10-14-2006 Cruisetoberfest IV

[padisneyfan]

Diana--- Looks like you are making good progress with your new travel plans and not having to spend any extra money is good.

Sally--- We were fortunate that we had an Astro Van and with pulling out the seats we could get everything into it for the moves. We only rented a UHaul the one time when DS#1 was moving out of his apartment at the end of his senior year. Even with not bring the sofa and chair home after 4 years of college he had to much junk to bring back. Of course all that stayed out my house until he found a job and got another apartment. All future moves are his responsibilty.

Nancy

 

[eye R.N.]

Thanks ladies. I went to Southwest and liked the nonstop flights for $177 a person. Now I need to find a way for us to get to Pittsburgh. I've checked our towns one rental agency, agencies in Williamsport and State College and no one has a mini van or 10 passenger van rentals from their locations.

Right now it looks like both Jenny and I will be driving a compact to Pittsburgh unless some fairy throws us pixie dust in the form of a van!

I am also looking into changing our hotel to one at the port (cheaper), cancelling our DCL bus reservation and renting a mini van the day before and the day we return. Now I just need to find a cheap room for the six of us for the 22d.

This trip is becoming a major headache.

The biggest problem with a family of five is finding hotel rooms that will sleep all of us. What about the two room thing at the Radisson? That shoud sleep 6. We are picking up a car at budget at the airport then dropping it off at the port. I believe they had vans at their website. Sorry your trip planning has been such a headache.

 

[Gramto3]

My new trip plans are finally coming together.
I found a mini van from from the airport 32 miles from us to Pittsburgh through Orbitz. I hope this isn't too good to be true. When I called all the rentals in Williamsport and State College they all stated absolutely no mini van rentals. I don't understand this travel business at all.......maybe I need to go to travel school????

So I have a mini van from home to the airport, from the airport to home and from the port to MCO. Now to get one from MCO to the port.

I also changed my hotel to from one at the airport to Country Inns at the port and actually saved some money. Now I need to decide where to stay on the day we return from the cruise since we are staying an extra day in FL.

It's becoming funny, especially since I haven't booked our flights yet......I am still waiting for a good fare locally. Just can't make myself give up to driving 32 miles to the airport instead of 200+.

Thanks for all your help and patience on my whining about this.

 

[LisaG520]

We have all our travel plans arranged except the airfare as well. My least favorite part of the whole planning process. And for some odd reason I can't ever find good non-stop flights out of San Diego to anywhere. (And I don't want to drive the 110 miles or so to LAX instead of the 19 to San Diego so I'm right there with you on that!)

 

[Gramto3]

Well Lisa, I was tired of the sleepless nights and the stress so I finally gave in and made our flight reservations on Southwest for a nonstop flight. I have road anxiety really bad so I wanted to keep everything easy for me.

We will drive the 200 miles each way, YUK! The good note is by driving to Pittsburgh we are going to save enough money on plane tickets that we can take the children to Sea World on our extra day in FL and with nonstop flights we won't have to trek through two different airports with the children in tow.

Hang in there and I hope something opens up for you soon.

 

[Viking]

Diana,
Pittsburgh is our favourite airport for switching planes. They have the so-called AirMall there with lots of shops and great prices. The food court is also great.
But this year we're flying via Charlotte, NC both ways as we got the best price for that flight.

 

[padisneyfan]

Diana--- Glad you got all your travel plans completed.

Lisa--- Hope you can soon find the airfare that you want.

Eric--- You should start a travel guide on best airport shopping.

Nancy

 

[LisaG520]

Eric,
Charlotte is a nice airport - one of our favorites to transfer in. And they have Krispy Kreme donuts there!

Lisa

 

[Viking]

Thanks for the info, Lisa.
But to be honest: We definitely prefer Dunkin Donuts
My coworkers at the Denver headquarters are KK fans and tried to convert me, but I'll stick with DD forever - or Honeydew, which are yummy, too.
Fortunately we only have DD in Berlin so far or Anja and I would have to work out twice as much as we already do

 

[LisaG520]

Gramto3,
I broke down tonight and bought our tickets. Prices were bad but they were staying the same so I figured what the heck. We are flying through Denver on Frontier - who we love! So at least we can watch live tv on all of our flights. And now we have to go to Disney a day earlier - a real hardship (LOL).

Lisa

 

[Viking]

LIsa,
I've never travelled with Frontier, but I love their aircraft design. I shot at least 20 pics of their tailfins when I was in Denver. When you're in the main terminal hall look out for the statue of my company's founder. It's located right in the middle of the Jeppesen Terminal, which is named after Elrey B. Jeppesen. Exactly the same statue stands in front of our Denver headquarters and of course in front of my office (Eastern Hemisphere Headquarters). I can even see him from my desk as my cubicle is located right above the main entrance.

 

[Hygiene99]

We have all our travel plans arranged except the airfare as well. My least favorite part of the whole planning process. And for some odd reason I can't ever find good non-stop flights out of San Diego to anywhere. (And I don't want to drive the 110 miles or so to LAX instead of the 19 to San Diego so I'm right there with you on that!)

www.kayak.com

Search them all at once !

 

[Gramto3]

Hi LisaG ~ Glad to hear you have air now, sorry about the $$$. I'm sure it's a big worry off your mind.

Hi Nancy ~ Yep!!!!! Finally have all the new arrangements completed to include new hotels and mini van rentals. Now we are trying to decide if we should purchase our Sea World tickets now or wait to get them at the gate. Mousesavers has them listed at $49.95 for adults and children. Another saving for us. We are staying at Buena Vista Suites after the cruise. $99 for a queen suite for the 6 of us. I hope this hotel is a good decision!

Eric ~ I have flown out of Pittsburgh two other times, just dislike the drive to get there. Actually, I find airports interesting to walk around and look plus watch the people. I'm sure the food court will be high on the grandkids list when we get there. They are bottomless pits when it comes to food.

Thanks to everyone for putting up with my whining about the new plans the last few weeks.

 

[Gramto3]

Peter and Jen ~ I love the Mickey pillow behind the dogs!!!!!

Diana

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Glad that your travel plans are all made. We are waiting to see if any Dings come up for our flights although we have aleady booked them. We are taking the Disney transfers mostly because we never have so wanted to try them out this trip.

Fiona

 

[Gramto3]

Fiona ~ If you get a cheaper flight with the same airline, do you get a refund for the difference?

Diana

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

We just went through that. Found a cheaper flight. Airline gave us a voucher for the difference minus some processing fee. It was worth it though.

Thanks for that kayak site post. I've never seen that.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Diana - with Southwest if it's a refundable flight (the most expensive ones) you will get a refund but if it's a nonrefundable flight you can change your reservation and you'll get a credit towards future travel that's good for a year. At the moment we have various credits for future travel since our flights have gone down since we've booked them several times. You should go in periodically and check to see if yours have gone down or if you get lucky and get a DING. I haven't yet seen a DING for October though but will still be checking up til we leave.

Fiona

 

[eye R.N.]

Any advice from the October cruise vets? We've only ever done summer cruises.

 

[Gramto3]

Thanks Fiona.....I'll keep checking. A credit would give me an excuse to go to FL again.

Diana