She said it wouldn't be boring!-WONDER WB Caribbean cruise - Bonus Posts Wrap up

[PrincessInOz]

I don't see Australia on your spreadsheet.


I note DLP has pushed out to 2017. Hmmm. I'm still hoping for 2016 for us but not making any headway with the savings.

Calico 10 years ago looks fun! I love the dress-ups of you and Fran. Looks great.

The business part of your trip is off to a rocky start. I like the Embassy Suites as well. A little pricey; but nice. Sorry that Fran starting feeling awful.

 

[franandaj]

Embassy Suites is one of my favorite hotels. I love their breakfasts and evening receptions. You are right about their being pricy. We only stay at them when we are attending a conference and can get the conference rate.

Wow, you have a sink in the bedroom. I do not believe I have ever stayed in a hotel with a sink in the bedroom.

Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip.

Kate

We pretty much used that sink as a crap counter. I don't think it was ever turned on during our whole stay!

I don't see Australia on your spreadsheet.


I note DLP has pushed out to 2017. Hmmm. I'm still hoping for 2016 for us but not making any headway with the savings.

Calico 10 years ago looks fun! I love the dress-ups of you and Fran. Looks great.

The business part of your trip is off to a rocky start. I like the Embassy Suites as well. A little pricey; but nice. Sorry that Fran starting feeling awful.

You're right! I just penciled it in for April 2018. But this whole schedule is actually up in the air. Having it written down just makes me feel like we're going to all the places we have talked about. We have to do a lot of research before we go and I need you to take more domestic trips (and do TRs) so I can figure out what we want to do!

Fran sleeping the whole day and not eating is not unusual (she's actually doing that today, hence why I've had so much DIS time today), but once she started to experience sickness, then it got sad. However, it did make for lots of DIS time for me. I did get some of the stuff I brought home from the old house yesterday put away today, and I'm about to go work on some more.

 

[skier_pete]

It started out in 1983 as Lesbian and Gay Bands of America, but with groups in Sydney & Melbourne, and Vancouver, Canada they changed the name about 10 years ago. The group has also marched in both of President Obama's Inaugural parades.

Wow. That's very cool! Did you and Fran go for that?

Well from 2001-2007, we had 0 "vacations". We had to cancel our 2011 & 2012 WDW vacations, so I feel like we are playing catch up now.

You did get to go to Australia!

Oooh, sorry to hear you had to cancel trips, let along WDW! Anyways, I wasn't expecting a pity party. We saved for that Australia trip for 10 years, believe it or not. Now saving for our next big trip, which was originally scheduled for 2016, but recently had to "bump" a year to 2017, hoping to go to Europe, but unlikely to Paris.

We used to be way into it. But never did anything that involved Urine. When we finally quit, we had gotten to the point where we owned an old Uhaul and kept it full with all the CW gear, tents, chairs, tables, all kinds of stuff. It would take us a full day to get set up. We had Ammo boxes which actually held full size coolers, and a fire pit where we had a camp cook who made meals to feed the entire band. It just got to be so much work, and wearing wool in July in So Cal, wasn't a lot of fun.

That seems like a lot of work. I've never been able to deal well with hobbies that are a lot of work - except sort of skiing, but that's really just work to get there - to me my work is a lot of work, and then maintaining my house is a lot of work, so I prefer my hobbies to involve little to no work. (Movies, Golf, Skiing, Travel.)

However, I will say I am very impressed by anyone that does those type of re-enactments. I definitely takes dedication that I don't have.

 

[rentayenta]

I think I am caught up on the cruise. The last breakfast is the saddest breakfast ever. But you're right, you had so much to look forward to getting off the ship.


Love the Riverboat Cruise up/down the Mississippi (yeah, I said it aloud when I typed it out).


Going to catch up on the rest.


Love love love the Colonial garb pics.


Your spreadsheet is impressive.

Holy Miami food porn! Those little fried things of lobster goodness look amazing!

 

[jedijill]

Oooh, sorry to hear you had to cancel trips, let along WDW! Anyways, I wasn't expecting a pity party. We saved for that Australia trip for 10 years, believe it or not. Now saving for our next big trip, which was originally scheduled for 2016, but recently had to "bump" a year to 2017, hoping to go to Europe, but unlikely to Paris.

Pete,

Did you do a trip report for your Australia trip? I'm in the preliminary stages of planning my trip down under.

Jill in CO

 

[franandaj]

Wow. That's very cool! Did you and Fran go for that?

Neither of us can march anymore. Plus neither of us bear that kind of cold.

Oooh, sorry to hear you had to cancel trips, let along WDW! Anyways, I wasn't expecting a pity party. We saved for that Australia trip for 10 years, believe it or not. Now saving for our next big trip, which was originally scheduled for 2016, but recently had to "bump" a year to 2017, hoping to go to Europe, but unlikely to Paris.

Good luck on the saving! I want to go someday, we need to have time and information. Sometime....

That seems like a lot of work. I've never been able to deal well with hobbies that are a lot of work - except sort of skiing, but that's really just work to get there - to me my work is a lot of work, and then maintaining my house is a lot of work, so I prefer my hobbies to involve little to no work. (Movies, Golf, Skiing, Travel.)

However, I will say I am very impressed by anyone that does those type of re-enactments. I definitely takes dedication that I don't have.

You know we have been through several rather time consuming and expensive hobbies. We had an online music store, the CW reenacting, Cowboy Action Shooting, and now Disney Big Fig Collecting. We could finance a vacation selling off any of the accumulated stuff from these defunct hobbies!

I think I am caught up on the cruise. The last breakfast is the saddest breakfast ever. But you're right, you had so much to look forward to getting off the ship.

Or at least I thought I did!

Love the Riverboat Cruise up/down the Mississippi (yeah, I said it aloud when I typed it out).

Going to catch up on the rest.


Love love love the Colonial garb pics.

Technically, the Colonial Period was 100 years earlier.

Your spreadsheet is impressive.

We already changed it around and dropped the Road Trip Redo for the time being.

Holy Miami food porn! Those little fried things of lobster goodness look amazing!

They were really good. I guess it wasn't food poisoning, so Kelly's is back on the "can dine" list.

Pete,

Did you do a trip report for your Australia trip? I'm in the preliminary stages of planning my trip down under.

Jill in CO

Yeah, Pete....Did you do a TR? I need some help on where to go when we go there.

 

[jedijill]

Yeah, Pete....Did you do a TR? I need some help on where to go when we go there.

Other than to go see PiO of course.

Jill in CO

 

[franandaj]

Hey Jill!

I found it!

Pete's Australia TR

 

[jedijill]

Hey Jill!

I found it!

Pete's Australia TR

Yay! Thank you!

Jill in CO

 

[skier_pete]

Pete,

Did you do a trip report for your Australia trip? I'm in the preliminary stages of planning my trip down under.

Jill in CO

Hey Jill!

I found it!

Pete's Australia TR

Yay! Thank you!

Jill in CO

Hey you guys were too quick for me!

I will tell you this though - I would recommend reading through my Pre-Pre-Trip report, (less so the Pre-trip report).

Help a Yankee DISer - Part 1
Help a Yankee DISer - Part 2

They won't be as exciting, but what I ended up doing was going to the Australia part of the board and asked some questions of the folks Down Under. PIO is a great resource, and I seriously recommend letting her cook a meal for you if you go to Melbourne, but it's a big country and there's a lot to choose from, I got some great advice from folks living all over the place. There's a lot of info in there for things we DIDN'T do.

The only thing is if you go, you'll ruin my record of the only Yankee DISer to have DISmeet with PIO IN Australia. We've never actually met in the US - though we nearly crossed paths once, which is how we "met" on the boards.

JediJill - we will be in Colorado in just 4 weeks. Heading to Copper Mountain for 6 nights! We have one night in Denver at the end of our trip, staying out near the airport. Any recommendations for a place for dinner?

 

[franandaj]

Hey you guys were too quick for me!

I will tell you this though - I would recommend reading through my Pre-Pre-Trip report, (less so the Pre-trip report).

Help a Yankee DISer - Part 1
Help a Yankee DISer - Part 2

They won't be as exciting, but what I ended up doing was going to the Australia part of the board and asked some questions of the folks Down Under. PIO is a great resource, and I seriously recommend letting her cook a meal for you if you go to Melbourne, but it's a big country and there's a lot to choose from, I got some great advice from folks living all over the place. There's a lot of info in there for things we DIDN'T do.

The only thing is if you go, you'll ruin my record of the only Yankee DISer to have DISmeet with PIO IN Australia. We've never actually met in the US - though we nearly crossed paths once, which is how we "met" on the boards.

JediJill - we will be in Colorado in just 4 weeks. Heading to Copper Mountain for 6 nights! We have one night in Denver at the end of our trip, staying out near the airport. Any recommendations for a place for dinner?

If she offers, I will most definitely let her cook us a meal! I plan on spending quite a bit of time in Melbourne so we can stay in proximity to PIO. I'm sure you saw that on her month long journey that she made some wonderful Prawn Fried Rice for our cookout, and in her next couple posts on her current "mad dash" TR, you'll see that she cooked us an incredible lunch feast! Plus we did at least one great breakfast. I completely intend to visit her and hope she will cook us something delectable!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Thank you so much for posting the photos and information about the war enactment. I am so impressed! I love that it is all so accurate I am a devil is in the details person I would be like Fran! Love that even lunch is authentic. That is a fabulous lens for the camera or filter I was completely fooled by it! It looks so real. Oh my what a treat thank you

The hotel in Miami looks amazing. We like that chain also. They never fail to disappoint but your photos of the lobby really are a gem of a resort. I love the plants and the care taken there. The food looks good too I just adore mahi mahi it's my favourite fish. It is brilliant you can claim the tax back. I was pleased to learn this.

Looking forward to next post. Sorry to hear Fran is having a reaction to the infusion. Will she have to withdraw?

 

[rentayenta]

Colonial, civil war, Mesopotamian, whenever, you gals look great!



I just re read and forgot to comment: Naked Jim!

 

[podsnel]

All caught up! You are right- your Palo post looks just like mine! Lol-

So sorry Fran was so sick when you got off the ship- how awful. Glad to hear there was some sort of improvement.

 

[franandaj]

I don't see Australia on your spreadsheet.

OK, I just priced out a mock itinerary which includes Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Melbourne and Cairns! It's going to cost me more than a new car! Good thing it's a long way away! We'll have to start saving hard, and pay a lot up front or our credit card bill will go through the roof!

Thank you so much for posting the photos and information about the war enactment. I am so impressed! I love that it is all so accurate I am a devil is in the details person I would be like Fran! Love that even lunch is authentic. That is a fabulous lens for the camera or filter I was completely fooled by it! It looks so real. Oh my what a treat thank you

The hotel in Miami looks amazing. We like that chain also. They never fail to disappoint but your photos of the lobby really are a gem of a resort. I love the plants and the care taken there. The food looks good too I just adore mahi mahi it's my favourite fish. It is brilliant you can claim the tax back. I was pleased to learn this.

Looking forward to next post. Sorry to hear Fran is having a reaction to the infusion. Will she have to withdraw?

I'm glad you enjoyed the Civil War photos. It was a very nice Embassy Suites, I enjoyed our stay there! That reaction has come and gone. She has a new drug, but it is only temporary.

Colonial, civil war, Mesopotamian, whenever, you gals look great!

I just re read and forgot to comment: Naked Jim!

You're funny! Thanks! If you come to my birthday party, you'll meet Naked Jim. And Naked Jim was in the CW band pictures too. He was the trumpet player the second in from the left in each of the group photos. Convenient that he was always in that spot.

All caught up! You are right- your Palo post looks just like mine! Lol-

So sorry Fran was so sick when you got off the ship- how awful. Glad to hear there was some sort of improvement.

Thanks for coming over! It was an icky few days. It does get better.

 

[jedijill]

OK, I just priced out a mock itinerary which includes Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Melbourne and Cairns! It's going to cost me more than a new car! Good thing it's a long way away! We'll have to start saving hard, and pay a lot up front or our credit card bill will go through the roof!



You're funny! Thanks! If you come to my birthday party, you'll meet Naked Jim.

I just started my Australia spreadsheet. I know roughly what the plane ticket to Australia will cost and how many miles I need to upgrade to Business Class. Trying to figure out if I have enough time to do the Reef, Sydney, Melbourne, and Uluru.


Oooh, does he know we know he's Naked Jim?

Jill in CO

 

[franandaj]

I just started my Australia spreadsheet. I know roughly what the plane ticket to Australia will cost and how many miles I need to upgrade to Business Class. Trying to figure out if I have enough time to do the Reef, Sydney, Melbourne, and Uluru.


Oooh, does he know we know he's Naked Jim?

Jill in CO

I edited the post as you were posting. I asked his permission before I posted his story, but he loves to tell things like that about himself. If he can get a laugh at his own expense, he'll do it. He's a very good humored guy and a big sweetie!

I priced our tickets with Business Class because we don't know if we could upgrade on points. We'll have to see when the time comes, but I'm going to allocate it at that amount. There is no way that we can fly that many hours in Cattle Class. The two hours back from Seattle almost killed us. I priced our SYD to MEL, MEL to CAR and CAR to SYD flights purchasing three economy tickets. We also plan to be in better shape by then, however, it hasn't happened in all the years we have been talking about it so I'm not holding my breath.

Fran wants to be scuba certified before we go, so we better get on getting in shape!

Is Uluru Ayers Rock? I think we might have to give up on that one.

 

[jedijill]

I edited the post as you were posting. I asked his permission before I posted his story, but he loves to tell things like that about himself. If he can get a laugh at his own expense, he'll do it. He's a very good humored guy and a big sweetie!

I think I like him already!

I priced our tickets with Business Class because we don't know if we could upgrade on points. We'll have to see when the time comes, but I'm going to allocate it at that amount. There is no way that we can fly that many hours in Cattle Class. The two hours back from Seattle almost killed us. I priced our SYD to MEL, MEL to CAR and CAR to SYD flights purchasing three economy tickets. We also plan to be in better shape by then, however, it hasn't happened in all the years we have been talking about it so I'm not holding my breath.

I have about 38K miles on Delta and it take 50K to upgrade from Economy to Business. I just found out I can convert my Marriott points to Skymiles so I'm good. I cannot do 16 hours in Cattle Class! When I actually start booking things I will probably try to book the low cost carriers for the in country flights.

Fran wants to be scuba certified before we go, so we better get on getting in shape!

I'm debating trying to get certified or just snorkel. Oh well, I have at least a year to decide.

Is Uluru Alice Rock? I think we might have to give up on that one.

Uluru is Ayer's Rock. It's a PITA to get to but is one of those things that I would hate to go all the way to Australia and miss.

This trip won't be cheap but I think it will be amazing. I just have to get my house situation settled and/or win the lottery before I can make firm plans.

Jill in CO

 

[franandaj]

I think I like him already!

I'm sure you would! There aren't a lot of people that he doesn't get along with!

I have about 38K miles on Delta and it take 50K to upgrade from Economy to Business. I just found out I can convert my Marriott points to Skymiles so I'm good. I cannot do 16 hours in Cattle Class! When I actually start booking things I will probably try to book the low cost carriers for the in country flights.

This is good to know. Our AMEX miles can be converted to Delta, and the flight I was looking at paying for, was Delta run by Virgen Atlantic. Yeah, we looked at local low cost carriers for in country. Economy flights were like $100-$200, and business were like $500-$800 so I figure if we buy three seats (like on SW) we'll be good.

I'm debating trying to get certified or just snorkel. Oh well, I have at least a year to decide.

I'm not sure how we'll pull it off. Fran was two classes away from getting certified before I met her, but a lot has changed since then. We need to get back to swimming again. Our gym went bankrupt a few years back so we haven't been to the gym in a while. Either that or we need to get a heater put on our pool!

Uluru is Ayer's Rock. It's a PITA to get to but is one of those things that I would hate to go all the way to Australia and miss.This trip won't be cheap but I think it will be amazing. I just have to get my house situation settled and/or win the lottery before I can make firm plans.

Jill in CO

I started doing some research on it after you posted. I need to find out if Fran wants to see it. It would be cool, but it sounds like a lot of work and hardship for her. I'm not sure how "rugged" she is going to be.

Good luck on the whole house thing! I need to get on moving some stuff out of the old house. It's been a couple days since I brought over a stash of loot.

 

[rentayenta]

This trip won't be cheap but I think it will be amazing. I just have to get my house situation settled and/or win the lottery before I can make firm plans.

Jill in CO

Story of my life.