So Virginia, Alan and I walk
to the Amtrak Station parking lot.
Because of the luggage handle, little trouble loading it in the car. It
is heavy, so I try to do the heavy lifting.
With little traffic, some slow downs, we make it to the resort. They drop me off to check in and they go to
park.
My room isn’t ready yet. I also mention
that I have two reservations, hopefully I don’t have
to change rooms. They look up both ressies and say I don’t.
I figure to leave my luggage in their car since they are going to the
park with me. I call Virgina
to let her know to leave my luggage in their car till later. Too late, they are already moving my luggage
to the resort. After some
misunderstanding where we are, I take the luggage and head back to their
car. I take only one camera with me, my
new toy. Problem, I am still in long
pants from my travel day. Should I
change into shorts, I don’t, even though
While waiting for the bus to Epcot, I realize a big no no, I am carrying a utility knife tool. So Virginia and I head back to her car to
leave he knife in my luggage. Again she
says I should change, nah.
We head back to the bus
station and are on the way to Epcot.
Since the room wasn’t ready, I didn’t pick up the scooter either. We make it to Epcot, and breeze through
security, not carrying anything.
Looking at wait times like Spaceship Earth,
they are very long. So we decide to go
to the DVC wait lounge, since I am a DVC owner.
Video of the Imagination
water falls… going up hill
I also get a text message
that my room is ready.
I am also keeping in touch
with Sam who is at
After a bit, I get a text
message that Sam and family just entered Epcot, she will meet us at the
entrance of the ride, Journey Into Imagination with
Figment. I am looking, not sure who I am
looking for. I remember her husband has
Scottish background, from their wedding photo.
So I am looking for someone who looks Scottish. Leaving the lounge, I ask, how many people
can I go back to the lounge, it will be myself and 5
guests.
Little background, Sam knows I have a ADR for Coral Reef, and I wear one
t-shirt when I eat there, from Finding Nemo, image of
the shark, and it says.. Hello, my name is Bruce. But I never changed from my travel attire,
namely Stand clear of my vacation.
Heading towards the entrance
of the ride, I do notice a couple with one child, but the husband has a long
beard, so I keep looking. I get a text
from Sam, she is at the entrance waiting. I see the same three people now waiting at
the entrance. So I start to head over to
them, its Sam, her husband James, and their son Elias, named after Walt
Disney’s middle name.
Sam was looking for someone
with the Bruce the shark t-shirt, which I wasn’t wearing. We hugged, I made
the introductions between Sam and her family to Virginia and her husband. We head back to the lounge. They first take a reservation, and call me to
enter a couple of minutes later.
I forgot how we met. Sam tells the story of how we met. Years ago, I had a website that gave hints on
how to video tape different attractions at Walt Disney World. Sam contacted me and we were friends ever
since.
Sam and Virginia are from the
same town, so they get along well. I
give Sam the book and the t-shirt, James the Nathans
shirt and Elias the
One thing I forgot to
mention. Years ago, on a
We go ride Journey together
after relaxing in the lounge.
I will meet Sam tomorrow at the studios,
eating together at
after the ride, we part company with Sam and her
family. Virginia, Alan and myself head to Coral Reef
for dinner. I adjust the ADR from 2 to 3
people. No problem. I offer to pay for their meals too, but they
turned me down. I do have the DVC
discount, but they have AP’s which also gets them a discount.
Looking over the menu, no appetizers catch my attention. Entrée was prime rib, not steak. It was eh…
I get the Chocolate Lava Cake, which was the highlight of the meal.
After the meal, we head back to my resort.
With time on my hand, I try to find the website that shows room views, cant do it on my smart phone. So we head to their car, get my luggage and
head inside to the resort.
Now I am staying Club Level on the top floor.
There is the club level door you need to enter first. Mickey to Mickey isn’t working. Another guests lets
us in, I follow the room numbers to my room.
Good news, my Magic Band + opens the room door.
The room has two large beds. On the TV
screen, it says Happy Birthday Bruce Sherman.
Bathroom nice and large. Now I pull pack the curtain to the balcony.
I see the freakin
castle…. Not only
We head back down, I need to talk about getting access to the club lounge and
get my scooter. I part company with
At the check in counter, they
ask for the magicband to double check the
reprogramming to allow access to the lounge.
They also tell me to touch the left ear and make contact for a couple of
seconds, as much as 5, and I should be able to get into the door. I am also asking about where luggage services
is, saying I need to pick up my scooter.
The CM in the next station hears me, and starts talking to me, not
realizing she is talking to me at first.
She is handling luggage services and has the key to my scooter which she
brings to near the elevators. When I
make it back to club level entrance, another CM is waiting for me, to make sure
I get access, which I do.
I go to the lounge, they have hor
durs, including corn dogs. I make a joke, take
two photos, one with a couple of corn dogs, another with allot of corn dogs.
I say I took some corn dogs, do you think I
left enough for others.. pointing
to the photo of a couple of corn dogs. I
have some diet coke, and I ask for a glass of red wine. Not such a wine drinker. This has a little bit of a kick after
swallowing it.
Also had some apple juices. And of course some small
muffins and stuff.
I sit and eat near the open center space where you can look down at the lobby
and where people are eating at Whispering Canyon Café. I make a joke on FB about looking down at all
the peons who aren’t staying club level.
I am tired, spell it pions. One thing I drink allot of while there….
Chocolate milk… not from the carton, only pions drink
with a straw, I take a glass, pour the chocolate milk into a glass and drink it
that way. My friend Mindy corrected
me. This is just funny for me, making
the spelling error. Its
just been a long day waking up on the train before
I take some 360 degree photos of my room.
>
I noticed it is before the evening fireworks show at the
I sit on the balcony, soaking
in the view. Watching
the castle in its lights. The monorail entering and leaving the Contemporary. Still cant get over
the view.
I then remember about owners locker. I call
up, its too late to get it tonight, but I don’t want
anything bad to happen, so I call luggage services. No problem they will hold it till tomorrow.
I take the video I recorded it and uploaded to you tube. Its been a long
day. I actually leave my laptop online
uploading and go to sleep. I do setup my
own network and Echo for control.
Before going to sleep, I take
a walk around the lobby of the resort, even outside and surprised by the sounds
of the nightlife.. insect
sounds, but soon realize… its recorder J
End of my first day.