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

[Jhalkias]

Lisa (Calmom), I just wanted to share a story about children in first class on an airline. When Samantha was two, she and I were flying first class on United to Florida to catch the Big Red Boat. Her dad was meeting us there as he was already in Florida on business.

After we were seated and Sam was "plugged" in to her headset and her Sony video of Lady and the Tramp, a couple boarded the plane. Since they were seated next to us, the woman loudly exclaimed, "Good grief, I AM NOT flying first class with a toddler to Florida. We just got in from Hong Kong and I AM NOT going to listen to a whining brat for 6 hours!!"

I was appalled!! The flight attendant politely suggested to the couple that if they felt so strongly they might want to change to another flight. The women loudly suggested we should be removed because clearly we must be on a "pass". The flight attendant tactfully informed the women since we were full fare paying passengers and she and DH were on an upgrade only, we would not be asked to leave the plane.

After calling the flight attendant a very rude name and demanded to see the captain, her DH joined the fray asking that DD and I be removed. The captain came out of the cockpit, was told the situation and informed the couple Sam and I would not be asked to leave. After a few more choice words, the couple disembarked to the applause of the other passengers.

Samantha and I had wonderful service and the rest of the passengers were very nice to us on the remainder of the flight.

Wow!

Such awful people in the world. They must have led miserable and unhappy lives.

 

[Jhalkias]

I love this blog from the transatlantic right now. Look at this link and you'll see the waves in the adult pool! I must admit that the prices on this cruise were so tempting, but I knew that it would be way too rocky for me and way too many sea days.

http://davidsondrifters.blogspot.com/2007/05/day-10-another-day-at-sea.html

I think that looks COOL!

 

[Jhalkias]

I'm loving the airplane stories! Luckily, I've had pretty boring flights.

BTW, does anyone on this board also post on the other cruise boards (three circles, cruisecritic, etc.)?? I find it kinda weird that there are other "families" out there. No one's as fun as us, though!

Not us . . .

I have looked at some of those other boards, and they just don't feel like "home" to me. Because some are unmoderated, I think they tend to draw some folks who can be really nasty to each other. In fact some folks who have been asked to leave here, and who do not like the DIS because of the moderation rules here. I listened to Pete Werner say on the Podcast here that you should be able to have a child on your lap when you are on the DIS, and not be afraid of what you may see.

I appreciate that, and find I get along much better here with the civility and manners that people have here.

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

I thought so too John. I noticed there was rope around it though. I heard you could swim in the goofy pool some of the time while the waves were big but I guess not in that shot. Probably a good thing. Our girls make waves all the time in our pool I've even looked into if they make little wave machines for back yard pools. That is actually my next invention so nobody steal it.

 

[Jhalkias]

Has anyone decided where they are staying yet. I don't think I am going to stay at the airport. I was thinking of doing something near the port. I tried a couple different one's but it said it was still early. I think I can do it at 11 months out it said. I was all excited at the one year mark and then nothing.

Right now our plan is to fly in Friday night and stay at DVC somewhere - renting a car for travel. We have rented a car for all but two of our DCL cruises (the first, and the one with a big group of family) and I much prefer to rent a car, and drive to the port the morning of departure.

One time we stayed at the Radisson, and it was NOT a good experience. We got our money refunded for that night (had to call housekeeping to redo the beds when we found FOOD in the sheets!) We much prefer the quality and consistency we find at Disney Resorts.

 

[Jhalkias]

checking out DL ticket prices now...I really wish we could stay a week in CA but we'll really need to get back so I think 2 days is the max!

We feel the same way V - two days will be the max I think for us too.

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

Not us . . .

I have looked at some of those other boards, and they just don't feel like "home" to me. Because some are unmoderated, I think they tend to draw some folks who can be really nasty to each other. In fact some folks who have been asked to leave here, and who do not like the DIS because of the moderation rules here. I listened to Pete Werner say on the Podcast here that you should be able to have a child on your lap when you are on the DIS, and not be afraid of what you may see.

I appreciate that, and find I get along much better here with the civility and manners that people have here.

I have seen that also. I love it when people with 2 post come on here and start being smart *****. You know where they came from. They would never have .... like that if they have never been on message boards before. OOPS! I guess your child could not be on your lap for that post. Sorry just venting.

 

[Jhalkias]

Oh me, me!

I'm flying out to Burbank and going to see POTC III:AWE at the El Capitan. I went to the Premiere of POTC IIIMC there last year (A picture with me in it is on miceage). It was fantastic. The El Capitan is an true theatre so they did the stage up with props while their award winning organist plays Disney music, then the shows starts, the prop cannons blow and a giant 6ft skull warns "Dead men tell no tales." It's like being at a rock concert. The audience claps and yells. Who Hoo! I'm so excited. In the basement of the El Capitan, they bring in several props from the movie and you walk through just like a museum. I must remember to bring my camera. 3 hours long!

Wow, that sounds so cool. All we have are the usual multiplexes. Don't know if we will have a chance. Lots going on this weekend.

 

[Jhalkias]

Most likely we'll be flying US Airways non-stop from PHX to MCO. DH doesn't like the cattle call of Southwest. I'm working on getting enough FF miles to cover at least 3 of us. We'll have to travel incognito because my boys are sweet at 3 hour intervals and grumpy at the 4th. My boys are just like sugar, a little taste is sweet - too much and you get a headache.

Boy am I with your DH and SW!

Two flight stories - think I posted one here already. On SW on this last trip, parents let their three kids (who were not well behaved) sit together in the row in front of us, while they each sat in a separate row because one wanted an aisle seat and one wanted a window. When they boarded, they could have sat with their kids nearer to them. Their kids fought and argued most of the flight, while the parents were 2 or 3 rows away. The only justice was when a VERY LARGE SWEATY man came on the plane late and had to take the only seat available in the middle of a row - right beside window seat dad!

Once on an Airtran flight from Akron/Canton to MCO, we upgraded to business class. Since we hardly ever do that or sit there, we are not that used to it. Right after takeoff, heard a big BANG, and something felt like it hit under our feet. I told Amy, maybe the landing gear, as we never sit up here. 10 minutes later, we still have not climbed even close to cruising altitude, and the pilot comes on to say we have lost an engine, and are circling back to CAK He assured us the plane was OK, and we would be safely back on the ground soon.

Needless to say, some people were freaking out, asking for cigarettes and liquor. In 15 minutes we were safely back on the ground, with about 20 fire trucks and ambulances watching as we landed. They did a tail switch, we were 2 hours late arriving, and we got a free one-way flight later out of it.

 

[birkner]

My girls will be missing Friday no matter what if I do the red-eye it be Thursday. Did you ask the school about The Independent Study Program yet?
I need to get back to LAX. I have not figured that one out yet. We don't have any family out here and I don't dare ask any of my friends to take me to the airport for the morning flight if we do the red-eye than I could ask someone. My dream would be to take the next cruise and send DH home. I know I will need a vacation when we get back. Do you think he would mind.


Welcome!!! I have a 10 year old girl that will be 11 atoc.

Those regular prices are just crazy.
I wish I would have known that. I don't know if Tim could have done anything but that is insane.

Thank you for the very kind offer. We stayed only ONE night because of the VERY high cost. I probably would have stayed more nights if Disney offered a California resident discount.

I just posted the cost in the hopes that the powers that monitor the board may just realize that their power base of California residents may just avoid paying these high costs and go stay elsewhere.

I have been a loyal DL fan since its opening in 1955 but the costs for staying at the park for Californian's are becoming prohibitive. This is just the cost for TWO persons!!

Where are the the California discounts like Disney rewards the Floridians?????

Just my thoughts....

Noel

 

[Jhalkias]

Hello

We are from Scotland, UK and we got the reservation booking yesterday. We are so exciting about it.

Deborah and Ian
Keith will be 11 and Olivia will be 8

Can anyone send me Logo please? I would be grateful if send it to my private message.

Looking forward to meet you all

Thanks

Scottishwee35

Welcome aboard!

My DD Sophia will be 8 at the time of the cruise, and her dear friend Savannah, Kim's DD will also be 8 and on this cruise. I bet they would both love to make a friend from Scotland!

 

[birkner]

Wow!

Such awful people in the world. They must have led miserable and unhappy lives.

I think that there are always people like this in the world. What I felt is that they were shocked that anyone called them on their behavior and refused to kowtow to their demands.

I don't know if this would happen today but it gave me great hope for mankind in general and we kept traveling first class with a toddler!

Most people are willing to travel with kids as long as they are well behaved. We had a well behaved child or we would not have attempted to travel with her in a mostly adult situation.

Just my thoughts....

 

[Jhalkias]

Thank goodness two of you posted! It was looking like I was going to have the whole page to myself for a minute.

My posting clock must be off with the rest of the world out there!

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

Thank you for the very kind offer. We stayed only ONE night because of the VERY high cost. I probably would have stayed more nights if Disney offered a California resident discount.

I just posted the cost in the hopes that the powers that monitor the board may just realize that their power base of California residents may just avoid paying these high costs and go stay elsewhere.

I have been a loyal DL fan since its opening in 1955 but the costs for staying at the park for Californian's are becoming prohibitive. This is just the cost for TWO persons!!

Where are the the California discounts like Disney rewards the Floridians?????

Just my thoughts....

Noel

I know but that is insane. If DH did not have his job my kids would not know who Mickey Mouse was because there is no way we could afford what I see these families pay. I guess that we are lucky because we do a lot of other stuff too. For most families doing Disneyland is there one trip every couple of years.

 

[birkner]

Boy am I with your DH and SW!

Two flight stories - think I posted one here already. On SW on this last trip, parents let their three kids (who were not well behaved) sit together in the row in front of us, while they each sat in a separate row because one wanted an aisle seat and one wanted a window. When they boarded, they could have sat with their kids nearer to them. Their kids fought and argued most of the flight, while the parents were 2 or 3 rows away. The only justice was when a VERY LARGE SWEATY man came on the plane late and had to take the only seat available in the middle of a row - right beside window seat dad!

Once on an Airtran flight from Akron/Canton to MCO, we upgraded to business class. Since we hardly ever do that or sit there, we are not that used to it. Right after takeoff, heard a big BANG, and something felt like it hit under our feet. I told Amy, maybe the landing gear, as we never sit up here. 10 minutes later, we still have not climbed even close to cruising altitude, and the pilot comes on to say we have lost an engine, and are circling back to CAK He assured us the plane was OK, and we would be safely back on the ground soon.

Needless to say, some people were freaking out, asking for cigarettes and liquor. In 15 minutes we were safely back on the ground, with about 20 fire trucks and ambulances watching as we landed. They did a tail switch, we were 2 hours late arriving, and we got a free one-way flight later out of it.

So can we assume the kids and Dad behaved at that point????

I think I may have told this story about sitting between two EXTREMELY large men flying between Cleveland and Chicago and not being able to even fasten my seat belt. Flight attendant and I had visions of Godfather type men and neither or us complained!!! Luckily, it was a connecting flight which only lasted a half an hour.

I can not even imagine how I would have behaved if I felt the plane lost an engine!!! I think you were very brave to even get on the same airline. I remember once sitting on the ground in LAX for two hours with AA and a fuel line problem. Since we were going to Honolulu, I did not care how long it took to fix the problem as if we are going over water, take your time and MAKE IT RIGHT!!

 

[birkner]

Thank goodness two of you posted! It was looking like I was going to have the whole page to myself for a minute.

My posting clock must be off with the rest of the world out there!

I think a few of us are still here on the board.

So is Alex home after graduation or off on a trip?

 

[Jhalkias]

I know but that is insane. If DH did not have his job my kids would not know who Mickey Mouse was because there is no way we could afford what I see these families pay. I guess that we are lucky because we do a lot of other stuff too. For most families doing Disneyland is there one trip every couple of years.

Lori,

I must have missed something. Is your DH a CM?

As to Cal vs. FL, I think it is all about supply and demand. Less supply and more demand in Cal. Lots of rooms and lots of choices besides Disney in FL, so they entice the locals with great deals to keep the parks busy. I don't think they care more about the FL residents - simply economics.

 

[Jhalkias]

So can we assume the kids and Dad behaved at that point????

I think I may have told this story about sitting between two EXTREMELY large men flying between Cleveland and Chicago and not being able to even fasten my seat belt. Flight attendant and I had visions of Godfather type men and neither or us complained!!! Luckily, it was a connecting flight which only lasted a half an hour.

I can not even imagine how I would have behaved if I felt the plane lost an engine!!! I think you were very brave to even get on the same airline. I remember once sitting on the ground in LAX for two hours with AA and a fuel line problem. Since we were going to Honolulu, I did not care how long it took to fix the problem as if we are going over water, take your time and MAKE IT RIGHT!!

Everyone asked the pilot if he was the same one who got us safely back, when he said yes, they said GOOD! I figured what are the chances of something like that happening twice in a row? I thought I was probably on one of the safest flights in the sky!

Of course, Airtran was once Valujet . . .

 

[HollyTyler]

We started to clean out the garage and the POD (storage thing in our driveway since last summer) this weekend and Paul posted stuff on Craigs list and he sold one of the kids toys tonight for $50!!!! He walked back in the house and said here's your $50 where do you want it? I said stick it in the Disney Cruise ship bank!!!! Yeah!!!! $50 closer now if the rest of the stuff could go that easy! He did get another bite on a madeline doll house for $100, but they want it shipped to Portland. They offered to pay for shipping and handling so I think I'm packing it up tomorrow. closer to a clean garage and cruise money what could be better than that!

Good job getting rid of some stuff! I used to do that on ebay with Tyler's old stuff, but have never heard of Craigs list (except for somebody mentioning it on this thread a while back). I'll have to check it out!

Thanks for posting all the pictures....I have really enjoyed seeing them.

Wish I could have been there!!

Lisa

DITTO!

I am so glad that the party was a great success albeit the supplies were missing. Hope you get a full refund from the party supplier!!

I never got a response to my 2 voice mails and 3 e-mails requesting full refund, but today I got an e-mail from Paypal showing receipt of a full refund from them (including the fee for 1-day FedEx). Thank goodness! I thought I was going to have to go postal on them (yup, former postal worker).

And now, back to getting caught up!

 

[Jhalkias]

I think a few of us are still here on the board.

So is Alex home after graduation or off on a trip?

He is home, waiting for his passport to come in the mail and a friend to decide if he is tagging along. He has decided to do London ONLY for one or two weeks and to stay at a Hostel he found online.

He is just taking it easy. Does not want to work or worry about anything for the summer. OK with me since he did so well.

He got a thing in the mail today from the Navy. They offered him up to $180k in medical school and living expenses PLUS a $20k bonus, commission as an officer upon graduation, monthly living stipend, etc. etc. Sure sounded like a great deal to me, but he won't even consider it. He wants nothing to do with a military career.

Sounded like a great deal to me - no debt upon graduation . . .