Grumpless In Orlando UPDATED! 10/18

[SoonerGirl]

Originally Posted by wsushocker

here

Wow, the elusive shocker is here!

Originally Posted by wigdoutdismom

LOVE the title! Going back to read....

Originally Posted by wigdoutdismom

Didn't you just love pulling up to the Beach Club when you arrived? To me it's just the best feeling ever.

I thought you would get a kick out of the title

When you told me I would love the BC, I never doubted you, and it proved to be everything I hoped it would be!

Originally Posted by eandesmom

I'm here! Welcome home, can't wait to read all about it!

Hey Cynthia! I've been home a month now and still haven't gotten my first update done, it's not looking to good - I need to get my butt in gear!

Originally Posted by EastYorkDisneyFan

i'm here too

Thanks for joining in!

Originally Posted by MeMom

This is from your pre-trip report, of course.

I almost called you out on Facebook, too.
I decided to take the quieter route on the DIS and then give you a few days.

Looking forward to reading about the fun!

You need to call me out again to get me moving on this thing! Of course, you are in Disney now, making great new memories of your own

Originally Posted by MeMom

Sooner Girl, you must have something rockin' awesome going on here! This guy never comes to DIS town any more.

I know! I was pretty pumped to have a shocker sighting here!

Originally Posted by 2xcited2sleep

Here for the fun!! I had no doubt that you'd love the Beach Club but happy to hear it confirmed!

Hi Christine! Yep, loved it, wish I were there now

Originally Posted by Wicket's Mom

Jumping in to join your TR! Now to go back & read.

Hey Doris, thanks for joining in!

[SoonerGirl]

Originally Posted by wdwgirl03

I'm here! Glad you enjoyed the Beach Club...it is a great resort.

Hey Sarah! The location just can't be beat, especially for an Epcot lover like me

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

I'm here too....

Hey Sharon, you must be about out of popcorn by now with as long as you are having to wait for an update

Originally Posted by petals

joining in

Thanks for jumping on board!

Originally Posted by jeremysdisneymom

I'm here!!! Can't wait to read all about it.

Hey Erika! I hope to get it rolling soon......

Originally Posted by micandminforever

Joining the fun.

Thanks for joining in!!

Originally Posted by MEK

Glad I just checked FB. Only a day late. So glad you started and your TR title is perfect. Love it!

Ahhhhhhh - love the Beach Club and can't wait to see it again a few weeks from now (well, technically staying at the Boardwalk, but its close).

Hey Mary Ellen! The title struck me one day while I was strolling from the BC to Epcot. I was thinking how nice it was not to have the Disney Grump putting a damper on my fabulous trip

Originally Posted by 2Tiggers

Awesome!! You started your TR!! I have been waiting to read all about it! Can't wait to hear your opinion on BC, SAB, ooey gooey toffee cake, which purse you bought, and all the other dis stuff!

Ok, now I have to go back and read your first post...

I'm sorry it is taking me so long to get this thing going! There is a bit of a story involved with the purse........

[SoonerGirl]

Originally Posted by IheartDDuck

Coming along!

I love the Beach Club too. It's one of my favorite resorts.

Thanks for joining in!

I totally get why the BC is one of your favorites, it's one of mine now too!

Originally Posted by Reberella

Following along! How could someone not like Disney?!?! My mom's the same way, I just don't understand...
I love the Beach Club too! It's so beautiful, it's my favorite resort

I made some mistakes with my DH early on that pushed him over the edge where Disney is concerned. I learned my lesson, but it was too little too late, I can't get him to go again now. Oh well, won't keep me from going!

Originally Posted by Mndisneygirl

I'm in!!! thanks for the FB heads up! Although I wasn't on FB yesterday and almost missed it!

I totally understand about people not liking WDW - but only if they've gone and tried it. My brother has no interest in it, won't go, says he won't like it. He's been to Disneyland twice as a kid and that's it. Now he's a grump about WDW. Fine with me. Less people to get in my way!!

Hi Sherree! I meant to send out a PM too, but I haven't done it, just like I haven't written anything here yet

I agree, if someone has gone to Disney and it is just not for them, that's fine, but don't knock it if you haven't ever been! I have a friend that talks bad about it everytime I go and he has never been himself, I told him he has no right to an opinion unless he has gone at least once

Originally Posted by MiaBella05

joining in

Thanks for joining in!

Originally Posted by jenseib

So glad I am not too far behind!!

Hey Jen! Probably won't be hard to keep up over here. I hope to update once a week, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to

Originally Posted by Charleston Princess

Here, Michelle!!!

Three cheers for Jackie's arrival

Glad to have you here

Originally Posted by MelMel11

Count me in!!!

Thanks for jumping on board!

***************************

I am so very sorry that I have not updated yet. I am on the board for the high school basketball booster club and right now I am just covered up with trying to get the new year going. Fundraisers, pictures, program layout, banner sales, gearing up for concessions, etc - it's a lot of work! I will do my very best to update this at least once a week, but I'm not making any promises, I hope you all understand!

It is my goal to get an update up later today, but of course that was my goal yesterday as well. I thought if I came by here and put it in writing that would make me move up on the to do list

[Wicket's Mom]

Michelle don't worry about the updates. I've been home almost a month myself & can't seem to get my TR started. Life has been speeding along to fast lately for most of us!

[Poolrat]

Finally made it over here - still need to read but along for the Grumpless ride.

[alwayspooh]

I'm here, a little late but here and am glad I haven't missed to much yet.

[SoonerGirl]

Originally Posted by Wicket's Mom

Michelle don't worry about the updates. I've been home almost a month myself & can't seem to get my TR started. Life has been speeding along to fast lately for most of us!

Well let me know when you get it started, I'll do my very best to keep up!

Originally Posted by Poolrat

Finally made it over here - still need to read but along for the Grumpless ride.

Hey Pat! I still need to get caught up on yours! I'm so far behind, it's almost depressing.....

Originally Posted by alwayspooh

I'm here, a little late but here and am glad I haven't missed to much yet.

Hi there, thanks for joining in! I'm afraid this one is going to be slow going, hopefully not so bad that I lose all my readers though!

[SoonerGirl]

Before I start my update I have a couple of things I would like to share......

First, I'm beyond excited to announce that I am going back to Disney World!!! Several weeks ago I applied for an agent education program in December and was immediately waitlisted. Well, a couple of days ago I received my confirmation, the waitlist had come through The AEP is from Dec 12-16 and I am going out on the 9th to have a few days to see the new Fantasyland and ride the reimagined Test Track before the conference starts. I'm staying at Pop for my pre-conference days, first time at a value for me, but after 9 days at the Beach Club last month, I needed this trip to be a little more economical!

I'm excited for many reasons, new Fantasyland, Test Track, the Christmas decorations, my first Disney conference, AND Happydog is going to be there the 9th-11th and we are already making plans to meet up for dinner and drinks at the Blue Zoo!!!

Second, I have to brag on my eldest for just a minute. On Monday I had to go up to the gym to deliver some fundraiser stuff to be distributed to the basketball players after practice. I had to wait a few minutes to talk to the coach because he was chatting with a player that graduated last year and two coaches from a small local college. Anyway, those two coaches from the college stayed and watched practice. Justin told me last night that yesterday his coach pulled him aside and told him that he was one of 3 players that those coaches came to watch! Justin said he had a really good practice on Monday too. It's just a small school, but it still made him feel really good that as a junior, they were there to watch him

OK, without further adieu.......FINALLY, an update

Departure Day, Saturday September 1st

So I can never sleep the night before any trip, but the insomnia is multiplied when the trip is to any Disney destination, I am just too excited to sleep! I did manage a few hours before my alarm went off at 4:15am. I took a shower and got ready, because I just can't function if I don't shower in the morning, then I woke Jared a little before 5. He is sooooo not a morning person, but on this particular day, he didn't complain at all. The Grump, however, complained endlessly that I made him get up before dawn on a weekend. Regardless, he helped me pack up our last few items, and loaded the car. We swung by and picked up Mom and then headed to the airport. Our flight's scheduled departure was 6:55am, we don't live too far from my mom's house or from the airport so the Grump got us there in plenty of time.

I've rarely encountered a long line at our airport here in Oklahoma City, and thankfully today was no different! I think we all kind of dozed off and on during the first leg of our flight to Houston and when we finally landed our tummies were rumbling. As soon as we disembarked we could smell Cinnabon, so of course that is what we ate for breakfast - hey, we are on vacation, it's allowed!

Our layover wasn't too long and by the time we finished our breakfast it was time to board. I encountered a not so nice young lady during boarding too, she was, shall we say, vertically challenged, and she was having a hard time hoisting her carry on into the overhead bin. So, I put my hand under her suitcase and helped her. Instead of a smile and a thank-you, I got a dirty look for my efforts! Guess she didn't like me touching her stuff....

There were quite a few screamers on this flight and I was afraid we were going to have to listen to them all the way to Orlando, but thankfully they calmed down after about 30 minutes and the flight wasn't too bad! I tried to sleep some, but of course, I couldn't, so instead I looked at my watch about every 10 minutes.

Finally, we arrived, right on time too, I love Southwest for mainly this reason, they are very rarely behind!

I got a chuckle as I was waiting to get off the plane because there was this large family in front of me that had the yellow DME tags on all of their carry-ons. I so wanted to tell them that they only needed to put those on their checked luggage, but I refrained.

We made our way to the faux monorail



And, from there down to the Magical Express area. Before we knew it we were being loaded onto a bus. I was bummed because it was a Mears bus instead of a Disney one, but I guess once you are actually inside you can't really tell the difference anyway.....

Mom took this picture as we were waiting to leave



It was less than 10 minutes before we were on our way and by 2:00 we were passing under these gates



The Beach Club was the 3rd stop, so it took about another 25 minutes before we arrived at our final destination.



We were greeted right away by a cast member who escorted us to the check in desk, but when we got there she felt like the line was too long, so she took us over to the concierge desk to check in instead. Here we walked right up with no wait - score!

Grace was the CM that checked us in and she was super nice. Told me we had a room on the 3rd floor with 2 queens, a day bed and a small balcony. I told her that would work just fine, not realizing at the time just how small the small balcony would be....

Continued in the next post

[SoonerGirl]

We made our way to our room



And I took a few quick pictures



I always love to see the Mickey head on the bed when I arrive!





















Hidden Mickey on the wallpaper



And on the coat rack



I totally cracked up when I saw our 'balcony' Jared and I couldn't even both fit out there at the same time, if you pulled the chair from the desk out onto the balcony, the door wouldn't even close - it was that tiny! It was nice to have however, because our phone and internet connection inside the room was so lousy, it was great to be able to go open the door to jump online or make a phone call

We did have a pretty nice view though

Straight ahead



To the right



And to the left



And Jared showing how 'large' it was



Once pictures were taken, we grabbed our park bags and headed out!

(sorry these pictures are so big! Photobucket changed their site and I guess it didn't retain my size preference during uploading. I'll see if I can fix it before the next update!)

[ariel1025]

Ahhhh, check-in day, my favorite day of any vacation. The entire trip stands before you and every single thing gets you excited!!

I love Southwest for their on-time arrivals as well, but lately they have been much more expensive than other airlines out of Albuquerque; even when you account for paying to check your luggage

I had no idea there were balconies that small or that internet service was so bad inside the rooms

But, hey, you're at Disney which is all that really matters

Oh, and, way to go Justin My Husband played basketball at Newman University (in Wichita). So I know how exciting the idea of playing can be - even at a small school. And getting looked at, as a Junior, that is A-mazing!!

Congrats on getting into the AEP program too!

[PrincessInOz]

Firstly, congrats for making a return journey to the World....and super exciting to be part of the AEP. So excited for you!

Secondly, hope that there are big things ahead for Justin and that the basketball helps him get to where he wants to go. Always wonderful to feel "special" when you're a teen.



Your update was great. Loved seeing you in the bus with Jared. That is a small balcony....but a terrific view.

Looking forward to more....(and my e-popcorn is never ending!)

[saintstickets]

Congratulations on the AEP selection and your son's potential college scholarship! That's great news on both accounts! Love your TR and the BC pics. DW and I hope to stay there next year during F&W. Looking forward to more of your TR.

[KatMark]

I'll come back to comment on the update tonight, but wanted to comment on your news.

First, congrats to Justin....that is awesome.

Second, do you know who else is in Disney in December????? And during some of your dates?????

[KatMark]

Great update, Michelle. I'm sorry that you, like us, got the Mears bus. But as you said you can't tell once you are inside of the bus.

What beautiful pictures of the Beach Club. I would really like to stay there next August for our 30th anniversary trip if I can swing the extra cost...it's so beautiful and I'd love to be able to walk to Epcot.

That is one tiny balcony.

[IheartDDuck]

Yay to another WDW trip! And you'll be able to see the new FL and Test Track. Pretty sweet.

And, how cool that the two coaches from the college came to watch your son. That's definitely something major!

Vertically challenged lady giving you a dirty look? I find people on planes to just be weird. Like, all of a sudden they just have no manners anymore and they just don't want anyone to interact with them. Bizarre.

Boo, Mears bus! So not Disney magical.

Beautiful room at the BC. We're always in a villa with DVC, so I live vicariously through others photos of the standard rooms.