Can I just vent about something? V&As new kid ban...

[Shorty82]

Nope, not presently possible.

The Sunset Limited route, which pre-Katrina extended all the way to Orlando, now runs only Los Angeles to New Orleans. Yeah, I'm party to the lawsuit trying to force them to put it back, but it doesn't look good.

You could take the Sunset LA to NO, then the City of New Orleans NO to Chicago, then on thru DC to Florida, but it's much faster to take the Chief which runs directly from LA to Chicago.

I figured that the railways between NO and Florida would have been repaired by now. Amtrak could have at least remove the route from their map in that time.

Are the railways repaired? If so, why haven't Amtrak restored service? I know nothing about any lawsuit against Amtrak concerning that route.

Edit: Looking at the route map I think I see why the Pensacola station was closed down. With the Sunset Limited not running east of NOLA there doesn't seem to be any Amtrak trains running through town so no reason to keep the station open.

[Zazu]

I do think they should make more of the restaurants adult only or adult only after a certain hour.

My suggestion: Have each night be a no-kids night at one of the signature restaurants. Thus you could dine kid-free at Jiko on the 1st, California Grill on the 2nd, etc. This way, kid-haters like SWMBO could (eventually) enjoy all of the nice spots, and the kids can have them the rest of each month.

Whattaya say, is it worth a try?

... not to mention the kids coming up to your table and staring you in the face while they lean on the table and poke their little head up and start giggling while you eat. It is unnerving to try to eat that way. Oh, it has happened to me!

Me too. At one meal at DLP, I decided to pick up my soup spoon and clonk one little bugger on the noggin. The tricky part about this is hitting him hard enough to make him leave without hitting him hard enough he starts screaming. (Though that was a risk I was willing to take.)

And if ever spoons fail to work, there's always the fork. :twisted:

What about Disney Cruises? Is there enough space to have quiet time without children underfoot ALL the time?

Yes, Disney cruises are great for giving the kids someplace else to go. Some parents have trouble getting their kids to leave Deck 5 to have dinner. Add to that the adults-only pool and bars (which the cast *will* enforce if you ask them to), and Palo, and you can spend an entire cruise kid-free with a little effort.

I know there is an adult pool, because I read a thread on another board where the poster was ANGRY that her little darling got kicked out of the adult pool and was told to go to the children's pool. What is the age limit?

It's 18, and they will check your KTTW account to make sure.

Do tweens and teens hang out at the adult pool on board?

Nope, they get chased off.

I want to take a cruise and am not sure a Disney Cruise would be right for us. We love Disney though and want the magic of that, but want the peace of a quiet cruise, sitting on a deck chair reading and napping, eating wonferful fruits and vegetables at meals and quiet moonlit walks! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh....romance! But I would also like to see Mickey and Minnie and the gang and have fun with on board pin trading, sooooooo what do you suggest?

We've been on ten Disney cruises, and quite recommend them.

I also recommend you read "PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line" which I edit. PM me for information about how to get a free copy.

You have hit on one of my favorite topics: travelling by train!!!! ... And the food in the dining car was fabulous. It rivaled any 5 star restaurant in my opinion.

Much as I love trains, Amtrak diner food is about on a par with Denny's IMHO. Not bad, but I'm ready for something different when I get off.

I was worried they were going to shut down the trains, due to lack of business, but they are still going. There was a LOT of talk about them shutting down several years ago.

This is a challenge every single year in Congress. The Republicans in particular seem to have it in for Amtrak. While it certainly has some inefficiencies, most of the problems are rooted in the poor service provided *to* Amtrak by the freight railroads it runs on and the unwillingness of Congress to provide adequate funding for equipment and maintenance.

For more information, see the website for the National Association of Railroad Passengers.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Nope, not presently possible.

The Sunset Limited route, which pre-Katrina extended all the way to Orlando, now runs only Los Angeles to New Orleans. Yeah, I'm party to the lawsuit trying to force them to put it back, but it doesn't look good.

You could take the Sunset LA to NO, then the City of New Orleans NO to Chicago, then on thru DC to Florida, but it's much faster to take the Chief which runs directly from LA to Chicago.

Thats the one DW and I are talking about taking, AFTER the trans-Canadian trip.

It would have been so cool to go from San Diego to LA to Orlando via the southern route!! And since I have been to D.C. too many times....

[mechurchlady]

I took the train from Orlando to DC the to Chicago then to Los Angeles. It is a very long journey. Overnight and if you are not held up they you have a couple hours in DC then overnight and head to Chicago. The DC to Chicago is the last train west, sigh. Then to LA with an over night on the train or was it two. I got hurt on the train and service was with an attitude and very poor quaility. The food was great.

[StephM]

My suggestion: Have each night be a no-kids night at one of the signature restaurants. Thus you could dine kid-free at Jiko on the 1st, California Grill on the 2nd, etc. This way, kid-haters like SWMBO could (eventually) enjoy all of the nice spots, and the kids can have them the rest of each month.

Whattaya say, is it worth a try?

I think this is an excellent idea!!!

I agree the cruise is terrific. I went last Jan with my cousin and her brother (both CM's). We had an 8 year old and her parents at our table, who we loved, very funny people and she was great, but other than that, we really didn't notice the kids as much. I think they were in the clubs most of the time. When we did character pics, there were kids and stuff, but the cruise line is unique in that if you get overwhelmed by them, you just head to the adult pool area or on Castaway Cay to the adult beach.

On Castaway Cay, they even have a separate lunch spot for adults near the adult beach.

Also, if you want to have less kids at dinner, ask for late seating. We ate at 8:30 every night, and I think besides the young lady at our table, there were maybe 5 kids in the whole dining room.

Thanks, Zazu RE: the Amtrak info. DL will be sometime in 09, I think. DH did say he would "Lose his mind" being on a train for 3 days. But he also was the one who said he would never want to fly to FL, just drive. After the first time, we left Buffalo at 7:30 am and were checked in and eating lunch in Epcot by noon, he says he will never drive again. So I think if I want to take the train to CA, I will end up getting my way. :)

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I think this is an excellent idea!!!

I agree the cruise is terrific. I went last Jan with my cousin and her brother (both CM's). We had an 8 year old and her parents at our table, who we loved, very funny people and she was great, but other than that, we really didn't notice the kids as much. I think they were in the clubs most of the time. When we did character pics, there were kids and stuff, but the cruise line is unique in that if you get overwhelmed by them, you just head to the adult pool area or on Castaway Cay to the adult beach.

On Castaway Cay, they even have a separate lunch spot for adults near the adult beach.

Also, if you want to have less kids at dinner, ask for late seating. We ate at 8:30 every night, and I think besides the young lady at our table, there were maybe 5 kids in the whole dining room.

Thanks, Zazu RE: the Amtrak info. DL will be sometime in 09, I think. DH did say he would "Lose his mind" being on a train for 3 days. But he also was the one who said he would never want to fly to FL, just drive. After the first time, we left Buffalo at 7:30 am and were checked in and eating lunch in Epcot by noon, he says he will never drive again. So I think if I want to take the train to CA, I will end up getting my way. :)

When we were looking into booking the trip, the sleeper cabins seemed like a pretty good deal, that have a deal where it includes meals. With a family that would probably be the best deal! and in some cases, have the special viewing cars!!! WooHoo.

[Princess Susi]

SuziDoozy, if you are interested in cruising, you MUST take a Disney cruise!! My DH and I are not big gamblers, and we're not big drinkers, and we love Disney, so I checked into the Disney Cruise Line (DCL). We are past middle aged with no kids and we now LOVE Disney cruising!

You can send for a free DCL video from Disney, and they will also mention the adults only entertainment, even though the video seems more geared toward kids. Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, even has an adult beach (Serenity Bay) that is peaceful and kid-free.

I could go on and on, like you do about trains, but if you want more info PM me. Speaking of trains, I love trains, too. When we have a north wind we can hear the whistle as the train passes through town. Such a lonely but romantic sound, isn't it?

Thanks for all the info. That is great to know. It sounds like we want a Disney cruise! :D: And yes that sound is so wonderful! Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...

As you can tell, we have NEVER taken a cruise. Ralph's father and step-mother go all the time, but god forbid it should be a Dusney cruise. There is no way on God's green earth you will ever get them on a Disney ship. They are Europeans and disdain anything too *American*

We are going to talk to our travel agent about a combined short cruise/WDW vacation. That would be fun. 3-4 days on a cruise, then back to the Giant Toaster and the Yacht Club for a stay on property. That sounds delightful! And a short cruise will get me used to being on a ship, I am a little afraid of being out there in the middle of all that water. I love the ocean, but I like to look at it from the beach and wade in the smaller waves. That might be a great way to come in May. :D:

My suggestion: Have each night be a no-kids night at one of the signature restaurants. Thus you could dine kid-free at Jiko on the 1st, California Grill on the 2nd, etc. This way, kid-haters like SWMBO could (eventually) enjoy all of the nice spots, and the kids can have them the rest of each month.

Whattaya say, is it worth a try?

Me too. At one meal at DLP, I decided to pick up my soup spoon and clonk one little bugger on the noggin. The tricky part about this is hitting him hard enough to make him leave without hitting him hard enough he starts screaming. (Though that was a risk I was willing to take.)

And if ever spoons fail to work, there's always the fork. :twisted:

I also recommend you read "PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line" which I edit. PM me for information about how to get a free copy.

Much as I love trains, Amtrak diner food is about on a par with Denny's IMHO. Not bad, but I'm ready for something different when I get off.

This is a challenge every single year in Congress. The Republicans in particular seem to have it in for Amtrak. While it certainly has some inefficiencies, most of the problems are rooted in the poor service provided *to* Amtrak by the freight railroads it runs on and the unwillingness of Congress to provide adequate funding for equipment and maintenance.

For more information, see the website for the National Association of Railroad Passengers.

I just knew that Zazu would know about the trains of Amtrak! :D: His love of trains after all is renowned! Thanks so much for the info!
I am sorry the food was bad for you. We really did have great food. I was amazed that it was so good on a train.

Is there still a petition going around to *Save the Trains* I saw and signed one on one of our train journeys. I know there a lot of people who want to save the rails, including me. It stinks that Congress does not want to help! The airlines keep getting bailed out, over and over and still have more problems, but not one red cent goes to the train which is a national shame. :mad: :(

I likey the fork idea! :twisted: heeheehee

And I love the Adults night at the Signature Restaurants. What a great idea!!!

I will PM you about the Passporter Cruise Guide. I use the Passporters for WDW and I get the newsletter every week via email! They put out great information. I like the guides that you can record all the info in and put receipts in the pockets. VERY handy.... (P.S. I have seen your pic in the WDW guide! ;) )
sues
(edited for space and too many characters, seems we are allowed only 5000 characters per post and with all the quotes and my response it was just over the limit! Just like SGT...We have too many characters here. Ba dum dum... ;) )

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Thanks for all the info. That is great to know. It sounds like we want a Disney cruise! :D: And yes that sound is so wonderful! Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...

Is there still a petition going around to *Save the Trains* I saw and signed one on one of our train journeys. I know there a lot of people who want to save the rails, including me. It stinks that Congress does not want to help! The airlines keep getting bailed out, over and over and still have more problems, but not one red cent goes to the train which is a national shame. :mad: :(

I(edited for space and too many characters, seems we are allowed only 5000 characters per post and with all the quotes and my response it was just over the limit! Just like SGT...We have too many characters here. Ba dum dum... ;) )

That is a good idea, Zazu, possibly you could start a "trains" thread, with info on how to sign up or ideas on what we might possibly do?

I too have like trains, every since I got my first Lionel! And take a ride across the state when I was a young pirate!

[hobie16]

Ralph's father and step-mother go all the time, but god forbid it should be a Dusney cruise. There is no way on God's green earth you will ever get them on a Disney ship. They are Europeans and disdain anything too *American*

My last wife was French/English. Her French father was a tough old bird and hated everything American. Her parents and younger sister came to the US to visit. Her sister had been watching one of the Disney TV shows and wanted to go to Disneyland. The old man told me on the drive down he was expecting something akin to a dirt lot circus.

At the end of the first day I asked what he thought. He was speechless. Dope!

[StephM]

As you can tell, we have NEVER taken a cruise. Ralph's father and step-mother go all the time, but god forbid it should be a Dusney cruise. There is no way on God's green earth you will ever get them on a Disney ship. They are Europeans and disdain anything too *American*
)

They might be surprised. We talked to every CM on the ship we ran into and we met ONE from the US. :)

Great CM's on the ships.