08 DEC 2007 - 7 Day Eastern Magic Part 2

[brack]

HI all. I just booked the Dec 8-15 7 night cruise. I actually was booked for Mar 2008 and just moved it to earlier. Knowing me I will rebook the Mar 08 while on board.

Please say hello if see me trolling around as I will be the one in a electric/power wheelchair with a disney seat cover and plush disney character key chains hanging on the back of the chair. hard to miss <G>

I just went in Sept but am so addicted LOL. Plus I figured this is a good way for me to help get thru the holidays since I just lost my mother in August this year.

So see you on board. Oh I haven't read thru entire thread but will try. if anything i need to know just let me know <G>

later and see ya in Dec.

Welcome Aboard!

It's great to have another DISaddict cruising with us!

 

[brack]

We thought of you Brack as we did the trek from Dallas to WDW in one drive. Even with the three kids in tow, IT CAN BE DONE!

How cool! Yes it can be done but you know on the trip back I was rarely motivated to make in one drive. I wonder why?

 

[brack]

Jennifer,

It sounds like you guys had a great time and a nice little break from the real world!! I think Tina and I may have to talk with some of you about the DVC on the cruise. I'm just not sure what all is up with it and how it works, and to be honest with you I don't feel like going back 50 pages to try and read up. Besides, I deal better with audio than print.

I'm sure that several of us will be very happy to talk about it. Also, the cruise is a good time to visit with DVC as they usually have good incentives. We signed up on the cruise.

 

[brack]

I'm copying a DVD video for someone and it takes about 18 minutes each. I have 25 to do! You'd think that they would make a faster way to do this.

 

[MrsMork]

Just more evidence that Dennis and I are related

I know. You must be at least cousins!

 

[MrsMork]

I'm sure that several of us will be very happy to talk about it. Also, the cruise is a good time to visit with DVC as they usually have good incentives. We signed up on the cruise.

So did we!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

The Taylor's October WDW & DVC Tour Trip Report

Monday (October 22, 2007):
PARKS DAY!
We got our first use of our lovely lime green shirts this day and everyone noticed us! We walked past the DVC check-in and the CM told us we were the "green-shirt family". We walked to Epcot from the BCV a little after 9 am. We casually walked to Soarin'. Bill took DS7 and DD5 with him to get into the standby line. While, Jennifer got DS2 out of his stroller to wait for them. Jennifer went to get a Rider Swap ticket. Last year, Jennifer had a problem getting a Rider Swap pass without being there with Bill and the other kids at the entrance of the ride. This time, the CM at the entrance said "Oh yeah! I remember them with the green shirts." So, she gave Jennifer a pass without any problem. After Soarin', we rode Mission:Space (Green) and Test Track. Then, we waited in line to see the characters. DS2 was finally going to see "his" Mickey. He was is awe. However, when it was time to let others meet with Mickey, he didn't want to leave. It took some convincing. After that, he went up to the others and gave big hugs. It was so cute! He of course, kissed Minnie's nose. Chip scooped him up and was trying to rock him to sleep. DS7 and DD5 were happy to finally get some signatures in their new books. We held out as long as we could without buying the books, same with the lanyards and pins. DS7 and DD5 are now pin trading pros. They wanted to trade with EVERYONE! This would later lead to a nice surprise for DS7.

We had Fast Passes to ride Soarin' again. So, we headed back to The Land. Jennifer rode, then Bill. While Bill rode, Jennifer took the kids to JR Chef to make Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies. They had a blast! They each got two cookies to take with them. Which was nice, because by this time they were hungry. It was time to head to the Yorkshire Country Fish Shop. . .

After our yummy lunch of fish 'n chips, DS7 was taking Bill and Jennifer's picture in England. A nice CM in a light blue shirt asked if we wanted her to take our photo. So, she took a family photo for us. Then, DS7 and DD5 asked the CM and the two others with her if they could pin trade. DS7 was looking at her pins and then asked what was on the other side of a hidden pin she was wearing. She said it was a "mystery pin". He'd have to blindly trade to her if he wanted it. So, he traded with her for the "mystery pin". Boy was he glad he did. It was a special "Year of a Million Dreams" pin. I know Brack and the other pin traders on here know how special these pins are. I'll load the photos of the pin and post them soon.

We aren't big wine drinkers. So, going to Epcot during the Food & Wine Festival probably wasn't the wisest thing. It was pretty crowded for a Monday. We ventured around the International Pavilion until we reached the USA Pavilion. DS2 kept grabbing and rubbing DS7 and DD5s lanyard. So, we had to break down and buy him his first lanyard, with none other than a Mickey weight and his first Mickey pin (Mickey-Jedi). The CM at the cart in the USA Pavilion gave DS2 a Mickey pin off her lanyard too. Oh! I forgot to mention another CM (one of the blue-shirted ones) gave DD5 one of her pins without having to trade one to her. We planned to go to MK (EMH) that evening and wanted to get in some rest before the long night. So, we headed back to the BCV. The CM at the DVC check-in remember us from that morning and asked "How was your time at Epcot green-shirt family?"

Gotta love that DISboards lime green!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

How cool! Yes it can be done but you know on the trip back I was rarely motivated to make in one drive. I wonder why?

We left WDW late on Tuesday, because we stopped off at WL to check it out and then to SSR to sign the DVC paperwork. So, we had to stop at a hotel on the way home. Yes, it wasn't quite as fun driving home. But, it was nice knowing we'd be back in December!

- Jennifer

 

[brack]

Then, DS7 and DD5 asked the CM and the two others with her if they could pin trade. DS7 was looking at her pins and then asked what was on the other side of a hidden pin she was wearing. She said it was a "mystery pin". He'd have to blindly trade to her if he wanted it. So, he traded with her for the "mystery pin". Boy was he glad he did. It was a special "Year of a Million Dreams" pin. I know Brack and the other pin traders on here know how special these pins are. I'll load the photos of the pin and post them soon.

Oh my! You know that I am now going to be stalking every CM at WDW for the "mystery pin".

I already have a difficult time looking at a CM's lanyard discreetly

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Jennifer,

It sounds like you guys had a great time and a nice little break from the real world!! I think Tina and I may have to talk with some of you about the DVC on the cruise. I'm just not sure what all is up with it and how it works, and to be honest with you I don't feel like going back 50 pages to try and read up. Besides, I deal better with audio than print.

Yes, we had a GREAT time! We want to go back. Oh we are in December! YEA!!!!!

I can relate to being more of a visual person.

In a nutshell, DVC is Disney's version of a timeshare but you use points instead of weeks for your lodging. Some resorts, rooms (Studio-like a hotel room, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, Grand Villa (three bedrooms), days (weekends are more) and season are more points than others. So, you get to chose how you want to use your points. You probably see some people have a certain resort in their signature. That is their "Home Resort", they can book there from 11 months out, and then 7 months at the other DVC properties. So, you have an advantage over others if you are in a desirable home resort. A BIG plus for us, you get a discount on Annual Passes (better than the FL rate!). Also, the one-bedrooms and up have a washer and dryer in the room.

It is not for everyone, but it made sense for us and how we plan to vacation. We are pretty flexible on when we can travel.

Angie, Brack and now Wendy on here are all DVC members. I am sure they could answer any questions you may have too. We just signed up on Tuesday. We did all our homework. But, we are still learning about the whole DVC system.

- Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Mystery Pin. . .

 

[MrsMork]

Yes, we had a GREAT time! We want to go back. Oh we are in December! YEA!!!!!

I can relate to being more of a visual person.

In a nutshell, DVC is Disney's version of a timeshare but you use points instead of weeks for your lodging. Some resorts, rooms (Studio-like a hotel room, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, Grand Villa (three bedrooms), days (weekends are more) and season are more points than others. So, you get to chose how you want to use your points. You probably see some people have a certain resort in their signature. That is their "Home Resort", they can book there from 11 months out, and then 7 months at the other DVC properties. So, you have an advantage over others if you are in a desirable home resort. A BIG plus for us, you get a discount on Annual Passes (better than the FL rate!). Also, the one-bedrooms and up have a washer and dryer in the room.

It is not for everyone, but it made sense for us and how we plan to vacation. We are pretty flexible on when we can travel.

Angie, Brack and now Wendy on here are all DVC members. I am sure they could answer any questions you may have too. We just signed up on Tuesday. We did all our homework. But, we are still learning about the whole DVC system.

- Jennifer

They do have free washers and dryers for the studios to share also.

 

[Cruise]

Well, the smoke has officially made it over the hill from the Valley and LA is very hazy today. We'll be staying inside as much as possible for the next few days until the air can clear a bit.

Finally heard from a friend yesterday in Orange County who said the flames had gotten close to their house on Sunday, but the winds had changed and they were spared.

 

[coastgirl]

Glad to hear this about your friend, Julie. I have a friend in the area whose family was out this week also. Apparently their dd's school is closed for the week too, in part b/c the air quality is so awful, but at least they're safe, and so is their home.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

The Taylor's October WDW & DVC Tour Trip Report

Monday (October 22, 2007): PM
PARKS DAY!

When we got back to the BCV after Epcot, DS7 and DD5 were tired and asked if they could go back to the Sandcastle Club instead of MK. Yes, you read correctly. They wanted to color and play with the other kids instead of going to MK. However, I didn't blame them in this case. It was pretty hot and humid outside. We are starting to reconsider going to the park after our September cruise next year. So, Bill checked and they had openings. DS7 and DD5 ate dinner at the club while Bill and Jennifer went to have dinner at Epcot. DS2 cooperated this evening and slept while Bill and Jennifer had a nice dinner sitting on a stoop in England (eating more yummy fish 'n chips and sipping a Bass Ale). After dinner, we stopped into a shop in England and came across a line waiting to see Winnie the Pooh and Friends. Of course we waited to get a cute photo of them with DS2. However, he was still asleep. So, we have a photo of him with them asleep. We had two Rider Swap tickets left from earlier for Soarin'. So, we decided to ride Soarin' before heading to MK. It was getting close to closing time. It was race against the clock to see if we could both get to ride. Bill was faster than Jennifer, so he went first and then came running up and we did the switch. Jennifer got in just in time! Phew! However, we didn't plan too well. Because we were leaving Soarin' on our way to MK just as Illuminations ended. So, EVERYONE was leaving at that same time. We took the monorail to TTC and then switched to the monorail to MK.

MK was decorated for fall. It was neat seeing all the orange and Mickey pumpkin heads on Main Street. Our one and only mission for MK was to ride Space Mountain. We needed to pick DS7 and DD5 up in an hour and a half and knew the bus could take some time. So, we took a quick photo on Main Street and then cut through the Noodle House to Tomorrowland. The standy by line was only 20 minutes (EMH). So, Jennifer rode then Bill rode. We walked back through Main Street briskly with Bill leading the way. We waited about 5/10 minutes the most for the bus back to BCV. As soon as we got off the bus, we had four minutes until we had to pick up the kids. So, Bill ran ahead while Jennifer pushed DS2 in his stroller. In the end, it all worked out and we are glad we did it. It was fun!

 

[MrsMork]

We have a friend in the hills by San Diego that we still are not able to get in touch with. Really hoping they, their horses and home are ok.

 

[MrsMork]

I am so enjoying the trip report!!

 

[brack]

They do have free washers and dryers for the studios to share also.

It is that wonderful fact that will keep me from having to pack too much in December. Counting the cruise we are at Disney for 16 days. Being able to wash some thngs will help greatly.

 

[MrsMork]

It is that wonderful fact that will keep me from having to pack too much in December. Counting the cruise we are at Disney for 16 days. Being able to wash some thngs will help greatly.

Us too! We are gone 14 days and there are 13 of us. We have a 2 bedroom which will have a washer/dryer of its own, but with 2 babies I'm thinking we might do a load in the community washers also.

 

[brack]

I am so enjoying the trip report!!

So am I.

Some staff friends are joining us for one day in December. One of their little boys is going for the first time. I really look forward to watching him there.