Me!Thatswho
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2007
Hi all,
We are a family of four (Me, DW, DS(13) & DD(11)) who are long time fans of Disney. We have visited both WDW and DL several times. But, for our 10th year of visiting Disney parks, we decided to do something different - visit DLP!
While DW travels for work and has been to Europe several times, this was the first time traveling across the Atlantic for myself and my kids. So, this indeed would be quite the adventure!
Unfortunately, we had a near catastrophe right at the start. We were scheduled to flight out Monday the 14th. Our 45 minute trip to Boston from our home in Central Massachusetts was smooth as can be. We left early enough (3pm) that we missed the afternoon traffic and were all in extremely good spirits. Right before we left, we received word that our flight was delayed by nearly four hours. Fearing a cancellation, we called the airline and managed to get on the earlier flight. This was great news for all of us. We were heading right to DLP upon arrival. So, this extra hour meant we would have an extra hour to check out the parks if our room wasn't ready, or, alternatively, an extra hour to nap if it was before heading to the parks. Of course, all was not what it appeared to be as we would soon find out.
Upon arrival in the airport terminal (4pm), we could not check in. While we booked our original tickets through Delta, our initial flight was actually an Air France flight. The flight we switched too, however, was a Delta flight. Apparently the person at Delta who switched us did not fully transfer us over AND lacked the ability to do so in the first place. So, while we were in the system, it would take nearly an hour at the check-in counter to properly enter us into the system. FYI: it was a money issue - Air France didn't want to pay Delta back our payment. But, thanks to the counter manager, everything was eventually entered and we had seats! After a short line in security, we were in the terminal and headed for our gate (5pm).
Needless to say, we were all on a roller coaster of emotion. But, while we were once again flying high, the proverbial train would soon derail.
Within minutes of arriving at our gate (approximately 1 hour before boarding), the new flight was delayed first by 15 minutes, then 30, and then 60 - all within a matter of a few minutes. There was something minor broken on the plane. We were assured that once the part was located it would be a quick fix. Unfortunately, as it was later announced, the part wasn't available at Logan Airport. In fact, there literally wasn't one available with a 200 mile radius of Logan. Delta managed to locate one, but it was in Newark, NJ. Normally, this wouldn't have been much of an issue, as several evening flights from Newark arrive each night, but this day wasn't a normal day. Several severe thunderstorms spanned the entire Northeastern coast of the US, from Maine down to Virginia, and multitude flights at all of the major airports were either cancelled or delayed. Again, we were assured that once the part arrived it would be a quick fix. Of course, this would never happen.
We waited from 6pm - 12:30am, and were repeatedly told that the part was coming and the flight would depart. I even crossed paths with the captain of the flight. He was determined to leave, as he lived just outside of Paris and was eager to get home. Delta even brought out what my kids dubbed as the "cart of sorry" - a cart full of snacks and drinks for everyone waiting to board.
Around 12:30am, we received a triple blow - a) our original Air France flight took off, b) the flight on which the part was supposed to on arrived without the part so our flight was cancelled, and c) there were no hotel rooms available within 40 miles. While we were rebooked on a flight the following day, we had to drive home after 8 hours in the airport and we were going to miss a day in Disney. Needless to say, all of the excitement at getting in early long vanished. And now we were facing the possibility of missing the trip.
Not being able to find a direct line in to the Hotel New York online, I had to stay up until 3am EST (9am Paris time) for customer service to open. DW & I were really worried about losing our room. Fortunately, the CM reassured me that a room would be waiting. At around 3:30am, I headed upstairs to get sleep in order to recharge before giving it another go.
To be continued...... Oh, and it will get better - I promise!
We are a family of four (Me, DW, DS(13) & DD(11)) who are long time fans of Disney. We have visited both WDW and DL several times. But, for our 10th year of visiting Disney parks, we decided to do something different - visit DLP!
While DW travels for work and has been to Europe several times, this was the first time traveling across the Atlantic for myself and my kids. So, this indeed would be quite the adventure!
Unfortunately, we had a near catastrophe right at the start. We were scheduled to flight out Monday the 14th. Our 45 minute trip to Boston from our home in Central Massachusetts was smooth as can be. We left early enough (3pm) that we missed the afternoon traffic and were all in extremely good spirits. Right before we left, we received word that our flight was delayed by nearly four hours. Fearing a cancellation, we called the airline and managed to get on the earlier flight. This was great news for all of us. We were heading right to DLP upon arrival. So, this extra hour meant we would have an extra hour to check out the parks if our room wasn't ready, or, alternatively, an extra hour to nap if it was before heading to the parks. Of course, all was not what it appeared to be as we would soon find out.
Upon arrival in the airport terminal (4pm), we could not check in. While we booked our original tickets through Delta, our initial flight was actually an Air France flight. The flight we switched too, however, was a Delta flight. Apparently the person at Delta who switched us did not fully transfer us over AND lacked the ability to do so in the first place. So, while we were in the system, it would take nearly an hour at the check-in counter to properly enter us into the system. FYI: it was a money issue - Air France didn't want to pay Delta back our payment. But, thanks to the counter manager, everything was eventually entered and we had seats! After a short line in security, we were in the terminal and headed for our gate (5pm).
Needless to say, we were all on a roller coaster of emotion. But, while we were once again flying high, the proverbial train would soon derail.
Within minutes of arriving at our gate (approximately 1 hour before boarding), the new flight was delayed first by 15 minutes, then 30, and then 60 - all within a matter of a few minutes. There was something minor broken on the plane. We were assured that once the part was located it would be a quick fix. Unfortunately, as it was later announced, the part wasn't available at Logan Airport. In fact, there literally wasn't one available with a 200 mile radius of Logan. Delta managed to locate one, but it was in Newark, NJ. Normally, this wouldn't have been much of an issue, as several evening flights from Newark arrive each night, but this day wasn't a normal day. Several severe thunderstorms spanned the entire Northeastern coast of the US, from Maine down to Virginia, and multitude flights at all of the major airports were either cancelled or delayed. Again, we were assured that once the part arrived it would be a quick fix. Of course, this would never happen.
We waited from 6pm - 12:30am, and were repeatedly told that the part was coming and the flight would depart. I even crossed paths with the captain of the flight. He was determined to leave, as he lived just outside of Paris and was eager to get home. Delta even brought out what my kids dubbed as the "cart of sorry" - a cart full of snacks and drinks for everyone waiting to board.
Around 12:30am, we received a triple blow - a) our original Air France flight took off, b) the flight on which the part was supposed to on arrived without the part so our flight was cancelled, and c) there were no hotel rooms available within 40 miles. While we were rebooked on a flight the following day, we had to drive home after 8 hours in the airport and we were going to miss a day in Disney. Needless to say, all of the excitement at getting in early long vanished. And now we were facing the possibility of missing the trip.
Not being able to find a direct line in to the Hotel New York online, I had to stay up until 3am EST (9am Paris time) for customer service to open. DW & I were really worried about losing our room. Fortunately, the CM reassured me that a room would be waiting. At around 3:30am, I headed upstairs to get sleep in order to recharge before giving it another go.
To be continued...... Oh, and it will get better - I promise!
), we made our way over to Adventureland....
).
