dcsetman
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2003
- Messages
- 78
Pre-Trip Report
May 29 - June 2 2016
Nana and Bop Take on 2 teens and The World
I don’t normally do a pre-trip report, but I have really enjoyed reading them and received so many good ideas, I thought I would give it a go for this trip. In all honesty, as I begin this I have five (5) more sleeps until travel day and I am so excited, so this writing is my calming therapy until “go-time”.
Let me introduce our scenario, the players and our plans as we dive into the fun:
Background: My DH and I are in our 50’s -60’s (yes, he’s older than me) and have five (5) grandchildren. We try to take them to Disney or on a cruise each year, but only two at a time, unless mommy and daddy tag along, so we rotate between the five. This year, the lot landed with our two oldest, so with two teens in-tow this trip will be quite different than when we were chasing down princesses or Jake and standing in line for Dumbo… or will it?
Cast Members:
Nana (Penni) 58 I am a Disney addict and have been since age 5 before I ever stepped foot in a park. My children and grandchildren have no doubt that I whistle while I work and dream of Disney. I love the planning almost as much as trip itself.
Bop (Dennis) 64 He loves me so he endures the World with a smile and truth be known actually enjoys it with the grandchildren (and even just me) once he is there. Otherwise, pixie dust rarely enters his mind.
Kelsi 16 Loves all things Disney and has since I introduced her to the World at age 4. She rode TMRR on that trip and as we came off the last hill exclaimed, “Bop, this is fun” - she was hooked. This is either trip 7 or 8 for her
Lauryn 14 Loves being at home and creating in her own artsy world, but loves to experience family time and Disney also. It has been a while since she has made a trip to The World, and is super excited to experience some new rides and thrills.
Here’s a few of our favorites:
Favorite Park:
Bop Hollywood Studios
Nana Epcot
Kelsi Magic Kingdom
Lauryn Magic Kingdom
Favorite Disney Character:
Bop Rapunzel (well maybe just when she smacks Flynn with the skillet)
Nana Pocahontas
Kelsi It used to be Ariel year after year – I will have to see if this has changed
Lauryn Sophia the 1st (and yes, we are having breakfast with her on our first Park morning).
Favorite Restaurant:
Bop Whispering Café , Cape May Seafood Buffett, or Liberty Tavern (He’s my foodie)
Nana Whispering Café or Cape May Seafood Buffett
Kelsi Nine Dragons
Lauryn Cinderella’s Castle
Favorite Ride:
Bop Splash Mountain, People Mover, Test Track
Nana Space Mountain
Kelsi Tower of Terror, Space Mountain
Lauryn Space Mountain
Itinerary
I failed to mention earlier that we only have 4 nights, 2 park days and 1 off day (to enjoy the Resort):
Arrival: Sunday evening, (dinner time) May 29, 2016
Resort: Port Orleans, French Quarter
Monday A.M. Hollywood Studios: (3 Fast Passes: Tower of Terror, Rocking Roller Coaster, Star Tours)
Breakfast with Sophia the First (Lauryn’s pick) at Hollywood and Vine
A few more rides of choice (Great Movie Ride, etc)
Monday P.M. EPCOT
Lunch – somewhere in the World Showcase – Counter Serv or Flower & Garden Food stands.
Dinner – Nine Dragons
Stand in line (cause I know a FP will not be available by mid-day Monday) for Soarin’ and
Track (guess I could hope for some pixie dust).
Departure Day is finally here and I am typing this in the truck somewhere on I-75, still in Ga. It has been an eventful month already and today just capped it off. Bop had 2 kidney stones (did you know the price for having those externally blasted is $38,000)?? Thank goodness for Insurance, although they tell me I will still owe after Ins pays, of course – what else? And several other family car issues erupted. Then today: well, the story is too long to recount - but just read this. It is a complain letter I just finished emailing to Avis Customer Service… For those of you who read my blog for our family cruise back in September – yes, de ja va all over again.
This is not a question but a complaint. I am a travel agent and have personally used and recommended Avis for years. After today, I cannot say that I will ever do that again. I reserved a car at the Thornton Rd Lithia Springs Ga Avis facility - I have rented here several times before. My reservation was for 12:00 noon on Sunday. The sign on the door says they open at 11:00 a.m. and the website said 11:30. So Noon should have been fine. We arrived at 11:35 to find people standing outside waiting with the doors locked and said they were told that they (workers) had gone to lunch and would not be back until 12:15. Strike one - not good, but ok - since I was early anyway, We went back home, got all our luggage and had someone bring us back to pick up the rental SUV for our vacation (that we had been planning for a long time)! We arrived back at 12:25 to pick up our car and first of all, were greeted with and unfriendly "do you have reservation" (no hello, no welcome to Avis, no may we help you). Then they proceeded to tell us they did not have a vehicle available for us. A renter (now sitting at the facility) had a vehicle rented for yesterday(Sat) but didn't show up until today. So they had to give her the car, and left us stranded. That is horrible customer service. If they rented her car out yesterday, then she should have had to wait. We came on time, expecting a vehicle and were packed with grandchildren ready to leave on vacation.
What is the purpose in reserving a car? After we left and got on the road (in our vehicle that we had not planned to drive) - they called us to let us know they had a vehicle they could get for us about 8 miles away (too late - we are already gone - but more importantly, if that vehicle was available, why was it not sitting there waiting for us)?
Not happy with Avis - your reputation just took a very big hit with me.
You definitely do not try harder.
So we are in my husband’s wonderful BIG red Ram truck. We really love it – and it’s roomy – just not good on gas.
Ok – Here we gooooooooooooooo!
May 29 - June 2 2016
Nana and Bop Take on 2 teens and The World
I don’t normally do a pre-trip report, but I have really enjoyed reading them and received so many good ideas, I thought I would give it a go for this trip. In all honesty, as I begin this I have five (5) more sleeps until travel day and I am so excited, so this writing is my calming therapy until “go-time”.
Let me introduce our scenario, the players and our plans as we dive into the fun:
Background: My DH and I are in our 50’s -60’s (yes, he’s older than me) and have five (5) grandchildren. We try to take them to Disney or on a cruise each year, but only two at a time, unless mommy and daddy tag along, so we rotate between the five. This year, the lot landed with our two oldest, so with two teens in-tow this trip will be quite different than when we were chasing down princesses or Jake and standing in line for Dumbo… or will it?
Cast Members:
Nana (Penni) 58 I am a Disney addict and have been since age 5 before I ever stepped foot in a park. My children and grandchildren have no doubt that I whistle while I work and dream of Disney. I love the planning almost as much as trip itself.
Bop (Dennis) 64 He loves me so he endures the World with a smile and truth be known actually enjoys it with the grandchildren (and even just me) once he is there. Otherwise, pixie dust rarely enters his mind.
Kelsi 16 Loves all things Disney and has since I introduced her to the World at age 4. She rode TMRR on that trip and as we came off the last hill exclaimed, “Bop, this is fun” - she was hooked. This is either trip 7 or 8 for her
Lauryn 14 Loves being at home and creating in her own artsy world, but loves to experience family time and Disney also. It has been a while since she has made a trip to The World, and is super excited to experience some new rides and thrills.
Here’s a few of our favorites:
Favorite Park:
Bop Hollywood Studios
Nana Epcot
Kelsi Magic Kingdom
Lauryn Magic Kingdom
Favorite Disney Character:
Bop Rapunzel (well maybe just when she smacks Flynn with the skillet)
Nana Pocahontas
Kelsi It used to be Ariel year after year – I will have to see if this has changed
Lauryn Sophia the 1st (and yes, we are having breakfast with her on our first Park morning).
Favorite Restaurant:
Bop Whispering Café , Cape May Seafood Buffett, or Liberty Tavern (He’s my foodie)
Nana Whispering Café or Cape May Seafood Buffett
Kelsi Nine Dragons
Lauryn Cinderella’s Castle
Favorite Ride:
Bop Splash Mountain, People Mover, Test Track
Nana Space Mountain
Kelsi Tower of Terror, Space Mountain
Lauryn Space Mountain
Itinerary
I failed to mention earlier that we only have 4 nights, 2 park days and 1 off day (to enjoy the Resort):
Arrival: Sunday evening, (dinner time) May 29, 2016
Resort: Port Orleans, French Quarter
Monday A.M. Hollywood Studios: (3 Fast Passes: Tower of Terror, Rocking Roller Coaster, Star Tours)
Breakfast with Sophia the First (Lauryn’s pick) at Hollywood and Vine
A few more rides of choice (Great Movie Ride, etc)
Monday P.M. EPCOT
Lunch – somewhere in the World Showcase – Counter Serv or Flower & Garden Food stands.
Dinner – Nine Dragons
Stand in line (cause I know a FP will not be available by mid-day Monday) for Soarin’ and
Track (guess I could hope for some pixie dust).
Departure Day is finally here and I am typing this in the truck somewhere on I-75, still in Ga. It has been an eventful month already and today just capped it off. Bop had 2 kidney stones (did you know the price for having those externally blasted is $38,000)?? Thank goodness for Insurance, although they tell me I will still owe after Ins pays, of course – what else? And several other family car issues erupted. Then today: well, the story is too long to recount - but just read this. It is a complain letter I just finished emailing to Avis Customer Service… For those of you who read my blog for our family cruise back in September – yes, de ja va all over again.
This is not a question but a complaint. I am a travel agent and have personally used and recommended Avis for years. After today, I cannot say that I will ever do that again. I reserved a car at the Thornton Rd Lithia Springs Ga Avis facility - I have rented here several times before. My reservation was for 12:00 noon on Sunday. The sign on the door says they open at 11:00 a.m. and the website said 11:30. So Noon should have been fine. We arrived at 11:35 to find people standing outside waiting with the doors locked and said they were told that they (workers) had gone to lunch and would not be back until 12:15. Strike one - not good, but ok - since I was early anyway, We went back home, got all our luggage and had someone bring us back to pick up the rental SUV for our vacation (that we had been planning for a long time)! We arrived back at 12:25 to pick up our car and first of all, were greeted with and unfriendly "do you have reservation" (no hello, no welcome to Avis, no may we help you). Then they proceeded to tell us they did not have a vehicle available for us. A renter (now sitting at the facility) had a vehicle rented for yesterday(Sat) but didn't show up until today. So they had to give her the car, and left us stranded. That is horrible customer service. If they rented her car out yesterday, then she should have had to wait. We came on time, expecting a vehicle and were packed with grandchildren ready to leave on vacation.
What is the purpose in reserving a car? After we left and got on the road (in our vehicle that we had not planned to drive) - they called us to let us know they had a vehicle they could get for us about 8 miles away (too late - we are already gone - but more importantly, if that vehicle was available, why was it not sitting there waiting for us)?
Not happy with Avis - your reputation just took a very big hit with me.
You definitely do not try harder.
So we are in my husband’s wonderful BIG red Ram truck. We really love it – and it’s roomy – just not good on gas.
Ok – Here we gooooooooooooooo!
