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

["Got Disney"]

Hi again..
first off Kat how are you today???????????hope you are feeling better.

I found something out about the DVC that I did not know about when using pts with a cruise. I did not know that there prices are different than DCL.

They said that if we were to use pts for Billie and I and pay for the kids that the price of $1500 and 1300 will be different and may be higher. They said that they contract out different than Disney does. Whats up with that????

Seems to me that would be the same. He said that we could pay a significant higher reat not just a little. He said that it could be lower but usually is not. So than we may have to rent some pts and pay for whole cruise with them. We will have 1200 pts to use. But sure it will be more htan that. We may just cancell one week and use it for a week at WDW, not sure yet.

CAn one of you tell me what the difference may be with your experiance???? Thanks

Have a great day everyone ...and will check in throughout the day!

 

[KSDTink]

Hi all. I am feeling better today and am back at work. The weather here is awful, though. It has been snowing since mid-morning and the roads are terrible. Multiple accidents and people driving like idiots. We are supposed to get 3-6 inches by evening. I'd say we are already past the 3 inch mark!!!

While I was home sick yesterday I saw several shows on Alaska and Alaskan cruises on the travel channel. I think waiting for DCL to go there is not going to happen! I really want to go so may look into something like that for 2008 or 2009.

 

[KSDTink]

The roads have apparently gotten really bad here. The on-ramps to the Interstate are closed at one point so no-one can get on as there have been so many accidents. One of our guys got about 4 blocks from work on his way home and got hit. Almost every activity in the area has been cancelled for this evening. The plows can't keep up with the snow. I have to stop at the drug store on my way home, hoping that I don't have any problems!!! And Sam's school is already showing a 2 hour delay in the morning. I don't like winter......

 

[yargrnhoj]

The roads have apparently gotten really bad here. The on-ramps to the Interstate are closed at one point so no-one can get on as there have been so many accidents. One of our guys got about 4 blocks from work on his way home and got hit. Almost every activity in the area has been cancelled for this evening. The plows can't keep up with the snow. I have to stop at the drug store on my way home, hoping that I don't have any problems!!! And Sam's school is already showing a 2 hour delay in the morning. I don't like winter......

Good luck. I skated all the way home here. I tried the brakes a couple of times and car would not stop -- good thing I left work early and the roads were not crowded at that time.

 

[3pirates]

Wow! Be careful guys...and keep that stuff up there, OK?

 

[magiroux]

Kat - Glad you are feeling better. How is your Mom? Is she home yet?

We are getting the cold, but none of the snow.....yet!

Yes.....watching those Travel Channel shows have a tendency of putting ideas in your head. We keep saying, "This is our last DCL Cruise", but they always come out with a new itinerary that we want to do with Mickey. As Al Pacino says in GodfatherIII, "They keep pulling me back"!!

Sherrenna - I know, I sound a little harsh. It was really more me being Type A personalitiy. I'm sure everything would have worked out fine, however it just made me crazy to be planning things for many other people (not just myself) and not getting a response until the third email request. In all fairness to DU, there are many different TA's working for them. Many of them get high praises from other people on the DIS. Did you hear about that DIS'er that wanted a cabin on the EBRC, and their TA at DU called in sick? The ball was dropped somewhere, and as a result nobody even called for them . My heart broke for that person. Even if they can get a cabin, at this point the price will be quite a bit more than it would have been on the 31st.

Wow Robin, you lost me on the DVC stuff. Too many variables. I hope you don't have to cancel a week. I know how you were looking forward to doing a back to back. How is your neice this week?

J.R. - Good thing you left early. Gives you time to keep up with that crazy thread. What a hoot how quickly that one moves along, huh?

Hi Joanie - Hope all is well with you

 

[yargrnhoj]

Honestly, I had them in 2004, and the agent assingned to me was wonderful. I organized the late seating for that cruise and she took care of everything. I sent a letter to WebmasterJohn praising her and showing my appreciation.

Jump ahead to 2006...As you know, I organised a few things for our cruise (late seating, Palo Brunch) and quite frankly I could never get a response back from her (same rep as 2004) under 72 hrs on anything. I ended up doing the Palo Brunch without any help from her. I think if I had left it up to her we would have never got the room.

If you don't need to use the TA for any special arrangements, I say go for it...it's a great deal. If you plan on arranging things for the group, if it were me, I would say no. It is much easier (and less headaches) to deal with DCL yourself. JMHO

In fact, she left such a bad impression with me this last cruise, DU is offereing $300 SBC for my stateroom on the EBPC and I am saying - No Thanks!!!

You're scaring me. I transferred my EBPC to them b/c I really need the on-board credit. First time I've used a travel agent since I used to work for AMEX travel in college and saw how little they cared.

Luckily, I don't plan on doing anything other than paying it off and booking excursions, so I should be okay.

 

["Got Disney"]

Nice picture of the 5 of you!!!!

Hi Everyone.
Hope you all are carefull driving...the news is telling that is is soooo nasty and cold out that way. Scarry stuff driving in that stuff!!!! Be sure to check in here so we all know that you all are at home and safe!!!!

Kat glad to here that you and your mom are on the mend!!!!!

I wish the pts would hurry up and come out so I can get the show on the road with figuring out what we are going to do. We will most likely just do both and say the heck with it....aFTER ALL I'TS ONLY $$$$ and who needs a new deck,or washer and dryer, and restucco, and landscape a new front yard, and remodle the boys bathroom and so on and so on and so on!!!!

At least we are paying off our charge cards and getting rid of our debt...will be working very hard to pay off DVC in a few years....want to pay at least $1,000 a month on it...so we will have 30,000 plus interest...I hate bills but sure love life!!!

 

[magiroux]

You're scaring me. I transferred my EBPC to them b/c I really need the on-board credit. First time I've used a travel agent since I used to work for AMEX travel in college and saw how little they cared.

Luckily, I don't plan on doing anything other than paying it off and booking excursions, so I should be okay.

You'll be fine, J.R. In fact, the only reason I noticed that she was unresponsive is because I needed her to contact DCL for the linking. For the Brunch Room I got in touch with the fellow DISer that arranged it for our 2004 X-Mas cruise and got the contact name to DCL Dining and ended up bypassing DU. The fact is, you really don't need them for anythng

I really should not be so stubborn and take the SBC....we'll see

 

[magiroux]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";16863625]...I hate bills but sure love life!!![/QUOTE]

You know, Robin - I think that line would make a wonderful TAG

 

["Got Disney"]

You're scaring me. I transferred my EBPC to them b/c I really need the on-board credit. First time I've used a travel agent since I used to work for AMEX travel in college and saw how little they cared.

Luckily, I don't plan on doing anything other than paying it off and booking excursions, so I should be okay.

I have not used a TA is years and years but decided that DU had such a great OBC that I could not pass it up. I transfered my Ressie today to Marla who has been great at getting back to me.

Also since I can book my own excursions and Palos without first having to go through DU is great because I will be doing that ASAp when the time comes.

Hopefully it will not be a bad experiance. But $250.00 was to hard to pass up.

 

[HAPPY-AT-DISNEY]

You know, Robin - I think that line would make a wonderful TAG

tag, tag, what is a tag....
hi mary ann, im fine how are you...i am just a little crazy cuz dis wont tell us the point value for the cruise yet..money is one thing you cnt run out..well you can but then there is borrowing, or making more..but points..do run out!! i need to know if i have enough....i think they do this intentionally to make you want to go even more...
hey guys careful in the snow and ice,,,spring is coming...
kat you will be in disney before you know it...
robin..i do not know what that is all abt..went you are renting a resort if not by points you get a discount up to 25% if you are using cash..why would thy charge more for a cruise??

 

["Got Disney"]

tag, tag, what is a tag....
hi mary ann, im fine how are you...i am just a little crazy cuz dis wont tell us the point value for the cruise yet..money is one thing you cnt run out..well you can but then there is borrowing, or making more..but points..do run out!! i need to know if i have enough....i think they do this intentionally to make you want to go even more...
hey guys careful in the snow and ice,,,spring is coming...
kat you will be in disney before you know it...
robin..i do not know what that is all abt..went you are renting a resort if not by points you get a discount up to 25% if you are using cash..why would thy charge more for a cruise??

First to answer your question...if you look at my signiture you will see sayings in different colors instead of black...they are tags given to me from the tag genie and tag fairy....they look for sayings in your typing and place them there....

As for the pts....DCL is like booking at one of the non disney resorts...you have the extra $75.00 charge and point value is higher and so is cash value. But they do fall under the umbrella of disney.

The value of the points are not as good as staying at a DVC Villa or resort. It is definatly not the best bang for your bucks but the reason we have the pts is to enjoy them in the best way possible for us and that right know is cruising....

 

[3pirates]

To go a little further with the whole points thing, one way it was explained to me was that you get benefits even going with cash at a DVC because your dues help finance the system. They charge a little more to those outside to help recoup that. When you go out of DVC that part of the benefit is gone. The different Disney entities keep different sets of books and how they interact with each other is negotiated....so it changes. I think they haven't assigned points because it is outside of the normal booking window.But hopefully since they have allowed people to make reservations they won't make you wait until 11 months out. But they do have to negotiate things. DCL probably isn't in a hurry, waiting to see how the cruises book without DVC points.

 

[3pirates]

Sherrenna - I know, I sound a little harsh. It was really more me being Type A personalitiy. I'm sure everything would have worked out fine, however it just made me crazy to be planning things for many other people (not just myself) and not getting a response until the third email request. In all fairness to DU, there are many different TA's working for them. Many of them get high praises from other people on the DIS. Did you hear about that DIS'er that wanted a cabin on the EBRC, and their TA at DU called in sick? The ball was dropped somewhere, and as a result nobody even called for them . My heart broke for that person. Even if they can get a cabin, at this point the price will be quite a bit more than it would have been on the 31st.

I didn't think you sounded harsh..I think when you have a less than optimal experience with someone it is normal to not want to repeat it. Hopefully others will have an experience more like your first one.

 

[KSDTink]

wow, where is everyone?? We were halfway down page 3!!!

I suspect you have to post on many different boards for the tag fairy to see you. I know I have never posted anything particularly tag-worthy so I could be wrong, but the more boards you post on, the better your chance of having something noticed, wouldn't you say Robin??

We lost power here at work for 2 hours this morning. What a drag that was. It was getting downright chilly!!! Ugh.

 

["Got Disney"]

Hi everyone

Hi Kat...well when it comes to the Tag Genie or the Tag Fairy you never know when they are tagging you....I have been tagged by both so far but one tags from the Tag genie in the Wasabi game...

But always keep a look out and by the way they like chocolet...maybe if you post chocolet on your signiture they will come

By the way you sound like your feeling much better today...how is your Mom?


I keep trying to break away from these boards a little and get some stuff done...so will try to go do some stuff that needs to be done....I will check bask in a little bit...if you see my light on that is because as I clean and stuff I stay on the boards and check on and off...

So I look forward to seeing you all in a little while

Adios

 

[3pirates]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";16901737]Hi everyone

Hi Kat...well when it comes to the Tag Genie or the Tag Fairy you never know when they are tagging you....I have been tagged by both so far but one tags from the Tag genie in the Wasabi game...

But always keep a look out and by the way they like chocolet...maybe if you post chocolet on your signiture they will come

By the way you sound like your feeling much better today...how is your Mom?


I keep trying to break away from these boards a little and get some stuff done...so will try to go do some stuff that needs to be done....I will check bask in a little bit...if you see my light on that is because as I clean and stuff I stay on the boards and check on and off...

So I look forward to seeing you all in a little while

Adios[/QUOTE]


I'll clarify something Robin said...

The tag genie is something that they made up for the WPASADI game...it was a way to reward teenagers and people outside of the country who for tax reasons couldn't win the real prizes. They also threw it out as a prize to some of the audience members who wanted to participate in the challenges. Robin gave her name and a team used her in their challenge. She got to be the Tag Genie and give three tags...I think she said she gave herself two and wanted to give one to Jen.

The tag fairy is what you are used to where people say random things and the fairy decides to surprise them with a tag. It seems to me that some threads get more action from the tag fairy than others, but I'm no expert. Mine came the night they revealed the real identities of the celebrities...pretty much everyone on that night got at least one. I think Robin got one or two that night too.

And I've been swimming really hard to keep level here...tax season has launched!

 

[fabulusk]

Sorry to say no that we will not be joining you guys on the EBRC. MIL said Scotland. She wants to take the family to Scotland. So looks like we might be saving some money to go to Scotland definately cannot do both in 2008. I will miss you guys.

 

[KSDTink]

Angela, I would definitely take Scotland over the cruise!!! I am jealous. DB and his wife are off to England and Wales in a few weeks. His wife's sister is marrying a Brit in Wales....