After tallying all the votes up, the decided weekend for the Orlando Shindig will be Sept. 19th, 20th, and 21st. It would be nice to have those that will be attending (or will possibly be attending) to post a reply to this thread.
We are currently looking at quite a few activities, which will take the better part of a month to work out. Some of them include (but are in no way limited to):
A BBQ at Miztrials A beach party A day trip (as a group) to a theme park A night trip on one of those gambling yacht things Egging my dads condo... wait, how did this get in here? A trip to the Space Center Some sort of contest/giveaway
If you live fairly close, and would like to hitch a ride OR you would like to volunteer your services to transport another person, please post here as well (including your location, when you plan on leaving, etc.)
If you would like to offer any ideas for events or trips ("dude, we should trash the Super8 like Motley Crue!" does not count.. sorry about that), please do so here, as we would like to make this a memorable trip with enough activities to keep the bar fights over "Intel vs. AMD" to a minimum.
#1. "RE: Orlando Date and Events" In response to doctormidnight (Reply # 0) Sat Jun-07-03 05:54 PM by Shelly
I will be attending.
Daytona beach is an hour drive from Orlando, so is the Kennedy Spaceflight Center. Orlando is full of theme parks. Some would enjoy an evening visit to Church Street Station in downtown Orlando. You can find out about all of these attractions and more, at http://www.orlando.com/.
There is certainly much more than anyone could hope to squeeze into a three day weekend, but I suspect many, especially those coming a long distance, will wish to spend a longer time here, and make a mini vacation out of it. For those wishing to go to the beach, I will arrange that our trained sharks (tourist control) not bother you. The ocean in September will still be in the 80's F. If you like, we may be able to arrange a hurricane, although they usually play havoc with outdoor barbeque's.
After my last experience with biting aquatic life, I will not be going within 100 yards of the ocean.. I'll stay on the beach, but only with a flamethrower (don't forget to pack an extra one for me, Casca!)
I'll probably be arriving on Thursday, and leaving Tuesday (provided there are no major conflicts with school).
Church Street is all but shut down. If you want some resonable places, Thorton Park nearby has some bars and food places. As for hotels, try and stay away from the theme parks. The better deals are around the University of Central Florida, and it's located next to two major highways for easy access to Orlando and the vicinity.
#23. "RE: Orlando Date and Events" In response to balo (Reply # 22) Sat Jun-21-03 06:34 PM by doctormidnight
Balo, sorry I didn't respond to you earlier, I completely missed your post. Now just make sure you don't be hogging all the women, I've seen how that mug of yours affects the opposite sex before!
Here's a quick list of people that have either confirmed they are going, or are making every effort to attend. If I have missed anyone, please let me know. Also, in the coming days I will post a new thread that will list the available activities, times, and dates, and we'll go ahead an pick a schedule. Of course, some of the events don't need to be "scheduled", and we can always change our minds on some of them. However, the BBQ and the beach party, if we decide to have them both, will need to be fairly set in stone.
If I go I'll be driving down from Lexington, KY - interstate all the way. I could take one passenger, if he knows how to ride in a car without putting his feet on the dash, whining about having to pee or complaining about going to fast. I'm definitely up for the BBQ, Space Center and gambling. As matter of fact, I might just hit the SC on my own if it turns out not to be a group thing.
As long as you can still breathe, your fine. I think Mason will be the youngest person there, and Shelly will definitely be the oldest (I mean, he's already the oldest person in Florida).
One thing about activities - there shouldn't be very many. An item to do during the day and getting together in the evening is enough for most people. It's only for a weekend, so time is limited. People will want a chance to rest between events as well. A lot is going to depend on the size of the group that shows up.
We found that a day on the boats our on the lake was plenty for us during the PC911 gathering a few years back.
#12. "RE: Orlando Date and Events" In response to JP (Reply # 11)
Yeah, we are trying to avoid having a strict schedule.. I got enough of "wake up at 0500, dressed by 0503" in boot camp. I plan on sleeping in late at least one day.. probably the day people decide to swim in the ocean.. haha, suckers!
You got to sleep in until 0500? We had what we called the "0300 club." We had to start that early because the midday Kansas heat and humidity canceled all training.
When it gets closer to the dates for this perhaps we can feel things out and see if there are several who want to go to one place or the other. If there are significant numbers for two or three things at once, such as the Space Center or a themem park, then they can go their seperate ways and everybody meet again in the evening.
What about spouses? My wife can find plenty to do and if she doesn't like our company, (fat chance!) she can drive less than a hour from Orlando and visit with her son.
Seriously, she loves partying and would like to see me loosen up a bit!
Looks like it is on the cards for me to come. Got agreement in principle from "She who must be obeyed". Turns out Suzy is keen to got to Dublin and/or Edinburgh with her sister for a girls weekend away. So a bit of a trade will be done.
I am hoping to pull a rabbit out of a hat and be able to come. We are moving into a new house at the end of August and both the timing and money will be tight.
#26. "RE: Orlando Date and Events" In response to Jack (Reply # 25) Sat Jun-28-03 10:31 PM by doctormidnight
Yes, we decided on the Wingate in Orlando. It offers nice rooms, free broadband internet, and a decent price. Plus we don't have to bother with group pricing because the discount isn't really worth the extra effort. Just ensure you make reservations as soon as you can.
Wingate Inn looks like a good choice. If my wife can get off work,you can add Kathy and Jack to the list. Make us probable. We will drive from West Palm Beach. Regards, Jack
When I check for room availability via your link I get,
This property is currently not returning available rooms. Please try another property.
If I check via Shelly's link above, I can book a room. Dont have my credit cards with me, at work, so can't actually go through with the booking at the moment but I hope there are enough rooms available for everybody.
The first site you were looking at is by the Airport where I lived. (They've broken ground.) The one above is fairly new, but is out by the Convention Center. Still easy access if you look at their map. Been to a couple affairs there, very nice.
Thanks Doc, will probably book a room tomorrow. Have got the time off work OK.
Cant stay as long as I would like in Florida though. Suzy doesn't have a lot of leave left this year and she has to take time off work to look after the children if I am away. Originally I was going to try and stay for 8 or 9 days, but it looks like I will arrive on Thursday the 19th, and leave on Monday 22cnd.
Will leave booking the flight until the last possible moment, hoping to get a good deal,
I'm thinking that since its during a time when not as many tourists are going, when I get there on Wednesday/Thursday, I will call the hotel and see what rooms they have available that are relatively close, and just leave a note with the manager asking him to attempt to get all the computer geeks in one general area of the hotel. I'm still not sure if I'm going to stay in that particular hotel, since I will be trying to visit my father for a day or two before everyone gets there.
Sweet. Do you mind if I ask how much it was for those 3 nights, and if you booked directly through the hotel or through another source (expedia, cheap tickets, etc.)?
I booked through Shelly's link, travelnow.com Will pay $59.25(USD) / £35.91(GBP) per night for 4 nights. Nothing paid as yet, just CC Card details taken. This is the "weekender" rate I believe if you book direct with the hotel.
I went with Shelly's link as the cancellation procedure, shpould I need it, seemed simpler. Probably no difference though
All booked at the Wingate Inn - Convention Center. The Online booking was not taking so I had to speak directly to the Hotel at: 1-800-607-6772. The price was right.
Did either of you find out what room numbers you will be in? Or do they not tell you this far in advanced?
P.S. New thread coming soon, this one is getting a little long, and we definitely need to decide on plans for the BBQ at Miztrials house and the Beach Party. Those are the two major ones, I'll try to put something simple together tonight or tomorrow.
>Did either of you find out what room numbers you will be in? >Or do they not tell you this far in advanced? > >P.S. New thread coming soon, this one is getting a little >long, and we definitely need to decide on plans for the BBQ at >Miztrials house and the Beach Party. Those are the two major >ones, I'll try to put something simple together tonight or >tomorrow.
They do not give out room numbers this far in advance. However, if someone contacts them with all of our names there is a possibility of placing us in proximity to each other.
OK, I'll get in touch with them when we get a more definite look at numbers. I'm still a little disappointed that so far we only have 23 members out there that have said they are going. Mickster is trying to solidify a deal with Newegg, and trying to justify them giving us free or very cheap gear (not just shirts) will be difficult to say the least.
OK, quick update, I know I promised a few people that we would start another thread, but Alex, Vitalt, and I are trying to set up a webpage with all pertinent info, and this thread seems to have the most "stuff" on it that a user would need and/or want to look at, so for now it will have to stay.
I'm not sure if everyone that is on dial-up knows this, but you can set the pages up so that only 10 posts are shown per page, that way you won't clog up your network trying to load up 100+ posts of crap just to see the new one. I can't for the life of me figure out what I did to make it that way, maybe someone else can shed some light on it.
When you're a Judge in Bartow, FL, you've got Andy for a Chief and and Barney for your Deputy. (I never venture North of Longwood.) I have one nice resturant about a mile away from the Wingate. I'm working on the Owner who's also a Geek and old 911'er.
Sweet, keep me up to date on that. We've got some pretty cool stuff going on right now, in the coming days we will have a whole lot of info. I know some have asked for a new thread to be started, I just ask that you please be patient while we get things organized, there is so much that we need to get organized so that we make this process easier for everyone involved.
We finally got her house sold in Anaheim, CA, after six months of hard work. Put it on the market the 1st of July at $20,000 over our realtors recommend price. Had 5 offers the first day (1 at $5000 over asking price) and eventually sold it to the first people who looked at it, for OUR price, with no contingencies! We close August 1st and hope to be settled in Yuma, AZ by the time of the shindig.
Hopefully I'll be participating here more as soon as we get stabalized.
Shame is I'm actually going to be on holiday (vacation ??) in the US from the UK between Sept 11 (yes we are flying 9/11 !!) and Oct 02 with my family....but in CA (actually Lake Powell on those dates).
Regretably there is no way I could pop across to Orlando without my absence being noticed !!
i'm pretty sure i would be able to attend as well.
i don't gamble, and i would come down to spend time with people, not on rides and in long lines.
i will see what i can organize in terms of goodies for a giveaway.
since orlando is all the way on the left side, i'd be flying in.
the next step would be to pick a hotel, make sure there is no convention that weekend so rates are low and we can possibly get some kind of group discount if we all stay in the same hotel.
(fat chance!) she can drive less than a hour from Orlando and visit with her son.
