August 22nd 2009 Western Carribbean Anyone?

[wayneg]

(who wants to spend 3 hrs in Atlanta's airport?).

4hrs 10mins for us.
We have a 1 hour drive to UK airport, 9hr:10min flight from UK to Atlanta, 4hr:10 mins in Atlanta, 1hr:33mins to Tampa then about 90 mins upto OKW.
All in from getting out of bed in UK to our bed at OKW it could be around 24 hours. We had choice to go direct from UK to MCO, probably half travel time but price rules route.
Indirect business class £465pp, approx $700pp
Direct coach class £700pp approx $1050pp

 

[TheFatMansWife]

we recieved our travel kit this week.
its exciting stuff, although you can see it all on the web,recieving it means the cruise is even closer

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Hi All,

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter. Mine was great because I didn't have to cook

Christie - my neighbors have an Australian sheep dog. They have half a dozen sheep so their dog had to be trained to be a "real" sheep dog.

Well, I literally mailed in my income tax forms on April 15th. Wow, was I lazy this year in getting my stuff to the accountant.

I still haven't gotten my travel kit, yet. Mine gets mailed to my travel agent so I'm sure I'll be hearing from her soon.

Wayne....wow! I would need a vacation just to recover from a 24 hour flight plan.

The baseball/softball season for the kids has gotten underway here. Too bad DS has a game every Saturday at 9am!!!! Who scheduled that????

My Girl Scout troop will be doing a one night tent camping trip in two weeks. We haven't done a tent camping trip in 18 months. The only difference this time is we have to cook all our own food ourselves.

Anyone have any favorite campfire recipes they want to share?

 

[wayneg]

Hi All,

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter. Mine was great because I didn't have to cook

Well, I literally mailed in my income tax forms on April 15th. Wow, was I lazy this year in getting my stuff to the accountant.

Wayne....wow! I would need a vacation just to recover from a 24 hour flight plan.

We had a great Easter, stayed in 2 travelodges we got in their sale end of last year, cost £9 ($13)/night incl Went to Royal Airforce Air musuem, Iron museum found a couple of places for nice food, pic below of Karen and Matt sharing a dessert.
I really need to get on with my business accounts, want to get them to the accountants by end of month.
We have 25 days on vacation to recover. Luckily we sleep almost every flight so not too bad.

 

[Mackie Mouse]

Aurora's Mommy, when is your return flight with SWA? We are flying down on Wed. for our mini-adventure in WDW, but are returning to PHL on the flight that leaves at 1:45 from MCO. Just wondering if we'll be airplane buddies as well as cruise buddies

 

[trimix]

Well, I literally mailed in my income tax forms on April 15th. Wow, was I lazy this year in getting my stuff to the accountant.

Anyone have any favorite campfire recipes they want to share?

I hope your taxes went well. I procrastinated my taxes because I anticipated owing about $300, which had been my plan. But I forgot some sales tax was deductible (we live in a sales tax only state, and bought a new [to us] car last year), and as a fairly new homeowner I was not aware that property tax was deductible. So, instead of owing, we are receiving about 1/3 of our cruise fare in a return. Makes me happy!

As far as campfire recipes, I was never a girl scout, but was a pretty hardcore boy scout who took wilderness survival very seriously. Are rabbits or wild chicken common to your area? Would any of the girls be up to setting up traps? If so, I can get you a recipe or two...

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

4hrs 10mins for us.
We have a 1 hour drive to UK airport, 9hr:10min flight from UK to Atlanta, 4hr:10 mins in Atlanta, 1hr:33mins to Tampa then about 90 mins upto OKW.
All in from getting out of bed in UK to our bed at OKW it could be around 24 hours. We had choice to go direct from UK to MCO, probably half travel time but price rules route.
Indirect business class £465pp, approx $700pp
Direct coach class £700pp approx $1050pp

If I was saving over $300 per ticket, I'd be sitting 4 hours in Atlanta, too! With Airtran, we would have saved about $40 per person, roundtrip, but with the baggage charges it's a wash. I'm actually heading out to California on Saturday for a conference, and on the way back I have a layover in Atlanta for two hours (on the way out, Salt Lake City for one). By myself, I don't mind too much, I just find a little corner to read in.

At least if you are going to fly 24 hours, you get a nice vacation at the end of it!

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

Aurora's Mommy, when is your return flight with SWA? We are flying down on Wed. for our mini-adventure in WDW, but are returning to PHL on the flight that leaves at 1:45 from MCO. Just wondering if we'll be airplane buddies as well as cruise buddies

We'll see you on the plane! Will you still be wearing your bride and groom mouse ears?

And, Ski, I'm afraid my idea of camping is a hotel with no blow dryer, can't help you with any camp fire recipes.

No travel kit here, either, but we did just book. We did get our booking confirmation today, with a nice postcard from Mickey and Minnie welcoming us back. That Mickey and Minnie, they are so thoughtful!

 

[trimix]

In my opinion, Atlanta is not a bad airport for a long layover. The tunnel running between terminals has a lot of interesting artwork - easily enough to spend an hour on. I will probably be there during my 2.5 hour layover on the way back from the cruise.

But Wayne and his family get off easy - as international business class passengers they will get to enjoy their layover in the airline's private clubs. I have been in other airline clubs and they are a very relaxing place to spend a layover.

 

[stsomewhere]

We are driving to FL. It will take us about 18 hours one way without stops.
We have a plan. We will leave on Thursday night around 5pm. We will drive 6 hours to Kentucky. There is a new Country Inn that we like to stay at. Otherwise we would be driving another 3 hors for a hotel. Not a lot of choices in between.

We will leave a 7am and drive the rest of the way to WDW. We will arrive around 9pm. Relax by the pool. Sleep. Swim. leave for port around 11am.

I am contemplting leaving on Wed. if I can talk Erik into it. He was cleaning out his dresser and behind one of the drawers was an envelop with 2-non expiring tix with one day each left. We would only need to by the kids. We thought we had used these tix becasue we looked for them in Feb.

 

[stsomewhere]

I wanted to add..
on the way home Erik will be stopping at the bourbon store in Ky and fill up whatever space is available in the trunk. He can't do that if we fly.

 

[Mackie Mouse]

We'll see you on the plane! Will you still be wearing your bride and groom mouse ears?

Probably not by that point...but hopefully we'll see you at least once during the trip (or the other way around....I imagine we'll probably stand out a bit as "Those Crazy Honeymooning Kids" )

Incidentally...will anyone else be spending time at WDW before the cruise? I mentioned earlier that we have two days in the parks first. I know we're missing Donald and his wife because itineraries are different...just seeing if others will be around!

 

[julielouhoo]

We are driving to FL. It will take us about 18 hours one way without stops.
We have a plan. We will leave on Thursday night around 5pm. We will drive 6 hours to Kentucky. There is a new Country Inn that we like to stay at. Otherwise we would be driving another 3 hors for a hotel. Not a lot of choices in between.

We will leave a 7am and drive the rest of the way to WDW. We will arrive around 9pm. Relax by the pool. Sleep. Swim. leave for port around 11am.

I am contemplting leaving on Wed. if I can talk Erik into it. He was cleaning out his dresser and behind one of the drawers was an envelop with 2-non expiring tix with one day each left. We would only need to by the kids. We thought we had used these tix becasue we looked for them in Feb.

We may see you on the road!! We are driving too. We usually fly, but decided to drive this time. It should take us about 16 1/2 hrs without stops.
We are going to leave Wednesday after Jack gets home from work and drive 6 or 7 hrs, then do the rest on Thursday. We have 2 nights free hotel at the Radisson on Thurs and Friday so we will be there planted next to the pool all day on Friday, letting the good times

We are on Spring Break in Tennessee, so it's our practice drive of 10 1/2 hrs (without stops). We did ok on the way down, let's see how we do going home.

 

[julielouhoo]

We had 4 free tickets from Philly to Orlando on Air Tran and after baggage fees, ticketing fees and airport parking, my 4 free tickets (with STINKY connections) are $420!!! Then still would need transportation to the port and a big fed ex box shipped ahead to the Magic!!

Good news 4 me!! Finally convinced DH to drive. (I hate 2 fly) Yes to Formal night, yes to 4 pirate costumes, yes, yes, yes to Fish Extenders, Dis tag, etc, wine, cocktails and all my extra stuff!!!

I'm a bit excited!

 

[trimix]

Incidentally...will anyone else be spending time at WDW before the cruise? I mentioned earlier that we have two days in the parks first. I know we're missing Donald and his wife because itineraries are different...just seeing if others will be around!

Hi Heather,
I am hoping to spend a day or two at WDW before the cruise, but right now it doesn't look very realistic.
We'll be flying in on Friday the 14th, so we have a week before the cruise, but we have a lot of other plans. Sea World, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, and the Kennedy Space Center will each take at least one day. STS-128 is scheduled to launch on the 6th for an 11 or 12 day mission. If the launch is delayed until we are in the area I will be there for the launch; if not, I will be there for the landing.

It feels like a violation of my religious beliefs to go to Orlando without visiting at least one WDW park; I hope we'll be able to fit one in.

 

[trimix]

For the promise of a $150 stateroom credit, I transferred my reservation to a travel agent - who just got back from a two week vacation. The planning packet came in the mail the day she left and sat on her desk for two weeks until she returned! I could have had that packet weeks ago!

Now, the first warm and sunny day of the year here, I am torn between the yardwork I promised and the cruise activity packet...

Thanks for letting me vent! On the positive side, four months and two days until we sail!

 

[Donald Applecore]

For the promise of a $150 stateroom credit, I transferred my reservation to a travel agent - who just got back from a two week vacation. The planning packet came in the mail the day she left and sat on her desk for two weeks until she returned! I could have had that packet weeks ago!

Now, the first warm and sunny day of the year here, I am torn between the yardwork I promised and the cruise activity packet...

Thanks for letting me vent! On the positive side, four months and two days until we sail!

Trimix - I understand 100%. I went w/ a TA to get a good deal (I think they reserve a block to get a group rate & then resell the discounted rooms individually), but she is slow as molasses. It typically takes about three to five days to take care of any of my requests. Last Tuesday, I asked her to add the Romantic Escape Package and I'm still waiting. I even had to follow up with her today just to get some kind of response out of her.

I guess thats what we get for going for the money

 

[trimix]

Trimix - I understand 100%. I went w/ a TA to get a good deal (I think they reserve a block to get a group rate & then resell the discounted rooms individually), but she is slow as molasses. It typically takes about three to five days to take care of any of my requests. Last Tuesday, I asked her to add the Romantic Escape Package and I'm still waiting. I even had to follow up with her today just to get some kind of response out of her.

I guess thats what we get for going for the money

Bryan, if you do get the romantic escape package added, be sure to pay off your cruise in two weeks. Saturday May 9th those of us with that package and people in suites get to book reservations - but only if paid up.

Thankfully, my travel agent stayed about ten minutes after closing; if she didn't do so I would not have the packet today. So my wife had ample opportunity to make fun of me for being so excited this evening...

 

[Donald Applecore]

Bryan, if you do get the romantic escape package added, be sure to pay off your cruise in two weeks. Saturday May 9th those of us with that package and people in suites get to book reservations - but only if paid up.

Already done!

 

[Donald Applecore]

Bryan, if you do get the romantic escape package added, be sure to pay off your cruise in two weeks. Saturday May 9th those of us with that package and people in suites get to book reservations - but only if paid up.

Of course this also assumes that I can get her to add it by may 9th