The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Gabe1]

It all worked out fine. Luckily, one of the fathers that was traveling along was able to negotiate with the airline. Apparently, for all of there fancy software, AA can't tell when a person is part of a group, in this case, school group, with kids that should be kept together. The rebooked tickets are supposed to be for traveler's convenience. I have since found out, that the airlines plan also included having one poor girl stay behind by herself, and catch a flight the next day. It also seems the coaches were not going to get in contact with the airline to fix it. The dad was also instrumental in finding accommodations for the evening. I hear the Comfort Suites by the airport are really nice. Much better than the rooms at ASMovies.

Happy that worked out well. Three cheers for the Dad. If the administrators or board get wind of the rest of the story I'm guessing those coaches will not be entrusted with 'flying' with their students. Can't wrap my brain around coaches not getting in touch with Airline when things went wrong....Yikes!

 

[donaldtoo]

nuff said

Another awesome scene from another awesome classic...!!!!!!!

Don't forget these classic Blues Brothers scenes!!!!!
And, check out the young lady in two of 'em...!!!





And, one of my all-time favorite scenes from any silly movie...!!!!!

 

[Gabe1]

The problem is that AOA doesn't typically run the discounts. Usually you'll see a room only discount and the other values are on it, but not AOA. I wanted to stay there in 2014 but couldn't because of the lack of discounts.

The funny thing is that my grandma is easy to travel with. She just kind of trusts me to handle everything and gets wheeled along. She's my dad's mother and doesn't understand what he's so anxious about either. It's probably a good think I do the travelling with her. The last time the only issue was she packed liquids in a carry on by mistake, and while the lovely BWI TSA agents were able to save some of it, labeling it as medication, they did throw away some hairspray. She said it was cheap, but I could see the whole thing had thrown her a bit. We were eating dinner and she felt like she couldn't find things all of the sudden. She was wondering where her wallet was. I took her purse from her and pulled it out. Then she said she just felt like a mess and used to be so capable and now wasn't. I just reassured her that she had spent her whole life taking care of others and it was now okay to let someone else take care of her. After that, she was okay and went back to letting me handle everything.

Of course, then she told my dad that I tailgated. Which he told my mother, to which my mother said, "Uh, no, she dwesn't." I told them it was idiotic drivers in South Carolina stopping short, not using a turn signal, and me having to slam on the brakes because they were idiots. People up here in Baltimore know how to drive; they're just super aggressive. People in SC, I found out, just don't have a clue how to drive. Also, I don't drive like an old lady, which may have had something to do with her opinion...

My Mom panics. She was always that way. Worse she has always thought of the very worst that could happen. I still have not heard the end of going to Florida during Hurricane Season. NOBODY GOES TO FLORIDA IN THE FALL. Funny thing is we were fine, she was in NY when the hurricane hit Florida. Apparently according to her Hurricanes don't go up the coast and never go near NY. Hmpf.

Yep. My Mom makes comments like yours with tailgating. She seems to like to play tattle-tail and often the facts are embellished or exaggerated. It is usually do-able for a visit or a meal. Days, well days I should have a case of wine delivered.

 

[Gabe1]

I can see it when you've got connections, but when you're flying non stop up two hours and you get automatic alerts on your phone for any changes, you really don't need to run through the airport.

Is your Dads phone 'on'?????

 

[donaldtoo]

OK gang, I'm out for now...!
Sweet Disney, or whatever , dreams to one and all...!!!
See y'alllllllllll...!!!!!

 

[Gabe1]

We decided not to get the camper. At the end of the day, I can handle another year or two of us not going camping all summer. Plus we have an aquatics center membership in the summer, so it's not like we don't have fun.

But I am still planning on taking the kid thing down to WDW in late September. Looking at options now for lodging, and potential discounts.

Free Dining or Room only Discounts have been releasing in April. Suggestion be ready with your decision what you want dining or room. Know the hotel (look at which ones were included for discounts and dining for September week you are planning on going.
They are usually released at dawn. There are only so many rooms or dining plans so when its booked it is booked or the discounts.
For September we use a Travel Agent it is priceless on the morning of Fall Discounts/dining being released. Just make sure it is a Walt Disney approved TA if you ever use one.

 

[Gabe1]

September is an awesome time to go. The crowds let up, but it's still summer time down there. It was my parents' preferred time of year to go before I had to go to school.

You won't see any discounts quite yet. Give it until March or April, even May, and you'll start seeing some room only discounts. It's low season, so they will pop up, but you have to be patient. If you're going to do a value, go with Pop Century for sure.

I'm very much in the camp of always staying on Disney property. Between EMH, making FPs 60 days out, and free transportation, it's so much easier. There's nothing better than being exhausted after a long day at MK and then having someone else drive you back to your hotel. And not having to deal with the parking situation. Or paying for parking. I know others feel differently, but that's me.

I'm open to staying at the resorts on Hotel Blvd once again as they can do EMHs and 60 day FPs once again. Their buses kept to a better schedule going to the parks than at times Disney buses or Monorail. On the way back to Hotel Blvd we always took a bus to Disney Springs from a nearby Disney Resort. Worked well. The Hilton is my favorite on the Blvd as it is just a walk across the bridge from the resort, much quicker commute than walking many of the large Disney Resorts footprints.

 

[Gabe1]

I am surprised that they don't have an area with notes that would show that a group of tickets are part of a group. That is not very responsible of them. No wonder airlines have lost kids in the past. Good thing there was an intelligent dad there.

I did special services for years for a major airline/hub at Ohare. I never lost a kid that I had responsibility for. And yep, even back in the day groups were highlighted even back then. It all depends on how these travel arrangements were booked too. No child can fly unaccompanied without being in the care of the airline. These students were not in the care of the airline but in the care and custody of the school coaches. The coaches were the students advocates. Even by school board policy they can't knowingly leave a student behind, send them to another city without staff being with them. If the airline was at fault it didn't mean the coaches didn't have the responsibility to say No! Now splitting them up to get them home due to weather is OK if as long as there is staff with each of the sub groups. If the 'Dad' was not an official chaperone he would not have counted as there are background checks etc that must be done.

These coaches are lucky they were rescued by that Dad. I flew my kids around the country unaccompanied (you pay through the teeth for that service) but I always made sure it was a non stop flight. I wanted to put them on the plane and my Sister to meet the flight on the other end. A cancelled flight at the layover is a nightmare for kid and staff. That is why I'd bump any adult at random to get an unaccompanied child the heck out of our airport. If a plane was going that kid was going.

 

[Gabe1]

Hey @dryerlintfan

How does the Princess feel about Dr. Seuss?

 

[Gabe1]

RICHIE ARVIDSON
Bean the Fan favorite tonite, the “trick” is something many Sussex spaniels do naturally — and will do frequently if you encourage them with treats. Photo

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

4 Days until The Great American Race.

 

[Figgy1]

Tomorrow I am having a nuclear stress test, and will come home from the facility with a 48 hour heart monitor. The cardiologist wants to find out once and for all if I do indeed have an irregular heartbeat. I also told him at my last appointment about how tired I get after certain activities. I attribute it to my age of course, but I guess it could be something else. I didn't realize that the stress test took so long. I just received a phone reminder about the procedure. Keep good thoughts about me tomorrow.

Good luck prayers and pixie dust all goes well

 

[Figgy1]

Good morning

 

[Figgy1]

 

[Figgy1]

 

[Figgy1]

The winner and his name is Flynn

 

[Figgy1]

Happy belated @BuddyThomas a little something to wash the cake down with

 

[Figgy1]

Here is one of ours....its about 8 feet long

Sympathy like

 

[Figgy1]

It's icy and there's a 2 hour delay. Seeing it's supposed to warm up this afternoon grilled groundhog

 

[DryerLintFan]

Hey @dryerlintfan

How does the Princess feel about Dr. Seuss?

That is adorable!! She has some Dr. Suess books but she's not really into them. The only one she ever asks for is about two dogs that go camping. One of them is super prepared, while the other is not.

They have so many iconic children's books these days that it makes me wonder how the Dr. Suess franchise is doing. Llama llama seems much more popular with kids her age.