[dhoughton]

Welcome back LaKilla! Can't wait to read more!!

[Dopey]

ok, did Dana write in invisible ink? I don't see much of a trip report here

[Peppertink]

You touched a seagull? Blech!

OK..so...were is the rest of your TR lady?

[hanwill]

I think she flew back to WDW... I know that I would!

[mickeyspal]

TR? TR? TR? I'm hoping that dress shopping went well...........I have a teenage daughter and would rather have a root canal than clothes shop with her!

[Dana]

Easy all...coming home was a bit more overwhelming than planned. I did the dress shopping last night and the dance is tonight. I will be able to get my trip report on it's way tomorrow....sorry to keep you all dangling like this.

[hanwill]

that is ok- we are just hyperventilating while we wait... We understand sorta although we cannot understand why life is more important than a TR....

HA hA! Just kidding... would love to hear about it when you can!

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by Dana

It was a contest to see who could actually touch one, which I did

Maybe they should install hand sanitizer dispensers on that bridge!!


Can't wait to read the rest Dana! Hurry back!

[Maria]

Welcome back and along with everyone else can't wait to read more!

[lovemysons]

Originally Posted by Dana

Easy all...coming home was a bit more overwhelming than planned. I did the dress shopping last night and the dance is tonight. I will be able to get my trip report on it's way tomorrow....sorry to keep you all dangling like this.

Its ok, a good author likes to build up suspense in her readers...


But, be careful, you know how ugly a mob can get when they don't have a tr to keep them pacified...

[Pooh Fan]

Welcome back Dana. I am looking forward to reading all about your trip!

[iluvwdw]

Originally Posted by alilmagical32

I wanna know this too! I never heard of such a thing!

Maybe a Handicap Accessible room with an open shower, instead of a bathtub?

[Dana]

Thank you all for being patient. I came back to a bit of a mess and things have finally calmed down enough for me to begin a report. I will be sure to finish it by tomorrow, so I won't have to worry about it once my work week starts.

[Dana]

Day 1 - Thursday 2/5

My alarmed sounded off at 2:45am. I got my bed made and let the dog out and woke my DD around 3am. The car was already packed with our suitcases, so I only had to drag the carry on bags out when we finished getting ready.

We were ready to rock by 3:30 and were off to wawa to get something to eat and drink for the car ride to DBF's house in Philly. Once at the wawa, we grabbed VERY unbreakfast-like food and had hot dogs and energy drinks for the ride....am I a terrible example or what? We were on the road in no time and called DBF from the bridge to get him moving. He lives about 6minutes from the bridge and I wanted to give him some time to focus before he drove my car

We arrived and the Philadelphia airport by 4:40am and checked our bags curbside with Southwest. It's just SOOOOOO much easier than dragging them in and going through that stupid line. We had check in for the flight the previous day and scored A boarding, so why wait in a line when these nice men were willing to do it for us...well for a tip they would..

We found our gate with no issue and started our waiting for boarding the plane. Everything was on time according to the departure screen, but how couldn't it be on time? It was a 6:25am flight...first one out for the day. It's hard to screw that up. I don't know if me and Sara was just super tired or super excited, but we acted very naughty and VERY silly the entire time in the airport. People really wanted nothing to do with us. We were laughing so hard that we were attracting attention.

We lined up when they called for A boarding and got the third row aisle and middle seats. It was a full flight so our dreams of not having another person in our row was crushed. I finally caved and bought Twilight for the ride down there. I had started it the night before and was already sucked into this book. I can see where all the hub bub is about this book series. It's really addicting...you will see how much I got sucked in as the trip report progresses.

We were extremely lucky today. Our flight some how managed to land 40minutes early..that was a first for me EVER. Every one on the plane was extremely excited when the pilot announced that.

After we landed, we quickly ran down to the baggage claim and then I quicklu got us lost in the orlando airport. We normally arrive on the B side and southwest is on A...after collecting our bags and being shocked by the plane load of cheerleaders we saw, I lost my bearings and could not find the ME check in. Being the woman I am that is not afaid to ask directions, I went up to the first airport employee I saw and found out I had to go to the other side of the airport...with all the luggage.. WOOHO..not so much.

We finally found the ME check in with the help from Susan the random airport chick. I made Sara wait aside while I checked us in. There was no line at all. I was seen in seconds and we boarded our buses minutes after that. The bus only sat for five minutes and we were off.

Saratoga was the first stop. We exited the bus and luggage dudes grabbed my bags before I even had a chance to ask them. I kept my pruse and gave them everything else. We went into the check in area and it was also empty with no lines. Arriving this early always has it benefits. The nice girl who was checking us in was "earning her ears" but you would have never have known it. She was perfect. We asked for a spot in the Springs and found that they had a room there but we would have to wait until later on in the day and it was a shower room or handicap room..which ever way you want to see it. As excited as I was to have the close room, I was not excited about having to wait and not excited about not having a tub. I need my hot baths...it's a MUST! We had two other rooms to choose from, but the one that made the most sense was 5623 in the Paddock section. It was very close to the bus stop and quiet pool. It was also just a bridge walk away from the main area. I could get just about anywhere in ten minutes. I liked the idea of it being in a quiet area and close to the main area. I could walk to two other bus stops if I wanted...it really was an ideal location for me.

After the check in process, we headed to Artist's Pallete to get some food. I had the breakfast flatbread and my DD had a breakfast sandwich. I loved this flatbread and had it a few more times over the trip...YUM! After eating, we went to the gift shop to get some drinks for the room. We got a mug with our counter service plan and was told there was a refill station by the bus stop, but wanted to have a few things in the room in case we didn't feel like walking to get the refill. We never did find that refill station and our mugs never got used the entire trip.

We headed back over the the bells service desk and go a golf cart ride to our room with our luggage. We were on the second floor and our guy helped us take all the stuff upstairs. Thankfully this DVC place has elevators unlike OKW.. We unpacked..or I should say I unpacked. DD demanded a nap. A NAP??? Are you kidding me??? I figured it was best to let her get a hour or two so she woulnd't be cranky. I was chomping at the bit to get to a park however and was totally annoyed, but kept it to myself. I sat on the bench outside the room and read my book and waited....and waited.

She finally got up around 1pm and wanted a shower...ARE YOU KIDDING ME? She takes FOREVER! I still kept it to myself and tried to be patient. We decided we were going to try to get a walk up at Ohana when she was done. We walked up to our bus stop and the MK bus pulled right up. It was like this for us the entire trip. The buses just magically appeared when we wanted them..it was perfect.

We passed by the MK on our way to the monorail and I just sighed.. DD looked at me and said "we will get to the parks AFTER dinner"...who's the parent here anyway I wondered silently to myself. llama called me while I was waiting for the monorail. I told her what we were up to and we were going to meet up at 10pm after EMH at HS. Once at the Polynesian, we checked in at the podium and the girl told us to come back at 5pm to see if they could take us...it was only 3:30, so it was going to be one heck of a wait. We decided to stick it out. At 5pm we were told it would be a minimum of an hour wait....as I saw a bridal party pass me and check in for ohana, I lost all hope and told Sara we would try another night.

I went up to the podium and waited in line for 15minutes to give them my buzzer back and tried to see if they had anything open for the rest of our stay and the girl told me "I can't do that here....go to concierge" I went down to concierge and waited another 20minutes and just got annoyed and walked out of the line. Man they are SOOOOOO slow there. We headed out to the bus stop and the bus magically appeared for HS and we were off.

Once in the park, we headed over to Rockin roller coaster. It had a 60minute wait and no fast passes....bleh!!! We went over to TOT instead and waited 20minutes and rode. After we rode TOT, we headed over to Rosie's and had some burgers that look like they were made around noon and served around 7pm...eww..nasty.

We tried to go back to RnR but they never started up the fast passes for EMH. By this time I had ZERO patience and suggested we leave. It was SUPER cold that night and neither of us were dressed properly for it. That compounded with my lack of sleep and lack of patience was enough for me to call it a day.

As soon as we got back in our room llama called me. She asked me where I was and I told her I had just got back to the resort and decided to nix EMH at HS. She had Neil come and pick us up and we headed over to their place for some cocktails and catching up. Sara stopped in for two minutes and headed right out to talk on the phone...her phone marathons with her boyfriend just amaze me..lol

We hung out and had some laughs and a couple of drinks. I got to see her DD emily again and meet her future husband Jermey and of course see Janice and Neil. It's like there isn't much time between our meets. We always pick up like old friends. I always enjoy my time with them and hope there is another meet soon. After two hours or so, Neil threw us out...ok that's not true, but I want to get a rise out of llama, so I am saying that. Neil drove us back to our room. Sara and I made some calls and were dead to the world in minutes...I did not realize how tired I was.

End of day one. Picture below is out plane waiting to take us to WDW...

[Dana]

Originally Posted by iluvwdw

Maybe a Handicap Accessible room with an open shower, instead of a bathtub?

yup that's it..