Walt Disney World - getting to Florida!

The 10th was our flying day. We took off the last number on our countdown calendar around 6am CA time and got in our towncar to the airport for our 8:15 flight. I totally stole the calendar idea. The Mickey heads are from Home Depot in the paint color samples area.

We got to Orlando around 7:15. What a wacky airport! Who planned that thing? We found our way to Magical Express downstairs. I don't think it was marked all that well. I guess I envisioned them to have signs screaming it out from the moment I got off the plane. Silly me. We get to the line (no line at all), they sent Don and kids to sit in chairs and relax while I went up to get the magical express passes processed (fancy word for scanning them and then stamping them). Took all of two minutes. Hardly worth sending the kids away. Then we were sent to the next queue where we walked on a red carpet to go in the queue to POP Century (our hotel). H was so thrilled to get to sit on a planter and watch the Jonas Brothers but it was short lived because they took us right to a bus (no one queued up in our line but it was roped off anyway). N was so excited about going that he climbed right inside the baggage area of the bus to load his bags. I tried to tell him that the driver would do it or we could help him...nope...all on his own. The drive was not too bad. About 30 minutes I guess, maybe less. 

Finally, we saw the signs for POP and the giant bowling pins all lit up for night time. Kids were ecstatic. Got out and got our carry ons and got in line to check in. Pretty short line. Went up and got out my Unofficial Guide to Disneyworld so I could remember which rooms were recommended and not recommended. I know...nerdy. It worked though. They were going to put us way out in the 90s rooms and I got us moved to the 60s rooms near the Hippy Dippy Pool. H was thrilled to be near the giant Baloo and Mowgli statue (she was in a drama camp this summer and was Shanti). See the kids at the base of the Baloo?? It is gigantic!!!

This is the other 60s building. I think it is building 4. We were in 5.

We got up to our room all the way on the top floor. Good...no feet jumping around over my head. We had a great view of the lake which I never took a picture of. Kids were super excited to see the towel animal waiting for us. It was our one and only.

Got our luggage brought up really late from Magical Express. Resort brought up our food order from gardengrocer.com and our refrigerator from a fridge swap on www.disboards.com (FREE!!). It came with a coffee pot and toaster. We also had picked up a double stroller from luggage services from another swap on DISboards -- also didn't cost us anything. Great deal for those of you wanting to save some money. Fridge rentals at the value resorts are $10 a day I believe. Saved us $70. Stroller rentals in the parks are $15 a day for the single and $31 for the double. DISboards is also where I got all the DISigns (designs) for our t-shirts that I made for us to wear in the parks (you'll see them in upcoming photos). 

Lights out and getting ready for our first full day in the parks!