[disney&byudad]

OK, OK, I know I'm late getting started here, but bear with me.

We actually landed at LAX on Monday at 4:00 p.m. California time and got home around 7:00 p.m. I tried to download my pictures into the computer when we got home, but I couldn't get the darn thing to work. Then when I came back to work on Tuesday morning, I had stuff up to my eyeballs that I needed to get taken care of. Today is actually the first day that things have calmed down a bit. So, with work being so busy and the stupid camera (or maybe it's the computer) not cooperating, I've not been able to get started on the TR.

I'll go ahead and start now (a little appetizer to the main TR if you like) and try to get the pictures downloaded tonight at home (I'm on my lunch break at work right now).

Cast:

Me (Chris)
DW (Lynnae)
DD2 (Leslie)
DD3 (Shannon)
DD2 Fiance (Ricky)
DD3 Hubby (Jake)

[LuvDisney24]

YIPPEEE!!! TR...I can't wait!!

[Voldemort]

Hey, Chris!! Welcome back! Looking forward to another great dad TR...

[ingamba]

Thanks for the teaser, looking forward to reading it!

[twist1980]

Yay! Another trip report! Welcome home!

[disney&byudad]

Day 1, Friday, Nov. 3

Geeze, does that line above give anyone deja vu? This TR is starting out just like Val32's!

Anyway, the alarm goes off at 4:00 a.m. and we all roll out of bed to get ready for the Super Shuttle, which is supposed to arrive at 4:40 to take us to LAX. First Hint that this is going to be an awesome trip? The shuttle guy actually arrives at 4:30!! We load up and are off. Because there are six of us on the shuttle, we thought we'd head straight to the airport, but the driver did stop to pick up one other guy in Fullerton. But no worries cause I think the driver had aspirations of driving in NASCAR. We BOOKED on the freeways and arrived at LAX before 6:00 a.m. We got checked in, got our boarding passes and headed over to drop off our luggage at the screening area. You may remember from a past TR that we have run into Richard Simmons and Ron Cey at LAX when we left on prior trips. This time it wasn't as good. Does anyone remember Andrew Dice Clay? Well, he was there with an entourage of about six or seven people. No, he wasn't on our flight, we just saw him at the airport. Doesn't seem like a real happy guy .

We pretty much zoomed through security and got to our gate by about 6:45. Our flight left at 8:00, so everyone but me went to grab something to eat at Burger King. I hit the bookstore to find something to read on the flight and at night before we went to sleep at the resort. I stumbled onto one of my all-time favorite novels, Stephen King's The Stand vs. (the one with all the extra story lines restored) and couldn't resist. I met everyone back at the gate and we began boarding at 7:30. The flight was FULL and by the time everyone got on and all the luggage got loaded, we finally took off about 8:10 a.m. There's just something about being on the plane and heading to WDW that lights up my day .

Our flight was very smooth with no problems (except for the stupid in-flight movie - My Super Ex Girlfriend) and we landed in Orlando right at 3:50 p.m. eastern time. Got to go on our first attraction next, the little monorail-type shuttle from the American gates to the main terminal. To me, this little ride always officially starts the WDW vacation. Next stop, DME and the Caribbean Beach Resort!!

[Dana]

Yeah! I am so glad you started this. I have been looking forward to it. Welcome home too BTW.

[daisyd]

Welcome hom disney&byudad!!!!!

Great start so far, and you picked up one of my all time favorite books

[gingita]

Welcome back! Sounds like a great start to your vacation! Can't wait to hear the rest (and see pics!)!

[Pooh Fan]

I can't wait to read more!!!

[Dopey]

oh no, where is the rest? I need to hear all about the Carribean Beach Resort. I'm thinking that I might try it in November (07)

[Maria]

Welcome back, great start, can't wait to read more!

[FireAngel]

eh...... MORE!!

[disney&byudad]

OK, I'm back home and I got the pictures all downloaded. Let's get this thing rolling!

I know many of you have had bad experiences with DME. In fact, while we were on the bus to AK one day, I talked with a woman who was very upset with their service. However, we have had NO problems with DME either last year or this year (another hint that this trip was going to go very well!). When we arrived at the DME counter, Leslie had all the info so the rest of us just took a seat in waiting area. Well, we no more than sat down and Leslie came back and said, "We're all set to go!" We went to the line for the Caribbean Beach Resort bus, got right on and only waited about 10 minutes before the driver headed off to WDW! While we were waiting, we took our first pictures of the trip. Here are Lynnae and I.

[disney&byudad]

Leslie and Ricky. The T-shirt Ricky has on says "The Davy Crockett Rocket" and refers to the DLR men's canoe racing team he was on this year. They represented the N.O. Square/Critter Country area and won their division. I believe they also set a new men's record. Of course, most of the guys on the team work at canoes, so they should do well. Leslie rowed on the women's team for the same area and they not only won the women's division, they were the 4th fastest canoe in the whole tournament. Only 3 men's teams (including Ricky's) beat their time. Again, most of the girls also work at canoes, so they do have an advantage. Sorry to ramble on.