Sept / Oct 2011

[QuirkyButterfly]

I think I might beat you in the ticker stakes. My first ticker is for the Disney med cruise and the second is for the wow stay. I am VERY excited.

Beating me by 2 days No Fair!!

Lets see who takes you down.

 

[Travel Mum]

Oh I think my ticker is the latest and I'm going to miss you all so much when you've gone! It will just be little old me left in this thread by then I think

 

[Jade+3]

My ticker is out by a day. In 4 weeks time we will be in transit at Auckland airport.

Busy Busy, we were in Orlando at the same time in 1997. My ex and I were staying at some dodgy hotel on International Drive. We were watching the shuttle launch preparation on CNN. The hotel had set up a shuttle launch viewing area at the pool area, which we were going to join at launch time. Stupid CNN were running a delayed telecast, so when we got outside, all we saw was the flames in the distant sky. We missed it by less than a minute.

I have 2 sick kids, now the 3rd one is complaining of an ear ache.

 

[AussieMumma]

Seems I've missed a few pages, I haven't gotten any email updates
We are all booked now, I did the last couple of transfers for Orlando this week with Mears so it is all done!!!

So jealous of those of you leaving soon, still just over 6 weeks for us. We do have to move house in a couple of weeks though and have my daughters 13th Birthday party so I'm sure the time will go fast

 

[kylieh]

Oh I beg to differ, I think Hamish and Andy are hilarious! Although I see how you could be put off by there ads.

Its pretty cool to watch their show and catch glimpses of NYC that you dont normally see in tourist brochures rotfl: does anyone actually have these anymore?)

I have actually registered on their website - they are looking for Aussies that will be in NYC this year - I dont know if they will be there still in October or if they will contact us but you never know.

DD watched it DH last night. She loves them. I don't know why, but she does...

I gave up on DH "pulling his finger out" and found an airport transfer

$110 each way - much better than $200 that I was getting from every other quote.

BRING IT ON!!!!

that's good value. we're lucky and have three options depending on if BIL is coming to the airport. I thin that ones deserves a post of it's own.

Well that's a relief to know!!

It is tempting to pull out the iPad whilst driving but then I remember having an accident wouldn't be too much fun!

My ticker is out by a day. In 4 weeks time we will be in transit at Auckland airport..

I have 2 sick kids, now the 3rd one is complaining of an ear ache.

at least it's now and not in 4 weeks. That would be scary DD is has a major cold at present, missed heaps of school. She'll be ok by the time we go in 6 weeks. DD has had both Glandular Fever and Scarlet Fever in the past, since the Glandular she has always had a hard time with colds and viruses.

As for me I had a major cold during our last trip, I couldn't be unlucky twice. I am having severe headaches again though, I'm in bed now waiting for the panadeine forte to kick in.

 

[Busy Busy]

Jade+3......we have way too much in common!!

That shuttle launch was the most amazing thing that I have ever seen, and I'm glad that it was considering how much effort we put into seeing it! We stood on the specially designated causeway with 50,000 other people, after having written from home to get special car passes, hiring the van (7 of us) then the traffic nightmare - it was exhausting!! ....and I was with my ex too!

We were also still in Orlando (actually on the river between Downtown Disney and Port Orleans) when Columbia returned 4 days later and we even heard the sonic boom - my mum and I were so happy!

 

[Busy Busy]

PS.....this time in 5 weeks I will be in my VAustralia seat about 2 hours out of LA........

 

[Jade+3]

Busy Busy, that would have been amazing to see. We visited KSC a few days before the launch, so got to see the shuttle all ready to go. We were on a bus and the driver took us as close as he could to the shuttle, which was still a fair way away.

Everything I planned for that holiday was out of travel books and brochures. I remember waiting in line for 3 hours for Tower of Terror. And I got totally freaked by some Alien thing in Tommorowland, which I think is now Stitch's Great Escape. Such a long time ago. I don't know how I ever coped without the internet.

kylieh, hope the panadeine has kicked in.

 

[hellosue]

Wishing all your Children a speedy Recovery
kylieh - hope you are feeling better today

Just realised I'm not going to see my ticker finish - its set for when we arrive in Orlando

Only 23 days to go - Can't wait to reach single digits

 

[kylieh]

Wishing all your Children a speedy Recovery
kylieh - hope you are feeling better today

Just realised I'm not going to see my ticker finish - its set for when we arrive in Orlando

Only 23 days to go - Can't wait to reach single digits

Thank you both - just woKe up, still there but a lot milder. I'm starting to think now it's a bit more localised and the head isn't going to explode it's really bad sinus.

 

[Busy Busy]

That alien ride is something that we still all talk about! It was breathing down my neck! On BTMR I was in a car squished between my husband and my brother with my mum and dad behind us and I screamed like a maniac the whole way around - my mum still laughs about it. When I was on the DL version in 2009 I did the same thing and this time its my son who still laughs about it - I'm such a girl when it comes to that ride!

 

[Jade+3]

BTMR is my favourite ride. I took my then 4 year old on it last time, and she loved it. When we were on the alien ride, there was someone videoing it - now I don't get why you would video a pitch black room, but I am grateful for the little red light on his camera as it gave me something to focus on.

Kids are doing a bit better this morning but I had to cancel my gym session as the creche does not like snotty kids.

Just ordered a heap of books and activities from the book depository to keep the kids amused on the plane. Hoping they get here on time as my last order took ages.

 

[Busy Busy]

Jade, I was just at my son's soccer match and I was telling my mum about you - how we were in Orlando at the same time as the shuttle launch in 1997 and how we will be there at the same time this year.

She actually said that she wondered if you went on that psycho alien ride!!! I said YES!! Mum and I are scarred for life by that scary heavy breather!!

OK, off now to so that tonight I can and !

 

[Travel Mum]

I know this is pretty boring but we finally bought our new suitcases today! It really makes it feel very real and now I can start putting things in the cases as I think about them We are going up with 2 and coming back with 4 (each big one has a medium one inside it on the way up ).
That's unless we have to buy another suitcase up there because we have done so much shopping

 

[Franrose]

I know this is pretty boring but we finally bought our new suitcases today! It really makes it feel very real and now I can start putting things in the cases as I think about them

Every time I walk past a suitcase store (eg, yesterday ) I think of the trip!!

 

[battymum]

I am planning on using our full Qantas baggage allowance - we will take 5 over, We have 3, still trying to source the other two (ie beg, borrow - but wont steal) - we shouldnt buy them, we have no need for that many suitcases usually - it really is a nightmare for anyone in our family to share, including DH and I - We have a couple of reasonably large soft sports bags-
I might try and stuff them in for extra space on the way back.

We have the option of bringing 10 cases home!!!

I have arranged with the town car company that is picking us up from the cruise terminal and taking us to the airport for our NYC leg to store most of our luggage until our return four days later, they might be in for a shock when they see how much we have.

 

[Busy Busy]

A friend of mine has just come home from WDW and 2 weeks of cruising. She has 3 teenage daughters - they left with 4 bags and came home with 10 bags plus 7 carry on bags...

I plan to shop, but I also plan to have a great time, relax and actually have a holiday - so I doubt that I will be buying 5 suitcases of shopping.

I just re-read that last sentence - who am I kidding - shopping IS a great time and relaxing!! I deserve some retail therapy anyway, I just spent the weekend doing the mother of all spring cleans...I miss my 2 good friends - cappuccino and Westfield Miranda!

 

[australiankaren]

A friend of mine has just come home from WDW and 2 weeks of cruising. She has 3 teenage daughters - they left with 4 bags and came home with 10 bags plus 7 carry on bags...

I plan to shop, but I also plan to have a great time, relax and actually have a holiday - so I doubt that I will be buying 5 suitcases of shopping.

I just re-read that last sentence - who am I kidding - shopping IS a great time and relaxing!! I deserve some retail therapy anyway, I just spent the weekend doing the mother of all spring cleans...I miss my 2 good friends - cappuccino and Westfield Miranda!

ahhhhh..Westfield miranda.....many a good credit card has given its life at the post xmas sales at miranda...

we take 2 empty bags to cart our treasures home.....love orlando outlet shopping, the discounts are amazing, and the range in sizing especially for DH makes it so easy to buy work clothes..plus the buy one pair get 2 free shoes at bass....

disney outlet store makes gifts cheap and my family think I spend a fortune on them..if only they knew

hopefully the dollar behaves and doesn't embarrass itself before we get back

 

[Busy Busy]

Hahaha.....yep - Westfield Miranda is like the mother-ship......beam me up!!

I keep telling people that I will be happy if one Australian dollar is worth one US dollar - but who am I kidding - I want it to be $1.10!!!!!!!!!!

Karen - you have had lots of trips to the US before - so the dollar being above parity must be such a treat for you. I have been when it was 0.81, 0.88 and 0.91 - so it owes me!!!

 

[australiankaren]

Hahaha.....yep - Westfield Miranda is like the mother-ship......beam me up!!

I keep telling people that I will be happy if one Australian dollar is worth one US dollar - but who am I kidding - I want it to be $1.10!!!!!!!!!!

Karen - you have had lots of trips to the US before - so the dollar being above parity must be such a treat for you. I have been when it was 0.81, 0.88 and 0.91 - so it owes me!!!

I love miranda......no other place can i shop in sandy bare feet and boardshorts and feel at home

trip back in 2003 dollar was 0.75, in 2006 it was 0.70, last year was 0.88 so happy if it sticks around $1 for $1.its about time we got value for our hard earned cash....

cant believe i have 30 sleeps to go........