A Voyage of Firsts! The WONDERful Journey North: LA-Vancouver-Alaska, 4/27-5/10 2011

[EllaEnchanted]

I checked the rates for the doubletree and got a price of $159.99 for one room. Then I checked Staybridge Suites in Torrance, where we stayed after the PC cruise. I can get a 1BR suite for $96.99. I can take car service to the port....it's not far from there. I remember me and John checked in and then got the call from the port that they found our bag....the one with cozy and webster in it....and they closed the office in 20 minutes or something.....but we had to get there fast. We followed the GPS and I looked on the map. We made it in time. Besides, I like the area.

We're only going to do one night beforehand. We did it already after the PC. John would rather spend our available time in Seattle/Vancouver after the cruise....so that's our plan.

Anyone want to stay at Staybridge Suites with us in Torrence. We can book car service to the port. It's a great area and we can do dinner the night before on the water in Rodondo Beach.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Here's the info on Staybridge Suites:


http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/sb/1/en/hotel/toaca?rpb=hotel&crUrl=/h/d/sb/1/en/availsearch&ias=y

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Woody do you want to do dinner the night before? And/or share car service the next day? Be warned....I have to leave early....like get to the port at 9:00 am.

Woody and Tracy from our PC cruise live in the neighborhood. It's really a nice area. I loved it there.

 

[mishoe01]

I checked the rates for the doubletree and got a price of $159.99 for one room. Then I checked Staybridge Suites in Torrance, where we stayed after the PC cruise. I can get a 1BR suite for $96.99. I can take car service to the port....it's not far from there. I remember me and John checked in and then got the call from the port that they found our bag....the one with cozy and webster in it....and they closed the office in 20 minutes or something.....but we had to get there fast. We followed the GPS and I looked on the map. We made it in time. Besides, I like the area.

We're only going to do one night beforehand. We did it already after the PC. John would rather spend our available time in Seattle/Vancouver after the cruise....so that's our plan.

Anyone want to stay at Staybridge Suites with us in Torrence. We can book car service to the port. It's a great area and we can do dinner the night before on the water in Rodondo Beach.

Hi Deb!

Bear in mind that if we have a certain nbr of rooms to give the hotel they will treat us as a group & give us a discount (they do have amazing cookies upon checkin )

If we chose to do the Staybridge instead I can always see about a group discount there instead

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Hi Deb!

Bear in mind that if we have a certain nbr of rooms to give the hotel they will treat us as a group & give us a discount (they do have amazing cookies upon checkin )

If we chose to do the Staybridge instead I can always see about a group discount there instead

You're my personal TA lady....you're the best! Yea, let's see what the group rates are for each. I would be curious. I'm sure we'll be able to get 10 or more.

 

[Tink rules]

I would love to arrive earlier and do some of southern California. Unfortunately for me, Passover falls out before the cruise. It ends the day before I'd have to leave through the cruise, so I would just be able to manage it.

I don't know, I might be able to figure something out over the course of the next 570 days.

I could put my semi short Catholic Education to work and convert you??? I mean... I did make it to 3rd grade...

How do you feel about fish on fridays?

 

[Tink rules]

Care to join me for the after part?? (you know if it weren't for Passover you'd be invited for the before part)


HOTEL NIGHT BEFORE - as we get closer & if there are enough people that want to stay at that Doubletree I'd be more than happy to employ my TA (me ) to book a group block so that maybe we can get a better rate.

PARTY!!!!!

(but I'll probably be staying at DL....non stop Disney...)

We plan on taking whatever busses they have from there... but that could change...

 

[katypop]

My plan/dream (if everything alligns correctly ) is to do a little before & a little after. Flying in the 23rd (probably) and home the 13th or 14th.

I've never been to San Diego so thinking of flying in there, doing things there (not sure what), driving up the cost - doing the Queen Mary (not sure about spending the night there, tho) and ending up near the pier (there's a Doubletree w/in 1 mile of the pier & they have free shuttle w/in a 5 mile radius plus an Enterprise car rental on site).

After the cruise I figure I'll look around either Vancouver or Seattle (or a little of both)....costwise it'll more than likely be less $ to fly out of Seattle.

I think I can swing it w/ work but must keep fingers crossed

Monica, I love your plan too! I hope you can make it work If you want company for a day in Vancouver let me know! If Sara and Trevor do end up sailing with me, I'm pretty sure they would have to fly straight home as they don't have as much vacation time as I do. I would still plan on staying for a day or two.

Care to join me for the after part?? (you know if it weren't for Passover you'd be invited for the before part)


HOTEL NIGHT BEFORE - as we get closer & if there are enough people that want to stay at that Doubletree I'd be more than happy to employ my TA (me ) to book a group block so that maybe we can get a better rate.

I checked the rates for the doubletree and got a price of $159.99 for one room. Then I checked Staybridge Suites in Torrance, where we stayed after the PC cruise. I can get a 1BR suite for $96.99. I can take car service to the port....it's not far from there. I remember me and John checked in and then got the call from the port that they found our bag....the one with cozy and webster in it....and they closed the office in 20 minutes or something.....but we had to get there fast. We followed the GPS and I looked on the map. We made it in time. Besides, I like the area.

We're only going to do one night beforehand. We did it already after the PC. John would rather spend our available time in Seattle/Vancouver after the cruise....so that's our plan.

Anyone want to stay at Staybridge Suites with us in Torrence. We can book car service to the port. It's a great area and we can do dinner the night before on the water in Rodondo Beach.

Monica and Deb, count me in too please If I end up arriving earlier for 2 or 3 nights I will try to find a place near DL first, then join everyone for the night before the cruise I have never been to DL! Does anyone know of a good place close by that doesn't cost quite as much as the disney hotels? I love your plan too Michelle...but need to budget this so I can add days on at the end of the cruise too.

 

[katypop]

I hate you. I'd love to some sightseeing before the cruise.

TskTsk That is SO "unCanadian like" eh

 

[EllaEnchanted]

John found Virgin America flights that go from JFK to LAX or to San Diego one way starting at $199/pp. Depending on how much time John can get off, we might do two nights in San Diego first. John said, I don't want to do LA...we did it before and I don't like Hollywood. Of course, I love LA and Hollywood. But at least we did it once.

 

[DisneyRN1]

Kinda early for us to plan, but Greg and I would be interested in group rates somewhere at least 1 or 2 days before the cruise, and possibly after the cruise too. It will still be slightly cool here, so it would be nice to get warm before heading into even colder weather Vicki

 

[Tink rules]

Monica, I love your plan too! I hope you can make it work If you want company for a day in Vancouver let me know! If Sara and Trevor do end up sailing with me, I'm pretty sure they would have to fly straight home as they don't have as much vacation time as I do. I would still plan on staying for a day or two.





Monica and Deb, count me in too please If I end up arriving earlier for 2 or 3 nights I will try to find a place near DL first, then join everyone for the night before the cruise I have never been to DL! Does anyone know of a good place close by that doesn't cost quite as much as the disney hotels? I love your plan too Michelle...but need to budget this so I can add days on at the end of the cruise too.

I do believe that Ian and Sukie liked the Howard Johnsons by DL and I know that some of our friends have gotten good deals off of either priceline or hotwire for DL hotels...

 

[katypop]

I do believe that Ian and Sukie liked the Howard Johnsons by DL and I know that some of our friends have gotten good deals off of either priceline or hotwire for DL hotels...

Thanks Michelle! It's a long way off yet, but I'm going to start to take notes now anyway

 

[Tink rules]

me too!!! I'm sure we will all meet up along the way somewhere...

 

[iankh]

Thanks Michelle! It's a long way off yet, but I'm going to start to take notes now anyway

This is really too far away for me to think about. I think it's over 570 days away and who knows what can happen between then and now. I'm a bit surprised that I've already had to do some planning for Sukie's daughter and grand son's visit in Oct 2010!

There's now a DVC resort at the Grand California, but the points per night are pretty high. I would probably not "waste" points by staying there.

When we were out there to get married, I really didn't see any advantage at all to staying on property. It's not at all like WDW.

We stayed at the Howard Johnson's and really liked it. It was about a 5 minute walk to DL, 15 or 20 minutes if really try to walk slowly.

Plus it was cheap (by comparison) a big plus in my book.

If we were at DL before the cruise we'd stay there or perhaps the Candy Cane Inn.

I sort of look at the Disney Hotels there as a complete waste of good money, considering I won't even "waste" points.

I'd rather have the money to spend on other stuff.

Now this is a completely different opinion I have to WDW, where I think there is a huge difference by staying on property.

 

[CustardTart]

Hello everyone!!! I'm back, live in my living room and enjoying what remains of the weekend... Glad to see we're thinking up some pre/post cruise plans already - of course, I haven't already worked out a detailed day-by-day itinerary - honest...

...I've never been to San Diego so thinking of flying in there...

I was thinking about flying into San Diego, Monica - I'd love to see the zoo and Hotel del Coronado - BUT it all depends on the flights. I'm crossing fingers and hoping we can get a couple of heftily discounted fares with Virgin Atlantic using airmiles as Richard has loads and they only fly into Los Angeles so, if they're available, that'll make the decision for us.

...doing the Queen Mary (not sure about spending the night there, tho)

We stayed here for 1 night before our Mexican Riviera cruise in 2008 - glad we did it (for the experience) but it was a little strange and rather pricy considering the accommodation...

Anyway, I think we'll fly out on April 22nd and spend 5 nights prior to the cruise either in LA/Anaheim OR San Diego OR a mix of the two... We will probably use DVC for a DL stay as I've reviewed our points situation and we have quite a few to use up before September 2011, so it makes sense for us... We'll have to fly back promptly following the end of the 1st cruise as I'm expecting exams to start shortly afterwards...

 

[ReAnSt]

We are booked on the repo and the first Alaska cruise.

It will be me, my brother Nacho1337 on the DIS, and our parents.

I doubt I will keep up to date on this thread as I can barely stay up to date on my other trip threads.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

We are booked on the repo and the first Alaska cruise.

It will be me, my brother Nacho1337 on the DIS, and our parents.

I doubt I will keep up to date on this thread as I can barely stay up to date on my other trip threads.

Welcome Becky and family!!!

I sent you a PM about the graphic in your signature....I love it!!!

 

[nskjerven]

Welcome Becky and family!!!

I sent you a PM about the graphic in your signature....I love it!!!

I love it too

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I love it too

I asked Becky to email the original artwork so John can make door magnets...one for you and one for me! Wilson will love it too!


Becky, do you want one too?