Uncle John's 6 day adventure!!! new photos Pg. 7

[1gr8mouse]

Ok, some of you are joining me for the first time, some of you have been with me from the begining (MY PTR)........Well, this is the TR!!!! The trip is over.

The party includes: DW (43) & me (UJ 45).....

We left our 3 kids (DD 18, DS 15, DS 14) at home while we went off to play..........This is a second marriage for us so we have somewhat of an advantage......we left the kids at our ex-es homes!!!!! Hey, it works for us!!!!

I am also the famous uncle John to LOVEBUZZANDWOODY'S (as seen here on the DIS) 3 kids...They think Uncle John is COOL!!

The following should be fun and informative for you...I will have some pointers along the way!!!!

Thanks for coming along!!!!

 

[1gr8mouse]

Day 1:
Ok for starters here we are!!! Just so you know who you are dealing with!!!

We flew out of Detroit Metro Airport on Friday Sept. 5......we left around 5:30pm, had a 30 min. layover in Atlanta, changed planes and off to MCO (Orlando)!!!!!! SMOOOOOOOTHE SAILING!!!!! No delays, no problems!!!!

Once at MCO, we gathered our luggage......then off to the Alamo kiosk!!!!
Really people, this is so easy... I dont understand why everyone doesnt do this......I booked a car through Alamo.....kept checking rates and finally 1 week before the trip had a mid size rental car for $79 for 6 days.....incredible deal!!!! The slick thing about Alamo is the cars are right stinkin at the airport....no shuttle, no offsite sales pitch, no pressure......just scan your ressie......go outside across to the parking garage and pick out your car....I saw a sweeeet burnt orange Dodge Charger.....but it had 20,000 miles and a lot of scratches.....so I opted for the Pontiac G6 with 439 miles on it...yep still had the new car smell!!!!!

Sorry ladies I know this stuff is boring for some of you (its a guy thing)....hey, I'm proud of my good deal on a rental car.....its the little things in life!1

 

[1gr8mouse]

Day 1 Cont.
So here is the cool part......I plan all the Disney trips in the family...Wife just comes along....she knows I love to plan the trip......research it, organize it, make all the ADR, spend tiime on this site with all the other DIS'rs.

We left the airport, headed south to the toll road....(very easy way to go and avoid friday night traffic on I-4).........jumped off at our exit and headed to the world.....

Some of you know about this, some of you dont!!!! We orig. booked our trip for 6 days at POP......I called our TA from Dreams Unlimited (I recommend them) and upgraded to POR (one of our favorite resorts) and never told DW......So we started driving around on property......I went by DTD, we saw all the lights, etc....I turned and drove by OKW, then POFQ, we then came to the drive for POR, I turned in.........DW said "YES, I was thinking maybe you did this"!!!! She was so happy......we just really like POR (we love the boat ride to DTD)....She was surprised and happy, 1 point for UJ!!!!!

Please dont get me wrong there is nothing wrong with POP, we have stayed there and I highly recommend it......best value resort going......

We parked, went to registration (by this time it is 10:00pm) and got checked in with no problems.....It was funny at check in...the guy behind the counter started to explain things about POR & ADR, I told him I have all my ressies already made, what parks we were going to on what days etc....he just looked at us and said " I think you have been here before".....we said "yep,
8th trip to the world".. ......He just smiled and said enjoy your stay!!!

We stayed in the Magnolia Bend section Bldng 80 (for now)......we like that area when we dont have the kids with us......Off to bed!!!

 

[mom2mek]

How is it that I found this thing first? WOW! I even beat Love!

Can't wait to read all about your surprises, UJ!

Great deal on your rental car! I currently have 2 Alamo reservations - one for a mid-size and one for a minivan for the 8 of us going in 3 weeks. Did you do the online check in before you left Detroit, and then only had to scan your ressie in the kiosk, or was there more to it than that?

Can't wait to hear more, more, more...

Sara

 

[1gr8mouse]

Oh, sorry I forgot about a funny part at the airport.....

After we checked in and dropped off our luggage we have to go through the dreaded TSA screening......everyone gets a little panicky at this point...fun place to watch people!!!! Well I get in line right behind a dandy......
about a 45 year old lady (yes...my age, old)...She is trying to be a 25 year old....she is wearing leopard skin stiletto heels while she is on crutches!!!!......jeans that are 2 sizes too small......I think you get the picture.....she wants to be noticed!!!!!

DW and I just stood there watching her try to hop with the crutches, take her shoes off, put her belonings in the totes for xray.....I just wanted to say...."mam how hurt can you really be with those shoes on, come on give it up"......of course she held up the whole line...they made her put the crutches through the xray machine.....she just hobbled through the metal detector.....of course forgot to remove her cell phone, back through again!

I normally do try to help people with stuff like that, hold doors etc., ......but not this one....I just had to watch the show!!!!

 

[1gr8mouse]

How is it that I found this thing first? WOW! I even beat Love!

Can't wait to read all about your surprises, UJ!

Great deal on your rental car! I currently have 2 Alamo reservations - one for a mid-size and one for a minivan for the 8 of us going in 3 weeks. Did you do the online check in before you left Detroit, and then only had to scan your ressie in the kiosk, or was there more to it than that?

Can't wait to hear more, more, more...

Sara

HI Sara......just started tonight......you are the firstest....congrats!!!

All in all I probably booked 6 cars with Alamo.....When we first started, the rental car was $245!!! I knew that it would come down.....for 2 months it stayed at $175....when it went to $139 I booked and paid in advance with Cred. card....I left it at that.....about 2 weeks before the trip I ckd again......it was like $89 for the same car....I was pretty mad.....I looked in to it and canc. got a refund (minus a $5 canc. fee).....booked for the $89, didnt pay in advance this time......1 week before it went to $79, so I canc. the $89 and booked for $79!!!!! I couldnt believe it!!!! I was driving DW nuts with it.......I'm kind of goofey that way!!!!! I just keep checking.......
I just had a ressie with the $25 off 1 week rental (hot deals coupon) and used the Walmart code......I went to a kiosk and scanned my ressie and a credit card.....no one was there....they had about 10 people in line at the Alamo counter......
Good Luck, IMO its the only way to go....I heard a lot of people complain about the ME busses.....I try to tell people to put a price on their vacation time.....I can get to any park from POR in 10 min...be parked and headed through the gate in another 10 min.....ride the busses and plan on a minimum of 1 hour (usually 1 1/2 hours) ......then 1 hour to get back.....try getting to another hotel for dinner...plan on 2 hours.......its just worth the $100 bucks for a rental car......plus we go off property to the outlet mall and get orange juice, donuts etc. well worth it.......

 

[mom2mek]

Oh, sorry I forgot about a funny part at the airport.....

After we checked in and dropped off our luggage we have to go through the dreaded TSA screening......everyone gets a little panicky at this point...fun place to watch people!!!! Well I get in line right behind a dandy......
about a 45 year old lady (yes...my age, old)...She is trying to be a 25 year old....she is wearing leopard skin stiletto heels while she is on crutches!!!!......jeans that are 2 sizes too small......I think you get the picture.....she wants to be noticed!!!!!

DW and I just stood there watching her try to hop with the crutches, take her shoes off, put her belonings in the totes for xray.....I just wanted to say...."mam how hurt can you really be with those shoes on, come on give it up"......of course she held up the whole line...they made her put the crutches through the xray machine.....she just hobbled through the metal detector.....of course forgot to remove her cell phone, back through again!

I normally do try to help people with stuff like that, hold doors etc., ......but not this one....I just had to watch the show!!!!

Hehe...Cougar Mom!!!! On crutches!

Why, oh why? It's sad really.

Sara

 

[Trentmom]

Oh, UJ, you should post a link to this report on your Pre trip, so your loyal readers can find ya


Not all are a great detective like me

 

[Trentmom]

Great Start

So glad your wife was surprised with POR



That is hilarious about the leopard stiletto wearing too tight jeans lady

 

[scottny]

I am here for the tr. great start.

 

[MickeyCrazedMom]

Are you trying to hide from your loyal PTR readers? AHA - I found you anyway! (thanks sharky!)

Glad you are home safe. I was thinking about you while you were at Metro. I thought you were stopping by for the warm pool and margaritas?

The rental car is a great deal but I just can't do it. I don't feel like I am on vacation if I am driving?? Not to mention I don't have to deal with car seats for a whole week!!!

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

How is it that I found this thing first? WOW! I even beat Love!
Sara

Why, yes, Sara, you DID beat Love! Maybe someone should've let someone know they were starting over for the TR portion. Good thing I know a really good detective!

Oh, UJ, you should post a link to this report on your Pre trip, so your loyal readers can find ya


Not all are a great detective like me

Yep, atta girl Sharky! There's my detective now!

I am here for the tr. great start.

Hey Scott! Nice to see you!

Are you trying to hide from your loyal PTR readers? AHA - I found you anyway! (thanks sharky!)

Hi Laura!

Yeah UJ~ you tryin to ditch us or what?



Hey... all that aside... my sister looks beautiful! You aren't so bad either, I guess. Can't wait to hear what happened BEFORE that pic was taken!

 

[1gr8mouse]

Sorry all, I dont know how to do all the linkie thingies you do!!!! Remember how long it took me to get that bouncing mickey head on there????
Hi Sara, Sharky, Laura, Scott and last but not least LOVE!!!! Thanks for joining in!!!! Scott where have you been?? I need back up on the DIS Land Cont. thread.........
Sara you were right she was a cougar.....that cracks me up!!!!

 

[1gr8mouse]

OK so we wake up from our first night at POR......I dont know if some of you remember from my PTR but we booked an extra night because of flight changes.....Well, the first night was a room only reservation- no free dining....didnt make sense to get it because we were getting in so late.....

So I had to go back to registration and close out the room only and switch to the free dining promotion ressie.....

Well we were getting ready and DW yells for me to come look at the tub.....I go in there and she points out all the black mold in the caulk around the tub...it was pretty gross......she told me "I want to switch rooms, I dont like this one"..........So I got ready and off we go to the main building to see about switching rooms.....we really didnt like the location any way....

We went to registration and told them about our new ressie and etc., the guy made some calls and said "you are all set, you can stay in that room"....I said wait a minute we dont want that room.....it has black mold....he made the switch for us....no problem......plus a better building (90) and we had a ground floor room....which was nice, first time that has ever happened for us!!!! Only problem was we couldnt get in to the new room until 3:00pm, so we took all our luggage out of the old room, put it in the rental car...Kind of a pain but all in all worth it.... HEY, we were at Disney and not at work!!

Momma (thats what I call DW) was happy, thats all that really counts!!!!

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Momma (thats what I call DW) was happy, thats all that really counts!!!!

Don't I know it!


Got room pics???

 

[Trentmom]

Are you trying to hide from your loyal PTR readers? AHA - I found you anyway! (thanks sharky!)

Glad you are home safe. I was thinking about you while you were at Metro. I thought you were stopping by for the warm pool and margaritas?

The rental car is a great deal but I just can't do it. I don't feel like I am on vacation if I am driving?? Not to mention I don't have to deal with car seats for a whole week!!!

Can't wait to hear more!

Anytime

Why, yes, Sara, you DID beat Love! Maybe someone should've let someone know they were starting over for the TR portion. Good thing I know a really good detective!



Yep, atta girl Sharky! There's my detective now!



Hey Scott! Nice to see you!



Hi Laura!

Yeah UJ~ you tryin to ditch us or what?



Hey... all that aside... my sister looks beautiful! You aren't so bad either, I guess. Can't wait to hear what happened BEFORE that pic was taken!

I do what I can

Sorry all, I dont know how to do all the linkie thingies you do!!!! Remember how long it took me to get that bouncing mickey head on there????
Hi Sara, Sharky, Laura, Scott and last but not least LOVE!!!! Thanks for joining in!!!! Scott where have you been?? I need back up on the DIS Land Cont. thread.........
Sara you were right she was a cougar.....that cracks me up!!!!

We will forgive you this time

OK so we wake up from our first night at POR......I dont know if some of you remember from my PTR but we booked an extra night because of flight changes.....Well, the first night was a room only reservation- no free dining....didnt make sense to get it because we were getting in so late.....

So I had to go back to registration and close out the room only and switch to the free dining promotion ressie.....

Well we were getting ready and DW yells for me to come look at the tub.....I go in there and she points out all the black mold in the caulk around the tub...it was pretty gross......she told me "I want to switch rooms, I dont like this one"..........So I got ready and off we go to the main building to see about switching rooms.....we really didnt like the location any way....

We went to registration and told them about our new ressie and etc., the guy made some calls and said "you are all set, you can stay in that room"....I said wait a minute we dont want that room.....it has black mold....he made the switch for us....no problem......plus a better building (90) and we had a ground floor room....which was nice, first time that has ever happened for us!!!! Only problem was we couldnt get in to the new room until 3:00pm, so we took all our luggage out of the old room, put it in the rental car...Kind of a pain but all in all worth it.... HEY, we were at Disney and not at work!!

Momma (thats what I call DW) was happy, thats all that really counts!!!!

Glad you got switched to a better and cleaner room

 

[1gr8mouse]

After getting the room thing all straightened out we headed to DTD via the car.......We were able to park right up front!!!! It was awesome...hardly anyone there!!! We went to all the Disney stores then ate at Earl of Sandwich for lunch........it was pretty good.....they dont tell you what you get on the Disney Dinig Plan though.....a little confusing.....

And of course I got in line behind another cougar!!!! This one wanted a warm chocolate chip cookie.....but they didnt have any.....so she was mad....whining to her boyfriend........rubbing her head all over him...I wanted a cookie.....waaaaaa
So I'm standing there looking at the bins with desserts......low and behold I find a chocolate chip cookie.......WOOOO HOOOOO.....Jack pot baby!!!! I snatched it up.......Just another one of those little things in life..........Now if it was a kid I would have given up the cookie.......but not for the cougar!!!!

After lunch we went to the West side of DTD....We went to our favorite store............Magnetron!!!! If you havent been you have to spend some time there reading magnets.........hysterical......DW and I just stood there handing each other magnets to read.......probably in there 30 minutes....

I then went to Sosa family cigars and bought a great Sosa cigar .....they lit it up for me and I was able to walk through DTD with a fat stogie!!!! Now, thats a great day!!! Momma was able to shop for awhile, I got to sit on park benches and puff away!!!!!

 

[1gr8mouse]

When we completed our DTD adventure we went to the outlet mall on the east side of I-4, you just go by the DTD hotels to Vineland Rd, turn right, go under I-4 and first road to the left takes you there.....they have a pretty good selection of stores.......ADIDAS- my favorite!!!!! Then off to a grocery store to get a few snacks for the room......Momma needs something in the morning....had to get her a few muffins........Oh, and I got beer!!!! WOOO HOOOOOO BEEEEER!!!! Then back to our room.........(it was about 4:00pm).....I went for a swin in one of the quiet pools by our building......very nice....a few people.....refreshing........
We then had to get ready for CAPTAIN JACKS!!!!!

We then went to the boat docks!!! I got to check on my retirement job.....the boats were running smoothe.......but very fulll.....lots of people.....what a nice float to DTD.......But if I was captain I would be tellling jokes and doing Disney trivia questions......Our captain never spoke.....it was fine though.......he just doesnt have the UJ touch!!!

 

[1gr8mouse]

Here is what we had at Captain Jacks.......We did get an appetizer....it was not included on the free DDP.....had to pay for it.....

Crab cakes, notice the hidden Mickey!!!!!

Momma had some pasta dish, it wasnt very good...in fact she has ordered it before and when it came realized she had it before and didnt care for it.....

And UJ had the twin lobster tails!!!!! MMMMM GOOOD

 

[1gr8mouse]

After dinner we had to jump on the boat back to POR......we had a carriage ride reserved.......momma didnt know about it!!!! So we just walked around POR and watched the piano guy for a bit.......I always forget his name, he is awesome with the kids...he has his own website..........very good....

So we went outside and sat on a park bench right by the carriage stop....Momma asked me "Are we going on a carriage ride??" I told her yes, he must be running a little late......he showed up about 5 minutes later......
It was very nice, the driver (Joe) did talk the whole time.......
It was funny though, he introduced us to his horse "Travis".....thats the name of our youngest son!!!!
Here are the photos!!!

You can see "Joe" wasnt very good with the camera!!

And Travis!!!

Momma was very happy with Daddy.....1 point for UJ!!!! We had a great day and evening!!!!!