danfromca
Earned his ears, now wants yours
- Joined
- May 16, 2007
- Messages
- 1,481
Yikes. Today was one of those days that just test patience.
I took the courtesy van from the hotel to Chicago O'Hare. That was the only normal part of the day.
While waiting at the airport, there was a child from hell screaming and having the tantrum of all tantrums. Parents were not doing a whole lot about it. Passengers were looking at one another and closing their eyes and you could just hear their silent prayers -- "Please, dear God, don't let them be on my plane!"
Well, we boarded our plane on time (and no, the child was not on our plane!) but were delayed because there was a "situation" with one of the lavatories. It will be remedied as soon as possible and we can then leave.
The "situation?" When the cleaning crews did the plane, they missed a bathroom and we had to wait until them came back and cleaned and stocked it.
So we took off about a half hour late. For Chicago, that's like being on time anyway.
Generally, you can make that kind of delay up in the air. However, LA slowed us down in flight because they were bogged down. We landed a half hour late and then spent a little time on the tarmac because even though our gate was ready for us, a jet was in the middle of the lot, blocking our entry.
Okay. Not bad. I can live with that.
Then I went downstairs to the baggage claim. Arrived there at 12:15 p.m.
At 1:05 p.m., the last of the bags was dispensed and there was one passenger still waiting at the baggage area. Did you guess yet? Right. Me!
So I went to the baggage claim office to find out what had happened. There I was, thinking that I would have no clothes for the next three weeks.
As it turns out, my bag was in the claims office because it had arrived on an earlier flight! I waited and watched all that luggage go around the carousel for 45 minutes and I could have had my baggage as soon as I had arrived. Aaauugggghhhh!
Securing my bag, I went outside for the "Super Shuttle" which I had pre-paid for a ride from the airport to Disney's Grand Californian.
There was a van coming and when the attendant outside asked me if I already had a seat paid for, I said "yes" and he put me on the van.
Well, yes does not always mean yes.
When I arrived at the Grand Californian, the driver tried to make me pay $16 for the fare. I told him that I had pre-paid and he told me that the person at the airport was supposed to verify my payment and issue me a voucher. So, while other people in the van were sitting there barely acting patient, the driver has to call his office to verify my payment status, write up a ticket voucher, and have me sign it for my fare. <sigh>
Okay. Not too bad. At least it's 2:00 p.m. and I'm finally here! (By the way, that's 4:00 p.m. Chicago time. As you can imagine, I'm already getting tired!)
I'm finally "here" but cannot get in because my room is not ready. The clerk at the desk looked for a different room to place me in but none of them were available for the length of stay that I had booked so I had to wait.
Rooms are "guaranteed" to be ready between 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
For this buckaroo, that meant the outside possible time. A couple of minutes before, they finally give me my room number so that I can go upstairs.
They -DID- find the box that I shipped last week and brought that to my room along with two bottles of wine that were dropped off by a neighboring parish for Mass on board.
So now it's almost 5:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Chicago time) and I've pretty much had it for the day. I'm in my room chilling.
Room faces Downtown Disney. Hagen-Daaz is right outside my balcony. Away from me, Satan!
That's about it for my story today. I'm hoping to wake up tomorrow feeling better and more refreshed. Now, it's time for a little television, a quick read in a book, and an early shut eye.
For trips like that I tend to recommend two magic words: "Room Service"
Thanks for sharing your story. Now are you going to check your calls through internet? I bought a costume for pirate night for Aug. 06 cruise. It wasn't cheap and can't justify getting another costume, since I have one already. Just don't have the room. The funny thing is I bet you...............more people will be dressed up for this cruise then the one in 06. Here is pic. of costume I have.
Great costume - mine is not nearly so nice. I gather a lot of people will be seriously dresed up compared to my last trip, but I think it's ok either way - participant with great costume, cheap costume, or not at all..
Heck we may have 2 
before we leave.
