August 16, 2011, Disney Dream - Part 4

[jenanderson]

And going off topic...I too agree with Jen and others that it's getting harder to justify spending top dollar on these vacations when it seems we're losing the little perks that make them unique. We've been averaging every other year with DCL so we're not due again until 2013 but I'm not spending the money they're asking for Fantasy. Even the Magic out of NYC is crazy! Yes, I waited and missed the initial early bird savings, but it's going to cost the same if not more to sail locally than with air and hotel to Florida and the ports don't thrill me. It's our same cruise with a few more sea days. I hope Disney comes out with some new destinations for these Eastern/Western sailings. I'm sad we missed Tortola and would like to try to get back there (dating back to the 2009 cruise a bunch of us were on).

I am also sad we missed Tortola and keep thinking that we need to see some wonderful new destinations by DCL. I have been looking at so many vacation ideas but it just seems like DCL is so high when I compare different options. I am not sure that it is going to be on our agenda for a bit.

Our schools have been closed all this week but will reopen tomorrow. Some county residents are still without power. Thankfully, we were only without power for 1 1/2 on Saturday evening. Here is hoping that your power will be restored soon.

Hope the start of school went well for you guys! Glad to read you did not have to go without power for a long time.

According to my TA (she posted on her FB page) DCL has RETRACTED their "new" alcohol policy!

Hope that makes everyone's day a bit brighter!

It does make me happier but I do think the days of bringing alcohol on board are numbered.

I have been following the alchohol thread, and saw yesterday they retracted it, but I am willing to bet that is not the last we see of it. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was reinstated, starting with all cruises booked for 2013.

This is what I think as well. I think they will start cracking down on their policies and slowly adding to the limitations. I hope they are learning that they need to give better notification to their big changes but I still feel that they are coming.

Hi there !!
I surely know what you mean about FIRST crazy week for teachers !!!!
We are already back to our "old" issues ... plus my "smart" colleague has been fired ( so sorry for her , she is pregnant, tweens - a girl and a boy , sometimes my headteacher is really ... unpredictable !!!).

When will children start school in Minnesota ?

My NEW pupils will be in school September 13,
while the BIG ones will start the day before : long hours for me - as the principal has not yet decided about the new teacher who will replace the fired one !!!

DGH is "working" on some new videos - memories from the Dream -
this is his way to ... survive to normal life !!!

ENJOY your weekend at the cabin !!! laura

PM sent

Hey Laura! Just wanted to let you know that I did not get a PM. I have started a letter to you and hope to finish it this weekend.
Emily and Ben are still enjoying summer break but are realizing that this is their last weekend before school starts. They are both ready for school to start again though so that is good.

Dave Marx posted this observation over on the PassPorter boards. I thought it was a thoughtful opinion about the recent restriction and retraction.

I read this and really agree about how I think things will be changing. Thanks for sharing!

Ok, so I went on the forum for my cruise next year and their are only 26 posts total. I am going to really miss this chatty bunch. You all helped the time pass...it's going to be a long year...

How sad that your group is not really posting yet! You will have to set an example by responding to everything and posting each day! Let all of us be a fine example of how to fill thread after thread!

We can all still chat here!!! We'll help you pass the time, even if we aren't going with you!

Hi Erika! Hope you had a WONDERFUL ANNIVERSARY!

 

[hmansure]

Is this thread unstoppable?!

 

[jenanderson]

Is this thread unstoppable?!

Totally Unstoppable!

There is still so much we could chat about. We can talk about upcoming vacation plans, things we love about DCL, things we don't love about DCL, how we dream about DCL, why no one else understands when we plan so many Disney vacations (speaking of which....I am scared to tell my extended family I am thinking about a trip to Hawaii Disney style!) and then just life in general!

 

[kritter]

The days over here just get better and better. I soo wish that we were on CC right now. I would give anything to be back there.

Bruce's Uncle is more like a father to him than his own father is. Has just been told he has lung cancer and it is really really bad. We are both beside ourselves.

So I probally will be MIA for a bit, while we deal with everything we have going on right now.

Hopefully, I will be able to stay in touch with you all!!

 

[jenanderson]

The days over here just get better and better. I soo wish that we were on CC right now. I would give anything to be back there.

Bruce's Uncle is more like a father to him than his own father is. Has just been told he has lung cancer and it is really really bad. We are both beside ourselves.

So I probally will be MIA for a bit, while we deal with everything we have going on right now.

Hopefully, I will be able to stay in touch with you all!!

Kristin....I am sending so many positive vibes to CT for you! I wish we were back at CC just floating in the ocean with no worries in the world and just enjoying our time together. Feel all the love coming your way??? Please tell Bruce that I am sorry for him as well and am even sending hugs his way....so is Paul! Seriously though, you know how much we love the whole family and we are here for you!

 

[elgerber]

Totally Unstoppable!

There is still so much we could chat about. We can talk about upcoming vacation plans, things we love about DCL, things we don't love about DCL, how we dream about DCL, why no one else understands when we plan so many Disney vacations (speaking of which....I am scared to tell my extended family I am thinking about a trip to Hawaii Disney style!) and then just life in general!

You can just tell this extended family instead!! I am jealous of that thought! We wouldn't be able to swing Hawaii until the kids are gone, couldnt afford four of us and Alexa would kill me if I left her home while we went to Aulani! But wow the pics coming out from opening are beautiful!!

 

[TiggerAllie]

Ok, so I went on the forum for my cruise next year and their are only 26 posts total. I am going to really miss this chatty bunch. You all helped the time pass...it's going to be a long year...

Neither of the 2 cruises we currently have booked for 2012 have very chatty groups. In fact, the Alaska one doesn't even have a thread started, so I joined the thread of the cruise the week before (plus, that was Beth's thread!). So, I'll just keep chatting here!

 

[elgerber]

The days over here just get better and better. I soo wish that we were on CC right now. I would give anything to be back there.

Bruce's Uncle is more like a father to him than his own father is. Has just been told he has lung cancer and it is really really bad. We are both beside ourselves.

So I probally will be MIA for a bit, while we deal with everything we have going on right now.

Hopefully, I will be able to stay in touch with you all!!

Oh no Kristin! I am so sorry to hear that. Tell Bruce we are thinking of him!

 

[jenanderson]

You can just tell this extended family instead!! I am jealous of that thought! We wouldn't be able to swing Hawaii until the kids are gone, couldnt afford four of us and Alexa would kill me if I left her home while we went to Aulani! But wow the pics coming out from opening are beautiful!!

Not sure if we can swing it...I think we can but it is going to take careful planning and 2 years of planning to make it happen. Actually the hardest part is the airfare at this point. If I can figure it out, next year will be a really budget sort of trip so that we can make Hawaii happen.

My mom just does not ever understand our vacation plans so I can't even imagine telling her we are thinking a Disney trip to Hawaii. The only good thing is that if I just tell her we are thinking about Hawaii...she won't even think Disney is there so we might be fine.

 

[TiggerAllie]

Kristin-- I'm so sorry to hear about Bruce's uncle! You need all the good thoughts you can get. Hopefully you can come check in here for some relief and moral support in this tough time!

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

The days over here just get better and better. I soo wish that we were on CC right now. I would give anything to be back there.

Bruce's Uncle is more like a father to him than his own father is. Has just been told he has lung cancer and it is really really bad. We are both beside ourselves.

So I probally will be MIA for a bit, while we deal with everything we have going on right now.

Hopefully, I will be able to stay in touch with you all!!

HUGS and prayers to you and Bruce. I was reading with the girls today (Hope had a Tiara Club book and Skye's was a Junie B Jones). As we snuggled up and read together we did it ala Mrs. G's "popcorn" way. Every time I said "Popcorn Hope or Popcorn Skye"' I thought of you reading pool-side with my children! I know there will be many more good times that our families will share in the future.

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Not sure if we can swing it...I think we can but it is going to take careful planning and 2 years of planning to make it happen. Actually the hardest part is the airfare at this point. If I can figure it out, next year will be a really budget sort of trip so that we can make Hawaii happen.

My mom just does not ever understand our vacation plans so I can't even imagine telling her we are thinking a Disney trip to Hawaii. The only good thing is that if I just tell her we are thinking about Hawaii...she won't even think Disney is there so we might be fine.

I haven't focused on Aulani at all. Apparently it is something I need to do...! Have you all heard the speculation that DCL might be having another Hawaii cruise next year? In October, perhaps (there is a thread on this over on the main board). Not something we could do because of the kids being out of school for too long of a time. But... a fly there to stay at a Disney resort does have its appeal.

 

[elgerber]

Not sure if we can swing it...I think we can but it is going to take careful planning and 2 years of planning to make it happen. Actually the hardest part is the airfare at this point. If I can figure it out, next year will be a really budget sort of trip so that we can make Hawaii happen.

My mom just does not ever understand our vacation plans so I can't even imagine telling her we are thinking a Disney trip to Hawaii. The only good thing is that if I just tell her we are thinking about Hawaii...she won't even think Disney is there so we might be fine.

Yeah, with our points, lodging would not be an issue, but airfare from
Minnesota is insane to anywhere, and absurd to Hawaii!

 

[Pudo]

We want to go to Aulani also, but haven't picked a date yet. We have DCL booked for 2012 & 2013 so I expect Aulani will have to wait.

This thread is great, I watched the Dream leave the port today and wished we were all back onboard.

Laura & Marco: Got your PM! Thank you. I will respond shortly.

I am started to think that a Med cruise may be in our future. Wonderful people like Laura and Marco make you realize that visiting Italy is a must

 

[hmansure]

The days over here just get better and better. I soo wish that we were on CC right now. I would give anything to be back there.

Bruce's Uncle is more like a father to him than his own father is. Has just been told he has lung cancer and it is really really bad. We are both beside ourselves.

So I probally will be MIA for a bit, while we deal with everything we have going on right now.

Hopefully, I will be able to stay in touch with you all!!

Kristin - So sorry for this run of bad news you've been getting. Your family is in our thoughts.

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

We want to go to Aulani also, but haven't picked a date yet. We have DCL booked for 2012 & 2013 so I expect Aulani will have to wait.

This thread is great, I watched the Dream leave the port today and wished we were all back onboard.

Laura & Marco: Got your PM! Thank you. I will respond shortly.

I am started to think that a Med cruise may be in our future. Wonderful people like Laura and Marco make you realize that visiting Italy is a must

 

[hmansure]

We want to got to Aulani also, but haven't picked a date yet. We have DCL booked for 2012 & 2013 so I expect Aulani will have to wait.

This thread is great, I watched the Dream leave the port today and wished we were all back onboard.

Laura & Marco: Got your PM! Thank you. I will respond shortly.

I am started to think that a Med cruise may be in our future. Wonderful people like Laura and Marco make you realize that visiting Italy is a must

Italy is high on our wish list as well!

How's the flooding situation up your way doing? I was able to take the train today for the first time since the storm.... DW had a doctor's appt in Princeton on Monday she still hasn't been able to reschedule because of all the road issues there earlier this week.

 

[uncw89]

I live in Fairfield County, CT...

At 4:23 am this morning the power was restored I've never been so happy to do laundry and cook on my stove. We still have a lot of trees and wires down around town. It seems whomever you listen to, whether it be our First Selectman and Superintendant of Schools to friends who "heard" we weren't expected to get our lights on until this weekend. I think we were one of the first towns in CT to just come out and say we're not starting school until after Labor Day. Most around us are taking it day by day.

There have been volunteers from all over who have come to help the Electric companies get things up and running again. I feel fortunate, there are a few shoreline towns North of here that were at 90-100% outages.

Glad you power is back on!


And going off topic...I too agree with Jen and others that it's getting harder to justify spending top dollar on these vacations when it seems we're losing the little perks that make them unique. We've been averaging every other year with DCL so we're not due again until 2013 but I'm not spending the money they're asking for Fantasy. Even the Magic out of NYC is crazy! Yes, I waited and missed the initial early bird savings, but it's going to cost the same if not more to sail locally than with air and hotel to Florida and the ports don't thrill me. It's our same cruise with a few more sea days. I hope Disney comes out with some new destinations for these Eastern/Western sailings. I'm sad we missed Tortola and would like to try to get back there (dating back to the 2009 cruise a bunch of us were on).

I agree! We've been avearging every other year as well. I'm said we missed Tortola too and wish DCL would come out with some new destinations!!

We can all still chat here!!! We'll help you pass the time, even if we aren't going with you!

We are a chatty bunch!!! So the cruise is over, we can find something to talk about!!
Did you see the other pics of the Aulani bags???
Happy Anniversary!!!

I am also sad we missed Tortola and keep thinking that we need to see some wonderful new destinations by DCL. I have been looking at so many vacation ideas but it just seems like DCL is so high when I compare different options. I am not sure that it is going to be on our agenda for a bit.

We do need new destinations!!!


Hi Erika! Hope you had a WONDERFUL ANNIVERSARY!

Is this thread unstoppable?!

Totally Unstoppable!


Yes, we are!

There is still so much we could chat about. We can talk about upcoming vacation plans, things we love about DCL, things we don't love about DCL, how we dream about DCL, why no one else understands when we plan so many Disney vacations (speaking of which....I am scared to tell my extended family I am thinking about a trip to Hawaii Disney style!) and then just life in general!

So true!!!

The days over here just get better and better. I soo wish that we were on CC right now. I would give anything to be back there.

Bruce's Uncle is more like a father to him than his own father is. Has just been told he has lung cancer and it is really really bad. We are both beside ourselves.

So I probally will be MIA for a bit, while we deal with everything we have going on right now.

Hopefully, I will be able to stay in touch with you all!!

We want to go to Aulani also, but haven't picked a date yet. We have DCL booked for 2012 & 2013 so I expect Aulani will have to wait.

This thread is great, I watched the Dream leave the port today and wished we were all back onboard.

Laura & Marco: Got your PM! Thank you. I will respond shortly.

I am started to think that a Med cruise may be in our future. Wonderful people like Laura and Marco make you realize that visiting Italy is a must

We want to go to Aulani too!! I don't know when though. I love the new Aulani Dooney's and need to go see them in person!!!! I'm going to have to start checking and see just how $$ it would be.
Like a lot of you I'm strating to think about other vacations. Last year we did and RCL cruise on the Freedom of the Seas. We had a great time and now we are booked on the Allure of the Seas next Aug. 12. DS wants to try out the ship. However, the itinerary is a Western and we've been to most of the ports (there are some new ones though). So we may end up cancelling it, if we find something else we would rather do.
I also would like to do a Med cruise sometime.

 

[uncw89]

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150298950489269.355977.792524268&l=cab23a4115&type=1
this came off of a thread on the DVC board. Aulani trip reports please. These were taken by Jeff Da Runner.
These are for you Erika!!!

 

[sdchickie]

Italy is high on our wish list as well!

Ditto, I've always wanted to go to Italy. Party at Marco and Lauras!!