8caliace
United States Air Force
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2000
- Messages
- 324
This was our 4th trip to WDW and by far the most stressful in planning, but the most rewarding and relaxing trip yet.
The Crew:
Ace(me): 30, Active duty Air Force currently stationed in TX
Nancy: DW, 29. Civil service job on the base
Nick: 6, DS. First grader on fall break
Cameron: 8 months, DD. Spoiled lil girl.
JoAnn: 57, my mom. Lives in Vegas, always ready to spoil the grandchildren
Rob: 23, my brother. Works for an airline, and training as EMT/firefighter in Las Vegas
Ali: 27, brother's girlfriend. Also works for airline.
Tom: 27, Active duty Air Force stationed in California
In the beginning, this trip was planned as a follow-up to our May visit to Disneyland. We had taken advantage of the DL Armed Forces Salute and began planning a trip to WDW for their offer. In May we had a group that included Tom's wife Diana, and another Air Force couple and were part of our planning for this trip. Unfortunately, Diana got sent to Saudi Arabia in support of the war, and our other friends also received moving orders. We contemplated putting the trip off, but they all insisted we carry on as planned. Our last trip in 2002, we stayed at ASSp which was ok, but we wanted to move up. So we decided on CSR. I booked 2 rooms for 6 nights. Well we decided to add on a 7th, so I did. Then in talks with Rob and Ali, they said we have a better shot of flying out earlier. Because they are airline employees, they are able to companion us with them, and we are able to fly provided there are empty seats. The maximum number of nights for the Armed Forces Salute was 7, so I Pricelined a hotel for the night before CSR and extended mini-van rental. The plan was for Rob to go get Tom from California on Oct 7th and come back to Vegas. Then fly to Dallas to get us on the 9th. Well Rob calls up on the night of the 7th and says the flights are looking full, can we fly out another day earlier. He comes out the afternoon of the 8th. My boss was great in letting me go early so we can get to the airport for an 8:30pm flight to Vegas. Another call from Rob, the 8:30 flight is filling, can we fly out at 4pm. This call comes at 12pm. We live 2 hours from Dallas. We have not finished packing, Nick and Cameron are at school and daycare. Talk to the boss again and I am good to go. It is now 12:30. We need to be in Dallas by 3:30. Wife gets Cameron, I get Nick. Get home at 12:45. Packing finished up in a matter of minutes. Everything loaded up and on the road at a little after 1pm. Make good time into DFW. Park the car, grab the next shuttle and we are in the airport at 3:15, but no Rob anywhere. Cell phone rings, its Ali. Rob's flight was delayed. We can't check in without Rob with us. It's 3:25...we have 5 minutes before we lose our spots. Here comes Rob through the gate and to the counter. We check in and have our seats. Through security and we can finally breathe a bit. Uneventful flight to Vegas. Get to my mom's house. Next dilemma...our flight to Orlando tomorrow night is filling, but tonights looks good. Can we leave tonight? On Priceline again for another hotel night. But no more rental car available, so no transportation. We'll figure it out later. A couple hours rest and we are off to the airport for our 12am red-eye to Orlando. Everyone gets on board no problem and our trip has officially begun...
Up next: Day 1 cont'd...do we get stranded at the airport with no transportation? Stay tuned...
The Crew:
Ace(me): 30, Active duty Air Force currently stationed in TX
Nancy: DW, 29. Civil service job on the base
Nick: 6, DS. First grader on fall break
Cameron: 8 months, DD. Spoiled lil girl.
JoAnn: 57, my mom. Lives in Vegas, always ready to spoil the grandchildren
Rob: 23, my brother. Works for an airline, and training as EMT/firefighter in Las Vegas
Ali: 27, brother's girlfriend. Also works for airline.
Tom: 27, Active duty Air Force stationed in California
In the beginning, this trip was planned as a follow-up to our May visit to Disneyland. We had taken advantage of the DL Armed Forces Salute and began planning a trip to WDW for their offer. In May we had a group that included Tom's wife Diana, and another Air Force couple and were part of our planning for this trip. Unfortunately, Diana got sent to Saudi Arabia in support of the war, and our other friends also received moving orders. We contemplated putting the trip off, but they all insisted we carry on as planned. Our last trip in 2002, we stayed at ASSp which was ok, but we wanted to move up. So we decided on CSR. I booked 2 rooms for 6 nights. Well we decided to add on a 7th, so I did. Then in talks with Rob and Ali, they said we have a better shot of flying out earlier. Because they are airline employees, they are able to companion us with them, and we are able to fly provided there are empty seats. The maximum number of nights for the Armed Forces Salute was 7, so I Pricelined a hotel for the night before CSR and extended mini-van rental. The plan was for Rob to go get Tom from California on Oct 7th and come back to Vegas. Then fly to Dallas to get us on the 9th. Well Rob calls up on the night of the 7th and says the flights are looking full, can we fly out another day earlier. He comes out the afternoon of the 8th. My boss was great in letting me go early so we can get to the airport for an 8:30pm flight to Vegas. Another call from Rob, the 8:30 flight is filling, can we fly out at 4pm. This call comes at 12pm. We live 2 hours from Dallas. We have not finished packing, Nick and Cameron are at school and daycare. Talk to the boss again and I am good to go. It is now 12:30. We need to be in Dallas by 3:30. Wife gets Cameron, I get Nick. Get home at 12:45. Packing finished up in a matter of minutes. Everything loaded up and on the road at a little after 1pm. Make good time into DFW. Park the car, grab the next shuttle and we are in the airport at 3:15, but no Rob anywhere. Cell phone rings, its Ali. Rob's flight was delayed. We can't check in without Rob with us. It's 3:25...we have 5 minutes before we lose our spots. Here comes Rob through the gate and to the counter. We check in and have our seats. Through security and we can finally breathe a bit. Uneventful flight to Vegas. Get to my mom's house. Next dilemma...our flight to Orlando tomorrow night is filling, but tonights looks good. Can we leave tonight? On Priceline again for another hotel night. But no more rental car available, so no transportation. We'll figure it out later. A couple hours rest and we are off to the airport for our 12am red-eye to Orlando. Everyone gets on board no problem and our trip has officially begun...
Up next: Day 1 cont'd...do we get stranded at the airport with no transportation? Stay tuned...
Hopefully your wife will have a supply of camouflage colored man panties to see her through this trip
