disneychic2
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2010
Finally here! I've been busy getting ready to leave on my trip, but was glad I couldn't sleep tonight and was able to sub in. I'm lovin' it!
I'm here! Great so far. I'm so looking forward to hearing all about your experinces.
Here! Great pics so far, can't wait for more
Finally here! I've been busy getting ready to leave on my trip, but was glad I couldn't sleep tonight and was able to sub in. I'm lovin' it!
Welcome everyone!Subbing...great trip report so far !! Can't wait to hear all about the dream, DH and I want to go next year for our 10 year anniversary
Hi! Joining your trip report!
The Dream looks lovely! I'm excited to read and see more about it!
Welcome everyone!Thereyouseeher,
We also live in NC and I was wondering if you drove straight through to Port Canaveral, or if you broke your trip up? We are sailing on Fantasy in exactly 366 days-it's our first ever cruise and our dream vacation! We really wanted to do a cruise, and many travel agents actually tried to steer us away from Disney (go figure!), but we are huge Disney fans and kept hearing other people say that Disney was the way to cruise..Anyway, we have been wondering if we should leave the day before the cruise, spend the night at more than the halfway point, then get up early and get to PC to board..Any opinions on this?? Can't wait to hear more about your trip!!! I also wonder if the Fantasy will be an exact replica of Dream???
Welcome!I'm here as well!
We drive to Jacksonville, Fl and then only have 2 1/2 hour drive to the port in the morning. Works great for us!
I'm here as well!
We drive to Jacksonville, Fl and then only have 2 1/2 hour drive to the port in the morning. Works great for us!
We are really torn about when to leave. Our daughter is homeschooled, so no worries there with missing school, but our son is not and he's already missing a full week of school-hate to take him out another day but we may really consider it. I get really nervous at the thought of traveling on departure day...Much to think about. Did you stay around the Savannah area? We were thinking that would probably be about half way for us..Can't wait to read more of your trip report and thanks for the link for both ships! Glad you enjoyed your trip!
We usually stay in Savannah as our half-way point when going to Disney World. However, this time, we decided to stay about an hour further south of Savannah in Brunswick, GA. We wanted to give ourselves as short a drive as possible on departure day. We also didn't want our daughter to miss more school, which is why we didn't tack on an extra travel day. Personally, I think Savannah is still too far north, especially if you are trying to arrive at the port by 10:30am. If you aren't staying at the port or Disney World, I would recommend Brunswick, GA or Jacksonville, FL. Either way, you still have alot of time to think about it, so I would just keep your options open and make a decision as the trip gets closer.I was wondering if Savannah would be a good point for us, even though I'm still afraid we'll have a good long drive that day...Didn't realize that Jacksonvillle is only 2 1/2 hrs from PC...!
Welcome!
We had a 4 hour drive that morning, which was a little out of my comfort zone. We had to get our family of four out of bed, dressed, fed, and on the road by 6:30am. Plus, we didn't arrive at the hotel until about 11pm the night before and I didn't fall asleep until about 1 am. It was quite a morning!
But, you're right, it is a nice drive from Jacksonville!
I was wondering if Savannah would be a good point for us, even though I'm still afraid we'll have a good long drive that day...Didn't realize that Jacksonvillle is only 2 1/2 hrs from PC...!
Thanks for the info! Everytime we pass Jacksonville, we always say that, one year, we'll spend a night there. Maybe next year we'll make it happen!We stay at a GREAT hotel that is normally only $50 a night and is clean with a deluxe continental breakfast etc right off I295. www.hospitalityinns.com. The owners live on site and it is a great little place.
These updates have me wanting to be on a cruise RIGHT now!!!! It all looks so lovely!!!!
I know, we booked our cruise a year and a half in advance and then the cruise was over in 3-nights! Even writing this trip report is making me want to go back. First, we thought our cruise might be a one-time experience. Then we thought, ok, maybe in another 3-5 years. And now I can't stop thinking about going back in 2013 (we really need our normal WDW vacation in 2012, since it got chopped to 1 night this year because of the cruise).I don't want to wait another year...!
I know, we booked our cruise a year and a half in advance and then the cruise was over in 3-nights! Even writing this trip report is making me want to go back. First, we thought our cruise might be a one-time experience. Then we thought, ok, maybe in another 3-5 years. And now I can't stop thinking about going back in 2013 (we really need our normal WDW vacation in 2012, since it got chopped to 1 night this year because of the cruise).
It appears that 2013 booking dates should open up next month, and I am at the edge of my seat waiting for itineraries and prices!!
For those of you going on an upcoming cruise, what are your sailing dates, which ship, and what itinerary?
I considered booking a dummy reservation, but just couldn't make up my mind. For future reference, you can move your sail date later and still keep any special offers, discounts, or onboard credits without penalty (if you move it before any cancellation fees start), right? I'll have to consider that for a future cruise. Canada or Alaska would be very interesting!Secondly, we were on the Dream on August 21, 2011 and we booked onboard to take advantage of the discount and other perks We're booked for the September 12, 2012 on the Magic out of New York to Canada We like the itinerary so we booked it, but we're only using this reservation as a dummy cruise Once the 2013 dates come out, we're moving it to a date we like on that year We're really considering on changing the itinerary for an Alaskan though I vote Alaska!
Wow, that's alot of people! You'll have to come up with some creative ways to keep it a surprise.We are doing a surprise trip October18, 2012. Part of the surpise is 34 friends and family will be joining us. We will be on the Dream. Our kids 7, 9, & 11 have no clue.
I think the Fantasy cruise is a good choice. The boat will be amazing. We would love to take a 7-day cruise, but I don't know how people get off of work for that long! For us, we would also add a hotel night to break up the drive. And then we would probably add at least one night at Disney. Usually, our max is about a 5-night vacation. But we are definitely considering all of our options. I would love to see the Fantasy, and am hoping they may add shorter itineraries to the Fantasy's lineup. Otherwise, we may have a 7-nighter in our future! And for a B2B, do they make you get off the ship? I wasn't sure how that worked.We are on the Fantasy Sept 29, 2012. We were intially on the Wonder MR for this Oct 2, then DH had problem w/vacation so that's how we ended up at WDW the week before. Must have been a sign cause I was having reservations about the whole Mexico thing.
So the Fantasy cruise is Western, Cozumel, Grand Cayman,Costa Maya and CC of course. We have done the Eastern 3 times and western once. We are excited about the new boat. We considered taking the Dream this yr for a B2B but I like the 7 nighters....uninterrupted cruise, with a FORMAL night, and well there are just things you get on a 7 you don't on the 3/4.
Thereyouseeher---I am voting you must do a 7!!!! LOL like my vote counts!