When we last left the Hicks,
they had spent the night in Chattanooga with anticipation of arriving in WDW the next day.
That day started around 5:20am with this sound:
Dee di dee di, dee di dee di, dee di dee dee
Repeat.
I spent a moment wondering WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Then I realized it was my cell phone
Then I realized I was in a hotel in Chattanooga
Then I stumbled out of bed, trying to locate either said cell phone,
Or my glasses, so I could see.
Then I realized that my fanny pack was lighting up and moving,
So I stumbled over to it, unzipped the wrong pocket.
Then I unzipped the right pocket, just in time
for the phone to quit ringing.
ARGH.
I tried to call my SIL from the bathroom, figuring she was the only one who:
1) Would be up at that time and
2) Would be calling ME.
No luck, the phone said she couldnt be reached.
Well, since I was up anyway
I started getting dressed and ready, packing up a few items, etc.
Until I had killed enough time to really start making noise and waking everyone else up.
The free breakfast wouldnt be available till 7 am, but I wanted to be ready to go at that point.
Hicks are all about free food
in Chattanooga, just like they are in WDW.
I looked out the window, to see what the weather was like,
Only to find we were completely surrounded by thick fog.
But, onward we go, as I figured the fog would have to start burning off some time!
We made friends with the woman working the desk,
who was expressing amazement at our brood,
and also said the fog wasnt so bad on the highway.
Van loaded, children fed,
and last minute trips to the bathroom accomplished,
we headed on our merry way to FL.
Things went pretty well this leg of the trip.
With the exception of a frantic phone call from Bionic SIL.
To fully explain this situation, I have to start at the beginning.
When we found out that Baby M was on her way,
we decided to move our trip up.
Bionic SIL graciously agreed to change her flight, even though it would cost her a fee.
She called from my house, was charged $189,
and verified that she had paid for luggage (which I think is a big rip off),
and for she and her kids to sit together (BIGGER rip off).
She had booked through Expedia on Air Tran.
Her flight had originally been non-stop, even upon rebooking,
However, in the time since, it had changed to a stopover in Atlanta,
with 1 hour to get to her Orlando flight.
Upon arriving at the airport in Detroit that morning at 4:30 am,
she was informed that she would NOT be allowed to board,
because she had never paid her $189.
She even had her receipt with her,
and argued that HOW could she be on the flight list if she hadnt paid,
but the airport WOULD NOT BUDGE,
and, in the end,
she had to fish $189 out of her spending money for the week,
which was much of the souvenir money she had brought.
THEN she was informed that she had not paid for luggage,
OR to sit with her kids.
She was allowed to carry her luggage to be checked,
but was not allowed to change seats so that her kids were with her.
By this point, she was in tears.
She arrived at the Atlanta airport early, and called us.
She was given a number for the lady in charge of such things,
But , of course, this lady was not in until Monday morning at 8 am.
We were passing the Atlanta airport not to long after they were to leave for Orlando,
And we were sending up prayers that everything had gone smoothly at this point.
We continued on, feeling her frustration.
I had planned to eat lunch at the IHOP at Adel, GA.
But at the point we were starting to get hungry,
I wasnt in the mood to figure out what to feed everyone.
So I suggested Shoneys, which has a buffet,
and we stopped at the one in Tifton, GA.
This is very southern fare, which is fine by me!
The waitress was awesome, and said that Bitsy had not been five years old long enough to count,
so she put Bitsy as free, which was very generous.
Sufficiently full--which is how we would spend much of this tripwe headed out to the van.
Well
actually, we headed BACK to the bathroom
because when ONE goes, we all go.
While in said bathroom, Bionic SIL called us back.
She had arrived at Orlando just fine,
was delivered to All Star Sports quickly,
BUT
found to our dismay that our rooms were NOT together.
The good news was that our immediate family DID have connecting rooms,
And she and my mom and DisneyGirl had connecting rooms,
But those two sets of rooms were on the opposite sides and different hallways of a building.
I wasnt too happy, especially since she was having to deal with this in an already fragile state of mind.
The CM said there was absolutely nothing he could do for her, and that she should ask Concierge.
I think I told her just to leave it and Id deal with it when we got there.
I was happy to hear that we were in the Football section, because I knew that was close to the Main Hall.
We climbed back in the van, and worked on getting some miles behind us.
DisneyGirl
The Chef
DangerBoy
The Inquisitor and Princess K
Bitsy
BabyCakes
Out the window.
More later...
). But, I wanted to get started on your TR.
nope!
