Lots of Characters, Lots of Firsts but Lots of Drama: Why We Say NEVER AGAIN!! 3/21

[Charlefours]

yay you finally made it. I was seriously cracking up picturing your MIL freaking out about the snakes. I was laughing even harder because I would probably be the same way. I live in the city where we never see snakes. So that would have been a culture shock for me.

Dont feel bad about being a B**** I threw a temper tantrum or two on our trip too. Everyone gets over it.

Thanks Lindsay! Glad I could make you laugh.

 

[Charlefours]

You did good going along with the family wanting to stop for food & I'm sure it was cheaper than Pepper's Market but that would've been a test of patience for me too

I was not too fond of stopping but it worked out fine.

 

[Charlefours]

All caught up! That sounds like a LONG drive, but it sounds like you handled it well. I would probably have been the one freaking out about snakes, but I know nothing about snakes! I read here on the dis that people have found them in their hotel rooms and I tried to convince DH not to stay on the ground floor (it didn't work. DH is in no way afraid of snakes.)

I completely understand not wanting to stop so close to Disney. Really, it's great that you let them stop and eat. I am not sure I would have been so kind!

I almost cried when I saw pictures of the hotel. SO wonderful to be there! I can't imagine what it felt like driving through the gates!!!

It was a long drive, but doable. I am not saying I really have any real desire to do it again on our upcoming trip though.

I got goosebumps when we finally arrived!!

 

[Charlefours]

Yay, you're there! CSR looks absolutely beautiful. I love the colors!

I would've reacted the same way you did if we were that close to Disney and someone wanted to stop. No worries!

It was a great resort Jenny. Thanks for being kind about my drama moment.

 

[Charlefours]

I'm late but I'm in

to my TR! You are not late, so don't worry about it. It will be slow moving TR because I have so much going on at the moment that I do not have as much time to DIS as I would like.

 

[Charlefours]

YAY, you made it!

I have to agree with many others that I would have had the exact same response to stopping 15min before WDW to eat.

DMIL was funny about the snakes, while snakes freak me out a little I'm very laid back and would have laughed thinking she was kidding.

Can't wait to hear about CSR, we stayed there once around 12yrs ago.

I'm glad everyone is being kind about my drama moment. I just was like we are so close!! Oh no, she was not kidding. I could tell by her tone and face that she was not. She was perfectly serious about it.

I hope to do a resort review soon!

 

[Charlefours]

Whooo hooo, you made it! I had to LOL about the snakes. *** for the need for food 15 min before Disney, I'm with Sophia, I would have tossed him in the back with an uncrustable and said, "take outta tide you over till we get there" You get big kudos from me!! Great pics of the sign and CSR

LOL Mary! Throw him in the back with a crustable Its fine, it worked out just took a bit longer to get there. I was sitting watching my watch the whole time though.

Thanks! The resort was beautiful.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

Joining in...I would have acted the same way too...I can smell Disney and but have to stop for food...
I love to scrapbook too but too bad I'm 2 years behind my son album.

 

[dismagiclover]

So happy that you made it! Now the fun (and I'd guess the real drama) can begin!

 

[Charlefours]

I left you hanging at the point of our arrival. We had just pulled into the short term parking. I know I posted this picture but I want to point out something, so here it is again:

See the lovely bus? It was the Cruise Line bus, dropping off a busload of people. Needless to say, I was not overly thrilled with arriving at the same time as them.

We all get out of the van to walk into El Centro. There seemed to be a mob of people so I got over the idea real quick of beating them inside. So I walk into El Centro, and I hear “Steph!” The rest of the traveling party had just arrived shortly before us. DGM, DGP, DBF and DBFDH were sitting by the fountain.

Drama Incident 3

As I just mentioned, the other four traveling with us were in El Centro. They had just gotten dropped off by their taxi driver and the scooter company was walking DGM on how to use it. I say hello and then go to get into line to check in. DGM does not say hello, not how are you doing, how was the drive--nothing. What does she say—our MNSSHP were not in the packet. I said I have them. She wanted to keep talking to me but I just looked at her and said I want to go get my family checked in like you already are. I left and go into line. She was not happy with me!

Mind you I had told her no less than three times I had all the MNSSHP tickets as I ordered them for the whole group. They came to me and I would give them to them. She had said multiple times over the phone and in person over the summer how glad she was I took on the responsibility of planning the trip. She was just along for the ride. So what does she do as soon as she sees me? Jumps on me because they did not have their tickets to an event that was not happening for four days. This was not a promising start to our vacation together at Disney.

So DFIL and I go to get into line and remember the Cruise Line bus? The online check in line was probably 30 people deep. I elected to NOT try online check in and I quickly located the other line. There was one person ahead of us. Before too long, we were both called over by Cast Members to begin our check in process. Michelle is the CM we had and she was just amazing! I found out we were assigned Ranchos 7A, room number 7358 which is on the third floor. I politely said we had requested ground floor because of those traveling with us had medical issues. She looked and said because of the Grand Gathering, this is where we had ended up. I said is there an elevator in the building and she said yes so I said that these rooms would be fine. She said are you sure—I can look for new ones. I said nope, these would work since there is an elevator. She got us our Key to the World cards, Lily’s birthday and First Visit buttons, parking permit and we were set. The whole process, including waiting in time briefly, took 15 minutes. Not bad at all!! (Because I was so distracted by DGM and her jumping on me, I did not get any pictures taken this day of the inside of El Centro ).

Of course afterward, DGM still needed to talk with right that moment. I went over to see what she needed from me. She clarified, again, with me that I had the Halloween party tickets and I reassured her I did. I explained (again ) I had them all since I ordered them all. I asked if she wanted them now. She said no, you can hold onto them. Just shoot me now!! She asked if we wanted to go get something to eat but I explained to her we had stopped on our way in. She said she needed to eat so I said that sounds great to me. We wanted to go unpack our things. I said just to give me a call once they were finished, or come find us at our room. We separated; they went to eat and we went to go unpack.

We got back into our van and drove around the resort to our room building. We found it easy enough but were slightly confused on where the elevator was at. We eventually found it and up to the third floor we went. I was surprised to find out at that point we had been upgraded to the courtyard view.

Drama Incident 4

As you can imagine, at this point all I wanted to do was get things unloaded so we can go to MK!! Lilian had asked many times if we were going to go to Disney today and we reassured her we were, we need to unload the van first. What does my Dad do?

He finds the stupid TV remote to turn on the TV. I told him we did not drive all this way to sit in the room today. He glared at me and I said fine, you can stay here but we are heading off. He threw the remote down and went out in a huff.

DH, in the meantime, had used the restroom and then started to head out the door to unpack the van. Dad joined him but I heard him complaining about it but DH stuck up for me. He said Lilian had been looking forward to going to MK to see the Castle all morning and that is what the goal was for today. He shut up after that.

Up Next: A Gift and Pictures of our Room and the View--would we ever get to MK?

 

[KatMark]

Steph, that is a great update (I also chimed in on the one of your DH wanting to eat, but I think I was ini between your updates or something). I love that your DH stood up for you with your dad and that you were set on taking your daughter to the MK. Glad your wait in line wasn't too long. I love the picture of the front of the CSR with the bus in front (can I use that photo as I update the CSR thread?).

 

[mommyof2Pirates]

Oh steph I honestly feel your pain of dealing with everyone. That is exactly how it would go if we had included everyone on our trip too. You are a brave and better women for taking it all on. I cant wait to read more. Great update

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Great updates! and whoa!!! on the honesty

I have to say I have never seen the poisonious snake sign at a rest area; but, I guess traveling along I10 they figure we should know about them.

On our road trip mom wanted to stop to at before we stopped; but, we went in the back way and the first thing we had seen was the Disney signs...your lunch was definately cheaper than ours.

Danny does that whenever we walk in to a hotel room; grabs the remote ...it's like his brain does not function without the noise.

you and the gang have arrived...so, I can't wait for the magic to begin and hear about Lillian's first view of MK and the castle

Connie

P.S. traveling with other groups and freinds is ALOT different than traveling with family...you just walk away!

 

[Charlefours]

Joining in...I would have acted the same way too...I can smell Disney and but have to stop for food...
I love to scrapbook too but too bad I'm 2 years behind my son album.

to my TR! Glad to have you here. I refuse to feel behind on my scrapbooking so I don't do chronological scrapbooking most of the time. Are you a traditional or digital scrapbooker?

 

[Charlefours]

So happy that you made it! Now the fun (and I'd guess the real drama) can begin!

Thanks Jenny!

 

[Charlefours]

Steph, that is a great update (I also chimed in on the one of your DH wanting to eat, but I think I was ini between your updates or something). I love that your DH stood up for you with your dad and that you were set on taking your daughter to the MK. Glad your wait in line wasn't too long. I love the picture of the front of the CSR with the bus in front (can I use that photo as I update the CSR thread?).

Thanks Kathy! I think I replied back to you previously, but I will go back and check. I'm glad I am not the only one would want to keep pressing on to Disney.

I'll respond back about the picture in a PM.

 

[disney<333]

Sounds like a get together with my mom. I have a feeling the two of them could be great friends.
Yay for being upgraded!

 

[Charlefours]

Oh steph I honestly feel your pain of dealing with everyone. That is exactly how it would go if we had included everyone on our trip too. You are a brave and better women for taking it all on. I cant wait to read more. Great update

Thanks Lindsay! I told you all from the get go if I were going to do a TR, I would be honest. This is our trip, this is what we spent, this is what we did, this is what I learned and so on so forth. Not a TR everyone is going to like, which is why I put the disclaimer up front.

 

[Charlefours]

Great updates! and whoa!!! on the honesty

I have to say I have never seen the poisonious snake sign at a rest area; but, I guess traveling along I10 they figure we should know about them.

On our road trip mom wanted to stop to at before we stopped; but, we went in the back way and the first thing we had seen was the Disney signs...your lunch was definately cheaper than ours.

Danny does that whenever we walk in to a hotel room; grabs the remote ...it's like his brain does not function without the noise.

you and the gang have arrived...so, I can't wait for the magic to begin and hear about Lillian's first view of MK and the castle

Connie

P.S. traveling with other groups and freinds is ALOT different than traveling with family...you just walk away!

Am I being too honest Connie? It does have good moments--I promise I am getting to them!! Seriously, we had a great time. We just know we would have had a much better time without all the extras around us.

 

[Charlefours]

Sounds like a get together with my mom. I have a feeling the two of them could be great friends.
Yay for being upgraded!

Yeah, that day was a rough one but sadly not the worse of the trip. The good news is the drama does die down towards the end of teh week--either that or I just ignored three-quarters of the things happening around me.