FreezinRafiki
Cold enough for ya?
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2009
- Messages
- 6,220
I suppose a lot of people start off a report on their first cruise with some elaborate back story of what lead them to taking a cruise. Celebrating a big milestone or hearing the call of the open sea. Ours went something like this: [insert ripple dissolve effect]
Bambi: "You want to take a cruise?"
Me: "OK."
[One more ripple dissolve to bring us back to the present]
So, with that out of the way, let's get on with the story...
The plan was to fly down on October 28th and back home on November 5th, so we packed everything we would need for 9 days into our carry-ons and one large suitcase. That included park wear, swim wear, Halloween costumes and pirate costumes (for Pirates In the Caribbean Night on the ship). Lest you think we used some kind of industrial press to smash everything in, I'll should probably let you know that Bambi's parents live between Orlando and Tampa and would be accompanying us on the trip. Which reminds me - let's go back and see how that part of the conversation went.
[Ripple Dissolve]
Bambi:"You know, the kids don't get to see their grandparents that often. Maybe we should see if they want to come on the cruise with us."
Me: "Ummm...."
Bambi: "Not in our cabin of course. They can have their own on the other side of the ship"
Me: "Oh. OK then."
[Ripple dissolve back to the present]
(Sorry for all the ripple dissolves. I only rented the machine for the day and I want to get as much use out of it as I can)
So, while we are very efficient packers we didn't exactly have to squeeze everything we needed into those bags because we had some stuff down there and could easily get whatever else we would need.
So after throwing our stuff in the van we started the 30 minute drive to Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport. (They call it "International" because I think a plane from Canada once accidentally stopped there on the way to Chicago.) During the drive, we had one of those "I really fear for the direction humanity is heading" moments:
Yes, that is a "No Smoking" sticker in the back window. And yes, that person in the font seat is smoking. We figured their was a better than average chance that there were medical oxygen tanks in the car so I hit the accelerator and put as much distance between us and them as I could.
As I usually do when we fly, I dropped Bambi and the kids off at the curb and headed to the parking lot. That way, we don't have to haul all of our stuff onto the parking shuttle. I crossed the street to my favorite FastPark & Relax lot - only to find out that they were so full that they were only accepting members of their loyalty club. Which I am not a member of.
I turned around and headed to the Airport's "SuperSaver" remote lots, where I found a spot at the far end of the farthest lot. I could see Wisconsin's capitol building from where I parked. (I guess you have to know a little bit about Wisconsin geography to get that joke. The capitol is in Madison, 90 miles from Milwaukee. Sigh. Anyway, back to the story)
As soon as I got on the shuttle to the terminal, I called Bambi to let her know I was running late. Her phone started ringing in my backpack, so I assumed she wasn't going to get that message.
A few minutes later I had arrived, we checked our bag (there's $20 I'll never see again) and were in line for security. The line was quite long, but I did get to go through the new zapper x-ray gamma-ray spinny scanner. I'm pretty sure I have super powers now, but I'm not sure what they are.
Either way, there we all were, shoes off, belts off, sweatshirts off, half of our stuff scattered along the rolley conveyor belt and feeling totally discombobulated. Luckily, the Milwaukee Airport provides an area just beyond security for just our needs:
(Pay no attention to the clock. My picture turned out fuzzy, I so borrowed on from the Internet)
Anyway, after paying $45 for $20 worth of food at the airport (Hey! It's like we're in Disney World already!) we settled in at the gate and waited for our flight.
The flight was mostly uneventful, except for one little thing. We were lucky enough to get 4 seats on the side of the plane that was 2 across seating. About halfway though the flight, the kids wanted to sit together. We'd never allowed that before, but decided that since there wouldn't be anyone else next to them to bother, we gave it. They sat nicely and shared Madison's coloring book.
We landed in Tampa right on schedule. WAIT! - WHAT? We're in TAMPA?
Settle down, that's were we planned to go. Bambi's dad, Dean, met us there since her mom (Carol) was still at work. We drove over to the nearby Bahama Breeze for dinner
Then took the 40 minute drive back to Grandma & Grandpa's house, but stopped off at the local mall for a Mrs. Fields run. Because when you want chocolate chip cookies, you want chocolate chip cookies.
Up Next: We drive from Lakeland to Port Canaveral. With a stop at the Magic Kingdom along the way. (Oh, and there will be pictures from a camera other than on my phone. Promise!)
Bambi: "You want to take a cruise?"
Me: "OK."
[One more ripple dissolve to bring us back to the present]
So, with that out of the way, let's get on with the story...
The plan was to fly down on October 28th and back home on November 5th, so we packed everything we would need for 9 days into our carry-ons and one large suitcase. That included park wear, swim wear, Halloween costumes and pirate costumes (for Pirates In the Caribbean Night on the ship). Lest you think we used some kind of industrial press to smash everything in, I'll should probably let you know that Bambi's parents live between Orlando and Tampa and would be accompanying us on the trip. Which reminds me - let's go back and see how that part of the conversation went.
[Ripple Dissolve]
Bambi:"You know, the kids don't get to see their grandparents that often. Maybe we should see if they want to come on the cruise with us."
Me: "Ummm...."
Bambi: "Not in our cabin of course. They can have their own on the other side of the ship"
Me: "Oh. OK then."
[Ripple dissolve back to the present]
(Sorry for all the ripple dissolves. I only rented the machine for the day and I want to get as much use out of it as I can)
So, while we are very efficient packers we didn't exactly have to squeeze everything we needed into those bags because we had some stuff down there and could easily get whatever else we would need.
So after throwing our stuff in the van we started the 30 minute drive to Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport. (They call it "International" because I think a plane from Canada once accidentally stopped there on the way to Chicago.) During the drive, we had one of those "I really fear for the direction humanity is heading" moments:
Yes, that is a "No Smoking" sticker in the back window. And yes, that person in the font seat is smoking. We figured their was a better than average chance that there were medical oxygen tanks in the car so I hit the accelerator and put as much distance between us and them as I could.
As I usually do when we fly, I dropped Bambi and the kids off at the curb and headed to the parking lot. That way, we don't have to haul all of our stuff onto the parking shuttle. I crossed the street to my favorite FastPark & Relax lot - only to find out that they were so full that they were only accepting members of their loyalty club. Which I am not a member of.
I turned around and headed to the Airport's "SuperSaver" remote lots, where I found a spot at the far end of the farthest lot. I could see Wisconsin's capitol building from where I parked. (I guess you have to know a little bit about Wisconsin geography to get that joke. The capitol is in Madison, 90 miles from Milwaukee. Sigh. Anyway, back to the story)
As soon as I got on the shuttle to the terminal, I called Bambi to let her know I was running late. Her phone started ringing in my backpack, so I assumed she wasn't going to get that message.
A few minutes later I had arrived, we checked our bag (there's $20 I'll never see again) and were in line for security. The line was quite long, but I did get to go through the new zapper x-ray gamma-ray spinny scanner. I'm pretty sure I have super powers now, but I'm not sure what they are.
Either way, there we all were, shoes off, belts off, sweatshirts off, half of our stuff scattered along the rolley conveyor belt and feeling totally discombobulated. Luckily, the Milwaukee Airport provides an area just beyond security for just our needs:
(Pay no attention to the clock. My picture turned out fuzzy, I so borrowed on from the Internet)
Anyway, after paying $45 for $20 worth of food at the airport (Hey! It's like we're in Disney World already!) we settled in at the gate and waited for our flight.
The flight was mostly uneventful, except for one little thing. We were lucky enough to get 4 seats on the side of the plane that was 2 across seating. About halfway though the flight, the kids wanted to sit together. We'd never allowed that before, but decided that since there wouldn't be anyone else next to them to bother, we gave it. They sat nicely and shared Madison's coloring book.
We landed in Tampa right on schedule. WAIT! - WHAT? We're in TAMPA?
Settle down, that's were we planned to go. Bambi's dad, Dean, met us there since her mom (Carol) was still at work. We drove over to the nearby Bahama Breeze for dinner
Then took the 40 minute drive back to Grandma & Grandpa's house, but stopped off at the local mall for a Mrs. Fields run. Because when you want chocolate chip cookies, you want chocolate chip cookies.
Up Next: We drive from Lakeland to Port Canaveral. With a stop at the Magic Kingdom along the way. (Oh, and there will be pictures from a camera other than on my phone. Promise!)
It would be better to say I'm a slightly-competitive-person-who-likes-free-tshirts runner. But that's kind of long.
Awesome! That's even better than the time I got my GPS to say "impossible".
Woo hoo for arriving safe and sound in Orl.....I mean Tampa! Great start! The kids are so cute! 
them! The humor is fantastic! I'm so glad I get to read another trip report for your family! 
