jmpurdy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2001
- Messages
- 653
Got back late last nite. Left Sunday 1/8 on Delta Song. Myself, DH, 3 adult kids, 26, 25, 22 and son-in-law. Nightmare at Bradley Int'l ticket counter in CT. Not enough staff, hundreds of people waiting to check in; staff expecting people to print their own boarding passes at terminals. Most didn't know what they were doing. No one helping them. It was horrible. I pre-printed my boarding passes the night before, but still needed to use the bar code on the pass to then print luggage tags that the counter staff would attach to our luggage. Well, the system wouldn't allow me to check in luggage for 2 of our family members and they kept saying you are printing it wrong, but they wouldn't help! Or should I say, someone did come over and put luggage tags on 2 of our pieces, then actually just walked away!! We couldn't believe it. A complaint will be going to Delta Song for sure. I am computer savvy and if I had trouble, then the hundreds waiting were in for a very rough time. Finally we were assisted because they were calling our flight! My pregnant daughter was in tears at this point from the frustration and stress. This system does not work! Finally on board and flight was uneventful.
Used Sunray Transportation. Very good. Stopped at grocery store. Bob was our driver. We had another driver for the ride back and MORE on that later!
Check in at OKW was long. Waiting to upgrade our tickets, longer. Room not ready. Requested bldg. 45, water view, non smoking. We got bldg. 26 and everything else we asked for. Didn't see our room till we came back for the evening. Went to Epcot as it was the last day before Test Track went into rehab. Didn't stay till closing as we were exhausted from being up since 4:00 AM.
Went to our room for 1st time. WOW. 2 bedroom and separate studio for daughter and SIL. Absolutely huge and gorgeous. The pics don't do them justice IMO. Everything we needed to cook, spread out and relax. It was dark so we didn't even know what a view we had till the next morning!
Everyone was right about coffee on the balcony each day. Nothing like it. Tons of wildlife at the pond with the fountain right outside. Golf course right there too.
Did laundry every day and we all came home with clean clothes. Love it. Won't bore everyone with day by day itinerary, but the highlights were eating in Mexico for lunch (lower $$), no waiting early mornings at the parks, seeing a 3 week old elephant at AK (awesome) and enjoying OKW. One morning we heard running water near a vent in hallway and realized it was coming into the room under the rug! Called maintenance before leaving for the day and came back to replaced carpet. Very quick response. Lowlights if any, saw one mother roughly put her child on a bench and walk away saying she was leaving him there.
Hated seeing that. Maybe I was more angry at myself that this is what I probably looked like when I lost it with my kids when they were young and didn't like that reflection. Of course the child panicked even more when she walked away and it made the situation worse. Was more aware this time of kids who needed naps and parents who insisted on staying. If any parent of young ones reads this, take a break! You will all benefit from this. Even if they don't need naps, going back to the pool for some down time makes a big difference. It's so easy to get pulled into commando mode, but we saw it all with plenty of time left over. In fact, we didn't even use our last day on our passes. Lines weren't too bad. Used fast passes when necessary. Went on Soarin' 3 times. AWESOME!!! The first rush is priceless as you take off! I won't say more to ruin it for others. On the last full day at the parks, we split up. DH and son went to ESPN club and then to PI to see the comedy show. Daughter and I stayed at MK and then Spectro parade. Pregnant daughter and SIL went to DD and dinner at Bongo's. It was nice that we didn't have to feel attached at the hip which made for a more relaxed time. Spent the last day at the pool of OKW till our 5:45 pickup. Now the story about transportation back to airport! Different driver, can't remember poor fellow's name. Upon arriving at airport, he reached over to get something my daughter left on the seat and he tripped on the curb, fell into the van and in doing so, reached out his hand. When he came out of the van, he was holding his hand as if he had cut it. Then to our horror, he showed us that his little finger was completely dislocated, sticking out sideways!!!!! We felt terrible, and didn't know what to do. DH offered to assist him getting it back into place, but the driver did it himself. I offered to call someone for him, but he said he'd be ok. I think he was trying to be brave, but it must have hurt like **ll!!!
Good check-in at MCO, but very bumpy, uncomfortable ride back to Hartford. One good drop that left us all panicked. I am still queasy now. Glad to be home. Wonderful trip. Will be happy to answer any questions about resort or parks.
Used Sunray Transportation. Very good. Stopped at grocery store. Bob was our driver. We had another driver for the ride back and MORE on that later!
Check in at OKW was long. Waiting to upgrade our tickets, longer. Room not ready. Requested bldg. 45, water view, non smoking. We got bldg. 26 and everything else we asked for. Didn't see our room till we came back for the evening. Went to Epcot as it was the last day before Test Track went into rehab. Didn't stay till closing as we were exhausted from being up since 4:00 AM.
Went to our room for 1st time. WOW. 2 bedroom and separate studio for daughter and SIL. Absolutely huge and gorgeous. The pics don't do them justice IMO. Everything we needed to cook, spread out and relax. It was dark so we didn't even know what a view we had till the next morning!
Everyone was right about coffee on the balcony each day. Nothing like it. Tons of wildlife at the pond with the fountain right outside. Golf course right there too.
Did laundry every day and we all came home with clean clothes. Love it. Won't bore everyone with day by day itinerary, but the highlights were eating in Mexico for lunch (lower $$), no waiting early mornings at the parks, seeing a 3 week old elephant at AK (awesome) and enjoying OKW. One morning we heard running water near a vent in hallway and realized it was coming into the room under the rug! Called maintenance before leaving for the day and came back to replaced carpet. Very quick response. Lowlights if any, saw one mother roughly put her child on a bench and walk away saying she was leaving him there.
Hated seeing that. Maybe I was more angry at myself that this is what I probably looked like when I lost it with my kids when they were young and didn't like that reflection. Of course the child panicked even more when she walked away and it made the situation worse. Was more aware this time of kids who needed naps and parents who insisted on staying. If any parent of young ones reads this, take a break! You will all benefit from this. Even if they don't need naps, going back to the pool for some down time makes a big difference. It's so easy to get pulled into commando mode, but we saw it all with plenty of time left over. In fact, we didn't even use our last day on our passes. Lines weren't too bad. Used fast passes when necessary. Went on Soarin' 3 times. AWESOME!!! The first rush is priceless as you take off! I won't say more to ruin it for others. On the last full day at the parks, we split up. DH and son went to ESPN club and then to PI to see the comedy show. Daughter and I stayed at MK and then Spectro parade. Pregnant daughter and SIL went to DD and dinner at Bongo's. It was nice that we didn't have to feel attached at the hip which made for a more relaxed time. Spent the last day at the pool of OKW till our 5:45 pickup. Now the story about transportation back to airport! Different driver, can't remember poor fellow's name. Upon arriving at airport, he reached over to get something my daughter left on the seat and he tripped on the curb, fell into the van and in doing so, reached out his hand. When he came out of the van, he was holding his hand as if he had cut it. Then to our horror, he showed us that his little finger was completely dislocated, sticking out sideways!!!!! We felt terrible, and didn't know what to do. DH offered to assist him getting it back into place, but the driver did it himself. I offered to call someone for him, but he said he'd be ok. I think he was trying to be brave, but it must have hurt like **ll!!! Good check-in at MCO, but very bumpy, uncomfortable ride back to Hartford. One good drop that left us all panicked. I am still queasy now. Glad to be home. Wonderful trip. Will be happy to answer any questions about resort or parks.
