Melodrama in Mexico in The middle of March...

[Kailua's Belle]

We watched some show on ESPN and they showed how they train the eagle and where they're housed and transported. Such a beautiful bird and a cool tradition. We actually toured the Bama campus in November and loved it! The weather was great! We weren't sure what to expect. Looks like it's been a very cold January for y'all. We even went to our first college football game (UA v Miss State). That was crazy! Hopefully one year we'll make it to the Iron Bowl!! My husband's family is from Alabama, and most are UA fans. There's one cousin, though, that's AU. She got the last laugh on the rest of the family this year! Anyway, she got an academic scholarship

I'll let you know how my Priceline bidding goes. And you're right, planning for this many people is a challenge, but it's so far easier than the planning I did last year when all 9 of us went to Disney World!! Now, that was hard!

I look forward to reading more of your planning updates.

Aloha!

 

[belle'ssister]

Hi Belle'ssister! That's a good deal too. If I can get a good deal on Priceline, I'll just spring for 3 rooms. Oh, btw, my son is 9 too. Are you on the kids FB page? Seems like there's a few boys that age! They should have fun!!

And to my War Eagle friend, check out this horseback riding tour for Cabo. I think you'll like the picture

http://www.loscaboshorses.com/tr.html

oh, and I realize that's a hawk in the picture, but it still reminds me of the beginning of AU games. I have to admit that eagle flying into your stadium is really cool!!

Hi Kailua's Belle, I've posted on the adults FB page and the next time Andre comes over we'll check out the kids page. I'm sure he'd like to meet your son.

 

[lmhall2000]

Looks like it's been a very cold January for y'all. We even went to our first college football game (UA v Miss State). That was crazy! Hopefully one year we'll make it to the Iron Bowl!! My husband's family is from Alabama, and most are UA fans. There's one cousin, though, that's AU. She got the last laugh on the rest of the family this year! Anyway, she got an academic scholarship

I'll let you know how my Priceline bidding goes. And you're right, planning for this many people is a challenge, but it's so far easier than the planning I did last year when all 9 of us went to Disney World!! Now, that was hard!

I look forward to reading more of your planning updates.

Aloha!

Planning for that many for WDW is a feat! But not as much as a feat of raising a daughter who gets an academic scholarship...as much as we like to congratulate the kids (and they dooo deserve it) I think so much has to be given to the parents who helped instill that desire to learn/excel! Way to go!!

We homeschool but UA has a program called "Early College" where they allow homeschoolers to take dual enrollment their Junior/Senior year...I'm really planning on doing this...secretly hoping that Auburn will start their own, but if they don't...we'll have to suck in our team pride and enroll my son at Tuscaloosa his last two years of high school! Luckily, credits transfer to Auburn.

All y'all Belles have fun on your cruises!! Meeting other Dis'ers is a huge perk!

MomT

 

[belle'ssister]

Planning for that many for WDW is a feat! But not as much as a feat of raising a daughter who gets an academic scholarship...as much as we like to congratulate the kids (and they dooo deserve it) I think so much has to be given to the parents who helped instill that desire to learn/excel! Way to go!!

We homeschool but UA has a program called "Early College" where they allow homeschoolers to take dual enrollment their Junior/Senior year...I'm really planning on doing this...secretly hoping that Auburn will start their own, but if they don't...we'll have to suck in our team pride and enroll my son at Tuscaloosa his last two years of high school! Luckily, credits transfer to Auburn.

All y'all Belles have fun on your cruises!! Meeting other Dis'ers is a huge perk!

MomT

What a great thing you're doing by homeschooling your kids. Have a wonderful cruise the other Belle and I will follow you the next week.

 

[lmhall2000]

Melodrama with the airlines...

Okay, I'm gonna get personal here, and yes I'm going to have to share some faith issues...God has been working in me the last year to really put aside my natural human instinct to say, "WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!!!" and to think of all my interactions with humans (phone, email, conversation, etc.) as an opportunity to reflect the immeasurable grace and love that He gives to His creations.

And I was doing fairly well..Delta has changed our flight times/numbers completely on 4 different occasions!! Each time because one-two-three of our four flights had actually changed airplanes I had to sit through with the representatives and reseat all of us so that we would all be together (another promise I made the families of our guests). And each time probably took over an hour of my time, confirming, checking, getting through to customer service then having to transfer back to FF miles office b/c then they have to assign/change seats rather than the main people...I was really good folks!! I was courteous, understanding and really looking at each of those opportunities as a chance to be kind and help those in customer service have a pleasant time at work.

We're all human and we fail. Today, I get an email from Disney. My niece's flight had changed out of Atlanta...well, we're all supposed to be on the same flight (part of the FUN is having the two graduates...so close as cousins all their lives sit together on the long leg over)...7 of us were flying out of Nashville (amazing fare) and were scheduled to hook up with the niece flying in from Boston. When I try to confirm that the 7 of us are still on her flight, they say, 'Why no, I don't see that, your plane is connecting in MEMPHIS!!!'...Okay folks...I have to admit a "WHAT'S WITH THAT??" came out of my mouth. I then went on to explain that each rep I'd spoke to the previous 5 months showed that all our ressies were 'hooked' and if one changed, they all would...not so, so I purposely bought a ticket to connect in Atlanta and they decide they'd rather ship us to Memphis, to be honest, we had killer seats on the exit aisle..the nutty side of me is convinced some big whig wanted that seat (which is no longer available) and booted us. Okay, I know stretching it. But, WHAT'S WITH THAT? I then had a moment of 'grace and goodness' (practice makes perfect ya know) and I calmly asked her to please switch us back....no luck, no flights to ATL from Nashville, she'd try another city...LIGHT BULBS!!!

See, we live outside Huntsville, but all those seats were over $380 a piece!! We paid $160 for Nashville to LAX...so I asked politely if we could try Huntsville...YEP!! We don't have to drive 1.5 hours to the airport!! That took about 25 minutes to work out, needed supervisor approval and all that...I was just about to hang up when she said, just to confirm you fly back to Nashville....PUT THE BRAKES ON! Why would we return to Nashville if we're flying out of Huntsville...I again, politely explained that we would not have a car in Nashville as it will be in the Huntsville airport..so could we change that as well...YES! After 40 more minutes she had that fixed...luckily I could use the downtime to check my thousands of emails..I may be the only one with 42,000 in my inbox.

Then, of course, I had to transfer to the FF miles desk to get all that worked out...so 2 hours later I had all of us BACK through Atlanta...all seats assigned and even 10,000 miles back on my ff account! Not asking any questions on that, they just said they'd credit my account..

so what is this lesson? If we truly try to put ourselves and 'events' last and put others first, we will be blessed? When I pass, I won't care about these tickets, but that lady who spoke to a customer who she could sense really appreciated her efforts..maybe that instilled some hope in her for humankind....grace and love baby....it ain't easy, but it sure does work!

MomT

 

[Rogue1230]

Melodrama with the airlines...

Okay, I'm gonna get personal here, and yes I'm going to have to share some faith issues...God has been working in me the last year to really put aside my natural human instinct to say, "WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!!!" and to think of all my interactions with humans (phone, email, conversation, etc.) as an opportunity to reflect the immeasurable grace and love that He gives to His creations.

And I was doing fairly well..Delta has changed our flight times/numbers completely on 4 different occasions!! Each time because one-two-three of our four flights had actually changed airplanes I had to sit through with the representatives and reseat all of us so that we would all be together (another promise I made the families of our guests). And each time probably took over an hour of my time, confirming, checking, getting through to customer service then having to transfer back to FF miles office b/c then they have to assign/change seats rather than the main people...I was really good folks!! I was courteous, understanding and really looking at each of those opportunities as a chance to be kind and help those in customer service have a pleasant time at work.

We're all human and we fail. Today, I get an email from Disney. My niece's flight had changed out of Atlanta...well, we're all supposed to be on the same flight (part of the FUN is having the two graduates...so close as cousins all their lives sit together on the long leg over)...7 of us were flying out of Nashville (amazing fare) and were scheduled to hook up with the niece flying in from Boston. When I try to confirm that the 7 of us are still on her flight, they say, 'Why no, I don't see that, your plane is connecting in MEMPHIS!!!'...Okay folks...I have to admit a "WHAT'S WITH THAT??" came out of my mouth. I then went on to explain that each rep I'd spoke to the previous 5 months showed that all our ressies were 'hooked' and if one changed, they all would...not so, so I purposely bought a ticket to connect in Atlanta and they decide they'd rather ship us to Memphis, to be honest, we had killer seats on the exit aisle..the nutty side of me is convinced some big whig wanted that seat (which is no longer available) and booted us. Okay, I know stretching it. But, WHAT'S WITH THAT? I then had a moment of 'grace and goodness' (practice makes perfect ya know) and I calmly asked her to please switch us back....no luck, no flights to ATL from Nashville, she'd try another city...LIGHT BULBS!!!

See, we live outside Huntsville, but all those seats were over $380 a piece!! We paid $160 for Nashville to LAX...so I asked politely if we could try Huntsville...YEP!! We don't have to drive 1.5 hours to the airport!! That took about 25 minutes to work out, needed supervisor approval and all that...I was just about to hang up when she said, just to confirm you fly back to Nashville....PUT THE BRAKES ON! Why would we return to Nashville if we're flying out of Huntsville...I again, politely explained that we would not have a car in Nashville as it will be in the Huntsville airport..so could we change that as well...YES! After 40 more minutes she had that fixed...luckily I could use the downtime to check my thousands of emails..I may be the only one with 42,000 in my inbox.

Then, of course, I had to transfer to the FF miles desk to get all that worked out...so 2 hours later I had all of us BACK through Atlanta...all seats assigned and even 10,000 miles back on my ff account! Not asking any questions on that, they just said they'd credit my account..

so what is this lesson? If we truly try to put ourselves and 'events' last and put others first, we will be blessed? When I pass, I won't care about these tickets, but that lady who spoke to a customer who she could sense really appreciated her efforts..maybe that instilled some hope in her for humankind....grace and love baby....it ain't easy, but it sure does work!

MomT

you my dear have the patience of a saint~~~~I think my language would have been stronger than "what's with that?" it would have had the W and the T but a lil saucier. lol

 

[son3disfan]

You are incredibly patient! I am dealing with Delta as well, and am really disappointed in all the changes and work that is required to keep our party of 9 together.
We booked back in July for our March trip. We are leaving from Buffalo, NY as we are from Canada and this was the best price and layovers we could find.

It has changed at least 9 times, sometimes by a minute or two, and each time we have lost our seats. Sometimes they change the flight number altogether, and the time is the same. So strange.
Thank goodness I keep checking!

The Worst customer service I received was from a nasty sounding woman who had decided that she was not going to assign us back our original seats. They were now prefered seats ( they we not preferred when I originally booked them, but suddenly now they were. ) and she was not willing to budge. You know when you talk to someone and you can tell they seem to enjoy saying no, like, too bad for you.....that was her attitude.

What she didn't know was that less then 5 minutes earlier , I was speaking with a different sales agent , who changed our friends flight and seats with No Problem, and Had the " what else can I do for you attitude". I am booking everything for our friends....I should have done it all in one phone call, but I didn't have my flight info with me when I original called.

Anyway, when I continued to be calm and pleasant , and said to her," I am really disPpointed that you don't seem to want to help me out here...that is a shame . I received such wonderful customer service a few minutes ago when our other flights were changed so easily...( quoted flight number and seats...) I don't really understand you unwillingness to help, when you clearly are able to,
based on what the other sales rep did quite easily."
She quickly said "just hold on" and I heard a click. I really thought we were going to be disconnected " by accident" .....you know how that can happen...

But she came back AFTER 13 mins on hold...... I was determined....
And low and behold , my seats were changed. I asked her how is this now possible? She said you are very lucky... I went out of my way to make this happen for you. I politely thanked her, and told her to have a magical evening!

It was sooooooo difficult to remain calm, but it worked. I really hope I don't have to go through this again! And I hope I don' t have to speak to someone like that again.

 

[lmhall2000]

You are incredibly patient!

Not really! I have just learned the hard way that when I lose it, I end up feeling much worse about the situation and they get very offended so no one has prevailed and nothing gets solved...but I look at the turning of the cheek 70x7 and wonder if staying on hold with these 'service reps' was considered!

It has changed at least 9 times, sometimes by a minute or two, and each time we have lost our seats. Sometimes they change the flight number altogether, and the time is the same. So strange.
Thank goodness I keep checking!
YES!! We had seats 30ABC and 31ABC and when the times changed, the plane changed and guess what? It only went up to 27 seats!!! But they still had us assigned in rows 30 and 31

You know when you talk to someone and you can tell they seem to enjoy saying no, like, too bad for you.....that was her attitude.
The only way I can get my mind to work around people like this is to think how many customers are not patient and how they must get screamed at for something a computer automatically kicks into the system...they're bound to 'rebound' and take it out on someone else...resentment breeds resentment!

Anyway, when I continued to be calm and pleasant , and said to her," I am really disPpointed that you don't seem to want to help me out here...that is a shame . I received such wonderful customer service a few minutes ago when our other flights were changed so easily...( quoted flight number and seats...) I don't really understand you unwillingness to help, when you clearly are able to, based on what the other sales rep did quite easily."
You did it!!! You handled it better than I could have, believe me!! I'm still working on that ability to say what is on my mind without letting all the frustration spill out at the same time..you did it marvelously and the rep although knew she was in the wrong, sucked up her pride and handled your problem professionally....win win!!!

She said you are very lucky... I went out of my way to make this happen for you. I politely thanked her, and told her to have a magical evening!
Now this rubs me the wrong way, she acts like you should be so grateful to her for all she did for you, okay, maybe she needs a little more work in the humility department...but you handled it graciously...a part of me would have really wanted to tell her, I only got what I paid for 8 months ago!

It was sooooooo difficult to remain calm, but it worked. I really hope I don't have to go through this again! And I hope I don' t have to speak to someone like that again.

YES!! IT is difficult isn't it? So many hang up and get their blood pressure out of sorts (yes, I've done that before) but I am resolved that I will no longer let events or people affect my health or my response..sure, we'll all fail...but it'll help so many in the long run!

And don't forget to ask for the name/contact of the customer resolution center..even if to just praise a good employee...I don't want something for nothing (well, okay, I really do want free port upgrades ) but I think being changed a dozen times in 6 months and going through all the hassle should prompt a nice response letter for your patronage and perhaps a free baggage check voucher! I plan on writing mine today!

So happy you've worked yours out...they just sent me paper tickets after our last conversation....I wonder if that means they can't change it again? I need to check weekly these last 5 weeks!!

Here's to passing it forward, at this point I'm too broke to pay anything forward!

MomT

 

[lmhall2000]

you my dear have the patience of a saint~~~~I think my language would have been stronger than "what's with that?" it would have had the W and the T but a lil saucier. lol

I secretly enjoy the saucier responses....there's this shocked inner part of me that giggles at "Wow, did they really say that?" I think that's why I like to watch "The Office" so much! Oh, and re-runs of Bernie Mac!

MomT

 

[lmhall2000]

We will have families represented with 4 different last names! When they call your name out as you board the ship, I want do do something fun...having them read out Ellithorpe, Armbrester, Martin, Hall will sound like a disease entered the ship!

So, here are my thoughts...

The Tumani Teenz party (get it, too many teens! )

The Betty Hurls party (only b/c my dh always thinks he'll get seasick..bet he hurls party)

The King Louie Ruler of All He Surveys party (b/c let's face it dh is footing the bill on this thing..gotta give him some props)

The Julio Iglesias party (heck, just gotta throw out some love for a South American icon)

The Ocho Loco Todo party (All 8 are crazy party)

Any more to throw out there??

On the cruise front, just read where the kayak adventure was not so good, so now need to rethink that excursion... I think I'll just say no to all excursions and just immerse ourselves in the locale...just hail me a taxi to some sand, I'll be good.

MomT

 

[lmhall2000]

The planning continues, just 35 days out!

Still not sure why we lose a full day at Cabo, a full day at Mazatlan and end up with 2 partial days at Cabo..with reports coming back from the first cruise, I had to cancel our tour with Sofie at Cabo-Outfitters..they were sooo nice and understanding, but still wish we could have taken their tour....

Many were saying they let those on Disney excursions tender first so some had to wait 1.5 hours to get off the ship! Then they say the last tender is actually an hour or more before the ship leaves...so you aren't even guaranteed a full 4 hours in port..since the excursion was for 4 hours..I didn't want to risk it.

So now we are booked with wildlifeconnection in Puerto Vallarta...we will go out with the whales/dolphins and enjoy a conservation trip with marine biologists. It should be fun and looking forward to it, hoping we have decent weather that day!

Mazatlan has just reopened to 3-4 ships...apparently the governor/officials at port and cruise officials worked out a deal where they would promise to improve the port/offer 100 officers to patrol and additional concessions to entice the cruise lines back....Disney was not one of them...hoping Mexico will take the loss of revenue seriously and make concerted efforts to secure that region...good news for all the locals who had so many from Disney cancel excursions...hoping it continues to look up!

Still going rogue and not buying trip insurance...yes, I may just be setting myself and our crew up for massive melodrama but there's just no way we could swing it..every dime is accounted for and spent..whew!

I've managed to go 40 days in a row walking 4 miles a day! By our 20th anniversary I hope to be at my wedding weight..yes, folks, it will take that long to get there (Aug 2012)...but at least I'm finally making progress!

MomT

 

[lmhall2000]

Well, folks, it's amazing how life just jumps in and redirects your priorities. I have been so worried about having split bathrooms...for WHAT!! We can deal with that! Literally, I could have dealt with it, but my bigger concern was trying to keep husband from building his grouchmeter...I should have had more faith in him...and I do expect him to step up to the plate..especially after the circumstances of the last week. I also even considered doing a verandah or even concierge for our 20th anniversary next year...what they hey for?? It won't make a hill of beans where I'm at...we're just in the room, so folks, unless there's major pixie dust, just call us the 11C's of the ships from now on..don't care...and here's why...

Just found out this week that a farm that used to breed Appaloosas had been turned over for foreclosure, the family have lost the farm, the elderly couple had always (as told) taken care of their horses...but a hospitalization and hard times caused 70+ horses to be in dire need of saving.

We're going up next week to bring one home to be with our other two..it'll take us a good year to get them back into a healthy form and frame of mind...it'll take more funds for hay/farrier/vet and more time from our family...when I look at these animals and think, wow...if I had spent any extra $$$ on a cabin...I couldn't afford to give these animals a forever home...so thanking that life set me straight...we'll enjoy our trip and will always remember we're just not cut out for verandah living or even split bathroom living....we're really farm folks at heart.

Please keep these animals and all the rescue organizations trying to help them in your prayers!

MomT

 

[Dicecatt]

Ooh, I just realized you have sideways rooms! I've always wanted to see those! I had clients in them for Feb 27 and Disney moved them out...said those cabins are not available for a few cruises which I thought was weird (plus they never told me or the client, I just noticed).

Okay, going back to read the rest...

 

[lmhall2000]

Ooh, I just realized you have sideways rooms! I've always wanted to see those! I had clients in them for Feb 27 and Disney moved them out...said those cabins are not available for a few cruises which I thought was weird (plus they never told me or the client, I just noticed).

Okay, going back to read the rest...

Ooooh! I hope they're open when we're sailing!! If they are, stop by ANYTIME and take a look! We're on the fifth floor..do you know what rooms your guests were on? It would really be melodrama to get on the ship and realize they had to change our rooms and we're nowhere near each other! That would mean I would have to sleep with my girls in the queen bed and the nieces with us and dh and the boys in the other...yes, I've already thought of all the possibilities!

On a good note, just read that the sunrises at 7:37! Of course in a month that may change, but I can sleep in until 7:00!! I like to see the sunrise on my morning walks!

MomT

 

[cmwade77]

We are going the last week in March!

Mostly because of all of the problems down in Mexico and the fact that DW does not have a passport (which would make an unlikely emergency evacuation much more expensive) we are going to get trip insurance for the first time ever, most likely through Travelex.

For a couple of posters, if you go to our website, you can see our trip report from our 2 night cruise and we had a sideways cabin. As for why they might not be available: they may be doing work on the cabins, they do this from time to time.

I am hoping that they are available when we go, as we will see if we can at least switch to one of them (if we can't get an upgrade for a decent price0, we know it works for us, but since that was our only other cruise, we do not know how the other cabins will work out.

 

[lmhall2000]

We are going the last week in March!

Mostly because of all of the problems down in Mexico and the fact that DW does not have a passport (which would make an unlikely emergency evacuation much more expensive) we are going to get trip insurance for the first time ever, most likely through Travelex.

Congrats!! I'll try and post our trip report the first day we get back...hoping to be typing as I go on our Ipad and just forward it here...

Let me know how the Travelex is! I bought trip insurance for our Med cruise, we had parents with health concerns and didn't want to risk it...but traveling with 8 makes the trip insurance as expensive as an excursion...so it was either trip insurance or excursion...I opted for the FUN!! Sometimes you just have to be a rebel.

Hope you get the sideways rooms, I'll definitely report what rooms we got, I need an app on my husband's phone that will simulate sunshine so I don't forget to wake up each morning!

Thanks!!
MomT

 

[cmwade77]

I hear you about the insurance, it is more expensive than one of our excursions, but the downside to not having it is too expensive to ignore.

 

[kevinsmom]

we travel alot and never ever get insurance on land based vacations... but with cruising i just feel like i gotta have it..... cant wait to hear your TR when you return... it sounds like a fun group!!!!

 

[lmhall2000]

Yes, I have just 3 days to get the house cleaned, pack bags for 5 people, haul extra hay into the barn, get some clothes to the cleaners, get a dress altered (finally found a decent formal for a 13 year old..but straps are too long...ugh), spend 3 hours curling Irish hair for a performance the night before we fly out..I managed to walk 4 miles for 68 days straight...only lost about 20 pounds but I feel better, hopefully our next cruise I'll be at my goal weight...luckily giving myself 18 months to do it!!

Things in Mexico have settled down a bit...still horrendous things going on in Acapulco and at the border....praying for the natives there...not an easy thing to face trying to live a life in the midst of uncertainty.

Our one and only excursion is booked, I still have misgivings, but when you go that far away you want something to do you can't do anywhere else..and swimming with dolphins in the wild fits that goal...will report on how it goes when we return. Still not sure about visiting a park on Sunday of our return..may just head to downtown Disney or something...trying to keep funds low and predictable...

We have not added the Appaloosa to our farm yet, details on that to come, we've got everything ready, but they need to put some weight on before they can travel...one was lost the other night..she just laid down and gave up..it breaks my heart, she was only 14.

Ready to find some respite, life has been so ridiculously busy!!! It won't end for awhile!!

Last post before we make it back from LA!! Adventure with 6 Youths coming up!! On a HiGH note, dear niece who is graduating from high school had vocal auditions at my alma mater and was accepted into their music program! Hoping she chooses to go there! It's an exciting time for these two nieces!!

Oh! And we are traveling with 8 in our crew and trying not to check a single bag, let's see if we hit that!!


Blessings!
MomT

 

[belle'ssister]

Yes, I have just 3 days to get the house cleaned, pack bags for 5 people, haul extra hay into the barn, get some clothes to the cleaners, get a dress altered (finally found a decent formal for a 13 year old..but straps are too long...ugh), spend 3 hours curling Irish hair for a performance the night before we fly out..I managed to walk 4 miles for 68 days straight...only lost about 20 pounds but I feel better, hopefully our next cruise I'll be at my goal weight...luckily giving myself 18 months to do it!!

Things in Mexico have settled down a bit...still horrendous things going on in Acapulco and at the border....praying for the natives there...not an easy thing to face trying to live a life in the midst of uncertainty.

Our one and only excursion is booked, I still have misgivings, but when you go that far away you want something to do you can't do anywhere else..and swimming with dolphins in the wild fits that goal...will report on how it goes when we return. Still not sure about visiting a park on Sunday of our return..may just head to downtown Disney or something...trying to keep funds low and predictable...

We have not added the Appaloosa to our farm yet, details on that to come, we've got everything ready, but they need to put some weight on before they can travel...one was lost the other night..she just laid down and gave up..it breaks my heart, she was only 14.

Ready to find some respite, life has been so ridiculously busy!!! It won't end for awhile!!

Last post before we make it back from LA!! Adventure with 6 Youths coming up!! On a HiGH note, dear niece who is graduating from high school had vocal auditions at my alma mater and was accepted into their music program! Hoping she chooses to go there! It's an exciting time for these two nieces!!

Oh! And we are traveling with 8 in our crew and trying not to check a single bag, let's see if we hit that!!


Blessings!
MomT

Have a fabulous trip. We sail on the Wonder on the 20th. We are also only doing one excursion, the Dolphin swim in PV.

I have a friend who is doing a missions trip in June, to a small town close to Tijuana. Praying that she and the others will be safe.