Air Canada Jazz - Dreams Take Flight for Deer Lake kids off to Disney World!

Hi Everyone!

Can you imagine my amazement when I arrived at the Deer Lake airport for my flight home to Halifax, to find a bunch of happy children and their parents.  I looked behind the service agent at the wall covered in Mickey Mouse and other Disney Characters.  There were balloons, cake, Mickey Mouse muffins, with pizza, pop, milk, fruit and more, for all the little kids!  I couldn't believe my eyes!  I love Mickey Mouse and all of Disney.

I ask the Agent what is going on with all the Disney dolls, food and balloons.  She said it's call "Dreams Take Flight".  It is an opportunity for children to see Walt Disney World in person.  Names for the chosen ones come from applications on their website, from schools and other places.  Children's names are submitted to be chosen.

It was explained to me that Air Canada Jazz donates the plane and the pilots and chaperons are all flight attendant volunteers who give up their time, some money (I'm sure) and work getting donations, to give these precious children a chance to go to Disney World for the day.

Here's how it works (I hope I got this correct):  the children are chosen; the volunteers, parents and others work hard to raise funds for food and drinks on the plane as well as what is needed for Disney World.  Then the hotel at the airport in Halifax was donated.  The children fly from Deer Lake, NL/Lab to Halifax; stay overnight and leave early in the morning to fly to Disney World in Florida.  They spend the entire day in Disney World and then fly back home that evening where the parents are anxiously awaiting their arrival.

I heard a few parents say they didn't know what they would do.  Another said she wished she could go to chaperon, but it is only airline staff who volunteer. The kids flew on the plane to Halifax with me and none of them had been on a plane before so you can imagine the take off and landing was quite loud and exciting at the same time.  The joy on their little faces as they headed out on their expedition was beyond words.  The joy was precious and they were awesome little people.  I was so honoured to know I would be flying with these children.  I took pictures of them at the Deer Lake Airport, on the plane and at the Halifax airport.

A lot of work goes into this amazing event to make little lives a whole lot happier and going to Disney will certainly do just that!   I hope you enjoy this post and if ever you get a chance to donate to a miracle maker, please do so.  The happiness it gives is beyond explanation.  Thanks for taking the time to read my post and please leave a comment if you feel like it.  I'm sure the kids would love to see any comments you may make.  Their journey of learning has really begun.

Various airport shots in Deer Lake Airport, then on the plane, then at the Halifax Airport. 

This is the kind of ticket counter I like to come up to!

The little guy on the end wasn't going to Disney but he wanted to be in the picture too!

Eric says, look out Mickey, here I come!!!!

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The poor kids didn't know which way to turn to the many cameras taking their picture.

I just love those Mickey Mouse cupcakes, don't you!?

And awwwway we goooooo!!!

Next stop, hotel, so we can bounce on the beds and stay up all night screaming cause we're so excited!! no sleep tonight for anyone, especially the chaperons

One last way, then off to the hotel for the night then DISNEY HERE WE COME!!

Corner Brook, NL and Deer Lake, which is a very long lake indeed.

Another Corner Brook and Deer Lake picture from the sky.

Still Corner Brook and Deer Lake, going on into the wide ocean

So beautiful!

Snowy covered landscape

Services of Air Canada and Flight Central

Hey folks.

I recently flew to Montreal and just this week, to Deer Lake.  Today I had to call Flight Central and Air Canada.  I feel I must write about my experiences.  There are no pictures, but the services I received must be told.

After my conference ended in Montreal, I went to the airport to return home.  I am normally an Aeroplan Prestige member.  I believe I didn't make it last year by 2 points.  However, I have never been refused service while at the Priority line when I book in for my flight.  In Montreal, they refused to allow me to check in because the woman said I was just a regular member.  Hey wait a minute, isn't it the many "regular" members who buy their airfare tickets which in turn provides the airline with nice profits?  I know the elite status pay more but the airline couldn't survive without the "rest" of us.  She was so ignorant and rude.  What a disappointment she was and she made Air Canada look so bad.  If this is the best service, then WestJet and Porter look even better than before.

When I left Deer Lake this week, I had the warmest service by the airline workers.  Their warmth and politeness was a God send.  I know Air Canada has some difficult people, but most of them are fabulous and Deer Lake have them.  Funny, I just learned that there are no deer in NL/Lab because they can't survive the weather, yet the very large lake is called Deer Lake.  They do have lots of Moose!

I had to call Flight Central today to inquire about flights to Toronto for the TBEX conference.  The helpfulness of Meagan Abriel from Bedford, Nova Scotia was so awesome!  I felt like I was talking to a long time friend.  She was so helpful, I couldn't believe it.  Thank you Meagan, you are a true asset to Flight Central.

After my call with Meagan, I then called Air Canada to inquire if my Aeroplan points were assigned to my flights to Toronto for the TBEX conference and if they put in my request for a wheelchair.  Since my cancer travel days, my knees have little or no cartilage which makes walking long distances very difficult.  I couldn't believe how warm and wonderful she was!  Her name is Michelle Kaine and she works out of Saint John, New Brunswick.  WOW, I've had some great service and some bad but at least the great service helps me to overcome the others' attitudes.

Thank you so much Air Canada and Flight Central for having some really wonderful employees who do put the passenger first.

TBEX Blogger Conference - Toronto, June 1 & 2nd

Before I start, I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to SMK Insurance - Black Belt Protection for Atlantic Canadians for all your insurance needs.  They have sponsored me to go to this incredible conference.
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I just can't wait to go to my very first Blogger Conference.  The TBEX is the conference of conferences! It is being held in Toronto on June 1 & 2nd, 2013.  I'm staying at a hostel, which I have done since I was only 17 years old.  It should be a interesting time since I'm use to sleeping in nice hotel rooms by myself.  I will blog and post pictures on this when I return.

The TBEX conference agenda is packed with lots of great speakers and tours.  I personally am so excited to meet some of the many people I tweet about and follow.  Making connections with other bloggers will be advantages to keep abreast of current blogger issues and how to make better connections for my followers and readers.

Can I really believe this is happening to me?  No I can't!  I have secured a wonderful sponsor, SMK Insurance - Black Belt Protection.  They provide all needed insurance for home, auto and travel.  I am personally excited about their new adventure into Travel Insurance.  They presently provide the best home and car insurance rates for Atlantic Canada and I've no doubt they will provide excellent travel insurance rates for people like me who travel quite a bit or for anyone who travels even occasionally.   You'll have to stay tuned for updates on this great company when I post their new information on Travel Insurance.

In the meantime, TBEX Conference is just around the corner and I am excited.  I have lots of travel before this conference and of course, afterwards, but for now, Bring It On TBEX, I can't wait!.

Steve Kimball, President of SMK Insurance - Black Belt Protection is one of the most incredible people you could ever meet.  His commitment to his clients is beyond anything you could imagine and his prices are more than comparable with any other insurance company anywhere!  He will even match a quote by another company.  SMK Insurance was mostly for home and auto insurance, but now they are venturing into life and Travel insurance.  That is where I come in. Since I travel so much, travel insurance is a very important part of planning my travel.  Steve makes sure all my needs are met.  He cares about his clients and it truly shows!  Thanks Steve for sponsoring my travel to Toronto to the TBEX Conference June 1st & 2nd.  Atlantic Canadians can contact SMK Insurance at 902-429-7722 for the best insurance quotes.

More Hollywood

I couldn't leave unless I posted more pictures of our Hollywood adventures.  I'm including Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills & streets, where the Beverly Hill Billy's filmed their drive.  I love to travel and to see so much of the world.  We were on Mulholland Dr!  We saw some beautiful homes and some were hidden by the lush trees and bushes.  Hollywood is amazing!  There was still so much to see and do, so next time, we will visit the movie studios, game shows and Disney Land.  We saw the Kodak Theatre next to the Chinese Theatre with all the movie "stars" on the sidewalk.  It was exciting to see famous names and their hand and feet prints, and of course, Jimmy D's big nose!

When I retire, I plan on doing lots more travel for sure.

I hope you enjoy these pictures as well.

Chow

Hollywood High School

Taken from Mulholland Dr.

We really made it!

View of downtown LA from the Look Off

One of the gift shops on Sunset Blvd we shopped at.

Another store we shopped at on Sunset Blvd

Leonardo D'Caprio's House along with the following next 3 pics.

The famous Beverly Hills Hotel sign.