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Ground / Goofy's HUGE!
/ Tink's *~*~* Fall Fantasy Trip, Part 1 |
Tink *~*~*
Cast Member
Posts: 1066
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 11-11-02 11:35 AM
Cast of Characters: Tink *~*~*, stressed out Wall Street type, her brother ST, SIL AD, niece AN, and beginning Friday night, her brother PD and SIL D.
Tuesday, 05 November
The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Stressed Out Wall Street Types
I was supposed to take Tueday off in order to straighten up my house, go to the laundromat, have a voice lesson before my trip, and generally not be in emergency mode before my trip. By late Monday afternoon, it became obvious that I would have to spend at least the morning working from home. I went to school Monday night and discovered I had achieved a 93 on my midterm (an “A”, whoopeee!), then came home and tried to do as much work as I could. I arose on Tuesday to a slew of email from Europe and Asia indicating that my attention would be required for most of the day! I worked into the night to get things resolved, and then had to really start packing (more like, flinging things into the suitcase). I had only enough time after that to clean the kitchen, put out the trash, take a shower and hightail it out of there to the airport (pitstop at the local 7-11 for coffee and sustenance first).
Wednesday 06 November 2002
Rain, Rain, Go Away!
It was a 6:05 am direct flight on Southwest from Long Island to MCO. It was raining steadily while driving to the airport. The wind kept whipping me in the side of my face as I dragged my suitcase and my sorry, sleepy a$$ through the dark parking lot to the terminal. I was wearing two shirts, a Disney pullover fleece with a hood, and a lined waterproof windbreaker with a hood. I checked my bag at the curb and ate my breakfast in the ticketing area, reading the election results in the local newspaper.
Security R Us
While standing on the security line, I noticed a family of four ahead of me in the line. Twin boys, about 4 years old, one of them with a teddy bear. The security guard took the bear and put it on the conveyor belt, and as it disappeared through the car wash fringe, the kid started screaming. And screaming. And screaming. The mother looked upset, and tried to take the kid through the archway, but he wouldn’t move, and threw an all-out tantrum. The kind of tantrum where the mother is pulling him by the wrist, but the kid is just hanging there, dead weight, dragging and kicking and screaming the whole time. He actually tried to dive through the car wash fringe on the conveyor belt to get his teddy. Finally, the security guard had a word with the person looking at the screen, and they nodded their heads to each other. The security guard reached through and retrieved the bear, gave it to the kid. He immediately shut up and walked of his own volition through the archway. However, the guard on the other side stopped them and tried to take the bear from the kid. More screaming, kicking and crying. A bunch of security guards came running with a cop, and an argument ensued. The father was irate, the mother was embarrassed, the one twin was screaming to beat the band, and the other just stood there silently watching the whole spectacle. The people on line for the security scan started murmering, and finally shouting, “Give the kid his teddy bear!”. Meanwhile, this band of security guys is trying to wand the entire family, like there weren’t real criminals in the world that need to be watched for. Guess a four year old with a teddy bear that has already been scanned is huge threat to free society that must be muscled into submission.
The Flight and The Weather
My book for the flight was Mary Poppins, which I got for my birthday. I have long since determined that there is no sleeping on a flight to or from Orlando – too many kids = too much noise. The flight was uneventful, and we got into Orlando about 15 minutes ahead of schedule.
Upon deplaning, I turned on my cell phone to call my brother, but he was already ringing me. I met him at the baggage carousel. The bags came out promptly and off we went into the Florida rain. It was not warm enough for my liking, but warmer than Long Island. By time we got to the hotel, the sun was peering through the clouds.
The Hotel
The hotel was the Ramada Gateway Plaza on Route 192. I’ve only ever stayed off-site once, back in 1985, so this was a relatively new and different experience for me. Rt 192 seems like Vegas to me – lots of ugly signage and crowdedness. It’s not at all like the serenely landscaped roads you find on site. The hotel itself is a bit on the run down side, but there was some painting going on and it seemed like they were attempting to spruce it up. There are two courts of rooms aside from the main hotel tower, and each has its own pool. There is a deli/convenience store, a bar with karaoke at night (and terrible, terrible singers), a piano in the lobby, a dining room with buffet breakfast, and a workout facility with a shower. The hallways in the main tower are clearly not air conditioned. At the end of each hallway is a small balcony, and on the side overlooking the lovely Econo Lodge, one can see a big, lone tree in the distance that looks like the Tree of Life, but it is in the wrong direction to be the actual Tree itself. So we were kind of wondering what that was – anyone know? The room we were in was big, with two queen beds, a little kitchenette with a sink, and a full bath that needed sprucing (fixtures starting to rust, exhaust fan didn’t work, doorknob to the bathroom fell off in AD's hand, etc.).
Side Trip to Celebration
I quickly unpacked, and we decided to leave my brother ST home for a nap while we went out for a few groceries, most notably water. We intended to hit the local Walgreens, but I saw a sign that said “Celebration” and we decided to check it out. We drove around looking a the houses. One of the new constructions was on Spring Park Loop and it intrigued me greatly. It was faced in stone and had a fat “poet’s tower” as the entryway, with double doors. We parked in town by the lake, near the rocking chairs, and walked around a bit. We hit the local market to pick up spring water (I’m a water snob), and also picked up the little local newspapers. It’s amazing to read about all the rules and regulations of living in Celebration. I was thinking it would be a good place to retire.
Downtown Disney
When we got back to the room, we changed clothes and headed to Downtown Disney for dinner. We ate at Cap’n Jacks, and afterwards fed the ducks and the fish. Then we took AN on the train ride and the carousel, and cruised Once Upon A Toy. I picked up my Babbling Boo doll there, and also a couple of packs of those little tiny “surprise” figurine toys. There are three toys to a pack and you don’t know what you are getting unless you feel through the plastic bag and the figurine is identifiable – for instance, you can feel the roundness of Spaceship Earth through the bag, and also the ears on the Earful Tower. I successfully identifed the Pirate Ship! And of course bought that one! We ended the evening at Ghirardelli’s for hot cocoa and cookies. AD and ST stood on line while I took AN to the Lego place. They called me on the cell phone when they’d finally gotten a table. What did we do in the parks before cell phones? “Meet me at the fountain at noon!”, that’s what we did! Finally, we were all good and tired and went back to the hotel. I took a warm shower to facilitate sleep (warming up the midbrain will do that to a person), but really didn’t need to since it was now 11:00 pm on Wednesday and I’d been up since 7:00 am on Tuesday. I slept like the dead.
TOMORROW: snoring, breakfast lessons learned and a bunch of 101’s
[Edited by Tink *~*~*]
Tink *~*~*
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Ahnalira
Cast Member
Posts: 433
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 11-11-02 11:59 AM
You drove right
by our castle on Spring Park Loop, Tink! The "poet's
house" you describe is my MOST FAVORITE house ever!
GMTA
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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Rosebud
Cast Member
Posts: 46
Registered: Oct 2002
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Posted 11-11-02 12:18 PM
You sure that wasn't the Tree of Life? I'm not positive if I'm thinking of the right Ramada on 192, but it sounds to me like you were in the right area. I know there are places on 192 where you can see the Tree - it is actually very close to 192.
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inkydinkydoo
Cast Member
Posts: 112
Registered: Sep 2002
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Posted 11-11-02 12:20 PM
Yea! Another trip report! I'm not as obvious about it as Jane is, but I do love the trip reports! Thanks for sharing.
Pat
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Tink *~*~*
Cast Member
Posts: 1066
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 11-11-02 03:20 PM
quote:
Rosebud wrote:
You sure that wasn't the Tree of Life? I'm not positive if I'm thinking of the right Ramada on 192, but it sounds to me like you were in the right area. I know there are places on 192 where you can see the Tree - it is actually very close to 192.
It was in the wrong direction, I think. When we went to the parks, we drove down 192 in the other direction.
There are at least two Ramada's on 192, across the street from one another. One is the Ramada Plaza Gateway, and the other is a Ramada Inn. We were at the Gateway.
Tink *~*~*
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Rosebud
Cast Member
Posts: 46
Registered: Oct 2002
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Posted 11-11-02 03:59 PM
I do think that was The Tree. You probably took a right out of your hotel and onto World Drive or I4. If you had actually taken a left out of the hotel and then taken a right onto Sherberth Road it would have taken you down a little back road that leads right inbetween AKL and AK. So in reality from your hotel the Tree was probably over to the left, but you turned right and went to Disney the way most everyone does. I could be wrong, but I really think you were seeing the Tree of Life - I don't think you find many trees that big in Florida.
They don't have a sign that says Disney this way, and that road never has very many cars on it, so whenever we stay in that area that is the way we go to Disney. It definitely beats the traffic at opening and closing. We found it by exploring one day because I had a feeling it would take us where we wanted to be - they try to keep everyone on the main roads, so the smaller roads don't have directions and people don't usually use them. Going back to the hotel, if you were coming from AK towards AKL you will see a little tiny sign that says 192 left - it is at a light, and the other way is for workers only.
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Tink *~*~*
Cast Member
Posts: 1066
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 11-11-02 11:15 PM
Rosebud, do you (or does anyone else on this board) live in Kissimee? Go to the hotel (Ramada Plaza Gateway, next to the Econo Lodge, across the street from Perkins), and take the elevator to the 4th floor. Turn left into the hallway when you exit the elevator bank and there is the balcony where I was standing. Now look off into the distance and there is the tree I was describing. The way Rosebud describes going the back way to AK/AKL, it makes sense that this is THE Tree of Life, but I'd love to have it verified.
We also saw hot air balloons in the very early morning from that balcony, off to the left.
Tink *~*~*
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Rosebud
Cast Member
Posts: 46
Registered: Oct 2002
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Posted 11-12-02 10:05 AM
No unfortunately I don't live in Kissimmee, or Florida for that matter - I'm from the Northeast. I'll be down there in about a month though and I will make it a point to go to the Ramada and check it out for you. But when I looked at a map I knew right where that hotel is and I'm pretty darn sure that was the Tree you saw.
P.S. I just love seeing the hot air balloons in the WDW area, and someday I'm going to ride one!
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Tink *~*~*
Cast Member
Posts: 1066
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 11-12-02 02:04 PM
quote:
Rosebud wrote:
P.S. I just love seeing the hot air balloons in the WDW area, and someday I'm going to ride one!
Me too, me too! We were commenting on that on the day I left Orlando. Must be a blast.
Tink *~*~*
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Common
Ground / Goofy's HUGE!
/ Tink's *~*~* Fall Fantasy Trip, Part 1 |
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