North Carolina

[miamimama]

GO CANES! I'm in Raleigh as well. We'll be flying down for Thanksgiving, but don't have a return trip yet (guess we'll have to stay!) Just waiting for SW to release their fares.

 

[samano]

I got an email today from Southwest saying the 'Canes win was my win - Congratulations, they have deposited 2 credits in my Rapid Rewards account!! Thank you very much!
Any other NC Rapid Rewards folks get this???

 

[SLDL]

Hey! I don't know if its this way all over NC, but I just love these last few days around Raleigh...'Canes flags flying everywhere, people are just in a really good mood! We went to Crabtree Tues. & it was great...merchandise everywhere, flags displayed from the banners, etc. We are certainly an area normally dominated by GREAT basketball which does tend to divide us but when it comes to hockey, it unites us

Oh, speaking of Crabtree, good Disney store sale. Got lots of stuff for our upcoming Disney trip!

 

[disneymom727]

We are!!! We're from Raleigh and going in Sept. WOO-HOO CANES!!!!

 

[miamimama]

Wow! Didn't get that from SW, but probably haven't been in Rapid Rewards long enought. Still a good sign -I'll keep flying SW! And thanks for the advice about Crabtree -I'll have to force DD14 to go there with me tomorrow

 

[disneymom727]

For all of you driving down before Sept...or if you have before...I just can't imagine driving the whole way from the Raleigh area in one day w/ 2 kids. Where is a good 1/2 way point?? Savannah? If you have any good (i.e. inexpensive & clean!) hotel suggestions, I'd appreciate it. Also, are there any special places you like to stop for food along the way?

When we went in Jan. we left when DH got home from work. We drove about 4 hrs. to Santee, SC and stayed at the Clark's Inn. It was very, very clean ( must for me) and a great place to stay for a quick night of sleep. We also stopped at the SC Welcome center and got one of those travel books with coupons in it. I think we stayed for like $50. The next day was only about a 6 hr. drive. Which is a lot better than 10 hrs. in one day (which we have done numerous times). We will probably do the same thing when we go in a few months.

 

[SLDL]

Thanks for the advice about Santee, SC. My husband wants to drive straight there but we will be going to the Halloween party the night of our arrival & I don't want everyone to be tired, ill & grouchy! I have finally talked him into breaking up the trip & he is suggesting sleeping in the van at a rest area. I don't even know if that's allowed...I thought there was a time limit. I'd rather have a nice (clean!!!) bed to rest my head & then get up & be refreshed in the morning.

Okay, and on for the sports portion of the NC posts...Anybody keeping up w/ the baseball World Series?!?! GO HEELS!!! I think our state could have a Putt-Putt Championship & we'd win...we're just that good!

 

[DawnM]

We live near Charlotte.

We went down to WDW four times last year with our AP's.

This year we are on a tighter budget with the adoption and it looks like we won't go back for possibly a whole year! So, looking at Sept. of '07. We are hoping for free dining again next year!

We have always driven. It takes 10 hours with small kids and stops from Charlotte. Thank goodness for DVD players in cars these days!

Dawn

 

[YCFAN]

OK it's tied in the 8th and I'm really getting nervous. I want this championship so bad for the Heels!!

 

[SLDL]

OK it's tied in the 8th and I'm really getting nervous. I want this championship so bad for the Heels!!

Well, I guess we can't win them all! It was a good game, though!! My father-in-law flew all the way there to see the games...bet he's pretty upset now! Oh well, football's right around the corner!

 

[EeyoreFan1]

Nope, but does SOUTH Carolina count?

 

[TruBlu]

Oh well, football's right around the corner!

Are you trying to cheer us up???


Just kidding. I love TarHeel football. We have season tickets. It looks like the recruiting class is very good this year.

 

[KristiKelly]

We're in Burlington and heading down 9/16-23 DH & I had finally decided Saturday night to drive down for our Sept. trip since Southwest wasn't budging from $96 each way and what d'ya know, today it's $49 each way from RDU . That comes out to $585 w/ taxes for the 5 of us.

For all of you driving down before Sept...or if you have before...I just can't imagine driving the whole way from the Raleigh area in one day w/ 2 kids. Where is a good 1/2 way point?? Savannah? If you have any good (i.e. inexpensive & clean!) hotel suggestions, I'd appreciate it. Also, are there any special places you like to stop for food along the way?

When we drive, we're in Burlington and Dh has experimented with many different ways, taking I-95, or going through Charlotte, or going through the "Boonies", etc. They always work out about 10 - 11 hours from Burlington. On the way down, we usually stop in Brunswick, Ga. at a Comfort or Days Inn (I believe on New Jessup Hwy). Once we stayed at a Baymont Inn (I believe) it was only $39, but we were not happy with it at all. We had to move from the 1st room because it smelled really bad. The rooms were really small also. Anyway, that leaves about 180 miles left to Orlando, similar to a beach trip for us.

 

[KTSMOM]

We're in Burlington and heading down 9/16-23 DH & I had finally decided Saturday night to drive down for our Sept. trip since Southwest wasn't budging from $96 each way and what d'ya know, today it's $49 each way from RDU . That comes out to $585 w/ taxes for the 5 of us.

You are so lucky to get those rates. I could only get the $49 rate on our return date, not on our depart date, so we are still driving.

 

[disneymom727]

I saw those rates today too. We would have the same problem with only getting $49 one way and having to pay more the other. So we are still driving as well. It's not a bad drive but it sure would have been nice to fly.

 

[StephSparrow]

yay

 

[SLDL]

Thanks so much for posting this info. I have been looking periodically but the price before was double this price. I booked my flight!!! Now, I have one question...anybody got any tips on flying with a 4 yr old & 1 yr. old?!?!?
Okay, two questions, anybody ever used that Magical Express?

 

[KristiKelly]

I saw those rates today too. We would have the same problem with only getting $49 one way and having to pay more the other. So we are still driving as well. It's not a bad drive but it sure would have been nice to fly.

Have you checked with other airlines? The same thing happened to us last year. We were able to fly down Southwest for $39 but had to fly back American for $69, not as good as $39 but not bad either. I got an e-mail the other day that Delta was having a sale also.

 

[KristiKelly]

Thanks so much for posting this info. I have been looking periodically but the price before was double this price. I booked my flight!!! Now, I have one question...anybody got any tips on flying with a 4 yr old & 1 yr. old?!?!?
Okay, two questions, anybody ever used that Magical Express?

We will be flying with a DS9, DD's6 & 1 y/o (14-1/2 mo. to be exact). I plan on sitting with DD's 6 & 1 y/o and taking a portable DVD player. 6 y/o will watch anything so I'm going to put the Wiggles, Pooh or something on that will keep both happy. Our flight is early 7:50 a.m. so I'm hoping DD1 will sleep.

We rode Magical Express last year. When you get off the plane you will look for someone wearing Mickey gloves (at least that's how it was last year) and they will direct you. It took us about 30-45 minutes from getting off plane and onto Mag. Exp. then another 30-45 minutes to get to resort. There is a movie (Disney of course) playing on the bus to keep kids entertained.

I hope this helps.

 

[dramagirlem]

were going in august.