The Kirk & Connie Show Trip Report - Negative Day One: Motel 6 Hell

The Kirk & Connie Show Trip Report

Disney Trip Day Negative One - Motel6 Hell!

Who's Going: I'm Kirk, a 32-year-old going on 11-year-old Disney fanatic. Also on this trip is my usual partner in crime, Dr. Connie, who is older than me and that's all I'm saying. For portions of the trip we're meeting up with Dr. Nicole and Dr. Jeff, (both around my age) a husband and wife combo who live and work in the Tampa area. Connie and I are traveling from Southwestern Ohio (think Cincinnati suburbs) via Indianapolis on AirTran. I'm the only non-psychologist on this trip (I'm just a regular Master's level clinical counselor, no PhD for me - though I do have TWO Masters degrees! So I'm just as good as them! Really! So why do they make 50% more again??? Anyway, I digress . . . )

Our mission: Tackle TWO Star Wars Weekends and the final Pirate's & Princess's Party. There are other adventures planned in the itinerary and we've got ten days to do it all, so I think we'll be just fine.

This is what we're calling Negative Day One as we have decided the two hour trip to the Indy airport is better done at 7PM than 3AM. So, I'm currently in the Motel6 getting ready to get some rest so we can get up at 5 AM and catch our 7:05am flight to Orlando. The hotel is clean enough, but check-in was a bit dicey. We met a crippled truck driver and a homeless tornado victim while we were checking in. I felt sorry for them both, but meeting them also reminded me that we're not at the Grand Floridian. So, as long as there are no shootings, no crack deals gone bad, or undercover hooker busts tonight, we'll continue our journey as scheduled in the morning.

We've got tickets for the P&PP tomorrow night and Nicole is coming up to meet us at the Magic Kingdom. We'll also hit Downtown Disney prior to the event and I hope to catch a much deserved and needed nap sometime in the afternoon. Stay tuned!

 

[kirksheppard]

Day Ten: Disney Hollywood Studios for Star Wars Weekend

Day Ten: Disney Hollywood Studios for Star Wars Weekend 2

We got there about 8:15 and waited through the Stormtrooper show again. Connie took my ticket with her to get our FastPasses to Toy Story Mania. I sat and read a book. It took her awhile, so I also grabbed a cinnamon roll from Starring Rolls Café. She came back and announced she’d already been to Wicket’s Warehouse and got the pins she needed for this week.

We walked to Tower of Terror, which had a 10 minute wait time posted, but it felt more like 20. They weren’t filling the libraries very full and when we walked into the boiler room, I saw why. They were loading very slowly for some reason, and it looked like the right side wasn’t even running when we first entered.

After this we used our Toy Story Mania fast passes. Connie beat me again, because now she cheats. She doesn’t aim she just pulls the trigger, which doesn’t seem fair at all! I went to watch the Voyage of the Little Mermaid and I was so tired I nearly fell asleep. Connie went to line up for the Star Wars Motorcade and I called her to tell her I was heading back to the room.

I grabbed Subway by the hotel and went to bed. Connie had a great time, meanwhile, and even got Peter Mayhew and Warwick Davis’s autographs by being in the right place at the right time. Nicole had come back up from work and they were trying to find the Beaker muppet pin in the mystery packs . . . and it only took one try! Connie also watched Stars of the Saga and said they were more organized about where they had them wait this trip, out of the sun over closer to Muppetvision.

I came back over at about 6. I grabbed a burger at the Backlot Express and watched for Connie and Nicole as I knew they would be heading over for the Hyperspace Hoopla. I saw them and walked up to surprise them. Then I went back over and read and watched the Hoopla from a chair next to the restaurant. It is quite funny, even after 3 viewings this year.

They were hungry so we went to the ABC commissary, where Nicole got the Chicken Curry and Connie had a Cuban sandwich. We walked to Fantasmic and I got a pretzel with cheese. It was only 8:10 and the show didn’t start until 9. We were seated a bit to the left of the center, in between two of the water screens. I didn’t like this view much, but I did notice the canoes docking and the performers entering the stage for the first time. Fantasmic remains my favorite night time show.

We walked through the shops and we all three bought a shadowbox. They were only $30 and of good quality and it will be a great way to display my pins. We walked over to the Sorcerer’s Hat for some last minute photos and then headed back to the car. We stopped to get gas so that we wouldn’t have any problems with the rental car drop off in the morning. When we got back to the hotel my key wasn’t working in my door of my room.

I went downstairs and the desk clerk was the least friendly of any one I’d encountered at the hotel thus far. But he wasn’t unpleasant, just wasn’t overly friendly. He issued me a new key and I went to bed.

TOMORROW: Flying home

 

[kirksheppard]

Day Eleven: Flying Home

Day Eleven: Flying Home

We met at 7:15. Both of us checked out of the hotel and had no issues having the safe charge removed from our accounts since we didn’t use it. I highly recommend this hotel for anyone not wanting to stay on Disney property. The cost was great, at least through Expedia, and for a long trip like this, I would definitely stay again. I did miss the Disney bus service at times but for what we paid for the Orlando Vista Hotel, it was well worth it.

We got to the airport, returned our rental car – which by the way, the $7 dollar a day upgrade to the Dodge Charger turned into $142 with tax? – and then found our way to the very busy AirTran check-in counter. It was crazy! We checked in with no issues, though we were separated because there were no seats together. The clerk put me in the exit row, which was kind of her. I sat next to a woman who was flying to her fiancee’s home to meet his parents for the first time and she was nervous. She also asked what I did for a living, which for someone in my line of work is the curse of death, and I ended up talking to her for a long time about her children, her upcoming marriage, and how she should handle being a stepmom. Finally, once we were in the air, she took a nap so I could finish my book.

I read James Pattersons’ Cat and Mouse this trip and I have found a new author to go in my favorites. I love John Grisham and usually read one of his books on vacation but now I can add James Patterson to my list.

We got back to the airport and waited forever for our bags. We packed into the parking lot tram, which was overly full with people going to their cars. We got out of the lot with an $88 parking charge, which just seems ridiculous, and then we got stuck in a traffic jam that lasted about an hour.

Once we got past that and got some lunch at Wendy’s it was smooth sailing all the way home. What a great trip! I was basically away from home for 12 days and by Day 8 or 9, I was ready to return home. I hope to return for one of the Halloween parties, but we’ll see!

 

[smk]

If I remember right you were flying in and out of Indy? Did you park at Indy Park, Ride and Fly? We usually do and I don't think it is that expensive....maybe it is for 12 days? but if you haven't already checked them out (and you fly from here again) try their service. Maybe....it will save you some $$$. Glad you had a good trip.

 

[kirksheppard]

Airport parking

We parked in the Tiger lot at the airport because we saw it before we saw the Economy lot. Tiger is $8 a day, Economy $6.50 a day. We were parked for 11 days hence the $88 charge. I don't know if you're talking about a different service but the lots at the airport are the only ones I'm aware of...

 

[UKHelen]

I just wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your trip report...makes me so excited for my next trip...you do take a lot of naps don't you?!!!! :ROFLOL:

Thanks for sharing!

 

[kirksheppard]

It's vacation and I'm hate hot weather. And walking. And large crowds.

So... yes, I do.

 

[smk]

We parked in the Tiger lot at the airport because we saw it before we saw the Economy lot. Tiger is $8 a day, Economy $6.50 a day. We were parked for 11 days hence the $88 charge. I don't know if you're talking about a different service but the lots at the airport are the only ones I'm aware of...

Park Ride and Fly is after those lots along the same road, on the left hand side. We always use their service but I can't recall if it is any less than what you paid. For some reason it sounded like 88 dollars was a lot but we could have paid more in the past too. They have a web site to make a reservation, although it is usually not needed unless it is a major Holiday. I think you can also print off coupons to use. :shrug: