All Aboard! The Great Land and Sea Getaway - May 2009 PTR

[KatGarcia]

I'm so in! I can't wait to hear all about it, we have never been on a cruise and I would LOVE to book a land and sea adventure!

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Lessa I did a cruise in 1995 and loved it !! Not a Disney one though,we did the Western Caribbean !!If I do do a Disney Cruise Iwill do Disney first then the cruise just like you!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I'm so in! I can't wait to hear all about it, we have never been on a cruise and I would LOVE to book a land and sea adventure!

Hey Kat! I'm sure someday you will get your chance! Maybe there will be a Focker cruise in the future. I remeber Z saying she wanted to go on a Disney cruise.

Hi Lessa I did a cruise in 1995 and loved it !! Not a Disney one though,we did the Western Caribbean !!If I do do a Disney Cruise Iwill do Disney first then the cruise just like you!!

Only way to go!

 

[wlwilliams9]

Count me in! I'm ready to "cruise" through this PTR with you!!! We took a Disney cruise back in 1988, I was 14. That was before Disney Cruise Line though, back then it was know as "The Big Red Boat"! We're looking forward to taking a Disney cruise when our DD is a little older!

Now I'm off to read your previous trip reports!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

This trip has been in the works for a long time, pretty much since July 2007 in fact and it has gone through many many changes.

Originally it was going to be a cruise only vacation and we were booked on the December 6, 2008 Eastern Caribbean sailing. Then we figured we couldn't travel all the way to Florida and NOT go to WDW. Not to mention all the beautiful Christmas decorations were going to be up so using that logic we added 5 days at the Wilderness Lodge onto the trip before the cruise.

Our plans stayed that way until April 2008 when I decided that I was going to go back to school in the Fall so a December cruise would simply not work with my schedule so we moved the trip to May 2009. Of course my school plans changed and I am now not going back until next year so it turns out we could have left the trip as it was, oh well.

We stayed with the May date, booked on the May 23rd itinerary going to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands with a stop at Disney's Castaway Cay. We also decided to spend a few days at Disney beforehand so as to take in the Flower and Garden Festival. We didn't want to spend too much money so we decided to stay at POP again.

Well one morning Mom informed me that she got an e-mail saying we were being offered 40% at select Disney resorts. I nearly died, we had received the elusive and highly sought after 40% off pin code! I quickly dialed Disney up and booked us at the Grand Floridian Magic Kingdom View for 4 nights. Well after the excitement wore off I just could not justify spending the money so I switched us down to POR.

A few weeks later the 4/3 deal came out which ended up being a better deal than our pin code so I booked us in for a week using that deal at POP. Well being the hotel snob that I am I was never too happy about going back to POP. Not that there is anything wrong with POP but I was longing for a Deluxe. After weeks of debating the pros and cons in my head I finally took the plunge and booked us at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

So there you have it, the convoluted trip planning that goes on in my head. Crazy isn't it?

I have also been debating whether or not we should get the dining plan or not. Right now I am leaning towards not and just paying OOP for a few table services meals and then eating the rest of our meals at counter service or off property. I still have lots of time to decide on that though.

So as it stands now we are staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Standard View (hoping for an upgrade) from May 16th-May 23rd and then boarding the Disney Magic for a week long cruise getting home on May 30th. That is a full two weeks of vacation.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Count me in! I'm ready to "cruise" through this PTR with you!!! We took a Disney cruise back in 1988, I was 14. That was before Disney Cruise Line though, back then it was know as "The Big Red Boat"! We're looking forward to taking a Disney cruise when our DD is a little older!

Now I'm off to read your previous trip reports!

Welcome and thanks for stopping by!

 

[bawsmom]

well i lurked through your last TR and had to jump in on this one...

can't wait to hear all about the trip. we did the Wonder in Sept and it was GREAT!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

well i lurked through your last TR and had to jump in on this one...

can't wait to hear all about the trip. we did the Wonder in Sept and it was GREAT!!

So happy to hear from a lurker, glad you came out to say hello!

I am so looking forward to this cruise, I hope I don't suffer from disappointment after building it up so much in my head.

 

[jcc0621]

So there you have it, the convoluted trip planning that goes on in my head. Crazy isn't it?

And you think we think this is crazy why

I have also been debating whether or not we should get the dining plan or not. Right now I am leaning towards not and just paying OOP for a few table services meals and then eating the rest of our meals at counter service or off property. I still have lots of time to decide on that though.

Are you going to be renting a car for the land portion? Since we are driving down this year, it is one of the things I am looking forward to in August. Being able to go to the store if we need something

That is a full two weeks of vacation. [/SIZE][/COLOR]

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

And you think we think this is crazy why

I forgot who I was talking to. All the people I talk to in "real-life" think I am crazy.

Are you going to be renting a car for the land portion? Since we are driving down this year, it is one of the things I am looking forward to in August. Being able to go to the store if we need something

Yep, no way could we survive without a car. No waiting for buses for us plus we like going to the grocery store and eating off property. It is also much faster to get around property with a car at our disposal.

Also we didn't like the idea of depending on somebody else getting us to the port. We like to have full control of our transportation.

 

[UGAFan0829]

Hi, Leesa!
I just finished up your last TR, then made my way here! I have to tell you that I really enjoyed reading your TR...You're a great writer, and reading about your trip really made me feel like I was right there with ya!
I am so excited about reading along on your new TR. I am so thrilled for you. You and your Mom are going to LOVE DCL!!! We've been fortunate enough to have taken both the 3 and 4 nighters, and are doing the 7 night Western this September!
Thanks for taking the time to post such awesome reports and plans...Can't wait to read more!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Hi, Leesa!
I just finished up your last TR, then made my way here! I have to tell you that I really enjoyed reading your TR...You're a great writer, and reading about your trip really made me feel like I was right there with ya!
I am so excited about reading along on your new TR. I am so thrilled for you. You and your Mom are going to LOVE DCL!!! We've been fortunate enough to have taken both the 3 and 4 nighters, and are doing the 7 night Western this September!
Thanks for taking the time to post such awesome reports and plans...Can't wait to read more!

Well thanks!

Wow, three Disney cruises, lucky!

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Lessa !! Is the Official May hours up yet!!!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Hi Lessa !! Is the Official May hours up yet!!!!

Nope, still not up on Disney's site.

 

[lazydoxy66]

Hey, hey!!

I can't wait for this one.

BTW, send me a reminder over at Enchanted so I can post your dates to the calendar over there.

 

[GeminiAngel]

Well, I be readin when I get back!!
I leave tomorrow morning for 7 nights OKW!!
Nite All!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Hey, hey!!

I can't wait for this one.

BTW, send me a reminder over at Enchanted so I can post your dates to the calendar over there.

I don't think anybody over there is going the same time as me. Everybody seems to be going in June.

Well, I be readin when I get back!!
I leave tomorrow morning for 7 nights OKW!!
Nite All!

Have a great time!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I am so excited! The May Park hours have FINALLY been released on Disney's website. Now I can really start making plans.

 

[lazydoxy66]

No. I mean so I can make sure we give you a bon voyage in the bon voyage thread!

 

[DWFan4Life]

I just finished reading your thread Lessa. Great start for your trip on May, we are also planning a trip in May with my DH and kids but we decided to moved it on December so that my parents could come and join us. I'm looking forward to read more from you.

Have a nice day.