August 28, 2004 "LOST AT SEA" Cruise

[winnyis]

We should definately try to do something for our group!!!!

 

[SeaSpray]

Hi group!

I am excited to say that we officially booked today and we will be in cabin #2026, cat 9 DSs still don't know about the cruise, I'm hoping to keep is a secret for a few more months.


tonia: You are SOOO right when you say that you never stop being a JERSEY GIRL! WOO HOO I just spent 2 weeks at the NJ shore and I'm heading back on Monday for a couple more days!!

Those t-shirts sound like a great idea!!

Sorry if you all discussed this already, but are any of you planning on flying in to Florida the day before? We are definitely going to, and will probably stay at the Radisson near the port. I've checked the Radisson's web site and I am probably going to grab their $89 rate now. They only require a credit card # to hold the room and you can cancel right up to 6pm on the date of arrival. The $89 rate is for a room with 2 double beds, but I know they also have bigger rooms with jacuzzis and king beds. If anyone else is going to be there the night before, maybe we could get together that evening! I can't wait to start checking the airfare from Boston. Since the airlines don't release the dates until 331 days (or something close to that) before the departure date, I can't start checking fares until almost October! Are all of you booking your airfare or yourselves or do any of you have a package including air?? I'm going to get our air myself, and also book Tiffany Towncar to take us from the airport to the Radisson, then take us from the port back to the airport. (Don't want to think about THAT part of the trip though! lol)

 

[sandygirl]

Glad you are officially with us! We will definately be flying in the day before. The first 3 cruises we flew in on departure day. It isn't that bad, but my DH usually misses most of the fun on the first day because he is resting. I want to avoid traveling right from the airport to the port this time. Don't know where we will be staying yet.

I'm also anxiously awaiting the release of airfares for our trip. The 1st cruise I let Disney arrange everything because I had no clue on what to do. Now I book my own flight and this time I am thinking about arranging transportation to and from (yuck!) the port. I keep reading the boards for information.

I'm so jealous! I had to forego my vacation time at the shore this year. Boo Hoo! You bet I'll be there next year no matter what. I have made a few day trips (even took a 1/2 sick day one afternoon and headed to the closest beach with my DD and DSis. Good thing my boss is cool).

Keep thinking of those ideas for a t-shirt. I would really like to do something. Anyone good with graphics?

 

[winnyis]

We always fly in the day before and stay at the Radisson. $89 isnt a bad rate - we paid that in 2001 and then in 2002 we lucked out and got the $59 rate. You could book it at the 89 and then cancel and rebook if you see a lower rate.

They have a great pool - we had a DISmeet there last year before our cruise and it was fun.

Not sure about transportation for us - past few years we have rented from Avis since they were at the Radisson - now that they arent we might rethink that..

Ginny

 

[SeaSpray]

Hi everyone!

Just thought I'd let you all know that 54 weeks from today we'll be boarding the Magic for our cruise!! I don't know if 54 weeks sounds better than 378 days!! We're booked at the Radisson for the night before the cruise, in a 2-kingbeds, 2 room jacuzzi suite. I know the Radisson has gotten some mixed reviews lately but I figure we have a whole year to see if the reviews get better or worse.

I have a question for all of you: When do you think you'll be booking your airfare? I know we still have to wait over a month before the airlines release those dates. I want to start watching the rates as soon as possible and book if/when I see a good rate, but I hate that you have pay upfront for airfare, and it's non-refundable. We'll be flying home on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. Do you think this will effect the fares??

 

[sandygirl]

54 weeks sound better to me. Sounds shorter.

I'll start looking for airfare as soon as it becomes available. I wondered about the Labor Day timing also. I don't think it is a traditionally heavy air travel weekend. Could be wrong though.

I just told myself this morning that there really is not much sense in checking the boards everyday (several times a day ) when we don't sail until a whole year from now. AND HERE I AM!

 

[SeaSpray]

Hi Sandy!

I know what you mean. LOL I just tell myself that I am still "researching" the excursions and other aspects of the cruise, and that's why I check these boards daily

 

[Mjasp]

Hi all...Just back from our Orlando vacation at Vistana resort. It wasn't as hot in Orlando as I would have liked, but it was nice just the same. Only had one day of nice hot Florida weather. Otherwise, it was pretty cool for Florida in August.

Did I miss anything? I am not researching and am addicted, I admit it. LOL So glad I did miss the blackout though.

Soon we will be under a year.

 

[sandygirl]

Sorry your weather was not so great in Orlando. Glad you missed the blackout, though. You didn't miss much, just us obssessing.

Seaspray, I'm afraid I may miss something and be sorry later. I only check the first posted page when I check in, so I am sure I miss a great deal. Plus I like to think that I help some people with their questions the way I have been helped. So, you see I do have an altruistic purpose for being on the DIS. LOL

Hello to all the other DISers who are sailing with us and just surf without posting. I know you are out there.

See you in 54 weeks!

 

[SeaSpray]

Welcome back!! I'm glad you had a good trip to Florida! I'm surprised it was cool there this time of year, but then again, the weather has been really strange this summer.

That's right, in another couple of weeks we'll be under a year till our cruise!

 

[Mjasp]

Sandy, seaspray...I do like the 54 weeks better also

 

[SeaSpray]

HI everyone!!


Well it's that time of the week to check in!! 53 weeks from right now we'll be aboard the Magic!!

I bought the Passporter's Guide to the Disney Cruise Line last night, and I was up until 3am reading it, I couldn't put it down. LOL

DSs still don't know about the cruise, but last night DS12 said he felt deprived because he hasn't been on a cruise yet. LOL DH and I just looked at each other and then gave him an answer to throw him off track. I told him "I was 42 years old before I went on my first cruise, you've got a long time to go!" Yeah, he's got 53 weeks to go, except he doesn't know it yet. Hehehehe....

Those of you with school-age children, have they started back to school yet?? Mine still have over a week to go, they go back on the Wednesday after Labor Day. We're planning a weekend trip to Vermont for some time this fall. We were there 2 years ago and it's time to go back for some fresh maple syrup, and to tour the Ben & Jerry's factory again!

I hope you all are well! Enjoy these last few days and weeks of summer!!

 

[Mjasp]

Our kids also go back the Wednesday after Labor Day. Where do you stay in Vermont? My DD's really want to go up there.

Glad someone is keeping track of the weeks, I like the way it sounds.

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by Mjasp
Our kids also go back the Wednesday after Labor Day. Where do you stay in Vermont? My DD's really want to go up there.

Glad someone is keeping track of the weeks, I like the way it sounds.

Last time we went to the Waterbury area and stayed at the Old Stagecoach Inn. www.oldstagecoach.com We will probably stay there again. It's a nice B&B, they have very good rates, and their breakfasts are wonderful. We stayed in their "Suite #1" last time and it was great for sleeping arrangements for our family. It's not as quaint as the rooms with just one bed, but it was great to have a separate bedroom, with DSs having a separate bedroom and each their own bed, plus the livingroom/kitchen area. I have pictures of our trip to Vermont on my website, there's a link in my signature below, then scroll down to "Waterbury, Vermont 2001".

I like counting the weeks down rather than the days....the amount of days left is way too depressing. lol

 

[Mjasp]

I will check it out. Thanks Also, now it is your job to check in every Saturday and remind us of the weeks.

Next week it will be a year, WOO HOO

Then the real countdown begins.

 

[winnyis]

Yes I agree 53 weeks sounds better than they days... its still seems so far away - I booked this the day they opened up for these dates back in December (well actually I booked it last september on board - but then switched the dates when they opened this date up) I was going through vacation withdrawal so I booked the 11/1/03 Navigator of the Seas for the Teacher COnvention Week here in NJ.

Ginny

 

[sandygirl]

Just checking on what I missed while away. And the "count-down" continues. Yea! Hope everyone has had an awesome summer. My DD is getting ready to return to school after Labor Day, too. I received an e-mail from Disney Dreams about some changes on the DCL Magic. I'm sure things could change again in the next "53 WEEKS".

 

[Mjasp]

366 more days to go WOO HOO

Was wondering why my timer wasn't right. I have it set for 8/27/04 as that is when I am leaving. Forgot it was leap year.

See you in a year

Joanna

 

[SeaSpray]

Technically, our cruise is a YEAR from today on August 28th! This week we can have 2 "celebrations"....today because it's August 28th, and then again Saturday when it's exactly a year, 52 weeks, from then!!

I can't believe summer is basically over. I just drove DS12 to Orientation Day at the middle school. In our town, the middle school is 7th and 8th grades. They don't start school until Sept. 3rd, so they have a few more days off till then.

I'm wondering when they will come out with a new brochure. The one I have is the 2002-2004 brochure, but the dates in the back only go up to April 2004, and now with the changes they'll be making to the Magic while it's in drydock this fall, a lot of the info will be outdated too.

 

[SeaSpray]

Hey everyone, it's 52 weeks till our cruise!!!

Each week I love reading the past weeks' cruiser's reviews and reports and I can't wait to hear how Andy and his family enjoyed their cruise

Have a great long-weekend everyone!!!