Making FLL suck less
So, doing some research on FLL's incredibly slow site, I found some awesome information:
1. They have public baggage storage, helpful if your flight isn't until much later.
2. The different terminals have different layouts/options. Terminal 3 (so far from what is S L O W L Y pulling up) seems to have the most pre-security food (as opposed to terminal 1 which had NO pre-security food)
3. There are shuttles between all the terminals.
So, we can make Fort Seamonkey somewhere more convenient to food/drinks/etc, even stow luggage and then it won't be quite the hellish wait for those of us that were unlucky enough to be in Terminal 1 this year.
1. They have public baggage storage, helpful if your flight isn't until much later.
2. The different terminals have different layouts/options. Terminal 3 (so far from what is S L O W L Y pulling up) seems to have the most pre-security food (as opposed to terminal 1 which had NO pre-security food)
3. There are shuttles between all the terminals.
So, we can make Fort Seamonkey somewhere more convenient to food/drinks/etc, even stow luggage and then it won't be quite the hellish wait for those of us that were unlucky enough to be in Terminal 1 this year.
Comments
We were gathering people who were passing by into our group all day, and I posted our location to the Facebook group. But since not everyone was reading it, a lot of people didn't know. Would be nice to plan better in advance next year.
As to the Chili's line, our group put in a to-go order to avoid having to stand in the line, and just ate out in the chairs by the end of the US Airways counter. However, the Chili's folks told our folks that a bunch of people had not shown up for work that day so they were really short-staffed -- that's why the line was so slow and why it took an hour for us to get all of our food (and my order was messed up). But at least we were sitting and had Sea Monkey company while we waited.
My transfers to and from MIA that time were arranged by Holland America. They forgot to pick me up at the airport, so I got a free bottle of wine. My transfer to MIA was part of an Everglades airboat shore excursion. I think Royal Caribbean offers similar. It was something to do in the interim.
I have previously advocated spending some airport time hanging out with Sea Monkeys so the sting is a little less than going straight home, but the lines to check our bag and get through security really precluded any of that.
By the way, the park on the other side of the canal from the ship was nice enough to spend an hour or two, if you had a rental car and a few extra bucks (it was something like $6 for mom and I to enter in her car).
We did stay over and wait until Sunday to fly out, though, which may have made all the difference. Spending all of Saturday with monkeys definitely softened the blow of getting off the ship.
P
Of course, I WOULD love to see a land-based con here. We have two rentable theaters with greater capacities than the Alhambra, surrounded by hotels and motels, as well as cross-country and downhill skiing, fishing, hiking, and totally amazing rock climbing and bouldering. (If you've never seen Veedauwoo, which is all of 15 minutes from downtown, it should be on your bucket list.) There are also much bigger game rooms and karaoke venues in Laramie than there are on the ship.
I was serious about the NOLA suggestion, though. RCI happens to sail to the southern Caribbean from there, and the cruise port is all of 10 minutes from the airport.
I wouldn't say that HO would *have* to organize it, we could do it as a shadow cruise event essentially or a fan-run con. If we could get entertainers, it would be awesome, but I think we could also make enough fun to keep ourselves entertained.
I would think sometime mid-year from the cruise would be perfect, but there'd have to be a LOT of buy in I think, otherwise it won't have the same feel.
Maybe Navigator could be used for the Adam Bernstein cruise.
I do kind of wonder if the intimate vibe we have on the ship would be lost in a land-based setting. It's already getting more difficult with the sheer number of people on the ship, but with everyone in a confined area, I think it might be somewhat easier for people to bond than it would be if everyone could spread out more.
frankly, I'd rather the event increase to accommodate interest than find myself unable to get a ticket in time because the max capacity for optimal intimacy has been reached.
Also, we're getting off topic.
GAWD FLL SUCKS AMIRITE!?
didn't even have a warm pretzel shop. booooooo!
It's going to be a big issue eventually. If you stop letting new people in, the vitality dies and the event stagnates. If you keep letting new people in, dedicated people won't be able to attend.
All the regional events have been that, regional. I was thinking of more a fan-con where it is geared to have people come in from all over the country etc. The biggest drawback IMO is that you can't have all-inclusive events, unless we cater it in, which does not provide for the variety. One of the things I like is that I can completely budget for joco, and still get a variety of food options. Going to restaurants does not allow that as easily.