~ºoº November 27, 2010- Western Magic! ºoº~

[champagne27]

No luck on SW flights for us - will probably try Direct Air into Sanford - even having to pay for luggage the rates look better then SW.

Glad to hear other people where able to get good rates though!

 

[ukintheus]

There was an interesting DIS podcast about air fares a month or so ago. It seems that the general opinion is that although WDW are offering some good deals this summer and into the fall, the airfares are so high compared to the past few years that people are having to either change their travel plans or cancel their trip. I know that last year we paid $287.00 pp on Continental compared to this year at $355.90 Although it wouldn't make me change our plans for this trip, it will certainly play a big factor in being able to make a "quick trip long weekend" like we have in the past.

 

[seba1]

We booked our airfare also. SW didn't work out after all. Of course the ticket prices dropped a little today. Ugh. Oh well. I am still happy that we got all four tickets for under $1000. I hate those baggage fees though.

For those of you who have done Disney before, any recommendations for how to pack lighter? I am used to bringing 2 outfits per day (one casual outfit for the day and one nicer outfit for each evening).

Stephanie

 

[DLW8]

We booked our airfare also. SW didn't work out after all. Of course the ticket prices dropped a little today. Ugh. Oh well. I am still happy that we got all four tickets for under $1000. I hate those baggage fees though.

For those of you who have done Disney before, any recommendations for how to pack lighter? I am used to bringing 2 outfits per day (one casual outfit for the day and one nicer outfit for each evening).

Stephanie

If you are packing for the cruise, you don't need 2 full outfits per day. For evening, pack dark capris/pants/skirt that you can mix & match with tops to mix it up. We weren't in the "evening" clothes that long and you can wear things more than once. Daytime...depends on your activities. You may need specific clothes for some excursions (sneakers, etc), but if you are hanging on the ship, bathing suit and coverup of some sort will work. You don't have a heck of a lot of room in the cabins for clothes, so packing light will help.

Good luck! I typically over-pack, but did pretty well for our cruise last year. Hoping to continue that for this trip!

 

[Popovich]

Stephanie,

I would agree with Darcy. I packed two pair black dressy "Chico" pants (one long and one capri) a few different tops. Bathing suit and a couple cover ups, a couple pair of shorts and a few t-shirts, a windbreaker, One pair of capri jeans maybe a sundress, can't remember. My weak spot was SHOES .....but, I couldn't help myself

We used two over the door shoe holders - one to hold shoes (mostly mine) and one to hold cell phones, chargers, sun screen, hair brush, pagers for the kids club etc.
We also packed a night light for the bathroom and a few clothes pins for the drapes to keep the sun out in the morning.

Just talking about it makes me want to start packing!!!!

We'll I guess I'll check airfare again and see if there's any change.......

Gailyn

 

[champagne27]

Gailyn -

Thanks - you just got my packing list started with over the door shoe holders and clothes pins! Anyone else have any must have's?

I will say that I am a big laundry doer on vacation (yes - it is a wierd quirk ). I will definitely have Tide HE liquid detergent and dryer sheets so if anybody is in need remember I will be well stocked

Happy planning!

~Karolyn

 

[DLW8]

Gailyn -

Thanks - you just got my packing list started with over the door shoe holders and clothes pins! Anyone else have any must have's?

I will say that I am a big laundry doer on vacation (yes - it is a wierd quirk ). I will definitely have Tide HE liquid detergent and dryer sheets so if anybody is in need remember I will be well stocked

Happy planning!

~Karolyn

Extras I will pack? My own hairdryer (the one on the wall isn't that good, IMO). This time I'll pack an extension cord/multiplug thingie. I couldn't plug in the hairdryer and the curling iron at the same time by the vanity in the room (not the bathroom). So this time, multiplug will help. We didn't use the shoe holder last time (only 3 night) but may bring it this time.

I may do some laundry this time, not 100% sure....I'd rather not, but at least I know it's an option if I need it.

I don't want to wish the summer away as the kids just got out of school on Wednesday, but I want the cruise to get here SOON!!!

 

[J&K'sPrincessMommy]

We have our flights as well on SW! It worked out really great for us leaving out of Long Island- family of 5 for $1,227. Times are great- we get in on the 26th at 4:40pm and we'll stay thenight in the Hyatt at MCO. Make our way to the port early in the am- not sure if we'll rent a car or have a service take us... On the 4th we leave at 12:30pm. Were thinking of going to WDW for the day, but I am guessing we'll be exhausted and then back to school/work Monday...

We always bring our oun hairdryer as well plus, b/c our rooms connect- bungy cords to hold the doors open.

Anyone else checking out excursions now? We are looking at the butterfly/aquarium in Key West, 7 Mile Beach in Grand Cayman, and then Dolphin Swims in Cozumel.

 

[champagne27]

Started looking at shore excursions. Currently thinking of doing the trolley tour on our own at Key West, Dolphin Swim at Cozumel and maybe Sting Ray and Rum Point Beach at Grand Cayman. Is anyone interested in a group private charter at Grand Cayman?


J&K'sPrincessMommy - glad you got your flights booked - one more thing to check off.

DLW8 - thanks for the feedback. Added the dryer and the multi plug strip - I can see that coming in very handy!

 

[Popovich]

Just checking in- We had a busy weekend and I haven't checked our thread in a few days.

Our niece got married yesterday . She was in our wedding 19 years ago and it seems like yesterday! It was a beautiful wedding and a very FUN reception - excellent food (she married a chef), good music and plenty of beverages. Lots of dancing by all - seeing our kids and all the other little cousins having so much fun was awesome. It was a long night!!

With the wedding, it was a busy week with parties and errands and I'm glad that it's winding down. We have a father's day bar-b-q today and then I can go back to our normal routine , work and carpools!

Well, got to go back and catch up on what I missed!

Gailyn

 

[Popovich]

I'm not sure what we will do for excursions. We will for sure do Key West on our own. On prior trips we have enjoyed the butterfly farm, the Trolly Tour and the kids especially loved the Pirate Museum .

We also loved Dolphinaris in Cozumel - we would consider that again.

The Rum Point Beach and Sting Ray excursions were awesome but the charter sounds like fun too. Not sure what the charter would entail.....

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads - Have a great day!!

Gailyn

 

[J&K'sPrincessMommy]

We might be intersted in the charter too- what would it include?

 

[Popovich]

Is there a list of kids and ages for this cruise? It would be fun for DD and DS to have pin pals before the cruise. It made our last trips more fun because the kids (and of course the parents) felt like they had friends from the moment they got on the ship.

Well off to watch a movie with DH and kids

Gailyn

 

[champagne27]

There are some private charters that do Stingray City and them go over to Rum Point Beach. I think the nice thing about the Charter is it is a bit cheaper then through the cruise ship and there is more flexibility in what we chose to do/see. I will see if I can find some options and then post the links to see if anyone is interested.

Anyone know which Dolphin excursion is the best one to pick?

 

[Popovich]

Karolyn

Thanks for offering to research the charter options in Grand Cayman. I know my kids would like to see the turtle farm again in addition to the sting ray swim and beach time. I'm not sure if all of that fits in to our time there.

I looked at the DCL dolphin excursions in Cozumel and I didn't see the one that we did in Nov '08 with Dolphinaris. We all really loved it and the facility was beautiful, clean and brand new- courtesy of huricane Wilma (I think). It was a short cab ride from the pier.

Our excursion was maybe 6 hours and included salsa and chips beforehand. We all swam in the water with the dolphin and did the fin shake, ride on the belly and a couple other things while a photographer took snap shots and video. The trainer was a marine biologist and spent a lot of time with the kids talking about the dolphins and their training and care. We had time to snorkel and lounge on the beach after the dolphin swim.

Some on the cruise in '08 booked this same excursion privately through Dolphinaris and got a lower price and it included snorkel equipment, lunch and maybe beverages.

I can look into it if anyone is interested.

I haven't heard or read any reviews about the dolphin excursions offered through Chankenob (sp??).

Have a good day everyone!

Gailyn

 

[seba1]

Hi everyone! We haven't made much progress on our planning of excursions.

I think that we will rent golf carts in Key West and spend time there doing the mandatory stops: southern most point, Margaritaville, photo of the kids by the Alfa Romeo covered in glass (husband requirement since we own an Alfa ourselves) and let's not forget a visit to get chocolate covered frozen key lime pie. I think that there is also a parade that we will see.

Not sure about the other stops yet. I do want to do the 5K run on Castaway Cay if I can get up that early.

Stephanie

 

[ukintheus]

Hi everyone....as the temps here sky rocket the thought of a sea breeze and cold drink in my hand is going to help me through the misery of summer and humidity here

I am going to have to go and do some searching on the 5K run at CC - I didn't know anything about it and DH and I would both be interested in that (also if we can get up early enough)

I'm still not sure what we are going to do at Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Thought still is to do 7 mile beach at GC and some sort of dolphin excursion in Cozumel. I thought that the reviews for Chunnukab (how IS that thing spelled? ) were pretty good. I need to look into Dolphinaris - didn't see anything about that one.

 

[Popovich]

I just booked our pre-cruise nights at WDW. We are arriving on Tuesday for some park time and then will stay Sat and Sun after the cruise. I think we'll do MVMCP on Sunday night.

Now I just need to find airfare!! Once that's done, I'll feel much better. That's a big item to be crossed off the list.

Well off to check Continental and Soutwest!

 

[DLW8]

I haven't looked at excursions in a while, I was kind of waiting for my 2010 passporter for some updated reviews, but those are not published yet (and even I'm getting annoyed about the delay).

I would love to do a dolphin excursion as DD and DS are really into them, but the price may be a deterrent. We will have to see...

It's getting hot and humid here again, thankfully we put in the big AC last night, so I may be turning that on today as I'm working from home....

I do have a list of all the kids on the cruise (or the ones that have signed up for the FE list at least). If you want the FE list to connect the kids with kids, please PM me and I'll email it to you. Keep in mind the FE list continues to change, so it will only be accurate at the time I send it out.

 

[champagne27]

Oh Popovich - your WDW pre and post make it a nice long Disney vacation - yeah!!!

We booked airfare yesterday, ended up Direct Air into Sanford. Hopefully car rentals from there won't be too bad. SW just didn't come through on prices

This week has been crazy with the kids getting out of school and no camp schedule yet. Hopefully things will be back on track next week!