I've been busy but I made it to Orlando alright.

[Shorty82]

Left early Monday morning and made good time, though I hope never to have to drive a 16 foot truck while towing a car hauler that far again.

One of my stops was at a Turnpike Service Center. Those are in the middle so you enter and exit them from the left lane. Getting back on the Turnpike I nearly ran out of road before I had a big enough opening to squeeze into traffic. Getting off at the Western Expressway (429) is damn dangerous if you are paying cash, especially in such a big vehicle. Nobody in the Sunpass (prepaid toll system) lane was slowing down at all. I finally am able to start merging into traffic when this idiot flies by me. I had to swerve back into the other lane to avoid the guy.

I got lost trying to find the house, I was expecting better signs. I somehow wound up on Reams Rd. I was on the phone with my uncle who was trying to guide me in. I tell him "I am passing Buena Vista Place on the left and there's a big parking lot on my right". I thought the name of the apartments sounded familiar. Then it hits me and I say "am I at Disney?!" Turns out I wound up all the way down by the MK Cast Parking Lot. Finally got to the house and unloaded the truck.

Tuesday morning I returned the truck and trailer and got lost on the way there. I was relying on the navigator in my phone but it isn't updated on all the new roads that have been put in north of 429. I eventually made it there and was glad to be rid of the damn thing. On the way home I stopped at the store to get a few things. That afternoon I decided to drive the route I was planning on taking to Casting the next day to make sure I could find it. I did that and went to explore the Port Orleans resorts for a while. Met DisneyPrincess1988 when she came into work. We were only able to chat for a minute as she was working. That evening I went to dinner with my brother and his wife.

Wednesday I went in to do my new hire paperwork, fingerprinting, and all that. That went well and I'm going to Traditions on Saturday. After that I explored the Animal Kingdom Lodge some and went to DTD for a while. That evening I helped out my uncle with a few things.

Today I settled in a bit more and then went down to Disney. I parked at the Grand Floridian and explored it a bit then I took the monorail over to the Contemporary. While exploring it I saw the boat dock and decided to head over to the Wilderness Lodge. I explored it for a while and then headed over to the campground. Explored it for a while and watched a horse get a new shoe. I then took the boat over to the MK and then the one to the Grand Floridian to head out. Got back to my car and headed home.

[Sarah Magdalene]

Wow, you've done a lot more than I have as a CM when it comes to resorts. I guess I never really bothered looking into them if I wasn't staying at them.

Anyway, welcome to the Neighborhood!

[ktulu]

NICE! I want to just hang out and look at the resorts. The Villas at Wilderness Lodge have the Iron Spike room. That's a good place to look around :)

[Shorty82]

Wow, you've done a lot more than I have as a CM when it comes to resorts. I guess I never really bothered looking into them if I wasn't staying at them.

Anyway, welcome to the Neighborhood!

I'm exploring the resorts mostly because I have a lot of time on my hands right now and need something to fill it. I don't have access to the parks yet so exploring them is out.

NICE! I want to just hang out and look at the resorts. The Villas at Wilderness Lodge have the Iron Spike room. That's a good place to look around :)

I thought about that room but couldn't remember where it is at nor what it is called. I might head that way tomorrow to check it out.


I haven't seen any SGs yet but did see a few children a little to interested in things. The other day at DTD I was leaving a restroom when this kid tried to open the AED case outside. When the alarm sounded he slammed it shut and his mother gave him a telling off for it. I let Guest Relations know so they could get someone to check the security seal on the door. I'm not sure the kid opened it far enough to break the seal (similar to the seals on fire extinguisher pins) but I thought someone should check it just in case.

I did see one stupid CM trick I should probably have reported but didn't. While wandering around Wilderness Lodge I saw the CM at the hair wrap stand texting or something with her cell phone. I was headed towards the marina and didn't feel like turning around then but I did note here name, location, and time and decided that if she was still on it when I came back by in a few minutes I would report. I came back by about 5 minutes later and she was gone, nobody was manning the stand. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing though. Even later on I went by again heading towards the boat docks to head to the campgrounds. She was texting again and I saw what looked like a Bluetooth earpiece in her ear. Looked just like mine which is from Verizon so I doubt it was for a radio or anything she needed for work. Seeing a CM with a phone at all in the parks would probably get me to report it right away but at a resort it is a little different.

[disneyprincess1988]

It was a pleasure to meet you, Shorty. I wish you all the best of luck as you begin your CM journey at WDW. :D:

[Shorty82]

It was a pleasure to meet you, Shorty. I wish you all the best of luck as you begin your CM journey at WDW. :D:

Thanks. It was nice meeting you.

[Theme Park Where]

Shorty, if you go over to Wilderness Lodge today, ask for Bruce at the lobby concierge. Tell him you're online friends with Theme Park Where, and I'm sure he'll be happy to show you around the resort a bit if he has time. Tell him his daughter says hello!

[Shorty82]

Shorty, if you go over to Wilderness Lodge today, ask for Bruce at the lobby concierge. Tell him you're online friends with Theme Park Where, and I'm sure he'll be happy to show you around the resort a bit if he has time. Tell him his daughter says hello!

Thanks, I'll think about it. I'm not sure at all what I'm going to do today past heading downstairs and getting some breakfast in a minute.

[Whazzup]

Touring the various resorts is always high on my list. Each one is unique and they are great places to observe all the details that Disney adds to make things magical. Check out Coronado Springs if you get a chance. Having been raised in PCola, you may not have seen a lot of huge boulders and giant cacti, and it's fun to wander around through the desert and Mexican theming.
On the other hand, Old Key West, Port Orleans and Caribbean Beach Resorts will probably look more familiar.

Enjoy your time off, Shorty, before you start training tomorrow, and let us know how it goes.

[Shorty82]

Touring the various resorts is always high on my list. Each one is unique and they are great places to observe all the details that Disney adds to make things magical. Check out Coronado Springs if you get a chance. Having been raised in PCola, you may not have seen a lot of huge boulders and giant cacti, and it's fun to wander around through the desert and Mexican theming.
On the other hand, Old Key West, Port Orleans and Caribbean Beach Resorts will probably look more familiar.

Enjoy your time off, Shorty, before you start training tomorrow, and let us know how it goes.

I'll check out Coronado Springs later on, thanks for the idea. I explored Port Orleans the other day (stayed at Riverside back in July too) and I stayed at Coronado Springs a few years back but didn't explore it to much.

I've been enjoying exploring the resorts and I do plan on checking them all out again at Christmas time to see all the Christmas decorations.

I'm just about to head out to find the Iron Spike Room at the Wilderness Lodge and after that I might head over to Coronado Springs.