Trying new things, Wearing 13 layers Magic in UK new 3/16

[MyTalula]

That's great on the upgrade!!! Hope it was still there when you checked in!!

Believe me I was sooo excited, then I was sure it was a mistake. I really thought in my head they were going to laugh at me when we checked in, and sent us merrily on our way to a wonderful parking lot view.

 

[MyTalula]

Joining in. That's quite a start of your report. Can't wait to here more and hoping you get that upgrade.

Thanks for joining in also!! More to come soon!! I've been caught up in a couple other trip reports this afternoon.

 

[mom2mek]

Hi! Just joining in! I think our trips overlapped - we were there from the 6th - 13th. Brrr....

Anyways, loving it so far! Glad you got the ADRs you wanted and on the upgrade!

We were at the Polynesian and I just came on the boards to start a trip report when I found yours! It's neat to read reports about people who were there the same time.

Sara

 

[dizneeat]

I so need to join this trip report!!

Someone who changes her mind about resorts and ADRs is just my kind of girl! I really feel connected to you! ...... are you sure your roots aren't in Austria?

Can't wait to read more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MyTalula]

Hi! Just joining in! I think our trips overlapped - we were there from the 6th - 13th. Brrr....

Anyways, loving it so far! Glad you got the ADRs you wanted and on the upgrade!

We were at the Polynesian and I just came on the boards to start a trip report when I found yours! It's neat to read reports about people who were there the same time.

Sara

and thanks for joining!! Our trip did overlap, we were there the 9th to 15th... the 14th and 15th were the warmest days we had actually. Still I wore my fleece for most of those days.

 

[MyTalula]

I so need to join this trip report!!

Someone who changes her mind about resorts and ADRs is just my kind of girl! I really feel connected to you! ...... are you sure your roots aren't in Austria?

Can't wait to read more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Karin!!! I'm so glad you are here, I was just over posting on your report... too funny.

 

[Blueyed Girl]

I've been there before with the whole over planning and almost ruining a trip. One of the reasons this trip I sort of went with the flow rather than stressing over plans.

How AWESOME that you got an upgrade!!!!

 

[dellasgirl]

z

 

[vamassey1]

Upgrade! I'm dancing along with you in my head. When I do it live my kids say I'm embarrassing them.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Sweet upgrade! I would have done the same thing as you......checked, double checked, triple checked, quadruple checked, well you get the drift! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[Colt Blackwood]

Read your title and thought I'd join in. It was dang cold when we were there too. It was colder than home!! What the heck is going on in this world. I guess Al Gore is wrong. haha

 

[MyTalula]

I've been there before with the whole over planning and almost ruining a trip. One of the reasons this trip I sort of went with the flow rather than stressing over plans.

I stress over everything... dh doesn't understand... he stresses over nothing!

WOW an unrequested upgrade
I know what you mean thinking and rethinking, then changing ADR's
Looking forward to the rest of the trip report.

I know I've never received an upgrade before, requested or not!!

Upgrade! I'm dancing along with you in my head. When I do it live my kids say I'm embarrassing them.

Thanks for dancing with me!! ::dance:

Sweet upgrade! I would have done the same thing as you......checked, double checked, triple checked, quadruple checked, well you get the drift! Can't wait to hear more!

Oh ya, a bit ocd possibly... :

Read your title and thought I'd join in. It was dang cold when we were there too. It was colder than home!! What the heck is going on in this world. I guess Al Gore is wrong. haha

Thanks for joining in!!

 

[serrotak]

I am joining in too!! Can't wait to read more. And don't worry about trying to keep me on the edge of my seat, I just want to hear how things went for you and your family.

 

[MyTalula]

I am joining in too!! Can't wait to read more. And don't worry about trying to keep me on the edge of my seat, I just want to hear how things went for you and your family.

Thanks for joining in. Next up date coming soon!

 

[MyTalula]

Travel Day 1

Monday the 8th of February I jumped out of bed, today was the day we left for the airport hotel. I was all packed; all I had to do was go to work for a few hours finish up all those last minute things.


While I was busy working I checked accuweather, intellicast and weather.com to see what Orlando’s week of weather would be. Things had taken a turn for the worse in the last 12hrs since I checked previously… it said rain for tomorrow (arrival day) and heavy rain all day Friday, and pretty low temps. I had planned on only wearing one warm outfit on the plane, and then we’d have that to fly home in. Ruh oh ….


At 11:30am I tell DH I’m leaving early, shut everything down and bolt home to repack! My DB and DSIL are picking us up at 3PM to drive us to the airport hotel in Portland, since we have a 6 AM flight the next morning. I don’t like getting up at 2:30am to drive there.


I rip through our bags, throw out some shorts & tees, and throw in a fleece, and sweatshirt and some long pants for all of us. I’m a big over packer, I can’t help it. We really only needed enough outfits for the 7 days at Disney, then we were going to my parents in Southeast FL for 6 days ‘washer & dryer!! But no… we still brought enough clothes we could last on a deserted island for a month and still have clean clothes.


I envy the people that can go away for a week with one rollaboard. I’ll never be that person.


Don’t even get me started on my carryon those 3 packs of sanitizing hand wipes and 3 packs of Clorox clean up wipes? Guess where they ended up? Right back in my carryon for the flight home, along with the boxes of goldfish, and packs of sandwich crackers and granola bars, packs of skittles and gum and handful of other miscellaneous food items. I tell ya, a month on a deserted island… no problem.


DD finally got off the bus, and our ride show up, we are on our way!! Whoo hoo. After an uneventful ride, we are dropped at the Embassy Suites right in the airport basically… we’ve stayed here before but not for a few years. We liked it last time, especially because of the complimentary 2hr cocktail reception! :


We checked in and had a great two room suite, perfect since I like to watch the News on one TV while DD& DH watch Spongebob on the other.


We head down to the lobby and pull up a table by the big roaring fire, and enjoy a couple complimentary cocktails and a Shirley temple for DD. Then off to dinner at their restaurant, Stroudwater Cafe... By restaurant, I mean the 10 or so tables behind the bar. I kept reminding myself not to expect too much, however, we were soon very pleasantly surprised.


Our server brought us a nice basket of warm yummy fresh bread and butter, followed by huge fresh salads loaded with all kinds of vegetables and homemade dressings. On to the entrees, DD & I both had Medium Rare Chargrilled New York Strip Steak served over their own Red Potato & Colored Pepper Hash. It was amazing. Cooked perfectly! I actually ate until it hurt. My 8 yr old DD ate almost her entire steak. No scraps for you daddy-o… DH had the Fish selection of the evening… which he said was elegant, but since I don’t eat fish I didn’t pay attention. The chef even came to make sure all was cooked to our liking. Definitely not your typical airport hotel dinning. We were too full for desert; though I’m sure they would have been wonderful considering how great our meals were.


We rolled ourselves up to the room and put ourselves to bed. I fell right asleep which is very unusual for me, I have a hard time sleeping normally, and in hotels especially if I have to be up early, I don’t sleep well at all. So I wasn’t shocked when I sprang up at midnight to look at the clock and make sure we weren’t late. That was it for me; I never got back to sleep.


Up next: Travel Day 2, yes we will actually get there, but will we get our upgrade??? There will be pictures finally in my next installment. I promise!!

 

[GeminiAngel]

I'm on board. Great opening. I love the just tell it like it is approach.

 

[MyTalula]

Travel Day Part 2 – A Bumpy Trip, and I Piss off the bagger in Publix, but we finally arrive at the Dolphin.

I waited till almost 3 am before I got in the shower, then I couldn’t stand laying there waiting anymore. I was grateful for the 2 room suite, I closed the bedroom door to let DD& DH sleep a bit longer, and went to the living room and had my coffee and watched the news.

Typical travel day for me… way overtired, way too much caffeine… way to excited to care. We made our way to the airport, breezed through check in and security and made our way to the gate. We had a tight connection in Atlanta, only 37 minutes! Since we had missed our connection to MCO by only minutes in 2008… I was stressed.

However, luck was with us, we took off from Portland almost on time, and landed in Atlanta a bit early. However by the time, we disembarked, waited for our gate checked bag, and ran to the tram, we were getting close. But we made it to the gate to hear they were still calling initial zones to board, so we had time for a quick restroom visit.

Our second leg was not so smooth, there was a massive rain storm over ATL and it was a very turbulent take off… we finally got up to cruising altitude and the attendants started cabin service, they made it to row 6… then the pilot came on and apologized that we were going to have some bumpy air. He asked them to discontinue cabin service and to be seated! He then reiterated for all passengers to remain seated and buckled for the rest of the flight.

I’ve flown enough to know that when the flight attendants are asked to stay seated and buckled, that passengers need to stay in there seats and buckled… for their own safety.

Still on this little over hour long flight at least 3 kids and 2 adults got up and walked around. They got yelled at over the loud speaker.

Slight digression:

This flight reminded me of a very turbulent Southwest flight we were on, a similar request was made, and still this woman gets up with her 3 or 4 year old to use the lav, well the SW attendant with all her humor, says over the intercom “We understand and sympathize with your need to pee but just be aware, if the plane drops, kids hit the ceiling first.”

After a very rough decent we finally touched down at MCO… I was sooooooo happy to be on the ground at MCO I don’t like turbulence. Especially when it lasts the ENTIRE flight.

Since we were staying at the Dolphin, we use a car service, plus I really like to have the free grocery stop!! And I LOVE coming down that escalator and seeing Bob holding a sign with my name on it. What I love even more is stopping at Publix on the way.

Continued next post....

 

[oregonmommyof2]

I Piss of the bagger in Publix

When I first read this, I read... "I piss ON the bagger in Publix"

 

[MyTalula]

We pull into Publix while DD & I run in and Bob takes DH to the liquor store down the way a little bit. We like to have a cocktail in our room before dinner.

So DD & I get our cart loaded with water, and some snacks and get to the check out, things are going great until ...

Ms. crotchety bagger lady sees that I only have one bag of Doritos. She says “Those are 2 for 1 you need 2, what kind do you want?” I tell her I don’t need 2 bags but she insists, she walks away yelling, red or blue… So I say “Blue” and start packing the bags, well she sees me do that and runs back and says “I’ll do that, let me do it” so I back off and she puts one thing in the bag, gives me the evil eye and leaves to get the Doritos.

When she’s out of sight I start packing bags again. Of course I get busted, but by now she's noticed I’ve got only one box of Wheat Thins, and by gosh those are 2 for 1 too!

So she goes off to get the Wheat Thins, yelling at me to not pack the bags, that SHE will pack the bags. Well I can’t help myself, I always pack my grocery bags at home, I can do it faster than waiting for a bagger, or the cashier to do it. So when she comes back with my Wheat Thins, she yells “Where are you from?” I say Maine, she says “I don’t know where that is, but HERE YOU DON’T PACK BAGS” I’m trying desperately not to laugh, because she was very SERIOUS… but my gosh if I had waited for her to finish shopping for me, we’d have been another hour!

So she of course has to push the cart out to load for me, well luckily Bob just takes the cart from her and loads it for us! All the while she’s still muttering under her breath about us being from away, and things don’t work that way here. After I explained to everyone what I had done to piss off the Publix lady we were on our way.

Finally we arrived at the Dolphin 1:45PM and I walked right to the check in, no lines no waiting! I gave our name and while she was looking to see what she had ready for us, she notes we asked for a King w/ a pull out. I say “Yes, but two Doubles are fine, we’re flexible.” Then I say tentatively “Our confirmation states resort view” and she says “Yes, but the room the assignor has given you isn’t ready, but I have one on the 18th floor with a very nice view that is ready.” I said “Great we’ll take it!” Still I expected to have a limited view at best.

We head to the bell counter and tell them our room is ready, and the nicest bellman in the world asks for our room number then says “ ohhh that’s a great room, follow me” and we did!

We walked in, and unloaded bags, tipped our bellman and went right to the windows and this is what we saw….. actually these were taken on a sunny day later in the week, the ones I took on arrival day in the rain, are too dreary.

The Boardwalk with DTD in the Distance to the left:

Then just beyond the Boardwalk The World Showcase!

Across to the Swan:

And to the Right... The Tower of Terror!!!

WOW we got our resort view upgrade alright!! WHOO HOOOOO

I took pictures of our room, but not before we'd cluttered it with our stuff. So I don't think I'll post those.

Up next: We venture to the Boardwalk in the rain, and run right into a celebrity! Not a Disboard celeb, that comes later.

 

[MyTalula]

I'm on board. Great opening. I love the just tell it like it is approach.

Thank you!!

When I first read this, I read... "I piss ON the bagger in Publix"

oops it would help if I wrote OFF instead of OF but funnier your way!