20060902--Eastern Sept 2nd, 2006

[HollyTyler]

Morning all!!!
As to talking the Med., we are cruising July 28th 11 night...so we have two options to tease those of you not committing yet! BigBlueMan in June and us in July.

Hey, that's not nice! KIDDING! I can't wait to hear how those Med. cruises go. Sounds absolutely terrific!

How is everyone's packing going???

HA HA HA! I can pack in 13 days!

 

[BigBlueMan]

By the way BigBlueMan, we are also DVC members!!! Anybody else??? I noticed you were OKW in '95...back when it was THE DVC! We too have OKW as our first home resort. It got addictive, and we had to up our points a couple of times.

Back in '93 or so, we were vacationing in the REAL Key West at the Banyan Resort. It is a really nice time share, made up of 7 or 8 old Victorian homes all located together. We were just renting a room.

The sales agent asked us if we'd like to go through the sales pitch, and we said we would. It was a nice presentation, but when it was over, I told her "we'll buy a time share when Disney has one".

We left a couple of days later for Orlando and discovered Disney Vacation Club. It was the first time we'd seen or heard of it. At the time, they weren't licensed to sell in Kentucky. They became licensed in '94 I think, and we bought in early '95. It's been one of the best things we've ever done. I see a lot of arguments about whether it is or it isn't a good thing to buy. No argument with us, tho.

As I said in the previous post, the couple we're sailing with on this cruise are DVC members we met on another cruise, and our Med sailing buddies are DVC members. Met BOTH couples at the onboard DVC get together.

Don't forget you NON-DVC'ers, check out the sales meeting they have on board. There is absolutely NO obligation, and they usually give away some pretty good stuff to attendees.

As for packing, the only thing I've packed so far are my DVC & DCL totes and stuff, as well as documentation. Going out this afternoon tho, to get the Mrs a new digital cam.

 

[HollyTyler]

I did go to the DVC sales meeting on our 2nd cruise. It really got me thinking about it, but I decided it's definitely not in my budget right now. BUT, if I continue to go on a Disney cruise every year (as I plan to), I'm thinking it is a good deal to buy into DVC. I'll defintiely attend the sales meeting again and think harder about it this time. In fact, I seem to remember some incentives for signing up while onboard, but can't remember how much money they ask for up front. If all financial things happen that are supposed to happen the end of this month, I'll be in a position to consider it more seriously.

 

[tggrbuny]

We are DVC and love it! In fact we are spending our first time at OKW on Friday before the cruise. Looking forward to it.

Bigblueman, not to promote this but QVC's value of the day is a 8mp Pentax. The only downside is that it only has 3x optical zoom. That is what we have on ours and I wish it was more.

We have a 6.1 mp Kodax and it is great, Can't remember what is was like with film cameras. All we use film for now is underwater. We have one photo album of nothing but our snorkeling pics. It is amazing how different shades of blue the water is in all the places we have been to! Looking forward to adding three more islands worth to the book.

 

[CaptainJack]

I agree with BigBlueMan about DVC. We went on a 2001 cruise and I thought it was the best vacation I had ever had. We did not book another cruise while on board and I did not go to the DVC presentation. As I was leaving the ship in 2001, I told my DW that we needed to put another cruise in the budget for 2002. We did not. And, in fact, it never seemed to do anything about booking one. At Easter in 2005, I booked the cruise and then just informed everyone in the family we were going in September of 2005.

I again did not bother to go to the DVC presentation on that cruise because I already own a timeshare at Vistana resort in Orlando. My thought was "why in the world would I need another timeshare." And, I had been to so many timeshare presentations where I had to get almost rude just to extricate my DW and me from the place.

After the 2005 cruise, we spent a week at Disney World. One night we were at Downtown Disney and came upon the DVC booth there. The people manning the booth were so nice to all of us, especially the girls, that I agreed to go to the presentation. It was the BEST presentation for a timeshare I have ever been to. (We have been to presentations in Hawaii, Mytle Beach, Orlando). The rep was really easy going, spent a lot of time with us, and put absolutely NO pressure on us to buy anything. He presented all of the options, gave us a bunch of literature, and told us to go home and think about it. As soon as we got back to Georgia, we decided to buy.

Since then, I booked the September 2 cruise we are all going on, and the January 2007 cruise my family is taking.

Buying DVC points is, by far, the easiest way to budget for your vacation.

And, no I do not work for Disney.

 

[tggrbuny]

I did go to the DVC sales meeting on our 2nd cruise. It really got me thinking about it, but I decided it's definitely not in my budget right now. BUT, if I continue to go on a Disney cruise every year (as I plan to), I'm thinking it is a good deal to buy into DVC. I'll defintiely attend the sales meeting again and think harder about it this time. In fact, I seem to remember some incentives for signing up while onboard, but can't remember how much money they ask for up front. If all financial things happen that are supposed to happen the end of this month, I'll be in a position to consider it more seriously.

Ok this this horrible to brag, but I am so delighted with the deal we got.

Right before the mall stores were sold to TCP, I worked as a part time night manager for Christmas. Since I was a cast member, I got amazing discounts on our stay that October and we bought our DVC on that trip. Heck I would have worked for free just to get the discounts. AND the feeling. It was amazing to brag that I was a cast member, I was so proud to be associated with the happiest place on earth.

When we first considered in 2000 it was still 65.00 a point at HH and the low 70s in FL By the time we had finally made up our minds it was cost effective, it was 95.00 at SSR. However as a cast member I only paid 70.25!!! It was like turning back the clock to when we first heard about it.

We have plenty of points and we are using them to pay for this trip. Despite the fact that I have a small monthly mortgage payment to DVC each month, it feels like the cruise is free! See I really am a pirate - stole a golden egg!

 

[BigBlueMan]

I agree with BigBlueMan about DVC.

Actually, the point chart is how we ended up on THIS cruise sailing date. It was "low season"! (No offense guys! )

 

[CaptainJack]

Okay guys, it is official--Holly, Tggrbuny, BigBlueMan, Tomdpixie, and I have staged a bloodless coup and taken over the thread.

 

[joshua121301]

A diversion is all I need to regain control. If I could ask everyone to click the link in Big Blue Man's post regarding the Med Cruise....Now I do believe that I am seeing Big Blue Man wearing a ?????? I am seeing The Big Blue in a whole new light now!!!! Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe we have found our leader!!!

 

[joshua121301]

And if I may borrow from The book of Big Blue...

In my best Ricky Ricardo voice....... Blue, juu gots sum splainin' to du!!!

 

[BigBlueMan]

A diversion is all I need to regain control. If I could ask everyone to click the link in Big Blue Man's post regarding the Med Cruise....Now I do believe that I am seeing Big Blue Man wearing a ?????? I am seeing The Big Blue in a whole new light now!!!! Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe we have found our leader!!!

Simply bringing out my "feminine side", tyvm. I TOLD you it was an interesting group!!!

That picture was actually made in the gift shop on the fourth floor concourse at the Contemporary. (I have one in a blonde one too!!!)

 

[joshua121301]

Simply bringing out my "feminine side", tyvm. I TOLD you it was an interesting group!!!

That picture was actually made in the gift shop on the fourth floor concourse at the Contemporary. (I have one in a blonde one too!!!)

I must say you do look striking in pink. Without a doubt, a real head turner!! I am sticking with the "We have a Leader" mantra. I will from this point forward take my lead from you.

 

[CaptainJack]

I must say you do look striking in pink. Without a doubt, a real head turner!! I am sticking with the "We have a Leader" mantra. I will from this point forward take my lead from you.

BigBlueMan, I agree.

 

[HollyTyler]

WHOA....Does this mean I'll be looking for a bunch of wigs to find some of our fellow DISers instead of green mickey name tags?! Hmm...maybe I can find a small one in blue for Tyler since that's his favorite color. And a purple one for myself. TOO FUNNY! The rest of the ship would think we've all flipped our lids!

 

[BigBlueMan]

I am sticking with the "We have a Leader" mantra. I will from this point forward take my lead from you.

I will accept leadership with honor.

First, I will lead you to the Promenade Deck, where we'll do an indepth study of famous "umbrella drinks".

Then, I will lead you to the Rockin Bar D, where we'll toast our upcoming week.

Afterwards, we will stagger to Diversions to "divert our attention" and repeat over and over, "I wonder what the peasants are doing?...".

Finally, I will lead those still standing to Sessions where we'll tap a bottle of Mickey's finest, have hors d'oeuvres and get a cruise listing so we can begin planning our NEXT great adventure together..

(All of this has to happen quickly, as I figure by day two my reign will have ended due to a coup and I'll be in Mickey's brig, somewhere below the water line....)

 

[CaptainJack]

Okay guys, I expect that I will get a lot of responses to this post--so don't crowd.

Because we are driving down from Georgia, I am willing to pick up a couple of bottles of wine for the party on Sunday and bring them down. But, and here is the kicker, neither my DW nor I drink wine (and for that matter neither do my daughters, and they better not plan on starting anytime soon since they are only 11). Therefore, the only thing I know about wine is that the any wine that is in a box or comes in bottles larger than 1 gallon for less than $3 are probably not going to be very popular. So, if someone has a favorite wine that is reasonably priced. Let me know so I buy some of that.

 

[HollyTyler]

Okay guys, I expect that I will get a lot of responses to this post--so don't crowd.

Because we are driving down from Georgia, I am willing to pick up a couple of bottles of wine for the party on Sunday and bring them down. But, and here is the kicker, neither my DW nor I drink wine (and for that matter neither do my daughters, and they better not plan on starting anytime soon since they are only 11). Therefore, the only thing I know about wine is that the any wine that is in a box or comes in bottles larger than 1 gallon for less than $3 are probably not going to be very popular. So, if someone has a favorite wine that is reasonably priced. Let me know so I buy some of that.

That's awfully nice of you! I'm not a wine drinker either, so I'll pass.

 

[crainbow]

I have thought about bringing a bottle of GA wine that both my DW and I really enjoy for the get together Sunday. It is from the Three Sisters winery. As we are driving it is no problem for us. I can pack a couple of others if needed.

Chuck

 

[ugarxdawg]

Okay guys, I expect that I will get a lot of responses to this post--so don't crowd.

Because we are driving down from Georgia, I am willing to pick up a couple of bottles of wine for the party on Sunday and bring them down. But, and here is the kicker, neither my DW nor I drink wine (and for that matter neither do my daughters, and they better not plan on starting anytime soon since they are only 11). Therefore, the only thing I know about wine is that the any wine that is in a box or comes in bottles larger than 1 gallon for less than $3 are probably not going to be very popular. So, if someone has a favorite wine that is reasonably priced. Let me know so I buy some of that.

No need to bring any. We can all go to the wine tasting and pick out some favorites. But I do not think we will find any Georgia wines on the list.

 

[ugarxdawg]

We finally made our reservations for a hotel room near the port the night before the cruise. I tried to get my company rate but was told it was not available due to the shuttle. They said they block off a week after in case the shuttle is postponed. They did reduce the rate a little from what they were charging for "shuttle" rooms. We ended up at about 11 dollars more than my company rate. Not too bad for last minute.