August 8, 2009 Western Caribbean on the Magic!

[Figment_Fan]

We are going to work on flights next. Then probably which excursions to take, if any.
Last time we put all the excursions on the wall with painters tape, and the whole family voted. Of course, anything that excluded the youngest was automaticaly out.
I don't think we put in a request for early or late dining. Anybody out there want to weigh in on that.

We had late dining last time. Wasn't as bad as we thought. The kids grabbed a snack, we hit the shows and then went to eat. The kids got used to it pretty quick. Weird eating that late in the evening.

 

[Figment_Fan]

Okay, let's try one more to bump to 4.

 

[Figment_Fan]

Got bored and looked up summer movie releases. Disney Pictures has a movie being released on August 7, 2009 called "When in Rome" The following is a short description from a generic web site:

During a short trip to Rome, Beth Martin steals a handful of coins from the Fountain Of Love and as a result, the seven people who tossed those coins in the Fountain all fall wildly, hopelessly, irritatingly in love with her.

Can't find anything scheduled during our sailing. Gonna keep an eye out though.

 

[dismagic09]

PAGE 4, MAYBE????

as far as late seating I think i would prefer it. We are night owls anyway but going on excursions and hanging out all day - i think it is the seating for us. i personally can't imagine getting ready and being at dinner around 6 after excursions and hanging out all day. My favorite time of the day is around 6-7pm so i know it will work out best for my family.

thanks for looking up the movie - is it a cartoon or real people?

figment - i'm not sure where you are located but does spiritair fly anywhere near you - they have crazy flight deals all the time. We flew from NC to Orlando last year for $200 (that was for 5 people round trip)

Oh, I guess i need to work on excursion before the magnets. Do you usually book through disney or plan your own?

 

[Figment_Fan]

Well, DW is definitely done with her studies. We now have our flights booked, along with assigned seats.

Dismagic09, we are going AirTran. Not as good as your deal, but not bad - $99 each way from Detroit straight through to Orlando and straight back.

We also have our tentative room # ::: Cabin #2512. It is toward the front of the ship. Last time we were in 2614 toward the middle/back of the ship. As long as I'm on the ship, I'm happy.

STILL have NOT told the kids. Hard to believe - I'm really bad at keeping secrets.

 

[Figment_Fan]

Yes, we generally book through Disney. I vaguely remember that if it is booked through them, and something goes wrong, the ship won't leave without you. If you book on your own, the responsibility is yours. And ships do leave people behind.
I'll have to double check the fine print somewhere. As the Genie said, there are clauses, provisos, quid pro quos, addenda, etc. . . .

Hey, page 4. Finally!

 

[Figment_Fan]

Okay, page 4. Where is everybody. Dismagic09, any ideas on how to drum up support. The last cruise I was on, we were seeing who could get us to page 100 by now.

Alright, any themes for this cruise -- food: cheese cake challenge - who can try the most different kinds?

Drink challenge: who can try how many different types, alchoholic and non-alchoholic?

How many different steaks can you taste?

Exotic foods: who ate the most sushi, escargot, squid, crab, tartar?

After that, who didn't lose their cookies?

All right, it's a cruise, I'm fishin' here!!!

 

[Figment_Fan]

And for those who want to know, yes I drive my DW, children, co-workers and family nuts when I'm bored. Don't let me get bored!

 

[dismagic09]

DCL just called, they upgraded both your family and mine to the Walt & Roy Disney suite

I still can't believe that we are the only ones on this thread now! no wonder they had to send out the promotion.

good point about the DCL excursions - i'm always one to pay more for the security.

as far as challenges...
i'll have to think about that one.

 

[Figment_Fan]

Glad to hear of the upgrade. We should get lot's of attention being some of the few people on the big boat.

I was on the Passporter thread for the 8/8 cruise. There are a couple of people on that thread. But it is still only on page one. So, noting that, we may be a whole 20 people on the boat. Hopefully that won't effect our upgrades.

As to the excursions, I hear that booking them yourself is cheaper. Maybe that is true, maybe not. Like everything - including the kid's sale free PIN, everybody can find different offers and deals. Heck, you can probably get on the same tour on their web-site and get a coupon or special bargain.
Everything has become similar to a car sale, nobody pays the same price for the same item. But, I like the confidence I have in a Disney product.

 

[Figment_Fan]

Has anybody looked at the excursions yet. I only glanced at them. I guess I had better start looking more closely.

We are telling the kids next week after my DW walks and recieves her diploma, I'm going to ask her what she's going to do next. - with the obvious answer, without any subsidy from Disney. We'll see what the kids reactions are.

 

[dismagic09]

Figment - who are talking to? its just me in here!
i've started to look at excursions but haven't made any decisions, how about yuo and your family? my DD is close in age to your DD. mine is 9 - i guess they will see each other in the kids club. they are going to be so shocked after your DW graduation - that is going to be a great suprise. we usually suprise our kids on everything so we decided to tell them about the cruise - it will help us keep them in line over the summer they can't stop talking about it so i'm glad we went ahead and told them.

um, do you think there is another thread for this cruise?

 

[Figment_Fan]

Dismagic09, not only talking with you, but anybody lurking out there who hasn't signed in. Some people are shy. Also, hopefully any of the others who have signed in.

I noticed you DD is 9. My DD will be turning 9 in Sept. I'm sure they will see each other at the club.

Haven't made any decisions on excursions yet. We will get DS and DD's input before deciding - so another week before any major decisions. We have found that half of the fun of the trip is planning for it. Generally, we get a Birnbaum guide and everybody in the house reads it and marks what will be there must do items, from rides to foods to try. For the cruise, we have bought the passporter's guide. It had some great tips.
I have also been reading the thread of everyone's favorite tips on this board.

There is another thread on the PassPorter site. But, like I stated earlier - that thread is only 1 page with maybe 2 other families on it. No other thread I can find on the disboards.

 

[Figment_Fan]

One more to bump to 5?

 

[Carlnne]

I am officially onboard again and paid in full! I wasnt sure if I was going to keep my reservation but I finally got a better price than the one I had- so I upgraded our cabin from cat 11 to cat 7 for the same price.

 

[dismagic09]

I am officially onboard again and paid in full! I wasnt sure if I was going to keep my reservation but I finally got a better price than the one I had- so I upgraded our cabin from cat 11 to cat 7 for the same price.

glad to hear it. i saw on a couple threads that you were thinking about cancelling. nice deal with the upgrade. Do you think you might be able to round some more people up over here for our cruise?



Figment - i was j/k around about who you were talking to - i hope we do have some lurkers. Where did you find your passporter guide? it hasn't make it to our bookstores yet - did you get it online?

 

[Carlnne]

glad to hear it. i saw on a couple threads that you were thinking about cancelling. nice deal with the upgrade. Do you think you might be able to round some more people up over here for our cruise?

Yep- glad to be here too! I was thinking of switching over to the four day but my heart was set on this one. Someone was looking out for us because out of nowhere my 21 year old DD got the PIN email! I canceled my original resie and made the new one- but she had to be the main cruiser so now I am her guest. It all worked out in the end. But unfortunately I dont know anyone else sailing to add to the list.

 

[WendyinMaryland]

I canceled my original reservation (from 14 months ago) on Friday and re-booked the AAA special for $900 less plus I went up one stateroom category.

 

[Figment_Fan]

WendyinMaryland and Carlnne, I am so glad you both re-booked with better prices. Maybe we can get this thread moving again. Dismagic09 and I have been trying to get a few pages added in.

As to the Passporter, DW gets it online. I snuck a couple of Navigators from our last cruise out yesterday and read them behind the newspaper. I can hardly wait until we tell the kids, I am not good at sneaking around. I even stayed off the boards this weekend so they wouldn't catch me on the computer.

We have the hotel room booked through the Radisson. That is where we stayed last time. We even got upgraded to a suite last time. I doubt we'll get that lucky again.

 

[dismagic09]

Welcome bank Wendy and Carlnee

I'm so glad that the two of you were able to get a better rate. That would not have set well with me if i had my vacation booked and a crazy special came out that i wasn't able to get.

We almost have a party for this thread

Anyone interested in doing the F/E?

I'm undecided about the room the night before - either going to the radisson or comfort inn. What is the best way to get a good rate for the radisson - going through them directly or an online service like expedia? When I checked the radisson quoted $130 and expedia had it closer to $100 but i was in a hurry and didn't really compare what it was for.