Extreme Commando "Shock and Awe" Campaign (Report completed)

[Cruz Family]

You are part of the Extreme Commandos, don't ask him, just give him his orders!!!

Why didn't I think of that?

 

[thptrek]

***Com link established**
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Daily Debriefing March 16 (Day 7) – Final Day Mission

It had finally arrived. The day that we all dread, having to leave WDW. The team ate a very leisurely breakfast on the balcony trying to soak up as much of the view for the last time as they could. The team then assembled its gear and the Commander proceeded to the Airline Check-in Counter to hand off its gear to the airline representative. This is a great service to use even if you are not doing Magical Express. MIL and FIL had not assembled their gear and did not use this service (this would later prove to be an extremely good move on their part).

We had half a day and decided to finish up our trip in the Magic Kingdom. After a week of perfect weather the day was starting out to be rainy and grey. The team did TTA and then the Carousel of Progress. We then took the WDW Railroad for a ride. The team slowly made its way along Main Street, looking in the various shops as we made our way. It was a very relaxed morning for the team.

Just around noon the team headed back to the CR to have lunch at the Contemporary Steakhouse. The lunch menu was quite good and the food was good. Service was very friendly but slow. I think the place was understaffed and the waitress was having to do it all just like at the Kona Café earlier in the week. While having our lunch we could see CNN on the TV in the lounge and it appeared that the Northeast was having some bad weather. Commander and his team were heading back to Houston but MIL/FIL were heading back to NJ so this could cause some problems (sinister foreshadowing music plays).

FL Tours was right on time and the troops headed to MCO. Commander and his team checked the flight board and their flight was listed as on time. MIL/FIL’s flight was listed as CANCELLED. Their flight was cancelled due to weather in the Northeast. We are all seasoned travelers and knew that this was going to be big problem. The next confirmed flight they could be put on would be on Thursday of next week (5 days from now). That is crazy, what are they supposed to do, hang out in the airport for the next 5 days. After a lot of flight searching the Continental rep did find two open seats to Cleveland the next day and then from Cleveland to Newark the day after that. MIL/FIL took them. A confirmed seat is much better than having to play “standby” roulette. Because the flight was cancelled due to weather, Continental was not responsible for accommodations, meals, etc. The CO rep handed FIL a list of nearby hotels that would offer them discounted rates and wished them good luck.

Thank goodness they had their luggage with them and their schedules allowed them to be able to get back home two days later than planned. Weather is not the fault of the airlines but having plans to get folks who had flights cancelled to their destinations is controllable by the airlines. The way it is right now if your flight gets cancelled you are *** out of luck. You are put on the standby list and with so many flights being full (especially with Spring Break) there are very few open seats.

We called several of the hotels on the list but they were all full. Commander is an elite traveler with Hyatt hotels and was able to get a room for them at the Hyatt Cypress. We said our goodbyes and wished them good luck as the Commander and his team made their way to the gate.

After a non-eventful plane ride the team arrived back in Houston and headed home.

**end of transmission**

 

[tlinus]

just to let you know I am waiting!!!

 

[thptrek]

***Confidential transmission following**
********************************

Commander’s Personal Log Entry

As you can tell from this TR, it was a fantastic trip. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. We never really got caught up in the crowds and the hustle and bustle but as you have read we did an awful lot during the trip. TGM was great, as was the research done on the DISboards. All the team members congratulated the Commander on a job well done and for safely seeing them through enemy lines.

We terminated (with extreme prejudice) a few healie wearing enemy combatants along the way, sunk a few pool hoppers, and destroyed many non-approved refillable beverage containers. Though we wanted to expand our mission objectives to include attacking crazy stroller pushers, and wild ECV drivers, the team left these objectives for future missions to WDW.

As I reflect on the trip I ask myself why is going to WDW so special to me. I think the answer begins in 1974 when my grandparents first took my sister and me to WDW. After that we had several trips to WDW as a family and all were memorable and special. There are things at WDW that help me mark the years as time goes by. One trip you are riding Dumbo with your kids and the next trip its Mission Space and then RNR and TOT.

Star light, star bright,
first star I see tonight.
I wish I may, I wish I might,
have the wish, I wish tonight.
We'll make a wish, and do as dreamers do,
and all our wishes (all our wishes),
will come true.

**Signing off, over and out***
******************************************************

 

[wic0721]

Thptrek this was an awesome trip report!

I'm so glad you and your family had such a great vacation!

Job well done Commander!!!

 

[thptrek]

Thanks for your kind words.

 

[AMaloy314]

Awwww, trek. You got me all teary at the end!! The wonderful times and the memories we make are truly the magic of WDW!!

I'm so glad that you had a wonderful vacation. This was a great trip report!

Thanks for taking the time to do it.

 

[Cruz Family]

What a great ending to a wonderful TR. I am so glad your trip went well and even happier you took the time to share it with us.
TREK, YOU ROCK!!!!

 

[thptrek]

Thanks again for the compliments. I have also realized that while going to WDW can make for some special touchstone moments, there are those moments happening to me all the time. Watching the kids play sports, helping them with homework, sharing some ice cream, etc. I am blessed.

 

[Cruz Family]

Thanks again for the compliments. I have also realized that while going to WDW can make for some special touchstone moments, there are those moments happening to me all the time. Watching the kids play sports, helping them with homework, sharing some ice cream, etc. I am blessed.

Well said!!

 

[tksbaskets]

Loved the report!!

 

[liquid]

Wonderful trip report!!! Thanks for sharing it

 

[50 years Too!]

Loved your report. Too bad about the inlaws delay, though.
I'm surprised a commander like yourself rides WDW busses. This commander always needs her rental car for rapid movement! She has her second (but not in charge) chauffeur the troops.

 

[MazdaUK]

Great report! And I know exactly why you relinquish control over transport - those long cool ones on the balcony

 

[thptrek]

Transportation can be easy or can be hard. Your results may vary. Just look at threads about WDW buses. If you have to wait long for a bus or are the last stop, you hate them. If you walk up to the bus stop as a bus in arriving you'll say these buses are so easy to use.

Monorail > buses

 

[nicolemarie]

thptrek -

I enjoyed your report a lot. We're headed to the World in May with my parents, and I hope things work out for us as well as they did with y'all!!

This was a fun trip report and I appreciate you sharing it with us -

Take care!

NM

 

[thptrek]

Thanks and have a great time during your trip.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Great report, trek! Loved all the details and of course your way of telling them.

 

[thptrek]

Thanks, I knew I wanted a theme to the TR to make it interesting and being on the WPASADI team made it all fall in place.

 

[LovintheLodge]

I really enjoyed your trip report. Very unique style! I am impressed by how much you were able to do during such a busy time at WDW.