3-day Wonder (3/13-16) - more info than you can possibly stand!

[december]

We are DVC members, and snagged a studio at Old Key West for the Wednesday before the departure. It is a semi-grueling 11-hour drive for us to WDW, but we do it routinely a couple of times a year.


Next: On to Port Canaveral and lovely weather.

I'm still early in the report, but being a MS girl this caught my eye! I live in Forest (my sister in Morton) so we are right down I20 from you! She won't fly, and we want to take a cruise next summer. I've tried to tell her how great the 1 hr 45 min flight is, but she won't budge. Family members have told me it is 16 hrs from here to Orlando, but you have 11 posted! I haven't checked mapquest yet, but usually it is off anyway. Tell me that wasn't a misprint, and we'll only have 11 hrs in the car with the 3 kids!!!!!!!!!! And I'd love to know how you get there from Jackson, from an experienced diser!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Easy enough ... it's always good to hear from fellow Mississippians (we're sort of an elite group, y'know?)

From Jackson, we go down Hwy 49 to Hattiesburg, 98 to Mobile, then I-10 to I-75 to the Florida Turnpike, and you can see earlier in the thread the "back way" I take from the Turnpike. I'm thinking from Forest just go across to Meridian on I-20, then down Hwy 45 to I-65 and then I-10 as stated.

That's to WDW; obviously it's a bit further to Port Canaveral. 16 hours seems like a long time - I guess it depends on meals, potty breaks, etc.

 

[december]

That sounds very doable-thanks so much! We are hoping to drive when the kids are asleep to cut down on misc. breaks. And so I don't have to hurt one of them! dd8 and my nephew (will be 6 Thu) don't get along so well these days!

Hopefully I'll have time to finish your trip report this week. I just discovered how close the Space Center is to the port (never really thought about it), and ds10 is so excited about going there.

 

[HoosierFrog]

Bump, I don't want this to get lost in the shuffle and think anyone taking a 3 (or 4) day should read it. Great TR.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

My goodness, I loved this!

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

After reading your fantastic TR over the last hour or so ...I "so want to take a Disney Cruise". I was planning a trip to WDW next year anyways ( for my 50th birthday ) and would love to go on a 3-4 night cruise with DD who will be 13 next year !
-Do you think a 3 day cruise is adequate for 1st time cruisers . We have been to WDW about every 2 years ,so we know the schedule /touring plan there.
-Your TR noted that the 4 day cruise may be more relaxing because you have a day at sea !
-We would be flying in from Massachusetts , so do we go to WDW 1st or the cruise 1st ....or can we chose either way.
-It's seems like a lot more work and planning goes into a cruise, but I suppose I have a whole year to figure it all out !!!!
-I feel very safe at WDW alone with DD...Will I feel as safe on a cruise ,too....it's worry of mine.

I wish there were more people in the world like you...you can't get much better than a genuine family man who also,loves Disney!!! Thanks for the enlightening report ....the 1st one I've read on the DCL Board !

 

[december]

I finally finished reading your report, and loved it (other than a few "offensive" posts toward the end! BTW, we grew up saying the same thing about Arkansas ).

Our cruise is being put off until July 2010. My sister will probably back out again, but I'm booking when the prices come out. My son will be 13July 13, and Harry Potter World should be open, so we are going to do a few nights at Universal, then the cruise. I'm on the waiting list for a 3 night with All Seasons Travel, but I'm thinking about switching to a 4 night if my sister decides not to do it (I'm going to wait until November to discuss it with her again, and hopefully prices will be out in December).

I wish dh had a love for Disney! I never went anywhere growing up-we spent our summer in the garden. Dh did vacation, but didn't like it, so now never wants to go. In 2006, at the ripe old age of 33, I gave up and took the kids without him (his mother went along). It was so easy to get around, and I loved it so much, that just the 3 of us went in 2007 (Thanksgiving week). This year, we had a chance to go to DL with my mil's family for free!

I know I'm obsessed, and no one around me understands! But I think I'll have to do something Disney every year! Dh has agreed to go to Orlando for a week next July (I've already booked a townhome in Windsor Hills). He won't try WDW (hated it as a kid ), but is doing Kennedy with us, then golfing while we do park days. The kids are so excited that Daddy is coming, and we'll meet up at night to eat. He even wants to leave a day early and tour the Mobile area and spend a night there.

Thanks for such a detailed report!

***Our bird dogs are named Rebel and Belle (and their new additions were just named Colonel, Libby, Dot, Rose, and Missy), so it should be pretty obvious where our college loyalties lie!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Meg & Minnie, it's all good. If you can get in that 4th day on the cruise, I'd recommend it, but if it came down to a three-day as opposed to a NO-day, then go with three. I talked to my DD yesterday and she thought the 3-day was fine, but she didn't have a point of reference.

I really think doing the parks first is the way to go. You'll just be so much more relaxed when it comes time to head home. Again, though, that's pretty subjective.

To me, cruise planning is easier than planning a park assault. The only real issues are shore excursions ... shipboard activites can be as busy or as laid back as you want. Just remember, you can't do everything. If I had it to do over again, we would've booked Palo on our Parrot Cay night and been content with lunch at Parrot Cay. I've reflected and decided that I missed it.

You will feel absolutely, positively safe on board, certainly as much as you would at WDW. Not to worry, OK??

December, at the risk of falling out of favor with you altogether (snide remarks about the Magnolia State aside ... we wouldn't have been here for nine years if it was all bad ), our former Marine son is now at State (oh, the humanity!), and to make things worse, we bought season football tickets. I'm still an unrepentant Auburn fan, but it was only about $50 more for us to get season tickets over buying one ticket for the Auburn game.

Jeremy pretty much got the deal he couldn't refuse at State ($$$!), so there y'are.

I do think y'all made a good hire with your new coach.

Sorry, everyone, for the shop talk. This is the Disboards, not the SECboards.

Back OT, I know it's got to be a challenge when one party is a WDW fiend, and the other is neutral at best or hostile at worst. Daughter Amy and I love it, Teresa is sorta an enthusiast, but Jeremy can most certainly take it or leave it. It's more a matter of crowds with him than anything else.

Some people genuinely don't like to travel/vacation. I had an uncle who would say, loudly, that taking a vacation was just "throwing your money away." Well, y'know, kids, some things you just can't put a dollar value on. But to each his own.

 

[december]

I won't hold it against you. I went to MC, and dh actually went to State!!! Had to for his major-but hated every minute of it! But he loves Ole Miss, and he's brainwashed ds10 from day 1! His park league baseball team's uniform was maroon this year, and he refused to wear it without an undershirt. As soon as the regular season was over, he gave it to my 6 yr old nephew to play in. Dh is park director, so ds is still holding a grudge over it!

 

[DLW8]

thanks Dreamfinder....what a wonderful and exquisitely written TR! Your final thoughts also made me cry (and I had to stop there to write this post). We aren't visiting the Wonder for another year and a half, but I feel like I was there through your TR.

You have a wonderful family, and it sounds like you have enjoyed many great family vacations, which is also what we try to do.

My kids are a bit younger (DS and DD are 6 1/2), but I guess I'm also an old timer as I miss the original Figment and his ride with Dreamfinder, and Horizons.

The magic of Main Street is unparalleled and I can't wait to take it all in again in 500 days. We brought DD and DS for the first time in January and it was so amazing to watch their faces as the magic hit them, it's a whole 'nother generation of Disney-fanatics that I'm raising here!

Thank you again for sharing your TR and I hope to bring back as many memories and magic as you did.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

Dreamfinder2---Thanks so much for the reply !
I'm still seriously thinking of planning a WDW Cruise with my dd13 for my 50th birthday ! Now I'm leaning towards the 4 day cruise . Thanks so much for your input !!!

 

[MoranClan]

Thanks for a great report..

 

[disneykibbes5]

I just have to say that I found myslef truly toughed by your thoughts and words. Thank you so much for sharing this experience with us. It was truly a blessing.
My husband and I have to decided that we will compromise in other areas to put a higher value on Family time and that normally tends to include Disney. We find ourselve normally getting questioned by Dh's family members as to why it is so important to us. ( They only took 1 vacation as a family, But that is one memory they all talk about)
Yet again I say thankyou for sharing.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Thanks, y'all. You are too kind. Looks like it's gonna be May '09 before we get to do anything else Disneyish - two kids in college has a way of rearranging priorities - but it's fun, even this far out, to dream.

 

[DLW8]

Dreamfinder....you are already planning a trip that's before the one I'm planning!

We go December 5, 2009.....for me, planning is all part of the fun. 499 days and counting!

Luckily, I'm not dealing with 2 kids in college (yet), but that will be here eventually, and with DD and DS (twins), it will be a Disney-drought in our familiy.

 

[dreamcometrue]

I am so glad I read this trip report! The end made me all teary eyed. Not going to lie. I normally don't read 3 day reports. Read a lot of Eastern ones since that's what we went on, and now I am reading Western (yes you guessed it, that's what we will go on next!) but I am so glad I stopped and read this one. It was fabulous. One of the best, if not THE best TR I have read!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I am so glad I read this trip report! The end made me all teary eyed. Not going to lie. I normally don't read 3 day reports. Read a lot of Eastern ones since that's what we went on, and now I am reading Western (yes you guessed it, that's what we will go on next!) but I am so glad I stopped and read this one. It was fabulous. One of the best, if not THE best TR I have read!

Thanks for sharing!

Interesting point there ... a 3 or 4 day Wonder cruise ... does info shared have any bearing on folks who are 7-day Magic cruisers?

I tend to read 'em all, or at least look at photos. It's fun to compare - and, honestly, I try to get a sense of people's hearts as much as I do their experiences.

 

[gr8leg8]

Greetings Dreamfinder,

I'm a little late, but I just had to comment on how beautiful your daughter looks as a blond.
What a pretty girl.


a theory...
Does she find people treat her differently as a brunette?
take her more seriously, etc.

I'm gonna guess that she is not only pretty, but smart too- both IQ & EQ
(intellectual intelligence & Emotional intelligence)
Intelligence is genetic. It was your iq & eq that made this trip report so enjoyable to me.

Loved the fashion advice!!
Proves you are a good listener & your lovely wife must be a good packer.

We are taking our dd (6) to WDW for the first time in late sept. 3 days on land and 4 days at sea.


We added two more land days. One for arrival from the west coast and one for the extra park day.
I wasn't sure if people knew that was an option.
Because it's all booked by dcl, we can't add the dinning plan.
But like you said we will not go hungry onboard.

Thanks for the report. I showed my princess the cc pic.
"Are you looking forward to being *here*?"
<big smile>
that was the answer I was looking for.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Hey, gr8leg8!

Interesting question. Amy's IQ is pretty high, but her grades don't always reflect it. She has geunine (as in tested for and documented) test anxiety. And, as she points out, "Some folks are really hard workers but just have trouble in some subjects in school."

But regarding the difference in how she's treated: She thinks so. Amy's not inherently "ditzy," but being blonde, a cheerleader, sorority girl, fashion merchandising major - there's sort of a ready-made stereotype there. So going brunette might be something of a counter to that. She loves her brown hair. Me? *eh* (shrugs shoulders.)

I think adding a couple more land days is a big plus. Three days at WDW is just cramming too much in; the best you can hope for is a "greatest hits" tour. But it's better than nothing.

Have fun! DD is at that age where she can really appreciate what she's experiencing.

 

[rmdavis]

Loved the reports and the pictures. All very informative and helpful. I am just starting to look at the prospect of a cruise and definitely leaning toward a disney cruise. I do have 2 questions, both probably already answered.

are the cokes included in the free drink category or do they cost an extra amount like alcohol would?

and now for a truly curious one, is there sushi available at anytime on the cruise?

thanks
Robert