Eat, Run and Celebrate- Day 7- Last Day and New Orleans

[KatMark]

I am guessing Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom...perhaps somewhere near the Swiss Family Treehouse.

 

[tinacaplan]

then the FA talks to the drinking men. She made the comment about the Wild Turkey burning her nose hairs so I wasn’t dreaming. Then they get talking on how she is learning to drink scotch. Mainly because it has less calories than wine.

SERIOUSLY? Sound like you had quite a magical DME driver. In some ways, that bus ride is the best part of the trip. You've arrived in the sense that you're in the magic already, but the whole thing is still in front of you.

 

[jecskc]

I keep looking for myself in your crowd photos, but I got nothin'. So you need to post some more JK. Looking forward to reading more

 

[Poolrat]

At first I thought you were at the Poly, but then I noticed the bridge and the buildings in the background, so me thinks MK. do I need to be more specific than that? Great picture!

I am guessing Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom...perhaps somewhere near the Swiss Family Treehouse.

YOu are both very close.

MEK - if can be more specific go ahead. I think you can nail it.
KatMark- Close but not where you are thingking.

 

[Poolrat]

SERIOUSLY?

Tha's why it got my attention.

Sound like you had quite a magical DME driver. In some ways, that bus ride is the best part of the trip. You've arrived in the sense that you're in the magic already, but the whole thing is still in front of you.

I totally agree. And the service Disney provides just puts you in the tear zone.

I keep looking for myself in your crowd photos, but I got nothin'. So you need to post some more JK. Looking forward to reading more

More coming up. Probably some tomorrow.

 

[Millie12591]

It's me...I'm baccccck.

My facebook status on the day we left was, "I am now leaving the Disney bubble and returning to real life where I have to flush my own toilet and no one will tell me to have a magical day."

The automatic flush toilets are important, yo.

I am sooo gonna use that!

your luggage struggles remind me of our hawaii trip

we had the two large checked bags...three rolling luggage for carry on.

plus three personal large bags.

so it was pretty much parker rolling his one bag

(he would get tired and hand it off to me.)

candi would roll two and carry her personal bag.

that left me with two rollers with one suitcase on top of the roller(parkers once he got tired of it, and my laptop bag over my shoulder, and parkers bookbag on back.

gotta love travel times.



it was really intersteing when we arrived at the hotel with all of that.

plus we stopped for grocerys, and had about 6 bags of stuff.

the bellman looked at me with sympathy and said ill get the cart.

i was glad to have him take it all up and tip the man...he earned it.



i bet it would be fun to sit outside the airport and take pictures of people struggling to get all there stuff inside with them.

I remember seeing that and thinking how in the world did they take all that with them?!? And they're going to have a baby! Imagine what that's going to look like! I'm with Pat, once the kiddos are old enough to schlep their own stuff around that's what they did. Mackenzie had her own little tiny backpack that had her sippy cup, diapers or pulls-ups when the time came, wipies, and anything else she might have needed or wanted. She carried it around so I didn't have to carry a diaper bag any longer than I had to. Dan, did y'all really end up using all that stuff or need it in the end? No, really? I'm not trying to be a smart butt.

I'm tired just reading your story...I need to sit down.....okay..much better.

I know, right?!? So glad your around, Jordy.

I had a scary but then funny moment in the rain today.


Driving to get lunch and I will admit, going a bit fast and I was distracted by "something " hanging from my antennae- flopping int he breeze and the truck in front of me, without turning on a signal decide to stop and then turn.

Well I slam on the brakes and I mean slam. The ABS kicks in and because I am old and learned to drive without ABS I start to release and then realize I need to step down again. I come to a stop, I skid a tiny bit but never left my lane or hit anything.

My first thought...


Yay the ABS actually worked!!!!

The second thought...

That was just like in Test Track.

It's a DISease I tell ya.

Just love this!! And yes your are a diseased woman.....wait, that didn't sound right! Your a Disney-diseased, minded woman, and I'm okay with that, cause I think most of us around here are.....well, except the guys....cause they're guys.

Scary. But as long as you were okay (and no one else hurt), I'll say this:

I'm right there with ya Ms. Kat.

Pat, I love that this trip has been good for you so far. I've been wondering....why haven't you been staying in the DVC places? Good TR, by the way.

 

[jenseib]

Just to spice things up

Who can tell me where in world you might find this?

You can just shout out- no super secret white needed.

I am thinking Adventureland too, but where, I'm not exactly sure. Is it going/looking towards Aloha Isle?

 

[Charleston Princess]

Okay, I have never wanted to ride ME, but reading about your magical bus driver, Kenneth, and how he threw pixie dust makes me want to!

 

[Poolrat]

Pat, I love that this trip has been good for you so far. I've been wondering....why haven't you been staying in the DVC places? Good TR, by the way.

This trip was already booked before I bought DVC. My use year is Oct and the contract I bought actually had 2010 point with it. As I was scrambling to close in early Sept. I kept thinking the points would have to be used. I called before I had my member number I was calling MS and with F&W and the Half and 5K and the 40th.... there were no DVC rooms to be had. For what I had heard, the rules were I HAD to use the point before they expired since the banking window had passed BUT depending on who I got and when I actually closed I could beg for a late banking and MAYBE get it.

Luckily once a MS-CM could see my contract she immediately offered to bank my point and even without thinking I said YES.

Reality was that I had such a killer pin code that I was reluctant to give it up .
That coupled with needing transportation to the 5K, I was limited on DVC to BC, BW ( not going to happen with F&W) and OKW.
My room ended up being anywhere from $55 to $68 depending on the day of the week (Tu,W, Th being the cheapest F, SA the most expensive and SU being on Oct a different "season")

Since I was able to bank, I had points to burn for the NYE trip so the first 3 days use up the banked points and I still have 47 left in the current year.

Now do I bank or take a F&G trip?

 

[Poolrat]

I am thinking Adventureland too, but where, I'm not exactly sure. Is it going/looking towards Aloha Isle?

You are close but I actually think you went too far.

Okay, I have never wanted to ride ME, but reading about your magical bus driver, Kenneth, and how he threw pixie dust makes me want to!

I have had some great ME drivers. The excitement level of everyone arriving is so high they drivers taking you on property really have to go over the top.

They can do the same schtick every ride and for those on the bus it is the first time they hear it. ( unless we frequent flyers get repeat driver)

They all know when the video starts and proabably to amuse themselves more they play with that.

That is the key to good customer service. The employee HAS to genuinely enjoy themselves too. Then providing good service is easy.

Truthfully that is one of the reasons I opt to fly instead of drive. Leaving my bags at the airport and not having to lug them again until I get home and getting a fun ride from the airport.

 

[Poolrat]

It was about noon. I grabbed the bigger new camera while on the bus. I rearranged things, grabbed my ticket, made sure I had my key and walked out.

The other side of the Surfs Up building and through he Food Court to get a mug.

Destination??

While I wait.

After a ten minute wait a bus arrives. A few people get on, including a mother and son who sit in the back. Once the bus gets moving they break out lunch. Sushi I think. The bus driver says something but they keep eating.

Getting closer.

Once we get off the bus, Mom at least throws away the trash but then lights up a cigarette after stopping right in the main path. Lady you are NOT the only in the World. Look around.

Through bag check and

Finally! At 12:37 I am staring at the entrance to MK.

Now about that ticket I grabbed. During the Side Effect year, I had a free dining trip. You had to buy a 2 day ticket. I bought one for Chris and myself and upgraded his to 8days with hopping. We also have some 10 day WPM no expiration passes which for that trip held his DQ passes. I held onto my 2 day basic ticket for this moment.

I did what all good DISers do and used the ticket to activate it for the current price and then went to guest services to upgrade. I got a young CM who was a bit confused as to what to do.

He had to take my pass and upgrade it to an annual pass with the DVC discount. This apparently was not as easy as it seemed. The new rule about upgrading it within 14 days was an issue but it was unused until today. He got some help and we got it done. Then the experienced CM realized something as it was printing.
The expiration date would be 1 year from the original date of the original ticket. Sept 11 2010. Yup already expired.
Luckily he thought of it and looked for it. So another transaction to fix that ticket and finally at 1pm I am stepping out of Guest Services.

Not upset at all and like I commented to the young CM, I was glad I gave him the opportunity to learn something new.

This year it would be Pluto.

The Firehouse all closed up.

Roy and Minnie have a new temporary home.

I get as far as the Emporium and see these guys.

I watch a special moment

PP swarm up and start clicking away. I stick around. I walk to the other side.

Here they are doing their IASW impression as they play the song.

I finally look up and catch a glimpse of…

The Crane is back!!!! Maybe for the holidays and maybe something special for the 40th?

I walk a little further and the castle show is starting. Do I stay or do I keep walking??

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

He had to take my pass and upgrade it to an annual pass with the DVC discount. This apparently was not as easy as it seemed. The new rule about upgrading it within 14 days was an issue but it was unused until today. He got some help and we got it done. Then the experienced CM realized something as it was printing.
The expiration date would be 1 year from the original date of the original ticket. Sept 11 2010. Yup already expired.
Luckily he thought of it and looked for it. So another transaction to fix that ticket and finally at 1pm I am stepping out of Guest Services.

This is SO funny because I JUST wrote in my TR this morning about upgrading our 1-day passes to APs and the same thing happened!!! She was actually ready to hand them to us so thank god she noticed the date before we walked out!

 

[Poolrat]

This is SO funny because I JUST wrote in my TR this morning about upgrading our 1-day passes to APs and the same thing happened!!! She was actually ready to hand them to us so thank god she noticed the date before we walked out!

It seemed rather complicated and I know they had to go to muliple screens to accomplish this.
Apparently what we had were not "regular" transactions. Adding in the DVC discount was also interesting since it was somewhere deep in the program.


My guy at Mk realized as soon as they pushed the button. Once it came out he checked. He was really good about making the newbie do the transaction and watching him along the way to help if needed. He could have easily just told him to step away and do it himself but he provided some training during a "teachable moment".

 

[kcandbella]

Gotta love that first walk down Main Street! Your room does look very nice, similar to Pop. Looking forward to finding out what happens next!

 

[CanadianWDWfan]

I fell in love with ME on our trip.

I got lost finding it... but the whole process was awesome!

Our driver was funny, it will be interesting to see how the different drivers change the experience.

I already told my family that we will never drive again.

Maybe you can answer a question about upgrading?

I currently have AP's for all of us that expire next Sept.
I will have 2 sets of 2day tickets for each of us by next August.
Can you add the two together to go towards another AP?
Equals out to 4days each.

I'll check back with you later...going to find my DD a Halloween costume. Wish me luck.
Worst comes to worse she can wear her Pumpkin Mickey ears and tee she got at MNSSHP.

 

[Poolrat]

Gotta love that first walk down Main Street! Your room does look very nice, similar to Pop. Looking forward to finding out what happens next!

My room was comfy- no complaints there.

That first walk down Main street took a loooong time. Much longer that normal. I was distracted anything and everything.

I fell in love with ME on our trip.

I got lost finding it... but the whole process was awesome!

Our driver was funny, it will be interesting to see how the different drivers change the experience.

I already told my family that we will never drive again.

It is a bit hard to find the first couple of times and now I just walk- I don't even think about where I am going.

I have had some drivers happier than other but so far no really memorable bad experiences. Flying for me is part of the pampering. Plus it buys me the whole travel day to play.

Maybe you can answer a question about upgrading?

I currently have AP's for all of us that expire next Sept.
I will have 2 sets of 2day tickets for each of us by next August.
Can you add the two together to go towards another AP?
Equals out to 4days each.

I'll check back with you later...going to find my DD a Halloween costume. Wish me luck.
Worst comes to worse she can wear her Pumpkin Mickey ears and tee she got at MNSSHP.

Good luck shopping!
As for the upgrade - I am positive you can take 1 set and use it towards the upgrade. The experienced CM asked my specifically if it was a renewal or a new AP. If you are within 30 days of renewal you can renew instead of buy new for a lower rate.
I am not sure if you can take both sets of tickets and apply them to the AP. I say bring them and try it. Worst case they say only 1 set and then you have another unsused set to upgrade later.

 

[KatMark]

That darn crane is ALWAYS up at this time of year (part of the reason I want to go earlier next year).

I had wondered where Roy & Minnie were and we found them on our last day. Any idea why the Firehouse is closed up?

Glad you got the ticket situation taken care of and gave a less to the young CM in the process.

 

[Poolrat]

That darn crane is ALWAYS up at this time of year (part of the reason I want to go earlier next year).

I had wondered where Roy & Minnie were and we found them on our last day. Any idea why the Firehouse is closed up?

Glad you got the ticket situation taken care of and gave a less to the young CM in the process.

I must have missed it previous years since I always went a little later.

I basically tripped over Roy and Minnie since I was walking towards the Firehouse.

I read they were closing it but hopefully they are just renovating the space. Maybe they consolidated the items with the Emporium to save staff time.

I always love it when I "stump" the staff. It seems like I always have that unusual problem that tales a special person to figure out. I am glad about the way it was handled and being on the other side of those issues sometimes, I realize it is a learning experience for the staff.

Now I had an experience in Michael's yesterday that was equally as special and it took some time to work out but in the end it was worked out. I will admit it wasn't as easy and I wasn't really sure if it would get worked out. My problem was simple but because of the computer POS system they use, it became difficult.

The difference was while standing in GS I knew it would get worked out, it was just a matter of finding someone to push the right buttons.

 

[momof2TNboys]

Great updates. I have the Pluto AP too! I love the first walk down main street. It is the best!
Yay for NYE!!

 

[Poolrat]

Great updates. I have the Pluto AP too! I love the first walk down main street. It is the best!
Yay for NYE!!

My Pluto ended up being a baaad doooog.

I was really taking my sweet time getting up Main street wasn't I?