11-23-2008 DCL per-Thanksgiving 3 night Wonder cruise!!

[pillow]

You can add us to the passenger list. We were going to do the 5-day Magic over Labor Day, but decided it was too much time off of school, and switched to this cruise.
After booking this cruise, we then ran into problems with our flights. Midwest Airlines had big-time cuts (40% of their personnel were laid off), and they went from many flights a day to Orlando down to one. We were fortunate enough to still get a flight, but had to leave a few days earlier than planned, meaning the kids will miss the same amount of school as if we had done the 5-day double-dip.

DW - Laura
DH - Vince
DD - Michelle 16
DD - Kristin 11

First time on the Wonder for the kids! They are looking forward to comparing the two ships.

Welcome! You live in Chicago and Vail? Lucky you!! My brother is getting ready to move to Colorado (Montrose), and I'm quite jealous.

It will be our first time on the Wonder as well.

Jodie

 

[TCB in FLA]

Welcome Laura! Glad you were able to get everything worked out!

My MIL's flight has had some problems as well. Her US Airways flight (from New York to Orlando, going through North Carolina) was rebooked and incorrectly. They had her going from North Carolina to Orlando at 9 a.m. and New York to NC at 11:15. It took DH about 10 minutes to convince their CS lady that the new schedule was physically impossible. Eventually it was figured out, and now she's arriving about an hour later than before.

Now I'm trying to figure out which Orlando hotel for Friday night.

 

[pillow]

Now I'm trying to figure out which Orlando hotel for Friday night.

I got a great rate at the Dolphin for post cruise ($188/night post tax). I also noticed that Dreams Unlimited Travel had a slightly lower rate than that. Good luck!

Jodie

 

[skibum]

We found the rates at the Value Resorts to be reasonable for Friday night - we are staying at Pop Century.

 

[TCB in FLA]

I'm actually looking for a hotel the Friday before the cruise. We start our drive down (about 6.5 hours) on Thursday after school, finish up Friday morning. We're going to do Disney all day Friday -- this is the last day of our Annual Passes, so we'll stay until they kick us out. We're going to sleep in on Saturday, eat breakfast, hang out at the hotel, then pick MIL up at the airport midday, and drive over to the port. We're staying at the Country Inn and Suites the night before the cruise.

Post-cruise (sigh!), we're all driving back to Fort Walton and have Thanksgiving at home. We did Thanksgiving at Disney last year and don't want to deal with the crowds again.

 

[pillow]

I'm actually looking for a hotel the Friday before the cruise. We start our drive down (about 6.5 hours) on Thursday after school, finish up Friday morning. We're going to do Disney all day Friday -- this is the last day of our Annual Passes, so we'll stay until they kick us out. We're going to sleep in on Saturday, eat breakfast, hang out at the hotel, then pick MIL up at the airport midday, and drive over to the port. We're staying at the Country Inn and Suites the night before the cruise.

Post-cruise (sigh!), we're all driving back to Fort Walton and have Thanksgiving at home. We did Thanksgiving at Disney last year and don't want to deal with the crowds again.

We're staying at Country Inns the night before as well. I bet there will be a pretty big bunch of us there since its so close to the terminal.

Jodie

 

[TCB in FLA]

We stayed at the CI&S last year as well -- nice place. There were tons of cruisers there, from 2 or 3 cruise lines. We only met one other Disney family, and then didn't see them again.

We've done the Radison at the port as well, but liked this place better, esp. with the bigger rooms and the breakfast buffet. I don't think the water was warm enough to swim at the pool last time (but we got in late), but the hot tub wasn't too bad. We drove in the day before last time, and DH was totally exhausted the first 1 1/2 days of the cruise (he worked all week, then drove the whole way). I'm hoping we'll have a little more down time pre-cruise this year so we can actually have fun for the first half of the cruise. After all, a day and a half is HALF the cruise!

 

[pillow]

We stayed at the CI&S last year as well -- nice place. There were tons of cruisers there, from 2 or 3 cruise lines. We only met one other Disney family, and then didn't see them again.

We've done the Radison at the port as well, but liked this place better, esp. with the bigger rooms and the breakfast buffet. I don't think the water was warm enough to swim at the pool last time (but we got in late), but the hot tub wasn't too bad. We drove in the day before last time, and DH was totally exhausted the first 1 1/2 days of the cruise (he worked all week, then drove the whole way). I'm hoping we'll have a little more down time pre-cruise this year so we can actually have fun for the first half of the cruise. After all, a day and a half is HALF the cruise!

I know. I think it will be very hard getting off the ship after only 3 days! I'm ready for Disney to offer another looong cruise option.

Jodie

 

[mrshindig]

95 days to go!!! Whoop Whoop!

Anyone booked any excursions? Spa? Meals?

We are Disney cruise Virgins (Cruise Virgins actually)...............

 

[spaddy]

I can't believe it is coming up so soon. I just transferred my reservation to Costco to get the gift card. I am going to purchase travel insurance in the next couple days too. Then I have to make the final payment.

Mrshindig, didn't realize you were from England. My DH and I are trying to figure out how to make it to Disneyland Paris. My husband has been, but when it was Eurodisney.

 

[pillow]

I can't believe it is coming up so soon. I just transferred my reservation to Costco to get the gift card. I am going to purchase travel insurance in the next couple days too. Then I have to make the final payment.

Mrshindig, didn't realize you were from England. My DH and I are trying to figure out how to make it to Disneyland Paris. My husband has been, but when it was Eurodisney.

How much of a gift card does Costco give you? Does anyone know if Sams does the same thing?

Jodie

 

[spaddy]

How much of a gift card does Costco give you? Does anyone know if Sams does the same thing?

Jodie

It was $125. I thought it was going to be $50 because we booked early and got a really good price. If we only get $50 I will be happy. If we actually get $125 I will be jumping off the walls.

 

[pillow]

It was $125. I thought it was going to be $50 because we booked early and got a really good price. If we only get $50 I will be happy. If we actually get $125 I will be jumping off the walls.

I think we're getting $50 TA credit + $50 for using our Disney Visa, so a total of $100 per stateroom. I'll be curious to know what you get. Will keep this in mind for our next cruise.

Jodie

 

[spaddy]

I think we're getting $50 TA credit + $50 for using our Disney Visa, so a total of $100 per stateroom. I'll be curious to know what you get. Will keep this in mind for our next cruise.

Jodie

I will definitely let you know. With Costco you don't get the gift card until after you complete the cruise. I got the $50 Visa credit also. The OBC make me nervous because you can't tell you have them until you get on the ship.

 

[mrshindig]

we try and get a trip to Paris once a year now! We fly from Liverpool, using easyjet. Very easy to do, just get the vea shuttle or tgv train to the resort.

Who up for a champagne toast on the cruise to celebrate me and my girlfriend getting married at Disney world on the 19th!!

 

[TCB in FLA]

95 days to go!!! Whoop Whoop!

Anyone booked any excursions? Spa? Meals?

We are Disney cruise Virgins (Cruise Virgins actually)...............

Just a few more day until it's time to book Palo! I finally had to write it in big letters on my cruise notebook since I was checking the date every two minutes! I didn't want to forget and miss the first window. I'm not going to book spa stuff yet however, even though DMIL has offered to treat us as a thank you. I'm going to see if there are any specials on Nassau day if we don't make other plans; otherwise, I'll just do a rainforest room pass.

As for excursions, nothing planned. I'd love to do Atlantis, but DS#2 is too small for the bigger slides, so it's not worth the $$$. I'm thinking about looking into the dolphin encounter/swim, but I'm not sure everyone is interested. I've heard it's cheaper to go directly through the company rather than booking with DCL.

Anyone else on a buying spree for the cruise? In the last week, I've bought beach toys, toiletries, sunscreen, activities for the car, etc. as well as started working on the door magnets. And we still have 3 months to go!

 

[pillow]

Just a few more day until it's time to book Palo! I finally had to write it in big letters on my cruise notebook since I was checking the date every two minutes! I didn't want to forget and miss the first window. I'm not going to book spa stuff yet however, even though DMIL has offered to treat us as a thank you. I'm going to see if there are any specials on Nassau day if we don't make other plans; otherwise, I'll just do a rainforest room pass.

As for excursions, nothing planned. I'd love to do Atlantis, but DS#2 is too small for the bigger slides, so it's not worth the $$$. I'm thinking about looking into the dolphin encounter/swim, but I'm not sure everyone is interested. I've heard it's cheaper to go directly through the company rather than booking with DCL.

Anyone else on a buying spree for the cruise? In the last week, I've bought beach toys, toiletries, sunscreen, activities for the car, etc. as well as started working on the door magnets. And we still have 3 months to go!

I'm forgetting the name of the hotel. Its one of the Choice hotels like Comfort Inn. If you book a room there, you get Atlantis priveleges all day. Its right next door or right across the street from Atlantis. Max 4 per room. The room rate is much cheaper than the Dis excursion price.

Jodie

 

[TCB in FLA]

I've considered the Comfort Suites option but decided against it since DMIL really wouldn't be able to join us (there's a lot of walking just to get there, plus she wouldn't want to do any of the water park stuff). So something to do next cruise! Plus, I won't have to listen to DS#2 throw a fit that he wasn't able to do something that his big brother was doing. The little guy is 5 going on 13.

 

[etblank]

LOL!!!! My boys are the same way! I did the Dolphin Encounter with a friend on a carnival cruise in January. It was really a blast. There was a grandfather with his grandson that couldn't have been older than 3. We were going to do it this time, but not all in our party can agree.

I bought a BUNCH of stuff, water toys, etc over the past couple of weeks. Being in Indiana, our season is pretty much over in a week or two. We are renting a house after the cruise and it will be fun to play in the pool.

Anybody thinking of parasailing at CC?

 

[TCB in FLA]

I just e-mailed possible reservations for the Dolphin Encounter today! I'd love to do the swim, as would DS#1, but then DS#2 would be left out (see above post!) since DH and DMIL just want to be observers. I'm hoping it works out!

I'd love to parasail but am not sure I have the nerve to do it alone and wouldn't want to tandem with a stranger. Still thinking about it. There's no way in the world DH would do it. Are you going to sign up?