2007 DVC Member Cruise - SSMC07 - October 21, 2007

[tinytink]

Hi everyone - just a lurker here...going to take me a few days to read the whole thread.

Welcome Padalyn. Are you planning on cruising with us on the Member Cruise?

 

[tinytink]

Good morning everyone!

Dan - I got your new picture but haven't had a chance to look at it and get it uploaded. Hopefully I can do that in the next day or so.

We've been playing around with the idea of changing plans for after this cruise. We are driving down for the cruise (with all the gifts we've gotten in the past we find this a much better option than driving). Anyway we had planned to stay at WDW for two nights after the cruise and head home Saturday morning. Saturday we got to talking and we are now thinking of leaving from the port and heading up 95. We are thinking of spending the afternoon/evening at Hilton Head (we've never been to the DVC there) and then the next day head up to Charlotte. We'd spend the day touring a few race shops/museums and then spend the night. Then head home on Saturday. We had similar plans back in 2004 with a road trip but then DVC came up with Member Homecoming and we went to that instead. For right now we still have our one bedroom at Boardwalk for after the cruise, but we may have to cancel that.

So are you planning on driving or flying? You kinda confused me when you "We've been playing around with the idea of changing plans for after this cruise. We are driving down for the cruise (with all the gifts we've gotten in the past we find this a much better option than driving). "

Do you find it best to drive because of the amount of gifts you get on the cruise? Do you think we will get as many gifts this year? We are planning on driving but with 8 of us it's gonna be a long trip and we've still got two in car seats. The other factor is flying will be really expensive unless we can find a really go deal >$130 p/p.

 

[WDWLVR]

So are you planning on driving or flying? You kinda confused me when you "We've been playing around with the idea of changing plans for after this cruise. We are driving down for the cruise (with all the gifts we've gotten in the past we find this a much better option than driving). "

Do you find it best to drive because of the amount of gifts you get on the cruise? Do you think we will get as many gifts this year? We are planning on driving but with 8 of us it's gonna be a long trip and we've still got two in car seats. The other factor is flying will be really expensive unless we can find a really go deal >$130 p/p.

Sorry - now that I read that again it is a bit confusing. Driving down was always part of our plan. Part of it is because we like a good road trip and part of it is because of the gifts. For those of you who are new to Member Cruises let me give you a bit of a run down.

2003 - Got some fun gifts like this neat mesh bag, special Member Cruise t-shirts and then on the last night after we thought we had everything packed for the flight home we got a limited edition teapot!

2004 - We decided to drive down for Member Homecoming and we were glad we did when one of the gifts we got was an etched DVC carafe and water glass.

2005 - We drove down to the 2005 Member cruise and ended up bringing home not only our gifts but also gifts for one of our DIS friends. We had gotten Ducky Williams lithos, alarm clocks, towels, bags. glasses from our dinner at Palo and lots of pins.

2006 - We drove down again and ended up bringing home not only our gifts but those of our DIS friend. We got large Mickey head boxes with a Mickey sculpture inside, lots more pins, and two huge photo albums in wood boxes (one for each of us).

So yes we'll drive down this year as well.

Now what is the change we're talking about is that we usually spend 2 nights at WDW, head home on Saturday, visit family in TN on the way home and get home Sunday afternoon. This time we are looking at leaving right from the port, spending the night at Hilton Head (where we've never stayed), then up to Charlotte for the day, and then head home.

Hope that clears it all up!

 

[WDWLVR]

Hi everyone - just a lurker here...going to take me a few days to read the whole thread.

Welcome! I see you did last years Member Cruise and have some other great plans for this year as well!

 

[acourtwdw]

My parents arrived at the DVC in Hilton Head this evening. Amanda and I sent them as a Christmas/41 anniversary present. We stayed there in 2003 with our 2 nieces and nephews. It is a beautiful resort. Only compliant resort is on the marsh and you have to take a tram to the beach.

 

[padalyn]

Welcome! I see you did last years Member Cruise and have some other great plans for this year as well!

Thanks Mary - yes I was there, and booked on the 2007 cruise as well. I was noticing someone posted the gift lists for the past few years. Just a note - I traveled with 2 other DVC members - they both had bags overweight due to the gifts. I think this year I am going to take an empty bag - just to cover that...

Driving is starting to sound better and better, I just am not sure I have the time to do it...

NJ to Fla -24 hours....ugh.

 

[WDWLVR]

We just make the road trip as part of the fun. It takes a while to get down from Chicago as well, but we don't push it and take the better part of two days. That lets us stop and enjoy things if we want.

I've heard about people stopping to ship things home and others who had overweight bags. They are great gifts but they do make it hard for those who fly. That's why I put the laughing smilie after the teapot. We were so sure we had packed everything and had our luggage ready before dinner since we had late seating that cruise. Then to come back and find the teapot! Didn't know where to pack it.

 

[WDWLVR]

My parents arrived at the DVC in Hilton Head this evening. Amanda and I sent them as a Christmas/41 anniversary present. We stayed there in 2003 with our 2 nieces and nephews. It is a beautiful resort. Only compliant resort is on the marsh and you have to take a tram to the beach.

I'm excited to check it out. We'll only be there for one night. It will at least give us a chance to check it out. We've only been at Vero for one night and really enjoyed it enough to go back this December after spending some time at WDW.

 

[acourtwdw]

In the past couple of years while we have been on the cruise, we have had family members stay at Vero so that when the cruise ended we could all go to WDW together. We have also styed with the nieces and nephews there. the resort is beautiful and it is right on the beach!!!

 

[poohbear158]

Newbie Cruiser here. Hubby and I are booked for the 2007 Member cruise . Neither one of us have ever been on a cruise let alone a Disney cruise. Needless to say, I'm excited, confused and full of questions...

What is everyone's opinion about arriving before the cruise? Is it best to say overnight somewhere and if so where? Also, should I rent a car from the airport to port or does Disney have transportation?

After the cruise, hubby and I plan on staying at SSR for a few days. How do I get from port to SSR? Is disney transportaton available?

 

[WDWLVR]

Newbie Cruiser here. Hubby and I are booked for the 2007 Member cruise . Neither one of us have ever been on a cruise let alone a Disney cruise. Needless to say, I'm excited, confused and full of questions...

What is everyone's opinion about arriving before the cruise? Is it best to say overnight somewhere and if so where? Also, should I rent a car from the airport to port or does Disney have transportation?

After the cruise, hubby and I plan on staying at SSR for a few days. How do I get from port to SSR? Is disney transportaton available?

Welcome aboard! We have a good mix of both new and veteran cruisers so if you have any questions ask away!

We're driving down and will spend two days before the cruise at Boardwalk. If there is any interest we could have a DIS meet the afternoon/evening before the cruise. We've done this with our past cruises and it has always been well received.

As for getting to the port. When we haven't driven down we usually do a one-way rental and drop the car by the port and take the shuttle back to the ship. We have used Avis, but I believe Budget and a few others offer free shuttles. Or you can buy Disney transfers and be picked up at select WDW hotels. Same thing going back. Hope a shuttle to one of the car rental agencies (having booked it in advance) or take Disney transport. Sorry but I don't know for sure if Disney picks up and drops off at SSR.

If you haven't done so already check out post #1 to some links to the web page and member gallery we are building for the cruise.

 

[cherylp3]

I know a lot of people were unhappy with the wdw pickup times last year and some of the 2006 group got together and rented a bus, they did have smaller rentals as well.

 

[JOANNEL]

bumping us back to page one.

I have been reading some trip reports. Some of those folks are very good writers.



Every one have a great day. The weather here is still cold and yucky, I can't wait for spring.

 

[tinytink]

We are thinking about driving from VA and it would be a good 14 hour drive. We plan to do a lot of night driving so the kids could sleep most of the ride there.

We were thinking we should rent a van (we have a Suburban but with 8 of us and 2 car seats it's gonna be a tight fit) one way drop it off near port and get rent another one way for the trip home.
What do you all think?

 

[WDWLVR]

Good morning all!

Ah Yes the DIS Party Bus! Started when one of the DISers said that the pick-ups the year before got her to the ship late. Then another DISer looked into chartering a bus. She was soon able to fill it up. It was a great ride as one couple supplied Krispy Kremes and water for the ride and another had brought a DVD he made of SSMC05. It was a lot of fun.

Theresa - I would check out both one way rentals and a full week rental if you are thinking of driving from home. Even with paid parking the full week might be cheaper. Don't know for sure.

 

[tinytink]

Good morning all!

Ah Yes the DIS Party Bus! Started when one of the DISers said that the pick-ups the year before got her to the ship late. Then another DISer looked into chartering a bus. She was soon able to fill it up. It was a great ride as one couple supplied Krispy Kremes and water for the ride and another had brought a DVD he made of SSMC05. It was a lot of fun.

Theresa - I would check out both one way rentals and a full week rental if you are thinking of driving from home. Even with paid parking the full week might be cheaper. Don't know for sure.

Welcome Poohbear158!!!!


Mary, good idea about checking out both rental options. I am having a really hard time finding a 12 passenger van in our area. I looked at Budget, Avis, and Thrifty and they either don't have it or it's booked for October 07. Any other ideas?

 

[COACHSTING]

Any idea why the times on this thread/board are off by one hour? It's also an opportunity to get this thread back on page 1.

 

[WDWLVR]

Good morning everyone!

Clock off

Just checked and it is a little off for me but only 10 minutes.

 

[seaulater]

Sorry - now that I read that again it is a bit confusing. Driving down was always part of our plan. Part of it is because we like a good road trip and part of it is because of the gifts. For those of you who are new to Member Cruises let me give you a bit of a run down.

2003 - Got some fun gifts like this neat mesh bag, special Member Cruise t-shirts and then on the last night after we thought we had everything packed for the flight home we got a limited edition teapot!

2004 - We decided to drive down for Member Homecoming and we were glad we did when one of the gifts we got was an etched DVC carafe and water glass.

2005 - We drove down to the 2005 Member cruise and ended up bringing home not only our gifts but also gifts for one of our DIS friends. We had gotten Ducky Williams lithos, alarm clocks, towels, bags. glasses from our dinner at Palo and lots of pins.

2006 - We drove down again and ended up bringing home not only our gifts but those of our DIS friend. We got large Mickey head boxes with a Mickey sculpture inside, lots more pins, and two huge photo albums in wood boxes (one for each of us).

So yes we'll drive down this year as well.

Now what is the change we're talking about is that we usually spend 2 nights at WDW, head home on Saturday, visit family in TN on the way home and get home Sunday afternoon. This time we are looking at leaving right from the port, spending the night at Hilton Head (where we've never stayed), then up to Charlotte for the day, and then head home.

Hope that clears it all up!

Mary-that sounds like so much fun for you and Mark. We have never been to Hilton Head, let alone driven anywhere on that coast except for Florida! We have stayed at Vero Beach and absolutely loved it. Haven't been there since the hurricanes though.

As for my plans, I haven't made any yet. I guess I am focused on the EB Med. cruise in May and then I can focus on this one.

Been busy here, getting ready for audit. Busy time of year with audit and Girl Scout cookie time and all!

 

[seaulater]

Welcome Poohbear158!!!!


Mary, good idea about checking out both rental options. I am having a really hard time finding a 12 passenger van in our area. I looked at Budget, Avis, and Thrifty and they either don't have it or it's booked for October 07. Any other ideas?

Try National, that is where we got our van before. Maybe you will have a little luck there.

The first time or two (when we were newbie cruisers) we rented a car and then parked it at the port, until I learned about doing a one way rental. We have since then always done a one day rental when we fly in the day before the cruise and then turn in the car in Cocoa Beach. Then when we get off the cruise, we do another one way rental and turn the car back into MCO when we fly home. I have checked all kinds of options and differerent ways, but I have never found that keeping the car and paying parking at the port to be less expensive.

The only reason I can see parking at the port is that you have your own car and need to store it there.

Just one other thing-on the SS Member Cruise 2005, we got diverted and had to go to Ft. Lauderdale instead of Port Canveral. We found out when we returned to the ship with a letter under our door on Castaway Cay day. I immediately went to the internet cafe and changed our pickup location from Cocoa Beach to Ft. Lauderdale. It was even a couple of dollars cheaper. Then we took the DCL bus over to the airport and picked up the car and drove back to Orlando. There were alot of people that had to take DCL buses all the way back to Port Canaveral so they could pick up their rental car. It kinda ended up being a wasted day for them. It threw us back behind our normal schedule about 4 hours, but we parked and were in the Magic Kingdom by 1:30 p.m. that afternoon.

Just my feedback. I believe Avis, Hertz and Budget have free shuttles from the port to their car agencies.