Disney Dream August 7, 2011

[jlawall]

And you wonder how I got the name "Captain Lucky!"

 

[Mackie Mouse]

shameless, just shameless jla! Like a true pirate!

So while I am kind of surprised by that win for Alice and Wonderland, the Mad Hatter hat the guy made for his Oscar was ridiculously adorable

 

[Mackie Mouse]

Huzzah! Toy Story 3 wins!

 

[simbasmom2]

The girls and I are trying to plan our Fe gifts! We have some good ideas!! I would like to suggest a cut off date to join, so that we can make/order/buy gifts and have enough without worrying about some joinng late. On our last cruise we had several last minute...the week of...ask to join. Mine were already to go in baggies and packed . How does 4-6 weeks before sound? I think our last cut off was 6 weeks before. I am a planner. LOL. 159 days to go!!!!

 

[Mackie Mouse]

Six weeks out is June 26. If we make it 5 weeks out, the date is July 5, which is my birthday and therefore a very easy date fr me to remember Colin and I will probably do a variation of what we did last time (if not the exact same thing)....it was very popular!

 

[simbasmom2]

July 5th it is!

 

[Mackie Mouse]

So I have to vent my frustration tonight to someone who will understand! Since we are traveling during peak summer season for this trip, I decided right away that I wouldn't be able to count on any discounts via Disney and would have to go hunting for ways to save money on my own. We got a great deal on a pre-cruise stay at the Dolphin (including a free night), got a slight discount on park tickets by ordering from Undercover Tourist, and none of this was a big deal because we realized that we would pay less out of pocket for the type of meals we want to eat in WDW than we would buy using the dining plan.

Lo and behold...in my inbox today sits a special PIN code just for me for a FREE Disney Dining Plan (quick service for a mod or value, full dining plan for a deluxe) good for dates right during our stay! I have NEVER been a PIN recipient before, and now I can't use it! I actually debated the idea of selling our undercover tourist tickets to a friend and re-booking the whole package, but we would basically break even this way, if not spend more (the cost of two counter-service meals a day basically offsets the total amount we saved by staying at the Dolphin...) So basically, we still make out for the best doing what we did...but I really am sad that our PIN is going to waste!

 

[simbasmom2]

Sorry for your disappointment.I get mad at myself when I miss deal, too.

How did you manage to get a free night at the Dolphin?

BTW...what is a PIN?

 

[Mackie Mouse]

A PIN code is a special discount code that is sent out seemingly randomly from Disney either e-mail or through snail mail. The code is pretty long and is tied to the name and address of the person it was sent to, so I can't even give away my discount to a friend or family member. Grr!

The Dolphin is awesome in terms of finding discounts, I have learned! I actually booked initially with a teacher discount, but found another deal on the Swan/Dolphin thread here when the Super Bowl rolled around. They ran a promotion where PA and WI residents got a third night free if they booked at least a two night stay in honor of their teams being in the SuperBowl (crazy!). So I called and I turned out that we actually saved more with that code than we did with my original teacher discount. I'll have to see how our stay goes, but I am loving everything about the Dolphin so far in terms of my dealings with them. I feel like I'm getting off-site deals but on-site service, perks, and an awesome location. I am totally flabbergasted about the idea of walking to the Boardwalk and Epcot.

 

[susiemmfan]

That is a bummer. However, the Dolphin is a great hotel. The location is perfect. I stayed there a few years back when the kids were young with a stroller and it was great to take the boat to EPCOT and then grab the monorail to the Magic Kingdom, no folding the stroller. We had a view of Hollywood Studios.

 

[simbasmom2]

That will be a great location for you. I think they give a discount for nurses, too. My husband and I are both nurses. I think after the cruise we are going to rent a car and take a big road trip down through the Keys. We have been wanting to do this for quite some time now...so I think we should JUST DO IT!

 

[Mackie Mouse]

simba, we did a day in Key West on our honeymoon cruise and thought it was great. Definitely a unique and relaxing vibe down there. Halfway between Disney and the Caribbean...which is fitting

 

[jlawall]

That will be a great location for you. I think they give a discount for nurses, too. My husband and I are both nurses. I think after the cruise we are going to rent a car and take a big road trip down through the Keys. We have been wanting to do this for quite some time now...so I think we should JUST DO IT!

I just did this last year and I loved it......if we do it again, I would just stay maybe one night at Key West (ok, maybe two) and then head back and maybe stay at the Checca Lodge which we discovered by accident along the way...it's in Islamorada.

 

[simbasmom2]

Thanks guys for the positive vibe for the Keys. I have heard great things about the Checca lodge, too. One of my past co-workers stayed there I remember. I think she said it was super expensive...I will have to do some research. We haven't decided about how long to do our "extended trip". Maybe 2 or 3 nights, so I guess I will have to plan our attack. LOL. I know I wont stay in KW very long, my mom goes almost every year and she warned me I will need to redirect my kids eyes often. LOL. She said it wasn't really a place for kids. But DH and I have wanted to go for awhile now.


Is anybody going to try to get a ressie for Remy's? DH wants me to try...it will be luck if me get a reservation. I really am not a huge foodie, but I do like Palo's...sooooooooooo worth the extra $$. Remy's is so expensive on top of the cost of the cruise. Gotta keep DH happy, he is so good to us. I am so glad he loves Disney as much as I do. I think I will try to get Palo's if I can't get Remy's, not both. I personally like both the Dinner and the brunch, so it won't matter which I choose/get.

I am looking forward to going to the district at night. The kids stay late in the clubs so Dh and I live it up. We hardly ever get to go out at home.

Wish me luck-I am really trying hard to loose some weight. My high school reunion is the day before we set sail!! So double the motivation! LOL We typically go 1or 2 nights before we cruise, so this is making me a little nervous heading down the morning of. We plan to get trip insurance this time...can anybody help me? I have never purchased it...just rolled the dice. The last trip was my warning sign, so I think I need to get it from now on. I know DCL is limited and expensive, I just don't know where to start.


Whoo...I am on a roll typing. All for now.

 

[Mackie Mouse]

I am praying for a Remy reservation. The cruise kicks off on the exact date of our second wedding anniversary, and since we are cruising with friends and will repeat whatever restaurant we visit that very first night (unless it's the show at AP) it would be such an ideal way to kick off the cruise and really do something special just for us. My hopes are not high given how hard it's been to get reservations on earlier cruises...but I am holding out for a miracle. And no, I am not above begging and crying and pleading once onboard the ship that first day

 

[BelleBway]

No Remy for me this time- not when I'm the only "adult" in my party. (age-wise, I am an adult. Mentally? Jury's still out...) I did Palo when I cruised with my mom years ago and it was great- but not this time.

I'm still hoping against hope for a PIN or public room-only discount that will be valid on 8/12-8/13 (current public discount starts 8/14) We're doing WDW after the cruise because it works out better for everyone's schedules than doing it before. Plus, since the nieces have already been to WDW and have never been on a cruise, I figured that they'd want to do that first, anyway.

Sorry I haven't been posting- things have (still) been a little crazy here.

 

[susiemmfan]

Thanks guys for the positive vibe for the Keys. I have heard great things about the Checca lodge, too. One of my past co-workers stayed there I remember. I think she said it was super expensive...I will have to do some research. We haven't decided about how long to do our "extended trip". Maybe 2 or 3 nights, so I guess I will have to plan our attack. LOL. I know I wont stay in KW very long, my mom goes almost every year and she warned me I will need to redirect my kids eyes often. LOL. She said it wasn't really a place for kids. But DH and I have wanted to go for awhile now.


Is anybody going to try to get a ressie for Remy's? DH wants me to try...it will be luck if me get a reservation. I really am not a huge foodie, but I do like Palo's...sooooooooooo worth the extra $$. Remy's is so expensive on top of the cost of the cruise. Gotta keep DH happy, he is so good to us. I am so glad he loves Disney as much as I do. I think I will try to get Palo's if I can't get Remy's, not both. I personally like both the Dinner and the brunch, so it won't matter which I choose/get.

I am looking forward to going to the district at night. The kids stay late in the clubs so Dh and I live it up. We hardly ever get to go out at home.

Wish me luck-I am really trying hard to loose some weight. My high school reunion is the day before we set sail!! So double the motivation! LOL We typically go 1or 2 nights before we cruise, so this is making me a little nervous heading down the morning of. We plan to get trip insurance this time...can anybody help me? I have never purchased it...just rolled the dice. The last trip was my warning sign, so I think I need to get it from now on. I know DCL is limited and expensive, I just don't know where to start.


Whoo...I am on a roll typing. All for now.

I have purchased Disney trip insurance in the past. A few years back when my mom was sailing with us, my brother got sick and the doctor recommended that we not leave the area. We canceled the cruise and got all our money back. Also last year for our Med cruise we got a letter stating that we could cancel our trip and use the credit for another cruise due to the volcano ash.

Key West is fun. We have been there twice. The first time we did the train tour and aquarium and the second time we did a bike tour. I could go for some Key Lime Pie on a Stick right now.

No Remy or Palo for me. I had brunch at Palo for the first time with my mom on our last cruise and it was GREAT. We also did dinner with a group from the boards which was fun.

 

[jlawall]

What is Remy's and how do you get a ressie?

I have a daughter getting married in the fall and I'm on WW....lost 10.5 so far.....

 

[simbasmom2]

J-awesome on the 10.5 lbs down!! I have done WW on and off for years. I am just counting calories THIS time. As soon as I stop tracking I gain! UGG


BAD NEWS ON OUR POST CRUISE TRIP! We FINALLY got our kids new schedule for school...and they START August 15. What is that about!!!!!!!!!
Needless to say I am really peeved! SOOOOOOOOOOOOO no Keys for us. I still would like to stay Friday some where and come back Saturday. I having problems starting the night before debarking with depression setting in, this last time I booked another cruise so that helped. I plan to book again, but would also like a little trip,too. Even if we just stay at a WDW resort, swim and go to DD that would be OK with me.

Mackie- I wish you good luck and pixie dust. I think you will get your ressie. I read last night on the boards that they only put 10-20 percent of the ressies available online. I also read that someone tried to book after boarding and they had a ton of ressies available for both restaurants and had the most availability on boarding day!! This is perfect for you. On our 2nd Disney cruise we couldn't get a palos brunch, but we were put on the waiting list. The night before they called us and invited us to eat. That was a magical moment.

 

[simbasmom2]

No Remy for me this time- not when I'm the only "adult" in my party. (age-wise, I am an adult. Mentally? Jury's still out...) I did Palo when I cruised with my mom years ago and it was great- but not this time.

I'm still hoping against hope for a PIN or public room-only discount that will be valid on 8/12-8/13 (current public discount starts 8/14) We're doing WDW after the cruise because it works out better for everyone's schedules than doing it before. Plus, since the nieces have already been to WDW and have never been on a cruise, I figured that they'd want to do that first, anyway.

Sorry I haven't been posting- things have (still) been a little crazy here.

Hope your life slows down and little and everything gets straighten out! I am also dealing with craziness here. Don't forget about us...Disboards is a great means for therapy...an escape if u will.

I agree a discount on the resorts would be nice, we are just missing the dates.