November 6, 2013 - Magic from Miami

[omalley1118]

I am starting to plan the universal part of the trip. Any experience with this? It is hard with a family of 5. We have been spoiled by resorts and prefer not to squish into a hotel room. Starting to look and feeling overwhelmed.

Absolutely NONE!!! LOL!!! As ay times as we have been to Orlando, we have never gone to Universal... I am interested in doing it at some point, especially with Harry Potter stuff. It just seems like we spend a lot of $$$ to go to WDW... I ave friends who stayed at the Nickelodeon Hotel and liked it.

 

[magrudersmakes3]

I am starting to plan the universal part of the trip. Any experience with this? It is hard with a family of 5. We have been spoiled by resorts and prefer not to squish into a hotel room. Starting to look and feeling overwhelmed.

We stayed at Hard Rock in 2010 when we went. We loved the room and location, but we only had 3. If I remember correctly they had suites.

 

[2 princess 3 princes]

Glad that we found some fellow cruisers! I booked this cruise for my DH and I and was hoping for an adult only trip, but we may end up relenting and taking our DDs with us. Time will tell!!! We are from Ontario, Canada. This will be my 4th cruise and DHs 2nd. Being a large family, we have not sailed as a whole family yet. I have taken my daughters and sons on the Dream separately, and DH and I took our girls on the Wonder Pixar Cruise from LA last fall. Looking forward to a new "Magic"al experience!!

 

[magrudersmakes3]

Glad that we found some fellow cruisers! I booked this cruise for my DH and I and was hoping for an adult only trip, but we may end up relenting and taking our DDs with us. Time will tell!!! We are from Ontario, Canada. This will be my 4th cruise and DHs 2nd. Being a large family, we have not sailed as a whole family yet. I have taken my daughters and sons on the Dream separately, and DH and I took our girls on the Wonder Pixar Cruise from LA last fall. Looking forward to a new "Magic"al experience!!

I do have to say you are my hero! God bless you for a set of triplets and twins. This started out as a family get away, but we needed some adult only time and we both wanted to do Key West so it was a win win. We are not beach people per say, but we are excited to see South Beach.

 

[omalley1118]

So now there are three of us???? Where is everyone???? Guess there won't be much of a line at the pools...LOL!!! There are still way too many days until the cruise... We are also doing a trip to Vero and WDW at the end of September, so that helps. Still waiting on our new passports for DH and I. They should arrive in the next 2 weeks or so.

 

[mousefan5]

I was just reading about some changes to the Magic during dry dock. I think more info will be out next week. We have not been aboard the Magic before so I don't have anything to compare it to except for our two trips aboard the Wonder. I am looking forward to the same coziness but some things different. Can't wait!

 

[mousefan5]

I think now there is four! Almost a party

 

[omalley1118]

I think now there is four! Almost a party

Yippee!!!! It's is a party!!! I do believe there is a press's release thing coming this Friday the 26th about this.

 

[Donna3271]

Hi All,
We are booked on the 3 night Dream on Nov 7th. I was not going to sail on that one (it was originally a dummy date), but then I saw this one out of Miami that is a 4 night. I may book this one. We have Alaska next (Aug 26th), and the Med booked (Aug '14). This would be our 7th Disney cruise (after Alaska - our first with our gold Laynards!!)

My children will be 8, 8, and 12. I'll be back if I actually book. It is Jersey week, and the kids will have to just miss one day.

 

[magrudersmakes3]

So now there are three of us???? Where is everyone???? Guess there won't be much of a line at the pools...LOL!!! There are still way too many days until the cruise... We are also doing a trip to Vero and WDW at the end of September, so that helps. Still waiting on our new passports for DH and I. They should arrive in the next 2 weeks or so.

We have talked about Vero, but have never done it. Have you been there before?

I can't wait as we are 41 days from our Disney fix. We will be at BLT the first week of June!!

 

[magrudersmakes3]

I was just reading about some changes to the Magic during dry dock. I think more info will be out next week. We have not been aboard the Magic before so I don't have anything to compare it to except for our two trips aboard the Wonder. I am looking forward to the same coziness but some things different. Can't wait!

I can't wait to hear what they are going to do. I just hope they do not change Animators Palate as I want to see the original version.

 

[omalley1118]

Hi All,
We are booked on the 3 night Dream on Nov 7th. I was not going to sail on that one (it was originally a dummy date), but then I saw this one out of Miami that is a 4 night. I may book this one. We have Alaska next (Aug 26th), and the Med booked (Aug '14). This would be our 7th Disney cruise (after Alaska - our first with our gold Laynards!!)

My children will be 8, 8, and 12. I'll be back if I actually book. It is Jersey week, and the kids will have to just miss one day.

Welcome Donna!! We are from NJ as well. For the past few years, we have had the whole week off, but this year, they changed everything up... The kids have tue, thu, fri off instead. As it stands now, we are planning to fly down on tue morning to spend the day in Miami. They will only miss weds. I would really like more time in Miami, so we shall see....

As for Vero, yes we were there in November last year for 3 nights after a stay at WDW. I LOVED it!!! It was a bit odd at first to have all the Disney theming w/o actually being at WDW.... The resort is very pretty, and the kids really enjoyed the beach and pool. They spent a lot of time there. We stayed in an Inn room, facing the front of this hotel. I liked this a lot. We booked Inn again with an ocean view. It was very quiet last time; not at all crowded. There was never more than a few families at the beach.

I did feel like the food options were limited, but we had a rental car so we went out for meals a lot. DD and I went down to see the Manatee rescue center about 30 minutes south, and we loved that. There is a small mall close by with a movie theater and a lot of restaurants around it that we used as well. The staff was exactly what you are used to at a WDW resort; extremely kins, friendly, and courteous!!!! We were sad to leave!!!

We are staying at BLT for 5 days after Vero, arriving there on Labor Day. We have never stayed at BLT, even though it is our home resort...go figure!! I love the location and convenience of it, but I have always felt the decor is cold and not very Disney like... I am looking forward to trying it out though!

 

[omalley1118]

I can't wait to hear what they are going to do. I just hope they do not change Animators Palate as I want to see the original version.

I am also interested to see what the changes are going to be. I have loved both the classic and new ships on which we sailed. I really don't think they should try to make the Magic into a smaller version of the others. There's a lot to be said for being a classic. A facelift is great, but they should retain their original feel...just my opinion. It's been fun reading all the opinions on what might be happening... I seriously doubt they are putting in an Aquaduck!!!!!

 

[magrudersmakes3]

Hi All,
We are booked on the 3 night Dream on Nov 7th. I was not going to sail on that one (it was originally a dummy date), but then I saw this one out of Miami that is a 4 night. I may book this one. We have Alaska next (Aug 26th), and the Med booked (Aug '14). This would be our 7th Disney cruise (after Alaska - our first with our gold Laynards!!)

My children will be 8, 8, and 12. I'll be back if I actually book. It is Jersey week, and the kids will have to just miss one day.

Welcome! I hope you are able to join us!!

 

[magrudersmakes3]

I am also interested to see what the changes are going to be. I have loved both the classic and new ships on which we sailed. I really don't think they should try to make the Magic into a smaller version of the others. There's a lot to be said for being a classic. A facelift is great, but they should retain their original feel...just my opinion. It's been fun reading all the opinions on what might be happening... I seriously doubt they are putting in an Aquaduck!!!!!

I'm sure it is in need of a good clean up, but I agree, keep the classics a classic. We should know in 3 days

As for Vero, yes we were there in November last year for 3 nights after a stay at WDW. I LOVED it!!! It was a bit odd at first to have all the Disney theming w/o actually being at WDW.... The resort is very pretty, and the kids really enjoyed the beach and pool. They spent a lot of time there. We stayed in an Inn room, facing the front of this hotel. I liked this a lot. We booked Inn again with an ocean view. It was very quiet last time; not at all crowded. There was never more than a few families at the beach.

I did feel like the food options were limited, but we had a rental car so we went out for meals a lot. DD and I went down to see the Manatee rescue center about 30 minutes south, and we loved that. There is a small mall close by with a movie theater and a lot of restaurants around it that we used as well. The staff was exactly what you are used to at a WDW resort; extremely kins, friendly, and courteous!!!! We were sad to leave!!!

We are staying at BLT for 5 days after Vero, arriving there on Labor Day. We have never stayed at BLT, even though it is our home resort...go figure!! I love the location and convenience of it, but I have always felt the decor is cold and not very Disney like... I am looking forward to trying it out though!

Thank you! We may have to seriously look at doing this. We usually stay at POR as that is our favorite, but we wanted to try being right next to MK as that and EP are our favorite parks. We actully rented DVC for this visit.

 

[omalley1118]

I'm sure it is in need of a good clean up, but I agree, keep the classics a classic. We should know in 3 days

Thank you! We may have to seriously look at doing this. We usually stay at POR as that is our favorite, but we wanted to try being right next to MK as that and EP are our favorite parks. We actully rented DVC for this visit.

Oh my!! I LOVE Port Orleans!!!! We always stayed there prior to joining DVC!!!

 

[Donna3271]

Woo Hoo! OK, I booked this after I saw the videos of the enhancements. The last time we were on the Magic was Nov 2008, so its been a while for us. We've been on the Dream, Fantasy, and the Wonder as well, but the Magic has always been my favorite. Next up for us is Aug 26th sailing of the Wonder to Alaska.

My children will be 8, 8, and 12 when we sail.

Now I have no more dummy dates to move! I won't be able to book anything until Aug in Alaska... Boo hoo...

 

[omalley1118]

Woo Hoo! OK, I booked this after I saw the videos of the enhancements. The last time we were on the Magic was Nov 2008, so its been a while for us. We've been on the Dream, Fantasy, and the Wonder as well, but the Magic has always been my favorite. Next up for us is Aug 26th sailing of the Wonder to Alaska.

My children will be 8, 8, and 12 when we sail.

Now I have no more dummy dates to move! I won't be able to book anything until Aug in Alaska... Boo hoo...

Hooray and welcome officially!!!! Wow the numbers are really climbing...LOL!!! We are from NJ as well; Burlington county. How about you??? I have a 9 and 11 yo, so that will be great.

 

[omalley1118]

Ok, folks, just 192 days left!!!!! I know, I know...that's way too many days. Although this year seems to be flying, I don't feel like we are any closer to vacation. I really need one about now...

Smoke to someone at DCL tonight to request a table just for the four of us at dinner. This was NOT my idea. DH is not easy around strangers, and as rarely asks for anything...I kind of felt like I needed to give him this one. It makes me a little sad though, as I love to meet new folks.

 

[magrudersmakes3]

It feels like forever!! I am struggling through my 33 days to WDW, so this one seems like a year away.

I understand your DH. My husband is really shy around new people, but warms up when he meets them and gets to know them. I'm hoping we are put with another couple at our table as I on the other hand, love meeting new people. I'm trying to talk our friends from a previous cruise to join us though.