Nikki's November 2012 Trip Report --- w/ pictures --- I'm home! :(

I too am super excited about this. I love the whole concept of Disney World and I'm really interested Walt's life and what his dreams were for Disneyland and Disney World... (geeky, yes , I know )

I can't wait to take the tour, I will absolutly let you know all about it when we get back!

Ok, so I am starting to get a little nervous/anxious about this Sandy business. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Long Island doesn't get hit as bad as they are saying....and if we do, that at the very least, flights are running on time out of Islip by Thursday evening....

I am flying out on Islip MacArthur Airport...flights are scheduled to begin today at 10am. So it is looking good for me tomorrow evening. My family & friends and I are all safe. The devastation here is overwhelming. The South Shore is awful, parts of it are just completely gone. Breezy Point, a popular vacation destination on the south shore was devastated with flooding and fires, losing at least 100 homes... Fire Island and Long Beach, both South Shore communities are flooded and unlivable, no water, no sewage treatment, it is unbelievable...thankfully the # of fatalities are few, if any, here due to the storm....a piece of traffic safety I would like to share as it was news to me....when you come across a traffic light that is not functioning, it should be treated as a four-way stop sign.. this is a NY law but I feel like it should be used as common sense.... It's really overwhelming to drive around and see the mess Sandy has left us with but I force myself to remember that we are safe and the loss is material...I am extremely thankful and in awe of the emergency response workers that have put their lives on the line to protect and help those is need....

I'm looking forward to the magic of Disney tomorrow night....

Thanks ya' all!
I checked in for our flight tomorrow and it is scheduled to leave on time! Wohoo!! I'm ready for Disney magic!

I promise to leave plenty of Disney magic for all of you!!

Thanks for all good wishes! I know we're going to have a blast!
My office has been closed going on 4 days due to Hurricane Sandy and I feel so out of sorts.
I can't wait to board the plane tonight!

We are HERE! We made it....
And I'm happy to say that the almost 12 hour ordeal is almost funny to me now... I think some of you might appreciate this so as I'm waiting to get in the shower here you go....
Please keep me mind that Long Island is in shambles -- Gas is hard to find, my business has been closed all week with no power, may family members have no power and therefore no heat and it's chilly up North about this time.....so this vacation is at the perfect time...

We left out house at 3:30 in the afternoon to get to the airport, our flight was scheduled to depart at 5:45, I checked before we left, we were good to go...
We arrive at the airport, head through security, stop and buy a book and the headphones I forgot....
We meander over to our gate and I check our flight status on my phone -- LATE -- Actual departure 9:00PM!!!!!!!
Needless to say, I was one unhappy camper at that moment ....
At 10 minutes to 5 (55 minutes BEFORE our flight is scheduled to depart) Southwest text messages alerting me of the delay....
Well, after various time changes we departed around 9:10pm.... with an arrival of approx. 11 pm we were disappointed in the lack of Disney Magic for your bags but we were on our way and thrilled....

While in the air we start to descend, looking at our watches we can't believe the time we are making...
It is then announced that we are making an emergency landing in Raleigh, NC because of a medical emergency on the plan....
I am still speechless about this...poor woman who had to be carried off the plane and loaded into an ambulance.....
After about 40 minutes on the ground we were in route again..

Arrived in Orlando around midnight...

We did not get into bed in our room until about 3:15am...

Magical Express was not magical and check-in was not cheery -- I needed some cheer at 3am.....

So today is a different day (sort of )...We are off to check out the resort AOA and Landscape of Flavors...Then Hollywood Studios w/ lunch at Mama Melroses and Fantasmic.

I'll try and check in again tomorrow.