12/16/06 10-day holiday cruise Part 4

[3pirates]

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!

MaryAnn, we went to Disney's resort at Vero Beach for Spring Break...had great weather there...hot by the pool, comfy by the beach...decisions, decisions. As we drove North we found the cold front that is here now...it really started cooling off when we got to St. Augustine, where we spent a night on the way home...love that town! Luckily, while it was cooler it was fine with a sweater. It's a great town to walk around in, there was music in the square, neat shops, great restaurants, historic buildings. Then when we got home it got REALLY cold. Sadly, I'm looking outside right now seeing all kinds of Spring Green leaves, dogwood blooms, flowers...and I know that since it froze the last two nights and will again tonight they are going to turn brown and ugly. Oh well....

Sorry you guys still don't know about your DVC points. Here's my theory ...I think they'll be out in the next month or so, in time to officially "use" them at the 11 month Window. Since the cruises start in May, that would mean probably mid-June at the latest, right?

We've already been to church and had lunch...now the family is starting to scatter. I have chores I should get to, but sorta feel like being lazy...may be the effects of the meal kicking in! Hope you all have a blessed Easter!

 

[KSDTink]

Hey MaryAnn, how are you all doing?? things are good here. Sam is really wishing school were over already but is fine otherwise.

Joanie, were you able to send any pics?

 

[yargrnhoj]

MaryAnn, we went to Disney's resort at Vero Beach for Spring Break...had great weather there...hot by the pool, comfy by the beach...decisions, decisions. As we drove North we found the cold front that is here now...it really started cooling off when we got to St. Augustine, where we spent a night on the way home...love that town! Luckily, while it was cooler it was fine with a sweater. It's a great town to walk around in, there was music in the square, neat shops, great restaurants, historic buildings. Then when we got home it got REALLY cold. Sadly, I'm looking outside right now seeing all kinds of Spring Green leaves, dogwood blooms, flowers...and I know that since it froze the last two nights and will again tonight they are going to turn brown and ugly. Oh well....

Sorry you guys still don't know about your DVC points. Here's my theory ...I think they'll be out in the next month or so, in time to officially "use" them at the 11 month Window. Since the cruises start in May, that would mean probably mid-June at the latest, right?

We've already been to church and had lunch...now the family is starting to scatter. I have chores I should get to, but sorta feel like being lazy...may be the effects of the meal kicking in! Hope you all have a blessed Easter!

We were down your way over Spring Break a few weeks back. We took a last-minute drive down from IL to visit Janie's dad. Got to take the kids to the Ga. Aquarium (overpriced, IMHO), Zoo Atlanta (panda cub is cute, rest of zoo needs an upgrade) and took in a Braves-White Sox game at Turner Field. Got yelled at by a couple of yokels for our IL plates leaving the game. Also took the kids for a naked dog, rings and FO at the Varsity and explained how I lived on that for four years. Never got much North of downtown, though.

 

[3pirates]

We were down your way over Spring Break a few weeks back. We took a last-minute drive down from IL to visit Janie's dad. Got to take the kids to the Ga. Aquarium (overpriced, IMHO), Zoo Atlanta (panda cub is cute, rest of zoo needs an upgrade) and took in a Braves-White Sox game at Turner Field. Got yelled at by a couple of yokels for our IL plates leaving the game. Also took the kids for a naked dog, rings and FO at the Varsity and explained how I lived on that for four years. Never got much North of downtown, though.

Wow, sounds like a heck of a trip...you hit all of the hot spots...not! I like the aquarium, but they are proud of it and it is pricey. I've always thought Atlanta's zoo stunk. But the pandas are a nice touch. I do like Turner Field...if you ever did the tour there you would like it even more...lots of cool touches. Sorry the locals yelled at ya...but what's a visit to the South without a run-in with a redneck! Now the Varsity....THAT's a real tourist event. Sadly, my kids think every time we go downtown we need to eat there. I like my dogs dressed in chili, but I'm sure the nakeds are good too! Hopefully you at least had some nice weather...it was pretty great here until about Saturday, when everything froze up. Now the dogwoods all have brown blooms.

Kat, I just got an e-mail from Disney...they promise an upcoming look at Pirates III!! Now THERE's something to look forward to!

Hope all are doing well. I've been up with teenage drama, high school scheduling on-line, and generally too much to do. Night everyone!

 

[HAPPY-AT-DISNEY]

disney just announced free food plan in sept..i just booked a week strting 9/14th..!!! staying at port orleans riverside..
great deal..if you stay at one of the all star hotels they even include park passes free, but i have yearly pass so upgraded to port orleans..
anyone else going??

 

["Got Disney"]

DVC pts are finally out and there is a short theread started for it. They have not been calling to fast. Here is the thread

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1419019

The pts are high not sure what they are for the kids yet but will call tomorrow between 1-5 EST. they are not yet posted on the DVC sight

Hope everyone is all okay. Joanie you mentioned the special but cant find it on the sight. Is it just for Sept. or does it spread to Oct. ?

have a great day and will check back tonight as I play on the DIS

 

[3pirates]

Hey everyone!

Robin, the special goes from late August to late September. I think with kids re-starting school and hurricanes loving Florida lately, that period has gotten really slow. It's a great time to be there otherwise!

Unfortunately, Joanie, I'm having to work around school schedules so I won't be enjoying the free meals....they could lose some money on my crew!

So Robin are you still going even though the points are high?

 

[HAPPY-AT-DISNEY]

[quote="Got Disney";18114394]DVC pts are finally out and there is a short theread started for it. They have not been calling to fast. Here is the thread

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1419019

The pts are high not sure what they are for the kids yet but will call tomorrow between 1-5 EST. they are not yet posted on the DVC sight

Hope everyone is all okay. Joanie you mentioned the special but cant find it on the sight. Is it just for Sept. or does it spread to Oct. ?

have a great day and will check back tonight as I play on the DIS [/quote]

hi robin,
the special is from 8/25 to 9/22 i bookd for 9/14 to 9/20..i have to fly back for a wedding..it was opend to general public on 4/12..it includes park passes, food plan..and room..its a great deal..
robin, why would some people know the points for riv cruise if its not posted..
w-h-y havent they posted it!!!! thy are driving me crazy!!

 

["Got Disney"]

Hi everyone...hope your all well


Joanie heres the scoop that i got ...Mexican riviera July 20th 2008...

Adults = 436
1st child age 14 = 314
2nd child age 11 = 268

Cash pricing...MrsG quoted different $2,705..for cat 6. I Called twice to check with 2 different people ...this is what they both gave me

Adults = $2,825.00
1st child = $2,035.00
2nd child = $1,735.00

Total of $9,420,00

Now before I booked this with DVC I had it with DCL and my cash price was $7,880.00 and the cruise booked after for my back to back is also $7,880.00. so as for cash value it is $1500 less DCL $1500 more DVC. I am going to call DCL and ask them for there break down for each person and see if there is a difference.

When I asked about the Westbound Repo cruise the pt value was like 560 0r 580 cat6 adult...WOW and that is the cheep one she said...the other cruise eastbound is more

Not sure yet what we are going to do cause it is rediculous how the cash value is higher than DCL. What's up with that?????? need to do alot of figuring like maybe using the points for WDW and DL instead and paying cash for the other cruise as planned. I must say that I am dissapointed, not so much on the pt value expected that to be high but on the cash value!!!!
__________________

 

[HAPPY-AT-DISNEY]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";18127392]Hi everyone...hope your all well


Joanie heres the scoop that i got ...Mexican riviera July 20th 2008...

Adults = 436
1st child age 14 = 314
2nd child age 11 = 268

Cash pricing...MrsG quoted different $2,705..for cat 6. I Called twice to check with 2 different people ...this is what they both gave me

Adults = $2,825.00
1st child = $2,035.00
2nd child = $1,735.00

Total of $9,420,00

Now before I booked this with DVC I had it with DCL and my cash price was $7,880.00 and the cruise booked after for my back to back is also $7,880.00. so as for cash value it is $1500 less DCL $1500 more DVC. I am going to call DCL and ask them for there break down for each person and see if there is a difference.

When I asked about the Westbound Repo cruise the pt value was like 560 0r 580 cat6 adult...WOW and that is the cheep one she said...the other cruise eastbound is more

Not sure yet what we are going to do cause it is rediculous how the cash value is higher than DCL. What's up with that?????? need to do alot of figuring like maybe using the points for WDW and DL instead and paying cash for the other cruise as planned. I must say that I am dissapointed, not so much on the pt value expected that to be high but on the cash value!!!!
__________________[/QUOTE]

Thanks Robin,
they are crazy..i am trying to change the date of the riv.
cruise..but they said they will guarantee me a room but not where it would be..they said thy may have to put me on deck one!! i looked in the book there is only 24 rooms down there, whats up wth that?? i am going to cll again monday or tue..and if the gv me any problems i wll cancel..
good luck to you Robin..may the force be with you!!

 

["Got Disney"]

Thanks Robin,
they are crazy..i am trying to change the date of the riv.
cruise..but they said they will guarantee me a room but not where it would be..they said thy may have to put me on deck one!! i looked in the book there is only 24 rooms down there, whats up wth that?? i am going to cll again monday or tue..and if the gv me any problems i wll cancel..
good luck to you Robin..may the force be with you!!

We may cancel the cruise with our pts that is I beliese July 20th-27 or July27-Aug3 because cant see using 872 pts plus paying $3700 for the kids. Even if we used all of our 1140 pts that are left we would still have to pay for Michael $1,735.00 Crazy. If we cancell maybe they can give you my ressie????

 

[HAPPY-AT-DISNEY]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";18148874]We may cancel the cruise with our pts that is I beliese July 20th-27 or July27-Aug3 because cant see using 872 pts plus paying $3700 for the kids. Even if we used all of our 1140 pts that are left we would still have to pay for Michael $1,735.00 Crazy. If we cancell maybe they can give you my ressie????[/QUOTE]

Robin,
we are trying to cancel the end of june ressie for 5/25..
they are giving you less than the east coast cruise and charging much more...they dnt even have a castaway cay!!

 

["Got Disney"]

Robin,
we are trying to cancel the end of june ressie for 5/25..
they are giving you less than the east coast cruise and charging much more...they dnt even have a castaway cay!!

your right!!! I am looking into one week cruise with cash and saving our pts and doing 7 days prior cruise and buying DL season passes(have all theses pts and need to use them) and one or 2 day Universal studios and staying at the Grandcalifornian or our time there.

Trying to figure out away not to spend too much $$$ but that is hard to do. We would like to do our back to back cruise after all that is why we got our 400 year pts. We can do it but I feel like I am being taken advantage of with this impeticular cruise.

Has anyone been to universal before? been a long time for us!!!Will check it out on these boards.

Hard decision and not much time to make it! Still ya gotta love 14 days on DCL wish we could have done the Repo cruise. Pts or not it would have been cheeper and longer...go figure

 

[HAPPY-AT-DISNEY]

well i did it..
finalized the cruise..changed date from end of june to 5/25th..the sd they guarantee me a room but cant tell me whr untill, possibly 2 weeks before the cruise..thy said if no one cancels the ocean view catagory thy wl upgrade me free..yea righto..i wont hold my breath for that one!! but its done now..im glad..cnt wait ..saved alot of points by changing date...
i also am leaving for dw end of this month and book anothr dw vaca at port orleans riverside in sept wth the new special thy just came out with..free food plan and free park passes..485 per adult and 185 per child...only form 8/25 till 9/22 so hurry if any else wants to join in...

 

["Got Disney"]

well i did it..
finalized the cruise..changed date from end of june to 5/25th..the sd they guarantee me a room but cant tell me whr untill, possibly 2 weeks before the cruise..thy said if no one cancels the ocean view catagory thy wl upgrade me free..yea righto..i wont hold my breath for that one!! but its done now..im glad..cnt wait ..saved alot of points by changing date...
i also am leaving for dw end of this month and book anothr dw vaca at port orleans riverside in sept wth the new special thy just came out with..free food plan and free park passes..485 per adult and 185 per child...only form 8/25 till 9/22 so hurry if any else wants to join in...

Congrats Joanie Those pts are preciouse arent they
We are looking at only doing 1 week cruise know instead of a back to back. We can afford to do both but hate the fact that would have to use 2006 , 2007 and 2008 pts plus $2,000.

So we are thinking about doing this

7 days DL GCH- concierge 444 pts with best view intown. The hotel charges over $675 per night for this.

during the 7 days we will do DL, Ragging Waters(voted #3 best water park in USA) Universal Studios, and Knotts berry farm all is within a spits distance from DL.

Spending the same $$$$ as if we were to do both cruises yet still have 690 pts left out of our 1140 pts we get through Dec 2009.

Sounds like a plan. Its not 2 cruises but looking forward to staying at the Hotel for 7 nights in Concierge.

We can do WDW or DL till the new ship in 2011 so will give us plenty of time to save and plan that and be able to use our other pts. Also we want to go to Hawaii in 2009 so so may do that while we wait.

So who besides us is planning on saving for 2011 new ship????????

 

[KSDTink]

Robin, when are you looking at doing DL??

I hope we can sail on new ship n 2011! I may hae to talk DH into it It will be easier to do if new ship goes to Alaska!!!!

 

[HAPPY-AT-DISNEY]

hi kat,robin
i will deff be on the 2011 cruise..
robin i like you iten. it is more thn just cruisin..alot of diversity..good luck...
maybe in 2011 we will all be on the same cruise..that would be nice..and i would like to see you all at the family pool and get to know you all better..instead of hiding at the adult pool...poss ill have my dd dsil and grandkids wth me ..
kat arent you going to dw this summer? did you get the new special tht includes room park passes and food plan??
i can email you the add if you want to see it..let me know
gotta run..
bye

 

["Got Disney"]

Kat...We will be at DL from July 20th-27 2008. But will be there other stays also before that. Are you planning on going to DL can't remember if you were going there or WDW?

2011 cruise...we will see ya there Joanie and Kat you can join us if your Dh decides not to go and we will have a great time!!!! Also if he does not go that is more $$$ for you to spend or save

Joanie be prepared for your May cruise to be cold and gloomy till you hit Mexico at least 2 days. We have what is called May gray and June gloom. Also be sure to bring pants and sweatshirts.
We dont start warming up here till around mid June but lasts till late Oct.

The water in Cabo is freezing all year long so plan on not swimming there but you can take a water taxi over to the Hotels and park yourself at there pool with no problems. Some great Hotels there. Also there are alot of Rip tides in Cabo.

as we get closer I can tell you of some excursions that you can do that DCL does on your own for a fraction of the cost.

Well everyone still so glad there are a few of us left to chat will check back later and all have a blessed day.

 

[KSDTink]

Joannie and Robin, we are going to DL this summer rather than WDW. DH doesn't want to go to central Florida again. If I get there again it will just be DD and myself. That was the original plan then he decided he wanted to make a family vacation of it! so we are going to the other coast this time!

Who knows, the way he is going DH may not be with us in 2011 anyway . He was diagnosed as Type II diabetic last summer and took meds. Then went to the Mayo clinic where they told him he WASN'T type II. So he stopped. Now his doc says his hemoglobin a1c is way off but he refuses to do anything about it because the Mayo said he isn't diabetic! Given his mood swings and eating habits I'd say he definitely is, especially with the results of his a1c. So as long as he continues to ignore it he is definitely shortening his life expectency. Untreated Type II's have about a 2-5 year window from what I can find. He won't listen, doesn't trust doctors anymore, so just goes on his merry way. Ugh!!!

 

["Got Disney"]

Joannie and Robin, we are going to DL this summer rather than WDW. DH doesn't want to go to central Florida again. If I get there again it will just be DD and myself. That was the original plan then he decided he wanted to make a family vacation of it! so we are going to the other coast this time!

Who knows, the way he is going DH may not be with us in 2011 anyway . He was diagnosed as Type II diabetic last summer and took meds. Then went to the Mayo clinic where they told him he WASN'T type II. So he stopped. Now his doc says his hemoglobin a1c is way off but he refuses to do anything about it because the Mayo said he isn't diabetic! Given his mood swings and eating habits I'd say he definitely is, especially with the results of his a1c. So as long as he continues to ignore it he is definitely shortening his life expectency. Untreated Type II's have about a 2-5 year window from what I can find. He won't listen, doesn't trust doctors anymore, so just goes on his merry way. Ugh!!!

WOW Kat sorry to hear that and that is soooo typical of so many that find out they are diabetic....He can not ignore it but sure you already know that and how frustrating is that for you and Sam....

Can you at least take a class and change what you are cooking for dinners? that may help. Sometimes men are a pain. Billie is the same with his Hep C. He is good at taking suppliments, at least $200 a months worth but his weight is terrible and he has a fatty liver which makes his liver deteriorate faster.

He is aware of this but Hep C has no symptoms so because he always feels fine he ignores it.

MEN...geeesh.

So when are you going to DL...and where are you staying? we are planning on going again in July most likely, or Beggining of August. Need to look at what our camping trip date is first before booking.