Eastern Caribbean Fantasy Oct. 5, 2013

[Viking]

We just may be up that way in July to catch a flight to Denver. Depends on where the owner of my Hubbies company wants to fly us out of ( Dallas or Austin).

~Tink~

Looks like I'll be in Denver in July, too. My preliminary plan puts me there from 7/20 til 7/27.

 

[wanderluster25]

Hi everyone, we will be sailing with you all. We booked last year while onboard the Fantasy. Last I checked this thread some time last year, there were only a few pages. I have tons of reading to do

Me (Leeia) and my fiancee, Daryll, will be celebrating our honeymoon come October. We will also be sailing with a group of folks we met on the Fantasy last year so this sailing will be our reunion .

Please include us in the FE. I still have to find a link to the group and find out our room number so bare with me .

 

[Viking]

I checked airfare today and it had risen again for USAir. So Anja and I made a quick decision and booked today.
Now we're flying Delta via Atlanta to Jacksonville and our return flight even has two stops, one in ATL and another one in Amsterdam. We splurged a bit and booked 'Economy Comfort' for the leg from FRA to ATL, which means priority boarding, 4 inches more legroom and 50% more recline - and free alcoholic beverages.
We would have also booked that upgrade for the return from ATL to AMS, but that flight is operated by KLM and they don't offer it.
All in all we're now €309/$400 above budget, but I simply adjusteded our budget
We can even deem ourselves fortunate for not having booked when the prices were at their lowest about two months ago, because that flight has been discontinued and so we would have been rebooked onto another flight. As of now the latest flight from JAX by USAir leaves at noon, which would have meant for us to leave Panama City Beach at 4am in the morning :shock:
Our Delta-flight now leaves JAX at 745pm and so we can depart from our hotel in PCB at around 11am and have a late lunch/early dinner at Cracker Barrel in Jacksonville before returning our car.

Now we're all set as everything has been booked: The flights, the rental cars before and after the cruise (Mustang Convertible), the Hotels before and after the cruise (Hampton Inn Fernandina Beach and PCB), and of course the cruise itself. We even have all the necessary cash for the three weeks in our piggy bank/Cookie jar and most of it has already been converted from Euros to Dollars.

 

[pixiehallow]

Looks like I'll be in Denver in July, too. My preliminary plan puts me there from 7/20 til 7/27.

Eric,
If we can make it to our conference in Denver, we will be flying in to Denver that Saturday and be there through Wednesday. So, looks like we will be there at the same time. Just chuck and I though. The boys have to stay home for this trip.

~Tink~

 

[pixiehallow]

Welcome to the group wanderluster

I have added you to the FE
(The most current FE list is on post # 547)
I also will send you a link to our group page via PM shortly.
The group page has a plethora of info. From shirt designs, to complete Fe lists, meet sign ups, nightly menus, and birthday calendars.

I look forward to getting to know you.

P.S. congrats on you pending nuptuals

~Tink~

 

[Viking]

Eric,
If we can make it to our conference in Denver, we will be flying in to Denver that Saturday and be there through Wednesday. So, looks like we will be there at the same time. Just chuck and I though. The boys have to stay home for this trip.

~Tink~

I sent the travel request to my boss this week. We'll be extremely busy the next two weeks (and just very busy the following two ) and so it may take some time til I get approval. Then our assistant needs to book everything, but I should have a confirmed travel date by early June. Sunday, Monday or Tuesday evening would be a definite possibility then.
Which area will you be staying at? I'll be staying in the Englewood/Tech Center-area, that's in the south.
Do you know 'Rockbottoms' right next to Park Meadows Mall? That's a very nice restaurant with a micro brewery and one of my favourites in Denver.
If you're staying Downtown we could also meet at 'Bubba Gump's' between 16th Street Mall and the Conference Center, but parking is a pain there.

 

[ozdisneyfan]

Hi Everyone!

For those of us who plan on visiting Maho Beach at St. Maarten, here is a nice article and pictures from a UK newspaper today - enjoy!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2323401/The-ultimate-sun-block-Startling-photos-beachgoers-relaxing-beach-planes-come-land-just-METRES-heads.html

 

[wanderluster25]

We had a great time at Maho the last time we went. We did Bernard's tour back then and I highly recommend them. We will be going back this October but will be taking a taxi and just hang out at the beach for the day.

 

[Viking]

Thanks for the link and the tip

That article is very interesting, but obviously its writer isn't an aviation specialist: There's usually no sand blast from landing aircraft as they come in more or less on idle or minimum power. Blast is a problem with planes taking off. With the landing aircraft it's turbulences caused by their wake as they're coming in with full flaps to increase lift at low speed.
The blast simply blows you into the sea and can hit you with sand, beach umbrellas, etc. The turbulence is like a horizontal tornado and can really throw you around.
I'll definitely tell Anja to stay away from that area - with her weight of about 100lbs she would be blown right to the next Island

 

[pixiehallow]

I'll definitely tell Anja to stay away from that area - with her weight of about 100lbs she would be blown right to the next Island

Or as my boys always tell me when we get our high winds with thunderstorms and such, they will just tie a string around my waist and fly me like a kite

This may help give a little more light to the nick name tink

 

[pixiehallow]

I sent the travel request to my boss this week. We'll be extremely busy the next two weeks (and just very busy the following two ) and so it may take some time til I get approval. Then our assistant needs to book everything, but I should have a confirmed travel date by early June. Sunday, Monday or Tuesday evening would be a definite possibility then.
Which area will you be staying at? I'll be staying in the Englewood/Tech Center-area, that's in the south.
Do you know 'Rockbottoms' right next to Park Meadows Mall? That's a very nice restaurant with a micro brewery and one of my favourites in Denver.
If you're staying Downtown we could also meet at 'Bubba Gump's' between 16th Street Mall and the Conference Center, but parking is a pain there.

Our convention is being held in Black Hawk, CO. At this point we are hoping to fly in Sat. even though we do not need to be there until Sunday evening. This is because Corporate is including a white water rafting Sunday morning for any one that arrives Saturday. Then, we will be flying out Wed.

I am not sure of exact plans yet...the owner is arranging everything. When I know more, I will let you know.

~Tink~

 

[pixiehallow]

Hi Everyone!

For those of us who plan on visiting Maho Beach at St. Maarten, here is a nice article and pictures from a UK newspaper today - enjoy!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2323401/The-ultimate-sun-block-Startling-photos-beachgoers-relaxing-beach-planes-come-land-just-METRES-heads.html

Thank you for the info...
Do you think you can post it on the group page as well?
I would really appreciate it

~Tink~

 

[ozdisneyfan]

Thank you for the info...
Do you think you can post it on the group page as well?
I would really appreciate it

~Tink~

Hi Tink

Sure, no problems, done!

 

[mrs stevenson]

Hi everyone- not been on much but as its getting close I thought I'd better make the effort. Can I have a link to the group page please. Looking forward to getting to know you all.

 

[pixiehallow]

Hi everyone- not been on much but as its getting close I thought I'd better make the effort. Can I have a link to the group page please. Looking forward to getting to know you all.

No Problem, Check your PM.
I sent you an invite.

~Tink~

 

[pixiehallow]

Hiya everyone.....

The clock is ticking fast...Only 4 and a half months to go

I was thinking about things we could do on board as a group.

I was wondering if I could get some feed back on 2 ideas that have come to mind.
-one is to have a Goofy Triathalon (I was originally thinking of just a mini golf tournament, but that did not seem to be something that everyone would want to do). My idea is to have teams (either families, or regional, like Team Texas, Team Arizon, Team Travelers Abroad, and so on). And we could do like three (or what ever number) events. My original thought is Mini Golf, scavenger hunt, and puzzles. However, I am open to suggestions. What do y'all think?

- two would be to have a pirate costume contest.

Let me know your thoughts....If anyone is interested, I can set up a sign up on the group page.

~Tink~

 

[mrs stevenson]

Thanks for the pm- I have signed up. Pirate costume competition sounds fun.

 

[Viking]

Ozdisneyfan,
are you one of the Australians who watch the Eurovison Song Contest?
I'm asking because our media reported that many, many Australiáns are fans of Europe's largest TV-event.

For our American friends:
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual event in which singers and bands from all over Europe compete against each other. This year it's 39 countries, of which 26 made it into today's finals. After we have seen all 26 performances we have about 15 minutes to vote via phone, text or an app to determine our ten favourites. Then all 39 competing countries submit their vote one after the other. No country is allowed to vote for its own song and all countries have the same number of votes - So Germany, the country with the largest population (82 Million), has the same number of votes as San Marino with less than 32,000 citizens. As usually a lot of countries with a similar background (i.e. former Yugoslavian or former Russian republics) vote for each other against the large countries like France or Germany, we only have outsider chances of winning it - but nevertheless we managed to score the title in 2010
But even with only minor chances of winning, it is a lot of fun to watch and very exciting to stay up til after midnight and see the votes coming in.

The contest was started 57 years ago to generate a common European spirit after WWII and it also includes Turkey and Israel. This year we are represented by Cascada, who also made it into the US billboard charts a few years ago. Their singer was born in London, but grew up in Germany - European spirit at it's best!!

 

[Viking]

We finished 21st
Anja and I voted for Malta and Finland, but Denmark won with a great lead.
Nevertheless it was a great show with some really good songs - and a few really weird performances

 

[pixiehallow]

Hiya everybody

I have been watching the poles, and The Genie Port hole picture and the Genie on the Beach picture for the shirts are tied. So.....If you have not voted, now is the time. We need to wrap up the votes pretty soon so that everyone has a chance to get their shirts
We are almost to the 4 month mark

I do have one other option for getting the shirts made. I was at my local Wal-Mart yesterday back in the photo department and learned that they do photo image shirts. I asked if they had to be photos, or if it could be any JPEG image. Luckily, it can be any JPEG. The shirts can be ordered on line and shipped, or picked up at your local store. You can also take a file saved to a jump drive into the store, and order it in the store.
They have 2 options - a 50/50 cotton blend shirt (available in child and adult sizes up to XXL) for $10.96 (only in white)
or - a 100% cotton shirt (available only in adult sizes and only in white) for $16.22
Wal-Greens has a similar shirt for $14.99. But they regularly have sales for card members (wal-greens card membership is free...but if you choose to order from them, I have a card and you can use my card number if you would like). The most recent was a 30% off all photo purchases.
Both locations allow you to order in store, or online and have it shipped.

Also, I can add 'Genies Magic Carpet Tours - Disney Fantasy - Oct. 5, 2013' to the file before sending to everyone for printing or it can be added when ordering the shirt. Wal-Mart charges to add on, Wal-Greens does not.

I am not saying this is how we need to go for the shirts, it is just another option.

~Tink~