75th Anniversary shindig?

[rick_ovic]

The Aussie assault begins! This will definitely be an event worth travelling 10,000km for!

[ozover50]

You got that right, Darren!!

Should we stock up on the cheesy little stuffed Koala and Kangaroo key rings?

[incubus2432]

Alas....a bit further than I am willing to drive.....

Have fun and POST PICS!!!!!

[shamustwin]

Ah, but Brian, with the lights and siren on you'd be here in no time!

[incubus2432]

+ $700 in gas (round trip).

[sloop_john_b]

What airline is everyone taking? Continental from Newark, NJ to Orange County was a bit pricey.

[jwilli]

American Airlines from Columbia, SC to Dallas/Ft.Worth to Santa Ana and back was $525.

[rickenbrother]

john b, try checking Jetblue from Kennedy to Long Beach airport. You'll like having Directv on the flight, passes the time quickly. Long Beach Airport is easy to get in and out of. It's just not very close to the hotel like John Wayne / OC Airport is, but this way might save you some cash, just another option to check out. I don't know if you planned on renting a car or not when you get out here.

[sloop_john_b]

Jet Blue was very cheap and it's my favorite airline - I was concerned about Long Beach airport being far away from the hotel, or rather, just that it wasn't OC airport. But I think thats what i'm going to do.

[rumbush]

Long Beach or John Wayne airports are great ideas. Best to avoid LAX if you can manage it. Also if it's of any importance, traffic on the 405 is heavy most of the time from the South Bay (that's about Torrance) northward in both directions, so it's best to either minimize freeway travel by flying into any airport but LAX, or to accomodate commute time in your travel/flight plans. Long Beach airport is a snap and OC is just a hop and skip away. As others have suggested, JetBlue is an excellent option all round. If I'm not mistaken they also fly into John Wayne airport in OC.

I'm not too much of a contributor around here but I'm looking forward to saying hello to those of you who I feel I "know" a wee bit just by your posts. What a kick!

[rickenbrother]

If you get to Long Beach airport at an off hour, getting to that hotel in Santa Ana shouldn't be too bad, I'm guessing about 45 minutes. Long Beach airport is very small, you are in and out quickly.
Jetblue is my favorite also, that's the airline I use to go to NY.

I don't think Jetblue goes to LAX (only in emergency), but they do go to Ontario airport which is still much better than going to LAX.

[jps]

The rooms are already booked up!

We are going to stay at the Extended Stay America at JWA which is still real close to everything.

Can't wait!!!

Our arrival is on the 23rd and we are departing on the 30th.

[johnallg]

Jeff, I just looked under the Group bookings and RIN code and there are still rooms available - only 3 reservations reflected so far.

https://secure.hilton.com/en/dt/meetings/access_group.jhtml?successURL=%2Fen%2Fdt%2Fmeetings%2FbookReservations.jhtml&_D%3AsuccessURL=+&code=RIN&_D%3Acode=+&checkInDay=25&_D%3AcheckInDay=+&checkInMonthYr=August+2006&_D%3AcheckInMonthYr=+&checkOutDay=27&_D%3AcheckOutDay=+&checkOutMonthYr=August+2006&_D%3AcheckOutMonthYr=+&_D%3Atandc=+&%2Fcom%2Fhilton%2Fcrm%2Fclient%2Fhandler%2FMeetingSrpValidFormHandler.submit.x=16&%2Fcom%2Fhilton%2Fcrm%2Fclient%2Fhandler%2FMeetingSrpValidFormHandler.submit.y=9&_D%3A%2Fcom%2Fhilton%2Fcrm%2Fclient%2Fhandler%2FMeetingSrpValidFormHandler.submit=+&_DARGS=%2Fen%2Fhi%2Fmeetings%2Faccess_group.jhtml

Jeez, sorry for the wide post!

[s4001]

*does the happy happy booked booked dance*

[johnhall]

There were a hundred rooms available yesterday on hold for us; I doubt they're all gone. If there's a problem with their online booking, please call the hotel directly.