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Ground / Goofy's HUGE!
/ Day One- Toasted, But We Landed Butter Side Up! (Epic) |
Ajax
Cast Member
Posts: 1032
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 01-12-03 01:23 PM
Ajax Family WDW Trip- 12/30 thru 1/03
Cast- my lovely wife Sandra, darling daughter Lauren, and myself.
Our New Years Eve Extravaganza to WDW began with the usual near panic that accompanies my moderately compulsive nature. On Sunday 12/29, by 2 pm we were packed and ready to hit the road to Detroit, where we’d spend the evening prior to our 12/30 departure from Metro airport. Our house sitter was to arrive at 3pm, and I had a lot to go over with her. By 3:30 she hadn’t shown, and by 4pm I was on the phone dialing Interpol when my wife got me in a chokehold and informed me that our sitter would not arrive until 4:30. Which she did, on the button. We gave her the instructions she needed, and headed south.
We arrived at the Fairfield Inn around 6, checked in, retreated to our cracker box room, and ordered a Cottage Inn pizza. Around 8pm, Sandy and Lauren split a sleeping pill and were out like lights by 9. I live in mortal fear of missing my flight, and abstained. I programmed a 4am wake up call, set the clock radio for 4:05, and my travel alarm for 4:10. I was covered, and ready for a good snooze. That was not to be. Around 10 pm, Metro changes the take off pattern they use in order to give the local neighborhoods some peace & quiet. So we had a jet roaring full throttle over ‘Hotel Row’ about every ten minutes. I got used to it, and began to doze. Then my wife began to saw logs. Once again, I overcame adversity, got used to it, and began to doze.
Then around 10:30 pm, two new players entered the scene. The hotel seemed to be at about 30% capacity judging from the grid I saw at check-in. That didn’t stop the manager from renting the room directly above ours to an amorous couple bent on an evening of passion. From what I could hear, they set up their ‘bar’ on the vanity next to the bathroom, and their launching pad on the bed furthest from it. About every 15 minutes, hard little steps stomped across the room to the sink, mixed a drink, and returned to the bed area. After three or so trips, the conversation and laughter got progressively louder, then ceased, only to be replaced by sounds that could only be described as ‘Carnal Combat’. This process was repeated three times between the time they mixed their first drink & 1am. Had I not been on the verge of a breakdown, I would have knocked on the door and given them a round of applause.
So I finally fell asleep around 1am, and snapped wide-awake at 3am. So did Sandy & Lauren for some reason. Up we jumped, with plenty of time to prepare for our 5:30 airport shuttle.
Despite a last minute gate shuffle that led us on a confusing detour, we checked our luggage, I was humiliated at security by Detroit’s version of Imelda Marcos, and we boarded our plane with wheels up at 7:30am. Slightly over two hours and a spooky dream later (I was on Space Mountain with no restraints and apparently no gravity), we touched down to 75 degrees and sun in Orlando.
Our driver from Tiffany Town Car, Jerry, helped us retrieve our luggage and move it to the curb, where we waited as he brought the car around. It was at that time that I decided to park my rear on the top of a large rollaway suitcase. Everybody in sight, including around 30 people boarding a Mears shuttle, had a good laugh when the suitcase did in fact ‘roll away’, and dumped me onto the concrete. We then loaded my embarrassed butt into the car and headed off to WDW.
Upon our arrival at POFQ around 10:15, we were quickly checked in, and taken to our river-view room on the second floor of bldg 7. Everything was as it should be, so we took our time unpacking our gear and headed off to the food court to buy our mugs and have a sandwich. The re-vamped Sassagoula Float Works & Food Factory was a hit with us. The new layout, and much improved quality of the food coupled with the great attitude of the CM’s started our trip out on the right foot. Our Pulled-Pork BBQ & Philly Cheese-Steak sandwiches were very good, although in our burned-out state a Kraft Lunchable would have been fine given the location! We took in the sun along with our lunch at a sidewalk table, then returned our mugs to the room and headed for the MK around 1pm.
At the MK, we did our usual slam-on-the-brakes-and-stare-at-the-castle-hug routine when we rounded the town square and hit the foot of Main Street USA. I was home again, with the two people I love the most in this world. Life can be just plain great sometimes!
We headed up the fairly crowded street to the Partners statue for our customary picture, then off to Aloha Isle, where I knew a Dole Whip with my name on it was anxiously waiting my arrival. I wasn’t disappointed! By that time it was nearly hot by Michigan standards, and that confection really hit the spot!
Then we headed for Pirates, keeping an eye on the clock with our 3pm CG Crew meet at the Poly in mind. We were shocked to find that the wait was only 20 minutes, so we jumped into line singing ’Yo Ho- Yo Ho' etc to the consternation of some non-believers who thought that crazy people were in their midst. Once over the falls and into the ‘meat’ of the ride, I had to agree with those that said that Pirates was in need of refurb. They’d obviously turned down the lights to cover the flaws, and I said that to Sandy. She pointed out to me that if I took off my sunglasses, a whole new world would appear. She was right, and the Pirates emerged from the gloom in all their decadent glory!
After Pirates, we roamed the streets and shops until it was time to board the Monorail and head for the Poly. We hadn’t been there since we lodged at the resort in the early ‘90’s when Lauren was small, so it was a pleasant walk down memory lane.
As we approached the lounge at Ohana, I noticed a woman stretched across the bar with a death grip on the bartender’s throat, screaming something about tin foil and 'more rum'.
And that’s how I met Mary. Hugs were exchanged, the bartender scampered off, and we moved off to introduce our relative traveling companions to each other. Mary travels in good company. Dave & Dale are great people & gifted conversationalists who kindly tolerated my near incoherent rambling with understanding. Sandy and Lauren had seen this scenario before, and soon departed to check out the Poly before they were dragged into my raving tales.
Soon ‘Tiger Lilly’ showed up, followed by Ahnalira and Alan. Drinks were ordered, stories were told, and laughter was abundant! What a great bunch of people! I was even compelled to lift a glass to Rita, because if not for her escapades, I probably would not have met these fine folks. Sandy & Lauren drifted in & out, and soon it was 4:30 and time to return to the MK to keep our 5:40 PS at CRT.
Once seated at Cindy’s, Sandy started things off by ordering a glass of wine. She’d forgotten where we were (have I mentioned that our brains were fried?), and was reminded by our server that no alcohol is served anywhere in the MK. She quickly rebounded by asking if anyone in the kitchen kept Nyquil handy, was rebuffed again, and settled on a glass of water.
Our impression of CRT is not good. The salads were very good, but the Prime Rib that Lauren and I had was mediocre, and Sandy’s ‘Jaq’s Seafood Risotto’ consisted of 2 Shrimp, 2 Scallops, and a small portion of Calamari served with a glutinous Risotto. Not much for $23
Our waiter needed to be called to provide the horseradish sauce we’d ordered, along with steak knives for the beef.
For desert we ordered the Crème Brule topped with caramelized bananas, and it also was nothing to write home about. I might add that our entrees arrived while we were still eating our salads, and that while we were waiting for our deserts, a server delivered a pound of beef to me and a plate of fish to Sandy. He was corrected, and off he went in search of the proper table.
So anyway, now we’ve been to CRT.
The rest of the evening was spent roaming the shops, getting a great spot secured on Liberty Square for the 8pm Spectromagic Parade, riding Splash Mountain and the Haunted Mansion (with short waits) in a daze, watching the fireworks, catching Spectro again at 10pm from Main Street, and wandering home around 11pm in a blissful state of near exhaustion.
Once secure in our beds at POFQ, we reflected on what a great day we’d had, the old friends we’d visited, the new friends we’d met, and the Magic that was still alive.
Did you see me at EPCOT on New Years Eve? I was wearing a yellow poncho...
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Tink *~*~*
Cast Member
Posts: 1066
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 01-12-03 09:32 PM
Yay, the long awaited Ajax report! How did I know that your first stop would be for a Dole Whip?
Keep 'em coming.
Tink *~*~*
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Mary
Cast Member
Posts: 465
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 01-12-03 10:46 PM
quote:
Ajax wrote:
As we approached the lounge at Ohana, I noticed a woman stretched across the bar with a death grip on the bartender?s throat, screaming something about tin foil and 'more rum'.
And that?s how I met Mary. Hugs were exchanged, the bartender scampered off, and we moved off to introduce our relative traveling companions to each other.
HEY! Chicken soup (yes I have THAT cold again!) on the screen is a lot harder to clean up than diet coke. Anyway, I DID NOT have the bartender in a choke hold! Geesh, you would think he could have helped me with some tin foil. Ajax, it's good to finally see your report. Now, will you go knock on Janie's door for the rest of hers?
I just made my deposit, David & I are definitely going back for his spring break. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would get 4 trips out this one little old annual pass! Woo Hoo!
Mary
First Mate, Good Ship Stickey Mickey and Keeper of the Ships Log
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Ajax
Cast Member
Posts: 1032
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 01-13-03 11:44 AM
Mary Wrote-
quote:
I just made my deposit, David & I are definitely going back for his spring break. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would get 4 trips out this one little old annual pass! Woo Hoo!
I'm happy for you Mary, but I'm green with envy! My wife and daughter don't understand that I could spend all my vacation time bouncing between WDW & Yellowstone National Park. So for every trip to either of my Meccas, I have to put in two other appearances at a destination of their choice. Looks like I'm bound for Maine & Key West before I'll set foot in WDW again, probably in mid '04 sometime.
Did you see me at EPCOT on New Years Eve? I was wearing a yellow poncho...
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Robin
Cast Member
Posts: 940
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 01-13-03 12:15 PM
quote:
Ajax wrote:
I'm happy for you Mary, but I'm green with envy! My wife and daughter don't understand that I could spend all my vacation time bouncing between WDW & Yellowstone National Park. So for every trip to either of my Meccas, I have to put in two other appearances at a destination of their choice. Looks like I'm bound for Maine & Key West before I'll set foot in WDW again, probably in mid '04 sometime.
Ooooo....Maine. I used to go to Belfast Maine with
friends in August. Summers in Maine, Winters in Orlando...now
that would be the perfect mix. 
I toss my cookies for Disney.
I wonder what inspired this new Disney T-shirt? "I'm right. You're wrong. Any Questions?"
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Ahnalira
Cast Member
Posts: 433
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 01-13-03 12:40 PM
Keep setting
those alarm clocks, Ajax, because I am here as the
proof in the pudding that airplanes do get missed...
only happened to me once. Now I set multiple alarm
clocks, too
Ahnalira
Grace finds beauty everywhere. Grace is my best friend.
Meet The Our Laughing Place Travel Pixies
Everybody's got a Laughing Place... we'll help you find yours!
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TrpltJanie
Cast Member
Posts: 1661
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 01-16-03 12:25 AM
Yaaay Ajax! Loved your report and I have no doubt that Mary had that poor guy in a chokehold. Hehehehehehehe!  As for the amorous couple, I would have gotten everybody into my room and all BARKED--with a couple of wolf howls at the ceiling at the same time.
I'm outta here! Mary's giving me that look! 
Janie
The Curb Kicker
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Common
Ground / Goofy's HUGE!
/ Day One- Toasted, But We Landed Butter Side Up! (Epic) |
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