Andy and Rae's 50th Birthday Celebration - 2005

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by rae519
Oh yes, Alaska! I'd be up for that!!!

Andy, think you could use some more snow and ice??????

Rae

No thanks Rae, I walked around in the snow enough this afternoon!!!

 

[floridaminnie]

What snow Andy? BTW what is snow?

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by floridaminnie
ANdy only wishes everyone was older than he so he's the young one in the g"r"oup!

Hi Suz,

There are five of us in-laws in my DW's family that were born in 1955, you guessed it, I'm the oldest of the surviving group. I used to be the second oldest of the group, but DW's SIL passed away from cancer 12 years ago, leaving me the oldest now.

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by floridaminnie
What snow Andy? BTW what is snow?

This is what "SNOW" looks like Suz!!! This photo was taken last February during our President's Weekend 21" Blizzard. Sure looks like I'm having a great time shoveling, doesn't it? NOT!!!

 

[rae519]

Andy, you look good in white!!!

White snow!
White sand!

Take your pick!

Rae

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by rae519
Andy, you look good in white!!!

White snow!
White sand!

Take your pick!

Rae

I pick "WHITE SAND!!!"

 

[Grumbo]

Sheesh Come on Andy!!!
Snow? You call THAT snow????
Heck we get that much on our driveway scraping the frost off our windshield!!!!!!!

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by Grumbo
Sheesh Come on Andy!!!
Snow? You call THAT snow????
Heck we get that much on our driveway scraping the frost off our windshield!!!!!!!

Cheers,
Grumbo

As far as I'm concerned, you can have it too!!! I can't wait for Spring to arrive!!!

 

[kpgclark]

Everyone-

Andy gave me some information and asked me to give an initial call to Disney regarding the group cruise. I'm a stay at home mom so I have some time to do this. Anyhow, I'm now passing on the information I gained from my phone call today. The person I spoke to said that they don't know when the information regarding summer itineraries will open up. The reason they don't have summer but have fall is because the fall cruises fill up much more slowly so they give them more time to be booked. He didn't give up any information about itineraries (ie will there be a reposition or will they sail from California) for the summer but he did say to assume for now that they will continue to alternate between Eastern and Western.

Generally the group cruise works like this. Each group identifies ONE point of contact. This is the only person who contacts Disney regarding the cruise. You need 8 cabins minimum although if you get close to the date and a cabin or two drop out because of say a death or something, they'll still extend the group rate. The contact person is responsible for putting down $50 per reserved cabin to hold a group of rooms. You also, of course, must pay the normal $250 per person deposit. Everyone can select whatever cabin they want just like you're booking a cruise on your own. For being part of a group you get a whopping $50 PER CABIN discount. You also AS A GROUP decide on one amenity. These include a memory box which has stuff like picture frames, a group coctail party that normally happens during sailaway, or a bon voyage gift pack which would include chocolate covered strawberries or petit fours and a bottle of champagne/wine. Additionally they will give the group some sort of tour credit. This might be something like $1100 divided equally amongst 8 staterooms. This amount will vary depending on the number of staterooms and type of stateroom booked.

Exact room rates for summer are not known yet and will vary depending on how fast that cruise fills up. The faster it fills, the higher the rate. I asked him to give me an example of what the rates might be so I asked him to tell me the approximate price for a category 10 and 4 people. He said to expect (this is an example for Western) AROUND $1372 for the first two, $952 for the third and fourth if they are over 12, and $752 for those 12 and under. This includes taxes/port charges but not insurance or transfers.

I haven't contacted any travel agency (I like Dreams!) They might be able to offer something better, I don't know. Minimally they will do the leg work which would be a nice benefit. If anyone from Dreams read this, I'd be interested to know what you offer if a group shows interest in sailing.

 

[kpgclark]

By the way, there is no other cabin price break over the $50 per cabin if you reserve more rooms.

 

[Verandah Man]

Kathy,

Thanks for taking the time to do this for us, I guess now we just have to wait and see what happens once the dates (and or) announcement is made regarding summer of '05.

 

[Cap]

Thanks for checking into this. Now we just need to get them to let loose of the summer dates / itineraries.

 

[kpgclark]

Actually, they only have a certain number of groups that they will let sail. We can decide on a date and they will hold a certain number of rooms for us. Then I think they can move the date around if we want if they end up publishing a different schedule. He said to just assume that they will continue to alternate from East to West from whatever cruise has last been published.

Is everyone set on summer? I would prefer March 19th 2005 only because we have spring break and I would love to have warmth after a long yucky winter. I'm not opposed to summer though, just have a preference for March.

 

[gassmandy]

If the "speculation" turns out to be correct--since we live by Cape Canaveral--I would love to fly out to CA a week ahead of our cruise (relatives!!!) and then visit DL and then be on the returning (i.e. last voyage) back to Canaveral through the canal. That is--if that is what DCL ends up doing!!! That way we only have to buy one way airline tickets. I grew up by the Bay area and would love to show my husband Napa Valley, go up to the Redwoods, San Francisco (my favorite city!) and then enjoy Disneyland!! Okay--I am getting soooo excited and I need to not get my hopes up in case this isn't what they're doing--but if they are--I can't wait!!!! Plus--like Suz (floridaminnie) I will be celebrating my 30th next year also!!!!!!!!!

 

[twhipple]

We would only be a part of the group if it originated in California. We're set on going to the 50th celebration.

By the way on the DL board, they said the announcement for the 50th will be on May 5 to coincide with the opening of the TOT in DCA. I may have to take off the day to wait for the announcement My guess is they will announce the cruise plans at that time as well "if" it's going to California

 

[Dreamer04]

I would so love to be a part of this!

 

[SandraLee]

kpgclark . . . Thanks for calling and checking it out. I am pretty much only interested in a repositioning cruise. And, I'd be stuck on the May one for that.

Did he say the $1,100 is definate? I thougth when booking a group, you got 1 cabin free for every 8 cabins you book? Or is that the way it works when working with a TA. Would the $1,100 be split equally and applied as a cabin on-board credit, but only able to use for excursions? That would come out to around $137. Not bad.

I can hardly wait for the announcement!

 

[Verandah Man]

Cinco de Mayo!!!???!!!

 

[kpgclark]

There is no free cabin. They just figure how much the group books and we get a certain amount to be split. It isn't an onboard credit though. It is an excursion credit that can only be used on cruise excursions (ie not used if you are doing a land excursion the day before the cruise at Port Canaveral)

 

[paulmc80]

Oh boy! If they do sail out of CA I'd definitely be counting myself in as part of this. We'd definitely save on airfare swimming to the port from here. lol

Oh heck ... it would be a good excuse to do another cruise and visit DL on top of that too!