April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[alenushka]

Hi everyone. Sorry I've been MIA, but things got busy in FL and then again when we returned home. Things at the FL house are looking good - DH will be able to finish the new kitchen floor when we go back later this month . We hit the parks everyday but Sat., had to get important things done that day and met up with a friend for dinner and DTD shopping.

Now the cleaning and decorating start at home. We're hosting the extended family dinner on Sun. 12/12 and expecting about 50 people or so. It's potluck and we provide the turkey and trimmings and everyone brings the rest. The 15 foot tree was put up last night and I need to start decorating it. Really want DH to get the outside lights done but we're waiting on our contractor to redo the front porch railings, at least we have a wreath up outside.

Now to get the call into the TA to pay off this cruise and make those bookings at 120 days out. Just plan on booking Palo brunch and DH will try again for the jetski excursion on CC. He's had it booked on 2 previous cruises and they were cancelled both times - maybe 3rd time's a charm.

I hope you had a great party!
We had a " mini" party for DD and 4 of her friends ; on x- mas Eve we are expecting about 43 people I have been awfully busy - I seldom get to bed prior to 2 am, but I love our tradition, which we started in1993, and don't mind hosting it at all With all preps for that party plus DD B- day party first week of January, I hardly have time to obsess with DCl
I hope everyone has a great Holiday Season!

 

[jilljill]

I hope you had a great party!
We had a " mini" party for DD and 4 of her friends ; on x- mas Eve we are expecting about 43 people I have been awfully busy - I seldom get to bed prior to 2 am, but I love our tradition, which we started in1993, and don't mind hosting it at all With all preps for that party plus DD B- day party first week of January, I hardly have time to obsess with DCl
I hope everyone has a great Holiday Season!

Dinner went over very well, and we lost count with all the little kids (great grandkids) and big kids (grandkids).

Sounds like you will have a great gathering as well. They are a lot of work, but in the end worth all the effort.


Our new porch railings have finally been installed, so DH will be able to put the finishing touches on the outside of the house this week if the wind stops blowing.

 

[castlegazer]

Hi there guys! I am just not a DISr this cruise as much as last cruises. Sorry about that but this seems like an amazing group!

FYI: I just noticed that there is a change in the "Fish" outside the cabins - it's a seahorse now and smaller:

 

[castlegazer]

Oh boy! They are already setting line stantions in anticipation of being that far back!!!!?????

 

[rdevine10]

Hey everyone,

Just booked the Comfort Suites for April 18 for a day at the Atlantis. Just wanted to give a heads up the rates seemed lower than my last check- I got a room for $227 (before taxes)- $293 after taxes. HTH someone!

 

[guarn3md]

Debbie was ICE worth the money? We are going to a christmas party there next weekend and I was looking into going, but $30 seems a bit high.

Sorry I just saw this post!!!
Hope I am not too late answering! I felt ICE was worth it. At first I balked at the price but decided to bite the bullet and go. We had two adults and one child. After going, I would definitely go again and feel it was completely worth the money. However, I will say there are a lot of areas where they try to suck more money out of you. The picture they take of you before you go in with everyone wearing their parkas - $15 for one pic. Then the Grinch is there for pictures ops - another $15. Plus my husband remarked it was just like Disney - when you leave the exhibit you exit into.... A.... Gift shop!!
Debbie

 

[bdink921]

Hey everyone,

Just booked the Comfort Suites for April 18 for a day at the Atlantis. Just wanted to give a heads up the rates seemed lower than my last check- I got a room for $227 (before taxes)- $293 after taxes. HTH someone!

I saw this too the other day and booked it -- so far the price has gone down from $324 to $250 to $227 . I just keep cancelling and rebooking when I find a cheaper rate.

 

[castlegazer]

Thanks for the Comfort Suites update! According to the site, there are only two rooms left at that price. I am totally hung up on whether to do it or not. I think just staying put on the boat and riding the water slides there may be the way to do for my crowd.

 

[rdevine10]

Im not sure 100% we are going to go to the Atlantis yet either. I booked it at that price and can still cancel if I want to. Still contemplating the dolphin encounter or staying on the ship. (I know DD 8 would love the dolphin encounter, but dd5 would only want to watch with DH). Id be OK with staying on board, but DH and the kids have never been to the Bahamas and I feel like it would be a shame if they never saw it (although I would be ok with not getting off!).

 

[castlegazer]

I have always, since it was first built, wanted to go to Atlantis to see it. So, we may go over at one of our stops in Nassau (we're doing the back to back cruises thing) and see the Dig and the resort area. But my five year old is the same, no way would she be going on the slides. She's not even big enough to go on the aqua duck. But my feeling is that we have been to the Bahamas several times, and for that matter, the bestest of the best of the Bahamas, by being at Castaway Cay!

I really don't think there will be enough time to see everything on the ship if we got off each time we were in port.

I am so excited!!!! She looks so beautiful!!! Did you all get to see the inside pics on the German board site before it was pulled off? can anyone see the pics I pasted above of the door or the aqua duck from that site?

I can't tell because they're in my cache so I see them.

 

[scootch]

We didn't do the big slides, but there are some smaller slides and also a kid play area. I was surprised my kids loved Atlantis as much as I did(they were 7 and 9) The really saw the beauty in it, enjoyed the beach, unbelievable sand, the architecture, the dig... we really did enjoy our day there(so much we are doing it again).

 

[jilljill]

We got our first bit of snow yesterday . Calling for more on Sunday if the storm runs along the coast - let's hope it takes a right turn and heads out to sea.


For Nassau we'll do our usual get off the ship for a little bit to walk around and shop some and then back to the ship for lunch and relaxing.

 

[svcutler]

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to share an idea for the holidays. I went out to the www.disneystore.com site and you can buy personalized gift credit cards in any $ increment. The best part though is that you can actually download any picture you have nd they print it onto the physical gift card itself (credit card size).

I downloaded a picture of my daughter when she 4 (now she's almost 16) while we were at Cinderella's castle. She was sitting and talking to Cindy's fairy godmather and I got the cutest picutre. She was also wearing her Cinderalla princess gown and looked adorable. Now at almost 16, she has to use the card with that great picture on it whenever she wants to buy anything on the cruise!

Now all of you and I all think that's adorable. Do you think a 16 year old girl will?

 

[jel0511]

It is cute but she won't be able to use it on board as only your KTTW card can be used on the ship she can apply the amount to her account.

 

[svcutler]

Bummer. They said it was good on DCL and works like Disney Dollars. The kids can't bring their own money to buy things in the gift shops?

 

[Deb T.]

Bummer. They said it was good on DCL and works like Disney Dollars. The kids can't bring their own money to buy things in the gift shops?

It is good on DCL, but only by applying it to your onboard account at Guest Services. The Disney ships are cashless. Even Castaway Cay is cashless. Everything is charged to the "Key To The World Cards" (your room keys) and then that account is settled by using cash, traveler's checks, credit cards, Disney Rewards points, or Disney gift cards at Guest Services. When you check in, you decide who in your family has charging privileges. You can also change charging privileges once onboard by going to Guest Services.

So, the good news is that your DD can, indeed, use it toward her souvenirs during the cruise. But, only Guest Services cms will see it.

 

[jel0511]

It is good on DCL, but only by applying it to your onboard account at Guest Services. The Disney ships are cashless. Even Castaway Cay is cashless. Everything is charged to the "Key To The World Cards" (your room keys) and then that account is settled by using cash, traveler's checks, credit cards, Disney Rewards points, or Disney gift cards at Guest Services. When you check in, you decide who in your family has charging privileges. You can also change charging privileges once onboard by going to Guest Services.

So, the good news is that your DD can, indeed, use it toward her souvenirs during the cruise. But, only Guest Services cms will see it.

You also have to give your DD charging privileges for her to use the gift card.

 

[Deb T.]

You also have to give your DD charging privileges for her to use the gift card.

Actually, you only have to give her charging privileges on her room key (Key To The World Card). Any Disney gift card can be applied to your onboard account.

 

[svcutler]

well we still have 4 days in WDW after cruise so I guess she can just use it there also. It'll be her choice but I was hoping that she'd have to whip it out every time she made a purchase on the cruise and have to show that cute picture that ,of course she'll be mortified showing! How mean am I as a mom??

 

[Deb T.]

well we still have 4 days in WDW after cruise so I guess she can just use it there also. It'll be her choice but I was hoping that she'd have to whip it out every time she made a purchase on the cruise and have to show that cute picture that ,of course she'll be mortified showing! How mean am I as a mom??

As much as teenagers torture us parents, I think your gift card idea is PERFECT!