Disney Dream - June 12, 2011

[Scouter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_c3Rqj8fpM
Have any of you seen this video yet? The Wonder, on its way out of Port Canaveral, is passing the Dream. I know that the Dream is larger than the Wonder, but I didn't realize how much larger. Also, the Dream answers the Wonder's horn. Gave me chills!!!

Cool!
Gave me the chills too Tammy, I'm such a sap for Disney stuff

 

[Scouter]

Tammy, I saw this too!! I was amazed at the size difference! WOW! It makes me excited to see her in person though! Can't wait!!

Well, the driveway has been cleared...again...LOL I think we might get another inch or 2 before the end of the day, but this 3" is just a preview of what's to come. if it all pans out like the weatherman is thinking, we could get 9" between Monday night and Thursday morning! I hate to shovel snow! Although, I have found that using the push broom is a bit easier when it's not that deep!

Today is Steve's birthday! Going to make a cake and whatever he wants for dinner later! Time for some coffee and breakfast!

Have a great day!
Disney Dreaming....
Michele

Wow! Michele! That's more than we're getting in NY! Only perhaps 3inches by tomorrow night.
And you're in VA
I was thinking of moving that way someday after I retire, maybe it's better here

Good luck with that, I hate shoveling too, my aching back

And Happy Birthday to Steve!

 

[bairdbeth]

It's great that other DIS'ers will be at the Radisson pre-cruise and Hard Rock post cruise!
Tammy we've only stayed at 1 of the Downtown Disney hotels. It was called the Regal Sun, but is now the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista. It was about 2 years ago and it was very nice. It is literall across the street from the back side of the Marketplace and close enough to walk (unless you are like me and could never carry back all the bags we end up with! )
I am excitedly looking forward to the first reports as cruisers get off of the Dream!
We are getting ready to "hunker down" here as a major ice storm is on the way tomorrow night. The grocery store was chaos today, but we had to go as we had not been since before we left town on Christmas day! Took forever, but we are all set now! Hope everyone stays safe if you are in the storms path!

 

[abitagirl916]

Well I've been doing some research, and I think instead of staying at The Royal Plaza, we will stay at the Holiday Inn (Downtown Disney). Still looking for opinions on any of the Downtown Disney hotels, now especially the Holiday Inn. Like I said before, it's only for 1 night and I'm choosing this area just because we want to spend some time in Downtown Disney after the cruise. Don't have time for the Parks (I wish I did!).

 

[dlberney]

Oceaneers Club
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d9a4Bgl5fc

I don't know why this video looks like it does, but it gives you an idea!

Thanks for sharing! That gives me an idea of what to expect with the Oceaneers Club. BTW, I couldn't figure out why the video looked odd, either, until I read the comments. People put things like "dude, turn your phone sideways"! Whoever shot the video must know as much about technology as I do!

 

[ashman]

To those looking for some help in the waistline department, I have been fighting the battle of the bulge for some time myself. Last year I downloaded the My Fitness Pal App for my iTouch. It makes tracking the eating and exercising very easy IF you have the discipline to use it. I have done a bit better in the last week or so. I discovered you can link it up with your Facebook Profile to post how you are doing and posting your progress. It has really helped me to have that "accountability". Over Christmas I put on about 10 "garbage" pounds. I call them garbage pounds because I are garbage to get them and fell like garbage after!

Anyway, I have dropped the "garbage" pounds 238 down to 228. I hope to be 215 by the cruise and under 200 by the end of the year!

 

[Texas Disney Fan]

We just booked our stay before the cruise at CI&S for the 10th and 11th. We plan to spend the day at KSC on the 11th.

We are now thinking about driving instead of flying. We will just wait and see in the next couple of months.

 

[dbenlee]

We are now thinking about driving instead of flying.

YAY!!

 

[whithouston]

We will be staying at the BoardWalk in a BoardWalk view Studio!!

 

[Fab5Family]

We just booked our stay before the cruise at CI&S for the 10th and 11th.

It looks like several of us with boys in the 10-12 age range will be at CI&S. Maybe we should try to meet by the pool or something that evening and let the kids get to know each other.

We are also planning to drive from Texas. (We're in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.)

 

[Texas Disney Fan]

It looks like several of us with boys in the 10-12 age range will be at CI&S. Maybe we should try to meet by the pool or something that evening and let the kids get to know each other.

We are also planning to drive from Texas. (We're in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.)

Sounds like a plan.......

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

GOOD MORNING FELLOW CRUISERS!!

I see some of our southern friends got hit with a nice ice and snow storm last night! Stay safe and enjoy it! We are expected to get snow starting tonight and last through Thursday...up to 7" or so. I expect the kids won't have school those days, then they are off Friday and Monday for the holiday. Looks like we get another week off from school!

So Steve and I were online last night trying to figure out our vacation plans. Can I ask, for those of you that booked HRH on the 17th, what kind of rate you got? We are looking at just a standard room and it's $329...before all the taxes and fees?? We have never paid more than $200 for a room on USO property. THEN we were looking at the park tickets! If I remember right, the 2day/2park ticket was $154?? That's $945 plus taxes and fees....and then we need to add meals to that. I dunno....seems REALLY steep to us. Is it because of the Harry Potter stuff? Steve said last night that we would just keep an eye on it and if a deal came up, we'd book it, but if not, we just won't go. I mean, that's just one night/2 days. For another $500 we could spend a whole WEEK at Disney, with meals! I guess we'll wait and see!

We too, are staying the night of the 11th at CI&S. Colton will be 16, Connor 14. Let us know if there will be a meet and greet! Should be fun!!!

Well, I best get moving! We have a few errands to run today and the time always goes fast when the kids are in school!!

Have a great Monday!
Disney Dreaming......
Michele

 

[dlberney]

GOOD MORNING FELLOW CRUISERS!!

I see some of our southern friends got hit with a nice ice and snow storm last night! Stay safe and enjoy it! We are expected to get snow starting tonight and last through Thursday...up to 7" or so. I expect the kids won't have school those days, then they are off Friday and Monday for the holiday. Looks like we get another week off from school!

So Steve and I were online last night trying to figure out our vacation plans. Can I ask, for those of you that booked HRH on the 17th, what kind of rate you got? We are looking at just a standard room and it's $329...before all the taxes and fees?? We have never paid more than $200 for a room on USO property. THEN we were looking at the park tickets! If I remember right, the 2day/2park ticket was $154?? That's $945 plus taxes and fees....and then we need to add meals to that. I dunno....seems REALLY steep to us. Is it because of the Harry Potter stuff? Steve said last night that we would just keep an eye on it and if a deal came up, we'd book it, but if not, we just won't go. I mean, that's just one night/2 days. For another $500 we could spend a whole WEEK at Disney, with meals! I guess we'll wait and see!

We too, are staying the night of the 11th at CI&S. Colton will be 16, Connor 14. Let us know if there will be a meet and greet! Should be fun!!!

Well, I best get moving! We have a few errands to run today and the time always goes fast when the kids are in school!!

Have a great Monday!
Disney Dreaming......
Michele

Hi! I may not be much help with our rate for HRH because we were able to get a military rate, but ours is $230 before taxes and such. As for tickets, I will probably get them online at the Universal website......last time I checked, the 2 day/2 park tickets were $134.99 each. In reading the Universal message boards, a lot of peole were complaining about the room rates. The moderator reminded them that the rates are similar to what WDW charges for a similar (moderate and up) room. The rates are high for Universal, but they are pretty normal for hotels on amusement park property (i.e. Disney). Maybe that will help you justify the cost a little!

 

[dlberney]

Sounds like a plan.......

We have a 11 yr old boy and will be there, too! Maybe meet by the pool at 8:30 PM? That should give everyone time to eat dinner and get swimming trunks on. This is so exciting!!!!

 

[disgrits]

Happy New Year everyone!

We also have an 11 yr old boy and we are staying at CI&S on the 11th. I just don't know how early we will be there, as my family could very well want to stay in the parks until the very last minute.

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Hi! I may not be much help with our rate for HRH because we were able to get a military rate, but ours is $230 before taxes and such. As for tickets, I will probably get them online at the Universal website......last time I checked, the 2 day/2 park tickets were $134.99 each. In reading the Universal message boards, a lot of peole were complaining about the room rates. The moderator reminded them that the rates are similar to what WDW charges for a similar (moderate and up) room. The rates are high for Universal, but they are pretty normal for hotels on amusement park property (i.e. Disney). Maybe that will help you justify the cost a little!

I think that might be similar to rack rate prices at Disney, true. But we are all so spoiled with getting discounted rates that paying rack rate is unheard of! and No, I can't justify it! LOL I know they are nice hotels, we've stayed there before, BUT we are just here for the FOTL access and a walk to the park. If we were truely going to USE the hotel, then maybe. I just need a comfy bed and a hot shower. Maybe USO needs to concider adopting their own value resort...even if it means walking across the street. Or maybe offering specials for "good neighbor" hotels...early park access, but not FOTL, or discounts on meals or tickets. With USO only having 3 hotels, I think they can almost always charge rack rate and people will pay it. Oh well, we talked again this morning. We are going to hold out and see what happens. If we get a good rate or disc tickets, then maybe we will go. For now, we wait and see! Thanks!!!

Disney Dreaming....
Michele

 

[dlberney]

I think that might be similar to rack rate prices at Disney, true. But we are all so spoiled with getting discounted rates that paying rack rate is unheard of! and No, I can't justify it! LOL I know they are nice hotels, we've stayed there before, BUT we are just here for the FOTL access and a walk to the park. If we were truely going to USE the hotel, then maybe. I just need a comfy bed and a hot shower. Maybe USO needs to concider adopting their own value resort...even if it means walking across the street. Or maybe offering specials for "good neighbor" hotels...early park access, but not FOTL, or discounts on meals or tickets. With USO only having 3 hotels, I think they can almost always charge rack rate and people will pay it. Oh well, we talked again this morning. We are going to hold out and see what happens. If we get a good rate or disc tickets, then maybe we will go. For now, we wait and see! Thanks!!!

Disney Dreaming....
Michele

I am totally with you on not paying rack rates.......I am the queen of getting discounts whenever and wherever I can! I read in my AAA magazine that there will be a AAA discount if you book a Universal hotel in the month of Feb, but I didn't pay attn to the details. Good luck!

 

[bairdbeth]

We are snowed in here in Marietta, Ga. We got 6 inches of snow and now we are getting sleet and freezing rain. The temperature will be around or below freezing for the rest of the week, so not sure when we will get out. The roads are getting worse right now due to the icing. The school systems here do not build in many snow days, so not sure how it will all fall out. Right now kids get out before Memorial Day, but as a teacher I go back after Memorial Day. Hopefully we won't get too many days or it will be pushing toward our Dream time
As far as Hard Rock, I paid rack rate, but will be watching for discounts. We really want to see Harry Potter and Taylor loves the roller coasters. By staying the 1 night we will at least get 2 days of FOTL access. Universal has always been more expensive for us than Disney as we stay at Pop or with deep discounts at other resorts at WDW. It will cost me about $100 more to stay the 1 night at Hard Rock than it did for the discounted per night rate at the Contemporary tower with a Magic Kingdom view. We are only doing it as we will stay just 1 night before moving on to Windsor Hills on Saturday (Oh, and because I really want to try Butterbeer )

 

[nanceliz]

We were originally planning on staying on property at US but it was over $300 a night. I just couldn't justify it when we got a room across the street at Hyatt Place for $59 a night that includes breakfast. Just too much of a difference. We will just buy a front of the line pass for the one full day we will be at IOA. It looks like only $25 per person the day we will be there.
Stll comes out alot better.

We have no snow here....just cold rain. Suppose to be 38 tonight and 29 tomorrow night.

Hope everyone has a good week! One week closer to the Dream

 

[bairdbeth]

Well, no school again tomorrow. Little to no meltage today and maybe none tomorrow. It could be a long week!