The "Was I really Switched at Birth?" Pre-trip Report Turned Trip Report About This Page:

[AKLRULZ]

Originally posted by Fortissimo:
I look around and the man behind me has removed his Teva's and his feet are sticking out from under my seat. I wanted to turn around and suggest he buy a bottle of Sandal Suds at his local sandal store, but I refrained. (Steve, try Sandal Suds. You can buy a bottle of it at stores that sell only sandals. It takes the lovely odor out and your Teva’s don’t have to be banished to the deck, doused in baby powder).[/b]

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">I promise you this was not me! ROTF! This should be called Summer of the Stinky Tevas.

SUPER REPORT!!

[kadterp]

How dare those kids squish all those Mickey Bars! They are lucky that you were good!

[Beth L.]

Great trip report Forti! Glad to hear that you got the building you wanted even though you had to the ends of the earth to get there! Can't wait to hear about Stinky, been wanting to hear how she did in her competition!

[tikibird]

NASTY, EVIL children squishing Forti's Mickey Bars! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Great start - looking forward to hearing about Stinky's competition!

[MrsM]

Great report so far, I can't wait to read more! Now I've got another thing to add to my list for October - "make sure kids do not squeeze the Mickey bars".

[USMCWife]

Where was Mr. Whipple telling kids not to squeeze the Mickey Bars when you need him? Oh well!! I am really enjoying your trip report and can not wait for another installment.

I, too, feel I was switched at birth and added to a non-Disney freak family!! My family enjoys WDW but not as much as I do. We all went in Jan for the first time in almost 12 years and had a really good time.The only problem is now I am ready to go back and they are content to wait another 12 years. Luckily my dh shares my obsession!!

Annissa ºoº

[SMG]

I can tell this is going to be a GREAT report!! Can't wait to hear more!! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

I really needed a Mickey Bar and a Diet Coke.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">LOL!! So that's the secret to eating Mickey Bars at the World!! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Fortissimo]

Before I continue, first, thanks for reading my long, drawn out report.

Second, I forgot to mention security screening as it had my mom and I in stitches. I went through first and of course set off the alarm. The screener tells me to take off my shoes, which are the Nike shoes that don't have a back, and go through without my shoes. I put my shoes on the x-ray belt and walk through without shoes. This works so it we decide I must have metal somewhere in my shoes.

As we get through security, the only people they are wanding are pilots. There had to be at least ten pilots assuming the postion. Do you remember sticking your arms out and pretending to be planes when you were little? Mom and I laughed and I asked one if he was practicng for take-offs. He laughed and made engine noises. Another pilot didn't really see the humor in this picture and he made some snide comment taht I can't repeat as this is a family board.

I promise I'll start working on my report!

[tikibird]

Originally posted by Fortissimo:
Mom and I laughed and I asked one if he was practicng for take-offs. He laughed and made engine noises.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Hee! Hee! I should have thought of this when I got wanded this trip! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Looking forward to more of your report (and finding out how many Mickey Bars you REALLY ate! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] )

[Fortissimo]

I forgot to add the expense account to day one.

Expenses:
Screw driver for my glasses, $4
Roundtrip from DIA to MCO, using Mile Plus Awards, $5 for me
Mom's plane ticket was free as she was using a gift certificate. If we would have had to pay full price, the cost would have been $500 each.
Lunch at DIA, $12
TTc to PO-R $72 using the coupon in the back of my PassPorter, plus a $10 tip.
Nine nights at PO-R, $1077, icluding taxes.
Refillable mug: $10.59 with tax

Mickey Bar total for day, Zero [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

[Fortissimo]

Day two: Daytona Beach and how the Stinker brings us to tears.

The purpose of today and the reason we are in Orlando, is to watch my 13-year-old niece, Kada, aka Stinky, at her National Dance Competition in Daytona Beach. If Stinky wouldn’t live for dance, I wouldn’t be in Florida right now.

As I left off, mom and I had just settled down in our room. Before going to bed, I set the wake-up call for 6:45 and my alarm for 6:30. Why the difference, you ask? I figured that I would be in the shower when the phone rang so my mom would hear Mickey telling us to “Get up.” Well this worked except it wasn’t Mickey. Instead it was a strange garble of noise. I later learned Stitch was making prank calls and waking people up. Now remember, we flew in from Denver. Our bodies are still on mountain-time, so we are really getting up at 4:30. Mom said it brought back memories of early-morning swim practice.

After showering and getting dressed, we head out at breakfast at Boatwright’s. We both had the French toast with banana stuffing and boy was it yummy! [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] We could eat here again and again!

Soon we were as stuffed as the French toast and ready to be on our way. I had reserved a car through National for the next two days. When I made the reservation, they told me to call one hour before we wished to be picked up. So I call and I can’t get through. I call again, and again. Finally I give up and call the main number. They inform me that we had to make the request top be picked up 24 hours in advance. I explained that I was told I only needed an hour. The agent tells me the person must not have known what he or she was talking about as I needed to call 24 hours in advance. I give up and we just take a taxi to the car care center.

Once there, I explained what happened. The agent informed me that they were having trouble with their phone lines that morning from some of the resorts. We got our car and were on our way.

Or were we on are way?

Do you remember someone asking in the Silly question of the Day a while back, if you drove an automatic or a stick? Well, the only automatic I have ever driven was an ambulance and that was at least 10 years ago. I was assigned a silver Eclipse which was an automatic. How hard can an automatic be to drive? I go to put the car in reverse and it won’t go into reverse. I try again and still nothing. I move the steering wheel thinking maybe it’s locked and that’s why I can’t get into reverse. That doesn’t work. So I go back in and tell the agent I can’t get the car into reverse. A man standing at the counter asks me if I know how to drive. I stick my tongue out at him. The agent said to try pushing the break and turning the wheel. I go out and give it a try. Finally! The car is in reverse and we’re on our way! So I’m blond, okay! [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img] I had one more problem with this car and that was the spoiler on the back. Did you know if a person is only 5’2” and 1/4, the spoiler obstructs her view? I had to be very careful when backing up. That is when I could get the car in reverse.

Have you ever driven I-4 during rush hour in Orlando? These people are maniacs! Is it against the law in Florida to use your turn signal when changing lanes? Then the person changing lanes squeezes in between two cars, leaving about an inch between the bumpers. I’m sure the drivers in Denver are just as bad, but since I don’t have to use the highway during rush hour I’ve been deprived of this experience.

We reach Daytona at about 11:00. My sister, Shannon, and her family are staying in the Ocean Walk Resort right on the beach. Every room looks out at the ocean. The resort is only a few months old and beautiful. If you are staying at Daytona Beach, check out the resort at Ocean Walk Resort .

As we arrive, Kada is just finishing putting on her makeup. The only time she is allowed to wear make-up is for dance, so it is kinda strange to see her with all of the stage make-up on. Soon she is ready to go and we walk across the street to the convention center, the site of the competition. They are about half-way through the 12-year-old age group, so Kada has a chance to see some of her friends compete.

Finally, it’s time. The dancers perform in alphabetical order, so Kada is the last of about 25 dancers, both male and female. She watches the first 5 or so before she heads back to the waiting area. As she leaves, she asks me to come with her and her mom. On the way she confides to us that she is very nervous because all of the previous performers are really good. Kada has only been dancing for almost three years now, and she knows these other dancers have been dancing for a lot longer. We tell her not to worry and that just making Nationals is quite an accomplishment. Shannon goes back to our seats and I stay with the Stinker a little longer. I try to calm her down, telling her who cares where she places and to just have fun. All the time I’m thinking, “Boy, these kids are good. I hope she makes at least the top ten.”

Only two dancers remain before Kada, so I’m asked to leave her by the stage attendants and I return to my seat. Now there is only one dancer to go. Oh, Dumbo is flying in my stomach and I’m not even dancing!

At last the emcee is announcing “Ms. Kada W. from Denver, Colorado!” All of her dance school buddies, and of course her family, go wild as she enters the stage. Kada’s music to her first solo, her lyrical, is called “China.” Her costume is red velvet and resembles a kimono. The music starts and here she goes! What can I say, she was beautiful. I don’t know the dance terms, but she was finally very expressive with her facial movements. The Stinker has one of those smiles that light up even the darkest room, and here she is with that smile on her face as she dances. Kada’s enjoyment in her dance is just radiating from her. Her dance instructor, who preaches the love of dance over placement in competitions, has tears streaming down her face. Oh wait, so does Kada’s mom, her Grandma, and her aunt. I don’t know if her execution was great, as I know nothing about dance, but her expression of the dance was beyond words. Well, as we know, all good things must come to an end, and so must the music. Kada exits the stage and heads toward her dance instructor, Miss Lynn. Miss Lynn still has tears streaming down her face, okay, so we all did, and she just hugs Kada. She can’t say anything to her. Finally she regains her composure and tells Kada she was beautiful. She did everything Miss Lynn asked plus Kada finally added herself to the character and the dance. Kada is beaming from ear to ear.

Ugh! Now we have almost four hours to wait for the results! Kada decides she wants to stay and watch her friends in the older age groups, so Shannon stays with her. Mom, Bert, and I decide it’s time to hit the beach for a few hours.

We cross back over to the resort and change into our beach wear. I have to admit, that after swimming thousands of laps in my life time and working at a water park for 17 years, I’m not looking forward to getting in the ocean. Yes you are reading the trip report of a person who went to Hawaii for a swim meet at age 12, but was terrified to get in the ocean. Jaws had just come out the year before and I was sure the shark had moved to Waikiki Beach. Fast forward to the present day and I’m still uncomfortable in the ocean. I know there is something down there that can eat me in two bites. But, being the brave soul that I am, I push my fears aside and head to the ocean.

The water is warm, but greenish. There are cute little fish swimming at our feet, waiting to bite our toes. I stole Kada’s bogie board and body surf on the smaller waves. Hey, this isn’t too bad. In fact, it’s pretty fun! Yuck! That water tastes salty! After about a whole hour in the water, we head back to the beach to dry off.

The beach is very clean with the white sand. While in college I visited Daytona Beach with my best friend who was attending FSU. At that time you could drive on the whole beach and the sand was pretty nasty. The resorts along this stretch of beach have closed it off to traffic and really cleaned it up. We had fun watching the kids build castles and chase birds.

At 4:00 we head back to the room to shower, change, and eat before going to see the awards for the afternoon dances. I don’t even bother doing my hair because as soon as we landed in Florida the night before, it was back to its old curly self.

We enter the convention center just as the 15-year-olds are finishing up. The emcee calls all the dancers to the stage and begins handing out awards for the 12-year-olds. Next is Kada’s age group. They begin with 10th place and work there way to first. They hit 5th place and it’s a boy, Danny, from Kada’s dance school. My palms are sweating as they get to second place and they call a girl from Kada’s dance school who Kada has never beaten before. We shrug, knowing that at least Kada did her best. She may not be in the top ten, but oh well, she had fun.

But wait!

To be continued in next post. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Fortissimo]

As we left off, they had just announced places 2 through 10 for the 13-year-old age group.

We politley listen to the first place winner to be announced.

Now the emcee is announcing, “In First Place, from Miss Lynn’s School of Dance, Kada, W!”

What? She won?!?! She did! Wow! She did!

We look up at Kada on the stage and she is just sitting there. She doesn’t believe it. Finally, one of her friends grabs her arm and makes her stand up. Kada gets her trophy and it’s as tall as her. There is that smile beaming across her face again. Her teammates from the dance school, not to mention us, are going wild. Kada is probably the only one who is calm.

After they finish the awards, she runs off the stage with empty arms to us. Ummm, Kada, aren’t you forgetting something? Oh, my trophy. Danny brings her the trophy and gives her a big huge (He’s a little cutie, too [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] ).

We head back to the resort so Kada can get something to eat before her jazz solo later that night. Mom and I didn’t get to see this solo as we didn’t want to drive back to Orlando in the dark. Kada placed 2nd on this dance.

So Kada got 1st on her lyrical and 2nd on her jazz for 13-year-olds. But then they group the dancers in a larger group of 12 to 15 year olds. I don’t get this dance competition thing here. The jazz solos later tonight compete against the solos form earlier in the day for the money prizes. So it works like this: The dancers can do two solos of different styles. The dancers are scored and then ranked in their age group for each dance and are awarded their placement for each dance. Then, at the end of the day, they rank the top 10 dancers from combined ages of the 12 to 15. The top three places receive cash prizes. So not only are the dancers competing against kids of different ages, they are competing against themselves. I sure hope you understand this, because I’m not sure I do.

Anyway, at the end of the night, Kada place 8th overall for her lyrical. Her friend Allie, who is 12 and has been dancing since she was 3, placed 2nd overall! All the other dancers who placed in the Top 10 were 14 and 15 years old.

So that’s how the Stinker brought us to tears.

The drive back to Orlando was just as exciting as the trip to Daytona that morning. We stopped at Chevy’s for dinner and then went back to our room. I hope I didn’t bore you with all the details, but I’m pretty proud of the Stinker! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Next up: Sea World and how returning a rental car can be an exciting adventure.

Expenses for the day:
Boatwright’s: $14.61
Calls to get rental car shuttle: $3
Taxi to Car Care Center from PO-R: $9
National Rental Car for two days with Disney Club discount: $101.98
Dinner at Chevy’s (Mom paid for this, so I don’t have the receipt) about $35 with tip.

Mickey Bar total: still zero [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

[ 07-11-2002, 03:56 PM: Message edited by: Fortissimo ]

[AKLRULZ]

Oh golly, Stinker just brought me to tears! That was a fabulous depiction of the day's events and very suspenseful! BTW - I can totally relate to how you feel about the ocean and Jaws! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Can't wait for more - when do you get your Mickey Bar?!?

[ 07-11-2002, 04:02 PM: Message edited by: Dadtojbj ]

[Tara O'Hara]

Kada’s music to her first solo, her lyrical, is called “China.” Her costume is red velvet and resembles a kimono. The music starts and here she goes! What can I say, she was beautiful. I don’t know the dance terms, but she was finally very expressive with her facial movements. The Stinker has one of those smiles that light up even the darkest room, and here she is with that smile on her face as she dances

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Oh my gosh Forti!! I don't even know your niece and I am crying! How beautiful that sounds. I love [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] your report and can't wait to hear the rest of it!

Tara [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[wdwlovers]

[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Forti, I am so proud of Stinky!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] How wonderful for her and the family! I was taken in by just your description of Kada's dancing! How cool is it that you got to see her win the big one! Wow [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Sounds like you guys had a great day in Daytona and I can't wait to hear abou the rental car return! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]