August 16, 2011, Disney Dream - Part 2

[disfaninca]

Hi, its been quite a while since I posted! But with the Dream being Christened, booking Vero Beach post cruise and making our final payment, I'm getting very excited again! Just need airfare and car rental and we will be all set!

Its going to take me a while to go thru all the posts since I was last on!

Congrats on making your final payment!!
We are almost all payed off!! We have our airfare booked!! It is exciting when things start coming together!

 

[disfaninca]

Evening Everyone!

Thanks so much for all the get well wishes! I would like to post that I was feeling better....but I am not. Things at work have gotten crazy and there is NO WAY I could take a day off right now so I will be working through the cold. I brought home tons of work tonight as well but I plan on taking my NyQuil (aka falling into a deep sleep) by 9:30 tonight. I am giving myself 15 minutes to get caught up here, a bit of time to do a bit more work and then it is time for bed!

DH has been looking at menus on All Ears tonight and proclaims that we will not be interested in Palo for dinner on the Dream. It appears that both of our favorite selections are no longer on the menu. I will still be trying for a brunch reservation but doubt we will try for a dinner slot.

I will love to study the menus when I have a bit more time because dreaming about food is one of my favorite things about planning Disney trips!

We are not interested in going to Palo for dinner either, but I really am hoping we get to book a brunch.

 

[disfaninca]

Wow, all this talk about the horrible weather everyone is having is making feel a little bit guilty about our nice weather......just a little bit!

 

[acomasdiaz]

We've been throwing around the Auto Train as an option, too. Patiently waiting on Southwest to start selling dates for our return trip. We've been lucky in the past getting good deals on other airlines out of PHL, but with 5 travelers and all those FEES - air travel is a huge expense.

We took the Auto Train once before and have mixed feelings about it. The kids (there were only two of them at the time) had no problems with - slept all night, etc. I can sleep through a bomb going off so I survived, but DW went insane!! The "snow birds" kept walking through the cars at night - and that door would fly open and the light would come shining in. Eventually she lost it on one of them - sadly, the little old dude didn't come through anymore!

For me it was the nasty bathrooms. In our car (loaded with kids) - they didn't get cleaned. By the next morning - the smell!!!

Other than that - one night of semi-torture was met with our vehicle and our luggage all intact and ready to go! We do not travel light either. The benefit of using our own car is that we can leave some things behind if necessary instead of lugging it on the ship.

What's the auto train? I would love to look into it?

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

I'm sure these are posted elsewhere, but I figured I throw a link up here as well.

Disney Dream dining menus

THANKYOU for posting !!!
DGH and I LOVE to talk about food ....

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

We are not interested in going to Palo for dinner either, but I really am hoping we get to book a brunch.

Is there a BRUNCH op with the short cruise , eg less than a whole week ????
NOT SURE about this ................

CANDY , I can't wait to see those magic portholes !!!!

laura

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Dh and I are crunching numbers and are seriously thinking of taking the Auto train.

After adding fuel, food, hotel and other costs...the Auto Train is only $250 more than driving.

It would also allow us some extra time to go see dh's mom & stepdad who are 20min south of WDW without taking time away from WDW.

Decisions, Decisions!

I have a friend that loves the Auto Train. He and his family drive down to VA and board for the trip down. He has relatives in Baltimore so he stops by there on the way back.

My wife looked into it but felt for a family of five and the time saved by leaving early Saturday morning before the cruise and possibly sleeping over in Savanah, GA would be cheaper and less stress.

On another note, I just booked connecting 4C cabins on the Fantasy for August 25, 2012 Eastern Cruise yesterday. Waiting to hear back from DU regarding transferring my ressies in order to get the OBC. I figured that I would do it before the MV Dream cruise that leaves today

Joe

 

[gfolchick]

Is there a BRUNCH op with the short cruise , eg less than a whole week ????
NOT SURE about this ................

Laura,
Cruises 4 days and longer will have brunch too

Gina

 

[gfolchick]

It's snowing again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kids have an early dismissal. Weatherman is saying this storm snuck up on them It was supposed to start this afternoon after 3 pm and instead started before 9 am and is accumulating quickly. Predicting a foot of snow. Where are we going to put it?? Our piles are so high it's dangerous trying to turn out of streets because they are totally blocking your visability.

Jealous for the MV passengers today. I want to be on the DREAM now!

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Schools are letting out in Philadelphia area at 12:00 Noon My job is letting me go at 2:00 p.m.

Be safe everyone up in the Northeast

 

[Minniemouse07]

Woke up to about 2-3" of snow on the ground. Dh shoveled and I drove both kids to school (took 1.5hrs...instead of 20min!) and there was another 3-4" when I got back home!

Thank goodness I worked from home today, dd's school is closing at 1pm and ds (daycare) is closing at 4pm. I'm just going to pick them both up at the same time so I won't be out on the roads too much.

And the worst part... this isn't even the "BIG" storm, that is going to hit during rush hour!

Thank goodness dh commutes to work in Philly by train. He walked to the station this morning so no more driving for us after I pick up the kids!

acomasdiaz...the AutoTrain runs from Lorton, VA (just south of Washington, DC) to Sanford, FL...and it will carry your vehicle as well as you!

Still mulling the AutoTrain. Since I originally allotted two days of travel each way (w/ a stop overnight I don't drive well at night so we don't want to go straight through) the train will actually save us a bunch of time, and possibly allow us to stay one extra night at the end of the trip.

Original plan was to leave first thing Saturday (8/13) drive as far as comfortable that day, stay overnight then drive the remainder on Sunday. I was estimating arriving late afternoon on Sunday. The AutoTrain would have us leaving at around the same time on Saturday, but arriving in Sanford at 9:30am on Sunday. We would probably drive down to Davenport and spend the day w/ the ILs (not in the original plans)...maybe even stay w/ them that night...hmmm that would save even more $$.

Post cruise we have reservations at WL for Sunday through Friday. Original plan was to leave after breakfast on Friday, stay somewhere along I95 that night and arrive home late evening Saturday. If we opt for the AutoTrain we could stay and play at WDW a little longer on Friday and then pop over to the ILs for Friday evening, stay over w/ them, spend more time there Saturday morning and then be in Sanford by 2pm to load the van up.

This would get us home early Sunday afternoon instead of Saturday night...but might be worth it to not hear grief from the ILs for not spending more time w/ them!

As I said...still mulling!

 

[Minniemouse07]

Oh... and Dave Marx from PassPorter posted this yummy review of the food from the Christening cruise!

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

Laura,
Cruises 4 days and longer will have brunch too

Gina

Wonderful news !! THANKYOU !!


laura

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

STAY SAFE EVERYONE UNDER ALL THAT SNOW they say will hit the NorthEast !!!!
Take care !!!

laura

 

[kritter]

Schools are letting out in Philadelphia area at 12:00 Noon My job is letting me go at 2:00 p.m.

Be safe everyone up in the Northeast

We got out early too!! Love it hoping for a delay or closure tomorrow!!

 

[kritter]

Woke up to about 2-3" of snow on the ground. Dh shoveled and I drove both kids to school (took 1.5hrs...instead of 20min!) and there was another 3-4" when I got back home!

Thank goodness I worked from home today, dd's school is closing at 1pm and ds (daycare) is closing at 4pm. I'm just going to pick them both up at the same time so I won't be out on the roads too much.

And the worst part... this isn't even the "BIG" storm, that is going to hit during rush hour!

Thank goodness dh commutes to work in Philly by train. He walked to the station this morning so no more driving for us after I pick up the kids!

acomasdiaz...the AutoTrain runs from Lorton, VA (just south of Washington, DC) to Sanford, FL...and it will carry your vehicle as well as you!

Still mulling the AutoTrain. Since I originally allotted two days of travel each way (w/ a stop overnight I don't drive well at night so we don't want to go straight through) the train will actually save us a bunch of time, and possibly allow us to stay one extra night at the end of the trip.

Original plan was to leave first thing Saturday (8/13) drive as far as comfortable that day, stay overnight then drive the remainder on Sunday. I was estimating arriving late afternoon on Sunday. The AutoTrain would have us leaving at around the same time on Saturday, but arriving in Sanford at 9:30am on Sunday. We would probably drive down to Davenport and spend the day w/ the ILs (not in the original plans)...maybe even stay w/ them that night...hmmm that would save even more $$.

Post cruise we have reservations at WL for Sunday through Friday. Original plan was to leave after breakfast on Friday, stay somewhere along I95 that night and arrive home late evening Saturday. If we opt for the AutoTrain we could stay and play at WDW a little longer on Friday and then pop over to the ILs for Friday evening, stay over w/ them, spend more time there Saturday morning and then be in Sanford by 2pm to load the van up.

This would get us home early Sunday afternoon instead of Saturday night...but might be worth it to not hear grief from the ILs for not spending more time w/ them!

As I said...still mulling!

Christine,

Our friend Heather and Tim have taken the auto-train and they really liked it. Just wanted to let you know if that will help you in making your decission!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Davetut019]

It's snowing again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kids have an early dismissal. Weatherman is saying this storm snuck up on them It was supposed to start this afternoon after 3 pm and instead started before 9 am and is accumulating quickly. Predicting a foot of snow. Where are we going to put it?? Our piles are so high it's dangerous trying to turn out of streets because they are totally blocking your visability.

Jealous for the MV passengers today. I want to be on the DREAM now!

I'm sick of clearing out snow. Did the driveway, then realized the trampoline was sagging badly, so i had my younger son go clear that off. Another foot tonight, thats great. There goes April vacation..

I can still see over the piles of snow though

Only 202 Days to go!!!

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

It looks like a winter wonderland at our house too!!!

 

[hmansure]

It's snowing again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kids have an early dismissal. Weatherman is saying this storm snuck up on them It was supposed to start this afternoon after 3 pm and instead started before 9 am and is accumulating quickly. Predicting a foot of snow. Where are we going to put it?? Our piles are so high it's dangerous trying to turn out of streets because they are totally blocking your visability.

Jealous for the MV passengers today. I want to be on the DREAM now!

Same blown forecast here! Seriously, with all these computers, radar, "Doppler 10,000,000", no "meteorologist" here got this one right. As of last night, the snow wasn't supposed to start until this afternoon, then change to rain. Now it's snow, with a two hour break, and then more snow. Now they are calling for 12-15" of snow. And OMG we're having thunder & lightning with the snow right now!?!? They sit around to stare at a computer all day, do their "Oh this is the end of the world" forecast on the news, and they STILL have jobs. Seriously, they got it wrong a few hours before it began, and of course they'll say the storm "made an unexpected move due to the Tigris river overflowing onto the lands of East Bumblefu**."

 

[kritter]

I'm sick of clearing out snow. Did the driveway, then realized the trampoline was sagging badly, so i had my younger son go clear that off. Another foot tonight, thats great. There goes April vacation..

I can still see over the piles of snow though

Only 202 Days to go!!!

Remind me again where you are in CT?? We honestly do not have that much snow as of yet...But we did get out of school for early dismissal.....Our BOE put on our calendar this year that they can not take away April Vacation this year. I think they have finally realized that parents who have plans will take their kids out of school and continue with their vacation plans...