December 7, 2013 - Winter Fantasy Cruise

[philatiger]

Ooooooo, selling houses. The last time we sold was the worst 3 months of our life! Our first house sold after the first viewing - the first person to see it bought it, the second time was at a slow time in the market and I hated every minute of it. Developers in nearby housing estates were liquidating their stock so their prices were low and despite our 4 bed/2 bath/2 living etc house being the same in that way as theirs, but ours was much bigger and with more inclusions, nobody was willing to pay extra for that . Good luck with yours.

Well, off to a half-day of work shortly - better than nothing to contribute to our holiday fund

We are following the same path as you. Our last house 7 years ago sold in 4 days to the first person who looked at it. This one is on the market for 5 months, had 1 offer that fell through due to financing. Market here in Philly is lousy. Frustrated but not much we can do about it but wait.

 

[Dixielady908]

Hate selling...
Wally and I had our house up around 4 years ago.....we also got an offer, but with the contingency that she sell her home. She only lived in the next sub-divsion over. She didnt want to lower her price, meanwhile she had the house inspection on us, we needed to put in a radon system $$$ so we did it and then the deal fell thru. So we chose it take it off the market and stay her for awhile longer.
We live about 45 miles southwest of Chicago. Wally works in Chicago, I work in the area were we live. We were going to downsize and find something in-between....
I always say things happen for a reason....so we are going to stay here for a few more years, do a little updating of things around here and hopefully the market will start to get better and try selling again.

Goodnight

 

[Va-NanaTink]

Planner here too. But I am on hold with everything right now. Our house is on the market and we will be moving to the Orlando area when this one sells. Just wish it would sell so I would know where we will be. If we are still up here... I will probably book a night or 2 at BLT or AKV pre-cruise just in case.

Officially jealous! We want to sell out and retire, probably somewhere on the west coast of Florida, near Tampa. Close enough to WDW, but have the beach day to day. I want to keep that 'going away' aspect, just make it closer! But that's still a few years away, and may be longer depending on the economy!
If we don't do WDW first, we will fly out on Friday and stay at MCO Hyatt. Don't trust the weather that time of year.

I have to say I have never herded cats...lol but I know that feeling. I would love for my daughter and son-in-law and grandaughter to come along. I keep pestering err I mean asking them, but they are military and trying to get a commitment from them is one huge chore. My daughter does not make reservations till 2 weeks out......no I am not kidding, when I ask her to think about coming, I get, I cant plan that far in advance....drives me crazy

Wally said hello to everyone....he doesnt chat much on here...even for our other cruises.....
I guess that would make me the "chatty" one

later

DS1 is in the Navy and is transferring to a deployable unit so he has the excuse of not fully knowing what his deployment schedule looks like. But he doesn't want us to take DDiL1 and the DGKs without him, he's a big Disney nut and doesn't want to miss anything, especially with the new Fantasyland and all the new princess stuff with our DGD. But I'm worried that DGD is getting older and we are losing the magic age....she's almost 6 now. She loves her princesses!!! and she's the only girl!
They want to do a 4 day cruise and 3 days at WDW.

DS2 is not in the military, but DDiL2 is the problem here....she dithers. She wants to go, but she wants to wait until the baby is older because wrangling two is harder, but she doesn't want the older one to hit 3 because he won't be free. She thinks about joining us in May because the older one won't be 3 yet, but the younger one will just be 1. If they wait until January, the younger one will be a little older, but then the older one will be 3 and not free.... They at least agree that the boys are not old enough for a cruise yet.

So if they both want to do January....

 

[Dixielady908]

Officially jealous! We want to sell out and retire, probably somewhere on the west coast of Florida, near Tampa. Close enough to WDW, but have the beach day to day. I want to keep that 'going away' aspect, just make it closer! But that's still a few years away, and may be longer depending on the economy!
If we don't do WDW first, we will fly out on Friday and stay at MCO Hyatt. Don't trust the weather that time of year.




DS1 is in the Navy and is transferring to a deployable unit so he has the excuse of not fully knowing what his deployment schedule looks like. But he doesn't want us to take DDiL1 and the DGKs without him, he's a big Disney nut and doesn't want to miss anything, especially with the new Fantasyland and all the new princess stuff with our DGD. But I'm worried that DGD is getting older and we are losing the magic age....she's almost 6 now. She loves her princesses!!! and she's the only girl!
They want to do a 4 day cruise and 3 days at WDW.


DS2 is not in the military, but DDiL2 is the problem here....she dithers. She wants to go, but she wants to wait until the baby is older because wrangling two is harder, but she doesn't want the older one to hit 3 because he won't be free. She thinks about joining us in May because the older one won't be 3 yet, but the younger one will just be 1. If they wait until January, the younger one will be a little older, but then the older one will be 3 and not free.... They at least agree that the boys are not old enough for a cruise yet.

So if they both want to do January....

Wally and I are talking inland in Florida also, he would love to live close to the water but #1 cant afford it and #2 hurricane's so if we decided to move to Florida...inland it is.

We are talking of going to Disney in April for Isabella's 4th birthday, just me and daughter and grandaughter...so I am waiting for her to let me know for sure....if it was me it would be booked by now...but again, we have to wait and see...

Well I'm waiting for Wally to wake up and get some breakfast made... and car washing's today.

Have a good day

 

[MinnieCruzer]

Because I'm a planner...

We're looking at staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for the week before our cruise. How far is it from there to the port? Are we better off booking in to somewhere close to the port the night before we sail? If so, where would be a good, cheap place to stay?

I like the idea of a name for the group but I still cannot think of anything. Matching t-shirts would be a great idea, too, as would catching up the night before. If we stayed near the port we could do that easily. The day before the cruise sails is when our summer school holidays begin so we're leaving a week earlier to spend the time at WDW before the cruise

We've always taken the Magical Express to the port. It's pretty easy. Last time we were at the Wilderness Lodge Villas and they picked us up right there--Angie

 

[Dixielady908]

We've always taken the Magical Express to the port. It's pretty easy. Last time we were at the Wilderness Lodge Villas and they picked us up right there--Angie

We took the Disney transportation last cruise....we flew in the day of the cruise and picked up the bus at the airport. It was very easy and convient, however, the stress of flying in same day was over whelming for me, so that was the first and last time I will do that.


Happy Tuesday everyone!!

Denise

 

[Va-NanaTink]

We took the Disney transportation last cruise....we flew in the day of the cruise and picked up the bus at the airport. It was very easy and convient, however, the stress of flying in same day was over whelming for me, so that was the first and last time I will do that.


Happy Tuesday everyone!!

Denise

A agreee, I will never fly in the day of again! Too stressful!! If we don't go to WDW we just stay at the Hyatt there at the airport. No muss no fuss and they are used to DCL people staying there and getting their luggage picked up out of their room.

 

[philatiger]

We did the Disney transportation the last time but I hated geting to the port so late. We didn't get there until after 2:00.

This time we will either rent a car if flying in or drive to the port. I like to get there early, even if it is crowded. I enjoy watching all the excitement of people when they arrive.

 

[Va-NanaTink]

We did the Disney transportation the last time but I hated geting to the port so late. We didn't get there until after 2:00.

This time we will either rent a car if flying in or drive to the port. I like to get there early, even if it is crowded. I enjoy watching all the excitement of people when they arrive.

Staying at Hyatt, we usually arrive at the port about 10-10:30, using Disney transport, early enough to stake out some seats and people watch! Love watching the little ones!!!
This will be cruise #10 for us and I have never gotten a picture with any of the characters in the terminal...there are always soooo many little ones waiting I don't have the heart to get into line. Maybe one of these days I will!

 

[Dixielady908]

We did the Disney transportation the last time but I hated geting to the port so late. We didn't get there until after 2:00.

This time we will either rent a car if flying in or drive to the port. I like to get there early, even if it is crowded. I enjoy watching all the excitement of people when they arrive.

I know, last year we got there around 1:30 -2:00ish the terminal was empty, plus since you get "checked in" at the airport we were able to just walk on the ship...which was nice, but your right, part of the cruise is the waiting in the terminal....it does psych you up and makes it that much more special when getting on the ship.
Plus you get to have a mini meet in the terminal....

Denise

 

[Dixielady908]

Top of page????

 

[Dixielady908]

Ok on the last couple of cruises, we did this on the thread...it was just something fun and kinda stupid....but it was fun to see who could get to the top of the next page.....

chuck: Kathy (momx4) kept count of top of page and the dancin bananas
at our meet, we announced who had won most of the top count and then the banana count.......again stupid but it was fun.....kept the thread going....


Denise

 

[philatiger]

Ok on the last couple of cruises, we did this on the thread...it was just something fun and kinda stupid....but it was fun to see who could get to the top of the next page.....

chuck: Kathy (momx4) kept count of top of page and the dancin bananas
at our meet, we announced who had won most of the top count and then the banana count.......again stupid but it was fun.....kept the thread going....


Denise

start counting......lol

 

[MinnieCruzer]

Top of page????

You did it! Angie

 

[MinnieCruzer]

We took the Disney transportation last cruise....we flew in the day of the cruise and picked up the bus at the airport. It was very easy and convient, however, the stress of flying in same day was over whelming for me, so that was the first and last time I will do that.


Happy Tuesday everyone!!

Denise

I guess we've been lucky so far (flying in the day of). Maybe sometime it won't work out but until John retires he doesn't want to take off extra days...Angie

 

[Dixielady908]

start counting......lol

Oh that was too funny....

by the way...I dont count dancin banana's lol

 

[Dixielady908]

68 or 69 thoes little buggers really move!!!!

Wally counted 68, I counted 69.....

 

[philatiger]

68 or 69 thoes little buggers really move!!!!

Wally counted 68, I counted 69.....

there are 70...it is the same image 5 times, each image has 14.

I couldn't resist posting them...I wouldn't count them either..too much of a headache. I can't believe kathy tried to keep up with them.

 

[Dixielady908]

there are 70...it is the same image 5 times, each image has 14.

I couldn't resist posting them...I wouldn't count them either..too much of a headache. I can't believe kathy tried to keep up with them.

I dont know how she did it either, your right to much of a headache.

But again, it was something fun.....

gotta run

 

[jeanninereid]

Hi Everyone! Just joined the group and wanted to say hello! This will be our second cruise but more importantly we will be honeymooning so we are extremely excited! Since we have only done a 3 day cruise I was wondering if someone could make a suggestion on when we should book Palo. I know that we eat in all the restaurants twice and we did not really enjoy the enchanted gardens restaurant so we could really go without going there twice lol any suggestions would be great! thanks!!