Have things ever ruined your vacation?

[Denmark]

The only really bad trip we had was 9/11. We were one of the last planes to land in MCO and found out what had happened. Since we just flew in from NY, all we wanted to do was go home but obviously we couldn't. My parents were coming down on another flight about 1/2 hour after us so we were worried about them. We had our DS, who was 2 at the time (and the only child on our flight) and I remember hearing on CNN about 1 of the flights had a 2-3yr old on it. DH's brother worked for Cantor Fitzgerald but left for a new job a few weeks before but DH forgot about the new job so he was panicking.

As I checked in at AKL, I'm crying and just wanted to get a room, the CM hands me a tissue, tells me "I know how you feel" and happily adds...."Would you like to purchase tickets now?" I just looked at her and calmly told her No. When we're all checked in she adds the "Have a Magical Day!"


Same trip, we got hit with the effects of a Hurricane. We were pretty much the only people in Epcot that day.

After that trip, we've learned that we have to let go of the disappointments.

I was on the sea when i first saw on TV what happend, and thought, were going to war!. I never got to go, but it was scary.

I cant help but laugh at the comments that CM gave to you, since the terror against USA just had happend.
I would have said: HELLO ARE YOU FROM MARS, some CMs acts like robots, telling people the same things too often, without thinking!.

 

[sugermouse]

Wow, I could see how not getting a towel animal could ruin your vacation

 

[Winnie Pooh Fan]

Wow, I could see how not getting a towel animal could ruin your vacation

Was this comment really necessary

If you go back and actually READ the entire comment by the OP you will see that it was noted that nothing has ever ruined their vacation. The comments were more about how to have a positive attitude.

I found this thread particularly interesting and nearly every comment but this one a great reminder of how to let the little things roll off and how to find the magic anytime in just the great memories of the good stuff and laughing at the not so pleasant stuff.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Wow, I could see how not getting a towel animal could ruin your vacation

You know, I thought the exact same thing. I saw the title of the thread and then skimmed the OP's list. I was thinking, "You've got to be kidding me?"

But as the above poster stated the OP said it didn't ruin her trip, per se, but if you don't read the post carefully it is natural to take it the way we did.

To the above poster, chill. I didn't see what was so offensive about Sugarmouse's post. She/he was just curious. Geez.

 

[pandora174]

Let's see for our 2003 trip we booked thru DIS & had all these wonderful TS reservations set up. Prior to that our DS behaved like an angel well guess what ? Our then 2 year old son turned into demon child ! The moment we walked & ordered he proceeded to literally throw himself on the floor, scream & scream bloody murder & at one point did the curly shuffle (you know going around in circles on his back ! ) Not funny at the moment, I carried him out still screaming while my husband wolfed down his food & then he took our precious cargo (still screaming) & I shoveled the food in. Once we left, you guessed it he was back to being Mr. Charming ! The rest of the vacation we only did TS ! Then our trip in 2002 my DH came down with some horrible stomach bug that left him in bed for 2 days ! & we had saved for the BWI ! ! But we still had a great time & still laugh about the "curly shuffle" & my husband's screams for "more Pepto". Now I've learned never to travel without a FULL medicine cabinet & a bag full of tricks to keep our lil' monster happy & entertained. Though he has gotten used to restaurants we usually can make it to dessert. Hope next trip is better becuase we have the Dining plan with 7 SITDOWN meals & if my DH doesn't get his $'s worth ?

P.S. We also have never gotten a towel animal !

 

[Bracho]

We have had problems pop up from time to time but it has never ruined it. That would be giving or handing control over to someone else and to be honest no one is worth getting that upset over.... but I deal with the problem upfront, I don't let myself go back to a hotel room and stew over a problem that could be fixed if I just dealt with someone higher in the food chain....

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Brought my sister who was developing a mental illness (presently hospitalized) and a ds at the bratty stage. That was not a good trip.
On the other hand my last trip i had an absessed tooth that had to be pulled. Still kept going like the Energizer Bunny.

 

[Jennasis]

Wow, I could see how not getting a towel animal could ruin your vacation

Sorry, you misunderstood me. That was a list of various things that have happened on trips that may have "ruined" a trip for other people, but never ruined my trip.

 

[Winnie Pooh Fan]

You know, I thought the exact same thing. I saw the title of the thread and then skimmed the OP's list. I was thinking, "You've got to be kidding me?"

But as the above poster stated the OP said it didn't ruin her trip, per se, but if you don't read the post carefully it is natural to take it the way we did.

To the above poster, chill. I didn't see what was so offensive about Sugarmouse's post. She/he was just curious. Geez.

You don't see the sarcasm in that post??? IMO, I don't see any curiousity simply sarcasm that was out of place when the OP stated that it didn't ruin the trip. I just wish certain posters took a little more care in their comments.

I'm not about to turn this into a debate so I'm done with this thread.

To all of you that posted about how you managed to smile through the unpleasant stuff thanks for the reminder. I plan on remembering these comments on my trip that is now less than 2 weeks away!!! After all a day at Disney is better than anyday at work!

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I took my girlfriend to the CR for the weekend, my wife took her mother to the CR the same weekend.......

LOL

 

[weeyore33]

We have always had a wonderful time at disney- rain, shine, lightning, freezing cold, the weather doesnt stop us. the only thing that has ever ruined my time is losing my son ( 6 at the time) in Epcot. that was the scariest time of my life! he followed another family out of mousegears and did not realize it wasnt us until on the other side of epcot! my dh and other ds were freaking out! a wonderful cm took him by the hand and walked with him- he was gone for 20 min!

fAST FORWARD next day ds(11) says he is grabbing a muffin from the poly lounge and he'll meet me at the room- he never came back- security shut the poly down, the monorail and busses were stopped. the front gate was closed- half hour later- we found him laying in bed watching tv- in the wrong room!
so what is my first item being packed on next trip? ducktape!!!!!!

i held on to both of my sons with a death grip for the rest of the trip! it did not ruin the trip, just made me appreciate much more!!!

 

[jimmalru80]

Seven previous trips and we can't recall one single problem that would even come close to ruining our trip.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Last year we stayed up all night watching the Weather Channel the night before we were to leave for WDW. The next morning we called the airline and were told our flight was still a go. Now mind you, we only live about 25 min. from LAX. When I go to check in through Song's automated system, I knew something was wrong when I was prompted to go speak with an agent. Yup, our flight got cancelled and there would be no flights out until who knows when. We really had no right to complain because our homes and lives weren't in danger like the folks in Florida. I had to think quick because we had tons of luggage for our 3 week trip and 3 disappointed kids in tow. We ended up staying at the Embassy Suites adjacent to the airport and had a wonderful time that night and were able to get a flight out the following day. We made the best of it and everything worked out just fine.

 

[Rootskate]

On our last trip I had a couple of blisters, one on each heel. It by no means ruined our trip but it sure slowed me down a little!! Lesson learned...never wear a pair of brand new shoes to DisneyWorld!

 

[Jennasis]

You don't see the sarcasm in that post??? IMO, I don't see any curiousity simply sarcasm that was out of place when the OP stated that it didn't ruin the trip. I just wish certain posters took a little more care in their comments.

I'm not about to turn this into a debate so I'm done with this thread.

To all of you that posted about how you managed to smile through the unpleasant stuff thanks for the reminder. I plan on remembering these comments on my trip that is now less than 2 weeks away!!! After all a day at Disney is better than anyday at work!

You aren't angry at me are you? My intention was to find out if there is any possible way a trip to Disney could be ruined. My personal opinion is that (in most circumstances) it would be very hard to be ruined, barring a tragedy.

I was talking to a friend of a friend last week, and when I mentioned I would be honeymooning in WDW she rolled her eyes and let a big sigh and said "Honey, let me just prepare you, We had the most AWFUl experience there..." and then launched into a tirade about how her trip had been ruined and it was a miserable experience. I just kept my mouth shut and nodded at her. I couldn't believe that there were actually people who have visited WDW and not only didn't enjoy the place, but claimed the whole trip was ruined because of slow customer service, long lines, Mickey didn't pat her kid on the head et al.

The only trip I ever had that was even slightly awful was the one where we took 17 family members. The only reason it was difficult was becaue it was impossible to keep track of that many people or to do what everyone wants to do. I still had a terrific time at Disney, but I'd never go with such a large group again.

 

[milmore104]

On our last trip to WDW I was hospitalized for 2 days spent the entire 2weeks not being able to ear what anyone was saying to me. I had a temp. of 104.9 (that's when I was admitted) but when I was released I got back to the AKL took a shower and went to MK. I still had a temp. of 101.5 but I had my 78yo DGM w/ me and couldn't ruin her trip. And yet this didn't ruin my trip at all either. You just got to roll w/ the punches. Now if I had been at home well that would be a different story I would have acted like baby and most likely not gotten off the couch for a week!
The only thing that makes me upset on our vacations (and it happens every time) is the security checks at the airport. My DH is Hispanic, he saves his head and has a
go-t. So even though they tell me every time that the searches are completely "RANDOM" I can't for the life of me figure out how one family can be so unluck that they can get searched at every single security check point in the airport.I don't mind it all that much I know they are doing what they need to so they may keep the plane safe but it bothers me that I am searched 3 times in one day just to board a plane and it happens EVERY TIME!!!!!!!!

 

[vanyel]

I can't say I've ever had a vacation ruined either. My worst trip to wdw was with my now ex husband. It was supposed to help bring us back together - a long awaited trip for the two of us without the kids to the place we honeymooned.

Instead, it was nothing but aggrevation. I discovered he didn't really even want to go to WDW but instead of saying this before we planned it, he waited until we got there. Then, all he wanted to do was lay around in the hotel room watching tv - almost had a fit when he thought we wouldn't get back in time for NYPD Blue.

Nevertheless, I made the best of it. Did the things I wanted to and ignored his complaints about being too tired, too crowded, too.... We did have some good moments during the trip but since it's now ex, obviously WDW didn't work it's magic on our marriage.

Of course there's always little aggrevations like blisters and heat but those kinds of things never ruined it for me.

And, by the way, I never got a towel animal, ever!!

My best two trips were 1) my dd (16 at the time) and I and, 2) taking my new dh for his first trip to wdw (at the age of 50). Nothing like seeing the world through the eyes of a newbie!!!

 

[Rex Rules]

One year my husband was fired from his job three days before our weeklong beach vacation. Had to go - it was already paid for and we'd have lost every cent otherwise. Boy that was a hard one - trying very hard to have a good time, knowing what life had waiting for us at home.

Another year, on vacation in New Orleans, our landlord called to ask if he could have an appraiser see our house because he was thinking of refinancing. Sounded fishy, and sure enough, refinancing wasn't in his thoughts at all and we came home to find a For SALE sign in the yard. It was only a rental home, but I truly loved that house!!

Oh yes, one year on Thanksgiving holiday, we had to put our dog to sleep - he had been sick for a couple of years, and we knew the end was coming, but had no idea it would come while we were on vacation. That was heartbreaking! Hardest thing we have EVER had to do.

 

[LoveWDW]

No towel animal here, either. But then I didn't even know there was such a thing!

About being profiled at security checks, I am a :clearsthroatloudly:lady of a certain age: grayish hair, blue eyes, and I always am the one to get luggage wanded and person checked. Sheesh. What do they do pick the most innocent looking person. It doesn't bother me, actually, I'm glad to see the job getting done. I do think it's unfortunate that a real terrorist should be getting checked in the time they are checking me.

We've never had vacation ruining experiences at WDW. I guess the most irritating experience was when my brother-in-law made the wrong reservations. I wanted to go to the luau and he booked the restaurant, which we didn't find out until we showed up all smiles to see the luau and were told we didn't have reservations. We puzzled over it and finally told the CM that it must have been for the restaurant, but we didn't want to go there. She smirked and said, loudly enough so we could hear it, to the other CM there that she just bet that we didn't have reservations at all. Well when she called the restaurant of course we did. We were told that we could be seated at the luau if there were no-shows. So we waited and were indeed seated. It was after the appetizers had already been eaten and the next course was being served, but we sat right next to the stage and were served appetizers and the next course. That smark remark by the CM hurt my feelings, but we didn't let it ruin our time or our trip.

The pushy kids who raced to the head of the line and then waved the rest of their families into the front of the lines, the whole time we were there- that was annoying.

The only other thing I can think of was an hour wait for a bus coming out of one of the worlds- can't remember which one. I was hot and tired and gnashing my teeth since there were a steady flow of buses, just not the one I needed. I considered taking one the MK ticket center and making my way back to Epcot that way, but the bus did come eventually and I was happy.

Nothing to ruin the trip. Sometimes even the prettiest flower has an ant on it.

Oh! My very favorite memory! The first time I stepped into MK on Main Street- the very first day of our first trip to WDW. I had grown up watching the Disneyland show on TV and yearned to go there, but my family could not afford it. I had never even thought that I might ever go. It was one of those things that you think would be wonderful but you put it from your mind. Anyway we arrived, I walked onto Main Street, saw the castle, and I had the most wonderful feeling of joy come over me. What a feeling! I was a kid again.

 

[Arielle22]

This wasn't a WDW trip but was the only vacation where I had major problems. 9 years ago, dh, myself, 2 dd and 5 adult family members went on a camping trip (in tents) to NH. My younger dd was on an antibitotic that she turned out to be allergic to. We were in the middle of nowhere and had to take her to an emergency room that had only 2 rooms. She had swollen up and her hands and feet turned black. Then our Suburban truck's rear window shattered when dh closed it. Also the truck's transmission had just been rebuilt and was not done correctly. When we hit the steep hills we were crawling.

Add in a major rain storm and we packed it in a day early and headed home.

We had some good times on that trip but it was the worst vacation we have ever taken.