Cruisin into Spring Training-VWL & 4 Nt Dream 3/22-28/13 COMPLETE! 8/11

[franandaj]

First off, I am another to agree that all those people who were going the wrong way were pretty f*****, er messed up! I'm sure they loved feeling superior over a poor young kid that they could take it out on. I hate to generalize, and there are a lot of parents who do a great job, but there are some that LOVE to be right even when they are dead wrong. I'm sure the woman with the stroller fit in that group.

We are in San Fran for 4 nights, 3 nights in Yosemite, 1 night in transit (probably will stay in Bakersfield), 5 nights at GCV. UBER excited!!!!

Just having come from a few nights in SLO, I would urge you NOT to stay in Bakersfield if you can avoid it. Stay in SLO, Santa Maria, Ventura, I know you're looking into Hilton chains and all those towns have them. You're probably talking about a 30 degree difference in temperature. The coast was 72 degrees and beautiful, I'm guessing Bakersfield was at least 105. But it's a dry heat, at least that's what everyone in the SJ Valley tells themselves to make them feel better over East Coast temperatures!

YEAH me too I love the Dis, able to meet so many awesome and amazing people, I cant wait Im counting down the days I need a mini vaca stat! lol

I just got back from one, so I hope that I'm still somewhat relaxed when I meet you gals! We have the D23 Expo the week before so I have a feeling that I will be back into tension mode!

OHHHHH!!!!! I hope that happens!! Because we will be arriving at GCV August 21 until the 26th- so we would DEFINITELY overlap!!!! Oh PLEASE say it's so!! I've been dying to meet you, Jenny-girl, for a very long time!!

Jenny, I need to message you about your DL day, Ellen and I are going to meet up for drinks on the 21st at a nice and serene place. If that's the day you want to go, maybe we can all meet up!

 

[jedijill]

Omg El I haven't had a Konk Kooler either.. so Jill you willjust have to have a few for us k..

You guys should just tag along and drink them with me.

Jill in CO

 

[rentayenta]

Jenny, I need to message you about your DL day, Ellen and I are going to meet up for drinks on the 21st at a nice and serene place. If that's the day you want to go, maybe we can all meet up!

A meet sounds fun. I like the word serene. Michael doesn't believe we'll only do one day at Disney. I told him we did it last time. Still kicking myself, hard, for not taking him up on his buzzed AP offer.





Ellen, I've been dying to meet you too. I'll let you know as soon as I know. We'll be staying with my friend in Seal Beach, like 2 blocks from the beach. It's going to be a beach heavy trip once I get the green light to go.

 

[EvilQueensRock]

What a fun trip! We are doing something similar in October 2014, except DH will not let us cruise Disney without him. Thanks for the heads up on Vibe vs Edge - DD will be in a similar situation where she will turn 14 within a month of the cruise. (She had already declared she wanted to go to Vibe.)

 

[podsnel]

YEAH me too I love the Dis, able to meet so many awesome and amazing people, I cant wait Im counting down the days I need a mini vaca stat! lol

Me too!! It's almost here! Although, truth be told, I am more excited for baseball to be done than ANYTHING else. I have grown to HATE it- four teams of "Yea- there's some baseball at some point but we're men and we can't give you a schedule til 5 minutes before you need to be there because we aren't worried about your other kids or babysitters for your other son or the logistics of getting one kid to one field at 3 and another kid to a different field at another end of the earth at 5" has gotten surprisingly OLD!

Nassau isn't considered super safe- they were ok with me getting off, just not by myself-
ya its not even safe to go mail a postcard!!!

I still can't believe you did that!

Omg El I haven't had a Konk Kooler either.. so Jill you willjust have to have a few for us k..

I thought about it again and I think I actually did have one once- I remember it was really sweet. But I would like to try again, that's for sure! We need to plan a cruise for the next trip- and we are GOING, no matter WHO cancels out. Got it?

 

[podsnel]

First off, I am another to agree that all those people who were going the wrong way were pretty f*****, er messed up! I'm sure they loved feeling superior over a poor young kid that they could take it out on. I hate to generalize, and there are a lot of parents who do a great job, but there are some that LOVE to be right even when they are dead wrong. I'm sure the woman with the stroller fit in that group.

Yes, I believe she did- of course, because it was clear she was ALWAYS right!

Just having come from a few nights in SLO, I would urge you NOT to stay in Bakersfield if you can avoid it. Stay in SLO, Santa Maria, Ventura, I know you're looking into Hilton chains and all those towns have them. You're probably talking about a 30 degree difference in temperature. The coast was 72 degrees and beautiful, I'm guessing Bakersfield was at least 105. But it's a dry heat, at least that's what everyone in the SJ Valley tells themselves to make them feel better over East Coast temperatures!

Well, sorry babe, but we are still staying in Bakersfield. As long as there's air conditioning in the car and in the hotel room, that's really all we care about- we are not hangin out there, just pulling over and sleeping! I looked, and while the coast is much prettier I'm sure, and much cooler, it also adds a good 3 hours to our drive. Our plan is to spend the day in Yosemite, go see the Sequoias, drive 4 hours, stopping somewhere in fresno to eat, then sleep in Bakersfield, then wake up and drive a couple more hours to DL. It's just a pit stop, KWIM? And I have heard about this dry heat- we are having a heat wave here right now, and it's pretty humid out there in addition to being 99 degrees- just YUCK!

I just got back from one, so I hope that I'm still somewhat relaxed when I meet you gals! We have the D23 Expo the week before so I have a feeling that I will be back into tension mode!

Nahhh....I'm sure you'll be relaxed with us- you'll be too busy laughing at Drea to be tension mode about anything!

Jenny, I need to message you about your DL day, Ellen and I are going to meet up for drinks on the 21st at a nice and serene place. If that's the day you want to go, maybe we can all meet up!

YES!!!!!!!!!

You guys should just tag along and drink them with me.

Jill in CO

I wish we could!

A meet sounds fun. I like the word serene. Michael doesn't believe we'll only do one day at Disney. I told him we did it last time. Still kicking myself, hard, for not taking him up on his buzzed AP offer.


Ellen, I've been dying to meet you too. I'll let you know as soon as I know. We'll be staying with my friend in Seal Beach, like 2 blocks from the beach. It's going to be a beach heavy trip once I get the green light to go.

I have my fingers and toes all crossed!

What a fun trip! We are doing something similar in October 2014, except DH will not let us cruise Disney without him. Thanks for the heads up on Vibe vs Edge - DD will be in a similar situation where she will turn 14 within a month of the cruise. (She had already declared she wanted to go to Vibe.)

Thanks! It was a very fun trip, and I felt very lucky to be on it! I hope it all works out for your DD in Vibe!

 

[podsnel]

So I continued to hang out with my Kindle, enjoying a relaxing day on the beach...





I did not venture out to the slides this time- it was in the 70's (air temp) and the water was cool- I am one of those that has to be hot to go swimming, ya know?



See? Only a few diehards out there!





Hey! Great news! I was in the process of posting the pics, and PB froze up, so I exited and went back and now all the rest of the CC pics are gone! But dinner and Pirate night are there! Makes total sense, right?

I'll be back later when PB finds my photos- SO STUPID!!!!!!!

 

[podsnel]

And we're back! Well, that makes sense!



I took a stroll out to that Heads Up bar-

NEXT time, I will actually have to order something from there....




So i walked the other way....



And then went back to read some more-





but, eventually, it dawned on me that there were less and less people on the beach, and that maybe i should go round up Tim...



except....all those teens were gone, and he had already rounded himself up and back to the ship! Guess that would mean it's time for me to go, too!






The dreaded sign....



Which is MUCH MUCH easier to take when you aren't thinking "DAMN! Time to pack ALREADY!!!"









Maybe it's just me, but I felt like I was being watched!





Back to the cabin, where I found my young traveling companion/deserter. We ordered some room service, and watched



which I had never seen before. And which also reminds me....I did not go to a Magic Show the day before- I went to the movies and saw Oz the Great and Powerful in 3D with Timmy. DUH. And we liked it, but didn't love it. Which was also the collective opinion of my drinking & pouring companions the night before, who all LOVED Brave. Which I had also never seen, so that was why I was watching it NOW in my cabin.

Sorry about the mix up- I guess I really should take notes if I'm going to write TRs 4 months after the fact!

While we were watching, our room service was delivered (and it came in like 30 minutes, which was impressive considering what time of day it was)



THIS time, i was not going to forget to have



Like I did on the last cruise.



After Brave (and showers) we actually DID go to the Magic show-



They are married, I think they said she was a former Miss Some Southern State like Georgia or Mississippi...



Great Magic show! I really do find magic fascinating.

Up next- Pirate Night, me hardies! ARGHHHHHHH.....

 

[jenseib]

Great pictures. I do like that sea day too after CC. It's so nice to have one more day.

 

[podsnel]

Great pictures. I do like that sea day too after CC. It's so nice to have one more day.

Yea- I think most people feel that way. I think I just saw (on Flossbolna's TR maybe?) that they do CC intentionally on the last day- saving the best for last, or leaving you with a day in paradise last so that's what you think of when you remember your cruise or something along those lines, I think. But all it does for me is make that looooong walk back to the ship the most depressing moment of the whole vacation outside of when you debark!

 

[Goofy442]

That slide out in the water was not there when we went, I really need to go on a cruise.
Great pictures

 

[eandesmom]

Ok so I have to agree with Allison, Bakersfield really is the armpit of California.

That said, other than THAT part, your trip sounds FABULOUS!!!! So very jealous, what a wonderful end to summer.

I read the bike escapade on my phone and don't think I commented. Those folks are morons. Honestly that is why we often won't rent a bike in this scenario,it's the blind leading the blind, getting run over and then blaming someone else for the fact they are blind. Despite idiotic entitled self important morons being mean to poor Timmy, it sounds LOVELY!!!

But I'd be a bit annoyed that he went back to the ship without letting you know.

Loving the room service and a very relaxed set of shows

 

[jedijill]

I'm excited to have the Sea Day as the last day for my Dream cruise in October...I hate having get back onboard and pack too. Just seems like this way will be more relaxing!

Jill in CO

 

[podsnel]

That slide out in the water was not there when we went, I really need to go on a cruise.
Great pictures

Well, now those slides are alot more recent- they built them when they expanded CC for the dream and the Fantasy. So that makes sense! I hope you do go on a cruise again- there is a TON more to do at CC than what you remember!

Ok so I have to agree with Allison, Bakersfield really is the armpit of California.

So do you guys mean we should not even SLEEP there? We don't have any plans to do anything in Bakersfield other than park our car overnight while we sleep.

That said, other than THAT part, your trip sounds FABULOUS!!!! So very jealous, what a wonderful end to summer.

Our end of summer is actually going to be at the beach in Florida- the kids go back to school Sept 9th this year (Rosh Hashanah and Labor Day are the same week, so they get the week off-)

I read the bike escapade on my phone and don't think I commented. Those folks are morons. Honestly that is why we often won't rent a bike in this scenario,it's the blind leading the blind, getting run over and then blaming someone else for the fact they are blind. Despite idiotic entitled self important morons being mean to poor Timmy, it sounds LOVELY!!!

That totally cracked me up! I think you're more pissed than me! Seriously- I felt like I was in an alternate universe or something- I could not wrap my head around how all these people thought it was ok to go against the arrows! BIZARRE!!

But I'd be a bit annoyed that he went back to the ship without letting you know.

I was- I let him have it when I found him.

Loving the room service and a very relaxed set of shows

Yes, it was relaxing-

I'm excited to have the Sea Day as the last day for my Dream cruise in October...I hate having get back onboard and pack too. Just seems like this way will be more relaxing!

Jill in CO

SOOOOO much better! You'll see!!

 

[rentayenta]

I'm so envious that you live some where that observe the High Holidays (Rosh and Yom Kippur). Utah still doesn't know what that is but by gosh July 24th is a holiday here. It's Pioneer Day or as we sinners call it: Pie and Beer Day.


Looks like a fun day. How did Timmy let you know he was back on the ship?

How cold was the water at CC? I'm a little nervous for our January adventure.

Chicken wings and Mickey bars, my exact plan for an after excursion snack.

And I echo that Bakersfield is a crap hole but certainly not as bad as Barstow. But you're fine to sleep there.

 

[eandesmom]

So do you guys mean we should not even SLEEP there? We don't have any plans to do anything in Bakersfield other than park our car overnight while we sleep.

Yes, you can sleep there. BUT for me, with it only what, another hour to LA....2 to Anaheim, why stop?

Well, sorry babe, but we are still staying in Bakersfield. As long as there's air conditioning in the car and in the hotel room, that's really all we care about- we are not hangin out there, just pulling over and sleeping! I looked, and while the coast is much prettier I'm sure, and much cooler, it also adds a good 3 hours to our drive. Our plan is to spend the day in Yosemite, go see the Sequoias, drive 4 hours, stopping somewhere in fresno to eat, then sleep in Bakersfield, then wake up and drive a couple more hours to DL. It's just a pit stop, KWIM? And I have heard about this dry heat- we are having a heat wave here right now, and it's pretty humid out there in addition to being 99 degrees- just YUCK!

That said...I think you are backtracking to go up to Fresno for dinner, you may come out via Three Rivers/Visalia. If you spend the full day at Yosemite to even be able to get to Sequoia, see much, then drive to dinner I wouldn't think you'd want to backtrack at all. Mapquest or whatever times don't always allow for the smaller heavy tourist roads you will be on...

That totally cracked me up! I think you're more pissed than me! Seriously- I felt like I was in an alternate universe or something- I could not wrap my head around how all these people thought it was ok to go against the arrows! BIZARRE!!

I would probably have been as befuddled as you. Jeff would have gone ballistic.

 

[MEK]

I hear ya on the "I have to be really hot to swim". Like right now I want to jump in a pool after being outside for exactly 2 seconds. I almost considered trading my DVC for a pool. Haha NOT!

Beautiful pictures in this update. That one that looks right at the boat - it seriously looks like those decks are going in opposite directions.

CC looks so beautiful and relaxing.

BTW- I started a TR about my HHI (which I love more than ever) trip which will segway into my June trip. Stop on by when you get some time.

 

[Cheryl726]

Great pics of CC! I can't believe I still have to wait one year! We've always had CC as the last, next year's I think we have a sea day after CC so that will be a nice change, especially with that dreaded walk back to the ship!

 

[podsnel]

I'm so envious that you live some where that observe the High Holidays (Rosh and Yom Kippur). Utah still doesn't know what that is but by gosh July 24th is a holiday here. It's Pioneer Day or as we sinners call it: Pie and Beer Day.

Well, we have a lot of Jewish families in our town, so those High Holidays are definitely paid attention to! Pie and beer day....not so much!

Looks like a fun day. How did Timmy let you know he was back on the ship?

He was in the cabin when I opened the door. I pretty much let him have it, then we ordered room service and watched the movie.

How cold was the water at CC? I'm a little nervous for our January adventure.

It wasn't freezing- I'm just a wimp! I will let you know how it is when I am there this January, how's that? Then you'll know whether you need to pack a dry suit or not.

Chicken wings and Mickey bars, my exact plan for an after excursion snack.

It works!

And I echo that Bakersfield is a crap hole but certainly not as bad as Barstow. But you're fine to sleep there.

Good- thanks!

Yes, you can sleep there. BUT for me, with it only what, another hour to LA....2 to Anaheim, why stop?

I guess to break up the driving? We want to stay in Yosemite as long as possible- so if we are leaving there at 4 or 5, we would get there around 9ish- we could watch some TV and hit the sack. If we drive all the way? We would want to leave much earlier- plus I am guessing we're going to be kind of pooped, having just spent nearly a week in hyper-activity mode. Not a ton of down time in either San Francisco or Yosemite- but I guess an hour longer to LA wouldn't be so bad- I just checked, it's 2 more hours. What about Santa Clarita? That would work- are you all ok with me sleeping in Santa Clarita?



That said...I think you are backtracking to go up to Fresno for dinner, you may come out via Three Rivers/Visalia. If you spend the full day at Yosemite to even be able to get to Sequoia, see much, then drive to dinner I wouldn't think you'd want to backtrack at all. Mapquest or whatever times don't always allow for the smaller heavy tourist roads you will be on...

You're thinking of different Sequoias- I'm talking about the Mariposa Grove in southern Yosemite. Fresno is about 1 1/2 hours south of there.

I would probably have been as befuddled as you. Jeff would have gone ballistic.

I believe most men would. And women!

I hear ya on the "I have to be really hot to swim". Like right now I want to jump in a pool after being outside for exactly 2 seconds. I almost considered trading my DVC for a pool. Haha NOT!

Are you in this heatwave, too? It is going over 100 tomorrow, and we have three baseball games. God give me strength.

Beautiful pictures in this update. That one that looks right at the boat - it seriously looks like those decks are going in opposite directions.

Didn't notice!

CC looks so beautiful and relaxing.

BTW- I started a TR about my HHI (which I love more than ever) trip which will segway into my June trip. Stop on by when you get some time.

Thanks so much for telling me- I have been so far behind on my TRs, I must have missed it when you posted the link- but I am all caught up now! I do love it there- I had tears in my eyes a couple of times- your photos are so beautiful!

Great pics of CC! I can't believe I still have to wait one year! We've always had CC as the last, next year's I think we have a sea day after CC so that will be a nice change, especially with that dreaded walk back to the ship!

That walk STINKS!!! You will love having a sea day as your last day- we will not have that luxury on our NYE cruise- it will be the walk back to pack all over again on the Fantasy....

 

[franandaj]

First off, very nice update. I don't have kids, but if I did I would have let Timmy have it too! I freak out when Fran doesn't tell me when she is leaving or going somewhere (and that is fairly often )

I never thought about having to come back from CC to pack. I will definitely consider that in booking future cruises. I want a day at sea before I get off the ship!

Well, sorry babe, but we are still staying in Bakersfield. As long as there's air conditioning in the car and in the hotel room, that's really all we care about- we are not hangin out there, just pulling over and sleeping! I looked, and while the coast is much prettier I'm sure, and much cooler, it also adds a good 3 hours to our drive. Our plan is to spend the day in Yosemite, go see the Sequoias, drive 4 hours, stopping somewhere in fresno to eat, then sleep in Bakersfield, then wake up and drive a couple more hours to DL. It's just a pit stop, KWIM? And I have heard about this dry heat- we are having a heat wave here right now, and it's pretty humid out there in addition to being 99 degrees- just YUCK!

OK. This situation unfolds as we get further in all the quotes. When you said Sequoias, I thought you meant the same ones as Cynthia, on the Eastern side of the San Joaquin Valley.

So do you guys mean we should not even SLEEP there? We don't have any plans to do anything in Bakersfield other than park our car overnight while we sleep.

I guess to break up the driving? We want to stay in Yosemite as long as possible- so if we are leaving there at 4 or 5, we would get there around 9ish- we could watch some TV and hit the sack. If we drive all the way? We would want to leave much earlier- plus I am guessing we're going to be kind of pooped, having just spent nearly a week in hyper-activity mode. Not a ton of down time in either San Francisco or Yosemite- but I guess an hour longer to LA wouldn't be so bad- I just checked, it's 2 more hours. What about Santa Clarita? That would work- are you all ok with me sleeping in Santa Clarita?

You're thinking of different Sequoias- I'm talking about the Mariposa Grove in southern Yosemite. Fresno is about 1 1/2 hours south of there.

So if you're coming from the Western side of the SJ valley, I'm wondering why you want to drive all the way over to the 99 instead of take the 5 all the way down. I know that you were looking at staying in Hilton chains and there aren't any of those on the 5, but the 99 is a local Highway that goes through lots of towns and the speed limit is reduced.

The I-5 passes through plenty of places with hotels where you could stop, crash, watch TV and just chill, and I'm not trying to change your plans, just giving you a heads up that if you're interested in saving time, you might want to stay on the I5 and stay in someplace like Grapevine.

I wouldn't advise that you drive over the Grapevine in the dark if you haven't done it before. It's a large pass that goes up to about 4400 feet. When I was young and invincible, I had no problem driving over the Grapevine. Somehow in my adulthood, I prefer to make Fran do it and she is happy to oblige me.

We are figuring on the same drive in reverse next week. We have a "special lunch" for one of Fran's long time friends 70th birthday. After booking this we found out I have my XXth reuinion the next night in San Jose. So essentially we will finish lunch and hit the road to Nor cal. How stupid is that? My parents have forbid us from arriving in the middle of the night since they just moved to a new place and claim that the walk to their front door is treacherous, so we are trying to find a place midway to stay. We are settling on Kettleman City because they have a Best Western with King and Queen Size beds instead of Buttonwilllow or Lost Hills with only motels with double beds. I don't know what Grapevine has to offer.

I remember you were trying to do Hilton Brand hotels, so the only place you'll find those is the larger cities which you won't find on I5, but you might want to cut across to Bakersfield on 58 instead of traveling down the 99 since you'll have a faster traveling time on the I5 than the 99. There are plenty of places to stop for Dinner, in fact let me recommend Harris Ranch's coffee shop. Harris Ranch is a major beef producer for the state and they have some great steaks. They also have a fancy restaurant with some awesome wines and great cuts of beef, but even the coffee shop has some great choices.

Bakersfield isn't that awful, I haven't been to New Jersey, but I know that New Yorkers give you folks grief. It's a lot of the same s*** different day. People in LA don't like the combo of oil and cow smell which is pretty much what Bakersfield is about. Combined with the fact that expansion has turned it into chain store mecca for the South San Joaquin Valley it has all the charm of a mini mall with all the smell of a farm and oil field combined.

We had a friend in Tulare and traveled through that route often. I've also been driving back and forth from LA to SJ for 30 something years. I almost know every off ramp and what fast foods you can find at each one and which ones have real restaurants too. If it we me I'd stick with the I5 and streamline your trip rather than head over to the 99 just to stay in a "city".