DAY 9: SATURDAY--NOV. 19--OUR LAST DAY (80 DEGREES) MAGIC KINGDOM
MICHELLE, STEVE AND TYLER GO TO DOWNTOWN DISNEY. THE REST OF US HEAD FOR MAGIC KINGDOM. SHOCK WHEN WE GET TO THE KINGDOM. IT'S WALL TO WALL PEOPLE AT SECURITY AND TURNSTILES....MORE POURING IN EVERY SECOND. THIS IS THE ONLY DAY THAT WE ENCOUNTERED A REAL CROWD THE ENTIRE WEEK. SINCE WE WERE ALREADY THERE, WE DECIDED TO GIVE IT TRY, EVEN IF ALL WE DID WAS JUST SOME SIGHT SEEING. WE HEAD FOR TOMORROWLAND, GRAB FAST PASSES FOR SPACE MT. THEN EAT AT COSMIC RAYS. I HAD A YUMMY BBQ PORK SANDWHICH WITH ONLY THE BOTTOM PART OF THE BUN, A SMALL PASTA SALAD AND MILK. EVERYONE ELSE HAD THE CHICKEN STRIPS.
WE USED OUR FAST PASS FOR SPACE MT...ONCE AGAIN, KYLE LOVED IT. BY THIS TIME THE TEMPERATURE WAS STARTING TO HEAT UP. THE CROWD LEVEL WASN'T AS BAD AFTER EVERYONE HAD SPREAD OUT IN THE PARK. SPACE MT. ONLY HAD A 20 MINUTE STANDBY LINE, BUT SINCE THE PARK STAYS OPEN UNITL 10:00 TONIGHT, WE CALL STEVE AND MICHELLE AND DECIDE TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE, SWIM A COUPLE OF HOURS, THEN GO BACK TO THE KINGDOM FOR SPECTROMAGIC AND WISHES LATER IN THE EVENING. THIS TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT PLAN.
WE LEAVE THE HOUSE AT 4:00. MICHELLE IS WORN OUT AND DECIDES TO STAY HOME BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET UP SO EARLY THE NEXT MORNING TO CATCH OUR PLANE. THE REST OF US HAVE DINNER AT DENNYS. BIG MISTAKE ON MY PART. I EAT THE CARBS AND FIGHT ANGINA FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. WHEN WE GET TO THE KINGDOM AT 6:00, I CAN'T DO ANY WALKING, SO DEWAYNE AND I STAKE OUT OUR SPOT FOR SPECTROMAGIC AND WISHES WHICH DOESN'T START FOR ANOTHER 3 HOURS. WE PARKED OURSELVES ON THE BALCONY OF THE TRAIN STATION LOOKING RIGHT DOWN MAIN STREET AT THE CASTLE. WE MOVED 5 CHAIRS CLOSE TO THE BALCONY RAILINGS, BUT LEFT JUST ENOUGH ROOM IN FRONT OF US FOR THE KIDS TO SIT. NO ONE WAS GOING TO CROWD US OUT THIS TIME!
WHILE PEOPLE WATCHING FROM THE BALCONY, WAYNE NEWTON WALKS UNDER THE TUNNEL AND UP THE STAIRS TO THE TRAIN WITH HIS FAMILY. STEVE, CHRIS, COREY, KYLE AND TYLER ARE IN FRONTIERLAND. I CALL THEM ON THE CELL AND THEY ARE ALREADY AT THE TRAIN STATION GETTING READY TO COME JOIN US ON MAIN STREET. WHEN THE TRAIN ARRIVES IN FRONTIERLAND, THEY SIT 3 ROWS IN FRONT OF MR. NEWTON. STEVE GETS SOME VIDEO OF MR. VEGAS.
WHEN THE KIDS GET OFF THE TRAIN, DEWAYNE AND I LET THEM TAKE OVER WATCHING OUR TURF AND WE DO SOME SHOPPING AT THE EMPORIUM FOR THOSE BACK HOME. I USUALLY HATE SHOPPING, BUT FOUND THAT I ENJOYED THIS TIME BUYING FOR OTHERS.
SPECTORMAGIC WAS GREAT, BUT OF ALL THE PARADES I HAVE SEEN AT DISNEY, MULAN IS STILL MY FAVORITE. WHEN WE SAW THE PARADE AT DL A FEW YEARS BACK, WE WERE SITTING ON THE CURB OF MAIN STREET NEXT TO A CHINESE/AMERICAN WHO TOLD US THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE LEGEND OF MULAN. IT MADE THE PARADE THAT MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE.
ALTHOUGH WE HAD A GREAT VIEW OF WISHES, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER HAD WE VIEWED IT IN ANOTHER LOCATION. THE TRAIN STATION AND ENTRANCE LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON, AND THE SPEAKERS TO THE SOUND SYSTEM WEREN'T RIGHT NEXT TO US WHICH ALWAYS ADDS SO MUCH MORE TO THE FIREWORKS. I JUST DIDN'T FEEL IMMERSED IN THE STORY LIKE I USUALLY DO.
WE THOUGHT ABOUT LAGGING BEHIND UNTIL THE CROWDS THIN OUT, BUT THAT 4:00 WAKE UP CALL PRODS US TO JOIN THE HERD BELOW US AS WE SQUEEZE OUR WAY OUT OF THE PARK. AS ALWAYS, I GET ALL TEARY-EYED AS I TAKE ONE LAST LOOK DOWN MAIN STREET. WE GET OUT TO THE TRANSPORTATION AREA AND IT'S A MAD HOUSE. THE EXPRESS TO THE TTC IS DOWN, THE RESORT MONORAIL IS BACKED WAY DOWN THE RAMP, AND THE CMS ARE DIRECTING EVERYONE TO THE FERRY. WE RESIGN OURSELVES TO THE IDEA THAT WE MAY HAVE TO WAIT FOR 5 OR 6 BOATS, BUT ARE PLEASENTLY SURPRISED THAT WE GET ON THE 2ND ONE. THESE FERRIES CAN CARRY A HUGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE!
DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE HOUSE THIS LAST NIGHT...NO WRONG TURNS. DIDN'T GET TO BED UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
DAY 10: SUNDAY--NOV. 20
WAKE UP AT 4:00 AM. WE HAVE TO LEAVE BEHIND SOME BOTTLED WATER, CANDY, PEPSI, AND OTHER UNOPENED FOOD ITEMS. UNBEKNOWNST TO US, WE ALSO LEFT MY PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES AND OUR NEW DVD OF STEALTH, BEHIND.
IT SHOULD BE EASY GOING TO MCO. TAKE HWY 536 TO 417 WHICH SHOULD LEAD US DIRECTLY TO THE AIRPORT. SO WE FOLLOW THE SIGNS TO THE AIRPORT ON 536 WHICH TAKES US TO A DEAD END. WHY IS IT THAT FLORIDA GIVES YOU ONLY 1 SIGN TO THE AIRPORT ON A HWY? STUPID! SO WE FIND A 7/11 TYPE STORE AND ASK DIRECTIONS. HE TELLS US TO TAKE A RIGHT OUT OF THE STORE AND IT WILL TAKE US TO 417. AAH...A SIGN THAT SAYS AIRPORT LEFT AT THE LIGHT. WE GET TO THE LIGHT, BUT CANNOT TURN LEFT BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION HAS PUT UP A BLOCK. SO WE MOVE OVER TO THE STRAIGHT-THRU LANE. 2 CARS PULL UP BESIDE US TO TAKE THAT LEFT AND WE SIT OPEN-MOUTHED AS THEY PROCEED TO TURN LEFT ONTO A TINY LITTLE ROAD NEXT TO THE BLOCKAGE. SO WE TURN AROUND AND FOLLOW THEM ONTO THAT ROAD. WE DON'T SEE ANY OTHER SIGNS INDICATING HOW FAR MCO IS UP AHEAD. WE GO FOR MILES UNTIL WE COME TO A TOLL BOOTH. THE LADY IN THERE TELLS US THAT WE'RE HEADING AWAY FROM MCO. SO WE TURN AROUND, PAY THE TOLL AGAIN, AND HEAD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. GRRRR! DEWAYNE SAYS HE IS NEVER GOING TO DRIVE IN THIS STATE AGAIN...I DON'T BLAME HIM. WHAT A MESS!
WE FINALLY MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT BUT HAVE TO CIRCLE THE THING 4 TIMES BEFORE WE GET OURSELVES TO NATIONAL CAR RENTAL DROP OFF LOCATION. BY THIS TIME, STEVE AND MICHELLE HAVE LOST THEIR PATIENCE AS WELL CONCERNING FLORIDA DRIVING.
WE FINALLY MAKE IT TO NATIONAL...EASY CHECK IN PROCESS. POOR COREY HAS TO LUG HULK WHO WEIGHS A GOOD 40 LBS. BY THE TIME WE GET OVER TO THE TERMINAL, HE'S LAGGING WAY BEHIND SO WE RENT A LUGGAGE RACK JUST FOR HULK WHO TAKES UP THE WHOLE THING. WE ALSO RENT ANOTHER ONE FOR SOME OF OUR OTHER BAGS.
SECURITY AND CHECK IN WAS FAIRLY QUICK. WE GRAB A BITE TO EAT BECAUSE MOST OF US KNOW WE WON'T LIKE WHAT THE AIRLINE OFFERS...WE NEVER DO. WE GOT A GOOD LAUGH AS WE WATCH HULK GOING UP THE LOADING RAMP INTO CARGO AREA OF OUR PLANE. HE'S SO BIG, IT'S LIKE WATCHING A REAL PERSON.
WHEN WE BOARD THE PLANE, WE NOTICE THAT ALTHOUGH THIS IS ANOTHER BOEING 737-800, THIS ONE SEEMS TO BE A BIT ROOMIER AND THE SEATS HAVE A HEAD-REST CONTRAPTION THAT FOLDS OUT SO THAT YOU CAN REST YOUR HEAD AGAINST THEM. I HAD RESERVED 4 DIGI-PLAYERS FOR OUR TRIP HOME. DEWAYNE WATCHED MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET AND I WATCHED AN EPISODE OF DHARMA & GREGG. I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS SHOW BEFORE, BUT I MAY BECOME A VIEWER. IT WAS QUITE FUNNY. THE KIDS WATCHED MADAGASCAR.
OUR FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL AND WE ARRIVED IN SEATTLE TO 42 DEGREE AND FOGGY CONDITIONS. WHILE EVERYONE ELSE WAS WAITING FOR OUR LUGGAGE, I WENT OVER TO SHUTTLE EXPRESS IN THE PARKING GARAGE AREA TO ACTIVATE OUR RESERVATION. MAN..IS IT EVER COLD! THE GIRL BEHIND THE COUNTER SAYS THAT MY VISA CARD DENIED PAYMENT. I KNEW THAT MY CARD WAS GOING TO EXPIRE IN NOVEMBER, BUT I WAS HOPING IT WOULDN'T EXPIRE UNTIL THE END OF NOVEMBER BECAUSE I HADN'T RECEIVED MY NEW ONE BEFORE WE LEFT FLORIDA. ANYWAY, BETWEEN DEWAYNE AND I, WE CAME UP WITH THE CASH AND TIP FOR THE DRIVER. WE MAKE IT HOME BY 1:00 PM.
SUMMATION AND LESSONS LEARNED;
ALTHOUGH WE LOVE THE SPACIOUSNESS OF A HOUSE, WE WILL NEVER RENT A VILLA IN THE KISSIMMEE AREA AGAIN. WE ARE LOOKING INTO HOMES THAT ARE CLOSER TO WDW.
WE PLAN TO STAY IN ORLANDO FOR 2 WEEKS NEXT TIME, BUT PROBABLY WON'T DO UNIVERSAL, SEA WORLD, OR ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE. THERE'S PLENTY ELSE TO DO RIGHT AT DISNEY. WE HAVE A PLAN. WE WILL USE THE WEEKENDS TO RELAX AND DO THE PARKS DURING THE WEEK DAYS WHEN THEY AREN'T SO CROWDED.
WE ARE THINKING OF GOING IN NOVEMBER OF 2007 AGAIN, OR IN JANUARY OF 2008. WE WOULD LIKE TO GO WHEN THE PARKS ARE OPEN FOR LONGER HOURS, BUT WE KNOW THAT NONE OF US WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THE HEAT IN FLORIDA, NOR THE CROWDS, DURING THOSE TIMES.
I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED THAT I COULDN'T SPEND MORE TIME AT EPCOT. NEXT TIME, I'M RESERVING 2 FULL DAYS FOR THIS PARK. I ALSO WANT TO GO TO EVERY RESORT AND CHECK THEM OUT. THIS COULD BE DONE ON THE WEEKENDS.
WE WILL NEVER FLY A RED-EYE AGAIN AND WE WILL TAKE A LATER FLIGHT HOME.
CROWDS WERE MINIMAL EXCEPT FOR THAT LAST SATURDAY. THE ONLY LINE LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES WAS SOARIN', BUT THAT CAN BE BEAT BY USING FAST PASS. MOST LINES WERE UNDER 10 MINUTES.
OUR FAMILY GOT TOGETHER FOR THANKSGIVING YESTERDAY. I MENTIONED GOING BACK TO DL INSTEAD OF WDW, BUT I GOT A ROUND OF NEGATIVES ON THAT IDEA. ALTHOUGH IT WAS AGREED THAT WE MISSED GOING TO KNOTT'S BERRY FARM, IT WAS UNANIMOUS...EVERYONE WANTS TO GO BACK TO WDW, SO WDW IT IS.
OTHER THAN THE DRIVING PART, WE ALL ENJOYED THIS VACATION SO MUCH. THE LITTLE GUYS WERE EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-BEHAVED AND Th ERE WERE NO ARGUEMENTS AMONG THE ADULTS.
I HAVE ALREADY STARTED SAVING FOR OUR NEXT TRIP. I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WE GO BACK THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH.
MICHELLE, STEVE AND TYLER GO TO DOWNTOWN DISNEY. THE REST OF US HEAD FOR MAGIC KINGDOM. SHOCK WHEN WE GET TO THE KINGDOM. IT'S WALL TO WALL PEOPLE AT SECURITY AND TURNSTILES....MORE POURING IN EVERY SECOND. THIS IS THE ONLY DAY THAT WE ENCOUNTERED A REAL CROWD THE ENTIRE WEEK. SINCE WE WERE ALREADY THERE, WE DECIDED TO GIVE IT TRY, EVEN IF ALL WE DID WAS JUST SOME SIGHT SEEING. WE HEAD FOR TOMORROWLAND, GRAB FAST PASSES FOR SPACE MT. THEN EAT AT COSMIC RAYS. I HAD A YUMMY BBQ PORK SANDWHICH WITH ONLY THE BOTTOM PART OF THE BUN, A SMALL PASTA SALAD AND MILK. EVERYONE ELSE HAD THE CHICKEN STRIPS.
WE USED OUR FAST PASS FOR SPACE MT...ONCE AGAIN, KYLE LOVED IT. BY THIS TIME THE TEMPERATURE WAS STARTING TO HEAT UP. THE CROWD LEVEL WASN'T AS BAD AFTER EVERYONE HAD SPREAD OUT IN THE PARK. SPACE MT. ONLY HAD A 20 MINUTE STANDBY LINE, BUT SINCE THE PARK STAYS OPEN UNITL 10:00 TONIGHT, WE CALL STEVE AND MICHELLE AND DECIDE TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE, SWIM A COUPLE OF HOURS, THEN GO BACK TO THE KINGDOM FOR SPECTROMAGIC AND WISHES LATER IN THE EVENING. THIS TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT PLAN.
WE LEAVE THE HOUSE AT 4:00. MICHELLE IS WORN OUT AND DECIDES TO STAY HOME BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET UP SO EARLY THE NEXT MORNING TO CATCH OUR PLANE. THE REST OF US HAVE DINNER AT DENNYS. BIG MISTAKE ON MY PART. I EAT THE CARBS AND FIGHT ANGINA FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. WHEN WE GET TO THE KINGDOM AT 6:00, I CAN'T DO ANY WALKING, SO DEWAYNE AND I STAKE OUT OUR SPOT FOR SPECTROMAGIC AND WISHES WHICH DOESN'T START FOR ANOTHER 3 HOURS. WE PARKED OURSELVES ON THE BALCONY OF THE TRAIN STATION LOOKING RIGHT DOWN MAIN STREET AT THE CASTLE. WE MOVED 5 CHAIRS CLOSE TO THE BALCONY RAILINGS, BUT LEFT JUST ENOUGH ROOM IN FRONT OF US FOR THE KIDS TO SIT. NO ONE WAS GOING TO CROWD US OUT THIS TIME!
WHILE PEOPLE WATCHING FROM THE BALCONY, WAYNE NEWTON WALKS UNDER THE TUNNEL AND UP THE STAIRS TO THE TRAIN WITH HIS FAMILY. STEVE, CHRIS, COREY, KYLE AND TYLER ARE IN FRONTIERLAND. I CALL THEM ON THE CELL AND THEY ARE ALREADY AT THE TRAIN STATION GETTING READY TO COME JOIN US ON MAIN STREET. WHEN THE TRAIN ARRIVES IN FRONTIERLAND, THEY SIT 3 ROWS IN FRONT OF MR. NEWTON. STEVE GETS SOME VIDEO OF MR. VEGAS.
WHEN THE KIDS GET OFF THE TRAIN, DEWAYNE AND I LET THEM TAKE OVER WATCHING OUR TURF AND WE DO SOME SHOPPING AT THE EMPORIUM FOR THOSE BACK HOME. I USUALLY HATE SHOPPING, BUT FOUND THAT I ENJOYED THIS TIME BUYING FOR OTHERS.
SPECTORMAGIC WAS GREAT, BUT OF ALL THE PARADES I HAVE SEEN AT DISNEY, MULAN IS STILL MY FAVORITE. WHEN WE SAW THE PARADE AT DL A FEW YEARS BACK, WE WERE SITTING ON THE CURB OF MAIN STREET NEXT TO A CHINESE/AMERICAN WHO TOLD US THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE LEGEND OF MULAN. IT MADE THE PARADE THAT MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE.
ALTHOUGH WE HAD A GREAT VIEW OF WISHES, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER HAD WE VIEWED IT IN ANOTHER LOCATION. THE TRAIN STATION AND ENTRANCE LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON, AND THE SPEAKERS TO THE SOUND SYSTEM WEREN'T RIGHT NEXT TO US WHICH ALWAYS ADDS SO MUCH MORE TO THE FIREWORKS. I JUST DIDN'T FEEL IMMERSED IN THE STORY LIKE I USUALLY DO.
WE THOUGHT ABOUT LAGGING BEHIND UNTIL THE CROWDS THIN OUT, BUT THAT 4:00 WAKE UP CALL PRODS US TO JOIN THE HERD BELOW US AS WE SQUEEZE OUR WAY OUT OF THE PARK. AS ALWAYS, I GET ALL TEARY-EYED AS I TAKE ONE LAST LOOK DOWN MAIN STREET. WE GET OUT TO THE TRANSPORTATION AREA AND IT'S A MAD HOUSE. THE EXPRESS TO THE TTC IS DOWN, THE RESORT MONORAIL IS BACKED WAY DOWN THE RAMP, AND THE CMS ARE DIRECTING EVERYONE TO THE FERRY. WE RESIGN OURSELVES TO THE IDEA THAT WE MAY HAVE TO WAIT FOR 5 OR 6 BOATS, BUT ARE PLEASENTLY SURPRISED THAT WE GET ON THE 2ND ONE. THESE FERRIES CAN CARRY A HUGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE!
DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE HOUSE THIS LAST NIGHT...NO WRONG TURNS. DIDN'T GET TO BED UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
DAY 10: SUNDAY--NOV. 20
WAKE UP AT 4:00 AM. WE HAVE TO LEAVE BEHIND SOME BOTTLED WATER, CANDY, PEPSI, AND OTHER UNOPENED FOOD ITEMS. UNBEKNOWNST TO US, WE ALSO LEFT MY PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES AND OUR NEW DVD OF STEALTH, BEHIND.
IT SHOULD BE EASY GOING TO MCO. TAKE HWY 536 TO 417 WHICH SHOULD LEAD US DIRECTLY TO THE AIRPORT. SO WE FOLLOW THE SIGNS TO THE AIRPORT ON 536 WHICH TAKES US TO A DEAD END. WHY IS IT THAT FLORIDA GIVES YOU ONLY 1 SIGN TO THE AIRPORT ON A HWY? STUPID! SO WE FIND A 7/11 TYPE STORE AND ASK DIRECTIONS. HE TELLS US TO TAKE A RIGHT OUT OF THE STORE AND IT WILL TAKE US TO 417. AAH...A SIGN THAT SAYS AIRPORT LEFT AT THE LIGHT. WE GET TO THE LIGHT, BUT CANNOT TURN LEFT BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION HAS PUT UP A BLOCK. SO WE MOVE OVER TO THE STRAIGHT-THRU LANE. 2 CARS PULL UP BESIDE US TO TAKE THAT LEFT AND WE SIT OPEN-MOUTHED AS THEY PROCEED TO TURN LEFT ONTO A TINY LITTLE ROAD NEXT TO THE BLOCKAGE. SO WE TURN AROUND AND FOLLOW THEM ONTO THAT ROAD. WE DON'T SEE ANY OTHER SIGNS INDICATING HOW FAR MCO IS UP AHEAD. WE GO FOR MILES UNTIL WE COME TO A TOLL BOOTH. THE LADY IN THERE TELLS US THAT WE'RE HEADING AWAY FROM MCO. SO WE TURN AROUND, PAY THE TOLL AGAIN, AND HEAD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. GRRRR! DEWAYNE SAYS HE IS NEVER GOING TO DRIVE IN THIS STATE AGAIN...I DON'T BLAME HIM. WHAT A MESS!
WE FINALLY MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT BUT HAVE TO CIRCLE THE THING 4 TIMES BEFORE WE GET OURSELVES TO NATIONAL CAR RENTAL DROP OFF LOCATION. BY THIS TIME, STEVE AND MICHELLE HAVE LOST THEIR PATIENCE AS WELL CONCERNING FLORIDA DRIVING.
WE FINALLY MAKE IT TO NATIONAL...EASY CHECK IN PROCESS. POOR COREY HAS TO LUG HULK WHO WEIGHS A GOOD 40 LBS. BY THE TIME WE GET OVER TO THE TERMINAL, HE'S LAGGING WAY BEHIND SO WE RENT A LUGGAGE RACK JUST FOR HULK WHO TAKES UP THE WHOLE THING. WE ALSO RENT ANOTHER ONE FOR SOME OF OUR OTHER BAGS.
SECURITY AND CHECK IN WAS FAIRLY QUICK. WE GRAB A BITE TO EAT BECAUSE MOST OF US KNOW WE WON'T LIKE WHAT THE AIRLINE OFFERS...WE NEVER DO. WE GOT A GOOD LAUGH AS WE WATCH HULK GOING UP THE LOADING RAMP INTO CARGO AREA OF OUR PLANE. HE'S SO BIG, IT'S LIKE WATCHING A REAL PERSON.
WHEN WE BOARD THE PLANE, WE NOTICE THAT ALTHOUGH THIS IS ANOTHER BOEING 737-800, THIS ONE SEEMS TO BE A BIT ROOMIER AND THE SEATS HAVE A HEAD-REST CONTRAPTION THAT FOLDS OUT SO THAT YOU CAN REST YOUR HEAD AGAINST THEM. I HAD RESERVED 4 DIGI-PLAYERS FOR OUR TRIP HOME. DEWAYNE WATCHED MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET AND I WATCHED AN EPISODE OF DHARMA & GREGG. I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS SHOW BEFORE, BUT I MAY BECOME A VIEWER. IT WAS QUITE FUNNY. THE KIDS WATCHED MADAGASCAR.
OUR FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL AND WE ARRIVED IN SEATTLE TO 42 DEGREE AND FOGGY CONDITIONS. WHILE EVERYONE ELSE WAS WAITING FOR OUR LUGGAGE, I WENT OVER TO SHUTTLE EXPRESS IN THE PARKING GARAGE AREA TO ACTIVATE OUR RESERVATION. MAN..IS IT EVER COLD! THE GIRL BEHIND THE COUNTER SAYS THAT MY VISA CARD DENIED PAYMENT. I KNEW THAT MY CARD WAS GOING TO EXPIRE IN NOVEMBER, BUT I WAS HOPING IT WOULDN'T EXPIRE UNTIL THE END OF NOVEMBER BECAUSE I HADN'T RECEIVED MY NEW ONE BEFORE WE LEFT FLORIDA. ANYWAY, BETWEEN DEWAYNE AND I, WE CAME UP WITH THE CASH AND TIP FOR THE DRIVER. WE MAKE IT HOME BY 1:00 PM.
SUMMATION AND LESSONS LEARNED;
ALTHOUGH WE LOVE THE SPACIOUSNESS OF A HOUSE, WE WILL NEVER RENT A VILLA IN THE KISSIMMEE AREA AGAIN. WE ARE LOOKING INTO HOMES THAT ARE CLOSER TO WDW.
WE PLAN TO STAY IN ORLANDO FOR 2 WEEKS NEXT TIME, BUT PROBABLY WON'T DO UNIVERSAL, SEA WORLD, OR ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE. THERE'S PLENTY ELSE TO DO RIGHT AT DISNEY. WE HAVE A PLAN. WE WILL USE THE WEEKENDS TO RELAX AND DO THE PARKS DURING THE WEEK DAYS WHEN THEY AREN'T SO CROWDED.
WE ARE THINKING OF GOING IN NOVEMBER OF 2007 AGAIN, OR IN JANUARY OF 2008. WE WOULD LIKE TO GO WHEN THE PARKS ARE OPEN FOR LONGER HOURS, BUT WE KNOW THAT NONE OF US WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THE HEAT IN FLORIDA, NOR THE CROWDS, DURING THOSE TIMES.
I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED THAT I COULDN'T SPEND MORE TIME AT EPCOT. NEXT TIME, I'M RESERVING 2 FULL DAYS FOR THIS PARK. I ALSO WANT TO GO TO EVERY RESORT AND CHECK THEM OUT. THIS COULD BE DONE ON THE WEEKENDS.
WE WILL NEVER FLY A RED-EYE AGAIN AND WE WILL TAKE A LATER FLIGHT HOME.
CROWDS WERE MINIMAL EXCEPT FOR THAT LAST SATURDAY. THE ONLY LINE LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES WAS SOARIN', BUT THAT CAN BE BEAT BY USING FAST PASS. MOST LINES WERE UNDER 10 MINUTES.
OUR FAMILY GOT TOGETHER FOR THANKSGIVING YESTERDAY. I MENTIONED GOING BACK TO DL INSTEAD OF WDW, BUT I GOT A ROUND OF NEGATIVES ON THAT IDEA. ALTHOUGH IT WAS AGREED THAT WE MISSED GOING TO KNOTT'S BERRY FARM, IT WAS UNANIMOUS...EVERYONE WANTS TO GO BACK TO WDW, SO WDW IT IS.
OTHER THAN THE DRIVING PART, WE ALL ENJOYED THIS VACATION SO MUCH. THE LITTLE GUYS WERE EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-BEHAVED AND Th ERE WERE NO ARGUEMENTS AMONG THE ADULTS.
I HAVE ALREADY STARTED SAVING FOR OUR NEXT TRIP. I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WE GO BACK THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH.
We are going in Jan
