faline
09-19-2009, 05:21 PM
Cast of Characters: Gene & Me
Date: Saturday, August 29, 2009
Plan for the Day:
Magic Kingdom
Breakfast from the Old Faithful Club
Grand Floridian Café for Lunch at 1:45 p.m.
Quicksilver to Airport at 3:15 p.m.
Southwest flight from Orlando at 5:50 with arrival home at 8:45 p.m.
How the Day Really Went: We wake from our last sleep in Disney World for this trip. Today is our return to reality day.
With Gene under the weather, I give up the thought that we would use our 1 day park pass today. This is the ticket we received as part of our room / dining package at French Quarter which started this trip. Since our annual passes expired yesterday, we thought it would be nice to use that 1 day ticket on this day. Looks like we’ll save it for another trip (and just a week later that proved to be a good thing but more on that at a future date).
Since we’re no longer planning to be in a park, I don’t worry about when we’ll get up.
We’re out of bed around 8. After dressing, we head to the Club one last time for breakfast. Gene has several pastries, a cup of coffee and some OJ. I have one more bagel with cream cheese, coffee, and OJ.
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127141022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127142022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127143022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
With breakfast behind us, we return to the room to finish the onerous task of packing to leave. That done, we have bell services take our bags to storage. We take one last look at the view from our room.
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127124022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127125022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127126022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
On the way out, we stop at the concierge desk and cash a travelers check.
Our first stop of the day is to check out the common areas of Villas Wilderness Lodge. We’ve never been in there before. Very cozy, homey feel! I could like that!
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40125262022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40125267022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
When we finish exploring here, we board a boat for the Contemporary.
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40125271022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
We wander through the shops a bit more before boarding the monorail. We disembark at the Poly. A hula lesson is taking place downstairs in the lobby.
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40125273022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
We wander through the Poly shops and decide against a purchase we had been considering. It’s back to the monorail where we ride the short distance to the the Grand Floridian.
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127153022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127152022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
More progress has been made on the floor tiling project. We wander in and out of most of the shops and then head to the Grand Floridian Café where we are way early for our reservation. Still, we are seated immediately. This works better as I always forget how laid back (slow) service is at this location.
Gene orders the Grand Burger which is served with lobster and asparagus – sort of a lobster Eggs Benedict with a burger and without the eggs. I have the Tilapia which is quite yummy. We are both pleased with our choices.
Lunch complete, we return to the monorail station. While waiting, I hear a man tell his family you can ride up front in the cockpit. He then asks if there is room up front for them. The cast member response is “We don’t allow anyone to ride up there.” It’s the only time since we arrived that we heard anyone inquire.
We disembark at the Magic Kingdom and head to the Fort Willy boat dock. Once at Fort Wilderness, we wander though the store and then head right back to the dock where we take our final boat ride to Wilderness Lodge.
With still some time to kill, we settle at a table behind the pool bar. There is no breeze and we are soon overheated so we retreat to the interior of the lobby.
It’s 2:15 at this point and Quicksilver is set to pick us up at 3:15. Around 2:45, we head outside to request our luggage and find our driver is already there. It’s the same driver who brought us to Port Orleans. He apologizes for being early!
Goodbye Wilderness Lodge! Goodbye Disney World! Until next time!
Our driver drops us at our airline. Our checked luggage is wheeled away and we enter the terminal. It seems very busy in here! Nevertheless, we make our way through security and head to our gate. There is an earlier flight to Baltimore leaving from the same gate. When they start boarding, they need to keep reminding folks that this flight is not going where they want!
Finally, our flight arrives. Just before our flight begins boarding, TSA agents roll a cart up to the gate. I hand Gene his passport. He asks why he needs it now. I say it appears that TSA may be doing random gate checks so you’d best have it if you’re selected. We’re in the latter half of the A boarding group. Several folks from the first half are singled out but we both march right on by the agents without either of us being given a second glance.
Despite this, our flight is quickly loaded and we actually land 15 minutes early. We disembark and collect our luggage. The shuttle back to the car arrives just a minute or two after we get to the stop. We then lose all the time we gained while Gene talks “cars” with the shuttle driver for 15 minutes or so. Still, we’re back home by 10 p.m.
We have already planned and booked our next trip! Yay!
Miles: 1.99
Date: Saturday, August 29, 2009
Plan for the Day:
Magic Kingdom
Breakfast from the Old Faithful Club
Grand Floridian Café for Lunch at 1:45 p.m.
Quicksilver to Airport at 3:15 p.m.
Southwest flight from Orlando at 5:50 with arrival home at 8:45 p.m.
How the Day Really Went: We wake from our last sleep in Disney World for this trip. Today is our return to reality day.
With Gene under the weather, I give up the thought that we would use our 1 day park pass today. This is the ticket we received as part of our room / dining package at French Quarter which started this trip. Since our annual passes expired yesterday, we thought it would be nice to use that 1 day ticket on this day. Looks like we’ll save it for another trip (and just a week later that proved to be a good thing but more on that at a future date).
Since we’re no longer planning to be in a park, I don’t worry about when we’ll get up.
We’re out of bed around 8. After dressing, we head to the Club one last time for breakfast. Gene has several pastries, a cup of coffee and some OJ. I have one more bagel with cream cheese, coffee, and OJ.
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127141022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127142022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127143022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
With breakfast behind us, we return to the room to finish the onerous task of packing to leave. That done, we have bell services take our bags to storage. We take one last look at the view from our room.
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127124022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127125022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127126022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
On the way out, we stop at the concierge desk and cash a travelers check.
Our first stop of the day is to check out the common areas of Villas Wilderness Lodge. We’ve never been in there before. Very cozy, homey feel! I could like that!
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40125262022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40125267022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
When we finish exploring here, we board a boat for the Contemporary.
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40125271022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
We wander through the shops a bit more before boarding the monorail. We disembark at the Poly. A hula lesson is taking place downstairs in the lobby.
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40125273022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
We wander through the Poly shops and decide against a purchase we had been considering. It’s back to the monorail where we ride the short distance to the the Grand Floridian.
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127153022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1349518022/PictureID=40127152022/a=156157980_156157980/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
More progress has been made on the floor tiling project. We wander in and out of most of the shops and then head to the Grand Floridian Café where we are way early for our reservation. Still, we are seated immediately. This works better as I always forget how laid back (slow) service is at this location.
Gene orders the Grand Burger which is served with lobster and asparagus – sort of a lobster Eggs Benedict with a burger and without the eggs. I have the Tilapia which is quite yummy. We are both pleased with our choices.
Lunch complete, we return to the monorail station. While waiting, I hear a man tell his family you can ride up front in the cockpit. He then asks if there is room up front for them. The cast member response is “We don’t allow anyone to ride up there.” It’s the only time since we arrived that we heard anyone inquire.
We disembark at the Magic Kingdom and head to the Fort Willy boat dock. Once at Fort Wilderness, we wander though the store and then head right back to the dock where we take our final boat ride to Wilderness Lodge.
With still some time to kill, we settle at a table behind the pool bar. There is no breeze and we are soon overheated so we retreat to the interior of the lobby.
It’s 2:15 at this point and Quicksilver is set to pick us up at 3:15. Around 2:45, we head outside to request our luggage and find our driver is already there. It’s the same driver who brought us to Port Orleans. He apologizes for being early!
Goodbye Wilderness Lodge! Goodbye Disney World! Until next time!
Our driver drops us at our airline. Our checked luggage is wheeled away and we enter the terminal. It seems very busy in here! Nevertheless, we make our way through security and head to our gate. There is an earlier flight to Baltimore leaving from the same gate. When they start boarding, they need to keep reminding folks that this flight is not going where they want!
Finally, our flight arrives. Just before our flight begins boarding, TSA agents roll a cart up to the gate. I hand Gene his passport. He asks why he needs it now. I say it appears that TSA may be doing random gate checks so you’d best have it if you’re selected. We’re in the latter half of the A boarding group. Several folks from the first half are singled out but we both march right on by the agents without either of us being given a second glance.
Despite this, our flight is quickly loaded and we actually land 15 minutes early. We disembark and collect our luggage. The shuttle back to the car arrives just a minute or two after we get to the stop. We then lose all the time we gained while Gene talks “cars” with the shuttle driver for 15 minutes or so. Still, we’re back home by 10 p.m.
We have already planned and booked our next trip! Yay!
Miles: 1.99