The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[StarWarsGirl]

Just a quick note. We all slept too late, so our plans had to change. We went to Epcot, did Spaceship Earth, living with the Land, Soarin' I liked Soarin' much better this time. It's a zoo with way too many people. We didn't take any pictures, except our lunch at San Angel. The beef taco's were horrible, beef was tough as shoe leather, and over done. The waiter made us wait for a long time to get our food. The server was pretty surly. We we finished, we asked for the check. It came fast, then ,the wait.....when the server came back, after a really long time...he said they were having computer troubles. We paid, with a Disney card, which the server didn't return. They looked through the restaurant and couldn't find it. We went to Guest Relations, to get the card straightened out. We had to call the bank, and cancel the card. And be issued a new card with the money put back on. Disney offered nothing for their mess up. 3 hours later we came back home. Disney need's to work with the employee's at San Angel. Lousy food and service. We won't be going back. On the positive side, many employees were friendly and went out of their to make our time, so far pleasant. Over all, it is going well, except for this one experience at San Angel.

Sorry for the trouble at San Angel. That one is one of the ones not run by Disney. It's run by an outside company. There are several in Epcot that aren't run by Disney (La Hacienda, Via Nappoli, Tutto Italia, Nine Dragons, and all the Japanese restaurants are run by outside companies, I know Yak and Yeti is run by the same people who own Rainforest). We like La Hacienda. The view is pretty, and the service is good. We haven't been to San Angel in years because there's just too much I'm allergic to on the menu, in addition to it not being run by Disney, for us to feel comfortable eating there. La Hacienda, other than one item with pine nuts, is nut free. It has one thing with pineapple, and there's shrimp, which I'm not allergic to, it's a migraine trigger, so we're okay there. But Disney probably doesn't have a ton of control over San Angel. They should have offered you something at guest relations; at the very least FPs for the inconvenience. I find that if you have an issue like that, it's better to go to the concierge at the resort than guest relations. For some reason, they always seem to handle it better.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Yes, like I said they use the IMing software function, it is that face Skype they avoid. She gave a state of union for her entire department via face Skype with 20 minutes cause the dude that was to do it called in sick. She put the script in front of her screen. They could see her but she wasn't seeing the department.
They do department and sub department meetings with the software but they never turn the face video on. IMing they do all day long, a throw back to worked 2 decades ago. Funny how that works.

I don't think I've ever used the video function on Skype at work. We usually do audio and screen sharing. Usually what's on our computers is more important. Plus, we all have docks for our laptops, so our webcams aren't even available.

 

[Gabe1]

I agree, see my post about San Angel. Never going back. The atmosphere is nice, but the food and service was really lousy.

Got to go find that post. I haven't been there purposefully since 2014. Horrid.

 

[Gabe1]

You bet I will. Hubby is on my back about the drink.

I'm sorry. Retirement is an adjustment.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

My mom bought me a fidget spinner. Since I got it, I have spent more time with it than I have on my phone. I even timed it to see how long it would keep spinning (two minutes).

Normally, I don't understand kids and teens, but this...I get it.

 

[Gabe1]

I don't think I've ever used the video function on Skype at work. We usually do audio and screen sharing. Usually what's on our computers is more important. Plus, we all have docks for our laptops, so our webcams aren't even available.

Hmpf. That shows you how different things are that corporations purchase. My DD has a dock for her laptop in their office, not when she works remotely.

 

[Cesar R M]

I'm tired, so a few pictures today. Note the beef taco plate. Yummy?
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those fajitas and refried beans looks hella dry D:

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Okay, I was balancing said fidget spinner on my thumb above my head while laying down. I dropped it on my face. But no, I haven't stopped playing with it.

 

[Gabe1]

Just a quick note. We all slept too late, so our plans had to change. We went to Epcot, did Spaceship Earth, living with the Land, Soarin' I liked Soarin' much better this time. It's a zoo with way too many people. We didn't take any pictures, except our lunch at San Angel. The beef taco's were horrible, beef was tough as shoe leather, and over done. The waiter made us wait for a long time to get our food. The server was pretty surly. We we finished, we asked for the check. It came fast, then ,the wait.....when the server came back, after a really long time...he said they were having computer troubles. We paid, with a Disney card, which the server didn't return. They looked through the restaurant and couldn't find it. We went to Guest Relations, to get the card straightened out. We had to call the bank, and cancel the card. And be issued a new card with the money put back on. Disney offered nothing for their mess up. 3 hours later we came back home. Disney need's to work with the employee's at San Angel. Lousy food and service. We won't be going back. On the positive side, many employees were friendly and went out of their to make our time, so far pleasant. Over all, it is going well, except for this one experience at San Angel.

Oy. Dang close to why we haven't gone back to San Angels either. Our food was dried out, like under a heatlamp dried out. We were on the dining plan (not free) when we got the check I gave him my room card for the dining plan and my debit for our adult beverages. Sure no problem. Came back for me to sign and he put it all on my debit. I was like NO, this isn't right and rather snarky said it will be fine just use that table credit somewhere else that he can't change that now Bad food, rude server, excellent margarita though.

What disappoints me about the atmosphere now over years ago the tables are way too close together. Even being seated or leaving peoples tushies and elbow are coming into the personal space of those seated.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Oy. Dang close to why we haven't gone back to San Angels either. Our food was dried out, like under a heatlamp dried out. We were on the dining plan (not free) when we got the check I gave him my room card for the dining plan and my debit for our adult beverages. Sure no problem. Came back for me to sign and he put it all on my debit. I was like NO, this isn't right and rather snarky said it will be fine just use that table credit somewhere else that he can't change that now Bad food, rude server, excellent margarita though.

What disappoints me about the atmosphere now over years ago the tables are way too close together. Even being seated or leaving peoples tushies and elbow are coming into the personal space of those seated.

We like La Hacienda so much better that we haven't been back to San Angel since La Hacienda opened. I distinctly remember the last time we were at San Angel. It was 2009, our winter trip. I was just beginning to learn Spanish (I was in Spanish 2 at the time) and was conversing with the waiter. He was a really nice gentleman who was completely happy to let me practice on him.

Then La Hacienda opened. We've been going there ever since. I think my dad also prefers La Hacienda because he has trouble seeing in lower light areas, so it's easier for him in La Hacienda.

 

[Gabe1]

We like La Hacienda so much better that we haven't been back to San Angel since La Hacienda opened. I distinctly remember the last time we were at San Angel. It was 2009, our winter trip. I was just beginning to learn Spanish (I was in Spanish 2 at the time) and was conversing with the waiter. He was a really nice gentleman who was completely happy to ltme practice on him.

Then La Hacienda opened. We've been going there ever since. I think my dad also prefers La Hacienda because he has trouble seeing in lower light areas, so it's easier for him in La Hacienda.

Wow! Your Dad is young for that. I know some guys are mules but they do have larger print menus available at all the restaurants. My Mom has that issue and I bought her a $3 flashlight that clicks on like a ball point pen top and about the same height and width as a pen. Has helped a lot in darker restaurants for her.

 

[Gabe1]

I have trouble keeping track of of the ages of everybody in my family

Know that feeling. I remember someone asking me how old I was...I had to stop and think for a moment....an indicator that the number is getting up there.

 

[donaldtoo]

You can make mustard? I never heard of anyone making mustard before, but I'll bet the Earl of Mustard would be proud of you, Figgy!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Wow! Your Dad is young for that. I know some guys are mules but they do have larger print menus available at all the restaurants. My Mom has that issue and I bought her a $3 flashlight that clicks on like a ball point pen top and about the same height and width as a pen. Has helped a lot in darker restaurants for her.

His vision has gotten really bad. He cannot see without a lot of light, and he hates having to use his phone as a flashlight. At home, he walks into a room and turns every light on. It drives me crazy. My eyes don't want all that artificial light; it's one way to set off a migraine. I like lamps on their lowest setting and natural light during the day. Not every single light turned on as bright as possible.

He's also stubborn. He needed glasses when I was in middle school, but refused for the longest time. He wears them now, but he really needs to see the eye doctor to get his vision thoroughly tested. And of course he won't because he insists that he can see just fine. My mom and I get worried about him, though, because clearly, his distance vision is impacted as well. We've noticed that he doesn't read street signs. Last time we were in Hawaii, my mom would say "Turn on A street" and the sign would be there, and he'd yell "Where?" It made us very concerned. Then when he was flying back to WDW after going home mid trip for his father's funeral, he went to an Arby's when he meant to go to the McDonald's in the airport. Considering that everyone else in his family has vision issues, including his children (we're both slightly farsighted, and my brother had vision therapy because he had a tracking problem) I don't know why he thinks he's immune. His sister has had eye surgeries, his brother is legally blind in one eye, and both of them are younger. I think for a while it was a point of pride that he could see perfectly. Now it's pure stubbornness.

But yes, he avoids dark restaurants if possible. Blue Bayou at Disneyland is tough for him, but the food is so good there that he toughs it out. He can't even see in Le Cellier anymore. But have any light on whatsoever in the hotel room, and it "keeps him awake". Even though he was snoring before waking up and insisting that the light is keeping him up.

 

[donaldtoo]

You know, a few years ago, I was a teenager. Now, I go into a teenager's room and tell him to turn his iPod down because I can hear his music through the earbuds and he'll damage his hearing. *sigh* Now I know what my mother went through. And I'm old.

Hahaaa...!
I didn't even start to feel "old-ish" at all until about my mid 40's. Even now, at 54, I still don't feel "old".
If you think you feel old this early in your life, boy howdy, just wait for the rest of the ride to come...!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

View attachment 204207

Hahaaa...!!!
A Stormtrooper couldn't hit the broad side of the Hutt residence...!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

I agree, I wanted to blow the seeds off the dandelion.

I still do that...!!!

 

[Songbird76]

Just a quick note. We all slept too late, so our plans had to change. We went to Epcot, did Spaceship Earth, living with the Land, Soarin' I liked Soarin' much better this time. It's a zoo with way too many people. We didn't take any pictures, except our lunch at San Angel. The beef taco's were horrible, beef was tough as shoe leather, and over done. The waiter made us wait for a long time to get our food. The server was pretty surly. We we finished, we asked for the check. It came fast, then ,the wait.....when the server came back, after a really long time...he said they were having computer troubles. We paid, with a Disney card, which the server didn't return. They looked through the restaurant and couldn't find it. We went to Guest Relations, to get the card straightened out. We had to call the bank, and cancel the card. And be issued a new card with the money put back on. Disney offered nothing for their mess up. 3 hours later we came back home. Disney need's to work with the employee's at San Angel. Lousy food and service. We won't be going back. On the positive side, many employees were friendly and went out of their to make our time, so far pleasant. Over all, it is going well, except for this one experience at San Angel.

Sympathy like! Wow....I can't believe they offered you NOTHING. You should at least have that meal comped! And how do you lose a credit card between the table and the computer? Sounds fishy to me. Glad your trip is good besides that!! I loved Soarin.

 

[Songbird76]

Yep, I wouldn't be leaving them in a hotel room quite yet either but getting closer!
Like you said I'd leave the the 11 year old for a little bit at home but that is their territory. It is amazing what a 2 years does though for trustworthy kids. Both my Sis and I babysat kids at 11 in our immediate neighborhood but my Mom was always home if need be. My kids never baby sat. They didn't want to and I could think of better ways for them to earn money. Different World these days.

My mom wouldn't let me start babysitting until I was 14. DD is super mature for 11, but I still wouldn't leave her in charge of another human being yet. She can fend for herself quite well at home, and she's great with little ones, but the world is quite different than it was even when I was 11. And we learned things like CPR in elementary school. I'm just not comfortable leaving the kids for any length of time yet. I left DD home once when I had to work and she had a fever and couldn't go to school. She was absolutely fine and I had already made her lunch for school and everything, so all she had to do was get it out of her backpack. But I was only gone for 5 hours and I checked in with her at breaks. No way would I leave my 9 year old son home for that long. An hour, we can handle. But at Disney? I wouldn't chance it.

 

[Songbird76]

Our Gifted program has improved greatly since my DD went through. It is why I got myself elected to the school board. We had a great board president when I was sworn in and she was helpful but needed to tread carefully when you have a kid still in the system

(I had a 6th grade language teacher remove my DD out of her Math class with another teacher and put her in a hall closet to sort through 100s of books, I had requested a particular book at a board meeting, the Principal requested it from the language teacher so she took my kid and put her in closet and told her she could come out when she located the book your Mom wants. Can you imagine when she came home how Mamma Bear I went??? I jut bypassed the teacher and went to the Principal-told him figure it out our I was filing a police report. He sat up straight in his chair then.)

But our schools were messed up for higher level learning. My DD was reading chapter books at the age of 4 years old. Kindergarten was insane for her. Sit in a circle and learn the letter of the week and what sound it makes. She was freak'n reading chapter books and they were teaching her ABCs. They figured they could have moved her immediately to 2nd or 3rd grade and I'd have none of that 'cause there were social issues with that. In high school or college that would have to be awful.

Yeah, my daughter wasn't reading chapter books that early, but she was starting to read and they didn't want to help her because "they don't do that until 1st grade." Um....so you'd rather she be bored out of her mind than to give her material at her level? I understand that not every kid is there yet at 4. (we start school here at 4) And I agree this push to teach kids to read and do math so early is nuts...not every kid is ready for it at that age and they still need to PLAY. I get that...but at least offer material that's on that child's level. If a kid is behind, you offer them help and lower level material, so why not with kids who are faster learners? That school closed and we went to the school where the kids go now and by that time DD was starting 1st grade. They put her right into advanced reading, so it was good.

Sounds like your language teacher was feeling threatened. Incompetence?