WDW - Day 1

I am currently in Walt Disney World escorting a trip for work. I guess you could say I am quite the critic of customer service. I just really believe it should be any business' top priority, especially in this economic state. So, for the next 5 or so days I will be writing emails back to the girls at the office so they will not feel left out of my daily experiences. So please enjoy these next few posts as I journal about my trip to Walt Disney World. Did I mention I am afraid of mascots and fake faces? Perfect.

A little background on the trip for you. I work at a travel agency in Montgomery. My position is as the Program Manager for incentive travel. I am taking a large group (179 individuals to be exact) of Heating and A/C company owners and their families to Walt Disney World. Everyone is from Alabama and everyone is totally excited. The girls back at the office (Amy, Debbie, Trish and Marrilee) all have been joking on me because I am not what you would call cheerful. I am honestly excited to be here in Disney, but I am not going to wear the ears.

Day 1: April 14, 2009 - travel day

Amy, no matter what I tell you do not ever book me a flight out of the Gump again. I will actually pay you the booking fee personally to fly me out of any airport but the Montgomery Airport. It is sad when everyone else waiting on the flight turns to me to translate the Ebonics being communicated over the intercom. It is even sadder when I can actually do it.

I am walking through the Atlanta airport lacking two days worth of sleep, looking like I am ready to punch someone in the face and all of the Delta sales agents throughout the airport call me out to try and sell me something with sky miles. The first agent got a nice, “No thank you, I already have sky miles.” The second agent got a frustrated, “No thank you”, and the third agent got a, “Stop talking to me”. Seriously. I said it.

Have no fear, all was not lost once I boarded the plane heading to Disney. I did have to store my carry on about 10 rows behind mine. My bag weighs about the same as I do, but do you think anyone stood up to help this little 5 foot 2 girl lift that bag into the compartment? No way, they just kept creeping closer to me so they could try and get by me.

But back to the all was not lost part. I was sitting in the middle of the three-seater with a nice girl already by the window. So of course I am looking at each person walking on the plane wondering if that is the individual who would be lucky enough to sit next to me. Low and behold a nice young stud has the honor of the seat next to me. I swear he was about 6 foot 9 and pretty big, he is a military man by the way. I still could have cared less about him when he sat down and flashed his welcoming smile at me, because of course I was only thinking of myself and my bad mood. I quickly got over myself.

We spent the rest of the flight playing the trivia game on the plane and acting like we were really into it. Once the plane landed he was nice enough to dart through the crowd to fetch my bag. I am not so sure he was happy he did it once he felt how heavy it was and how much everyone else around him could have cared less. After he got feeling back in his arm from lift my bag, he was nice enough to walk me all the way to the Disney Magical Express. Of course, he claims he had to go that way to get to his car, but I have a feeling he did not have to go ALL the way to the Disney Magical Express. It was in the farthest corner of the lowest level. He wanted to walk with me. J

So, all in all the day ended well. Still have not had any food, but I am too tired for that now. I did catch that his name was Chris, in the military and lives in CoCo Beach, FL. Is that enough to Facebook him?

This place IS magical Marrilee!!