Third Time's the Charm.......Right?

[SoccerDogWithEars]

Okay, I think I just start off by saying that this is a pre-pre trip report. I've actually got 17 days left, but I figure if I don't start the tr now, I'll never do it. And this way I get all the intros and stuff in without being rushed. So to explain the title:

I am an only child. This is all fine and dandy, but every now and then on vacations it can get a little boring. As in "tag, I"m it" boring. So sometimes we decide to plan a joint trip. First time, with then best friend's family. Bad idea. We completely destroyed our friendship, and now don't talk to them. Second time, with then boyfriend's family. We figured this would be better because they were as Disney obsessed as we were. Nope. Broke up 2 months later, and ended up making his mother dislike me........A LOT. Still trying to recover from that trip. So this time, no family. We're just taking my bff, and it's only for a weekend trip. Keeping my fingers, toes, and eyes crossed that this works.

Characters:
Me-15 years old, Disney freak, loves anything Mickey. Knows all random Disney trivia, as well as everything else, according to Lindz. Blonde at heart, brunette in life. Recently acquired learner's permit .

Lindz-also 15, not obsessed, has only really been once when she was 6. Excited about going, but not like we are. Actual blonde, and she acts it. Sometimes.

Mom-age priveledged information. Running the Minnie Marathon (hopefully, right now she's injured). Completely OCD about planning and packing. Also blonde (is this a recipe for some extreme hyperness or what?), and not afraid to let loose with me and my friends.

Dad-age priveledged information. Also running the Minnie. Not as obsessed as the rest of us, but loves to go so he can shoot photos. A lot. I'm talking the camera almost never leaves his face. Practical jokester, tends to argue with Lindz about things i.e. Pirating, music, NASCAR......anyways....still fun. Keeps us giggling. Black hair.

So there you go, my family. Lindz is like a sister to me. I'm not trying to stereotype with the blonde and brunette, I'm just saying, it tends to cause some extreme hyperness. More to come, the countdown always tends to bring some fond memories. Next up: What teenagers do when they're bored and on a Disney high......

 

[TLinden16]

Hope those 17 days fly by for you (I leave in 25 days). Make sure you let us know how mom and dad do in the run.

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

It's Good Friday, and I'm out of school, as well as Lindz. I decided to invite her over so Dad could get to know her a little better and so we could celebrate our countdown. So we're upstairs on my computer taking the virtual tour of AKL, where we'll be staying. She's impressed, and we start to browse all the parks. "What's Fantasmic?" she asks. I proceed to explain it, finishing with "I know a site where you can actually watch a video of it, if you're interested." "Sure, let's go!" So it's off to the website, where we spend the next 30 minutes staring at the screen is fascination as I tell her it's SO much better in real life. The last note of the finale (which, by the way, I'm obsessed with, it's my ringtone on my phone) rings out, and then we're bored again. "I know! Let's watch a movie." What movie, you may ask? No horror film for these teenagers. We drag out Sing-a-Long Disneyland. Yeah, I know, we've got problems. So we skip downstairs and push in the video. As we're fastfowarding through all the previews, my mom walks in. "What are you watching?" "Disneyland Sing-a-Long." "........." Haha, yeah...so it starts and the first song is "Whistle While You Work." Lindz lets out a scream. "I HATE that song!" Grinning devilishly, I turn the volume up. She glares at me, but doesn't really do anything. I remember that I need to get ready for my date later that night, so I head upstairs to change. Pulling on a skirt, I hear "Fine! Put on a song I hate, turn it up and then LEAVE ME!! I see how it is." Going to the top of the stairs, I yell back down "I love you Lindz." But by this time I'm already dressed, so I sit back down and continue watching the movie. My mom has meanwhile gone downstairs to do laundry, and when she comes back up, she finds Lindz and I doing the hoe-down dance to Step in Time. And we're reeeeeeeeally getting into it. To the point of almost running into the coffee table. But alas, the song ends all too soon. Mom comes in and sits down next to Lindz. We're watching the video to I'm so Rumbly, when I hear a little whimper coming from the couch. Looking at Lindz, I see her staring at the screen. Following her gaze, I understand. She gave up ice cream for Lent. What are they showing? Two girls digging into ice cream sundaes. Immediately following this scene, they show a girl with an ice cream cone and the ice cream falls off. Lindz jumps up. "You idiot!! That's a waste of perfectly good ice cream." Mom and I just shake our heads at each other. We manage to get through the rest of the songs alright, if you exclude my whimpering at Grim Grinning Ghosts. I can't help it, I HATE, LOATHE, and utterly despise the Haunted Mansion. But back to the story. At the end, they start into When You Wish Upon a Star, with all the characters hugging the little kids goodbye and it ends with Mickey and Minnie kissing each other and then walking through Sleeping Beauty's Castle.
Lindz: Are you crying?
Me: *sniff* No
Lindz: Yes you are
Me: No I'm not!
Mom (to Linz): I told you we were obsessed
Me: I can't help it, I miss Diiiiiiiiissneeeeeeeeeey.
Mom: 20 days (this was earlier in the week)
Me: *sigh* okay, I think I can make it.

Yeah, so all this was a lot funnier in person. A you-had-to-be-there thing. I just figured it would give you somewhat of an idea of the interaction between us all. Dad was out on some errands. So ends this part. I'm not sure when I'll post next, I'm leaving Thursday for a Band Trip. Anxiously counting down the days,
-SoccerDog

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

It's official!!! 10 DAYS AND COUNTING!!!!! Omg, I haven't even begun to pack yet. Eek. Current braces colors: red, black, and yellow. I'm still recovering from my band trip though. Why is it that if you put 4 teenage girls in a room together, it's impossible to go to sleep before 1 a.m.??? Anyways, keep ya posted on any Disney happenings, I'm so EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[McDISer]

Subscribing-Can't wait for your TR.

Where did you go with your band?

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

Washington D.C. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that one of my friends had the audacity to say that Mickey got annoying. I didn't speak to him for the rest of the bus ride. Haha, well, exaggerating a little bit. There are people in the world who don't love Mickey????

 

[Minniespal]

Can't wait to read more.

 

[Disney owl]

great start

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

Just another bulletin: 6 DAYS UNTIL WE LEAVE!!!!!!!! I've already established that I'm wearing nothing but tank tops while I'm down there, and if I get up the nerve, maybe just my bikini top. Still iffy on that though. Random flashback:
At the beach, waiting in the bathroom at the restaurant. I see a girl about my age walking around in her bikini.
thought: "I hate teenage girls who walk around in bikinis. They think they're soooo hot" *looks down* "Oh. Crap." <------I was wearing a bikini that day too. But I did have on a t-shirt over it.

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

Okay, needed to get this out:

1 DAY, 17 HOURS UNTIL I OFFICIALLY LEAVE FOR DISNEY!!!!

Not that I'm counting.....

Seriously though, it's all turning into a mad rush to work out logistics. Here's the problem (you non-North Carolinians/Wake Countians might want to get a map). I go to Millbrook High. My friend goes to Wake Forest-Rolesville. Two completely opposite ends of the county. Originally Lindz's mom was going to drop her luggage off at school so we could just pick her up and head on down. Nope. Her dad's out of town and her mom has to work, so we are going to drive to what seems like Virginia, go about 20 miles (exaggeration) out of our way, get her luggage, drop off her clarinet, get back on track, and THEN drive down. Gotta love it.

Still love her though. And not that I'm obsessed or anything, but I was e-mailing her the details, and was jokingly all official in the P.S.'s I kept adding, so at the bottom it says this:
P.P.S. Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor mantengan se alejado de las puertas. (sorry if I got that wrong, I was listening to a recording)
Am I a complete Disney freak or what? Nawwww. It's not like I know that there are 11, 324 triangles on Spaceship Earth or 1,092 rooms at AKL............
ahem
Checklist:
-Disney parade CD......check
-tank tops.......check
-shorts......check
-mouse ears......check
-dress that I know I won't wear but want to bring anyway.......check
-sunscreen......check for spf's 8-50
-socks......hmmmm, I don't know......Mom only bought 50 GAZILLION pairs. No joking, her bed was COVERED with socks from last trip.
-learner's permit......check
-money......oh wait, I'm supposed to bring my OWN?????

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

The long awaited trip report.
I'm sooo sorry I haven't gotten it out sooner, but I've been mucho tired, and have been busy with school and other things. So here it is, the beginning of the most hectic Disney trip ever.

I've got one eye on my English teacher and one on my cell phone, willing the numbers to change faster. Finally, the time gods answer my prayer, and I raise my hand to sweetly inform my teacher that it's time for me to go. I gather my things, walk calmy out the door, sign out, and step in to the sunshine. I can't believe it, I'm finally free and on my way to Disney....or so I think.

You'll remember that my friend goes to school across the county. Well, our plans were to pick her up at 2:30 and be on the road by 3:00. No such luck. After a good 35 miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic, we discover that the route we were going to take is under construction, and we end up following detour signs into the Land of Lost.

By this time, it's well past 2:30 and it seems that the time gods have taken my wish a little too seriously. It's now closing in fast on 3:00. Mom is hungry and edgy. So after pulling over and consulting the GPS, we FINALLY make it. But we still have to pick her luggage up, and to save my ever so loving readers from the agonizing details, we'll just say the we are on the road MUCH later than planned.

Sorry this was short, it's getting late and if I'm not in bed soon I won't be alive to write more. Hope you enjoyed!!

Up next: Crappy fries, a door crisis, and the search for our hotel room

 

[MagicMe]

Excellent start to what looks to be a great trip report. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

It's the same old song and dance, my friend. I'm sitting in the same seat, with the same people, in the same state, with the same road stretched out in front of us for the fourth hour straight. Okay, okay, I admit, we did make a couple of ten-100s (bathroom break for all you non-truckers), but still, you get the picture.

Short summary of our "mid-afternoon snack stop" at Bojangles:
Mom walks to the door of the bathroom and turns the knob. It's locked. We all three have to go. So we stand there for a bit, trying to remember what lne comes after "We're walkin' right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A-a-a." But then my bladder compresses, so I say "Man, I REALLY have to go." MOm looks at the door again, and an epiphany hits her. I imagine her thought process went something like this: "hey, gee look, there's this brass plate above the door knob. You know, they normally have those on the doors you push. Waaaaait a second...." Well, she pushes it, and whaddya know, it opens. No one's inside. Haha, I love you Mommy!!

So that was Bojangles. Other than fries that tasted like cardboard, it wasn't much. We stopped a little bit later at Wendy's, but other than that (their fries were a little better than Bo's, but that's not saying much) it was all driving. To set the scene, it's 10 o' clock, Lindz is reading with the only flashlight, and I'm staring out the window thinking cranky thoughts to myself because I'm tired, I'm bored, and all I want is a bed. Finally, I see the light. No, it's not the reflection of the flashlight in the window. It's THE light. The one that says "Comfort Inn". I'm deliriously happy. We park the car, visit the front desk, and are assigned room 136. So off we go to take a load off our feet, er, bottoms, er, well, you know what I mean.

We see the long corridor that supposedly has our room on it. First room, no number. Second, 138. Hmm. The numbers keep going up. This could be a problem. But then, Mom spies this liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitle sign waaaaaaaaaaaay down in the corner of the blank room's window, and it has the numbers 1-3-6. Thanks be to Mickey Mouse. We open the door, and I'm not gonna lie, 'tweren't much, but it had a bed and wireless internet. That's all you need, right?

Next: Cardboard (again) and the fight for the network

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

Wow. I can not believe how long it's been since I've last posted. I guess it just has to do with the fact that upon returning from our trip I had exams, then had to play for graduation (resulting in my new-found loathing for Pomp and Circumstance), then all the stuff I do over summer break, and since sophomore year has started, it's been nonstop band functions and homework. Eek!!! But eventually I found my way back to the Dis, and after spending all my time reading such great inspirationalists such as Lala and Lexmelinda just to name a few...I decided it was high time to finish mine. So at long last, the next installment:

If I recall, we last left our heroine as she and the rest of her crew found their hotel room. So as my parents, Lindz, and I fought over who was getting which bed, I decided to log on to the wireless internet and check e-mail/post my report. I plug my computer in, attach the the power cord to my laptop, and wait. And wait. And wait some more. There is no signal to be found in this hotel.
Me: Hey Mom, I thought you said their was wireless here.
Mom: There is.
Me: So how come I'm not connecting?
Dad: The signal strength is just really weak, I'm not connecting either.
Me: WAIT!!! I got a signal!
Dad: Hey me too.
Me: Daaad, you just kicked me off the connection!!!
Dad: That's not possible. *Insert computer geek talk here about how it's not possible*

Yes, my friends, this is how we spent a good half hour of our night. Finally, Dad and I both get connection for our respective laptops, only to find that you need a username and password for access. No problem, we'll just go the front desk. We head out into the small courtyard between the main building and our building, across the grass, and to the door to the lobby. It's locked. Hmm, no problem, we'll go around front. We traipse all the way to the front, and in through those doors. To give you an idea of the layout, here's how it works. If you're coming in through the front at night, you enter a small waiting area that has a window through which you talk to the night clerk. This area is about 4 feet by 4 feet, and there are 3 other people in there. The woman ahead of us is trying to book a room. She books one, and the clerk disappears through a back door, and we see him re-appear in the main lobby. He disappears through another door for a couple of minutes, then finally comes back and hands the woman her Key to the World, er, I mean, room key. Dad steps up to the window. "Yes, I logged on to the wireless internet, and it says you need a username and password." The clerk stares. "It should be posted in your room." Dad stares back. "Well, it isn't." Finally the clerk gives in and tell us that the username is Comfort and our password is our room number. We thank him and head back around the main building and through the courtyard and back to our room. We've found that in the time period we have been gone, we have been disconnected from the network. It takes us another 5 minutes to reconnect, and by this time I'm so tired all I want to do is check my e-mail and go to sleep.

I should point out that at this point and time Mom and Lindz are already snug in the beds and almost snoring. Thanks guys. Long story short, I finally get my e-mail checked, climb into my pajamas, and crawl under the covers. At least, I think they're covers. The usually fuzzy velvet blanket is not fuzzy and DEFINITELY not velvet. It's.......cardboard. Not really, but it sure feels like it. Oh well, by this point I'm too tired to care, and so I curl my arms around a pillow and nod off.

Next up: A better post (I promise) and WE'RE FINALLY THERE!!!!!