9/24/09 3 Day Wonder - Cruise Meets, and FEs, and Goombays oh my!

[m_kasch]

No, we don't see too many shows at Disney. I have laid down the law about the cruise though...we are seeing all the shows!!

We tried on our snorkel stuff last night, they are pretty nice, especially because they wree only $30!! The cooler is nice too, now I just have to figure out how to get it there. I'm going to have to bring two big bags this time, thankfully we are flying southwest so they are free. Yay for Southwest!

Mikkel, I was just looking up my reservation -- the FP is Due on July 10, just in case you didn't figure that out already.

I was looking at the calander for Universal -- they close at 6 every day that I am there. I'm not quite sure how I am supposed to visit the park when I am at a conference all day, and then they close so early? Maybe they will have an evening event or something, I've never been to a conference this big. I hope so, I was kind of excited about trying it out!!

 

[jenny105]

Universal seems to close early a lot for whatever reason. I was there in November and they closed at 6. I think that's way too early, no matter what time of year it is. Why not 8?

I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to put all my goody bags in so that I can get them to you guys! My car is going to be very low to the ground this trip down.

 

[m_kasch]

At least you will have a car!! I have to fit everything in suitcases on a plane!! I tend to overpack as well, so I am really going to have to reign myself in this time!!

 

[jenny105]

That's part of the reason I'm not flying. All that stuff I'll have with me would cost me an arm and a leg in baggage fees!

 

[disney honeymooners]

I like dinner shows i have been to Arabian Nights in Orlando and Dixie Stampeed in Pigeon Forge,TN twice(the food there is great but i am never able to finish it all they have the only vegetable soup that i will eat).
Mary i am in the same boat as you i over pack all the time we are gonna get charged for our first checked bags and then i am gonna get charged for a second checked bag( i miss the days when you got 2 checked bags for free!)
So we will have 3 checked bags i am gonna see if i can condense it but i was thinking if we buy alot of stuff i am gonna need the extra space to avoid having to ship alot of stuff home.

 

[karentan]

i'm lucky as when i booked our delta flight, we were allowed 2 bags, they've since changed this to 1 bag, which i think is ridiculous for an international flight! but we're allowed 4 between us so i'm happy!

i'm really happy at the mo, i got my renewal through for my car insurance and it was £600 (about $960) for the year. i've shopped around and i've just renewed with another company for £330 (about $528), thats almost half the price!! plus that and the fact that the exchange rate is going up, i've just about got enough money right now to pay off the cruise and the DVC points!! so the only thing left is the hotel to pay for!

part of me fancies trying one of the dinner shows, but then i think its a lot of money for something that doesnt overly appeal to me, so i've never been. we dont have the big medieval times style shows over here either, so i've never even been to one of those.

 

[m_kasch]

I was just looking up the different shore excursions and spa treatments that I was interested in. I wanted to do the Couples Cabana Massage at Castaway Cay -- but it is $278!!!!!!!!!! I think I will have to find something else to do!! Unless I get A LOT of disney money for my birthday, that is!! A girl in my office went on the cruise as part of her honeymoon and said that the castaway cay massage was awesome -- i'm kind of bummed!!

So, I think we are going to do the Sea Lions (unless I find a great price for Atlantis before then) at Nassau, and then the Stingrays at Castaway Cay, and maybe rent the floats or bikes too. I also think we might get a pedel boat or a water trike there also. I'm getting excited!!

That's awesome about the insurance, Karen!! I just heard on the news that they are going to be raising house and car insurance in Illinois because of extensive storm damage -- WE have never had ANY storm damage, so i'm not sure whats up with that -- sounds like a good way to rip us off!!

 

[m_kasch]

Okay so, I guess I made up my mind sort of, LOL. They had the room at Comfort Suites, where you get full access to Atlantis, on sale with AAA discount for only $178 -- which is LESS than the sea lions!! I'm super excited now, but I can always change my mind, you don't pay for the room until you get there. YAY!!

 

[karentan]

we're like that here, there was a flood in the 1950's near here, and although my town is widely noted as being the driest place in the UK, we're technically in a flood plain as far as home insurance is concerned. stupid, as you said i think they're just looking for ways of making more money off us.

i still havent decided what to do excursion wise, i kinda fancy doing the scuba diving, but its a 5 hour excursion and you're probably only diving for about an hour and a half of that, the rest is travelling time i do like the look of the segway tour, gary's quite happy to stay on the ship, so if he doesnt want to go, i might go anyway. he likes the look of atlantis (only because of james bond! men..... ) but its sooooo expensive. we were looking at sandals or breezes for a day pass but not all the activities are included, so we'd pretty much be going for lunch and a day at the beach, which isnt that good for the money it'll cost. just dont know what to do.........
on castaway cay we'll probably rent the snorkels/bikes/floats combo, we didnt do this last time as i thought it was a lot of money, but then ended up renting the floats and the bikes anyway, and i spent the whole day wanting to try the snorkelling. will probably just book it this time!! and i also fancy trying the jet ski eco tour thingy! last year i originally had booked the walking/kayak tour, but cancelled it, its a good thing too as we rented a kayak and gary ended up going back to shore as it was killing his back. i stayed out on the water though and had a great time!! it was cool rowing out to the breakwater and taking photos of the beach and the ship up close.

 

[karentan]

grrrr. i've been looking for a baggallini large wallet bag for ages, i've found some on ebay.com, the bag itself is about $40, but they're charging $30 for international shipping! i dont see how sending something small and light would cost $30 to post!
wonder if they sell them at the florida mall, i was looking for one last time and couldnt find one.....

i was looking at shore excursions for nassau and came across this site:
http://bestonbahamas.com/nassau-bahamas-tours.html
they list loads of different excursions, might be of some help, they do a fishing excursion which mikkel's uncle (i think it was her uncle ) might like.

 

[karentan]

hows everyone's work day going? i had to go on the 12pm lunch today, and its really thrown me off. it always takes me longer to get back into work in the afternoon if i had the early lunch, i get back at 1pm, but i cant get back to calling people until 2pm, as they're all off on lunch. so just trying to pass time.

i still havent thought of anything to do on saturday, gary's arranged more service jobs for saturday so he's going to be gone all day. the only thing i've got planned so far is a lie in! i dont want to get out of bed until i have to!!

this day is dragging!!!!!!.............

 

[jenny105]

I think we're going to do the ray/snorkeling/biking/float rental package for CC. Still undecided for Nassau. I really want to do Atlantis but it's expensive. I wish the package included food because then I would definitely do it. I have til July 11 to make up my mind I guess!!

They cut our hours at work. In a sense, I'm happy because I don't have to work 7-3 on Saturdays anymore, it'll go back to 9-3 which is much better. But that means less money in my paycheck. I guess I can't be too upset because it's better there doing this rather than laying more people off.

I'm ready for this week to be over. It's been a rough one.

 

[m_kasch]

Jen -- You should try booking through Comfort Suites. Our room was only $178 + tax. Or you could join us, if you want. I can add two more adults and it is only $144 per couple, with tax and everything. Let me know if you want to do that, i'm not sure how long the sale runs. But I don't have to pay until we get there, so no worries if you change your mind.

Speaking of Atlantis -- I am SO excited about it now!! I was looking at the map and all of the pictures, it looks so fun! They have a snorkel lagoon, so I still get to do my snorkeling, and the slides and pools and lazy rivers, not to mention all of the marine habitats -- SO cool!! Yay!

Jen, that sucks about the hours. Is it only on Saturday, or every day?

 

[jenny105]

Mary, that's a great deal! How exactly does it work? Is the hotel used to people doing this just to get a pass to Atlantis? If you don't mind, could you add us on? We were talking about the Atlantis waterpark the other day and we would love to do it but it's just too expensive through Disney. You can't beat that deal though!

The cutbacks are everyday. I normally work 9-6 and every other Saturday 7-3. Now its MWF 9-5, Tues & Thurs 10-6 and every other Saturday 9-3. I used to work 35 hours in our old office so I have to just get used to the paycheck again I guess.

 

[m_kasch]

Okay, I added you!! The room total with tax is $289.18, but then there may be some goofy charges when we get there for housekeeping and energy (??), It looks like around $15 pp...but then it is still only about $175 for the whole thing, which is pretty much what Disney charges for 1!!

I did hear that the food there is expensive, but then I also read that it isn't so bad? Gotta go to lunch now!! I'll Dis at you in a bit!!

 

[jenny105]

Thanks Mary! I'm so excited!

I think one of the agents here has been to Atlantis. I'll ask her about how the prices of food are. It can't be any worse than when you go to a pro sports game or concert.

 

[FutureDis]

Hi everyone! Just checking in to see how everyone is doing. We are below the 4 month mark, yeah!!!

I had to show off my new Shaun the Sheep stuff... If you can't guess, I <heart> Shaun!!

Any other Shaun lovers?

 

[jenny105]

Is that the sheep from the mattress commercials?

 

[Lilo's Mom]

Kelly and I visited Atlantis when we were on the cruise in 2000. We did the Discover Atlantis Tour followed by a City Tour. I remember that during the Atlantis Tour the guide told us that we missed Ricky Martin filming his video for She Bangs, by just one day. Kelly was devastated over that,. Atlantis is beautiful and worth a visit for sure. I wish I could help you out with an idea about how much the food is there, but we ate someplace near the market. I did get a FABULOUS deal on a tanzanite and diamond ring on that trip, so I am planning on shopping, although Bob and Kelly want to go to the Pirate Museum, so I guess we are going to try to cram in a lot that day!

 

[FutureDis]

Is that the sheep from the mattress commercials?

No! Shaun the Sheep is a short that is on around 6:54am (central) on Disney channel. For more info, see:
http://www.shaunthesheep.com/

I love Shaun more than my son does. He rocks! And is very funny....