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RobbiD · 07-20-2002, 11:29 AM

Next: It’s still raining!

Dates: June 20-29
Adventurers: Robbi (Me!), Dean (DH), DD’s: Nicole ( 9 ½) & Ashley (7)
Resort: Port Orleans – Riverside
Celebration: Summer Vacation & the End of School!

Dean’s watch alarm goes off at 6AM. We’re in Savannah and figure we have about 4 hours driving time left before we arrive at WDW. The Weather Channel had said that today would be cloudy with a chance of rain so we peek out the drapes to see…TORENTIAL DOWNPOUR! Ugh! I hate driving in the rain! Especially on I-95. Well, maybe it will clear. Dean jumps in the shower while I wake up the girls. I jump in the shower and Dean takes Nicole & Ashley down for the complimentary continental breakfast while I get dressed. I get ready and head down on the elevator only to meet them ready to come back up. Ashley decides to keep me company while I have my yogurt, banana and tea. We finish up, take the elevator up to the room, make a sweep to make sure we haven’t forgotten anything and head to the car. Dean goes to check out while I watch the rain. We all head to the car bummed about the rain, but HEY, WE’LL BE IN DISNEY TODAY! Yeah! The time read 7:40 and we’re off and back on 95.

The next 4 hours were perhaps the most prayerful of my life. The rain came down so hard at times that we couldn’t see the car ahead of us. I truly thought that we wouldn’t make it to WDW. I was trying to be good and not flinch or gasp or be generally annoying to the driver but I had a death grip on that handle over the passenger side door. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] Ashley dozed a little bit and Nicole read. I closed my eyes a few times to feign napping, mostly to avoid looking at the tractor trailers we were passing that I was convinced we were going to end up underneath, but also to have a few in depth conversations with God. Finally, we see the sign that welcomes you to Florida. And then the rain really began! I turn into the fake, perky, “Oh, this isn’t bothering me!” Robbi who is trying (unsuccessfully) to convince Dean that maybe we should just get off at this next exit to stop at Dunkin Donuts because he looks like he needs coffee; or “Hey, isn’t that Caddyshack the Murray Brothers restaurant at World of Golf? You’re a golfer, let’s stop here for YOU!” etc. The rain finally starts to let up somewhat when we hit the LPGA area just before Daytona. Dean & I look back and just see this mass of jet black solid clouds that we had just spent the last hour in, and look at each other with one of those meaningful looks, and finally remember to breath again.

We take the exit for I-4 and the excitement starts to build. Dean starts pointing out landmarks from when he used to have to visit Lake Mary for business. I mention the lack of Disney billboards among the glut of advertising along the road. We hit downtown Orlando and the traffic begins to build and slow down. I notice then the signs that have “new” numbers on them (some along with the “old”) and I’m pulling out the Passporter and my AAA books to make sure I know where to get off. Traffic starts to roll and Hey, there’s a sign for Animal Kingdom! The kids are bouncing in their seats. Disney Exits! Woo Woo! We see, and then take, “Old Exit 26.” Then we see the sign and Mickey and WE’RE ON DISNEY PROPERTY! The kids are excited and I, well I am almost crying! I am not an emotional person normally, but after that drive and all the tension since Sept. 11th, and not knowing if I wanted to go to such a “public” place due to potential terrorist attacks, I guess I needed a release. I held it together so I could direct Dean to the right place. We followed the signs for Downtown Disney resorts, then saw the signs for Port Orleans. We’re looking, we’re looking…from the back Nicole says “We’re here, we’re here…oh wait, wrong one!” and we all just crack up! She had seen the entrance to Port Orleans-French Quarter but then realized we weren’t quite there. Now we see Riverside and pull in. We stop at the security gate and give the guard our name. He tells us where to park and lets us in. We park and get out of the car. We are all so stiff! It is now 12:05 and we have been in the car for almost 4 ½ hours.

Port Orleans-Riverside is beautiful! The landscaping is amazing. We walk into the Sassagoula Steamboat Company to check in. Dean & I immediate love the place. So nice, so authentic! We walk over to check-in and immediately get called over to a Cast Member. I get started checking us in while the girls go sit in the little sofas to watch a Disney movie. Surprise! They have a room ready for us already! I had requested Alligator Bayou, but not a specific building. She asked if I had a floor preference and I told her 2nd, please. She gave us all our handouts and maps, then gave us the American Express White Glove lanyards and pins for the girls (there were 2 of each in the package.) Our keys printed out and we’re in Room 3952. There’s a quiet pool right by our room.

We drive over to the room, which was at the back of the resort. Very nice room; as the girls are looking around we discover it has a trundle (which we hadn’t requested and didn’t get charged for either.) We schlep our stuff in, and start unpacking while the girls are ready to bust. We walk back over to the Steamboat Co. to grab a light lunch. We have dinner reservations for Boatwrights at 5 so we don’t want to fill up. Dean & I grab a yogurt & piece of fruit, Ashley has an apple, and Nicole decides to have the personal pizza. We decide on the thinner of the 2 refillable mugs (as they will fit in our car cup holders) and buy 4 of those. The food court at Riverside is really cool to look at; it has a working water wheel that is attached to a grain grinder. We finish eating then walk over to Fulton’s (the store.) We get an idea of what the 100 Years of Magic merchandise is and then the DD’s have to use the bathroom. I take them over to the ladies room and in the stalls are: Pull Chain toilets! What a riot!

We head back to the room and change into bathing suits so we can go the quiet pool. We spend about an hour there, then get ready for our 5PM PS at Boatwrights. At this point, it begins raining again.

We were the 1st ones seated for dinner and we were served very quickly. I had gumbo and jambalaya with shrimp; Dean had jambalaya, Nicole had a burger and Ashley had chicken. It was very good (and very filling) but I have to say the gumbo Dean makes is better (but his is awesome!) We have no room for dessert. We wanted to play miniature golf but it was still drizzling. We headed to the car and drove over to WinterSummerland to see if they were open. They were, and the rain stopped so we decided to play the winter course. We had a great time! It was a great 1st night thing to do. Since no one else was there, we finished pretty quickly and decided to head down to Downtown Disney. The parking pixie dust was with us and we were in the shops right away. They have such cute stuff: Team Mickey even has Bobble Heads! Nicole (my consumer child) sees the My Disney Doll right away and decides that’s what she wants to spend her money on. Now, our deal with the kids is that they can use their money to buy whatever they want, but we don’t purchase anything until one of the last days (so they don’t see something else they want more, later on.)

We browse for about an hour then leave because we’re all tired. We have to be up early tomorrow because … (shhhh! The kids don’t know)

NEXT: We’re having breakfast at the Castle!

07-20-2002, 11:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
RobbiD Community Rank: Traveler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: New Jersey Posts: 467	Re: The Slight Soggy, Mostly Memorable Trip Report Next: It’s still raining! Dates: June 20-29 Adventurers: Robbi (Me!), Dean (DH), DD’s: Nicole ( 9 ½) & Ashley (7) Resort: Port Orleans – Riverside Celebration: Summer Vacation & the End of School! Dean’s watch alarm goes off at 6AM. We’re in Savannah and figure we have about 4 hours driving time left before we arrive at WDW. The Weather Channel had said that today would be cloudy with a chance of rain so we peek out the drapes to see…TORENTIAL DOWNPOUR! Ugh! I hate driving in the rain! Especially on I-95. Well, maybe it will clear. Dean jumps in the shower while I wake up the girls. I jump in the shower and Dean takes Nicole & Ashley down for the complimentary continental breakfast while I get dressed. I get ready and head down on the elevator only to meet them ready to come back up. Ashley decides to keep me company while I have my yogurt, banana and tea. We finish up, take the elevator up to the room, make a sweep to make sure we haven’t forgotten anything and head to the car. Dean goes to check out while I watch the rain. We all head to the car bummed about the rain, but HEY, WE’LL BE IN DISNEY TODAY! Yeah! The time read 7:40 and we’re off and back on 95. The next 4 hours were perhaps the most prayerful of my life. The rain came down so hard at times that we couldn’t see the car ahead of us. I truly thought that we wouldn’t make it to WDW. I was trying to be good and not flinch or gasp or be generally annoying to the driver but I had a death grip on that handle over the passenger side door. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] Ashley dozed a little bit and Nicole read. I closed my eyes a few times to feign napping, mostly to avoid looking at the tractor trailers we were passing that I was convinced we were going to end up underneath, but also to have a few in depth conversations with God. Finally, we see the sign that welcomes you to Florida. And then the rain really began! I turn into the fake, perky, “Oh, this isn’t bothering me!” Robbi who is trying (unsuccessfully) to convince Dean that maybe we should just get off at this next exit to stop at Dunkin Donuts because he looks like he needs coffee; or “Hey, isn’t that Caddyshack the Murray Brothers restaurant at World of Golf? You’re a golfer, let’s stop here for YOU!” etc. The rain finally starts to let up somewhat when we hit the LPGA area just before Daytona. Dean & I look back and just see this mass of jet black solid clouds that we had just spent the last hour in, and look at each other with one of those meaningful looks, and finally remember to breath again. We take the exit for I-4 and the excitement starts to build. Dean starts pointing out landmarks from when he used to have to visit Lake Mary for business. I mention the lack of Disney billboards among the glut of advertising along the road. We hit downtown Orlando and the traffic begins to build and slow down. I notice then the signs that have “new” numbers on them (some along with the “old”) and I’m pulling out the Passporter and my AAA books to make sure I know where to get off. Traffic starts to roll and Hey, there’s a sign for Animal Kingdom! The kids are bouncing in their seats. Disney Exits! Woo Woo! We see, and then take, “Old Exit 26.” Then we see the sign and Mickey and WE’RE ON DISNEY PROPERTY! The kids are excited and I, well I am almost crying! I am not an emotional person normally, but after that drive and all the tension since Sept. 11th, and not knowing if I wanted to go to such a “public” place due to potential terrorist attacks, I guess I needed a release. I held it together so I could direct Dean to the right place. We followed the signs for Downtown Disney resorts, then saw the signs for Port Orleans. We’re looking, we’re looking…from the back Nicole says “We’re here, we’re here…oh wait, wrong one!” and we all just crack up! She had seen the entrance to Port Orleans-French Quarter but then realized we weren’t quite there. Now we see Riverside and pull in. We stop at the security gate and give the guard our name. He tells us where to park and lets us in. We park and get out of the car. We are all so stiff! It is now 12:05 and we have been in the car for almost 4 ½ hours. Port Orleans-Riverside is beautiful! The landscaping is amazing. We walk into the Sassagoula Steamboat Company to check in. Dean & I immediate love the place. So nice, so authentic! We walk over to check-in and immediately get called over to a Cast Member. I get started checking us in while the girls go sit in the little sofas to watch a Disney movie. Surprise! They have a room ready for us already! I had requested Alligator Bayou, but not a specific building. She asked if I had a floor preference and I told her 2nd, please. She gave us all our handouts and maps, then gave us the American Express White Glove lanyards and pins for the girls (there were 2 of each in the package.) Our keys printed out and we’re in Room 3952. There’s a quiet pool right by our room. We drive over to the room, which was at the back of the resort. Very nice room; as the girls are looking around we discover it has a trundle (which we hadn’t requested and didn’t get charged for either.) We schlep our stuff in, and start unpacking while the girls are ready to bust. We walk back over to the Steamboat Co. to grab a light lunch. We have dinner reservations for Boatwrights at 5 so we don’t want to fill up. Dean & I grab a yogurt & piece of fruit, Ashley has an apple, and Nicole decides to have the personal pizza. We decide on the thinner of the 2 refillable mugs (as they will fit in our car cup holders) and buy 4 of those. The food court at Riverside is really cool to look at; it has a working water wheel that is attached to a grain grinder. We finish eating then walk over to Fulton’s (the store.) We get an idea of what the 100 Years of Magic merchandise is and then the DD’s have to use the bathroom. I take them over to the ladies room and in the stalls are: Pull Chain toilets! What a riot! We head back to the room and change into bathing suits so we can go the quiet pool. We spend about an hour there, then get ready for our 5PM PS at Boatwrights. At this point, it begins raining again. We were the 1st ones seated for dinner and we were served very quickly. I had gumbo and jambalaya with shrimp; Dean had jambalaya, Nicole had a burger and Ashley had chicken. It was very good (and very filling) but I have to say the gumbo Dean makes is better (but his is awesome!) We have no room for dessert. We wanted to play miniature golf but it was still drizzling. We headed to the car and drove over to WinterSummerland to see if they were open. They were, and the rain stopped so we decided to play the winter course. We had a great time! It was a great 1st night thing to do. Since no one else was there, we finished pretty quickly and decided to head down to Downtown Disney. The parking pixie dust was with us and we were in the shops right away. They have such cute stuff: Team Mickey even has Bobble Heads! Nicole (my consumer child) sees the My Disney Doll right away and decides that’s what she wants to spend her money on. Now, our deal with the kids is that they can use their money to buy whatever they want, but we don’t purchase anything until one of the last days (so they don’t see something else they want more, later on.) We browse for about an hour then leave because we’re all tired. We have to be up early tomorrow because … (shhhh! The kids don’t know) NEXT: We’re having breakfast at the Castle!