December 20 2009 3 night Wonder

[Ware Bears]

Sorry, can't help because we're staying off-site. The cruise will be the first time we have stayed in Disney accommodation ~ even when we go to Disneyland Paris we stay off-site.

 

[Ware Bears]

Forgot to say earlier that Disney have now sent me MVMCP tickets for the 18th so we will now be going on that night. Thank you, Disney!

Also, my Passporter 2009 Cruise guide arrived today ~ I am so looking foward to reading it!

 

[ShastaDog]

Quick question: Have most of you chosen early or late seating for dinner? I had requested the earlier seating, but looking through some of the other threads, I was wondering if I want to switch. Alot of people said they enjoyed the shows more when they weren't full and sleepy. Any thoughts?

 

[Charleyann]

Quick question: Have most of you chosen early or late seating for dinner? I had requested the earlier seating, but looking through some of the other threads, I was wondering if I want to switch. Alot of people said they enjoyed the shows more when they weren't full and sleepy. Any thoughts?

We chose the earlier seating as well. I rather watch the shows on a full tummy rather then a growling one! LOL

Charleyann

 

[Ware Bears]

LOL! I'm the opposite! I'd rather see the shows first, then eat afterwards. I'm afraid that if I did it the other way round I would be too sleepy after all that delicious food and start to zzzzzzzzzzzzz in the theatre!

We were automatically given the late dinner seating when we booked but we are happy to stay with that. I guess there's pros and cons to both.

Are you both getting even more excited now that we're coming up to the six month mark?

 

[nibbo]

Starting to get more excited now the 6 month mark's approaching and am even starting to do some planning, which is quite unusual for me!
Just considering booking Cirque Du Soleil tickets now as they are available up to the end of December now and as the £ has strengthened a bit I think it might as well be as good a time as any to book now while the seating availability is good.
Haven't got a clue what to do in Nassau or on Castaway Cay yet. Was thinking of the Dolphin swim in Nassau as we all enjoyed Discovery Cove so much but I think it may just cost too much this time, I'll look into it nearer the time and see how funds are. On Castaway Cay we might just take the relaxation approach and chill out on the beach, weather permitting.

Ware Bears, where did you get your Passporter guide from and is it any good?
If I get one it's going to have to be well hidden as the kids still don't know about the cruise.

Early dining here too. Would rather do that early to leave the rest of the evening clear and I don't think I could last until the later time.

 

[Ware Bears]

You can get the Passporter either from their site direct or from Amazon. They do two types ~ one is a bound book, the other is loose leaf in a folder with yellow pockets, one for each day, where you can keep ticket stubs, receipts etc and can buy updated pages/pockets for future years.

I love Passporters so I think its worth buying. DH doesn't bother reading these boards so has definitely found it interesting. However, if you're worried about your secret being spoiled, then don't risk buying one ~ you'll find all the info on here.

 

[Charleyann]

I am now below the 6 month mark for our vacation to begin.Our first cruise with Carnival begins on Dec. 5 -Dec. 13. We go to Grand Cayman Island, Houndras, Belize and Cozumel. Then Disneyworld on Dec. 13 and staying at Contempory with Magic Kingdom view and then off to cruise, first time with Disney and thenback to Disney for Christmas staying at Port Orleans French Quarters until Dec. 28.

We go to our rental cottage on Dec. 28th until Jan 4th/2010!!!! Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens and Seaworld!!!!


Getting very, very excited!!!!!!

Charleyann

 

[Ware Bears]

Wow!!!

Ooh, that sounds fabulous. What a fantastic vacation you're going to have Charlieann!

 

[jenpink]

My daughter (7), my nephew (15) and I will also be on this cruise. My daughter and I will fly into Orlando a week before the cruise then my nephew will meet us for the cruise. The rest of my sister's family will then meet us at Disney after the cruise for another 3 days. We are very excited. This will be my daughter and my second Disney cruise but my nephew's first. Nice to hear there will be so many teenagers on the cruise.

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi jenpink welcome to this thread!

 

[nibbo]

You can get the Passporter either from their site direct or from Amazon. They do two types ~ one is a bound book, the other is loose leaf in a folder with yellow pockets, one for each day, where you can keep ticket stubs, receipts etc and can buy updated pages/pockets for future years.

I love Passporters so I think its worth buying. DH doesn't bother reading these boards so has definitely found it interesting. However, if you're worried about your secret being spoiled, then don't risk buying one ~ you'll find all the info on here.

Thanks Elaine. I never even thought of looking on the UK Amazon, whenever I typed in Passporters it always took me to the US site so I presumed you could only get it from over there. I might order it and keep it at work for those quiet moments. Have you tried the WDW Passporters guide. I always get the Brits Guide so was just wondering if there was anything much different in the Passporters guide.

Nick

 

[nibbo]

I am now below the 6 month mark for our vacation to begin.Our first cruise with Carnival begins on Dec. 5 -Dec. 13. We go to Grand Cayman Island, Houndras, Belize and Cozumel. Then Disneyworld on Dec. 13 and staying at Contempory with Magic Kingdom view and then off to cruise, first time with Disney and thenback to Disney for Christmas staying at Port Orleans French Quarters until Dec. 28.

We go to our rental cottage on Dec. 28th until Jan 4th/2010!!!! Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens and Seaworld!!!!


Getting very, very excited!!!!!!

Charleyann

I'm not surprised you're getting excited. We thought we were going for a long time and splitting up our holiday quite a bit but yours sounds fantastic... a whole month on holiday.... now only if we could get enough time off work and school.
BTW, we too are staying at POFQ after the cruise but staying until New Years Day.

Nick

 

[nibbo]

Hi Jenpink, welcome to the thread

Certainly looks like there will be loads of teens on board. Not sure if they'll have time to meet up though, too much to do in too little time lol.
This is just a taster for us to see how we like cruising and if we enjoy it then we plan to go on longer ones in the future.

Nick

 

[Ware Bears]

Thanks Elaine. I never even thought of looking on the UK Amazon, whenever I typed in Passporters it always took me to the US site so I presumed you could only get it from over there. I might order it and keep it at work for those quiet moments. Have you tried the WDW Passporters guide. I always get the Brits Guide so was just wondering if there was anything much different in the Passporters guide.

Nick

I've also got the WDW passporter ~ I buy the replacement pages for the year we're going but only take a select few and the yellow pockets on holiday rather than the whole folder. I normally buy direct from Passporter in the US but with the poor exchange rate it was working out very expensive this year, that's why I looked on Amazon UK and bought loose-leaf guides with binders for approx £16 each, I think they were that cheap because I pre-ordered them last December!

I'd say the info in Passporter is more detailed than the Brit's Guide but it only covers Disney property and not the whole of Orlando like the Brit's does. However my absolute favourite travel guide for WDW is The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World by Mike and Julie Neal. It's absolutely full of fabulous colour photos and info I've not read elsewhere.

 

[nibbo]

Thanks Elaine. I think I'll definitely order the cruise book seeing as it will be a new experience for us going on a cruise and we hope to do it a lot more in the future rather than just staying in Orlando for the duration of our holiday.
In 2 minds whether to buy the WDW Passporter book now or hang on for the new one coming out in November. I'm always on the lookout for new and unusual things to do rather than just doing the same old things every time, especially during the Christmas week when the parks will be so busy.

 

[Ware Bears]

If you're going to buy the WDW one I think it'd be best to get the 2009 one now. If I remember correctly there was a delay when they were due last year ~ I'm not sure if anyone got theirs before Christmas but mine didn't arrive until a very long time after.

Have you been to Ice at Gaylord Palms? We were looking at the photos on the front page of the DIS and thought it would be nice to go there.

 

[nibbo]

Have you been to Ice at Gaylord Palms? We were looking at the photos on the front page of the DIS and thought it would be nice to go there.

Haven't been to Gaylord Palms yet to see Ice. It's something we were thinking of doing this year between Christmas and New Year. There's so many things we haven't done over there yet and this year we are going to try and do them instead of doing the parks during the Christmas week when the parks will be so busy. What are you planning on doing during the Christmas week? If the weather's nice then I imagine at least a couple of days will be spent round the pool just relaxing. Less than 6 months to go now for us before we leave.

 

[Ware Bears]

Less than 6 months to go now for us before we leave.

And it's exactly 6 months today until we leave to stay overnight at Gatwick, ready to fly out the next day!!

We would like to go horseriding so will maybe do that in the week between Christmas and New Year. We will probably have a good look round the different resorts at their Christmas decorations, I understand the gingerbread house at Grand Floridian is amazing and I quite fancy the character breakfast there.

At the moment I'm just waiting for the Candlelight Processional dining packages to be released for booking. Last year it was June 23rd but although a couple of people have mentioned August 29th I think it is just speculation at the moment.

 

[nibbo]

We will probably have a good look round the different resorts at their Christmas decorations, I understand the gingerbread house at Grand Floridian is amazing and I quite fancy the character breakfast there.

That's a good idea. It's something I've thought about but never really got round to doing. Me and DD's want to do an airboat ride and we'll probably do Busch Gardens during the Christmas week. Never been to Disney Boardwalk either or been to Celebration which is supposed to be good at Christmas so another couple of things to do here. Last time we fitted in a shopping trip a few days before Christmas at Florida Mall where DD's bought loads of clothes for their Christmas presents but we may leave that for the Christmas week.
I'm going to order those Passporter guides next week so hopefully I can break a habit of a lifetime and start to plan things properly this time. I'm even going to book some adr's if I can get them.
Starting to get excited now and almost wishing away our summer.