our non-rushing (sorta) disney anniversary w/ PICS & VIDEO! new TR link - p. 136

[DisneyLaura]

So Dawn that was in your drink? It's an actual Tink that lights up. I want one now.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

We LOVE our light up tink!! My daughter's all got the pirate punch at Whispering Canyon this past February and we proudly brought all 3 of them home. We keep one in the car clipped to the visor so tink can "light our way" when we're in the car at night. Still loving your trip report! We go back to Disney Nov. 9-15th and man, it just can't come fast enough!!!!!

 

[Disneyfreak92]

i'll try to post a picture of the tink in a few minutes for you. as i was telling memom, it was really cool at night on the dark busses on the way back to the resort. that's when we got the most questions about it.

thanks! i don't know if i've told you or not, but i doubt i'll be going to WDW in 2009. i know!!! the horror. but i'm getting to go three times this year and ray and i are thinking about starting a family next year. so i will probably be taking a disney break until we get that all squared away. i'm only having 1 so it will be a brief hiatus! i plan on taking that kid to disney at least 3 times before i start having to pay for them!

Yeah, I think I'll be getting one of those Tink's on our next trip - pretty cute!

I didn't know you weren't planning on going to WDW next year! That's exciting though! Yeah, I'd think taking them before they start costing $$ is a good idea. I will be doing that if we have kids too.

 

[punkin413]

I'm picturing doing a Saturday Night Live type of spoof of us sharing Disney World with the general public. I'd be in a coma passed out from Mission:Space, KatGarcia would be trembling in fear of the Tower of Terror, and you'd be running screaming away from Flights of Wonder!

So Dawn that was in your drink? It's an actual Tink that lights up. I want one now.

it wasn't in the drink, but clipped to the side of the cup. and yes, it lights up. it works on a watch battery.

We LOVE our light up tink!! My daughter's all got the pirate punch at Whispering Canyon this past February and we proudly brought all 3 of them home. We keep one in the car clipped to the visor so tink can "light our way" when we're in the car at night. Still loving your trip report! We go back to Disney Nov. 9-15th and man, it just can't come fast enough!!!!!

what a good idea about having tink lead your way at night! i might have to go dig mine out now!

Yeah, I think I'll be getting one of those Tink's on our next trip - pretty cute!

I didn't know you weren't planning on going to WDW next year! That's exciting though! Yeah, I'd think taking them before they start costing $$ is a good idea. I will be doing that if we have kids too.

i want to get a hook next time. i love hook, too. he was so awesome when we met him this time, as you'll see later in the TR!

ray has been talking a lot about becoming a daddy. when we first got married, we both didn't want kids. but slowly that has changed for both of us over the years. we've both agreed we just want one though. i know some people think that's just a crime, for a child not to have brothers and sisters. but i have my reasons.

 

[dwheatl]

I don't get to post pictures of my glowing Tink too often, so I'm throwing her in.

I had her on in HM, and there was a little girl howling in the antechamber. I said, "Everything's OK. Tink is here!" She looked at the pin and hushed right up. Very handy, so make sure Tink comes with you on all your trips.

 

[punkin413]

I don't get to post pictures of my glowing Tink too often, so I'm throwing her in.

I had her on in HM, and there was a little girl howling in the antechamber. I said, "Everything's OK. Tink is here!" She looked at the pin and hushed right up. Very handy, so make sure Tink comes with you on all your trips.

that glowing tink is awesome! where did you get that? the one i got is just all green. and cute about the girl in HM!

 

[punkin413]

so i figured i'd go ahead and update. i already have all my pics and videos loaded because i was gonna finish day 2 the other night, but i just got too tired. onward we go!

when we last visited dawn's TR she was waiting in the crazy line to ride RnRC (b/c they were out of FPs!) and talking to anna on the phone about luke's reaction to his "surprise." we finally made it up to RnRC after a 40-minute wait.

RnRC was closed when i was at WDW in september, so i was looking forwared to riding! well, we loaded the coaster and as we're turning the corner to the "launching area," ray gets out his video camera (as usual). he really loves to tape those rides! we're stopped there waiting to be launched and the female CM who was in the loading area walks over to us and the following conversation ensues:

CM: sir, you're going to need to put the camera away now.

ray: (not a word - he quietly puts the camera back into the bookbag - didn't even roll his eyes. ray is VERY non-confrontational.)

so that shoulda been the end of the exchange, right?

WRONG!

CM: and if i see it out again, you won't be getting back on any rides in this park.

um........excuse moi???? i'm thinking i MUST have misheard what she said.

me: i'm sorry?

CM: if i see him with the camera out again, you guys aren't going to ride anything else.

me: okay. thank you. we appreciate your disney-like friendliness.

CM: you're welcome. have a nice ride.

me: (yelling back at her as she's walking away) THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!

can you believe that?????????????? needless to say i was FUMING! i couldn't even enjoy the ride. seriously. i was so mad that i don't remember ANYTHING about it except for me being mad. now i will admit that i did scream during takeoff because how can you not? here's the picture......

but the rest of the ride i was just thinking about what just happened and i kept getting more and more upset. i'm not going to go into the reasons why i was upset because i'm going to post my e-mail to disney below and you can see them there. i really wanted to complain to someone after we got off the ride, but ray convinced me that it wasn't worth wasting our time and that i should just send an e-mail to disney when we got home. so i made notes and this is what i sent:

------------------------------------------

This is a comment rather than a question. We recently took a Walt Disney World vacation and we had a blast. We stayed at Saratoga Springs Resort and everything was wonderful! We are avid Disney vacationers, going at least once a year - we love to stay on property the entire length of our vacation and just enjoy ourselves at all the parks and resorts.

We were at Disney's Hollywood Studios on Monday, April 28th. My husband loves to film EVERYTHING while at Disney. We had just boarded the Rockin Rollercoaster and he got his camera out. A young female cast member came over and said to him, "Sir, you're going to need to put the camera away now." We have never seen a sign prohibiting recording during rides nor have we ever been told that we can't do it. However, if that's the rules, we're not ones to break them. We are both believers that rules are there for a reason. He immediately complied and put the camera away with no back talk or bad attitude about doing so. The cast member then went on to say, "And if I see it out again, you won't be getting back on any rides in this park" in a very rude and disrespectful tone. I was shocked. I replied to her by saying, "I'm sorry?" to which she repeated her disrepectful and unnecessary comment. It may seem like no big deal, but I have to express to you how that comment ruined the rest of our night at Hollywood Studios. We pay more money to come to Disney World than any other place we vacation. I understand that Disney prides itself in great customer service and that's one of the reasons it costs more to go there. And I don't mind paying for that great customer service. That's one of the reasons I love visiting Disney World so much. I could totally understand the cast member's comment if we had replied to her in a negative way or even rolled our eyes, but none of that happened. My husband immediately put the camera away. That should have been the end of the exchange, but she had to add her comment (twice), which I believe to be rude, condescending and completely unnecessary.

I just wanted to express to you our disappointment in this situation. I know how much pride your company takes in great customer service and this is something I totally wouldn't expect to happen at Disney World. I did not get the cast member's name because we were already loaded in the coaster and you get off the coaster in a different room than you load in. Just for your information, this happened on April 28, 2008 at around 9:15 p.m.

Thank you for your concern and we look forward to visiting Walt Disney World again soon. I just hope we don't encounter this rude cast member again.

--------------------------------------------

this is the reponse i got from disney:

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.

Your comments regarding one of the cast members you encountered during
your recent visit to the Walt Disney World Resort concern me. Our hosts
and hostesses are always expected to maintain our company's reputation
for providing outstanding guest service, and I apologize if this
particular individual did not reflect the high standards for which our
cast is known. You may be assured that your feedback will be taken
seriously.

If you should wish to discuss your comments further, you may call me at
***-***-****. If I am not immediately available when you call, please
leave an indication of the best time to reach you.

Mrs. *******, thank you again for taking the time to share your honest
and constructive feedback. We hope to have future opportunities to
entertain you at our Resort.
---------------------------------------

i haven't called the number, but i plan to. anyway, i don't want to linger in this low point because it doesn't deserve it. we are above that!

after we got off RnRC and i cooled down, we had planned to do a little shopping before fantasmic at 10:00. it was around 9:20 when we walked past the entrance to fantasmic and i looked up and saw MASSES of people waiting to get in. i thought this show was supposed to be less crowded!!!???!!! so instead of shopping, we got in line. it was at this point that ray took it upon himself to tell me that whoever tells me the pointers about touring disney world was an idiot. you have to remember that we had been to a VERY busy AK and MK the day before and now we have no fastpasses at RnRC and this huge crowd at the later fantasmic show. once they opened the gates, i realized that the view you have as you're waiting is very misleading. the crowd wasn't bad at all - it's just a very small space that you're waiting in.

continued in next post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=25613434&postcount=548

 

[punkin413]

speaking of waiting in small spaces, as we were walking into the stadium VERY slowly, i accidentally hit the guy in front of me in the heal with my shoe. he was wearing flip flops. as soon as i did it, i said, "oh, i'm sorry," to which he responded by looking at his wife and rolling his eyes. um........seriously????????????????? i then said, "I SAID I WAS SORRY" really loudly and ray just looked at me all confused because he had no idea what was going on. what is with people???? FEEL THE MAGIC, DAMN YOU!

we sat RIGHT DOWN FRONT and a little to the right for the show. we were on the second row of bleachers. i liked the view, but i do have to say that during the show where the water is spraying i was having to pull my jacket over my head because i was getting soaked by the mist!

a CM pulled this kid out of the crowd and gave him some mickey gloves to get the crowd going for the show. he was trying to get them to do the wave, but it just wouldn't catch on in the middle of the crowd!

it was while we were waiting for fantasmic to start that i realized the lack of flatness in our lives that day. so here are flat beana and flat mattica waiting for fantasmic. sorry, guys! but at least i remembered you for the big show!

finally the show started and it was AWESOME, as always. here are some pics i got.

i have LOTS of video to share from the show. ray did such a good job videotaping this!!! i was so proud of him when i got home and watched it. check it out!

this is the pocahontas segment. he KNEW exactly where to put the camera to get a good shot of her before the water starts kind of blocking her from view. is that good training or what???



okay...this is just funny. at first ray is cleaning the water off the lense with his jacket, but then you hear him say, "here comes the mullet," referring to prince eric.



i just love this part!!! go mickey!



and of course i have to share the finale. this part always brings tears to my eyes!!!



continued in next post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=25613451&postcount=549

 

[punkin413]

after fantasmic, we contemplated riding ToT again, but decided against it because we knew we couldn't top the ride we'd had earlier. quit while you're ahead! so we went shopping instead!

i love the villians in vogue store - i could've stayed in here for hours!

i got this peanut and white chocolate-covered mickey pretzel......yum!

ray got this pin. it's really cool. the dial turns so you can see the different villians from fantasmic!

he also got a little 4-pack of tiny little star wars characters and one of them is a disney character too. you don't know what you're getting until you open it and he ended up getting minnie as leia. he wanted jedi mickey, so i'm gonna buy him a couple of those when i go back in september.

okay......i can't believe i'm doing this. on our way out we got a couple of photopass pics taken. when the photographer took the photo below, i was totally not ready! and i remember it because after he took it, i said, "oh, that's gonna be pretty." when ray and i saw this when we got home we laughed so hard - i had to run to the bathroom so i wouldn't pee all over myself! i added the graphic because i just felt it was appropriate. get ready to laugh.....

please, no autographs.

here's a better one.....

a couple of shots i got as we were leaving. this one's kinda blurry but i think it's cool.

i don't remember much about the bus ride back except that while we were waiting we heard this elderly lady walk by cussing up a storm...... it was hilarious!

when we got back to the resort, we walked up to our door and saw this.....

kind of appropriate that we got this on this night since i had had the mishap with the rude CM. it made it all better!!!!!

last year we got aladdin and princess jasmine and i was hoping for another princess this year! of course i would DIE if i got belle and the beast, but i'm perfectly content with cinderella and prince charming.

i don't remember anything about that night except that i was EXHAUSTED and we went to bed as soon as we could!

up next.........day 3! my relaxing morning walking around the resort and shopping, shopping and more shopping!!!!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Awesome pictures! Loved that one of you and your hubby where you looked freaked out! Funny! Ya, so what was up with that CM at RnRc? Rude rude rude! That would have frosted my cookies What is wrong with people? Sheesh. I hate running into rude people at amusement parks. It can really dampen the fun when it happens and it's soooo hard for me to get past. Luckily my DH is the opposite Anyhow, glad you took the initiative to let Disney know how awful that CM was. Nice too that they didn't just send a generic email back to you. That would've made me feel better! Looking forward to your next installment

 

[teruterubouzu]

CM: and if i see it out again, you won't be getting back on any rides in this park.

Wow. I've been lurking and enjoying your trip report. I can't believe the CM said this! Good on you for trying not to let it spoil the rest of your night.

 

[AussieAngel]

Woohoo, more updates from Dawn!

What a cranky CM!! She sounds like she was definitely on a power trip. Like a mean teacher who takes away a kids toy just because they can. Booooo.

If only Ray had have left the camera on, to film her comment! Hehee!

But also... what would she have done, to ban him from all the rides in Hollywood Studios!? Put a tattoo on his forehead that said, "BANNED"?! How silly!

Poor Ray.

Anyway, fabulous Fantasmic photos!!

 

[MeMom]

If only Ray had have left the camera on, to film her comment! Hehee!

That would have been perfect! Then you could have taken it to a superior.

It kind of puts a damper on the magic when real world emotions creep in to our happy place through less-than-magical CMs. I haven't seen it much, I'm happy to say.

I'll be interested to hear what is said when you end up talking to a Disney higher up.

 

[roxannensteve]

Dawn, again I have to tell you your report is awesome!!

Isn't it funny how things that other people do or say can either make or break your day. Poor guys, it seems that after it started, it wouldn't stop. I bet you had a good nights sleep though because of the Anniversary balloons waiting for you when you got back. You guys deserved that.

Your pics of Fantasmic made me so happy!! You seemed to have gotten great pics of the things I missed last time. During the show last year is when I realized my camera broke & you know how things like that can ruin everything....

Can't wait to see the next installment & what do you mean no PTR for your December trip?? You better get with it girlfriend

 

[lexmelinda]

Hey there!

I was without internet service for a while but I'm back and all caught up!

Loved your MGM day! What about that rude CM?! A simple "I'm sorry. You can't film inside here" would've sufficed.

And now you're getting recognized from your trip report?! You're a star! Let us know when you are asked for an autograph! Then you'll be right up there with Wendy!

And Ray's Pooh looked like his momma was a rabbit. But don't tell him I said that.

Good job with all the pictures and video! Thanks for doing all that. I know it's time consuming.

And what's this baby talk? Are you pregnant? I only read the installments and not the comments.

 

[DisneyJo]

Wow that CM was rude, why did she have to say anything once he'd put the camera away?

Great photos/video of fantasmic and I love your PP photo

 

[LMO429]

Hey Dawn another great tr update! I have to admit myself that i have been to WDW 4 times in the past 3 years and my last trip we encountered 3 very rude CMs ourselves...maybe it was the heat! so I dont know what the RNR CM deal was its airconditioned in there! very nice letter and its comforting to know you received a response so soon!

 

[lmillercrew]

Sorry to hear about your rude CM. It's good that Ray was quiet. My DH probably wouldn't have been so. I love him, but sometimes he lets his short fuse fly and then I want to crawl into a hole. I'm glad that you spoke up. Sometimes we, as customers, need to speak our mind and call them on the carpet. There was no need for that response to your having your camera out.
And the guy with the flipflop? You're in a HUGE crowd! What do you expect?
You said sorry

 

[punkin413]

i don't have time to respond to everyone this morning because i'm late for the gym, but i read your responses and someone mentioned ray having the camera running. well, HE DID!!! if you'll notice at the end of the ToT video, you see what looks like the inside of a roller coaster. that's him putting his camera away. he forgot to stop recording, so all you see is the camera going into the bookbag and it's there the remainder of the ride, so you can hear RnRC, but not see it. and as far as our exchange with ms. mc-rudey-pants, all you can hear is me. she's completely muffled and you can't make out what she says because the camera's inside the bag.

 

[Hedy]

glad you spoke up re the rude cm.