Canadian Buffoon's Disney With a Teen Vacation - 08/13 - The Wrap

[pkondz]

Ok, see? I AM back, and just getting home from work at 12:15... and yet I'm here. Lucky for you I am starving so sat down to eat my "dinner" while I shot off a quick harassment.

While I'm very pleased to see you, shouldn't you be resting your wrist?

Actually, I"m pretty keyed up. I had my first experience with telling a family that the end was near. He didn't pass on my watch, but it was a tough shift. Not in a particularly bad way, just different.

I'm at a loss for words here.
I can't imaging having to tell that to a family... but then again it is part of the profession.
Still, I'm a little surprised since I would've thought that it would've been a doctor's responsibility.

Anywhoooo, my wrist didn't do NEARLY as badly as I thought it might, so I'm here to type again.

Glad that it wasn't as bad as you feared....
But why aren't you resting it now????

You SERIOUSLY think I was SNOOZING?!?! Let me educate you... Teaching 1st Year Nursing students their very first lab skills, dishes, vacumming, tethering my goats, cooking dinner, 2 loads laundry, feeding the dog, and some banking. Happy?

So.... snoozing.

You are not. Well, ok, maybe a little you were. Can I redeem myself if I bring virtual donuts to offer?

Mmmmm..... donuts....

Yes, I want to be in your harem. But I thought only mermaids need apply. I sadly, have no tail.

I'll gladly take you as well. Maybe you can borrow some seashells.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Are you sure? Really sure? My comprehensive research (read: Google) tells me different.

I never really loved “language arts” classes back in my ancient schooling days (nor any other class in the “English” department for that matter – “curse you Mrs. Jackson”), but I do remember the rules related to “Definite Articles”. As such, unless it’s being translated into a different language I’m pretty sure the first letter in my countries name is a capitol “T”.

True story.
I took Kay and a friend to a local carnival earlier this summer.
They went and did their own thing while I wandered around.
I stumbled on a stage hypnotist towards the end of his act.
There were 3 young men on stage that were huddling together (because they were "freezing").
At the end, the hypnotist told them that they would remember everything,
they would feel relaxed... but for the next 5 minutes and 5 minutes only...
Any time someone mentioned the hypnotists name
(don't remember it, but let's say Joe Smith)
they would shout out "I slept with that guy!"

As it happened, when the show ended I walked out
and was going in the same direction of one of the young men.
People kept saying "Joe Smith!" and he would immediately call out
"I slept with that guy!"

Harsh!
I’ve seen a few similar shows. Sometimes it works exactly, sometime it doesn’t. It’s interesting how the mind behaves and leads me to wonder what it is that makes some folk more or less susceptible to hypnoses. As Spock would say, “Fascinating”.

Oh, brother.
I Knew that line! I could almost hear it in my head....
But try as I might, I just couldn't place it.
Finally Googled it.... felt like an idiot when I saw what it was.
Duh!

Sometime they just get stuck in that one little passageway back in some dark ally of the mind. You know it’s ‘round here somewhere, but you’re not so sure you really want to head down that particular ally way to retrieve it.

I’ve also a bad habit of quoting some more obscure films or some of the more obscure lines in ‘em.
Some things just stick in my busted mind for no logically discernable reason.

They didn't make them extra slimy... if anything, they purtyed them up a bit.

So you’re tellin’ me that the various lawyers that are currently running the various dysfunctional parts of my nation were worse back before the world ended than they are now?

Let me sit down for a moment here, I think I may become “unwell”…

Is it the journey or the destination...
Sometimes you don't have time for the journey!

The journey should be the destination, but…
Never being allowed more than one week off at a time, anything that would require a two of more day drive to reach will see me re-exploring the spots along the way without leaving any real time to explore the new ground we’re trying to reach.

What I need is to retire (which I think unlikely to ever happen) and to acquire an RV (which tend to be more expensive than a house).
Dang, but those little details just keep getting in the way.


.

 

[cinderkelly]

All caught up! You can post the next chapter now since I'm now fully participating in class

Just for that, you get a picture of us!!
(That'll learn ya.)
Hmmm... I need to make a good first impression here.
A photo that bespeaks of our quiet nature.
Something sedate, mature, intelligent... sublime and refined.

LOVE that you re-created this scene from your solo trip!

Sorry.
(Oh, and in case you haven't figured it out...
that's us in the front row.)
And if you still haven't figured it out...
I'm on the right, Kay's on the left of the photo
and you need to get your eyes checked... right now.
No, seriously. Go. Make an appointment.

Those poor girls in the row behind you look a little miserable

I was not enjoying life.
I was stringing my kid along.
And, I guess, I was stringing myself along too.
Maybe? Just maybe? I'd think of... something?


And then something happened.
One day, Ruby came home and wanted to talk to me.

I'm sure you diserved a good talking to at that point! But seriously, super cool how things work out

ASMusic... sold out.
ASMovies... sold out.
ASSports... sold out.
Come on.... come on...
Pop... sold.... wait.
Pop has one category available. Preferred Pool View.
Still within budget?
A bit more than I wanted, but....
I quickly booked the flights and the resort!

Done!

Schweeeeeeeetttt!

"Dad? Did you look into flights to Disney?"
I think at this point she was pretty much on autopilot.
There wasn't much hope left in the question.
More just a stubborn refusal to give up, no matter what.

I sighed.
"Yeah. We need to talk about that.
Let's go into your room so we don't wake up your mother."

Bad daddy

She bursts into tears of happiness.

If I say "We have to be up by 4am so we can be first in line." she'll gladly do it.
Her vocabulary consists mainly of the word "yes".

Kay, on the other hand is a whole other kettle of fish.
If I say "We have to be up by 4am..."
Well, I won't finish the sentence before she'll start arguing
and pointing out all the reasons why she shouldn't wake up before noon.
Her vocabulary consists mainly of the word "no".


Don't get me wrong, I love both my little girls.
But I also know that traveling with one is completely different
from traveling with the other.
I'm more of a rope drop, plan the day kind of guy.
Kay is more laid back, let's do whatever.
I was going to have to learn to slow down a bit.
Or a lot.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
Someone once said, "Let it go." (no idea who)
Good idea.
Otherwise we were going to smother each other...

I have that same situation with my two older kids, the oldest is just like me so of course we get along like peas and carrots, my middle kid sounds a lot like your Kay

How did it go?
Did I kill my daughter?
Either by pushing her too far,
or by choking her to death because she pushed me too far?
Maybe both?

Insert dramatic cliff hanger music here....

Reserved for les links du chapitres.

je ne peux pas attendre!

 

[lisaviolet]

Spontaneity is awesome. Wish I had more of it.

You will. Why?

Your youngest daughter is trying her best to teach you. Not planning everything/a day just at the resort does bring on spontaneity.

 

[pkondz]

I never really loved “language arts” classes back in my ancient schooling days (nor any other class in the “English” department for that matter – “curse you Mrs. Jackson”), but I do remember the rules related to “Definite Articles”. As such, unless it’s being translated into a different language I’m pretty sure the first letter in my countries name is a capitol “T”.

Hmmm.... Lemme put it this way.
I did go to USA.gov which is your government's official website and... nothing.
But then a thought occurred. (It seldom happens, so it was quite noticeable.)
When you come to a Country drop down list or whatever...
do you search for "T" or "U"?

Harsh!
I’ve seen a few similar shows. Sometimes it works exactly, sometime it doesn’t. It’s interesting how the mind behaves and leads me to wonder what it is that makes some folk more or less susceptible to hypnoses. As Spock would say, “Fascinating”.

There was a hypnotist on this season of America's Got Talent.
He hypnotized one of the judges and made him do something that he normally would never do.
It was pretty good and he moved on to the next round.
Next round he tried to hypnotize someone else, it didn't work and he just said
"Thanks for your time." and walked off the stage.

I’ve also a bad habit of quoting some more obscure films or some of the more obscure lines in ‘em.
Some things just stick in my busted mind for no logically discernable reason.

I was gonna say something glib like "you're weird, dude"...
But I didn't want to overstate the obvious.

So you’re tellin’ me that the various lawyers that are currently running the various dysfunctional parts of my nation were worse back before the world ended than they are now?

Let me sit down for a moment here, I think I may become “unwell”…

Sorry. Blame the roaches.
The ones that aren't lawyers, I mean.


Oh, blame them too.

The journey should be the destination, but…
Never being allowed more than one week off at a time, anything that would require a two of more day drive to reach will see me re-exploring the spots along the way without leaving any real time to explore the new ground we’re trying to reach.

That's tough. Hard to go anywhere distant with only one week off.
Doable, but not easy.

What I need is to retire (which I think unlikely to ever happen) and to acquire an RV (which tend to be more expensive than a house).
Dang, but those little details just keep getting in the way.

I once floated the idea of an RV past Ruby.
She actually recoiled in horror.

She is not the traveller that I am.
She refers to herself as a "nester"... she's happier to stay home.

 

[pkondz]

All caught up! You can post the next chapter now since I'm now fully participating in class

Alright, I'll start working on it toot sweet.

LOVE that you re-created this scene from your solo trip!

There may be other... recreations... and creations...

Those poor girls in the row behind you look a little miserable

I know! I was going to crop them right out, but...
I think they added to the picture!

Schweeeeeeeetttt!

Bad daddy

I know.... Heh, heh, heh.

I have that same situation with my two older kids, the oldest is just like me so of course we get along like peas and carrots, my middle kid sounds a lot like your Kay

Huh. Sounds like a common refrain here...

Insert dramatic cliff hanger music here....

Thanks. Saves me the trouble.

je ne peux pas attendre!

Bientôt, ma belle.

 

[pkondz]

You will. Why?

Your youngest daughter is trying her best to teach you. Not planning everything/a day just at the resort does bring on spontaneity.

Absolutely correct.
While we did plan out ADRs and FPs
(because if you don't... you ain't riding and you ain't eating!)
There were several off the cuff decisions.
I kept having to tell myself to relax.
(Don't tell anyone... I kinda liked it.)

 

[orangecats2]

UPDATE!!! My tooth, root, nerve and ear are killing me! I need a distraction.

 

[Ladyfish77]

My tooth, root, nerve and ear are killing me

That sounds terrible. I hope you get relief soon!

 

[pkondz]

UPDATE!!! My tooth, root, nerve and ear are killing me! I need a distraction.

Sorry!
The banjo bowl is on right now... starting it tomorrow.
Most of the pictures are done and ready to go for the first few updates.

 

[Steppesister]

While I'm very pleased to see you, shouldn't you be resting your wrist?

Days like today don't get much lazier. So I'm doing a lot of that today. Yesterday, it really did hurt to type; today it only hurts to fold laundry and pull weeds. So I'm opting for making a bigger divet in our recliner chair.

I'm at a loss for words here.
I can't imaging having to tell that to a family... but then again it is part of the profession.
Still, I'm a little surprised since I would've thought that it would've been a doctor's responsibility.

Actually, in a nursing home/Long-term Care Facility, many patients nearing the end go on Hospice Care. It is then the Nurse's responsibility to call family about any change in condition whatsoever. I can say it is hard to keep one's crap together every time you have to do in the room. I parked my med cart just outside the door where family had gathered and listented to them singing hymns, reading him Scripture, telling him stories. Truly it was a beautiful testimony as to how the end can and should look. But yeah, my throat was tight too many times.

Glad that it wasn't as bad as you feared....
But why aren't you resting it now????

I am now.

So.... snoozing.

Ok, right. Snoozing.

Mmmmm..... donuts....

Ever tried maple bacon donuts??

I'll gladly take you as well. Maybe you can borrow some seashells.

Listen, if this involves a bikini, I'm out. Kid #1 took that fashion statement to brand new (horrifying) levels. Things didn't improve with #s 2-5.

 

[DizzneyDi]

OMG, I made it! I'm not 40 pages behind like I usually am!
NOW what do I do???

Great first chapter! Way to tell a story, it's like I'm right there with you and Kay, except I'm not!! Carry on!!!

 

[queenbetsey]

just stopping in hoping I can stay in most of tomorrow and avoid the triple digit oh my gosh crazy stupid hot weather here and find a brand new shiny chapter

 

[pkondz]

So I'm opting for making a bigger divet in our recliner chair.

Good! I have a sneaking suspicion that breaks for you will be few and far between in the coming months.

Actually, in a nursing home/Long-term Care Facility, many patients nearing the end go on Hospice Care. It is then the Nurse's responsibility to call family about any change in condition whatsoever.

Ah. Okay, I get it.

I can say it is hard to keep one's crap together every time you have to do in the room. I parked my med cart just outside the door where family had gathered and listented to them singing hymns, reading him Scripture, telling him stories. Truly it was a beautiful testimony as to how the end can and should look. But yeah, my throat was tight too many times.

Tough situation. I do not envy you. I don't know if I'd have your strength.
No, I take that back. I do know I don't have your strength.
I have no desire to be a nurse and am in awe of those who chose it as a profession.

I am now.

Good!

Ever tried maple bacon donuts??

Nope!
Not a huge maple fan (I know... as a Canadian I'm supposed to do three things.
Love Hockey. Love Maple syrup. Apologize.)
And the thought of bacon on a donut makes me go "ew".

Listen, if this involves a bikini, I'm out. Kid #1 took that fashion statement to brand new (horrifying) levels. Things didn't improve with #s 2-5.

Kids are horrible that way. If they weren't so cute when they're little, we'd never have 'em.
I will allow you into the harem and you may wear a one piece.
Am I not benevolent?

OMG, I made it! I'm not 40 pages behind like I usually am!
NOW what do I do???

You'll have to do something weird and unnatural... it's called "waiting".



to the TR, Di!

Great first chapter! Way to tell a story, it's like I'm right there with you and Kay, except I'm not!! Carry on!!!

Thanks! and I will!

just stopping in hoping I can stay in most of tomorrow and avoid the triple digit oh my gosh crazy stupid hot weather here and find a brand new shiny chapter

1. Sorry about the heat... send some up here, we can use it.
2. Hate to tell you this, but it's unlikely that I'll have a chapter up today.
I am starting it this morning (right after I post this, actually) but...
I usually type like crazy then... let it sit and stew for a bit.

 

[pkondz]

Sins of the Father


Okay, so now that the preliminaries are out of the way,
let's get on to the important stuff.

Yeah. I know. It ain't the TR.
You wanna know about the contest, don't you.
Fine.


The Contest!
Ever tried to guess the number of gumballs in a gumball machine?
Yeah, neither have I.
But now you can! Sorta.
Those of you who read my last TR...
(and if you haven't... go read it. Yes. Now. We'll wait.)




Sorry, still waiting, it wasn't the shortest TR ever...












Still waiting... maybe I shouldn't have said we'd wait...






Man! This is taking forever!

Ah! Good. You're back.
(took you long enough...)
What? Nothing! Glad you're back.


So, many of you who read the last TR
remarked at how lucky I had been with the Disney busses.
I think I only waited 20 minutes a couple of times
and all the other times were 5 minutes or less.
That luck continued on into Toronto with the weather,
or avoidance thereof.


So my question for you is:
Do you feel lucky? Or rather, did my luck continue?
Or did my luck finally run out?

How many minutes in TOTAL did we wait for Disney transportation this trip.
The total should include minutes waiting for DME, busses,
boats, monorails, rickshaws, whatever.
It does not... repeat NOT include travel time on said transportation.
Only the time waiting for it to show up.
Example: If we waited 15 minutes for a bus and then waited 2 minutes to board,
waited 3 minutes before it left and it took 25 minutes to get to destination...
The correct answer for that one trip would be 15 minutes. i.e. The wait time.

Got it?
Yeah, me neither.


To help you narrow it down, I'll provide you with the following information:
We took DME twice, once from and once to the airport.
We rode Disney transportation an average of three times (rounded) a day for five days.

I will allow guesses up to and including the second last day (August 25th) of the trip.
But! Guesses made later will be worth fewer points than guesses made earlier.
Guesses may be changed up to and including the second last day (August 25th) of the trip.

Person who comes closest wins 40 points.
Points will be reduced by 5 points for every "day" of the TR that you guess or re-guess
after the the first (August 21st) day.


Example: Joe guesses 170 minutes at the beginning of the TR.
On day three of the TR, Joe changes his guess to 200 minutes.
If Joe wins by being the closest to the actual wait time, he wins 30 points.
(40 - 10 points (5 per day))


Confused? Good! Me too!


Today's chapter begins on August 21st, the first day of the trip.
You make your guess at how long we waited for Disney transportation.
If your guess was closest, then you win 40 points.
If, on the other hand, you decide after a couple of "days" that you're way off
and want to change your answer, you can.
If you are the closest, you win 30 points. (40 - 10 points for guessing two days late.)

I'll even give you a hint!
The correct answer is somewhere between...
0 and 570 minutes.

Got it? Good!
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to lie down for a bit.
My head hurts.


.........................................


Okay, I'm back.
There will be bonus questions each round as well,
so even if you don't win the "gumball" question, you can still win.
Plus, I will be awarding bonus points for creativity,
so don't forget to comment!
(Note. Sucking up has been known to generate points...
excessive sucking up leads to deductions...)


What can you win?
I'm not telling you! Ha!
But I can tell you that in the last TR, the prize consisted of
two packs of Wunderbar bites, a DiveQuest T-shirt and a pin.
Who knows what wonders are in store for you from this TR???

Certainly not the writing.
Speaking of which.... shall we begin??


Oh. One last note.
The chapters for this day will be noticeably short on pictures.
I promise there'll be more in the days to come.



Friday, August 21

This trip came up fast!
Usually, it's plan it, book it, wait for the 180 days out ADR day,
wait for the 60 days out FP+ day, wait some more, change some more... go!
But this time, due to the way it came about,
I booked it, made ADRs and FPs that day, and then tried to plan it.

And by plan, I mean have no real idea just what Kay
was going to spring on me when we got there.


Full disclosure.
Kay did say that she wanted me to make all the plans and just tell her when and where.
But I do know her well enough that I was going to have to be verrrrrry flexible.

Normally, I would plan to hit rope drop and have my FPs lined up for that morning.
And as the day wore on, I'd add FPs until they were gone.
This time, I tried to figure out when Kay would wake up.
I'd then add an hour or an hour and a half to that time and make FPs based on that.
Except I'd try to schedule something that we didn't really care about for the first one.
If she slept even later, it wouldn't matter if we missed the first FP.
Or hope that we could at least make it in the last few minutes
of the one hour FP window.


I have a headache just remembering how I struggled with that.


Leading up to our departure date, I was busy making last minute arrangements
and checking the forecast for Orlando.
I was so pleased to see that the forecast for the entire week was rain.
Not partially cloudy with a chance of showers.
Just. Rain.
A quick trip to Walmart for a half dozen ponchos later,
they announced that Danny was, Yay!, the first hurricane of the season!

Terrific.
Luckily, by the time we arrived in Disney, it had already been downgraded.
Still, gotta deal with the rain all week.


Friday morning came way too early.
I had to get up at 5:30am.
Our flight wasn't until 3:40pm, but I had to drive Ruby to work.
Ruby works in a building that is on airport property,
even though her job has nothing to do with the airport or airplanes.
Conversely, I do not work at the airport or on airport property
and my job has everything to do with airports and airplanes.
Go figure.


The reason I was driving my dear spouse to work was thus:
If I drove her to work, we (Kay and I) could take her car later
and then just leave it there for her to take home.
Option number two was to take a cab, which would cost about $50.
So I got up early and took her to work.

I really didn't mind, since it gave us a few minutes to chat
before I left on the trip.
Besides, I had some last minute stuff to do anyway.


I drove back home and considered waking Kay.
Why should I suffer alone in my misery?
But since it was going to be a very long day, I let her sleep.
(I had no idea, just how long it was going to turn out to be...)
Gotta stay on the kids' good side, ya know.
They'll be responsible for changing my diapers when I'm old(er).
And senile(er).
And incontinent(er).


I packed my suitcase, carry on and camera bag.
I really wasn't sure how many lenses to take, so I took a bunch.
This would come back to haunt me later, but for now I was pretty happy.
I was going to Disney World!

I spent the rest of the morning cleaning the house.
The plan was to make my absence as painless as possible for Ruby.
Afterwards, I gassed up her car.
Put some fuel in it too.
Stopped by Timmie's (Tim Horton's) for a half dozen muffins for Kay.
When I'm on vacation, I tend to be happy with two meals a day.
But I knew Kay would need breakfast and/or late night snacks.
So bringing along some muffins was the solution.
It worked quite well, too.


Around lunch time, I grabbed some fruit,
a banana, a peach and some raspberries.
Why not? I wasn't likely to have much fruit over the next few days.
Might as well try to fend off scurvy now.

Kay, on the other hand, was already full on into vacation mode.
We piled our luggage into the car and zipped over to Wendy's to get her a burger.
Once that was out of the way....
Oh, boy! Oh, boy! Oh, boyohboyohboy! We're off to the airport!
For me, vacation starts when you leave the house.
No more cooking! No more cleaning! No more working!
Freeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!


I then missed the turn off for the airport parking.
I had to go allllll the way around the airport to get back to square one
and the entrance to the parking lot.

I was only slightly deflated... I'm going to Disney World!


I sent a quick text off to Ruby, telling her we were here.
She met us at the check in desk to say goodbye.
Oddly, she didn't seem amused when I mocked her and
told her I was going to Disney World while she was staying behind to work.
She's weird that way.

Ruby then gave Kay a kiss goodbye, gave me one too,
and told me to try and not kill our daughter due to frustration and/or anger.

I promised to at least try.


I had already printed off our boarding passes at home,
so all we had to do was print off the luggage tags and dump off the suitcases.
One of the perks of switching to the WestJet credit card is
I get one free bag/person.
So just on this leg of the trip alone, it saved me $50.


I placed the suitcases upside down on the conveyor belt
and watched them disappear into the bowels of the airport.
Hopefully to be seen again.
I hate that feeling.
I've never, ever lost a bag...
but it's still rather disquieting to see them disappear like that.

Kay asked why we had to put the bags on the belt upside down.
I, being a father, know all. So I told her.
"It's because most bags have wheels and when the bags get to the end of a belt,
the wheels can hang up and just spin. It creates a jam."

And I know that, because I once asked someone who works there.
But don't tell Kay. Let's let her just assume that I'm brilliant, okay?
At least for this one thing.
She already thinks I'm stupid in pretty much everything else.

And it turns out she's right.
I am stupid.
Or at least I did something really stupid.
Something that almost ruined our entire trip.
Whoops! I'm getting a bit ahead of myself... that comes later on in the day.


We headed off towards security and Kay had questions about the detectors.
She wanted to know what they'd do in multiple iterations of metal detection.
"What if you have change in your pocket?"
"You take it out."
"What if you have metal in your shoes."
"You can take 'em off."
"What if this? What if that?"

I answered each question patiently.
I could see that I was going to have trouble keeping my promise.

"What if you have metal inside your body?"
"Well, actually, your mother does. She has a plate and some screws in her ankle."
"So what do they do?"
"They always wave their wand over her shoes,
make her take them off and go through again."

I guess the machine is just sensitive enough that the slight bit of metal in her shoe
combined with the metal in her is enough to set the machine off.
I don't think she's ever set it off once she takes her shoes off.
Invariably, she's then told that her shoes must have a lot of metal in them.
She's learned to just nod and move on.


Once through security, we quickly found our gate.
We had some time and since neither of us drinks coffee,
we made a bee-line for Starbucks.
We each got our favourite, a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino... double blended.
Vanilla, milk and ice. With whip cream... of course. No coffee.
mmmmmmmm...

We moseyed back over to our gate and chilled to drink our chilled drink.
Eventually, I told Kay to gather up her stuff. We were moving.
We sauntered over closer to the counter.
Soon they announced the pre-boarding for those traveling with small infants,
those seated in the exit row and people needing extra time to board.
We waited patiently.
They then announced boarding for the high and mighty "Plus" seating guests.
La dee da... snobs.
(Yes, I had done it last four flights, but still...)
We waited patiently.
Then they announced seating for zone three. That was us.
We were one of the first ones on the plane.


It used to be that I would sit and relax as the plane boarded.
Why stand in line? Why fight to get to my seat?
The plane wasn't going to leave any faster.
No thanks, I'll just sit back and relax while the cattle are herded onto the plane.
But that was before they started charging people for checked bags.
Now, people are doing everything they can to avoid having to pay that fee.
Which results in people bringing everything they own in oversized carry ons.
I hate.... hate having to sit for hours with no leg room.
And if you don't get on the plane first, you're not going to find any room left
in the overhead bins.
Nope, nope, nope and nope.
So now I try to be on ASAP and let the guy with the duffel bag, laptop,
steinway, man-purse and pack and play deal with it.
If you manage to bring half a dozen items on as "essential" carry ons...
then you stuff it under the seat in front of you.

Am I ranting?
I'm ranting.
Rant over.

So we got in line.
moo.


As we waited to push back from the gate, Kay, being super excited,
took this picture.
(I was super excited too... but I was playing it cool for my DD.)

Soon, we were taxiing to the runway.
I pointed out to Kay how she could tell whether we were on a taxiway or a runway.
Why is this important?
It's not. But it's fun. So there.
We were airborne pretty much on time, right around 3:40pm.

Our arrival time for Toronto was scheduled for 7:00pm.
On my last trip, I had an eight hour lay-over, which I used to visit with my sister.
This time, our time between flights was one hour and forty five minutes.
Tight.
We would have to get to the gate, exit the plane, make our way to the baggage carousel,
claim our bags, move them, deposit them, go through US customs and find our gate.

Like I said. Tight.

We landed pretty much on time and taxied up to the gate.
Kay took this picture while we waited to de-plane.
(De plane! De plane! <ding> <ding>...
and you probably have no idea what I'm talking about.)

Wait a second... this looks very familiar... did we even go anywhere?

We made the long trek to the baggage claim area, spotted the appropriate carousel
and as we waited we started talking about how we hoped our bags would be
one of the first ones off, since we had such a tight schedule to keep.

We kept waiting.
And waiting.

And waiting.

Finally, we heard an announcement.
"For those passengers arriving from Victoria and Winnipeg, your bags have been delayed.
We apologize for the delay and hopefully we'll have them here as soon as possible."

Uh... crap.
I made my way over to the desk where a young lady named Madison
had just made the announcement.
"Hi, I'm one of the passengers off the Winnipeg flight
and we're connecting to the Orlando flight.
What are our chances?"

Now you know the routine.
You ask a question like that and you'll get a robotic "Don't worry, you'll be fine" answer
which does absolutely nothing to alleviate your concern.
But not this time.
But I'm not sure if it was better.
Madison screwed up her face like she'd just bitten into a lemon and said "oooh."
This did not instill confidence.
But to her credit, she picked up a phone, called the crew at the Orlando departure gate
and told them that there were passengers (me) coming and to keep an eye out for them.


I thanked her and moved back to the still unmoving carousel.
Moments later, though... it started! And bags started to appear.
I breathed a sigh of relief and muttered a short prayer to the Airport Terminal Gods
for a speedy delivery of our bags.
I mustered the troops... well, Kay... and outlined our plan of attack.
"Okay. This is how it's gonna work. I'll grab the bags off the belt.
(We were strategically placed right at the point where the bags would first appear.)
You take your bag and I'll take mine (pretty complicated, I know.)
We then sprint over through those doors and up the escalator.
I'll throw them on the conveyor belt and then we have to run to find our gate. Okay?"


Wonderfully, thankfully, she didn't ask questions or argue. She just nodded.


Well, our bags weren't first off... not even close.
But they weren't last either.
At least I don't think so.
We didn't stick around to see.
We quickly gathered up our bags as they popped out and bolted for the escalator.
At the top of the escalator we plopped them (upside down) on a conveyor belt
where they disappeared back from whence they'd come.


I have no idea why it was necessary to do that.
I get that it was because we were entering a new country, but...
I suppose it's to give us one more chance to fill the bags
with meats, fruit, live animals and all other manner of contraband.


We then set out on the hunt for the elusive US Customs entry point.
There was lots of construction going on in the Terminal
and we were thwarted in our quest by mazelike walls and slow moving drones.

moo... mooooo....

Come one! Moove!

mooo... moooo...

Eventually... finally! We arrived at US Customs.
And none too soon! Our flight would be boarding soon!


Just to backtrack for a second, I keep a packing list on the computer.
So when it comes time to travel, I open it up,
make whatever changes I need to it, add or subtract items as I see fit,
and then I don't forget stuff.
Here's what the first few lines looked like:

Passports – (2) Kay, me
Kay’s letter
Toothpaste
Toothbrush...

The reason I'm showing you this is to show you how organized I am.
Travelling to a foreign Country? Gotta have passports. Check!
And right about now, you're thinking I forgot the passports, right?
Wrong!
Glance down at item number two on the list, "Kay's letter".
Now I had heard somewhere that if a parent is travelling with a child,
they would need a notarized letter from the other parent authorizing the travel.

Seems silly to me, but I've always done it.
I've travelled solo with each girl several times and have never needed it.
Heck, once we got pulled into the customs building in Detroit and I didn't need it.
Last year I travelled with not only my kid... but someone else's!
And I didn't need it.
Always had it, though.
Just never needed it.

Well, with one thing and another... I never did get around to it this time.
It's such a hassle. Type out a letter, find someone who can notarize it, blah, blah, blah.
I guess I can see it for a parent with a baby or toddler,
but Kay is almost 15 years old.
She can speak for herself, ya know.
Just skip it.


You already see how this is going to go, right?


We walked up to the empty self-serve kiosks and scanned our passports.
Clicked a few buttons, posed for pictures,
gathered up the receipts and headed over to an agent.

Intimidating US Customs agent: "Where do you folks live?"
Me: "Canada. Winnipeg, Canada."
Customs agent: "Where are you going?
Me: "Orlando."
Customs agent: "Business or pleasure?"
Me: "Pleasure."
Customs agent: "Are you constipated?"
Me: "No that's just my "serious" face."
Customs agent: "You should change it."
Me: "I know. You're not the first to ask me that."
Customs agent: "Where will you be staying?"
Me: "Disney World."
Customs agent: "Do you have a letter from the mother allowing the child to travel with you?"

I felt a cold chill as if Death himself was dragging his nails down my spine.
After almost 15 years of solo travel with a kid, I was finally being asked for THE letter.
And I didn't have one.

Me: "Uh, I don't have one."

He became completely still (so did I), looked me square in the eye
like a jackal sizing up a particularly tasty hunk of flesh and said:
"You don't have a letter? I can't let her into the United States without a letter."

Thoughts of catching our connection were rapidly fading from my mind.

Me: "Uh... Do I really need one?"
Jackal... er, Customs agent: "Yes you need one. You're taking a minor into another country.
You have to have a letter from the mother allowing her to go."

Death began to play a concerto along my spine.
I started to sweat.
What the HECK (although I didn't use that word) was I going to do???


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Contest!
Don't forget to get your gumball... I mean, Disney Transportation Wait Time guesses in!

Bonus questions!
It's no secret that we do get to Disney eventually.
Do we make our connection? Or do we make a later one?
Or do we get down the next day? Or something else?
What's your guess?

You may recall that I told you I booked POP Preferred Pool View.
Kay's preference was the top floor, so that's what I asked for in the booking.
I didn't fax or phone in the request, just put it in when I booked.
What floor did we get? And was the room ready when we got there?

Good luck!

Chapter 3 - Those Aren't Real Palm Trees​

 

[Kiotzu]

Following along once again! Hopefully you didn't get to much of a hassle for not having the letter!

 

[Steppesister]

(De plane! De plane! <ding> <ding>...
and you probably have no idea what I'm talking about.)

I'm as old as dirt, just like you. Of course, I know what you're talking about. Boss.

Wonderfully, thankfully, she didn't ask questions or argue. She just nodded.

Good girl.

Customs agent: "Do you have a letter from the mother allowing the child to travel with you?"

OH. My. Gosh. (Yes, he's doing his job. But why today?)

I suck at your contests, so have nothing to lose. Except that you're already up to $150 in savings with bags and parking. Which I'm sure you spent on my prize.

You waited for transportation 238 minutes
You got the 3rd floor at your resort and your room was ready
You did not make your connection and took a later one.

 

[queenbetsey]

UPDATE!!! My tooth, root, nerve and ear are killing me! I need a distraction.

ohhh nooooo tooth aches are the worst
hope you can get that taken care of soon

 

[queenbetsey]

awwww stew you say? ok all good stews are worth the wait.....

 

[queenbetsey]

Sins of the Father


Ruby works in a building that is on airport property,
even though her job has nothing to do with the airport or airplanes.
Conversely, I do not work at the airport or on airport property
and my job has everything to do with airports and airplanes.
Go figure.



I drove back home and considered waking Kay.
Why should I suffer alone in my misery

anyone who has woken up a teenager early on a day they don't have to be up knows the answer to that one. yes yes better to wait
oh did I mention how much I am already enjoying this trip report? wonderful choice of text/ font








.
Ruby works in a building that is on airport property,
even though her job has nothing to do with the airport or airplanes.

well that makes sense now doesn't it???
I drove back home and considered waking Kay.
Why should I suffer alone in my misery?
Because anyon