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

[m_kasch]

I know what you mean about only being able to book through Disney, I tried to book the Sea Lion Encounter directly through Blue Lagoon, and they said that ALL of their spots are contracted out to Disney on days that their ships are in port. I find that hard to believe, especially since there are 3 Carnival ships in port that day, and that is one of the excursions for them too. It's $25 more per person just to book through Disney, and I didn't think it was worth it. But, then I found the cheaper room at the Comfort Suites for Atlantis, which is what I really wanted to do to begin with...so it all worked out!!

 

[jenny105]

Typical Disney, charging more than they should so they can make an extra profit. As if they don't have enough of our money already! I love Disney World, the parks, the atmosphere, etc but Disney as a company....

 

[karentan]

then again i dont blame them for actually being successful in making money in this economy, they're one of the few making any. at least they're still offering good discounts, eg: the free dining etc so it doesnt feel too much like we're getting totally screwed out of our money!

 

[jenny105]

They do have good deals going, don't get me wrong. But I don't like the fact that they're laying off people who work in the parks because they "lost" some money. They have billions upon billions of dollars. Why don't the execs take a paycut so the people that make minimum wage in the parks can keep their jobs?

 

[m_kasch]

My work is the same way. Walgreens is still making money, yet we had layoffs this year. There is such pressure for profits to keep going up up up, that when money gets tight...they do whatever they can to keep profits going up. Companies should not worry so much about what Wall Street thinks...but they need their stock prices to go up, so they do. Who knows...I think it's all crazy!!

And I agree about the people at the top taking cuts...but they would NEVER do that!! They all just keep getting promoted so that they can get a raise!!

 

[m_kasch]

Yay, I got my Harry Potter tickets!! I couldn't get it to go through online yesterday, but I decided to try one more time today before I drove out of my way to the theater today on the way home...and it worked!! We're going to this cool theater by my house that has a restaurant, so you can order food and drinks while watching the movie (actually, each person has to order so much I think...). Maybe they have a Goombay Smash???

Less than a week to go....Yay for Harry Potter!

 

[karentan]

yay for harry potter 6!!! although i'll have to wait a bit longer than you guys!

i've gone ahead and booked an airport lounge for saturday, its only cost me £17.50 but i'm flying out in the evening, so i'm thinking it'd be nice to have a walk round the airport then go find a comfy chair in a quiet lounge and have a quiet drink and read my book.

 

[disney honeymooners]

i just called disney cruise line to give them our passport numbers and the lady told me that we could already do our shore excursions bc we are past the final payment date i told her that i thoug we had to wait til the 11th but she said we should be able to do it now i will go on their website and check and let you know jen if so this would be great. you wouldnt hav eto wait til monday to get it done.

 

[karentan]

ooh, you'll have to let us know how you get on!! (i've already made mine but i hope that you guys can make yours early!!)

 

[karentan]

i've been checking the DCL website every so often to see what categories they're selling (ie: how full the ship is), and for the last few weeks they've only had cat 9s and above. now they've gone back to selling every category. i'm guessing the ship isnt going to be totally full, and i'm presuming that a few people have cancelled because its close to the final payment date.....?

 

[jenny105]

Yay for Harry Potter! I can't wait, Mary!!

Lainey, I'm going to check today. That'd be awesome!

Karen, I'm totally fine with the ship not being sold out. The less crowded the better. As long as no one else from our group cancels!

 

[m_kasch]

I looked up my ressie today, and it still said that Jen, Joe, Lainey, and Greg were outside of their booking window. Sorry Ladies!!

I was surprised to see that they reopened up the cat. 12 rooms. I really hope that I get upgraded!! But if not, I suppose that I will live...

My Supervisor is here today, and she was so shocked about how things went with Payroll yesterday!! She asked me if I told our Director, but I didn't because her door was closed all day yesterday. She will be shocked, too!! Yay for cooperation (even if it only happens once, LOL)!!

 

[jenny105]

Yeah, I just checked, it won't let me book my shore excursions. Oh well, it's just a few more days, no big deal. I shouldn't have any trouble at all booking the Extreme Getaway Package. It's not like they run out of floats and snorkel equipment.

I'm really getting annoyed by my job. Actually, the company. I like my job and I like (most) of the people I work with, but the company is just ridiculous. They've re-worked our department into tiers Level 1 and Level 2. If you don't fall into Level 2, you don't get commission anymore. I don't fall into that because I didn't work here for the entire year of 2008. Such b/s. But since I'm doing so well for 2009, I should be Level 2 next year.

You also have to do at least 10 bookings a month, which is fairly easy, except in the winter months when no one comes in. What then?

Ugh. This place gets more irritating everyday.

 

[karentan]

but at least you can book the awesome TA offers!!! congrats on the WL upgrade!!

 

[m_kasch]

Jen, if I go anywhere in the Winter, i'll book it through you, LOL! We do have AAA.

I am going to be at work FOREVER today. I have to update a bunch of stuff and then try and get 10 more months of my account reconciled. I wish I had help, but it's just me and i'm going NUTS!!

The only benefit is that I can watch the Wonder said, my favorite Thursday activity!!

 

[jenny105]

Can you post the links to the ship cams again, Mary? Work is a little slow right now.

Thanks for the congrats on the upgrade, Karen! That made my day so much better. It's worth putting up with the b/s for perks like that!!

For those who don't follow the PTR, I got a TA rate on WL w/a water park option & more hopper and dining for about the same price I'm paying for POR. Needless to say, I switched!

 

[karentan]

just had a thought does that mean that you lose the free dining?

 

[m_kasch]

http://www.cocoabeachsurf.com/BeachCam1.htm

that's to watch it come out of the jetty. It should be very soon, it left right on time and takes about 20 minutes. Sad I know that...

Congrats on the upgrade!! Yay for WL!!

 

[karentan]

http://www.portcanaveral.com/webcam.htm
http://www.opusad.com/radissonwebcam/
http://www.cocoabeachsurf.com/BeachCam1.htm
http://www.twopalms.com/

 

[jenny105]

Well, technically I had to pay to add on the dining but it came out to around $1300 (POR was $1252 w/the free dining promo) so it doesn't really make a huge difference. I priced out WL with the free dining offer with the same options and it's coming out to $2100.