12/09/06 Geeks.... Lost, but not forgotten

[lbgraves]

Hmmm...how to get insurance to consider the cruise group therapy...

 

[klineyqueen]

Brandi, how do you keep going, teaching, two little ones and time to keep up with your online friends?


Pj

Pj - it is funny that you asked me that tonight. I just said to Jason - "Seriously, I am going to have a nervous breakdown!" I have been going nutty! I need a housekeeper, butler, and someone to sleep for me!

 

[Jhalkias]

Well guys, all of those cruise itineraries sound great, but no go here. Not sure how it is in everyone else's part of the country, but things are tough around here right now.

Add to all that the market uncertainty, gas prices, etc, and I begin to wonder exactly who is taking those cruises, and who they are targeted to. I know someone somewhere has to be doing well, but I am hard pressed to figure out who and where . . . unless of course it is the folks in Europe.

We don't go on the DIS as much because we don't have another vacation even planned, and while we have a "dummy date" cruise booked, I just keep moving it forward.

Hey PJ . . . any news about new Macbooks?

 

[brack]

Hey PJ . . . any news about new Macbooks?

John every time I see the new "PC" commercials I think of you.

 

[lbgraves]

Well guys, all of those cruise itineraries sound great, but no go here. Not sure how it is in everyone else's part of the country, but things are tough around here right now.

Add to all that the market uncertainty, gas prices, etc, and I begin to wonder exactly who is taking those cruises, and who they are targeted to. I know someone somewhere has to be doing well, but I am hard pressed to figure out who and where . . . unless of course it is the folks in Europe.

We don't go on the DIS as much because we don't have another vacation even planned, and while we have a "dummy date" cruise booked, I just keep moving it forward.

Hey PJ . . . any news about new Macbooks?

It is crazy and we might move one of our dummy cruises to the repo but nothing is certain this far ahead. At this point that is the only one that is anywhere near affordable compared to the PC repo. Who knows. Some people are trying to convince me that home schooling the first 6 weeks of school would work...I even have a teacher on the ship for those 2 weeks...so it will sit there but I will not even think about getting excited about it any time soon.

Mike did say that he wants to go to WDW for Christmas this year and get the free ticket for his birthday. Do you have any points available to rent and more importantly, is it too late to book anything this late for the Sat before to the Sat after Christmas?

 

[pjpoohbear]

John, the announce of some kind is on October 14, 2008. We are thinking new Macbooks, Macbook Pros, maybe a update on the iMac in processor only. And the hints to us have been to be on the look out for a whole new product.


Brandi, I have been reading between the lines, lol.

My dummy date will be pushed into fall 2010 and then we will await the announcement of the new ship sailings in the spring/summer of '10 for sailing in '11 (at least that is when I think they will be announced.)

We may even have enough DVC points to use for a cruise again by then, lol. DVC points are the only reason we are traveling in '09.

Pj

 

[MrsMork]

It is crazy and we might move one of our dummy cruises to the repo but nothing is certain this far ahead. At this point that is the only one that is anywhere near affordable compared to the PC repo. Who knows. Some people are trying to convince me that home schooling the first 6 weeks of school would work...I even have a teacher on the ship for those 2 weeks...so it will sit there but I will not even think about getting excited about it any time soon.
?

We were booked on the first trans-atlantic. The price was very good, but the airfare home was We canceled and booked the canal repro. Good move for us, we got to sail with at least some of the Geeks. We miss you guys. Hopefully we will get so see some/most of you at some point this winter and/or spring.

 

[lbgraves]

I know the airfare roundtrip is over 5k. If we go we will spend a week or so beforehand traveling. Who knows what we will be doing in 2 years.

 

[lillygator]

how is the airfare one way? We were booked on the last TA and cancelled because the airfare seemed awfully high.....we just cancelled our October vacation to Disney....and I don't think we'll be asking my dad to renew our passes for xmas this year.

 

[lbgraves]

Well, I just realized that DS will be in middle school so will be on a year round schedule and their break this year was 9/22-30. This could really work for us afterall! Him starting at a new school with lots of new kids because in a different district was my main concern.

V sorry to hear that you are having to cancel this month's trip. I haven't looked up airfare one way yet...the 2010 rates aren't out yet so it will probably be more. We won't be booking through DCL for that since we would go a week beforehand.

 

[bubbasmom99]

I think everyone is scaling back... I"m not sure who Disney thinks will be paying for those cruises

We will probably drive down once or twice to DL for the birthday celebrations in 2009 but that's all that is planned. When does DVC Hawaii come online? If 2010, that would be a great vacation for us since it's a little more accessible to the west coast.

So you can just book a dummy date and keep pushing it forward? What are the benefits to that? Do you always get a special rebooking rate? I am thinking new ships in 2011 or so... I would love to do the 5 day Key West/CC/Nassau in summer 2010 but I cannot stand the weather in the summertime.

We totally lucked out on our airfare for this upcoming trip. 2 tix booked on points and 2 tix booked cash... total roundtrip was under $600 for all 4 of us... AND some nice newbie customer service agent seated us in first class for our outbound legs. I'm still waiting for Delta to catch on that we're not in the right cabin class... I am hoping that they don't!

 

[lbgraves]

Yes, if you book onboard you can transfer it to another date and keep the 10% discount and $200 OBC (increases to $250 if you transfer to a longer than 7 day cruise). That is how we could afford to take the PC repo..the 10% and OBC saved us a little over 1000. I figure we will save a bit more than that if we book the WB repo this time.

V, I just priced the flights into Barcelona and found that if we drive to the airport in a rental we cut the price in half so for 2500 we will drive.

(PHL) British Airways Philadelphia to Barcelona through Heathrow $2509.24 – 3166.38

(JFK) British Airways JFK to Barcelona through Heathrow $2461.86 – 4968.16+

(EWR) British Airways Newark to London-Heathrow, to Barcelona $2461.86 – 3119.00

We are going to book it an hope for the best. Who knows what will be happening in two years but at least if we have the booking then we will have the option to do this. The school schedule will work for us that year and there will be a homeschooling mom onboard who is willing to adopt the kids for lessons in 4th-6th grade so that will be covered. We will only have to put another $500 down on Tuesday so for right now we won't feel the squeeze.

I know how lucky we are to be able to even think about this. I figure even if we aren't in NC, DH will be working for the government somewhere and my side job can turn into a FT income if necessary since I am scaling it back now to keep us under the tax bubble. There will always be CPS cases and lawyers defending the insurance companies in workers' comp claims so my job is pretty secure since it draws from a nationwide customer base. Now that the other house is sold we are breathing easier now than we have been the past year.

 

[goofyforlife]

Do you have any points available to rent and more importantly, is it too late to book anything this late for the Sat before to the Sat after Christmas?

That's a good one, Lisa...

We tried to book for someone a few months ago and no availablity anywhere. (maybe a day her and there but nothing consecutive or at the same resort.)

I'm with Joy's observation on "Who the heck do they think will book these trips?"

I guess I'll just try to be content with using our DVC points for a few years... Maybe sail again on a new boat for dd's graduation present in 2011. (Although she has asked for Hawaii too... twist my arm)

I may just rent or transfer DVC points away and plan some other non-disney stuff for a change.

I have a few roller-coasters calling my name.

If i go to Europe, it'd be for a land tour only.... Something like flying into London and then taking train to DLP or Castles tour (Switz/Germany) or Italian architecture tour....

 

[bubbasmom99]

Well, financial markets are affected worldwide by this crisis, but I can see how Disney would have forged ahead with it anyway in order not to create more speculation on their company. Maybe they will wind up deep discounting it at the end... but who knows where our market will be in 2 years... I'm figuring the downturn for 12-18 months (please don't quote me - I'm no expert). Things could change with the election... or with further govt intervention... it's just a crapshoot right now.

 

[MrsMork]

and I don't think we'll be asking my dad to renew our passes for xmas this year.

We totally lucked out on our airfare for this upcoming trip. 2 tix booked on points and 2 tix booked cash... total roundtrip was under $600 for all 4 of us... AND some nice newbie customer service agent seated us in first class for our outbound legs. I'm still waiting for Delta to catch on that we're not in the right cabin class... I am hoping that they don't!

We'll be hoping with you that no one notices!

 

[Jhalkias]

Mike did say that he wants to go to WDW for Christmas this year and get the free ticket for his birthday. Do you have any points available to rent and more importantly, is it too late to book anything this late for the Sat before to the Sat after Christmas?

Lisa, I could try, but Kristina is pretty right on target. Usually to get that time of year, it must be at your home resort, and you need to book at the 11 month window, AND book each day you need exactly AT that window (booking one day at a time). Rots of Ruck in October! I think I have a better chance of winning the lottery!

Dad is not doing well. I was pretty upset when I got home today, and told my sister she may want to come home if she wants to see him. I just see him slipping away.

 

[MrsMork]

John1, I read in a newletter or something that you can now book for your entire stay 11 months from the check IN date....saving those daily calls. Still would need to be 11 months out for Christmas, I would think.

 

[MrsMork]

I was looking at that Sept return from Europe. $999 per person is a good deal for 14 nights in my happy place! Wonder what the airfair would be to Paris.

 

[MrsMork]

John1, praying for comfort for you and your family.

 

[brack]

We booked at SSR starting the 28th of December just as we were able. Our friends going on the cruise with us delayed and have been a wait list for months! The Christmas time is a hard one for rooms on property.