10/24/2009 Bash On the Boat (I'm with B.O.B.) -Thread #6

[Timon]

Cass and Jeff ... it's too bad you're not in Missouri today. All kinds of wicked thunderstorms blowing through in waves starting with the fabulous drench-fest I had to drive through to get to work this morning. Saw some wicked lighning while I was driving.

I am green with envy but I'm sorry you had to drive through it this morning

 

[oybolshoi]

I am green with envy but I'm sorry you had to drive through it this morning

At least the hail waited until after I was seated at my desk this morning. I haven't bothered to go outside and see if there's any damage to the car. Why be depressed at 11AM when you can wait until 5PM?

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

I sent an email to the Radisson to see if they can offer us a group rate or something. Not sure what they can do for us but I will let you guys know what they say.
If that doesn't work then I will contact The Residence and the Country Inn too!

Wow this morning I have been doing some more checking on the group rate/charter for the WI BOBers and I decided to also start checking on group rates for hotels in the Port.

Here is what I found out so far:

When I called the Radisson I got the voicemail of the person in charge of groups/events so I left him a message to please call me back. I'll let you guys know what I find out when he calls back.

The person at the Residence Inn said they don't do "group rates" because they base their discounts on length of stay so there is nothing they could do for our group.

The person I spoke to at the Country Inn would be willing to reserve a block of rooms for us already at this time as long as we reserve at least 10 rooms. Then at 12 months out we could each call in with our individual information to reserve our individual rooms. Their rack rate is $159.00 and they would take $20.00 off of that so we'd be at $139.00.

I'm thinking the Radisson might come in at less than the Country Inn just from looking at their rates on the internet. The Radisson seems to be less expensive than the Country Inn but they don't offer the free breakfast that the Country Inn does.

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

WI BOBers this is what I have found out so far with talking to my corporate travel agent "contact". She feels that even if we have 40 people it would be very expensive to charter a plane for this, especially with the way fuel costs keep going up. She feels a group rate would be a much better/less expensive way to go for a group our size. She is doing some checking for me as to exactly when we could reserve for a group rate and will be calling me back. I'll keep you posted when I hear back from her.

 

[JLDSMD]

Maybe I checked the Radisson's website and you can book up to 9 rooms online, so perhaps they can give a group rate for more than 10 rooms booked

That would be worth looking into.

I sent an email to the Radisson to see if they can offer us a group rate or something. Not sure what they can do for us but I will let you guys know what they say.
If that doesn't work then I will contact The Residence and the Country Inn too!

How many of us will be interested in a group rate near port the night before the BOB?

Jeff
Cass
add your name to the list if interested

 

[JLDSMD]

But I assume you'll be there watching a game so it's not the same ...

Maybe I read it wrong ... I thought she meant that she walked in, took food, and then walked back out.

I only mentioned it because Jay and I usually go there for breakfast and we were amazed by the number of people who would just wander in and take something and then wander back out. They didn't stop to use the computer or park themselves in a chair to watch the news or utilize the cafe in any other way then as a mobile drive-thru.

It became something of a running joke with the CM James while we were there ...

Yep, that would be them.

Although, is there a sign regarding "for patron's only"? I've never been through there.

 

[JLDSMD]

Cass and Jeff ... it's too bad you're not in Missouri today. All kinds of wicked thunderstorms blowing through in waves starting with the fabulous drench-fest I had to drive through to get to work this morning. Saw some wicked lighning while I was driving.

I think we may need a DIS meet in Tornado Alley some year.

 

[JLDSMD]

I haven't spent any time in there other than taking some pics and having a smoothie meet with some KKers so I don't know much about the place or what they offer. However, I have to admit that if they offered something that I couldn't get anywhere else on the ship, I would have no problem popping in there, grabbing it and then leaving. Because we have Kira now, neither of us would have a lot of time to spend in there since she's not allowed in with us, so yeah I would be one of those people the CM would be making fun of

Would those be Chocolate Croissants by chance?

 

[JLDSMD]

Wow this morning I have been doing some more checking on the group rate/charter for the WI BOBers and I decided to also start checking on group rates for hotels in the Port.

Here is what I found out so far:

When I called the Radisson I got the voicemail of the person in charge of groups/events so I left him a message to please call me back. I'll let you guys know what I find out when he calls back.

The person at the Residence Inn said they don't do "group rates" because they base their discounts on length of stay so there is nothing they could do for our group.

The person I spoke to at the Country Inn would be willing to reserve a block of rooms for us already at this time as long as we reserve at least 10 rooms. Then at 12 months out we could each call in with our individual information to reserve our individual rooms. Their rack rate is $159.00 and they would take $20.00 off of that so we'd be at $139.00.

I'm thinking the Radisson might come in at less than the Country Inn just from looking at their rates on the internet. The Radisson seems to be less expensive than the Country Inn but they don't offer the free breakfast that the Country Inn does.

$139 seems high for the Country Inn. Wasn't that going for around $99-$109 before the KK?

 

[cntkg1]

LOL - I have a feeling the 4am meet had somethign to do with ANDY!!!

We've never stayed at Port the night before. Where does everyone usually stay?

I think the "welcome the Magic" was Mike and Robin's idea.

We stayed at the Marriott last time and it was really nice but next year it'll be something closer and with some of the other BOBs.

Oh, I can only imagine!!! I'm still paying for my own college education!!!

That's why I'm hoping I still work for a college when it comes time for the kids to go. That way we have NO tuition bills!

I'm in the wrong line of work then. My kids went to Catholic grade and high schools and if I would've worked for their schools we could've gotten 1/2 off on tuition. I don't think I would be willing to move to Minnesota so that Kristin could get free tuition. She'll be finishing school in Arizona next year. Hmmmm, I might be willing to move for that one. Although, she'll be married by then so I'll let Jesse worry about it.

Ive never had a mochaccino...but it sounds good! I never made it to the coffee shop either...

You know not what you miss Jen.

No, not me......I think it might have been Mike "Dawg" or Jeff "Sneaky #1"

It was the Dawg himself.

I've never been in Cove Cafe either. Actually, I'm not quite sure we never made it in there...

As Bendy would say...:Viva le Mochaccino"!! You must try it.

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

WI BOBers the travel agent called me back again. She talked to the group sales people at Midwest and Air Tran and they both told her that the cost to charter a flight would be way more expensive than just booking as a group. Midwest books out 331 days and Air Tran 285 days from the return flight. They don't always offer a discount to the whole group sometimesthey do it as passenger #_ flies free She was hoping because we are working with a good sized group maybe they would let us reserve seats before they went to the general public but not the case (and I was hoping if we had a travel agent working for us maybe that would be the case but not so ). She did say she could check 331 days before the outbound flight to see if they would hold those seats for us until the return flight came out but she is doubtful and she charges $30.00 per ticket booking fee I think if we still want to pursue this I will call Midwest's group sales dept. in Nov. myself and see what kind of info I can get from them myself again.

 

[Timon]

Would those be Chocolate Croissants by chance?

Hmm, actually I never ate anything from the Cove Cafe, just drank some yummy smoothies Maybe I will pop in there this cruise and see what they have to offer Perhaps I can be the object of the CM's ridicule.... There goes that crazy lady who eats and runs

I think we may need a DIS meet in Tornado Alley some year.

Ahhh sounds lovely

$139 seems high for the Country Inn. Wasn't that going for around $99-$109 before the KK?

I think I paid $129 for a suite (living room and separate bedroom) at the Country Inn before our cruise. I checked the Radisson for this coming October, Friday the 24th and they have a special $99 rate but it has to be prepaid online.

I think The Radisson would be a good choice over the Country Inn because they have a better pool, free shuttle to the port and they have an onsite restaurant.

 

[cntkg1]

Here are the pics I took at our August 2006 DISmeet at Grills. A fun time was had by all!!! ​

I wonder if Jeff was counting them all like I just was Andy. I count only 47 and Hazel was in two pictures.

Cheater. ​

 

[Verandah Man]

We can go from Grill to gills (i.e. be fish ).

Evening around the pool would be a great meet. Wonder if we could arrange a group or block rate at a specific hotel?

I know one of the ladies that was on our August 2006 cruise was a TA, she got a block of rooms at the Radisson, I forget what the rate was she got, because I got our room using the government employee rate.

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

$139 seems high for the Country Inn. Wasn't that going for around $99-$109 before the KK?

I think we payed around $100.00 there for the night before KK, that was with a AAA discount. It seems their rates have gone up, when you look at their room rates for the same weekend this year the cheapest rate they have is $139.oo and ther are no AAA discounted rooms. The Radisson for the same weekend this year has a AAA rate of $120.00 and they have a Hot Deals rate of $99.00 with a $25.00 cancellation fee if you cancel at least 4 days before arrival.

 

[Timon]

So for you early risers going to the Welcome the Magic back meet....what time do you go to bed the night before to be able to make it to the meet by 4AM?????

I doubt we will get to the Radisson until 8 or 9 that night so I will be at the pool by 9 or 10, will I miss you all because you will be in bed???

 

[Verandah Man]

Karen, do you mean that you went to Cove Cafe and took the free food they have sitting in the case for their paying customers and you didn't purchase a drink???

That's bad form ... if Plankton were here he would shake his fist at you.

Man, I never knew that had free food in the Cove Cafe, they should have some of those items sitting by the computer terminals!!!

 

[JLDSMD]

WI BOBers the travel agent called me back again. She talked to the group sales people at Midwest and Air Tran and they both told her that the cost to charter a flight would be way more expensive than just booking as a group. Midwest books out 331 days and Air Tran 285 days from the return flight. They don't always offer a discount to the whole group sometimesthey do it as passenger #_ flies free She was hoping because we are working with a good sized group maybe they would let us reserve seats before they went to the general public but not the case (and I was hoping if we had a travel agent working for us maybe that would be the case but not so ). She did say she could check 331 days before the outbound flight to see if they would hold those seats for us until the return flight came out but she is doubtful and she charges $30.00 per ticket booking fee I think if we still want to pursue this I will call Midwest's group sales dept. in Nov. myself and see what kind of info I can get from them myself again.

Heck, at 331 days from the return, the outbound price will probably have jumped already.

If nothing can be locked, might have to do what I did for the Repo, book two one-way tickets. Since MW is in competition with AT on that route and AT doesn't upcharge for one-way, you could book the outbound at 330 days and wait for the return to come online.

Wonder if we could book the two segments separately?

Thanks for all the hard work Cheyrl.

 

[JLDSMD]

So for you early risers going to the Welcome the Magic back meet....what time do you go to bed the night before to be able to make it to the meet by 4AM?????

I doubt we will get to the Radisson until 8 or 9 that night so I will be at the pool by 9 or 10, will I miss you all because you will be in bed???

I won't be down until at least 11:00 that night.

Usually sleep light the night before the cruise, not to mention up a couple of times.

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

Heck, at 331 days from the return, the outbound price will probably have jumped already.

If nothing can be locked, might have to do what I did for the Repo, book two one-way tickets. Since MW is in competition with AT on that route and AT doesn't upcharge for one-way, you could book the outbound at 330 days and wait for the return to come online.

Wonder if we could book the two segments separately?

Thanks for all the hard work Cheyrl.

I was wondeing if we could book the two segments separate too. Can you do that with Midwest and not be penalized? I think I need to pull up their website now too