09/18/11 - DVCers Take Over the Dream (S.S. Member Cruise 2011) - Thread #4

[mlholster]

She did get something for her cough, and when it got worse, he prescribed some miracle drops (potassium iodide, I think) which made her cough FAR more productive. She has spent the last week with her head propped up on pillows with her inhaler close at hand. This morning, she couldn't take it any more, and tossed the extra pillows off the bed. We have had enough breathing issues around here to know how to handle severe issues.

The bottom line is that today, she actually went out with me to meet my dad and his lady friend for lunch. That totally wiped her out, so that was the extent of her outing.

Thanks for all the good wishes and pixie dust for her!

So glad that Sue is feeling better. Sounds like she had a pretty tough time of it. We will continue sending pixie dust your way

 

[Hoosier John]

Yes. She says that she is ginormous. So much so, in fact, that she cannot stand at the sink to do dishes. I'm sure that just breaks her heart...

If she doesn't go into labor (should that be labour since she is in London?) before then, she will have them on the 21st. Unless, of course, there are too many emergency c-sections that day, in which case, she will have them the following day.

Is she working for the British or Americans? Big difference between 6 weeks (US) and 6 months (UK) maternity leave! I hope I don't need any medical attention while here. I wonder how that would be handled, though. Would England take care of us under their health care, or would we use US insurance? Based on my recent visit to Costco (UK), they have no idea what vision insurance is, so I have my doubts about actual medical insurance.

 

[smjj]

Well, we have made our airfare arrangements and transfers for the cruise. arriving the day before just like the last time. Our luck, Southwest still does not have port checkin on the way back to the terminal yet. I thought they would have worked that out by now but we were told they still do not. Still working on the hotel near the airport to stay at. Last time we stayed at the Marriot, that was nice but the wife wants to try something different. Any good suggestions???...smjj

 

[Hoosier John]

This thread is still about 100 pages away from being locked. Do y'all want me to lock this thread so you can use the new thread? I noticed people are posting on both of them.

Hi jilljill,

I think Milford (disrailfan) mistook page 150 for 250. He has been pretty busy lately, so you might want to try sending him an email, because I'm not sure what he wants to do from here.

In the past there hasn't been many problems with double posting between the two latest threads, but the older thread tends to get no new major discussion points other than following up on previous topics. However, we are on a record run for number of posts (for us, anyway), and this would require an asterick in our record books.

 

[Hoosier John]

Well, we have made our airfare arrangements and transfers for the cruise. arriving the day before just like the last time. Our luck, Southwest still does not have port checkin on the way back to the terminal yet. I thought they would have worked that out by now but we were told they still do not. Still working on the hotel near the airport to stay at. Last time we stayed at the Marriot, that was nice but the wife wants to try something different. Any good suggestions???...smjj

Hi Junken Family,

Several are staying on-site at WDW, but we typically travel on to Cocoa Beach and stay the night before the cruise there. Several of the hotels have a shuttle service to the port (most charge a small fee). And this allows us to take an evening stroll on the beach and to get to the ship earlier, since we are not early risers. Just another option for you to think about.

John

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

I was supposed to post this yesterday, I am so sorry!!! I hope you had a wonderful anniversary!!
​

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MICHAEL & NANCY!!!!
(M & N POTTER)​

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

Happy Belated Birthday (2/12) to 2Princess & 2Pirates DS!!​

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

Well, we have made our airfare arrangements and transfers for the cruise. arriving the day before just like the last time. Our luck, Southwest still does not have port checkin on the way back to the terminal yet. I thought they would have worked that out by now but we were told they still do not. Still working on the hotel near the airport to stay at. Last time we stayed at the Marriot, that was nice but the wife wants to try something different. Any good suggestions???...smjj

We always fly in the night before and rent a car at the airport and drive over to the port. We always stay at the Radisson and then leave the rental car there (free of charge) and take the free shuttle to the port. We book our rental car so early and use coupons from the entertainment book, so it is actually cheaper than taking Disney's transportation or just doing a 1 way car rental to get there and another 1 way car rental to get back. Not to mention, we usually stay before or after the cruise at WDW, so the rental car is necessary for that, too, since we refuse to rely on Disney transportation! We did that ONE time and never again! We were staying at OKW and wanted to go to BW for some hot dogs. We hopped on a bus to DTD got off and hopped on another bus to BW (since there's no direct bus from OKW to BW). It took us TWO HOURS just to go get a hot dog!!!

But, back to the Radisson...it's a really nice hotel and the pool area is nice. We enjoy staying there. But, unfortunately this time when we get there it will be too late to use the pool (our flight doesn't get in until 9:45, and by the time we get our rental car and drive over to the port, it will probably be after midnight! So, maybe we can take the kids swimming in the morning before we head over to the ship.

 

[smjj]

Hi Junken Family,

Several are staying on-site at WDW, but we typically travel on to Cocoa Beach and stay the night before the cruise there. Several of the hotels have a shuttle service to the port (most charge a small fee). And this allows us to take an evening stroll on the beach and to get to the ship earlier, since we are not early risers. Just another option for you to think about.

John

We thought about staying onsite but we would have to cash it(no points left) and the cash for just a studio was to much. The last time we stayed offsite by the airport and it was very convenient. Took a five minute ride from the airport to the hotel then back again the next day. This worked out great. My wife just wants to try a different hotel this time. Looking forward to this trip and meeting as many fellow DIS folks as I can. We last went to a DIS meet back in Sept. here in Indy. That was a lot of fun...smjj

 

[Truffle]

So glad that Sue is feeling better. Sounds like she had a pretty tough time of it. We will continue sending pixie dust your way

Thanks!

 

[Truffle]

Is she working for the British or Americans? Big difference between 6 weeks (US) and 6 months (UK) maternity leave! I hope I don't need any medical attention while here. I wonder how that would be handled, though. Would England take care of us under their health care, or would we use US insurance? Based on my recent visit to Costco (UK), they have no idea what vision insurance is, so I have my doubts about actual medical insurance.

The firm she works for is British. I had an issue with my back when we were over there once, and she called one of her doctors who then talked to me. Since I have had the same issue in the past, she prescribed over the phone. As far as anything else is concerned, I believe that you would get treated and then they would bill your insurance. That being said, she has additional private insurance above and beyond the NHS coverage. That allows her the option to get in and treated quicker, much the same as it is here. She had to have her gall bladder removed, and the NHS said that it would be a few days before they could do it, so she used her private insurance and was in and out the next day. Everybody is so afraid of 'losing' their health care providers here because the UK has the NHS which is socialized, when nobody talks about the other side of it which is the private insurance that works much like it does here. Okay, I will stop now.

 

[Hoosier John]

We thought about staying onsite but we would have to cash it(no points left) and the cash for just a studio was to much. The last time we stayed offsite by the airport and it was very convenient. Took a five minite ride from the airport to the hotel then back again the next day. This worked out great. My wife just wants to try a different hotel this time. Looking forward to this trip and meeting as many fellow DIS folks as I can. We alst went to a DIS meet back in Sept. here in Indy. That was a lot of fun...smjj

I just saw something about the Indy DIS meet on someone's signature line. Sorry I missed it. I only visit this thread (almost) exclusively, so I am lost when it comes to the rest of the DISboard life.

I see how you travel to the ship now. You stay at an airport hotel who shuttles you from and then back to the airport in the morning, where you catch the DCL bus to the ship. Another method I had never considered ... nice.

Anyone else have experience with various hotels around the airport?

 

[Hoosier John]

The firm she works for is British. I had an issue with my back when we were over there once, and she called one of her doctors who then talked to me. Since I have had the same issue in the past, she prescribed over the phone. As far as anything else is concerned, I believe that you would get treated and then they would bill your insurance. That being said, she has additional private insurance above and beyond the NHS coverage. That allows her the option to get in and treated quicker, much the same as it is here. She had to have her gall bladder removed, and the NHS said that it would be a few days before they could do it, so she used her private insurance and was in and out the next day. Everybody is so afraid of 'losing' their health care providers here because the UK has the NHS which is socialized, when nobody talks about the other side of it which is the private insurance that works much like it does here. Okay, I will stop now.

Thanks for the insight, Dan. Hope we don't need to use it, but you never know.

 

[lilliansmommy]

Just booked a stay at the Radisson at the Port for the eve of the SSMC 2011!! I guess we will just take the free shuttle to the port?? Anyone have ideas on this? Is it better to take the DCL bus from the airport like a previous poster mentioned??? Better deal?? Get in front of the line?? What are the benefits??

 

[DizDragonfly]

Last time we stayed at the Marriot, that was nice but the wife wants to try something different. Any good suggestions???...smjj

The Radisson and the Country Inn & Suites are both popular.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

I was supposed to post this yesterday, I am so sorry!!! I hope you had a wonderful anniversary!!
​

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MICHAEL & NANCY!!!!
(M & N POTTER)​

Ditto from me

Happy Belated Birthday (2/12) to 2Princess & 2Pirates DS!!​

Ditto from me again.

Happy Sunday - it's in the 40's today!!!

 

[beeadude]

We always fly in the night before and rent a car at the airport and drive over to the port. We always stay at the Radisson and then leave the rental car there (free of charge) and take the free shuttle to the port. We book our rental car so early and use coupons from the entertainment book, so it is actually cheaper than taking Disney's transportation or just doing a 1 way car rental to get there and another 1 way car rental to get back. Not to mention, we usually stay before or after the cruise at WDW, so the rental car is necessary for that, too, since we refuse to rely on Disney transportation! We did that ONE time and never again! We were staying at OKW and wanted to go to BW for some hot dogs. We hopped on a bus to DTD got off and hopped on another bus to BW (since there's no direct bus from OKW to BW). It took us TWO HOURS just to go get a hot dog!!!

But, back to the Radisson...it's a really nice hotel and the pool area is nice. We enjoy staying there. But, unfortunately this time when we get there it will be too late to use the pool (our flight doesn't get in until 9:45, and by the time we get our rental car and drive over to the port, it will probably be after midnight! So, maybe we can take the kids swimming in the morning before we head over to the ship.

Hi Debbie-a few questions. You pu the car at MCO and go to the Radisson. Does the car rental include the time you are on the cruise? So if I get this right you pay for Saturday through cruise through WDW stay and back to MCO. Does this work out better than the Disney Transportation? I've been reading suggestions on getting to Port. We will be 3. My mom [84] who came with us last year needed a wheelchair from the bus to the terminal. The bus took care of luggage,wheelchair etc.and we checked in at the airport for the cruise. Is it just as easy doing it on your own?? Thanks-my head is starting to spin already.
Vicki

 

[jilljill]

Hi jilljill,

I think Milford (disrailfan) mistook page 150 for 250. He has been pretty busy lately, so you might want to try sending him an email, because I'm not sure what he wants to do from here.

In the past there hasn't been many problems with double posting between the two latest threads, but the older thread tends to get no new major discussion points other than following up on previous topics. However, we are on a record run for number of posts (for us, anyway), and this would require an asterick in our record books.

I'll just leave them both open until someone tells me otherwise.

 

[robynchic]

Just booked a stay at the Radisson at the Port for the eve of the SSMC 2011!! I guess we will just take the free shuttle to the port?? Anyone have ideas on this? Is it better to take the DCL bus from the airport like a previous poster mentioned??? Better deal?? Get in front of the line?? What are the benefits??

For DH's and my honeymoon, we did the park and cruise deal at the Quality Inn & Suites (we parked at the Radisson), and thought it was great. I'm not sure what you mean by "get in the front of the line", but there's no preferential treatment given anywhere but at the terminal, and then, the preference is given to levels of Castaway Club, not to "who-stayed-where" or "how-they-got-where".

Personally, I think if you're staying at the Radisson, then it'll all come down to cost. If you take a taxi service to stay at the Radisson overnight, will it cost more overall than if you took the DCL shuttle? AFAIK, you can't take the DCL shuttle to the port, then pick up the Radisson shuttle from there, nor will the DCL shuttle take you to the Radisson.

My thinking would be flight (however much you paid) + DCL shuttle ($70/person)= $??? vs. Flight + taxi + hotel ($139)= $???

Whichever was cheaper would be the one I'd do.

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

Hi Debbie-a few questions. You pu the car at MCO and go to the Radisson. Does the car rental include the time you are on the cruise? So if I get this right you pay for Saturday through cruise through WDW stay and back to MCO. Does this work out better than the Disney Transportation? I've been reading suggestions on getting to Port. We will be 3. My mom [84] who came with us last year needed a wheelchair from the bus to the terminal. The bus took care of luggage,wheelchair etc.and we checked in at the airport for the cruise. Is it just as easy doing it on your own?? Thanks-my head is starting to spin already.
Vicki

Hi Vicki!!! Yes, we pay for the rental car for the entire time we're on the cruise. With a family of four it works out cheaper or just about the same than paying for Disney transportation there and back. We have never checked in at the airport for the cruise. How does that work...you still have to go to the check in counter at the port to get your KTTW, right? We always rent one of those luggage buggies at the airport and take that over to the car rental booth. Then when we get to the hotel, we just leave most of the luggage in the car. In the morning we pull the car up to the front of the hotel unload the luggage (then Jr parks the car) and then we wait for the shuttle bus. The shuttle bus driver throws your luggage in the shuttle and when you get to the port, the shuttle drops you off right at the curb where the other guys take your luggage. Hope that all makes sense.

Yeah, my head is starting to spin, too...thinking about taking our kids for half of the B2B cruise and then taking them back to the airport and then coming back to the port.