July 23-27 has become July 24-28...Delayed Gratification!

Hello folks! We had quite an interesting start to our vacation! What we anticipated being Day 1 turned into "Day Zero" and instead of basking in the glory of Vegas right now I'm back at home typing this!

Here's the scoop...

Yesterday began with the minions and pets off to their respective substitute caregivers, and then it was off to MSP airport. Thanks to my father-in-law for the ride down. Oh, yeah...packed some beef sticks for the plane ride.




Got to the airport and through security just fine. We are trying just backpacks this time--as personal items to fit under the seats. Grabbed some grub at TwinBurger at a far gate, but we had plenty of time before our 10:10 flight. My favorite was the cheese curds. The chicken sandwich was good, too.





At this point, we were smiling like Snoopy and Woodstock. BIG "we're almost to Vegas" smiles!



Enjoying the beautiful evening...



At about 10:05 things started to go the other direction. There was an announcement of an hour-and-a-half delay due to our plane (Spirit) not being able to make it out of the storms in Chicago. Then about 20 minutes later the gate announced that the flight was cancelled.

I dashed down to ticketing--not quite full "O.J." but close (meaning his running in those old commercials, not the other thing(s))--and was able to get us on the next available flight--tonight. I was also able to change our return flight one day later. A call to Bellagio by my bride and we had things moving and grooving to keep this trip on!

My wife hopped on a site on her phone and snagged a room at a Holiday Inn way over in western Bloomington--or so we thought. A $35 cab ride later and the person at the front desk said there was no actual room as the site was booking rooms that weren't vacant. Had to call the site to get the charges off.

We sat in their lobby and my wife booked a room at a Best Western via a phone call this time. The folks at Holiday Inn took us over to the Best Western behind the Mall of America. We appreciated the ride, but we arrived to find the same thing at Best Western. Charged and given a confirmation number for a vacancy that didn't exist. Took 25 minutes to get the charges off this time.

We called around to other hotels to find no vacancies at all. We decided to gather our thoughts over a very early breakfast at the IHOP near Mall of America. Quite an interesting place to people-watch so early in the morning! I had the chicken and waffles and a few Mountain Dews.



With no room for us in any inn, we went across the street to the light rail station at Mall of America to catch a ride back to the airport. We discovered upon arrival that we'd just missed that last train before the only two-hour gap in their weekend schedule. So, we chilled at the platform with some locals.



Arrived back at MSP at 4:30 A.M.. Sat outside ticketing until we were able to contact my father-in-law, who came to pick us up at 8:30. It was fun to watch the ballet that is the drop-off zone...





Well, folks, it's going to get better. We're keeping our chins up. We have made some lifelong memories and I believe all the unplanned events of "Day Zero" are just going to help us enjoy the next four days even more!

Time to get some shut-eye so we can get our butts down to MSP--we're driving this time--to get the Vegas on!!!

Folks at Bellagio, if you see a bearded dude with a damn big smile tomorrow, it'll be me!!!

RICHARD

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

After Day Zero, I hope you have an epic trip. Have fun and good luck.

 

I think you will have an amazing trip! Love the pics and great attitude. Looking forward to the rest of your epic TR.

 

Good luck! Looking forward to your report.

 

You sure have a great attitude so hopefully the slots will be good to you!

 

You should have all the bad luck out of your systems. All up from here!

 

Spirit sux! Hope things go smoothly for you tomorrow. What sight were you using to book the local rooms? We may want to avoid it.

 

He was flying Spirit! haha

Hope your luck goes a lot better than this in Vegas Richard! I think I would be more annoyed with the false vacancies than the plane! Hope you can sleep well when you got in the air!

 

Wow, I'm tired and I'm just sitting here reading! Best of luck getting out....and the Bellagio is a great prize to look forward to!

 

Good luck! I hope it all works out well and looking forward to your report!

 

And I thought my Allegiant cancelled flight experience a few weeks ago was frustrating...it was nothing compared to yours! Hope you have much better travel luck today.

 

Great attitude Richard about your trip. Hope you have a great time and I'm looking forward to following along.

 

Keep up the positive attitude, and I hope you and your wife have the best trip ever!

Your story reminded me of that old Jack Lemmon/Sandy Dennis movie "The Out-of-Towners". LOL

Vegasworm

 

I agree - great attitude. I'm not sure I'd have the same...

 

Oh my goodness that is a horrible start to a holiday. I sure hope things change and you win a big one when you get to Vegas. I had a trip like that once and never did make it. So I know what your going through. Looking forward to hearing more about this trip.

 

Where is he?

 

Hope they made it to Vegas and are having too much fun to report.