August 18, 2010...Can't wait for the MAGICal Mediterranean!!!

[MinnieDiva]

my kids take karate with the owners son...just buy me about 5 of their desserts...LOL....I take that back....I need to LOSE weight before we go.

Exactly how far away do the 2 of you live?

 

[jel0511]

Exactly how far away do the 2 of you live?

I'm not exactly sure where her house is, but I'm about 20 min away from her town.

 

[mindelmouse]

I'm not exactly sure where her house is, but I'm about 20 min away from her town.

I would agree about 20 minutes....you're in the Brunswicks, aren't you?

 

[jel0511]

I would agree about 20 minutes....you're in the Brunswicks, aren't you?

South Brunswick, just north of Plainsboro actually....

 

[mindelmouse]

There's a tread on the main cruise board talking about the ABD add-on....while one of the posters is doing it in May in conjunction w/the cheap fare, they stated that they got the info that all the Aug dates were sold out.

So....I guess that there are an awful lot of people with excess $$. Huh.

k

OMG...they ABD was so expensive I can't believe August is sold out.

 

[mindelmouse]

I agree that's about 20 minutes....I think Susan (Cliffside) doesn't live far from you either. I don't remember which town, but I thought she told me last year and I remember thinking it wasn't that far.

 

[jel0511]

OMG...they ABD was so expensive I can't believe August is sold out.

I can't believe it either. I ran the numbers and I think we're spending about 3-4k TOTAL on excursions for us, not including the HUGE OBC we have. Which helps pay our tips and some of the DCL ones we're doing. I'm sure these same people are getting the additional OBC we're all getting, WHAT are they going to do with it, with everything else taken care of. That's a lot of spa treatments, with a lot of your free time taken up with ABD stuff, where will they find the time.......

 

[jel0511]

I agree that's about 20 minutes....I think Susan (Cliffside) doesn't live far from you either. I don't remember which town, but I thought she told me last year and I remember thinking it wasn't that far.

Cliffside Park is in Bergen county, no where near either of us......

 

[mindelmouse]

Cliffside Park is in Bergen county, no where near either of us......

I know where Cliffside Park is, I'm originally from Northern NJ, but I didn't think Cliffside or Susan lived in Cliffside Park. I could be mistaken. I usually am...LOL

 

[jel0511]

I know where Cliffside Park is, I'm originally from Northern NJ, but I didn't think Cliffside or Susan lived in Cliffside Park. I could be mistaken. I usually am...LOL

No idea, I usually don't pay attention to these thing anyway... I only know where you live since it's noted in your profile.....

 

[Cliffside]

Wow it's been a busy couple of days on these boards. I am actually in Livingston which is Essex county.

Mindy- I am so impresssed that you are able to keep this a secret from your kids. That is going to be an amazing surprise. Also thx for the hotel info. Right now we have our post night booked at the Renaissance at the airport since DH had marriott points. Still trying to decide pre cruise and what we want to do in Barcelona.

Does anyone know when gold castaway club members can book excursions,palo and spa?

Also what do people feel about the new way that the kid's programming is set up.

Susan

 

[ejw]

Wow it's been a busy couple of days on these boards. I am actually in Livingston which is Essex county.

Mindy- I am so impresssed that you are able to keep this a secret from your kids. That is going to be an amazing surprise. Also thx for the hotel info. Right now we have our post night booked at the Renaissance at the airport since DH had marriott points. Still trying to decide pre cruise and what we want to do in Barcelona.

Does anyone know when gold castaway club members can book excursions,palo and spa?

Also what do people feel about the new way that the kid's programming is set up.

Susan

Hi Susan, i'm also gold. we can book 105 days out which is may 5th.

ellen

 

[jel0511]

Wow it's been a busy couple of days on these boards. I am actually in Livingston which is Essex county.

Mindy- I am so impresssed that you are able to keep this a secret from your kids. That is going to be an amazing surprise. Also thx for the hotel info. Right now we have our post night booked at the Renaissance at the airport since DH had marriott points. Still trying to decide pre cruise and what we want to do in Barcelona.

Does anyone know when gold castaway club members can book excursions,palo and spa?

Also what do people feel about the new way that the kid's programming is set up.

Susan

hi Susan my daughter was born at st barnabas so small world. Were at le Meriden pre and post cruise. We'll only be in Barcelona one day on each side. Pre cruise we're in Paris.

 

[MinnieDiva]

I paid for my gratuities!!!! One more thing down! I filed my taxes the inter day as well, so once the refund is deposited, I'll book my air! I haven't been working a lot, so I've been spending way too much time on the boards looking for tips. Soon, we'll have trip reports to read!!
How funny that the 3 of you live so close! I wonder if that So. Cal. Person is still going?
Kim

 

[jel0511]

I paid for my gratuities!!!! One more thing down! I filed my taxes the inter day as well, so once the refund is deposited, I'll book my air! I haven't been working a lot, so I've been spending way too much time on the boards looking for tips. Soon, we'll have trip reports to read!!
How funny that the 3 of you live so close! I wonder if that So. Cal. Person is still going?
Kim

A tax refund, what's that????? I haven't seen one of those in YEARS!!!! I'm just hoping not to owe too much....... I'm just using my OBC for gratuities, I have 1100, no reason for me to prepay with that much lying around.....

 

[MinnieDiva]

Over priced west-coast houses.......And a crapload into retirement accounts.....
K

 

[pixie08]

Ellen, Mindy is in a suite, so she gets priority booking for excursions and Palo ressies. I as a lowly silver member get to book at 90 days out around may 20th I think.

me too!


I have been pretty unproductive about this cruise. I really need to a. book flight and then book a hotel before and after the cruise! I think we are going to wind up flying Delta out of JFK on SUn (because it is an ok price and it's nonstop) then we are going to stay in Barcelona for two nights. Then I need a night for after the trip. Still have not decided. I need to get this cruise ball rolling lol!

 

[mindelmouse]

I paid for my gratuities!!!! One more thing down! I filed my taxes the inter day as well, so once the refund is deposited, I'll book my air! I haven't been working a lot, so I've been spending way too much time on the boards looking for tips. Soon, we'll have trip reports to read!!
How funny that the 3 of you live so close! I wonder if that So. Cal. Person is still going?
Kim

Kim,

I understand from a cash flow perspective why you think you'd want to prepay stuff, but as a tax accountant I can tell you that prepaying anything is giving Disney or the IRS your money to use interest free. Why wouldn't you hold on to the money and invest it, even put it in a money market and then pay when you're on the cruise. Overall that would be a better move financially. Just my opinion. Also I'm with Lori, living in NJ, I don't remember what it is like to get refund....we're so far into AMT, I never get one.

 

[MinnieDiva]

Kim,

I understand from a cash flow perspective why you think you'd want to prepay stuff, but as a tax accountant I can tell you that prepaying anything is giving Disney or the IRS your money to use interest free. Why wouldn't you hold on to the money and invest it, even put it in a money market and then pay when you're on the cruise. Overall that would be a better move financially. Just my opinion. Also I'm with Lori, living in NJ, I don't remember what it is like to get refund....we're so far into AMT, I never get one.

I know....I know....considering I'm so anal about retirement savings and college accounts, you'd think that would transfer over to this. But I know that if there was a liquid account with that much cash in it, DH would probably lobby to get it to go somewhere else. So, I treat it like a bill..

The benefits of not working much....stay below AMT.....
kim

 

[jel0511]

Kim,

I understand from a cash flow perspective why you think you'd want to prepay stuff, but as a tax accountant I can tell you that prepaying anything is giving Disney or the IRS your money to use interest free. Why wouldn't you hold on to the money and invest it, even put it in a money market and then pay when you're on the cruise. Overall that would be a better move financially. Just my opinion. Also I'm with Lori, living in NJ, I don't remember what it is like to get refund....we're so far into AMT, I never get one.

Yeah AMT, that mean guy.... I wish they'd redo the tax laws to get rid of this thing....