I know this was mentioned before, but it deserves mentioning again.....your picture ID, drivers license if you're flying. In 2007 DW and I took our youngest son, who just graduated from HS, to WDW. He wanted that instead of a party. Anyway, we stayed over night at a hotel close to the airport since the flight was so early in the morning. Flight is at 7:45am. So, at 4:30am we are all up and getting ready. 5:15 and we're getting ready to catch the transport to the airport from the hotel and jokingly I say, "everyone got their drivers license?" DW-yep, all set. Son #1- No, left it at home. First I think he is kidding. Nope. He was serious
My whole body starts to shake. We are 1 1/2 hours from home, two hours from our flight leaving and one person is not getting on the plane. I call home to my other son #2 and explain the situation. First he must "find" his brothers' license, then hit the road and get it here, in the dark, on a unfamiliar route and in a rainstorm. No, I'm not making this up. I have to mention too that I am a compulsive planner and don't handle spontaneity very well.
As my wife worked the phone communicating between both sons in an effort to locate son #1 drivers license, I worked with a very nice, extremely helpful night manager from the Cleveland Days Inn. First she calmed me down. She called the airport for us, explaining the situation asking what we could do. The airport said that they would only accept a drivers license or birth certificate. She even called the DMV to see what time they opened in case we ended up taking another flight after getting him a new drivers license.
Next. Bad news. Son #2 could not find his brother's DL, so we instructed him where to find his birth certificate. After what seemed like an eternity, my son is finally on the road heading for the airport....we are now 1:45 mins away from our flight.
All we can do is wait. The lady at the hotel said that she would have the shuttle waiting for us as soon as my son arrived. I sent DW to the airport early and told her to get on the flight regardless if my son and I were there.
I was constantly on the phone with son #2 and his grandmother, who joined the adventure after a call to her to go and wake up son #1 to answer his phone in the wee hours of the morning. We were 30 mins from flight time and son #2 was within minutes of the hotel. Everyone is on standbye. Son #1 is out on the curb looking for his brother, the hotel manager is literally sitting in the hotel van waiting for us while I'm on the phone directing each turn.
Finally, son #2 comes screeching into the hotel parking lot with son #1 running behind the car. Grandma hands the birth certificate out the window to me, I give her a quick kiss, love ya and a wave goodbye while boarding the shuttle at the same time. Off we go to the airport.
The hotel shuttle dropped us off right at the Continental area and since we didn't have any luggage with us (DW checked it all with her) my son and headed for security, our biggest roadblock. Flight time: 15 mins to go. At security I calmly explained what had happened. They looked at my son's bc and asked him when his birthday was. Hurray! They let us pass. 10 mins to go. We were on a dead run, yes run. Do any of you remember the old commercials of OJ running through the airport, jumping over bags? That was us. We were dodging people, bags, carts, anything in our way. I was on the phone to DW, who was already on the plane, talking, running, telling her we might make it.
We finally get to our gate, no one was there except a Continental employee getting ready to close the door. STOP! WAIT! Made it! Now we could relax. Finally in the air and on our way to Orlando. Then it dawned on me that I did not get to tip the lady at the Days Inn for all her help. I didn't even know her name. Not to worry.
A year later we took the same trip, same hotel but without the issues. I was so happy when I went to get on the airport shuttle that the same lady was working the desk. I asked her if she remembered me, knowing she wouldn't. Then I started telling the story and she gave me a great big hug and asked if we made it. I had a thank-you card and huge tip ready for her just in case she was there. I'm so glad I was finally able to thank her properly. She drove us to the airport again and dropped us off. While we were standing in line for bag check, I realized that I had left my camera bag on the bus.
Just then, no joke, I look towards the door and here she comes with my bag! She really had my number!
