DAY 1-TRAVEL DAY
So to explain the princess sneakers let me start off by complaining via story time.
Sorry very txt heavy.
My darling daughter likes to live on the edge when it comes to being on time.
We had a 6 am flight. Not boarding, flight.
I could have driven my own car but they insisted we would all fit in theirs. Ok, we did.
But, she initially said they would be picking me up after 4:30 for a 20 minute drive to the airport. I waited a day to complain and she said ok, we'll be there at 4:30. I'm literally standing outside at the end of my driveway in the dark and was picked up maybe 4:35.
We start to exit the neighborhood, and daughter says, oh I forgot my magic band. Turns around so maybe another 7 minutes to go back, get it and get on the road again.
We need to drive through McDonalds daughter says. To my credit I still haven't protested yet.
We head for the highway, 2 separate on ramps are blocked and we have to go through town.
As we're getting closer to the airport I ask if Julio is going to drop us off so we can check bags while he parks, no we'll all go to the garage. We circle the garage and end up on the 3rd floor before we find a spot.
We are bolting across the bridge to go down to the American counter.
We get there and the machines will not let us check our bags, they direct us to the counter where the "customer service" woman informs us we missed the 45 minute prior to departure bag check and she has to rebook us. (And when we asked where that information about luggage cut off was, with a saucy tone she says, the app.) I was unaware of this policy before, probably because I don't cut it this close.
I'm saying no no no in a horrified voice, Ariel says what's wrong Grandma? I try to chill.
Then the gate lady who is very unsympathetic, says I have 4 seats (there's 5 of us) leaving at 6:20 through LA that is scheduled to arrive in Orlando a half hour after our original flight.
I think for a minute and ask if one of us can go on the original flight with no bags, she says yes. So Aleisha says you go on that mom, we'll go through LA. They take my big bag and my daughter shoves their carry-on to me and tells me to take it. (It wasn't till later that I questioned why that happened.)
The gate agent says you need to go you only have 10 minutes till they close the door for your flight and I still had to go through security. (Luckily I have preck and it's a small airport.)
I'm almost in tears (dramatic I realize), but I was stressed and sad because Ariel had asked to sit with me on the plane and we were going to snuggle and watch movies, etc. As I turned to walk away Elsa yells Gama and runs to hug me, then the tears did start, mine.
I get to the gate with time to hit the bathroom quickly, get on as almost the last person and there was an open luggage spot in the first class area. The attendant said I could put the bag there, as I was seated way in the back. The bag that has all of the princess dresses, shoes, park sandals, etc. You know where this is going, right?
I almost never have a carry-on any more and actually sent myself a txt that I hoped would ding when we landed to remind me to pick it up on the way off of the plane. I also was able to contact the driver scheduled to pick us up in Orlando to tell him "our" flight had been delayed and we would be at least a half hour later.
We land, in Dallas, huge airport. I have 45 minutes (from the back of the plane) to catch my next flight!!. I am as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof by now. You know what happened, I walked right past the bag and after, no lie, my THIRD gate change I remembered the bag. They were already boarding my next flight and the gate attendant said I could go back to get the bag, she wouldn't call the gate we came in on for me, and she could rebook me on another flight.
I felt a little ill at this point. I got on the plane and paid for internet and called Seth. He and Jake agreed to go to various stores in Orlando to try to find the girls some princess dresses, shoes, etc.
He kept in contact with me showing me what he could find.
He ended up getting a variety of the above dresses, but I felt bad because in the suitcase were the "real" versions of the princess dresses that the girls love to use for dress up and weirdly despite them checking multiple stores couldn't find the more elaborate versions. He bought the shoes but they didn't fit well and they couldn't use them, hence the well used sneakers, but we did use the crowns.
I got in on time and the kids flight came in about a half hour after mine.
While I was waiting for them to arrive I went into the Disney store to see if they had any dresses. The CM told me they didn't and the only 2 places she could think of was the bibbity bobbity's. I even had our friend we were meeting who was already there check Creations as she was in Epcot for the day. No luck.
I waited for them and had to confess I lost the suitcase but Aleisha reassured me the girls would not know as she hadn't told them what was in the bag and they would be happy with Seth's choices.
Again, sorry for the long story.
Up next, arrival day continues with an interesting (but cool) twist.
Come for a wintery Halloween in Buffalo, NY where the princesse sport their winter coats and snow boots! Princesses have to be adaptable to save their kingdoms!
: shame on you for putting your mama thru all that drama and depriving her of cuddles with Ariel.
Kudos to you, for handling every glitch of your journey with resourcefulness. 