This report was originally posted on another site. Therefore the screen names aren't from this site. Cast: Me! Glendamax went Solo again! :banana:
Resort: Animal Kingdom Villas - Studio Savannah View
Dates: Tues. December 11th - Sat. December 15th 2007
Prologue
In 2006, I saw a show on the Travel channel about Christmas in the Disney Parks with Samantha Brown (love her! love her!). At the time I saw the show, I had a trip booked for September, and did not have enough vacation days left to go in December. Plus, at my job, we have to sign up for our vacation days the year before, so the weeks that were available were taken.
Fast forward to March. I "met"
MamaPrincess. She is a DVC owner, and was able to explain how it works. After NUMEROUS PM's, I called and signed up for DVC! In April I scheduled 2 trips: one in September, and the other in December. Finally, I would get to see Disney with Christmas decorations IN PERSON!!!
I was soooo excited!
My friend Kim, who is the only real-life Disney friend I have, was going with me, but had to cancel.
This was really sad since we hadn't been on a Disney trip together since 2002. But as always, I think: Maybe next year!
After going to the crowd level site and making an itinerary, I went over to the Adults and Solo Travelers Board to see if anyone was going when I was. Fortunantly, there were many, and some PM'd me to let me know they would be there at the same time too. So now I had an itinerary, ADR's and a few DISmeets! Let's Go!!!
Getting There
Finally the day was here! I was going to Disney World! But why is it that I'm so stressed out before a trip, and wish I had MORE time to get ready? And, my left knee that I dislocated years ago, was swelling up! :headache: So I was half-limping through the house trying to get ready to go the airport. My girl Kim was taking me! She got to my house and had to wait 20mins for me to get ready (I HATE making people wait).
Once again I flew down on Southwest. I don't like their boarding procedure, but it's affordable, and being 6 Feet tall, I can fit in their seats (Unlike AirTran)
The day before I got my boarding pass online, and felt so good that I got A 21. Before we boarded, they announced that there were only 26 people on the flight. Oh well, I guess it was good practice!
Fortunantly, I did get the exit row seat, that has no seat in front of it. Thank God! When they passed out drinks, I got water, and put Airborne in it. I was determined to NOT get sick again this year!
It was a good flight. One of the male flight attendants gave me a December Vogue!!! Score!!! And we even landed about 15mins early! WOO-HOO!!! Finally, I'm in Orlando!
Unlike in September, the Magical Express counter was EMPTY!
I have to say that I'm still disappointed that the Disney folks dont greet you when you get off the plane anymore, to tell where to go. I guess since that's what happend the very first time I used ME, I expect it everytime I get off the plane. Oh Well. I got on the ME bus about 4pm (holding my HUGE winter coat), the outside was decorated with Crush on it! I sat in the front seat while the bus waited for others to load. As soon as I sat down I saw: Gratuity Permitted for your driver Rafael Diaz. Let the vacation begin! (Oh Carp! Do I have any ones?)
When the bus pulled off at 4:19pm, we were told that it was making 3 stops: Pop Century, Coronado Springs, then my home, Animal Kingdom!
We pulled up to Animal Kingdom Lodge about 5:05pm.
(So if you're keeping track, that means I was on the bus about an hour!)
Finally I stepped off the bus with my coat in my arms, into the warm humid Orlando air!!! YES!!! I walked through the doors of AKL and nearly fainted! I was finally here! And the tree was awesome! Just like I'd seen on TV.
When I checked in, I remembered to mention AGAIN that I needed a room as close to the lobby as possible. The CM said that she saw it mentioned, and that the room was closer in. She also told me that if I didnt like it, to come back to the desk.
(WOW, I really am in Disney World!)
After getting my welcome home packet and room key, I looked at the tree. Then I walked right up to it. My eyes started to water. I couldnt believe I was here!
Now it was time to see where the room was. I walked down the long hall to the elevator, got off on the Fifth floor. I walked straight, and the room was the first one on the right. It was alot better.
The room was exactly the same, except the room was flipped: insted of the bed being on the left, it was on the right.
After looking around the room, I said a quick prayer of thanks, then decided what I would do next: get something quick to eat in the room, or go to Boma!