~How TWO trips became...who knows? ~ It's a TRIP! and an upgrade.... 4/22

[maroo]

You guys will want to check THIS out, too!!

And...MODS - Please keep this pre-trip thread open...my trips on here are not done yet and this will remain my pre-trip report!

 

[maroo]

Very STRESSED!!!

Warning...STRESS is going to come pouring out of this post........


I think I have stress in every area of my life right now.

My home loan folks messed up my bank account...majorly. This actually happened BEFORE my trip, but has not been completely resolved yet...although they did put back the $1200.00 they took out of my account without permission.

Work got crazy when my sweet boss had to take off to be with her daughter - who is only 38 years old and has been very sick for some time with cancer. We had her funeral today - and let me just say it was the saddest funeral I have ever been to...like I told someone else...I was "fine" until the very beginning and the family came out. She has 4 beautiful children - a LOT of friends and family that will miss her very much.

So, I am doing two jobs...mine and helping do some of my boss's stuff...Which is the least I can do with everything going on in her world.

So, I have been working late and this next trip has been sorta sneaking up on me....

I really, really, really don't want to slander any company. SO...If, because you listen to podcasts and such...you know what company I am referring to...I just ask that you not post it here.

But I am REALLY stressed about my trip.

This whole time I have been stressed - telling myself I am too Type A and need to relinquish control of having to call Disney MYSELF about everything about my trip. I had a nice gift certificate to use a travel agent and decided to let my first experience with one be really simple...no ADR's...I simply need a room at the POP for 3 nights during Marathon Weekend.

Now...

How. Hard. Can. THAT. Be!?!?!?!?!

I got a quote. Accepted it. She booked it. I even called Disney about it. All is well, but they can't give me the confirmation number because I am part of a "group"...ok...so maybe that is something TA's do, right?

But I am in a block of rooms at the POP. Ok.

So...it is 11 days before my vacation and I have NO - NONE - NO travel docs. So...I email her. And wait 24 hours. No answer. But it is the holidays...so I give her another day.

She wrote me back today and sent me my confirmation number and said she would check on why I was charged so much (THAT was another problem...but was masked by my major bank snafu earlier this month)....

So...I check my ME confirmation...wrong address.

And...

WRONG RESORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dudes.

Can't I just freaking stay at the POP for once?!?!?!?


They have me at French Quarter.

Nothing against French Quarter. But my friends...are all staying at POP! And my meets...at POP. And THAT is why it cost so much.

And I am from Mississippi.

I have no desire to stay at French Quarter.

I know. In the grand scheme of things...my life is really, really, really good.

But the lack of communication on this. The lack of control. It is killing me.

And do you think...during Marathon Weekend...they will have ANY room at the POP to move me?



Should I even go?

 

[maroo]

Ok.

I feel a little better!

I found a rental car for.......




DRUM ROLL PLEASE.........




















$49.94


And yes...

That is WITH TAXES AND FEES!!


YIPEE!!!!!


So...no matter where I end up staying.... at least I will have a car to get around.

 

[that's nice]

OH MY!

Sorry you are going through all this.

I'm sure everything will work out. I don't understand why they have you booked at POR? Is there any way to get you some compensation?

When I booked our October trip through a TA, I was emailed confirmations the same day I booked. I was also emailed my ADRs #s shortly after those were made as well. Is this lack of communication policy or laziness?

A rental for $50!!! That is a score!!!

 

[All7OfUs]

BREATHE! It'll be ok!

Maybe someone will trade with you ?!

 

[maroo]

It is a hard time of year for so many -

How is Rachel doing?

Rachel is doing well!

She has a pressure sore that she got in Disney - from us transferring her on a ride - that is still giving her problems, so she is home for a while to try to get that better. But overall she is doing really well! Thank you so much for asking.


Lauren is doing well, too. But the gravity of her illness is taking a toll on everyone around her. They are doing some major things that seem to take things to a whole new level for her...They are doing hand splints that are really fancy because her hands have gotten so contorted that she is having trouble doing things like writing and putting on her make up.

They are also ordering a very high dollar seat cushion made for people that can't move at all - because her strength is down greatly and she can no longer push herself up to do pressure relief (and get herself moved around in her chair) - so she is going to get an air seat of some kind that we can manipulate for her?

Add that to the things they are going to get to hold her head up - and it is like she is turning to stone or something...like she can't really use her own body to help her anymore. She is still with us in talking and learning, etc - but her body is just giving out.

OH MY!

Sorry you are going through all this.

I'm sure everything will work out. I don't understand why they have you booked at POR? Is there any way to get you some compensation?

When I booked our October trip through a TA, I was emailed confirmations the same day I booked. I was also emailed my ADRs #s shortly after those were made as well. Is this lack of communication policy or laziness?

A rental for $50!!! That is a score!!!

I don't know either. I don't know why they did it or how it happened or what they plan to do about it. I asked her to call me this morning and have not heard from her yet.

This was my first experience with a TA and has not been a good one all around. I didn't have any ADR's to be made...so I am not sure how they handle that. But I want my documents sooner than 7 days before I leave and she said that is normal (for them to mail them to arrive within 7 days).

I don't know if that is how the whole agency does it or just this particular agent and how much the holidays had to do with the lack of communication.

BREATHE! It'll be ok!

Maybe someone will trade with you ?!

Maybe so!

 

[maroo]

This is all referring to the JANUARY trip!
Dates: Jan 7-10
Event: Marathon Weekend - Spectator! and Meets!

Update!

Well...Turns out...In true Maroo fashion...

I was actually UPGRADED by Disney to POR French Quarter!

They actually did not notify my travel agent either and was planning to "walk me" over to POR FQ as an upgrade...I guess they wanted me to be surprised?

That checking in online deal sorta ruins the surprise now, doesn't it!

The TA gave them my name as one of the people that they would prefer to be upgraded - which was very nice! It was just a lack of communication between Disney and the TA. I am sure the TA would have LOVED to call me with the news.

However...to add to the confusion...Disney accidently charged me for the upgrade. (No fair! ) So they are going to credit that back to my account.

They offered to move me back...but I am ok with staying in a Mod - it will be nice to have a fridge! And I have the cheap car...so I won't have any trouble getting to any of my meets.

A good nights sleep does wonders!

So...next update...I will attempt to give you guys a schedule for this next trip!!

 

[Matt1026]

Oh my my head is just swirling reading all of this. I can only imagine what your head is like. But on the other side of this moutain awaits Disney.

One victory on the car rental. Praying for you girl!

 

[StefaniLyn]

This is all referring to the JANUARY trip!
Dates: Jan 7-10
Event: Marathon Weekend - Spectator! and Meets!

Update!

Well...Turns out...In true Maroo fashion...

I was actually UPGRADED by Disney to POR French Quarter!

They actually did not notify my travel agent either and was planning to "walk me" over to POR FQ as an upgrade...I guess they wanted me to be surprised?

That checking in online deal sorta ruins the surprise now, doesn't it!

The TA gave them my name as one of the people that they would prefer to be upgraded - which was very nice! It was just a lack of communication between Disney and the TA. I am sure the TA would have LOVED to call me with the news.

However...to add to the confusion...Disney accidently charged me for the upgrade. (No fair! ) So they are going to credit that back to my account.

They offered to move me back...but I am ok with staying in a Mod - it will be nice to have a fridge! And I have the cheap car...so I won't have any trouble getting to any of my meets.

A good nights sleep does wonders!

So...next update...I will attempt to give you guys a schedule for this next trip!!

Woo hoo! I should have guessed it! What a nice er . . . um SURPRISE! for you! Not so nice surprise being billed for it! I'm glad the situation has worked out and the upgrade will truly be complimentary but will you EVER get to stay at POP? Really?

I think their surprised could have used a little more planning. That online check in (and your inability to check in where you should have checked in) was a dead giveaway. And the whole accidental overcharge . . . .um Oops! I'm so happy it is all working out for you!

 

[kdzbear]

I am so glad that everything worked out with your January trip. You will love the French Quarter. You can take a boat to DTD! It is a relaxing ride at night!

I love the update on Rachel and Lauren. I keep praying for them both. I am sorry that Lauren is having so much trouble getting her body to work with her.

I am also sorry to hear about your boss's daughter. I have been praying for her as well. Did she at least get to spend Christmas with her family?

I hope you are well. You deserve the upgrade. You do so much for everyone here on the boards. Thank you for all you do!

 

[maroo]

I am so glad that everything worked out with your January trip. You will love the French Quarter. You can take a boat to DTD! It is a relaxing ride at night!

I have some serious research to do on the French Quarter! I don't know anything about their transportation or anything.

I love the update on Rachel and Lauren. I keep praying for them both. I am sorry that Lauren is having so much trouble getting her body to work with her.

I am hoping the things they do for her wheelchair will help her.

I am also sorry to hear about your boss's daughter. I have been praying for her as well. Did she at least get to spend Christmas with her family?

Honestly...the SADDEST situation. I have seen some sad situations and been to dozens of funerals - but I have never been to a sadder service. She was a Believer - so she is in a much better place - but she has left behing 4 children. The whole service was all about what a great Mom she was - so sweet to her kids and LOVED being a Mom.

The whole time she was in the hospital she kept asking to just go home to be with her kids. But she was very, very ill. Her kids rarely saw her the last few weeks because she was just so very sick and her husband wisely did not want them to see her like that. They did get to say goodbye - as well as 2 year old twins and two older (6-9 ish?) kids can.

She did not get home for Christmas - although she went Home just a few hours later - in the wee hours of the morning the day after Christmas.

I think her oncologist said it best when she said, "Some of my patients teach me how to die, but she taught me how to live...what is important in life."



I hope you are well. You deserve the upgrade. You do so much for everyone here on the boards. Thank you for all you do!

You are so sweet. Funny how I really wanted to try the POP this time! But it will be fun to try another resort, too! I can try to stay at POP another time.

Oh my my head is just swirling reading all of this. I can only imagine what your head is like. But on the other side of this moutain awaits Disney.

One victory on the car rental. Praying for you girl!

My head has been spinning for a couple of weeks. I hope it slows down soon.

Thanks for praying!

Woo hoo! I should have guessed it! What a nice er . . . um SURPRISE! for you! Not so nice surprise being billed for it! I'm glad the situation has worked out and the upgrade will truly be complimentary but will you EVER get to stay at POP? Really?

I think their surprised could have used a little more planning. That online check in (and your inability to check in where you should have checked in) was a dead giveaway. And the whole accidental overcharge . . . .um Oops! I'm so happy it is all working out for you!

lol Wondering the same thing!

Well...I am glad I did online check in - now I can at least do a bit of research on the resort!

 

[pipersmom]

Ohh..so glad it was a complimentary upgrade! I can just imagine how big your eyes got when you got the charges for it though. Hooray for a cheap rental car too!

So sorry you're having to deal with so much stress related to health issues with your friends, though I can't think of a better friend to have on one's side than you must be in that type of situation. Hopefully the trip will be a nice respite/recharge for you.

 

[Sandy321]

What a mess! Glad you finally made contacts and got your ... upgrade! (somehow I was going to guess that )

POFQ is smaller than POR - its a good thing - - their food court has beniets - I'd love beniets!! Sometimes they share a bus with POR - - sometimes not! I was so upset with the busses at POR we decided to walk to POFQ for the first bus, what a mistake! it was far

I cant wait to meet you!!

Pop meet is at 4:30 - dont be late! (I was late in '08 buss issues!) for your great deal on the rental car!! I so was hoping to be able to rent a car - but we'll be fine!!

cant wait to eat at Cape May!


I mentioned my BFF who passed with CF before, but like all the special Angels that touch our lives, she truly taught me so much about patience, love, friendship - Life... Gone, but never forgotten!! I bought one of those cement sayings that's outside of my steps to my house... "If tears could build a stairway And memories could build a lane We would walk right up to Heaven And bring you back again " Life is short, live every moment!

 

[jordanyosh]

How nice to get an upgrade! Blessing from the big Honcho upstairs, I'm sure.

 

[All7OfUs]

Glad we were able to "talk" this morning; if I hadn't heard it from you directly, I'd have never believed it--- well, ok, maybe i would have, after all you are "MAROOOOOO"!!!!

 

[maroo]

Ohh..so glad it was a complimentary upgrade! I can just imagine how big your eyes got when you got the charges for it though. Hooray for a cheap rental car too!

So sorry you're having to deal with so much stress related to health issues with your friends, though I can't think of a better friend to have on one's side than you must be in that type of situation. Hopefully the trip will be a nice respite/recharge for you.

I am now getting really excited about the upgrade! At first I was just...meh. Like...maybe I should switch with someone that would be excited! But now I am excited...more on that to come.

And the cheap rental! Awesome!

www.mousesavers.com is my friend.

I know...they are all stressed...and I am stressed...which is not a good combination. But things seem to be settling down some.

I am excited about this trip! This is going to sound bad...but this one...this one is about me - what I want to do - where I want to go. Which is nice after coming off a trip that was not about me.

What a mess! Glad you finally made contacts and got your ... upgrade! (somehow I was going to guess that )

Yeah...I guess I should have guessed that, too. I thought someone had really messed up.

POFQ is smaller than POR - its a good thing - - their food court has beniets - I'd love beniets!! Sometimes they share a bus with POR - - sometimes not! I was so upset with the busses at POR we decided to walk to POFQ for the first bus, what a mistake! it was far

I am excited about those beniets! I bet they share a bus this time because it will be such a slow time of the year - but I am ok with that! It will be fun to do a little research for our Sept trip, too!

I cant wait to meet you!!

I can't wait either!!!

Pop meet is at 4:30 - dont be late! (I was late in '08 buss issues!) for your great deal on the rental car!! I so was hoping to be able to rent a car - but we'll be fine!!

Eeek...I am not sure I am going to make the POP meet...I *may* be there...not sure yet. I have several groups of folks I am meeting and one is about that time...but we will see! I will DEFINITELY see you on Saturday!

cant wait to eat at Cape May!

Me either! I am excited about it!


I mentioned my BFF who passed with CF before, but like all the special Angels that touch our lives, she truly taught me so much about patience, love, friendship - Life... Gone, but never forgotten!! I bought one of those cement sayings that's outside of my steps to my house... "If tears could build a stairway And memories could build a lane We would walk right up to Heaven And bring you back again " Life is short, live every moment!

This is so true...life is short - live every moment!

How nice to get an upgrade! Blessing from the big Honcho upstairs, I'm sure.

Very true! He has blessed me more than I deserve!

Glad we were able to "talk" this morning; if I hadn't heard it from you directly, I'd have never believed it--- well, ok, maybe i would have, after all you are "MAROOOOOO"!!!!

Me, too! You wouldn't have believed me?

 

[maroo]

ok...

So I promised PLANS!

This is all in reference to the JANUARY trip - Marathon Weekend!

Thursday:

I work half a day - 7:00 to 11:00. So...I gotta get fully packed and ready to go before work! Car loaded, etc! Woo Hoo!

11:00 - drive thru Wendy's and head to the airport. Flight leaves at 12:20 PM.

Arrive MCO at 3:00 PM. No checked luggage. Straight to rental car kiosk check in.

IF I am running on time by now, I am heading to the Animal Kingdom. They close at 5:00 PM - but I have one goal - to ride EE as many times as I can before they close. Being a single rider - I maybe be able to get quite a few rides in - assuming I can get there around 4 or so.

After AK (or straight there if I am running late) I will head to the resort to check in. I have done online check in - so this should be relatively easy.

I may take a few minutes to get settled and get off my feet and catch up on news, etc.

Then to MK! I love the MK at night! And discovered on past trips that I don't feel like I am at Disney until I have been to the MK! Eat at Casey's. Maybe ride a few rides?

at 8:00 PM - hop on the monorail to Epcot. Some of my Disney friends are meeting for Illuminations.

All parks will be closed after Illuminations...so either to Yee Haw Bob or back to my room!

THIS is one thing I am excited about staying at POFQ - There are several folks that want to Yee Haw Bob meets this weekend over a couple of different nights - and I will be a short bus ride away!

Still working on the rest! So those will have to wait!

I hope everyone has a GREAT New Year's EVE - and Happy New Year!!

 

[All7OfUs]

I really hope you can make it to AK by 4:00, but I"m a wee bit dubious. So let me get this straight:

3:00 Landing
4:00 AK
5:00 Head to MK
8:00 Head to EPCOT
Illuminations
9:30 back to POR for Yeehaw Bob

Will be tight, but should be do-able.

Are you doing all your food OOP??

 

[StefaniLyn]

Your plans are very ambitious! How far is the airport from your work?

And please refresh my memory . . . Yee Haw Bob? Who/What is that?

I hope you have a wonderful New Year's as well!

 

[maroo]

I really hope you can make it to AK by 4:00, but I"m a wee bit dubious. So let me get this straight:

3:00 Landing * Yep!
4:00 AK * Eek...maybe.
5:00 Head to MK * Probably not this early...closer to 6?
8:00 Head to EPCOT
Illuminations
9:30 back to POR for Yeehaw Bob

Will be tight, but should be do-able.

Are you doing all your food OOP??

I just discovered that they are showing SPECTRO (7:00) and WISHES (8:00) - Spectro was added this night! So...I am thinking I will try to ride some outside stuff while Spectro is going on...would be cool to just be around doing stuff while Spectro was going. Then I want to be right by Casey's when it is time to watch WISHES - it is my FAVORITE! THEN I will head to Epcot (with the masses...I know...but I can be fashionably late to my little meet. I walk fast. )

After Illuminations...I may be tired...may go back to my room? Depends....we may be scheduling a Yee Haw Bob meet on Saturday?

Your plans are very ambitious! How far is the airport from your work?

Very close - only 15 minutes. And my airport...it is TINY! I think we have a total of 12 gates and 4 or 5 are in one direction and another few in another - so security is not a big deal (well, security IS, but there are not long lines to get thru it). So...I can easily make it on a plane getting there 30 min before (if I am checking luggage) and even 15 min before if I am just crazy. lol But I should have plenty of time. Last time I cut it this close I could not even start my car and was able to get my car jumped off and STILL made it on time. (But drenched in sweat!)

And please refresh my memory . . . Yee Haw Bob? Who/What is that?

I don't fully know... He does a comedy? singing? show at Port Orleans Riverside. LOTS of people say he is really, really good. We will see and I will let you guys know when I get back!

I hope you have a wonderful New Year's as well!

I have had a GREAT first day of the New Year!