A seed was planted and here’s what grew....Magical Memories About This Page:

[CinderAbby]

What kind of hand held games did you bring along?

Even though I got those pictures from online, those are the exact games that always go with us. And they all came out in the 70's so they've seen pretty much every single trip we've taken to Disney. We also have a pocket size etch-a-sketch, a travel sorry game and one of those triangle games like you see at Cracker Barrels except ours is Christmas themed. We also have playing cards that go with us (and yes, one is Disney themed).

[Colexis Mom]

Great update Darlene!

[MissMousey]

I'm enjoying your trip report--so glad I found it! Sounds like things are off to a good start. Hurry back with more please.

[bsblady01]

more please

[Katie]

The Autotrian sounds like so much fun (like a trip within a trip), I hope one day we could take a train somewhere. Great update

[chezp]

Great update!

[Wendyismyname]

Fantastic update!!!! My niece used to work for the Autotrain. She really loved it.

[CinderAbby]

Can't wait to read more... but I'm off work in 3 minutes so I'm subscribing so I can catch up later.

I'm very intrigued to learn about the auto train since we are in MA also. My DH LOVES arbys and anytime we go on vacation we need to hunt one down since all the local ones closed. We even drove to the attleboro mall the first week in august since there was one there but that closed too!

Thanks for sharing, can't wait to read more!

Hopefully when you have the time to catch up you enjoy it. I don't have a lot of info on the AutoTrain in this thread but I do have a lot in my 2008 TR and a little bit in last years TR too. Plus I have photos too in those other ones so feel free to check those out.

Yeah, the Arby's in Attleboro closed down some months ago - I don't know exactly when but it was the same story as a lot of places - you go one day and a day or two later they're gone . Oh well.

Great start! I love hearing all the auto train details! My grandma and Pap used to winter in Florida and this was how they travelled. That way Grandma could take months worth of stuff with her all jam packed in the car! Can't wait to see if you get to Florida early!

Thanks - and it is nice to be able to take anything and everything we need. And like I said, I do have more details in my previous TR's.

So glad to get another update today. The autotrain sounds like so much fun. We use to have Amtrak where we live, but after Katrina, they never got our section up and running. I wish they would though I think my girls would especially love to go on a train trip. Can't wait to read more!

Thanks - it is a fun to take the AutoTrain. On the way home it's not so much fun but that's a different story for a different post. That's interesting though about Amtrak near you. For them not to get it up and running again it must not have been very popular to begin with but despite that, hopefully you can eventually take a train trip with your girls.

Great update. Glad the ride down is going good so far; hope yall got an early arrival..... Looking forward to more.....

Thanks. I'm not sure when I'll get to the next installment.

The train ride sounds like it was relaxing. We drive down every year. there are no auto trains near here

It really is relaxing and saves about 900 miles of wear and tear on the vechicles. There is only one Auto Train in the world and it's there in Virginia. It's right off of 95 (you can see 95 from inside the station) so depending upon how much extra time it would add to your trip to get to the station, you could take it but that's something you would have to determine.

Great start. Thanks Darlene

Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Glad that the trip is going smoothly so far. What kind of hand held games did you bring along? Sometimes those "old fashioned ones" are the best. The meals sounded yummy. Can't wait for the next installment.

Thanks Olive. I already answered your question about the games but I'm glad you're enjoying it so far.

[CinderAbby]

So glad you're posting your TR! I loved reading about the auto train--I never knew you could do that!!

I hope you got to Florida early and that you had a GREAT time.

Thanks and if you haven't read them yet, I have more info and pictures in my previous 2 TR's. It is a fun way to travel. And once we got to Florida, we had a fabulous time, we really did but you'll be able to read all about it.

Great update Darlene!

Thanks Marnie

I'm enjoying your trip report--so glad I found it! Sounds like things are off to a good start. Hurry back with more please.

Thanks - I'm glad you're enjoying it. Other than Lenny's little problem yes it was a good start to the vacation.

What? No pictures this time? I feel jipped! lol Interesting about the train. I've never been on one. Sounds like a movie.

Don't feel jipped - the rest of the TR will have plenty of pictures. I just didn't want to post the same ones that are in my other two TR's. If you have time, check them out - seeing them I think makes the Auto Train even more interesting. And with your comment on the movie, the only one that comes to my mind is "Throw Momma from the Train" and I certainly hope Lenny and Abby don't want to do that

more please

All in good time

The Autotrian sounds like so much fun (like a trip within a trip), I hope one day we could take a train somewhere. Great update

When you put it that way, yeah it is kind of a trip within a trip and it is fun going down to Disney. If you do ever take a train, for comfort I do recommend the sleepers but just do your homework on the size of them. They are not all created equal and while one room might seem bigger than another it's the size of the beds that are more important IMO.

Great update!

Thanks Cheryl.

Fantastic update!!!! My niece used to work for the Autotrain. She really loved it.

Thanks Wendy. In what capacity did your niece work for Amtrak? I think it would be cool to work there but IMO I would think being on the train itself would be the toughest place to work. I can just see me now working in the dining car - any and all food I'd try to carry would end up on top of someone instead of in front of them

[mzozzietj]

OK, I'm caught up now Can't wait to hear more! I will definitely look for the other TR too, thank you!

[CinderAbby]

I will definitely look for the other TR too, thank you!

I have links in my signature to them.

[ariel14]

Great updates Darlene!!!! Love the games that you brought for Abby!

[Roxie2006]

Thanks for sharing your experience, I really enjoyed reading it. That is also one great picture.
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Roxanne

[CinderAbby]

Great updates Darlene!!!! Love the games that you brought for Abby!

Thanks Cindy. We love the games too - that's why they're still around and in good shape.

Thanks for sharing your experience, I really enjoyed reading it. That is also one great picture.

Thank you. I hope you enjoy the rest of my TR too.

[CinderAbby]

Monday August 9th

Like every other time we’ve ridden the train, I didn’t sleep very well. I was up every hour from 9 PM to 6 am so when the alarm went off, I just got up. After a couple of minutes, the usual morning announcements / first call to breakfast were made and I got the first surprise of our trip. The train was running ahead of schedule and we would be in Sanford by 8:00!! I was so happy about that. I woke up Lenny and Abby so we could get ready for the day and have breakfast. After breakfast, we headed back to the rooms to wait. Even though we were at the station at 7:40, we actually weren’t let off the train until 8:20. The reason for this is nothing can be done until the station officially opens at 8 and the extra 20 minutes is the time it takes to break the train apart. Once we were off and the vehicle carries opened, our van was the fifth vehicle off and we were on our way to Disney at about 9:10. We did stop at the local Walmart for a few minutes because Lenny needed some Denturite and some coffee. There was a McDonald’s inside the Walmart so we would have killed two birds with one stone except this store doesn’t sell Denturite. We don’t understand that. For a state that most people knows has a larger older population, we don’t know why they don’t sell something to fix dentures. But anyway, we got the coffee and Lenny decided it was no big deal, he could do without the Denturite so we got back on the road again.

We arrived at All Star Sports at 10:30 and there were no lines at either registration line. The CM who waited on me was either new or an intern as it did take a few minutes to do everything (and she had someone there helping her) but I didn’t mind. I’d rather her take her time and get it right then do it wrong. Then she told me my next surprise of the day - our rooms were ready and we could move right in. I was really happy but remembering our key fiasco from last year, I asked if the keys were for each specific door or programmed for both. When I explained why I asked that, they cut me a new set of keys and said I wouldn’t have any problems. Abby’s key was for her room only and the other two keys were for the king room. Welcome package and keys in hand, I hoped for no problems and went back to the van. Since the woman’s restroom was closed for cleaning in the main hall and I had to use the bathroom, we decided to find the rooms before we did anything else. Lenny wanted to move the stuff in at that time but I said I wanted to get to DTD so I ran to the rooms quickly. I found them on the backside of the Surf’s up building - the same location that we really, really liked from last year - and the keys worked just like they should have on the first try . I let myself in, used the bathroom and then called the front desk. The fridge we requested wasn’t in the room but I was told they would get one in soon. Happy with that answer, I ran back to the truck and we set out. The skies had been cloudy since we had gotten off the train but I was hoping the Characters in Flight balloon was flying. I knew the longer we took to get there, the better the chance of it not going up but then I remembered how grumpy Lenny got last year because he’s a bottomless pit. So instead of going right to DTD, I suggested we stop at McDonald’s first for a quick lunch. Both Lenny and Abby liked that idea so that’s what we did.

I don’t care where you go, McDonald’s is still a McDonald’s. No matter what the theming is, it’s still a McDonald’s. The only thing that made this one different IMO is that Disney cartoons were playing on some of the tv’s instead of the news showing on all of them. After lunch, we headed right to DTD but the balloon had already been closed. The scroll board said there were thunder storms within their 20 mile radius and to check back later. Abby was upset that the balloon was closed and kept saying "lets go back to the hotel." We didn’t do that right away though. We stopped in one of the stores where Abby bought herself a bunch of Tinkerbell stuff. Then we went to the hotel.

As Lenny unloaded stuff from the van, I put it on his wheelchair and ran it to the room. Once everything was in, I sat down on the king bed for a few - and felt like I was going all the way to the floor. The bed was way too soft and when I mentioned it to Lenny, he tried it for himself. He didn’t like it either. I mentioned that I had heard about people requesting things like bed boards and if Lenny thought one would help, he should call the front desk. He actually did and he was told someone would come by to talk to us. Instead of waiting around however, Lenny took Abby swimming leaving me to hang around the room and wait. It didn’t seem exactly fair, but I used the time to unpack our stuff and enjoy the quiet and time to myself.

Melissa Hall is the one who finally came to the rom and asked what the problem was. I explained how the bed was too soft and after back, hips and knee surgery on top of spinal stenosis, a soft bed would cause too much pain for Lenny. Melissa explained to me that the bed was low because it’s ADA compliant. I told her I understood that but the height of the bed wasn’t the issue - it was the firmness. I told her how we sleep on extra firm beds at home and hopefully something could be done. After some more conversation with her, she said she wanted us to try the bed boards first and if that didn’t help, then she’d switch the bed out for us. Wow was all I thought - they’ll give us a new bed??!! I agreed to try the bed boards first (really having a feeling it would make no difference at all) and she left telling me to contact her with any further concerns. When Lenny and Abby came back, I explained what happened and what was said.

The next knock at the door didn’t come as a surprise - it was someone with the bed boards. After looking at the size of the boards compared to the mattress, I knew it wouldn’t make any difference. Even the CM saw that and asked "do you really think this will work?" I answered no, but it was a step that he had to take so he put the boards in anyway. He had Lenny try the bed and between Lenny saying no, they didn’t help and the difficulty he had getting out of the bed, the CM put a call into Melissa. She was already on it though and a brand new mattress set was on it’s way to our room. We were told we didn’t need to stick around but I promised Lenny some nap time that day so we stayed for a while so Lenny could take one.

After Lenny woke up, we decided to head to Winter Summerland for a round of mini golf. Just as we were leaving, our new box springs arrived and we were told again we didn’t need to stay so we didn’t. Mini golf didn’t take too long. There weren’t many people in front of us and Lenny and I didn’t try to hard. Despite that, we both got a hole in one that day - we all did actually. And this was the first time we played that Abby did not get upset with someone else getting a hole in one. Maybe because we weren’t keeping score for her to think she was losing - which she doesn’t do anyway. Lenny typically has the worst score because he tries even less than I do at times. After mini golf, we finally went to the MK. After stopping at town hall for our new GAC, we went right to Toon Town to see the Fairies. Once we got inside, Iridessa came right over to get Abby while Tink came over to check out Lenny’s scooter (he gets lots of attention because of it). I didn’t know which way to look or who to take pictures of so I kinda missed some of the interaction. I do know that lots of comments were mad all around about Abby’s shirt. She was wearing the one I had made with the Fairies and their signatures on it. As a matter of fact, we had been receiving comments all day from lots of different CM about the uniqueness of her shirt. The last Fairy that day was Terrance. The ironic part of that is that I had just told Lenny while we waited how sometimes Terrance was there instead of one of the girl Fairies and when we got inside, he was there. Luckily Lenny thought to mention the autograph book so I was able to get it out in time for Terrance to sign.

After the Fairies, we toured Mickey and Minnie’s houses and I got as many photos as I could. It wasn’t easy as there was definitely a noticeable difference in the crowd size in them this time.

After, Abby decided she was hungry and she wanted to go to Cosmic Rays. I know Abby got the kids nuggets and Lenny got the chicken and rib combo plate. I think I got the adult nuggets but I don’t remember. I do know whatever it was I got, it, plus everything else was eaten as nothing was taken with us that night.

After dinner, even though Abby said she was sad that Small World was closed, she happily chose Peter Pan for her first ride. Philharmagic came next and Abby had asked that we try to record it this year. There was an announcement that no video recordings are allowed so we couldn’t do that for her but she was fine with it. And that’s only because she knows other people have ignored the rules and not only have they recorded it, but they’ve also posted them online where she can watch them anytime she wants at home. By the time we got out of the show, it was time to find someplace to watch the parade. We were able to snag a spot in the handicapped viewing spot in Liberty Square across from the HoP. As time drew closer, it was announced that due to technical difficulties the parade would be delayed. They didn’t say by how long but we were willing to wait. And we didn’t have long to wait. It started only 10 minutes late. I still prefer the MSEP the way it used to be but it was fun. The bugs from Alice in Wonderland all came over and a few of the characters came over too - I remember the White Rabbit came over and shook Abby’s hand.

Lenny and Abby really liked the parade so no matter what I think of it, that’s all the matters in the end. After it was over, Abby wanted to leave so we headed out of the park for the night.

Knowing that Lenny and I were going back to a new bed, we kind of couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel anyway. Once we got there however, I wasn’t as excited. The mattress was on the frame (which was new also and higher than the old one), the box springs were leaning against the wall and the sheets were in a pile on the table. I was not happy. I called the front desk and I just explained the situation and I was told someone would be at the room ASAP. Lenny didn’t want to wait - he was going to make the bed himself but I told him to wait. I wanted to see how long it would take someone to come to the room, if anyone came at all. Despite the late hour (it was almost 11), someone did come. And to tell the truth, it was like watching a show. I believe his name was Manuel, but he literally had everything done, including the sheets on and turned down in no time at all. I have a king size bed at home and I’ve never made it that well or that fast. When Manuel was done, he questioned the height of the bed as he thought it was way too high. Lenny assured him the bed was just fine and that the height makes it much easier to get out of bed. He said okay and was satisfied when he saw just how easily Lenny could get up from the bed. I was very happy with everything and as Manuel left, I gave him a tip which seemed to surprise him but I really appreciated what he did for us. Whether it was his job or not, he made it seem like no big deal and he was pleasant and had a smile the whole time and really just ended our day with the Disney Magic Touch. And with that magic still fresh, we went to bed for the night.

Just to comment a little more on the bed, it WAS new. It hadn't just been moved from an empty room (which if the parking lot was an indication, there were a lot of those at the start of the trip as the lot was fairly empty). The box springs themselves I know for a fact were brand spanking new. I saw them as they came into the room and they were still wrapped in plastic. The mattress still had all those labels on it that all new mattresses have (where it was shipped from, when it was made, etc). I was just too tired to read them to see what they said. And in regards to comfort - it was just like our mattress set at home. In fact not only did I think we were still at home when I woke up at one point in time that night but so did Lenny. When Melissa told us she would get us a new bed set, we hoped it would be similar to what we currently sleep on. We didn’t actually expect to get one as close as we did though and it really was wonderful We’ve never slept better on vacation.