...and a happy New Year! 12/30/2010

[tinkerbelle77]

No, it is not too late. We have not set a definite cutoff date, but I am sure it will not be until a month or a little more before the actual cruise date so that we all have time to prepare.

Thanks for joining us!!

Thanks...We are looking forward to it!

 

[lucky1]

Booked our airfare to MCO!!!! got a direct flight from PHX (of course we have to drive 1.5 hours to get there, but at least we are not stopping in Chicago or Denver on the way to MCO in the Winter. Now are working on hotels at the port and a night near DTD on the 6th!

Also going to have to look at travel insurance.

 

[sdchickie]

I had Jordak make up this great graphic for our cruise and thought I would share it with you guys. If you want the full size pict. you can go here http://www.disboards.com/showthread....40038&page=116 they are on page 116

 

[lucky1]

Terri - That looks good.. Jordak has really good designs. I requested one for our anniversary and then our MR cruise.

 

[niklynn1]

We've got our airfare booked too, so I guess there's no turning back now. Unlike you, Laura, we don't have direct flights, and DO have to stop in Chicago. Since we're flying out of Iowa, I HOPE the weather is good for us at both locations. That's my biggest worry.

Like some of you have previously mentioned, I just can't believe the good price on this cruise. I priced December cruises last year as I was wanting to cruise to celebrate my 40th, and the prices were MUCH higher. I am so suprised this year to see the reasonable rate, AND on a holiday cruise! Lucky us!

Really liking the idea of the FE, but we are flying United and have to pay baggage fees, so I just can't figure out how I'd get all the FE stuff in there too. I'm worried about getting all our clothes in there as it is, without having to check several bags. I'm hoping hold it down to one (maybe two) checked bags for us to share, and one carry on per person.

 

[twokats]

I got our flight booked also. Not the one my husband wanted, but it will suite me and my sweet mother. DH prefers to fly early early morning, but I waited too long and the availability was to fly at noon. We don't have to get up before daylight to go to the airport!!!!

We fly AA and also have to pay baggage fees. Last years cruise was my first FE and all that along with the chocolate I took for the cast members, I went over on the weight. Did not even think about it. I just paid the extra and said I will do better next time. I hope to remember my promise to myself and keep it under control. A lot of planning will go into FE's this time.

 

[mickeyluv]

I just saw a post about the price of this cruise in a CAT 12 and went to the website to see for myself and all I can say is WOW! I would love to talk my family and friends into taking this cruise on the 30th. We are booked on the Disney Dream for April 2011 doing a B2B but now wondering if we can stretch that out to a little later in 2011 and do this one. Also the other thing is that we have plans, again with our UK friends, to just do a week in Florida the week of Thanksgiving and do US/IOA for a few days while we are there so I would definitely have to do some clever talking. I've always wanted to do a New Year's Disney cruise . It would have to be a family decision though.

How is the weather this time of year in the Caribbean and at CC?

 

[lucky1]

I just saw a post about the price of this cruise in a CAT 12 and went to the website to see for myself and all I can say is WOW! I would love to talk my family and friends into taking this cruise on the 30th. We are booked on the Disney Dream for April 2011 doing a B2B but now wondering if we can stretch that out to a little later in 2011 and do this one. Also the other thing is that we have plans, again with our UK friends, to just do a week in Florida the week of Thanksgiving and do US/IOA for a few days while we are there so I would definitely have to do some clever talking. I've always wanted to do a New Year's Disney cruise . It would have to be a family decision though.

How is the weather this time of year in the Caribbean and at CC?

Mickeyluv - Hope you can join us... It is an outstanding price for this time of year. From what I understand the Caribbean weather is wonderful during this time of year, water should be nice as well. Bahama's and CC can be cold and the water at CC might be cool. Also part of my reasoning for not wanting to do the Dec 29, double dip plus the cost is more

 

[lucky1]

Nikki - I paid more than I wanted for airfare... I can't believe how expensive flight are right now... A year ago it would have been half the cost. I haven't flown SWA much, but at least we will not have baggage fees and we factor that into our price of the tickets.

I am with you on how lucky we are to have such a great cruise at a reasonable price.

Kathy - Generally we fly AA, but this year their flights were just so expensive. Last year since we didn't want to deal with the carry ons at the airport after the cruise... I checked 4 bags for the 3 of us, that ended up costing us an arm and a leg, because of the 2nd bag for 1 person.

As for FE, really didn't have too much extra weight the last time coming because I did light weight gifts and then we stayed 2 nights at WDW before the cruise, so I spent some time packaging up all the items for each family. Now that we are doing SWA... I might be able to do something else, since we can check 2 bags per person for free.

 

[niklynn1]

Laura-I paid more for airfare than I wanted too. Last year, for our WDW in June, we flew SW out of Kansas City (177 mi away). All 3 of us flew for 537 dollars, with direct flights and no luggage fees! It was great!

But, this year, since we're going in winter, I was worried about that drive if we had bad weather, so I had to book us on United/Delta out of Des Moines (only 15 mi away) just in case. But, we paid 888 dollars for all of three of us, and will have to also pay baggage fees, plus a stopover both ways (Chicago going, Memphis, coming home). Not nearly as economical or convenient.

I'm just making myself feel better about it by dreaming of that bright blue Caribbean water WONDERland, rather than this kind of "Winter Wonderland" from last Christmas. (This is my front door). Uggg...brings back bad memories, as this happened over and over and over all winter long...

[/IMG]

 

[twokats]

Kathy - Generally we fly AA, but this year their flights were just so expensive. Last year since we didn't want to deal with the carry ons at the airport after the cruise... I checked 4 bags for the 3 of us, that ended up costing us an arm and a leg, because of the 2nd bag for 1 person.

As for FE, really didn't have too much extra weight the last time coming because I did light weight gifts and then we stayed 2 nights at WDW before the cruise, so I spent some time packaging up all the items for each family. Now that we are doing SWA... I might be able to do something else, since we can check 2 bags per person for free.

AA is the only airline out of DFW that does non-stop. My DH will pay extra for that, so that is about all I look at.

Last year, we were only on a 4 night cruise, but we stayed 10 nights at WDW, so we had two weeks worth of stuff. I took a lot of mini chocolate bars for the CM's plus we had about 10 or more families in the FE and I probably did overkill, but as I said it was my first, so I learned as I went. Plus I had the largest suitcase, so it was easy to go over for me. As I said I have learned.

When DD and I went to WDW for 10 days in Dec, I was very careful of the weight and hope to do better for the NYE cruise.

 

[lucky1]

I'm just making myself feel better about it by dreaming of that bright blue Caribbean water WONDERland, rather than this kind of "Winter Wonderland" from last Christmas. (This is my front door). Uggg...brings back bad memories, as this happened over and over and over all winter long...
/QUOTE]

Ok.. if I had that much snow, I wold be thinking about the Caribbean as well... But right now that snow looks wonderful. It has been so hot here that I can barely handle it and this is cooler than normal. The desert is very brutal this time of year.

I took a lot of mini chocolate bars for the CM's

When did you pass out the chocolate? I had read that others have done this, but I didn't understand for what reason.

 

[lucky1]

booked our room after the cruise. We are spending one day at WDW resort and doing DTD and then heading home!!!! We will be at PQFQ so we can take the boat to DTD!

Now that we have our flights and we are arrive 2 days before the cruise, going to look at locations at the port. We plan to spend the 29th at Space Center.
Has anyone done this before, how soon should we request tickets?

 

[twokats]

It has been so hot here that I can barely handle it and this is cooler than normal. The desert is very brutal this time of year.

When did you pass out the chocolate? I had read that others have done this, but I didn't understand for what reason.

Been hot here too, but right now we are having a lot of cloudy days with an occasional thunderstorm (which really adds to the humidity).

I left quite a bit on our bed when we left the ship for our room host. He was a sweetheart. I also took a bag and gave it to the Guest Service CM's when I left a picture frame mat to be autographed by the characters. That was the biggest amount since I am sure quite a few shared that one.

booked our room after the cruise. We are spending one day at WDW resort and doing DTD and then heading home!!!! We will be at PQFQ so we can take the boat to DTD!

Now that we have our flights and we are arrive 2 days before the cruise, going to look at locations at the port. We plan to spend the 29th at Space Center.
Has anyone done this before, how soon should we request tickets?

We are flying home the afternoon we get back, so no WDW this trip.
The Space Center is on our plans also. Mom has not been there and it has been 10 years since we were there the last time. The 29th is also when I plan for us to go. Whenever we were there before we just did everything spur of the moment. I have not researched tickets and if we should get them ahead of time. Guess I ought to start looking!!!!

 

[lucky1]

We are flying home the afternoon we get back, so no WDW this trip.
The Space Center is on our plans also. Mom has not been there and it has been 10 years since we were there the last time. The 29th is also when I plan for us to go. Whenever we were there before we just did everything spur of the moment. I have not researched tickets and if we should get them ahead of time. Guess I ought to start looking!!!!

Normally we would just fly home that afternoon, but really didn't want to fly home on my birthday, so will just be spending 1 night at the resort. No parks just DTD and hanging around the resort.

As for the space center, I read you can request tickets from your senator/congressperson. I have put DH on that and see if he can get us tickets before we go, otherwise we will just get them at the door.

 

[twokats]

As for the space center, I read you can request tickets from your senator/congressperson. I have put DH on that and see if he can get us tickets before we go, otherwise we will just get them at the door.

Yes, I have seen that also. Thought I might check into that also.

Hope everyone has a great 4th of July!!

 

[sdchickie]

If anyone is staying at the port the night before our cruise, I was just able to get the Country Inn & Suites for $71 plus tax on priceline. They charge you $20 on top of that to park your car there for the whole cruise and get a shuttle both ways. With parking at the terminal at $15 a night I look at it as a free place to stay! And the best part is that it's for the kids suite so they can have the bunk beds.

 

[lucky1]

Hi Terri - We decided we are going to stay at CI&S too. Haven't got up the nerve to use priceline yet, bad experience from years ago booking an air flight. When we do book it will probably be through AAA or my company discount.

 

[niklynn1]

What excursions are you all planning, if any, for St. Maarten and St. Thomas? I feel like I've been doing endless research, yet still can't make up my mind about anything!

 

[sdchickie]

What excursions are you all planning, if any, for St. Maarten and St. Thomas? I feel like I've been doing endless research, yet still can't make up my mind about anything!

I've been looking for ideas on the cruise critic boards under the ports of call section there are reviews on many of the different excursions available. For our Carnival cruise this Oct. we're going over to the baths on the St. Thomas stop. I'm very excited about that excursion I'll post a review for ya'll and some picts when I get back.