August 16, 2011, Disney Dream - Part 2

[elgerber]

Hey Laura - I am on my mobile WiFi right now and we are about 1 hour from home. I was totally sad to leave the beautiful sunny skies of Florida and the warm 85° temperatures. As I look outside the car windows, I see nothing but snow and my gauge is saying it is only in the 30s. I am not ready to be home.

We had a MAGICAL vacation with Jude and her family. I am proud of Jude, Paul and I for accomplishing the 1/2 marathon and I will share some photos on the DIS a bit later.

Some quick WDW thoughts - LOVED LeCellier and am sad that it is changing to a 2 table service credit meal. We had wonderful food and wonderful service. LOVED eating in the the castle for Breakfast. We were the first family in and had amazing service there as well. We had absolutely HORRIBLE service at Chef Mickey's. It is one of those places that we always feel we need to go to but this time around will make me think twice. I actually had the manager remove the added 18% tip (we were a party of 8 so they automatically did this at each meal). We had an INCREDIBLE meal at Ohana. Our food was great and our server was super attentive. Jude left a positive comment card at LeCellier and I left one at Ohana - both servers were just great and the food was wonderful as well.

The crowds seemed low in the morning but by the afternoon it was a bit crazy. We still managed to get on all the rides we wanted to and felt that it was a great trip.

Both families stayed at Pop Century. We thought it was fine but we will not stay there again for a while. This is simply because our last 2 visits have been there and if we have to stay at a value again next time, we will try out an All-Star. For the amount of time we spent in the room, it was more then fine.

Alright, time to sign off....only 45 minutes from home now. Feels good to be back in some ways but in others, I keep asking myself why we live here!

Congrats on the run Jen!!!!

Be prepared, it's ok now, but we are going back in the freezer for tonight. Possible sub zero in the morning and windy! And more snow coming too. It just never ends!!!

Candy, I hope your dad gets better soon, I am thinking about you.

Kristin are you breathing better now?

 

[Maryrn11168]

Congrats to everyone who ran the 1/2 marathon! That is quite an accomplishment. I dont think I could run a 1/2 block unless someone was chasing me with a gun!!

To everyone who is not feeling well or has sick families, I hope everyone is feeling better!

For our trip info: We are officially booked on the Auto-train. It is about 1/2 the price of flying and we don't have to rent a car. We will have about a 5 hour drive to Va, then get on the train. At least we won't be the ones driving thru-out the night!! We have never done it before....But I always say, I'll try anything once, twice if I like it!

 

[Minniemouse07]

Congrats to everyone who ran the 1/2 marathon! That is quite an accomplishment. I dont think I could run a 1/2 block unless someone was chasing me with a gun!!

To everyone who is not feeling well or has sick families, I hope everyone is feeling better!

For our trip info: We are officially booked on the Auto-train. It is about 1/2 the price of flying and we don't have to rent a car. We will have about a 5 hour drive to Va, then get on the train. At least we won't be the ones driving thru-out the night!! We have never done it before....But I always say, I'll try anything once, twice if I like it!

How exciting!!

What day have you booked the train for? We are on the train leaving VA on Saturday, 8/13, arriving Sanford on the 14th.

Did you get a room or are you opting for coach? We are definitely in coach!

Dh told me again the other day that he is really excited about the train and may be looking forward to it more than the cruise!

 

[Maryrn11168]

How exciting!!

What day have you booked the train for? We are on the train leaving VA on Saturday, 8/13, arriving Sanford on the 14th.

Did you get a room or are you opting for coach? We are definitely in coach!

Dh told me again the other day that he is really excited about the train and may be looking forward to it more than the cruise!

We are leaving on thursday the 11th to arrive Friday morning. And we are heading back on the 23rd. I just hope I can get all the time off from work!!

 

[TiggerAllie]

I just looked at my ticker and saw that we are 10 days away from WDW! I guess that means I can do online check-in for our first non-DVC night now. It also probably means it's time to organize the ADRs... If only I wasn't spending all my time thinking about the cruise! Every time I call my mom she asks me about it--she's as excited as we are!

Though I have totally underplanned our trip to WDW, I am in serious over-planning mode for the Dream! Some folks on here must be Gold and even Platinum CC members. The Silver booking window opens on May 18. Would you be willing to list (at least generally) what days/times are still available for Palo, say on the 17th? Now, if I could just figure out which day Pirate night is!

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

I just looked at my ticker and saw that we are 10 days away from WDW!

Though I have totally underplanned our trip to WDW, I am in serious over-planning mode for the Dream! Some folks on here must be Gold and even Platinum CC members. The Silver booking window opens on May 18. Would you be willing to list (at least generally) what days/times are still available for Palo, say on the 17th? Now, if I could just figure out which day Pirate night is!

How nice to have a trip to WDW so close in time !!!!(I'm a bit jealous !!)

We are GOLD level ! We still are not bothered about dates , as we have decided to skip Palo on this cruise.

But I'm sure DGH can check out days/times for you .

Maybe you would want to remember me "your Palo dates" when we are closer ...

laura

 

[kritter]

Oooo. We're in Burlington. Hmmm DIS meet pre-cruise! lol
Kritter - I have tons of family in CT (I used to live there, too).

Where did you live in CT??

 

[kritter]

Hey Everyone.

Another cold and windy day here in CT!!

Laura, my chest x-ray was clear. I am good now. Thanks, for asking.

Been soo very busy with this auction for my daughters school...UGH!! It is almost over.

Jen, CONGRATS I am soo happy for you and Jude. You both looked very cute in your princess running gear.

Candy, thinking of you....

 

[MrsJobba1]

Evening all! 3 days till we pick up our new pup!

Guess what we had sun today! Yay granted it was still freezing but it looked nice


Glad you liked Le Cellier Jen - we have our first ADR there - lunch not dinner.

Well done on the marathon .


Oh I love Bon Jovi too!

Ok I'm off to bed

Goodnight

 

[Woobie]

Where did you live in CT??

Greenwich, Rowayton, Darien, Norwalk. Family is in Hartford area and I have friends all over CT.

Glad you're feeling better. Hope everyone else is on the mend.

 

[gfolchick]

Greenwich, Rowayton, Darien, Norwalk. Family is in Hartford area and I have friends all over CT.

I grew up in Greenwich, graduated from HS.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I only have two things I have left that I can do until it is time to start packing..

Get Passports
Find a new park bag

Anybody have a smallish park bag that they love?

I used to use a Baggallini messenger bag but I no longer am hauling toddler items (wipes, diapers, small toys, snacks, etc) around the park so I would love something smaller.

Dd (10) and ds (5) will each have their own Disney messenger bags (regular and small respectively) to carry their stuff so I can pare down A LOT and get a smaller bag.

I'm not quite ready to go bag-less. I have seen some other Baggallinis that look interesting (Bon Voyage, Metro, & London) but I'm sure there is more out there to choose from than just the Baggallini line!

I am using a small one shoulder backpack for day to day right now...but definitely prefer being able to access the bag while wearing it so I think I need to go back to a messenger bag style.

Ah...and I'm pretty low maintenance, although those Disney D&B bags look cute I can't bring myself to spend that much on a bag.

Basically I'm looking at something to carry my phone (Wave Phone on the cruise), ID, KTTWC, and maybe my Kindle for the train and cruise portions of the trip??

Any ideas??

 

[elgerber]

I have a few Disney Dooney's, but I don't carry them to the parks. They are VERY heavy and I don't want anything to get on them.
I carry the Baggalini Baby Bon Voyage, and I love it. It wouldn't fit a Kindle though.
I have looked at other bags, and usually come back to Baggalini, they make such great stuff!!

 

[TiggerAllie]

Thanks for the offer Laura-- I'll swing back with the Palo date(s) when it's actually close.

We originally had rooms on Deck 10 under the "bump out" of Deck 11, and I was really worried about the overhang, especially after reading the bad review of 10508. (We had 10004/10006 and 10012.) So, this morning, I saw that 10014 had opened up, which connects to 10012... SO... I switched us to 10012/10014 and 10006 and switched around who was in which room, so my parents have the most sun (for my mom), we still connect to my parents, and my brother/gf have the 3rd room. I'm sure my TA is starting to think I am crazy. (Since prices have gone up, we couldn't switch down to the connecting rooms on Deck 8 without paying more $.)

Kristen--I asked my TA about the day passes, and she was surprised that anyone was able to get them. She said usually she has to "sign her life away" even to do a TA inspection. So you should feel pretty special and lucky you got to get on the Dream! That was quite a feat!

 

[elgerber]

Wow, you were able to switch rooms on this cruise??? I didn't think there was anything left. Holy moly, I just went to see what there is right now for fun, and OMG, the prices have gone up $1000 in the last week! It's now over $1000 more for 2 in a cat 5, than I am paying for 4 people in a cat 6 and a cat 11. Wowsa!!! Last week it was considerably less than it is right now. Still way more than I am paying, but nothing like today.

 

[kritter]

Evening all! 3 days till we pick up our new pup!

Guess what we had sun today! Yay granted it was still freezing but it looked nice


Glad you liked Le Cellier Jen - we have our first ADR there - lunch not dinner.

Well done on the marathon .


Oh I love Bon Jovi too!

Ok I'm off to bed

Goodnight

Helen,

Can't wait to see pictures of the new puppy!!

 

[kritter]

Greenwich, Rowayton, Darien, Norwalk. Family is in Hartford area and I have friends all over CT.

Glad you're feeling better. Hope everyone else is on the mend.

We live in Burlington, but I grew up in Farmington and DH in Simbsury..

 

[kritter]

I grew up in Greenwich, graduated from HS.

 

[kritter]

Thanks for the offer Laura-- I'll swing back with the Palo date(s) when it's actually close.

We originally had rooms on Deck 10 under the "bump out" of Deck 11, and I was really worried about the overhang, especially after reading the bad review of 10508. (We had 10004/10006 and 10012.) So, this morning, I saw that 10014 had opened up, which connects to 10012... SO... I switched us to 10012/10014 and 10006 and switched around who was in which room, so my parents have the most sun (for my mom), we still connect to my parents, and my brother/gf have the 3rd room. I'm sure my TA is starting to think I am crazy. (Since prices have gone up, we couldn't switch down to the connecting rooms on Deck 8 without paying more $.)

Kristen--I asked my TA about the day passes, and she was surprised that anyone was able to get them. She said usually she has to "sign her life away" even to do a TA inspection. So you should feel pretty special and lucky you got to get on the Dream! That was quite a feat!

We knew that it took a lot for our friend to get us onboard. She has worked for DCL for a loooong time and has a really good position. She has really worked her way up..We have thanked her soo much I think she is sick of hearing it. But it truely was a once in a lifetime opportunity for our family. We really will forever cherish our friendship with our friend. She really is soo special to us..I have more pictures if anyone wants to see them>??

 

[jbm02]

Where did you live in CT??

Greenwich, Rowayton, Darien, Norwalk. Family is in Hartford area and I have friends all over CT.

Glad you're feeling better. Hope everyone else is on the mend.

I grew up in Greenwich, graduated from HS.

We live in Burlington, but I grew up in Farmington and DH in Simbsury..

I have a meeting next week in Harrison, NY. I'll wave from the Taconic over the NY border to all you CT'ers!!!

..back from the Princess and it's been crazy since we got home. I haven't had much of a chance to post. Hopefully I'll be able to post a mini-trip report this weekend (after 3 basketball play off games, 3 productions of the MS musical, and helping DS finish a "goddess" project...help!!) Suffice to say that Jen is the most amazing woman I have ever met. She created awesome outfits for us to wear, ran every mile with a huge smile on her face and her infectious enthusiasm the whole week made our vacation. We have some terrific pictures with the characters and along the whole route. I can't wait to post them!! I think I am hooked for next year...
Okay, back to work. have a great day everyone!!
Jude