April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[outahere]

How is everyone doing on transportation/lodging plans?

I finally booked our air today. We will be flying Jetblue from Hartford, CT. It wasn't cheap, but it was about half the cost of going from Boston, Providence, RI or Manchester, NH. It's about a 90 minute drive for us, but worth it to save well over $1000.

So, for us ........

Flights - booked
Hotel for night before - reserved
Rental car - reserved

 

[jel0511]

How is everyone doing on transportation/lodging plans?

I finally booked our air today. We will be flying Jetblue from Hartford, CT. It wasn't cheap, but it was about half the cost of going from Boston, Providence, RI or Manchester, NH. It's about a 90 minute drive for us, but worth it to save well over $1000.

So, for us ........

Flights - booked
Hotel for night before - reserved
Rental car - reserved

We're done...

Flights on SW booked
hotel night before booked
rental car to/from port canaveral booked
AKV Kidani booked!

I can't wait!!!!!

 

[Deb T.]

We're done...

Flights on SW booked
hotel night before booked
rental car to/from port canaveral booked
AKV Kidani booked!

I can't wait!!!!!

We're done, too!

DH and I are on this cruise and have:
Flights on SWA booked
BCV night before booked
Rental car booked for MCO to BCV to Port
Rental van booked for Port to MCO

AND...

DH, me, DS, DD, and DD's fiance are ALL booked on the April 21st cruise :
Flights on SWA for DS, DD, and DD'sDF booked
BCV night before booked for DS, DD, and DD'sDF
Rental car for DS, DD, and DD'sDF to get from MCO to BCV to Port booked
Travel Insurance for DD and DD's DF is purchased

AND...

FE's are ready to hang for both cruises (including DD's cabin on the 2nd cruise)!
FE gifts are purchased for both cruises (including the gifts for DD to hand out)!
Magnets are already made and printed on magnetic paper for both cruises!

I am SO READY for this cruise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jilljill]

Nothing for us to plan except what time to start driving from DE to FL and then back. OUr biggest thing will be do we pack our clothes from up here or from down there to take on the cruise.

 

[guarn3md]

Deb T
I am thinking about participating in the F.E. fun...I have 5 people in my stateroom - my parents(late 60's), me (42), my son(9) and sister(7). Do we all participate? Do we come up with an idea for the kids and for the adults?
Thanks for your help!
Debbie

 

[Deb T.]

Nothing for us to plan except what time to start driving from DE to FL and then back. OUr biggest thing will be do we pack our clothes from up here or from down there to take on the cruise.

You're living my dream life!

 

[bdink921]

We're done, too!

DH and I are on this cruise and have:
Flights on SWA booked
BCV night before booked
Rental car booked for MCO to BCV to Port
Rental van booked for Port to MCO

AND...

DH, me, DS, DD, and DD's fiance are ALL booked on the April 21st cruise :
Flights on SWA for DS, DD, and DD'sDF booked
BCV night before booked for DS, DD, and DD'sDF
Rental car for DS, DD, and DD'sDF to get from MCO to BCV to Port booked
Travel Insurance for DD and DD's DF is purchased

AND...

FE's are ready to hang for both cruises (including DD's cabin on the 2nd cruise)!
FE gifts are purchased for both cruises (including the gifts for DD to hand out)!
Magnets are already made and printed on magnetic paper for both cruises!

I am SO READY for this cruise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Overachiever!!!!

Flights are booked through SW
Rental car reserved for before/after cruise
RPR booked for 4/15

Still deciding what to do 4/16. I know we're going to US/IOA for the early part of the day. Then we can 1) head to the port staying at CI&S or 2) book a room at the Swan/Dolphin with the nurse rate and hit the pool, arcade hop, go to boardwalk, have a nice dinner. The port area is ok but last year we were so wishing we stayed a 3rd night at WDW -- didn't care too much for the port area. We also have to buy our US/IOA passes. Any thoughts on the WDW vs port for 4/16??

Need our FE (gonna visit gradysmommy on ebay I think ). Have a few items for kids for FE -- we're working on this one. Also have to work on some door decorations. This stuff will get me through the long winter .

 

[Deb T.]

Deb T
I am thinking about participating in the F.E. fun...I have 5 people in my stateroom - my parents(late 60's), me (42), my son(9) and sister(7). Do we all participate? Do we come up with an idea for the kids and for the adults?
Thanks for your help!
Debbie

I'm so glad you're thinking of joining in on the fun... and I guarantee it IS a LOT of fun! The best part about the FE exchange is that you have free reign to do whatever you want!

Some people will chose to give one item per cabin. Some will do a goody bag for each cabin. Some give one item per person in each cabin. Some FE gifts are homemade and/or personalized (we've received handmade mini scrapbooks, photo frames, door hangers, music cds, coasters, photo albums, bracelets, earrings, wine glass charms, bookmarks, calendars, candy bars with a homemade Disney-themed wrapper, etc.). Some FE gifts are from the Dollar Tree or other Dollar Stores (glow bracelets/necklaces are very popular). Some gifts are from a Disney store (we've received mugs, travel cups, luggage tags, antennae toppers, pens, pins, expandable washcloths, candy, etc.). Some represent the giver's hometown. Some gifts are economical, some are extravagant. Anything goes!

As for us, we have always given a goody bag of fun stuff to each child and a goody bag to each couple (or single adult). Whenever there are two unrelated adults in a cabin, I always give each their own set of goodies. I'd love to tell you what our gifts are, but I don't want to spoil the surprise!

Honestly, there is no pressure. Just do whatever you're comfortable with. The fun of it is checking your FE each time to go to your cabin and finding more surprises!!!!

 

[Deb T.]

Overachiever!!!!

Compulsive planner, actually. Definitely a Type A personality.

 

[Donnaksmj]

Hi Everyone!

We just had another family join our FE Exchange! Here is the updated list of participants so far:

Fish Extender Exchange: (Deadline to join 4-1-11)
Ness2289 & DD12
Deb T. & DH
Tigger1313 & DGD17
Golfnsuch & DH, DS11, DS7
WPoohgirl & DH, DD14, DS12
Z’sDisneyMom & DH, DD12
ydrj & DH, DS16, DD14
princessdaisy & DH, DD18, DS8 (*still need DH and children’s names)
goofy4tink & DH, DD17
jeni37 & DH, DS14, DS10, DD6
kim5678 & DH, DD13
lindafish & DH
disneycruisegal & DH
caronjn & DW, DS10, DD7 (*still need cabin number and names)
alenushka & DH, DD10, (and maybe DS in college)
pershing & DS16, DS14, DS13
bdink921& DH, DS12
svcutler & DH, DD15, DD11
Downrivermama & DD12
Rlbren & DH
allaboutdisney1967 & DH, DD13
Karen from VA & DH, DD6


Anyone else??

Please count us in too!

Donnaksmj & DH, DS9
thx

 

[alenushka]

Still deciding what to do 4/16. I know we're going to US/IOA for the early part of the day. Then we can 1) head to the port staying at CI&S or 2) book a room at the Swan/Dolphin with the nurse rate and hit the pool, arcade hop, go to boardwalk, have a nice dinner. The port area is ok but last year we were so wishing we stayed a 3rd night at WDW -- didn't care too much for the port area. We also have to buy our US/IOA passes. Any thoughts on the WDW vs port for 4/16??

Need our FE (gonna visit gradysmommy on ebay I think ). Have a few items for kids for FE -- we're working on this one. Also have to work on some door decorations. This stuff will get me through the long winter .

HRH prior to cruise - booked
Radisson at port, pre-cruise - booked

Bridget - we decided to stay at the port because:
1. 1/3 of the price; 2. I would not be able to handle drive to the port in the morning well bs one hour of typical driving from WDW to Port Canaveral would seem like 5 hours to me; 3. Free parking for the duration of b2b cruises.


Travel insurance - just checked quotes today, but I am too tired to make any decisions tonight.
US/IOA passes - Bridget, pl. let me know the best way/place to get them
After cruise - finalized with our friends to stay at their house in Miami
FE - need to make one/buy one
FE gifts - bought lots of gifts need to make some personal touches
Magnets - not a single one yet, DD had an idea to draw pictures so that I could make magnets of them, but she is too busy with school HW this yr
Hotels along I-95 - need to book

OMG - less than 6 months left and so much still to do!

Is anybody excited about announced show productions on Dream??? I am SOOO excited to see the new one, "Believe" and "Villains" which we didn't get to see yet.

 

[bdink921]

US/IOA passes - Bridget, pl. let me know the best way/place to get them

Is anybody excited about announced show productions on Dream??? I am SOOO excited to see the new one, "Believe" and "Villains" which we didn't get to see yet.

I subscribe to mousesavers and in the monthly newsletter is a link for undercovertourist.com to get discounted US/IOA passes. Also AAA has pretty good pass rates. We're getting 2 day/2 park tickets b/c we'll be arriving early Friday morning. If an annual pass room discount comes out and is substantial, I may end up buying one for the lower room rate and spending both nights at RPR, then the passes for DH and DS will also be discounted. Lots of ifs with our precruise plans -- gonna have to make a decision soon.

I saw that about the shows -- I was planning on skipping the ones we've seen but Believe and Villains are new to us, plus Golden Mickeys will be revamped so we'll have to see that one too. I'm excited to see the new fireworks show too

 

[alenushka]

I subscribe to mousesavers and in the monthly newsletter is a link for undercovertourist.com to get discounted US/IOA passes. Also AAA has pretty good pass rates. We're getting 2 day/2 park tickets b/c we'll be arriving early Friday morning.

I saw that about the shows -- I was planning on skipping the ones we've seen but Believe and Villains are new to us, plus Golden Mickeys will be revamped so we'll have to see that one too. I'm excited to see the new fireworks show too

Thank you for the site link
We need to decide 2 day base or 2 days park to park . Decisions, decisions....
I am excited about new fireworks show too

 

[svcutler]

Thank you for the site link
We need to decide 2 day base or 2 days park to park . Decisions, decisions....
I am excited about new fireworks show too

OK, I am too excited now!!!!

 

[svcutler]

II saw that about the shows -- I was planning on skipping the ones we've seen but Believe and Villains are new to us, plus Golden Mickeys will be revamped so we'll have to see that one too. I'm excited to see the new fireworks show too

Where did you find the information about the shows?

 

[jeni37]

Where did you find the information about the shows?

The info. is on the Disney Cruise Line Facebook page. I have not been on a Disney Cruise before and I am looking forward to all the shows! Yippee!!

 

[outahere]

I saw that about the shows -- I was planning on skipping the ones we've seen but Believe and Villains are new to us, plus Golden Mickeys will be revamped so we'll have to see that one too. I'm excited to see the new fireworks show too

That was our plan as well, but....... now we'll go see Believe and Villains (not sure about Golden Mickeys - it has never been one of our favorites). The new fireworks look like fun too!

 

[goofy4tink]

How is everyone doing on transportation/lodging plans?

I finally booked our air today. We will be flying Jetblue from Hartford, CT. It wasn't cheap, but it was about half the cost of going from Boston, Providence, RI or Manchester, NH. It's about a 90 minute drive for us, but worth it to save well over $1000.

So, for us ........

Flights - booked
Hotel for night before - reserved
Rental car - reserved

Heck yeah!!! I booked airfare on May 5..without having anything to do in Florida. But, when you can get r/t, for 3 people, for April vacation, for $645, then you book it and then decide what to do once you get there!!!
So, we're booked to fly out of Worcester, Ma on Direct Air on 4/14, then a night at Royal Pacific and 2 days at US/IoA, then over to Cocoa Beach and the Hampton Inn for the 15th and 16th, then off to the ship.
Renting a car from Budget...all booked.
After the cruise, it's off to AKL for two nights, and then to Tampa to visit ds and his wife for a day and a night, then back to Sanford on Easter Sunday. Of course, if ds changes the plans, we have the Dolphin booked for Sat night...as well as a few ADRs for that Sat..just in case.

I have my FE all ready to go..thanks to gradysmom and eBay..love it to death.
I have some stuff to put in the various FEs..but need to organize them and get some more 'stuff'.

 

[scootch]

Where did you find the information about the shows?

http://www.travelpulse.com/behind-the-scenes-at-disneys-believe.html

 

[jilljill]

You're living my dream life!

You can live that dream life as well. It's still a good time to buy property down there. They came thru and reassessed our house and our 2011 taxes will go down for the 2nd year in a row. Not good for the county but it's good for us now.