Thanks, everyone. Sorry it took me so long to get this started, but work has been hectic in the week since we got back.
Most of you know us, but for those that don't and didn't read my PTR, here are introductions of the main characters.
First, there is my Disney loving husband, Mark. He wears a lot of Grumpy shirts, but only because he loves Grumpy; he's one of the most fun, loving people I know. Mark does a lot of umpping in the Spring and Summer to help pay for our Disney trips:
Second, there is me, Kathy, the author of this TR. Mark is the one who took me to Disney and made me fall in love with all things Disney:
Third, is our oldest son, Andy, who was able to join us for a portion of our trip. Andy was unable to secure a teaching job, so we told him he should join us for a few days as he works 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. most days at either coaching high school baseball, summer ball, travel ball, tournament ball, giving private hitting and catching lessons. We were delighted as he had not traveled with us since his high school graduation in 2004:
(This is Andy when he took his dad and I to see George Strait in February).
Next on our list, is Cayley and Avery. Cayley and Avery are the sweet daughters of our friend on another Disney forum that we met last year at Disney and immediately fell in love with them. We had many plans that included them on this trip.
And last, but certainly not least, are our bestest friends, Nicki and Todd. I met Nicki on the other Disney forum almost four years ago and we have gone to Marco Island to visit them the last three years after our Disney trips (they live in Naples, but we use a friend's condo on Marco). Nicki has become the little sister I never had and Mark and I love Todd too.
Arrival DayWe got up at our usual time to go to the office. I left the office at 1:10; I planned on leaving at 1:00, but the boss asked me to help him send an email. I took the train to the station near Mark's work where Andy had gone to get him and then me so that he could take us to the airport. We arrived at the airport at around 2:45 p.m. We got through security in ten minutes...I was surprised (no full body scans for us).
Mark on the way to the gate:
We knew we wouldn't arrive in Orlando until around 10 p.m., so we grabbed some dinner at Billy Goat's Tavern at the airport. Mark had a reuben sandwich:
I had a grilled ham and cheese sandwich (it was a litle weird as it was on a bun rather than bread):
We shared an order of fries:
We still had plenty of time so we decided to share ice cream for dessert (chocolate chip -- my favorite):
We sat at the gate and I went on Facebook to pass the time. I think O'Hare Airport is one of the few airports that does NOT have free internet; I think I paid $6.95 or something like that.
Mark patiently waiting for the plane:
Our plane:
Mark on the plane trying to find a radio station he liked:
We were scheduled to take off at 6:30 and we were in the air by 6:35 p.m.
Me getting excited as we were on our way:
Some scenery from our flight:
We landed at 10:08 p.m. -- just 8 minutes past our scheduled arrival time.
On our way to the baggage claim, we passed this:
Once again I forgot to take a picture of the fake monorail (I'm blaming it on the fact that ALL of the restrooms were closed when we got off the plane and the first one we found was when we got down to baggage claim and I really had to go since I had a can of pop on the plane and never used the facilities on the plane).
We then went to the Avis counter and picked up our rental car for the week. We were upgraded to a full size Hyundai Sonata -- a very nice car which Mark said he would not mind as our next car).
Once in the rental car, we headed to the LaQuinta. We checked in around 11 p.m.
I tried to get on the internet (they have FREE internet), but it wasn't working. I decided to give up and go to bed as we had a Disney resort to check into the next morning.
***I do not know why the pictures say September 23; it truly was September 22. :confused3 ***All of my pictures seem to be a day after they actually happened.