That Pirate Stole My Tiara: The Pre-Trip Report

[Tinkerbellarella]

Wow! I totally have shoe envy now!!!

It's an addiction, I tell you. A sad, money-hoarding addiction. That I love.

I wore flip flops to tour the parks during our trip and they served me well. Yes they were the $2.50 Old Navy variety even. I may have to look for some croc flops though.

I'm glad I'm not the only proud Disney flip-flopper. I'm sure some $2.50 Old Navy jobbers will find their way into my suitcase, but I am looking forward to using the Crocs as well.

I've actually gotten complimented on them. Yes. Crocs. Compliments. (NOSmurfsOnAcid)

It's got all the classic story lines of a lovestory....Wife dies and leaves husband devastated with 7 kids to raise on his own...hires Nanny from local monastary, they fall in love, then must escape the Nazi's....

You're right! That sounds EXACTLY like how I met BF! LOL

I've always felt a special kinship to Julie Andrews...i think it's the name thing...we Julie's have to stick together.

I've been fortunate enough to have seen her perform live twice - once in My Fair Lady here in Beantown and once on Broadway in Victor/Victoria. She was stellar.

You are hearby ordered to rent these movies and spend a weekend curled up on the couch with a huge bowl of popcorn and your favorite Jamba Juice and watch these movie classics, trust me you will thank me when you're done.

Yes, capitan. Only, I can't have the Jamba Juice, the closest one to home is on the BU campus and my hometown is an hour away. However, I will substitute said smoothie with something equally delish.

Glad to see my "Smurf on acid" line has found a following....I feel like a trend setter...

When I see brilliance and wit, I have no problems giving it credit.

I will certainly let you slide because as long as you don't get the "smurf" style (what is the name of this shoe anyway?)

I actually looked this up. Just for you. SmurfOnAcid = Baya/Beach/Cayman
I have no idea what the differences are. Mostly because I didn't care.
Hey, honesty IS the best policy, right?

I must admit, I did try on the "Patra" style which is kinda like a sandal, but just couldn't bring myself to purchase them....they were comfy, but a little tight in the arch.

For those of you who are visual-based, like myself, this is the Patra:

There are definitely WORSE sins out there in the footwear world.

Like Birks and socks.

JK

Hey, seriously, to each their own. What works for me (5" heels) might not work for everyone else. Whatever keeps you comfy and makes you feel beautiful. I'm no one's shoe judge or jury.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Hi Nikki just to let you know that your precious gift arrived today and Becci was totally . I was really touched by your wee note, it came just at the right time as I've been floored all weekend with food poisoning and feeling very sorry for myself so you achieve your goal of putting a smile on all of our faces. Niamh wanted to play with them all so I let her choose one and the rest have been put in a safe place to be used for our trip

Thank again for that little bit of you now have a serious fan base in Scotland

Oh yay! It made my day to hear the package arrived safe and sound. I know those liberated MHs will have a happy home with all of you (even DH, though he won't admit it).

I'm sorry to hear you've been poisoned. Ugh. That's always the worst. Sometimes I feel like it's Karma saying, "See?! THIS is why I said that getting the lo mein wouldn't be a GOOD idea."

I hope you're feeling better.

And you used the word "wee". I love it. I'm using it all day today.

Wee. Wee. Wee.

 

[2ScottishPrincesses]

And you used the word "wee". I love it. I'm using it all day today.

Wee. Wee. Wee.

Please stop making me laugh, my stomach muscles are still sore from "calling on Hughie down the big white telephone"

 

[pajules]

There are definitely WORSE sins out there in the footwear world.
Like Birks and socks.
QUOTE]

yes, but I've been out of college for 13 years and I have learned my lesson...heck, I even graduated to knee high boots! Two Pairs!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

I would just like y'all to know that I considered making this a cliff-hanger chapter and torturing you. But my conscience wore me down.

Ok, no, really, I was just too excited to be writing this and I couldn't wait to share it. And so it begins...

So anyone traveling to the World on or about August/September 2008 and who just so happens to be a Disney Visa holder knows what today is.

D-Day.

More specifically, FD-Day.

The Free Dining promotion was opened this morning for Disney Visa Holders with reservations for August/September 2008. In order to be one of the "Chosen Ones", your dates have to fall between 8/23/08 and 9/20/08.

Which, those of you who are either:
a.) highly detail-oriented
b.) memorizing my PTR
or
c.) Me
will note falls ONE DAY SHORT of our check-in.



However, were we willing to move our trip up by ONE day? SURE!

Gentlemen, start your engines.

I am going to preempt the telling of this story by giving you a little explanation of how we were treating the Free Dining promo, should it be offered. See, if you remember, a gazillion (technical term, by the way) chappies back, we (meaning Melissa and I) had decided we were blowing the bank and staying Deeeeluxe. At the Wilderness Lodge. Because the Poly, where we really wanted to stay, didn't just break the bank. It blew it up, into a million, tiny pieces. The difference in price between the two resorts, conveniently, would be about the same amount as the savings if we were to get the promo. So, we agreed that if the promo was offered and we were lucky enough to get it, we'd upgrade to the Poly instead of stuffing the money back into our pockets.

Preemption, over.

And so this morning dawned, with Free Dining promo codes all over the place. Having been inspired by the movie '21' (which was EXCELLENT, by the way), I decided to play the odds, which were stacked highly against the move I was about to make, and NOT call at 7 a.m. EST with the rest of the Disney Visa-having mass of humanity.

I made my first call at 11:30 a.m. (Note: FIRST call. Can you see where this is going?)

I KNOW. It's akin to waiting to call for Cinderella's Royal Table 9:00 a.m. breakfast ressies at 1:00 p.m. 180 days in advance.

But I knew what was going to happen at 7:00 a.m. EST. I knew those Disney reservation phone lines were going to light up faster than my eyes did the first time they fell on Joey McIntire in person. And they would stay lit. For HOURS. So I kept my cards close and decided to wait.

Sure enough, I started to see posts from people who had waited over TWO HOURS to get their ressies. It was driving my trip-planning, anxiety-ridden commando side crazy to wait, but I just had a feeling.

So, I called at 11:30 a.m. and after pressing the "1" option about 18 times, and holding for a mere 3 minutes, I got on the phone with Carson. Who sounded completely and utterly irritated to be having to help me.

I was not put out. I felt for Carson. In my years with Starwood, I'd been in Carson's shoes. So I put on my sweetest "I know you hate humanity right now, but I could sure use your help" voice and explained to Carson that we'd originally booked to check in on 9/21 at the WL, but would like to move up our trip by one day, to 9/20, so as to take advantage of the Free Dining promo.

Which Carson promptly told me I couldn't do.

She may as well have hit me in the face with a baseball bat.

Me: (in complete shock) Um, I'm sorry?
Ms. Carson Can'tStandMyJob: No. Your complete trip dates have to fall within the promotion period. If I were to do that you'd only get Free Dining for one night.
Me: (hyperventilating) But I know the last Free Dining promo...
Ms. Carson Can'tStandMyJob: (reading my mind) That was 2007 when you could have it for the whole stay as long as you were checking in before the promo ended. It doesn't work that way anymore.
Me: Oh.
Ms. Carson Can'tStandMyJob: (Yes, she actually said this.) Nice try though. Have a good day. CLICK.

Not only had my Disney dreams been deflated, not only did I have to deal with Elfia's (my original booking CM) wicked stepsister, not only was I hung up on, but she didn't even wish me a MAGICAL day. Just a good one.

I couldn't believe it. I was disappointed, but I sighed and just accepted that it wasn't meant for us to be able to stay at the Poly. Oh well, at least we were going to Disney.

Then I checked these boards. And saw posts from literally DOZENS of people who were in the same situation as I was in terms of dates WHO'D GOTTEN THE PACKAGE FOR THEIR WHOLE STAY.

This doesn't even begin to describe what my head did:

I should've known better. (Than to fall in love with you...now love is just a faded memory. - Is that Richard Marx, I hear?)

I called back, armed with my confirmation number, knowledge, determination, and "the secret weapon" (read: sobbing, messy pleading for the discount).

After hitting "1" a jazillion more times (really, do they use all that info???), the following took place:

MY HERO: Good afternoon, thank you for calling Disney Reservations, this is Madison. May I have your name?

(Is there anyone at Disney reservation named just, Mary or Joe? They all seem to have these exotic or trendy names that I'm completely jealous of!)

I gave her my name and explained what had happened. I told her all about Carson and then what I'd seen online. When I was done I gave a big sigh and said, "Can you help me out?"

Silence.

Then...

MyHeroMadison: I simply CANNOT believe she told you that and then hung up on you. YES, if you move your dates up you can have the promo, YES, I can check it for you.

Madison sounded genuinely angry at the way I'd been treated. She kept apologizing and then said these magic words: "We have the promo available for 9/20 for 6 nights in the same room you're currently booked in at the Lodge."

I did a small jig. Just for 2ScottishPrincess.

Me: Well, I was wondering if maybe you'd be willing to check another resort for me. See, we were thinking about upgrading if we could get the promo and...
MyHeroMadison: Absolutely. Honey, I will get you a room anywhere on Disney property with this promo. Where would you like to check?
Me: (in a small voice. Her determination was scaring me.) Um, the Poly.
MyHeroMadison: (tapping and clicking away) Checking now. Have you stayed there before?
Me: No. But it's the resort I've wanted to stay at since I was seven.
MyHeroMadison: Mhmm. Well then, I'm just going to have to put you in this Garden View room at the Poly that I just came across, aren't I?"

I would be lying if I said my eyes didn't well up with tears. I was speechless for a second and then thanked her and told her she'd made the past two completely carpy weeks I'd been having worth it. I think she could hear the tears and the happiness in my voice.

MyHeroMadison: Nicole, I'm so happy to have been able to do this for you. I'm happy I could make one of your dreams come true.

We finished up the call and I must've thanked her a million more times. Just before we hung up, she wished me a magical day.

So, there you have it, yours truly is now the proud holder of a 6 night reservation with Free Dining in a garden view room at the Polynesian Resort. I can tell you that this hasn't truly sunk in yet, but when it does, I don't know if I'll be able to contain myself.

Hopefully it doesn't hit me when it's just me and the BF because at this point he might murderize me.

I have, however, called Missy and shared the good news with her. She shrieked and then said to someone in the background, "Yes, I'm jumping up and down! Yayyyy!!!"

Suffice it to say, we're super-excited.

So, we're going to have to re-work the itinerary a bit, which just means more updates for all of you.

Lesson learned: Sometimes, when it doesn't seem to make sense, Life knows EXACTLY what it's doing.

 

[TarzansKat]

Alright, girl, I am so happy for you!!!!

I dream of staying in the Poly, and I think you and your friend are going to have an awesome time.

I won't even attempt to be witty in this post, I just think that's so great that you finally got a good cast member who was willing to sprinkle on the Disney magic. You must be

 

[2ScottishPrincesses]

Fantastic Nikki, I'm so excited for you, I'm even joining in with your jig (even more so because we're hoping to stay at the Poly next year). Wouldn't it be Karma if Carson's phone call was being taped for "quality monitoring purposes" or am I just evil ?

 

[TarzansKat]

Wouldn't it be Karma if Carson's phone call was being taped for "quality monitoring purposes" or am I just evil ?

We can only hope there is such justice in the world...

of course, if we can't hope for justice there...

perhaps we should call in reinforcements....

"cue theme music"

BATMAN!

 

[2ScottishPrincesses]

We can only hope there is such justice in the world...

of course, if we can't hope for justice there...

perhaps we should call in reinforcements....

"cue theme music"

BATMAN!

 

[TarzansKat]

At least I can make someone laugh.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

I won't even attempt to be witty in this post, I just think that's so great that you finally got a good cast member who was willing to sprinkle on the Disney magic. You must be

You have no idea how this brightened my day!

Wouldn't it be Karma if Carson's phone call was being taped for "quality monitoring purposes"

I used to be a supervisor in the Starwood Call Center and would have to review such calls with my team members. It's NEVER fun, especially when it's a bad call. Someone even threatened to slash my tires once, if I didn't give them a good score on what must've been the worst reservation call I'd ever listened to. Said threat was repeated when I later had to fire her.

We can only hope there is such justice in the world...

of course, if we can't hope for justice there...

perhaps we should call in reinforcements....

"cue theme music"

BATMAN!

I LOVE that Batman, Smurfs on Acid (which sounds to me more and more like an 80's punk band) and pirates seem to be the theme of this PTR.

And if this is the Batman we're calling in, you can send him DIRECTLY to my house:

Yes please.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I am so happy for you that I can barely stand it (or that might be the jealousy I am feeling)! JK! I am very happy that you are getting your dream of staying at the Poly! What a great way to start your week!!!

Thank goodness for Madison!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I need Batman to make a house call too!

 

[TarzansKat]

You have no idea how this brightened my day!



I used to be a supervisor in the Starwood Call Center and would have to review such calls with my team members. It's NEVER fun, especially when it's a bad call. Someone even threatened to slash my tires once, if I didn't give them a good score on what must've been the worst reservation call I'd ever listened to. Said threat was repeated when I later had to fire her.



I LOVE that Batman, Smurfs on Acid (which sounds to me more and more like an 80's punk band) and pirates seem to be the theme of this PTR.

And if this is the Batman we're calling in, you can send him DIRECTLY to my house:

Yes please.

I have one word for that picture...just don't tell DH...

YUM!

 

[TarzansKat]

And not to hijack the thread, but I have good news and bad news, my lovely Tinkerbellarella...

Good news: I just booked free dining this morning at the exact resort I wanted, and got all the ADRs I wanted, and only called back once to switch them!

Bad news: We won't be there at the same time....

Well, techincally I guess this is not true...if you're arriving on the 20th, and I'm leaving on the 21st...what were you doing that day?

 

[AGPrincess]

My love for shoes is akin to my love for Jamba Juice smoothies.

MMMmmmm...I love Jamba Juice smoothies...any smoothie actually...

I couldn't believe it. Really couldn't. So much so that I walked over and said to the girl running the kiosk, "Um, excuse me. Are those CROC FLIP FLOPS?" Then my mouth kind of hung open.

Glad you found the Athens crocs! Those are my favorites too!

MyHeroMadison: Mhmm. Well then, I'm just going to have to put you in this Garden View room at the Poly that I just came across, aren't I?"

Grrr to Carson but YAY to Madison! And YAY squared! to staying at the Polynesian!!! You're going to love it...IMO, it is THE most heavenly resort on Disney property!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

I need Batman to make a house call too!

Before or after Gerard Butler after 2Scottish Princesses sends him my way?

And not to hijack the thread, but I have good news and bad news, my lovely Tinkerbellarella...

Good news: I just booked free dining this morning at the exact resort I wanted, and got all the ADRs I wanted, and only called back once to switch them!

That IS GREAT news! So...dish the details, my dear! Where, where, where?
(Unless you've already said this in a previous post and I have temporary DISnesia.)

Bad news: We won't be there at the same time....

Well, techincally I guess this is not true...if you're arriving on the 20th, and I'm leaving on the 21st...what were you doing that day?

LOL I'm not sure. We're going to have to adjust our plans a *tiny* bit since we're bumping up our check-in one day. I think on the 20th we'll still be at Sea World for the day and then maybe trying to head to DTD at night. On the 21st, I believe we're scheduled for the Studios.

MMMmmmm...I love Jamba Juice smoothies...any smoothie actually...

Ohhhhh, nothing quite like a Jamba.

Grrr to Carson but YAY to Madison! And YAY squared! to staying at the Polynesian!!! You're going to love it...IMO, it is THE most heavenly resort on Disney property!

I am very excited. And you must be too! You leave tomorrow, right?! I'll miss the WL, but at least I'll have your trippie to read!

 

[TarzansKat]

I am seriously debating the virtues of writing my own pre-trippie...is it even possible I could have half of the loyal followers you do?

I'm so excited! I had an opportunity to book bounceback during our last free dining trip and didn't, and have been remorse-ridden and woe-filled and guilt-laden ever since.

This morning, along with all the other crazy DISers, I waited on hold for and hour and twenty minutes before I got through, and finally booked Sep 14-21, 7 nights and 8 wonderful days in the World for me, DH, and DS with the lovely free dining at the always colorful, always fun, and never boring Pop Century hotel.

Can you tell I'm on

Also got the ressies I wanted... so I am

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

I am seriously debating the virtues of writing my own pre-trippie...is it even possible I could have half of the loyal followers you do?

LOL I'm sure you would. You're a pretty funny gal. You should totally start one.

I'm so excited! I had an opportunity to book bounceback during our last free dining trip and didn't, and have been remorse-ridden and woe-filled and guilt-laden ever since.

GOD FORBID they do this while I'm there. I just don't know if I could say no.

This morning, along with all the other crazy DISers, I waited on hold for and hour and twenty minutes before I got through, and finally booked Sep 14-21, 7 nights and 8 wonderful days in the World for me, DH, and DS with the lovely free dining at the always colorful, always fun, and never boring Pop Century hotel.

Congratulations! (And God bless you for holding that long!) I love Pop Century! It's my value of choice and I would honestly pick it over some of the moderates or even deluxes. I had a great room in the 70's section that was on the 3rd floor and was a hop, skip and a jump from both the main building and the bus stops. Like a Preferred room but without the "Preferred" rate.

 

[LegoMom3]

This is some of the best writing on the DIS!! I'm not done yet but looking forward to catching up and looking forward to more!

We'll be at POR in September (Free Dining! ) and I cannot wait...! It's funny, here in New England we wait SO long for some semblance of summer to arrive, don't we?....and then something like a Disney vacation in September can make you wish it away, just like that!


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