What exactly DID we do in 12 days? - A Coop/ChukkerB TR - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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What exactly DID we do in 12 days? - A Coop/ChukkerB TR
Yes, we have finally decided to do our TR. We have been home for about a month and life has just gotten in the way. We both got sick with the flu. Holidays - I had to work Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, the day after and New Years Day. We did manage to see the kids for a couple hours in there somewhere but still have yet to see my BFF and her family as well as Chuck's mom. We still have presents wrapped in our living room! And as many of you already know, we did have to put down our sweet baby April on Friday.
If you read our PTR, you already know that we were struggling with her diabetes and never really got her under control. Well, she was progressively losing mobility and then became incontinent - we knew it was time. Everything was peaceful and I held her until the end. So we have lost 2 of our babies within the last year. When we lost Meg, we did an impromptu trip to Disney for a few days and I realize that wouldn't happen this time, so I decided I can at least "escape" by reliving our last trip via a TR! So hold on to your hats - here we go!
Cast:
Chuck (chukkerb) - DH- 56 yo -
A big kid at heart - has a lot of "favorites" it just depends on what day it is. LOL. Mickey, Star Wars, Sully, Wall-E, Toy Story, Pirates. Favorite park is Animal Kingdom
Tracy - Me - 46 yo -
Another big kid at heart - Also with a lot of favorites. Duffy, Eeyore, Sully, Wall-E, Toy Story, Cinderella. Favorite Parks AK and MK (love my castle)
When - December 7-19
Saturday - December 7
We got up early (like 5ish - I didn't write down the time exactly). I just know that we had to leave for the airport around 7. We had a 10 o'clock flight. Mike (our son) was house sitting for us and also our ride to/from the airport. He likes housesitting because 1- he loves the animals and having time and a house to himself and 2 - I cook and freeze meals for him! LOL. When I asked him what he wanted me to make, his response was "I LOVE this time of year!" So I usually take a few days off BEFORE we leave just so I can shop and cook. His meals for the week included Chicken and Dumplings, meat pies, meatloaf and cookie bars. I'm probably the only one who stocks up on groceries BEFORE we leave for vacation!
Anyhow, Mike took us to DTW and dropped us off as he headed off to work. We had a smooth check in and saw a long line at security so we did what we did last year - went through the hotel security check point. It's a bit more comfortable and (usually) less crowded. But there were quite a few people who did have the same idea as we did. We made it through without a hitch and got to stop at Starbucks before hitting our gate. Chuck got a coffee and I got a decaf peppermint mocha. We also got some waters and scones or muffins or something to nibble and took those to our gate. We sat down and I was starting to settle in because I knew we had about an hour before boarding. I set my drink on my carry on while I was taking off my jacket (it was about 10 degrees in Detroit and we were going to warm and sunny Orlando!). Chuck turned to help me and instead hit my carry on and sent my coffee into my lap! There was no amount of blotting that would help. Good thing I packed a pair of capri's in my carry on! I cleaned up and changed in the bathroom and came back to at least eat my scone. We took off at 10ish and got to Orlando by 12:30 or so - so we made good time. We stopped for lunch at Nathan's.
We pulled out our Magic Bands and put them on so we could use them at DME. We didn't have a long wait until we were getting on the bus for SSR. We got front row! And even though we were front row, I seem to have missed the gate picture! When we got to the resort, our room was ready! Room 3212 in The Springs.
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view from the balcony
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It was very convenient to the main pool, bus stop and main building/quick service (Artist Palette). So we were soon off to do our traditional first day stuff. We walked over to the bus stop and waited for a MK bus (about 30 mins) but I filled the time with photos!
We knew that MK would be busy because of the Christmas Day parade taping. Our first order of business, though, was Guest Relations. We needed to get our PAP and TIW card and they made that easy enough. We went into MK and there were CM's trying to re-route us around toward Tony's and I told her that we just wanted to ride the train. They let us by and we went up to the platform. I got a couple of pics but really couldn't appreciate my castle in full yet. There was just too many things in the way - scaffolding, cameras, lights and the parade that seemed to be stopped. Well, apparently they stop and "retake" many, many times.
So we got on the train and instead of our normal "once around the park", we got off at FantasyLand. Because we haven't seen much of this area, we were a little turned around. We made our way over and rode the tea cups. Then we got a couple of bottles of water and walked over to TomorrowLand. We hit the people mover and since it wasn't crowded the CM's told us that we could stay put and ride it again - so we did. Then we went over to Buzz - and I clobbered Chuck!
By this time, we had to start working our way out - against the masses - because we had to get to AKL for our dinner at Boma! We caught a bus over to AKL and since we had a little time we checked out the Christmas tree and the gift shop.
(I also had to make the first of many bio breaks as this would be a recurrent theme. I apparently had some sort of stomach bug or travelers diarrhea - sorry for the TMI. But I can tell you where just about every bathroom on property is located). We had a perfectly lovely dinner at Boma which included about 1.5 dozen Zebra Domes for Chuck. Chuck did remind me that I wanted a "glow cube" drink.
Then we used our TIW card for the first time and it saved us $19.90. We headed down for the buses and didn't have long to wait for a bus to DTD. There was a big back up at DTD with the buses and so we decided to get off and walk over to PI. We thought about taking the boat but weren't really sure of the layout of SSR and where the boat would drop us off so we didn't want to be wandering around in the dark, tired and full, in a new to us resort looking for our room so we got to the PI bus stop and waited there. Once a bus came, the driver told us that it took him 50 mins just to get out of the Marketplace! We made it back to SSR in no time and soon were in our room and our luggage had shown up! Except no owner's locker. So I called bell services and within a few minutes, they were knocking on our door with our little purple box. I went out and found the ice machine and filled up our ice bucket for the night. Then we went through our OL and some of our clothes. We didn't totally unpack because we would be changing resorts in just a few days. Going through the OL was like Christmas! Didn't realize everything that was in there! After a bit of that, we settled in, I wrote up some notes and then we hit the hay only about 18-19 hours after we woke up. It was a LONG FULL day!
Of course we're still interested!! So glad you started!
I love that you freeze meals for your son when he pet sits for you! Sounds exactly like something I would do!
Interesting pictures of the parade taping. Glad you were able to avoid the crowds by riding the train to Fantasyland. Boma looks so yummy! It's been quite a while since we've eaten there. Might have to put it on the list again.
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Day One, A nice early start,that I particularly like. I felt like such a tool spilling coffee all over her jeans,but... The plane was much better than last time, not that we had any problems,we have both been afraid to fly for the first 14 years of marriage. Well, more specifically, afraid of the crashing,not necessarily the flying.
Not ever having stayed at Saratoga Springs I thought it was OK. We were on the wait list for AKL and obviously it didn't come thru. We also wanted to stay at OKW for the entire trip,and we could only get the last 9 days. In retrospect, it is a nice resort,but we didn't give it an honest chance. I'm sure we'll give it a go again in the future.
When we got off the train at MK in Fantasyland I was surprised by the crowds. We chalked it up to the taping of the parade,and it being Saturday. The crowds never let up the whole trip. I was excited to get to Boma,one of my favorite restaurants anywhere, not just for the Zebra domes, but well yes for the zebra domes. YES, they are that good. Honestly there are so many favorites there. Curry pasta,grapefruit and avocado salad, peanut soup.
There's a certain cloud hanging over my head right about NOW. I packed only a pair of flip flops in my carry on to wear to the pool,ect. but unfortunately I was wearing them to Boma,and if we had to do any more serious walking I was gonna be in big trouble. ( I wore dress shoes on the plane)
I was starting to get a very big blister on the top of my foot from rubbing. So the extra walking at DTD threw my over the top. I was dying,and it was all my own fault. I hadn't wore them in quite a few months,and the tops of my feet got soft.
When we finally got back to our room not only was our luggage there,but also our Owners Locker. I knew I had a pair of crocs in there for the pool,and my beloved Mizuno walking shoes were in the luggage. I was set for the trip,and I was never able to wear my flip flops again that trip. First day, a very long tiring day is over. We are both exhausted, smiles on our faces,planning to go to our favorite park,Animal Kingdom, first thing in the morning. Falling asleep listening to Stacy telling us the top things to do told us we were "Home"
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"Life can be as easy as a fall,it's all so easy once you just let go."
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What a full first day! A different kind of entrance to MK due to the taping, but still fun! Your food at Boma looks so scrumptious. After all the anticipation, you're finally THERE!
So sorry about sweet April. It was a tough year for you saying goodbye twice.
So glad you started your TR Sorry you wound up getting the flu when you got home and also the sad news about your cat. Besides your drink getting spilled on your lap and Chuck's flip flop blister, it sounds like a fun filled first day! Looking forward to hearing about your day at AK!
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Deb
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sounds like a busy and yummy first day! What a neat view of the parade taping and mmmmmmmm boma! 
"Sparky"(My first trip.)
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