09/21/08 SSMC08 S.S. Member Cruise 2008

[danandnan]

Well finally got the driveway done.Every inch of it was ice underneith ,and three inches of sluch on top. I have my own river at the end of the driveway. They haven,t plowed yet.
Joan great talking to you this morning and I see you and Nancy have Parlo's all squared away. Seeig you and rog are staying at The Animal Kingdom Lodge you can't miss breakfast at Boma,s. It,s a buffet all you can eat and it's great. Nancy and I have eaten there three times for breakfast.
As I told you this morning Joan we had to go to our tax lady. I think we are going to be ok. One good thing we found out we both have Health savings accounts in the bank. We were never sure exactly how to use them and get the tax break. She explained how to do it.
Well enough jabbering catch everybody later.
PS ROBIN how is the gathering shaping up?
danandnan

 

[TnRobin]

I am awaiting the assignment of our Gathering Number, then we can start making real plans.

 

[Time4disneynow]

I was just sent the most awesome video link by a fellow Scout leader. I hope I do not offend anyone by posting a link to a Christian Song, but I just loved this church's performance to this song. Plus it is one of my favorite songs. I know a few have talked about attending Mass on Sunday before the cruise, so I thought a few here would enjoy it. Watch it to the end.

http://www.mychurch.org/blog/30635

Great....thank you for sharing, Robin

 

[acourtwdw]

have any of you ever stayed at Aninal Kingdom? Are there any hints for things to do while there? I saw the early morning safari on the travel channel. member services told me to sign up when we get there. Does it not sell out? What about Disney Dining? Do you think it's worth it? Last year we went to Universal so we didn't need it but it sounds like a good idea.

We stayed there when it first opened (before we were members) and it was less than $100 per night. Did you get Savannah view? We loved it. We are waitlisted for conceierge level for the upcoming trip. I thought the early morning was only for conceierge level. Maybe I'm wrong. We are at AKL for 2 nights then we move to BCV.

Annette

 

[Beastly]

I'm am so out of here tomorrow and this must be a sign - this is what I saw when I backed out of my driveway this morning - do you see it?

That is too funny. Nancy and I See the Mouse ICON everywhere! ANyone but you guys think we are odd

 

[cherylp3]

got my issue of the vacation magazine or what ever its new name is in the mail today.

 

[Beastly]

Did anyone who was on the cruise last year that bought more points receive the etched glas dish yet?

...Beastly

 

[WDWLVR]

Good morning everyone. Happy Thursday!

Bruce - sorry to hear you haven't received your dish yet. You would have thought they would have had those ready in just a couple of months. Have you tried calling Member Services?

 

[JOANNEL]

We stayed there when it first opened (before we were members) and it was less than $100 per night. Did you get Savannah view? We loved it. We are waitlisted for conceierge level for the upcoming trip. I thought the early morning was only for conceierge level. Maybe I'm wrong. We are at AKL for 2 nights then we move to BCV.

Annette

Yes, we got a Savanah view. That would be a bummer about the early morning. I only saw it on the travel channel, so I am not sure. Maybe you could book it for us!!!!

Well have a great day, have a lot of house work to do tonight since the kids will be home and one is bringing the girlfriend!

Dan it was great talking to you guys also. I am glad we don't have to deal with all that winter.

 

[acourtwdw]

Yes, we got a Savanah view. That would be a bummer about the early morning. I only saw it on the travel channel, so I am not sure. Maybe you could book it for us!!!!

.

There is a sunset safari that ends with dinner at Jiko. We are thinking about that one. It is open to all guests staying at AKL.

 

[seaulater]

Welcome back Linda,

Any new food items? How was the weather?

New menu items in Palo's! I did eat in Palo's the first night and it was wonderful.

The weather was COLD in Florida. I got there right at the end of the cold spell they were having. Once we left port and headed south it started warming up. I never got off the ship in Nassau but read out at the pool all day in the shade. A couple of times I got up and went and sat by the pool to warm up because there was a breeze that once in a while got a little cool.

At Castaway Cay, my plan was to spend the whole day on the adult beach. I got there at 9:30 and then did my cabana massage at 10 a.m. I stayed on the adult beach, had lunch and then headed over to the family beach about 1p.m. It was quite breezy on the adult beach and the breeze was cool, but the sun was out and it was warm (except for the darn wind!)

I moved over to the family beach, found a quiet spot and read most of the afternoon until it was time for the DVC celebration back on board at 3 p.m. The family beach was very nice, they don't get the wind like they do at Serenity Bay.

By the time we came back in Sunday, it had warmed up and was real nice.

A great, relaxing trip!

 

[seaulater]

have any of you ever stayed at Aninal Kingdom? Are there any hints for things to do while there? I saw the early morning safari on the travel channel. member services told me to sign up when we get there. Does it not sell out? What about Disney Dining? Do you think it's worth it? Last year we went to Universal so we didn't need it but it sounds like a good idea.

We stayed one night at the Animal Kingdom last Thanksgiving in one of the new 2 bedroom units with a savannah view after being on the Magic for Thanksgiving. We loved it. Just enjoyed sitting on the verandah and watching the animals.

On the Disney Dining, it really depends what your dining habits are. Our family does not eat sit down meals every day and eat the amount of food and snacks that the dining plan allows, so you have to decide if you normally would sit down and eat all the meals. If you do, I think it is a good deal. We have done it once and I wrote down the price we would have paid for everything we ate and we more than got the $$ back out of it, however, we usually don't eat expensive sit down dinners. But it was fun because we were with a whole group of people.

 

[acourtwdw2]

We've done the basic dining plan twice and loved it. The only problem i have with it is you need to make ADR's at the better places so if it is a spur of the moment trip you cant always get the ressie you want. We are thinking of trying the deluxe in Sept so i can go to CRT and then thiers the grand gathering that will be covered. We figured out where and what we would eat at the beginning of our trip and doing the deluxe dinning we saved $120 without figuring in the snacks and the cup. We always use our snack credits for gifts for the family. I was talking to my mom because they may come with us and she asked how you can eat everything you get well its easy you dont always eat everything on your plate or make decisions based on what your eating if the entree is big get a small appitzer and dessert(or get it to go). Hope this helps.

Amanda

My ADRs will be (dining credits) May need to be adjusted for Halloween party
CRT Breakfast(2) Life Long Dream
Le Cellier Dinner(1) Best Salmon
Tusker House Breakfast w Daisy Duck (1)
Cape May Cafe Breakfast before heading to port(1) @ hotel
Grand Gathering with our Dis Friends(2)
Either Primetime Cafe or Whispering Canyon Lunch(1)
Not sure on our other lunch (1)

 

[Eeyore77]

That was very sweet. Thanks for sharing. You guys are good about going to Church on Sunday morning. We are Saturday nighters so we usually don't get there when on vacation.

have any of you ever stayed at Aninal Kingdom? Are there any hints for things to do while there? I saw the early morning safari on the travel channel. member services told me to sign up when we get there. Does it not sell out? What about Disney Dining? Do you think it's worth it? Last year we went to Universal so we didn't need it but it sounds like a good idea.

We always stay at AKV.... It is my favorite resort. We have stayed on the concierge level the last three trips up there, but we have also stayed in the Savannah view rooms. You have to try Boma while you are there. Jiko is great too, but we love Boma. As for the Sunrise Safari it is open only to concierge Level guests. We did it back in January during our anniversary trip. If you can ever get a room on that level the Safari is wonderful and is well worth the money and the early morning wakeup call. I have not tried the Sunset Safari which is open to eveyone, but I hear it is very nice. I just can't seem to cough up that kind money. As for the dining plan we only got it one time and that was because it was included in the pkg we were buying. I honestly am not sure if it is worth it or not. Hope that you will enjoy your stay.

 

[WDWLVR]

Good morning everyone! TGIF!

Anyone got any big plans for the weekend? I'm getting together with some girlfriends for a road trip to an outlet mall in Indiana. Looking for some clothes for our April cruise.

 

[danandnan]

TGIF Good morning everybody. Well here I set and left to my own devices today. Nancy has gone to sub today. For the first time in a long time she is going to sub 3rd grade. Im sure I will here all about it when she gets home. I can' twait she isn't use to doing the higher grades.
She did leave me a honey do list to keep me busy HA HA.
Mary have a good time shopping. Don't spend to much. Mary we have our transportation to port squared away. Joan and Roger have offered us to ride with them to Port. So that solves our problem and we should be there early.
I told Joan I owe her a couple drinks of the day and Rog a few beers. They are a great couple we have a good time with them.
Catch everybody later
danandnan

 

[WDWLVR]

Great news Dan! I'm sure you'll have a great time on the way to the port as well. We're doing that with firends in April. They are getting in 2 hours ahead of us, renting a van and then we are all going to the port area together.

 

[JOANNEL]

Happy Friday,

Mary -have fun shopping.

Not much going on here. The kids are coming home from spring break. So i did alot of house work and some baking last night. Have a 2 hour choir practice tomorrow- to try to get this misfit group ready for Easter. We are so bad............we only have a few that can really sing, the rest of us just try so there is some music. Sunday I have a bridal shower and I volunteered to do the Chocolate fountain--why can't I just keep my mouth shut!!!! I also baby sit on Sunday mornings for a girl who's husband is in Iraq so she can go to church with out the kids- 1 & 3! So I guess I will be a little busy. I am sure both boys will be bringing weeks of laundy.

Dan- make sure you get all your chores done.

We had a storm pass through last night- woke up to patio table smashed all over, So guess what we will be doing tonight!! Luckily it didn't get in the pool. They break in pebbles so it's not dangerous, just messy.

Have a Great Friday.

 

[danandnan]

Yep I guess you will be shopping for a new Patio Table. Yesterday I was watching horse racing from Tampa Downs they had a Frorida afternoon Thunder Boomer and they held up racing for about 30 min.
I don't think you and Roger live near Tampa do you? Where do you?
The only thing I have to do this morning is wash the kitchen dining room floor and do some vaccumeing. I don't mind doing the floor all I use is a mixture of ammonia and water. It' a Purgo Floor if you didn't know you would think it was a Hard Wood floor. I love it easy to keep clean and is tough as nails.
Well Joan I better get to work.
danandnan

 

[cherylp3]

no plans here maybe a farmers market or a drive down to wdw.