Sousefest - The Trip Report About This Page:

[PrincessSharon]

This is the start of our actual trip report. If you still need to read the back story, you can do so in the pre-trip report.

http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...if-we-can.html

I've volunteered to write the lion's share of this TR with Eileen, Jill, Karen and Heather adding their side of the story, so I'll get it started. We each have a different tale to tell of getting there (obviously), so I'll start with mine.

Day One – Thursday, December 10

I was awake before my alarm went off, so I lay in bed thinking about how much fun the next five days would bring. I finally hopped out of bed and got ready to go. I’d promised the girls I was bringing bagels, so I left a little extra time for that. It was 6:10 when DF and I set out (and 44° ).

The bagel shop was empty (sometimes there is a line out the door), so getting bagels was quickly taken care of. DF remarked that the bagels really smelled good (even though I offered to get him one and he didn’t want one). When we arrived at the airport, I noticed nobody was on line to check in either. I checked my bag and quickly made my way through security where, you guessed it, there was nobody waiting.

Once I was through the security screening, I checked the clock: exactly 7:00! If I didn’t leave a lot of extra time, it would’ve taken a lot longer to get all that done. Anyway, I made my way to my gate and sat down to wait. My airport’s just put in free wifi (my little airport’s all grown up and saving China ), so I used that to check the weather. It looked like I’d have smooth sailing for my flight.

When it was time to board, I lined up. As I’d suspected, there was nobody in Business Select, so with A18, I was the 3rd person to board after the two preboarders. I decided to sit right in the front row, to make it easier for me to make a quick getaway.

The flight was fine. I passed the time by watching a movie on my laptop. When it was over I took a little nap. The last thing I remember was the pilot coming on to say that we’d have to circle the airport for a while. Next thing I knew, we were touching down.

I dashed through the airport and over to the DME check-in area, where the rest of the gang was waiting for me (except for Jill, due to arrive later). I spotted Eileen and waved, and she let out a happy squeal and rushed over to give me a huge hug. Then Karen and Heather joined in. Best. Welcome. Evah!

We walked over and boarded a bus and not long after were underway. There was some speculation about how many stops we’d make, but since I was on board, we stopped at Pop Century, Caribbean Beach Resort, Coronado Springs and then finally AKL.

We checked in and paid for the dining plan. Our room wasn’t ready yet, so we stored our bags. I called to find out what time the shuttle would be picking me up to take me to the CCC to get my rental car. Karen, Eileen and Heather stored their stuff and went right over to AK. They wanted to get FPs in case they needed them for the EE meet later. I stayed behind to wait for the shuttle.

While I was waiting, who should exit the lodge but Bob (UncleBob) & Larry (LLaffinPlace)! It was a great surprise getting to see them then and we talked for a bit before they, too headed over to AK. A bit later, a DME bus pulled up, so I took my paparazzi spot and waited for a certain passenger to step off.


Not sure why Jill looks so pink. She didn't look like that in person

Jill told me she felt like a celebrity with that welcome and I joked that I wanted to make up a sign with her name on it, but didn’t have any paper. Jill didn’t have anything she wasn’t going to carry into the park, so I walked with her and waited at the bus stop until I saw my shuttle pull up and then I ran over and caught it.

It was a quick ride over to the Car Care Center and I was able to get right in since there was no line for a rental agent. I’d reserved a midsize car, but I received an upgrade to a Saturn Outlook, an 8-passenger SUV. Sweet! It was awesome having room for everyone to climb in and saved us from the frustration of waiting on buses.

I find that it’s easier to get an upgrade at the Car Care Center and I think it has something to do with their limited stock. They run out of the popular sizes more often than the MCO location, at least in my experience. Add to that the friendly service I get, I’d rather rent from the CCC than at the airport (though honestly, I’ve never had a bad experience with Alamo at MCO).

I hopped in the car and drove over to AK. I walked over to EE and the group was just exiting the ride as I arrived. It was time for the Yak Attack meet, so we started over to the Yak & Yeti. Eileen needed to stop for a bio break (and I’m not going to comment on that ). I said I needed to stop as well, which just about freaked Karen out. She thought she might need to adjust our touring plan for the next day, but I assured her it wasn’t nature that prompted this stop. Well sort of nature. A rock. In my shoe.

After I’d gotten the rock out of my shoe, I sat and waited for the others. While waiting, I noticed a man passing. I thought to myself, “gee, he looks familiar.” I was trying to place him when I noticed he was walking with Lesley (WDWfan)! I ran over and said hello to Lesley and met Tom (I'd seen pictures of him before, but never actually met him). Don (duckaddict) was also with them, so they joined us and as soon as the rest of the group emerged from the bathroom, we headed over to the Yak Attack meet together.

This seems like a good place to stop and let the others catch up. So, ladies, have at it!

[BettyBeBop]

It was great finally meeting you all at the Ornament Exchange and Osborne Lights Meet!!! Even if it was so crazy and fast!! Can't wait to hear what all you ladies did on your trip!!!!

[B.M.]

Great start!
Sounds like a great rental car upgrade too!

[disney_duke]

Yay! Let the fun begin!
What a great start to the trip, complete with bagels. I love that you saw a few unexpected PP's too! That CCC experience sounded very nice. Awesome on the upgraded car too! OK, looking forward to the others arrival days too!

[KMB733]

Great Start!

[goofysdtr]

Great start, Sharon! I've been SO-O looking forward to reading this TR!

[LLaffinPlace]

Great start, Sharon!

Bob and I had been to AK earlier and grabbed some extra Fastpasses in case they were needed for the EE meet that immediately preceded the Yak Attack Meet. We rode standby and started out from the station just as it started to rain, so there was some in-your-face wetness to add spice to our run.

After we exited EE we put on our ponchos and ended up taking refuge from the deluge in a small building in the direction of Asia proper. After the downpour we got another set of FPs and then headed back to AKL for a nosh and to dry off a bit.

When we came out of AKL to head back to AK for the meets, we started for the bus stop, but then I saw a DME bus pulling in and told Bob we should see if any of the CLQ were on it. That's how we came upon you looking for Jill.

[MontiMouse]

Great start Sharon! Hope someone else comes around soon with more...

[Colexis Mom]

What a great start Sharon!

[wvugrrrl]

So far, great start! I love your papa-paparazzi (sorry, had to throw in a little Lady Gaga - it's been running through my head all day!) shot of Jill! I can't wait to read more about the CLQ+Lush+B&L's exploits!

[rlb38]

great start

[Caldercup]

Oooooooh.... my turn! MY TURN!
*************
On Wednesday, I realized just how unprepared I was to actually go on this trip -- and I mean that in a "materialistic sense".... 'cause I was about as ready to go emotionally as I've ever been. Still, I didn't neglect the gym and managed to squeeze in an hour on the treadmill, feeling very proud of myself that I'd be able to keep up with Karen et al.

Then I raced home and piled up my clothes and got my goodies and presents together. I printed off a Mousekeeping envelope (forgetting that we'd actually need two! ) and got other fun stuff together.

I was able to put my head on the pillow around 12:30, but between the DH's snoring and my sudden realization at 1:30 that I hadn't actually set the alarm, I was only able to steal snatches of sleep before 4:30. Good thing excitement got me going quickly, because my dad showed up 15 minutes early -- just as I stepped out of the shower!

Whatevs... my girlfriends would forgive the sorry state I was in...

In case you were wondering, this is what my house looks like at o'dark thirty when viewed through my dad's windshield:



We made good time to the airport and I managed to snag the last upgrade to Business Class. Waaaahoooo! Especially as the lines for security sucked and my little boarding pass gained me entrance to the SPECIAL PEOPLE'S line.

I love being special.

The sun wasn't even up as I grabbed a coffee and a yogurt and sat down to wait.



Karen was on a layover between her flights and we were able to send quick texts back and forth for a bit -- I was especially glad to get the one that said she'd managed to get onto the earlier flight and would arrive at MCO before any of us!



I also got to witness a mom pull a brand, spankin' new set of Mickey ears out of a bag and present them to her little girl. The LOOK on that girl's face made me start crying... and it was waaaaay too early in the morning for that. Especially as I'd only managed one coat of mascara... and it wasn't the waterproof kind!

Right on time, they started loading up the flight. I settled into my seat and hoped to fall asleep before we even pulled back from the gate.

The little boy behind me had other ideas.

He asked a million and one questions about the plane, the take-off, the gate, the flight attendants, the trip they were going on, and where the bathrooms were. The kicker was when -- after we'd taxi'd out to the runway and stopped for the line of planes waiting to take-off -- he asked his dad if we were there yet.

Oy... I sensed this was going to be a looooooong flight.

Eventually, we got into the air and I was able to put my headphones on and start to doze off.

Clunk...

Kick...

Squirm...

Zoiks, he was one of THOSE kids.

For the rest of the flight, he'd give the back of my seat a good wallop about every ten minutes, the perfect interval for keeping me from getting much sleep at all. Still, that was preferable to what he did for the last 20 minutes of the flight.

I think there's still a brownish, gassy cloud hanging in the skies somewhere between Jacksonville and Orlando.

We eventually landed and, thanks to my front row seat, I was off that plane in a flash and running to catch a tram to the main building. The first thing I heard was my name and... [cue the angel choir] there was Karen, waiting for me with a venti pumpkin spice latte.

She claims I was more excited for the latte than her, but I've never known coffee to make me cry and want to hug it within an inch of its life.

We chatted and smiled and smiled and hugged our way down to DME to park ourselves in chairs facing the way the two other early-arrivers would be coming. Sure enough, I soon saw Heather walking our way and we hopped up to say hello!

Originally Posted by PrincessSharon

I dashed through the airport and over to the DME check-in area, where the rest of the gang was waiting for me (except for Jill, due to arrive later). I spotted Eileen and waved, and she let out a happy squeal and rushed over to give me a huge hug. Then Karen and Heather joined in. Best. Welcome. Evah!

If you ask Karen about this, she'll tell you that I leapt from my chair, threw both my arms straight up in the air and charged at Sharon with a loud scrreeeeeam to give that big bear hug. [Which I did... but I blame the venti pumpkin spice latte.]

We got on a bus and only had to wait a little while to board more passengers before we pulled off for the epic, why-don't-they-go-straight-to-the-deluxes DME trip.



It started raining really, REALLY hard during our drive and I suddenly wondered why I hadn't slipped a poncho into my carryon. Dang! But, even through the rain, the sight of the magical gates to Disney made any inconveniences like a nasty rainstorm seem trivial.



The trip seemed to take forEVER, but I was charmed by this fun luggage cart I spied at Pop Century...



Eventually, however, we turned into the winding roads below the Lodge and I saw the new signs for Jambo House.

The minute we were walking under the portico at the AKL -- and smelling the wonderful smells and hearing the marvelous music -- all of my frustration at the slow bus ride melted away and I got totally verklempt.

I was there.
The whole trip lay in front of me.
My AP was burning a hole in my pocket.

And a Yak Attack was calling my name!

[B.M.]

Great start Eileen!

[skateycat]

What great beginnings...can't wait to hear about the rest....

[061706]

I am soooo thrilled to be reading this! Can't wait to hear more.