We Came...We Ran...We Got Soaked!! About This Page:

[dsteiny23]

Thurs. 9/24:

So after a few months of planning and training, our EE5k trip was about to begin. I wasn’t as weepy at I thought I would be when Craig left to take Tyler to school and again when we dropped Jason at daycare. Okay, maybe just a little choked up. I guess I knew they’d be having a blast with their grandparents and would be headed back with us to Disney in just about a month.

After we dropped Jason, we headed to Newark to park and check-in for our flight. We had our e-tickets, but just needed to check bags. We were using DME, but decided to just pick our bags up when we got to MCO because we had so little time and didn’t want to wait. Once we dropped our bags at the counter, we both had the same feeling…”are we forgetting something??” It felt so weird to not have to hold a little hand or call for one of the boys to come back closer to us. Don’t get me wrong…it felt nice…just weird.
We had time to sit and relax and have some breakfast while we waited to board. The flight down was fine and we were soon at MCO and feeling the Disney coming on.

Then it got strange. I got LOST going to DME. We were on the A side, which is like a mirror of the B side, so I headed where I thought we needed to go. Got all the way to the end and realized DME wasn’t where I thought it would be. Asked around and finally got someone who could point us in the right direction. How embarrassing, and Craig didn’t let me live that down. Of course I never claimed to be a DME/MCO expert.

Well, DME didn’t stop the strange at that point. On our way to the bubble, we got pulled over!! Yes…pulled over! Seriously, it’s a bus full of families with children waiting to get to Disney. As far as I’m concerned there needed to be several moving violations and maybe some felonies involved before you should pull over those excited tikes…and not so tikes…on their way to the place that they’ve likely been waiting to get to for upwards of a year!! Pull the poor folks over who have just left Disney and aren’t in a hurry to get to the airport with the 3 hour early DME pick up. Okay, yes I might have jumped across the bus to take a photo of the trooper and our driver having a ‘discussion’ but out of fairness to the poor guy, I’m not going to post it here.

Well, we finally did get on our way and headed first to the AKL. I was so excited to be staying here. It has always been on my list, but not really on Craig’s, so when this race came with a big discount to stay here it worked out perfectly. Here’s Craig when we first got there.



While Craig waited in line for check in I walked around the lobby quickly and took a couple of pictures. This lobby is absolutely beautiful. I loved the bridge and the little fire pit and all of the little sitting areas set up throughout. I headed back to Craig and we checked in and found we’d been upgraded to a pool view. Now don’t get all excited yet…our pool view upgrade was not quite Princess Sharon’s upgrade at the Poly. Here’s our pool view…



The first PPer to find the pool…gets a prize!

After check-in we decided to get changed and head right over to MK for a bit before our dinner ressies at Jiko. We hopped a bus and were over there pretty quickly. I love the feeling when you get to MK for the first time of the trip and I love to make it our first stop.



The first thing we did was head for Splash. My Fave!! And we got FPs. Then we checked out BTMRR and the wait was only 20 minutes. We really only waited about 10 because when we got to the split, the CM started sending people down the FP line and we made up a good 10 minutes there. Then we were off on the wildest ride in the wilderness. (did I get that right??)

After BTMRR we needed a snack and headed toward Fantasyland. I really wanted some corn dog nuggets, but we never did get there and ended up at Mrs. Potts for ice cream sundaes. It was so nice to sit in the shade, eat ice cream, people watch and not have to worry about anyone younger than 40 for a little while.

After our cool refreshments we walked into Tomorrowland and onto Buzz. Again not more than a 10 minute wait (which was to be a theme on this trip). My laser wasn’t working! Seriously, it wasn’t. I know, you’re thinking the same thing Craig was. But, he beat me for the first time. (he may not agree with that, but I do think it was the first time). After that we were going to try MLF but decided we didn’t think we’d have enough time to get to our FPs and then back to AKL if we did. So, we headed back to Frontierland by way of Adventureland (my favorite themed land) and stopped to see Johnny and the boys on POTC on our way. We grabbed a photopass pic on our way over and she took one with our camera as well.



We walked right down the walkway and onto a boat. Then it was on to Song of the South and all of the Briar patch boys with our FPs. This is my absolute favorite ride (I may have mentioned this before) It isn’t the wildest but it’s the best themed (I think) and a long ride. I just smile on it!

After Splash the crowds were starting to gather for the parade and we needed to get out and back to the AKL. So started weaving our through the crowds to head toward Main Street and out the gates. But, we had to stop for a picture of my FAVE view of the castle.



A short trip for now, but it put us both in the Disney frame of mind.

Up next…a new place for dinner and a sleeping giant.

[bsblady01]

more please

[mojjo]

Can't wait to hear the rest....sounds like a great start.

[mcc0313]

So glad to see you started the TR. There is nothing better than starting the trip with some time at the MK. Can't wait to hear all about your meal at Jiko's.

[mousestruck]

Wow... two TRs going at once! Your are ambitious, girl!!! An awesome start. Looking forward to hearing more!

[chezp]

Great start!

[dsteiny23]

Originally Posted by mcc0313

So glad to see you started the TR. There is nothing better than starting the trip with some time at the MK. Can't wait to hear all about your meal at Jiko's.

I always feel like MK needs to be the first thing I see, I just turns me into a little kid right away.

Originally Posted by mousestruck

Wow... two TRs going at once! Your are ambitious, girl!!! An awesome start. Looking forward to hearing more!

I'm doing my best Princess Sharon imitation Not sure how it's going to go before we leave...but I'm gonna give it my best shot.

[Colexis Mom]

Great update Dawn!

[janicelovesmickey]

great start!! I guess I will be reading more when I get back?? even though your leaving soon..

[omd]

I can't wait to read more.

[debrabrown]

Nice pictures! Great shot of the castle. I ALWAYS get lost looking for the doggone DME.

[disneydreamer33]

Sorry you got lost trying to find DME. I can't believe your bus got pulled over, I wonder why?
I am so sad it didn't work out to meet while you were there. We were at MK that day too.

[lazanya]

Great start! more please

[truenancy]

Loving it! Who's the sleeping giant?

[lindawdw]

Great start Dawn! Can't wait for more.