Many of you read "The Mom is Unhappy" thread, so here's the followup.
I made plans many weeks ago for my husband and I (actually HE wanted to go!!!) to make a quick trip to WDW for the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. By the end of the trip we had renamed it the Food and Whine Festival, but I digress.
Day 1: Sat, Nov 13th
I had planned to depart JAX at around 8AM; actually departure time was 9:30...this would set the tone of the whole trip, and it was at this point that I decided to just go with the flow. My husband would not be joining us until later that evening; despite it being his idea, he had something else to do during the day.
The weather forecast was calling for a cold front to move in within 48 hours, preceded by rain and storms, so I had to pack EVERYTHING...rain gear, sweaters, and both shorts and long pants. Just one of the drawbacks to going off season.
Hopped in the car, and made excellent time (avg speed...80-85) until Daytona, when things slowed and never really picked up again. The only highlight of the trip was seeing the two cars who had passed me on the right and "shot the gap" ( forcing me to brake) pulled over by a trooper on the side of the road.
We stopped at the Longwood rest area; I saw them again in Orlando.
I arrived at WL at around 12:45. Our reservation was in order, thank you Pam! Our room was ready, so after a quick unpacking and freshening up, we headed over to AK.
This was the first of a couple of "strange" encounters with CMs who really seem to be ignoring what a guest is saying.
We went through the turnstyles with our APs at around 1:30; no crowd whatsoever. As many of you know, I have arthritis in my hands, and if I'm having a flare-up, not only is it painful to use the scanner, but it won't read correctly, which forces the CM to do a manual override. Therefore, I have both my pass and driver's license read and hand the license to the CM as I insert my pass. My son has hand deformities which also makes it hard for him to use the scanner, and the CM also has to intercede, so he doesn't use it either. Theoretically, this procedure saves time, as long as the CM is paying attention to what I'm saying. I'm used to them questioning me re not using the scanner, but I'm not used to the following exchange!
CM "You didn't get your hand stamped when you left the other park. Please remember to get your hand stamped next time."
ME "I haven't been to another park today."
CM "I'm just letting you know that you have to get your hand stamped if you're going from one park to another."
ME "I know that. This is our first park of the day."
CM (following me away from the turnstyle) "Please be sure to get your hand stamped next time."
ME "Trust me, had I BEEN to another park today, I WOULD have had my hand stamped!!! THIS IS MY FIRST PARK TODAY!!!"
CM "I'm JUST trying to help!!"
Ah well, we were only stopping in to see "Komodo", get some ribs at Flame Tree, ride Dinosaur, and check on construction at Expedition Everest. we were going to ride Kali river Rapids, but the wait was longer than we wanted, so we headed back to the hotel.
I was tempted to find the same CM and wave my hand in her face, saying, "See, I got my hand stamped!!!" but I didn't.
Now for the highlight of my trip. We were waiting at our bus stop, and who do I see strolling across the lot but Invero, one of my favorite forum kids!! I ran up to him and gave him a big hug, which resulted in the other drivers looking at him strangely. He was delighted to see me (or else is an excellent actor.) We only had a moment of chit chat, then he was off to start his shift. (4PM until final MK run )
And with that, I'm off to start MY shift. Now you'll learn why I DON'T usually write trip reports...they're too long! 
I made plans many weeks ago for my husband and I (actually HE wanted to go!!!) to make a quick trip to WDW for the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. By the end of the trip we had renamed it the Food and Whine Festival, but I digress.
Day 1: Sat, Nov 13th
I had planned to depart JAX at around 8AM; actually departure time was 9:30...this would set the tone of the whole trip, and it was at this point that I decided to just go with the flow. My husband would not be joining us until later that evening; despite it being his idea, he had something else to do during the day.
The weather forecast was calling for a cold front to move in within 48 hours, preceded by rain and storms, so I had to pack EVERYTHING...rain gear, sweaters, and both shorts and long pants. Just one of the drawbacks to going off season.
Hopped in the car, and made excellent time (avg speed...80-85) until Daytona, when things slowed and never really picked up again. The only highlight of the trip was seeing the two cars who had passed me on the right and "shot the gap" ( forcing me to brake) pulled over by a trooper on the side of the road.
We stopped at the Longwood rest area; I saw them again in Orlando.I arrived at WL at around 12:45. Our reservation was in order, thank you Pam! Our room was ready, so after a quick unpacking and freshening up, we headed over to AK.
This was the first of a couple of "strange" encounters with CMs who really seem to be ignoring what a guest is saying.
We went through the turnstyles with our APs at around 1:30; no crowd whatsoever. As many of you know, I have arthritis in my hands, and if I'm having a flare-up, not only is it painful to use the scanner, but it won't read correctly, which forces the CM to do a manual override. Therefore, I have both my pass and driver's license read and hand the license to the CM as I insert my pass. My son has hand deformities which also makes it hard for him to use the scanner, and the CM also has to intercede, so he doesn't use it either. Theoretically, this procedure saves time, as long as the CM is paying attention to what I'm saying. I'm used to them questioning me re not using the scanner, but I'm not used to the following exchange!CM "You didn't get your hand stamped when you left the other park. Please remember to get your hand stamped next time."
ME "I haven't been to another park today."
CM "I'm just letting you know that you have to get your hand stamped if you're going from one park to another."
ME "I know that. This is our first park of the day."
CM (following me away from the turnstyle) "Please be sure to get your hand stamped next time."
ME "Trust me, had I BEEN to another park today, I WOULD have had my hand stamped!!! THIS IS MY FIRST PARK TODAY!!!"
CM "I'm JUST trying to help!!"
Ah well, we were only stopping in to see "Komodo", get some ribs at Flame Tree, ride Dinosaur, and check on construction at Expedition Everest. we were going to ride Kali river Rapids, but the wait was longer than we wanted, so we headed back to the hotel.
I was tempted to find the same CM and wave my hand in her face, saying, "See, I got my hand stamped!!!" but I didn't.
Now for the highlight of my trip. We were waiting at our bus stop, and who do I see strolling across the lot but Invero, one of my favorite forum kids!! I ran up to him and gave him a big hug, which resulted in the other drivers looking at him strangely. He was delighted to see me (or else is an excellent actor.) We only had a moment of chit chat, then he was off to start his shift. (4PM until final MK run )
And with that, I'm off to start MY shift.
Now you'll learn why I DON'T usually write trip reports...they're too long! 
