20041218-cruise-friends-memories Part 2

[justmestace]

Char...The rooms are free to pretty much anyone who plays with a hotel's "Player's Card". That's how they get people back. If you go there, and get a card and use it, you're pretty much guaranteed to get an offer in the mail later. I try to stick to one or two of my favorite places, because the more you stick with one, the bigger and better the rooms and offers get.
Lynda...I usually can get two bedroom suites. The only room that has the outdoor patio is a one-bedroom. But a couch works for me, as my family can attest to, after last night! The patio is 784 sq feet! Lots of dog room....plus a hot tub! Does Cash have a swimsuit? No nekkeds in the tub! I'm certain (??) the hotels have to allow assistance dogs, right?
Ooh ooh...I'm excited now....I might get to meet some one else... And maybe LeiLani, too!

 

[lneeley]

See what happens when you are in the west? I had to read the novel before I got caught up. Sorry I missed chat last night I worked til 9 p.m. and brought 4 days worth of work home with me. We are suppose to leave for Maui on Tuesday, but I have been trying to change our flight for months and we have been sitting on that stupid waiting list to fly out Wed or Thur instead. It's not like the Wed flight doesn't have 44 empty seats and the Thurs 26 empty, but since we are on FF awards, Delta is being a pain in the a** and won't move us. THen they will wait until 72 hours before and hit me with a $75 fee. I hate the airlines sometimes.

Oh, so here's the scoop. I was looking at my calendar and I was thinking "if we could make it Sept,. would maybe work" Here's my question---I have to be in NYC for meetings starting Sun. morning Sept. 19. How far is it from PA to NYC? I am guessing I can take the train into NYC? I've done train from DC to NYC and I am thinking I've been through Philly sometime in my life. What I was thinking was that the DH, me and DD could fly into PA (tell me which airport) and then DD and DH could fly home Sun evening and I would take the train over to the city on Sat. night. And, I even have one free companion ticket on Delta (well, if I can get a booking with it!). So my business ticket would be paid for and then I would only have to buy 1 ticket! That's how I am thinking I could swing this thing.

Anyway, let me know where people are making reservations so I can at least get a hotel booked and save us a spot. This would be a blast.

Okay, got work to do and I got to go see my "friendly" Delta ticket office to see what I can beg out of them without costing me another 35,000 frequent flier miles!

Linda

 

[justmestace]

T.O.P.!!!!

P.S. Lynda....I get a limo to/from the airport. As for getting around the strip...usually walk to the close spots, or taxi. I quit getting rental cars a long time ago 'cause I hate the parking situations and all.


Any place else in between us that might be fun to meet at?

I should get off of here and start doing something.

Back later.
Stacey

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by GlenelgMom


Bummed, bummed, bummed - just called DCL to see if anything had changed on the possible repositioning cruise for May 2005. They said the announcement is now supposed to come this summer.......not Spring. Drats and more drats!

AAUGHHHHHH!!!
I was really hoping for a May 5 announcement!
I've been keeping an eye on Andy and Rae's 50th birthday cruise thread and was really hoping that the repositioning cruise would be my next cruise after the 10-day...

Drat! X5

 

[jilljill]

Originally posted by WVMD
Jilljill...

..... Come Monday - Jimmy Buffett

available if necessary....

Virgil

That's the one I thought of when everyone else gave up on us last night. I guess great minds think alike.

 

[lneeley]

At the rate they are going on 2005, the dates will be here and they still will not have released the info! Maybe they are waiting longer so they don't have to give early bird discounts......hm..................................

Linda

 

[lneeley]

And what's going on with the Port Canaveral Cam? Can't get my Magic fix this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Linda

 

[gail1771]

Hi everyone.

Charlotte, We are going to Florida Monday but not WDW this trip. DD and I are staying at the in laws in Boynton Beach about a half an hour from West Palm Beach. I can't wait to go as it is still raining here. We have a very BIG renovation going on. Total of almost 1200 suaer feet added to our house. We extended the back of the house out 17 by 34 long. We added also that amount to our existing basement. the kitchen is being blown our and the other part will be oprn to the kitchen as a great room. We just picked out the tile and I love it. sord of terra cotta look and color. DH LOVES to tile so he is psyched. He did such a beauitful job on the extension. I just picked out the stone for the outside patio also. We are moving along. If it stops raining they could finish the backyard!!!
Charlotte, When I get back from Fla. I will PM you about Alaska. We are going on RCCL newer ships Senerade of the Seas out of Vancouver. We will not being doing Seaward and Denali park as it is r/t Vancouver. We will be spending 3 nights in Vancouver. Well talk further soon.

I called the Hershey Lodge and they want $199.00 per night minus my 10% discount with AAA. I am going to check out a few other hotels in the area. We will probally drive up Friday afternoon or dinnertime and drive back late sunday night or Monday morning. I wanted to hit the Crayola Factory on the way down but I do not know if we will have time. DD has Thursday off for the Jewish New Year. I would love to leave on that day but the family would not be happy with us at all as I am the one who has everyone over after temple.I would of loved to do Lancaster-Dutch Wonderland if we could of left on Thursday-Oh Well another time. It is important for DD to learn the religion.

DD and I are off for a day of beauty. We are getting our hair cut, manicure and pedicure. I told her that if she gets her haircut her reward is a mainicure and pedicure. She has not cut her hair since before she started school!!!! Her hair is so so long. It needs a cut big time. I hope this works as she HATES to have her haircut!!!!!!

Leslie, I have left 2 messages for DH cousin's. I can't believe they have not called me back yet. Are you still going to Orlando on that day????

Talk to you all later. Gail

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by justmestace
P.S. Lynda....I get a limo to/from the airport. As for getting around the strip...usually walk to the close spots, or taxi. I quit getting rental cars a long time ago 'cause I hate the parking situations and all.
BOOO, rental cars!
Note...Limos never have room for the scooter (But Cash loves the leather seats). I get a lift van or call for a free hotel shuttle van.
Walk?...What's that? I am a mad woman scooter rider....ride that thing downtown, streets, no taxi...not accessible...Scooter's free, too... 25 miles on a charge...YAYYYYY!
I could never walk that far...best was 6 miles in training for 1/2 marathon last year...Then hurt knee...BOOO!
Any place else in between us that might be fun to meet at?

No Disney in the desert....El Paso?...Rodeo?
Albuqerque hot air baloon roundup?
Georgia O'keefe Museum?
Don't know about that...Let me check my AAA books.

 

[jilljill]

Originally posted by lneeley
At the rate they are going on 2005, the dates will be here and they still will not have released the info! Maybe they are waiting longer so they don't have to give early bird discounts......hm..................................

Linda

Linda, I think you have just caught onto the company's scheme to make more money.
I would love to do a west coast cruise next year. DD hasn't been to D'land yet and I want to go back when I don't have to do a marathon day of 2 parks before getting a flight out the same night.

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by justmestace

Lynda...I usually can get two bedroom suites. The only room that has the outdoor patio is a one-bedroom. But a couch works for me, as my family can attest to, after last night! The patio is 784 sq feet! Lots of dog room....plus a hot tub! Does Cash have a swimsuit? No nekkeds in the tub! I'm certain (??) the hotels have to allow assistance dogs, right?

As long as hotel/condo rents units to general public and does not try to advertise itself as a private resort, members only, assistance dogs are permitted. All the better if they have a Handicapped accessible unit....doors extra wide for scooter access....Larger rooms, zero-grade shower entry...REALLY deluxe! Most accessible units are 2-bedroom because of some people needing to vacation with their assistants.... It depends on the hotel. Mostly 2-bedroom, though. WL offers connecting room free to assistant..., for example. Yaaayyyyy!

 

[DisneyPinDiva]

Hello and Happy Saturday everyone!

Took me over an hour to catch up.... it seems a new page would go up every time I finished an old one! Guess I'll have to start staying up later and getting up earlier! Can't do the chat thing because I am AOL and I'm technologically impaired!!

Gail... Hang in there... beautiful weather is waiting for you here!
I am still going to Orlando but not until late Wed or even very early Thursday AM still not sure. Don't worry... I don't feel any pressure....

Will anybody be at WDW April 16-18? or April 27-May 2 ?

Linda... Glad you were able to get a room closer for your family... too bad we won't be neighbors... but I'm sure we'll see you in the halls!!! This will be my first stateroom on one of the upper decks. I love deck 2, but DH booked this without my knowledge and he's clueless when it comes to asking for anything... he just takes what they give him.

Ahhhhh the dogs are going nuts over something be back soon

 

[GlenelgMom]

Hi again!

DS have haircuts soon, so this will have to tide me over 'til the next posting marathon session! (Did I just hear a collective sigh of relief out there!

Virgil - Yes, great minds, indeed! Love that song!

afff - We do quickie trips to HersheyPark lots throughout the summer......could always do a mini-mini meet and only the grown ups would have to know that we'll also be doing something else-that-can't-be-talked-about-in-December together.
We wouldn't have to spill the beans to the kids.....we could let them all think we know each other from work or something. Ours would never question who we introduce them to -- they're just looking for another kid to have fun, ride the rides with. Might be a plan! Then imagine their surprise when they meet up again on the Magic in December! See, I told you I LOVE surprises!

Linda - There is an Amtrak station in Harrisburg, PA - not that far from Hershey! Here's a link: http://www.amtrak.com/stations/har.html
Wow, wouldn't that be something if you could come! I think we'd have to rustle up a prize for whoever comes the farthest to this pre-cruise get together!

Stacey - Sent you an email.

Gail - Ooops, thought you were doing WDW. Sounds like a wonderful trip, though! Hey, we've been putting off getting a patio done here at home......does your DH want another tile job down the road! Good luck with all the renovation......it will be so worth it once you're done and enjoying a morning cup 'o Joe in your new Great Room!

HersheyPark accomodations: The Hershey Lodge, although nice and super convenient because of the shuttle, is going to be more pricey than almost any place else, except the Hershey Hotel....it's even higher. With the Lodge/Hershey Hotel having the shuttle, you can go back/forth if you'd want to leave the park during the day. Once we get there, we never leave the park, so that isn't a big consideration for us.

We stayed at the Hershey Lodge for oldest DS's birthday several years ago. We got put in one of the oldest areas (didn't know they were slowly renovating the place)....the room was yukky......the a/c controls didn't work, lights were missing.......I was really surprised because we thought for the price, it would have been nicer. If we ever stay there again, it would have to be in the main building or a renovated room, as the price was not worth it that time!

It's really easy to park in the Hershey lots. They have trams that come by various spots in the parking lots all day and it's never an issue about getting into the park. The trams drop you right at the bottom sidewalk from Chocolate World - you either go to the right for Chocolate World or go straight ahead into the park.

We've stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn (nice rooms, good indoor pool, but no free breakfast) or Holiday Inn Express (clean rooms, free breakfast) and one other one that my brain just won't kick in and let me remember the name. Will find it next weekend and let you know.

We've wanted to stay at the Best Western Inn Hershey, but they've always been booked when we've tried to get in. Here's a link to their website - they're known for a huge outdoor heated pool: http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=39047
But, Lisa is right - any hotel closer to the park is going to be higher than one a bit farther away - trade offs.

DCL and the ever-delayed-repositioning announcement: I guess they aren't worried about selling the cabins if they keep pushing back letting people know. Lynda - Where do I find the link about Andy/Rae's 50th birthday.....do they keep track of the possible repositioning issue?

Have to run - have great Saturdays all!

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by justmestace

I fell asleep on the couch at 5:30 last night, and just now woke up!

I think the last week finally caught up to me. 13 hours of sleep....wow. So why do I still feel tired?
Stacey

What were you dreaming about?

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by DisneyPinDiva


Will anybody be at WDW April 16-18? or April 27-May 2 ?


I'll be there arriving around noon May 1, staying at an off-site condo for a week until I move into Pop Century.

 

[jilljill]

Leslie, we will be leaving WDW sometime on the 16th. Nor sure when, depends what traffic looks like since we are driving.

 

[tkd lisa]

GREAT GREAT GREAT chat last night! I really had a lot of fun! It was so wonderful talking with all of you! I think some of the latecomers not on our cruise were getting a little peeved, but oh-well. I think we finally answered their questions.

Charlotte, the new coaster at Hershey sounds awesome! A bit like Rock N Roller Coaster (which I haven't ridden yet, kids were too small the last time we were in MGM).

Lynda, I don't think there are many places at Hershey with shuttles, maybe just the Hershey Lodge and Hershey Hotel. It's much more spread out than Disney. The park itself was originally built for the Hershey employees, and it's really sprawling.

As far as lodging, we'll probably try the East Harrisburg Country Inn and Suites again. I think we got it last time for about $69 a night with a government rate. Since that includes breakfast, you can't beat that with a stick. As I recall, most of the "hershey area" hotels were running over $100, which I thought was a bit pricey. I had started pricing out B&Bs in the general area, but many of them don't accept children. Country Inn was pretty new, was nice and clean, and we just followed the state highway out front of the hotel about 8 miles down the road to the Park parking lot.

Linda, that would be so AWESOME if you could join us for the meet! Our family has done the DC to NY Amtrack, and yes it does go through Philly. I think from Philly a/p to Hershey is definitely under an hour. Harrisburg is a pretty small airport, so you might do better going into Philly and driving. There are shuttles from the Philly a/p to the Philly train station as well. Afff, I'm sorry that's a timeframe you can't join us. I'm amazed you know your schedule that far out! I'm just not that organized!

 

[tkd lisa]

Charlotte, the steakhouse was nice. It's very similar to a sakura (there's one of those in Waldorf, about 45 minutes away), but is a local operation. Since we have so many retired military, we actually do have some decent ethnic restaurants down here. The chef was typical steakhouse chef, not too flashy, but the food was good. We always bring home about 1/2 of what we order cause they give you so much!

DS got off to Norfolk ok this morning. The forecast down there is lows in the 40s highs in the 50s, so I didn't send a winter coat. I'm glad I checked though, cause he might have took off without a jacket at all if I hadn't.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Lisa

 

[gail1771]

Hi lisa, I have question for you or Charlotte.
We have only stayed at the Hershey Lodge.
I got a AAA rate which was the best rate they had for Best Western. It was $101.96 per night
I also got a AAA from Springhill suites owned by Marriott(I get my Marriott points) which was the best rate at $129.60 for the first two nights and $80.10 for the third night Sunday into Monday.
I called The Hilton Garden Inn Hershey and they wanted to much. There cheapest rate was $143.10
Hershey Lodge was $199.00 with AAA discount.

I was leaning toward the Best Western or Springhill Suites.
My question is have you stayed at either of them????? If you have which one would you stay at as there is only about a $38 difference including the tax. Springhill Suites has a mini fridge, micro and coffee maker. They also have an indoor pool. Best western does not have a indoor pool. I would like to hear your input on this. Thanks, Gail
P.S. I want to try to stay as close to Hershey and restaurants as possible. It will make life easier with a 3 year old. DD at 7.5 will be fine.

 

[lneeley]

Chocolate World????? My diet is going down the drain already and my mouth is drooling, oops, need to wipe off the laptop!

Talked to the DH about going to PA in Sept. He is the type that if he doesn't respond, then that means its okay to go ahead and do it. So, once you guys decide where and what's going on, I'll start checking into flights and see what I can come up with. I prefer something attached to Marriott since we own with them and I am always trying to rack up more points!!!!! But, anywhere is okay.

Thanks for the info on the train!!!!

Figure we would come in on Thursday evening and then I would have to take the train to NYC on Sat. night and DD and DH would stay still Sunday and fly home in the late afternoon/PM. DH and DD like swimming and I like the hot tub! Anyway, I'll have to check out the Hershey website and see what all the excitement is about. Never heard of the place.

This will be soooooo much fun if we can swing it!!!

Okay, I got to get some more work done. Still can't see the ship today, my picture is just blue when I go onto the cam site.

Linda