August 30th 2009 - 4 night Wonder

[silmarg]

final plans? I doubt my plans are final as of yet. As a matter of fact, I just made a change again a couple of days ago! I can tell you my plans as they stand now....

a week in orlando off property, the week before the cruise at pop century, the night before the cruise at fairfield inn and suites in the mariott village in orlando and three nights after the cruise in the Hilton Cocoa Beach. I am not so sure about the last one, because the reviews on trip advisor are not stellar... but we shall see.

I will pay off the cruise next month, I just put discovery cove on the card this month

We stayed at the Cocoa Beach Hilton when we went on our 2007 DCL (our first). I got a free room (using reward points) and was nervous about staying there due to web reviews. While we did not use all the amenities and such (we did not check in until midnight and left by 10AM)... we thought the place was fine. I say go for it!

 

[silmarg]

Strong Rumors about Disney offering Free Dining Aug 15-Sept 30.

WHO HOO!

 

[debsters41]

Strong Rumors about Disney offering Free Dining Aug 15-Sept 30.

WHO HOO!

Oh oh oh oh... I have it written in my calendar to be on the look out for it.... oh please oh please

 

[happyj]

Hi Debster
You only get free dining if you stay disney paying rake rate.
so can be expensive.

 

[debsters41]

Hi Janet
I already have a budget in my head that I will go no higher than... I personally would like to have the discipline of having all my meals arranged because I know how my family can get....

I still wouldn't mind hearing about some off site choices, seeing as we are going to be there a whole other week

My sister recommends "Bahama Breeze" but I am just so afraid about my picky teenagers who have never eaten anything 'jerk' style....

I am planning on keeping an eye out for the half price entertainment books, too.

 

[happyj]

I also agree with planning .
Otherwise I will say " where shall we eat tonight" I don't mind .
Shall we go .......... " no do not like it there "
What about ............
Do you see what i mean
So planning means no time wasted just pure pleasure .
I also really enjoy the planning .

 

[debsters41]

I also agree with planning .
Otherwise I will say " where shall we eat tonight" I don't mind .
Shall we go .......... " no do not like it there "
What about ............
Do you see what i mean
So planning means no time wasted just pure pleasure .
I also really enjoy the planning .

Oh let's be honest... the vacation for us began with the planning!

 

[hmansure]

Hi Janet
I already have a budget in my head that I will go no higher than... I personally would like to have the discipline of having all my meals arranged because I know how my family can get....

I still wouldn't mind hearing about some off site choices, seeing as we are going to be there a whole other week

My sister recommends "Bahama Breeze" but I am just so afraid about my picky teenagers who have never eaten anything 'jerk' style....

I am planning on keeping an eye out for the half price entertainment books, too.

There is a Bahama Breeze near us... it's not too bad actually - my picky kids usually find something they like on the menu Good place for seafood and ribs are pretty good, too. You can get stuff jerk painted or just grilled.

 

[debsters41]

There is a Bahama Breeze near us... it's not too bad actually - my picky kids usually find something they like on the menu Good place for seafood and ribs are pretty good, too. You can get stuff jerk painted or just grilled.

Thanks for the 411!

 

[debsters41]

Hi again all! Free Dining is out! I of course am not a disney visa holder, being overseas, but my wonderful dreams agent has assured me that should the offer be made available to the general public, she will be right on it!

 

[Carys]

Yes, hopefully it will open up in the next day or so to the wider public. I'll be taking advantage of it - we already have the bounceback free dining booked, but I need to change hotel, lengthen the stay and add my mum so I'm happy the free dining deal has turned up as widely expected.

 

[debsters41]

That means 10 days of gluttony! (six at Disney, four on cruise!)

 

[Carys]

And we're booked! 3-13 at POR with the discounted deluxe dining plan Now to plan some sort of surprise for my mum on the first day of the cruise as it will be her birthday! Will definately have to get that birthday room decoration package with the cake and banner...

 

[Young Pooh]

That means 10 days of gluttony! (six at Disney, four on cruise!)

And we're booked! 3-13 at POR with the discounted deluxe dining plan Now to plan some sort of surprise for my mum on the first day of the cruise as it will be her birthday! Will definately have to get that birthday room decoration package with the cake and banner...

Glad you both got it. We got it when they had the UK offer at the end of last year so we will have 15 days of feasting including the cruise - may need to buy an extra seat for the way home.

Sandra, what about booking a spa treatment for your mum. It's a shame she will miss out on the WDW celebration gift but I am sure the cruise will make up for that. Have you noted her birthday on your reservations for both POR and DCL? I think if DCL know then they automatically do a cake in the restaurant on the night of her birthday and the waiters all sing happy birthday.

 

[debsters41]

if we all arranged to meet on the first night of the cruise and sing happy birthday to your mom?? It would surely be a surprise, all these strangers wishing her a happy birthday!

 

[Young Pooh]

Well I bit the bullet yesterday and topped up our 2 prepaid Mastercards with some more $ - the rate had increased a bit due to the G20 thingy in London.
I now have enough in $ on them to pay off the cruise when it is due and not have to worry about what the exchange rate is on the day.

I keep checking out the DCL website for the current price as it has gone down slightly since we originally booked - we booked through DU so got it slightly cheaper than on the DCL website - the website is now the same price as we got from DU.

I checked the price a couple of months ago and it had gone right up - we could only get a cat 11 for the price we have for a cat 7. It might be worth checking out to see if your price has gone down.

 

[debsters41]

Hi again all!

About checking for a lower price, wouldn't DU do that for us automatically? I booked through them, so I am hoping that if the prices went down, the agents would tell us!

 

[Young Pooh]

Hi Debs

Yes, DU do say that they check for price drops but being an obsessive planner I also check.

Given the number of reservations they hold, I am not sure how often they check or what their system is.

Those that booked with DCL direct need to check themselves I think.

How's the planning going? Anymore changes or are you still sticking to the last plan?

We will have to start thinking a bit more about our FE exchange and meets (WDW and DCL).

 

[happyj]

Hi all
I did not realise FE are so personnel.So I will have to take note on all who are joining in .
At the moment it is dining planning I am doing not long for the 90 days.
Janet

 

[debsters41]

Young Pooh (Sue) + DH (Bill) + DD4 (Evie) [United Kingdom] <*XX><
Carys (Sandra) + DDad + DM [Taiwan + New Zealand] <*XX><
Shasess + DH + DD + DD [Carolinas]
Silmarg + DW + DD7 + DD10 + SIL + SILDH + SILDS8 [New York]
Debsters41 (Debbie) + DH + DD15 + DD13 [Greece]<*XX><
Happyj (Janet) + DH + DD20 [United Kingdom]stateroom 6542
Shellyr25 + DD + DS11 + DD10 [New Jersey]
Skiingwife (Melissa) + DH (Steve) + DS16 (Spencer) + DS14 (Alex) + DS11 (Nicholas) [Michigan]
Nadinenurse + DH + DD17 + DS16 [New York]<*XX><
Hmansure (Harry) + DW (Vicki) + DS14 (Tim) + DS10 (Jake) + DD5 (Keira) [New Jersey] <*XX><
Xolatinoxo + DH + DD15 + DS9
Love2pugs (Tracy) + DH (Nick) [Ohio] <*XX>< - Stateroom number 6616


This was the last update we had with the exchange list. I am not adding my stateroom number yet because hope springs eternal for an upgrade!