Disney Dream - June 12, 2011

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Good Morning Fellow Cruisers!

Marci, I tried to tell Connor that, but he just shook his head! LOL We have been through the GF several times, the Christmas Decor is BEAUTIFUL, but I guess in his eyes it's stuffy.
Tam, we have never bought points, but I have looked into that before. Maybe something to think about. If I am going to do that, I would want to stay at BLT!
Crystal, we are actually hoping to sell our Westgate resort timeshare in the next few years (waiting for the economy to crank back up) and buy into DVC. We've been to a few of their meetings while on cruises so we know how it all "works". We've been to WDW 12 times since 2001...this trip will be 13....so owning in DVC really makes sense! I don't see us stopping our trips to FL anytime soon either!
We talked a bit last night about where we would stay for those 3 nights and Steve said that A) we'll be in the parks, we just need a bed and a shower and B) The pools aren't anything spectacular. SO, is it worth the extra to be right there? Hmmmm..... Last time we stay at The Beach Club. We LOVED it there! The pool area is awesome and just a quick walk to EPCOT....although, it does bring you in toward the backside and it can be a trek back to the front of the park. I kind of like the idea of getting on the monorail and getting off at the front of each park.
Anyway, all things we need to think about over the next year...well, LESS than a year now! Yay!!!!
Football has ended until August 8th and band starts mid July. I guess we get a break for a while! <relaxing sigh> I think we are going to head towards the mall today! Kohl's coupon + Kohl's cash to earn = new summer clothes for Mom! Yay me! and Connor needs new football cleats, and Bath and Body was having a sale too. Colton said something about Macy's B1G1 sale? have to look into that too. Good thing Daddy got paid today!
I am off to wake the boys and get our day started! Hope you all have a great one!
Michele

 

[DMMom]

We are off to visit family for vacation in CO and WY. We trade off each summer with visiting family and Disney. I like the vacations that actually combine the family with Disney.

I enjoy reading all of the posts on where to stay. We are still trying to figure out where to stay. So far, none of the reservations online are open. I hope next June is an unusually cool (less humid) month.

 

[txvjc]

We are wondering if anyone knows why the internet service is so slow on board in the cabins.

Two reasons: A. It's satellite internet which is about as fast as dial up since it's actually having to shoot the info into space then back down to land (and vice versa) and keeping a connection with a moving ship can be difficult. B. Trying to get a wireless signal through out the ship (especially the rooms) is tough just given the amount of metal in the ship. I know they have put hotspots in some of the more common areas of the ships for those that want to use wifi on their laptops instead of the ship computers, otherwise they would have to put wireless relays all over the place to boost the signal in the rooms. Combine slow service along with an iffy wireless system and it can really make you pull your hair out trying to connect in a room.

We fly from DFW, we are hoping by the next summer that Southwest will be fully participating in ME so we can take them!

You're in luck then, Southwest became a full fledged partner in ME a few months ago. And since they don't charge for bags, it's actually easier to use them than a lot of the other airlines because ME won't take your bags unless you show they've been paid for. You can get conceirge to check you in to get your boarding pass, but most people find it easier to check in on there personal phones (SW app for iphone, others) and then print there docs when they get to MCO from the kiosk.

Are there any runners on this cruise? I was hoping to gather a group to do morning runs (5AM) on the jogging deck. I thought it would be a fun way to get to know each other.

Way back on pg 11 (post 164) I asked the same question, but about the Castaway 5k. I plan on running it on our first stop at CC since I'll still have energy, but I doubt I'll be able to do it on the 2nd stop after all the food and rum I plan on consuming. I did the same thing on out cruise last year...got up early on the first morning and ran a few miles on the jogging deck with the intention of doing it every day and the 5k, but never made it back. Just too tired from all the fun.

 

[Crystal_27]

Crystal, we are actually hoping to sell our Westgate resort timeshare in the next few years (waiting for the economy to crank back up) and buy into DVC.

Buying into DVC was the smartest decision we've ever made in terms of vacationing. We've only owned since March, 2009, but, with what we've already done and have booked through 2011, we're already halfway to recouping our initial investment. When you get ready, the DVC boards here on The DIS will be a great resource.

We are off to visit family for vacation in CO and WY. We trade off each summer with visiting family and Disney. I like the vacations that actually combine the family with Disney.

Have a great time!!

 

[BananasTwo]

This thread stays busy enough for me. I haven't been on in a while and it took me some time to catch up. So glad we are at less than a year. Thankfully, it's not such a painful realization. Last Disney cruise we booked 18 months in advance. Now that that cruise has come and gone, I realize just how fast 18 months went. So I know these 11 months will fly by as well.

Schools out for summer and one week of camp is now done too. Now I can relax with the kiddos for the next two weeks until it's time for our OBX trip. We are going to Corolla with two other families. Any experience with OBX anyone?

Going to send the DIS link to another friend who booked on our trip. We've been friends forever, and her two young boys are amazing friends with my kids although hers are a bit older. Still hoping yet another friend books on the Dream, however she just got off the wonder back in May and suffered terribly from sea sickness (unable to take Bonine or Dramamine). Her kids and DH had such a great time. Hoping we can figure out some natural alternatives for her. Besides the fact that the Dream is so much bigger and in my mind, that means less tossing about on the ocean?!?!?!

Well, it's 11:08 on this beautiful day of summer, and I should try to make myself useful outside with something or other.

Will keep in touch better. Looking forward to hearing what is decided about FEs. It took quite some time and $$$ getting together nearly 40 FEs for my last trip. So curious what everyone is going to decide about doing it by port vs starboard or by deck.

 

[ashman]

Getting the family packed up for a Backpacking trip. We are looking to go up to Greyson Highlands State Park. It will be the third backpacking trip for my oldest daughter, the second for my youngest and the FIRST for my precious wife! I really like this spot. It is one of my favorite places on the Appalachian Trail. It is a fairly easy stretch of trail with lots of terrain variety. A great place to get your first trail miles under your belt. As an added bonus, there are wild ponies that you can get pretty close to that are just magnificent! Here are some shots:

and

The ponies were less than 30 feet away when they ran by us, glorious!

 

[abitagirl916]

Hello Fellow Cruisers! Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

I have been debating about whether we would drive or fly for the cruise. We live about 40 miles north of New Orleans. We drove to WDW last month (I am the only driver--my DD does not drive) and I was really glad that I took 2 days to drive to Orlando. We drove about 8 hours the first day. I was soooo ready to get out of the car. It was only about another 2 hours to WDW but I'm glad I broke up the drive. Now that I have experienced being the only driver on a long trip (in the past my late husband did the driving), I have decided we will fly to Orlando the day before the cruise leaves. We plan on staying at the MCO Hyatt and taking DCL transportation to the Port the next morning. I was wondering if anyone has ever stayed there and then used DCL transportation to the Port--how was it; any problems; what time does the first bus leave?

I know I've said it before, but I can't wait to experience the Dream!!

 

[Scouter]

We are getting excited too! Now that this years vacation is over (booo!) we can focus on next year! (Yay!) Steve already put in for his vacation, so as of now we'll be driving to FL on Thursday, staying at a cheap hotel. Early check in at a USO hotel on Friday, hopefully The Hard Rock, do the USO parks on Friday and Saturday, Check into a port hotel on Saturday night. Cruise Sun-Fri. Check into WDW hotel for Fri, Sat, Sun, drive home Monday. Now to decide on a WDW hotel! Do I go frugal and stay at POP Century....loved it! or do I go all out and stay on the monorail for ease of going to the parks?? We've stayed at the Contemporary and the Poly. We've never stayed at The Grand Floridian. I have always wanted to stay there, and honestly, by the time we cruise, we'll have made our last payment to our credit debt, sooooo, it might be a nice splurge and a congrats for working so hard to get there! I told Connor (13years old) that we should stay there. He asked me to show him the hotel online. His eyes got big and he said, "How....much....pot....are...you...smokin'?" ROFL!! I said, "What? Why?" He said, "That's only THE most expensive hotel on Disney property!" LOL I said, "Ok, maybe not, maybe we could go back to the Poly" He liked that idea! Now to convince Steve! Oh, but the Contemporary has been overhauled...hhhmmm.....maybe that would be nice too! Decisions.....

Wow! Are you lucky! Such great hotels!
They're sadly never within my budget

 

[Scouter]

I am so a GF gal! Tell your son it's not stuffy and pretentious like people say and you don't have to dress up to stay there. We've been going since my youngest was 1 1/2 and we've never had a bad experience. And, often times, it isn't but $20 or so more than the other monorail resorts. Just depends on what category you are trying to get.

Hey, great photo!

I think we should all start posting more photos on here.
It will help us get to know each other when we sail together, and we should be posting our favorite cruise photos to get us excited to sail in under a year!

Here's one of Bob and I on our 2007 Konked Kruisers cruise:

 

[Scouter]

Wish you were on this cruise with us...

Hi Janice!

 

[Scouter]

Getting the family packed up for a Backpacking trip. We are looking to go up to Greyson Highlands State Park. It will be the third backpacking trip for my oldest daughter, the second for my youngest and the FIRST for my precious wife! I really like this spot. It is one of my favorite places on the Appalachian Trail. It is a fairly easy stretch of trail with lots of terrain variety. A great place to get your first trail miles under your belt. As an added bonus, there are wild ponies that you can get pretty close to that are just magnificent! Here are some shots:

and

The ponies were less than 30 feet away when they ran by us, glorious!

Awesome!

 

[Scouter]

Hello Fellow Cruisers! Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

I have been debating about whether we would drive or fly for the cruise. We live about 40 miles north of New Orleans. We drove to WDW last month (I am the only driver--my DD does not drive) and I was really glad that I took 2 days to drive to Orlando. We drove about 8 hours the first day. I was soooo ready to get out of the car. It was only about another 2 hours to WDW but I'm glad I broke up the drive. Now that I have experienced being the only driver on a long trip (in the past my late husband did the driving), I have decided we will fly to Orlando the day before the cruise leaves. We plan on staying at the MCO Hyatt and taking DCL transportation to the Port the next morning. I was wondering if anyone has ever stayed there and then used DCL transportation to the Port--how was it; any problems; what time does the first bus leave?

I know I've said it before, but I can't wait to experience the Dream!!

I know I would fly just to not waste valuable vacation time.

Last cruise we stayed in Port Canaveral, since it was so much closer to the ship in the morning.
A lot of us from our B.O.B'er group rented cars from MCO, drove them down to Port Canaveral, stayed in hotels around that area, had a DIS pre-cruise meet the night before we sailed (some of us meet up for dinner too).
Then in the morning we dropped off our spouses/SO's/children to the cruise terminal so that they could check in and we drove our rental cars back.
All the rental car places then had a shuttle to take us back to the ship.
It worked out perfectly!
And, it was cheaper to rent a car for just one day then to pay Disney transport their fees per person.

Also, since we had our cars still overnight, a group of us got up very early.... like 4:30/5 am and watched the Magic sail back in to port for our cruise! It was awesome!

 

[Scouter]

My son Sean, who was 17 at the time, Me.... Rose, and BF Bob:

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Hi Rose! I think posting more photos would be a great idea! Then I can put faces with names...both screen and real life! Let's see if I can remember how to do this.....

Here is one from our DC trip. It would be the most recent family picture I have.

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Well, it worked, but it's awful small! LOL I linked it from Facebook. Let me see......

THAT'S better! That's Me, Michele, Connor currently age 13, Steve and Colton currently 15. They, of course, will be 14 and 16 when we cruise!

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Here is one of our photos from our last Disney Cruise...October 2008.
Colton, Michele, Connor, Steve

This is actually our Christmas card from this past year. I think it came out pretty good! Colton, a freshman and first year in the band. Connor, 7th grade, second year of football.

 

[Scouter]

Here is one of our photos from our last Disney Cruise...October 2008.
Colton, Michele, Connor, Steve

This is actually our Christmas card from this past year. I think it came out pretty good! Colton, a freshman and first year in the band. Connor, 7th grade, second year of football.

Very nice Michele!
I really like how they did the Christmas card. Great idea

Ok, everyone..... more pictures please!

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Thanks Rose! I actually took those photos myself and designed the card on Walmart's website! I'll have to see if I can find the cards we had done on the Disney ships in '04, '06 and '08!

 

[Scouter]

Thanks Rose! I actually took those photos myself and designed the card on Walmart's website! I'll have to see if I can find the cards we had done on the Disney ships in '04, '06 and '08!

Anyone else?

 

[abitagirl916]

Hey, great photo!

I think we should all start posting more photos on here.
It will help us get to know each other when we sail together, and we should be posting our favorite cruise photos to get us excited to sail in under a year!

Here's one of Bob and I on our 2007 Konked Kruisers cruise:

Rose, my DH, DD & I were on that Oct.20, 2007 Disney Cruise.
Here is a recent picture of my daughter Rachel and I on our recent Disney vacation. Hopefully we can meet on this cruise.
Tammy