First Day - Polynesian/MNSSHP - September 20, 2013

So, we've I've been counting down the days since around the 365 day mark. And 'the day' is finally here! With our house/pet sitter at the wheel, we start our 11 mile journey to the Memphis International Airport around 8am. Thank you again, Bethany! Before leaving home, I had already put the tags on our luggage. Checking our luggage at MEM with the tags on meant that we won't see them again until we arrive in our hotel room later. Plane took off at 10:37am sharp, right on schedule with no delay - even though it was raining. Smooth flight :)

Before leaving home (months prior) I had made reservations through Disney's Magical Express for transportation to our hotel (free of charge). Great service! About 3 weeks before our trip, I had seen online that we could also order our Magic Bands because we were staying at one of the participating test resorts. Magic Bands were ordered and arrived in about 4 days!

So, we arrive at MCO right on schedule! The Magic Band information sheet said to have our bands on as we land in Orlando, so we put on our bands as were getting ready to deplane. I couldn't even imagine what the airport had to do with Magic Bands, but whatever - we put them on and made our way to the DME desk downstairs with our paperwork in hand. As we approached the DME area, a representative was standing at the opening of the stanchions. She said "Oh, you have your Magic Bands on and ready! Right over here..." So, the nice lady scanned my Magic Band and pointed to the bus lines. COOL! She didn't even need our paperwork or IDs. Steve is now starting to admire my Disney planning skills at this point. He looks at me, "Cool!" As we walk away from all of the people standing at the DME counters, he says "Suckers..." LOL! First bright moment of the trip right there.

We then make our way down the correct stanchion lane for the Polynesian. Boarded the bus and we were on our way to The World!

They show their cute little movie with the characters showing all there is to do around Walt Disney World. Now I start getting depressed that we are only spending less than 24 hours here! Look at all the stuff we are going to miss out on!!! But then it hits me...we are going on a DISNEY CRUISE TOMORROW! That was close.

We were the first stop to get dropped off. So, off the bus with only our carry ons, we made our way inside the Polynesian. As we walk up, a cast member got our name and escorted us to the Online Check In desk. I had checked in online weeks before leaving home and requested a 3rd floor room in the Aotearoa building (thinking I could be able to see the monorail from our balcony). Both requests honored and we were given room #3202 in Aotearoa! So, we received our complimentary Hawaiian leis and headed to our room to check out our view. As we passed the Tambu Lounge, we contemplated stopping for our first Mai Tai. Naw, it can wait a second. With a short walk past Captain Cook's, the arcade and the marina, we were the second building on the left. Perfect! Right up the elevator, off on the 3rd floor, our room was right in front of us. At first I panicked thinking that the elevator and ice machine would be too loud at night. But then I thought 'I sleep with ear plugs, no problem!' LOL! Waved our Magic Band over the lock and we were IN! Second MB moment of awesomeness.

Ok, if you look all the way to the right off the balcony and if you were to look straight ahead... BAM! Monorail! Mission accomplished.

 Monorail Lime!

The elusive Iron Man 3 Monorail!

I packed our Mickey tie-dye Halloween t-shirts on my carry on. So, we made a quick change and out the door we went! We stopped in the Tambu Lounge for that Mai Tai.

Forgot to take a picture before I started. I was a little excited... Then we took the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom so we could catch the bus to the Animal Kingdom Lodge where we were to have dinner at 5:30. While boarding the bus, we saw many people already arriving for the Halloween Party. Cute costumes. Arrived at AKL right at 5pm, so checked in a little early at the podium for Boma. While we were waiting with our buzzer, a woman approached me and said that she loved my t-shirt and asked where she could get one. I told her I made them. She asked if I had a card and I was so surprised, I said no. Later, I remembered that I had some in my lanyard! Proceeded to have an awesome dinner at Boma. Here is a photo of our shirts and the awesome Chicken Corn Chowder at Boma. Well worth the buffet price, if you ask me.

 

After dinner, we made our way over to the park bus stop. Saw quite a few people heading to the party in costumes again. Arrived at the Magic Kingdom, scanned our Magic Bands (I had loaded our MNSSHP tickets one there, as well) and we were ready to party! I made a bee line straight for the new Little Mermaid Under the Sea Voyage ride. Again, had loaded Fast Passes on my Magic Bands - just in case we were arriving in time for the last hour of regular park hours. We made it! But, it didn't impress me enough to ride it a second time. I must be getting old... Then headed over to my favorite, The Haunted Mansion! Got our photo taken in front by the horseless carriage. Again, no Photopass card needed...went straight on the Magic Band! Rode a few more things and then it was time for our cruise friend meet up in front of the Partners statue. We were on time, I looked around for anyone that I recognized or that was wearing our lime green color. No one. I did, however, see some women that looked like they had just met - but they didn't look like they were looking for anyone else. I was a little disappointed. So we went and rode more rides. 

I panicked when we walked over to Frontierland and saw that the parade was about to start. Missed the Headless Horseman. Later, I realized that it wasn't THAT parade I wanted to see but the one at 10:30... Missed that one later. But saw the fireworks from in front of the Crystal Palace and called it a night. Left the park around 11:30. We had a big day tomorrow and needed some rest!

The planning has finally paid off!

Another Disney vacation is in the books! It was a great trip and I certainly learned a lot in the process. We I booked this cruise exactly a year out. So, there was indeed a lot of planning that had to be done. Certainly, you have to plan if you want everything to be perfect. You never know if there will be a NEXT time, right?!

I have a few hobbies.
The main one: planning Disney trips. Whether they are real ones that will be carried out or not. Thinking of going on a Disney vacation? CALL ME! Really, I enjoy it well enough to call it a hobby.

hob·by¹

ˈhäbē/

noun

1. 1.

   an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure.

   "Lydia's hobbies are reading, writing, planning, listening to, watching and partaking in anything related to the Disney travel franchise"

   synonyms:

   pastime, leisure activity, leisure pursuit

It's a real entry in the dictionary, see?!

My other hobbies include crafting and sewing. So, of course, I did my fill of crafting and sewing before this trip.

These are just some of the things I made for this trip. I actually made some other magnets for the door to go around the room number plaque. I also had Captain Mickey, Birthday Mickey (for Steve's birthday), Pirate Mickey, Goofy, The Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat. And another shirt for Steve to wear at dinner, like the one's above, but with Monsters Inc. I didn't get to wear the pirate dress I made because it was too small. I had made a t-shirt to wear instead.

I even got Steve to help me on one project. He covered a cardboard drink carrier with Mickey duct tape. I think he used the carrier one time to bring drinks to the room from the buffet area upstairs.

So, thanks to the DIS community, planning for your Disney trips really do pay off!

My next entries will take you on a day by day journey of our Disney cruise :)

See ya real soon!