[Cats'N'Dogs]

Thanks for all your feedback. I know I’ve enjoyed putting our experiences on paper so to speak. Its nice to know you’re enjoying it too. Yes, my family is very special and a wonderful support.

I am splitting this day into 2 parts, its too long for one post!

Day 5: Off to OKW! Its not over yet…

Disney Cruise Line is so efficient at “off loading” passengers. We had a quick breakfast at Animator’s Palate. It was another chance to chat with Janaur and Evgene before we left. We found seats at Preludes lounge and settled in to wait. I guess everyone was taking advantage of one last “potty break” as there were lines in front of the restrooms. Debarkation was easy. No customs duties this time! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I saw a few bananas on the no-no table. It’s funny how many people like to take a ‘snack’ off board. I guess it’s a natural impulse if you didn’t know it was illegal.

We rode down the escalator and right over to the Orange section. Found all but one of our bags just where they should have been. We scanned the whole section for my bro’s large suitcase. No case. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] Trying to hold incipient panic at bay, I scurried over to the CM in our section. It was Kit, who had checked us in at the beginning of our cruise. She took a quick report and went to check the gray section. Apparently gray and orange were easy to mix up?? In the gray section she found an orange-tagged case that was by coincidence the same brand as my bro’s and from the next door stateroom! We surmised that cabin 2078 didn’t see their bag and grabbed my bro’s instead. I wish people would take 2 seconds to double check the luggage tags! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] Kit took off to see if they had checked in at the terminal airline desk and they either already checked in and left or hadn’t yet checked in. She left a notice at the airline check-in hoping that the clerk would catch it. Kit was very reassuring, said these things happen etc, usually the bag is turned in within 24 hrs. She finished filling a lost bag report. This was the only time I didn’t get travel insurance. I was pretty upset. [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img] I really wanted this to be a great family vacation and this was threatening to put a damper on things. My bro and SIL were calmer than I and were more hopeful it would turn up soon. I was secretly worried the bag would get destroyed if it was abandoned instead of turned in. We were given a lost and found number to check in 24 hrs and Kit was happier to know we were staying at Disney—she seemed to feel it would be easier to reunite bro with his bag.

We went out the terminal doors and were hit with a wave of heat and humidity. Where did that come from? Crossed over to the parking area and gamely strolled over to the white tent and Berkley. He commiserated about our lost bag but also reassured us that it would be found soon. We (I) started to feel a little better but still felt at fault some how. That comes from a “mothering complex” I developed early in life. I guess it’s a fall out from being the eldest. (No, I don’t want to share how old! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] ) Berkley whisked us over to OKW and we were greeted with a smile and big “Welcome Home!” It was a nice feeling.

No wait at the check-in desk and joy, joy our room was ready. Wow! Something good after the bad. I had stretched my points to spring for a 3 bedroom Grand Villa—figured we could use some space after occupying 2 inside cabins. I’m sorry to say, I cannot remember the CM that checked us in. She was very helpful. I asked about the packages I had shipped from home. They hadn’t arrived yet but UPS didn’t deliver till late afternoon so they’d call if it came in. She noticed that DD was excited about penny pressing right away. I admitted that I had a slight obsession about penny pressing. In fact, in one of those boxes, I had 4 tubes of quarters and pennies already arranged for quick smashing. She then proceeded to print out 7 pages listing where all the penny machines were!! [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]
I was very impressed with her helpfulness.

Mike, one of the bellmen, took us to the villa 4323, air-conditioned van—bliss. It was 1½ blocks from the bus stop and just across the street from the Turtle Cove pool. It was closed for maintenance but would reopen on the 10th. Mike sent us up while he followed with the bags. We opened the door and my jaw dropped. It was huge! And that was only the dining room and living room. We ran around oohing and aahhing over the rooms. There were 3 bedrooms, each had a full bath attached and there was another full bath downstairs! It was sweet! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] The balcony overlooked a lake and fairway. It had a table and chairs and ceiling fan too! We took a few minutes to freshen up and then it was off to the bus stop and Magic Kingdom.

More to follow soon!

Grace

[ 05-27-2003, 10:57 PM: Message edited by: Cats'N'Dogs ]