April 8, 2006 Western Magic Cruise

[windermerejudy]

Disney mommy --welcome!!

If everyone is coming in early we should have a pre cruise meet. We live here so we always drive to the port which is great to have your car right there. It costs around $70 to park it there for the week so I guess it is up to you. I have heard a lot of great things about Ron Jon Resort also.

I have a DS9, DS6 and DD2 and my mom is also coming. I hope we can get a good group going here because our summer cruise was a dud as far as DIS group was concerned. We have got to get busy chatting and getting to know each other for it to be fun though. It is not too early.

Fire away on the questions we should both be able to help. Nothing is a dumb question we are constantly finding out new things and they are constantly changing and updating them. For example ----I can't wait to see the new "Dumbotron" after dry dock.

Pocono--how was the DIS meet? What goes on at one? Did you meet great people? I hope to be able to go down to Mousefest in Dec. here. I really want to do the Amazing Race DIS style.

Judy

 

[poconoboatniks]

The Amazing Race Dis Style? hmm, sounds like I need some more information. I love The Amazing Race.

The Dis Meet was at a hotel in Allentown, PA. Fred chose the location because it was the center of a 100 or 200? mile circle. We had a sit down lunch (kids had buffet of all their favorite food). Deb Wills was there (Allearsnet.com), Lou Mongello, author of WDW Trivia book. Len ? , one of the authors of The Unofficial Guide to WDW and John Rick, Central Jersey Pin Traders. Each person spoke and answered questions. There were tons of raffles and trivia games for the adults and kids. Also, there was a travel agent who specializes in Disney vacations. We met some nice dissers. Check out www.allearsnet.com for a write up and pictures from the Dis Meet. My daughter is Kate who Deb is talking about in her article. We're the Pattersons in the photo with Deb. (my son would not have his picture taken that day). We enjoyed ourselves enough that I told Fred I would try to help him next year.

The west coast dis group was great on the May 28th trip. We were very lucky to have had such a friendly group. In the past, we've met some nice people, but we didn't have much interaction during the trip. Umterp who is going on this cruise was also on our trip in 2004. They are going on the eastbound repo. I can't wait to hear all of her stories about the trip.

The kids are really excited about the Dumbotron. I wonder if they will still be able to do pirate night. The kids dressed up for pirate night on the May cruise. DS so cute with the hook and arghs!!!!!!!!DH and I can't wait to see the changes to the gym and bridge.


The Radisson is ok. The rooms are a bit older, but clean and convenient to the Port. I checked Ron Jon's and they had no availability for the night before our trip. We used DCL to go back to airport because it's so easy. We rented a car because we were arriving the night before and we needed to get to the Port. We used it the next morning to get to the Port. You have to schedule a time for the shuttle from the Radisson and they weren't getting us there as early as we wanted. Dh was back from dropping off the car before I made it through the check in line. I think the rental car cost us $75 for 24 hours. We've paid more than that to take a limo or the DCL bus to get to the Port.


Pocono

 

[poconoboatniks]

BUMP

Anyone else out there going to join us for Western Cruise?

Poconoboatniks

 

[disney_mommy]

I have a question about the dining arrangement: we are scheduled for the 6:30 seating, but how do we sit? I know we will have the same table number throughout the cruise, but will we sit with other people? I thought they were big tables and they sat you with other people? Sorry if this is a stupid Q, but I couldn't find the answer anywhere!

 

[windermerejudy]

Sorry we were out of town so my reply was slow coming.

Yes they have had in the past an amazing race on DW property. It lasts the whole day but only one day thank goodness. We are avid AR fans too. I haven't heard anything about it so far this year.

Dining----well it really is the luck of the draw. If you are traveling with a large group you will not likely have anyone else at your table. Pros are quicker in and out if you are rapid eaters. I do know that one of my fellow DIS travelers from June hit it off so much with their tablemates that they rebooked with them. It would be awesome if you were with someone with kids your kids ages. Cons could be if you got someone snobby rude.... OR if it causes you to have a 3 hour meal.You know I had never wnated tablemates until this last time and it seemed like everyone else was having so much fun. Our DIS group was small and 4 of the women were single no kids. (forgotten days of long ago) They all hooked up and had a fun time doing the bar thing .... They were very friendly and kind, but did not really want to hang out with a couple with 3 kids and a grandma. Another family was literally sick the entire time in the cabin, it just so happened this was the family I knew the best from the boards. The ones that hooked up with great table mates hung out with them the entire time.

 

[windermerejudy]

Pocono----your family is so beautiful. Now I can put a face with a name.

Does anyone know how to start a photo gallery and we could adding our family photos so we could know each other?

 

[poconoboatniks]

Judy,

Thank you! You kids look pretty cute too. My son will love having new friends onboard.

We have never had table mates. Although, we've met some nice people at the table next to us. I think the amount of time that you spend eating dinner is also based on how busy your servers are for the trip. On the past two trips our servers seemed to have been more busy which caused us to have a longer dining time.

Pocono

PS Can't wait for the new Amazing Race. I know someone who was trying to get on the show. So far, she hasn't had much luck.

 

[poconoboatniks]

Bumping our thread to page 1 again!

 

[windermerejudy]

Kids start back to school Monday so been busy running around. How about you guys?

I saw the teasers for Survivor this morning. Can't wait for that too. We had a friend last season that was the first alternate. We kept hoping someone would back out so Tim could go. Not sure he would have survived long.

Just saw those 10 and 11 day itinerary and they are so cool but school is going on. Once again we are out. We miss all the great new things due to school. Oh well, whats more important?

Judy

 

[poconoboatniks]

We're off to the World for 9 days and back to school on the 10th day. YIKES! I'm spending the day checking back to school outfits, supplies and shoes. Going back to school is bittersweet. I don't want the summer to end, but going back to school means that our next cruise is right around the corner. Sort of!!! We just have to get through the next winter.

Poconoboatniks

 

[UMTerp]

poconoboatniks - Have a great time on your vacation! We leave on Friday morning for the repo cruise! Can't wait!

UMTerp

 

[poconoboatniks]

Hey Umterp,


Bon Voyage! Enjoy your trip. Can't wait to hear about your adventures.

Pocono

 

[poconoboatniks]

Let's get this thread going. Bump to page 1.

 

[UMTerp]

Bumping ...

First day back to work and school for us! Now that we are back we can start looking forward to our next adventure.

Hope everyone had a great summer!

UMTerp

 

[poconoboatniks]

Soooo, how was the repo trip? I can't wait to hear about your trip?

Pocono aw:

 

[polly p]

I am getting so excited about our first cruise. I spent the weekend looking at shore excursions with my neighbor who we will be cruising with. All the kids are thrilled to be able to vacation together.

First we have to get through the first week of school.

 

[UMTerp]

Hello everyone!

First (partial) week of school is almost over! Anyone else get fundraising materials already? It always amazes me!

Pocono - Repo was fantastic! The only problem is that now 7 days is going to be way too short! Met lots of nice DIS'ers throughout the cruise and had lots of great DIS activities.

UMTerp

 

[poconoboatniks]

Welcome Polly! How old and how many kiddos are coming on the trip?

Umterp, Got the postcard today. It was a pleasant surprise. Thanks for thinking of us. We were in Epcot over the weekend for the Happiest Pin Celebration. Lots of pins! Met some dissers at POR who were on the DVC members Wonder cruise. They had a great time on the Wonder. Lots of dissers on that cruise. Glad to hear you guys had a great time. I'd love to do the 10 or 11 day Wonder cruise next year. We'll be celebrating our 20th anniversary and were thinking about Hawaii. We'll see.

Anybody else out there going on this cruise?

Poconoboatniks

 

[poconoboatniks]

Bumping back to page 1

 

[polly p]

Welcome Polly! How old and how many kiddos are coming on the trip?

Hi Poconoboatniks

I have a dd15, ds13, and dd7. they are so excited. We are going with our neighbors who have dd14, dd12, and dd6.

So glad that it is friday. this week has been so crazy with all the back to school stuff and supplies the kids need.

Any ideas what is the best car rental to get. We are spending 2 days at AKL then driving to port. My dh was going to drop us off, drop off the car and get a cab. Not sure which one is the closest to the port.

Lori