Drron's Do Disney.

[carls888]

I really loved this TR! We have been debating whether to go back to WDW or stay in CA and go back to Disneyland. Looking at your photos and enjoying your trip alongside has helped with our decision.
Happy travels!

 

[drron]

Friday and off we go.A last look at the gardens-

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The checkout experience was very efficient and pleasant.You could checkin for your flight at the resort.We decided to do it at the airport.We were a little early for our Magic Express to MCO.The earlier one arrived and we were asked if we would like to go on it-yes please.

No problems getting to the AA checkin.However the scene there was incredible.Literally mountains of bags from the Disneyworld resorts plus many others-the baggage conveyors were only working intermittently.
Huge lines at the AA main checkin and bag drop.Long lines even for each kiosk.Over 20 in front of us at the priority checkin and only 2 agents.Of course each were dealing with pax that just kept talking.As the line grew behind us 2 more agents appeared for the premium lines and the closest main agent took people from the premium line-backlog soon cleared.Kudos to the supervisor.
When we checked in the baggage conveyor wasn't working so our bags put into a large cage on wheels.A little worried but turned out to be no problem.

So off to the gate after a look around the shops.There is now an AC at MCO so in we trot.Mrsdrron only had her expired WP card.Her new gold card hadn't arrived before we left.Agent said you cant come in as card expired.Explained situation and offered to bring up her QFF account.Dont bother QF gold members have never been allowed access any way.
No point arguing so I got out my QP card.She looks at it then said this card is not valid as there is no expiry date.Sorry but it was time to use a little sarcasm-if you look closely it is a Lifetime membership and I can assure you I haven't expired yet.So finally allowed in.

Only advantage (pun intended) of the AC was a little less crowded and being able to get 2 bottles of water.

 

[drron]

As usual we walked across to the gate a little before boarding time.A lot of elites obviously go through here.There were 67 on the upgrade list and 32 on the standby list.Despite the agent saying over the PA that it was a full flight so there will be no more upgrades or stand bys people couldn't help going up to the desk.
I did feel for one fellow who had Tourettes syndrome.He seemed to be getting a hard time so I gave him a smile as he walked away,he smiled back.

AA2002. MCO-DFW. ETD-1140. push back-1210. take off-1215. A321. Seats 1A,C.Again bumped out of our usual 2A,C.
ETA-1330. landed-1337. at gate-1346.

We were served lunch.Chicken breast or stuffed peppers-

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Mrsdrron had the chicken breast.It looked nice but the chicken was very dry.On the other hand my stuffed peppers looked awful but had great flavors.
The service was very good.But I do wish we could get some of the CC offers.They did the hard sell over the PA for the AA Elite MC.$95 annual fee and after you had spent $! you got a 60000 point bonus.Oh well.

Not to late into DFW and our bags out nearl first so soon at Avis preferred and in our car.We were headed for Waco.Why Waco?Well you don't watch the Fixer Uppers with Chip and Joanna do you.A bit of a cult TV reno show which both mrsdrron and her sister watch.They now have a very large shop in Waco at the Silos.

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Mrsdrron was extremely disappointed.A large store but items in several places around the store so limited stock.but hugely popular.There was an attached coffee shop and bakery but a line went out the door and right down a side street-in 2C temperature.You have got to be kidding.

So soon we were back on our way to College Station.Nearly got rear ended by a blonde in a black Merc who was on her phone.Also during these 3 days I was cut off several times by young women drivers.Because I am an old white male have I become an acceptable target?

 

[drron]

So an easy drive to College Station from Waco.It was dark though when we arrived at the Four Points.Now this is a University Town and it was the weekend before the students resumed their studies.So all hotels were full and none were cheap.One room per floor was larger and as a plat was given this room.however it is their accessible room on each floor as well so the bathroom was Spartan.A great view over the parking lot.

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We had the clothes for the next day in our carryons so no unpacking required.So out to dinner we went.Being a University town restaurants were mainly low end fast food types.There was an Italian chain-Johnny Carinos-just up the road.A few years back in Idaho and Montana with a similar lack of better options we found them quite nice.Well standards have dropped.The food was terrible and the service even worse.
Our meals-

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Mrsdrron had the shrimp with linguini-hard shrimp and linguine with no sauce-what would Manu say.I had lasagne.I may have eaten a worse one sometime in the past.
When we ordered we asked for a bottle of the Francis Ford Coppola Sav Blanc-I had been reading Amaroo's TR.Just before our meals arrived after the third request for the wine this turns up.

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So say that's not we ordered so a further wait to be told all the other wines have run out.
The manager came to talk to us so we ended up having the meal comped and 2 $10 coupons for our next visit.They were left.

Then there was breakfast next morning.plats are allowed full breakfast.Only problem the place was teeming with Uni students with plates piled high and a great mess on the buffet.It turns out brekkie is whatever is left.No attempt made at restocking.The GM doesn't like his 1 star rating.

 

[drron]

But We were here for something much more educational-

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The George H Bush Presidential Library which is in the grounds of the Texas A&M uni-known as the Aggies.But back to the library.

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This museum was the most personal of all we have been to.Lots of family photos,letters and other trinkets.He was 17 when Pearl Harbour occurred.He immediately postponed his studies and on his 18th birthday joined the Navy and went into the air Arm.He served on the carrier San Jacinto.A model of the plane he flew.

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And a photo of an unsuccessful landing by Bush.Missed it by that much!

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He was shot down over Chichijima island in the Bonin group.He was fortunate to be picked up by an American sub.The other 8 shot down that day were less fortunate-
Chichijima incident - Wikipedia
Executed and reportedly eaten by their captors.
After the war he married,went to Yale then moved to Texas in this-

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He went into the oil business and the rest is history-right place at the right time.So it led to this.

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[drron]

Before getting to the White house he had 2 unsuccessful attempts at the Senate in Texas but became the first Republican to win a seat in the Reps for Houston.Nixon appointed him US Ambassador to the UN and then Chairman of the RNC.
Gerald Ford appointed him Ambassador to China and then Head of the CIA.
He went on to become the 43rd Vice President and 41st President.He was also the first VP to be Acting President.

Just like his mate Nixon I was needed to sort out a few problems in the Oval office-

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I thought I would just make a quick trip to the Camp David office-

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But an urgent call to the Situation room instead-

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Where were all those experts when you needed them.
Oh well time to look at all the gifts.
Boris was generous.

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As was King Hussein.

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And those fellows from the Arabian gulf-

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Then there was that little fellow from Australia-Bob wasn't it.

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[drron]

There were other unusual gifts such as this from the President of Nicaragua.

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There was a section devoted to the First Lady-not just her clothes but a telling of her likes and the work she did such as promoting literacy.She must like elephants.

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And personal moments.

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There is also a lot of history,information to be had in these libraries.A lot obviously focuses on their successes.Sometimes these surprise you.HW introduced the first major change to the Clean air act since Nixon.He also brought in the Americans With Disabilities Act,The Radiation exposure compensation act covering those exposed to nuclear testing and an immigration act increasing immigration by 40%.Not things that you associate with republicans.
In the Situation room the screens took you through the crises that arose-particularly the first Gulf War.

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A nice little speedboat and rug finish this tour.

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[drron]

Time to leave the Library.It occupies 90 acres on the grounds of the A&M uni.The place is massive.

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In the distance is the main football stadium.In front of it they are building a larger practice field stadium.The mind boggles.Whilst we were there the TV audience for the final college football games was higher than that for the wild card games in the NFL.

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Then not a long run to Houston.We had decided to stay out of town so chose the Sheraton at IAH.Turned out to be a great choice.First though we made a stop at the Houston Premium outlets which were on the way.A major change from California and Florida.Less crowds,very few Chinese shoppers,lower prices and a much bigger selection of stock.Mrsdrron was very happy.With the shopping there and the next day our bags went from a little under 19KG each to a little over 24KG each.

Now 2 weeks before this stay I had reached 500 nights-the figure you need for LTP.Unfortunately I need to spend another year as plat before it actually happens.I noted a few days later that we had been upgraded to the Presidential suite.We arrived about 3pm and our room wasn't ready.We were asked if we had had lunch-no as we usually don't have our large meal of the day until 3-5pm.So we were offered free lunch in the restaurant.We didn't feel like pigging out so I had the burger with sweet potato fries and mrsdrron the flatbread Margherita.Washed down with a glass of SB and a local beer.

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Quite nice and the price was right.

 

[drron]

I doubt any Presidents have stayed here.Basically a bedroom with a large lounge/dining room.Obviously can be made a 2 bedroom suite.

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The bathrooms had plenty of bench space and complicated American plumbing.

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Early that evening there was a knock at the door-a tray of chocolate strawberries and a bottle of Californian sparkling wine.

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The bottle had a closure that I am sure many here don't want to see go into widespread use.

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[drron]

The view the next morning-

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A good plave for plane spotting.For the Hilton crowd there is a Doubletree across the road which would have similar views and it shares a shuttle with the Sheraton.
A late start as today was a shopping day ending up with an early dinner at Trulucks.We went to 2 Nordstrom racks.Fortunately the second was across the road from the Galleria mall with a very large Dillards.The signs in the shoe dept. caught my eye-

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Fortunately the Galleria was just down the road from Trulucks.We went there after reading one of Amaroo's reviews.He wasn't wrong.

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Istarted with the mussels with fennel sausage,herbs and a Pacifico butter sauce.Great but a huge starter.

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Mrsdrron couldn't go past starting with the Florida stone crab claws-

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She then went onto the Hokkaido scallops with parmesan mashed potatoes and a lemon,garlic sauce.The menu said cooked perfectly and they were.She reckoned it was possibly the best scallop meal she has had.

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I had the redfish Pontchartrain.Smothered in crawfish tails,shrimp and blue crab served on rice pilaf with a spicy creole sauce.Fantastic flavours.

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Our lovely waiter Hiliary tried to tempt us with dessert but we were full.Her service was very good.

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Definitely recommended.

 

[drron]

The time has come for us to slowly make our way back home.Sunday night and I deliver the car back to the Rental car Centre at IAH.Huge.Get a shuttle to the airport.Which terminal says the driver.First stop I reply.A good call because about a minute after I get off the rental car shuttle the Sheraton bus pulls in.
A last view from our hotel.

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The next morning an early shuttle back to the airport.Went via the Doubletree and picked up crews from Spirit and Bahamas Air.
Why Houston you may ask.Simple,in January awards are a bit harder to get.No awards on preferred dates out of SFO,LAX or DFW so F awards on ANA from IAH it was.I was also interested in trying another F cabin.Awards courtesy of Lifemiles.

At the airport mrsdrron spotted this-

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A UniQlo vending machine.
Though she was possibly after a kiss.

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Checkin no problem.The downside though is the lounge is a domestic united lounge.typical cr*p US lounge though they are building a Polaris lounge.We left early but when we got to the gate they were just starting preboarding.Over 20 wheelchair pax and about another 20% of the pax preboarding with children,some quite large children.
That flight next.

 

[drron]

So to the flight.
NH173. IAH-NRT. ETD-1020. Push back-1020. Take off-1042. Seats 1D,F. B773
ETA-1515. Landed-1425. At gate-1430.
Only 3 pax in F.An austere layout but soon made to feel welcome by the Purser.Told we could sit anywhere-except the 1 other occupied seat!
For take off we sat in 1A,2A.Very quickly had a glass of champagne in hand.I finished it before moving to 2A.As soon as the Purser had taken our pictures she summed me up perfectly saying I think you could do with another champagne whilst we are waiting our turn for take off.
So the pics of the seats=

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Is that a J pax in ugg boots back there?
Lots of little storage spaces.

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The divider at the front of the seat is a closet.A place for your glasses and every possible storage space used.

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[drron]

Probably it is my genetic makeup but if you have internet availablr I reckon it should be free in F and probably J as well.

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The taxi out-

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[drron]

Permission to roll.

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And up to join the con trails in the sky-

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And heading north west passing College Station and Waco.

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[drron]

After take off I returned to 1D and got ready for lunch.First though a taste test of the 2 champagnes.Preferred the Krug.

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I missed the whites but tried the selection of reds.

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For lunch I had the Duckhorn merot-a very nice wine.Then the Burgundy.pity those that avoid pinot noir.

 

[drron]

SWo now to the menu.As would be expected on a Japanese airline there was a Japanese and a western chice.Both started with the same amuse-

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The Japanese first-

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Then the western.

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[drron]

Mrsdrron chose the western option.Started with the smoked salmon then the salad-

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For mains she had the lamb shank which she enjoyed.

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All washed down with the Pinot Gris from Alsace.

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The apple tart for dessert.

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Then everyone got petit fours and a chocolate.

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[drron]

I chose the Japanese selection and wasn't disappointed.

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I love sea urchin.And the soup was delicious.

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The dessert shows that this selection was slanted to dishes that appealed to western tastes but hey I have a western palate so I really enjoyed it.Might though be due to the fact that this was catered from Texas.

 

[drron]

So the rest of the food.There were substantial snacks available but neither of us felt the need.

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About 2 hours out of NRT we were offered breakfast.No way for me dinner comes after lunch.

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Mrsdrron only felt the need for something light so had the fruit.

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I however went for the grilled chicken and cheese plate washed down with another couple of glasses of the Chateau Neuf Du Pape.

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[drron]

The little bag of goodies-

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We really enjoyed this flight.Service was excellent,food and wine good.Not much on the IFE but then I really don't find the movies made now appeal to me.I did watch Mark cough-ie deep throat.As I had encountered the story during the trip I didn't think much of it.A lot left out.
But I had a 6 hour nap and was content the rest of the time downloading photos and reading the books on my kindle.
We arrived into NRT a little early.