What's in a title anyway? How about 1300 pictures? 4/15/11-> Bonus Section pt1 & 2

[NateNLogansDad]

Thanks Deb

Tina just came home from work and she's feeling the same way. I told her not to cancel the trip yet but hopefully by the end of the week we will have a definite answer on whether we will go or not.

We already committed to the October trip with her family but after that, it might be time to start introducing the kids to other vacations.

I'll admit we've been more than spoiled with DVC. The customer service you get is like such a different world.

Time for me to head out to work.


C-ya!

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

Haven't been around in a bit, great updates. Your AK photos are awesome!
Too bad you're having trouble with Disney, but think hard before you cancel, how will we live vicariously through your TR if you don't take a trip to report on? Good luck with the plans. We are also DVC and I would have a hard time going any other way too. We do buy Annual passes and get atleast 2 trips, but I keep trying to squeek in a mid year break, it just hasn't worked out yet.

 

[annnewjerz]

I know what it's like to need to vent. Unfortunately, the two problems you are venting out are probably legit. I know for a fact the rule is that you have to ride the ME to get them to transfer your luggage. That being said, I know there are rule breakers who have gotten away with it in the past. Only one person from your group has to ride---is there any way to have the DW and kids go ahead and get lined up for Fantasmic while you ride along to POP?

The Expedia thing I also sort of understand, because they are an outside entity with their own amount of rooms to book, etc. I don't think that's an excuse for poor customer service on Disney's part, but I know that if you even book with a travel agent you HAVE to call the travel agent, not Disney, so I'm sure that's the issue. It's Expedia's reservation and they are probably the only ones allowed to make changes to it.

No trip to Disney is without flaws, even if they are more minor---so just take a deep breath and remember that in only 80-something more days, you'll be back in Florida. That alone, should make all the hassle worthwhile.

 

[Stefy]

Finally made it over! You are naughty for not telling me you started your TR, I'm soooooooooooooooo behind!

Going back to catch up now

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Do you have any idea how hard it is to stick a word like "inclusion" into a sentence? Especially when 80% of your conversations are with a 5 & 6 yr old or a wife who already knows you're an idiot What about when you're a truck driver and trucks are all the guys at work know?

No. Inclusion never came up


Our dates in October are 22-29. If there's ANY way of getting the planner to change his mind (there's 5-6 families going) I will. Doesn't he realize that that's the week the Phillies win the World Series!!!!!!

You must have gotten the information wrong - that is the week the Red Sox win the World Series! Silly Phillies fan!

I think we are switching our Nov 12-19 to Oct 22-29. I am a little worried it won't be Christmassy enough for me, so we're gonna go back and do Halloween again!

---------------------------------

About your current conundrum: I agree with Annie - if you can take ME to POP and have Tina and the boys go on to HS that would probably be your best bet. Second, I have heard others complain about trying to tweak things when going through Travelocity and other internet travel sites. ---Sorry for the headaches!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Haven't been around in a bit, great updates. Your AK photos are awesome!
Too bad you're having trouble with Disney, but think hard before you cancel, how will we live vicariously through your TR if you don't take a trip to report on? Good luck with the plans. We are also DVC and I would have a hard time going any other way too. We do buy Annual passes and get atleast 2 trips, but I keep trying to squeek in a mid year break, it just hasn't worked out yet.

Flattery and a guilt trip all in one post....very nice. I have to say that with the attitude I got from the customer service people on the phone I didn't even want to finish Day 4 but I'm having a change of heart. I'm trying to turn this around and look at it as more of a challenge. I think I've reached a compromise that might work out more in our favor but that will be for the next trip report!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I know what it's like to need to vent. Unfortunately, the two problems you are venting out are probably legit. I know for a fact the rule is that you have to ride the ME to get them to transfer your luggage. That being said, I know there are rule breakers who have gotten away with it in the past. Only one person from your group has to ride---is there any way to have the DW and kids go ahead and get lined up for Fantasmic while you ride along to POP?

The Expedia thing I also sort of understand, because they are an outside entity with their own amount of rooms to book, etc. I don't think that's an excuse for poor customer service on Disney's part, but I know that if you even book with a travel agent you HAVE to call the travel agent, not Disney, so I'm sure that's the issue. It's Expedia's reservation and they are probably the only ones allowed to make changes to it.

No trip to Disney is without flaws, even if they are more minor---so just take a deep breath and remember that in only 80-something more days, you'll be back in Florida. That alone, should make all the hassle worthwhile.

C'mon Ann, you're supposed to back me up here! Fight the system!

I guess I've just been spoiled so far that every trip has gone off without a hitch. I'm still not at that perfect mark but I'm a little better. I said something the other night to Tina about IF we decide to go. I was then informed that we are in fact going and I need to suck it up.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Finally made it over! You are naughty for not telling me you started your TR, I'm soooooooooooooooo behind!

Going back to catch up now

So glad you could make it Ms. Stefy!!!

I knew you were working on your own (which I am LOVING) and didn't want to interfere with the creative process

Dave's been by

Tell him I said hi and was asking how he made out in the zoo last weekend!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

You must have gotten the information wrong - that is the week the Red Sox win the World Series! Silly Phillies fan!

I think we are switching our Nov 12-19 to Oct 22-29. I am a little worried it won't be Christmassy enough for me, so we're gonna go back and do Halloween again!

---------------------------------

About your current conundrum: I agree with Annie - if you can take ME to POP and have Tina and the boys go on to HS that would probably be your best bet. Second, I have heard others complain about trying to tweak things when going through Travelocity and other internet travel sites. ---Sorry for the headaches!

I'm smelling a friendly bet brewing. This cold be fun....well fun for a Phillies fan, depressing for ummmm.....well.... Yea.

Are you sure you'd want to change the date to that week? Why spoil a week in a happy place with that feeling a fan get when their team goes home empty handed


As for Expedia, we wish there was some kind of warning or something. I was just totally blown away when I was talking to the people on the phone. Hopefully someone else reads this and learns from our mistake. The upside is that we have up till a week before the trip to cancel and still get a full refund. Till then, I will be doing some homework!

 

[mtmbyck]

Natenlogansdad, I never thought I'd say it, but we found a place as great (my kids say greater) than Disney.

We stayed at Beaches Turks and Caicos last Jan and I was magical. Kids will have pirate parties with Elmo and Cookie Monster instead of Mickey Mouse . If you begin looking for an alternate to Disney, get a Beaches Resorts book.

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

I'm smelling a friendly bet brewing. This cold be fun....well fun for a Phillies fan, depressing for ummmm.....well.... Yea.

Are you sure you'd want to change the date to that week? Why spoil a week in a happy place with that feeling a fan get when their team goes home empty handed


As for Expedia, we wish there was some kind of warning or something. I was just totally blown away when I was talking to the people on the phone. Hopefully someone else reads this and learns from our mistake. The upside is that we have up till a week before the trip to cancel and still get a full refund. Till then, I will be doing some homework!

Loser wears the winners team tee shirt one FULL day in the parks?! I'm game if you are!!!

I am sure you are like me - win or lose, they will always be my team -- trophy in hand or coming home empty handed -- I love me some Red Sox!

I now know for sure never to deal with Expedia - that's one person at least!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Loser wears the winners team tee shirt one FULL day in the parks?! I'm game if you are!!!

I am sure you are like me - win or lose, they will always be my team -- trophy in hand or coming home empty handed -- I love me some Red Sox!

I now know for sure never to deal with Expedia - that's one person at least!

I can honestly say I just don't see it happening. I told Tina about it today and my face went all red just thinking about it.

 

[annnewjerz]

Rob---when in October are you guys headed back? We have two one-day tickets leftover from this trip and with the $75 RT airfare I scored on Spirit, I'm trying to convince DH to head back sometime at the end of the year.

Hello, my name is Ann and I'm an addict. I've been back for 4 days and I'm already itching to get back down there!!

 

[camsmomE]

I'm tagging along! It's slow-moving though, with a two-year old asking me for something about every 25 seconds. I managed to get all the way through post #65, even if it DID take me all day- worth it!

I love your writing style, but more importantly, I think you might become a fellow DISer that I run to with my Nikon questions!!

I hit post #66 as soon as I get munchkin to sleep... in other words, tomorrow. GREAT REPORT!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Rob---when in October are you guys headed back? We have two one-day tickets leftover from this trip and with the $75 RT airfare I scored on Spirit, I'm trying to convince DH to head back sometime at the end of the year.

Hello, my name is Ann and I'm an addict. I've been back for 4 days and I'm already itching to get back down there!!

October 22-29. BUT be careful.....World Series should be going on that week!

There's nothing wrong with being an addict right?!?!? We usually talk about dates for the next trip while waiting in the Orlando airport to come home.
How's this for addicted....
January 2010. On the Magical Express Ride back to MCO we didn't want to leave. Tina is looking out the bus window at houses as we drive by and says "Why can't we just live here? Wouldn't that be nice?"
Our goal now is by 2014 to be moved and settled. Hopefully a year earlier but we're being realistic.

By the way....how's your pictures looking???? Will there be a trip report?

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I'm tagging along! It's slow-moving though, with a two-year old asking me for something about every 25 seconds. I managed to get all the way through post #65, even if it DID take me all day- worth it!

I love your writing style, but more importantly, I think you might become a fellow DISer that I run to with my Nikon questions!!

I hit post #66 as soon as I get munchkin to sleep... in other words, tomorrow. GREAT REPORT!

You are way too kind but thank you! I'll be more than happy to answer any questions to the best of my ability, but I'm still just learning myself. However I'll be more than happy to pass on any knowledge from all the mistakes that I've made

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Sorry about the delay in updates lately, I've just been pulling my hair out over life in general and some nights I've been getting less than my normal 3 hrs of sleep. Grumpy? Yea, I've been a little Grumpy but that's all changing ASAP. By the end of Monday I'm hoping to finish day 4 and be well into Day 5. Please bear with me

Soon I promise!!!

 

[Stefy]

Hey Rob how you guys doing?

Am all caught up and loving every minute. You guys looked like you were having the time of your lives and the boys are just too cute.

Amazing pictures too, love the FotLK ones, such an awesome show

So cool you are going back in May, bet you can't wait

Looking forward to more popcorn:

 

[annnewjerz]

By the way....how's your pictures looking???? Will there be a trip report?

Pictures are going, not nearly as many keepers as I would have liked, but I should be able to squeeze out a few handfuls. My photography went as follows:

Day 1 - Took out two bodies with a lens on each and another in my bag. Decided to skip the tripod because we'd been up since 2:30am and I knew I wouldn't want to lug it around.

Day 2 - Down to one body already because I realized I wasn't using both anyway. Still had four total lenses with me. Still no tripod because we would be seeing Fantasmic! that night and I knew I wouldn't need it for that.

Day 3 - I was still using one body, but had decided that I didnt need four lenses and we might be taking a break mid-day, so I went out with three lenses. Still no tripod, because I had planned on drinking around the World Showcase. Unfortunately, I only made it two tequila shots and a margarita in and then called it a night.

Day 4 - I was still using one body, but had decided since we were just doing some stuff at DHS I'd take my 85 for Citizens of Hollywood and 180 for the Beauty & the Beast show. Still no tripod, because by now I had to pack it back up in the box I shipped it in and drop it with the concierge.

Do you notice a pattern? Walking around with all that crap is a lot harder when I don't have DH with me!

Oh, and no TR. No one reads mine anyway, and I usually stop half-way through because I get bored writing it...so why even bother?! Photo report will have to be enough!

 

[annnewjerz]

So I lied, I started a TR...but more a photo TR that's on the TR boards instead of on the photography board, so more people can join in the fun!

And now, some shameless self-promotion, here is the link to my TR. I hope all your readers come on over!!

A Wordless Report from my Disney Quickie