MelessaG
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2004
- Messages
- 1,295
Cast of Characters
Me- WDW nut who just may love planning trips more than taking them
DH-reluctant escort who I think may enjoy WDW more than he lets us know
Little Tink- almost 7 year-old WDW vet and budding park commando like mom
Sonny Boy-4 year-old "Stitch" fan who acts a lot like 626
Bitty Princess-2 year-old Diva
Baby Girl-6 month old along for the ride
MeMe-My mom and doting grandmother
PaPa-my Dad and mentor in vacationing 'commando-style'
DSis-My youngest sis, pregnant on the trip wed last July
DBIL-Sis' new husband, an unknown quantity, and birthday boy this trip
We got to Hattiesburg at about 10 p.m. We were tired and, as usual, mapquest's directions left something to be desired. (and yet we still use them each year...) Finally, just wanting a place to sleep, DH actually stopped and asked directions! It turned out that it was a little tricky to find the place, but we got there within about 5 minutes after stopping. DH checked us in, and I began to unload the kids. I was pleased at first that we had a first floor room until I opened the door and was completely overwhelmed by the smell of cigarette smoke. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact the the room was closed up tight with the a/c blowing at top speed. I guess they thought that would venitilate it? It was awful. Bitty Princess has asthma, and was wheezing within minutes. I don't consider myself to be sensitive to cigarette smoke, and even my eyes were watering. I didn't want my kids in there another minute and DH went to the front desk to see about switching rooms. They told him the only available non-smoking room was a suite and if we were willing to pay another $30 is was ours. Well, I about lost it! (remember it was late and we had been on the road all day) I have never asked to switch rooms after check-in in my life, but I was NOT sleeping in that room. As it was, Bitty Princess, Baby Girl and I were standing out in the hall to avoid an asthma attack. I told him I was either going to march up to the front desk and tell them what was what or sleep with the two littlest ones out in the car-he could take his pick. He suggested that maybe he should go talk to the front desk again. He took Baby Girl with him to see if that would help us plead our case. Apparently it worked, because we were moved to the suite at no additional cost within ten minutes. I had a hard time going to sleep because I am not a demanding person, and I felt a little guilty for being so pushy. I was very relieved that Bitty Princess didn't have to sleep there though. The wheezing stopped almost as soon as we got into the second room.
My original intention was to complain to the management about the situation, but the next morning the day shift staff were so friendly and pleasant I let it go. DH was loading the car while I fed the kids breakfast. It's a pretty big task to keep four kids as young as mine seated and eating and I was very grateful to the lady who was restocking the buffet for helping my older two kids get their food while I got the smaller ones settled. I thanked her and had a friendly chat with her and another guest abou traveling with kids and how they couldn't believe we were headed all the way to Orlando.
DH came in and had to laugh. Women can make friends anywhere. Just as he loaded the car, it began to POUR. We went ahead and waited in the lobby for the worst of it to pass, which took about 20 minutes. Then, we were on our way.
I was very excited because after hitting it at the wrong times on our 2001 road trip, we were stopping for a picnic lunch at the USS Alabama. My Dad taught me to love stopping at places like this while I was growing up, and while he didn't envy us a road trip with four kids, he was sorry to miss out on the battleship. (It's OK Dad, I took pictures). We decided the little ones were too young to get excited about a tour (and we needed the time on the road), but Sonny Boy and Bitty Princess had a great time feeding the seagulls, I mean eating their lunch. Little Tink is frightened of most animals, so the novelty of swooping seagulls soon lost its appeal for her and we spent a lot of our meal telling the other kids to stop throwing their food. Still, I thought it was a great place to stop for lunch. I hope to do it again when the kids are big enough to appreciate a tour.
We got back on the road right on schedule, and I guess there really is something about a functioning DVD player because the only other memory that stands out is several hours later at a Florida rest stop when Little Tink became concerned by the sign that read "Beware of poisonous snakes in grass" and Bitty Princess began taunting her "they gonna GET you!" (I know I shouldn't laugh, but Bitty Princess is two and already knows how to push the buttons of a seven year-old). By 11 p.m. we were pulling into the parking lot of Marriott Horizons where we would be staying the next few days with MeMe and PaPa who were impressed that I found the place without calling for directions. (Shh! It's really not that hard, just follow the signs to Sea World and go right instead of left. But don't tell them that, let them think I'm a navigational pro!) They met our car with a luggage cart and open arms for their darling grandchildren. Before I could get the car unloaded, they had everyone but Baby Girl in pajamas and tucked into bed. We were here and we had quiet! What a great trip-and it was only getting started!
Me- WDW nut who just may love planning trips more than taking them
DH-reluctant escort who I think may enjoy WDW more than he lets us know
Little Tink- almost 7 year-old WDW vet and budding park commando like mom
Sonny Boy-4 year-old "Stitch" fan who acts a lot like 626
Bitty Princess-2 year-old Diva
Baby Girl-6 month old along for the ride
MeMe-My mom and doting grandmother
PaPa-my Dad and mentor in vacationing 'commando-style'
DSis-My youngest sis, pregnant on the trip wed last July
DBIL-Sis' new husband, an unknown quantity, and birthday boy this trip
We got to Hattiesburg at about 10 p.m. We were tired and, as usual, mapquest's directions left something to be desired. (and yet we still use them each year...) Finally, just wanting a place to sleep, DH actually stopped and asked directions! It turned out that it was a little tricky to find the place, but we got there within about 5 minutes after stopping. DH checked us in, and I began to unload the kids. I was pleased at first that we had a first floor room until I opened the door and was completely overwhelmed by the smell of cigarette smoke. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact the the room was closed up tight with the a/c blowing at top speed. I guess they thought that would venitilate it? It was awful. Bitty Princess has asthma, and was wheezing within minutes. I don't consider myself to be sensitive to cigarette smoke, and even my eyes were watering. I didn't want my kids in there another minute and DH went to the front desk to see about switching rooms. They told him the only available non-smoking room was a suite and if we were willing to pay another $30 is was ours. Well, I about lost it! (remember it was late and we had been on the road all day) I have never asked to switch rooms after check-in in my life, but I was NOT sleeping in that room. As it was, Bitty Princess, Baby Girl and I were standing out in the hall to avoid an asthma attack. I told him I was either going to march up to the front desk and tell them what was what or sleep with the two littlest ones out in the car-he could take his pick. He suggested that maybe he should go talk to the front desk again. He took Baby Girl with him to see if that would help us plead our case. Apparently it worked, because we were moved to the suite at no additional cost within ten minutes. I had a hard time going to sleep because I am not a demanding person, and I felt a little guilty for being so pushy. I was very relieved that Bitty Princess didn't have to sleep there though. The wheezing stopped almost as soon as we got into the second room.
My original intention was to complain to the management about the situation, but the next morning the day shift staff were so friendly and pleasant I let it go. DH was loading the car while I fed the kids breakfast. It's a pretty big task to keep four kids as young as mine seated and eating and I was very grateful to the lady who was restocking the buffet for helping my older two kids get their food while I got the smaller ones settled. I thanked her and had a friendly chat with her and another guest abou traveling with kids and how they couldn't believe we were headed all the way to Orlando.
DH came in and had to laugh. Women can make friends anywhere. Just as he loaded the car, it began to POUR. We went ahead and waited in the lobby for the worst of it to pass, which took about 20 minutes. Then, we were on our way.
I was very excited because after hitting it at the wrong times on our 2001 road trip, we were stopping for a picnic lunch at the USS Alabama. My Dad taught me to love stopping at places like this while I was growing up, and while he didn't envy us a road trip with four kids, he was sorry to miss out on the battleship. (It's OK Dad, I took pictures). We decided the little ones were too young to get excited about a tour (and we needed the time on the road), but Sonny Boy and Bitty Princess had a great time feeding the seagulls, I mean eating their lunch. Little Tink is frightened of most animals, so the novelty of swooping seagulls soon lost its appeal for her and we spent a lot of our meal telling the other kids to stop throwing their food. Still, I thought it was a great place to stop for lunch. I hope to do it again when the kids are big enough to appreciate a tour.
We got back on the road right on schedule, and I guess there really is something about a functioning DVD player because the only other memory that stands out is several hours later at a Florida rest stop when Little Tink became concerned by the sign that read "Beware of poisonous snakes in grass" and Bitty Princess began taunting her "they gonna GET you!" (I know I shouldn't laugh, but Bitty Princess is two and already knows how to push the buttons of a seven year-old). By 11 p.m. we were pulling into the parking lot of Marriott Horizons where we would be staying the next few days with MeMe and PaPa who were impressed that I found the place without calling for directions. (Shh! It's really not that hard, just follow the signs to Sea World and go right instead of left. But don't tell them that, let them think I'm a navigational pro!) They met our car with a luggage cart and open arms for their darling grandchildren. Before I could get the car unloaded, they had everyone but Baby Girl in pajamas and tucked into bed. We were here and we had quiet! What a great trip-and it was only getting started!
