August 16, 2011, Disney Dream

[uncw89]

Hi everyone! We just booked this cruise!! We are Glenda (me), Kenneth (hubby) and Jenna (dd will be 10). Looking forward to cruising on the Dream!!

Where in NC are you from? I'm from Wilmington. My DS will be 10.5 on the cruise! This is a great bunch!

We are!! Place cleared out quite a bit today and sadly we depart tomorrow as well.

Harry, Did you run into HEAVY traffic on 95? We came home on Sat from Disney and it took us FOREVER!!!!!

Hi all, we're back from Disney! to the new cruisers. I am NOT a happy camper right now, the temp here is only 16 degrees. I think I'll just go back to Florida after I put the kids on the bus tomarrow! What do you think they'd say when they got home and saw the note on the counter "too cold, gone back to Disney" I hope everyone had a great new years eve, we were sitting on the beach at the Poly having pina-colavas (virgin ones for the kids). I took pictures of how cool the fireworks are with my cell phone, I'll see if I can figure out how to put them on my computer. The great thing about new years at Disney is you get a two-fer, they do the same fireworks on the 30th (so we did those in the MK) and then the next night they do it again so you can go to Epcot or where ever else you want to go and not have to deal with the masses of people. I think I might have to go back next new years eve too, the fireworks are even better than the ones on the 4th of July in Washington DC.

Were you sitting with the other Diser's on the Poly beach? I know there was a group there from a trip report I'm reading.
I was at MK on the 30th watching the fireworks too and then on NYE I was at Epcot....boy was it packed!! but fun!

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVERYONE! I hope everyone stays warm with this seriously cold weather we are having. I think it's cold here where I am (20's-30's), but for Jen, Erika and some of the others that would be bathing suit weather.

 

[hmansure]

YEAH, going back to reality just got delayed a few more hours, due to the cold temps. and the snow from yesterday!!

We got to sleep in this morning again!!

No delays here - there are no snow days in the calendar and they've been closed once already.... Gonna be a long winter!

 

[kritter]

No delays here - there are no snow days in the calendar and they've been closed once already.... Gonna be a long winter!

It sure is gonna be a long winter!! When is your next Disney Trip??

 

[kritter]

Where in NC are you from? I'm from Wilmington. My DS will be 10.5 on the cruise! This is a great bunch!


Harry, Did you run into HEAVY traffic on 95? We came home on Sat from Disney and it took us FOREVER!!!!!



Were you sitting with the other Diser's on the Poly beach? I know there was a group there from a trip report I'm reading.
I was at MK on the 30th watching the fireworks too and then on NYE I was at Epcot....boy was it packed!! but fun!

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVERYONE! I hope everyone stays warm with this seriously cold weather we are having. I think it's cold here where I am (20's-30's), but for Jen, Erika and some of the others that would be bathing suit weather.

Glad you had a GREAT time.

One month from today we will be in Disney World. Can't wait to get out of the cold even if it is only a few days!! A few days is better than none in my book.........

NYE, sounds like a neat time to be a the world and see the fireworks. May, have to check that out sometime!!

 

[hmansure]

It sure is gonna be a long winter!! When is your next Disney Trip??

June 19th! School ends on June 18th! Snow days are being made up by taking President's Day (already used) and then Spring Break days so there's little chance the school year will be extended.

HHI was awesome! So relaxing and laid back. I'm currently going through a sweet tea withdrawal though!

 

[kritter]

June 19th! School ends on June 18th! Snow days are being made up by taking President's Day (already used) and then Spring Break days so there's little chance the school year will be extended.

HHI was awesome! So relaxing and laid back. I'm currently going through a sweet tea withdrawal though!

We definately have to check out HHI sometime soon!! Is it hard to get a reservation there? How does it compare to VB??

Your headed down a few days before we are in June. We head down June 26th!!

 

[hmansure]

Harry, Did you run into HEAVY traffic on 95? We came home on Sat from Disney and it took us FOREVER!!!!!

95 going down (on a weekday) was awful - worse than driving in the summer to be honest. Traffic hell through MD & VA (all the way past Quantico) and then a bit more in SC. Coming home on Saturday started off real bad in SC - there was a NASTY accident, but after that it was smooth sailing. We did the return trip in two days because we wanted to stay a bit at the resort. Stopped overnight in Chester, VA and on Sunday morning the traffic was fine until getting close to the Springfield interchange. Since it was Sunday and we knew the gov't workers wouldn't be around, we went 395 North into Washington, hooked up on the Balt-DC Parkway to the Harbor tunnel and bypassed a huge amount of traffic.

It seemed as if there were a lot of people traveling during this time though (based on the license plates, etc). Either airfare & fees are getting too much for people or perhaps the "underwear bomber" scared people off, but the roads were brutal.

 

[uncw89]

95 going down (on a weekday) was awful - worse than driving in the summer to be honest. Traffic hell through MD & VA (all the way past Quantico) and then a bit more in SC. Coming home on Saturday started off real bad in SC - there was a NASTY accident, but after that it was smooth sailing. We did the return trip in two days because we wanted to stay a bit at the resort. Stopped overnight in Chester, VA and on Sunday morning the traffic was fine until getting close to the Springfield interchange. Since it was Sunday and we knew the gov't workers wouldn't be around, we went 395 North into Washington, hooked up on the Balt-DC Parkway to the Harbor tunnel and bypassed a huge amount of traffic.

It seemed as if there were a lot of people traveling during this time though (based on the license plates, etc). Either airfare & fees are getting too much for people or perhaps the "underwear bomber" scared people off, but the roads were brutal.

The roads were brutal! Going to Orlando on Sun 12/27 was bad, slow we saw several accidents. But coming home was worse, not with accidents but TONS of congestion. Most of the traffic was in Ga, before Savannah though. SC was slow in some parts too.

 

[hmansure]

We definately have to check out HHI sometime soon!! Is it hard to get a reservation there? How does it compare to VB??

Your headed down a few days before we are in June. We head down June 26th!!

VB is smaller, but right there on the beach, and has it's restaurants on site. HHI's beach access is off-site of the main resort (reached by shuttle, car, or bike), doesn't have an on-site restaurant, and is bigger in size. The activities at HHI are somewhat focused on the nature of the area (exploring the marsh, kayaking, etc). They both do the campfires and some other similar activities.

We've never had a problem getting into HHI with the exception of trying to get in for this past Thanksgiving - which I understand is a very popular time there. Summer is also a tough one on short notice. There are a small number of 1 bedrooms, too so based on your family size you'd definitely would want to book as early as possible.

For us this time we just wanted a little R&R. They had some decent kid parties on NYE and a ball-dropping party at midnight around the pool. The kids did lots of activities and actually went swimming (pool temp - 86; air-temps were a lot lower!!). In fact they were swimming on New Year's Day at night after the campfire when it was down into the 40s (I went in during a 60 degree afternoon only!). We cooked dinner in our villa a couple of nights and went out on some others. All-in-all a good relaxing start to the New Year!

 

[hmansure]

The roads were brutal! Going to Orlando on Sun 12/27 was bad, slow we saw several accidents. But coming home was worse, not with accidents but TONS of congestion. Most of the traffic was in Ga, before Savannah though. SC was slow in some parts too.

I will say that in both directions (for us at least) your state had the least amount of traffic problems (although you have the highest gas prices!!).

 

[kritter]

VB is smaller, but right there on the beach, and has it's restaurants on site. HHI's beach access is off-site of the main resort (reached by shuttle, car, or bike), doesn't have an on-site restaurant, and is bigger in size. The activities at HHI are somewhat focused on the nature of the area (exploring the marsh, kayaking, etc). They both do the campfires and some other similar activities.

We've never had a problem getting into HHI with the exception of trying to get in for this past Thanksgiving - which I understand is a very popular time there. Summer is also a tough one on short notice. There are a small number of 1 bedrooms, too so based on your family size you'd definitely would want to book as early as possible.

For us this time we just wanted a little R&R. They had some decent kid parties on NYE and a ball-dropping party at midnight around the pool. The kids did lots of activities and actually went swimming (pool temp - 86; air-temps were a lot lower!!). In fact they were swimming on New Year's Day at night after the campfire when it was down into the 40s (I went in during a 60 degree afternoon only!). We cooked dinner in our villa a couple of nights and went out on some others. All-in-all a good relaxing start to the New Year!

Thanks, Harry.

Definately, a place we want to check out sometime in the near future.

I enjoy the vacations when you get to just Rest and Relax..Those are the best kind. !!

 

[jenanderson]

One month from today we will be in Disney World. Can't wait to get out of the cold even if it is only a few days!! A few days is better than none in my book.........

Kristin - My rule is at one month out you can be packing! You are right that a few days at WDW is way better than no days at WDW. Hopefully knowing the trip is coming will make the cold days pass faster!

 

[sdchickie]

Harry, Did you run into HEAVY traffic on 95? We came home on Sat from Disney and it took us FOREVER!!!!!



Were you sitting with the other Diser's on the Poly beach? I know there was a group there from a trip report I'm reading.
I was at MK on the 30th watching the fireworks too and then on NYE I was at Epcot....boy was it packed!! but fun!

We weren't with any Diser's at the Poly, I wish I had known there was a group there or I definately would have been. It was kind of a last minute trip so I didn't have time to look around here for meets. I kept on going back and forth on weather or not I was going and finally decided Sat afternoon that I was going to leave in the morning. Traffic was AWFUL going down on the 27th but I missed all the traffic comming home on the 2nd because we left Disney at 4:30 AM. I was worried about hitting traffic around NC/SC line from people that left on the 1st and stopped half way, but we didn't see much of anything. We ended up making it home in only 13 hours. It started flurrying here this morning and is supposed to snow Thurs night. Seriously, when is it supposed to warm up? We don't usually have it this bad here in MD until Feb. and now that my AP's have expired I have no where to run! I guess I'll just have to book more cruises.

 

[sdchickie]

Here's a pict from New Years Eve at the Poly beach. Sorry the quality is so bad but I have an old phone.

The castle is the little blue glowing thing in the middle of all those fireworks. That's what makes NYE fireworks here the coolest, they go off in a circle around you when you are in the MK.

 

[gottolovedisney]

Boy, getting back in the work and homework routine sure is not fun! We told our kids about our Cruise and they are super excited! Michele- Johnny was so thrilled that Mikayla will be on the boat!!!!

My kids are looking to reach out for friends to chat about the cruise. At time of cruise they will be DD 15, DD 13 and DS 9. If your kids are interested, PM me

I started the week trying to get back to going to the gym. As I am in the locker room, there were these two college kids there complaining about thier weight. The one girl was saying how she really needed to work out because she was up to 111 pounds!! Needless to say, that did not make me feel good!! Oh, to be 111 pounds!!!!!

 

[kritter]

Kristin - My rule is at one month out you can be packing! You are right that a few days at WDW is way better than no days at WDW. Hopefully knowing the trip is coming will make the cold days pass faster!

I got my new blender for the trip today... So indeed the packing has begun.....LOL!!!!

 

[sdchickie]

Jen, I just PM'd you

 

[jenanderson]

Jen, I just PM'd you

Got it! I plan on updating the site later this week so I will post when the new things are there!

 

[jenanderson]

I got my new blender for the trip today... So indeed the packing has begun.....LOL!!!!

Yeah!!!! That is so exciting!

I would test the blender out just to be sure it works well!

 

[jenanderson]

My kids are looking to reach out for friends to chat about the cruise. At time of cruise they will be DD 15, DD 13 and DS 9. If your kids are interested, PM me

Hi! I don't know if you know about the web site we have for our cruise (check out the 1st post on this thread to learn more)...but we have a kid's connect page there. If you want me to put this information on the web site, let me know!

Thanks!
Jen