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

[twokats]

Welcome Shannon and Christine and families. So glad to have you join us. Please fill out a get to know you post and let me know if you would like to be included in the FE. Looking forward to the New Year!!

 

[castaway3]

Your name or what you go by...Christine

State I reside in....Florida

Traveling with....DH(old) LOL and DS (10)

Land and sea or sea only.....Sea and land. We are annual passholders

Have you cruised before.....Yes, this will be number 8.

What will you celebrate......NYE definitely, and my birthday is two weeks prior always nice to get a free cake

Dressing up for pirate night....we have our own Mickey and goofy pirate ears we wear

Dressing up for semi and or formal night..... It depends on the mood that day sometimes we just go up to casual dining which is the same food and just calm and quiet.

Favorite character...MICKEY MOUSE

Favorite Disney memory......Going there since WDW opened just love feeling like a kid again.

3 must do's...Palo, Palo, Palo...lol..cove cafe...relaxing in the rainforest room

Time of dinner seating...Late and love it!!

Coke, pepsi, or pina colada's...drink of the day

Sun or shade...Both.

Morning or night person...Night person but love the Cove Cafe in the morning getting my mocchachino

Last book read...Lucky star..it was great

Taking a book on the cruise...Probably not, I always bring one but am never get around to reading it

 

[sdchickie]

Welcome to all the new cruisers, I'm glad to see that there are more kids on this cruise now. Hurry up December!

 

[niklynn1]

Darn... Why is airfare so high! I have been checking almost daily for airfare from Arizona to MCO and it is so expensive. Hopefully when SW comes out with their rates next week, prices will drop for a while.

FYI.. we don't have our airfare yet for this cruise.

I agree! I am really stressing over this part! I usually fly SW out of KC, but in the summer. Not sure if trying to drive to KC from Iowa would be smart in mid-winter (particularly after the NIGHTMARE winter we just had), but airfare out of Des Moines is so HIGH!

 

[Marcy Mouse]

It seems like there are a lot of us booking the cat 12's that are such a good deal, not to mention those that are not on on DIS. This should mean that some of us are bound to get an upgrade!!!!

The last 7 night cruise we did I thing there were over 20 rooms in our DIS meet that were 12's. Of those I thing almost everyone was upgraded. There were a lot of 12's that were upgraded to 9's.

I hope that those of you out there that booked 12's get upgraded; I'm sending some pixie dust your way.

 

[twokats]

I agree! I am really stressing over this part! I usually fly SW out of KC, but in the summer. Not sure if trying to drive to KC from Iowa would be smart in mid-winter (particularly after the NIGHTMARE winter we just had), but airfare out of Des Moines is so HIGH!

It was an unusual winter, especially in Texas! So, I am planning to go to FL two days early so that if we have trouble with our flight, we will have time to get there by car or another flight. Husband is not too happy at the thought of driving. He had to make that drive too much when he was stationed at Patrick AFB when he was in the service. So I pray that nothing happens to mess up our flight plans. I plan on getting our tickets in the next few days. We plan on using the extra days to show my Mom some more of FL. All she has seen so far is the port when we sailed last year and WDW.

It seems like there are a lot of us booking the cat 12's that are such a good deal, not to mention those that are not on on DIS. This should mean that some of us are bound to get an upgrade!!!!

The last 7 night cruise we did I thing there were over 20 rooms in our DIS meet that were 12's. Of those I thing almost everyone was upgraded. There were a lot of 12's that were upgraded to 9's.

I hope that those of you out there that booked 12's get upgraded; I'm sending some pixie dust your way.

Well, good luck to all in the Cat 12. I have booked us in a Cat 6 and already have my room. DH loved the cat 6 with verandah we had in May '09, and he said that he wanted that type of room whenever we cruised. He spent a lot of quality time watching the ocean. He loved it!

 

[lucky1]

I agree! I am really stressing over this part! I usually fly SW out of KC, but in the summer. Not sure if trying to drive to KC from Iowa would be smart in mid-winter (particularly after the NIGHTMARE winter we just had), but airfare out of Des Moines is so HIGH!

Yes and one of the reasons I am carefully selecting my connecting city and Planning on leaving 2 days ahead and if we do have travel delays at least have some recovery built in. Will plan to book a room at the airport or the port for the 2 night. Added expense, but at least safe of mind that we are in Florida and not stuck in some airport.

It seems like there are a lot of us booking the cat 12's that are such a good deal, not to mention those that are not on on DIS. This should mean that some of us are bound to get an upgrade!!!!

The last 7 night cruise we did I thing there were over 20 rooms in our DIS meet that were 12's. Of those I thing almost everyone was upgraded. There were a lot of 12's that were upgraded to 9's.

I hope that those of you out there that booked 12's get upgraded; I'm sending some pixie dust your way.

Hoping but not expecting a upgrade. If we got back to cat 10, then that will be were we moved our reservation from and then we would have saved so much in the mean time and able to use the saving to book a 2nd cruise.
When we booked cat 12 for May 2009 were assigned cat 11 deck 7 (had to cancel that cruise)... Then booked Cat 12 in Oct 2009 and assigned cat 9, upgraded at port to cat 6.

Honestly we didn't spend that much time on the Verandah or room and DD spent more time playing in the room.

 

[flightrn]

I just paid our deposit on a cat 12, so we are hoping for an upgrade as well. I'm so excited, I know i'm wishing my life away but I wish it was december.

Your name or what you go by...Paige

State I reside in....Tennessee

Traveling with....Dmother, DD (18) and DS (14)

Land and sea or sea only.....Sea and land. I am determined to do christmas day at the world.

Have you cruised before.....Yes, this will be number 5 or 6 ( depending on if we go in october).

What will you celebrate......NYE definitely,

Dressing up for pirate night....not sure, it depends on the teens

Dressing up for semi and or formal night..... Definetly gowns and tux. My son is beautiful in a tux and we never get to dress up.

Favorite character...MICKEY MOUSE

Favorite Disney memory......I never saw Disney until I was 19, my most favorite memory is always walking toward the castle. It brings tears to my eyes.

3 must do's...We're not sure yet.

Time of dinner seating...Late and love it!!

Coke, pepsi, or pina colada's...drink of the day

Sun or shade...Both.

Morning or night person...Night person

Last book read...quality training for work, not the best read.

Taking a book on the cruise...Probably not

 

[twokats]

I just paid our deposit on a cat 12, so we are hoping for an upgrade as well. I'm so excited, I know i'm wishing my life away but I wish it was december.

Your name or what you go by...Paige

State I reside in....Tennessee

Traveling with....Dmother, DD (18) and DS (14)

Paige and family. Glad to have ya'll join us. Let me know if you want to join the FE and we look forward to talking to you over the next few months.

 

[Marcy Mouse]

Just wondering where everyone is staying the night before the cruise?

I was thinking of trying priceline. I have used them before with pretty good results. There is a thread discussing how some people have been able to get Country Inn and Suites for 49.00. I tried that today and was denied so I think I will keep upping my bid by 2 per day and see if I can get it at a discounted rate?

 

[lucky1]

Welcome Paige... Exciting to see more people joining this cruise!!!

 

[lucky1]

If no one objects, then I will go with this graphic posted on post #51
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36874038&postcount=51
Getting it clean up and into a smaller version for signatures, after this weekend.

Our desk top just crashed and we had to rebuilt it from a previously saved copy, so not sure if my graphic survived, but once DH gets it all cleaned up and photoshop reloaded then I will do it over again if necessary.

DD has her dance concert this weekend. Craziness is setting in... 5 dances repeated across 2 shows and 2 dances in 2 other shows.... Of the 5 dances, there are 6 costume changes. I will let you know if I still have my sanity after this weekend.

 

[twokats]

Just wondering where everyone is staying the night before the cruise?

I was thinking of trying priceline. I have used them before with pretty good results. There is a thread discussing how some people have been able to get Country Inn and Suites for 49.00. I tried that today and was denied so I think I will keep upping my bid by 2 per day and see if I can get it at a discounted rate?

We will be at the Oceanfront La Quinta at Cocoa Beach. I am a rewards member of LQ. It is the only hotel I have used in the last 2 or 3 years and I use it at least 3 times a year when I take DD to her job down in South Texas. I have enough reward points to stay for 2 nights and it will only cost me about $50.00. I don't think I can beat that. We plan on getting there two days before the cruise, so that we can show my Mother a little more of Florida.

 

[niklynn1]

If no one objects, then I will go with this graphic posted on post #51
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36874038&postcount=51
Getting it clean up and into a smaller version for signatures, after this weekend.

Our desk top just crashed and we had to rebuilt it from a previously saved copy, so not sure if my graphic survived, but once DH gets it all cleaned up and photoshop reloaded then I will do it over again if necessary.

DD has her dance concert this weekend. Craziness is setting in... 5 dances repeated across 2 shows and 2 dances in 2 other shows.... Of the 5 dances, there are 6 costume changes. I will let you know if I still have my sanity after this weekend.

I love the graphic! Thanks for taking the time to do this for us!

 

[lucky1]

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/06/disneys-ducky-draws-donald-duck/

Here is who is going to be on our cruise!

 

[sdchickie]

Thats cool, I definately be doing one of his workshops!

 

[niklynn1]

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/06/disneys-ducky-draws-donald-duck/

Here is who is going to be on our cruise!

That's really exciting! My kids and I had a great time on our last WDW trip doing the drawing at Hollywood Studios! Will he be doing a class something like the animation class at HS, or how does this work?

 

[castaway3]

We cruised with Don 'Ducky" Williams when Disney offered a 10 day southern caribbean cruise. He is the nicest man. We saw him all over the ship and he would draw on napkins for people and he had a session that we went to and he drew several drawings and gave them away to the audience. There also was a special drawing in our room from him to all the people on the cruise.

 

[lucky1]

That's really exciting! My kids and I had a great time on our last WDW trip doing the drawing at Hollywood Studios! Will he be doing a class something like the animation class at HS, or how does this work?

I pulled this from the Castaway Club website...

Take part in a very special opportunity to meet, greet and learn from famed Disney illustrator Don "Ducky" Williams during select cruises in 2010. Renowned for his illustrations of Disney's most beloved characters, Don Williams has made a name for himself at The Walt Disney Company for over 30 years as an illustrator of books, lithographs, magazine ads and commercials.

During select sailings in 2010, Don "Ducky" Williams will be offering a series of exclusive seminars and workshops—including a one-of-a-kind cell-painting workshop—that will shed light on the creative process of character illustration and animation at The Walt Disney Company. You can even sit down with Don as he sketches your favorite Disney character!

Don "Ducky" Williams Cruises include:

4-Night Bahamian Cruise (March 7, 2010 sailing only)
14-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise (April 10, 2010 sailing only)
5-Night Bahamian Cruise (May 30, 2010 sailing only)
14-Night Westbound Transatlantic Cruise (September 18, 2010 sailing only)
11-Night Southern Caribbean Holiday Cruise (December 18, 2010 sailing only)
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise (December 30, 2010 sailing only)
Dates are subject without notice.

Registration
To learn more and to register for this event, sign up once onboard the ship. Places fill up quickly, so don't delay. Please note that a nominal fee will apply for select workshops.

 

[niklynn1]

I pulled this from the Castaway Club website...

Take part in a very special opportunity to meet, greet and learn from famed Disney illustrator Don "Ducky" Williams during select cruises in 2010. Renowned for his illustrations of Disney's most beloved characters, Don Williams has made a name for himself at The Walt Disney Company for over 30 years as an illustrator of books, lithographs, magazine ads and commercials.

During select sailings in 2010, Don "Ducky" Williams will be offering a series of exclusive seminars and workshops—including a one-of-a-kind cell-painting workshop—that will shed light on the creative process of character illustration and animation at The Walt Disney Company. You can even sit down with Don as he sketches your favorite Disney character!

Don "Ducky" Williams Cruises include:

4-Night Bahamian Cruise (March 7, 2010 sailing only)
14-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise (April 10, 2010 sailing only)
5-Night Bahamian Cruise (May 30, 2010 sailing only)
14-Night Westbound Transatlantic Cruise (September 18, 2010 sailing only)
11-Night Southern Caribbean Holiday Cruise (December 18, 2010 sailing only)
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise (December 30, 2010 sailing only)
Dates are subject without notice.

Registration
To learn more and to register for this event, sign up once onboard the ship. Places fill up quickly, so don't delay. Please note that a nominal fee will apply for select workshops.

This sounds like something my kids would really like to do. Have you done this before, and if so, do you have any idea how much the "nominal fee" is? Nominal is a very relative term.