8/17/2008 Double Dip 4-day Wonder

[Mickey'sfriend]

Don't worry about making a wrong decision about hotels. If you're at Disney, you can't go wrong. The Birmbaum's book is priceless! Read it from cover to cover, then read it again. The resort board on DIS is also a good place to get some advice. It really depends on how much $ you want to spend, and believe me, those upper end resorts get pricey! The monorail only goes to MK and Epcot. I hear some people choose a more expensive resort and stay a few nights, then finish out their trip in a cheaper resort. That sounds like too much work for me, but others enjoy getting the experience from more than one resort. Honestly, my family has stayed off property more often than in. In fact, the summer of '05 we had a 2 bedroom condo with full kitchen, 2 baths for $80/night. We had our own car, but it was only 3 miles from the main gate. An easy drive and we saved money eating breakfast and a dinner or two in. Plus we had space for our family of 5 to spread out. We just went last month for 2 nights after our cruise and stayed at POP. It is a value resort, very clean, fun, but I wouldn't want to stay there very long with my family in one room. It is a little small. It was great for the 2 nights. I had no complaints. The food court had great selections! You say you are planning to do some off-site things. I assume then you will have a car?? If so, check out Expedia or Travelocity for hotels in the area. You may get a great deal like we did. You can't book more than a year out, so plan to do some searching this summer!

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

One thing, Shelebeen, about taking a cruise right after a lengthy stay at WDW.... thankgoodness you booked a double dip cruise because you will be mentally exhausted after so much time at WDW. You will need the two days at CC to just lay on the beach and do nothing.

We did a land-and-sea in 2005 and holy cow I was a basket case when I got home because we did too much.

So much so that on our 7-day in August, we purposely did nothing on the cruise. No shows, nothing but played bingo. Just reeeeeelaxed and came home feeling refreshed.

I did make the mistake of mentioning that to the cruise director and he looked crestfallen that we didn't do anything. So when we cruise this August I'm making a point of seeing the shows.

 

[Shelebeen]

That's why we scheduled it when we did and after WDW... I am a teacher and will go back to work a short time after returning home.

We are not planning on doing too much on the cruise, most likely hitting the straw market and possibly the pirate museum(?) in Nassau... other then that allowing the kids to have fun in the kids program and getting some good r and r. Our kids go to bed pretty early, so it's not likely we will be up until all hours every night or anything.

I think we will look at WDW like we did DL, hit the parks early for a few hours, come back to relax, hit the pools, etc then go back after dinner for an hour or so... we like to do it at a relaxed pace I know that AUgust is not the best time to go to avoid busy and crowds, but it is the time I can go, so we will make the best of it.. Nothing can be as bad as going to DL at Christmas the year of the 50th when they closed the gates at 11 am because it was so full..... .

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

You didn't see the shows??? My family thought they were awesome!! You definitely have to catch them next time! It's a very Disney way to end the day!

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

You didn't see the shows??? My family thought they were awesome!! You definitely have to catch them next time! It's a very Disney way to end the day!

Sad, but true. Some of the shows we had seen on previous cruises so it would have been a repeat. And THE best time to hit the Goofy pool is from 5-6pm so one night we skipped a show to go swimming. Can you imagine the Goofy pool area ever being a tranquill place on the ship? It was.

We do late seating so it means seeing the shows at 6pm - and sometimes we would be off the ship on port days and return too late to see the show.

Speaking of returning late....we did a Western and the all aboard time in Cozumel was swtiched from 10pm to 1am!!!! It was hysterical to watch everyone running back to the ship between 12:30am-1:00am.

I spoke to the Captain about that the next day and he said that at 12:30am there was still 150 people off the ship. He said they decided to switch the departing time to allow the CMs a few extra hours off the ship. The CMs had to have a buddy with them when they were off the ship.

I thought that was a nice gesture for the CMs.

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

Okay, I didn't realize you had seen the shows before.

Those 150 people were cutting it pretty close to missing the boat! I'd be really mad if I ran to the dock just in time to see the ship pulling away! I'm sure the CM's appreciated the extra time off. I can't believe the hours they put in or the teeny, tiny spaces they live in. I like my alone time. Working on a cruise ship is definitely not in my future.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Okay, I didn't realize you had seen the shows before.

Those 150 people were cutting it pretty close to missing the boat! I'd be really mad if I ran to the dock just in time to see the ship pulling away! I'm sure the CM's appreciated the extra time off. I can't believe the hours they put in or the teeny, tiny spaces they live in. I like my alone time. Working on a cruise ship is definitely not in my future.

It was the best "show" all week. The port side of the ship faced the dock and I think 1/3 of the people with verandahs were out watching. I can't remember why we were still up that late.

I don't know how the CMs do it, either. I have heard many of them say that they feed off our energy. So the Wonder crew should have an energetic summer with the double dip cruises as people will be psyched about that.

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

I know I'm psyched! My kids are, too. They are making lists of activities that they want to do onboard. They think they will be bringing them along in only 539 days!

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Is the Toy Story show going to replace the Hercules show?

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

I don't know for sure. I read on the boards that the Toy Story show would be ready in April '08. I guess the choice would be to add it to the 4-day, making four "big productions" or getting rid of a show and keeping the variety act the first night. I assume Hercules would be the first to go since it is the oldest. I am right here?? Too bad if Hercules goes. It was my dd's favorite. I'd enjoy a new show even though we've only seen them once.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

I don't know for sure. I read on the boards that the Toy Story show would be ready in April '08. I guess the choice would be to add it to the 4-day, making four "big productions" or getting rid of a show and keeping the variety act the first night. I assume Hercules would be the first to go since it is the oldest. I am right here?? Too bad if Hercules goes. It was my dd's favorite. I'd enjoy a new show even though we've only seen them once.

I think it will replace Hercules, too, for the same reason.

 

[rileysmommy]

They better not replace the comedian. My 5 year old dd STILL tells the jokes from that, even though she doesn't understand them. They crack her up.

"I don't like the Mickey boat."
"Why not?"
"Barbecue"

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

So, fellow cruisers.. time to get to know each other a little better. Here are a few quick questions:

1. What do you do for a living?

2. What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies?

3. What is your favorite Disney character?

4. What is your favorite Disney movie?

5. Are you a Pepsi or Coke person?

6. Would you rather vacation to the ocean, lake, mountains, or city?

7. What is your favorite flavor of icecream?

8. How many cruises have you taken? (DCL or not)

9. What kind of car do you drive?

10. Are you a morning person, or a night owl?


Here are my anwers:

1. I am a registered nurse currently working night shift while I finish my master's degree and nurse practioner program.

2. I love to scrapbook!

3. I'll have to stay classic and say Mickey, but Stitch and Chip and Dale rank up there, too.

4. Favorite old Disney movie - Lady and the Tramp
Favorite new Disney movie - Lilo and Stitch

5. Definitely coke - diet, caffeine free

6. I love the ocean. I think I was a lobster in a previous life!

7. mint chocolate chip

8. My dh and I have cruised 5 times. 1 DCL, 3 RCCI, and the Big Red Boat. We are crusing RCCI in Oct (without kids) and obviously DCL in Aug '08.

9. I have a Ford Winstar mini-van

10. Well, since I now work nightshift, (not by choice, however) I would have to say a nightowl. I have never been a morning person, but if I had my choice I would go to bed early and sleep in late!


Your turn!!

 

[rileysmommy]

1. What do you do for a living?
I currently teach computer classes at preschools with an organization called Computertots.

2. What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies?
I'm a scrapbooker and also recently started knitting.

3. What is your favorite Disney character?
Ariel was always a favorite of mine and Stitch too.

4. What is your favorite Disney movie?
I love Tarzan and Lilo and Stitch

5. Are you a Pepsi or Coke person?
Regular Coke all the way!!!!

6. Would you rather vacation to the ocean, lake, mountains, or city?
The beach!!!!!

7. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
chocolate chip cookie dough

8. How many cruises have you taken? (DCL or not)
My dh and I cruised Carnival back in 2003 and one DCL cruise in '07 with another one coming in '08.

9. What kind of car do you drive?
I drive a 1999 Plymouth Voyager minivan.

10. Are you a morning person, or a night owl?
I'm a morning person. I'm done for about 9 or 10 at night.


And as a side note for those who don't know...Mickey'sfriend and I are sisters. She's the older, I'm the younger.

 

[cepmom]

ok, I'll play!

1. What do you do for a living? I am a SAHM, but I also work PT nights at Babies R Us, mostly to get money for our (read: my) Disney obsessed vacations. Also ~ not a job, but I am a GS leader for DD6 and I am on a fundraising committee for DD17's dance team.

2. What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies?

What spare time?? Seriously ~ does DIS count as Hobby?? Not much spare time for hobbies although I would love to try scrapbooking...I just don't know where to start

3. What is your favorite Disney character? hard to choose.... Tinkerbell I guess

4. What is your favorite Disney movie? The Lion King

5. Are you a Pepsi or Coke person? neither ~I usually only drink water and coffee

6. Would you rather vacation to the ocean, lake, mountains, or city? ocean (hence the DCL cruise!)

7. What is your favorite flavor of icecream? coffee or mocha chip

8. How many cruises have you taken? (DCL or not) three ~ all DCL

9. What kind of car do you drive? 2005 Toyota Sienna

10. Are you a morning person, or a night owl? morning person...I have trouble staying up past 10!

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

1. What do you do for a living? I am the Director at The Mathnasium Learning Center. I am also taking some college classes to be a Spanish teacher.

2. What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies? I absolutely love to scrapbook. I have 33 albums completed! And I also love to plan my next Disney trip

3. What is your favorite Disney character? Mickey Mouse, Figaro

4. What is your favorite Disney movie? I love them all, but I have been watching Cars a lot lately with my kids.

5. Are you a Pepsi or Coke person? Coke, definitely Coke.

6. Would you rather vacation to the ocean, lake, mountains, or city? Any place Disney
7. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? anything really sweet

8. How many cruises have you taken? (DCL or not) One DCL and two Carnival

9. What kind of car do you drive? 2007 Hyundai Entourage

10. Are you a morning person, or a night owl? Morning- the kids force me to be one

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Wow, what a week here. On Monday I get the phone call from school all parents dread.....DS suffered a head injury and come get him. Yikes. The school "problem child" pushed DS down and DS hit the back of his head on the ground. He was dizzy and looked terrible so I took him home and he slept for a while and when he woke up he felt better. He ate lunch and dinner and seemed better.

Next morning he wakes up dizzy again so off to the doctor. Diagnosis is a concussion but he's not showing signs of anything worse.

So Wednesday DS goes to school and is doing fine until science class when they are looking at optical illusions. Oh no, here comes the headaches and dizziness. So DS goes to the nurse and I get called to come get him.

So I bring him home and wait until DD gets home and then we all head over to the emergency room to get a CT scan.

The ER staff were fabulous and took great care of us. We were there about four hours. They let us look at the scan on the computer. Really neat to see a picture of your brain.

Scan was negative. We knew that was likely to be true but you never know. Prognosis is post concussion syndrome. So no sports for two weeks (that includes gym class) and the headaches/dizziness just need to run its course.

The doc said the best thing for the headaches is advil/tylenol and that seems to be working.

I am the queen of head injuries having been knocked unconscious by an out-of-control skier two years ago. So I know what DS is going through. You have to watch out for the emotional recovery as well as the physical.

Sometimes just hearing the words, "your scan is normal" can help speed the recovery.

So that has been my week. And now I think I'm going to need to put oars on my car today its raining so hard. No skiing for us this weekend since DS is out of commission.

So onto those important questions.....

What do I do for a living.....I'm a SAHM, too. DH has a really long commute and works long hours so all the child rearing falls on me. We look at DCL cruises as a way to reconnect as a family and DH needs the time to de-stress. With both kids in school I use that time to do volunteer things. I'm a Girl Scout leader and heavily involved with that.

What do you do in your spare time.....in the winter its skiing and in the summer its all things outdoors. I love the snow....skiing, sledding, making snowman, snowforts, etc. In the summer its beach, beach, beach. We LOVE the ocean and are huge boogie boarders and now are surfers.

I also love to fish and play a mean game of badminton. I am also an extreme gardner....flowers and vegetables. I will obsess over how my perennials are doing.

Favorite Disney Character....Mickey Mouse and Ron Stoppable.

Favorite Disney Movie....Beauty and the Beast and POTC II.

Coke or Pepsi......Definitely Pepsi. On my last cruise I shipped bottles of diet pepsi to our stateroom.

Where would you vacation......Mountain in winter and oceans in summer. A continual debate in our house is if we had the money for a second home would it be in the mountains or down the shore.

Favorite ice cream flavor......chocolate. I am a complete chocolate snob. I actually get chocolate shipped to me by a chocolate store in Vermont. I cannot find a decent chocolate store in NJ. My favorite ice cream is chocolate with peanut butter.

How many cruises.....we've done 5 all on DCL. Four on the Magic and one on the Wonder. No interest in other cruise lines but might consider it if the Magic is not back in the Caribbean in the summer of 2009.

What kind of car......I've got a mid-sized SUV. 2003 model.

Morning or night owl......I used to be a night owl but its getting harder and harder. And my kids are early birds.

We've got one more ski trip planned this winter. We will be spending a week at the Smuggler's Notch resort in VT for the first week of April when the kids have spring break. Its been snowing like mad in Vermont so we're really looking forward to epic conditions.

Its Smuggler's 50th anniversary this winter. They are the original pirate people playing up on the smuggling theme. They have a bunch of trails with pirate names. They even have a pirate show for the kids. One of the pirates is named "Silver Long John".

Smuggler's has got one up on Disney. Their mouse character (Mogul Mouse) snowboards. It is really cool to see a giant gray mouse coming down the mountain on a snowboard.

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

I hope you son is doing better. I'm in NJ too and we are getting slammed with all this rain. Oh look- here's Noah now!

 

[Lynda Silk]

Ski-and-Sea, so sorry to hear about your son! Poor kid and poor you! So glad to hear that the scan was normal. Never a dull moment when you're a parent, eh?

Here are my answers to the questions:

What do you do for a living? I'm an automobile insurance analyst for an insurance company. In a nutshell, we establish policy and procedures as to who we want to insure and ensure that we are operating according to legislative requirements (automobile insurance is very regulated here in Canada). I deal in the personal lines side of insurance which means our customers are families and individuals, not commercial entities or businesses.

2. What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies? Not a lot of spare time either because I'm separated and have 2 kids! However, I am a huge Harry Potter fan, I love going to movies and I'm a longtime Toronto Maple Leafs fan.
3. What is your favorite Disney character? Mickey Mouse

4. What is your favorite Disney movie? No one favourite but I loved Beauty and the Beast, Lion King and Parent Trap with Lindsay Lohan.

5. Are you a Pepsi or Coke person? I prefer Pepsi to Coke, and Diet Coke to Diet Pepsi.

6. Would you rather vacation to the ocean, lake, mountains, or city? Ocean, but I love seeing mountains too. Just came back from Spain (Costa Del Sol) and Morocco about a month ago and loved seeing the mountains there.
7. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Pralines and cream.

8. How many cruises have you taken? (DCL or not). 3 DCL (2 on the Wonder and 1 on the Eastern Magic), 2 RCCL (both on Enchantment of the Seas).

9. What kind of car do you drive? 2003 Toyota Highlander

10. Are you a morning person, or a night owl? Morning; I zonk out at around 10 pm.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Thanks for the concern. DS is doing better. I give him some advil in the morning and it lasts just long enough to make it through the day. I emailed his teachers and they are making sure to watch out for things that would make DS dizzy (like looking at optical illusions).

Kids do bounce back quickly. Yeah, never a dull moment.

What a sloppy mess with all the rain and warm weather. My yard feels like a sponge when you walk on it.