DeterminedOne
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2004
We traveled to the World September 24-29 and stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter. Myself - who hasn’t been in eleven years, and my husband who hasn’t been since Magic Kingdom opened in 1971.
Hubs and I have been together five years – married for two. This is a second marriage for both. It took five years to get him to agree to this vacation. He just didn’t see the value in it. When he visited in 1971 he was in 5th grade and Magic Kingdom was the only park. That was the view of Walt Disney World he’s had in his head for over 40 years.
I wanted to go back there in a bad way. Eleven years is too long!
We bought our dream house three years ago and vacations have been on the back burner. I made a deal with him if I could save up the money for the trip without taking anything away from the household, I would pay for it. He agreed. I immediately set up a Disney Vacation Account in which I had money deducted from my checking account every two weeks.
Three months before the trip I lost my job to a layoff. Thanks to the money I had saved in the DVA, I was only $600 shy of the amount we needed for the trip. There was no way I was giving up on what I had been dreaming about for over a decade, so fast forward to the trip.
Day One
We headed to the airport at 4:00AM for our 6:30 flight. Despite the highs hovering around 90 degrees both where we flew out of and in Orlando, I had to buy this long sleeve shirt at the airport because I was cold.
Yes, I’m one of those people. The lady in the office always bundled up in a sweater
no matter what the temperature is outside …
We loved being on the plane at sunrise. It was so pretty.
We landed at 8:30. I was stoked we didn’t have to grab our belongings from baggage claim thanks to Disney’s Magical Express. This was over hubs’ head, of course.
As I was planning the trip I tried so hard to get him to understand the difference between Walt Disney World 2017 and Walt Disney World 1971. He just couldn’t wrap his head around it. You should have seen the look on his face the day I told him we might have to take an Uber to some of our table service reservations. He simply could not understand why we would need an Uber “inside the Magic Kingdom.”
I explained how Disney World is like a small city with four parks, 20+ hotels, etc., but he still had it in his head that Disney World is Magic Kingdom.
We finally found our way to the Magical Express after about 20 minutes trying to find it. The directional signs in the Orlando airport are so messed up, IMO.
First stop was Old Key West Resort. Hubs was thoroughly impressed with the looks of that resort and said “I want to stay at Key West.”
I assured him our resort was nice and that he would love it. Guess he should have
listened in the months when I tried to explain the difference between value, moderate and deluxe resorts. I know we had the conversation because I originally wanted to stay at Contemporary. However, I quickly discovered it wasn’t in the budget. In his defense, I don’t think it was that he didn't listen.
He just didn’t understand ...
Next we stopped at Saratoga Springs and again there was a look of wonderment
in his eyes. Port Orleans French Quarter was the next stop. As we made our way toward the lobby I asked if he liked the looks of it. I said “This is nice, right?”
He shrugged his shoulders and said “Sure.”
There weren’t a lot of people checking in, but it took a while to get to the front of the line. Every CM was training someone, thus the hold up. It was 10:30 and I was
surprised to learn the room was ready. I had received an email an hour prior stating
it wasn’t, so we were stoked. I had done a room request fax through Touring Plans requesting a corner room on the third floor of building 6, or something like it.
They assigned us first floor of building 5...
I was not looking forward to hearing folks walking above us, so I asked for something else. I apologized for being a pain, and the CM was really nice about it. She made a phone call and came up with a room in building 6 on the second floor …
I didn’t want to cause any more trouble so I accepted. Could have just kept the room in building 5, though...
Garden Grocers had text to let me know our package of wine and water had been delivered. The CM said the package was probably already delivered to the room in building 5 and advised us to call bell services. As we headed to the room I could see hubs was starting to warm up to the locale. POFQ is such a quaint resort.
We had a view of the river and he thought it was pretty.
A word like pretty is against the Man Code, so please keep that a secret. Okay?
We didn’t get a corner view, but oh well. We spent so little time there, so in
the end a corner view didn't matter. It was small – especially the bathroom.
Not nearly as small as what I remembered from a room I once had at All Star Sports.
I never want to stay there again. Not unless it were a free trip.
Hubs spends a lot of time in motel rooms on the road for work, so the first thing he did was check for bed bugs.
No issues there and the sheets were clean. The room was clean in general, but definitely needs some TLC. The lights above the sink hadn’t been dusted in a long time, and the doors, walls and light switches could really use a wipe down. Not a deal breaker, but details do matter.
I phoned bell services and they said if we could wait around for a while they would find our grocery delivery. I explained we didn’t necessarily need the items at the
moment and would check back later that night.
We waited less than ten minutes for a bus headed to EPCOT.
We were on our way to to use some snack credits at Food and Wine. With 12 credits each and the DxDP, I knew using all those credits would be problematic. More on
that later.
We arrived at EPCOT early enough to fit in a few rides, so I had gotten us FastPasses for Soarin’ and Living with the Land. I know, I know. Who uses a FP for Living with the Land?
I only did it because Soarin' and Living with The Land are in the same building.
I didn’t want to walk to Future World in the heat. I’ve been there in September
before and the heat is brutal. This time was no exception. Not only was it hot,
but the humidity was 117%. Ok, maybe not, but that’s how it felt.
On the bus ride I pulled out my phone to check our first FP time. I had it in my head that Soarin’ was set for 2:15, but wasn't sure. Imagine the panic when I opened
MDE to this message:
No plans?? What the FOOF? I panicked.
What did it mean we didn’t have any plans? What??
Not only did we have plans - we had major ADR’s like Be Our Guest and
Hoop Dee Doo. We had major FastPasses like Seven Dwarves Mine Train
and Flight of Passage. Elizabeth, I’m coming to join you honey!
Bonus points to all who get that reference …
I tried hard not to show my panic outwardly to the hubs. After all, I was determined to show him how awesome Disney World is. With the Touring Plans app on my phone, I quickly jumped in the chat room and asked what to do.
In real life I could have figured that out on my own – go to Guest Services.
But I was in Disney distress, so …
We were really hungry, so I decided we would head to World Showcase for food before going to Guest Services. After getting through security I asked hubs if it would be okay to stop to find my Leave a Legacy tile from 2004 with the ex. He was happy to oblige.
From there we hurried to MouseGears in search of a knife. Yes. A knife.
We have yet to invest in the TSA locks in which they have a special key to open our luggage. We use good old fashioned zip ties. If they need to open our luggage - scissors or a knife will do. Hubs always, always, always carries a pocket knife.
He grew up in the 60’s/70’s and says that was the thing to do back then. In fact,
he said his uncle taught all the boys in the family how to use one properly.
Should have taught the girls too, but what -evs ...
I cannot tell you the number of times he has had to use that knife on the run to
cut a tag from my clothes, cut into pesky packaging for me - things like that.
We get to the World and he says he doesn’t have his knife. What??
He said they were going to confiscate it at the airport, so he left it at home.
I reminded him how he could have put it in the side pocket of his checked bag.
How were we supposed to open our luggage?
We headed to MouseGears. I asked the cashier where to find the knives.
The looks …
We left MouseGears knife-less, needless to say. Oh well. Worse-case scenario -
borrow scissors from the front desk. It was off to World Showcase to feed our bellies. Our Food and Wine dining report is here: FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL
After eating through WS we headed to Guest Services for assistance with the MDE crisis. First thing first – find Guest Services without having a map. I suddenly realized in all my trips to the World, I’ve never had to use Guest Services. I headed to the front of the park in search of a map. Surely we would find Guest Services along the way. Hubs tagged along slowly -questioning my every move. He was exhausted
at this point and we were both hot, so we were crabby. Him more so than I ...
We made it all the way to the entrance where I asked a CM where to find Guest Services. She pointed. As we prepared to walk away, a different CM asked what was wrong. I explained the dilemma with MDE. He confirmed the system was down and said it might be a while. He was gracious enough to pull up our plans on his tablet
and allowed me to take pictures of his screen.
Can I just tell you how much I love Disney World?
Crisis averted, we headed to our FP at Soarin’.
I rode Soarin’ before in 2006, but thanks to DIS, this time I asked to be in the first row. The CM didn’t even blink an eye at the request and off we went.
Soarin’ is amaze-balls!! I teared up during the scene where Tinkerbell makes an appearance and when our flight arrived back at EPCOT.
Our dinner reservation took us to Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge. JIKO REVIEW
Hubs was so impressed with Animal Kingdom Lodge he insisted we stop at the gift shop. I’m a pin collector and purchased one of the “mystery” pin packages. I had to buy an AKL magnet, too. I have been collecting magnets since 1994. This is the magnet wall hubs set up for me in our mud room.
The CM who rung up my loot was very personable and we had a nice conversation. I explained how it was technically Hubs’ first visit. Later when he approached the register to pay for his merch, she gave him a “First Visit” pin.
I … love … Disney … World!!!
From there we took the bus to Disney Springs and then took the boat back to POFQ.
I stopped at Bell Services and they arranged to meet us at the room with our libations. Then we stopped at Sassagoula Floatworks to pick up our refillable mugs. We showered then headed to bed.
We had to be up bright and early for a pre-park opening reservation at Beast’s castle.
Hubs and I have been together five years – married for two. This is a second marriage for both. It took five years to get him to agree to this vacation. He just didn’t see the value in it. When he visited in 1971 he was in 5th grade and Magic Kingdom was the only park. That was the view of Walt Disney World he’s had in his head for over 40 years.
I wanted to go back there in a bad way. Eleven years is too long!
We bought our dream house three years ago and vacations have been on the back burner. I made a deal with him if I could save up the money for the trip without taking anything away from the household, I would pay for it. He agreed. I immediately set up a Disney Vacation Account in which I had money deducted from my checking account every two weeks.
Three months before the trip I lost my job to a layoff. Thanks to the money I had saved in the DVA, I was only $600 shy of the amount we needed for the trip. There was no way I was giving up on what I had been dreaming about for over a decade, so fast forward to the trip.
Day One
We headed to the airport at 4:00AM for our 6:30 flight. Despite the highs hovering around 90 degrees both where we flew out of and in Orlando, I had to buy this long sleeve shirt at the airport because I was cold.
Yes, I’m one of those people. The lady in the office always bundled up in a sweater
no matter what the temperature is outside …
We loved being on the plane at sunrise. It was so pretty.
We landed at 8:30. I was stoked we didn’t have to grab our belongings from baggage claim thanks to Disney’s Magical Express. This was over hubs’ head, of course.
As I was planning the trip I tried so hard to get him to understand the difference between Walt Disney World 2017 and Walt Disney World 1971. He just couldn’t wrap his head around it. You should have seen the look on his face the day I told him we might have to take an Uber to some of our table service reservations. He simply could not understand why we would need an Uber “inside the Magic Kingdom.”
I explained how Disney World is like a small city with four parks, 20+ hotels, etc., but he still had it in his head that Disney World is Magic Kingdom.
We finally found our way to the Magical Express after about 20 minutes trying to find it. The directional signs in the Orlando airport are so messed up, IMO.
First stop was Old Key West Resort. Hubs was thoroughly impressed with the looks of that resort and said “I want to stay at Key West.”
I assured him our resort was nice and that he would love it. Guess he should have
listened in the months when I tried to explain the difference between value, moderate and deluxe resorts. I know we had the conversation because I originally wanted to stay at Contemporary. However, I quickly discovered it wasn’t in the budget. In his defense, I don’t think it was that he didn't listen.
He just didn’t understand ...
Next we stopped at Saratoga Springs and again there was a look of wonderment
in his eyes. Port Orleans French Quarter was the next stop. As we made our way toward the lobby I asked if he liked the looks of it. I said “This is nice, right?”
He shrugged his shoulders and said “Sure.”
There weren’t a lot of people checking in, but it took a while to get to the front of the line. Every CM was training someone, thus the hold up. It was 10:30 and I was
surprised to learn the room was ready. I had received an email an hour prior stating
it wasn’t, so we were stoked. I had done a room request fax through Touring Plans requesting a corner room on the third floor of building 6, or something like it.
They assigned us first floor of building 5...
I was not looking forward to hearing folks walking above us, so I asked for something else. I apologized for being a pain, and the CM was really nice about it. She made a phone call and came up with a room in building 6 on the second floor …
I didn’t want to cause any more trouble so I accepted. Could have just kept the room in building 5, though...
Garden Grocers had text to let me know our package of wine and water had been delivered. The CM said the package was probably already delivered to the room in building 5 and advised us to call bell services. As we headed to the room I could see hubs was starting to warm up to the locale. POFQ is such a quaint resort.
We had a view of the river and he thought it was pretty.
A word like pretty is against the Man Code, so please keep that a secret. Okay?
We didn’t get a corner view, but oh well. We spent so little time there, so in
the end a corner view didn't matter. It was small – especially the bathroom.
Not nearly as small as what I remembered from a room I once had at All Star Sports.
I never want to stay there again. Not unless it were a free trip.
Hubs spends a lot of time in motel rooms on the road for work, so the first thing he did was check for bed bugs.
No issues there and the sheets were clean. The room was clean in general, but definitely needs some TLC. The lights above the sink hadn’t been dusted in a long time, and the doors, walls and light switches could really use a wipe down. Not a deal breaker, but details do matter.
I phoned bell services and they said if we could wait around for a while they would find our grocery delivery. I explained we didn’t necessarily need the items at the
moment and would check back later that night.
We waited less than ten minutes for a bus headed to EPCOT.
We were on our way to to use some snack credits at Food and Wine. With 12 credits each and the DxDP, I knew using all those credits would be problematic. More on
that later.
We arrived at EPCOT early enough to fit in a few rides, so I had gotten us FastPasses for Soarin’ and Living with the Land. I know, I know. Who uses a FP for Living with the Land?
I only did it because Soarin' and Living with The Land are in the same building.
I didn’t want to walk to Future World in the heat. I’ve been there in September
before and the heat is brutal. This time was no exception. Not only was it hot,
but the humidity was 117%. Ok, maybe not, but that’s how it felt.
On the bus ride I pulled out my phone to check our first FP time. I had it in my head that Soarin’ was set for 2:15, but wasn't sure. Imagine the panic when I opened
MDE to this message:
No plans?? What the FOOF? I panicked.
What did it mean we didn’t have any plans? What??
Not only did we have plans - we had major ADR’s like Be Our Guest and
Hoop Dee Doo. We had major FastPasses like Seven Dwarves Mine Train
and Flight of Passage. Elizabeth, I’m coming to join you honey!
Bonus points to all who get that reference …
I tried hard not to show my panic outwardly to the hubs. After all, I was determined to show him how awesome Disney World is. With the Touring Plans app on my phone, I quickly jumped in the chat room and asked what to do.
In real life I could have figured that out on my own – go to Guest Services.
But I was in Disney distress, so …
We were really hungry, so I decided we would head to World Showcase for food before going to Guest Services. After getting through security I asked hubs if it would be okay to stop to find my Leave a Legacy tile from 2004 with the ex. He was happy to oblige.
From there we hurried to MouseGears in search of a knife. Yes. A knife.
We have yet to invest in the TSA locks in which they have a special key to open our luggage. We use good old fashioned zip ties. If they need to open our luggage - scissors or a knife will do. Hubs always, always, always carries a pocket knife.
He grew up in the 60’s/70’s and says that was the thing to do back then. In fact,
he said his uncle taught all the boys in the family how to use one properly.
Should have taught the girls too, but what -evs ...
I cannot tell you the number of times he has had to use that knife on the run to
cut a tag from my clothes, cut into pesky packaging for me - things like that.
We get to the World and he says he doesn’t have his knife. What??
He said they were going to confiscate it at the airport, so he left it at home.
I reminded him how he could have put it in the side pocket of his checked bag.
How were we supposed to open our luggage?
We headed to MouseGears. I asked the cashier where to find the knives.
The looks …
We left MouseGears knife-less, needless to say. Oh well. Worse-case scenario -
borrow scissors from the front desk. It was off to World Showcase to feed our bellies. Our Food and Wine dining report is here: FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL
After eating through WS we headed to Guest Services for assistance with the MDE crisis. First thing first – find Guest Services without having a map. I suddenly realized in all my trips to the World, I’ve never had to use Guest Services. I headed to the front of the park in search of a map. Surely we would find Guest Services along the way. Hubs tagged along slowly -questioning my every move. He was exhausted
at this point and we were both hot, so we were crabby. Him more so than I ...
We made it all the way to the entrance where I asked a CM where to find Guest Services. She pointed. As we prepared to walk away, a different CM asked what was wrong. I explained the dilemma with MDE. He confirmed the system was down and said it might be a while. He was gracious enough to pull up our plans on his tablet
and allowed me to take pictures of his screen.
Can I just tell you how much I love Disney World?
Crisis averted, we headed to our FP at Soarin’.
I rode Soarin’ before in 2006, but thanks to DIS, this time I asked to be in the first row. The CM didn’t even blink an eye at the request and off we went.
Soarin’ is amaze-balls!! I teared up during the scene where Tinkerbell makes an appearance and when our flight arrived back at EPCOT.
Our dinner reservation took us to Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge. JIKO REVIEW
Hubs was so impressed with Animal Kingdom Lodge he insisted we stop at the gift shop. I’m a pin collector and purchased one of the “mystery” pin packages. I had to buy an AKL magnet, too. I have been collecting magnets since 1994. This is the magnet wall hubs set up for me in our mud room.
The CM who rung up my loot was very personable and we had a nice conversation. I explained how it was technically Hubs’ first visit. Later when he approached the register to pay for his merch, she gave him a “First Visit” pin.
I … love … Disney … World!!!
From there we took the bus to Disney Springs and then took the boat back to POFQ.
I stopped at Bell Services and they arranged to meet us at the room with our libations. Then we stopped at Sassagoula Floatworks to pick up our refillable mugs. We showered then headed to bed.
We had to be up bright and early for a pre-park opening reservation at Beast’s castle.