April 21, 2007 -- Western Magic -- anyone?

[Scorpio1112]

Hey B&B Mom!

My family sounds much like yours! My DD will be 11 and my DS will be 9!!!!



You will absolutely love it!

Welcome Welcome Welcome

Now I'm having a slight problem w/airfare... anyone else??? I usually book right when it comes out but it is SKY HIGH (pun intended).... I hope I don't have to move it because of air but no way i'm paying over $2k to fly 2 hours!!!!

Sherri

 

[curlybop]

Welcome B&B Mom!

As for airfare, ummmm, yes. I'm having serious issue with it. It will take about 1.5 hours for us to fly to Orlando, if it's non-stop. I keep using Kayak, then other sites too for comparison, and most are near $300 each person. I priced it this year, at the same time frame, and it was around $170 each for our nearby airports, and a bit cheaper for Southwest, but we have to drive 2 hours to that airport. But SW rates aren't published yet, so I may be able to snag a Ding fare, and just drive that far. If it meant I'd save a few hundred dollars, I'd do it. I'm still waiting it out. I know what all the rates were this past April, so I'm hoping for the best as time goes on. I might regret it though. Who knows??

My ideal plan would be fly out early on Friday morning, leaving most of the day open to have fun in Florida. DH has always wanted to visit the space center, so we might just hit the highlights or go to Downtown Disney. Maybe I just need my own airplane............

 

[mickeyclark]

Myself, DH and DS (age 7) are looking forward to our first cruise. We are staying in a cat 6 cabin on deck 6.

I have seen mentioned joining together for a Capt Marvin's or Bryan's trip to Stingray City, etc. We would be up for something like that. I think we are tendering in Grand Cayman, so I am concerned about paying for the trip and then not being able to take advantage of it. Your thoughts?

Look forward to getting to know you better

 

[curlybop]

Welcome to the group!

 

[alikat99]

Myself, DH and DS (age 7) are looking forward to our first cruise. We are staying in a cat 6 cabin on deck 6.

I have seen mentioned joining together for a Capt Marvin's or Bryan's trip to Stingray City, etc. We would be up for something like that. I think we are tendering in Grand Cayman, so I am concerned about paying for the trip and then not being able to take advantage of it. Your thoughts?

Look forward to getting to know you better

I know that when we booked with Capt Marvins in 2003, we asked about not being able to tender. We were told that if the boats couldn't tender in, then we would get a refund. That made us feel a TON better about booking.

 

[Dawn414]

Hey everyone! Just read ALL the responses on 4/21. I set up a new one yesterday and was alerted (thanks ALIKAT) that one already existed. Must be losing it since I saw a ton of dates and Apr 21 wasn't one of them.

I really wanted to do the beginning of May (LOT cheaper), but we have a credit on Spirit Air that expires on 4/30 so alas, we're going 4/21 (which, ironically is the exact time I cruised (different line) 8 years ago (in my single days). The good news is that (at least based on current flight times), we'll get there around 9:30 that morning. We've already booked the DCL shuttle (the thought of someone else handling luggage for 4 of us ranks way up there). We're looking forward to getting there nice and early so we can truly take advantage of the first day on-board. So, anyway, here's my 'story'.

We had a friend that took a cruise out of NYC and it started me reminiscing about the cruise I took (forever ago) and how much fun I had. DH was apprehensive about it between cost and falling off the edge of the Earth which is something his mother ingrainedin his head (sigh). It took me 3 days to talk my husband into it and the promise that he didn't have to get me anything for Christmas, Valentine's Day, etc...He finally relented. And, so, here I am. My 'clan' is myself, My DH (who turns 40 on 3/30/07) and my boy/girl twins who turn 4 on 3/20/07. I actually celebrate my birthday the Saturday before we leave so it's kind of like a belated b-day present for me! I've done a ton of research already (I'm really organized/anal) and am in a quandary over the excursions since (as someone already mentioned), there aren't a whole lot of things for kids under 5. We may end up leaving the kids in Oceaneers Club at least during one port so we can do something on our own. Not sure yet. I do have some questions though so if someone could help, it'd be great.

We're on Deck 2, category 9. I have an inclination toward sea sickness and found this deck worked out for me last time around. My travel agent confirmed the same thing. We're in an Outside Cabin (LOVE waking up in the morning and seeing what's happening, where we are). We're near the aft of the ship (2620, if memory serves). Still trying to get a little closer to the middle, but this isn't bad based on the passporter book so I'll probably just leave it.

I would also love to hear about anyone that has successfully gotten their mealtime changed from late sitting to early sitting and how they went about doing it. Kind of hard to believe I booked 11 months early and was placed in late seating, but I guess based on these posts they really do fill up quickly.

My parents (who live in So. FLA) may come down to KeyWest the day we're there to see us (since this cruise also means we won't make our yearly jaunt to see them). Any recommendations based on where we dock that they should stay the night before? I was stunned to see the # of hotels (and how expensive they are) in KW.

The Pirate night...do young kids actually go to that? I'm in a quandary there since I understand it actually starts quite late? We'll be in Orlando in September and I found that Downtown Disney had a lot of cool stuff for pirates, princesses, etc that I'd like to check out for this cruise.

Looking forward to speaking to all of you. I'd love to get my kids together with kids that would fall in the same Oceaneer Club class...they do great with other kids since they've been in Daycare since 6 months...


Thanks all...Look forward to 'chatting'!

Dawn

 

[alikat99]

Hi Dawn - glad to see that you made it over here!!!

Let me see if I can help with some of your questions:

First, congrats on picking this cruise. I think that it will be fun. We'll actually be celebrating my DHs 40th birthday on the 2nd night of the cruise and my youngest DDs 3rd birthday the day we get off the cruise. So, Happy Birthday to you too!

We were successful in getting our late dining changed on our most recent trip in February. We had booked a FL resident rate at only a couple of weeks out, so the only thing left was late. Anyway, we happened to run into our head server from our previous cruise in Sept and mentioned that we needed to hurry and finish our lunch, because we had to go see if we could get our dining changed. Well, he took our info and did it himself. But, my understanding is that if you go immediately to the designated place for dining changes, upon boarding, you will have a good chance of getting changed. Plus, you might get lucky and get it changed before April anyway, as lots of people cancel as the dates get closer.

You should be fine on Deck 2. We're up on Deck 5 in a SPH room, but we were down on Deck 2 mid to aft in February and it was a great location. Only 1 or 2 floors up for the restaurants. And, a quick trip up the elevator to deck 9 drink station.

As for excursions, we're going to book with Capt Marvin's again for Grand Cayman. My 2yr old LOVED swimming with the stingrays back in 2003. And, they allow kids of all ages.

For the pirate party, mine have always gone. Sure, it's late at night, but they are wired anyway, so they love it. And, we're on vacation, so they are staying up late just about every night anyway.

And, my oldest DD will probably be in the next class up from your kids, since she'll be 5 1/2. But, if my youngest DD is potty trained (which she's very close to now), she'll be in the 3-4 age group. My oldest just LOVES the club, and we have to drag her out of there to eat, see the shows and to go to bed at night. And, when the cruise is over, all she talks about is when she can go back to the club.

Welcome to the group, and I hope that helped at least a little bit.

 

[Corryn]

Hi Dawn
My SIL's best friend, Dawn, is also coming with us on the cruise, so at first I thought you were her, and how'd she hear about the DIS?
She has, I think, a 4 year old (girl) and I think an 8 year old (boy).
Once I saw the catagory, I knew you weren't her...We booked cat. 11. We have a really large group coming and we got a good deal...Not as good as our last cruise, but for a seven day, we'll take it!

The majority of the kids that are cruising with us will just be old enough for the teen club, so we know what they'll be doing the whole cruise.
I can't help you out with excursions, because I've never cruised with little ones. When we did our excursion, my BF stayed with her 5 year old, and they didn't do any sort of excursion.

Looking forward to the cruise, I really can't wait

 

[curlybop]

Welcome Dawn!

Amy, your DD looks so cute all dressed up (in your sig. line) I know if we ever get to Disney World, she'd love the Boutique too. She's all about the Princess stuff.

 

[alikat99]

Welcome Dawn!

Amy, your DD looks so cute all dressed up (in your sig. line) I know if we ever get to Disney World, she'd love the Boutique too. She's all about the Princess stuff.

Thanks Amanda! It really is a lot of fun for the girls. We just did the Coach package with the makeup and hair, and they did a terrific job making her feel like a princess. I would HIGHLY recommend it for any princess!

 

[Dawn414]

Everyone must be on vacation break! No posts in almost a week!

I have been spending a lot of time reading, reading and doing more reading. I'm going to have the DCL book and passporter info memorized by the time we go! Something I read made a recommendation that the best time to buy clothes is at the end of the season. Of course, it's a 'best guess' as to what size they'll be next year, but you just can't beat some of the prices. Anywho...onto the pirates. I found awesome pirate shirts for my son and husband. He loves the shirt and is excited now. Over a shirt. Who woulda thunk it? Even better news is that they can wear them more than once. Of course, I have no clue what my daughter and I will wear, but I'm hoping to find something great for us too when we go to Orlando in September. We're going to try Downtown Disney to see what we can come up with...should be interesting! We just got the DVD in the mail too and watched it. Now all my daughter talks about is Mickey's Pool.

Anywho...just checking in. Wasn't sure how often everyone got together and wrote.... Hope everyone has a happy 4th!

 

[Corryn]

Thanks Dawn Happy Fourth of July everybody - even though some may feel this is a horrible country with horrible leaders, always remember we have Freedom to do just about anything we would like to do - and that includes the right of our children to attend school every single day without having to fear terrorists bombing them & our right to go to work every day and make money so we can just hop on a plane and a cruise ship for our entertainment!!!!!

 

[curlybop]

Happy Fourth everyone!

We are just hanging around home during the holiday. Well, for today atleast. Next week we're off to Hershey, PA. Yum - chocolate!

I've just begun snagging clip art for our door signs. Not sure what I want to do.... one for each day, or just a few for the entire week. Decisions, decisions..... I know I'll need one for DD's birthday though. It has to be all Princess, of course.

We went to a Disney show this weekend, it was Mickey's Magic Show. I loved it, and the entire time, I spent it wondering what the cruise shows would be like, and how we can actually take photos w/ the characters....when Cinderella came out during the show, DD said "Mama, I want to go on stage and give her a hug!" Little does she know, she may get that chance in 9 months or so.

Still haven't bought airfare yet. I've been watching though, and more airlines are starting to post rates. I'm really waiting for Southwest, if I could snag a cheap fair I'd be soooo thrilled.

Have a nice holiday everyone!

 

[Corryn]

Hello CurlyBop...
Next to Disney, Hershey is my next favorite park
Have fun!
As for Southwest coming out with their airfare, you can count on it happening in the middle of December. When we went on our last cruise last April, SW airfare came out two weeks before Christmas
I've been watching this thread on the Transportation Board, when the SW fares come out, and there is a definite pattern. So I would start watching SW's website in late November, just in case.

We're going down for MNSSHP in October and we purchased our airfare as soon as it came out in May. I paid $99 going down (to Tampa, my FIL's condo) and we're returning to Long Island from Orlando and I paid $147 for that.
Well, I downloaded the SW Ding! and now I was able to change my flight/fare to $54 down and $99 return, so now I have something like $400 credit with SW
I'm really busy during the day, but I make it a point to check the Ding!'s every day, because it really does pay.

When the fares come out, I'll let everyone on this thread know

 

[curlybop]

Thanks for the tips!

Our local rates are around $250 right now. I know I can do better. Plus those are the cheapest, with Delta, and we know their patterns........

 

[Dyerneeds]

we are going down to wdw in oct also. will be at the halloween party. that will be our disney fix to hold us off till the cruise.
ONLY 3 months to wait ..
has anyone heard if cozumel and grand caymens have recovered from hurricane damage from last year yet. just wondered. we were supposed to go there on our cruise last oct but got diverted due to hurricane wilma.

 

[alikat99]

Wow, we'll be over there in October too. We'll be at WDW on 10/21 just for one night. Then, we're heading on the DVC member cruise 10/22-10/26. Then, we'll be at BCV for 2 nights, going to MNSSHP on the 26th.

When's everyone else going to be there?

 

[Corryn]

When's everyone else going to be there?

We're going down on 9/30, returning 10/8....MNSSHP Fri. 10/6!!!!!!
Gonna Busta Moof'n Git Doooowwwwnnnnnn!!!!

 

[Dawn414]

My family and I will be in Orlando from 9/13-18...We'll hit the Disney marketplace, but probably not WDW...It's just not cost effective to do it for one day and we got a RIDICULOUSLY GREAT deal with the park that hosts Shrek & Jimmy Neutron (which the kids also love). Plus, since I'm a season pass holder at Sesame Place (owned by same company as SeaWorld), we get in to SW for NOTHING. Can't beat that, I'm afraid. So...we'll have to use Dis Mktplc for our Disney adventure. I am hoping to pick up a princess dress for my DD and some pirate garb for she and I too since I already got shirts for DH and DS. We shall see. Hope everyone is well....

Dawn McG

 

[Corryn]

Hey Dawn....If you're a season pass holder at Sesame Place, you can also use that for Sea World??? Wow!
How much for the SP Season Pass?
Just curious....
Thanks!