DAY 1--(FRIDAY) NOV. 11----WOKE UP AT 2:00 AM. TOO EXCITED TO SLEEP. PRINTED OUT OUR BOARDING PASSES, READ LAST MINUTE TIPS ON DISNEY MESSAGE BOARDS, WENT TO WORK. I WAS BUSY, SO TIME WENT BY FAST.
DEWAYNE WANTS TO START OUR VACATION RIGHT AWAY, SO WE GO TO DENNY'S FOR DINNER. WE DON'T EAT OUT OFTEN, SO THIS WAS A TREAT FOR OUR FAMILY. AFTER DINNER, WE WENT THROUGH OUR PACKING LIST TO MAKE SURE WE HAD EVERYTHING, THEN WAITED FOR STEVE AND HIS FAMILY TO ARRIVE. THEY GOT TO OUR HOUSE AT 7:00 PM. SHUTTLE ARRIVED RIGHT ON TIME AT 9:00. WE PILED INTO THE VAN AND HEADED FOR SEATAC AIRPORT. WHETHER: LIGHT RAIN AND ABOUT 52 DEGREES.
CHECKED IN USING THE ITM AT ALASKA AIRLINES. HAD A BITE TO EAT AT BURGER KING IN THE AIRPORT. OUR FLIGHT WAS ON TIME AND WE DEPARTED AT 11:25 PM. HERE IS WHERE MY CAREFUL PLANNING STARTED TO FALL APART. SLEEPING ON THE AIRPLANE? YEAH, RIGHT! ONLY OUR GRANDSONS ACTUALLY SLEPT. THE REST OF US WERE MISERABLE FROM EXHAUSTION BY THE TIME WE ARRIVED IN ORLANDO.
DAY 2--(SAT) NOV. 12 (84 DEGREES)---SEA WORLD
ARRIVED AT MCO ON SCHEDULE. RODE THE MONORAIL/TRAIN TO BAGGAGE AND TRANSPORTATION AREA. RETRIEVED OUR BAGGAGE AND CROSSED THE ROAD TO PICK UP OUR RENTAL CARS. FOUND OUR WAY OUT OF THE AIRPORT AND HEADED FOR SEA WORLD. SMOOTH SAILING SO FAR.
BY THIS TIME, WE WERE ALL STARVING. BECAUSE WE FLEW THE RED EYE, THERE WAS NO MEAL OFFERED ON THE PLANE. WE GET TO SEA WORLD, AND NONE OF THE RESTARAUNTS WERE OPEN. WE WALKED AROUND THAT WHOLE PARK AND COULDN'T FIND A THING TO EAT. NOT ONLY WERE WE BONE TIRED BUT WE WERE HUNGRY AS WELL. WE WENT INTO SHARK ENCOUNTER, SAW THE PENQUINS AND WATCHED THE CLYDE & SEYMORE SHOW. BY THIS TIME IT WAS 11:00 AND WE WERE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT. MY FAMILY ATE AT A PIZZA PLACE AND STEVE'S FAMILY ATE BURGERS SOMEWHERE. WE KEPT IN CONTACT BY PHONE. (WE ALL HAVE T-MOBILE CELL PHONES SO WE COULD TALK TO EACH OTHER WITHOUT CHARGES.) I HAD A SLICE OF A VEGGY-TYPE PIZZA...IT WAS YUMMY.
BY THE TIME LUNCH WAS OVER, THE WHETHER HAD STARTED TO REALLY HEAT UP. COMING FROM THE SEATTLE AREA WHERE IT WAS COLD & DAMP, TO ORLANDO WHERE THE TEMPERATURE WAS 84 DEGREES AND MUGGY, WAS QUITE A SHOCK TO OUR BODIES. WE WERE ACTUALLY HAVING A HARD TIME BREATHING THIS FIRST DAY.
WANTING TO COOL OFF, WE HEADED FOR JOURNEY TO ATLANTIS. VIRTUALLY NO LINE...WE WALKED RIGHT ON TO THE RIDE. THE COASTER PART SURPRISED US. WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A LOG RIDE.
BEING A "POOH"-SIZED WOMAN, I TRY THE MODIFIED SAMPLE SEAT IN FRONT OF KRACKEN. NO PROBLEM. THIS COASTER IS GREAT, BUT IT TOOK THE BREATH RIGHT OUT OF ME. I ENTERTAIN KYLE, WHO IS TOO SHORT TO RIDE, WHILE THE YOUNGSTERS GO BACK FOR A 2ND TIME.
THE REST OF DAY WENT BY IN A BLUR FOR ME. I WAS SO TIRED AND HOT THAT I BECAME PHYSICALLY SICK. I THINK WE LEFT THE PARK AT 2:30.
THIS IS WHEN THE REAL FUN BEGAN. I HAD PRINTED OUT DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO GET TO OUR VILLA FROM SEA WORLD. THE DIRECTIONS SAID WE WERE TO HEAD NORTH OUT OF THE PARK. NOW, WE DON'T CARRY A COMPASS WITH US, SO WE HAD NO IDEA WHICH WAY WAS NORTH. LUCKY US...WE MUST HAVE HEADED SOUTH BECAUSE WE GOT TOTALLY LOST.
WE DECIDED TO BACK-TRACK TO THE AIRPORT AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS TO THE HOUSE THAT THE LANDLORD HAD SENT US. WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT IDEA IF HIS DIRECTIONS HAD BEEN EVEN REMOTELY CORRECT. THE DIRECTIONS SAID FOLLOW SOME ROAD FOR 3 MILES TO SUCH AND SUCH ROAD, BUT OF COURSE THERE NEVER WAS A SIGN THAT TOLD US WHERE TO TURN.
SOMEHOW, WE END UP IN KISSIMMEE, BUT HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO GET TO POINCHETTA BLVD., SO WE STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO ASK DIRECTIONS. OF COURSE, THIS GAL GAVE US THE WRONG DIRECTIONS AS WELL.
BY THE WAY...MY HUSBAND PASSED ANGRY ABOUT 50 MILES BACK AND IS COMING UP ON DOWNRIGHT SCAREY REAL FAST.
WE FINALLY STOPPED AT A 7-11 TYPE STORE AND THE GUY IN THIS PLACE SEEMED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE INDIAN POINT HOUSING DEVELOPEMENT WAS. GOD BLESS HIM, HE DIRECTED US RIGHT TO THE COMMUNITY. THEN WE GOT LOST IN INDIAN POINT AS THE DIRECTIONS GIVEN US TO THE LANDLORD, WERE ONCE AGAIN, WRONG. AFTER DRIVING AROUND THE COMMUNITY FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, WE FINALLY FIND THE VILLA.
AAAH...SWEET RELIEF FROM THE HEAT...SO WE THINK. WE ENTER THE HOUSE EXPECTING THE AIR CONDITIONER TO HAVE IT NICE AND COOL, BUT ALAS...THE HOUSE IS ABOUT 75 DEGREES. AFTER READING SOME INFORMATION FROM THE LANDLORD THAT WAS LEFT FOR US, WE FIND THAT 74-76 DEGREES IS CONSIDERED COOL FOR FLORIDA. WELL...EXCUSE ME, BUT WE ARE FROM AN AREA OF THE COUNTRY WHERE 75 IS PRETTY DARNED WARM!
SO WE DECIDE TO TAKE A SWIM TO COOL OFF.....YEP...YOU GUESSED IT. THE POOL IS FREEZING ALTHOUGH WE REQUESTED HEAT. NOW...WE HAVE AN ABOVE GROUND POOL BACK HOME THAT WE HEAT WITH SOLAR MATS. I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COLD AND COMFORTABLY COOL AND THIS POOL IS COLD! GRRRR.
STEVE AND I GO TO WALMART FOR BOTTLED WATER, CHIPS AND POP WHILE THE REST OF THE FAMILY TURNS ON EVERY FAN IN THE HOUSE TO TRY TO COOL IT OFF.
THIS HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD START TO OUR WDW VACATION! WE CRASH AND HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.
DEWAYNE WANTS TO START OUR VACATION RIGHT AWAY, SO WE GO TO DENNY'S FOR DINNER. WE DON'T EAT OUT OFTEN, SO THIS WAS A TREAT FOR OUR FAMILY. AFTER DINNER, WE WENT THROUGH OUR PACKING LIST TO MAKE SURE WE HAD EVERYTHING, THEN WAITED FOR STEVE AND HIS FAMILY TO ARRIVE. THEY GOT TO OUR HOUSE AT 7:00 PM. SHUTTLE ARRIVED RIGHT ON TIME AT 9:00. WE PILED INTO THE VAN AND HEADED FOR SEATAC AIRPORT. WHETHER: LIGHT RAIN AND ABOUT 52 DEGREES.
CHECKED IN USING THE ITM AT ALASKA AIRLINES. HAD A BITE TO EAT AT BURGER KING IN THE AIRPORT. OUR FLIGHT WAS ON TIME AND WE DEPARTED AT 11:25 PM. HERE IS WHERE MY CAREFUL PLANNING STARTED TO FALL APART. SLEEPING ON THE AIRPLANE? YEAH, RIGHT! ONLY OUR GRANDSONS ACTUALLY SLEPT. THE REST OF US WERE MISERABLE FROM EXHAUSTION BY THE TIME WE ARRIVED IN ORLANDO.
DAY 2--(SAT) NOV. 12 (84 DEGREES)---SEA WORLD
ARRIVED AT MCO ON SCHEDULE. RODE THE MONORAIL/TRAIN TO BAGGAGE AND TRANSPORTATION AREA. RETRIEVED OUR BAGGAGE AND CROSSED THE ROAD TO PICK UP OUR RENTAL CARS. FOUND OUR WAY OUT OF THE AIRPORT AND HEADED FOR SEA WORLD. SMOOTH SAILING SO FAR.
BY THIS TIME, WE WERE ALL STARVING. BECAUSE WE FLEW THE RED EYE, THERE WAS NO MEAL OFFERED ON THE PLANE. WE GET TO SEA WORLD, AND NONE OF THE RESTARAUNTS WERE OPEN. WE WALKED AROUND THAT WHOLE PARK AND COULDN'T FIND A THING TO EAT. NOT ONLY WERE WE BONE TIRED BUT WE WERE HUNGRY AS WELL. WE WENT INTO SHARK ENCOUNTER, SAW THE PENQUINS AND WATCHED THE CLYDE & SEYMORE SHOW. BY THIS TIME IT WAS 11:00 AND WE WERE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT. MY FAMILY ATE AT A PIZZA PLACE AND STEVE'S FAMILY ATE BURGERS SOMEWHERE. WE KEPT IN CONTACT BY PHONE. (WE ALL HAVE T-MOBILE CELL PHONES SO WE COULD TALK TO EACH OTHER WITHOUT CHARGES.) I HAD A SLICE OF A VEGGY-TYPE PIZZA...IT WAS YUMMY.
BY THE TIME LUNCH WAS OVER, THE WHETHER HAD STARTED TO REALLY HEAT UP. COMING FROM THE SEATTLE AREA WHERE IT WAS COLD & DAMP, TO ORLANDO WHERE THE TEMPERATURE WAS 84 DEGREES AND MUGGY, WAS QUITE A SHOCK TO OUR BODIES. WE WERE ACTUALLY HAVING A HARD TIME BREATHING THIS FIRST DAY.
WANTING TO COOL OFF, WE HEADED FOR JOURNEY TO ATLANTIS. VIRTUALLY NO LINE...WE WALKED RIGHT ON TO THE RIDE. THE COASTER PART SURPRISED US. WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A LOG RIDE.
BEING A "POOH"-SIZED WOMAN, I TRY THE MODIFIED SAMPLE SEAT IN FRONT OF KRACKEN. NO PROBLEM. THIS COASTER IS GREAT, BUT IT TOOK THE BREATH RIGHT OUT OF ME. I ENTERTAIN KYLE, WHO IS TOO SHORT TO RIDE, WHILE THE YOUNGSTERS GO BACK FOR A 2ND TIME.
THE REST OF DAY WENT BY IN A BLUR FOR ME. I WAS SO TIRED AND HOT THAT I BECAME PHYSICALLY SICK. I THINK WE LEFT THE PARK AT 2:30.
THIS IS WHEN THE REAL FUN BEGAN. I HAD PRINTED OUT DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO GET TO OUR VILLA FROM SEA WORLD. THE DIRECTIONS SAID WE WERE TO HEAD NORTH OUT OF THE PARK. NOW, WE DON'T CARRY A COMPASS WITH US, SO WE HAD NO IDEA WHICH WAY WAS NORTH. LUCKY US...WE MUST HAVE HEADED SOUTH BECAUSE WE GOT TOTALLY LOST.
WE DECIDED TO BACK-TRACK TO THE AIRPORT AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS TO THE HOUSE THAT THE LANDLORD HAD SENT US. WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT IDEA IF HIS DIRECTIONS HAD BEEN EVEN REMOTELY CORRECT. THE DIRECTIONS SAID FOLLOW SOME ROAD FOR 3 MILES TO SUCH AND SUCH ROAD, BUT OF COURSE THERE NEVER WAS A SIGN THAT TOLD US WHERE TO TURN.
SOMEHOW, WE END UP IN KISSIMMEE, BUT HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO GET TO POINCHETTA BLVD., SO WE STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO ASK DIRECTIONS. OF COURSE, THIS GAL GAVE US THE WRONG DIRECTIONS AS WELL.
BY THE WAY...MY HUSBAND PASSED ANGRY ABOUT 50 MILES BACK AND IS COMING UP ON DOWNRIGHT SCAREY REAL FAST.
WE FINALLY STOPPED AT A 7-11 TYPE STORE AND THE GUY IN THIS PLACE SEEMED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE INDIAN POINT HOUSING DEVELOPEMENT WAS. GOD BLESS HIM, HE DIRECTED US RIGHT TO THE COMMUNITY. THEN WE GOT LOST IN INDIAN POINT AS THE DIRECTIONS GIVEN US TO THE LANDLORD, WERE ONCE AGAIN, WRONG. AFTER DRIVING AROUND THE COMMUNITY FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, WE FINALLY FIND THE VILLA.
AAAH...SWEET RELIEF FROM THE HEAT...SO WE THINK. WE ENTER THE HOUSE EXPECTING THE AIR CONDITIONER TO HAVE IT NICE AND COOL, BUT ALAS...THE HOUSE IS ABOUT 75 DEGREES. AFTER READING SOME INFORMATION FROM THE LANDLORD THAT WAS LEFT FOR US, WE FIND THAT 74-76 DEGREES IS CONSIDERED COOL FOR FLORIDA. WELL...EXCUSE ME, BUT WE ARE FROM AN AREA OF THE COUNTRY WHERE 75 IS PRETTY DARNED WARM!
SO WE DECIDE TO TAKE A SWIM TO COOL OFF.....YEP...YOU GUESSED IT. THE POOL IS FREEZING ALTHOUGH WE REQUESTED HEAT. NOW...WE HAVE AN ABOVE GROUND POOL BACK HOME THAT WE HEAT WITH SOLAR MATS. I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COLD AND COMFORTABLY COOL AND THIS POOL IS COLD! GRRRR.
STEVE AND I GO TO WALMART FOR BOTTLED WATER, CHIPS AND POP WHILE THE REST OF THE FAMILY TURNS ON EVERY FAN IN THE HOUSE TO TRY TO COOL IT OFF.
THIS HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD START TO OUR WDW VACATION! WE CRASH AND HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.
