09/18/11 - DVCers Take Over the Dream (S.S. Member Cruise 2011) - Thread #3

[Carmouse10]

Oh I hope that translates to Johnny Depp dressed as Cpt. Jack Sparrow on board

Unfortunately, I doubt that Terrie. How about if I wear my fireman's hat and red suspenders instead?

 

[Carmouse10]

John, since you are the one that has been keeping track of stuff for us... Is there a list of people that are staying on site either before or after the cruise? I know there is a list of B2B people but don't remember seeing the other. Thank you for your assistance with this quandry.

 

[calypso726]

Unfortunately, I doubt that Terrie. How about if I wear my fireman's hat and red suspenders instead?

Hmmm ... Tempting ... but I'm sticking with the Tricorn pirate hat, dreadlocks and eye liner

 

[Hoosier John]

John, since you are the one that has been keeping track of stuff for us... Is there a list of people that are staying on site either before or after the cruise? I know there is a list of B2B people but don't remember seeing the other. Thank you for your assistance with this quandry.

Hey Andy,

From what I have gathered it is arranged informally by postings here, but if you're looking for a job that doesn't pay well, I'm sure that folks would be happy to see a list from time to time.

I have noticed a lot of folks mentioned that they were staying at Bay Lake Towers before or after the cruise, more than any other site.

As for us, we plan to stay at a hotel on Cocoa Beach the night before the cruise. We will use rewards points probably at Hampton. They will let you leave a car parked there during their cruise, and take a shuttle to the ship for around $10 to 20 per person. Others have suggested turning the car in and taking their shuttle to the ship and back, where they re-rent one.

Which brings us to a point you asked earlier. I have heard others say that it's cheaper to use the Disney bus for one or two people. Three is about the break-even point, and four or more should rent a car. I have also seen a few arranged for a private van/limo who dropped them off and was there to pick them up. We will have either 3 or 6 and plan to rent a car. This allows us to drive to dinner and for supplies.

Post cruise we are staying at Bay Lake (in the cheap seats).

 

[Hoosier John]

Okay guys I have yet another game to play. Let me know what you think.

At a specified time on the cruise, people will tour rooms of members who volunteer here for a crowd of people to visit. We would shoot for one room from each class, starting at the bottom and working our way up. At 5 to 7 of these rooms, each member will draw a playing card. At the last room we will put together the winning poker hand(s).

We could add prize(s) and drinks/snacks for hosts who so choose.

I have run this kind of event for charity on motorcycles before and it would take very little effort, just room volunteers. We will volunteer a Cat 5A tour and I'm sure Caitlyn would volunteer her Cat 5D. Either someone could come up with 3 prizes or we could charge a couple of bucks and have cash prizes.

What do you all think?

Late breaking news: Caitlyn just called, and at this point, it looks like her fiance, Cody, won't be able to get off work, so her room is in question at this point. She will look around for someone else to go with her.

 

[Carmouse10]

OK EVERYBODY!!!

Due to multiple requests which were all mine I will maintain and occasionally publish a list of people staying on property either before or after the cruise. Please send me a private message with the following if you would like to be included on the list:

DIS Name
Resort
Date Arriving at the Resort
Date Departing the Resort
Whether it is a tentative or confirmed reservation (Since we are outside of the 7 month window still)

If anyone wants me to add any other information, please let me know. Thank you for your assistance and have a DIS day! (whatever the heck that is)

 

[M & N Potter]

Yesterday we had to say goodbye to Ophelia. Her abdomen had swelled up and the bottom dropped out of my world. Hemangiosarcoma had spread through her spleen and liver and she was bleeding out. We spent Thanksgiving together and while she was a bit wobbly her appetite had not faltered. I was thankful for the years we got to spend together, thankful for the way she showed me how much I meant to her, thankful for her unique talent for driving me crazy and making me laugh all at the same time. Opie-doo had many talents besides what she did in the show ring. Opie was an accomplished interior designer and had the ability to utilize a number of mediums, however, paper products seem to be a favorite. Her designs were rather eclectic, ranging from long strips of toilet paper throughout the house to tiny confetti bits of money, checks and/or IRS forms. Opie could also do impersonations. Vocally, she could imitate a water cooler gurgling and would do that whenever she got excited about something, particularly breakfast. She also could impersonate a lizard hunter. I say impersonate, because while she did hunt for lizards, she was not very good at it. Her perseverance though, never faltered, to the point that she could climb up a tree if she spotted one. The few times she did manage to catch one, no one was more surprised than she. She never really hurt the few she caught. She'd just have this look of astonishment and then bring the lizard to me, pleased as punch. Ophelia was also an inventor. She invented a game we call roof top tennis ball. Opie lived and breathed for two things, food and tennis balls. She liked trying to chase and catch tennis balls well enough and even my youngest ones could never outrun her to one. What she really loved though was having the tennis ball thrown on the roof and trying to figure out exactly where it would come down so she could be the first one to catch it as it fell. With so many talents of course, Ophelia had to have a number of nick names and she answered to them all, Opie, Opie-Doo, Pheepheelia, Phee Phee Gumbo and Phee Phee.

Ophelia left this world in my arms, with a tennis ball in her paws while eating cookies. My heart is broken and I can barely see through the tears and write this and simply don't understand how I even have tears left to cry. I didn't want to go home yesterday from the vet because I simply could not bear the fact that she wouldn't be there with some new design idea, or trying to climb a tree to get her lizards or handing me a tennis ball and running to the side of the house waiting to play roof top tennis ball. It is so hard for me to accept the fact that these things are no longer a reality but a precious memory. Wally and I are devastated over losing her and we can't believe how empty the house seems without her here.

My heart goes out to both you. The loss of a very loved pet is hard. Please know that I am thinking of you and Wally at this very sad time for you and your family.

Michael

 

[Hoosier John]

OK EVERYBODY!!!

Due to multiple requests which were all mine I will maintain and occasionally publish a list of people staying on property either before or after the cruise.

Yeah, Andy!

That's what they do around here: Welcome you, chat you up, then convince you to volunteer

Thanks for taking this on. Our group is getting too large to remember what everyone is doing and when.

 

[M & N Potter]

Did everybody have a wonderful weekend? I have a lot of reading to catch up on!

(raising hand and saying ohh ohh Mr Kotter, Mr Kotter! )

We had a great weekend ... especially the part that we got to spend with my brother, his wife and lovely daughter. (not mention those cute little puppy dawgs!) There was a pot load of traffic all of the way home ... crazy and tense ... but we arrived safely.

Michael

 

[Carmouse10]

Just to be clear, I will be publishing the list publicly on this thread in a space much like this one except later on in the thread. I have asked that you send the information by PM to keep the "clutter" down in the thread and to ensure I do not miss anybody who submits the info. I will publish the list upon request or as I get additions/changes.

An example of what you might see is:
Name/ Resort/ Arrive/ Departs/ Status
Carmouse10 / AKV / 9/15 / 9/18 / Tentative
Mickey Mouse / MK / Always / Never / Confirmed

Please let me know if you have any questions

DIS-fully yours,
Andy

 

[M & N Potter]

Okay, here is a clicky thumbnail pic (click for full size picture) of Michael, Nancy, Sue, Duffy, and me showing off Duffy's Thanksgiving sweater.



Mike and Nancy came to visit us this weekend, and thought that Duffy needed a new sweater!

HEY! I know those people! Duffy's mom and dad are cool!

( From the left side - I am in the orange fleece {Bears day!} My lovely and talented bride Nancy {without whom my life would be meaningless and not worth living } is next to me, Dan's charming and delightful wife Sue {my sister in Law} and my awesome brother Dan)

Michael

 

[Truffle]

Hi Everyone,

We are back home safely in Indy. Thought I'd take a minute to compare DCL and Princess (Emerald):<SNIP>
All in all, because of the bang for the buck, we enjoyed Princess. We may sail DCL with kids and Princess without? While on St. Thomas, I asked one of the ashore store employees, which line arranged for the best shopping deals. I felt like he was honest in saying Princess, but then again he knew which ship we came from.

Glad you are back, John and Lara! Glad you had a good time!

Thanks for that comparison. I will keep it in mind since I have never been on a cruise other than in Uncle Sam's Big *** Canoe Club. The service there was definitely lacking in luxury accommodations. Not to mention a definite lack of alcohol on board...

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

Welcome Back John - enjoyed your comparison of the ships.

Andy - thanks for offering to compile the list of who's where before and after the cruise.

 

[Hoosier John]

Just to be clear, I will be publishing the list publicly on this thread in a space much like this one except later on in the thread. I have asked that you send the information by PM to keep the "clutter" down in the thread and to ensure I do not miss anybody who submits the info. I will publish the list upon request or as I get additions/changes.

An example of what you might see is:
Name/ Resort/ Arrive/ Departs/ Status
Carmouse10 / AKV / 9/15 / 9/18 / Tentative
Mickey Mouse / MK / Always / Never / Confirmed

Please let me know if you have any questions

DIS-fully yours,
Andy

PM sent (though I kinda screwed up your format). Let me know if it's needs sprucing up.

And thanks again.

 

[Hoosier John]

Glad you are back, John and Lara! Glad you had a good time!

Thanks for that comparison. I will keep it in mind since I have never been on a cruise other than in Uncle Sam's Big *** Canoe Club. The service there was definitely lacking in luxury accommodations. Not to mention a definite lack of alcohol on board...

Thanks Dan,

I'll bet your "canoes" were quiet a bit heavier than we were on, but we had more ladies onboard.

 

[Carmouse10]

Terri and Hoosier John and crew are logged in Thank you for participating

 

[Hoosier John]

Welcome Home!!! It is good to have you back.

Welcome back! Thanks for the comparison of the cruise lines, it was interesting to read.

Welcome home we missed you!
Having never been on a cruise I found this interesting and I am glad that you took the time to share. Thanks!
I am even more excited for September.
Nancy

I'm glad you enjoyed your non DCL cruise. Now if we could just figure out how to get DCL to serve $2.99 Pina Coladas!

Welcome back. Thanks for the side by side comparison.

Glad you are back, John and Lara! Glad you had a good time!

Welcome Back John - enjoyed your comparison of the ships.

Thanks for the warm welcom home!

 

[Hoosier John]

Oh, I almost forgot to mention Lara and I won first place in two contests: a ship (and port) wide scavenger hunt and a pick the correct correct definition of words. Each was worth a bottle of champaign which we added to our Aniversary cake and shared with a couple we met and watched a movie under the stars. We also played a trivia game, but we sucked with a score of 7 while the winning team had 16 out of 20.

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

An example of what you might see is:
Name/ Resort/ Arrive/ Departs/ Status
Mickey Mouse / MK / Always / Never / Confirmed
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Too bad the rest of us can't have arrival and departure dates like the Mouse!

 

[Carmouse10]

Too bad the rest of us can't have arrival and departure dates like the Mouse!

That's because he and Minnie combined their DVC points...