A not so merry start to our WDW trip

[Callalily6]

OK, here is the abridged version:

We go to disney about 2x a year. LOVE IT!

We flew to MCO on American. Got a great rate. Sat across from a family on the way there. There was 4 of them, almost the same ages as my kids. They were going to Disney too. Found out that American 'lost' their seats, so they were all seperated during their flight on the way there. I was thinking I was so glad that didnt happen to us. Well, it happened on the way back. American said something about blah blah blah. We had 2 legs back home. On the 2nd leg they had my 5 year old sitting totally alone, 3 aisles away. Then they all said I CANT FIX IT and said ask the clerk at check in, and then at check in - ask the stewardess, then the stewardess said what?!?! Im just thinking, I picked my seats months ago. Grrrr. I got over it. Its just what it is. American has always had issues with overbooking to MCO.

New thingie #1 - TOTALLY HATED THIS PART.

I went for the rental car. The last couple times we went, I drove. If we flew, I used Mears. I have rented cars before. Typically use Hertz or Enterprise. After reading raves on Alamo, I went for it. Whats the worst that could happen? I got a GREAT rate! $140 total for the entire time I was there. It was a little economy car, but there are only 4 of us, and 2 of us are pre-k and elem school. I had 2 bags. And thats it.

When I got to the counter for Alamo, there were 5 people in front of me. ALL of them were seriously POed. I was stupidly smiling that I was going to Disney World. Wondering why they were so mad. When it was my turn, I found out. This is the abridged version - I rented an economy car. They wouldnt give it to me. First they tried to push a van down my throat. We said no. Then they changed tactics and said my luggage wouldnt fit in the trunk. I had 2 meg bags and 2 small kids. I've rented this kinda car before. It fits fine. The end result was - stand there and yell at this person until he gave us our economy car or pay 150% more for the van. I was ready to walk away and go buy tickets on Mears. Like I care about getting their car. My husband's telepathy was off and didnt want to ruin our trip, so he took the van. When I walked outside past all the cars - there were only THREE economy cars. There were more than 3 people picking up economy cars at the counter. You figure it out. In a nut shell - Alamo is evil. NEVER renting from them EVER again ANYWHERE.

On to the resort - We stayed at the Coronado. Last time I was at CSR was almost 5 years ago with hubby and baby. It was my FAV resort, but I tried the others for a while. Short version - I still LOVE CSR. Before I loved it b/c it was romantic and quiet. Easy to walk the lake at night with a dozing baby hand-in-hand with hubby. Now (that I have 2 kids in school) I still love it. Lots to do, fun, and still serene. The Christmas trees are AWESOME! It felt like Christmas in Mexico. The CMs had a snowman competition while I was there. They set up about 10 different snowman dioramas to choose b/t. Some of them were really cute.

We were in Casita #2 on the 3rd floor. The rooms hadnt been refurbed yet. The CM at check in said its soon, but hasnt been done yet. To my happiness, it already had queen beds. There was a crying baby next door. I could barely hear her. I was up at night reading while the kids fell asleep. The soundproofing seemed better than I remembered from last time I was there.

We ate at the Mayan Grill 2x during our trip. Im not nuts about Tex Mex and thought that was what it was. I was surprised of their selection. It was yummy too. They also had fried chicken, for the kiddos, that wasnt on the menu. The CMs were great. Only complaint. We went 2x. The last night we were there, we walked in and they seated us. We picked out our food, ate, and left. Within an hour of leaving hubby had a violent tummy problem. It seems he got food poisoning. He was VERY sick all night and the next day. None of the rest of us got sick, but we didnt eat the same stuff. Anyway, it doesnt seem viral. Poor hubby.

We were on DDP. Ive used it before. It seems like the CMs are 100% knowledgeable about it now, unlike when it was 1st introduced. I had ressies set before we arrived. Even though they said there were no seats for ADRs, I found that we could walk in earlier or change where we were eating. Coral Reef is my total fav. The Lobster Soup with brandy is YUMMY! We ate there 2x. The CMs there were excellent. One of them took the kids around the restaurant and showed them all the hidden mickey's.

We spent a lot of time at Epcot and MK this trip. I loved the train sets they had in world showcase at Epcot. My son was mesmerized. He LOVED it. I was a little disappointed that the street performers werent out at night. I really wanted to see them tell their Christmas stories and I missed them. Ooops. I saw the Candle Light Processional. It was very pretty.

OK, and the thing I wanted to see the very most on the whole trip was the castle all light up. I'd read posts on here that stated that you did NOT have to attend the party to see the castle light. Id like to add that is true, if and only if, you are there on a day when the the party is NOT. In other words, there cant be a christmas party that night. They do NOT light the castle until the party starts then...normal guests dont get to see it. So, I was kinda bummed. I only got to see it 1x, but I sat there for an hour after closing looking at it, so I guess thats OK. I love looking at Xmas lights.

And the last new thing - I went on Big Thunder Mnt. For those of you that had kids and turned into weanies...if I can do it, so can you! It was a lot of fun. I had 4 FPs and hubby was supposed to take the kids on 1 at a time. Something happened so he didnt get back before the pass expired so I took on my youngest. I hadnt been on that ride in over 15 years. I totally thought I would get motion sickness. I didnt! It was fun!

I think those are the main things. Oh, and attendance was way UP from what I was expecting. I was there the week of the 14th. It was supposed to be 4ish. It looked more like a 6-7. Oh and one other perk - everything is on sale. Well, almost everything. Shirts, hats, ornaments, and a bunch of other stuff were all 40%-50% off! Lots of sales in the shops. Ive never seen anything like that before. Ive never been at Xmastime though. Maybe it was a Christmas miracle. hee hee.

 

[Scrubba2]

We were at CSR too! But we were in Casita 1. Loved CSR!

The snowman contest was very cute. We liked the Yeti snowman!

Question for you- did Alamo make you pay for a mini van or did they give you a mini van for the price you had already paid? How can they make you pay for something you didn't agree to? Or did they just pressure you and make you feel uncomfortable? I'm wondering how they can do that...that is just not right. I think I may have done what you were first thinking and demanded my money back then grab the ME. Would the ME let you get a ride if you didn't reserve it in advance?

 

[mikkiwikki]

OK, and the thing I wanted to see the very most on the whole trip was the castle all light up. I'd read posts on here that stated that you did NOT have to attend the party to see the castle light. Id like to add that is true, if and only if, you are there on a day when the the party is NOT. In other words, there cant be a christmas party that night. They do NOT light the castle until the party starts then...normal guests dont get to see it. So, I was kinda bummed. I only got to see it 1x, but I sat there for an hour after closing looking at it, so I guess thats OK. I love looking at Xmas lights.

Thanks for your report I am really enjoying it. I just wanted to mention that I guess when they light the castle is inconsistent. because we were in the MK on a day of one of the many MVMCPs - at about 10 mins to 7pm - and they lit up the castle (so they didnt kick out the nonMVMCP goers yet.

(I believe they are supposed to kick out all non paying MVMCP ticket members at 7pm)

We were sitting at the ice cream stand 15mins prior to 7pm and watched them light it up and then went over to tomorrow land and rode the transit authority two times before we had to leave. (we didnt have MVMCP tickets)

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

we hear you...we had never rented from Alamo but decided to try it, so...we rented from Alamo a few weeks ago (not at MCO)

very nice people EXCEPT for the hard sell at the counter to upgrade!!
The Alamo guy was so persistent, DH finally asked, how much to upgrade from midsize to premium? Ummm, only $150 more!!!!! Think NOT!
We were paying $140 for a five day rental as it was (Thanksgiving weekend) so said we would stay w/ the mid size.

This is the best part - so we go out to the lot & the nice girl says, pick any car in this row - ANY car?!?!?!? Ok, we'll take the $50,000 Buick Lucerne!! Awesome car, we loved it!

What a wacky system. Next time we're back to National & Emerald Aisle.

 

[Callalily6]

Alamo was past a hard sell. They wouldnt give me the economy car I reserved and we were at an impasse. Apparently b/c they didnt have what I reserved. When that happens with other companies, they just bump you up and give you what ever they do have at the rate you reserved. I had to pay extra for the van. It more than doubled my bill.

I couldnt take ME b/c you had to reserve it ahead of time and I was doing the rental car. Mears was there though. I had no issues using them - hubby couldnt tell what I was planning though and Mr Nasty Alamo Man didnt want this to ruin our vacation. I found it odd, that with all the time I spend reading about Disney World, that I had never heard of Alamo doing this before. It caught me by surprise.

The castle lit up the night before the party at 6pm -ish. We ran around behind it for a while and when we got to Main Street for the fireworks, it was lit. I stayed behind after the fireworks, about 45 mins after closing. Hubby has a dslr camera. Him and a few other photographers were taking pictures after the crowds passed. I happily drooled at the pretty lights from my bench.

Oh, and something else thats amusing. My boy just turned 5. He hated Haunted Mansion last trip. The room with the creepy voice freaks him out. One of us usually holds him while the lights flicker. Last trip in May, he was doing his kola cling to hubby and the lights went out, scream, and then a blue flashing light went off and I hear him say - thats better. He had a glow cube and flicked it on so it wasnt so scary. People bust a gut laughing. This trip, I expected the same fear. He was still clingy. Hubby held him. When they got to the part where there was the scream and the lights shut off, he screamed at the top of his lungs in hysterical laughter. He made the people around him jump a mile - including me. The entire room of people were laughing again. He thought Goofy must tripped and broke the lights. He's so shy, its really weird for him to do anything like that...so it musta been REALLY funny to him. lol. I tend to wonder what ages are the best to take the kids to Disney at it always seems like any age is best!

Oh, and this was a b day trip. The CMs were so sweet to my girl and made her feel extra special without making my son feel jealous. Talk about tact!

I LOVED MY TRIP! I hope you guys enjoy yours!