We walked in the door a few hours ago and this is my first chance to post. Before I explain our saga let me just say that this bag was wonderful!!!! I have a 9 and 12 year old but they were like little kids when we opened it. The mickey light saber and pirate swords were a real hit, you would have thought I was still traveling with preschoolers... as they dueled their way across our room several mornings-lol!
A few lessons I learned from our experience though:
I had been in touch with the swappers before and after me. I knew the bag was being left at luggage services by ddleffers for me. I had given her my name and cell # so she could call with the luggage claim #. I had also contacted and arranged with iluvjus to pass the bag to her on August 26. Since we were at the same resort we were going to meet up in the lobby, so I had her cell # to set up an exact time.
The first lesson I learned is that I should have left my contact information with our organizer. Sandra had no way of contact me to let me know that there had been a change or that she had not been able to contact the next swapper.
My second lesson was that when I didn't hear back from the next swapper after my first phone call, I should have contacted our organizer. Of course, I just assumed that perhaps she had arrived late, was at the park and missed my call, forgot to charge her phone, or any number of things that could happen. When I didn't get a call back the second day then I started to panic but couldn't imagine that someone had ditched me without a word since she already had my cell # from previous PMs plus all of my voice mail messages. 'Nuff said.
Although we checked in at Pop on the 16th, our trip actually spanned from the 13th until we arrived home today. Which leads to my third lesson, if I'm going to be traveling that long of a time period I need to bring my laptop to access email or the Disboards, since there are so many things that can happen during such a long time span - lol! But, seriously, when we are at Disney we tend to live in a vacuum and have little concept of what is going on in the outside world. It is so different from our day to day lives, when we're always plugged in and on, that it is hard to remember that others may be stressing when they don't hear from us or know what is going on.
For those of you who have read this long rambling message, just know that this swap is very worthwhile. We really didn't use much from the bag and only added some disposable ponchos, mini hand sanitizer bottles and singles to go drink mixes. But, my kids were absolutely fascinated with the idea that a group of strangers would work together to do something like this and continue to pay it forward. If nothing else, it helped them to see that it is not about what you get but about sharing and what you can do for others. Thanks, again, Sandra for starting this and continuing to keep it going!
Mary
PS- Whoever thought of the step stool is brilliant!
The parents of all toddlers will be forever in your debt...wish I had thought of it when my kids were little!
A few lessons I learned from our experience though:
I had been in touch with the swappers before and after me. I knew the bag was being left at luggage services by ddleffers for me. I had given her my name and cell # so she could call with the luggage claim #. I had also contacted and arranged with iluvjus to pass the bag to her on August 26. Since we were at the same resort we were going to meet up in the lobby, so I had her cell # to set up an exact time.
The first lesson I learned is that I should have left my contact information with our organizer. Sandra had no way of contact me to let me know that there had been a change or that she had not been able to contact the next swapper.
My second lesson was that when I didn't hear back from the next swapper after my first phone call, I should have contacted our organizer. Of course, I just assumed that perhaps she had arrived late, was at the park and missed my call, forgot to charge her phone, or any number of things that could happen. When I didn't get a call back the second day then I started to panic but couldn't imagine that someone had ditched me without a word since she already had my cell # from previous PMs plus all of my voice mail messages. 'Nuff said.
Although we checked in at Pop on the 16th, our trip actually spanned from the 13th until we arrived home today. Which leads to my third lesson, if I'm going to be traveling that long of a time period I need to bring my laptop to access email or the Disboards, since there are so many things that can happen during such a long time span - lol! But, seriously, when we are at Disney we tend to live in a vacuum and have little concept of what is going on in the outside world. It is so different from our day to day lives, when we're always plugged in and on, that it is hard to remember that others may be stressing when they don't hear from us or know what is going on.
For those of you who have read this long rambling message, just know that this swap is very worthwhile. We really didn't use much from the bag and only added some disposable ponchos, mini hand sanitizer bottles and singles to go drink mixes. But, my kids were absolutely fascinated with the idea that a group of strangers would work together to do something like this and continue to pay it forward. If nothing else, it helped them to see that it is not about what you get but about sharing and what you can do for others. Thanks, again, Sandra for starting this and continuing to keep it going!
Mary
PS- Whoever thought of the step stool is brilliant!
The parents of all toddlers will be forever in your debt...wish I had thought of it when my kids were little!
First time at deluxe.
