2/13/2005 Wonder

[DisneyBill]

If you're not a costco member, try allseastravel.com (used them multiple times), or cruisecompete.com - they will produce a very competitive price for you to decide what is best route to book.

 

[rjh8115]

When is everyone arriving in Florida? We're flying into Orlando from Detroit on Saturday (02/12) afternoon. We are planning to stay around the airport (perhaps the Amerisuites) and drive to the port on Sunday morning (one-way rental through Hertz).

We don't leave to go home until the 19th, so we are going to head down to West Palm Beach to visit some family.

 

[antmaril]

rjh8115:

We are flying from Detroit on 2/12/05 as well. We arrive in the afternoon and are going to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We will do a little shopping at Downtown Disney and have dinner at Boma. We are returning home right after the cruise, so my son can have a few days at home before going back to school.

I see you are in Canton, MI. We live in Sterling Heights.

Small world

 

[new_yawka]

We're getting in on the evening of 2/9. Staying at my parent's home in Davenport (about 15 miles from WDW). Driving to Port Canaveral on Sunday for the cruise and then staying with my parents again until 2/20 after the cruise. A nice looong vacation in Fla! We will get plenty of our share of the mouse (might consider booking a single night on property for me and DW (we're DVC members) as a surprise!

 

[rjh8115]

Anyone planning on doing any excursions while in Nassau? We've been there twice before and not sure what to do this time. Last trip, we took the kids on the glass-bottom boat tour (OK). Spent most of the time on the ship.

Getting closer every day . . .

Rick

 

[antmaril]

We are going to stay on the ship in Nassau. I am not a big fan.

 

[maelcu]

we will be flying in 2/11 and staying at Holiday Inn Select near the airport till sunday.

While in Nassau hubby is going to Atlantis to do some gambling. I am thinking about taking DD (4yrs) to do Blackbeards cay

 

[rjh8115]

My DW and I did Blackbeard's Cay in 2003 )Sovereign of the Seas). The beach area is nice, but the stingray swim was lame. All of the rays are penned up in an enclosed lagoon. They all stayed near the shore, so we couldn't see much. It took all afternoon for the excursion, giving us only an hour to hit the stores.

We're thinking about renting a room at the Comfort Suites (across from Atlantis) for the day. Or we may just stay on board.

Rick

 

[rjh8115]

Getting close now. Only three months away . . .

 

[DisneyBill]

Looks like the time has come to pay-up, TA sent the infamous e-mail requesting arrangements for final payment. Seems like just yesterday I made these ressies for those that are cruising, and now it is getting close. Next excursions, documents, travel!

 

[poconoboatniks]

Hi All,

Our kids are going to be soooo surprised! We just booked (last minute, I know) this morning and will be keeping it a surprise until Christmas. Our kids are DD 10 & DS 7. We have cruised twice on the Magic. This is our first trip on the Wonder.

Poconoboatniks

 

[rjh8115]

Welcome Poconoboatnicks,
The cruise is a suprise for our kids as well (DS 7 and DS 5). Perhaps your DS will pall up with ours. When are you flying down to Florida? We're leaving Detroit on the 12th (staying by the airport).

Rick

 

[poconoboatniks]

HI Rick,

We're flying to Orlando on Sat. All Seasons is trying to get us a room at the Radisson for Saturday night. If that doesn't work out, they have a backup hotel that they use. We're renting a car for Saturday, so I guess it doesn't really matter where we stay. The car doesn't have to be turned in until 12:00 on Saturday at the Port. DS would love to have a friend on the trip. I can't wait to see their faces when they find out they're going in Feb. They don't know about the May trip either.

Pocono

 

[rjh8115]

We're staying at the Amerisuites by MCO on Saturday (renting a car as well). After the cruise, we're heading down to Delay Beach to visit DW's grandmother.

I can't believe we are only 70 days out . . . .

 

[poconoboatniks]

Hi Rick,

The best part of this trip is that we don't have to wait too long between booking and sailing. When we booked the Magic cruise our counter was over 365 days. I like this short wait. Let's keep our fingers crossed for good flying weather in Feb.

All Seasons hasn't gotten back to us yet concerning the hotel. Our agent knows someone at the Radisson and was going to try to get us a room through the friend. Have you stayed at the Amerisuites? Last spring we spent a couple of days at All Star Movies before boarding and the year before we flew down the same day (we were newbies then and we didn't have a clue as to what to expect).

I tried adding a new countdown counter yesterday, but there seems to be some bugs in the conversion. That's ok, I'll just check out everyone else's on this thread.

Pocono

 

[new_yawka]

:jumping4:

We are getting very excited ourselves. We, unlike yourselves, are new to DCL, but are confident it will be yet another magical Disney vacation.

Anyone want to do a DIS meet on the cruise? We would enjoy meeting some of our fellow DIS members. I, however, have not the foggiest idea how to arrrange such a thing (nor am I familiar with the itinerary such that I would know when to do it). If anyone has a idea, I encourage you to step forward and let us know when and where to pop by and say "Hi"

Happy holidays everyone!

Louis

 

[rjh8115]

Hi Pocono,
We've not stayed at the Amerisuites by MCO before, however we have stayed at other Amerisuite locations around the country before. The rooms are all suites with a mini-kitchen (with microwave and fridge). They are just perfect for a family IMHO . They are our first choice if available. We pre-booked the room for the 12th and 18th using our Entertainment Book discount (approx $100/night). It is across the freeway from the airport .

Hi Louis,
We're up for DIS meet. How about 3:00-ish on Sunday? That gives everyone some time to get settled. Also, all ship services shut down at 3:30 for the safety drill. After the drill is the sale-away party on deck 9 .

Rick

 

[poconoboatniks]

Hi Rick & Louis,

On our last trip we met a group of Dissers at the pool on deck 9. We met at 3 in front of Scoops. I don't know if Scoops is the name of the ice cream station on the Wonder. Anyway, we all had the lime green mickey paint chips from Home Depot on. It was so much fun putting names with faces. Most of us left the green mickeys on for the rest of the trip. My DD ended up spending the trip with DCBrown's daughter and they are still IMing. We can do the same sort of meet.

Ellen

PS Louis, I just signed up for the Dis Meet in Allentown. We missed the NJ meet last year.

 

[rjh8115]

Scoops at 3 sounds good to me.

How about the Lions. They were able to beat up on another semi-pro team (Arizona) today. We're still in the playoff hunt due to the sorry state of the NFC this season.

Getting close to the two month mark. Any ideas for Nassau?

Rick

 

[poconoboatniks]

Hey Rick,

We booked the Dolphin excursion today, then we saw the ad for Atlantis in NYTimes travel section. Now, we're not sure about what we want to do. Hmm, I guess we'll have to think about it.

Anyone that's been on the Wonder before have any suggestions?


Ellen