PTR Oct 2010 - An Aussie returns: Back home and TR started (11/02)

[queenie82]

His travel arrangements are purely at the mercy of what the automagic on-line TA will or will not let him do. And it turns out that he has a choice of flying United.....or United! I guess he'll have a tough choice to make and will probably debate the issue for another week or two; but I suspect that he will end up flying United.

Anyone who has spent a bit of time in the Other Lands>Australia subforum will know that I am not a fan of United. No offence to anyone (and there are a lot of you out there) that LOVE flying United; it is a personal opinion.
My not enthusiasm for United stems from personal experience. I have flown with them 3 times in the past and have found their service somewhat lacking. Maybe I've just been (not) plainly unlucky....and I am prepared to try them again.

And to cap off the not wonderful euphoria in which I received the news of the airline of choice, it seems that the automagic TA is telling DH that he will be flying Melbourne to Orlando via Sydney, Los Angeles and Chicago. I'm sure that there is a straight line that I can draw on a map somewhere with the proposed route.....after I've had a few more 'well made' drinks at the Tequila Cave in Mexico.

Looks like I'm going to have to have a think about whether I want to travel on the same plane as DH.....

As I'm sure you have worked out I'm one of those United fans. They are good value and have always been reliable for us.
They also have a special place in my heart as they were my first international flight when I was 8 and I got to visit the captain in the cockpit

The whole Chicago situation is to do with hubs. If you look at the actual flights the flight Syd-LA goes onto Chicago. That is its complete route. And that is what we are taking advantage of and doing this time It is a 1hr 20min layover or something close.

The Syd-SFO goes to somewhere else...I can't remember.
So that is WHERE it has come from I think.
BUT
That is really really really really annoying given how short a trip it is.

So if this more easily enables choosing a different flight
That is interesting

Anyway...at least things are progressing
Let's stay on the bright side of life

 

[PrincessInOz]

As I'm sure you have worked out I'm one of those United fans. They are good value and have always been reliable for us.
They also have a special place in my heart as they were my first international flight when I was 8 and I got to visit the captain in the cockpit

The whole Chicago situation is to do with hubs. If you look at the actual flights the flight Syd-LA goes onto Chicago. That is its complete route. And that is what we are taking advantage of and doing this time It is a 1hr 20min layover or something close.

The Syd-SFO goes to somewhere else...I can't remember.
So that is WHERE it has come from I think.
BUT
That is really really really really annoying given how short a trip it is.

So if this more easily enables choosing a different flight
That is interesting

Anyway...at least things are progressing
Let's stay on the bright side of life

Yes, I know that United hubs out of Chicago and then possibly Denver or Dullas in the South. American hubs out of Dallas Fort Worth; which is a much straighter route to Orlando.

I've been checking out pricing; and need multi-city as we'd be going MEL to MCO and MCO to SFO and then SFO back to MEL. I'd like to try V Australia....but I suspect that I'm going to end up doing the dutiful wifely thing and sticking with DH on United.

What was the name of that Cheesecake place again?

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Eli's Cheesecake

 

[franandaj]

Even more on the brighter side, if I travel on a different plane, I might just have to look at my return date.....and possibly staying an extra night at Anaheim to catch the WOC show.....

If you traveled through LA then I could join in on this whole crazy plan!

 

[queenie82]

Yes, I know that United hubs out of Chicago and then possibly Denver or Dullas in the South. American hubs out of Dallas Fort Worth; which is a much straighter route to Orlando.

I've been checking out pricing; and need multi-city as we'd be going MEL to MCO and MCO to SFO and then SFO back to MEL. I'd like to try V Australia....but I suspect that I'm going to end up doing the dutiful wifely thing and sticking with DH on United.

What was the name of that Cheesecake place again?

lol...I never meant to imply you didn't know about hubs
Heck you fly these places more than me
Just more of a - this is a specific route we are taking - anecdote

The V Australia timing really really sux. One of the things that works great about the united/delta routes is arriving at 11pm or so...crashing...etc

ANYWAY...back to the fun stuff...
I'm going to come back home the size of one of those big pumpkins the rate I'm going. I've found that Webers bakery through you...now this cheesecake place.
Then there is the Ghirardelli and hersheys places in Chicago (not your fault)

Man... you really found my weaknesses.

 

[PrincessInOz]

If you traveled through LA then I could join in on this whole crazy plan!

Catching up with you is the MAIN attraction of me travelling solo and stopping for an extra day in LA.....but I don't think I'll be doing it this trip. I just couldn't do this to DS!

lol...I never meant to imply you didn't know about hubs
Heck you fly these places more than me
Just more of a - this is a specific route we are taking - anecdote

The V Australia timing really really sux. One of the things that works great about the united/delta routes is arriving at 11pm or so...crashing...etc

ANYWAY...back to the fun stuff...
I'm going to come back home the size of one of those big pumpkins the rate I'm going. I've found that Webers bakery through you...now this cheesecake place.
Then there is the Ghirardelli and hersheys places in Chicago (not your fault)

Man... you really found my weaknesses.

I've been checking out the timings of the different carriers. Yes, the V Australia timings are awful! Oh well.....united here I come; and I'm definitely going to have to look out for Eli's Cheesecake at the airport.

Did you see the cupcakes I made for DS to take to school this week to celebrate his 10th birthday?

And I need a picture of a trifle for the scavenger hunt on the photography board. I'm going to make one this weekend .

 

[queenie82]

.Did you see the cupcakes I made for DS to take to school this week to celebrate his 10th birthday?

And I need a picture of a trifle for the scavenger hunt on the photography board. I'm going to make one this weekend .

I'm going to bed
Tomorrow there will be banana bread and muffins at 10 paces

 

[DisneyFirefly]

lol...I never meant to imply you didn't know about hubs
Heck you fly these places more than me
Just more of a - this is a specific route we are taking - anecdote

The V Australia timing really really sux. One of the things that works great about the united/delta routes is arriving at 11pm or so...crashing...etc

ANYWAY...back to the fun stuff...
I'm going to come back home the size of one of those big pumpkins the rate I'm going. I've found that Webers bakery through you...now this cheesecake place.
Then there is the Ghirardelli and hersheys places in Chicago (not your fault)

Man... you really found my weaknesses.

I can also recommend pizza and hot dog places, and my favorite italian beef in Chicago

 

[PrincessInOz]

I can also recommend pizza and hot dog places, and my favorite italian beef in Chicago

Firefly - put your recommendations up and any links up . I'm sure Queenie will *flame* up when she gets out of bed .

 

[PrincessInOz]

Another age old navel-gazing that seems to constantly pop-up in the Disboard is around photography. Afterall, what better way to remember (or not depending on the quality of the photograpsh) the perfect WDW holiday than with a few thousand photographs (give or take a couple of hundred)? So it is important to work out the best strategy on how to shoot that perfect shot!

And this topic, as with so many others, splits the Boards into two major parties, not necessarily mutually exclusive and with a great deal of overlap (in Venn Diagram parlance)!

It would seem that many of us Dis-ers are wannabe (not) photographers as a lot of the PTR threads will invariable post something around upgrading their existing camera.
Do we buy the next greatest and best-est model out? Should we upgrade to a dSLR?
And more importantly....how do we SHOOT fireworks?

The other major party are hunters and gatherers. Their strategy for a good SHOT at the Parks is to hunt out as many Photopass photographers that they can find and gather as many hits on their cards as they can for those elusive memory shoots. This line of thought will then lead to the occassionally seen and available discount pin for a pre-purchase Disney Photopass CD.

Me? I'm going to follow the majority herd that sits firmly in that huge Venn Diagram middle bit with heaps of overlap in both parties.

I acquired a new snazzy dSLR camera for my trip in May. And following the tried and true standard procedure, I did NOT know how to really operate the camera before I hit the World. If any of you reading this have checked out my May TR (link in signature below), you may note that there are some decent shots included. For those pro-sumers out there, it WAS the camera NOT the photographer!

I also hooked in with a pin and pre-ordered a Photopass CD.

Can I just say that I am so pleased with both our photographs AND the Disney Photopass CD? So, if you're debating this snappy topic, do what the general consensus of Dis-ers do.....get both!

Disclaimers and Things you need to Know about getting a New Camera.
1. If you are going to get a new camera, you need to make sure that you WANT one.
2. Do your research on the models/brands before walking into a store.
3. Try each model/brand that you are interested to buy before making your decision.
4. Make sure that the camera fits nice in your hand and that you can easily change the settings.
5. Do not let the salesman talk you into a camera that you know nothing about.
6. Remember that you will still have the camera AFTER your trip. What you do with it afterwards is more important than what you will do with it at WDW.....or it may well become an expensive toy that sits in the bag.

 

[queenie82]

I can also recommend pizza and hot dog places, and my favorite italian beef in Chicago

lol
I'm all for pizza recommendations if it is
*runs for cover in a deep down bunker*
NOT deep dish. I'm a super thin crust NY style gal

Did I dare say it....

ok...
moving along...

Re the camera....I think this is a wonderful post you have posted. It is just so true and concise.
For me I have a (former) workmate who is really into photography. He has spent thousands on all sorts of lenses and tripod and shoe for the tripod etc.
He goes out regularly to take photos. Now...he doesn't actually go on holidays much really...but the point is that he really really enjoys photography.

And the shots he produces...are impressive. Combined with Photoshop what he can do is great.
So...
I have been tempted to look into a DSLR.
But...
the cost and size have kept me away. I don't want to lug it around. As it is I carry too much.
So the last digital I got was a 10MP 5xoptical zoom which has been great. Not all the shots are great and it doesn't do well in dimly lit rooms.
BUT...some of the stuff it has done when I take the time to set up the shot is great. Even quick random shots - some are really impressive in terms of catching the spirit. It has done pretty decent firework shots!

I'm disappointed in some of the photos of ME with characters as noone in the family seems to do well with it (and this is a SIMPLE camera) but a DSLR will not help with this.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

lol
I'm all for pizza recommendations if it is
*runs for cover in a deep down bunker*
NOT deep dish. I'm a super thin crust NY style gal

Did I dare say it....

ok...
moving along...

Oh, but you've never had Lou Malnati's deep dish There's a big difference between most deep dish and theirs. I never liked it before I had theirs, but, to me, the difference is that with Lou's, you can order buttercrust. They brush the crust with melted butter before they bake it and then it comes out so much tastier somehow.

Other recommendations are Portillo's for beef and hot dogs, Superdawg for hot dogs and shakes, and Susie's for just about everything except pizza

http://www.portillos.com/

http://www.superdawg.com/

http://www.loumalnatis.com/

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'm going to bed
Tomorrow there will be banana bread and muffins at 10 paces

Okay, I didn't quite make the 24 hour mark but.....

Banana bread and blueberry (muffin) combined!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

You know, if I liked banana bread, I'd so totally ask for that recipe?

 

[PrincessInOz]

You know, if I liked banana bread, I'd so totally ask for that recipe?

It's called "Wild Holly Cakeshop". I was on the photography scavenger hunt and drove down the street where this cake shop is. I almost caused an accident in my haste to pull over into a parking space....because I saw the baker bringing out a Wedding Cake*, which is worth 2 points.

I went in and sweet-talked my way into him letting me take a picture of the Wedding Cake to post up on the forum. He was really nice about it, cute looking...and before you ask, he was an "in-betweener". Too young for me, too old for you . But still nice eye-candy.

Before I left, I took a look at their cake counter and saw the little beauty I posted. Naturally, I thought of Queenie and had to buy it to bring it back for our pistols at dawn .

I thought of you and LuvChefMic as well.....because these also came home with me....Lamingtons!

And you two owe me big time! It was such a hardship for me to get this shot...the things I do for you two. You know it'll be your fault when I gain weight at the next weigh-in!!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

It's called "Wild Holly Cakeshop". I was on the photography scavenger hunt and drove down the street where this cake shop is. I almost caused an accident in my haste to pull over into a parking space....because I saw the baker bringing out a Wedding Cake*, which is worth 2 points.

I went in and sweet-talked my way into him letting me take a picture of the Wedding Cake to post up on the forum. He was really nice about it, cute looking...and before you ask, he was an "in-betweener". Too young for me, too old for you . But still nice eye-candy.

Before I left, I took a look at their cake counter and saw the little beauty I posted. Naturally, I thought of Queenie and had to buy it to bring it back for our pistols at dawn .

I thought of you and LuvChefMic as well.....because these also came home with me....Lamingtons!

And you two owe me big time! It was such a hardship for me to get this shot...the things I do for you two. You know it'll be your fault when I gain weight at the next weigh-in!!

Did you post the picture of the wedding cake yet? I like looking at wedding cakes

You know, I think I may skip that at F&W With the coconut, I'd just scrape it off and then it'd just be sponge cake, so there'd be no point in getting it, you know? But I appreciate the picture!

Oh, and? I've SOMEHOW lost ten pounds I have no idea how.

 

[queenie82]

Oh, but you've never had Lou Malnati's deep dish There's a big difference between most deep dish and theirs. I never liked it before I had theirs, but, to me, the difference is that with Lou's, you can order buttercrust. They brush the crust with melted butter before they bake it and then it comes out so much tastier somehow.

Other recommendations are Portillo's for beef and hot dogs, Superdawg for hot dogs and shakes, and Susie's for just about everything except pizza

http://www.portillos.com/

http://www.superdawg.com/

http://www.loumalnatis.com/

I might go to Lou Malnati's. They actually do do thin crust.
And the deep dish does look not so deep and pie like.

Thank you!!!
Not a hot dog person.

With burgers I LOVE Fat Burger....are there places like that?




PrincesinOz
Recipe please
I haven't been cooking....been playing the 'how do I run windows on a mac?' game.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

I might go to Lou Malnati's. They actually do do thin crust.
And the deep dish does look not so deep and pie like.

Thank you!!!
Not a hot dog person.

With burgers I LOVE Fat Burger....are there places like that?

You've gotta at least try a slice I think what you may be thinking of is actually stuffed pizza. Are you thinking of something with a crust on top, too? That's stuffed, which I don't actually like.

And you're welcome!

I'm actually not sure what Fat Burger is...

 

[queenie82]

It's called "Wild Holly Cakeshop". I was on the photography scavenger hunt and drove down the street where this cake shop is. I almost caused an accident in my haste to pull over into a parking space....because I saw the baker bringing out a Wedding Cake*, which is worth 2 points.

I went in and sweet-talked my way into him letting me take a picture of the Wedding Cake to post up on the forum. He was really nice about it, cute looking...and before you ask, he was an "in-betweener". Too young for me, too old for you . But still nice eye-candy.

Before I left, I took a look at their cake counter and saw the little beauty I posted. Naturally, I thought of Queenie and had to buy it to bring it back for our pistols at dawn .

I thought of you and LuvChefMic as well.....because these also came home with me....Lamingtons!

And you two owe me big time! It was such a hardship for me to get this shot...the things I do for you two. You know it'll be your fault when I gain weight at the next weigh-in!!

How COULD you

 

[queenie82]

You've gotta at least try a slice I think what you may be thinking of is actually stuffed pizza. Are you thinking of something with a crust on top, too? That's stuffed, which I don't actually like.

And you're welcome!

I'm actually not sure what Fat Burger is...

I think I will try it for sure
Just need to get the family on board


http://www.fatburger.com/home/Default.aspx

And I just found one in Chicago
ILLINOIS
Beverly

View map / Driving Directions
2341 W. 95th St. (& Western)
Chicago, IL 60642
P: 773-239-9300
F: 773-239-9304
Operating Hours: Mon-Thu: 10am-10pm | Fri-Sat: 10am-12am | Sun: 10am-9pm

I ADORE their Turkey Burger.