Disney Cruise Line
Day 1
We woke at 5 AM and made our way to Montreal's Dorval International Airport.
We flew US Airways. The flight was brief and bumpy. We arrived in Pittsburgh,
our first time in this lovely city. The airport is like a huge mall, and signs around the airport tout it as the AirMall,
airport shops with mall prices.
45 minutes later we were on our way to Orlando. That flight, too, was brief and bumpy.
Having arrived in Orlando, the booklet told us we would be met by a Disney character,
something we found to be highly unlikely since 1) the character would probably be swamped by screaming children and 2) most Disney characters aren't permitted to speak.
Indeed, no Disney character was present, but the blue vested Disney Cruise personnel were very helpful and quickly escorted us (about two dozen people in all, from several different flights) all the way to the other end of the airport where we boarded brand-new Disney Cruise Line buses with retro art-deco design.
We were booked at Disney's Boardwalk Inn and Villas, a deluxe Disney resort, and one my wife and I hadn't stayed at yet.
Each bus went to a different resort. We stood in line (this is Disney, get used to standing in lines) to get on the bus.
An attendant mentioned they had three spots available. The group ahead of us had five people in it, so we got to cut ahead of them.
I felt a little guilty later on when the bus driver mentioned that anyone who didn't board this bus would probably have to wait about an hour before the next one left the airport terminal.
The fact that my wife and I didn't get to sit together, and I had to sit next to the bathroom made up for it a bit, though.
On our way to Walt Disney World we were treated to a Disney infomercial (the first of many) on little ceiling-mounted monitors regarding our upcoming voyage.
Again, we were encouraged to "experience the magic, experience the wonder" (Disney's second ship, scheduled to set sail in early 1999, will be christened the Disney Wonder).
The video was informative, but felt very much like a commercial. It was perfectly timed, though, as we arrived at Walt Disney World just as the video ended.
Before reaching the Boardwalk resort, the bus first stopped at the Dixie Landings and Port Orleans resorts.
According to the driver, a Disney Cruise Line attendant was supposed to board the bus and give those people getting off some instructions,
but as no attendant was apparent, the bus driver just let the passengers off.
We then moved on to the Boardwalk Inn and Villas where, once again, no attendant boarded the bus,
but I seem to recall a blue vested Disney Cruise Line attendant standing outside the bus.
My wife and I had visited the Boardwalk resort and its environs the last time we'd been at Walt Disney World in 1996.
We were quite taken by the architecture and design and we were looking forward to staying there.
It was the newest of Disney's deluxe resorts and reportedly featured the smallest rooms, but the rooms were large enough for us.
On our last trip to Walt Disney World, we stayed at the Dixie Landings resort, a moderate resort, and the wait to check-in was upwards of one hour.
This time, we had to wait no more than 15 minutes. We were given our "Key to the World" cards, which serve as our room cards,
passes to all of Disney's parks, and credit card (if you so choose).
Having filled out all the appropriate documentation, this card would also give us instant access to the ship once we arrived in Port Canaveral (no check-in required),
and it would also serve as our room key aboard the ship, and as our only means of money once on board (cash is not accepted aboard the Disney Magic).
If you chose not to put a credit card on your Key to the World card, you would have to settle the bill with Guest Services prior to disembarking.
We were checked into the "Inn" part of the Boardwalk resort (with the "Villa" part apparently reserved mostly as part of the time-share Disney Vacation Club (whose advertising, by the way, could not be avoided - I mean, SERIOUSLY, it was EVERYWHERE).
The room was lovely. The entire hotel has a turn-of-the-century look and feel. It really was something quite special.
The only gripe I had about the room was the lack of a mini-fridge in which we could store the Coke we might happen to buy.
Television selection was quite good, offering the 4 main networks, CNN, HNN, the Disney Channel, Disney Toon, and a series of Disney infomercial channels,
including one on what to do at the parks, and two regarding the Disney Vacation Club (one in English and the other in Spanish).
Upon entering our room, we discovered our luggage had not yet arrived, although this was understandable, having just landed in Orlando about 90 minutes ago.
In the room, I phoned dining services in order to confirm the three separate character breakfast and dinners I had booked well in advanced,
since I read online that some of these meals usually get booked up quickly and should be reserved early.
My wife and I had also resolved to eat dinner at the 50's Prime Time Cafe at the Disney-MGM Studios.
We'd had dinner there on our last trip and found the experience quite enjoyable.
The girl at dining services told me that there was no priority seating (i.e. you can't book a reservation) at the 50's Prime Time Cafe,
although the booklet I had just been handed at check-in explicitly said that priority seating was recommended.
While I contemplated this, I decided to read off my reservation numbers and confirm my reservations.
That didn't work either, since the numbers I had been given didn't at all correspond with my reservations.
Finally, the girl was able to find all three of my reservations by looking up my home phone number.
I was glad, since we were looking forward to breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Round Table in the Magic Kingdom and reports said that this character breakfast gets filled up nearly 6 months in advance.
Afterwards, the girl double-checked her computer regarding dinner at the 50's Prime Time Cafe and finally gave me a reservation.
With no change of clothes available, and wearing the jeans we had reserved for our trip,
my wife and I ventured out into the scorching August afternoon sunlight to explore the Boardwalk.
The location of the Boardwalk Resort is prime, adjacent to the Swan and Dolphin resorts which, although considered Disney resorts, are not managed by Disney proper
(the Swan is a Westin hotel, and the Dolphin is a Sheraton, although Disney tries to keep this as much a secret as possible), as well as the Disney's Yacht and Beach Clubs.
All five resorts circle a lake (thus the boardwalk) which offers water taxi access to both the Disney-MGM Studios and Epcot.
Epcot, in fact, is so close, you can walk there, with access to the theme park through the rear, between the France and Great Britain pavilions of the World Showcase.
The Boardwalk itself is devoid of life during the daytime. Restaurants are closed most of the day and concessions are only open in the evenings.
Only the store (Dundy's Sundries, Thimbles and Threads, Disney's Character Carnival and Screen Door General Store - it's all one store), with a small grocery section to accommodate the Vacation Club residents,
is open throughout the day.
We returned to our room hoping to find our luggage, but only discovered a voice mail waiting for me. Oops. I forgot to sign my Bahamas customs declaration.
Just as I was listening to the message, we were treated to our first fire alarm.
We quickly followed the emergency exit route. This wing of the Boardwalk Resort is HUGE and only has three staircases, and they're not very attractive, obviously not meant for public use.
We emerged into a sort of compound surrounded by Boardwalk Villas and Vacation Club homes.
This was also the location of the "quiet pool", as opposed to Luna Park, the Boardwalk Resort's other pool, which features a bar and an impressive water slide.
There was no obvious exit from this compound other than back into the building.
We lingered about with a few other people and after about 10 minutes of the loud piercing alarm finally decided to re-enter the building,
this time through an entrance which took us right into the lobby. In here the alarms weren't sounding, and everyone seemed entirely unaware that a fire alarm was sounding.
The elevators (which the automated voice had asked us not to use) were in service and trafficking people up to their rooms.
We asked around to see if anyone knew anything, but they didn't. From the lobby I again listened to my message regarding the form I forgot to sign.
I was directed to visit the Disney Cruise Line desk and sign it. At Guest Services I learned that every Disney resort has a Disney Cruise Line desk.
Unfortunately, by the time I got the message, the desk had closed for the day.
Guest Services promised that luggage for Disney Cruise Line passengers usually arrives within 2 to 4 hours of arrival,
so my wife and I proceeded to Disney-MGM Studios were we experienced a couple of the attractions (Muppetvision 3D and the ever more tiresome Star Tours) before moving on to dinner at the 50's Prime Time Cafe.
We skipped the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror since the last time we were at the park, the ride gave me whiplash.
Everyone who goes to Walt Disney World has to stop by the 50's Prime Time Cafe.
Based on family values of 1950s television shows, your waitress declares herself "Mom" and proceeds to scold you if you don't put your napkin in your lap,
if you gurgle your drink, if you don't finish your dinner, etc. You are instructed to "Go wash your hands" and upon your return you are quizzed to make sure you actually went, "What color was the soap?"
People sitting at other tables are your "cousins" and everyone is made to greet each other.
If you eat everything on your plate, you are awarded a sticker and made an official member of the "Clean Plate Club".
Shockingly, Annabelle, not wanting to be scolded for not finishing her dinner,
actually ate every bite (that is, her entire 1/2lbs hamburger and all her fries)!
"Mom" was wary at first ("Did you put your fries on his plate?" she demanded, pointing at my half eaten dinner),
but she was eventually convinced and Annabelle got her sticker.
The decor is 1950s plastic, formica and stainless steel, and period-style TVs run segments of 1950s TV shows like "I Love Lucy" and "Father Knows Best".
If you miss this, you've missed one of the best parts of Walt Disney World.
Everyone who goes to Walt Disney World has to stop by the 50's Prime Time Cafe.
Arriving at the restaurant, though, I got my first hint that maybe reservations would not be necessary for any of our meals.
Late August begins the slow season for Walt Disney World. Lines are short and parks close early.
By 7pm we were done with dinner and being ushered out of the park.
Our luggage was waiting for us when we returned to our room. We spent most of the remainder of the evening unpacking.
We had another early wake-up tomorrow, as we had a date with Cinderella and her round table, so it was early to bed for us.
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