wdwbound

A quick comment on the "mystery shopper" checking up on the bus drivers. Years ago I was one of those people in Maine that would shop at Wal Mart, Burger King and other large companies and small. Home office in these companies request firms to independently contract shoppers to review how their personnel deal with John Q. Public. So it is usually a third party that actually handles the "transaction". Haven't done it in quite a few years so I am sure that procedures have changed, can't think that there would actually be anyone that is employed by Disney that would have to turn in any other CMs.

Thank you so much for all the info which I am now passing on to my son Chad who is getting married on June 2nd and is honeymooning in Kissimmee. Going to Star Wars Weekends on the 3rd after he arrives and all the tips will come in handy for him and his bride.

Next year is MY turn to be there!!!

Nancy

We just came back north and although we didn't stay at SOB, we stopped to pick up some fireworks to bring back home (small ones for the grandkiddies) and a very few souvenirs. The billboards that we saw were new to us and we enjoyed reading them, at least you ALWAYS know how close it is getting.

Great job on this trip report as always, we go weekly for a quick pop in to give Hilda her mail as we are renting her Mount Olive Shores Lot and have an excuse to pop over to the Fort. We leave in April and will look forward to future TRs, but in the meantime, keep trucking....

Nancy

What the heck was I thinking of? I have taken time off from online and almost missed this TR!!! We did spend a few days at the Fort during Christmas and it was nice to see all the site decorations again.

GREAT job Andrew!!! Enjoying this as always.

Nancy

Saw you DD with her tongue out for the "snow" and wanted to shout NOOOOOO!!! I did do that the first time too, nasty, nasty taste that I needed MUCH liquid to get out of my mouth!!!

Nancy

I had a license plate holder that I purchased in a previous trip (Jessica Rabbit no less..said, "I don't drive bad, it only looks that way") and when I went for my inspection sticker in Maine, they said that they couldn't give me one unless I took off the plate holder. Why??? I might cover your tag stickers....it wasn't but I still had to take it off myself and go back to get my sticker.

Nancy

Can you still go to the top of the Contemporary??? they had the music piped outside the walkway, and I remember that they once tried to not let people go through the restaurant but then it continued again... THAT was a good view too!!

Nancy

Hope your special day was AWESOME!!! Love your trip reports as always, eagerly awaiting more...

Nancy

We did hit some when we came into Florida and washed them off in Jacksonville where we stopped for the night. Yesterday, they were evident on 4 West between Orlando and Seffner...we had to stop at a rest area near Polk City and they swarmed and a few actually found their way in! Cat had fun for just about a minute.

Nancy

Didn't post earlier but the repair was done quickly by DH once we got the parts in. He also put in another piece in that we were having trouble keeping water in the bowl and now voila...everything works great!!! Now if the gas prices would just go down so we can fill er up for our trip to Florida!!

Nancy

Ordered our surge protector and lock last week and they came in...another item to cross off list...

Nancy

Nana,

That is why we are leaving before October...we really haven't seen all the places that we want to to make sure that we rent in an area that we know that we will like and need to spend a few days checking these places out that we "think" we will like. Still looking for any more input...so far Mount Olive Shores, LeLynn, and a few others...

Right now I think the reason that the hurricane is coming to the Northeast is to prepare us for the future...

Nancy

DH insisted on setting a date to leave Maine to head to Florida...he actually had his sights on leaving September 25, but I didn't want to wait that long, so we leave on September 18th.

After reading lots of posts and buying a new surge protector, GPS and new MIFI and phones, I believe we will be all set...oh yeah, DH did fix the toilet leak, good thing he did or it would have been lots of $$$ to have it done as it was the parts were not cheap.

Next purchase is a foam topper for the bed...he still wants to get a memory foam mattress but we shall see after we try this.

All I know is that our first stop once we hit Florida will be Fort Wilderness but as we are not sure when we will arrive, will wait to make ressies when we approach the state line and make our decision then.

We hope to check out a lot of options on where to stay for 6 months...as first timers it will take some getting used to a different lifestyle, and the idea that we won't be shoveling snow!!! Bring it on!!

Nancy

If you have the $$$ stay at Blue Water Key, they are owned lots and rented by management for them. Each lot has it's own tiki hut and wharf (if you are water side or even canal side). No sunsets but sunrises are gorgeous. Only 11 miles from Key West and we would go there again.

Nancy

Keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well with the repair my DH is undertaking...

First trip this year with motor home and we discovered a leak behind the toilet. Glad we noticed it right away and have not HAD to use the facility, it only leaks when you flush...some sort of valve assembly.

anyone ever have to replace one of these before?? DH wants to tackle fixing it himself when we get back home. We do have a few weeks before we head on down the road for our BIG trip, so he will manage somehow.

Nancy

Another great report...a friend of mine posted his video of Hyperspace Hoopla when he went there over a week ago...he is friends with a few of the entertainers and what a hoot!!! glad you could share your pics with all...I am a Star Wars Geek and actually made the weekend one year and they do it up great. I am hoping that the new ride will be awesome...have you been on it yet?

Nancy

AHA!! Was wondering when you were going to get to the shingles...I was very confused when you didn't explain in the last trip report but confusion is now gone! Thanks for your insight on all the doings around the "World".

I LOVE the "How we roll" trip report so far....always a teaser at the end to make sure that we stay tuned...are you sure you aren't a TV script writer??

Nancy

For many years my DH and I have had Old English Sheepdogs and since our last one passed last year, I finally got my way this year and we are now owned by a 12 week old grey kitty names Smokey. These posts have made me more aware of a lot of facts before we leave Maine in September to drive and live as snowbirds down in Florida. We are bringing him in to the motor home every weekend to get him used to being inside of it and have adapted some screw in posts to keep the screens in place. Hopefully a few weekend camping trips this summer will give us a better idea of how he will travel. Never thought after all these years with dogs that my husband would get so attached to a kitten but he has.

Nancy

Thank you for your quick response to the questions that I have. We made a quick trip to Bay Lake RV Resort last November and it was kinda close to I-4 and I know that LeLynn is on the opposite side but looks to be some bit away so the traffic would not be as loud.

Just wondering if there are any Mainers that are snow birds that stay there?

Again my thinking is that if I do work at Disney the drive is not that bad. The perks that Lou stated in this post appeals to me and since living in Florida for more than 2 weeks is something that we will be adjusting to, not to mention needing health insurance and the possibility of becoming residents.

I think you mentioned DeLynn Resort to me before and it is a hop and a skip from Mount Olive Shore, where we have been looking. If you have any other info it would be something I would be interested in also if you can PM me. How big are the sites? Do they integrate Park Models and RV sites or are they separate? Is it a 55+ and over? This area looks to be a very quiet area and I am sure that the people are nice.

Nancy

Thank you for laying it out as it is... we are driving down to Florida in September at our first try at becoming snow birds and it was in the back of my mind to work at Disney depending on where we park our motor home. We are liking the Polk City area but have to look around first at all options that are out there, if there is anyone who knows of an RV lot that is reasonable to rent, we are looking!!!

One question that I haven't seen yet is about insurance...is health insurance available for part time employees?? The rates here in Maine are unbelieveable and we do hope to become residents to cut down on our taxes also.

Nancy

Sorry TCD, I should've known that if there was a question to be answered that it would be in following posts and I am sure that your explanation will be much better than mine.

Funny about armadillos...yes, they are a very shy animals, but at one time behind the 300 loop near the canal there was one right out in the open during the day just grubbing on the lawn and even though we had our Sheepdog with us, this armadillo did not blink when we came closer and closer. You can be sure that he was in the minority being one that didn't care what came up to it and we were within a foot of it and it never moved or looked at us, just kept on doing what it was doing. A man came over to it as we were leaving and had his little girls with him and tried to pick it up by its tail...we left after saying that it wasn't a good idea to do that.

Nancy