Drron's Do Disney.

[drron]

Having enjoyed a few quickies in the second half of 2017 we have decided to continue the genre with our upcoming trip which starts in 5 days time.Yes we will do Disney in style.
Of course having been with AFF getting to and from Orlando and the magic Kingdom is not going to be a simple BNE-LAX-MCO or even one extra stop MCY-SYD-DFW-MCO.No in true AFF style why go direct when you can connect.

So first is a BNE-SYD sector on QF in J and the perfect start having already been upgraded to a suite at the SOTP courtesy of SNAs.
Next comes a BA F sector to SIN for 3 days of eating.Why else do people take vacations?In very in AFF style this is a paid flight.

But back to our roots with an F award on SQ SIN-NRT-LAX.We will then drive via several outlet malls and 2 Presidential libraries to LAS where again the focus will be on eating and having a quiet Christmas day.
From there domestic F on AA to MIA .

Now if you think it will be then a simple drive to MCO you would of course be mistaken.After a night in Miami we will drive via Sarasota,Tallahassee,Warner Robins,Augusta and on to Charleston where we will meet our son and his family.Once again via outlet malls and an aviation museum.
A couple of days in Charleston and Savannah before arriving in Orlando and catch up with more family.Mrsdrron's sister and neice.But there are more outlet malls,Legoland and probably Cape Canaveral before getting to the magic kingdom..

finally 25 days after we leave home we arrive inside Disneyworld.We have visited ourselves,with our son when he was young,with our surrogate grandchildren and now possibly the best of all with our own grandchildren.A little surprise there but you will have to wait a month before finding out.

 

[Pushka]

Time for me to be Ms Green again.

 

[tgh]

ta ginga long sadly only vicariously…..

 

[drron]

Looking at that first post maybe I should add to the title-Drrons Do Disney Slowly.
But now time to get home.The first part of the trip starts out like most would do flying AA MCO-DFW.But naturally no hopping aboard a QF A380 for us.No back in the car and drive to Houston again via outlet malls and another Preidential library.After this the only library I wont have visited is Eisenhowers.
In Houston on the Amaroo's advice we will be having dinner in Trulucks.
We will then leave IAH on ANA.Another F award.IAH-NRT-SIN.An overnight at the CP Changi and then CX J to BKK.This time it will not just be the SGS but crossing the street to the WGS a couple of times so I get to 25 SPG stays reasonably quickly and so achieve LTP.

More eating of course in Bangkok.Then all in one BKK-SIN-SYD.Again SIN-SYD on BA F.
A couple of days in SYD before a final leg on QF SYD-BNE.
Probably just a couple of days rest before off to work but nothing arranged as yet.

 

[LadyC]

With a toddler, I think I will learn a lot from this TR (not that I don't from your others )

 

[serfty]

Quickies? Genre?

25 days to get there?

Does not compute ...

Looking forward to it though ...

 

[NoName]

Looking forward to following this one!

BTW with all the driving to get to a theme park am I the only one who had the Griswald’s pop into their head?

 

[Major]

Well that's an interesting route

 

[drron]

Well the time is nearly here.

Though I am taking mrsdrron and we do know when we are getting back-QF willing.
Already upgraded to suites in Sydney and Singapore.
A bit of a fright this morning when we got 2 AA vouchers in the mail because of a cancelled flight.Immediately checked all bookings and apart from a change in flight numbers out of LAS and being bumped into 1A,C Nothing had changed.Then the penny dropped.6 months ago I had booked a flight out of LAX.It was meant to be for April 17th but I booked it for December 17th.fortunately I woke up to the mistake the next morning.took a little while to get on to AA but it was 23 hours and 42 minutes from booking that I talked to an agent-if changes made in 24 hours no charge.The flight was cheaper in April hence the vouchers-but 6 months!

Hopefully we have remembered everything.Back in 24 hours I hope to report on the first day.

 

[tgh]

Making our quiet xmas in ZQN look a bit pedestrian, ah well we can't all be International gad about's…..

 

[drron]

Well tgh someone has to do it and I am willing to take one for the team.
An absolutely beautiful morning on the Sunshine Coast this morning.Fortunately not an early start with our chariot coming at 0830 to take us to BNE.As always I kept worrying all the way to BNE about what I had forgotten to dne thing that has remained the same despite the number of trips we do.So far only remember an email I forgot to send.
We always allow a little extra time in case of holdups on the Bruce but today a perfect run and at the QF domestic checkin in an hour.I do like the new premium checkin.So much nicer and not busy at all this morning.
Even better was the service at security.The woman agent noticed me taking my shoes and belt off and asked if it was a knee or hip I had done.She then called out for a male supervisor to get ready and another agent called so the line didn't have to be stopped.Then as I was collecting my gear I looked up and the fellow doing the secondary security was ready.But to my surprise he said you have had enough today I will get the guy behind you.

So to the lounge.Even though I am flying on a BA NB account and mrsdrron has been demoted to SG we are in the J lounge as flying J.But this is the first time here and again when leaving SYD that our ticket is not on 081 stock.It is a 125 ticket-BA.
Just read the papers,had a little brekkie-no bacon,,and did some soduku.

QF529. BNE-SYD. ETD-1205. Push back-1207. Take off-1217. Seats-3A,C.
ETA-1440. Landed-1432. At gate-1442.
A couple of first world problems.Our TA as usual had us in seats 2A,C but at check in we are given Row 3.Also the other 10 pax in J are offered a pre flight beverage but we are ignored.Other than that uneventful.
A lunch flight.There was one salad left and pumpkin and coriander soup.Mrsdrron had the salad-broccoli,kale,pecans,pecorino and kibble.She found it much too healthy.

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The soup was OK.
Bags out in the first third so soon on our way to Avis.

 

[drron]

So off to Avis.Even though a Preferred member I had taken my number out of the booking as the Preferred rate was 50% more than the ordinary rate.Now the confirmation of my booking came with my preferred number but of course my name missing from the board.In I go and show my Avis card-agent says this isn't in the Preferred booking list so I explained why I took my number out.I think she didn't believe me but after tapping away she expressed surprise that I was indeed right.So upgraded to a Mitsubishi Outlander.I immediately thought I might take off to Kurnell for a bit of dune bashing.

But no mrsdrron insisted we go to the SOTP and checkin.Now I had applied SNAs to the booking and got a confirmation saying they had been successful.The hotel though is at full capacity and had been showing no availability for a couple of weeks.The agent said I had been upgraded to an Executive suite-wow.Then said unfortunately your allocated suite still has guests in it-well it is 1550 and only allowed a 1600 checkout but didn't believe no suites available.She then said you will have to wait or I can give you a Park view room.No not acceptable as I used SNAs.So she goes away and a suite is available.
So to the pics-

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Now note how I have avoided having my picture in the mirror or my name on the TV showing.But then I took a shot of the view-

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And there I am.
Didn't even unpack as it is off to the family and dinner at the grandkids favourite restaurant.

 

[craven morehead]

Following as usual

 

[drron]

Just a little extra on the SOTP.
No welcome letter or amenity.
Went to make a coffee after posting last night.All the sachets had been used and empty packets put back in the box.

But last night was having dinner with the grandkids.We walked from Paddington to St Vincents.Darlinghurst school has a couple of beautiful buildings-

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And anyone who worked or studied at St.Vincents might know this old pub.

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But we were headed to Unas for their famous schnitzels.This is my 10 year old granddaughter's chicken schnitzel.she finished the lot.

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And my gypsy pork schnitzel with spicy(not very) tomato sauce.Actually 2 pieces of pork one on top of the other.

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Today we took them off their parent's hands and went to Bondi Westfield.Early lunch at the food court-the Vietnamese was OK.
Then a decadent afternoon tea at Max Brenners.Milkshakes and the kids had waffles.Grandson,8,doesn't like chocolate!

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How did they fit them in.
Dropped them back to their parents and said our goodbyes.Will see them for New Years in Charleston.So 1600 and back to the SOTP.

 

[drron]

Back at the SOTP it was dinner in the lounge.It was really good.King prawns and Sydney rock oysters to start-they were constantly replenished.4 hot dishes,several salads,sushi and sashimi,cold cuts and several desserts.
Plus the view.

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The Carnival Legend was sailing.Followed by a slightly smaller and slower ship.

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Mrsdrron had to get back and watch the last episode of series 1 of Victoria whilst I watched the cricket.Then early to bed.

 

[love_the_life]

Looking forward to reading along ‘cos then I won’t feel guilty that I have no desire to drive around the US. I will have a a vicarious experience from your TR.

 

[drron]

Not too long until the USA but we need to get out of Australia.
Sunday and a lazy morning.After breakfast in the lounge I went for a little walk.First to Martin place to see the recently unveiled Lindt Memorial.It was 3 years ago on this weekend.

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Simple.Tasteful.But most didn't realise it was there.
Then the Christmas tree-

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As usual someone was digging up the concrete in front of the tree.
Then the David Jones windows.Dodging the kids but couldn't get rid of the reflections.

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Midday and checked out.Dropped off the rental.Checkin was open.So off to the premium lane.So after coming in to the main hall you just joined the ordinary lines.Though very quiet.Once again the camera didn't recognise me so off to an agent.
Then to security.Woman in front of us was faffing around taking her time.I asked to go through the body scanner so I didn't have to take off shoes and belt.
When I came out I saw that my carryon was not on the belt-looked around and saw a fellow walking off with it so I called out "that fellow has my bag."He was passoing the secondary security fellow who stopped him.Turned out he had the same bag though his did not have the orange ribbon and AA LTP tag on it.

So after that little excitement it was off to the Flounge-take that QF.You didn't get rid of us that easily.

 

[drron]

It was just after 1300 when we entered the Flounge so straight to lunch.The summer menu-

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We both started with the squid which we love.As usual it was not overcooked but unlike normally it was very greasy.The squid from Nguyen Bros,Maroochydore is much better.

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Mrsdrron then had the mushroom risooto but I with an eye to a later meal in the sky went with the smaller but beautiful Gua Bao.

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We couldn't miss dessert.mrsdrron went for the pavlova and I the very low calorie chocolate and rum mousse.

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Mrsdrron had the Sav Blanc naturally whilst I had a glass or 3 of the Tyrell's 2011 Steven Semillon.Magic.
A couple of hours relaxing and then off to the office-

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And my cubicle and work gear-

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Before too long Grace had a glass of champagne in my hand and I relaxed.
Just after that the senior FA in the F cabin came and apologised to me that the IFE had failed on the incoming leg in the F cabin.When rebooted the other 15 seats worked but mine didn't.Said they had been told a couple of manouvres they had been told to try when airborne that might fix the problem.We'll see.

 

[JohnM]

IFE that doesn't work properly (and despite the fact that I never use it anyway...) is always good for a free bottle of Champagne IME .

 

[drron]

BA16. SYD-SIN. ETD-1630. Push back-1630. Take off-1645. Seats 4E,F.
ETA-2130. Landed-2102. At Gate-2110.
Soon after take off I was approached by the Customer Service Mansager who explained that the problem with my IFE could not be fixed.He apologised and offered 15000 Avios as compensation saying if I was unhappy with that I could take it up with BAs Customer Relations.I said this was definitely a first world problem,I was happy with the explanation and apology and accepted the Avios.
An Avios is worth 1-1.5 pence-higher values for premium awards which I would do so 15000 would be worth about $400 to me.Better than I got from JAL for a similiar problem and handled very much better than QF when it happened and despite promises no compensation ever received.
So I read my kindle,did some soduko and about 3 hours out decided to have dinner-we were told dinner could be taken any time but just let them know your order so it could be put aside.

The menu-

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To the food.the appetiser-

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Mrsdrron had the beetroot salad and I the pea and mint soup-didn't look great but was very nice.

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For mains mrsdrron had the salmon-overcooked.I had the mushrooms and ravioli-nice.

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And I finished with the sticky date pudding-

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