Smelling the Roses before Sailing the Seas-Live **Updated 6/22** About This Page:

[B.M.]

Glad you got to fly first class, cant wait to hear more!

[POOH]

Great start. I would have jumped at the upgrade also.

[BelmontBelle]

Great way to start off your vacation, mani/pedi, lunch at Wolfgang Puck's and an upgrade to first class. Looking forward to more!

[NanaTink]

Great start to your trip, Lesley! Can't wait to read more about it! I didn't know you were doing live updates earlier.
Hurry back, please!

[Colexis Mom]

Great start Lesley More please

[DrDolphin]

Sounds like the upgrade and lunch are a great start!

[Starla4436]

First class upgrade...good choice...a great way to start a vacation.

[CountryTink]

Loved the pre-TR and live updates. I would have definitely jumped on that first class upgrade as well.

Looking forward to more.

[ilovedisney247]

Sounds like a nice flight!

[mom to 3 princesses and 1 prince]

Looking forward to reading the whole story!

[MickeyMAC]

Sounds like the Disney magic is already at work..........1st class. Great update, so glad you started your "trip report".

[Luvsun]

Wow - what a great start to your vacation!
I really hope you took a picture of your little flowers - they sound so cute!
I can't wait to read more!!!!!

[WDWfan]

When I got off the plane at MCO I debated whether to go down and claim my bags or go to DME and see if I could leave my carry on so I wouldn't have to haul all 3 wheeled bags around. It can be done, but it's not fun . I decided to go to DME and see what they could do for me. (remember - I forgot to put my DME tags on my bags before checking them at O'Hare ) I should have known that Disney could help me out. They told me there was no problem. They took my claim ticket numbers and a description of my bags and said they would find them and send them to my resort! Disney service is amazing.

There was no line to check in and I litterally walked through the line marked for Pop and onto the bus. We left less than 5 minutes later. What a different experience fromthe last time I used DME. Them there were lines everywhere and I waited over and hour in line to get on a bus. It had been raining and in the mid 40s when I left and it was raining and in the 80s in Orlando. Somehow I can handle the rain a lot better when the temperture is in the 80s.

The trip to WDW was swift, the only disappointment being that they didn't show the video. I find it really gets me in the Disney mood and I missed it. When we got to WDW we dropped people off at AS Sports, then AS Movies before we went to Pop. This was my first visit to Pop and I enjoyed the drive in and the signs out the window.

When I arrived and got my carry on bag I headed over to Bell services. I had packed everything I needed for the night in my carry on and since I would be havimg my bags transferred to BCV in the morning I wanted to see if they could hold them when DME delivered them later tonight and just transfer them in the morning. The CM I spoke to took my information and said there would be no problem.

I went to check in and there was no line. I was greeted by Amy who said they were able to give me a room that met all of my requests - first floor, looking toward hourglass lake. I was in the 70s section and was not far from Classic Hall. Here is what greeted me in the window when I got to my room:



How cute! I went in to drop my things and headed out to wander around a little bit. My favorite icons at night were the Duncan yo-yos (of course since that's my last name!) and the bowling pins:



I also took a picture of the 1973 sign - the year I graduated from high school.



I really enjoyed reading all of the different hstorical quotes along the path by Hourglass Lake. It is an enjoyable trip down Memory Lane. By now I realized I was hungry so I headed over the Everything Pop. Even at 9:00 at night it was hopping! I picked up my resort mug, some olive tampenade and bagel chips and filled y mug with a cup of hot tea. On my way back to the room I passed the pool bar and noticed that they had and Orange Dream - guess it's time for the first adult beverage of my trip. I was a little disappointed because even though the description says it's make with ice cream - it's NOT! I asked the bar tender and he said they use an ice cream based powder mix because ice cream would melt too quickly in the Florida heat. Not sure I buy that. . The first taste I had was pretty icy without much flavor and I was not excited, but after walking to the room I decided to try it again and after it had set for awhile it was much better. After eating the tampenade and bagel chips (which were quite good - and a very generous serving that could easily be shared) I was ready to go to sleep.

[Luvsun]

I love the pictures of Pop at night!
I stayed there one night by myself last fall. I really enjoyed wandering around the resort and looking at all of the oversize icons!
I am so glad that Disney was able to help you with your luggage situation.
You are off to a great start.....I can't wait for more!

[B.M.]

Great update! I enjoyed looking at the pictures of pop at night. More Please!