SEPT 24 2005 Enter and Sign in Please

[power_alaska]

Now I just to have someone pay me to do it!!! Thank Goodness for airmiles!!!
Of course, next year I will need to accumulate miles again..
So I am going to have a ball this year ...
Travel in Alaska is just a normal ... Summer Fishing ...

Y'all really do want to hear about my fishing - right?
Halibut - Salmon - Trout - etc ~

Chrystina expects three things from my
"guy bonding - turn the underwear inside out fishing trips"

One good picture & halibut for her, ~ smoked salmon for her friends & boss.
How can a guy argue with that?

Good Night all ...

Dennis

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

Four foxes- How does priceline work? Do you know what hotel you get before you book it? Or do you just put down the price you want and find out later what hotel you got? I have never used anything online like expedia.com or orbitz.com. Just wondering how all that works. I was looking at hotels on expedia.com and there were what looked like good deals on some hotels in cocoa beach, but I just wonder how it all works. Thanks!!

There is a great website www.biddingfortravel.com that explains the Priceline procedure. When we are staying at an airport for just one night, I will visit bidding for travel to see what hotels people have been winning at and see how much they've been "winning" for. They post a list of hotels in your chosen area that people have reported winning at but you can't see the hotel until you win but you are guaranteed that it will be the "star" category that you select. You pay Priceline when you "win" the bid and the money isn't refundable.

 

[b&j's_mom]

I looked on the biddingfortravel.com website and read the rules, but I don't see the part where you look to see what other people have bid and won. For some reason, I am just not getting this priceline thing down very well. I bid on a 3 star hotel in cocoa beach but I didn't "win" it. I guess I am done now right? I know I can start a new bid, but the one that I already lost is over now, is this correct? I feel really dense.

 

[smilingmouse]

I looked on the biddingfortravel.com website and read the rules, but I don't see the part where you look to see what other people have bid and won. For some reason, I am just not getting this priceline thing down very well. I bid on a 3 star hotel in cocoa beach but I didn't "win" it. I guess I am done now right? I know I can start a new bid, but the one that I already lost is over now, is this correct? I feel really dense.

b&j's mom,

You are correct, the bid that you lost is over. If you need/want more bidding info for Priceline, you might want to visit: www.betterbidding.com
The mod there is much nicer.

Good luck

 

[power_alaska]

Julie ~ Don't feel like you are alone ... Priceline confuses me too.
Of course, that probably has to do with the fact that I don't like having total control of my arrangements, so I won't bid on something when I don't know what I am getting.

However, those sites recommended by SmilingMouse & FourFoxes have some very interesting and useful information. Thanks & Kudos ... Also stumbled across one called savingsbarn.com that has a VERY nicely arranged set of links to airlines & such ...

In the meantime, the HEATWAVE in Alaska is over. Overnight temps dropped back into the 40's and it has started to rain - quite nice actually & it will drive away what little snow is left - especially that which is delaying the opening of the golf courses.!!!

Well, it is time for me to go to the gym and battle "Father Time"

Have a wondeful day everyone ...

Dennis

 

[b&j's_mom]

Thanks for all of the good information on Priceline. I feel like I don't even know enough to be able to ask a question...and I certainly wouldn't be brave enough to post one on that site with the grumpy moderator!! She scares me.

I will look the other sites smiling mouse and dennis recommended, thanks!!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!!

 

[ErinC]

Thanks for all of the good information on Priceline. I feel like I don't even know enough to be able to ask a question...and I certainly wouldn't be brave enough to post one on that site with the grumpy moderator!! She scares me.

I will look the other sites smiling mouse and dennis recommended, thanks!!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!!

Julie, here is a link to the Cocoa Beach section. Hopefully this helps. A few years ago, we stayed at the Cocoa Beach Doubletree. I think we paid around $52 or so. Keep in mind with all the storms, some of these hotels may not be up and running, so priceline may not have the access that they did at one time. If you do the www.betterbidding route, you might could see if Expedia is offering anything.

http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelineandexpediabiddingfrm222

 

[power_alaska]

Jumpin Up!!!

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

As far as scoring a good price through Priceline, I think it's way too early for a September booking. Find a room at a decent price but make sure you can cancel without penalty. THEN, if Priceline comes through, cancel your initial reservation and you're good to go. Just remember that there is a fee for Priceline (maybe $10?) so you have to take that into account.

 

[smilingmouse]

Hi all...

Do you think Disney would mind if we cruised a bit early, now perhaps? It is currently May 2nd and it SNOWED for most of the day!!!!!

Sometimes, life just isn't fair....

 

[b&j's_mom]

Hello to all!

ErinC- Thanks for the link. After several days of reading about Priceline, I think I am finally getting the idea. I didn't realize there was such a science to it. There should be classes on bidding on Priceline! Geez!

I didn't realize it was too early to be trying to get a good deal. When should I start trying it again? Should I wait until a month until we leave or is that too early still. I do have a room booked at the Hampton Inn at Cocoa Beach for a decent rate and it's refundable until the day before we need it.

smilingmouse- Sorry to hear of your bad weather. It has been cooler than usual here for the past week or so if that helps!

Take care!

 

[power_alaska]

SmilingMouse - Thanks for taking the snow off our hands. Guess I shouldn't say anything about being out at the driving range loosening up huh?

Here is something to take your mind of of it ...

It is now Monday 5/2/2005 at 7:38:12 PM

MAGIC disemabarkation is scheduled For 9/24/2005 05:00 PM

4 months 21 days 21 hours 21 minutes 48 seconds or
20 weekends or 145 days or 3,477 hours (2,318 waking hours) or
208,641 minutes or 12,518,507 seconds

Hope that helps you focus on something other than

Dennis

 

[smilingmouse]

Thankfully, we won't have the snow for long...it is supposed to be in the 60's later this week.....

 

[kcatoir]

Hello everyone,

Glad to see the chatter continue. I wish I could get to the boards more often.
I too a too chicken to use Priceline, to much "unknown" for this OCD'er.

Dennis: I got my passporter directly from the authors thru their website: passporter.com. I got my first one thru my local book store, they were able to order it for me.

I'm hoping its not a bad omen but I had a Nightmare of sorts last night about the cruise. In my dream it was the last day on the boat and we hadn't done ANYTHING . I had NO memory about the past week, we hadn't dined in any of the resturants, I don't think we even left the boat. It was like waking up having slept thru my vacation and BANG its over . It was a very depressing thought.
Group hug

O.K.........now that thats over.......sigh of relief.

Got to go to work,
Talk to ya all later,
Kim

 

[power_alaska]

Becky - Great to hear that the snowe is just a temporary fling.

KC - Perhaps you had a dreamwalk trip thru the MAGIC Pub Tour and were unable to remember anything??? You will have a great time, do many things, enjoy yourself immensely, and have great memories.

Have just found out that I will need to be in Veags from 03-21 August. I just work MUCH TOO HARD.

Dennis

 

[ErinC]

Hello to all!

ErinC- Thanks for the link. After several days of reading about Priceline, I think I am finally getting the idea. I didn't realize there was such a science to it. There should be classes on bidding on Priceline! Geez!

I didn't realize it was too early to be trying to get a good deal. When should I start trying it again? Should I wait until a month until we leave or is that too early still. I do have a room booked at the Hampton Inn at Cocoa Beach for a decent rate and it's refundable until the day before we need it.


Take care!

I don't neccessarily think that this is too early to bid. Just make sure you stick to the limit that you are willing to pay so you don't go over what you are comfortable paying on a "mystery" room. It's good that you have a backup plan, so you won't have to worry either way. Just keep bidding about every week or so, and continue to check hotel rates at the hotels that you might get for each star category. If you need any help you can PM me with more specifics if you need to. Erin

 

[smilingmouse]

Hi everyone~

Well, I thought I gad my pre-cruise hotel planned--then Disney send me a code tonight. Since WDW travel is closed for the evening, I guess I'll make my final decision tomorrow....I feel an OCD "mini attack" coming on AAARRRRGGGG

 

[power_alaska]

Becky ~ Understand ... Called to book the transportation transfers today and some dinner reservations at WDW. Was unable to locate the flight numbers ~ Talk about frustrations!!! Made me forget the dinner reservations.

Okay Ladies - Have four nights - Here is my plan ...
Remember, we are a couple without kids ...

1st night - Wilderness Lodge ... Just arrived ...
2nd night - Light dinner ~ Germany@Epcot for lunch that day
3rd night - Animal Kingdom Lodge Buffet for dinner - Fantastic!!!
4th night - Parisienne@Epcot for dinner -

Any alternative recommendations?

This is, of course, in preparation for a cruise?
Maybe I need to make my 3-5 miles a day more like 8-10 miles/day?

 

[kcatoir]

Dennis Vegas in August?? Talk about a scorcher. When we go in June its already hovering around 108*. I don't complain mind you, after a cold wet winter in Oregon the heat is WONDERFUL .

Our Pre and Post hotel arrangements are already made. DH travels extensively for work and accumilates lots of Best western Points. We got both night stays for FREE . Shatner can't beat that .
Due to using FF miles we can't fly home till Sunday, so we will be needing to find something to do saturday . That's something that has not been planned. Don't know if we should hang around Cocoa beach or what. Did contimplate going to the Kennedy space center....prices are kind of steep. Has anyone been there before?
We are staying by MCO so will need to head back that way.

Have a great rest of the week everyone.
kim

 

[GilesFamily]

I've been reading the DIS boards for a couple weeks now, and only today discovered this thread.

Let me introduce ourselves to our fellow cruisemates: The two of us will be going on our first-ever cruise with our 6-year-old. We are from Alberta, Canada (or..how I read once...alien residents! LOL!) Any other Canadians cruising on 09/24?

I haven't had a chance to read all the threads, but here I thought I had lots of time to plan, and reading some threads and how everyone seems to be organized, I'm starting to get nervous!

I was going to book shore excursions shortly, however, I'm waiting to receive the new 2005 passporter first to get some input on what is the best excursions. I downloaded the faxable form, and they want a stateroom number. So I called my TA asking what it was, and she said just to put "guarantee". She tried to explain it to me, but I still don't think I understand it. Has anyone not gotten a stateroom number? Can I still fax the shore excursion form without a stateroom number?