Annette & DH - September 2007

Cast: Me, 41, Disney Fanactic, Trip Planner, DH, 54, Converted Disney Fan, Trip Taker and Enjoys all of my efforts.

Dates: Sept 19 - 30, 2007

Day 1
Hi there. DH and I have no kids and we have vacationed every fall at WDW since they started the "Free Dining with Hurricane Season" two years ago. It's a terrific value for us and we love going to the all the different and new restaurants that we would never pay for on our own. Yes, I know you pay full price for the rooms, but let's face it, eating at the world is no small change these days. This trip was planned the moment Disney Visa came out with the offer and was planned through Jessica at MFL travel. Thanks Jessica! It took me 3 years to talk DH into his first ever Cruise, but I did it. It helped that he had no ideas on what to get me for our anniversary so I offered it up as a mutual present and a add-on to our existing trip. It timed out perfectly at the end of our parks trip. I wanted the cruise on the end to try to recover from our self admitted "Commando Style Touring".

We have perfected our vacationing as a team. It involves me flying before my DH. I have more vacation time and he has less patience and is a magnet for every crying infant and kid that kicks the back of his airplane seat and I don't like to hear him complain, so in the interest of our marriage, I fly before, get the car, get the boxes, get the groceries, wait in all the check in lines and pick him up at the airport the next day. It works for us. We then fly back together.

I left for WDW on Wednesday evening, Sept. 19th, one day ahead of DH. Even with an hour delay from Madison to Milwaukee, I made the connection in Milwaukee in 15 minutes and so did my luggage. Unbelievable. My vacation is off to a terrific start. I had a priceline car waiting for me from Budget in Orlando. I always find Priceline can give me really great deals, this time a full sized car for $13.00 a day. This was my first experience with Budget and I have to say I wouldn't recommend them, just my opinion. The staff at the airport counter were just short of rude and extremely slow. Since I'm traveling alone, I scurried to the rental car counter before getting my luggage and beating the crowd. Yes, the sense of competitiveness exists even on vacation. I had asked for a 4 door vehicle as I find the 2 doors too heavy and difficult to deal with, and hate pulling up the back seat to throw the luggage in the back. They gave me a 2 door, and a car that seems much smaller than a full size. I asked nicely if there were any full size cars with 4 doors per my request and she said "No". So I went outside to the car they suggested, it was a small two door Mitsubishi Eclipse and not what I had planned on. I simply went up to the booth in the parking lot and asked nicely for a 4 door, and they promptly gave me a Chrysler Impala – very spacious and nice. Of course, when we returned the car we found out that they had someone else's name on that car (it had been reserved that first night by someone else) and it was a hassle to get it fixed – good thing we were really early for our flight. I would not recommend using Budget if you can avoid it. That said, I would still rent again through Priceline. I took 417 with my M&M container of quarters to Disney, planning to stop at the SuperTarget on John Young Parkway, but I got in so late that they were closed. Bummer. Oh well, I'll get groceries tomorrow.

When I arrived at POR, the young college program CM from Ireland was very nice but obviously new. I had reserved POR Alligator Bayou and requested a ground floor corner room. I got neither. This is the first time I've ever had a section request denied at Disney in many years of trips. I totally understand nothing is guaranteed but I've never had them put me in the wrong section. I asked nicely if we could remedy it, as it was my DH's only request for the whole trip. I should insert here that I've stayed at every moderate and POR is our very favorite with FQ second. We just love the feel of the place and we always rent a car to get to all the other resorts for dining, so the bus service is not an issue for us. We love AB because it feels like you are out in the woods somewhere. I am so surpdised at what a different feel the Magnolia Mansions have from the Bayou and again how different the French Quarter is also…it's all a matter of what you prefer. So the CM went out of her way to call housekeeping and low and behold, they had a clean room in AB section and it was even a corner room on the second floor. Perfect. I had to tell her that I had two boxes waiting for me. She confirmed they had them but said it was too late for a bellperson to deliver them. This was a surprise. It was around midnight. I was disappointed but told her I would pick them up the next day. I got to my room and unloaded the luggage from the car. It was now near 1am and I was ready for bed when there was a knock at the door which kind of freaked me out. It was a bellperson and he had my boxes!! How awesome. Now off to bed. Travel wears me out! PS It's hot here.

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