10-14-2006 Cruisetoberfest IV

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Jennifer, If memory serves me right, there is just one big open lot with a few trees. The only protection DH car will get is if you bring a car cover for it.

Speaking of parking....say we stay at one of the value resorts before the cruise. Can we leave our car there..should we choose to drive? Do they charge for parking? We are thinking about staying there one night after the cruise and spending Saturday at one of the parks. It will be either MK or MGM. That is still up for debate!

 

[Viking]

Re: Hurricane Ophelia
Thanks Eric

All of family on the Charleston coast is just watching and waiting today. This morning it is beginning to sound as if it will go into NC instead. I wouldn't be surprised if I have houseguests anyway by tomorrow.

I have a friend in the Outer banks who I am concerned about as well. She has a baby less than a week old. I hope she doesn't have to evacuate but I don't want her to stay either. Jake was born in Charleston Oct. 29. We evacuated about 3-4 times that year-up until I was about 38 weeks pregnant and the next year when he was an infant for Floyd. (awful evacuation!) I'm glad we are far enough away not to have to evacuate now.

Take care, Jennifer

Jennifer,
we were affected by Floyd as well: First we were 'driven' out of the parks to our resort (Dixie Landings) and confined there. Fortunately Floyd then made a turn and rode up the coast instead of hitting WDW. But then we did our 4 day cruise and couldn't go to CC as it had suffered a full hit and we went to KW instead. Nassau wasn't very attractive either as the weather still sucked and there was a lot of damage. But nevertheless from then on we were hooked by DCL and three months later made the ressie for Cruisetonberfest I and started the thread.

 

[JJsmama]

Jennifer, If memory serves me right, there is just one big open lot with a few trees. The only protection DH car will get is if you bring a car cover for it.

Speaking of parking....say we stay at one of the value resorts before the cruise. Can we leave our car there..should we choose to drive? Do they charge for parking? We are thinking about staying there one night after the cruise and spending Saturday at one of the parks. It will be either MK or MGM. That is still up for debate!

I don't know the answer, but I would certainly think you could leave the car at the resort since you are still doing a Disney thing. I wonder how much it would cost to take the Disney bus from WDW to the port?

We probably wouldn't do it in the end, b/c we like to have our own schedule. But we may stay at a All Stars Movies the night before. Seems like it would cost about the same as a Hampton Inn and the kids would love it. We might not make it down that far Friday night though. Since we are taking the next week off, we probably won't leave til after work / school Friday evening. I guess I have enough time to figure it out. I actually wish the cruise were Sunday to Sunday instead b/c we could use the extra time getting there and you get off the ship so early at the end, that we would have the whole day to get back home.

 

[JJsmama]

P.S. Michele,

I did read this little tidbit on the boards a while back. The poster said you can't catch the DCL bus from the Values. You would have to take your luggage with you to another resort and catch the bus from there.

Eric, Sorry Floyd ruined the islands. I'm glad you got to sail anyway since you were already here. How did they go about making everyone leave the parks?

 

[Viking]

Jennifer,
they made public announcements starting around noon that everybody had to leave the parks not later than 3pm. We left even a bit earlier to avoid the crowded buses as we didn't rent a car for the four days at WDW.
At Dixie Landings we then found a leaflet instructing us to get some provisions, fill the tub with water, and stay inside for the night. We then hurried to the shop to get some food: Potatoe Chips, candybars and some soda - They didn't have much to choose from. Additionally we were informed that there wouldn't be any food delivery for that night. So in the early evening we went to the foodcourt to get a large pizza to go. We were told we were something like number 110 and when I asked which number was on now he said something like 18 But we spent a funny hour waiting for the pizza chatting with two nice ladies from South Africa. The four of us nearly bust a gut laughing when an American joined our chat and upon learning that the ladies were from South Africa he asked 'So it must be an experience for you to eat something not containing cangaroo' This guy really thought cangaroos lived in South Africa
After about an hour we got our 'mafia-cake' (That's the German nickname for a pizza ) returned to our room and spent the night eating, watching TV, and waiting for Floyd. Fortunately the storm made a turn to the North.
Unfortunately -but understandable- Disney had send most of the park personnel home to take care of their families and houses. The only park which was operating the next day was AK, because they had to hold back enough CMs to take care of the animals. The park was then opened for resort guests only. When we went to Guest Relations to ask wether there was some compensation for not being able to go the other parks and for being forced out of the parks at 3pm the day before, a CM asked what we would like. So we said a free admission to one of the water parks after our return from the cruise would be nice. She called her superior and within a minute said this was OK, we should simply go to Blizzard Beach and show our KTTW-cards and explain it. Two weeks later when we were back at Orlando we did exactly that. The CM at the ticket booth had to call her superior and a minute later we were in the park. As Disney wasn't responsible for the storm we didn't expect to get something, but as we say in Germany 'Asking a question is usually free' we just tried it and as expected Disney didn't disappoint us.

 

[Viking]

P.S. Michele,

I did read this little tidbit on the boards a while back. The poster said you can't catch the DCL bus from the Values. You would have to take your luggage with you to another resort and catch the bus from there.

This is correct, Jennifer. Before Cruisetoberfest I we stayed for a week at the ASMovies and because of that we took a TownCar to the port. As we had them pick us up at the airport to WDW and also shuttle us to the ship and back to the airport to pick up our rental car we got o great combo-pice.

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

okay, so leaving our car at the hotel is okay, but we won't be able to take a bus. I think we would rather have a towncar/limo anyway as it would get us to the port earlier then the bus! I want to be there when they open the doors! If we all decide to stay there, we should try and share rides to the port. Of course if we stay at the Raddison, then we can leave the car there and take thier bus over.

 

[Viking]

Yes, it would be fun to share a ride to the port, but in that case I would have to ask you for a favour: We have to drop off our rental at Hertz's near the airport. So we need someone to follow me to Hertz and bring me back to WDW either the evening before or on the morning.
But I guess with more than a year to go there's plenty of time to plan that.

 

[wendym]

Hi all
Where has the weekend gone to? Still not wireless here yet but hopefully tomorrow. Eric is there not a Hertz closer to WDW than the airport. We used to always pick up and drop off at the airport but now we often pick up at WDW amd drop off at the airport - most do not charge extra for this and I am sure the opposite scenario is true. Worth looking at. We are still waiting for the October holidays next year to be released - got my grovelling letter ready to ask for Friday 15th off if they push them a week later!
Wendy

 

[Viking]

Hi all
Where has the weekend gone to? Still not wireless here yet but hopefully tomorrow. Eric is there not a Hertz closer to WDW than the airport. We used to always pick up and drop off at the airport but now we often pick up at WDW amd drop off at the airport - most do not charge extra for this and I am sure the opposite scenario is true. Worth looking at. We are still waiting for the October holidays next year to be released - got my grovelling letter ready to ask for Friday 15th off if they push them a week later!
Wendy

Thanks for the info, Wendy.
I have to check this. We always use Hertz as we like their service best. We also tried Alamo and Dollar in the past, but they sucked. And next year we want to have that new Mustang Convertible As Hertz has Ford (And its subsidiaries Volvo, LandRover & Jaguar) only this is the best way to make sure to get that car.
It also depends on that station being listed in the German catalogue issued by our travel agency.
But I guess you're talking about Friday 13th - or will you be on another cruise?
Or was it superstition that made you switch the date?

 

[wendym]

We always go for basic cars so it may be different for a convertible! And yes I meant friday 13th - no idea where the date came from - no plans to switch here!

 

[Viking]

Wendy, was it this location?
Buena Vista Suites
8203 World Center Drive Orlando, FL US

 

[wendym]

We usually use Dollar or Budget and they have offices in DTD but I know Buena Vista Suites and it is very close to Orlando Premium Outlets, just along from DTD. Much closer to return to than the airport.

 

[Viking]

We always go for basic cars so it may be different for a convertible! And yes I meant friday 13th - no idea where the date came from - no plans to switch here!

We drive a convertible all the time - so why drive a tinbox while we're in the Sunshine State?
The last years we always had Volvo sedans or station wagons as we needed a car with GPS and the convertibles didn't come with it. Fortunately now we have our own GPS, which will save as a lot of bucks - and enable us to rent a droptop.

 

[wendym]

Whatever we rent is better than what we have here and if we had GPS then I would be totally redundant!

 

[Viking]

We usually use Dollar or Budget and they have offices in DTD but I know Buena Vista Suites and it is very close to Orlando Premium Outlets, just along from DTD. Much closer to return to than the airport.

Orlando Premium Outlets we know very well: In '03 we stayed at the Comfort Inn DowntownDisney and the view from our room went towars that outlet.
But we won't book our car before April '06 anyway.
BTW: We just made reservations for our next Thailand-trip. Now we're hoping that our gym will do a deal with our Thailand travel agency again. Last time this resulted in a 20% rebate. We'll be off to Thailand 03/17-04/01/06

OK,
we're retiring now: Have to be at the office at 6am/hospital at 0630am, then we have our semi-annual check-up and clean-up at our dentist's, and then we're off to Wiesbaden for another 90 minute training-seesion in the dragonboat as we will compete in four races next weekend on the river Rhine.
And today we ran 1:45 hours on the treadmill watching the formula one race in Belgium. So we're kind of tired

G'Nite

 

[Viking]

Whatever we rent is better than what we have here and if we had GPS then I would be totally redundant!

 

[wendym]

Ok now you are making me feel very lazy. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the rebate for you both!
Wendy

 

[Twinave]

Eric I get tired reading your posts!

My sister's family and mine drive to the port on Friday, stay at the Radisson Friday night. Then in the morning we drive both cars to the port, the hubbies drop off wives/kids/suitcases and drive back to the Radisson. Then they hop on the free shuttle back to the port. No waiting for the shuttle, leave when we are ready, and free parking for the cars. We would be happy to give someone else a ride. In fact we could use my mini-van as our own private shuttle. The port is only minutes away. Just a thought.

Went back to job #2 today. I was really missing the clients and my co-workers, so it was good to be back.

Heard a rumor today that FEMA is paying nurses $1000 per 12 hour shift in the storm areas.

Later, Avé

 

[padisneyfan]

Michele--- I'm not sure that you can leave your car at WDW while you are on the cruise since all the cars are given a paper that you put on the dash that lists the date you are leaving the resort. I know that All Stars is so big that it is doubtful that someone would be checking, but I would probably verify that you can do it.

We spent the afternoon at the York Fair. York has the country's oldest state fair. Of course we are not going to see the animals but are there for the food. Had steak sandwich, french fries, fried vegetable, huge homemade peanut butter cookie, lemondae and oranageade. We brought home ham and cheese sandwiches for later. And of course cotton candy. Needless to say, my belly is full of junk food. Back to the gym for me tomorrow.

Jean--- You are correct about me and the digital photos. My son did download some onto a CD which is somewhere and the rest our on memory cards. I need to buy a new printer so maybe I will get one of those that prints pictures so then I might print some of the pictures out to put in my scrapebooks. I even took the CD to the CVS to develop some of the pictures and the machine would not read my CD. I still like my old 35mm camera better and I do get those pictures printed as soon as I get home.

Ave--- So if we worked a week for FEMA we would have the cruise and another paid off in no time. Wonder if you have to give them a 3 week committment like you did for the Red Cross? Glad you are feeling better.

Nancy