August 20, 2005 - L.A. to Port Canaveral - Eastbound Repo Cruise - The SHIP OF FOOLS Part 3

[Bmwdsny]

Kmiles--got the same email.....can't wait to go to try it!!!

I got it too but i can't go!!!!!

not going back to WDW until 2006!

 

[mickeyfan1]

Soarin' been there, done that, need to go again!!!!! Best views are the front row. I think I have doe it 4 times, never anything but the front. It is a spectacular ride. I don't think that WDWs will be different than DL, but it will be cool to hear the reports.


PS - any dates as to when it is supposed to open, other than the test rides?

 

[kmiles]

The attraction is currently undergoing Cast Member previews and from reports the video footage is the same as that used in Soarin' Over California. There is some speculation that the attraction will eventually be re-worked with different video and effects but that, as with so much, cannot be confirmed.

Generally, when attractions debut at WDW they follow this pattern:

1. Cast Member Previews (In two parts: soft openings and set openings)

2. Soft Openings (Random time periods during which park guests are allowed to ride the attraction. These are very spontaneous and you just have to be in the right place at the right time to catch one.)

3. Passholder Previews

4. General Opening

For the most part, Passholder Previews are set up when the final launch of the attraction is close. Perhaps 2 weeks or so. I would think a Soarin' opening will probably take place end of April beginning of May. Which, would put it right in line with the official opening of the "Happiest Celebration on Earth" on May 5.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Thanks, lips! So if I get a chance to drive over in May, I will be good to go, as it would be either the 8th or 9th.

 

[NYdiscuisers]

For all those waiting, Southwest has just openned up their schedule to include September. Well, the flights that we might be interested in are a little higher than some other options.

It seems like our best (price) option is Song airline to JFK and a rental car. Anyone have any comments about Song? (other than they are part of Delta.)

Thanks,
Paul

 

[winotracy]

We're all set with travel plans! Changed our return flight to Monday instead of Saturday (with no charges!) and got a rental car to get home from the airport about 100 miles away. When can we leave?!?

Tracy

 

[RobinMarie]

It seems like our best (price) option is Song airline to JFK and a rental car. Anyone have any comments about Song? (other than they are part of Delta.)

Thanks,
Paul

You get to watch TV on Song! Bring your own headphones.

 

[kmiles]

Paul--

I was just checking out the Southwest site. (Actually, been checking on it daily waiting for them to open up the August 18th flights. I didn't think it was ever going to happen.)

Anyway, it looks like Southwest is currently the best pricing option for us. One way flight from TPA to LAX on Thursday, August 18th runs $109 per person. It's still a direct flight leaving at 7:35 AM and arriving in CA at 10:35 AM.

But, my concern is this: What if Southwest or another airline reduces their fares even more? Airlines almost always offer significant summer discounts. Will they refund the difference in fares if they do lower the cost?

I know that the $109 is actually very good. Even better than the $139 offered on the direct flight from TPA to LAX from Song. But, what if they offer an even better deal in the coming months???

 

[Bmwdsny]

For all those waiting, Southwest has just openned up their schedule to include September. Well, the flights that we might be interested in are a little higher than some other options.

It seems like our best (price) option is Song airline to JFK and a rental car. Anyone have any comments about Song? (other than they are part of Delta.)

Thanks,
Paul

I am flying on Song from JFK to Lax and MCO to EWR. flew on it once and it is very nice. All seats were leather, at that time, they didn't have TV and Game boy built in the seats, which i am looking forward to it. Gotta keep the kids busy for 6 hours!!

You get to watch TV on Song! Bring your own headphones.
Today 11:43 AM

You can?? does Song provide it too or you have to purchase it??

 

[mickeyfan1]

Paul--

I was just checking out the Southwest site. (Actually, been checking on it daily waiting for them to open up the August 18th flights. I didn't think it was ever going to happen.)

Anyway, it looks like Southwest is currently the best pricing option for us. One way flight from TPA to LAX on Thursday, August 18th runs $109 per person. It's still a direct flight leaving at 7:35 AM and arriving in CA at 10:35 AM.

But, my concern is this: What if Southwest or another airline reduces their fares even more? Airlines almost always offer significant summer discounts. Will they refund the difference in fares if they do lower the cost?

I know that the $109 is actually very good. Even better than the $139 offered on the direct flight from TPA to LAX from Song. But, what if they offer an even better deal in the coming months???

SWA is very liberal in there cancellation policies. IF the tickey you buy today goes on sale in the future, you can cancel ticket one and get a credit in your account (if non refundable) then buy the new ticket with the credit. ANy money left over stays in your credit account. Unless there are fare wars, 109 is an OK rate. One thing you should never do is put off buying when the ticket is the price you want, because chances are the fare will go up. Check cheapticket.com, they may have a lower fare on a brand name carrier, with a service fee of $5.00. And they do show you what is available, not like priceline bidding. I bet if there was a red eye from TPA you could save even more. And also look at Long Beach as the termination or Jogn Wayne. although JW is usually not discounted.

 

[RobinMarie]

I am flying on Song from JFK to Lax and MCO to EWR. flew on it once and it is very nice. All seats were leather, at that time, they didn't have TV and Game boy built in the seats, which i am looking forward to it. Gotta keep the kids busy for 6 hours!!


You can?? does Song provide it too or you have to purchase it??

My understanding is MOST flights on Song have the screens in the headrests. They give you headphones when you board, but I didn't like them and they kept falling out of our ears. I played music trivia most of the flights. Victoria listened to one of the music channels.

You do not have to purchase. I have flown SONG twice now, after booking through Delta.

 

[dletz]

About Fantasmic, Usually in the summer there are 2 shows per night, I don't remember the date, but the chances of there being more shows are greater on the weekends than week day.

We usualy go near the end of the parade route for the electrical parade. We went a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday. It was extremely crowded because it was one of a handful of saturdays this year where it wasn't raining and the weather was perfect. We walked into DCA about 5 minutes before the parade was to star, and walked past Soarin, to near Golden dreams. We then found as a seat right at the line for the 5 of us to sit. We had about a 5 minute wait until the parade got to us (by the time we got our seats it had already started in the front of the park). I have done this often at the back half of the park. There are also benches to sit down on and they will usually pull them forward. On a busy summer day I would not expect to beable to sit at the line walking up that close to when the parade arrives, but you have a better chance the farther on in the parade route. There are great places to watch the fireworks from in DCA (especially over by Golden dreams).

Sometimes in the summer when the parade is at 9 and the fireworks are at 9:30 even if you are at the begining you don't make it out of DCA and into DL before the start of the fireworks. The lines get long entering DL after DCA closes and the electric parade ends.

 

[DisneyElf]

We've flown Song several times from LGA to MCO -- nice planes, staff etc... - and the TV's are nice.

 

[dletz]

My understanding is MOST flights on Song have the screens in the headrests. They give you headphones when you board, but I didn't like them and they kept falling out of our ears. I played music trivia most of the flights. Victoria listened to one of the music channels.

Now I thought I read somewhere you had to purchase the headphones on Song, but I looked at their website and couldn't find any info. I also thought that I read you could bring your own but they had to be the two prong kind the airlines use.

BTW I'm not saying your info is not correct, seeing as I've never flown them, and I now can't find the info I thought I read.

 

[Bmwdsny]

Now I thought I read somewhere you had to purchase the headphones on Song, but I looked at their website and couldn't find any info. I also thought that I read you could bring your own but they had to be the two prong kind the airlines use.

BTW I'm not saying your info is not correct, seeing as I've never flown them, and I now can't find the info I thought I read.

You right, there is nothing stated on Song webiste,,that is why i asked Robinmarie. I beleive it was Jetblue that said you had to purchase the headphones.

 

[dletz]

I thought it was funny the differences between WDW and DL. At DL new attractions usually go into soft opening, then CM preview, then sometimes AP preview and sometimes not. With buzz they're all confused. They Official date is May 5th, with an early opening of March 17th (or was it 15th I can't remember). True to fashion it soft opened the weekend prior to CM previews. Sometimes CM previews are just for CMs and no one else can ride (was that way with TOT), and othertimes CMs get an FP. Buzz was an FP. They don't take the ticket away though (but they do check the name and you must ride with the CM whose name is on the tickets as they check the CM ID). We rode Buzz 3 times in 45 minutes. The ride went down just before we got there, and they got it up 45 minutes before park closing. The line for CMs was huge (all the way to space mountain).

 

[DisneyElf]

We are flying in on Aug 17th - and should arrive at HOJo's by 11:00 - and make it to the parks by 12:00 PM.

First Day - will prob. go into DL first -- try to Fantasmic Buffet that night.

Second Day - 8/18/05 - With the 3 day hopper you get the early entry into DL - so we will head there first -- then switch over to DCA. We will stake out a spot by Golden Dreams (thanks for the info Donna) for the parade ( I videotaped it the last year they had it at WDW - spent 4hrs waiting - sitting on the second floor of the Railroad Station), then stay put for the Fireworks.

Third Day: Park hop to our favorites -- then the meet at HoJo's.

Sound good? Any advice will be used

 

[dletz]

You right, there is nothing stated on Song webiste,,that is why i asked Robinmarie. I beleive it was Jetblue that said you had to purchase the headphones.

When we flew JetBlue they were handing them out as you got on the plane, no cost. So now I have not clue. I did however email song (as we're flying on them also) and will post if I get a reply from them.

 

[winnyis]

Thanks to whoever posted the info about Southwest dates opening up. I was able to get 4 O/W tickets from PHL to LAX for $356 Total. I was gonna fly Song from JFK (2 hr ride from my house) but they were $770 for the 4 of us. Plus if we are lucky enough to be florida residents soon, I can cancel and use the money towards flights from FL to LA. DH has to work on the 19th so we dont leave PHL til 6PM and arrive in LA @ 9PM. Anyone else arriving at the same time that wants to share a shuttle van to the HISP.

 

[Scratch42]

Dessert buffet = 30 days
Restaurants in the parks = 60 days
DTD Restaurants = ??
Hotel Restaurants = ??

Thanks Tracy!

Will mark it down on my Calendar!

Don't want to miss those desserts!LOL

Scratch