August 2006 - planning & CR question

[SEVANS2208]

14 months to go and I want to plan something NOW!!

This will be the first time the 4 of us (me, DH & 2 DD's) will be going without without other members of the family. We're going for 3 weeks, doing a flydrive with Virgin and have booked a villa though a management company in the US.

So far though, that's all I've done and I'm getting desperate to plan some of the finer details! Has anyone got any suggestions as to what can be planned so far in advance?!?!

As we're going for 3 weeks I had thought about doing a Disney Cruise for a few days but DH is worried about the hurricanes at that time of year. It's our anniversary though so I'd like to do something special (despite having the kids with us ) so I was thinking about maybe booking a couple of nights at the CR, as we've never stayed on site before.

What does everyone think?

 

[fizz13]

Doing something special like staying in a disney hotel sounds like a great idea. I was going to say a special restaurant for dinner but it depends on how your DDs behave in those circumstances. A dinner at Cali. Grill for fireworks with a night at CR sounds great, or an Illuminations cruise.

I know some companies ar offering 2/3 day excursions to bahamas and surrounding so this might be an option. What about a day at Discovery Cove for a dolphin swim (a little piece of paradise for the day) This is bookable now.

What about a picnic on the beach of one of the lagoon resorts to watch Wishes?

If I think of any more, I'll keep em coming. BTW, I know how frustrating it is to not be able to book anything else. !6 mths and counting, but I have a plan for the week already, incl. PS I want. Sad isn't it

Much pixiedust,
Claire

 

[SEVANS2208]

The girls are usually well behaved in restaurants and I was looking at CR because of the California grill & Chef Mickeys - something to please us all, I think.

We've done DC before & our youngest is only 5 so won't be going back until she's a bit older.

Thanks for the other suggestions - how do I find out about the picnic? That sounds really nice.

I'm still trying to convince DH about the cruise but he's worried about spending that much money only to be "stuck" in the middls of a hurricane!

Thanks again - keep the suggestions coming!

 

[slinky101]

hi, don,t know if you,ve done it before but if not, would recommend an illuminations cruise, we did it for my DD's 9th birthday last month, it was amazing, really special as only our family on the boat, worth thinking about if you,ve never done one.

 

[SEVANS2208]

Thanks Claire - where will I find info about the illuminations cruise & how to book etc?

 

[florida sun]

Hi There

If you can covince him to do the cruise, thats what I would do, we went last August and are also doing another one next August, believe it or not, you are better off being on the ship if a hurricane came than being on land. The ships are very good at knowing where the hurricane is going to be and can normally move well away from it. A ship travels much faster than a hurricane.

I do hope you manage to talk you DH around, the Disney cruise is out of this World and would be a lovley way to have some extra special days.

Sue

 

[Celestine]

We're going next August too & are doing the 7 nt Disney cruise. If it is any use, no cruise was cancelled last year (I believe) although some people were on board longer or shorter than originally planned & itineries were varied, but I believe that the "compensation" was good. Also, the stabilisers the ship is on reduces roll by 90%. When we went in Dec it was touch & go getting into CC because of the wind/ high seas, but being on board you would never have known that!

We've also booked with Virgin & I am taking DD (who will be 6) on the early morning balloon flight as I don't need to pay for her. DH (hates heights & other DD (who will be about 14 months (was due yesterday but has yet to arrive)) will follow as chase crew. Another good buy from Virgin is Dixie Stampede as again the kids are free. I've compared to US brokers etc. & they don't appear to able to match this. As DD is into horses & DH in country & western, we thought we might give this a go too. These are plannable/bookable now.

I sympathise with you as you can't even make provisional plans because of the changes with EMH etc!

 

[FLORIDA DREAMING]

Hi there,

I feel exactly the same as you. We don't go until October 2006 and I desperately want to book something "solid". I have put together a list of things/places that the family want to go to/see but without knowing when the EMH's are, can't actually do a detailed plan. I also have a rough idea of what PS's I want to make.

What I actually HAVE done, is start to get my tickets now - it is something you can do now.With the Disney tickets (I've gone for the 14 day ultimate, as they expire only 14 days after first use). I am buying one at a time, at roughly 3/4 monthly intervals. Not only does it make me excited every time a ticket arrives, but it also spreads the cost of the holiday out, so the bank balance doesn't notice it as much. I'm planning to get Discovery Cove tickets for my DS's 9th birthday and also some Universal tickets, not sure which yet.

It IS frustrating but you've got a headstart when it comes to planning and should be organised well in advance, if its any consolation.

Catherine

 

[dynamite100]

You will probably laugh at my lack of knowledge, but can you explain what "EMH" means? Thanks.

Carl

 

[carolfoy]

Carl EMH is extra magic hour, an on site benefit where a park will open 1 hour earlier mornings and up to 3 hours later evenings so on site guests get a bit extra.
hope that clarifies

 

[dynamite100]

D'OH! Of course it is. How stupid do I feel. I sat here for ten minutes yesterday trying to think what it was, and it just wasn't happening for me. Thanks Carolfoy. At least reading these posts makes me feel a little more normal- it's good to know that I'm not the only one making plans for a trip that isn't until next year.

 

[jlensmart]

With regards to pevious message about Discovery Cove, been trying to boo tickets for all the members of my party for Aug 06 but as yet to no avail. I think their online booking system doesn't cover this far in advance. If this is not true could someone please advise.

Who know's we may bump into each other whilst there...

 

[Celestine]

I think you can currently only book DC for 2006 through a TA, so you need to look at their prices & then predict DCs rate for next year & then what the dollar will do! If your crystal ball can do all of this, please let us all know!!!

 

[BONZO]

Illuminations Cruise / how to book / how to share


Is in this link here

 

[SEVANS2208]

Thanks everyone for all the info. I think I've just about convinced DH to do the 3 night cruise with DCL now We're not going to tell the girls though so it will be a complete surprise for them (if I can keep my excitement hidden, that is)

Looks like they'll be quite a few of us DIS-ers in Orlando in August 2006 - glad I'm not the only saddo planning things so far in advance! We'll have to arrange a meet perhaps while we're all there?

 

[Miffy2003]

August 06 meet sounds like fun to me

We are on the 7 night cruise next August

 

[susie2]

August 06 meet sounds like fun to me

We are on the 7 night cruise next August

hi, we are also going on the 21st aug next year, we are flying with virgin from gatwick at 11.15 any one else on this flight, happy planning susie2

 

[Miffy2003]

We are flying from Cardiff on the 17th (???) I think Susie, we cruise on the 19th

 

[florida sun]

Thats right Karen, August 17th flight from Cardiff, August 19th cruise for 7 days Yipeeeeeeeeeee.

A dis meet when we get back would be great.

Sue

 

[mark&sue]

Just out of interest how much are you lot getting your flydrives from Virgin for for next summer? I checked the virgin holidays website and found the flydrive price was the same as we got from virgin holidays for our package with hotel we have just come back from.

Have the prices risen that much since last year?



Susan