I came back to see your pictures, secretly hoping I would see a picture of you digging ice out of your cooler with your bare hands.
I'm sure if the kids would have thought of it, they would have. It wasn't a cooler as those aren't allowed, it was an insulated tote bag that I use for groceries. My hand was frozen!
That food on your plate looks fantastic. I am convinced, especially after our trip in October, that you and I love the same foods.
I will say the chicken, which doesn't look all that interesting in the picture, was especially good! We are very compatible diners for sure!
Slowly catching up on everyone's threads so I can start my TR this afternoon, hopefully.
And you've started! It's going to be a fun one I know.
Well, you made it on time...but barely made lunch. I guess that's 50% good and 50% bad?
All that really mattered at that point was that we made it, and were able to still hit the buffet. The other things were a bummer but I think missing food would have been worse. We could have hit the counter service but having been to it on the Wonder before, it just wasn't the way I wanted to start the trip, at all.
I'm sorry...but the ice story had me cracking my ribs because I was laughing so hard. The things are husbands think of...cold beer, must have ice!
Oh my word, it was COLD!
The food in Cabanas does look yummy.
I will say right now, as most know, I'm not a buffet person and I found the breakfast buffets on the Wonder to be fairly meh. I was expecting the same for lunch but the E's love it and would have been really bummed to miss it as with the short cruise, good chance of it being our only lunch there. It definitely exceeded my expectations at lunch.
Okay, I should be able to stay caught up now...I hope.
I know I am interrupting your replies, but who did you rent from. I don't remember. All I know is that Jeff left to go pick it up. Ideally, I'd like to rent from the airport, but I'm flexible.
Ok good thing I checked because I would have said it backwards! I actulaly had multiple ressies booked.
We had Budget from WDW to the Port. We picked up at an Embassy Suites. This was a bit of a mess. Originally we had a car at the airport but with the changes, we didn't need a car for the 1st 2 days and saved quite a bit by dropping the 2 days. Once we did, where to pick up became difficult. The airport was more, or not available at all for a one way rental. The "close" pickups which are all Alamo, were not available at all for one way rentals either. The cost to keep it for the 4 extra days while on the cruise plus pay parking, was nuts. So this is what we ended up with and it was $166 for 4 days, 3 nights. I had read you could call for a pick up and they'd take you to the site. When I called I was told our car wasn't at that location, it was at a different one. Site said it was near to DTD. It wasn't. Jeff took a bus to DTD and then ended up taking a cab to the site. Then they drove him to the site that I'd called the day before to get our car! Car wasn't even ready but he just took it without it being cleaned so we could get out of there faster. They were super nice and helpful to him but that whole process probably took 90 minutes and added the cab fare to the total cost. Still, hundreds cheaper than the alternative. Drop off for this leg was really painless and fast according to Jeff.
When we picked up at the port for the return leg, it was
Avis. Which was by FAR the cheapest option for a one day rental, around $52. However, they only had one shuttle, which was hitting more than one cruise line, and we were NOT first off the ship for many reasons (shocker I know
) and just getting to the rental site took at least an hour, I think more. It didn't help that debarkation took forever as well and the kids were all exhausted. I'd have to look at my pictures but getting off the ship took far longer than expected and then the rental car shuttle at least an hour, maybe more. Had we known, we'd have taken a cab to the shuttle and that would have helped a ton. By the time we realized that was a good option, it was on it's way back. We did have a lovely CM keeping us appraised. Once got to the site though, we did get the car incredibly fast. Return, according to Jeff, was easier than the Budget pickup had been. Similar situation, we returned it to a hotel that was supposedly close to DTD. In that case though, they had a Disney shuttle of their own, that took Jeff and K back to AK and then they caught the bus back to AKV.
At both sites though, we were upgraded to full size SUV's. The Avis site was quite a bit further away than the budget site, to the terminal.
So, you get what you pay for.
Time wise I'd say:
Outbound, Budget.
Pickup 90-120 minutes from leaving OKW to pulling into our villa, using Disney bus + cab.
Return 30-45 minutes using their shuttle
Inbound, Avis.
Pickup 60-90 minutes from disembarkation to getting the car, would have been faster and not much $$ to just take a cab there.
Return 90-120 minutes using their shuttle + Disney bus
For us, the Disney bus wasn't an option from Vero. Could have been from the port but at $35pp times 5 versus $52 for a car....it was pretty clear what the best option for us was. Honestly for just 2 people though? I might just do the Disney bus from the resort if those are the end points. There are a ton of tolls so that cost is covered by the bus and it would be easier and faster. I know Denny likes having a car though so that might not work for you guys.
In a perfect world for the outbound we could have picked up at Swan/Dolphin or the Car Care center and it would have been a lot easier but oh well. Needing a car that sat 5 didn't help either. I don't know that return on our inbound leg anywhere else, unless we'd kept it for 2 more days, would have been faster given that we were staying at AKV which isn't close to any of the rental sites. I did look at keeping it for the full rest of the trip but really couldn't justify the extra $150 or so it would have been given what our plans were, we just didn't need it.
LOL. The ice story made me laugh.
It was funny! And cold.
Uh-oh. The retainer does not sound good.
No, those are words no one ever wants to hear!
Give any tips throughout the report you wish to. We are cruisng for the 1st time ever next year on the Dream and I am so nervous. LOL. Not of the cruise but of what to do on the ship and what has to be done.
Are you doing a 3 or 4 night? I think the biggest challenge for anyone on the Dream for the first time is getting your bearings on where stuff is, especially given the short cruise. If you do arrive early, I'd spend some time figuring out where stuff is in relation to your stateroom or it can be confusing at first. Heck, there was stuff we didn't even find until the last day. Do book Palo right away!
Thanks, I felt like I didn't get much but it was a bit crazier than I'd expected so I wasn't on top of it at all.
I can just imagine you pulling the ice out and muttering under your breath.
Yes, I can only imagine what I was muttering
OH NO! Not the retainer!
At least she wears it. I had to threaten my older two because they wouldn't, hopefully DD#3 will wear hers.
Ugh. I didn't wear mine and I can tell you, I will be making Eric wear his when the time comes! I find it very odd she is done with it already.
Oh. My. God. Did you just want to die right then and there?
Dun, Dun, Dunnnnnn.......
thrilled to have you here, thanks for delurking!
