Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Cruise, Oct 30th,2010 Magical Western NewTR link 4/10

[CRdisMom]

just got the ap newsletter...we will get to see hermans hermitts in may

 

[dvc4life]

We stayed at Vero last September for a night before the Members Cruise. My only complaint was the big sand hill to go up and down from the beach. Especially when my family left me with everything to carry! Plus we have gone down for a day/drink visit when we have visited our friends who live in Sebastian. Vero is only like a 10 minute drive from their house.

 

[podsnel]

We moved our dummy date to 11/3/2012 that is Jersey Week again. DD may be in field hockey then but states "I'll mis it for a cruise!"
I better record that!
Waited 18 min just to speak to a CM who stated it has been nuts! oftern 30 - 45min wait times.

We added a friends name for DD because I heard that even though the room is booked they run out of places for kids. CM said lifeboat space.

It is a new itinerary eastern with San Juan. Nice since we have only done westerns!

Our other option was for Thanksgiving but $500 ($250 per person )more per stateroom and we have two with DD's guest.

We are also thinking of Hawaii next winter. Hope to stay at Aulani if we can get a room.

Wow! that's amazing that DCL is so busy! Maybe that's part of the reason they are holding back the schedules for the rest of 2012- I guess if they released 4 ships itineraries at once it would be REALLY ridiculous getting through- sounds like they didn't hire more CMs or maybe not too many.

I saw that the NJ cruise was an Eastern next year- the eastern Caribbean is GORGEOUS, when we are there we always think how ethereal it is... We don't really think that on the western. This summer we are doing a 9 night Eastern on RCCL (the Explorer out of Bayonne) and we will be stopping in San Juan....but not for long- I think we're going to do Segways, although I will probably send Pods golfing because I overheard him complaining he wants to golf on vacation and doesn't really do that when we cruise.

I sure hope we can get into Aulani when we both want to!! It looks like the resort is going to be GORGEOUS!!!

Wow, Vero looks empty! We're doing what I think I'll call "The Reverse Podsnel" and staying at Vero first, then the Magic Western.

And since I have special status as your own personal stalker/papparazzi, what are the Aulani plans for next year?

I still can't decide whether to try for summer 2012 there (with an extra week at the neighbouring Marriott) or to try for something different. Also not sure how DD would feel having her WDW ration reduced!

Vero wasn't empty, it was just cool so I think alot of people were staying inside. Have fun on the Reverse Podsnel!!

Our Aulani plans next year are to try to get a 2 bdrm for 5-7 nights in early August. We would also go to Kauai for a second island, I've been looking at condos in Hanalei Bay, for another 4-5 nights. Ideally we would like to be in Hawaii for 11 nights. Pods' younger brother & his family would be joining us, which would make my kids ecstatic! We will use frequent flyer miles to go, and I'm worried about Continental/United enhancing my experience by cutting out their program , but hope that won't happen, and also worried about getting Aulani at 7 months. I'm guardedly optomistic!

We would be going to WDW for NJ week that year, too- using our new BWV points (I think) to book a standard 1 bdrm for a week. But so much hinges on the ability to book Aulani for a big part of the trip (although, I could always rent the points out and just pay for a hotel room, I guess, but I would kind of like the kitchen in a villa).

just got the ap newsletter...we will get to see hermans hermitts in may

I KNOW!!! When I was a baby, my cousins told me I would LOVE dancing to them in my playpen when Henry the 8th would come on the radio...and I would do the "Yeaaaaaahhhhhh" at the end and they would all laugh at me. Guess I've been a fan for a VERY long time!!

We stayed at Vero last September for a night before the Members Cruise. My only complaint was the big sand hill to go up and down from the beach. Especially when my family left me with everything to carry! Plus we have gone down for a day/drink visit when we have visited our friends who live in Sebastian. Vero is only like a 10 minute drive from their house.

Yea, that big hill gets a lot of complaints. It's because of a storm that came through after they added all the sand back to the beach trying to build it back up. It was not like that on our first visit in 2009. I have read there are plans to fix it- but it is not up to Disney, it is up to the municipality, I believe.

 

[MEK]

Ellen -

Great updates! I am all caught up. Finally found my way over to the cruise boards.

Boo - to the last day of the cruise and the yucky breakfast. I guess the last morning must be really depressing.

That be said, your pictures of Vero are spectacular. You got so many beautiful sunset shots and pool shots. Really, really nice pictures.

I want to sit in that Green Cabin Room and have a drink. When we stayed there we had a perfect ocean view so we drank out there, but I'm sorry I missed the GC room.

I am still scarred by my pool slide experience. I hit my head on that slide and my noggin was numb. I think it will be awhile before I got on that slide again. (OK - maybe never)

 

[englishrose47]

Finally caught up !!!

 

[podsnel]

Ellen -

Great updates! I am all caught up. Finally found my way over to the cruise boards.

Boo - to the last day of the cruise and the yucky breakfast. I guess the last morning must be really depressing.

That be said, your pictures of Vero are spectacular. You got so many beautiful sunset shots and pool shots. Really, really nice pictures.

I want to sit in that Green Cabin Room and have a drink. When we stayed there we had a perfect ocean view so we drank out there, but I'm sorry I missed the GC room.

I am still scarred by my pool slide experience. I hit my head on that slide and my noggin was numb. I think it will be awhile before I got on that slide again. (OK - maybe never)

Ouch! I remember that you had a slide phobia, can't say I blame you! The Green Cabin room is a nice place to hang out, I hope you get to try it next time!!

Finally caught up !!!

Yay! I'm almost done!

 

[kid-at-heart]

So where are your tickers for your upcoming trips?

I have never wanted to go on a cruise (major water phobia) but now... Maybe I can pretend I am sitting on dry land looking out at the ocean rather than actually being in the ocean.

By the way, I like it when you post prices of foods/drinks/etc. Since I am a lightweight regarding drinks I never know the prices. I do like alcohol but tend to stay with wine since I am worthless after one or two "normal" drinks; worthless in that I tend to want to go home and sleep, big party-pooper.

We are heading for St. Augustine next week for warm weather and hopefully NO SNOW. The banana this posting is doing a "no more snow" dance. NO MORE SNOW. NO MORE SNOW. NO MORE SNOW.

 

[podsnel]

So where are your tickers for your upcoming trips?

I have never wanted to go on a cruise (major water phobia) but now... Maybe I can pretend I am sitting on dry land looking out at the ocean rather than actually being in the ocean.

By the way, I like it when you post prices of foods/drinks/etc. Since I am a lightweight regarding drinks I never know the prices. I do like alcohol but tend to stay with wine since I am worthless after one or two "normal" drinks; worthless in that I tend to want to go home and sleep, big party-pooper.

We are heading for St. Augustine next week for warm weather and hopefully NO SNOW. The banana this posting is doing a "no more snow" dance. NO MORE SNOW. NO MORE SNOW. NO MORE SNOW.

You can't see my tickers? It's still there- next trip is May 13th BWV with DISmoms....then August 4th 9 night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean & Bermuda on Explorer of the Seas...then November 9th, BCV with all of us...that's all so far! I know I'll be going to STJ again next January, hopefully OBX forSpring break, May 6th we'll be going on DCL Dream, hopefully Hawaii in August, WDW (BWV, probably) in November, January 2013 in STJ AGAIN..... Is that enough for ya??

Have a great time in St Augustine- Loni loves that place, she always tells me about it- also loves a restaurant that's there. Have a GREAT time!! And I am soooooo with you on the NO MORE SNOW!!!!! It is POURING rain here today- such a dark and dismal day, but at least it's warm enough that it's RAIN and not SNOW! Last time I checked, rain doesn't have to be shoveled...a BIG plus!!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

We had the pouring rain all night, thunder, also, but when I got up there was 3" os snow on the ground. I'm so done with this weather.

 

[Mysteria]

I thought we were going to lose some windows to the wind here yesterday. Holy wind gusts batman!

 

[englishrose47]

I thought we were going to lose some windows to the wind here yesterday. Holy wibd gusts batman!

Hi Myst!!!!!

 

[Mysteria]

Hi Myst!!!!!

Hi Rosie! How's it going?

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Rosie! How's it going?

Good I am going again in August with the family and in October with aGroup of Disabled !!!

 

[podsnel]

We had the pouring rain all night, thunder, also, but when I got up there was 3" os snow on the ground. I'm so done with this weather.

That was a crazy storm!! We are getting a ton of rain right now, too- but the rest of the week is going to be sunny and clear and warmer...

I thought we were going to lose some windows to the wind here yesterday. Holy wind gusts batman!

Yea- that wind was something else!!

Good I am going again in August with the family and in October with aGroup of Disabled !!!

Yay Rosie!!! Two trips are ALWAYS better than one!!

 

[podsnel]

Well, we woke up on Sunday morning and made an executive decision...we were going to leave Vero and spend our last day at DTD. I was just too worried about trying to coordinate all these meetings at the airport, not to mention the fact that it was REALLY cold at the beach. Another day shivering by the pool, when we didn't have our room to periodically go back to, didn't sound all that appealing. So we hopped in the car (after I carefully packed everything up) and said good-bye to Vero....

On our way to WDW, I decided to call John at Owner's Locker. I asked him if it would be easier for him to just pick up my OL at one of the resorts (maybe OKW?) rather than meeting me in the airport.

WOW...did I ever make HIS day!! Now he wouldn't have to go to the airport for one lonely locker! (But the key is...he would have- John & his service are AWESOME!!!) Anyway, I was glad to be making this easier and less stressful for all of us. Soon we were driving through....

And then we were at OKW, at the Bell stand, dropping off the OL. I had another idea... I guess I was on a roll....I asked if we could check in to our flight (and check all of our luggage) with them, as we had just checked out of Vero ...SURE!!! Why not?? Isn't that excellent! After moving a few items around for the weight restrictions (wow- that MNSSHP candy weighed a TON!!!) we were golden! Here are the awesome CMs who helped us out-

The CMs at OKW are always so wonderful! They always seem to be willing to help out whenever they can. I am a BIG fan! A couple pics from OKW...

It felt great to have all that behind us. Now we just had one more hurdle...the computer hook-up. I had also contacted the driver on our way to WDW, and asked if it would be better to meet us at WDW rather than MCO. Absolutely...so we called that we were there, and we went to the DTD parking lot....which was PACKED (uh-oh), but eventually we got a spot...and then waited....and waited....and waited....and..oh- did I remember to tell you what the driver said when I called him? He said that he hoped we were going to compensate him for all of his trouble that day, as well as keeping our computer nice & safe in his apartment all week, with a tip.


Oh, Pods just LOVED that one. When I told him what the driver said, he sure let the expletives fly!!


So, this was my thought on the whole thing...this guy had my brand new computer in his possession. He was bringing it to us. He could have easily been dishonest, said he didn't have it, and sold it on Ebay or wherever, which he did not.

Of course, he was possibly the WORST driver we have EVER had (and we have had some real winners over the years), and he should have run through the car when he dropped us off- or maybe even just mentioned he was going to leave so WE could have looked through the limo before it sped away...

So I made nice, and when he handed me my computer, and we checked that it was indeed inside....I handed him $20.

He actually looked at it, carefully turning it over, examining the TWO next to the ZERO on the bill....Uh, dude- just feel lucky I'm handing you the $20 and not my husband because HIS 20 would have a great big 'ol fist attached to it!

We said "BYE!" and got outta there. It was a thoroughly skeevy experience. I felt like we were making a drug deal at a clandestine encounter in the DTD parking lot. Too weird. But we have sooooo learned our lesson- we will be FREAKS about inspecting the limo in the future, I can promise you- total FREAKS!

At this point we were starving, and needed some lunch. We were hoping for EOS....it was actually one of our motivators for coming to DTD...but DTD was PACKED and EOS was BEYOND packed....when we got on line, we were told it would be a good 90 minutes before we could even order. So sadly, we got outta there- even their sammies aren't worth that long of a wait, ESPECIALLY when you are beyond starving! We settled on WPE, instead- so, not such a hardship, really! Here are our orders-

Both boys had spaghetti & meatballs-

Pods and I shared with each other-

Spicy chicken pizza-

I think this was Mediteranean Vegetable Melt-

We all enjoyed our meals, but I think next time I would try something new-

Back soon with the rest of our exciting DTD day!

 

[tinkmom2]

Did you report that driver? I for sure would have made a fuss! Wolfgang Pucks looks yummy!

 

[nenner1]

Of course I knew the ending to the laptop story but skeevy sure is the word for that guy. mooching for a tip after all of that. GMAB. YOu sould have got hte laptop then let Pods have him. Ha ha!

Sorry you did not get your yummy EOS- it's our fave at DTD too! I cant even imagine 90 minute wait- ack! The WPE food looks REALLY good though, maybe we will try that next time! (LOL next time...next WEEK! )

 

[englishrose47]

What a nerve that driver had to ASK for a TIP!!Ellen next time atWPE have the meatloaf I LOVE it !!!

 

[princess aleya]

Ellen I'm so glad to hear that you got your computer back safe and sound, even though the driver sounded like a real jerk. But like you said, he could have lied and said he didn't find it or whatever. It all worked out in the end.

 

[podsnel]

Did you report that driver? I for sure would have made a fuss! Wolfgang Pucks looks yummy!

I did not, because he gave the computer back- in the end, he did the right thing. That counts for a lot to me.

Of course I knew the ending to the laptop story but skeevy sure is the word for that guy. mooching for a tip after all of that. GMAB. YOu sould have got hte laptop then let Pods have him. Ha ha!

Oh yea, THAT would have been a nice ending to the vacation- an extended stay in Orlando for Pods in the pokie!

Sorry you did not get your yummy EOS- it's our fave at DTD too! I cant even imagine 90 minute wait- ack! The WPE food looks REALLY good though, maybe we will try that next time! (LOL next time...next WEEK! )

Next WEEK???? Ugh! You are so lucky!! I will definitely be heading to EOS in May- but I REALLy need to get there in November for that special turkey sandwich- I make turkey sandwiches like that, with stuffing & cranberries, but I don't have that EOS bread to make them on!! That is what makes those sammies soooooooooo incredible!!

What a nerve that driver had to ASK for a TIP!!Ellen next time atWPE have the meatloaf I LOVE it !!!

That's funny you said that- I fully intend to go back for the meatloaf next time- I have seen SOOOO many pics of it lately (I've been spending a little too much time on that food porn thread! ).

Ellen I'm so glad to hear that you got your computer back safe and sound, even though the driver sounded like a real jerk. But like you said, he could have lied and said he didn't find it or whatever. It all worked out in the end.

Yes, what matters is that I got it back- he wasn't a big jerk, though- my guess is that someone (his wife maybe?) said that he should look for $$ for doing us this huge favor and taking time out of his day. He said he was running errands for his wife while we were waiting for him. Is it just me, or does that sound a little whipped? I don't usually hand my DH a list of errands to run on Sunday- But I'm not judging. I'm just glad I got my computer back...and I'm glad I know NOT to hire Sterling/Skyy Limo again!

And now YOU know, too!