Offical Check-In List 10/30/04 "Magic"

[DMS_cruisers04]

Congrats to your DS, Dena!!

 

[mhb]

Hello everyone. It's funny that we have all had the same movie in the park. Here I thought we would be the only one. LOL

Anyway , I didn't get to Disney today and will not until we get back from Baltimore Harbor. I'm trying to get a hold of Ginger. She told me she only lives 20 miles from there. Where are you Ginger?

I'll call when we get back and let everyone know.

Dena: I'll tell Debbie about your daughter. She is a good friend of mine and we are traveling together. That would be great. They are looking for a 13yo DD for her. Congrats to your DS
about high school. My 1st is going into 10th. 3 more yrs to go.

Scott; Sorry to tell you but we are not going to FL, but to MD. It's only about 2 1/2 hrs for here. FL is too hot for me now. Looking forward to it in NOv. though!!!!

Oh well, better get packing. I'll be on one more time before we leave. Hope you all have a Great week.

Michelle

 

["Ginger"]

Hi all!

Mike sorry about that.

Michelle I wish we could meet up but I've got to work all week. I do hope that you and your family have a great time.

Dena congrats on getting #1 DS graduated from HS, now off to college.

Welcome to our new members.

Got the new Oriental Trading catalog yesterday, lots of great Halloween stuff. If anyone is interested you can view online at www.orientaltrading.com

Got to go today is my only day off this week and I've got a ton of things to do. DH is building an addition to our deck to connect it to our house. I think our deck is going to be bigger than our house.
I going to bring pictures with me this year of our new house addition and th4 new deck addition.

See you all soon.

P.S. Judi could you give us a child head count. Trying to get some idea of what and how much I'll need to purchase for our T-or-T.

 

[mhb]

Sorry we can't meet up Ginger. We are leaving in about an hour. We will do the normal tourist things.

Hope your deck building is going ok. Talk to you all over the weekend.

What should I bring for the T or T? I'll be looking at the book soon.

Emma: How are finals? Over I hope.

Well off to our 1st family vaca this year. Bye All!!!

 

[Rose_Greenthumb]

The boys will be glad that Brendan's coming, I think I'll let my mum tell them though and any schemes they manage to come up with between now and then won't be due to me...

2 more exams! I had Physics this morning which was, well, Physics. It was easier than the Biology one at any rate but it was rather hard.

I was planning on doing some revision whilst hanging around for choir but you know these things never pan out that way. I ended up doing some jobs for the teacher who runs choir as she has a new office. We sorted some files, numbered some tickets and then shredded some paper. 3 bin bags we managed to fill! 3!!! I think there must have been about 300 of the same unused letter that we had to get rid of.

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

No worries Ginger. Happens all the time, so it's always fun to joke about.
How many of you will be ordering from Oriental Trading?
We received our catalog too and started thinking about ordering some things to go with the candy we will most likely bring, but I'd hate for the kids to get all the same stuff.

Michelle, have a good trip.

Emma, good luck on your last exams.

 

[vikingfans]

DMS

Had to laugh when you mentioned Oriental Trading. I used to work for them and they are based in Omaha, where I live. A fabulous place! Spend a lot of time at their outlet shop here in town!

You should see that shop at Halloween time! Packed with good stuff!!

 

[Jamashp]

Any fellow New Jersey or Pennsylvania cruisers book their flights yet? I'm still waiting for Southwest to post their schedule for November. It only goes to late October currently.

Prices from Newark (Continental) are very high ($500+) Philadelphia is cheaper if you are willing to leave Orlando at 6:30AM on the Sunday after the cruise. (Not!)

Hopefully the Southwest fares will be out soon and that will force USAirways to match the rates. Then, I'll go ahead and finalize the flights.

Looking forward to it all! In a little over two months we can start making ressies for excursions. After a year and a half, It's really getting close!

Scott

 

["Ginger"]

Wow!!!!! Scott those air fares are high. Ever think about driving? We drive down, it takes us about 17-18 hours. We leave home, Maryland not to far from the PA line, we're in Harford Co. around 8 p.m. and we are usually at the Radisson Port Canaveral Fla. by 1 or 2 p.m. sometimes earlier. My DH drives straight through, I do drive a few hours so he can get in a quick nap. We stop for breakfast at a Cracker Barrel and then once again to fuel up and grab a snack, also we do stop for a couple of potty breaks. Once we hit the Florida line we stop at the Florida info center for a few minutes. It runs us about $110. for fuel and meals, well that was last years fuel rates this year will be more I'm sure. BTW we drive a huge Ford Excursion, deisel of course, since DH drives a BIG TRUCK for a living.

Laura, I love OT but I sure couldn't work there, I'd spend my whole paycheck on junk. LOL
Mike I've got to check my left overs from the past few years to see what if anything I need. I know I need bubbles to start out our cruise.

 

["Ginger"]

Emma only 2 more to go, that's great. I know you'll have no problems with them, but Good Luck anyway.

 

[Donnainnj]

Scott,
I to am watching airfares. Just got an e-mail about fares for Newark and AC that were really low, but they either are not available yet for those dates, or sold out. I am checking at least twice a day for Southwest to release past Oct 29th. I am tempted to purchase the oneway now, and then purchase the other way when it becomes available, but I don't think I am that couragous. Worst comes to worst we will drive, just got a new car, so we should be able to make it without breaking down. Really like flying out of AC because the airport is small, plus parking is cheap, but it doesn't look like it will happen this time.
Good Luck, and I will let you know if I see something.
Donna

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

Scott and Donna, not sure if you know, but on Travelocity, you can setup fare watchers, five or six at a time I think, and you will get emails when prices change for the trips/airlines you are monitoring. I just booked the last 5 of us for our Sept. cruise, had Travelocity "watching" since before Christmas, $230 roundtrip Cincy to San Juan, talk about a GREAT deal. So don't get discouraged, something will come up.

 

[drm]

Scott,
I would take the one way on Southwest if I were you. We already have air travel from Phila. I booked in December. Flights are tough and book quickly because this is NJ Teacher's convention week. We always go to Disney this week and seats go fast. I was afraid to wait for Southwest. Even though we booked in December I am flying 2 different airlines with a stop on the return trip. Good Luck.
Debbie
DRM

 

[mhb]

Hello everyone!!! We're back. Had a great time at the Harbor.

Weather was great, hotel was great, (new) and the family didn't fight as much as I thought.

Scott: I booked early Dec. also. The flights then were hard to get because of the convention, but if you keep checking around you can come up with them. I was online and on the phone for about 2 hrs. trying to get what I wanted. Since we are a family of 5 not too many seats available when we wanted to fly. I would book 4 online then go to book the next one and get prices 3 times higher.

Has anyone checked flight from Baltimore? I think you may be able to get flights from there if you are willing to drive to that airport.

Good Luck to both you and Donna.

Michelle

 

[Rose_Greenthumb]

Exams are now officially over! I've done 16 in total which added up to something ridiculous like 26 hours worth.

I had an induction day at my college where I shall spend the next two years being educated yesterday. It was really weird because I saw 3 people I went to primary school with and haven't seen for about 5 years.

I have absolutely nothing to do now so I shall be totally at a loss of what to do with myself tomorrow!

 

[mhb]

sleep

 

[Donnainnj]

Thanks for all the thoughts on flights. I am still working on it. Michelle, it is funny you mentioned Baltimore, I was considering that option last night. I think that will be a last option, before driving. I know I really want to do non-stop, so again I will continue to watch Southwest. Does anyone know if there is rhyme or reason to when they extend thier reservation dates? Maybe at least a time of day that they are applied?
Thanks again.
Donna

 

[mhb]

Donna: Have you tried to call them. Sometimes I found that it was just better to just give them a call. Since they need us to use them, not just online booking, they might be able to help you more. Just a thought. Where are you coming from? Central Jersey? Also, I might ask them what their thought is on booking your trip down and waiting on the return flight.

This is one reason I book in Dec. when USAir releases their flights. If prices come down they will reimburse me the difference. Or so they say.

 

[Donnainnj]

Michelle,
I am going to wait until the 29th and then I will call if nothing has happened yet. I can play with my dates some, don't want the kids to miss to much school but have some flexability. I was checking with other airlines out of Philly and it seems I could get some ok flights on Friday, Oct 29th real early, and going out pretty late on Monday, Nov 8th., for about $232 if the Southwest doesn't pan out. It is funny we have flown down this time of year before, and around Easter a couple of times, and never had this much trouble finding a good fare.
We are still undecided about what we will do with our extra days, most likely WDW, but may try Vero Beach if they have any specials. Again the airfare and the discounts on hotels will help us decide. It will be so hard to be at WDW without Annual Passes, would be the first time in many years. We would probably go to the Thursday Halloween party, if we are there then, and hit a water park, or Disney Quest (never did DQ before) the day before the cruise and then hit Epcot on the Saturday after the cruise. Epcot is our families favorite. Again that all depends on the flights.
Thanks for all the help,
Donna

 

[mhb]

Donna, I was on early this morning and the usair flights were around 347. When I went into travelocity the flights were about $191. I'm sure you have seen all of these before. I do hope all pans out for you. How many people are you?

This will be our 4th time going at NJ convention so I know it's hard to get the flights and the price you want. Since we are 5 I try to book early. $1,000. for flights. Nothing to sneeze at.

Our price this year was $216. but return flight we go to Pitt. then to Philly. I could try to book 2, then 3 but not sure if I would get the same price.

Michelle