Welcome to the Cheap Seat...or how I decided to go to Disney in a day for a day.

[PrincessFendi]

How exciting! I wish I could go to Disney for the day! I am eager to read about your trip. I love deals and boy did you find one!!!

 

[MagiKitty]

Hello PrincessFendi! Yes, I too am budget obsessed. And when its this good, you can't help but do the happy dance!

 

[MagiKitty]

Of course, Monday night became the LONGEST....NIGHT.....EVER....

I tried to get to sleep early, my flight was scheduled to leave at 8:40. Since I live about 40 minutes from the airport, I was aiming to be going through security about 7:15. But I just lay there in bed...glancing at the clock. In desperation, I even dug out my old tour books to plan what I'd be doing once I set foot on Disney property. Eventually, I did fall asleep.

6 am came soon enough. I double checked my carry-on, gave extra food and water to the cats and happily braved the frost-warning weather to get on the road. Less than an hour later, I had parked the car and found myself facing the JetBlue kiosk. I took a deep breath, and scanned my barcode.

This was it...let's see if I actually get to fly to Orlando today.

Tick...tick..tick-tick....out comes out that beautiful boarding pass!

I positively giddy going through security, and head to the gate. Shortly thereafter, they call for boarding. Like most airlines, they board from back to front, and since I have the cheap seat, I'm seated in row 20.

Here I am enjoying the best $10 I've ever spent!

I had two lovely travelling companions. The lady, making small talk, asked why I was heading to Florida today. I tried to act nonchalant, really I did. But I couldn't hold it in...I told her I was going to Disney! for 36 hours, for $36 dollars. She told me that she had tried to get that ticket yesterday, but was unable to get it. Her husband had proclaimed the sale a bunch of c*** (her word, not mine) and she promptly whipped out her cell phone to call him!

The other seatmate, a nice gentleman, started laughing too. He was doing the exact same thing I was...flying down for one night. He was going for business and had paid full price--$260! Wow, did my seat feel really good.

And then it started to happen. The good luck bubble floating around me began to deflate a little. The plane was having technical issues, something with the computers. We would be delayed at least an hour while they checked out the problem and filled out the appropriate paperwork....there goes a precious hour of my getaway!

 

[dellasgirl]

What--girl you do know how to do a cliffhanger
thank you for the congrats on Saylor--she will be my first grandchild(due in August)

 

[MagiKitty]

Since we were going to be delayed, I figured I better milk the heck out of my $10. I made small talk with my seatmates, and when beverages and snacks were offered, we took full advantage.

Here's another perk from the cheap seats (well, I was in the cheap seat anyway): by the time the flight attendants make it to you, they have extras. Lots of them. JetBlue has free snacks, definitely a perk in this flying age. Row 20 A, B, and C got hooked up!

I had a bag of Terra Blue Chips, a bag of Animal crackers, a bottle of water, and an Arizona ice tea. Easily worth the price of my ticket, so I'm already ahead!

The pilot comes out and makes an announcement that for our troubles--really its more like social hour back here--we'll be getting the in flight movies for free! Ordinarily a charge of $6 would apply. So I got to watch Sherlock Holmes.

The wallet is happy:
Bag of Terra Chips: $1.50
Bag of Animal Crackers: $1.25
Bottle of water: $1.75
Can of Arizona ice tea: $1.75
On board movie: $6.00
Total: $12.25

At this rate, JetBlue is paying me to fly!

 

[MagiKitty]

dellasgirl...babies are such a joy. It must be so exciting awaiting the arrival of your first grandchild! I really like the name Saylor too. Much blessing to you and your growing family...

 

[M&N]

Super job Kitty...loving it. Just waiting for more...

 

[pepperw23]

More More!!!

Your luck just kept comin' and comin'

 

[MagiKitty]

Full and bloated, the hour delay doesn't seem as tedious. Soon the pilot makes the announcement to prepare for takeoff...we're outta on NY and heading south for some Florida sun...

Sherlock Holmes is moderately amusing, but as the minutes tick by, I'm getting more and more excited for my solo trip. I figure I should be at EPCOT by 2pm at this rate. Illuminations is at 9pm. That gives me seven glorious hours amongst the Disney magic!

Pretty soon, we begin our descent into Orlando International Airport and are taxiing to the gate. The cheap seats does have its detractions: we're the last to deplane. But once waving goodbye to my seatmates and the flight crew, I'm racing towards the Magical Express counter, somewhere on Level one.

Although I've gone to Disney annually the last few years, we've never taken Magical Express. We like to venture (gasp!) offsite and so we like to rent a car. I didn't know what Magical Express had in store for me. I had read the horror stories here on the Dis about ME taking two hours to get to the resort. I had my reservations--literally!

I went to reservation desk and gave them my name and resort as instructed. Since I'd be leaving the next day, I'd just use my travel voucher twice. I was then instructed to head to line C and wait for my bus.

Bus arrived after a short wait of five minutes. That was enough time to make a quickie phone call to Boyfriend and annoy him with giggles and glee. Soon, a lady with a puffy white Mickey hand escorts me out to fancy blue and tan Magical Express bus.

With no bags to put beneath, I head up the steps of the bus and face the unexpected: an absolutely full cabin. There's a school group all over the bus. I head towards the back and see an empty seat next to a not-so-thrilled fourth grader in a yellow school shirt and braids (hey, I'm not excited to see you either, kid).

I ask the child if its ok if I sit there and the eyes grow round as saucers and the head starts to shake furiously side to side, NO, NO, NO.

This is not the glorious moment I had anticipated.

A chaperone of the group to my left starts to get involved---"what, you said NO? This lady needs a place to sit...."

My head is about to explode from embarrassment. "No, its ok, she doesn't want to sit with a stranger, I totally get it....its fine".

Its here that another chaperone interjects with "That's not a girl, that's a boy".

My bad.

 

[MagiKitty]

Welcome back Pepper and welcome M&N! You just knew I'd get into some sort of trouble, right?

 

[AlexJB]

Great report so far... it's great to be spontaneous sometimes!

 

[mariezp]

Kitty, I am so envious. I would have hopped on that solo trip in a heartbeat if I were in you! I actually saw the Jetblue sale but it was no good in my area. Loving your report so far and can't wait to hear the rest....... And.... bring on those pictures!

 

[MagiKitty]

Welcome alexJB and hello there Marie! Thanks for stopping by...

Goodness, I love my TKer family!

 

[BKMETV]

Hey there...guess I'll have to wait 'til I get back to read the rest!!

 

[Pikester]

Great report so far!

Just gotta love those kids don't ya.

 

[MagiKitty]

Hey Pike!

Darn those kids! Put their pre-pubescent bodies in matching yellow shirts, and gosh if they all don't look alike! Braids, baseball caps, baggy pants--its all androgyny!

 

[Pikester]

I've seen so many young boys with long hair that it's hard to tell.

Do we get more pictures?

 

[Disney_Jill]

I can't wait to hear how your day went! This is totally something I would do.

 

[MousekaMaddi]

we live RIGHT near stewart and LOVE Jetblue.......unfortunately I missed this deal, I read about it waaayyy tooooo late! We have WDW season passes and would have loved this deal, hoping for a repeat soon!
Great report, so glad u jumped at this deal! Good for U!!

 

[MagiKitty]

Thank you, thank you! My newest problem is how can I EVER pay full price airfare again?

Pike, I have a few pictures...but I think I was so busy enjoying that I forgot to take my camera out! It was sort of a shell-shocked kinda day...