across the aisle from me nodded his head in their direction and rolled his eyes.
I desperately needed a nap at this point, knowing I'd be at EPCOT til midnight that day for EMH -- the commando had a full day planned (what? did you expect anything less?
)So I tried to ignore the animated conversation going on behind me, and, to lull me to sleep, begin to count sheep in my head. Except that in my Disneyfied brain, the sheep gradually morphed into white fluffy Mickey head clouds!
I did eventually manage to catch some zzzz's, but not as much as I wanted, because I was suddenly awakened by the pilot's announcement that we were getting ready to land!
I quickly opened my window shade. I swear I caught an aerial glimpse of a waterpark (TL, perhaps?!).
It was a nice, smooth, uneventful landing. I gathered my belongings and headed to the airport monorail.
I just had to sit at the very front of the train on my way to the main terminal:
Getting closer now:
After I disembark from the MCO monorail, I pass by the Airport's Disney store:
I was tempted to check it out, but decided against it since I had an early EPCOT lunch ADR to catch. There'll be plenty of shopping opportunities later.
Being a good Disser (and faithful transportation board lurker) I knew my way around MCO fairly well. It didn't take me long before I reached this:
I was at the DME area by 9:45am-ish, and there were no lines at all! I walked straight up to the desk where a nice CM efficiently checked my DME documents:
He asked me where the boys were, as they were also included in the DME reservation. I replied that they'd possibly be here in a few days.
He told me that if I could, to call the DME toll free number whenever their flights were confirmed so DME would know approximately when to expect them. I was reassured by the CM that they'd be taken cared of since they had valid DME reservations. Now that is what I call first class customer service!
I was then instructed to line up at queue #5:
No lines in here: Yay!
After a wait of 5 minutes or so, my DME coach arrives, ready to take me on my journey to OKW!
I take a photo as the Magical coach pulls out of the airport:
And in a little while, the ride video begins:
I love watching the welcome video! It fill me with even more hope, excitement and wonder! Btw, the driver tells us that the videos are GPS/satellite controlled -- meaning they automatically turn on/off depending on the bus' current location. How's that for Disney Technology?
Finally, we reach the gates that I've been dreaming to see again:
Howdy, Mickey -- I told ya I'd be comin' back to "see ya real soon!"
Our driver informs us that our first stop will be:
Up next:
Room Anxiety Disorder, Lunch in a Cellar, and Around the World in 4.5 hours!
Please Stay tuned!
I absolutely love it 
I asked the CM if there were any more studios that were going to be available at a later time -- I didn't need my room right away (please, please?!). And after a few minutes of searching on her computer, she finally came through for me and found me a studio on the second floor on Old Turtle Pond Road which was perfect in my opinion. 
to the Dis!
.
(no other ADR's were available after that). 
I needed to go to the restroom to compose myself. Meanwhile, the CM who checked me in told me that they'd find me when my table was ready. To which I jokingly replied, "Don't call for me in the bathroom, OK?" 
