I’ve got a Valentine’s Date at Disney!

When – February 14-18, 2013

What – Valentine’s Day Trip

Who – Just me and the hubs!

Why – We had actually planned on going with the kids this weekend since they had a 4 day weekend. We booked it quite a while ago and then the kids ended up having all kinds of conflicts. So we cancelled and went at Thanksgiving instead! So while their lovely faces were in that trip report, this one is adult only!

Around the middle of January, Stephen remembered that his favorite soccer team, DC United, was going to be playing at Wide World of Sports over President’s Day Weekend.

He said, “Man I wish we could still go to Disney in a few weeks.”

I was like, “Um, honey? WE can still go to Disney!”

Oh yeah!!

So we bought some plane tickets, scrambled to find some places to stay on points and we were booked!

As a bonus, good friends and fellow KK agents Heather (@DisneyHeather) and Missy (@polymissy) were going to be there at the same time. And Richard (@Master Yoda) was coming up for the day on Saturday! Woo hoo! Friends everywhere! What fun this was going to be!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Thursday, February 14 – Arrival Day

I didn’t get to bed until midnight the night before and oh my word that 3:45 alarm was early. But hey, we were going to Disney, so I jumped up pretty quick. We both got ready and packed the final things in our suitcase. I don’t like to carry a purse at Disney so the last thing I did was empty my purse and put credit cards, ID, cash, and whatever else jumped out at me in my carry on.

I really should have done it the night before, but I was crazy busy in the few days before we left. I barely had time to throw it all in the suitcase, much less THINK about what I needed!

Well one thing I needed was now missing. My Disney Rewards card. Shoot! It’s always in my purse! Where was it? And I had already transferred money to it in anticipation of this trip!

I tore apart a few things looking for it with no luck. My brain was racing, didn’t these things used to be like gift cards and they wouldn’t replace them? Did I really just lose $200?

Shoot!

No more time to search though, so we headed out. It’s a little odd to leave a dark house before your teenagers are awake. I knew Ally would wake up on time no problem, so I gave her permission to go pour cold water on her brother’s head if she didn’t hear the shower going by 7.

That should work right?

We pulled into economy parking at Reagan about an hour and a half before our flight and froze our patooties off in the 3 minutes we had to wait for a shuttle bus. Man it was cold out.

Once we were on the bus Stephen asked which airlines we were flying. JetBlue I automatically replied. We generally fly United, but we bought our tickets so close to departure date that one way tickets on JetBlue and AirTran worked out a lot better. So we were in new territory here!

We got off the shuttle at the JetBlue stop and walked towards the line. Thankfully at the last minute we decided to use a self check-in kiosk. I say thankfully because we would have been quite embarrassed if someone had been helping us.

Because you see, we searched for our reservation and nothing came up.

Oops. I guess JetBlue was the return flight.

AirTran, honey! I meant AirTran. I’m sure that’s what I said?

It was at this point I believe Stephen lost all faith in my organization and planning for this particular trip. Considering I only had 3 weeks to plan and how busy I was in those three weeks, he was right. I hadn’t done much. I plan other people’s vacations, Dear, not ours. But I knew we had reservations for flights and hotels. I may not have been sure what they were, but I knew we had them!

Thankfully AirTran was in the same terminal as JetBlue! #winning!

We walked over to their self check-in kiosks and Phew!, of course, we found our reservation.

After we made our way through security we had about 45 minutes to wait, so I immediately got on my computer. Disney obviously knows my vacation schedule and every. single. time. I am out of town, they release something big.

Anyone clamoring for Free Dining should send me on vacation somewhere. Trust me, it will come when I am on the plane.

Today it was the 2014 itineraries for Disney Cruise Line. I knew they would be out today, but I didn’t know how early they would show up online. Jenell was at her house waiting to book anything for me that I couldn’t, but I was really hoping that JetBlue AirTran’s Wi-Fi would be good and I could get everything done myself during the 2 hour flight.

Nothing was online when we boarded which was a good thing since I would be out of contact for the next 20 minutes.

After we were in the air and given the all clear to break out the electronics, I lunged for my laptop. AirTran, I salute you. Your Wi-Fi cost $10, but it was excellent and I would have paid $50 because I needed it so badly.

I booked and rebooked people with time to spare. It was the perfect way to make that 2 hours fly by.

When we got off the plane, I was starving!! So we stopped for a Chicken biscuit from Chick-Fil-A. We did take them on the bus and I’m sure the smell made everyone else jealous. Sorry, other people on the bus.

Wilderness Lodge! That’s us!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I worked the entire way to Wilderness Lodge, but that was fine! That meant I was done when we got there! I finally put away the laptop and iPad and got out the camera! Woo hoo!!

And here we are!

It’s kind of funny to me the route DME drivers take sometimes. Wilderness Lodge was the third stop which meant we actually passed it on our way to the Polynesian and Grand Floridian.

What up, bus driver?

We had checked in online and while we were in line we noticed cast members approaching the guests in our line and checking them in on their smart devices. Very nice use of technology Disney! After a couple of questions, a few taps on the screen, and a short trip to the back to get their paperwork, they were checked in! If the line had been long, I’m sure that would really save time!

Sadly, our room was not ready. I texted Heather and Missy and let them know we were here and ready to meet for lunch whenever they were. We repacked our carry-ons and left them with Bell Services then wandered around the lodge a little.

Hello, welcome packet.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

The beautiful Artist’s Point:

It was a dreary day. But hey we're at Disney!

We decided to meet at the Poly for lunch so we took a boat across to the Contemporary.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Well, not just any boat. A crazy windy boat!! Mercy!! My hair was a hot mess by the time we got there.

We stopped for a couple of minutes inside the Contemporary because we were ahead of everyone. We had reservations at the Wave that night and at some point I realized I had no idea what time they were!

I told you. I don’t plan my own trips!!

We got on our handy My Disney Experience app and what do you know? It had our time! I like this app!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

After our detour we went up to the monorail and were off to the Poly!

We walked around the art shop to kill some time. We both really like that store.

Missy and her family arrived shortly thereafter and we all said hello and walked down to Captain Cooks for lunch. Meanwhile Heather was sending random texts about being drug to Tom Sawyer’s Island against her will.

Self serve Dole Whip? Of course!

I had a pork sandwich and fries which was quite yummy.

Stephen had this. I have no idea what it was:

We talked and laughed and talked and laughed. After Heather finally escaped her island, she joined us and we laughed and talked some more.

We spent 2 ½ hours at Captain Cooks! Great day!

I took a phone photo for Facebook:

Oops, I lied, there are some kids in my pictures! Just not mine!

Heather took advantage of the self-serve Dole Whip! Good decision, Heather.

How did I get everyone to look at me for the phone picture and not for the real camera?

We decided to go check on our room so we said goodbye and took the monorail to Magic Kingdom and then the boat to Wilderness Lodge.

Up next - our room and the Magic Kingdom!

 

[Ariel484]

Woohoo, another Tammy report...but yikes, that is one hectic departure day! Love those WL pics!

 

[tiaragirl]

Yay, "hot Valentines date" Disney style! Looking forward to the rest of this, Tammy!

 

[Zman-ks]

Great TR!

 

[sam_disney]

I'm in Looking forward to more x

 

[plaz10]

Tammy TR! WOO HOO! Those people who have you booking trips on the plane for cruises...glad that wasn't ME you were planning....at that exact moment lol. I'm sure I was flooding your inbox with random questions!

V-day in Disney? Can't think of a better place to celebrate!

 

[joanna71985]

Great TR so far! Following along

 

[Pooh'sBuddy]

Thursday, February 14 – Arrival Day

I didn’t get to bed until midnight the night before and oh my word that 3:45 alarm was early. But hey, we were going to Disney, so I jumped up pretty quick.

AirTran, honey! I meant AirTran. I’m sure that’s what I said?


When we got off the plane, I was starving!! So we stopped for a Chicken biscuit from Chick-Fil-A.

Love it! I'm in.

 

[stillgoofy]

Tammy, love the report so far. I was laughing so hard about the JetBlue/Airtran mix-up . Can't wait to hear the rest. As always your trip reports are so entertaining.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Woohoo, another Tammy report...but yikes, that is one hectic departure day! Love those WL pics!

It was a little crazy, Shannon!

Yay, "hot Valentines date" Disney style! Looking forward to the rest of this, Tammy!

Hot date! Woo hoo!

Great TR!

Thank you, Zman-ks!

I'm in Looking forward to more x

Thanks, Sam_disney!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Tammy TR! WOO HOO! Those people who have you booking trips on the plane for cruises...glad that wasn't ME you were planning....at that exact moment lol. I'm sure I was flooding your inbox with random questions!

V-day in Disney? Can't think of a better place to celebrate!

It wasn't you, Jess!! And don't worry if it was you, Jenell would have done it if I needed her to! But I wanted to do it.

It is the perfect place to celebrate!

Great TR so far! Following along

Thanks, Joanna!

Love it! I'm in.

Thanks for reading Pooh'sBuddy!

Tammy, love the report so far. I was laughing so hard about the JetBlue/Airtran mix-up . Can't wait to hear the rest. As always your trip reports are so entertaining.

Haha! So embarrassing!

 

[openendedsky]

Enjoying reading this very much The pictures of the resort you took are stunning.

 

[Master Yoda]

Once we were on the bus Stephen asked which airlines we were flying. JetBlue I automatically replied. We generally fly United, but we bought our tickets so close to departure date that one way tickets on JetBlue and AirTran worked out a lot better. So we were in new territory here!

We got off the shuttle at the JetBlue stop and walked towards the line. Thankfully at the last minute we decided to use a self check-in kiosk. I say thankfully because we would have been quite embarrassed if someone had been helping us.

Because you see, we searched for our reservation and nothing came up.

Oops. I guess JetBlue was the return flight.

AirTran, honey! I meant AirTran. I’m sure that’s what I said?

It was at this point I believe Stephen lost all faith in my organization and planning for this particular trip. Considering I only had 3 weeks to plan and how busy I was in those three weeks, he was right. I hadn’t done much. I plan other people’s vacations, Dear, not ours. But I knew we had reservations for flights and hotels. I may not have been sure what they were, but I knew we had them!

Thankfully AirTran was in the same terminal as JetBlue! #winning!

We walked over to their self check-in kiosks and Phew!, of course, we found our reservation.

I am so glad to find out that I am not the only one. I could recite most of my clients departure dates and itineraries from memory, yet I can not remember what resort I am supposed to be at half the time. I can't tell you how many times I have had to ask my wife " Honey, look at the paperwork in the glove box. What resort are we at this weekend?" when we are passing under the arches.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

LOLOLOL! Never really thought of the perils of vacationing where your clients do. Glad you found your airline! LOL!

Big gigantic humongous THANK YOU for being the most dedicated-est of agents! We appreciate you booking our Panama Canal for us at the less-than-ideal time. You're the BEST! Definitely shows your level of dedication to what you do. I feel like we get the same attention to detail and care as what a family member would get. Such a load off my mind knowing my family's precious adventures are in such capable and caring hands.

My mom sometimes jokes that when she dies she wants to come back as MY dog because my little Riley Belle lives such a wonderful life with people continually fawning over her & pampering her 24/7. Personally, I think I might like to come back as a duck and live here at the lodge. Wouldn't you think???

 

[sweetpee_1993]

It wasn't you, Jess!! And don't worry if it was you, Jenell would have done it if I needed her to! But I wanted to do it.

Yeah, that's 'cause it was super-needy ME!