Belle*s 30th Birthday Trip! June 9 - 13,2004 (Also starring Stitch)-Updated with Epcot Day About This Page:

[Belle*]

WHO:

Belle* - Age 29/30

Stitch – Age 32

WHERE:

Port Orleans – French Quarter

WHEN:

Wednesday, June 9 – Sunday, June 13, 2004

WHY:

Belle*’s 30th Birthday!!!



Wednesday – Travel Day and MK E-Ride Night



The alarm went off at 4:45 am to wake up Stitch. I was already in the bathroom brushing my teeth having been unable to sleep for the past half hour! We had showered and loaded up the car the previous night so all we had to do was get dressed, throw a few last minute things into the carry-ons, feed the cats and hit the road! We were in the car on the way to the airport by 5:30. After a short drive we parked the car, hopped the shuttle and arrived at the SouthWest check-in desk and received those coveted “A” boarding passes. The lines through security were pretty short and we stopped to pick up a book for me and some breakfast at McDonald’s. We sat at the gate and ate and then noticed a couple of people lining up. We decided to join them since I had very particular seats I wanted to get. We were probably 3rd in line behind 2 business men. All of a sudden this woman walks to the front of the line and puts her bag down next to the first guy in line! Effectively cutting every one in line including all the people who had lined up behind us. So I look at Stitch and mutter, “Well, that’s a new one!” Which, of course, she hears. She immediately begins saying loudly, “There are plenty of seats for everyone!” I think better of responding and leave to go to the ladies room. I come back and we wait to board. They begin boarding and when they finish pre-boarding this woman (I will NOT call her a lady) makes a big production out of letting everyone including us go ahead of her saying loudly, “There you happy? I know how badly you wanted to be first!” I just walked past her and said, “Get over it!” She continues to berate me as we hand in our boarding passes and walk down the jetway. Finally, I stopped dead, turned around and said, “You are a grown woman. This is pathetic! Let it go and get over it!!!!” With that we boarded the plane and got the seats I had wanted. (First row with plenty of leg room! ) Our flight stopped in Baltimore and dropped off everyone except 4 people. We stayed on the plane and after a very quick boarding were off to Orlando!



We arrived in Orlando on time (about 11:00), grabbed our luggage and headed for Avis. Since I am a preferred Wizard member we bypassed the counter and went straight to the garage where we were given a Mitsubishi Lancer. Fine by us! Plenty of room for us and our luggage. Now unfortunately we decided to follow the directions from the Avis website to PO-FQ which were close but not quite accurate. They listed the wrong exit number but it only cost us about 10 minutes (5 minutes past WDW and 5 to get back) and we arrived at the hotel around 12:30.



Bell Services is no where to be found upon arriving at PO-FQ so we leave the luggage in the car and head for check-in. The girl that checks us in is “Earning her Ears” and the woman training her turns out to be from CT! So of course this poor girl is trying to do her spiel and we are all chatting about home. We are assigned Room 5302, a non-smoking room on the third floor. Exactly what I had requested – Woo-Hoo!! SO I send Shawn to park the car and get the luggage while I finish checking in, buying E-ride night tickets and head for the room. I get to the room open the door…..And find a mess!! The beds are unmade, pillows and blankets are thrown everywhere and worst of all, people’s belongings are still in there!!! Horrified, I back out, shut the door and do a double take to make sure I have the correct room number. I go back down the stairs where Shawn is just walking up with the luggage. I tell him to hang on and I will be right back. Back at check-in, I flag down Kitty (the woman who was training) and tell her what happened. She, of course, is horrified and immediately works on finding me another room. The problem is, they are completely booked. She finds another room but it isn’t at all what I requested. She tells me to go check it out and if it isn’t satisfactory to call from the room and let the front desk know so they can work on finding another one right away. So I drag Shawn and our luggage over to the new location. We go to the room which is on the second floor of building 2 and overlooks the kiddie pool. Uh-uh!! So I call the front desk and the woman that answers the phone tells me to come back to the front desk. I explain that that is what Kitty told me NOT to do. She huffs and puffs but eventually tries to find us a new room over the phone. The only other one she has will not be ready for a few hours but she assures me it is in a wonderful location. I ask if we can leave our luggage with bell services in the lobby or do we have to go all the way to the front to store them? She says just leave them with bell services in the lobby. So we drag ourselves and our luggage back down to the lobby where Bell Services informs me they don’t do that and I will have to take the luggage out front. Well, now I’ve HAD IT!!!! I go over to Guest Services and ask to speak to a manager. I am finally allowed to speak with James, a manager and after giving him the whole rundown explain that the first room was ideal. If there is any way we could just find out what is going on with that room, that would be great! He goes to investigate and comes back 10 minutes later. He informs us that the people have now checked out and he is sending housekeeping to the room now. If we can wait a few more minutes we can have our original room!! Yayyy!!!! A few minutes later we are given our new keys (our third set at this point) and off we go to the room. The room is perfect and exactly what we wanted except someone has very obviously sprayed tons of room deodorizer or cleaning solution around as it reeks of chemicals. Oh well, by now it is almost 3 pm and we are too exhausted to do anything about it. We unpack and take naps for a couple hours. Our plan to spend the afternoon at MGM is completely discarded in favor of sleep!



Hidden Mickeys in the chair upholstery





Our room on the last day as we unpacked





Another Hidden Mickey in the comforter



[b]Continued in next post…[b]

[luvnwdwgal]

It's a shame you had to deal with such a rude/stupid woman at the airport and had such a runaround about your room. Looking forward to your next installment!

[Colexis Mom]

Gee Sara, what a rough start I met a woman like that at Beaches and Cream during our stay! And what a runaround at POR

I hope the evening is more magical for you and Shawn Looking forward to more

[Belle*]

Wednesday, June 9 continued…

When we awake, we decide to proceed directly to Ft. Wilderness for dinner at Trail’s End and from there to the MK for Spectromagic, Wishes and E-ride night. We hop in the car and drive over to Ft. Wilderness, park and take the bus to Pioneer Hall. Neither of us had ever been here before and I was surprised by how big it was and how nice the cabins looked! Dinner was good, not amazing but a good value for the money. During dinner it started pouring on and off. Of course, this meant a sprint through the rain back to the bus. By the time we reached the parking lot it had eased off enough to walk to the car. We drove over to the MK, parked way up in front and hopped on a monorail! NOW it feels like we are in WDW!! Our first stop was City Hall to exchange our E-ride tickets for bracelets and pick up a "Today is my bithday" button for me! Ok, ok so it doesn't start until midnight but close enough darn it!

The rain continued intermittently through out the night along with some thunder and lightning. We rode BTMRR and Dave, one of the CM’s sang Happy Birthday to me. Just about every CM we saw wished me Happy Birthday! But he was the only one to sing. After BTMRR, we staked out a spot to watch Spectromagic right at the end of parade route. The parade was delayed due to lightning but well worth the wait. (Says the person who NEVER watches parades at WDW! ) Prince Charming and Alice in Wonderland even wished me a Happy Birthday from their floats! After Spectromagic, we walked over to the walkway from Frontierland to Cinderella’s Castle where we stopped to watch Wishes. It was very emotional for me to be standing in WDW on the eve of my 30th birthday watching this amazing show with my amazing husband and knowing my fondest wish is coming true this year. Stitch and I are going to be parents!! I admit to a few tears.

We didn’t spend much time at E-ride night due to the weather and the crowds! I don’t know if we just hit the rides at the wrong times but there was a wait for everything. We did do Mickey’s Philharmagic, Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear before heading back to PO-FQ. I’m pretty sure I, for one, was asleep before me head hit the pillow!

Next Up: Day Two – My Birthday and Victoria & Alberts!!

[MegglesMom]

Sorry about the rough start! I couldn't belive the woman at that airport. Sheesh! Anyhoo, I hope your trip gets much, MUCH better!!

[luvnwdwgal]

So glad you had such a nice evening, after how crazy your morning was! Looking forward to reading all about your birthday!

[loobyoxlip]

Great beginning, Sara. Isn't Wishes just the best?

[chezp]

I'm glad your holiday picked up after that woman on the flight and the saga of getting your room at PO-FQ. How you kept your cool during that situation, I do not know!

It sounds like you had a wonderful time at e-ride night and I think that is so cool that Prince Charming and Alice in Wonderland wished you Happy Birthday from their floats!

I can't wait to hear all about your birthday and Victoria and Albert's!

[ilovelilo]

I'm sorry your trip didn't start off so great, but it sounds like it was getting better! I hope you had a great time the rest of the days you were there! Looking forward to more of your report!

[BritDisFan]

Wow Sara, that woman at the airport was incredibly rude , I'm glad you got there safely, can't wait to hear all about your birthday dinner.

Karen

[DrDolphin]

Sorry the trip had such a bumpy beginning = but it sounds like things got better when you go to MK!!!

[mac]

I'm sorry your trip started off a bit rocky , but it sounds like it got better quick! I can't wait to hear more.

[buckysmom]

Happy happy birthday!
And rude people make me so happy, I feel so CIVILIZED in comparison
Congrats on your newest edition, too!

[GoofyMom]

Well, it started out bumpy, so we know it can only get better! Right?!!!

[jastza]

Sounds like you had a rough start! But nothing a good nap and some decent food and some fun couldn't fix! I can't wait for the next part. Be sure to let me know how things go at POFQ after your rough start. We are staying there the 25th to July 3rd and we have never been to that resort before. I guess no matter what we should follow your lead and have a great time in spite of any mishaps!