Day 1, cont.
Once we were off the plane we made our way to baggage claim. Can I just say that having to DRAG our own luggage to the DME is really a DRAG???
There was a sign near the DME check in desks that said the approximate wait for a bus would be 45 minutes. Would this turn out to be accurate?
The initial check in process was quick enough and we were sent here:
There was a man in front of us in line, but he eventually bailed?? No idea where he went.
Okay, here's the DRAMMA. While we were waiting, a guest managed to circumvent all of the barriers and go straight to the area by the doors where you actually go outside and get on the bus. If you are familiar with the setup you know it is not easy to get there without going the proper way. CMs told her she had to go to the check in desk and scan her MagicBand like everyone else and wait. She left, but then returned shortly with another woman. I couldn't hear exactly what they were saying but the CMs once again sent her away despite her arguing.
During all this our line was filling up. There was a big, multi-generational family behind us of about eight people, obviously from Long Island judging by their accents and NY sports team attire. Grandma was suuuuper tired and dad sent her to go sit on a bench so she could take a nap. One of the kids (maybe 5?) was getting really antsy from having to wait for so long for a bus. He kept asking his parents when the bus was coming, when they were going to Disney World, how long would it take for the bus, WHEN WOULD THEY GET ON THE BUS??? He was also crawling all over the floor and ducking under the barriers into other lines. Then he was hungry but didn't want the snacks his family had to offer. Whatever, he didn't bother us.
It really was sad to see the DME area in its current state. We are used to seeing a lot of busses constantly coming in and out, but we rarely saw more than two busses at a time while we waited. Every time a bus pulled in the kid behind us asked if it was OUR bus. Not gonna lie, we were thinking the same thing.
At some point the line skipping lady came back but with THREE others this time. Again I have no idea what anyone was saying but they were eventually taken to a bus. They had no luggage so I really don't know what was going on.
Finally a CM came over to scan our bands and send us out to the bus! We hadn't been to Disney since the new boarding changes so we were surprised when we were told which seats to take. We didn't mind of course. Since we were at the front of the line we were assigned to the back of the bus.
Our bus departed almost exactly 45 minutes after we first got on line to check in. Shortly after we departed I got the "room not ready" alert.
The entire way there the antsy kid who was behind us (who was now seated in front of us with grandma) was moving around in his seat, trying to take off his mask, and asking incessantly, "WHEN ARE WE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD???" Grandma made a valiant effort to get him to sit still. I can't blame him for being excited and squirrely, especially after sitting on a plane for a long time and then standing in the line for awhile.
I think I took this because there was a roach on the floor? But it moved before I actually got the photo.
Racing!
Pretty soon I got the "room ready" alert! Hooray!
We stopped at Saratoga Springs first. Little boy was not happy that we were stopping and he wasn't getting off.
The next stop was Wilderness Lodge, and again little boy was NOT happy that this wasn't his stop. "WHEN ARE WE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD???" Grandma tried to explain that we were IN Disney World at that moment, but he was not having it.
Monorail tracks! Getting so close!
Grandma is pointing to the castle. "YAY, DISNEY WORLD!!!!"
What a beautiful sight!!
We're HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE!
It turned out that the large LI family was staying at Bay Lake Tower, because it was the last stop and they didn't get off at the Contemporary.
When we got off the bus I handed the driver a tip. I'm not sure if this is related, but he got our bags from under the bus first even though others were waiting.
Up next: Eternal hallways and the search for an elevator!
We said no, we were 25 when we got married, and now we're 32, and he said we must be happy because we look so young. 
She asked beforehand if I wanted to go to a private room for screening, but somehow that sounded worse than just doing it then and there. I guess she determined my private region was not a threat, because she let me through.
)
