Magical trip w/Princess Lauren About This Page:

[Brenda]

Cast:Me---age 48
H---age 55
:Lauren--Princess age 6
Days of Magic with Lauren Tue. May 7th & Wed May 8th
Days of Fun with DH May 6th to 17th

WOW, finally I have gotten a beginning of a report together! [img]graemlins/puter.gif[/img] Monday May 6th time to leave for airport didn’t even need the alarm! DH and I up @ 4 a.m. and a 45 min. drive to the Park & Shuttle, check in and catch the bus to Airport arrive @ 5a.m.. Our flight is @ 6:15 but no one else seems to be here yet we were the only ones checking in USAir. Checked baggage and got boarding passes then went to look for a bite to eat found one counter open got a bagel and coffee. Headed up to the gate still no one around(?) We thought we were going to be the only ones on flight to Pittsburgh (our connection to Orlando) instead of going through security and sitting for 45 min. we decided to just walk around airport (Burlington VT not a very large one!) We got back to gate in about 30 min. couldn’t believe our eyes the place was packed no chairs left to sit! They said it was a full flight. (I guess no else was headed for WDW and as anxious to get there as us [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ) Boarded within minutes, good flight to Pittsburgh, than on to Orlando arrived on time @ 11:30. Claimed luggage and stood in line for about 10 min. to get Mears tickets (had vouchers). They instructed us to go outside to curb by # 11. Couldn’t believe the heat (Record high for day 102) Didn’t take long to shed jackets (only 40 degrees in VT). We had about a 20 min. wait than a very large bus (size of a Greyhound) came and our # on ticket was called. The bus filled up to capacity very quickly, the driver announced we would be stopping at Polynesian, CBR, than BW. We didn’t mind this because we had never seen Polynesian before, from the outside this looked like we might like to try this next time!(hint hint to DH). It was about 1:30 when we were dropped off in front of the Custom House our bags were tagged and immediately whisked away while handing us a claim ticket! [img]graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] My DH was a bit nervous to see them disappear before even checking in but I assured him that we were early and our room probably wasn’t ready yet (it wasn’t). At check in we stood in line about 10 min and got a very pleasant and efficient trainee Deb. She had no problems getting us all set up with our card/key/hopper pass for the Island Martinique! I also got our confirmation tickets for Fantasmic show/dinner @ Hollywood & Vine, Ice-Cream Social @ The Garden and Hoop-De-Doo(tickets are needed, more on this later). The only time she had to go ask for help was with our AMEX discount on the HDDR but quickly had this all set. She instructed us to go explore and enjoy CBR until room was ready and to give them a call around 3:00 from any phone to check if it was. With map in hand off we set to find Old Port Royale to get some lunch. It was a bit confusing at first, I knew from PassPorter and posts that this is a very large Resort, but the amount of buildings was overwhelming! ( we learned later there is an internal shuttle to bring you around the Resort) After about 15 min. we came upon OPR and what a great place to eat! Very clean and employees friendly and helpful. Lines not to long but at 2:30 still quite busy. We chose the OPR Hamburger Stop, I had a cheeseburger w/slaw price $5.39 (very large burger!) DH had the Hot Dog w/chips (also BIG foot long) price $4.49. Of course we bought our Souvenir mugs for beverage island, mine purple and DH blue! Lots of room to eat inside but we wanted to go outside to eat and enjoy scenery (watch out for begging birds/ducks! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] ) By the time we finished it was about 3:30 and went to find a phone didn’t see one by OPR (although I’m sure there must have been one) so headed over to Martinique, checked out the pool which had quite a few people at it. As well as the main pool did. Still not seeing a phone a very nice groundskeeper showed us where a courtesy phone was next to the Rest/Laundry rooms towards the back of the pool and even gave us the # to call! Got Custom House and they said our room was 2356 and all ready! Just a short walk around the back of the pool! This is on the second level which was OK and it was a corner room two windows, very nice, clean and roomy. Beds were up high enough to store all luggage under, a place to hang clothes by the sinks behind the curtained area and 3 large drawers in TV console plus a bench that opened for storage (extra pillows & blanket in here). Our table and two chairs was over by the corner with the two windows and our balcony overlooked a quiet little deck with table and umbrellas nestled among trees and flowers. Got on phone and pushed # for Luggage/Valet and said we were in our room, they asked for our last name and said our bags would be there in a bout 15 min., after hanging up realized I didn't give the room #, but he was knocking at out door in exactly 15 min. We unpacked and saw a welcome card from our mousekeeper Francis (who gave us wonderful and personal care the whole 10 days) After unpacking we decided to just relax and enjoy CBR, went to the main pool ( I had a delicious Raspberry Daiquiri) . Put in a call to Lauren’s parents at Give Kids The World (they had already been down here for 3 days) we made plans to meet with them at MK at opening tomorrow morning. We ate supper at the Montego’s Deli, we both had the Cheese Steak Sub w/peppers & onions and Slaw, very good although DH didn’t care for the slaw (he thought he could taste chlorinated water in it) price $5.09 each. After eating we strolled around the promenade and checked out Parrot Cay then ended up off to the side of OPR sitting on a bench around 9:00p.m. and this is where we could see the top of the wand @ Epcot’s Spaceship Earth and had a pretty good view of the fireworks (at least the high ones) This made for a great end to a very long day. Tomorrow all about MK with Lauren [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[TINKN]

So glad you are writing. This is the one trip report I have been looking forward to the most. Keep it coming.

[maggy_1]

Sounds you have a full and great day Brenda [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] can't wait to read more about your day with Lauren in MK [img]graemlins/read.gif[/img]

Chantal [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

[tikibird]

Brenda,

Great start to what is sure to be a magical trip report!

Glad to hear you enjoyed CBR so much, and looking forward to more! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[rescuesk]

Brenda,

I can't wait to read about your time with Princess Lauren. Thanks for taking the time to write.

Sue

[Bert & Sully]

Hey Brenda when are you gonna finish [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] ......