2/01/03 Western

[allears]

Hey, first posting on the boards. My family of five, maybe four if dd's grades aren't up to snuff, are booked on the 2/1/03 cruise. This will be our third disney cruise, second 7 day and we can't wait!!!!!

 

[Gina]

Welcome to the DIS boards, and welcome to our 2/1 party!!! So glad to have more join the fun... we're a chatty bunch -- because nothing makes the waiting time fly by like anticipating our cruise!! -- so jump right on in!! How old are your kids? We already have quite a number of DIS-kids that are going to be in the Club/Lab together. What are your plans before the cruise? A number of us will be at the Radisson the night before, and we're planning on having a pool-side mini-DIS-meet. Also, several of us are taking the 11:15 excursion to Stingray City via Captain Marvin's. I can't wait for that!!

Glad you're here!!

-gina-

 

[akterrye]

Welcome, allears! Great to have you join us!!

In addition to this thread, we have a rollcall and an email distribution list for all kinds of stuff as we get closer. Drop me an email if you want to be included.

I think Gina covered most of the good questions.

 

[akterrye]

HEY!!! We're under 170 days!!!! WHOOOHOOO!!!

 

[goin2dzny]

This just might be a RECORD for the DIS boards.... we have quite a few of us going on this cruise together...

Maybe we should all have T-Shirts printed with something about DIS so we can recognize each other... HHHHMMMM Lime green t-shirts sure would be easy to see!!!

I am so excited!!! Can't wait!!!

 

[allears]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. My kids are DD 15, DS 12 and DS 6. We'll be flying in early that morning and heading straight to the ship via DCL transfers. This was our mo on the last cruise and worked out well.

 

[sitchu2]

Allears:

I too am from south jersey at the shore and I was in the process of shopping for flights. I was considering flying spirit the morning of the cruise but I was afraid if there was a delay the boat does not wait. I just had an experience with spirit canceling my flight home this sept and placed my family on another flight without even notifying us. If I had not decided to check myself the status I would have been up the creek. I had to book an extra night and everything with short notice. I decided to try to fly down the night before so if the flight had a delay at least I would have 18 hours or so to find another flight.

Our kids are close in age I have a son15 a son13 and a daughter 6. At the time we sail they will be 16,13, and 7 though.

If you dont mind can you tell me who you are flying with , and if you got a good price on airfare. I was considering purchaseing continental air out of newark the night before at $211 round trip.

Thanks Felicia (Brick NJ)

 

[allears]

Hey there sitchu2,
We are flying US Air, and we got a pretty good rate, $186.00 round trip. We have a 6:30 am flight. I always try to get the earliest flight, that gives me several subsequent flights in the event of trouble. We thought about Spirit, but then I would defenitely have gone down the night before. We live about 15 mins from the Philadelphia airport, and US Air has a desk at the DCL terminal, so the last time I touch our luggage is when I check in at Philly. I love this. This is the same flight we had this past Feburary and it worked out great. The only other thing to worry about is weather, again an early flight can help there, but if all else fails and we look like we'll get snowed in, I'll leave Friday morning and drive.

Hope this helps. Good luck with flights.

 

[sitchu2]

Thanks for the great info allears!! I think ill be safer booking the night before out of newark. Ill just keep my eyes open for rates under $200 .
That is great to get your luggage transported from the airport. Last year when I sailed I saw others with this deal, and I was envious!! Sounds like a good move.

Does anyone know all of the airlines that have a desk at the dcl terminal for baggage convienance?

 

[allears]

You're most welcome. We do love using DCL transfer option. With our last cruise we hit a good price with US Air as well, and we had purchased the DCL transfers. It was soooo cool to tag our luggage with their yellow tags, check them in at the air port and not see them again unitl they arrived at our stateroom. I'm not sure how they know that they have all of your bags, but they did. We just took our carry ons and boarded the bus for the port.

On debarkation, we got a porter to take our bags out of the terminal around to the US Air desk. Got checked in (received our boarding passes) and got back on the bus. It is really a neat serivce.

So if ariline prices are close, I choose one that has a desk at the terminal.

Good luck with your flight search!

 

[akterrye]

Hey, everyone....I was just curious as to who all is booked with Capt. Marvin's and for what time?

Gina, you got us addicted to watching the Magic sail off on Saturdays, now! Dan and I have been doing it for three weekends, but today Eric came in and asked what we were up to. Dan said, "We're watching the Magic!!" and Eric responded, "REALLY?! How cool!" We told him we've been doing it every weekend and he now he wants to watch with us. I think he's finally getting as excited as Dan and I are. LOL.

Tiffany called her parents yesterday and TOLD them the cruise was paid for and they were going whether they liked it or not and now Tiff's parents are excited too! So, our group just got a WHOLE lot bigger. I'll update the rollcall after this post.

goin2dzny: I think we might be getting really close to having a HUGE group going. I'll have to do a little reseach and find out exactly if we'll be the biggest group of DISers going so far.

Maybe we should all have T-Shirts printed with something about DIS so we can recognize each other... HHHHMMMM Lime green t-shirts sure would be easy to see!!!

I like the idea of something setting us apart so we can easily recognize each other....lime green t-shirts might blind our fellow passengers tho. LOL

allears and sitchu2: HOW COOL that you guys are both from the same neck of the woods!!!

Does anyone know all of the airlines that have a desk at the dcl terminal for baggage convienance?

The airlines that have baggage check-in at the port are:

Delta
US Airways
American
Continental
Northwest

Wow, this getting to be a really long post, so I'll close for now. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

 

[disneygal58]

Hello All,
We booked our first 7 night before disembarking the DVC 4 night special is April. Our cabin will consist of myself (hardworking CMT single mom) and my two wonderful daughters - Meagan age 19 and Erin age 17.
We recently (10 days to be exact) moved to Clearwater, Florida and this will be our first trip driving instead of dealing with flying/transfer debates and praying that a snowstorm doesn't delay our vacation.
I am feeling absolutely decadent and spoiled these days living 15 minutes from white sand beaches and 90 minutes from Disney World.
Looking forward to sharing the countdown and getting info on good deals at close to Port hotels for the night before departure.
Dawn Hope

 

[Gina]

Hi Dawn! Yay, another single mom! Woo hoo!!

Welcome aboard... if you've already read through the whole thread, then you know what we're planning on doing and staying when, so feel free to add any suggestions or join our growing little excursion and meet groups. Glad to have you along! And the rest of the teens in our midst will be very happy to hear that there will be two more now.

-gina-

 

[akterrye]

I updated the rollcall...HOLY smokes! We have a huge group going! This is gonna be SO cool!

Pre-cruise Dis meet: At the Radisson by the pool (or Gina's room! HA!). Any suggestions as to what time would work for everyone?

Sail-away Dis meet: So far, the suggestions are Deck 10 above Goofy's pool or Deck 7 *secret* veranda. How big is the veranda, anyway? Since we have approximately 18 families going, will there be enough room? Also, what time would work for everyone? We sail at 5pm and early dinner is when?

High Tea: Looks like it'll have to be the first sea day, since the very important Castaway Club Party is on the other one! Don't wanna miss that!!! I think 3:30 (or the earliest possible reservation) would be the best so that those with early dinner seating won't be full from tea.

If we fill up the 11:15 Capt. Marvin's will they pick us up at the dock where we tender in?

 

[Cyberkashi]

Hi all,

I just got back from Disney park and 7-day Eastern (still one case unpacked) and we just had to do it again. So we too are booked on the 2/1/03 Western. Made the reservation this morining.

We will probable stay at VWL for the week prior to the cruise--broke it up last time (3 days before, 5 days after) and it was a lot of moving around.

I missed hooking up with the group at our last cruise because they too selected the Goofy pool for a meet site. BIG MISTAKE. That is where the sail-away party takes place. It is a mad house. If you want to meet and plan a "private sail" away, try a less crowded spot. May the sport deck at the fore of the ship? Should offer great unobstructed views and less people and noise.

We are three people cruising:
Myself, DH, & DD 5. From Northern NJ.

We are on deck 8 / Cabin 8082. Late Seating.

I hope someone will compile a list.

I would love to meet for high tea. We had a reservation last time but my husband & I split to make our bookings and the tea interferred with a spa treatment and we had to let the tea go. I heard it was really great. I also heard reports that the Brunch is not to be missed.

Thanks for the lead on Captin Marvin's (whoever provided the link). I did not see an 11:15 tour listed but I will keep looking.

Before I found this thread, I had already booked the Raddison, but only had the option for the standard room at $99. I will have to call them about that. I will also try the Avis discount code given in an earlier message.

Happy to answer any questions about my recent experience on the Magic--although it looks like there are a lot of Veteran cruisers out there. Glad to be aboard.

-- Cyberkashi

 

[akterrye]

Welcome to Cyberkashi and family!

Have you had a chance to read the whole 2/1/03 thread? There is a lot of information that we've been sharing, and it's been quite entertaining!

I hope someone will compile a list.

We have another thread called ROLLCALL where I have a list of everyone that has raised their hand and stated they are going on the cruise. I've also been gathering email addresses for a cruise distribution list. If you would like to join that, drop me an email and I'll add you.

Sorry to hear you missed the High Tea...it really is wonderful. I'm looking forward to finally getting to the brunch!

re: Capt. Marvin's - Here is the link to the snorkel trips...it's about half way down the page under "2-Hour Excursion."

allears and sitchu2 are also from the New Jersey area, looks like you'll have something else in common besides just a cruise!

 

[akterrye]

Teen boys: 13, 14, 16 (2), and 17
Teen girls: 15 (3), 16 (2), 17 (2), and 19
Total teens: 13

school aged boys: 6,7, 8, 9, 11 (2), and 12 (2)
school aged girls: 7 (5), 8, 10(2), 11, and 12 (2)
Total school aged: 19

pre-school boys: 0
pre-school girls: 3, 4 (4), and 5
Total pre-school: 6

toddlers: 1 ½ (boy)

All I can say is WOW!

 

[sitchu2]

I have recently been informed that my first cousin who I have not seen since my childhood has booked this cruise with her husband. I will try to contact her by email and give her the link to the boards. My mom is excited because she was very close to her niece when she was a small child.

DCL was even able to link us all together at the late dinner seating.

I also just got my local school calender and found out that school is closed for a professional day in my area on Jan 31 HORRAY!!
Now I can fly down earlier and enjoy that raddison. My parents tried to book the room that I got for $99 but the special was gone(visit florida special) so they were only able to get a standard room as well.

I am on a quest for flights under $200 Last week continental was $211 and now the same flights are $735 ouch! I guess ill expect to wait until October but if I can find something sooner Ill grab it.

Also is there a way to rent a car at the airport and turn it in at the port or the raddison? Does anyone know about the raddisons shuttle? cost? ect.

I swore I was going to try not to think about this trip until after Labor day but I think once you get under that six month mark its impossible not to. How many more saturdays is it now?
Do you all watch the magic sail in on a web cam?

Happy planning all (I will deffinately plan excrusions after my Labor Day trip!!) Felicia

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

SITCHU2,

You can rent a car from Avis at the Airport and there is an Avis rental on site at the Raddison. That is what we are doing and then you can just turn the car in right at the hotel. In the morning they will take us to the port by shuttle and it is complimentary. Glad to have more DIS'ers joining our thread. I think that we have the biggest group chatting on the board.

This is our first cruise and it is all I think about!!!! I can not wait for it to get here. I figure once all the holiday's hit time will fly!!!

I am also looking for Air still. Southwest schedule is still not open yet for my dates. No good rates right now. I sure hope they drop soon!!!

Been doing more shopping. Got DD two really pretty dresses on clearance at Dillards Friday!!! Also hit the Outlets in Branson this weekend. I am set!!! I need to stop shopping!!!!!

Can't wait to meet all of you!!!!

 

[Gina]

Originally posted by sitchu2
I swore I was going to try not to think about this trip until after Labor day but I think once you get under that six month mark its impossible not to. How many more saturdays is it now?
Do you all watch the magic sail in on a web cam?

Ugh, how can you NOT think about the trip?? That's half the joy!! 24 more Saturdays left!!!

-gina-