2/01/03 Western

[Gina]

Originally posted by akterrye
How did you create a $300 ship board credit? Prepay? And, if so, how do I go about doing that? I'd love to secretly create an onboard credit for misc. stuff - less cash/traveler's checks to carry.

I bet you can do it that way, sending in payments ahead of time; I've done that with WDW resort stays before. But mine is luckily not my money. $100 of it was a Dreams Unlimited promotion, and $200 is the DCL returning cruiser credit. When I sailed in February and made my next ressie a few days after returning, I managed to get in just under the wire before they did away with those credits. I'm sooooo glad to have it!!

-gina-

 

[micKIM mouse]

We have several teens in our group! There is a 13 year old boy and two girls-15 and 17.

 

[akterrye]

Gina = lucky dog

 

[Gina]

Originally posted by akterrye
Gina = lucky dog

No, just fiscally opportunistic. Or maybe luck... whatever it is, I'm very grateful!! I can't imagine how I'd have $$ for drinks and bingo and whatnot without the credits.

Michelle --
I just read a post about the Radisson that should make you feel even better for switching your package -- they said that they had the full breakfast package but that it was a waste, because they were way too excited to eat!! I hadn't even thought of that, but I know I'll be the same way. Also, if anyone is interested, they are showing a rate of $99 for the 1-bdrm whirlpool suite. That is a great price!! With that room, you also get a mini-fridge and microwave, so you could do breakfast yourself.

This is very cool!! Here, you can go on "virtual tours" of the resort grounds, as well as inside the different room types:

http://www.photowebusa.com/cape/

-gina-

 

[sitchu2]

I just did it. I booked my night at the raddison . I got a 2 king and sofa bed whirlpool suite at the $99 visit fla rate. Thank you for the info, I would not have known otherwise.

I am also watching the airline rates. I do not have southwest out of newark or atlantic city which are my 2 airports. I will have to watch continental or deltas rates I guess. Spirit does not have late flights out to orlando and we have to finish the work/schoolday on the 31st.

Does anyone know what time the magic sails into port? That would be nice to have a meet in the am at the raddison and all watch the boat sail in if its not too early. Are there rooms with an ocean view where you can see the ship sail in??

I cant believe how excited I am getting only 25 saturdays to go now!!!!!!!!!

 

[akterrye]

Congrats on the Radisson, sitchu2! When I was looking at the port cam at 7:30 - 8:00 am (FL time) this morning, the Magic was already in port. I'll bet anything that Dave would be able to tell ya if he doesn't already have it posted on his site somewhere.

I got some bad news, Gina. Our Disney store sold out of the Alaska Mickey pins in an HOUR! And, they won't be getting any more....ever. The CM I talked to said they were amazed! She also told us she didn't like us because we were buying Disney Dollars to use on the Magic. LOL!

My friends, Tiffany and Tracy, and I are getting together on the 24th for a "planning" party. We're going to make all of our reservations and stuff together over margaritas and potluck. I brought over my cruise notebook last night and the two of them were trading it back and forth like high school girls with a yearbook. I was dying!

Well, off to watch "Twister" and then try to sleep...

A seasonal insomniac *sigh*

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

akterrye,

That is a good idea to buy Disney dollars for the cruise. I did not think about that??? Heck we waste $20 bucks a week on junk and so if I started buying $20 per week of Disney dollars I would have a pretty good stash by the time we leave. I also have a Birthday next month!!! I could use my Birthday money!! Woo hoo.

I did read on one of the cruise information sites that you can buy on ship credits ahead of time. I guess you would call DCL or your Travel agent.

Anyone else wanting to know about Radisson??? They do not require a deposit. They just hold it on you credit card till you check in. I was happy about that.

This is so fun!! DD and I are heading to Branson Mo this Sat to visit a friend and so I am hitting the Disney outlet to see what deals I can find. They always have some great clearance stuff.

SO LADIES?????? WOULD ANYONE BE UP FOR "HIGH TEA" TOGETHER ONE DAY ON THE MAGIC???? I don't think that I could get my hubby to do that??? So I thought us girls could get together and figure out a day to meet for tea????

We got the new cruise video and have watched 10 times or more.

 

[akterrye]

You can count me IN for High Tea! I loved it! *yummy* My SO absolutely LOVED High Tea.

We haven't decided if we're coming down a few days ahead of time (I'm hoping) or just flying down the day before. I hope they have rooms left at the Radisson if we decide to come down early! Getting up early to watch the ship sail into port sounds like fun. I wonder how many will be up already cuz they were too excited to sleep the night before...

We have a new cruiser to add to our ever growing list: KandK and his family! I've updated our rollcall thread and our email distribution list.

That is exactly why we bought the Disney Dollars, cuz I would find other things to buy. I plan on making the Disney store a monthy stop. My son has also asked his relatives to send him Disney dollars for Christmas. He even went out and bought a wallet this weekend to hold them in when he gets them.

I wonder if I could get away with flying down to the lower 48 just to visit a Disney outlet store. LOL...probably not.

 

[Gina]

Good Monday morning, happy cruisers!!

I don't know if y'all have Kohl's there or not, but I swear it's my new favorite store. They have all their summer stuff at 80% off, and yesterday I got Tyler Dean 2 new bathing suits for $3 apiece, and 2 really nice tank tops for -- are you ready for this? -- 75 cents apiece!! I would have gotten more if they had more in his size. I mean, 75 cents?? That's not a department store, that's a garage sale!! And these were Sonoma, regularly like $10. I'm a very happy camper.

Re: Disney Dollars -- I don't know what I would do without them!! If I have DD, I simply cannot spend them on anything else, and that really helps. I do a lot of surveys for cash, and I cash those checks and get DD with them. It's not a lot of money, but it helps! I'm saving up the DD to buy our one-day tickets to Epcot for that Thursday when we arrive. I wish there was some sort of discount on one-day tickets, but there isn't. I wish we still had our AP's! LOL!

KandK --
Welcome!! We're a chatty bunch, so jump right in.

Terrye --
No biggie about the Alaska pin! I'll live. Hey, we finally made it to the beach yesterday.. it was sooooo nice! And now my tan is renewed. Oh, and can I come to your planning party?? It sounds like just too much fun!! Hey, I make the best Malibu Coladas this side of St. Thomas... I'll bring my blender and my color-coded packing list with me.

A few other things...
Count me in for high tea, too!! What fun that would be. I went to brunch at Palo with a DIS'er and her DH last time, and that was SO delicious. I'd love to do the high tea this time.

With as many of us as are shaping up to be at the Radisson that night, you *know* we gotta plan a pool-side pre-cruise DIS meet. How fun would that be?? Then by the time we are on the ship, we'll already know who we all are and stuff. Any takers??

Well, I need more coffee... hope everyone has a great week, full of freshly-sharpened pencils and shiny new lunchboxes!

-gina-

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

Gina,

Great!!! We will have plenty of time to figure out a "High Tea" time. I bet they serve great desserts.

I am up for a meet at the pool the night before the cruise. We wil be at MK that day and if there is no evening parade then we will probably leave after the afternoon parade and head to the Radisson. It will be Jan 30 and so MK will close probably close at 6:00. I am guessing it will atleast take us an hour to get to the coast since we do not know where we are going.

If anyone can figure out what time the Magic sails in to port I would be willing to meet up with you guys to watch. I won't be able to sleep anyway.

I may have to go to Kohl's!! Sounds like you got some great deals.

I can not believe how big our 2-1-03 thread is!!! We are a chatty bunch.

 

[akterrye]

Gina: we don't have a kohl's nearby, but I did look on their website and they are having the 80% sale on there too...WHOOHOO!!! Anyone and EVERYONE is invited to our planning party! Just bring your favorite dish...LOL!

Hey, I make the best Malibu Coladas this side of St. Thomas... I'll bring my blender and my color-coded packing list with me.

Sounds good to me!!! I told the "girls" bout your color-coded packing list...they were awe struck...they had no idea they should actually PLAN to go on a cruise. I couldn't believe they DON'T plan when going on vacation...how are they gonna know what to do when they get there?!?!?!

BABYJOSIE98: You are SO right...the little eclairs are wonderful, and I usually HATE eclairs. Everything was wonderful. I could have done it every day.

Are you going to be at the Radisson on Jan. 30 (Thursday) or Jan. 31 (Friday) or both? I'm a little confused.

With as many of us as are shaping up to be at the Radisson that night, you *know* we gotta plan a pool-side pre-cruise DIS meet. How fun would that be?? Then by the time we are on the ship, we'll already know who we all are and stuff. Any takers??

I would love that!

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I Believe Gina and I are both staying only Friday night. We will be at WDW on Thursday night and I think Gina is too. She said they are going to Epcot.

 

[Gina]

Originally posted by BABYJOSIE98
I Believe Gina and I are both staying only Friday night. We will be at WDW on Thursday night and I think Gina is too. She said they are going to Epcot.

You got it! We're staying at the Ramada Eastgate on Thursday and satisfying my Epcot fix that day/evening. Friday morning, we drive to Cape Canaveral, check in at the Radisson, go explore for a while, then hang out and relaaaaaaaax poolside.

So is the High Tea only offered on certain days?

And Terrye, I'm with you -- how could they NOT plan?!? I have a coworker like that... she just went to WDW in June with little more than the printed park hours I had given her. Just thinking about her trip gave me heartburn. LOL And of course, they had a minimally okay time, because they got to see so little, because she just didn't understand that you *have* to plan.

Anyways, we all know better!

So Kohl's has the clearance stuff on their website too?? Aaaagghhh... my Kohl's card is going to self-combust. LOL!!

-gina-

 

[akterrye]

If I can an get early enough flights into Orlando, we'll hire a car service and book a room at the Radisson...can't let you guys have ALL the fun!

If we get to come down a couple of days early, I'm planning to take Dan to the hospital where he was born and the apartment we lived in the first year of his life. Then, if there is time, I would love to take him to Epcot....last time, he was less than 6 months old. And, I've heard a lot has changed in the last 10 1/2 years.

I believe High Tea is only offered on sea days...

After I showed T&T my notebook, they realized that they would be missing out on a LOT without sitting down and making a game plan....that's when they decided on the "planning party." There was even a mention of me doing a power point presentation so they would know what to expect and what their choices will be. It's tempting. LOL I'm trying to figure out a check list of preferences to give them to make the whole thing smoother, so I don't have to keep repeating myself.

Has anyone gotten their cute little underwater cameras yet? I was wondering if you had run a roll of film through them to see how well the prints come out. I went and looked at a reefmaster and was really disappointed in the quality...for $100.00, I was expecting something more than a disposable looking camera. I like the minolta weathermatic zoom, but it uses APS film - which makes it unacceptable. So, my search for the perfect underwater camera continues...and I'm thinking it's going to turn into a Holy Grail!

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I went on that Barb's site and looked at the Navigator for the western cruise and it looks like "High Tea" at Palo's is on that Thursday that we are at sea.

I wonder if that is something we have to set up a time for when we board the ship. If so maybe by the time we go we will have a set number of all those who would like to join us. Then we can leave it up to one person to make the ressie. We will have to decide on a time. Won't this be fun!!!

I AM SO EXCITED!!! I am in a wedding next Sat and we finally got our dresses and they are so unbelievable. I just love them and it will work perfect for the Formal night on the cruise. It is a Champagne color and very simple and elegant. I am just happy that I will get two uses out of it. I just have to figure out a good way to tranport it to the cruise.

Happy thoughts fellow cruisers!!!!!

 

[akterrye]

High tea is only offered on ONE sea day??!?!?! Oh no!

I wonder if that is something we have to set up a time for when we board the ship. If so maybe by the time we go we will have a set number of all those who would like to join us. Then we can leave it up to one person to make the ressie. We will have to decide on a time. Won't this be fun!!!

Yup, you have to make ressies just like for brunch or dinner at Palo's. I'll send out an info email about High Tea and see how many are interested.

I haven't even thought about what to wear to the formal/semi-formal night...wonder if there is enough curtain in the cabin to make a dress....

 

[Gina]

One more thing we need to consider with the High Tea... in looking at the Navigator for that one day it is offered, it is only listed at 3:30pm -- a mere 30 minutes before the Castaway Club reception, and I don't want to miss that! Any other thoughts on that? Do we maybe want to think about brunch at Palo one day instead? The High Tea sounded so neat, though...

-gina-

 

[cruisinpenguin]

ahhh shucks!! figures there would be a conflict with tea time!! Maybe times will be different for our Castaway Party?! but we should have another plan just in case.....

Laurie

 

[akterrye]

I sent out an email about the High Tea....it's offered on all sea days....which we have two...so, we can just plan it for the other day...it's also offered from 3:30 - 5:00PM typically. With ressies being spaced about 30 min. apart.

How long does the Castaway Party run for?

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

Ok, you past cruisers!!! We don't want to interfere with your party. We can just plan it for the other sea day. I have never been and so I really don't know what to expect at all. You all just let me know and I will fit it into my schedule. I hope to be a past cruiser someday too!!! I know we are going to want to go again. I would like to try a 4 day on the Wonder next.

So AKterrye,
Are you going to be like "Scarlett Ohara" and make your own gown out of the curtains on the ship!! I only know what I am wearing cause I have this wedding next week. Might as well get as much use out of it as I can. It really is pretty.

I told my DH if things don't work out and we can not all set a meet for "High tea" that my 4 year old DD and I would do it. She loves tea and dessert. Although I think I would really enjoy it if I could meet up with other "Adults"!! You all know what I mean. It is nice to have some time to yourselves.