The "Unexpected Excuse for a Holiday Trip" Trip - Thread 1 About This Page:

[lindawdw]

I had a wallet incident at the Downtown Disney years ago and also got it back! It's definitely a scary feeling but it all turned out ok. Looking forward to hearing about your room at the AKL. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[bsblady01]

more please sounds like you are having a grate time so far

[disneyfan4994]

Great update. Can't wait for more. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[LLaffinPlace]

Great update, Marnie and I'm glad there was a happy ending to the purse story!

I appreciate the tip about the salad, although I dearly love the salmon at Tusker House.

Looking forward to the next update.

[Loster]

Just got caught up. Sounds like the airport was a little too exciting for me. Glad to hear that you finally made it to Orlando. Can't wait to read more.

[Annabel]

Great first morning [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Am so glad you found your pocketbook with everything still there, you definitely had some [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] that day [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] Mmm, that chicken salad sounds yummy [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] I'll have to add it to my list of things to try. Looking forward to reading more!

[Grammy Grumpy]

Wow, rough start with the weather, airport delays, losing your purse! I left my passporter at a restaurant once with lots of cash and all our info in it before a trip once. I got it back too! It's one of my repeating nightmares, losing my purse/wallet.

Glad your first day in the parks went well. Can't wait to hear more.

[mom2my4dwarfs]

Wow Marnie, rough start. Glad that your wallet was turned in.

[PrincessSharon]

Great update! So glad you got your purse back! Hurry back with more, please!

[Colexis Mom]

Day 1 Part 2……..Moving over to the Lodge

A few minutes later, we were pulling up to my favorite sign at WDW [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img]



We pulled up under the porte corcierge (what is that thing called [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/foreheadslap.gif[/img] ) and found a bellman to take our luggage. He loaded it onto the cart, gave us our tag, and I headed off inside with the kids while Matt went to park the car. Ah…….walking thru those sliding doors back into the lobby just makes me feel at home [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] There was no one waiting to check in, so I was waited on rather quickly, while the kids ran over to their favorite spot to watch the cartoons on the TV! We had booked a pool view room this time, to try and save money. I didn’t put any requests other than Zebra trail on our ressie (best rate thru the website). I’ve forgotten the CMs name who checked us in, but he was lacking some magic. Our room wasn’t ready (which I kinda expected with it being a Saturday and all, a high turnover day) so he only gave me a resort map and the ticket to call the number to see if your room is ready at a later time. He said to come back to the front desk when you got your room number and he would give me the welcome packet. Why I couldn’t get it now, I don’t’ know and I guess I should have questioned that, because we never ended up getting one. That was a little disappointing. Oh well!

Now what to do. Matt came in, I told him about the room not being ready, and we decided to head to the Zawadi Marketplace. I needed to get Alexa a new autograph book and pen anyway. And I snagged a new pressed penny holder since they had changed the design. I was disappointed to see that they had removed their pin trading book thingy………it was the honor system and you could take any pin on the felt as long as you replaced it with one of your own. Maybe some people were being less than honest [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] Books and pen in hand, we headed back out to the lobby to find Matt and Colin. There were some CMs on the floor using crayons and paper to make patterns of the gold medallions on the floor, so the kids stopped to do that for a few minutes. Then the CM mentioned that they were also doing cookie decorating in Boma right now, so we headed down for that. Now there’s something that we hadn’t done before, so that was quite fun! The frosting however, which I think was supposed to be buttercream, tasted like a stick of butter. Apparently they don’t add sugar to their frosting, or forgot it this time [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] How appropriate for Colin that the cookies were shaped like giraffes!



We called the room assignment number, but no dice [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zcry.gif[/img] Next up was the playground so the kids could run around. There looked like there were quite a few people waiting for their rooms, as we passed many people in pants and shoes just sitting on the lounge chairs. After the playground, the pool was calling since the weather was still nice. After calling to see if the room was ready again (not yet [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zcry.gif[/img] ), Matt went up to the baggage area to find our carryon bag with all the bathing suits in it. I hung out with the kids in the waiting area of Boma, snapping some pictures of the candy village.



We changed in the large (and quiet) bathrooms right there, and headed out to the pool. There were plenty of chairs available, and hardly anyone in the pool. Odd since it was quite warm today. However, not warm enough for me, as I went up to my knee and that was far enough! Matt gets pool duty in December. I only consider this fair since he usually naps every afternoon we’re down here [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/snore.gif[/img] so it’s my alone time (even though I’m really not alone)! The kids had fun, and enjoyed going down the slide. They really enjoy this pool, between the zero entry and the slide. Even Colin enjoys the slide now!

The kids were done after about 45 minutes, and we ready to change (and I wanted to sleep). I tried calling the room number assignment place, but just sat on hold forever. Matt finally got irritated enough, where he just went up to the lobby and waited in that line. It was close to 3 now anyway, if not just after. Matt returned with our room number, 4436 [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img] That number sounded quite familiar. We took the elevator behind the pool area near Simba’s Clubhouse up to the 4th floor, turned the corner, and the room was right there [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] It was pool view, right in the corner. We were in this same area in April, but on the 2nd floor and right across the hall with a savannah view. You couldn’t beat the location to the elevator, the pool, and Mara, which is really what I had hoped for [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img]

Continued in next post.........

[Colexis Mom]

……….continued from previous post

Once in the room, we took a look at the view. It was nice, but my heart belongs to a savannah view [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] Here’s the monster we’ve created………Colin’s first words were “where are the animals??” [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] At least the pool area was quiet most of the week, as I suspect these rooms can get quite noisy during peak periods when everyone is in the pool. Plus there was music blasting out on the balcony, not the serene quietness of the savannah view. A quick call to the bellman, and our luggage was delivered within a few minutes. I unpacked, hooked up my camera battery, and we all took a nap (except for Alexa). Boy, I really miss the days when she took naps [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] At least she sat there and watched the classic cartoon channel so the rest of us could get some shut eye! She woke me up after about an hour, bored, so we took our mugs and headed down to Mara for some pizza and Zebra domes [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]

We headed back to the room, rallied the boys, and decided the game plan for tonight. We were headed to Epcot. It was after 6 when we finally made it down to the bus stop. Soon after, we arrived at Epcot. I must say, I’m so glad they moved the baggage area away from the turnstiles for this park. At least they listened to the complaints and did something about it! We tried to find our Leave a Legacy tiles, but I forgot to write down their locations [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/foreheadslap.gif[/img] Maybe we can find them when we come back during the day! Alexa refused to ride Spaceship Earth (apparently the “smell” bothers here – I think in the Roman scene) so that was out. Most everything else was closing as it was close to 7. Soarin’ was open, but the wait was 90 minutes [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] I guess we’ll come back another day for that one!

Alexa wanted to do the masks, so that became our quest of the night! First we stopped outside the Epcot tree to take a picture. However I forgot to switch my camera battery, and hence the battery was dead. Oh well, I didn’t want to take pictures tonight anyway [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/foreheadslap.gif[/img] I took the kids into Mexico to get them started with their masks, while Matt went to Cantina de San Angel for some nachos. I must say it was a bit crowded tonight, but we expected that, hoping that the crowds would decrease during the week. We were on our way out of the pavilion when we met up with Matt, and decided to walk to Norway, and eat the nachos there. We found a seat outside the Kringola Bakery and ate there. Soon after, we were in search of Kidcot stations again, and quickly found Norway’s.

We also notice that the Stave Church had an exhibit inside, but we never made it in there to check it out. Onward to China, and then to Germany. Colin had given up on his mask, and I just carried it inside for him. By the time we got to Italy, he was out like a light. And he just took a two hour nap!! We marched on, hitting America, Morocco, and France. By now it was 9:15, and we hustled down to England. We walked in about 9:27, while they were starting to close up the shop [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] The CM gave us our tags, and closed the doors behind us. Looks like we won’t be able to finish the masks tonight. This is also where I wished we had driven to the Beach Club to park so we didn’t have to walk all around to the bus stop. Most of the good viewing spots for IllumiNations were taken, so we just kept walking and finally stopped near the Refreshment Port just past Canada on the way to Future World. The show was amazing as usual [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] Colin woke up while we were standing there, and decided that he didn’t like fireworks anymore. He was not a happy camper, and buried himself in Matt’s chest, or had his hands over his ears for the entire show. I forgot about the extras at the end [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Frankly those fireworks are bigger than the normal IllumiNations ones!

We headed out with the masses to the bus stop. The line wasn’t too bad, but by the time we got onto the bus, it was quite full and standing room only. Thankfully Colin had woke up, but Matt ended up in the back of the bus with him. A nice woman near the front let Alexa sit down next to her (and lean on her too), because I was trying to juggle the stroller and holding on for dear life. It was one of the newer busses, where the handle to hold on it about 6 feet up. I’m 5 feet even with my shoes on [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] I was on my tippytoes, with my arm fully extended, and could barely reach the top of the bar with my fingertips. Thankfully I’ve got strong fingers, because that was the only thing holding me on. Alexa ended up falling asleep on the bus. Thankfully the woman said she’d sit with her while I took the stroller out, so that I could come back onto the bus and carry her out. Thankfully she woke up and could walk out, although a little dazed, since carrying 45 pounds of dead weight would have killed me!

It was close to 11 by the time we made it back up to the room. Lights were out quickly, we had an early start ahead tomorrow!

Coming Up Next: A magical ride, breakfast with friends, and the start of the rainy season

[LizardCop]

Great update Marnie....

Don't like the sound of things to come [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[Caldercup]

Oh, no... don't tell me.... the monsoon seasons starts!!
Great updates!
Eileen

[Claire4Stitch]

I'm new to passporter boards but clearly you are the stuff of legends [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Have really enjoyed the reports so far and you got a great room at AKL. looking forward to hearing much more,

Claire xx

[zacksmom_1993]

Glad you got a good location at AKL, Marnie! I too have a heart for the savannah view rooms (and of your pictures of the savannah!) So, I was hoping that you'd been upgraded as I read your post. Can't wait to hear about the rest of your adventures!

Karen