dlpmikki
05-02-2008, 07:06 AM
Monday 28th April
We have an appointment with our DVC rep at 12 noon so are trying to work out what we can do before seeing her.
We set off (fairly) early for Sea World to activate tickets and perhaps make a short visit. As we drive towards the parking, Mikki wonders if Sea World will treat annual passes like Disney (who refund the parking charge for the visit when you get them) or Universal (who don’t). They do neither. They scan the printout of our voucher and don’t charge at all. Getting the tickets themselves is also a lesson to the others in simplicity. At a computer terminal, Mikki scans just one of the vouchers and the machine knows we have two. The tickets are printed and delivered in seconds.
Like at Disney, you can do a lot at Sea World if you arrive before the crowds. We had short stops with turtles and stingrays before settling down to study the dolphins and then the penguins. Mikki and Andrew even went into the shops (10% discount) and tried to upset me by saying they had wonderful cuddly toys of a black and white . . .whale! They wouldn’t dare. (Note, Don’t tell Figaro but the all white cuddly toys of seal pups were even cuter).
Next we find our way to the Orange County tag agency on Orange Blossom Trail so we can get a disabled permit for Andrew (in addition to his UK one that Disney recognise anyway). We have been told the process takes only a few minutes – but this reckons without the delay waiting to see anyone. We forgot that when it comes to making people sit in line Disney are rank amateurs compared to governments. With half an hour to get back to Saratoga Springs, we give up.
When we get to the DVC centre, our problems really get going. Cynthia, our representative we have given up our place in line to see, is not available. Carol appears instead. Did we bring passports? No, did you ask us to? Oh, No. We expected you o do things by post. We repeat the saga (which they must have heard from lots of British OKW members) abut the cost of getting documents notarised in England. She needs photo ID with photograph, signature and date of birth. Fine, we have Andrew’s passport and Mikki’s driving licence. All the details are there. Carol takes them away. She brings them back. No, we must have the passport to prove you are in the country legally. This has only been since 9/11 (which is how long?). Oh, it looks like you haven’t got copies of all the papers that need signing. I can make more for you.(funny, they all seemed to be here before you took them away). Can you come again? No, you don’t need to make an appointment, you can come any time. So, there was no need to leave our place in line at the tag office.
Needless to say, Cynthia, the rep who made the appointment never bothered to keep it herself. Need I also add that none of this was started by my humans: it was all imposed on them by Disney. In recent years it seems we always have one day when we meet Disney at it most stupid or officious worst. Let’s hope this has got it over for this trip.
We drive straight back to the Orange County Tag Agency. It is now lunchtime and it is even more busy (but may also have more staff on). And when our number does come up, we are dealt with quickly.
We are now close to Florida Mall so go there for a late food court lunch and a trip to the Disney Store.
We go back to Royal Palms for an evening in.
Tuesday 29th April
The forecast is for one of the cooler days so Mikki sets off to try Aquatica. She has a joint annual ticket with Sea World. I stay home with Andrew: a whole park devoted to getting wet? Meeoww. Even Mikki is not that keen on water parks and does not use the big slides. The signature attraction of Aquatica takes you fast through a pipe inside a pool of dolphins. If you want to see the dolphins, it better to ride the slow “lazy river” type ride. Aquatica has two of these (one rather less “lazy” called Roos rapids) and two wave pools. Mikki enjoys these and looking around at the pretty planting but decides not to do any of the ‘big’rides.
Next, we go out looking at electronics. Mikki has been looking at some things but I don’t think they are that serious. Still, it takes an afternoon.
Mikki is now ready to return to “Outback Steakhouse” for her favourite “Shrimp on the Barbie”.
We have an appointment with our DVC rep at 12 noon so are trying to work out what we can do before seeing her.
We set off (fairly) early for Sea World to activate tickets and perhaps make a short visit. As we drive towards the parking, Mikki wonders if Sea World will treat annual passes like Disney (who refund the parking charge for the visit when you get them) or Universal (who don’t). They do neither. They scan the printout of our voucher and don’t charge at all. Getting the tickets themselves is also a lesson to the others in simplicity. At a computer terminal, Mikki scans just one of the vouchers and the machine knows we have two. The tickets are printed and delivered in seconds.
Like at Disney, you can do a lot at Sea World if you arrive before the crowds. We had short stops with turtles and stingrays before settling down to study the dolphins and then the penguins. Mikki and Andrew even went into the shops (10% discount) and tried to upset me by saying they had wonderful cuddly toys of a black and white . . .whale! They wouldn’t dare. (Note, Don’t tell Figaro but the all white cuddly toys of seal pups were even cuter).
Next we find our way to the Orange County tag agency on Orange Blossom Trail so we can get a disabled permit for Andrew (in addition to his UK one that Disney recognise anyway). We have been told the process takes only a few minutes – but this reckons without the delay waiting to see anyone. We forgot that when it comes to making people sit in line Disney are rank amateurs compared to governments. With half an hour to get back to Saratoga Springs, we give up.
When we get to the DVC centre, our problems really get going. Cynthia, our representative we have given up our place in line to see, is not available. Carol appears instead. Did we bring passports? No, did you ask us to? Oh, No. We expected you o do things by post. We repeat the saga (which they must have heard from lots of British OKW members) abut the cost of getting documents notarised in England. She needs photo ID with photograph, signature and date of birth. Fine, we have Andrew’s passport and Mikki’s driving licence. All the details are there. Carol takes them away. She brings them back. No, we must have the passport to prove you are in the country legally. This has only been since 9/11 (which is how long?). Oh, it looks like you haven’t got copies of all the papers that need signing. I can make more for you.(funny, they all seemed to be here before you took them away). Can you come again? No, you don’t need to make an appointment, you can come any time. So, there was no need to leave our place in line at the tag office.
Needless to say, Cynthia, the rep who made the appointment never bothered to keep it herself. Need I also add that none of this was started by my humans: it was all imposed on them by Disney. In recent years it seems we always have one day when we meet Disney at it most stupid or officious worst. Let’s hope this has got it over for this trip.
We drive straight back to the Orange County Tag Agency. It is now lunchtime and it is even more busy (but may also have more staff on). And when our number does come up, we are dealt with quickly.
We are now close to Florida Mall so go there for a late food court lunch and a trip to the Disney Store.
We go back to Royal Palms for an evening in.
Tuesday 29th April
The forecast is for one of the cooler days so Mikki sets off to try Aquatica. She has a joint annual ticket with Sea World. I stay home with Andrew: a whole park devoted to getting wet? Meeoww. Even Mikki is not that keen on water parks and does not use the big slides. The signature attraction of Aquatica takes you fast through a pipe inside a pool of dolphins. If you want to see the dolphins, it better to ride the slow “lazy river” type ride. Aquatica has two of these (one rather less “lazy” called Roos rapids) and two wave pools. Mikki enjoys these and looking around at the pretty planting but decides not to do any of the ‘big’rides.
Next, we go out looking at electronics. Mikki has been looking at some things but I don’t think they are that serious. Still, it takes an afternoon.
Mikki is now ready to return to “Outback Steakhouse” for her favourite “Shrimp on the Barbie”.