Magical Double Dip Trip Report (11/11/06)

[Vanvmom]

I'm hoping to get the report completed soon. I took tonight to book flight and rental car for So. CA trip this month. We'll only be in town for a couple days before DH goes back to China, and at this point we don't know if we'll do DL for a day (the crowds may be too crazy) or if we'll try that "studio" in Hollywood that the kid's have never been too.

 

[Vanvmom]

Magic Kingdom!

We'd heard this park was most like Disneyland, and true, it does have many of the same attractions. We took the Disney transportation over to the park from the Dolphin. I was amazed at the intricacy of the transportation system, yet a bit disappointed that our bus stops at three resorts before getting to the park, so the bus gets pretty crowded (although my boys liked to stand, it made me a bit nervous having the 6 year old standing on a moving bus - here in CA, he's still supposed to ride in a booster seat).

We'd also been told about the park tickets at WDW being linked to your finger print. What we experienced each day was that as long as we had all 5 tickets, we got in. On the children's tickets, the light on the reader goes green to admit you even before my son could put his finger on the print reader. I'm not sure how I felt about that one. Oh well. First ride of the day was of course the train (it's a Disney tradition we have).

We stopped at the closest stop to Tomorrow Land and got off the train to meet up with our friends. First a photo op:

This photo best shows the distance between the "lands" at MK.

We rode Space Mountain first. I like the DL one better. There is music, the cars seat more people, and the seat backs are higher. It is still a BLAST, but I prefer the DL one. After exploring Tomorrow Land we headed toward the castle.

Then over to Adventure Land to check out Tiki Room, POTC, and Jungle Cruise. We had to get FastPasses for Jungle Cruise. It had a 70 minute stand by wait time. I've NEVER seen the line at DL this long for Jungle Cruise! We loved the trip though. New jokes, funny captain (or should I say swim instructor), we got to see the butterflies known as "plasticus mechanicus," the root canal, and Shirley's Temple. Very fun!

Time for lunch. This time we did find a taco place instead of pizza or turkey legs. They seemed to have a bit of a communication problem though. The gal who took our order said they only had bottled drinks, yet instead they only had drinks in cups. They also ran out of beans (you could order a meal with 2 tacos, beans and rice - or just tacos). They sold several meals, but had people waiting over 15 minutes for them to cook more beans (meanwhile they kept selling the meals). Didn't make much sense to us. They offered us jello instead of beans. Sure if it meant no wait, but no quite as filling, and I'm sure we paid much more for the jello than we should have - but that's another story. At least the tacos were yummy!

The cue for POTC was much more fun than the one at DL. We took this photo at Downtown Disney, but it just fits so well with the POTC ride part of the report, that I had to post it earlier.

The ride is much shorter than the one in DL though. We were at DL the day that the attraction re-opened after the "Depp" refurbishment, and WDW got the same changes that DL did.

Tiki Room is different at WDW than at DL, and we liked the differences. I enjoy the DL show too, so I can't really say which is better- they're just different.

For dinner that night we'd decided to meet up with most of the people from our Elk Grove cruising travel group at Fulltons Crab House in Downtown Disney. It is HARD to get a ressie anywhere in WDW for 16 people, but we managed! Yummy crab cakes, but I miss the free desserts on the cruise!

Then we went back into MK (for extended hours) and let the kids drive the cars (Autopia at DL) but Indy in MK. This was always a favorite of mine as a kid, and my boys love it too! I just wish I could get the 6 year old to stop driving with his feet We also had to go ride Jungle Cruise again, and Thunder Mountain (we have a family tradition to ride both of these after dark each trip). Then back to the hotel to get some sleep so that we could get up for Early Entry at AK the next morning.

 

[woody73]

. . . Yummy crab cakes, but I miss the free desserts on the cruise! . . .

Me too!

 

[Vanvmom]

Me too!

I still miss them! WAY better than any of the Christmas cookies around my house. And with my oldest DS having a birthday tomorrow, I'd sure prefer to have room service deliver a cake than make one myself!

 

[Vanvmom]

Yes, even with vacation coming to an end, we had to burn the candle at both ends! Late night at MK followed by early entry to AK. Of course we had to check out of the hotel first so that we could stay at the park as long as possible before we headed to the airport. Packing again so soon was hard, but as nice as the hotel was... we missed the weird towel animals from the cruise (and we did have some WIERD ones).

As we drove into the almost empty parking lot for AK we were telling the boys that DL used to look like this (before CA Adventure park was built). They didn't believe us! I wish I had photos from "pre-parking structure days" to show them. We met up with our friends by the AK tree and took some photos (yes, we take a LOT of photos - over 600 on this trip). Be happy you don't have to see them all - remember your uncle's vacation slide shows...I won't go there!

We quickly made our way back to Expedition Everest! Along the way we were trying to find a place to get some food (at DL there are many shops and stands along main street that sell muffins, fruit, nuts, juice, etc). We settled for trail mix from a gift shop. Yes, in this area I prefer the options at DL, but then DL does NOT have Expedition Everest!

We got Fastpasses, and decided to stand in the 20 minute line as well. Very entertaining cue (I'll save you from the many photos I took in line). Youngest son and I got to ride in the very first row! SCAREY and such a blast! In the front row you can actually see the track flip as you transition from going backwards to going forwards again. This ride brought up much debate in my family... does it go upside down while in the dark, or just corkscrew? Anyone know???

After two expeditions, we decided it was time for a Safari (for some real food, that is)! We walked toward the dinosaurs (no food), but the kids got in line for a Meteor coaster. While we waited, and waited, and waited... a funny/embarrassing thing happened. Well, funny for me... pretty embarrassing for my friend. We're standing waiting for the kids and husbands to get off the ride (which happened to break down right before they rode it), a woman with 2 children and a strong southern accent came up behind us and asked my friend if she knew "that you have a toilet seat protector hanging on your butt." Well NO of course she didn't know this! Hello, we're not out to make that kind of fashion statement! We laughed and laughed and I took a photo!

So time for a real Safari, Disney style. We've been to many zoos, but nothing where the animals are a close as they are on the Safari. It was WONDERFUL!

A quick lunch (pizza again), and a walk around the Tree of Life (incredible!) and we had to say good-bye to our friends and head to the airport.

The flight home was not as great as the flight to FL. We traveled from MCO to LAX with a rowdy and messy team of 13-15 year old select soccer players (with coaches that ignored them). The flight attendants were a bit sour about it and sort of took it out on all of us- or maybe just those of us with kids. I got to sit next to a gentleman who snored in my general direction most of the flight (and no, it was not my husband - he was snoring behind me). My seat would not recline (again)! How do I get these seats?! Then the gentleman next to me wakes up mid flight, looks at his watch and says in a panicked voice "why haven't we landed yet?!" I calmed replied that it was because the flight was only half over. Seemed to make sense to me! I'm guessing he forgot about the time change. We also ran into some turbulence a few times during the flight - once while my middle son was in the bathroom. The plane was jumping up and down and he came back to his seat with a very nervous expression. I told him nothing was wrong, it was just wind currents, and he seemed to relax a bit.

We arrived in LAX, and the gate for our connecting flight was right across the hallway. WOW! I didn't think that type of thing happened at LAX. On our flight from LAX to SMF, my husband talked with a gentleman across the row from him who's family had just got back from Hawaii. It seems this man is also an Engineer, went to the same college as my husband, and flies to Asia almost as much as my husband, so they had a lot to talk about.
When we arrived in SMF it was foggy (and midnight, so fog is a normal thing). After the plane landed the pilot told us that due to the weather conditions, the autopilot landed the plane. WOW, thanks for telling us after we landed. I don't think I'd want to know that before hand.

All our luggage arrived (almost undamaged), and our ride home was waiting at the curb for us.

It was a great vacation!

 

[GrayFal]

To Quote Wendy "It was a GREAT vacation!"

Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

 

[woody73]

. . . a woman . . . asked my friend if she knew "that you have a toilet seat protector hanging on your butt."

Too funny!

Woody

 

[Babs417]

that was great thankyou

 

[ibouncetoo]

While we waited, and waited, and waited... a funny/embarrassing thing happened. Well, funny for me... pretty embarrassing for my friend. We're standing waiting for the kids and husbands to get off the ride (which happened to break down right before they rode it), a woman with 2 children and a strong southern accent came up behind us and asked my friend if she knew "that you have a toilet seat protector hanging on your butt."

Hmmmm, that seemed to be going around on this trip.

 

[woody73]

. . . The flight attendants were a bit sour about it and sort of took it out on all of us - or maybe just those of us with kids.

That's just not right. It would never happen if Disney ran the airlines.

Woody

 

[Vanvmom]

That's just not right. It would never happen if Disney ran the airlines.

Woody

True. DH was considering filing a complaint with United. He is a "premeire" flyer, and normally flies business class. Since we were together as a family we were flying with standard tickets. I told him that now he knows how the normal folk get treated. Here is an example:

We were in the last two rows of the plane. Soccer players were in the middle of the plane. This is the exchange when the Flight Attendant got to us to take our beverage order (now I know, on many airlines now that alone is a "perk"):

FA: (tosses us each a bag of pretzels) Drink?
Me: Yes, can we please get some Sprite?
FA: (in a very snippy tone) We're out.
Me: Can we get Ginger Ale instead?
FA: You're sharing right? (on the flight out, we were each given our own can with a cup of ice)
Me: (sort of shocked by her attititude) Well... okay.
FA: Fills the cups, hands them to me, and leaves.

She never came back to offer more (like on previous flights), but was back in less than 10 minutes to collect the garbage. I wasn't done yet, and I got an eye roll. Yes, an eye roll. I was shocked. Did she actually think I didn't see her, or did she truly not care? Now I felt sorry for her about the soccer playing teens making a mess and noise in the middle of the plane, but their behavior was bothering ME too. She had NO reason to treat MY family the way she did. MY kids were sitting still and keeping quiet, obviously I was "parenting" my children! This treatment was not reflective of our previous flights on United, and had we paid full price as opposed to flying with flight miles, I would have complained to the airlines.

 

[TiggersPal]

Dont even get me started on flight attendents and their duties... ask Jackie about the fight I got into with one before we flew to WDW before our cruise. THe ticket agents were making FUN of passengers asking questions. Rolling their eyes, etc. I began a tirade to my sister and was interrupted by a flight attendent sitting two seats down from her who was eavsdropping on the conversation.. I was going into how their lack of customer service and treatment of people is going down, and how they rarely have an education, and no skills that could get them a job in the "regular" job market (I know I know I was being over the top and rude) and then he said ... WE SAVE LIVES!

That's funny because my friend doesn't even know cpr and fly with Northwest. I had an incident where someone passed out on a flight right next to me (in the aisle) they didn't get a wet washcloth for her, or water or ANYTHING. They just stood there...

I had to ask if they'd get a pillow for her head, a cloth to wipe her face (she was over heated) ...it was ridiculous!

They did ask if there was a doctor on board (whoopee I could of done that).

I know on Southwest AIrlines they will often go into a "comedic" type mode to lighten up the flight - but it appears that they have toned that down too.

People are traveling more and more and I think they are over worked and are getting too grumpy with their customers.

They are paying less and less these days, now my friend makes 50K (has no office skills) but does have degree and a masters (she taught school the last year) -but she's back to flying because the red tape of administration in schools and lack ofmoney made her return to flying!!!!

She only makes that money because she's been with them for 20 years! She did get on the reserve police force and after her training is complete will be a cop full time.

Ok, I'm done with my beef.

 

[woody73]

. . . had we paid full price as opposed to flying with flight miles, I would have complained to the airlines.

IMHO, you deserved to be treated better, regardless of whether you paid cash or used miles.

Thanks again for an enjoyable trip report.

Woody

 

[Vanvmom]

I agree Woody! To my knowledge, they have no idea beyond passenger names as to how anyone is flying (miles vs. full fare). DH flies so much that some years he is "Premeire," and some years "Gold" in their mileage programs. I'm guessing that they just think that no one really has a choice, and they can treat them any way they like to. You know, treat first class well because they pay more, and the rest just get whatever!

I really didn't expect this out of United. He always has a choice with which airline he flies, and picks United because they normally provide better service. He once flew China Air, and got treated poorly in comparison to the Chinese passengers, so he's not flown them since. We've been treated poorly on Delta, so pass on them too. Southwest is just plain crazy at the terminal. It seems everyone has some reason that they need to board first, and because of this we can never end up sitting together as a family. We pass on them for longer flights, but will be flying Southwest later this month. I've already told the boys that we will likely be all split up on the flight.

 

[GrayFal]

I agree Woody! To my knowledge, they have no idea beyond passenger names as to how anyone is flying (miles vs. full fare). DH flies so much that some years he is "Premeire," and some years "Gold" in their mileage programs. I'm guessing that they just think that no one really has a choice, and they can treat them any way they like to. You know, treat first class well because they pay more, and the rest just get whatever!

I really didn't expect this out of United. He always has a choice with which airline he flies, and picks United because they normally provide better service. He once flew China Air, and got treated poorly in comparison to the Chinese passengers, so he's not flown them since. We've been treated poorly on Delta, so pass on them too. Southwest is just plain crazy at the terminal. It seems everyone has some reason that they need to board first, and because of this we can never end up sitting together as a family. We pass on them for longer flights, but will be flying Southwest later this month. I've already told the boys that we will likely be all split up on the flight.

Wendy, with southwest you can now 'check in' online 24 hours before your flight so you should all be able to get an "A" boarding pass if you do it right at the 24 hour mark......

My husband stated when we got home and people were asking him about the cruise and our time at WDW - "I wish I could hire people like Disney" As Woody said, 'if Disney ran the airline, they would operate it in a courteous manner'....we are very spoiled by that darn good customer service and treatment we receive thru Disney

 

[Vanvmom]

Wendy, with southwest you can now 'check in' online 24 hours before your flight so you should all be able to get an "A" boarding pass if you do it right at the 24 hour mark......

My husband stated when we got home and people were asking him about the cruise and our time at WDW - "I wish I could hire people like Disney" As Woody said, 'if Disney ran the airline, they would operate it in a courteous manner'....we are very spoiled by that darn good customer service and treatment we receive thru Disney

You are SO right about our being spoiled by Disney. That's one of the reasons we'd be afraid to cruise with any other line. The parks are beyond compare too. We're going to Universal Studios in a few weeks, and as fun as it will be, I'm sure we will quickly notice how "Disney does xyz better." We took the kids to Legoland a few years ago, and were very disappointed. I'm sure there are people who love it, but Disney just excels in so many areas.

We know about the check-in, but we're traveling early on the 26th. I'm not sure I will be able to get the kids to wait on Christmas morning for me to check us in first before they go check out their goodies from Santa. Hopefully people flying on the 26th will be in good moods, but that may be too much to wish for.

 

[woody73]

. . . Disney just excels in so many areas.

Amen!

Woody