Solo-on-a-Scooter, Live from the World, Jan 31-Feb 16, 2014 - Page 13 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Checking in on this live TR! Feels like we're right there w/you. Sorry about the yucky weather but hopefully the rest of the time will be Disney magical!!!
That weather forecast was way off. Sorry you had to deal with a gloomy, wet day. Thank goodness you had some friends to enjoy it with. I can't believe how inaccessible MK is becoming to those who need the scooters. Thanks so much for checking on Stefanie giraffe. She has appeared in a few dreams that have awakened me. I do that with people quite a bit and usually they have a need that I find out later. So I wondered if anything was going on with my favorite giraffe.
So sorry for the drizzly forecast....and for the additional attractions you cannot access alone. I am glad Lydia could be there for a portion of the day and help out. How awesome to have some planned (and unplanned) meets during your MK day. A quiet evening and simple dinner sounds like a perfect way to end a gray day....hope you start to see the sunshine!
Danielle
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~Shoot for the moon, if you miss, you will land among the stars~
Thanks for the update. Sounds like a very good day.
I checked the Orlando forecast several times during the day - it didn't show rain until the evening. Guess it can't get it right, even when it's happening...
Good Luck with today's check-in.
Exactly. Is there any other job you could have where you are wrong most of the time and don't get fired? I surely wouldn't want to try to forecast the weather because I know it's unpredictable. I just wish they wouldn't sound so sure!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I'm glad the day turned out Ok, despite the dismal weather. Good grief, how did they get that forecast so wrong?
What a great set of meets you had!
By the way, I'm keeping score on all the attractions you can't do, to make sure that we all do them next time we're all in Disney together. I already knew about Pirates, but there are more on my list now...
Unbelievable about the Wi-Fi situation. I hope they get that sorted out soon, although of course it's no help to you this trip.
There sure are more on the list! Thank you for thinking of me! I will take you and Mark up on that offer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Principessa_di_Fata
What a total hassle with the wifi, and I'm SO glad you said something and got some points back on that room - ridiculous to consider that a lake view, if you ask me.
I'm glad you had time with Lydia to enjoy the MK rides you don't typically get to do. I wish we still had the original plan of going around MK with you - but we'll just have to save that for your next trip, and we'll come down and do that!
I hope your move today goes well, and that the weather improves!
Today was fabulous weather! And great in every other way as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
First I am so glad that they gave you some points back. That room should not be a bay view, so sad.
Second, what a great day of meets!!! Sounds like a great day other than the rain - and lack of accessibility, so maybe just an okay day
I know it's going to get better for you!!! Good luck with your move today!!!
I'd consider it a great day! Doing the rides isn't as important to me as just enjoying being in the parks, especially with great friends. Not being able to do them makes me angry, though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
I'm glad you spoke up about the lack of view and wifi issues. They really should recategorize that room. Sounds like a nice, albeit gray, day in the MK.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2
It was a very nice day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
That really is lousy that you're losing options on rides. I would think that any number of lobbyist type groups would be talking to Disney about that.....
Glad to hear you had a refund of some points, but what it really seems is that the room you had needs to be properly classified. That was NOT a water view!
Your MK day sounded good, though, with lots of meets, and the chance to do a few new things. Enchanted Tales is so sweet. We went without our kids, and enjoyed the younger ones who participated so much.
I think that room isn't even a "standard view". It shouldn't be a guest area at all with that kind of ugly view. That's just not Disney. I loved being in MK and all the planned and unplanned meets!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Bummer about the weather, but the view & wi-fi are a real let down. I'm just not impressed with much at BLT, except for the convenience to MK. Looking foward to hearing about BWV as we're staying there in June.
I'm with you on BLT, although I enjoyed the 1-bedroom much more than the studio. I am a big BWV fan, and am very happy here now!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Sorry about the rough start with the airline delay and the weather. And then no wifi and the horrible room view. Glad you had a better day yesterday and got to see Heather, even if she wasn't the skipper!
Kathy, it was great to see Heather-- just wait for today's report.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nemo125
Checking in on this live TR! Feels like we're right there w/you. Sorry about the yucky weather but hopefully the rest of the time will be Disney magical!!!
So far, so good!
[QUOTE=Cam22;4282775]That weather forecast was way off. Sorry you had to deal with a gloomy, wet day. Thank goodness you had some friends I[/QUOTE
]
Sorry, Cam, I accidentally erased the last part of your quote. I understand that anxious feeling and am glad that she seems to be ok. Lidia will make sure, though, and I'll have a more firm answer for you in a few days.
Quote:
Originally Posted by disneydani
So sorry for the drizzly forecast....and for the additional attractions you cannot access alone. I am glad Lydia could be there for a portion of the day and help out. How awesome to have some planned (and unplanned) meets during your MK day. A quiet evening and simple dinner sounds like a perfect way to end a gray day....hope you start to see the sunshine!
I had a great time with Lidia and it was great to be able to do the rides with her. I'm always glad when I follow my instincts and do less, rather than more.
Day 3. Sunday, February 02, 2014. Forcast: dense fog until mid morning, then sunny and near 80—and that’s exactly what we got!
I woke up early, went to the lobby to check e-mail and post yesterday’s report, then returned to my room and called Bell Services to pick up my bags and transfer them to BWV. I left right after they came and scooted to MK in time for the opening ceremonies again. This was the view, or non-view of the castle from the hub:
And this is what it looked like a few hours later—is that a blue sky?? YES.
My one and only mission this morning was to ride Jungle Cruise with Skipper Heather, so I headed there first thing and asked a CM what time she’d be working. He said she would be starting at 10:30, so I spent the the 2 hours I had to wait riding Haunted Mansion, Little Mermaid, and shopping (and buying!) on Main Street. It was really fun and I loved not having to worry about the rain all the time. It wasn’t that crowded, either. I was back at Jungle Cruise right at 10:30, and told another CM that I was there to cruise with Heather and would wait until she started working. I was let in the HC entrance and Heather came over to chat before her boat appeared. She looks great in the uniform.
I’m sure this will surprise no one—Heather is a wonderful skipper! The skipper on my cruise yesterday was good, but she didn’t enunciate well and many words were inaudible. Heather was clear as a bell and hilarious. Non-stop corny jokes delivered all the way, including some I’d not heard before. It must be so hard to do this job when you have a boat full of poker faces who don’t even crack a smile. Some were probably non-English speakers, but most seemed to understand, but just didn’t laugh or smile. I hope to see Heather again later this week and we’re having lunch with Bob and Larry next week. Honestly, it’s worth building your MK day around riding with Heather. This is definitely an attraction where the CM makes or breaks the experience and Heather is a classic JC skipper. Here are some pics of her. It was hard to get good ones because I was sitting right next to/under her and that’s not exactly a flattering angle. Also, the lighting was difficult. But I did catch one of Skipper Heather with the “backside of water”!
Already this was a great day and now I got to take the bus to BWV and check in! I got there at about noon and my room was ready. It feels really spacious after BLT, has a quiet view of a fountain (I just booked a standard view, so wasn’t expecting anything spectacular), and is clean and fresh AND IT HAS SPEEDY WIFI!!
After a quick inspection of the room, I went out onto the Boardwalk and got a goat cheese, mixed greens, pomegranate, and apple salad from the bakery. It was very nice and I ate it sitting at a table out on the lake. I’m home!
While eating I got a text from my friend, Kathy, who was arriving from 4 days of bike touring in central Florida. She’ll be spending the next three nights with me. We’ll probably go our separate ways in the morning, and then meet just after lunch at a park and have dinner together each night. Tonight is Flying Fish. It was great to see Kathy and really exciting to have some real time together. We’re both retired now and Kathy can take some time from her family for this trip. The last time we traveled together was the year we met, 1968/69, in Athens! There is nothing like long-time, close friends. We sat out on the Boardwalk and chatted away, and did a lot of smiling and a lot of saying, “This is so great! I can’t believe we’re doing this!”
We shopped at the store and picked up orange juice, milk and a few other things, then went back up to the room to unpack.
It was soon time to change for dinner at Flying Fish, and we went back down to the Boardwalk. It’s a beautiful night, warm with a light breeze. My favorite waiter, Jay, was on duty and we were seated at one of his tables. Kathy’s never eaten here, but has heard me raving about it for years, and I’m happy that she loved it as much as I do. Jay first brought us an amuse-bouche—the most delicious potato leek soup ever. The flavor was amazing and it was smooth as velvet. We shared a beet salad , which was delicious, and then we both had the vegetarian platter, a sampler of 4 different side dishes from the day’s menu. We had whipped cauliflower with small pieces of heirloom broccoli and toasted sunflower; roasted fingerling potatoes, wax beans and winter vegetables; Asian stir-fry, and mushroom risotto. For desert Kathy had a chocolate mousse with salted caramel that looked incredible. I ordered nothing, but Jay brought me a raspberry crčme brulee that was to die for! A really wonderful meal, with perfect service. We’ve made an ADR to return Wednesday night!
After dinner we watched a bit of the Boardwalk entertainment, then back to the room, finishing my TR and now ready for bed. See you all tomorrow!
What a wonderful day! I love that you got to ride with Skipper Heather!! How fun! I'm so glad that everything went smoothly for you today, and that your room is fab, and your wifi works! YAY!
What fun that you get to spend some real quality time with Kathy! Enjoy!
So happy the weather was better for you! Exciting that you had Skipper Heather! Can't wait to see her in action myself!
How nice that you get to spend time with your friend!
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
The photos don't do that meal justice. Everything was SO good!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
I totally missed the beginning of this, Laurie!! But, I'm signing on now, going back to play catch up.
Glad you're here, Jenn!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Principessa_di_Fata
What a wonderful day! I love that you got to ride with Skipper Heather!! How fun! I'm so glad that everything went smoothly for you today, and that your room is fab, and your wifi works! YAY!
What fun that you get to spend some real quality time with Kathy! Enjoy!
I am loving waking up and being connected. I was up before Kathy and could log on. Sweet!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
What a wonderful day! I'm so glad you got to take a ride with Skipper Heather - that's definitely on my must-do list for our next visit to Disney.
An absolute MUST, for sure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by patclairesmom
Great update and what a great day you had. I'm glad the wifi is better at the boardwalk.
YAY! It shouldn't matter so much, but it really does.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
So happy the weather was better for you! Exciting that you had Skipper Heather! Can't wait to see her in action myself!
How nice that you get to spend time with your friend!
You will love it, Lisa. I'm really enjoying catching up with Kathy. Even though we both live in Boston now, it's hard to find time to meet up.
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So glad to see you're off to a much better start at your "home." Everything about yesterday seemed nice - the weather, seeing heather, meeting up with Kathy, dinner, and your room.
That standard view is 10 times nicer than the BLT Lake view!
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I can't believe how inaccessible MK is becoming to those who need the scooters. 
Thanks so much for checking on Stefanie giraffe. She has appeared in a few dreams that have awakened me. I do that with people quite a bit and usually they have a need that I find out later. So I wondered if anything was going on with my favorite giraffe.
I already knew about Pirates, but there are more on my list now... 
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But, I'm signing on now, going back to play catch up.
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