[Franco54]

Well, I will attempt a trip report, but next to some others
I don't know how good it will be. A few pre-cursors before
I begin, First Thanks to my sister who was our catsitter it
was always automatic when my Mom was alive and sister
would be watching her. Our cat is kind of a dope but he is
my buddy and I (if not the whole family) love him. He will
be lying on the computer table on his back in the wee small
hours of the morning while I am on the computer, with his
legs up in the air purring like a lion wanting me to rub his
belly for long periods of time and out of nowhere he will give
me a good bite! Go figure. And thanks to the VA for thier
medication and its false sense of security for letting me get
out of my room for periods of time.
I will break it up in groups.
THE TRAVELING: Both back and fourth was uneventful, Jet
Blue is our carrier of choice (depending on price) and they
do a good job. So, I just put on the TV and the cartoon
channel (Boom) and watched some great older toons (Auwgie
Doggy, SnagglePuss, Quickdraw McGraw) I was in heaven.
The only problem in all the traveling was my mistake, I had
asked for a sedan to pick us up at home for the trip to the
airport and it was WAY to small, we had luggage everywhere
including one big one on our little guy! My bad! On the return
trip I made it a point to ask for a wagon.
Our rental car was fine, just your typical full size car from Hertz
No trouble from Hertz (offsite place is huge) to Disney and
our resort (SOG) but later in the evening we were driving to
Downtown Disney when the Power steering went out!
I was able to steer (anybody remember the old days?) with
lots of arm muscle it was doable. We dropped the boys at
DisneyQuest and Helena and I made it back to the resort. It
was lucky in a way we had used Hertz this time because they
have a small desk in the lobby. So, we go to the desk to explain
our problem, I tell the guy that we rented from MCO and at the
beginning he wanted me to take the car back there and have
it replaced Mind you its been a long day for this old
man, I told him that was not going to happen, and that at 8:00
am I would have a car waiting for us and it should be an upgrade.
Next morning a different guy with some sense said they were
sorry that our car broke down and we would get the only luxury
car they had left (I think they had a stable of 15 or so cars at
the resort) It was a Azera Hyunday, this thing wanted to fly!
The next night on our way to dinner (Artist Point) I was bagged
on the handheld radar by the police There were two
officers the one with the radar was no fun at all He gave
me the hand in the air saying do you see that sign saying 35mph?
and then he showed me the gun saying 51mph The second
one who was writing me up was ok, but even as I was putting my
hat in a place he could see it (Vietnam Veteran blah, blah) and the
fact that on every trip I put a Vietnam Combat Veteran decal on
the back window, niether one was impressed He comes over
and tells me it is a $180.00 ticket! But he will knock it down
to $80.00 so it won't effect my license. I am always telling the boys
that you are responsible for your own actions, so first thing I did
when we got home was send in the ticket.

[jo-jo]

A ticket at disney...........now that's something most of us don't put in our pre-trip plans.

Isn't it amazing how clothes for a few days end up turning into 57 suitcases? Hope the suitcase on your little guy was a light one.


So after a somewhat shakey start, everything else was perfect, right??? Guess we won't know until you start writing somemore.......was that too big of a nudge??? Really take your time. I love reading TRs but it takes me almost as long as the trip took to write the report.

[bikedealer]

Welcome home. And I look forward to some more TR, in hopes it gets better.

[lovemysons]

Oh dear Franco! A ticket!?? That stinks. But I am certain your trip picked up from there on out, right? Please say it did!!

[alexatdisney]

Please tell us that it started to pick up after all this

[sleepinbeauty]

Sorry to hear about your car trouble. Both the steering and ticket. I know when we go we will be excited to get everywhere fast, too.

Can't wait to hear more of your tr!

[Dopey]

Originally Posted by bikedealer

Welcome home. And I look forward to some more TR, in hopes it gets better.

our house comedian

I am thrilled to read about your trip Franco. Please make sure there's much more to read this pm, k?

[llama]

Welcome home Franco!

I can't wait to read your restaurant reviews!

It stinks about the ticket, though. Last time we were at WDW my dh remarked that he'd never seen so many people being pulled over by the radar police. They must really be cracking down!

[DisneyTeacher]

What a rough start to your trip, I hope it only got better after this. I can't wait for more.

[Franco54]

THE RESORT: We could not be happier with the
ShadesofGreen Resort We have stayed
at the All Star Movies (1) Caribbean Beach (1)
Coronado Springs (1) and the Contemporary (2)
and this was our fifth stay at SOG. The new wing
is coming into its own in a big way, the rooms are
huge and are supposed to be the biggest onsite.
There are kids, lots of them, just as there are at
all Disney Resorts but they tend to be on the older
wing (still very nice) and near the pool areas and
other parts of the resort. I always try to get the
fifth floor and the golf course view. It is amazing
to realize that SOG is as close to MK as is the Poly
and the Contemporary. And the fact that thousands
and thousands of people are in the area and us on
the "other"side see nothing but golfers and nature!
It is Stone Cold Quiet! On any given day I see deer,
hawks, all kinds of water birds, racoons and there is
a bunch of wild turkeys. I have to tell you its very
hard to get me off the balcony! The house
cleaning is very good and they are followed by two
different inspections daily. I called the first day and
asked for them to clean bewteen 9:00-10:00 am
daily and it was done like clockwork.
THE SURPRISE: Some of you may remember that I
was trying to surprise the family with a little holiday
cheer on our Christmas trip. Since last years Christmas
trip they all had been saying its a great trip , but we
miss the tree and stockings and "stuff". So I kind of
said well if thats what you want we will stay home
and they all said no, no we will get by without that
stuff. All the time I was getting things in order. I went
to our local Family Dollar store( not to be mistaken with
Tiffaney's) Bought a tree, on the box it was said
to be a six foot tree, but turned out to be a 41/2 footer
$20.00 for the tree, $20.00 for decorations and $20.00
for shipping it down. I had been talking to the housekeeping
people for a couple of weeks before the trip to see if
they would be willing to put the whole thing together for
me and they said not to worry all would be fine.
So, on the 22nd of Dec we arrive way early at SOG and I was
thinking we would have to wait a couple of hours before we
get in to our room. It was hard for me to get Helena to just
sit in the lobby while I went to the counter (she thinks she
is the boss) I asked if there was anyway to find out
it things were done the way I asked and I was told that the
lady who was going to do it was not in that day! A cold sweat
came across me, but the lady said that her "people" had it
all done and the room I requested was ready to go!
So, I was like a little kid I was so excited to see how it looked
but I needed to be calm like nothing was going on. I opened
the door and held it for Helena and the boys to go in first, they
were stunned! Helena started crying, the boys were very,
very excited (even the teenager) I had pulled it off
Keep in mind that the whole thing was no where near what
I put up at home, but the feelings where sincere!
On Christmas Eve I got my butt up and filled the stockings with
rupik's cubes, Simpson's calendars and other puzzle stuff for
the boys. Helena's was much more private!
ps I tipped the tree people very well

[daisyd]

I never thought to factor in speeding tickets to my budget, lol. I'll have to remember that.
I can't wait to read the rest of your report Franco! I love that you thanked your cat

[daisyd]

I love the tree story!!!!!!! What a guy!

[jo-jo]

What a sweet story. And such a great guy to surprize the family.

[bikedealer]

Wow what a great job by you and the staff. That's a big ataboy.

[Franco54]

Attachment 18319
This is the Christmas tree in the lobby