August 29th, 2009--Eastern Magic...Let's Get it Started!

[Va-bear]

Virginia, this will be our 7th Disney cruise so ask away!

Wow - 7th - that is so great!!!! Ok, I'm giong to put on my thinking cap and come up with all of those questions that keep flying through my head - always when Im not near a computer, it seems.

The first one is, and I've read a bita bout this, but am curious about your opinion - when do you usually arrive for the cruise - do you stay at a hotel locally the night before?

Thanks!

 

[justhat]

Our first cruise was our honeymoon in 2004 and we had a bad room location and didn't really want to sail with Disney again after that. Then February 2007 we were thinking about a cruise, and with 2 small kids, Disney won out and we had a great experience! We had a much better room location so that helped a lot, plus having the Reef to watch our kids for a solo meal sealed the deal. That was an Eastern btw. We rebooked on board that cruise for a 4 night last June and the 5 night 9/1 cruise that is coming up in just over a month (finally!). We also did a 10 night Med cruise with my mom last summer and a Western in April.

And now that you know more about my vacation history than you ever wanted to....

We do come in the night before. We're afraid that our flight might be delayed or cancelled and we'd miss the cruise so we do get in the night before. We've never stayed in a local hotel cause the way it's worked out for us so far is that we've come in 2 nights before, did a day in WDW, then went to the ship the next morning, so I don't know anything about the hotels near the port.

In April though, we couldn't fly in a day early cause the flights were just so expensive, and add in a night at a hotel and that kept us away. It was fine though, we just got an early flight and arrived at MCO at 10:30 or 11am and went straight to the ship.

The big perk, for me, about getting in the night before is getting to the terminal early, checking in, getting the kids registered for their clubs, then getting some photos with characters before boarding. Then you're on the ship nice and early, so you can grab lunch and get in the pool. Makes the vacation last that much longer!

BTW, we're not too far from you-we live in DC, near the National Zoo.

 

[Va-bear]

Thanks justthat!

Wow, what a cruise history - I am VERY jelous! We did a short 4 day, I think, before the kids were born (but not quite enough before - I was "morning sick" all day and night for it - and couldnt even have a drink!!)

I do hope they enjoy the clubs a lot - a meal alone w/ DH would be quite a unique treat. We dont any babysitters at all - so we average about once or twice a yr.

I think we will fly in the night before I tend to be a worrier - so anything to keep that down, I am waffling between staying at the Hyatte at MCO - have always wanted a ton of time to check out the airport and never seem to have it. Or the Radisson in PC. Well, at least I hae a year to decide!

We were just up at the Smithsonians a few weekends ago. Did the zoo last summer - now the boys want to go back to both. I'd love to live so near. I do have a great old friend very very near the zoo also. (I lived in Greenbelt MD for 5 yrs - about 15 yrs ago. DC but didnt love the traffic or the housing costs. For what we bought our 4 bedroom home in Richmond for we could have maybe gotten a 2 bedroom condo - maybe.) Ok - now Im just rambling - - off to drive home.

Thanks for the advice - more to come!

 

[justhat]

Virginia, our friends moved from DC to Richmond 3 years ago and their house is absolutely amazing. While here we stay, in a crappy townhouse/rowhouse thing with no yard. They even have a pool!

And we are no fans of the traffic either. My husband works at GW otherwise we'd move. He's done in 2 years so we're looking to either move outside the city then (even if he stays at GW), or out of state. We'll see what happens.

And yes, after all those cruises in a short amount of time, we will greatly miss it. We've got the one on 9/1, then this cruise next August then probably none for awhile. We're planning on a 3rd kid sometime after that cruise and having done a cruise while 7 weeks pregnant, well, like you said, I was sick the entire time. No need to repeat that. So not planning on any cruises while pregnant and don't want to sail with a super young baby, so it will be awhile. I've come to love the ship more than any other place we've been to so it will be missed.

And about the clubs, my daughter was just over 4yo on our last cruise and LOVED the Oceaneer Club! She was in that thing every waking moment that we allowed her to be in there. We had to pull her out at night, around 11pm, cause WE were tired and wanted to go to sleep! She really loved it, so I hope you have that luck too. We also don't have babysitters here, and our family doesn't live in this area, so the cruise is the only time we're kid-free. Probably why we love DCL so much!

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Hello all,

Just got off jury duty. I was hoping not to get picked but became juror number 3

Now that it is over I can focus on my upcoming trip to Nuevo Vallarta. Since its close to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico I hope to get a glimpse of the Magic while she is in port.

That should fill my fix until next year.

Joe

 

[Va-bear]

Virginia, our friends moved from DC to Richmond 3 years ago and their house is absolutely amazing. While here we stay, in a crappy townhouse/rowhouse thing with no yard. They even have a pool!

And we are no fans of the traffic either. My husband works at GW otherwise we'd move. He's done in 2 years so we're looking to either move outside the city then (even if he stays at GW), or out of state. We'll see what happens.

And yes, after all those cruises in a short amount of time, we will greatly miss it. We've got the one on 9/1, then this cruise next August then probably none for awhile. We're planning on a 3rd kid sometime after that cruise and having done a cruise while 7 weeks pregnant, well, like you said, I was sick the entire time. No need to repeat that. So not planning on any cruises while pregnant and don't want to sail with a super young baby, so it will be awhile. I've come to love the ship more than any other place we've been to so it will be missed.

And about the clubs, my daughter was just over 4yo on our last cruise and LOVED the Oceaneer Club! She was in that thing every waking moment that we allowed her to be in there. We had to pull her out at night, around 11pm, cause WE were tired and wanted to go to sleep! She really loved it, so I hope you have that luck too. We also don't have babysitters here, and our family doesn't live in this area, so the cruise is the only time we're kid-free. Probably why we love DCL so much!

I hope my kids love th clubs too - it would be so nice if we all can do some extra relaxing! I'm getting more and more excited - we have to wait a year for this?! At least you will get to go sooner.

Hello all,

Just got off jury duty. I was hoping not to get picked but became juror number 3

Now that it is over I can focus on my upcoming trip to Nuevo Vallarta. Since its close to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico I hope to get a glimpse of the Magic while she is in port.

That should fill my fix until next year.

Joe

Cool - hope you get to see it!! You did your civic duty - you deserve it! Have a great trip!!!

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

VA-bear and Justthat

I love D.C. and Richmond. I go to both cities a lot because I take high school students to both cities. As a matter of fact, we will be visiting Georgetown and the University of Richmond this fall.

Both schools have beautiful campuses and the food is great.

One year we were supposed to tour GW but we got stuck in traffic and only had time to take a drive by tour

Joe

 

[Va-bear]

VA-bear and Justthat

I love D.C. and Richmond. I go to both cities a lot because I take high school students to both cities. As a matter of fact, we will be visiting Georgetown and the University of Richmond this fall.

Both schools have beautiful campuses and the food is great.

One year we were supposed to tour GW but we got stuck in traffic and only had time to take a drive by tour

Joe

U or R campus is really beautiful, isnt it? I like GW too - I used to have a friend who worked there. Love how nicely its incorperated into the city - unlike U of R, which is like a little island inthe middle of the city (ie, its not really much like Richmond overall.)

I've never been to Philly but want to soon. My older son is that age where the history would be really cool to him!

 

[justhat]

VA-bear and Justthat

I love D.C. and Richmond. I go to both cities a lot because I take high school students to both cities. As a matter of fact, we will be visiting Georgetown and the University of Richmond this fall.

Both schools have beautiful campuses and the food is great.

One year we were supposed to tour GW but we got stuck in traffic and only had time to take a drive by tour

Joe

That's funny because we love Philly and go there every year too. This year is the first time we won't really see it much because we're doing a weekend at Sesame Place instead. We usually combine Sesame Place/Philly, but only have Saturday and Sunday this year and we've promised my son a trip to see Elmo since he's potty trained (amazing what works!).

GW's a great school for drive by tours since it's right in the city. Works a lot better than trying that at Georgetown, or even AU for that matter.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

That's funny because we love Philly and go there every year too. This year is the first time we won't really see it much because we're doing a weekend at Sesame Place instead. We usually combine Sesame Place/Philly, but only have Saturday and Sunday this year and we've promised my son a trip to see Elmo since he's potty trained (amazing what works!).

GW's a great school for drive by tours since it's right in the city. Works a lot better than trying that at Georgetown, or even AU for that matter.

We haven't been to Sesame Place in a couple of years. The last time that we went, we had a blast. This park has the right pace for my taste. And the funnel cake is not bad either.

Joe

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Glad to see our rollcall getting more active and seeing all these new cruisers joining us!!!

I've been too busy to post lately. Busy getting ready for our Disney trip in 2 weeks!!!

Also, have a NCL cruise Easter 2009 week.

Once we get back from WDW and summer in over , I'll have more time to post.

Everyone, enjoy the rest of your summer. It will be over TOO quickly!

 

[justhat]

We haven't been to Sesame Place in a couple of years. The last time that we went, we had a blast. This park has the right pace for my taste. And the funnel cake is not bad either.

Joe

We like it too. We've been going annually during our Philly trip since 2005. Of course, it does make us appreciate Disney since there's no fastpass and waiting in the sun forever gets old fast, but the kids don't seem to mind.

 

[justhat]

Glad to see our rollcall getting more active and seeing all these new cruisers joining us!!!

I've been too busy to post lately. Busy getting ready for our Disney trip in 2 weeks!!!

Also, have a NCL cruise Easter 2009 week.

Once we get back from WDW and summer in over , I'll have more time to post.

Everyone, enjoy the rest of your summer. It will be over TOO quickly!

Enjoy your Disney trip! We'll be there for a few days before our cruise on 9/1, so maybe we'll see you there!

 

[Va-bear]

Glad to see our rollcall getting more active and seeing all these new cruisers joining us!!!

I've been too busy to post lately. Busy getting ready for our Disney trip in 2 weeks!!!

Also, have a NCL cruise Easter 2009 week.

Once we get back from WDW and summer in over , I'll have more time to post.

Everyone, enjoy the rest of your summer. It will be over TOO quickly!

We go in about 2 weeks too - YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After that, it will be full swing on the cruise. I need to know a LOT more!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Enjoy your Disney trip! We'll be there for a few days before our cruise on 9/1, so maybe we'll see you there!

We'll be moving offsite on 8/23/08 and doing SeaWorld so probably won't run into you in the parks.

We go in about 2 weeks too - YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After that, it will be full swing on the cruise. I need to know a LOT more!

When will you be down in WDW and where will you be staying? We'll be at the BWV from 8/16/08 - 8/23/08. Can't wait.

 

[justhat]

Bummer. We arrive 8/27. Enjoy Sea World!

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

I hope you all got your tickets for the parks early because the newspapers reported last week a price increase at the parks.

We bought Park Hopper non-expiration tickets last year and didn't get a chance to use them after our DCL cruise. It rained a few days and we still had two days worth of passes to use up on old tickets.

Now they seem like a great bargain but at the time it appeared to be very expensive.

Joe

 

[eeyoregon]

I hope you all got your tickets for the parks early because the newspapers reported last week a price increase at the parks.
Joe

How much does a day in the parks run these days? We are mighty spoiled and haven't had to purchase park tickets in years. I bet I would be in for some major sticker shock!

gina

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

How much does a day in the parks run these days? We are mighty spoiled and haven't had to purchase park tickets in years. I bet I would be in for some major sticker shock!

gina

Gina,

MouseSavers says that DW tickets without a discount cost almost $80.00 for ages 10 and over and $67.10 for for 9 and under.

Joe

 

[eeyoregon]

Gina,

MouseSavers says that DW tickets without a discount cost almost $80.00 for ages 10 and over and $67.10 for for 9 and under.

Joe

Zoinks I better send some flowers to my dear friend who gets us in for free!!

gina