December 12 - 19, 2009 Western Magic

[Marcy Mouse]

Welcome Marcy! We're excited to have you among us! Let us know if you would like to participate in our fish extender gift exchange!

Is there a deadline. DH and I are discussing it. We are undecided?

Marcy

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Is there a deadline. DH and I are discussing it. We are undecided?

Marcy

No, there is no deadline. And, definitely no pressure. Have you seen what it is all about? It can be something homemade, something you buy, or a combo of both. So people break the bank, and most people go with what they can afford. So far, there aren't many of us. Another cruise we were on, there were more than 60 cabins. I was planning on around 30 of us, mostly because we don't have that many to this point.

The first cruise, we didn't meet any other Dis' members, we just did the exchange. The second, we did participate in the Dis' meet.

It is all on your terms, and as much or as little as you want.

 

[itutorfortravel]

Were the prices the same?

Hey there! No, it was a little more to move it to Christmas week. About $900 overall for the 3 of us...but I couldn't stop thinking about having DD out of school for an entire week and having to worry about absences the rest of the year so it was worth it to me to change. Plus, I think it will be fun to be onboard on Christmas day. I am sure DD will agree. DH is still not convinced, but I have time to work on him. His biggest concern is whether not being home will somehow make DD stop believing in Santa...I figure that on the day we leave, which would be the last day of school, one of us can go pick up DD at school, gas up the car, grab some lunch, etc. while the other one quickly sets out all the presents so that they are there waiting when we return home...and then we'll just take small gifts on the cruise for her to open Christmas morning. I think it will work...

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Hey there! No, it was a little more to move it to Christmas week. About $900 overall for the 3 of us...but I couldn't stop thinking about having DD out of school for an entire week and having to worry about absences the rest of the year so it was worth it to me to change. Plus, I think it will be fun to be onboard on Christmas day. I am sure DD will agree. DH is still not convinced, but I have time to work on him. His biggest concern is whether not being home will somehow make DD stop believing in Santa...I figure that on the day we leave, which would be the last day of school, one of us can go pick up DD at school, gas up the car, grab some lunch, etc. while the other one quickly sets out all the presents so that they are there waiting when we return home...and then we'll just take small gifts on the cruise for her to open Christmas morning. I think it will work...

Things will be great for you. Of course we'll miss you, but you will have a great time.

We also considered Christmas week, but for two cabins, it was about $2,000 and we figured that would pay for all our excursions and time in WDW.

 

[itutorfortravel]

Things will be great for you. Of course we'll miss you, but you will have a great time.

We also considered Christmas week, but for two cabins, it was about $2,000 and we figured that would pay for all our excursions and time in WDW.

You are smart to stick with your original plan when you can cover all add'l expenses with the savings. I am a bargain shopper so I wish I felt "okay" about taking DD out of school for a weeek because we also could probably cover our onboard account expenses with the extra $900 that Christmas week is going to cost us, and that would be very nice.

For us, though, it's worth a little more to be able to cruise when there are no school conflicts. Just makes life easier all the way around for us, and then I don't have to worry about DD's absences all year long. Also, she'd miss her school party and at her age those things are pretty important to her. (She was not at all happy about having to miss some end of year events at school when we had to go to an out of town graduation this past June.) I realize $900 isn't a "little bit" of money, but it sure is a lot less than the $5K+ price that the Christmas cruise would have been just a week ago for the cat 11.

I would love to meet you all, I know you'll have a great time! Heck, we all will...it's Disney!

 

[Shelebeen]

So have you guys started thinking about excursions yet?

I know we are going to do a private Stingray City trip in Grand Cayman - we were there last January on Princess and went with Stingraysailling and they were awesome - beat the majority of people to the spit so there was only 1 other boat when we arrived. Chip the captain was awesome and although his boat is big enough for way more, he only takes 25 out.... so it is very relaxing.

I haven't really looked at Key West yet...

We did the Dolphin touch in Chankannab last year, so we won't do that - plus I think we will do Discovery Cove after the cruise... so I think we may just either hang out on the ship in Cozumel or maybe do a beach day at Chankannab... not sure...

Castaway Cay will be a beach day only as well....

What are you guys planning?

 

[soleilmagie]

Hi everyone!

I haven't posted for a long time because we weren't sure if we were going to keep this reservation or not. We have finally decided to switch to the 4 night leaving Feb.28. This way, the kids won't miss school... and we will get to see the Toy Story show!

Hope you have fun!

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Sheesh, they're dropping like flies.

Does anyone have the 105 day mark off the top of their heads so we can make ressie's?

 

[bevtoy]

Sheesh, they're dropping like flies.

Does anyone have the 105 day mark off the top of their heads so we can make ressie's?

If you are paid in full: Access opens 75 days prior to embarkation, 90 days prior for Castaway Club members, and 105 days prior for Concierge Guests. They close reservations 3 days before sailing.
Final payment is due September 28.

1st time cruisers September 27 (I think)
Castaway Cay member is September 13
and conceirge would be August 28. I could be off anyone else want to try?

My husband and daughter want to try the Dolphin extreme Swim at Grand Cayman and my oldest daughter gets to go to Palo's this year!

 

[Scooby3x1y]

If you are paid in full: Access opens 75 days prior to embarkation, 90 days prior for Castaway Club members, and 105 days prior for Concierge Guests. They close reservations 3 days before sailing.
Final payment is due September 28.

1st time cruisers September 27 (I think)
Castaway Cay member is September 13
and conceirge would be August 28. I could be off anyone else want to try?

My husband and daughter want to try the Dolphin extreme Swim at Grand Cayman and my oldest daughter gets to go to Palo's this year!

Thanks Bev,

I knew you'd be on top of it. I got a letter saying 105 days, what would make me concierge? We just booked through Costco and it's our 3rd DCL Cruise. Any ideas? We booked Cat. 12, so it's not like we booked major cabins.

 

[Shelebeen]

My countdown says it is 130 days and 18 hours from now.. not soon enough, however I will be in Disneyland next week

 

[Scooby3x1y]

My countdown says it is 130 days and 18 hours from now.. not soon enough, however I will be in Disneyland next week

Yes, I'd like it to be sooner, but, with my first child leaving for college next week, I'm okay with it being a little longer

 

[bevtoy]

Thanks Bev,

I knew you'd be on top of it. I got a letter saying 105 days, what would make me concierge? We just booked through Costco and it's our 3rd DCL Cruise. Any ideas? We booked Cat. 12, so it's not like we booked major cabins.

Concierge is category 1 and 2 I think. Maybe they are counting down the days till the cruise? The only other alternative is that I am totally wrong and that is inconcieveable.

 

[disneyfan19712006]

Wow things are starting come together. Don't forget to PM for the fish extender exchange. Can someone give me the link to the yahoo group. We need to look at when to have meets as well. See ya real soon.

 

[disneyfan19712006]

Anyone creative want to come up with a name for the cruise? I have one suggestion already submitted can we come up with a couple more so we can vote?

Anyone coming in early?

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Anyone creative want to come up with a name for the cruise? I have one suggestion already submitted can we come up with a couple more so we can vote?

Anyone coming in early?

Will you give us the suggestion? All comments should remain positive.....

Sometimes an idea sparks another idea.

 

[pxlbarrel]

We're going down 2 days early (mainly to make sure we're in Orlando in time to get on the ship in case there are weather problems up here). My travel agent booked us at Port Orleans Riverside. I was hoping for a Deluxe but I can't afford the Deluxe...not even for 2 nights. It's nuts. And we're 1 night short to qualify for free dining. Ick. I should have planned this better.

Shore excursions for us are going to be non-water sports for sure. We'll take the sedate ones.

I have a question though...how formal is the formal? I don't really do formal anything... so I don't know what I need to bring...or in this case.. buy for the trip!

 

[pamrob]

We are planning to arrive several days ahead of the cruise as well. We are driving so we want to allow as much time as possible in case of nasty weather. Hoping to spend about three days in the area before the cruise. I haven't made reservations yet as I just can't seem to commit.

 

[bevtoy]

Hi, I had a request to join the Yahoo group. Do we know who this is? ezraellekromero@yahoo.com

Thanks,

Lori

I dont know

 

[bevtoy]

We are planning to arrive several days ahead of the cruise as well. We are driving so we want to allow as much time as possible in case of nasty weather. Hoping to spend about three days in the area before the cruise. I haven't made reservations yet as I just can't seem to commit.

We are arriving the day before and staying at La Quinta. Its about 5 minutes from port I think.