August 22nd 2009 Western Carribbean Anyone?

[Mackie Mouse]

Um, if anyone needs a good travel agent who specializes in cruises, I have one.... she answers her phone at 8 PM on Fridays to give me $100 onboard credits that are only supposed to be for new bookings She loves e-mail, too - things usually only take 24 hours or less to get done with her!

Also....was anyone else going to WDW aware that Space Mountain will be closed in August?! I'm so bummed. This is FH's favorite ride! (Hey...why is there no angry Donald smiley?)

Were they not aware that this is our honeymoon or something?! *snicker*

 

[kylelover1]

Auroura's mommy, are you flying back on SWA at 1:45 on Sat? We are too. I forgot who said they are flying down Friday the 21st. We are taking a 9:00 flight. Our plan is to do Sea World that day. My DH is still trying to decide where we are going to stay, he thinks he would like to be near a hotel at the airport. I am hoping we can get closer to Sea World. This weekend it will be 80 in the north east!!!!! . We will be outside all weekend. I hope everyone else is warming up after this long winter. Sorry it has been so long, been a busy couple of weeks. Hope everyone is having a great day and will talk to you all soon.

 

[kylelover1]

ok cool, just talked to DH, we are definately doing Sea World on Friday? Anyone else? We will be at the Renassance Resort right across the street! Yeah

 

[wayneg]

Um, if anyone needs a good travel agent who specializes in cruises, I have one.... she answers her phone at 8 PM on Fridays to give me $100 onboard credits that are only supposed to be for new bookings She loves e-mail, too - things usually only take 24 hours or less to get done with her!

Also....was anyone else going to WDW aware that Space Mountain will be closed in August?!

We rode SM lots at Xmas knowing it would be down this year, hoping it does not get a complete makeover like Disneyland CA, much prefer the traditional ride of WDW but I know many prefer the modern newer version.

We use http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/cruise/specials.htm#sbc DIS sponsors, we got $100 OBC with them (plus $200 from Disney onboard rebooking bonus in addition to 10% disc) Can't fault Sue Ellen at Dreams did a lot of altering and rebooking and she knew exactly what we wanted to do, all by email, great service.

 

[Donald Applecore]

Still waiting on that package - I'll give her until tomorrow afternoon and then send her a second follow-up e-mail.

FYI - I used Small World Vacations as recommended on Mousesavers

 

[Mackie Mouse]

We used Carol Zwerner of Cruise Planners as recommended by a friend. As I said, we love her

looks like Aurora's Mommy, kylelover, and I will all be on the same flight home! Again, we'll be the ones pouting that wearing the bride and groom ears in public is no longer appropriate

 

[Donald Applecore]

we'll be the ones pouting that wearing the bride and groom ears in public is no longer appropriate

Who says its not appropriate?!!!!!!

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

Auroura's mommy, are you flying back on SWA at 1:45 on Sat? We are too. I forgot who said they are flying down Friday the 21st. We are taking a 9:00 flight. Our plan is to do Sea World that day. My DH is still trying to decide where we are going to stay, he thinks he would like to be near a hotel at the airport. I am hoping we can get closer to Sea World. This weekend it will be 80 in the north east!!!!! . We will be outside all weekend. I hope everyone else is warming up after this long winter. Sorry it has been so long, been a busy couple of weeks. Hope everyone is having a great day and will talk to you all soon.

Yep, it's going to be crowded on that 1:45 back to Philly. Now, since we will all be depressed because we are on our way back home, and not on the way down, I think we need something to cheer us up. Therefore, I am starting a campaign to get Mackie and her (then) DH to wear their bride and groom mouse ears on the plane. Not only will it make us happy, but (and I think this is an excellent point), they won't have to worry about the mouse ears getting crushed in their luggage!

We are heading down on the 21st, but we are going later in the morning, and just plan to throw the kids into the hotel pool when we get to whereever it is we are staying (probably near the airport).

I'm coming to you from sunny Southern California. Actually, it is not that sunny today, but I've been here since Saturday, and this is the first cloudy day. I'm heading home tomorrow (and that two hour layover in the Atlanta airport). Unfortunately it was for business and not pleasure, so I've spent most of my time in a conference room.

Can't believe it is only 4 months until we are "All Aboard"!

And, Happy Earth Day!

 

[kylelover1]

I am right there with you. Maybe we should all wear mouse ears on our way back! Last ditch effort to stretch out vacation before we go home. What do you guys think?

 

[jhryb]

Wow I have been out of the loop for way too long. It just took me 40 minutes to catch up (but it was an enjoyable time).
Congratulation Mackie Mouse on all of your plans. My family will be staying at WDW from Aug 16-Aug 22. We'll be back to WDW from Aug 29-Sep 6.
I requested a LOA from work this summer and it was approved. My last day of work will be July 10th and I am off until after Labour Day I'm looking forward to spending time with my kids and enjoying some time off.
I need to start thinking about cruise wear. I think I need to get a new formal dress because the dress that I wore last year was all wrinkled when I unpacked it on the ship. I will try to find something that won't wrinkle this time. I think I will rent tuxes for my DS and DH again because it is so convenient. Hopefully my DD can still fit into the same dress that I bought her last year.

 

[Donald Applecore]

Success!!! Romantic Escape Package added!
It only took nine days & two follow-up e-mails

 

[trimix]

Success!!! Romantic Escape Package added!
It only took nine days & two follow-up e-mails

Yaaay!!! I hope your wife enjoys it as much as I hope my wife enjoys it!

15 days until we get to start booking reservations!

 

[jhryb]

Yaaay!!! I hope your wife enjoys it as much as I hope my wife enjoys it!

15 days until we get to start booking reservations!

I wasn't sure what the romantic escape included so I looked it up. It actually seems like a good deal considering the cost of the individual items - plus the ability to make reservations 105 days in advance. My DH and I will be in one stateroom and my sister & DS & DD will be in the adjoining stateroom. I know not much romance there, but it is a good deal . Anyways if my DH and I book the romantic escape package can we make advance reservations that include our party in the adjoining room OR do they need to wait until 90 days???

 

[trimix]

I wasn't sure what the romantic escape included so I looked it up. It actually seems like a good deal considering the cost of the individual items - plus the ability to make reservations 105 days in advance. My DH and I will be in one stateroom and my sister & DS & DD will be in the adjoining stateroom. I know not much romance there, but it is a good deal . Anyways if my DH and I book the romantic escape package can we make advance reservations that include our party in the adjoining room OR do they need to wait until 90 days???

I remember looking up the prices of what they give you and figuring it was somewhere between $100 and $150 less than what you pay for the package. But, as a first-time cruiser, the ability to book reservations in advance instead of rushing to the port and getting in line for onboard reservations as soon as I board is worth $100 to me. I don't know for sure, but I have heard that if you book multiple rooms then all rooms in the group get to make reservations 105 days.

So my suggestion would be to try it and see if everybody can book reservations or not.

 

[Donald Applecore]

if my DH and I book the romantic escape package can we make advance reservations that include our party in the adjoining room OR do they need to wait until 90 days???

Maybe not - It looks like they may have closed that loophole.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2089452&highlight=reas+linked
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1966779&highlight=reas+linked

 

[Mackie Mouse]

Now, since we will all be depressed because we are on our way back home, and not on the way down, I think we need something to cheer us up. Therefore, I am starting a campaign to get Mackie and her (then) DH to wear their bride and groom mouse ears on the plane. Not only will it make us happy, but (and I think this is an excellent point), they won't have to worry about the mouse ears getting crushed in their luggage!

For the record....I am easily swayed by peer pressure, but FH is not! And he's also not nearly the Disney freak I am That said...you have a whole week on board a ship to convince him!

 

[julielouhoo]

I am really torn. We are in Second seating and waitlisted for first, but in my notes from our last Disney cruise I noted that we were a bit rushed having main dining and next time to book second. However, last year on Spring Break we had late seating and our then 10 yr old was falling asleep every night at dinner. I don't know what to do!!! (I may not have a choice if main dining is full). A CM told me that Disney now does a Dine and Play option for second seating, where the kids are fed right away and counselors from the clubs come and pick them up, rather than have them sit through the entire dinner.
My children are not young ones, so I'm not sure which to choose. Anyone have any thoughts about it?

 

[wayneg]

I agree it can be a bit rushed on main dining, its what we have done on all 4 cruises and will be for this one. We prefer to eat then go see a show and relax, not the other way around. At home we always eat 5-6pm so 1st seating is just right for us, we don't like eating late at night, some people do.

Bit of news for you all, I have been made a moderator on UK trip planning forum today. After 6 years on there helping people get to see Mickey & friends they asked me a few days ago if I was interested in doing it and I accepted.

 

[julielouhoo]

I agree it can be a bit rushed on main dining, its what we have done on all 4 cruises and will be for this one. We prefer to eat then go see a show and relax, not the other way around. At home we always eat 5-6pm so 1st seating is just right for us, we don't like eating late at night, some people do.

Bit of news for you all, I have been made a moderator on UK trip planning forum today. After 6 years on there helping people get to see Mickey & friends they asked me a few days ago if I was interested in doing it and I accepted.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Yeah you!!!! What an honor!! You have so much experience traveling from the UK to Disney (I'm still a little jealous about those 16 days pre cruise) I'm sure you've been a huge source of information for a lot of people.

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

For the record....I am easily swayed by peer pressure, but FH is not! And he's also not nearly the Disney freak I am That said...you have a whole week on board a ship to convince him!

Does he drink? Perhaps we can get him liquored up, but he would probably sober up before the flight.

Congrats, wayneg, how exciting for you!

Julieloo, we didn't really get a choice on dining, the only thing left was late seating. I'm leaving it be, because I remember from the last time that we felt rushed trying to get to early dinner. My kids tend to like to stay up late if given the opportunity, but I've heard rumors of the dine and play, too. As they are 10 and 7, they are fairly unpredictable, so it would be nice to have that option. We'll see!