December 03, 2005 Western Magic?

[moochinkassarole]

Holy Moly! I guess I better keep up with this place. I just found out today (Nov. 16) that we aren't going to Cozumel. I've never been to Nassau, so I'll try and keep my spirits up. I guess I need to do some research as to what to do there. Man, I thought I was all set to go. Oh well....it's not that painful.

I know what could make it less painful...for them to premiere The Lion,The Witch And The Wardrobe on our cruise!!

I need your help....we are going to be in a Disney hotel (I already forgot which one) and we planned on going to one of the parks. Does anyone have a preference over another. Just some background...we live just a few minutes from both the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park. I worked at Disneyland for 10 years. I have only walked around the Downtown Disney area and have never stepped foot in any of the parks there. My DH has been to WDW about 20 years ago. My kids are the same as me. They are 8 and 9. I was leaning towards Epcot, though I'm worried I will be kicking myself if I don't go to WDW. But then again, they have similar rides at Dland. Grrrr!!! HELP!! Oh yes, which park is better during the holidays? That's one of my favorite things. We plan on going on Tuesday the 29th of November.

One very last thing...really. Who is the "celebrity" guest reader at the Epcot Christmas reading? I was guessing it was something silly like Mickey Mouse.

Thanks!
Kitty
ps. any other great ideas to do in that area while I'm waiting around for my cruise and my DH to finish up his conference?

 

[Hannosmom]

Hi Lynzee! You are going to have so much fun!

Kitty, it looks the reader for Dec 1-3 is Haley Joel Osment:


Candlelight Processional

One of the most beloved and joyous Disney traditions since 1958, the Candlelight Processional enthralls you as a Celebrity Guest* narrates the Christmas story, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a glorious mass choir. Guest choirs travel from as far away as the UK to sing with over 400 performers each evening. The Candlelight Processional takes place in the America Gardens Theatre and is included with Park admission.

Showtimes: 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m. & 8:15pm

2005 Schedule of Narrators:

Rita Moreno Nov 25-27
Phil Donahue Nov 28-30
Haley Joel Osment Dec 1-3
Cicely Tyson Dec 4-6
Jaci Velasquez Dec 7-9
Eartha Kitt Dec 10-12
Lou Diamond Phillips Dec 13-15
Harry Hamlin Dec 16-18
Marlee Matlin Dec 19-21
Jim Caviezel Dec 22-24
John Stamos Dec 25-27
Steven Curtis Chapman Dec 28-30


You make it kind of tough to decided on which park, LOL! If you have been to Disneyland a bazzillion times, then you might as well skip the Magic Kingdom. The kids might enjoy MGM with the Tower of Terror and Fantasmic. TOT is my DH's fav! And we just saw Fantasmic for the first time in October and it was.....Fantasmic (sorry ). Epcot is my favorite; Illuminations is the best! I guess I am not helping very much .

 

[moochinkassarole]

[/QUOTE] The kids might enjoy MGM with the Tower of Terror and Fantasmic. TOT is my DH's fav! And we just saw Fantasmic for the first time in October and it was.....Fantasmic (sorry ). Epcot is my favorite; Illuminations is the best! I guess I am not helping very much .[/QUOTE]


Thanks for that bit of info. That really does help! DCA has TOT and Dland has Fantasmic, so I might as well skip MGM and go right to Epcot. I really wanted to check out that car ride, but I think it would be worth my while to go to Epcot and enjoy Christmas, er, Holidays around the World.
Shucks...we will actually have Phil Donahue as our speaker. I'm sure the kids would have liked Hailey Joel as a speaker instead. Oh well... Actually, I think the kids would have LOVED to have heard Izma (aka Eartha Kitt) read. Tell me that wouldn't be a kick in the pants?

Any others who would like to give me their thoughts on which park to go to?
Kitty

 

[mustanggirl]

How great is it that you work for saleen I found a '05 white convertible at our local ford dealer had but it cost almost as much as I owe on my house! Hubby wants me to sell my car so he can get a new mach 1 or rag top GT. I told him mine is drivable and his isn't so he should sell FIRST!!
Have you found out about the limo option?

Susie

 

[GrayFal]

From Mickey!!!

He says he is happy to hear I am coming on a Disney Cruise because there's a LOT of Big Doin's Going on out here!

Very Cute....I am thinking it is from AAA Kim????

I have booked Atlantis thru DCL but am on the fence.....not sure what it includes?

Is it a water taxi or a bus? The water taxi is a bit of a walk from the resort...and I thought it didn't include water slides...which is okay, but not the pools either???

So basically I am getting transpo, lunch and permission to sit on thier beach for $65???

Come on Jeanna , convince me this is a good deal .

 

[mustanggirl]

Hi Pat,

When we went 5 yrs ago, DCL excursion for the dig,was water taxi with a long walk up to the resort, a guided tour thru The Dig then we could walk around the resort but not around the pools. If I remember correct there were people walking around(maybe security?) so we didn't want to break the rules. I'm not sure if lunch is included with the beach excursion but I didn't see it in the description.

Susie

 

[macphrsn]

Thanks for joining look forward to meeting you on our cruise. We are having a DIS board meet.

 

[NJ Cruisers]

Updated with real names for DisneyRUs, added Reeves 06

LIME GREEN MICKEY HEADS - don’t forget to wear one or stick it on your day bag the first day. It’s our way of recognizing each other. If you don't know what it is .... just ask.

DIS Meet - 3:00pm on Saturday. Outlook Bar or Promenade Lounge - we better decide before we sail.

DIS CRUSIERS:

CastMemberTinkerbell - and DH

CJLKIM - Kris (33) and boyfriend Jeff (48...on 12/4), cabin 2062

cjsmom97 – Jeanna , Rick, DS8 Colton & DS5 Justin, Ddad & Step-Mom

Disney Fanatics R Us - Jeff(46), Lisa (44), DS18 Josh, DD13 Lara, cabin 2647

Disney R Us - Cindy, Chuck (Husband), Nichole (DD-12), Allison (DD-8), Kimberly (DD-6). Cabin 8088

GrayFal & chichihoney - Pat, Sarah

HallsofVA - Cathleen, DH, DS(23months), DH’s parents, HallsofVA’s mother(75) and brother(41), cabin 8572, 7120 & 7620. celebrating 10th wedding anniversary!

Hannosmom - Linda, Ed

Kennygee - Ken, DD7, DS8

macphrsn – Cindy, Frank, DD6 Ryleigh. Cabin 6126

MajorWoody - Bill, Jeanne

MissLaraBeLL4eva - Lara; daughter of Disney Fanatics R Us

mommynt - Connie, DD9 Treasure. Room 6515

Moochinkassarole - Kitty, DS9, DD8

Mustanggirl - Susie, DD10 Emily best friend Becky, DH Steve & DD4 Addison, Emily's Nana Sandy and Grandma Wanda. Cabins 2133, 2134 & 2136

NJ Cruisers - Diane, Rick, DS6 Matt. Cabin 2148

Popovich - Gailyn(41), Greg(42), DD8 Nicole, DS6 Matthew, DMIL Dolores, DFIL George. Cabin 6622 & 6620

Reeves 06 - Lynzee and 20 people

Wenevergrowup - Steve (51), Karen(48, DS18 Nate. Cruising with disneyfanaticsrus


These cruisers haven’t posted in a while. Does anyone know if they are still going?

Lizardman – and DW – Ryan & Jessica, DD12 Andrea, DD8 Kayla, DS6 Alex – First Cruise Ever! 5022 & 5024

tink1663 – and DS13, DD8 - 5520

Brettsmommy and DH, DS5, DD3, Dmom & Dad

KeAlani’s Mommy – and DD3 KeAlani & Dmom

swampkatz and DH

smilingmouse - deck 5 cat 7

Suzanne and DS11 - their first DCL cruise!

Gardencraft and DH - 2nd DCL cruise part of their 30th anniversary celebration


EXCURSIONS:
CJLKIM - KW - Trolley Tour
GC - Stingray City and Island Tour
CC - Hanging out and soaking it all in!

Disney Fanatics R Us - At Key West we will probably just hang around. At Grand Cayman we planned to hit a beach on our own- not through any tour- probably Seven Mile Beach. We are planning to review all that with the others we are sailing with next week... so stand by ... it could change

Disney R US - on our own, to do the Aquarium at Key West. We booked through Disney one of the Grand Cayman Island tour with Rays. Booked on our own a dolphin swim (DD12, DD8, Me) and a Dolphin Encounter (DH & DD6).

Hannosmom - tour in Grand Cayman. KW - we're just going to bum around.

Mommynt - Key West : site seeing and the Ship Wreck Museum; Grand Cayman : site seeing Turtle Farm, Butterfly Farm, and Hell;

Mustanggirl - GC - stingray city with group called Moby Dick tours. KW - just sightseeing.

NJ Cruisers - KW - Pirate Museum and Butterfly Place. GC - beach. Nassau - Atlantis.

Popovich - Pirate Museum on KW, beach on our own at GC (Rum Pointe or Sea Grape)


PRE CRUISE:
Chichihoney - MVMCP on Thursday
Hannosmom - MVMCP on Thursday
NJ Cruisers - All Star Movies and the parks on Wed, Thur, Fri
Popovich - MVMCP on Thursday
CJLKIM - We'll be at WDW on 12/2...staying at CBR and attending the MVMCP
macphrsn - MVMCP Thursday, Pop Century (Thursday-Friday) and on return Pop Century (Saturday).


Diane

 

[NJ Cruisers]

Susie - Matt will have a great time with Emily. His play groups are mostly girls - and he likes the older girls. As long as she slides and swims they will be buddies. Looking forward to seeing you at the Atlantis (and on the ship, of course).

Cindy - and with Ryleigh at the Atlantis too Matt is going to have a great time

Reeves 06 - welcome!! Glad you found us!! Any kids 5-7 in your group? My DS6 Matt has a couple of pen pals and more would be even better.

Grayfal - we got the card too. It’s from MICKEY, not Kim (but now I know why this is the first year I got one)

Gailyn - where are you???? We haven't heard from you in ages.

SOMEONE decide ... we have two different places for the first DIS Meet - based, I think, on what worked for people last year. Outlook Bar (outside) or Promenade Lounge (Inside). Does someone want to make the call ... should we vote? This is the last tough decision we need to make. After this it's just which dessert to chose and fun stuff like that.

Diane

 

[chichihoney]

we could vote

promeade lounge


outlook bar

 

[macphrsn]

Hey it snowing in Michigan, yuck!

Good news is that I just finished my Christmas cards, yeah!

Need to start packing, tomorrow.

 

[NJ Cruisers]

Kitty - are you getting a Park Hopper or a ticket good for only 1 park? If you have the Park Hopper you can easily go to 2 parks in one day. We did 3 in one day last year and I nearly killed my boys - DH and DS Matt (5 at the time)

We go to WDW every year at this time and I love it. I think Epcot has the best Christmas decorations - especially at night. I've never been to DisneyLand by my sister-in-law says that the Magic Kingdom is a completely different experience. I think there is so much more for kids to do at the Magic Kingdom .... Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Pirates of Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear, Haunted Mansion and much more. But for me, the most MAGIC is at Magic Kingdom and I always have to go there.

Good Luck deciding .. it's a tough one!!!

Diane

 

[Popovich]

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. This has been a terrible month. My grandmother is with Hospice and is ready to pass away any day now. I've been driving to Cincinnati to see her after work on Thursdays or Fridays and coming back to Cleveland late on Sundays or Mondays. The 4 1/2 hr. drive each way is taking its toll. When I'm in Cinti I stay with my brother and don't have access to a computer. So, needless to say, I'm a basket case. My house is in a state of severe disarray and I'm preparing to go back to Cincinnati on Friday unless she passes sooner. On top of this, my parents are going through the divorce trial from ****

I was surprised to read of the change of itenerary to Nassau but we're ok with it. I'd rather go to Mexico, but in the scope of things, I'm just happy to spend the time away with family and friends The kids are really looking forward to the trip now too. I know I'm behind with pen pals but Greg or I will try to sit down with the kids and do some emails this week .

Sorry I haven't gone back to see all the pages I've missed, but I'm interested in booking a room at Atlantis for the day. What's the best way to do this?

Gailyn

 

[macphrsn]

Hi Diane & Kitty,

Last year I had a park hopper. We would park at EPCOT ride the monorail over to MK in the morning, stay until mid afternoon the ride the monorail back to EPCOT drop any packages off in our car then go into EPCOT, have dinner and tour the park until the fireworks. Ryleigh was 5 but by the end of the day she was tired. What was nice is that EPCOT is open late so we never rushed going over to EPCOT since we knew we had plenty of time. I think we ended up at EPCOT 4 nights and MGM to see Osborn's lights one evening.

Yes the decorations at all the parks are wonderful and a sight to see. Each one is very different. Even the Bear and the Bear Jamboree are in their holiday wear!

 

[NJ Cruisers]

Gailyn - so sorry to hear about your Grandmother's illness and your parent's divorce. And all that traveling must really be hard on you and your family. Don't worry about pen paling my Matt - we'll see you in 2 weeks and the boys will be like 2 peas in a pod again.

I booked Atlantis last night through Expedia. Coral Towers (the cheapest room). $149 plus tax, etc = $185. That was for 3 but probably the same for 2 adults and 2 kids. Special rate though so I don't know how long it lasts. I saw something for $99 (Zootravel??) but it said Sun - Wed and we'll be there on Thursday. I tried Travelocity and Orbitz and both were much higher. Other than that I didn't look around too much.

Diane

 

[cjsmom97]

Calling Kim's group....

Have a question for those of you booking the room at Atlantis. I have bounced back and forth with the whole get a room vs book through Disney. Here is what I have come up with. My husband would really like to be able to go down the slides into the shark infested waters (just not my cup of tea!). If anyone has a room for 3 that we could add him on, I would be more than happy to compensate them for it. I tried calling today to see what the cheapest rate was for a room and it was $185. That is for Coral Towers (newer, nicer building). But, once you figure in the transportation costs and lunch, it is more than what we would pay through Disney and Disney just makes things easier and has a better cancellation policy. So, I guess I will stick with Disney but would really like to get Rick a wristband for the slides. He is really the only one that wants to do the slides (ok... I am a chicken you-know-what)! So, if anyone is willing to add him, please give me a yell!!

 

[Disney Fanatics R Us]

hey Hannosmom.....My name is Lynzee...im 18 and im traveling with about 20 people...where going with my mom's side of the family. Im so excited it my first cruise!!!

Hey Lynzee- welcome to our group. Are you a senior in high school? We are going with my son who is also 18- this is his second Disney Cruise. We are also traveling with another family who has an 18 year old son. Both are seniors in high school. My son met some really great folks at the teen hangout last time. They are a little concerned that the Loft says ages 13-17 and 18 year olds are lumped with the college crowd. Disney told us we could check with the Loft and they could probably hang out there- what are your plans? Any other teenagers traveling with your group? I also have a 13 year old daughter looking fior someone her age as well.

 

[Disney Fanatics R Us]

One very last thing...really. Who is the "celebrity" guest reader at the Epcot Christmas reading? I was guessing it was something silly like Mickey Mouse.

Thanks!
Kitty
ps. any other great ideas to do in that area while I'm waiting around for my cruise and my DH to finish up his conference?

I'm assuming you are asking about the Celebrity guest reader for the Epcot Candlelight Processional. This is a true celebrity person... not a character... our neighbors leave for Disney this weekend and we just looked up the celebrity reader for them for the opening of this event(always opens day after Thanksgiving). The first reader is Rita Moreno (hope I spelled that last name right). You can check the Disney web site now and see who is there each night- they are 8-12 different readers throughout the Christmas season. The first year we went the reader was Alfe Woodard. If you can go to this... so.... I think it is awesome. Every park has their ups and downs... you've got to choose what fits you best. San Diego zoo and the wild animal park are very different than Animal Kingdom. Many shows at Animal Kingdom and only one safari ride that is similar to the Wild Animal Park you reference. We have been there. Hope that helps.

 

[GrayFal]

LIME GREEN MICKEY HEADS - don’t forget to wear one or stick it on your day bag the first day. It’s our way of recognizing each other. If you don't know what it is .... just ask.

Diane

Alien Green at Home Depot​

Good news is that I just finished my Christmas cards, yeah!

Need to start packing, tomorrow.

Does it count that I HAVE mine

Hi Pat,

When we went 5 yrs ago, DCL excursion for the dig,was water taxi with a long walk up to the resort, a guided tour thru The Dig then we could walk around the resort but not around the pools. If I remember correct there were people walking around(maybe security?) so we didn't want to break the rules. I'm not sure if lunch is included with the beach excursion but I didn't see it in the description.

Susie

I believe Jeanna checked with DCL about food included....not sure, maybe she will chime in....still on the fence abut this...will try to check on other beach/pool/day room options other then Atlantis...because they let you in the Casino for free

 

[Reeves_06]

Hey Disney Fanatics R Us..... Yes i am senior in high school. FINALLY!!! im so excited.. Where doing all are traveling plans through Triple A and they said that i should be able to go into the teens only place. That was one of my questions to. But they said that should be fine. Right now for our plans are at castaway were doing the parasailing, um me and my mom are getting massages, as of right now thats all we know for sure. I do have a cousin that is 14 or 15...i cant really remember. Shes really nice.

NJ Cruiser- i have a 5 year old coming and a 8 year old cousin coming.