SO YA WANNA KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT MOUSEFEST??? - Day 2, part 3: YOU'RE MY FAVORITE...AND YOU...AND YOU...Updated 2/4 About This Page:

[ripkensnana]

SO YA WANNA KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT MOUSEFEST??? TRIP REPORT

Part One: Pre-tripping

“How did this madcap adventure come about?” you’re asking yourself…Yeah, I know you’re asking that very question. It’s been keeping you awake nights, hasn’t it? Read on…

Well! Along about the middle of August, my dear, sweet, lovable hubby, Bob, reminded me that I’d talked about going to a scrap booking convention to be held in Indianapolis the beginning of September. I thought for a bit, then realized that even if I could get a room at this late date, that if push came to shove, I’d really rather go to MouseFest. We did some number crunching, and realized that I could go, but it would be a lot easier if I could get a roommate. Much to my chagrin, I discovered that the roommate market was pretty much tapped out. By this time, Bob had become determined that I was going to go, so the roommate thing wasn’t an issue….and this is why he’s my dear, sweet, lovable hubby….He spoils me rotten whenever I let him. I have had to actually restrain him from buying things for me just because I said, “Oh, I like that.”

Around about this time, I let it slip to my mother that I planned on going to MouseFest. She pondered for a few days, then, while we were sitting in the waiting room of her dermatologist’s office, she announced that she wanted to come with me. My heart sank to the level of whale poop! She’d been at MouseFest the previous year, and didn’t like it. She constantly complained that I was spending too much time at meets and not enough time enjoying the parks (she had no idea of the number of meets I’d wanted to go to but passed up) . So her announcement came as a shock. I love my Mom, but taking her to MouseFest again would not be a good thing. The conversation went something like this:

Mom: “I think I’ll go to Disney with you.”
Me: “Ummmm (looking up from WDW travel guide)….You what???”
Mom: “I think I want to go to Disney with you.”
Me: “You do?”
Mom: “Yes. You need me to take care of you. You might get mugged or kidnapped.” (How a 91 year old woman is going to prevent this is anybody’s guess!)
Me: “Kidnapped?”
Mom: “It could happen.”

By this time all the people in the waiting room are listening with bated breath(s).

Me: “I thought you didn’t like MouseFest.”
Mom: “I don’t. But you need company. Besides, I don’t trust you.”

While my lower jaw was hitting the floor, the whole waiting room erupted in huge guffaws of laughter. A young teenager (maybe 14 or 15) seated across from us was completely dumbfounded. I said to him, “Just so you know, it never ends.” His mother was laughing so hard she could hardly breathe.

Now, my mother is the type who comfortably sits on the fence for weeks at a time, leaning sometimes this way, sometimes that…one day she wanted to go, the next she didn’t. I’d gone through this with her the year before, and figured there was only one way to handle her.

“Mom, I need a definite decision by the end of the week. I need to book a room and make meal reservations.” By the end of the week, she informed me that “I don’t like to be rushed into things.” Thankfully, her decision was to let me go by myself. She told me to purchase my airfare, and that she’d pay for it. I’ve learned not to argue when she tells me things like this, because she gets so irate, I’m afraid she’ll have a heart attack or a stroke or something.

Next step was to call Annette at MEI to have her book the room for me. I’d never stayed at Pop, so I decided that this was where I’d be bunking in for this trip. Annette got me a really great rate (and I ended up right next to a bunch of Taginators), so the room, the plane, and DME were taken care of.

I was pretty much set to go. I kept thinking that it would be really nice to have someone to room with, but had just about given up, when Jean (songbird) said that she could be there for the weekend and could bunk in with me, Yowza! I was one happy camper. I called Annette to add Jean to my room rezzie, and to arrange for DME for her.

Now, a funny thing happened when the DME luggage tags arrived: Mine said that I was staying at Pop Century Classic Years….Jean’s said that she’d be at Pop Century Legendary Years! For some odd reason, Jean might have to bring a sleeping bag and camp out at a construction site! I contacted Annette, and she got it straightened out. She said that she and the Disney people got a huge chuckle out of it….It’s sometimes nice to be the source of amusement.

So, now to wait for December 5th. The date of the Great MouseFest Semi-Solo Adventure! I got a late start in packing…I didn’t begin until mid-November!!! But eventually, I got it all together. In the meantime, Jean had told me about this really great website…Tagrel….so I checked it out and joined. I started reading some of the posts and discovered that I already had several friends there, which made me feel right at home. WillCad was nice enough to invite me to the “Begin at the End” Meet at Trail’s End on Wednesday for dinner, and I joined a team for the Capture the Magic Meet. Another new friend had posted a thread asking for breakfast companions for the Concourse Steakhouse for Thursday morning, and I joined in (little knowing that this was going to cause a bit of a monkey wrench to fall into the works, but more of that later). This was going to be a fantastic trip, I could just tell…

Fast forward to Sunday night, December 2. I was awakened in the middle of the night by a major coughing spasm…I mean major!!! As I lay in bed recovering and getting my breath back, I told myself over and over, “This is not happening. I am not getting sick!” Bob and I ransacked Walgreen’s (where he works, which is why he couldn’t come with me – no time off between Hallowe’en and the first of the year) for cold remedies, and I brought a small arsenal of syrups, cough drops, and Airborne home to add to my luggage.

So, now I had all my ducks in a row, and I was ready to go! I could hardly wait to meet Brian (Frogman).

Next installment: I Arrive! Let the Merriment Commence!!!

[Colexis Mom]

Great start Carol More please

[mrsmac2001]

Originally Posted by ripkensnana

Mom: “I think I’ll go to Disney with you.”
Me: “Ummmm (looking up from WDW travel guide)….You what???”
Mom: “I think I want to go to Disney with you.”
Me: “You do?”
Mom: “Yes. You need me to take care of you. You might get mugged or kidnapped.” (How a 91 year old woman is going to prevent this is anybody’s guess!)
Me: “Kidnapped?”
Mom: “It could happen.”

By this time all the people in the waiting room are listening with bated breath(s).

Me: “I thought you didn’t like MouseFest.”
Mom: “I don’t. But you need company. Besides, I don’t trust you.”

While my lower jaw was hitting the floor, the whole waiting room erupted in huge guffaws of laughter. A young teenager (maybe 14 or 15) seated across from us was completely dumbfounded. I said to him, “Just so you know, it never ends.” His mother was laughing so hard she could hardly breathe.

[iamgrumpy]

Great start can't wait for more

[clio]

Great start. Can't wai to read more.
Liz

[DrDolphin]

Your discussion with mom was funny - and you are right - it never ends. Can't wait to read more!

[Grammy Grumpy]

Carol! So glad to see you have started a TR! However, I am now starting to feel guilty that I am not joining those with Mousefest reports. Well, it's food for thought. In the meantime I'll be enjoying your report, keep it coming!

[disneydani]

Love the motherly TLC and concern...although I am glad she decided to sit this one out!

danielle

[Disneyphile's Wife]

I can't wait to hear your report on the latest MouseFest!

[mattnkatsmum]

Great start, Carol

[elbug10]

Originally Posted by ripkensnana

“How did this madcap adventure come about?” you’re asking yourself…Yeah, I know you’re asking that very question. It’s been keeping you awake nights, hasn’t it? Read on…

Why, yes it has, Carol! Look at the time of this post!

Yay!A Carol TR! Will there be pictures? I hope so! I'm envious because a.) I never put a TR together from my October trip and 2.) I don't know how to post pictures, which would make putting an October TR a lot easier.

I'm sorry you had to talk your mother out of going, although I caompletely understand how you feel. I have an 87 year old Grandmother who's the same way. I her dearly but she drives us nuts. Sweet of your mom to spring for the airfare, though.

I hope the cough was just a fluke.

Okay, I'm ready for the next installment. More, please!

[ripkensnana]

Day 1 (Part One): I ARRIVE! LET THE MERRIMENT COMMENCE!!!

After a night of not getting much sleep (due to Bob waking me up practically every 1/2 hour to know if I was ready to leave yet , beginning at about 2am…), the alarm went off at 4 am, and I struggled out of bed. I’d been pretty much awake since 3, but kept trying in vain for just a few minutes more, knowing that I had a long day ahead. I dosed myself with Dayquil and Airborne, stuffed my pockets with cough drops, and bundled up in my brand-new second-hand Animal Kingdom jacket.

Now, the jacket is a story in and of itself. My youngest son, Race (yes, that’s his name) and family were visiting over Thanksgiving, and we decided to check out a new resale store that had just opened and that I hadn’t had time to check out yet….I LOVE second hand shops! At any rate, I was looking stuff over with Mom, when Race came to me with a varsity-type jacket – forest green wool with tan leather sleeves – and asked, “Mom, did you see this?” He held it up, and I gasped! Oh, MY!!! It was a beautiful Animal Kingdom jacket, with the AK logo in glorious color embroidered on the back. Upon closer scrutiny, I discovered that there were words written under the logo which said, “A New Species of Theme Park Opens 1998”. Yes, not opened, but opens, as in future tense! This jacket was in pristine condition, and was (I think probably) something very special. And the price tag said $16.99! Was I going to leave it there? I don’t think so…. But I digress….

So, at 5am, off we set for what should have been an hour-and-a-half trip at the outside, but which took closer to 2 hours due to lousy near-blizzard weather conditions. I was still at DetroitMetroAirport in plenty of time for my flight. I kissed Bob goodbye, stowed my precious jacket into my duffle, checked myself and luggage in, and headed for security. I removed my photographer’s vest, backpack, and combat boots (yes, combat boots) and stepped through the metal detector….BUZZ, BUZZ,BUZZ… What the heck is this? Oh, the belt. Okay, the belt went into a basket. I stepped through the metal detector again… BUZZ, BUZZ,BUZZ… Ummm, now what? A quick check of my pockets disclosed a handful of change. Into a doggie water bowl. Once more through the metal detector….and we all breathed a sigh of relief.

So I’m in my camo t-shirt, camo cargo pants, and combat boots. The security guard checks my boarding pass….”Florida? I thought you were going to Iraq or something.” Not bloody likely, Buddy! Do I look as if I’m of an age to be in the military? This stuff was costuming from a production of “Julius Caesar” that I was in this past summer.

I gathered up all my stuff, put myself back together, and headed for my gate. Now, I have a question: Why is it that the gate you’re leaving from is always the farthest possible one from where you enter the terminal? Has anyone ever left from one of those gates closer in? I haven’t! Always the last one. Always. Never fails.

After a five-mile hike (okay, I didn’t walk the entire way, there were a couple of moving walkways enroute, kinda like a flat escalator ) I finally got to where I’d be boarding the Big Northwest Bird that would take me to my very favorite place in the whole wide world (not counting the Disney Cruise Line). It was around 8 am by this time, so I had about an hour to wait before my flight. I settled in, and read a bit, listening to the periodic announcements warning that “Due to heightened security levels, certain items will not be allowed in carry on luggage” in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. Okay, I got through security okay, so wasn’t too concerned. Kinda wondered what the “certain items” were, though. The announcement also mentioned that passengers were required to be aboard their plane at least 20 minutes prior to the scheduled takeoff time. This did concern me a bit, so I started keeping an eye on the clock. If my math was correct, a flight scheduled for 9:06 departure should be fully loaded by 8:46 at the latest, correct? So, logically, boarding should commence by 8:15 or even 8:30, no? NO. 8:15 came and went, as did 8:30. When 8:45 rolled by, I was wondering what was going on, but nobody else seemed to be worried. They finally started allowing people aboard at 8:50. I gathered my backpack and got in line. I found my seat, put the backpack under the seat in front of me, and buckled in. I had my two sticks of gum at the ready for takeoff.


The view from my window seat

Once the plane was fully loaded (and I mean FULLY), the door was closed and we taxied out toward the runway area. The pilot’s voice came over the intercom, letting us know that there’d be a brief delay so that the plane could be de-iced. We taxied between a couple of huge tanker vehicles, complete with ladders and what were probably fire hoses. The plane was hosed down with some sort of chemical ice retardant, and we taxied toward the runway.

The engines started humming louder and louder, the aircraft began shaking as if it was Jerry Lee Lewis singing “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”, then we sped down the runway and were airborne! As we climbed, I stuffed the gum into my mouth and started chewing furiously. I understand that there are some people who can tolerate takeoff without this flight-aid, but I’m not one of those fortunate people.

I settled in for the two-and-a-half-hour flight and got some reading done. I made significant progress through Maya Angelou telling me that she knows why the caged bird sings.

Soon (but not soon enough), we arrived at Orlando International Airport. Now, I have a question: have you ever arrived at a gate which was not the furthest from the exit from the terminal (or in the case of MCO, the pod)? Ever? You have? Well, not me. Yep, another five-mile-hike! As I trudged toward the mock monorail, I noticed that the airport was undergoing a major facelift, and wondered just how much asbestos I was inhaling from the exposed areas. Also, interestingly enough, the security announcement stated that the alert level was “Level Orange”….so why couldn’t they just say that at DTW??? Kinda makes one wonder....

Aboard the mock monorail, we sped toward the main terminal. I deboarded and made my way to the DME desk and checked in: “Carol and Jean?” “No, Jean’s coming in tomorrow.” See, they knew that Jean was going to be with me – but did the people at ScopaTowers?? Hah!

I nabbed a front seat on the DME bus, and got a few fairly decent pictures, including one of the Archway as we entered The World!!! I was HOME!


The back of a DME bus


Almost there!


HOME!!!!



Next up, Day 1 (part 2): WHAT THE (BLEEP) IS GOING ON HERE???

[Lemap760]

Great start. I've only been in a "close" terminal twice. They were small airports so everything was close.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has a mother who doesn't trust her grown children to take care of themselves.

[WDWfan]

Carol - So glad you're chiming in with your version of Mousefest!

[Colexis Mom]

Great update Carol Glad you made it to the World Hurry back with more