The Twelve Days of Swinter: From Castaway 'Key' to a Partridge in a Palm Tree!

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I cannot believe how rude that CM was. Does he not understand he is working in the Happiest Place on Earth for crying out loud? What a turn off.

I love your daughter's kung fu panda with fan pose! What a cutie.

Your F & W F treats sure look yummy! I am not a huge seafood fan but the pictures are making me hungry, Rinky!

Yeah, he definitely did not understand the Disney way of doing things.

For some reason, when we go to WS, my DD wants to pose for pictures! She never really does that any other time. I guess she just gets in the spirit there!

Ugggh! I hate pushy salesmen. They are especially offputting when they bother me while I am on vacation! Good for you standing up to him. In all of our trips to Disney, we've only had one DVC salesperson ask us if we were interested and he was at a desk at OPR. Thankfully, he wasn't pushy and just chatted after we said it wasn't something we could do right then.

Back to the trip around the world. The lobster roll looks really good even though, like you, I'm not a big lobster eater but I do love seafood. Seeing the shrimpcake on the sugar cane skewer reminded me of the day when my Papaw grew sugarcane and we'd chew on it to get the sugary sweetness out of it.

Tell your daughter that I am loving all of the poses with the fan. My favorite picture this installment though is the one of her in the pretty kimono.

We have been 'approached' by DVC people a few times before too and as soon as I tell them that we aren't interested, they have always been respectful and polite. He was the odd ball for sure.

Well, I wasn't going to say anything for fear that someone might think me a hillbilly, but I chewed on the sugar cane too!

I like that kimono picture too. I was so glad that the CM told us to try them on. It was fun and something I wouldn't have thought to do on my own.

Wow what a jerk that DVC guy was!! I wish you would have gotten his name and reported him. He should never speak to a guest like that. And I just love when they try to tell you that you could have bought into DVC with the money you paid for 3 trips. Yeah, maybe if they are including the entire trip -- not just the room. I've had them try to tell me that before too. There's no way I spent that much money on a moderate room for 3 trips!

Anyway -- again, what a great day in Epcot! Makes me wish I was there right now. My kids really enjoy Japan. I think we usually end up there the longest!

You are so right, it is so very neat how the view changes as you walk around WS. I am going to try to take more pics of that next time. Your pics have inspired me.

Great update.

That is exactly what I said to my DH after we walked away from the DVC guy! We think so much alike that it's a little scary! I totally agree with you! First of all, if you added the total cost of my 3 trips, it's nowhere near $20,000 (which is what he told us it would cost). But then when you consider that DVC would only cover the hotel portions, it doesn't even come close. Not that I'm against DVC, but don't lie to me about it, ya know? I would love to buy into DVC if I could afford it, so there was no need to give me false info about it. But if I was buying, I would do it through resale anyway so he wouldn't have gotten a dime from me.

I know your boys love that store in Japan. They do have some neat things in there and it is so huge!

You know, I have never really taken the time to notice how the view changes around the lagoon until this trip. I had to force myself to look for different things than what I had seen before though. Most of the time I just wander from country to country almost in a daze. There is just so much eye candy that it's hard to focus!

Wow - for all DVC members out there let me apologize for that jerk. DVC should NEVER be a hard sell. Yes we have more than gotten our money's worth but we also bought in at 72.00 a point!

I hate hate hate that you were treated like that.

Thank you, but please don't feel the need to apologize for him. I know he was just a bad apple. We have talked with DVC people a few times before and none of them have ever been pushy. We just tell them we aren't interested right now, and they are fine with that. This guy was just really young and cocky and way too full of himself. And he surely did not understand the Disney style of doing things. Maybe it was his first day on the job! Something tells me he probably doesn't even work for Disney anymore!

 

[SRUAlmn]

We are cracking up over all the pictures of your DD with the fan! During one of our family trips when my sisters and I were teenagers and pre-teens my sister was taking French in High School, so she bought a beret in the France pavilion. We have SO many pictures with her wearing that thing. It's so cute to look back on now and giggle

My mom just came across it last year (almost 14 years later) when she was gathering items for her yard sale. We made it the "secret item" and said whomever brought it up to buy it would get it for free!!
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Not one single person even attempted to buy it

 

[CandleontheWater]

Gosh I'm sorry you ran into a pushy DVC salesman, but truthfully I'm not all that shocked. I've been hearing that there is a lot of pressure being put on the DVC salespeople (and yes that includes the kiosk people) to sell, and that their jobs are starting to depend on them making quotas. I'm thinking that the low pressure tactics may be a thing of the past, and they are going to start playing more hardball. Its really a shame!

Your daughter's pearl is lovely! I did pick a pearl once and thought it was such a cool experience, I'm glad you had a positive one as well.

 

[MeMom]

I was going to say - if he continued to have that attitude, it wasn't long before somebody did report him. We've only ever had nice and non-pushy DVC interactions.

I love to look at the pretty kimonos. I have thought of buying one for the girls, but they are not cheap. I will be sorry, though, if Brooklynn has some kind of Japanese project/event at school one of these days and she doesn't have an official Japan, Epcot kimono.

 

[sharonW]

Yes, that cast member should have been reported...very undisney like!! ugh!
Love the pics in Epcot and the food you sampled looked delish! Oh, how I'm lovin this TR!

 

[mom2rtk]

Oddly enough, I'm really enjoying your trip around the World Showcase! Ok, so I only say that as a recently-outed Epcot hater. OK, not a hater. I hope I made that clear. But let's say a non-lover. No, that's not the word either. You get my point though.... I hope.

Your daughter is a natural with her poses. You should get her together with Katie and Kadence sometime. Wouldn't THAT be a hoot!

You know, I'm not a big lobster fan, but even I wanted a bite of that lobster roll! And that shrimp cake......... My oldest Robbie is a Disney hater. But he has NO idea what he's missing out on. I'd SO schedule a trip to the F/W festival with him just to watch him eat. He's a very adventurous eater, and constantly complains that we never have anything interesting. He'd LOVE eating his way around the WS!

 

[MEK]

That picture of your daughter with the big American hat is so cute.

I am very surprised that someone in the DVC booth would be that pushy. All he does is set up the appt with you to meet with a salesperson.

My DH and I agree to a time share presentation in williamsburg in a few weeks and I am dreading it for that reason. My DVC salesperson was so NOT pushy.

Great update!

 

[jenseib]

What a complete jerk that guy was. I really hate pushy sales guys. I get rude back too sometimes. If I didn't say yes the first time, really do they think they can charm...or bully us into buying?

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

We are cracking up over all the pictures of your DD with the fan! During one of our family trips when my sisters and I were teenagers and pre-teens my sister was taking French in High School, so she bought a beret in the France pavilion. We have SO many pictures with her wearing that thing. It's so cute to look back on now and giggle

My mom just came across it last year (almost 14 years later) when she was gathering items for her yard sale. We made it the "secret item" and said whomever brought it up to buy it would get it for free!!
.
.
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.
Not one single person even attempted to buy it

That's funny! I hope that means that you guys kept it. You need to put that away in a keepsake box somewhere. I sure wish I had my old Chinese fan from when I was little to show my DD now.

Gosh I'm sorry you ran into a pushy DVC salesman, but truthfully I'm not all that shocked. I've been hearing that there is a lot of pressure being put on the DVC salespeople (and yes that includes the kiosk people) to sell, and that their jobs are starting to depend on them making quotas. I'm thinking that the low pressure tactics may be a thing of the past, and they are going to start playing more hardball. Its really a shame!

Your daughter's pearl is lovely! I did pick a pearl once and thought it was such a cool experience, I'm glad you had a positive one as well.

Maybe things are changing with DVC, IDK. We have had a few DVC people talk to us very briefly in the past and never had an issue. I sure hope they aren't making a habit of pushing that on people now though. That is a real turnoff to me!

We love the PAP. It is such a unique thing to do and makes for a fun story to tell when people ask about the jewelry.

I was going to say - if he continued to have that attitude, it wasn't long before somebody did report him. We've only ever had nice and non-pushy DVC interactions.

I love to look at the pretty kimonos. I have thought of buying one for the girls, but they are not cheap. I will be sorry, though, if Brooklynn has some kind of Japanese project/event at school one of these days and she doesn't have an official Japan, Epcot kimono.

Same here. We have talked to a few DVC people in the past and never had any issues like this. Once we told them that we just couldn't do it right now, they never pushed it any further. I sure hope he was just poorly trained. He was very young and full of himself. I think he needs some mentoring if he plans to keep working at Disney.

Aren't those kimonos beautiful. And they felt so good. DD really wanted one, but that was a lot of money for something that she would only wear to play in or for dress up at school. If I was rich though, it would've come home with us!

Yes, that cast member should have been reported...very undisney like!! ugh!
Love the pics in Epcot and the food you sampled looked delish! Oh, how I'm lovin this TR!

He surely did not understand the Disney way of doing things. But the bright spot is that in 3 very long trips, that was my first encounter with a really rude CM. I guess I can't complain too much about that!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Oddly enough, I'm really enjoying your trip around the World Showcase! Ok, so I only say that as a recently-outed Epcot hater. OK, not a hater. I hope I made that clear. But let's say a non-lover. No, that's not the word either. You get my point though.... I hope.

Your daughter is a natural with her poses. You should get her together with Katie and Kadence sometime. Wouldn't THAT be a hoot!

You know, I'm not a big lobster fan, but even I wanted a bite of that lobster roll! And that shrimp cake......... My oldest Robbie is a Disney hater. But he has NO idea what he's missing out on. I'd SO schedule a trip to the F/W festival with him just to watch him eat. He's a very adventurous eater, and constantly complains that we never have anything interesting. He'd LOVE eating his way around the WS!

Yes, I get what you're saying! And I'm glad you are enjoying this trip through WS, espcially since it may take me 50 more updates to finish posting all these pictures!

I tell ya, if we had multiple Dis Divas at Disney at the same time, the World may not be able to handle it! Besides, I cannot have my DD seeing any of Katie's dresses or she will want them, and this mama is no seamstress!

Oh your son would be in Heaven at the F&WF! They have so much exotic and unique food there. Some of it was too adventurous for me and I am fairly open minded, so if he is a really adventurous eater then he would love it. Too bad he's closed his mind to it. Maybe when he is grown, he'll come around some.

That picture of your daughter with the big American hat is so cute.

I am very surprised that someone in the DVC booth would be that pushy. All he does is set up the appt with you to meet with a salesperson.

My DH and I agree to a time share presentation in williamsburg in a few weeks and I am dreading it for that reason. My DVC salesperson was so NOT pushy.

Great update!

He must get a commission off his bookings then because he was pushing hard. And I can't believe that pays off for him anyway. I would think the average person is just like me and just wants to get away from a salesman who is that agressive. Maybe I'm wrong though? Maybe it's working for him. I still don't think that it's in line with Disney style customer service though.

I won't even go to a timeshare presentation anywhere for that reason. We've been offered free trips if we will go listen to a 2 hour speech thing, but I just can't do it. When they start cramming it down my throat, I just want to make a run for it! Good luck with your Williamsburg trip though. Maybe your presenter won't be highly motivated!

What a complete jerk that guy was. I really hate pushy sales guys. I get rude back too sometimes. If I didn't say yes the first time, really do they think they can charm...or bully us into buying?

Yeah, he just went on and on and just didn't seem to realize that no amount of bullying or smooth talking was going to get me to budge. I don't make decisions like that on the fly. We went down that road once before with a timeshare sort of thing at a lake near here and that was a disaster. I learned my lesson with that on making hasty decisions. No way was he talking me into anything that day! I probably wouldn't buy DVC direct anyway. It seems like you can get a much better deal buying a resale.

 

[marDgreen88]

Oh my goodness, are you kidding me about that Cast Member? Good grief... some people. Ugh. Rude.

Once again... love all your pictures! SO beautiful!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Oh my goodness, are you kidding me about that Cast Member? Good grief... some people. Ugh. Rude.

Once again... love all your pictures! SO beautiful!

Thanks!

Yes, that CM was very full of himself. I think he was just a little too young for that job. He didn't seem mature enough to understand sales etiquette. He just thought if he pushed hard enough that I would eventually cave in. But he picked the wrong one to try that with!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Alright everyone, grab your magic carpets and let’s take to the skies over magnificent Morocco!

I don’t know what it is about them, but I am always drawn to the beautiful and unique light fixtures throughout Disney World.

Ok, the list keeps growing… I’m also drawn to the fountains and other pretty water features. So thus far, I have a window, light fixture, and fountain fetish!

This little ‘nook’ is such a pretty area.

Looking out into the marketplace…

Looking up at the ceiling, or lack of…

The weather was absolutely gorgeous that day. Really, it was almost perfect throughout our entire trip, and I was so grateful for that, especially after our first encounter with Disney rain that morning. I remember how cool it felt in that room with all the tiling and what a nice breeze there was blowing through the open ceiling and the keyhole doorway. I was so thankful just to be there and wished we could stay forever!

Time for a little shopping! Again, the pavilions in World Showcase have such interesting things to marvel at, and Morocco is no exception. To me Morocco seems like a very mystical and exotic place.

There you can have anything your heart desires with just the rub of a lamp.

Or go anywhere you want on a magic carpet!

And it doesn’t get much more exotic than camel transportation!

Or clothes that jingle and drip with gold…

Dishes that contain every color of the rainbow…

And things that sparkle and shimmer for the hair and hips…

Continued in next post

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

More light fixture fetish…

More window fetish…

And a quick Kidcot stop…

Did you see those two nuts that stepped into my picture?

Look, there they are again, lurking around every corner!

One of the few restaurants at WDW that I have no desire to try…

And my favorite CM photo of the day!

The girl on the end was so sweet! When I asked her for a picture, she went and gathered up all the guys and put a beaded headdress on DD! Just goes to show that most of the CMs are fantastic and go above and beyond for the guests. They more than make up for the few bad apples, like barracuda boy at the DVC booth!

With daylight quickly ticking away, we moved on to fabulous France!

We saw a booth set up on the way with Food and Wine Festival art for sale.

I wonder if Remy is still making appearances here. We saw him at our lunch at Chefs back in ’09 and thought he was super cute!

I was so excited to see this show when we walked up! This is one of the street performers that I have been hoping to catch.

I thought they were just setting up for the show to begin, but unfortunately, they were packing up. Darn, we just missed it!

DD has an eagle eye for ice cream stands, and as soon as she saw it, she had to have one. She deemed this chocolate waffle cone ‘awesomely good’!

Continued in next post

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

We saw our first Photopass person since the one in China so we stopped for a few pictures. I was pretty disappointed in the number/availability of PP photographers on this trip. There just were not many of them out except in the very high traffic areas like the in front of the castle, tree of life, Fantasia hat and the Epcot ball. We used PP on our first trip in ’08 and they were everywhere back then. I definitely noticed a major cutback this time and it most likely will keep me from purchasing the CD on future trips.

DD normally gets into the posing that the PP people tell her to do, but this time she just wasn’t listening to him at all. When he was done, I asked her what was wrong and she said she couldn’t concentrate because her daddy was eating her ice cream while she was distracted, and she was NOT happy about that!

Poor girl! You do have to watch him! He is a human garbage disposal and you can ask him to hold your snack if you want, but you might not get anything back!

And just when DD thought she was going to finally get to enjoy that ice cream cone, one of her favorite characters came out!

Marie was being mischievous though. Her handler was trying to tell her where to go for the meet and greet, but she kept trying to get in line at one of the F&W booths! It was cute! The funny thing though is that the booth she kept heading towards was one that only sold alcoholic drinks!

Marie finally behaved herself though and we were first in line to meet her.

We love the Aristocats. That’s actually where my odd user name came from. My first Disney related memory that I have of my DD was when she was about two years old. She had been watching the Aristocats and LOVED the song in it with Marie singing the chorus of “Oh, a rinky tinky tinky!” Well one night out of the blue, she came running into the living room in nothing but her underwear, shaking her little hiney and belting out that song like a grown woman! It was hilarious, and I have never forgotten it!

Now, with the photo session and character meet out of the way, DD could finally get to work on that ice cream! It’s a tough life being a kid at Disney World!

DD wanted to find a spot to sit down so we went in search of a bench.

We ended up crossing the bridge and sitting in the large patio area that overlooks the lagoon. I had never really noticed before what a nice area this is.

Raise your hand if you’d like to be sitting right there eating an ice cream cone as we speak…

DD finished up her snack, and we headed towards England. I’m not sure if it was fatigue setting in or just that ‘Disney daze’ that I get into sometimes, but we totally forgot to go back and explore France! We didn’t go into any of the shops, no F&W samples, no film, and worst of all… no CM picture! As hard as I try, I always succumb to the eye candy overload of World Showcase and just can’t stay focused.

Even as I took these pictures, it still didn’t occur to me that we didn’t really do anything in France.

Oh well! There’s always next time!

Up next: Extraordinary England, Colorful Canada and a taste of Ireland and Hawaii to finish up our trip around the world!

 

[sharonW]

I must say Rink, that you have given me a greater appreciation of Epcot then if I were there bodily!!!! Love the way you take it all in, absorbing it like a sponge and probably wishing you could just simply bottle it all!!! World Showcase is truly an amazing part of a WDW experience and I vow if I return one day I will explore it the way you do!!!!!

 

[sjs314]

Finally caught up with your updates. I can not get enough of WS and wish I was back there already while I looked at your pictures. I have to still get mine off the camera from our trip.

I agree about the chocolate/caramel strawberry from the shop in Germany...Yum. DH got just a big caramel and we intended to go back and get some of the caramel popcorn but unfortunately ended up skipping our ADR for Biergarten and never did make it back to WS

We loved Via Napoli but then we both grew up in Italian neighborhoods and like that type of pizza.

Loved the pics of your DD she looked very pretty in the pink komono, but I have to ask...........what happened to DH's hat? LOL Rinky what did you do with it????

That lobster roll looked so so good.

I never noticed about the Japanese wearing socks with their flip flops until you mentioned it.........wierd

I hate pushy sales people like that DVC CM, don't they realize it turns most people off.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I must say Rink, that you have given me a greater appreciation of Epcot then if I were there bodily!!!! Love the way you take it all in, absorbing it like a sponge and probably wishing you could just simply bottle it all!!! World Showcase is truly an amazing part of a WDW experience and I vow if I return one day I will explore it the way you do!!!!!

Now what would give you the impression that I love World Showcase???

I sure hope I am not boring everyone to tears with 6 updates about just WS. I know everyone doesn't love it like I do. But you are so right... if I could bottle it up, I would! And I think if you really take the time to dig a little in WS, you will be very glad you did.

Finally caught up with your updates. I can not get enough of WS and wish I was back there already while I looked at your pictures. I have to still get mine off the camera from our trip.

Welcome home! I hope you had a fantastic trip!

I agree about the chocolate/caramel strawberry from the shop in Germany...Yum. DH got just a big caramel and we intended to go back and get some of the caramel popcorn but unfortunately ended up skipping our ADR for Biergarten and never did make it back to WS

We loved Via Napoli but then we both grew up in Italian neighborhoods and like that type of pizza.

Don't you hate it when you wait on something, thinking that you will be back, and then you don't make it? That's happened to me several times.

I'm glad to hear you liked VN. Did you get pizza? If so, what kind???

Loved the pics of your DD she looked very pretty in the pink komono, but I have to ask...........what happened to DH's hat? LOL Rinky what did you do with it????

Well...... it is possible that the hat accidently fell on the floor and just happened to get covered by dirty towels, possibly in the hope that that mousekeeping might accidently take it off with the laundry... just maybe that's what happened.



That lobster roll looked so so good.

I never noticed about the Japanese wearing socks with their flip flops until you mentioned it.........wierd

I hate pushy sales people like that DVC CM, don't they realize it turns most people off.

No, he didn't realize that. He also didn't realize what manners are and that you get more flies with honey than vinegar!

replies in blue

 

[sharonW]

NOT boring at all, love hearing it ALL!!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Just caught up on your updates!
Love the pics of DD and the fan!!!

I can't tell you how much I would love to get a hold of that DVC guy. I think I could give him a run for his money....