SchultzFamily
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2004
- Messages
- 560
Cast: Me 47, DH, 47, DS 15, DD 10.
Had late seating so breakfast was at 8 am in Parrot Cay. Our servers were great, as they were throughout the whole cruise. It was nice, Witt talked a little about his family and how much he enjoys children which really shows in the way he made sure he kept the kids entertained! Breakfast ended much too fast and by 9:15 we were heading to the atrium.
As soon as we walked through the door at the terminal we were met by a porter who asked if we needed his services. Said yes and he asked what our room number and luggage tags were and next thing we knew everything was loaded on his cart. He told us exactly what to have out and swiftly took us through customs and out to the Delta check in. It seemed in the blink of an eye we were out of there and checking our luggage with Delta. Our return flight was not until 5:10 so we were unable to check in at the terminal, but we did check our luggage. Didn't make any plans for the day, really had too much time to just go straight to the airport but not enough time to do anything. DH wanted to go to Kennedy Space Center but we knew there just wasn't enough time to really enjoy it so we had just purchased transfers through Disney and went straight to the airport.
We got to the airport about 11:10 and checked in and got our boarding passes. From that point on everyone was telling us how lucky we were to be getting out of there ahead of the hurricane. Delta reps told us they thought it may start affecting flights as early as 8pm so we were really happy to be leaving at 5! We hung around the airport, went to shops, DH at least got a NASA tee shirt. Went to the restaurant at the Hyatt for a late lunch and saw it had started to rain. They had the weather channel on the TV's and everything was tracking the storms. All of the staff were continually talking about it along with their concerns. I can tell you, we were getting pretty nervous about it as the afternoon wore on. After all we're from California where the only thing we have to worry about are earthquakes, we don't know anything about hurricanes and tropical storms! And you can't predict an earthquake so there's no sitting there waiting for it to hit! We were glad when the plane started to board! As soon as everyone was on the plane they announce that they were having mechanical difficulties that they were trying to repair. It seems there was no fresh water on the plane. From time to time the pilot would come on with an update, still not fixed. Then the pilot comes on with the announcement that they were on the phone with Atlanta deciding what to do as they have been unable to fix the problem. By then we know it's late enough that we probably will not make our connection in Salt Lake so DH calls his good friend who lives in Salt Lake and tells him to meet us at the airport we're probably spending the night! Finally at about 6:15 the pilot announces that Atlanta has decided it was in our best interest to leave Orlando, even though we have no water. They put bottled water in the bathrooms for hand washing, no coffee or tea and said toilets would flush. Said if there were any problems after we took off we would land at the closest airport and get a new plane. We were just relieved to be able to take off still ahead of the storm!
When we got into Salt Lake we had missed our connection (only had an hour) and they were unable to get us on a flight until 10:15 the next night. We went home with our friends and had a nice unexpected visit. Only had the clothes we were wearing and the clothes we had slept in the night before but that was fine!
The next night we go to the airport and check in for our 10:15 pm flight and head to the gate. We were there a few minutes when the announce our flight will be delayed as the plane will be late coming in due to Lightening storms on Arizona. They didb't know how late though. The plane finally arrives and we board a little after midnight. Then they can't get the engine to start due to some sensor and we're delayed another half hour. Finally got in to Oakland around 2 am, got our luggage unlocked from the luggage storage and home around 3 am.
Boy was it a long exhausting trip home! I have to say we were very thankful to have had such a wonderful vacation and to have gotten home ahead of the hurricane!
To everyone affected by the hurricane, you are in our prayers!
link to pictures http://community.webshots.com/user/vickie4157
Had late seating so breakfast was at 8 am in Parrot Cay. Our servers were great, as they were throughout the whole cruise. It was nice, Witt talked a little about his family and how much he enjoys children which really shows in the way he made sure he kept the kids entertained! Breakfast ended much too fast and by 9:15 we were heading to the atrium.
As soon as we walked through the door at the terminal we were met by a porter who asked if we needed his services. Said yes and he asked what our room number and luggage tags were and next thing we knew everything was loaded on his cart. He told us exactly what to have out and swiftly took us through customs and out to the Delta check in. It seemed in the blink of an eye we were out of there and checking our luggage with Delta. Our return flight was not until 5:10 so we were unable to check in at the terminal, but we did check our luggage. Didn't make any plans for the day, really had too much time to just go straight to the airport but not enough time to do anything. DH wanted to go to Kennedy Space Center but we knew there just wasn't enough time to really enjoy it so we had just purchased transfers through Disney and went straight to the airport.
We got to the airport about 11:10 and checked in and got our boarding passes. From that point on everyone was telling us how lucky we were to be getting out of there ahead of the hurricane. Delta reps told us they thought it may start affecting flights as early as 8pm so we were really happy to be leaving at 5! We hung around the airport, went to shops, DH at least got a NASA tee shirt. Went to the restaurant at the Hyatt for a late lunch and saw it had started to rain. They had the weather channel on the TV's and everything was tracking the storms. All of the staff were continually talking about it along with their concerns. I can tell you, we were getting pretty nervous about it as the afternoon wore on. After all we're from California where the only thing we have to worry about are earthquakes, we don't know anything about hurricanes and tropical storms! And you can't predict an earthquake so there's no sitting there waiting for it to hit! We were glad when the plane started to board! As soon as everyone was on the plane they announce that they were having mechanical difficulties that they were trying to repair. It seems there was no fresh water on the plane. From time to time the pilot would come on with an update, still not fixed. Then the pilot comes on with the announcement that they were on the phone with Atlanta deciding what to do as they have been unable to fix the problem. By then we know it's late enough that we probably will not make our connection in Salt Lake so DH calls his good friend who lives in Salt Lake and tells him to meet us at the airport we're probably spending the night! Finally at about 6:15 the pilot announces that Atlanta has decided it was in our best interest to leave Orlando, even though we have no water. They put bottled water in the bathrooms for hand washing, no coffee or tea and said toilets would flush. Said if there were any problems after we took off we would land at the closest airport and get a new plane. We were just relieved to be able to take off still ahead of the storm!
When we got into Salt Lake we had missed our connection (only had an hour) and they were unable to get us on a flight until 10:15 the next night. We went home with our friends and had a nice unexpected visit. Only had the clothes we were wearing and the clothes we had slept in the night before but that was fine!
The next night we go to the airport and check in for our 10:15 pm flight and head to the gate. We were there a few minutes when the announce our flight will be delayed as the plane will be late coming in due to Lightening storms on Arizona. They didb't know how late though. The plane finally arrives and we board a little after midnight. Then they can't get the engine to start due to some sensor and we're delayed another half hour. Finally got in to Oakland around 2 am, got our luggage unlocked from the luggage storage and home around 3 am.
Boy was it a long exhausting trip home! I have to say we were very thankful to have had such a wonderful vacation and to have gotten home ahead of the hurricane!
To everyone affected by the hurricane, you are in our prayers!
link to pictures http://community.webshots.com/user/vickie4157
