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

[matdrew]

Super!!!!!
I'm coming alone with my kids too. Maybe we can meet for coffee or a chat by the pool while the kids are in their activities.

Sure that will be great

 

[MakingScrapbooks]

Does anyone want to do brunch at Palos as a group? I really want to try Palos this time, but I prefer not to go alone (poor hubby has to stay home and work). This will be my first time dining there, so if someone has suggestions... I'd love to hear them.

 

[bellelinus]

Does anyone want to do brunch at Palos as a group? I really want to try Palos this time, but I prefer not to go alone (poor hubby has to stay home and work). This will be my first time dining there, so if someone has suggestions... I'd love to hear them.

I would go . . . I have eaten at Palo several times and it is fantastic! Let's just see how many want to do it and go from there . . .

 

[TVEPFOX]

I would go . . . I have eaten at Palo several times and it is fantastic! Let's just see how many want to do it and go from there . . .

Add Hubby and me to the list. We LUV Palo for brunch!

 

[TVEPFOX]

I suppose I could look it up, but what fun would that be when I can talk to you!

What's our itinerary? I know where we're going, just don't know what day where.

 

[bellelinus]

Saturday Port Canaveral leave 4:00 p.m.
Sunday At Sea
Monday At Sea
Tuesday St. Maarten 8:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday St. Thomas/St. John 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
Thursday At Sea
Friday Castaway Cay 9:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Saturday Port Canaveral 7:35 a.m.

 

[TVEPFOX]

Saturday Port Canaveral leave 4:00 p.m.
Sunday At Sea
Monday At Sea
Tuesday St. Maarten 8:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday St. Thomas/St. John 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
Thursday At Sea
Friday Castaway Cay 9:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Saturday Port Canaveral 7:35 a.m.

WOW! Two sea days in a row (LUV SEA DAYS) and at St. Maarten until 7 p.m.! (Anyone say SHOPPING) We did this cruise two years ago, but it was a DD with different days and times.

Thanks!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Does anyone want to do brunch at Palos as a group? I really want to try Palos this time, but I prefer not to go alone (poor hubby has to stay home and work). This will be my first time dining there, so if someone has suggestions... I'd love to hear them.

I would go . . . I have eaten at Palo several times and it is fantastic! Let's just see how many want to do it and go from there . . .

Add Hubby and me to the list. We LUV Palo for brunch!

Well if we do a group bunch, add 2 to the group if there is room.

 

[jel0511]

Count us in too!!! We'll be 2 more!!!! Anyone on this thread in a suite, as I think ressies are open for them right now!! I know our ressies open on May 31st. I'll be on first thing to get our Palo dinner ressies!!!

 

[jel0511]

If anyone booked Southwest for your flights, reprice your flights!!! I was able to get 160 back in credits for our flights!!!!!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Sorry, I haven't been posting much. Welcome to all those that joined the roll call while I was MIA, seems like quite a few!!

I have 2 DD's 8 and 10. I saw some older postings where other kids were looking for e-mail pen pals. If anyone wants to chat with my girls, send me a PM and I'll give out their e-mail accounts. They are still in school until the END of June but will have free time after that.

The girls and I have been down for the count, knocked down by seasonal allergies. If it wasn't for the marvels of modern medicine, I would still be out of commission.

I *JUST* purchased my air tickets down to MCO late last week. Purchased the flight home about 2 weeks ago. I finally feel like I can start planning our trip. I do feel like I am way behind though...

I will be flying down with the girls and my Mom on 8/18/09 - 5 nights at CSR with FREE dining!! Have to figure out where to eat in the next few days - I'm suppose to start calling tomorrow.

Then we move over to BLT at the Contemporary for 6 nights. My God brother and his family will also be at WDW this week - staying at an offsite timeshare - so we will see them. It will be his DD's first trip!! She's under 2yo.

Really sad that DH will NOT be able to join us at BLT a few extra days. His employer is not approving Thursday or Friday. So, he will fly down Friday after work, the day before the cruise. I still have to purchase his ticket as well as Mom's return ticket back to NY - she's leaving before we get on the Magic.

Anyone else going to be at the World before our cruise?

I'd better get a move on with my trip planning - I feel so unprepared!!!

I actually still have a few things I need to plan out for my parents' trip to Italy first though. And then there is this really inconvenient thing called work...

Looking forward to sailing with you all soon.

 

[MakingScrapbooks]

Great!! Happy to see so many wanting to meet for brunch! I'll be happy to have company!! This will be my first Palo meal, so maybe someone can guide us on how to do the group reservation for brunch.

I'm so excited!!!

I think I have just about made the decision to come down a few days early to do a park day and free dining. My poor hubby, who has to stay home for work, is going to paint my daughter's room as a surprise while we're gone. I'm now thinking I won't tell the kids at all. When we start driving, they will probably guess WDW. I'll make them think we're going for a few days as a break from school. Then... we'll pack up as if we're heading home, but head to the port instead. Do you think I can pull that off? I'm dying to tell, but I love suprising them.

I just have to figure out how to pack all of the extra clothes for the cruise. LOL!

 

[matdrew]

Great!! Happy to see so many wanting to meet for brunch! I'll be happy to have company!! This will be my first Palo meal, so maybe someone can guide us on how to do the group reservation for brunch.

I'm so excited!!!

I think I have just about made the decision to come down a few days early to do a park day and free dining. My poor hubby, who has to stay home for work, is going to paint my daughter's room as a surprise while we're gone. I'm now thinking I won't tell the kids at all. When we start driving, they will probably guess WDW. I'll make them think we're going for a few days as a break from school. Then... we'll pack up as if we're heading home, but head to the port instead. Do you think I can pull that off? I'm dying to tell, but I love suprising them.

I just have to figure out how to pack all of the extra clothes for the cruise. LOL!

I am also thinking to stay for the free dining its such a good deal. I am also coming with out hubby and wondering if its gonna be too much for me. My kids are 11. 7 , 4. How many days in the park are u thinking of doing and which resort. I was thinking one of the moderate. Not sure which.

I like your idea for the surprise. They will be thrilled!

Where are u driving from. I thought about doing that cause I am a little scared to fly but i am all the way in NY.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I am also thinking to stay for the free dining its such a good deal. I am also coming with out hubby and wondering if its gonna be too much for me. My kids are 11. 7 , 4. How many days in the park are u thinking of doing and which resort. I was thinking one of the moderate. Not sure which.

I like your idea for the surprise. They will be thrilled!

Where are u driving from. I thought about doing that cause I am a little scared to fly but i am all the way in NY.

I have been traveling to WDW without DH by myself with our 2 girls for the past 2-3 years. It is really easy now with DME and the Dining Plans. I also always pick an airline that participates in the resort airline check-ins for the flight home. We probably did at least about 4 trips alone now. Easy peasy.

I did decide to drive all by myself down to Miami over President's Week this year with the girls. My Mom was with us but does not drive. The drive itself was not bad at all. We stopped overnight at a hotel on the way down. I only had to drive one way, the girls and I flew back from Miami and my Dad flew down and my parents stayed another week or so after.

The problem was that I did not sleep well the night before the drive or during the overnight stop. Anxiety about being the only driver? I would normally have crashed when we got to Miami but my younger DD came down with a fever on the second day of the drive day. She was sick the first few days of the trip with her fever spiking in the middle of the night. Thus, I was up all night for those few days checking her temperature and getting her to take her meds and drink water. It was a VERY tiring trip being the only parent and driver with no sleep.

I was really glad to get to fly back.

Mom is also coming down to WDW with us for the free dining because it was such a good deal. But I don't need her to come.

 

[MakingScrapbooks]

I am also thinking to stay for the free dining its such a good deal. I am also coming with out hubby and wondering if its gonna be too much for me. My kids are 11. 7 , 4. How many days in the park are u thinking of doing and which resort. I was thinking one of the moderate. Not sure which.

I like your idea for the surprise. They will be thrilled!

Where are u driving from. I thought about doing that cause I am a little scared to fly but i am all the way in NY.

You can do it Matdrew!!
I've done WDW with just myself with the kids before, and it worked just fine. When my older two wanted to ride something that my youngest didn't, we would walk them to the entrance of the ride and wait for them by the exit or in the gift shop. They did fine. I made sure to set the ground rules when we arrived... no running off without Mom, we all had to stay together so everyone needed to be understanding with each other - we'd ride things each person wanted to ride, etc.


We're driving from GA, so not too bad. Definitely not as bad as NY.

Today I priced PO Riverside for the kids and I staying three nights with free dining and a one day base ticket (I really can't let this get outrageous with the expenses of the cruise already).

Then I priced it with my husband joining us and him flying home on Sat.
When I showed him that it would only be about $120 total for him to join us for three days and fly home with cheap airfare. He agreed to drive down with us for the few days before the cruise.

So, now the plan is to wait until the night before and tell the kids to pack a bag. We'll drive down, and they will think WDW is the surprise. We will tell them my husband has to fly somewhere for work, and I'm driving them home. Whoo!!!! We'll see how long it takes for them to figure out we're not driving home!!


Matdrew, I'll look forward to spending some "mom time out" with you on the cruise! As it gets closer, we'll have to figure out a spot to meet.

 

[TVEPFOX]

If anyone booked Southwest for your flights, reprice your flights!!! I was able to get 160 back in credits for our flights!!!!!

What do we do with the credits? I got back $235 and can't travel before they expire.

 

[jel0511]

What do we do with the credits? I got back $235 and can't travel before they expire.

I've heard of people selling them on ebay, you probably won't get 235 but something... Or see if any firends or family are traveling before they expire and gift them. We're going to WDW for spring break, so my credit will come in handy for those flights!!!!

 

[Waltworshiper]

current list on p71 post 1051

 

[matdrew]

Just a quick note about the FE. I am still waiting to hear back from jmchone0830, and RunDanceSkate about if they are still planning on participating. The first one hasn't posted since January. I don't know if they just check in once in a while and just don't chat, which is fine, and the second has posted in a thread recently so I know she is around somewhere, and may not notice the pm. I also need the stateroom # for chowboys-Nasrin I don't know if it has been assigned or if you are a gty either way can you let me know? I know she said she doesn't like to write on the boards, so she may just jump in once in a while to read up, just pm me like before. I have heard back from everyone else who asked to be involved, and everyone has been granted their request for their time slots. The list on p42 post 617 is current, so is the original list on p27 post 399. Please make sure all the info on there is correct. I know people want to get an idea of what they will need to make/buy since we are getting very close to the 90 day mark. If anyone has any changes please pm me so I can keep it straight.

I might want to join in on this. I just need to know how many people I have to buy for and what sorts of things to get before I decide 100%. Sounds like fun though

 

[matdrew]

You can do it Matdrew!!
I've done WDW with just myself with the kids before, and it worked just fine. When my older two wanted to ride something that my youngest didn't, we would walk them to the entrance of the ride and wait for them by the exit or in the gift shop. They did fine. I made sure to set the ground rules when we arrived... no running off without Mom, we all had to stay together so everyone needed to be understanding with each other - we'd ride things each person wanted to ride, etc.


We're driving from GA, so not too bad. Definitely not as bad as NY.

Today I priced PO Riverside for the kids and I staying three nights with free dining and a one day base ticket (I really can't let this get outrageous with the expenses of the cruise already).

Then I priced it with my husband joining us and him flying home on Sat.
When I showed him that it would only be about $120 total for him to join us for three days and fly home with cheap airfare. He agreed to drive down with us for the few days before the cruise.

So, now the plan is to wait until the night before and tell the kids to pack a bag. We'll drive down, and they will think WDW is the surprise. We will tell them my husband has to fly somewhere for work, and I'm driving them home. Whoo!!!! We'll see how long it takes for them to figure out we're not driving home!!


Matdrew, I'll look forward to spending some "mom time out" with you on the cruise! As it gets closer, we'll have to figure out a spot to meet.

hi I am looking forward to hanging out with you too.

Try AAA if u have it I got a price for 1300 or so for 4 with tickets, hotel and free dining. It was 400 more or so for a moderate.