May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 4

[disneylover5]

Can't really answer that question

Received quite a few PM's asking . . . . so here a few of my favorites of my father and his flights.

http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/IMAGES/SMALL/GPN-2000-000143.jpg

http://www.collectspace.com/images/news-082305c.jpg

http://www.collectspace.com/images/news-082305b.jpg

http://jimsladesairlines.com/images/x15guys1962.jpg
The last three on the right are Neil Armstrong, Milt Thompson, and my Dad.

http://www.geocities.com/nmdecke/moviepics/biosx151.jpg

Below is a speech he made at the Smithsonian and is really technical, but can be interesting.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/history/Speeches/index.html

You dad is just the coolest!!!!

It is a cold day here today and a bit rainy! John has done some painting and I have been reading the Med blogs!

Hope the weekend is going well for everyone and you are having fun. Will be checking out the Bethany beach cam later!

Another nice day here in Bethany......it is 7:30am and I just finished the dineer dishes....to tired to do them last night. The neighborhood kids all decided to play in our front yard last night and at 10pm I think there was 30 kids outside.....they were haveing the time of their life chasing lighteneing bugs and laughing.....that is the way summer is supposed to be!!

Hello

It was raining this morning and now it had stopped raining, sunny come out but still cold.

I was reading about the Med blogs and I cannot wait to until 18th July also my parents in law had decided to come along with us on 18th July. We are happy with it will be nice for their 40th anniversary and mil will be 60th in August. Something special for them. I had booked for them last Friday as it was last minutes as Cat 12 stated gty so hopefully they will get upgrade

Scottishwee35

We downgraded out reservation on the MED to CAT 12 to save $5,000. We have not been assigned a room yet either.....but whereever we are will just be awesome!!

 

[disneylover5]

This is very random....as my teenagers would say.

The Catholic Church is not far from our house. Everyday (and a lot on Sunday) they play the bells before service for an entire song. I know the first Sunday service is 7:30am.....and they were just ringing. It sounds so wonderful!!

Yesterday, the song was HOLY HOLY HOLY and we were all singing along with the bells. My nephew's girlfriend is here with him (they just both graduated from Georgetown) and she has always lived in an urban downtown area. She was amazed at the bells....and called it "quaint"......I would never have thought of it that way, but she is right!!

 

[granmaz]

Don't forget to wave under the clock Lisa!

 

[granmaz]

I have found 2 interesting facts whilst I have been browsing.

We can already book Disney transfers from the port to DL at the end of our cruise.

If you have left over WDW tickets you can use them at DL!!!

 

[HollyTyler]

Holly,

I think that we had this conversation before, but DH is from Holland, not far from South Haven.

Small world!

Karen

Yup, I remembered!

 

[scottishwee35]

That will be lovely going on one of the Med cruises. We have to wait till December for our first ever cruise!!!!

Ah, I see that you have not been Disney Cruise before.

This is our second time with Disney Cruise, as this time will be Magic.

Last year, we were with Wonder Disney Cruise for 3 nights, with mil and we had a fabulous times. That why, mil want to go again. She said everything was good. (3 nights was not enough) as my son was crying when we left the ship. He said that his best holiday ever. Mil and I were holding our throats when he was sob sob

I am sure you both will enjoy it.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/scottishwee35/florida3130.jpg

Scottishwee35

 

[granmaz]

This is very random....as my teenagers would say.

The Catholic Church is not far from our house. Everyday (and a lot on Sunday) they play the bells before service for an entire song. I know the first Sunday service is 7:30am.....and they were just ringing. It sounds so wonderful!!

Yesterday, the song was HOLY HOLY HOLY and we were all singing along with the bells. My nephew's girlfriend is here with him (they just both graduated from Georgetown) and she has always lived in an urban downtown area. She was amazed at the bells....and called it "quaint"......I would never have thought of it that way, but she is right!!

That must be great to hear. I would be singing along too. Don't suppose everyone likes the bells ringing at 7.30am on Sunday morning though.

One city we used to live near played Christmas carols as bells(recorded) from the Town Hall clock.

 

[HollyTyler]

Ah, I see that you have not been Disney Cruise before.

This is our second time with Disney Cruise, as this time will be Magic.

Last year, we were with Wonder Disney Cruise for 3 nights, with mil and we had a fabulous times. That why, mil want to go again. She said everything was good. (3 nights was not enough) as my son was crying when we left the ship. He said that his best holiday ever. Mil and I were holding our throats when he was sob sob

I am sure you both will enjoy it.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/scottishwee35/florida3130.jpg

Scottishwee35

What a sad little guy! He looks just like how I feel when the cruise ends. Of course, we all feel that way, don't we?

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Hi everyone,
I'm just checking in to say that I'm still around, but have been very busy cleaning up from one trip and getting ready for another. I'm in the airport right now, waiting for something to open so I can get COFFEE!

I had to get up at 3 a.m. this morning--for a nightowl like me, that's inhumane! 3 a.m. is more like a bedtime than and wake-up time!

I'm going to be cruising on the Pride of Aloha for a week and diving. It won't be Disney, but I'm looking forward to seeing Hawaii as I've only been there once, over 20 years ago and then just for 2 days.

I'm already so far behind on our thread and will probably get ever further behind while I'm gone, but sooner or later I'll catch up. 'Till then, take care everyone!

 

[disneylover5]

That must be great to hear. I would be singing along too. Don't suppose everyone likes the bells ringing at 7.30am on Sunday morning though.

One city we used to live near played Christmas carols as bells(recorded) from the Town Hall clock.

That is funny.....no one ever complains....and lots of my household members sleep late......I had never thought someone might not like the bells.

 

[disneylover5]

Ah, I see that you have not been Disney Cruise before.

This is our second time with Disney Cruise, as this time will be Magic.

Last year, we were with Wonder Disney Cruise for 3 nights, with mil and we had a fabulous times. That why, mil want to go again. She said everything was good. (3 nights was not enough) as my son was crying when we left the ship. He said that his best holiday ever. Mil and I were holding our throats when he was sob sob

I am sure you both will enjoy it.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/scottishwee35/florida3130.jpg

Scottishwee35

Such a sad face!! I do feel that way as well when I get off the ship....

 

[disneylover5]

Hi everyone,
I'm just checking in to say that I'm still around, but have been very busy cleaning up from one trip and getting ready for another. I'm in the airport right now, waiting for something to open so I can get COFFEE!

I had to get up at 3 a.m. this morning--for a nightowl like me, that's inhumane! 3 a.m. is more like a bedtime than and wake-up time!

I'm going to be cruising on the Pride of Aloha for a week and diving. It won't be Disney, but I'm looking forward to seeing Hawaii as I've only been there once, over 20 years ago and then just for 2 days.

I'm already so far behind on our thread and will probably get ever further behind while I'm gone, but sooner or later I'll catch up. 'Till then, take care everyone!

Have a wonderful vacation, wish I was doing this vacation, sounds AWESOME!!

 

[ibouncetoo]

The Catholic Church is not far from our house. Everyday (and a lot on Sunday) they play the bells before service for an entire song. I know the first Sunday service is 7:30am.....and they were just ringing. It sounds so wonderful!!

Yesterday, the song was HOLY HOLY HOLY and we were all singing along with the bells. My nephew's girlfriend is here with him (they just both graduated from Georgetown) and she has always lived in an urban downtown area. She was amazed at the bells....and called it "quaint"......I would never have thought of it that way, but she is right!!

I hear church bells every day, as a matter of fact I use them as my 7AM, 'must get off the DIS and get ready for work' alarm. I woud have loved to hear the bells play 'Holy, Holy, Holy'.

Last year, we were with Wonder Disney Cruise for 3 nights, with mil and we had a fabulous times. That why, mil want to go again. She said everything was good. (3 nights was not enough) as my son was crying when we left the ship. He said that his best holiday ever. Mil and I were holding our throats when he was sob sob

I am sure you both will enjoy it.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/scottishwee35/florida3130.jpg

Scottishwee35

Oh I remember seeing this photo when you first posted it. I know exactly how he felt!

I'm going to be cruising on the Pride of Aloha for a week and diving. It won't be Disney, but I'm looking forward to seeing Hawaii as I've only been there once, over 20 years ago and then just for 2 days.

Cheri, have a wonderful time. My one and only visit to Hawaii was about 25 years ago for four days in Maui. Hmmm, maybe it's time to book my 09 time share for a return visit to the islands. Can't wait to hear about your adventures.

Today I'm going with my next door neighbor up to the outlet mall to visit the Disney Character traveling trunk show. Her granddaughter is turning two and is wild about Disney (grandma started her off right in that department!), so she's looking for gifts. Last week at the Character outlet in Aneheim I bought a red Disneyland sweat shirt to take to WDW in December. They also had red Santa hats with Minnie Mouse ears and bow, but only in child sizes. I would have grabbed some if they'd had adult sizes for our group doing MVMCP...that would have been a cute gift for the girls.

Well, even though she's had her breakfast, Acoma kitten is giving me that "isn't it time to share some scrambled eggs" look. I swear she's part Hobbit and wants 'a little something' six times a day!

 

[granmaz]

Hi everyone,
I'm just checking in to say that I'm still around, but have been very busy cleaning up from one trip and getting ready for another. I'm in the airport right now, waiting for something to open so I can get COFFEE!

I had to get up at 3 a.m. this morning--for a nightowl like me, that's inhumane! 3 a.m. is more like a bedtime than and wake-up time!

I'm going to be cruising on the Pride of Aloha for a week and diving. It won't be Disney, but I'm looking forward to seeing Hawaii as I've only been there once, over 20 years ago and then just for 2 days.

I'm already so far behind on our thread and will probably get ever further behind while I'm gone, but sooner or later I'll catch up. 'Till then, take care everyone!

Have a great trip Cheri. I keep thinking I would like to go to Hawaii - not to go diving though!!

 

[amyamya]

I appreciate the warm welcome and look forward to chatting with you all!

Granmaz:
I was skimming thru and reading about your flight dilemma and had a laugh remembering that getting to York was the longest day of my life! Flight to LAX, flight to Heathrow, flight to Manchester, train to York, cab to hotel at base of Minster (talk about some BELLS!) collapsed on floor. We loved Yorkshire and missed it when we finally got to London.

Scottishwee:
We did Scotland the same trip and felt the same way! Beautiful place, friendly people. We liked Pitlochry.

Hello to DIS friends across the pond!

 

[lillygator]

morning!!

John had to run in to work this am....but the pool is all ready to go. My mom and sister came over last night for a cookout. Samantha was all over the place, as great as she was Friday night at the movies she was a total non listening terror last night. I think she was showing off! My mom brought steaks from the Red Barn, they used to be a steakhouse but had a fire and lost everything and chose to rebuild as a meat market only. The filets were better than I have had at California Grill.....really really great and I am sure outrageously priced! I made potato salad, cucumber & feta salad as well as a bean dish - those were mainly for today but we had them last night. Now I am throwing some sands and snacks together to take down to the beach, it looks like a fantastic day outside.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

 

[lillygator]

Hi everyone,
I'm just checking in to say that I'm still around, but have been very busy cleaning up from one trip and getting ready for another. I'm in the airport right now, waiting for something to open so I can get COFFEE!

I had to get up at 3 a.m. this morning--for a nightowl like me, that's inhumane! 3 a.m. is more like a bedtime than and wake-up time!

I'm going to be cruising on the Pride of Aloha for a week and diving. It won't be Disney, but I'm looking forward to seeing Hawaii as I've only been there once, over 20 years ago and then just for 2 days.

I'm already so far behind on our thread and will probably get ever further behind while I'm gone, but sooner or later I'll catch up. 'Till then, take care everyone!

have a fantastic time!!


DH and I would love to do Hawaii but I am determined to see it via cruise so we can determine which island/area we like the best (I hate moving around suitcases, etc)....so hopefully DCL will be there!! I was planning on 2010 as thta will be our 10 year anniversary!

 

[ibouncetoo]

morning!!

My mom brought steaks from the Red Barn, they used to be a steakhouse but had a fire and lost everything and chose to rebuild as a meat market only. The filets were better than I have had at California Grill.....really really great and I am sure outrageously priced! I made potato salad, cucumber & feta salad as well as a bean dish - those were mainly for today but we had them last night. Now I am throwing some sands and snacks together to take down to the beach, it looks like a fantastic day outside.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

V, both these days sound like the perfect Memorial day weekend! Have a great time.

 

[granmaz]

I appreciate the warm welcome and look forward to chatting with you all!

Granmaz:
I was skimming thru and reading about your flight dilemma and had a laugh remembering that getting to York was the longest day of my life! Flight to LAX, flight to Heathrow, flight to Manchester, train to York, cab to hotel at base of Minster (talk about some BELLS!) collapsed on floor. We loved Yorkshire and missed it when we finally got to London.

Scottishwee:
We did Scotland the same trip and felt the same way! Beautiful place, friendly people. We liked Pitlochry.

Hello to DIS friends across the pond!

Yorkshire is a lovely place and York itself so historical! We love York.

Funny - John was just saying why don't we travel down to London to fly from Gatwick, catching a train down. That would mean someone giving us a lift to York station, or our catching a train there. Then a train to London, transferring to another station, and then a train to Gatwick. All with 3 or 4 suitcases and hand baggage!!! No thank you!! He was kind of upset because he had thought of this!

 

[disneylover5]

This is an incredible story.....a couple who missed the first 11 day cruise....

Originally Posted by DisneySpirit
Well, there is good news and bad news.

The bad is we will not be joining you and all our friends on the Magic's first Mediterranean cruise. Words cannot express how sad we are to be missing this trip with all of you. I had ordered Roses and the Bon Voyage chocolate covered strawberries and wine package to surprise Lynn in our cabin to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We have both shed a lot of tears these last 2 days. Please tell Shane and Laurie we are so sorry we could not continue our trip with them. Laurie lent us her cell phone as they were boarding the plane in Atlanta and it helped us a lot! (We will get it back to her when they return to Phoenix.)

The good news is we met some of the most wonderful people at the Atlanta airport who helped us cope with this disaster. After we arrived in the Atlanta airport we went to another terminal to wait for our next plane and get something to eat. In front of Arbys I reached in my right front pocket to get my wallet out and felt there was only one passport, mine, in the same pocket where I had put both of our passports after clearing security in Phoenix. Panic set in as I tried to remember all the possible places I had taken out my wallet and could have dropped Lynn's passport. In Phoenix, I had gone to Starbucks before Shane and Laurie met up with us at the gate and had also had taken out my wallet while sitting at the gate area to give Lynn some money to go an get something to eat. The only other time I could remember putting my hand in that pocket was to take some pills I had in a small box while on the plane from Phoenix to Atlanta. So, unless someone had picket my pocket while in the Atlanta airport, it seemed the passport must have dropped out of my pocket when I accessed my wallet in Phoenix or on the plane. After carefully going through all our carry on bags multiple times, I rushed back to the gate we had arrived at in Atlanta. I asked the gate attendants if anyone had found a passport and they said no. They said the planes are cleaned between flights so it would have been turned in if it had been found. Also, that plane had already departed for San Francisco, so we could not check our seats again. I returned to the food court with the bad news. Time ran out as I racked my brain on where the missing passport could be. We had a photo copy of the passport in Lynn's wallet but, they would not accept that to board. We watched our friends board the plane without us and I realized I needed to get our 4 suitcases off that plane! The gate attendant told us we would have to go to baggage claim and request them. We ran to the baggage claim service desk where there was a huge line of passengers waiting to be served. I panicked and apologized to everyone as I cut to the head of the line telling the attendant I only had 15 minutes to get our bags off of that plane!. After some confusion, I learned that on international flights, bags are only loaded if the owners are confirmed boarding the plane. I also learned it would take up to 4 hours for the bags to show up at the baggage claim area! The Delta lost and found office was next to the baggage claim service desk so I checked with them and there was nothing. They sent a text message to Delta operations in San Francisco to check our seats again when the plane arrived there. We waited 4 hours the answer which was negative on the plane in SF. Our bags still had not come so this very nice lady from Delta's baggage service desk, (she knew our plight), took our baggage claim stubs and went to track them down. She returned about 45 minutes later with our bags! We thanked her and returned to the ticketing area to decide how to get back to Phoenix. By now, we were both extremely exhausted. We had gotten up at 4am in Phoenix and it was after 12am in Atlanta by now. We talked with 2 ticketing attendants and told them what had happened so far and requested how best to get back to Phoenix. One of the attendants would not let us give up. She was so positive we would find the passport and overcame our doom and gloom attitude. She looked up every conceivable phone number in both the Phoenix and Atlanta airports for Delta Lost & Found, TSA lost & Found, airport Lost & Found, airport operations, even the Starbucks in Phoenix's terminal 3. She tried calling all these numbers but either received automated answer messages or negative answers regarding the passport. She would NOT let us give up! She said we should wait until late morning and try the numbers again. We were so sad & tired and all of the comfy chairs in the airport were taken with the holiday passengers sleeping in them! This incredible lady from Delta ticketing would just not let us give up! Our ticket to Barcelona was not refundable and we did not have travel insurance either. She rebooked us on the next flight to Barcelona and even reserved us a seat on a flight via Rome to Palermo on the next day so we could rejoin the ship if we found the passport and could get it in time. Anyway, she gave us a complimentary hotel voucher and a bunch of complimentary 5 minute phone cards, since we did not have the charger for Laurie's cell phone, and said go get some sleep and try again later in the morning. We went to get the free shuttle to the hotel but the phone number for the shuttle was constantly busy! We talked with the driver of a shuttle for another hotel and after hearing our story, she volunteered to take us to our hotel even though she didn't work for them! WOW!!! She dropped us off near our hotel's lobby so as not to be seen and I gave her a nice tip and thanked her for her trouble. We got to our room by 3am and slept until 7:30am. We returned to the airport and retried all the same numbers to no avail but left messages to call us on Laurie's cell phone regarding the passport. We finally decided to call Disney Cruise Lines to see what our options were. Well, the castmembers we spoke with were incredible!!! We asked if we could possibly rebook one of the later cruises using some of the $12,000 we had spent on this one. We were told there was nothing available at first but then one of the supervisors tried again without entering the air travel add-on and surprise!!! For $435 additional perperson we got booked on the July 28th 11-day Med Cruise in a Cat 6 stateroom with a verandah just as we had booked on our previous reservation!!! She also told us not to book a flight back to Phoenix just yet and to call her back in 30 minutes. We went and got coffee and a Danish and called her back after the 30 minutes as requested. When we called back she gave us a confirmation code for tickets back to Phoenix at 4:30pm!!!! Man somebody pinch me! I must be dreaming! First nightmare then WOW! We need to check with Delta but we probably can use our Barcelona tickets on this cruise as well. So, it seems, we will get to the Med after all! We will miss you all terribly but, have a great cruise and we can't wait to hear all about it! While waiting for our flight back to Phoenix we went and had some lunch at the food court. We got a call from Starbucks in Phoenix and they had found Lynn's passport!!! We picked it up when we arrived back last night! So we are ready for July's cruise!

Sorry this was so long, but believe me when I say it was much longer for us!

Tom & Lynn (DisneySpirit)