December 11, 2010. 7 Night Western - Magic

[krisngreg]

My husband and I would love to take that long of a vacation but it is just not possible. Our plan is to drive from Missouri and stay in Florida for a few days before and hit the beaches there. Then drive back, the drive should be around 20 hrs with breaks. Should make fun/fight family time.

Kristin

 

[newrygirl]

We are going to fly in from canada about a week before and spend a week in wdw, my sister has never been so we want to take her, this will be my families 9th time to Disney World and our second cruise, we just got back from a 10 days in Disney and the 3 night cruise in December. We have never been to Disneyland but are thinking of doing a one week trip there this October or November, any tips for Disneyland?

 

[HallsofVA]

When you all go on this cruise is this the only thing that you'll be doing while in Florida?

We're making a big trip for this. We are making the most of our 19 or so hours of flying each way, so we'll be in Florida for about 5 weeks taking in WDW for 3 weeks as well as Universal and Sea World and other things (as well as a stop over in Anaheim at Disneyland on the way home).

So what is everyone else doing? Cruise only or staying a little while as well?

Wow! That's an awesome vacation!! And explains why I've never made it out your way for vacation since I haven't yet be able to make it long enough to be worth the trip out there.

For our past 2 cruises, we've only done the cruise, arriving at the Orlando airport the night before, and flying out the day of the cruise. But part of that is having had a 2 yr old on both of our cruises, and feeling they were too young to justify spending money in the parks or anything. Not sure if we'll do anything before or after this cruise. Still too far out for us to decide! Though I was contemplating doing a back-to-back cruise for awhile by doing the Eastern the week before this cruise. Think I'm going to hold off to save money for a 2011 cruise.

Many of the folks we've cruise with over the years have combined the cruise with a WDW vacation, especially Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP I think). One of the coolest things I ever saw was pictures from the behind the scenes tour, where they got to see how Disney creates all of the holiday decorations and perhaps floral arrangements for the parks and ship.

 

[HallsofVA]

I noticed that we ended up with a similar countdown ticker and was laughing that your countdown is one day behind mine. I assume it because of the time/date difference between your location and US Eastern Time? Is that the case? Ultimately I guess they're going to have to catch up (since I'm in the same time zone as Florida)

 

[arje]

Some interesting responses.

Then drive back, the drive should be around 20 hrs with breaks.

Is that 20 hours each way? Either way this is some commitment, driving that long to a cruise. In Australia we're used to driving long distances just to get somewhere, but this is a hike and a half. Your driving and our flying times are pretty well the same, so in a way we share a common goal

The length of our stay is only possible because I've been working at the same company for over 23 years and have nearly 6 months worth of long service leave saved up and we also get 4 weeks annual leave a year as well. Another thing is, it's summer at home and the kids will only miss a couple of weeks school because they start their long holidays about a week before xmas and don't go back to school until the start of February.

And explains why I've never made it out your way for vacation since I haven't yet be able to make it long enough to be worth the trip out there.

Halls, of course it's worth it to come out here. We're all friendly people, there's plenty to see and of course the weather is great all year round wherever you go, except Melbourne, that place is miserable (little piece of interstate rivalry there). And don't forget for you to come here, it's much cheaper for you than for us to go there.

I liked the countdown ticker as soon as I saw it on the Disboards. It's different, it's nice. I am using it on my regular Australian club boards, and they also thought it was great. The days difference would probably be explained by the time difference when we're logged in. Because sometimes when you're logged on, we're a day ahead on the calendar. But there's no chance we'll be missing the boat, so it'll work out in the end.

We are going to fly in from canada about a week before and spend a week in wdw

That seems like the best time to go too, crowds should be down and the xmas stuff in all it's glory. We're going after the cruise, but in the few days before the cruise, I'm going to buy tickets to the Mickey and Minnie's Very Merry Xmas Party and go then, when the crowds a little lighter. That way we get a taste of it before we actually start our marathon stay starting xmas eve.

Sorry for my long respose, but I was curious as to how "locals" approached the cruise and holidaying in general. I am aware that many of you get less annual leave time than we get, but it's interesting to hear how you handle the limited time available. I'm enjoying this!

(I just saw a smilie I should use )

 

[HallsofVA]

Some interesting responses.

The length of our stay is only possible because I've been working at the same company for over 23 years and have nearly 6 months worth of long service leave saved up and we also get 4 weeks annual leave a year as well. Another thing is, it's summer at home and the kids will only miss a couple of weeks school because they start their long holidays about a week before xmas and don't go back to school until the start of February.

This is what I was referring too in not being able to make it out your way. Though I've been at the same company for 17 years, still only get 22 days vacation a year (doesn't accrue over that point) and have yet to take it all at once other than being on maternity leave. Plus, for us to cruise during our summer months, you're right in the middle of Hurricane season and that just doesn't seem terribly fun. Not to mention it's too darn hot and humid in Florida in the summer.

Halls, of course it's worth it to come out here. We're all friendly people, there's plenty to see and of course the weather is great all year round wherever you go, except Melbourne, that place is miserable (little piece of interstate rivalry there). And don't forget for you to come here, it's much cheaper for you than for us to go there.

Trust me, I'd love to come out there. But now I'll have to wait until the kids are old enough to enjoy it (including the 20 hour flight!!)

 

[krisngreg]

Then drive back, the drive should be around 20 hrs with breaks.


We are still debating if we should drive or fly. I am pretty sure that it will be the drive since we save so much more money. I would rather spend the difference on fun stuff.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Fourth of July!!!

Kristin

 

[arje]

I think we'll be flying

Enjoy your Independence Day celebrations. I aim to spend this time of year in the states in years to come to see how big you guys celebrate.

 

[SILLYANDI]

Hi everyone! We are booked on the 12/4/10 Eastern and still thinking about jumping ship to this cruise. We usually cruise the week before Christmas but we're kinda bored with the Westerm Itenerary by now...
After 6 months of thinking about it, I'm tempted to go back to this cruise because I can't imagine the kids missing two weeks of school instead of 1 (or even worse, missing a week, going back for a week, then off for Christmas break! UGG!)
So, I guess we will make the big decision here soon and let you know!

 

[newrygirl]

sillyandI come on over, we will have loads of fun!

 

[HallsofVA]

Hi everyone! We are booked on the 12/4/10 Eastern and still thinking about jumping ship to this cruise. We usually cruise the week before Christmas but we're kinda bored with the Westerm Itenerary by now...
After 6 months of thinking about it, I'm tempted to go back to this cruise because I can't imagine the kids missing two weeks of school instead of 1 (or even worse, missing a week, going back for a week, then off for Christmas break! UGG!)
So, I guess we will make the big decision here soon and let you know!

Hope you end up joining us! That said, I've been toying with the idea of joining the 12/4/10 cruise! We currently have 2 rooms booked (connecting Cat 6's) for our family of 4. I'm debating as to whether we'd need both rooms, and have considering moving 1 room to the 12/4 cruise so we could do a back to back. But I'd also like to go on the Wonder PC repositioning cruise in 2011, so I may end up saving my money for that cruise instead. Still to be determined. But the more the merrier!

By now, we've done 1 eastern and 1 western, though our western in Dec 2005 was modified to go to Costa Maya instead of Cozumel at the last minute. We honestly don't really care about the destinations, since we love being on the ship so much. So we've been alternating just to keep from being in a rut!

 

[arje]

Today is 500 days (at least in my time zone) until we sail on our cruise. As you can see we're pretty keen. It's so far away, but I know it will fly by very quickly.

Sillyandi, as the others have said, come on over, the more the merrier.

 

[DAPford]

sorry to jump in here unannouced and all but we are also booked on this cruise it will be me my DH and our then 15 DD in one room and my husbands parents in another this will be our second Disney cruise but more to the question I saw Halls ofVa post about a PC in 2011 and I haven't seen anything on that is that a confirmed or guess I may just have to wait till that one

 

[HallsofVA]

sorry to jump in here unannouced and all but we are also booked on this cruise it will be me my DH and our then 15 DD in one room and my husbands parents in another this will be our second Disney cruise but more to the question I saw Halls ofVa post about a PC in 2011 and I haven't seen anything on that is that a confirmed or guess I may just have to wait till that one

Welcome to our little group! We're not huge talkers yet, but I'm sure that will pick up as the time gets nearer.

As for the Wonder PC cruise, it hasn't been officially announced, but it is widely assumed. Once the first new ship comes on line and will be ported in Port Canaveral, it's already been announced that the Wonder will be based out of the West Coast. And since they have to get it some where, and wouldn't sail it empty, we all assumed a Panama Canel repositioning cruise for the Wonder sometime in 2011. It would be the Wonder's first (and perhaps last time for awhile) trip through the PC, which adds some excitement to the mix. There is a huge meet thread already for it, and no date has been announced!

This week I was looking at one of the Med cruises in April/May 2010, since they offered the Kids Sail Free promotion. Some of the prices for those 10 & 11 day cruises are about equal to what we're paying for 2 rooms on this cruise. However, the airfare is a killer, and I figure it's a bad sign that the cruise keeps repricing itself on the website, so I don't think we're going to do it. At least not for now!

 

[krisngreg]

Sometimes I feel like the cruise will be here before we know it. School is getting ready to start for the kids and before we can blink the Holiday's will be on us. So for me I know the time will fly, but today it feels like it is never never going to get here.

Kristin

 

[arje]

I agree krisngreg that it will rush up on us, but sometimes it just still seems so far away. On one hand I can't believe that it's already over 6 months since we booked, but then I think how far away it is and it seems so far.

But what I'm trying to do is do little bits and pieces along the way just to keep myself on my toes. For example, just yesterday, a small package arrived with our PAP for WDW in readiness for that part of the trip. Got them now to avoid any price rises and take advantage of a favourable exchange rate.

DAPford, I'll have 2 girls of reasonably similar age (14 & 17) along for the ride too.

 

[DAPford]

I saw your girls ages and told my daughter that they would be on this cruise if nothing changes on our last cruise our DD was just turned 13 and a bit hestitate about the teen clubs and going off but after a short 8 months I can already see a difference and know we won't see as much of her on whichever cruise we take don't know whether to celebrateor cryabout that idea

 

[arje]

I know what you're saying DAPford, but I'm inclined to .

I think it's an age that they can easily go off on their own and enjoy themselves and just meet as many different kids their age as possible. Add to that, from our perspective, it gives them an opportunity to make hopefully some long time friends with some kids from a different country (and us as well of course ). My youngest will definitely make it her mission to do that, the eldest though tends to like her own company, but she's still friendly. I know my youngest is itching to start chatting with kids on the cruise now, nothing like starting early.

 

[frdeb1999]

Hi All,

We just booked for this cruise also....it will be myself, DH, and 3 daughters 22, 20 and 15. Nice to see we'll be on the same cruise again HallsofVA!

 

[HallsofVA]

Hi All,

We just booked for this cruise also....it will be myself, DH, and 3 daughters 22, 20 and 15. Nice to see we'll be on the same cruise again HallsofVA!

Welcome aboard! The more the merrier. And nice to have a fellow mid-atlantic person again!