Stop Making Me Laugh Or I'll Pee My Pants! Go Back! I Lost My Shoe! Trip Report!

[racefanof88]

OMG Lisa that room looks awful. I know it must have been hard for you to stay there. Every hotel has it's problems , but that many in one room makes you wonder. I would have been upset about the diamond dash too. Your pictures are great .

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Wow Lisa....great documentation of the disgusting room! I can't wait to hear the response you get..ugh.

Sorry the weekend was such a letdown. But.....John's obsession with the tires is cracking me up!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm going to try to finish up our Hot Springs trip before the boss comes in this morning.

 

[mickeystoontown]

After taking 50+ pictures (probably really didn't have to take that many but I just kept finding things) of the room conditions, it was my turn to get ready. John made a pot of Starbucks coffee and tried to find the local weather on television. By the way, he didn't find it.

We were dressed and ready to leave by around 9:30 a.m. We packed up our one bag and we were off. I had my camera ready in case I needed to show the front desk just how bad the room was. When we stepped off the elevator, I could see the line at the desk. I was prepared to wait a little while if I had to but it couldn't been too terribly long or we'd be late getting home.

While standing in the line, I kept seeing a lady behind the desk waving to people and pointing to the side of the front desk. Three or four people walked around there, did something and left. We waited about 25 minutes and I told John to go see what the lady kept pointing to. He came back and said it was an express checkout slot where you dropped your keys and left. The lady waved to John and pointed to the slot and then went into some room behind the desk. I was getting frustrated waiting at this point. We still wanted to do the mountain drive and we had a 4 hour drive ahead of us. If we wanted to spend any time with Hunter that evening, we needed to go. John said just drop the keys and get out of here. We both knew that the front desk wasn't going to do anything about the room anyway.

I had promised Hunter that we'd take a few more pictures of Al Capone's car. John had told him about the window glass being an inch thick and the back window folding down.

The windows were four times thicker than a regular car window:

Inside:

The back window that drops down so they could shoot at anyone following them:

The band area in the lobby:

The sign at the hotel entryway:

We walked down the veranda one last time.

It was a bit foggy out and a little cool too. We drug our bag all the way down the block to the crummy yucky parking building. You knew I was going to say it. We were on the third/top floor so we had to walk up the ramp. John inspected the car tire again, of course. At least we had a pretty view from atop the parking building.

Across the street was a building that had "Uneeda Biscuit 5 cents" painted on it. I don't think you can see it in the picture but the front of the building in the top round part, it says 1889.

It took me two attempts before I was able to get a smile out of John:

Central Avenue, the street that John got stuck crossing. The tall building on the right used to be the main medical plaza.

Turning around on the top floor of the parking building (notice I left out crummy yucky....only did it to throw ya'll off) was much easier than on the other levels as there were only three cars parked there. We drove out onto Central Avenue and were off to West Mountain Drive. It only took us about 5 minutes to get there.

I actually took this picture after we came back down the mountain because I couldn't get a good picture of it going up.

The drive takes you up a winding road to the top of a mountain. For those of you who know me, you'll know that I am terrified of heights. The drive wasn't too bad because you couldn't see way off into the distance. There were lots of trees blocking your view on the drive up. We reached the lookout and I told John that I wasn't going to like this. I walked up to the lookout very slowly but discovered that it wasn't a direct drop off. There was a lot of ground underneath the lookout. I was good.

The thing sticking up in this picture is the Mountain Tower. John and the kids have done it but I sure haven't. I started up it once and had to stop on the third floor. I sat my rear end down on the stairs and waited for everybody to come back down.

I forgot to mention something before but remembered when I looked at these pictures. There are marker/signs in front of many of Hot Springs landmarks. The signs have a telephone number for you to call and you can hear a recording that tells about the landmark you are standing in front of. It's pretty neat. There was a sign/marker at this lookout and there were several along bathhouse row.

It was pretty cool at the lookout and we were ready to get home so we hopped in the car and drove back down. We drove down Central Avenue one last time and were on our way.

Continued in next post

 

[mickeystoontown]

It wasn't even 11:00 a.m. yet but we were starting to get a little hungry. We didn't want breakfast food so we decided to wait until we reached Arkadelphia before stopping for something. Once we got there, it was lunch time and we stopped and ate at Wendy's. Baked potato and salad for me and some kind of burger meal for John. Right beside our table on the window was a huge sign for their coffee flavored ice cream something or other. Before we left, John decided he needed one for the road.

John took a few more pictures of DeGray State Park and Lake when we crossed over the dam:

And a last one of the rocks that you drive through:

The next part of the drive is super boring. There is absolutely nothing to see. John looked down at his khaki shorts and saw chocolate on the pocket. Apparently, he had dripped some of his coffee ice cream thing on it. He started wiping it off and it kept smearing. I looked and he had it on his pinkie which is probably why we later found some on the bottom of his shirt, on the tip of his hat and a little spot on the sun visor. He must have been slinging some chocolate.

Mac called and that occupied some of John's time. The other time, he dozed. I know you are suprised that it took John that long to drift off since he usually takes several catnaps here and there.

We made it to Eldorado and stopped at the visitor's center again for a potty break. This time I took a picture for ya'll. It's a beautiful log building.

While in the visitor's center, I picked up a few brochures for Little Rock. We are thinking we are probably going to stop in Little Rock on our way to Branson and I wanted to get the names of some of the hotels in the area. John got a cup of complimentary coffee and we were back on our merry way home. John called Hunter and talked to him for a little while.

The rest of the drive home was uneventful. In about 1 1/2 hours, we were pulling into our carport. Even though the weekend wasn't what we thought it would be, it was still nice to get out and spend time together. I gotta tell you though.....don't stay at the Arlington!

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Poor John, he won't smile, he likes coffee, he makes a mess, he talks on his phone and he falls asleep at the drop of the hat. I know you love him. I do to just reading about him. We all have our DH's that have their issues. But what would we have if we traded?

So when you get your free best room at the Arlington tell them you'll give them the chance one time. Then don't show.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I had to stop and check out your report! I am enjoying myself so far, but I'm only on page 15! Only 127 pages to go!

Welcome! I'm sorry I haven't responded before now. I've been trying to get my mini-trip report finished up before we head off for a Thanksgiving vacation.

You can see that we're a talkative bunch! Please please feel free to post your thoughts.

I hate that the diamond dash was a bust for you... I would have bowed out too! Can't wait to hear more - glad you two had fun. The tire thing is cracking me up - my husband would be the same way.

I think we made a good decision to opt out of the diamond dash. Ahhhhh, John and the tire. Just couldn't let it go.

So sorry about all the bad luck! I hope it gets better.
I love looking for Disney stuff at flea markets my last find was a small plastic plate with a cartoon picture of the characters riding the teacups for .50 cents you would have thought I won the lottery!

I'm constantly on the lookout for Disney stuff. I figure anything Disney will some day be a collectible. A 50 cents Disney plate.....I think you did win the lottery!

Me too, I mean they get all... um.. wait. Nevermind. Forget I said anything!

---

Just popping in to say hello. Been reading along and it's been awhile since I commented. So I'm commenting now. Not that I really have much to say, but at least you know I'm still here!

You are too funny! Glad that you're still here for the ride.

I've been away for a while and just got caught up tonight. Your trip to Hot Springs is a real "adventure" . Sorry the "Dash" wasn't what it was advertised to be.

I hope that you and your family are coping well.

The trip to Hot Springs was an adventure to say the least. It was fun to get away though. Just an expensive get-a-way.

 

[mickeystoontown]

700 couples!!! Wow!! We would have definitely skipped it too!! Can't believe those crowd pics!! Too bad you couldn't have at least gotten the t-shirt with all the trouble you went through.

I'm glad the whole tire mystery was finally figured out!! What a weekend you seem to have!! Sorry it didn't go as you hoped it would.

Your pictures of the outside of the hotel are beautiful!! The room on the other hand sounds terrible...ugh!

It sounds like despite everything you managed to make the best of things. Can't wait to read more!!

We thought about getting in line and at least getting the t-shirt but then I saw the line extending waaaaaaay beyond the block and decided it wasn't worth it.

The tire mystery was just about to drive me nuts. John couldn't let it go.

The outside of the hotel was very deceptive. Even the lobby and the inside of the hotel was pretty. The room, however, was just plain dirty and scuffed up.

Hey, this is off topic, but I know we are all looking for extra money these days. Well I do those click to paid type sites, and I have a few that I like, but I just stumbled accross one 2 weeks ago that pays better and only has a $5 payout via paypal. If you just do the paid clicks each day it equals just over $2 a day. So thats an easy $14 a week. If anyone wants any info about it, just PM me, and Ill tell you more. But for me an extra $40 plus a month is nice.

Hope you all had a great weekend.
Paige was diagnosed with mono last Tuesday and Claire and I are feeling a bit under the weather, but I'm sure ours are colds. Skip is still recovering well, but has his moments. He thinks he should be perfect already, and of course a hip replacement takes a long time to heal...Duh!

Jen, if you don't mind, p.m. me the info. I may have to check that out.

I hope that Paige is better and that you and Claire aren't getting mono too. Skip sounds like John. He wouldn't want anything to keep him down and thinks his recovery is supposed to be overnight.

That sign totally cracks me up

I wish I had taken pictures of the other ones. They had all sorts of ailments listed.

We used to camp there when the girls were small. The last time (many years ago) a huge rain came and I swore we were going to wash down that mountain. I haven't been back. I so remember those signs. That naughty John. He was about to get a scolding wasn't he? I remember Austin, Andrew being super interested in magic at that age. Yes, I bought several magic kits. Alex will be soon I'm sure. If he can get out of Star Wars legos.

Lake Ouachita is a beautiful State park. Whenever we want to go camping, that's the place we go. We once stayed there and a tornado came through. We had no idea. We knew that it had rained and we knew that the wind was blowing pretty hard but we just stayed in our tent. The next morning, there were ditches washed out around our tent where the rain had rushed by.

I still think John did rev the engine on the car. It sounded just like it and I definitely wouldn't put it past him to do it.

Hunter just started liking magic tricks. He's pretty good at a few illusions and has fooled me with a couple of 'em.

Lisa, I was just catching up on the CBR thread.....
and saw alot of these posts....
"CBR is perfect for me"
I can't wait to go to CBR for my birthday in Jan."
"CBR is my favorite resort"


I think you know what I'm talking about!

I know what you are talking about...and she is on several other forums too.

And all of the resorts are her favorites!

Yes....and she has only stayed in three.

I think she skips around to the various resort boards and posts the same comments. I have seen her review of one of the resorts on the allearnet site. I can't remember which resort she reviewed but I do know that she hadn't even stayed there yet.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I knew what you meant.

It does hold our mess!

the reason there is naked women but not naked men; women prefer to look at nice scerene images while relaxing...men don't know the difference--LOL!!!

there are some beautiful marble fixtures and fountains...

even though you didn't get to do what you went for; seems like you had a wonderful and beautiful weekend!

I agree with you there Connie! Even though there weren't any naked men in the women's areas, they still had some pretty stained glass windows to look at.

All of the fixtures and woodwork in the bathhouse were original and so very pretty.

Hot Springs beats the Holiday Inn in West Plains for a honeymoon. Now on to the washcloths. Not only would Don have cut them up, when I checked out the next day I would have taken them with me to the desk and thanked them for the washcloths. Let them figure that out.

How can something so pretty be so nasty

We didn't have a lot of money back then (not that we have bunches of it now) and Hot Springs was a cheap place to stay. When we left Hot Springs we went to Petit Jean State Park and stayed in the lodge for a couple of days.

John was pretty fed up with the non-washcloth situation. We had two handmade washclothes when he was done. If we had ever been able to actually talk to somebody at the front desk, I would have said something.

Ok, I completely knew what you were talking about and never would have guessed it was a typo! I think I've been reading your trip report too long!!

After a while I think we all start thinking alike. Man....we are a bunch of smart folks aren't we.

Isn't that sad that they think they get by with that? I would say a better room would be a clean one? I would ask for the best room in the house and meals. Then you and John will have a grand time and never leave your room.

If they do anything, and that's a big IF, I would want something more than just a room. Maybe one of their spa packages would be nice.

OMG! That room is awful!! Let us know if you hear back from the manager. I'd love to hear what they had to say..

I really don't figure I'll hear much from them. Maybe some sort of apology letter.

OMG Lisa that room looks awful. I know it must have been hard for you to stay there. Every hotel has it's problems , but that many in one room makes you wonder. I would have been upset about the diamond dash too. Your pictures are great .

Everything about the hotel was pretty and nice and lovely and all that jazz. It was just our room that was bad.

Wow Lisa....great documentation of the disgusting room! I can't wait to hear the response you get..ugh.

Sorry the weekend was such a letdown. But.....John's obsession with the tires is cracking me up!

With us not getting to talk to anybody by phone and the front desk always being busy, I didn't think I'd get to show them to anybody while we were still there. I wanted to have something though.

John's obsession with the tire is still an obsession. He wants to take it somewhere and get the new tire put on the back so they will wear the same. I kee[ telling him it doesn't really matter since that tire is 5 months newer than the other one on the back.

Poor John, he won't smile, he likes coffee, he makes a mess, he talks on his phone and he falls asleep at the drop of the hat. I know you love him. I do to just reading about him. We all have our DH's that have their issues. But what would we have if we traded?

So when you get your free best room at the Arlington tell them you'll give them the chance one time. Then don't show.

What would I do without him? I don't know and I don't care to find out. Now, his family? I'd divorce most of them in a heartbeat.

 

[mickeystoontown]

For any of you close to New Orleans, have you seen this?

http://www.noma.org/dreams

 

[racefanof88]

The mountain pictures are great . I have some old pictures of Mt. Cheaha when Dale and I went. I didn't take this one, it is from the website, but you can see it is really nice.

Now don't ask me how I could stand up there and not be scared, but Dumbo freaks me out .

 

[mickeystoontown]

The mountain pictures are great . I have some old pictures of Mt. Cheaha when Dale and I went. I didn't take this one, it is from the website, but you can see it is really nice.

Now don't ask me how I could stand up there and not be scared, but Dumbo freaks me out .

Lord have mercy Dana! If I had been on that mountain, I would have had a heart attack. Just a little secret between you and I.......I get a little frightened on Dumbo too.

 

[Kathy Jetson]

Gross pics of the room! I hope you get something back for it good luck! I like ladybugs but you know they only eat meat so they wouldn't have been there unless there were other bugs for them to eat (sorry for that I know its gross)
I liked the mountain pics! Oh and good for you for tearing the towel

 

[Mikes:)Mom]

Hi everyone! when i was leaving the doctors office today i saw an awesome view out the window. great fall colors.. i took a picture just for you guys..

the mt. is Mt. Hood. and that's the Willamette river. the doctors is in Portland Oregon. I love to see everyone's pictures of different parts of USA!

the bad news is i have to go to wdw in this brace:

no tot for me ..(i tend to hold on for my life!) .i hope i can still ride everything else!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been off work since nov 11th. it's nice to read dis!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Lisa, so sorry the room was sooo bad...I'm so happy that you and John are easy and happy people and didn't let it ruin the whole trip. Even though things did not turn out like you expected; ya'll seem to have had a nice time any way! don't know if Danny or even myself could have done it.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Hi everyone! when i was leaving the doctors office today i saw an awesome view out the window. great fall colors.. i took a picture just for you guys..

the mt. is Mt. Hood. and that's the Willamette river. the doctors is in Portland Oregon. I love to see everyone's pictures of different parts of USA!

the bad news is i have to go to wdw in this brace:

no tot for me ..(i tend to hold on for my life!) .i hope i can still ride everything else!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been off work since nov 11th. it's nice to read dis!

that is a beautiful picture!! and I am so sorry to hear you have a bum arm...
Have fun on your Disney adventure!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

For any of you close to New Orleans, have you seen this?

http://www.noma.org/dreams

I plan to go see this!!!!--it may just have to wait until January...doesn't leave until March...
just don't know when and if I could talk Danny into it
Katie (BibbityBoo) and her husband have been already (lucky her)
wish some of you were closer it would have made for an awesome dismeet!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Lisa ya'll have a great and safe Thanksgiving road trip!!!
can't wait to hear all about it...
Connie

 

[jenseib]

I'll pm you the info soon. I know you'll be gone, so no rush. I'll do it over the weekend.

 

[KatMark]

I think she skips around to the various resort boards and posts the same comments. I have seen her review of one of the resorts on the allearnet site. I can't remember which resort she reviewed but I do know that she hadn't even stayed there yet.

She's posted a new thread today: Which is your favorite -- CBR or CSR? And then states her favorite moderate is CBR. She hasn't even stayed there. And what is funny (or maybe not funny, but sad) is she is 31 years old according to her profile on another forum.