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

[SleepyatDVC]

I'm trying to figure out how to maximize the 6 month no intrest deal that the Disney Visa does... I knew if you booked or put a DISNEY vacation on it...you'd get 6month free intrest...but I didn't ever consider breaking it down to stretch it out over a year My problem is...I have some stuff on the card already that's not intrest free ...BUT I have the money to pay the cruise off in full... SO I was considering putting the money for the cruise (or part of it) towards the card balance...have the cruise added to it and get the free intrests. SO in a since exchaning the balacne that's getting intrest added with an intrest free balance (for 6 months)....PLUS getting the Disney points to use on vacation... I know I want to get the points...BUT I'm jsut not sure about the paying the card down and adding the crusie fair to it??

That's what I would do, if possible.

 

[scrapperjill]

I think I just have to make sure I time the whole thing right...By making the Disney Visa payment first then putting the cruise money on the card. That way they won't take the balance from the cruise charge and pay it off with the large amount I pay on the card.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I think I just have to make sure I time the whole thing right...By making the Disney Visa payment first then putting the cruise money on the card. That way they won't take the balance from the cruise charge and pay it off with the large amount I pay on the card.

I would make sure that the payment paying off the entire balance was in one billing cycle with the DCL charge on the NEXT one.

Basically, make sure the new statement comes with a 0 balance before charging the cruise. Better safe than sorry.

If the CC companies could charge you more interest and fees, they will try to work things to their advantage each time.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Joe is your MIL traveling with you on the cruise?

That's a good idea. WDW before and after.

I think we will stick with just the before. I think my kids go back to school the day after Labor Day. We never like to go back to school or work the next day after flying home. Especially, my DH. He prefers at least one day at home to "decompress" before heading to the office. Also, I think that we can check in our luggage for our flight home directly on the ship? (Depending on the airline, of course.) Like what they have at the WDW resorts? If so, that would be super convenient.

Anyone know how much a day pass at the MCO Hyatt costs? In case we have a later flight.

Who knows, I may change my mind between now and then though. A day hanging by the pool at WDW after the cruise sounds nice too.

Yes my MIL is going on the cruise

We have connecting cat 6's. The oldest two girls will be with her and my youngest will be with me and DW.

She is actually a lot of fun and the girls will enjoy her company.

We may come home on Sunday if the girls begin school on Tuesday so that they will have a full day to adjust. Labor day is wishful thinking on my part

Joe

 

[scrapperjill]

I would make sure that the payment paying off the entire balance was in one billing cycle with the DCL charge on the NEXT one.

Basically, make sure the new statement comes with a 0 balance before charging the cruise. Better safe than sorry.

If the CC companies could charge you more interest and fees, they will try to work things to their advantage each time.

That is a GOOD idea

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I'm wondering about airfare next August. I'm currently checking on pricing for April 2009 (Easter/Passover break) to Miami and it is about $480/pp rd trip. If it doesn't go down, I always threathen to drive. Haven't had to drive since 2004, so crossing my fingers.

August airfare is usually cheaper. Crossing fingers AND toes that this proves true because I really DON'T want to drive to/from Florida TWICE in one year as a back up plan!

Although, if I had to pick a trip to HAVE TO drive, I would chose August to drive - more time to make the drive since the kids are out of school and Orlando is a bit closer than Miami to NYC.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

I'm wondering about airfare next August. I'm currently checking on pricing for April 2009 (Easter/Passover break) to Miami and it is about $480/pp rd trip. If it doesn't go down, I always threathen to drive. Haven't had to drive since 2004, so crossing my fingers.

August airfare is usually cheaper. Crossing fingers AND toes that this proves true because I really DON'T want to drive to/from Florida TWICE in one year as a back up plan!

Although, if I had to pick a trip to HAVE TO drive, I would chose August to drive - more time to make the drive since the kids are out of school and Orlando is a bit closer than Miami to NYC.

Hello SleepyatDVC,

I'm in Chicago this week at a Conference.

I will probably use my US Airways companion certificates for this cruise. I buy one ticket at the regular price and get two at $99.00 a piece for the next two.

My wife gets a certificate too so that covers the entire party of six.

The only draw back to this is that I will have to wait until next May to book our flight. Because this year's certificate is only good until next May.

Joe

 

[CruisinEars]

Hi Everyone!

I haven't read all the pages yet, but thought I would check in anyway. I just a few minutes ago booked this cruise. We were on the May3 Western a couple of weeks ago and rebooked a dummy date. Well, our dummy just turned into a real date. I am so excited to be cruising again so soon. Well, sooner than originally planned. We also chose this cruise because it is the cheapest summer cruise and our kids will hopefully only miss the first couple days of school.

We are (at time of sailing):

Jennifer-just turned 42
Bruce-42
Andy-11
Elisabeth-8

 

[CruisinEars]

We are in N. Lynnwood.

Marsha, we are almost neighbors! We live near Silverlake but I grew up in Picnic Point and work near there. Small world.

 

[eeyoregon]

Hi all.

Q: Do you know if you can book the ressie for 2 people and then add 2 people to the ressie later (same cabin)??

 

[CruisinEars]

Hi,

Yes you can. However, the 2 new cruisers will pay the current rate and if the cruise is getting full, there could be no availability to add more passengers in those demographics. I hope that is somewhat clear.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Hi all.

Q: Do you know if you can book the ressie for 2 people and then add 2 people to the ressie later (same cabin)??

Don't forget that the fuel surcharge starts tomorrow. It might be easier and cheaper to book them now and then cancel them before 75 days out at no charge if they can't go.

Joe

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Hi Everyone!

I haven't read all the pages yet, but thought I would check in anyway. I just a few minutes ago booked this cruise. We were on the May3 Western a couple of weeks ago and rebooked a dummy date. Well, our dummy just turned into a real date. I am so excited to be cruising again so soon. Well, sooner than originally planned. We also chose this cruise because it is the cheapest summer cruise and our kids will hopefully only miss the first couple days of school.

We are (at time of sailing):

Jennifer-just turned 42
Bruce-42
Andy-11
Elisabeth-8

Welcome Aboard!!!!

My youngest DD will be 8 at sailing also.

Marsha, we are almost neighbors! We live near Silverlake but I grew up in Picnic Point and work near there. Small world.

We have lots of cruisers from WA!!!

 

[CruisinEars]

Thanks for the welcome. I look forward to getting to know my fellow cruisers. Our first cruise (the one we just took) was just so amazing that I hope this one can live up to it in our minds anyway.

Yay about your dd8. My dd would love to meet someone. She found a couple of girls to hang with last time and I think it made things much more fun for her.

I noticed too that there are alot of us from WA. A mini dis meet may be in order.

I am interested in what excursions people are planning eventually. I really want to check out St. John, but my family doesn't snorkle and those seem to be the only excursions offered.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Thanks for the welcome. I look forward to getting to know my fellow cruisers. Our first cruise (the one we just took) was just so amazing that I hope this one can live up to it in our minds anyway.

Yay about your dd8. My dd would love to meet someone. She found a couple of girls to hang with last time and I think it made things much more fun for her.

I noticed too that there are alot of us from WA. A mini dis meet may be in order.

I am interested in what excursions people are planning eventually. I really want to check out St. John, but my family doesn't snorkle and those seem to be the only excursions offered.

I've been to St. Thomas quite a few times and have never managed to get over to St. John so I really want to go over. We do do a bit of snorkeling but I wouldn't mind just hanging at the beach. Trying to figure out if we want to take the ferry over and just beach it on our own or do some sort of catamaran or day sail excursion that includes seeing some of St.John from the water.

 

[mrsmoore]

Marsha, we are almost neighbors! We live near Silverlake but I grew up in Picnic Point and work near there. Small world.

Hi Jennifer, welcome!! I actually work in S. Everett, over by Mariner HS. I can't believe how many of us from WA on here! I just signed up for an Alaska Air visa card, so plan to save miles and hopefully have a free ticket, a $50 companion pass, and pay for one ticket.

I thought about going to Tortola for the St Thomas day. DH is golfing, so I am looking for something maybe just in the AM for DD and I, then spend the PM on the boat relaxing. FIL and his wife may join us!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been around but it looks like things are staying active here. I just wanted to let everyone know that I just cancelled this cruise. I'm extremely sad but we really felt we needed to. Luckily we have taken this cruise before so we have that experience to keep with us. Hopefully we will return to DCL in the future but for now we have to do what's best for our family. I wish everyone a BON VOYAGE!!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been around but it looks like things are staying active here. I just wanted to let everyone know that I just cancelled this cruise. I'm extremely sad but we really felt we needed to. Luckily we have taken this cruise before so we have that experience to keep with us. Hopefully we will return to DCL in the future but for now we have to do what's best for our family. I wish everyone a BON VOYAGE!!

Awwwww shucks!! You have to do what you have to do though.

I've been meaning to ask how your DD did in the NYC competition though. Hope she did well!

 

[CruisinEars]

Hi Jennifer, welcome!! I actually work in S. Everett, over by Mariner HS. I can't believe how many of us from WA on here! I just signed up for an Alaska Air visa card, so plan to save miles and hopefully have a free ticket, a $50 companion pass, and pay for one ticket.

I thought about going to Tortola for the St Thomas day. DH is golfing, so I am looking for something maybe just in the AM for DD and I, then spend the PM on the boat relaxing. FIL and his wife may join us!

OMG, that is too funny. We are doing the same thing with the visa. My dh just signed up for it on our last trip. We actually flew the SEA-MCO direct flight on Alaska and it was great, and we used miles for all of us. We are hoping to use miles for 1, companion for 1 and buy 2 tickets this trip.

I had no idea Tortola was so close. We really wanted to do the Tortola cruise but it was so much more expensive. How are you planning to get to Tortola?

 

[CruisinEars]

I am curious where people are staying of doing WDW before or after the cruise. I went to WDW in 1993 in HS, and we stayed in Kissimee. So, I know very little about the resorts. I just bought the Passporter, then read they will have a new one for 2009, oh well!

I am leaning towards Coronado Springs or Wilderness Lodge. I prefer WL, but not against Coronado Springs.

I am curious where you have stayed or are staying and any feedback. Thanks!

We are planning 3-4 days before the cruise. We just did 7 days after and we were exhausted when we got home. We decided before is the way to go. Plus, the kids will be starting school right after we get home. We stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn in LBV and it was very nice. My dh was looking this evening at hotels and we will probably stay at the RI near Seaworld. They have a better pool.

I have stayed at the Coronado Springs and it was okay. The Wilderness Lodge doesn't appeal to us, so we haven't wanted to stay there. When I go to Florida, I want to stay in a hotel that is tropical. WL is just too much like home.