and only 1 Day-At-Disney!!
Flew from YHZ on Canjet Feb 23.
4:15am at the airport, LOOOOONNNNG line at Canjet checkin, already well past the elevators. Love the Charters!! LOL!
3 tips:
1) Make sure you abide by the one bag, 40 pounds, and ONE carry-on 10lbs restrictions.
We (as in everyone on the plane) had to weigh and measure EVERYTHING. To get a carryon onto the plane, all of us waiting in the check in line had to insert the carryons into the metal frame size thing, weigh it, and then were given a "carryon" tag to put on it.
If the carry on didn't fit, you had to leave it, and repack somehow.
We had 2 of the Heys hard sided carryons, and they fit, and our boys each had a knapsack.
Honestly, I figured because the kids had their knapsacks, and then the 2 hard cases, we would be fine.
Nope.
Ended up with one hard case, and the 2 knapsacks.
Thankfully, DH was dropping us off, so he took the empty 2nd case with him (after I repacked the contents into our checked bags)
2) If you're traveling with your kids, and without their other parent (DH was flying later the next week), GET THE NOTARIZED LETTER. Our check in agent photocopied ours, and had her supervisor sign off on allowing our boys to be checked in.
Then, heading through pre-clearance, the first question I was asked after presenting our passports was:
"Where is your notarized letter allowing the children to travel?"
Our boys have just turned 13, so they aren't little ones.
3) Eat breakfast while you're standing in the check-in line, ie, get your bagel and coffee at Tim's downstairs. Once you're through to the US departures lounge, there is only the cafe for food options...and again, because of the charter flights, the line up is, again, long. Those ladies working there are amazing grace under pressure!!!
We had just enough time to eat our bagels, run to the bathroom, and our flight was bording.
Flight was great, we all snoozed, and arrived PIE to sunshine, and the grandparents!!!
Off to their condo, just over the Bayside Bridge 10 minutes away in Safety Harbour.
What a lovely little town
Thursday saw us off to Orlando.
Family and good friends were all flying in from Alberta, and we choose to have our fun time reunions during the winter in the sun!
We all checked in at the Diamond Polynesian Isles, just between the 192 and the 535. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...amond_Polynesian_Isles-Kissimmee_Florida.html
All of us had 2 bedroom condos, no first floors like we requested, but second floors were ok. My mom has a very difficult time with stairs, no elevators, but she managed very slowly.
Clean, lovely landscaping - just like the pictures. Booked through www.hotels.com
Shuttle launch was CRAZY.
DB, DSIL, their 3 kids went to the Cape for the day.
We - wisely, I think
- decided to have a quiet day at the resort. DB and SIL got back at 11:30 pm.
They left CC at 6pm.
Yikes
But made lots of new friends while they sat on the parking lot/highway
Spent one late afternoon/evening at DTD.
Had Mickey Bars, shopped a little, kiddoes rode the Choo-choo, went on a "sunset cruise" around the lake , and attended the Scavenger Hunt/Dance Party at the pavilion.
How much fun was that!!
Great little show, and the kids had a ball.
We left at 9pm, everyone exhausted from the dancing, and sides aching from the laughing.
Great, very inexpensive "free" evening at Disney!!
Wednesday saw us back in Safety Harbour, after bidding goodbye to the Alberta Crew.
DH arrived on the weekend, flying into Tampa...15 minutes from the condo.
Great airports locations!
Got the rental van from budget using the Travelocity code - I'll find it and post it. Saved a bundle with the code - thanks DISers!!
Florida Holocaust Museum - so poignant, sad, a really difficult and so relevant presentation...go, if you ever can.
Children's Interactive Museum, St. Petersburg. Mostly geared for smaller kids, but ours loved it as well.
Salvador Dali Musuem - really, really interesting.
Clearwater Beach - traffic, congestion, and wonderful beach. And we were there on a 'cold" day.
Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City - deep fried dill pickles, and pig races.
Need I say more??
Indian Shores visits at Beach Cottages II with my aunt and her crew - beautiful 3 bdr condo, beachfront, lovely pool and spa area - much larger than other condos on the beach I found, and gas bbq grills provided. Lovely
Oh, and shopping!
TJ Maax, Marshalls, Prime Outlets, Premium Outlets, The Loop, Florida Mall, Ross, Bells Outlets, Coldwater Creek Outlet, Mall at Millenia, Countryside Mall, and a few more...we did 'em all!! LOL!!
And an update from our friends Tim and Gaye Goad.
They are building houses in Haiti (one whole house costs $3000)...and bringing food, medicine, and hope to families there.
Truly honest and wonderful people.
http://www.timgoad.com/
Thanks for reading!!!!!
Flew from YHZ on Canjet Feb 23.
4:15am at the airport, LOOOOONNNNG line at Canjet checkin, already well past the elevators. Love the Charters!! LOL!
3 tips:
1) Make sure you abide by the one bag, 40 pounds, and ONE carry-on 10lbs restrictions.
We (as in everyone on the plane) had to weigh and measure EVERYTHING. To get a carryon onto the plane, all of us waiting in the check in line had to insert the carryons into the metal frame size thing, weigh it, and then were given a "carryon" tag to put on it.
If the carry on didn't fit, you had to leave it, and repack somehow.
We had 2 of the Heys hard sided carryons, and they fit, and our boys each had a knapsack.
Honestly, I figured because the kids had their knapsacks, and then the 2 hard cases, we would be fine.
Nope.
Ended up with one hard case, and the 2 knapsacks.
Thankfully, DH was dropping us off, so he took the empty 2nd case with him (after I repacked the contents into our checked bags)
2) If you're traveling with your kids, and without their other parent (DH was flying later the next week), GET THE NOTARIZED LETTER. Our check in agent photocopied ours, and had her supervisor sign off on allowing our boys to be checked in.
Then, heading through pre-clearance, the first question I was asked after presenting our passports was:
"Where is your notarized letter allowing the children to travel?"
Our boys have just turned 13, so they aren't little ones.
3) Eat breakfast while you're standing in the check-in line, ie, get your bagel and coffee at Tim's downstairs. Once you're through to the US departures lounge, there is only the cafe for food options...and again, because of the charter flights, the line up is, again, long. Those ladies working there are amazing grace under pressure!!!
We had just enough time to eat our bagels, run to the bathroom, and our flight was bording.
Flight was great, we all snoozed, and arrived PIE to sunshine, and the grandparents!!!
Off to their condo, just over the Bayside Bridge 10 minutes away in Safety Harbour.
What a lovely little town
Thursday saw us off to Orlando.
Family and good friends were all flying in from Alberta, and we choose to have our fun time reunions during the winter in the sun!
We all checked in at the Diamond Polynesian Isles, just between the 192 and the 535. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...amond_Polynesian_Isles-Kissimmee_Florida.html
All of us had 2 bedroom condos, no first floors like we requested, but second floors were ok. My mom has a very difficult time with stairs, no elevators, but she managed very slowly.
Clean, lovely landscaping - just like the pictures. Booked through www.hotels.com
Shuttle launch was CRAZY.
DB, DSIL, their 3 kids went to the Cape for the day.
We - wisely, I think
- decided to have a quiet day at the resort. DB and SIL got back at 11:30 pm.They left CC at 6pm.
Yikes
But made lots of new friends while they sat on the parking lot/highway
Spent one late afternoon/evening at DTD.
Had Mickey Bars, shopped a little, kiddoes rode the Choo-choo, went on a "sunset cruise" around the lake
, and attended the Scavenger Hunt/Dance Party at the pavilion.How much fun was that!!
Great little show, and the kids had a ball.
We left at 9pm, everyone exhausted from the dancing, and sides aching from the laughing.
Great, very inexpensive "free" evening at Disney!!
Wednesday saw us back in Safety Harbour, after bidding goodbye to the Alberta Crew.
DH arrived on the weekend, flying into Tampa...15 minutes from the condo.
Great airports locations!
Got the rental van from budget using the Travelocity code - I'll find it and post it. Saved a bundle with the code - thanks DISers!!
Florida Holocaust Museum - so poignant, sad, a really difficult and so relevant presentation...go, if you ever can.
Children's Interactive Museum, St. Petersburg. Mostly geared for smaller kids, but ours loved it as well.
Salvador Dali Musuem - really, really interesting.
Clearwater Beach - traffic, congestion, and wonderful beach. And we were there on a 'cold" day.
Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City - deep fried dill pickles, and pig races.
Need I say more??
Indian Shores visits at Beach Cottages II with my aunt and her crew - beautiful 3 bdr condo, beachfront, lovely pool and spa area - much larger than other condos on the beach I found, and gas bbq grills provided. Lovely
Oh, and shopping!
TJ Maax, Marshalls, Prime Outlets, Premium Outlets, The Loop, Florida Mall, Ross, Bells Outlets, Coldwater Creek Outlet, Mall at Millenia, Countryside Mall, and a few more...we did 'em all!! LOL!!
And an update from our friends Tim and Gaye Goad.
They are building houses in Haiti (one whole house costs $3000)...and bringing food, medicine, and hope to families there.
Truly honest and wonderful people.
http://www.timgoad.com/
Thanks for reading!!!!!
