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Looking for ice, pools, and air conditioning! - Complete!!
If you haven't read my pre-TR and wish to it's titled "Are you going to do this every year?" If you have not and do not wish to, here is the cast of characters. I am 50, a high school teacher, have 2 children, DD28 who has 2 boys, 4 and 6, my second DD is 12. I have been to DL several times but to WDW once in 1995. I took DD 28 when she was 12. At that time we traveled with my DB, Dsil, 2 nephews and DM. This trip I took my DD 12 and DB or Bro is what I often refer to him as. I had been planning for several months and finally the day to leave arrived!
Both Bro and & I had work, (Friday, May 20th) although inservice for me so DD came to school with me. When I got to leave we hopped in my car and drove to DH's work and took him to lunch (2pm) since he was staying home, not a disney person. We got to spend almost an hour together then dropped him off at work and headed for home. I work at a school that is about 12 minutes from the airport but live 40-45 minutes from the airport but our flight didn't leave until 8:10pm and Bro was supposed to meet us at my house for dinner and DN (23) was going to drive us to airport.
Arrived home, prepped dinner, changed clothes, packed last minute bathroom items then waited for Bro & DN. Waited some more. They were supposed to arrive about 5pm and planning on leaving about 5:45pm for airport. At 5:15 DD & I ate dinner, but still no Bro. Finally, DD begged me, please call and find out what's going on so at 5:30 I called and DN said Bro got an emergency call from work and had to go in but was on his way home so they'd be over in 5-10 minutes. Finally arrived about 5:40pm, while DD had sat outside on steps watching for them. She was very concerned we'd miss the plane. I told them to eat dinner that we'd leave after. Bro told me he had to go into work because alarm went off and police came and one door unlocked at his work but all checked out, nothing taken or broken into.
We loaded suitcases, carry on's etc. and piled into DN pickup. DD & I were a little squished into the back seat but hey we were going to the airport! We arrived and went to AA to check in and told us our flight was late which meant we wouldn't make our connecting flight in Dallas so she rebooked it then. Originally we were supposed to land in Orlando at 10:30AM instead we didn't get in until 1:30pm. Anyway got through security, found our gate and settled in to wait for plane.
Here's DD and Bro, you can see all the people waiting in the airport behind them.
Here's me and DD, I am very to be going on a vacation. It had been 3 years since I'd been out of state and was certainly ready.
The plane finally arrived and we boarded, actually left about 9:30pm. Only 1hour and 20 minutes late. I don't enjoy plane rides it's too cramped ( I'm slightly claustrophobic), can't sleep on a plane either so especially towards the end of the ride I get a little weepy because I want off! Bro managed a couple of short naps, DD slept about 45 minutes, me not at all until I was so tired I sort of passed outfor about 20-30 minutes when the pilot announced over the intercom that we were landing in Denver. What? Denver! We aren't supposed to be in Denver. Apparently, Dallas was fogged in and no planes were landing and we didn't have enough fuel to circle until could land so we landed in Denver, refueled and waited about 15 minutes then flew on to Dallas. Had about a 2 hour wait in Dallas, so after we found our gate I picked up brunch/snack for us then DD and I laid on the floor and took a nap! We were exhausted.
Next: Arriving in Orlando.
__________________
Alaskan Mom aka Bonnie
Last edited by Alaskan Mom; 01-02-2013 at 01:48 PM..
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Wow you sure had a rough start with the late relatives, the late plane and all. Looking forward to reading more, I hope things get better for you. I know all about that long travel day feeling, we too have had a few of those problems. Airports are not homey especially when you are tired.
#2 Arriving in Orlando-would someone turn down the heat?
One thing I had forgot, was that on our last flight leg my brothers glasses broke. The nose bar just split in half, so now he was wearing his sunglasses and trying to figure out the best and least expensive way to get his glasses fixed. What a start to our vacation.
The flight from Dallas to MCO was much shorter than Anchorage to Dallas thankfully. Once in MCO, we picked up luggage, found Alamo and I asked for directions to car pick-up, the counter person immediately wanted to question everything and "help" me until I showed him the copy of my resversation and I had joined their company program thing, then his attitude changed quickly and gave me directions. As soon as we walked outside the heat hit us, oohhh boy. I knew it was going to be hotter than home but it would take some getting used to for almost 30 degrees warmer with humidity, which we don't have. (Sorry, I don't have pics for this day. We were going on determination mostly after being up for 32 hours with less than 2 hours sleep.)
We found the Alamo counter and once again showed my paper and she said choose anything in the first row. I had originally reserved a Ford Focus, which is a small car but not the smallest but when we walked around the corner and there was a crown vic, Bro said if we can pick any in this row-then we're choosing this one. DD chose red over white and it was a really nice car, roomy with a large trunk and excellent air conditioning.
Bro was the driver for the whole trip while I was the navigator-I had directions prepped for each day (overplanner that I am) so we left the airport. The original plan was to have lunch first but none of us were very hungry. I was looking for a dollar store but didn't spot one as we headed towards Sand Lake Rd. Also looking for a grocery store but the one I saw on the map was actually a distributor place. So next stop was Disney Outlet store at the end of I4 which we found the mall without any problems, however was not expecting the sheer size of the place and it was so packed that people were parking their cars on the grass! (and being ticketed) A man was leaving and waved to us so we followed him and got his parking spot.
We had no idea where the store was in the complex but said I would ask. After a stop at the car trunk for hats and sunscreen we made our way to the mall. Upon entering there was a security guard on a bike and he gave us directions, actually we were only a short walk from the Disney store which was jam packed but nicely air conditioned. We spent at least an hour there, picked up 4 shirts, a toy set, dumbo figurine, tiannia figurine, a necklace, postcards, and a big baby for my grandson. I think the total was just over $100.00, I love a deal!
Because it was late afternoon by now, I thought we should drive to hotel, check in and then go pick up groceries. Bro thought good idea except wanted to find a sodering gun so he could repair his glasses so as we drove he began to look for a Radio Shack and after seeing food places decided we were hungry. Bro picked a popeyes and pulled in. They were rude, got my order wrong and wouldn't fix it, basically said it was my fault because I didn't order right or something. If you want good customer service or any customer service I would not recommend the popeyes on Sand Lake road.
At least we had something in our stomach and headed for a Radio Shack Bro spotted, the only problem was, it was closed because the man who owned it was Jewish and it was the Sabbath. Bro got directions for another place which we headed north on I4 for about 10 minutes, found the place at 6:05pm which had been closed for about 5 minutes. Bro wanted to go back to the closed Radio shack because another store owner in that mall said it opened after sundown so back we went. Bro was told that Walmart would have what he wanted so off we went to find the Walmart and success!
My favorite billboard. (No billboards in AK)
We were staying in Kissimee for the 1st week so headed that way-got checked in, found room and turned up air conditioning as high as it would go, then unpacked.
View from our hotel room-sorry it's sideways!
Next on my to do list was groceries. DD didn't want to go, she wanted to go swiming so I let her stay in the room watching TV with the instructions to bolt the door and not open it for anyone except us and I promised she could go swimming when I got back. Bro & I picked - up groceries and headed back to hotel. Put them away and made dinner. One challenge we had was the time change, especially at first. For example, we ate lunch about 4:30pm Florida time which is 12:30pm Alaska time and dinner about 9pm which is 5pm at home. After dinner, I took DD to the pool for an hour while Bro worked on fixing his glasses.
The pool always made DD happy.
then we headed in to sleep. The plan was to let everyone sleep in before we headed to Sea World. We were ready for sleep.
Up Next: Sea World
__________________
Alaskan Mom aka Bonnie
Last edited by Alaskan Mom; 01-02-2013 at 01:48 PM..
Another good installment. Sorry you're not use to the weather and that your brothers glasses broke but glad you got all that sorted out and that your daugher got into the pool. I love the picture of her smiling. I can't wait to hear about your day at Sea World though. We're planning on going next week but there just doesn't seem to be that much info on the boards about it.
Sorry about Bro's glasses. Not a very magical start for sure. Hope you adjust to the time difference soon. Glad dd got to swim! My girls love that too!
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, not a disney person. We got to spend almost an hour together then dropped him off at work and headed for home. I work at a school that is about 12 minutes from the airport but live 40-45 minutes from the airport but our flight didn't leave until 8:10pm and Bro was supposed to meet us at my house for dinner and DN (23) was going to drive us to airport.
I told them to eat dinner that we'd leave after. Bro told me he had to go into work because alarm went off and police came and one door unlocked at his work but all checked out, nothing taken or broken into.
We arrived and went to AA to check in and told us our flight was late which meant we wouldn't make our connecting flight in Dallas so she rebooked it then. Originally we were supposed to land in Orlando at 10:30AM instead we didn't get in until 1:30pm. Anyway got through security, found our gate and settled in to wait for plane. 
. I don't enjoy plane rides it's too cramped ( I'm slightly claustrophobic), can't sleep on a plane either so especially towards the end of the ride I get a little weepy because I want off! Bro managed a couple of short naps, DD slept about 45 minutes, me not at all until I was so tired I sort of passed out
for about 20-30 minutes when the pilot announced over the intercom that we were landing in Denver. What?
Denver! We aren't supposed to be in Denver. Apparently, Dallas was fogged in and no planes were landing and we didn't have enough fuel to circle until could land so we landed in Denver, refueled and waited about 15 minutes then flew on to Dallas. Had about a 2 hour wait in Dallas, so after we found our gate I picked up brunch/snack for us then DD and I laid on the floor and took a nap! We were exhausted.
Alaskan Mom aka Bonnie
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I knew it was going to be hotter than home but it would take some getting used to for almost 30 degrees warmer with humidity, which we don't have. (Sorry, I don't have pics for this day. We were going on determination mostly after being up for 32 hours with less than 2 hours sleep
) so we left the airport. The original plan was to have lunch first but none of us were very hungry. I was looking for a dollar store but didn't spot one as we headed towards Sand Lake Rd. Also looking for a grocery store but the one I saw on the map was actually a distributor place. So next stop was Disney Outlet store at the end of I4 which we found the mall without any problems, however was not expecting the sheer size of the place and it was so packed that people were parking their cars on the grass! 
(and being ticketed) A man was leaving and waved to us so we followed him and got his parking spot
. 
If you want good customer service or any customer service I would not recommend the popeyes on Sand Lake road.
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