DISers stalking DISers...continuing our friendship!

[Ragnrok23]

I am planning to do the verandah if at all possible... but inside will be better than nothing! We really are not "in the room" type people, so if we don't get the verandah, it won't be the end of the world for me. But still... that is what I am shooting for. My kids saw Atlantis on the Travel Channel the other day, and were begging to go. To quote Aerosmith... "DREAM ON!" I do want to do an all-inclusive at some point, but will go to the western Caribbean or Mexico when I go, and probably to a Beaches resort. I will use my cruise to scout out a location! I have very little interest in going to Europe... has never appealed to me. And the countries that do appeal are so far down on my list of vacations I want to take!

Having just been on a Disney cruise, I will give you 2 pieces of advice. One try to get a window. The inside staterooms have no light, and they don't supply a digital clock, so when you wake up, you have NO IDEA if it is 4AM or 1 PM. Also Disney has 6 rooms that are considered "inside staterooms (cat 10) but have a window. the only thing is they have a lifeboat that blocks a part of the view, so you still get the natural light, but pay for a inside stateroom


Also Atlantis has a "sister" resort across the street. they are about 1/2 the price of Atlantis, but you get full access to everything at Atlantis ( I was looking into booking a room there for our Day at Nassua, and was able to find rooms for about $150 at the low point)

 

[wendygrace]

Last summer was our first "real" vacation as a family. Until then, we always did long weekends and such. Now I am spoiled, and want the big vacation every year! As for the characters... Avery will be 5 in Oct, and still believes in the characters. The "face" characters such as the princesses are 100% real. The costume characters such as Pooh, Tigger, and Mickey she still loves and believes in, but also talks about them being Halloween costumes. I think she believes on different levels, and has not quite reasoned it all out yet. Tucker turned 9 in May, and still loves the characters. He doesn't believe, and is a little shy about hugging them and such, but still loves meeting them. We searched out quite a few on his request!

Good luck with Michael's Dr appt. I was really sad to hear the Drs cancelled his surgery. Keep searching... every time I hear stories such as that, it seems to be a blessing in disguise as it will lead you further up the ladder of specialist. I'll be praying for you all. Please post or PM me when you get home. I am planning to get over to your TR in the next day or so, and see how everything went. I love the pic in your siggie!

Thanks for the info. Its amazing to me as my kids don't "believe". We don't tell them the characters are real. We often talk about how it is pretend yet it somehow doesn't detract from their experience. I think its mainly because they are still both blurred on the "real vs pretend" line but that's alright. I just hope they continue to be this excited about the characters as I am. I even found myself talking to the characters as if they were "real".

Thank you for your thoughts on his surgery. I really think it was a blessing. We were really not wanting to leave the Chicago area but I think we had to. Long drive, expensive hotels but what do you do? *shrug* I'm sure I'll post when we get back.

Live in TN, Wendy.

I would send him there but we're weary of letting him travel alone for reasons.

Yes it does feel like it's been a while since we went on vacation but I'm planning next year's. We're looking at around June 13-20th something.

Right now I'm working on getting my sister to do CMA Fest with me.

Haha. No traveling to my parts of the world. Oh well. He does make lovely stuff.

I don't think I'll ever do June again. The weather wasn't as bad but the crowds were too much. I think we'll stick to the fall, winter and spring and be careful with our dates when we go back.

OK WendyGrace... just read Mick's version of your special MK day, and am bawling! I can't believe how special they made the day for Michael! The time with Peter was special, but the little things as well. Driving the boat on Jungle Cruise... how cool is that! I will read further in a bit!

They really did. I highly recommend the Bday button because boy do they get attention with that!

I can't believe vacation is here and gone. I'm still not "back to normal" around the house, but that's because I'm always doing SOMETHING! I have no clue what it's like to be "bored"! Today starts a week workshop for Dana at her new high school - just 1/2 days, so I'll run her up there, then stop back at my school and finish up with inventory, etc, and hand in my keys. No more working for me! (except I DID agree to give a workshop in October! hard to say NO to a NUN! )

We do have a four nights down the shore (in NJ you go "down the shore", not "to the beach" ) in August, so I'm looking forward to that.. as for next year, we are toying with the idea of "Atlantis" in the Bahamas or Bermuda, or back to Disney. The European trips - either Disney Adventures or the Disney Cruise - are still high on Dana's "OH PLEASE" list, but I'm not ready to go "overseas" just yet. (and "bus tours" just don't sit well with me!! But I know that's the best way to see some of those sights. I may send Bob & Dana in a few years!)

Mandy: your dad is VERY talented! How special to have a HANDMADE piece!!

WendyGrace: I must get to your TR!!

Kari: Keep saving - if you do the Disney Cruise, you must get that verandah!

You just can't stop can ya? Always busy! haha

I have updates on my trippie!!

I want to do a cruise but they scare me so with little kids. With how wiggly Michael is, he's likely to go overboard! Anyone do a cruise with an autistic or adhd child?

 

[Crazy Kanga]

For all of you planning a cruise, I went online to several different Disney Cruise Line Travel agents and got quotes from like 6 different ones. Then , you can get the best price when they know you are looking around for the best deal. Also, I found that WHEN you go can make a huge difference in price. I got quotes for Spring Break in March and found that late May was $1000 cheaper for the 4 of us for the exact same stateroom. The best quote I got was for about $2200 for a 3 night departing May 22nd. I think it was for a category 6 or 7.

 

[karibritt01]

My problem with planning a vacation is that we have so many irons in the fire... and everything costs SO MUCH!! I really need a "new" car, and we REALLY need to add on to the house, and we have bills we need to get paid off... so I'll just have to see how the vacation planning goes. Hopefully I can get enough under control and save the deposit, and then Wynn will have nothing to stress over. He is the big worrier when it comes to finances. For the last 6 months, I kept hearing about how we didn't have any money, and how we couldn't afford to go to Disney. I kept telling him I had it budgeted, and we were fine... but until the trip was paid and I had cash to show him, it didn't matter, and he stressed himself out. His main problem is that all of his paycheck goes toward certain bills, and the "extra" money is out of my paycheck, so he never knows what I have going on. Things like this always work out better when I just make the decisions and handle it! If we don't do the cruise, then we will rent a beach home near Daytona for a week, and do Sea World, Cape Canaveral, etc. We can get a 2nd row house with a private pool for ~$800/week.

 

[sunlver]

My problem with planning a vacation is that we have so many irons in the fire... and everything costs SO MUCH!! I really need a "new" car, and we REALLY need to add on to the house, and we have bills we need to get paid off... so I'll just have to see how the vacation planning goes. Hopefully I can get enough under control and save the deposit, and then Wynn will have nothing to stress over. He is the big worrier when it comes to finances. For the last 6 months, I kept hearing about how we didn't have any money, and how we couldn't afford to go to Disney. I kept telling him I had it budgeted, and we were fine... but until the trip was paid and I had cash to show him, it didn't matter, and he stressed himself out. His main problem is that all of his paycheck goes toward certain bills, and the "extra" money is out of my paycheck, so he never knows what I have going on. Things like this always work out better when I just make the decisions and handle it! If we don't do the cruise, then we will rent a beach home near Daytona for a week, and do Sea World, Cape Canaveral, etc. We can get a 2nd row house with a private pool for ~$800/week.

ARE WE married to the same person? My husbans worries about money all the time ..I have heard countless times before Disney how we should not go, how we could pay things off, or use towards bill etc..I saved all the Disney money from my dogsitting money. It took me almost a full yr to save it up. And, I travel to Disney the budget way. He would of had a heart attack if we went all out.and actually stayed on Disney property LOL

 

[karibritt01]

Maybe not the same person... but seeing them together at Epcot, I would venture to say separated at birth! I make most big purchases, handle the bills, and keep him informed on a need to know basis. Wynn is such a high-stress person that it is much easier for us to stay on property. He gets so upset when dealing with traffic, lousy drivers, poor directions, etc... staying on property and parking the car for a week is definitely worth it for us. We considered a value resort, but they are so "in your face" that I would have trouble relaxing, not to mention the crowd size in them. We also thought about cutting back our park days from 7 to 4, and it was less than $30 difference. So we just sucked it up for a few months and went all out! If I can afford it, he can't complain... since this is my money! The joys of separate finances!

 

[sunlver]

Maybe not the same person... but seeing them together at Epcot, I would venture to say separated at birth! I make most big purchases, handle the bills, and keep him informed on a need to know basis. Wynn is such a high-stress person that it is much easier for us to stay on property. He gets so upset when dealing with traffic, lousy drivers, poor directions, etc... staying on property and parking the car for a week is definitely worth it for us. We considered a value resort, but they are so "in your face" that I would have trouble relaxing, not to mention the crowd size in them. We also thought about cutting back our park days from 7 to 4, and it was less than $30 difference. So we just sucked it up for a few months and went all out! If I can afford it, he can't complain... since this is my money! The joys of separate finances!

What do you mean, the value resorts are so in your face?? Do you mean they are over crowded? I really have never stayed on Disney property so I have no idea. I have only read on here that it is noisey and you can hear people in other rooms?I agree if you can afford, "go for it"...right

However in 2 yrs time, maybe 3.. I am planning another short trip to Disney, for just me and my 2 girls and going OFF SEASON..See my son hates to be taken out of school, hates all the work and stuff to be made up. We use to go off season all the time and I loved it. I promised my almost 8 yr old we would do a girls only trip to Disney in 2-3 yrs when Faith gets older. Now, she is almost 3 and still needs naps, and all that jazz you get with a toddler.
When I do my girls only trip I will stay at a value hotel and will fly..The drive just about killed this time My husband doesnt mind driving around Disney, as we have been there 10 times since marriage, hes pretty good with directions. I, on the other hand, hate driving in a dift city and all that traffic stresses me out. So for our girls only trip it will be on property. I am think just a 4 nighter off season she be AOK

 

[karibritt01]

I don't really care for the large icons and such around the property of the values. I also don't like the bright paint schemes. We have stayed at Coronado Springs twice, and love it. The colors are muted and southwest themed. The resort is peaceful at all times, no noise through the walls either time. Also, to compare All-Stars Movies and Pop to Coronado... All-Stars and Coronado have the same # of rooms, but Coronado's are spread out around a large lake, so don't feel crowded. Pop has 900 more rooms than Coronado, but has only 52 more acres, making it a lot more crowded.

As for price... check rates of both for the time you are going. We did consider staying at a value this time, but it was less than $300 difference for 7 days. We decided the quiet resort and the 54 extra square feet was worth it! But I should point out that we booked this trip 10+ months out, so had lots of time to work on paying it slowly... which makes all the difference in my household! Have you tried using a travel agent to get a good price? We used AAA and saved $375 than if we went straight through Disney.

 

[SingingMom]

Have to chime in on the Disney cruise stateroom again.. lol

Rags is right - the inside rooms are "dark"...
even if you don't spend much time in the room, you still will be in there at points... and if you have a time when you just want to be "alone", that's the place to be! (one night I felt a little out of sorts and sent Bob & Dana to the show and just stretched out on the bed with the slider open - exactly what I needed! lol)

I loved the verandah because it felt like an extension of the room... we used room service as our 'wake up call' each morning... and I had my morning tea on the verandah. It just made the room seem bigger to me... I was afraid of feeling claustrophobic. Nice and bright...

As for Bermuda - cruising from NY would be so much easier than flying to the ship, but I love Bermuda too much to only be "in port" a few days. If I'm in Bermuda, I want to fly and be on the beach for the week.

We might cruise again. but not in the near future... Dana keeps talking about the Disney European one... but I still don't want to! lol She & Bob may talk me into it SOME DAY...

 

[Ragnrok23]

We might cruise again. but not in the near future... Dana keeps talking about the Disney European one... but I still don't want to! lol She & Bob may talk me into it SOME DAY...

Scilla REALLY wanted to do that one, but it was a little pricey, plus the dates didn't work for us (I am not allowed to take the first 5 days of the month off)

 

[Ragnrok23]

Question


Everytime I saw someone wearing lime green, I would ask myself "I wonder if they are a disser or just like lime green"

Please tell me I am not the only one that thinks like that

 

[Crazy Kanga]

Question


Everytime I saw someone wearing lime green, I would ask myself "I wonder if they are a disser or just like lime green"

Please tell me I am not the only one that thinks like that

Oh, yeah, and there was a ton of lime green. It really started to drive me nuts!

 

[LizAgna]

Question


Everytime I saw someone wearing lime green, I would ask myself "I wonder if they are a disser or just like lime green"

Please tell me I am not the only one that thinks like that

Me too!! I really expected to see a lot of Disers but if they were there they were not identifying themselves in any way. I was prepared to do the "I'm watching you" sign but I never got to do it!!

 

[CourtneyandRyan]

I saw a TON of lime green too! And never other LGMHs, other than the scheduled meets that I had...

However, one lady approched us, seeing us struggle with the arm extension picture taking technique. She asked if we wanted her to take our picture, so we said, "SURE!" And then she saw my LGMHs on my bag and said,

"Oh, you're on that website?"
I'm like, "You mean the DIS"
"Yes"

So I talked to her for a minute, but I can't remember what her name was???!

 

[Disneyolic]

My problem with planning a vacation is that we have so many irons in the fire... and everything costs SO MUCH!! ....... If we don't do the cruise, then we will rent a beach home near Daytona for a week, and do Sea World, Cape Canaveral, etc. We can get a 2nd row house with a private pool for ~$800/week.

Look into staying in a condo on the beach in Cape Canaveral! That is what we will probably be doing for our next vacation. Believe it or not, it is off season in the summer at the beach so condos can be cheaper. If we do go there next year, we will probably stay at Canaveral Towers. We loved it last time! Not too touristy unless you go into Cocoa Beach but you can still get everything you need. Watching the Disney ships come into port was really cool - plus the other ships, too.

Hey...maybe we could plan a trip together...

 

[karibritt01]

My problem is we get April, July, October, and January for breaks. Easter and spring breaks rule out April. Heat rules out July. Lack of finances rules out January. So we will take our vacation in October... at least for next year. Now if you can go in October, let me know! The houses I was looking at are in Flagler and Ormond beaches... more family oriented than Daytona, but close enough to go there in the evenings.

 

[Disneyolic]

My problem is we get April, July, October, and January for breaks. Easter and spring breaks rule out April. Heat rules out July. Lack of finances rules out January. So we will take our vacation in October... at least for next year. Now if you can go in October, let me know! The houses I was looking at are in Flagler and Ormond beaches... more family oriented than Daytona, but close enough to go there in the evenings.

We would love to go back next October 2008. That's when we stayed in Cape Canaveral before - October, the week of Columbus Day. It was great!!!!!

So, maybe there is a chance of going together...

 

[1andrea]

Just about to start reading all of your trip reports!

 

[karibritt01]

Hi Andrea! Are you planning to post on the TR thread? I hope so... I really want to see how your trip went!

DM... I checked out yout TR yesterday. Good start! I hope you get those pics in and quit dragging it out!

Courtney... I am going to try to get to your today, time permitting. I have to clean my house today, as I have a babysitter coming over tonight. Can't have her see my house nasty, since she lives in my neighborhood! First babysitter for Avery, 2nd for Tucker... so I am anxious!

 

[Disneyolic]

Just about to start reading all of your trip reports!

Ooh..ooh! Pick me first...pick me first!

DM... I checked out yout TR yesterday. Good start! I hope you get those pics in and quit dragging it out!

Courtney... I am going to try to get to your today, time permitting. I have to clean my house today, as I have a babysitter coming over tonight. Can't have her see my house nasty, since she lives in my neighborhood! First babysitter for Avery, 2nd for Tucker... so I am anxious!

Alright! Thanks Kari for coming to my TR before Courtney's... There are a lot of posts on Court's so good luck. But all her pics totally make up for having to skim by the chatting. Oh, don't skim over my chatting, of course.