The Lloyd’s – Just Us Two on a Dream Cruise – January 2-6, 2013

[MichelleVW]

Great! Than you'll show us your photos, right???

Ok...I will give it a shot this weekend!!!

 

[pillow]

I wish you had rebooked onboard too. But after 5 cruises, I've finally figured out how to cruise cheaper. Do you have Kroger where you live?

Step 1 - Buy Disney gift cards when Kroger offers their 4x fuel promotion. If you pump the max they allow (35 gallons - yes I take gas cans for the excess), then it works out to a 14% discount on the gift cards (15% if your credit card gives 1% back).

Step 2 - pay down your cruise with the gift cards, BUT don't pay it off completely.

Step 3 - Transfer your reservation to Costco (you must have a balance left in order to do this). Costco's cash back works out to between 8-10% of the cruise fare.

Good luck! Maybe it won't take as long as you think to get back onboard. I thoroughly enjoyed your report. Very well done!!

Jodie

 

[MichelleVW]

I wish you had rebooked onboard too. But after 5 cruises, I've finally figured out how to cruise cheaper. Do you have Kroger where you live?

Step 1 - Buy Disney gift cards when Kroger offers their 4x fuel promotion. If you pump the max they allow (35 gallons - yes I take gas cans for the excess), then it works out to a 14% discount on the gift cards (15% if your credit card gives 1% back).

Step 2 - pay down your cruise with the gift cards, BUT don't pay it off completely.

Step 3 - Transfer your reservation to Costco (you must have a balance left in order to do this). Costco's cash back works out to between 8-10% of the cruise fare.

Good luck! Maybe it won't take as long as you think to get back onboard. I thoroughly enjoyed your report. Very well done!!

Jodie

Wow!!! That's some smart shopping!!! I'm going to start buying Disney gift cards to for spending money on my upcoming trip. I had enough in gift cards/on board credit/Disney reward money that I didn't have a bill waiting for me when I got home from the trip!

 

[Dave Dizney]

I wish you had rebooked onboard too. But after 5 cruises, I've finally figured out how to cruise cheaper. Do you have Kroger where you live?

Step 1 - Buy Disney gift cards when Kroger offers their 4x fuel promotion. If you pump the max they allow (35 gallons - yes I take gas cans for the excess), then it works out to a 14% discount on the gift cards (15% if your credit card gives 1% back).

Step 2 - pay down your cruise with the gift cards, BUT don't pay it off completely.

Step 3 - Transfer your reservation to Costco (you must have a balance left in order to do this). Costco's cash back works out to between 8-10% of the cruise fare.

Good luck! Maybe it won't take as long as you think to get back onboard. I thoroughly enjoyed your report. Very well done!!

Jodie

OMG, Jodie - you win the prize for working around the system! A lot of thought has gone into that!

We don't have Krogers anymore here, but Price Chopper offers something similar I believe. I'll have to check it out!

 

[indyxray5]

Really enjoyed reading your report and looking at all your pics!! You have given me some great tips and I am super excited, 1 week countdown until we leave Indiana

 

[pillow]

OMG, Jodie - you win the prize for working around the system! A lot of thought has gone into that!

We don't have Krogers anymore here, but Price Chopper offers something similar I believe. I'll have to check it out!

Thanks to the Disboards! I read it all here. I have to admit that I feel a little loony going to the trouble. But I do like saving the $$$ . . .

My Coscto cash card came in the mail today.

You can also buy Disney gift cards at Target. With the Target red card, you always get 5% off. Then if you fill 5 prescriptions, you get an additional 5% coupon good for one day. You can put them together and save almost 10% on your gift cards. Problem is that the highest demonimation is $50, so you have to buy LOTS of gift cards. The Kroger fuel promo gives a better discount + they sell gift cards that you can load with any amount which makes it a little less cumbersome.

Jodie

 

[Dave Dizney]

Thanks to the Disboards! I read it all here. I have to admit that I feel a little loony going to the trouble. But I do like saving the $$$ . . .

My Coscto cash card came in the mail today.

You can also buy Disney gift cards at Target. With the Target red card, you always get 5% off. Then if you fill 5 prescriptions, you get an additional 5% coupon good for one day. You can put them together and save almost 10% on your gift cards. Problem is that the highest demonimation is $50, so you have to buy LOTS of gift cards. The Kroger fuel promo gives a better discount + they sell gift cards that you can load with any amount which makes it a little less cumbersome.

Jodie

Hey, where's your TR???

 

[pillow]

Hey, where's your TR???

Ummm . . . . . . .

 

[OSUBuckly]

30 years?!? When did you guys get married...in middle school?

Also, if you don't mind my asking, where did you find a deal for the La Quinta for your night-before stay? Their website lists $94 for my dates and I wondering if I could find a better rate out there.

 

[Dave Dizney]

30 years?!? When did you guys get married...in middle school?

Also, if you don't mind my asking, where did you find a deal for the La Quinta for your night-before stay? Their website lists $94 for my dates and I wondering if I could find a better rate out there.

Got married in my third (her second) year of college after dating through high school - so you were close!

We looked at a number of different hotels that offered breakfast, shuttle service and parking in their lots. The Comfort Inn came highly recommended on these boards, but I thought I'd look at the less highlighted LaQuinta (Cocoa Beach). I called the place directly, and he gave us price of $98 with the shuttle and parking - if you are driving, it's a great deal. The rooms were HUGE, the grounds well kept. If we had more time there it would have been fun to run across the street to the beach, but we were busy loading up from our daughters move and our cruise the next day.

 

[Mickdeb]

Thank you for the great trip report and for completing it, I have been reading trip reports for our first cruise in April and so many folks leave you hanging on for months and ultimately never finish them. Your report was very informative with wonderful pictures and I loved your helpful tips at the end. Happy Anniversary to you and your bride.

 

[Dave Dizney]

Thank you for the great trip report and for completing it, I have been reading trip reports for our first cruise in April and so many folks leave you hanging on for months and ultimately never finish them. Your report was very informative with wonderful pictures and I loved your helpful tips at the end. Happy Anniversary to you and your bride.

Thanks! I had to schedule time every day to work on it, or it would never get done. DW is busy making her Shutterfly book, and it's interesting seeing what photos each of us choose! Good to have this monkey done!

 

[DisneyBelle99]

Really enjoyed your report! Also enjoyed the great pictures.....Happy Wife=Happy Life!

 

[Cheryl726]

I really enjoyed your TR and tips, thanks for sharing! The last day is definitely the worst, like you said wondering who will be sleeping in your room that night. I also find driving away from the ship is very hard! I like the shirts you both bought in the shops! Happy Anniversary!

 

[Dave Dizney]

Really enjoyed your report! Also enjoyed the great pictures.....Happy Wife=Happy Life!

...if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

 

[Dizbabe]

And, in case you didn’t know, I’m a lucky man. My lady sparkled all week, but she does every day. It made me happy to see her so happy. I love you, babe - happy anniversary!


I am the lucky one! DH makes everyday amazing whether we are on a cruise or living back in reality! I love you, baby! The trip was AWESOME!!!! Let's do it again soon!!

 

[jennyjinx3]

You two are just so cute. I love it.

 

[violetmonarch]

Awwwwww so sweeeet!

 

[DVC Jen]

LOVED your trip report. Thanks for sharing your anniversary with us.

 

[Dave Dizney]

You two are just so cute. I love it.

Hey, we got a "Magical Moment" certificate from a couple cast members naming us a "Cutest Couple." There was no cash prize, though.