August 20, 2005 - L.A. to Port Canaveral - Eastbound Repo Cruise - The SHIP OF FOOLS Part 2

[twhipple]

Originally posted by UMTerp
Anyone see Extreme Engineering on Discovery channel last night about widening the Panama Canal? Made me want the trip to get here sooner!

The one thing I didn't know after reading some about the canal was that they have landslides every day and an on-going dredging project to keep it clear!

There are plans in the works to widen the canal and built new much larger locks next to the current ones to handle today's much larger cargo ships.

Interesting watching if it comes on again!

UMTerp

Just posted on "other" repo cruise thread
"That Panama Canal thing is on again Sunday. I think 4pm EST. I was watching something else last night so I searched it and saw it was playing again. I won't be home Sunday at 4pm so I'm taping it then!"

I'm watching both threads to update the index weekly. Check it out if your looking for something in particular!

 

[Bmwdsny]

Good morning!!

Thanks Roxanne for the hotel tips...I know i have to get out of the WDW mentality and think on a smaller scale in DL!! LOL!! I went to DL back in 2000 and can't get over how small the castle is!! But i still enjoy DL and look forward to see CA, also...(they were building it at the time)

Arlene, Welcome back!! I was so glad to hear you guys are OK!!! boy that must have been really scary and thank to God that it wasn't worst!!!
Yeah, i am bringing my parents with me to DL, although my mom is fast paced but my dad isn't, so we solved that problem 2 years ago in WDW by putting my dad in the wheelchair and my DH rolled him around!!! We don't have the tolerance for anyone to slow us down esp. in Disney!!! We are fast paced people, believe me!! LOL!!!!

Tonight is the night i am going to speak to my DH about looking into different hotels.I am really dropping the DL hotels....No sense using the DVC points...Too much!! I am going to stick with the Suites types hotels...Residence Inn, Portofino Suites, or Staybridge Hotels Suites which looks good too...since therre are 6 of us and we can split the bill... It just amazing to me that the outside hotels are right there, within walking distance of DL....You don't see that in WDW!!! Even on site Disney hotels are not walking distance!!! LOL!! Thanks everyone, i am convinced now....

 

[mickeyfan1]

For those with DL hotel questions...........Hop iver to the DL Board. The people there have been to all of them, and are most helpful. Mary Jo is one of the mods. She can tell you all about DL. I have heard really good things about the Portafino Suites.

I have errands to run and it's raining. DH spent 2 hours cleaning my Mustang over the weekend, guess I am gonna ruin all his hard work.

 

[Grumbo]

I have errands to run and it's raining. DH spent 2 hours cleaning my Mustang over the weekend, guess I am gonna ruin all his hard work.

Why don't you buy a car for God's sake Marsha!?!?!?
It is the 21st Century you know

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[mickeyfan1]

Ha ha ha!!!! I bought the Mustang when I lived in AZ, and I just can't give it up. Seemed like the correct mode of transport for the Wild West. I love my Mustang, I kiss it every time I ride it!

Hey, I have to go to BJ's. DOes the wife need anything whilst I am there?

 

[invaderzim]

ROXANN.....

What are the names of the two hotels near the convention center that you referred to? Is one of them Anabella Inn?

Thanks,
Cathy

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

One year today |I will be off to Las Vegas before LA and the Cruise.

Guys could I have your help please, I note that the following airlines fly LV to Burbank.

Southwest airlines, Aloha airlines ,Americia west.

Not being from the USA, I do not know anything about them, Have you any experience, what would you recommend for relaibility or service?

Many thanks,

 

[Grumbo]

Drive Andrew
We're going into Vegas and driving. It is not far, I found a rental car invaluable in Vegas even to go out for meals, go from one end of the strip to the other, looking for Costco and Sam's Club (Which I have personalized maps available) and then you have transport in L.A. and can dump the van/car in L.A.
As for the airlines I have never used them so can't help but I got prices today to fly from Toronto - Vegas and then Orlando - Toronto - $420 Candian ($300 U.S. approx.)
Go to speak with my parents this weekend and if they go for it I'll book shortly.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[invaderzim]

We are leaving one year from tomorrow for LV, then LA, DL and the cruise.

We, too, are flying into LV. However, Andrew, we are driving from LV to LA. It's only about 250 miles and you can sightsee along the way (Hoover Dam, Death Valley). We're going to have to rent a car anyway and we figured it would be less stressful to drive to LA rather than fly (and cheaper).

 

[Grumbo]

Who's daughter was getting married at the Paris in the future???
I couldn't remember who it was but looked at the chapel while we stayed there (We were at the hotel for 2 days at the start of our holiday and 3 at the end).
I can't say enough good things about the hotel, staff and location. It is a great hotel.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[Lorraine]

I am 40 next July and the cruise is part of my birthday. We would like to buy a couple of bottles of champagne to take on the cruise and were wondering if anyone could advise where the best place to buy it inLA would be - and also some price guidlines so we can work out whether we would be better buying it here in the UK and taking it with us. Also be interested in where we can buy some in Orlando before we fly home.

Any advice/info would be great.

thanks

Lorraine

 

[jin diesel]

Lorraine check out the Beverages and More website to get a feel for the price of champagne here in California. They have stores in LA, although I'm not sure there's one near the port. In any case, you can at least use the website for pricing and then pick up a bottle at a grocery/liquor store near where ever you're staying. Just type champagne in the seach box on the home page.

Good luck!

 

[Lorraine]

jin diesel
thanks for your prompt reply - great website, and definitly gives us a flavour of what to expect. seems a bit cheaper then here in the uk too, so saves having to bring it along, and about a third of the price on the ship, so definitly worth it.

thanks again

Lorraine

 

[jin diesel]

Glad that worked out for you, Lorraine!

 

[Bmwdsny]

Ok, it has been decieded...We are staying at the outside hotels in DL and then to newport beach for the week. My parents and DH agrees...
My DH, Bob was thrown off the loop at first because i was discussing next year trip when we have yet to go the Disney trip in November!! LOL!!! He can only handle one vacation at a time!! But not me!! I am already thinking when in 2006 i am planning to see WDW again!! LOL!!!

Now, i have to see what flight is out there?? Ugh, seems like it will never stop!!

The one year dance is coming up soon for the day of the cruise!! WOOHOO!!!

Good night!! My DD comes home from camp tomorrow after been gone for a week...

 

[DenverVal]

Originally posted by Andrew DEREK UK
Guys could I have your help please, I note that the following airlines fly LV to Burbank.

Southwest airlines, Aloha airlines ,Americia west.

Not being from the USA, I do not know anything about them, Have you any experience, what would you recommend for relaibility or service?

Many thanks,

I have flown on Aloha, though only in Hawaii, and never had any delays.

I've flown America West to California and nearly missed my connection because of a minor problem in the cockpit that, by policy or FAA regulation, required a mechanic's presence. It sounded like something duct tape would fix. It took a half hour to get the right person there and only a minute to fix. You'll be able to avoid the connection roulette, because they offer nonstop flights from Las Vegas to Burbank. Pretty much everything else has a connection in Phoenix.

Either of these airlines is fine. I've never flown Southwest, since they don't fly out of Denver.

 

[dletz]

Couldn't resist for $1.50 you can buy the book Ship of Fools

http://www.bookcloseouts.com/bc/dis...ds=Cruise&ta=Porter,+Katherine&sf=T&pagenum=2

 

[rsschneck]

Cathy - The Anaheim Hilton and the Marriott are located on Convention Way. There is a nice Hyatt located on Harbor Blvd. There are some nice hotels close to DL (2 - 4 blocks away). In my opinion a majority of the hotels within walking distance are not that nice. They are run down. The exception here is the Fairfield (nice, close, and good value).

I think the hotels on Hotel row will fill up quickly and be priced too high for the quality. They will take advantage of the 50th!

Good luck to all those that are looking!

 

[EmmasGrammy]

Roxann,

Do you know anything about the Ho Jo's in Anaheim? I have been doing some research of the "good neighbor" hotels and from what I gathered (which is all internet stuff, no personal references) that the Ho Jo's is okay. I know it's not the Ritz, but just so it is clean and comfortable it's okay with me. Plus they are willing to make us an offer of a group discount for a block of rooms. Bob, (Izzinmac) is currently working with the Ho Jo's rep Willie. They are even trying to work out some type of transfers from the hotel to the port. Is this aplace a dump? I understand it is only a 7 min walk to the main gate of DL, and that is a plus for us also. Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Lynda

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thank you for your thoughts and responses, I had thought of the option of car rental from LV to LA, but whilst the mileage is 250 odd miles, that's about four hours in the car.

My Kids were complaining about the trip form Orlando to Port Canaveral and orlando to Clearwater which were 1 hour and 2 hours, so I was exploring the options of an hour flight from LV to Burbank and collect the hire car there

Thank you.