Disney Dream - June 12, 2011

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

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

I might look into doing this as well, if I can find a better deal on park tickets! They add Harry Potter, and now there are no special deals on tickets.

We were suppose to get snow last night, but it's waiting in the wings, so to speak. Now, the kids have been sent to school and the snow should start around lunch time. I told Colton to keep my posted through the day...he's at the High school and can carry his phone. I have a feeling they will dismiss early to get them all home before the roads get bad..but we'll see!! Only the "Powers that Be" know what's going on!

Disney Dreaming....
Michele

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Double the pleasure, double the fun!
Two stops at Castaway Cay are better than one!

Just popped into my head...LOL!

Disney Dreaming...
Michele

 

[tracy51]

Double the pleasure, double the fun!
Two stops at Castaway Cay are better than one!

Just popped into my head...LOL!

Disney Dreaming...
Michele

LOL I love this!

Ashman - Congrats on the weight loss! I need to get focused again and lose some weight before the cruise. Was doing good but the holidays did me in. More than losing weight I want to try to get in shape - subtle differnce I know. I'd like to do the 5K on Castaway Cay. Utimately I'd like to run the 1/2 or full marathon in WDW in a couple of years.

Fab5Family - I wish I could get my husband on board to drive. We're from DFW too and he refuses to drive that far. Even with the prices on airfare that I'm finding. I've never paid as much as it looks like we're going to pay. Especially if I don't want to be sitting around the airport after the cruise.

I've started to ramp up the cruise planning. I'm a Castaway Club Silver member so just realized that in a little over 2 months I'll get to book stuff So excited about that. Keeping my fingers crossed that I can get Palo. Surprisingly my husband said that its one of his "must do's" (even tho he knows we might not get it). Don't know if I'm more excited about eating at Palo or my husband being willing to dress up LOL. Also, we're thinking about doing the waverunner excursion on Castaway Cay. Not sure about Nassau yet. Everythin we are vaguely interested in is $$. Not sure that we're interested enough to spend that much.

Pretty sure we'll be staying at the MCO Hyatt before on Saturday night. Most likely will book it today. The plan right now is take DCL transfers to and from the port. DH doesn't want to mess with a rental. May change to a towncar company though. Gonna book that later. Feels good though to finaly have some firmer plans besides just taking the cruise

 

[ashman]

Ashman - Congrats on the weight loss! I need to get focused again and lose some weight before the cruise. Was doing good but the holidays did me in. More than losing weight I want to try to get in shape - subtle differnce I know. I'd like to do the 5K on Castaway Cay. Utimately I'd like to run the 1/2 or full marathon in WDW in a couple of years.

Fab5Family - I wish I could get my husband on board to drive. We're from DFW too and he refuses to drive that far. Even with the prices on airfare that I'm finding.

Thanks! I have gotten back to where I was before Christmas officially today! I understand the subtlety between weight and shape. My favorite outdoor activity is hiking. I am planning on doing a 30 miler with some friends in a few weeks. After our cruise, my wife, kids, and I are going to hike the AT through Shenandoah National Park, the less on my waist, the easier the climb!

Another fan of driving. When you got two or more people in the group, it comes out cheaper.

 

[A-Team]

Not sure if anyone has had a chance to see these photo's or read this trip report. It's from a cast member that was on the preview cruise - 1/7/11. Great initial report with good photo's.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2630637

R-

 

[foohpah]

It has dawned on me too that in just 2 months I can begin making reservations. Need to get busy...

Has anyone here done any of the snorkeling excursions in Nassau? The four of us are completely new to snorkeling but I think the kids (6.5 and 9) will be ready for it. Sounds like a lot of fun. I know we can try it out on CC but my understanding is that it gets pretty cloudy and there are just not as many fish there as you can see other places.

I also considered the Sea Lion Encounter but my daughter is not old enough. One of us and her could be an observer but I am afraid there might be too much disappointment.

I am not even going to attempt to try to get Palo brunch. Just don't want the stress and disappointment. I think I would still like to try for dinner but my husband is not sure - thinks maybe we should skip it this time. I don't want to miss any of the rotational dining since it is all new so I was thinking since we were on the 6 PM dinner that we could go with the kids - maybe have an appetizers or two and experience the dining rooms then make a late Palo dinner for around 8:30 or so. My husband does not want to miss pirate night but I think maybe the other nights will work.

My son and I are going to do the Stingrays at CC. We were booked for it on our Dec '08 cruise and it was the #1 thing my son was looking forward to. Unfortunately due to high winds it was cancelled. I will never forget the look on his face as we stood there on deck when he heard the announcement. He was just crushed. I am hoping with 2 days at CC that we can do it this time.

 

[Steven41782]

Thanks for the link A-Team. Enjoyed their pictures.

Well, we've been stuck inside for two days in the upstate of SC due the snow and ice. Our roads are solid ice, except for interstates. So, that got me in cruise planning mode. We are booked at the Residence Inn because of the huge rooms and the state government rates. Now...on to excursions.

 

[MKJEcruisers]

Thanks for the link A-Team. Enjoyed their pictures.

Well, we've been stuck inside for two days in the upstate of SC due the snow and ice. Our roads are solid ice, except for interstates. So, that got me in cruise planning mode. We are booked at the Residence Inn because of the huge rooms and the state government rates. Now...on to excursions.

We're in the upstate as well. School is cancled tomorrow again for our girls.

 

[Scouter]

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

Good luck with all your snow Michele, we're supposed to get about the same.
But NYC must be getting hit badly again, because my son was supposed to fly home tomorrow from CA and they already cancelled it and rescheduled for Thursday!
Funny coincidence because they canceled his flight out to CA 2 days after Christmas and we had to reschedule then too! And that was also because of NYC.

 

[Scouter]

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
)

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

 

[Scouter]

Double the pleasure, double the fun!
Two stops at Castaway Cay are better than one!

Just popped into my head...LOL!

Disney Dreaming...
Michele

I was just thinking today that our group never named itself nor do we have a logo!

 

[Scouter]

Thanks! I have gotten back to where I was before Christmas officially today! I understand the subtlety between weight and shape. My favorite outdoor activity is hiking. I am planning on doing a 30 miler with some friends in a few weeks. After our cruise, my wife, kids, and I are going to hike the AT through Shenandoah National Park, the less on my waist, the easier the climb!

Another fan of driving. When you got two or more people in the group, it comes out cheaper.

30 miles? Wow!

 

[Scouter]

Not sure if anyone has had a chance to see these photo's or read this trip report. It's from a cast member that was on the preview cruise - 1/7/11. Great initial report with good photo's.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2630637

R-

 

[fhernand]

Let's think about this...

POTC 4 comes out May 20, 2011....
We will be cruising on the Disney Dream June 12, 2011...

What would be more perfect than watch the newest POCT movie on the newest Disney Cruise boat in the Caribbean???

It's doesn't get better than that!

 

[Scouter]

It has dawned on me too that in just 2 months I can begin making reservations. Need to get busy...

Has anyone here done any of the snorkeling excursions in Nassau? The four of us are completely new to snorkeling but I think the kids (6.5 and 9) will be ready for it. Sounds like a lot of fun. I know we can try it out on CC but my understanding is that it gets pretty cloudy and there are just not as many fish there as you can see other places.

I also considered the Sea Lion Encounter but my daughter is not old enough. One of us and her could be an observer but I am afraid there might be too much disappointment.

I am not even going to attempt to try to get Palo brunch. Just don't want the stress and disappointment. I think I would still like to try for dinner but my husband is not sure - thinks maybe we should skip it this time. I don't want to miss any of the rotational dining since it is all new so I was thinking since we were on the 6 PM dinner that we could go with the kids - maybe have an appetizers or two and experience the dining rooms then make a late Palo dinner for around 8:30 or so. My husband does not want to miss pirate night but I think maybe the other nights will work.

My son and I are going to do the Stingrays at CC. We were booked for it on our Dec '08 cruise and it was the #1 thing my son was looking forward to. Unfortunately due to high winds it was cancelled. I will never forget the look on his face as we stood there on deck when he heard the announcement. He was just crushed. I am hoping with 2 days at CC that we can do it this time.

Never snorkeled in Nassau.
But did stingray adventure in Grand Cayman Islands! My boys loved it!
I liked the stirngrays when there were only a couple of them around me, but when they started swarming all around
I wanted out!
Slimy things, but interesting.

The dolphin excursion we did in Mexico was better, dolphins aren't slimy

 

[Scouter]

I am not even going to attempt to try to get Palo brunch. Just don't want the stress and disappointment. I think I would still like to try for dinner but my husband is not sure - thinks maybe we should skip it this time. I don't want to miss any of the rotational dining since it is all new so I was thinking since we were on the 6 PM dinner that we could go with the kids - maybe have an appetizers or two and experience the dining rooms then make a late Palo dinner for around 8:30 or so. My husband does not want to miss pirate night but I think maybe the other nights will work.

.

Really? We love that brunch! And I'm dying to take my son there this time since he was too young last time.
We're skipping the dinner though, it was ok but I don't want to miss the other new restaurants either, and perhaps we'll try Remy. (Maybe)

 

[Scouter]

Let's think about this...

POTC 4 comes out May 20, 2011....
We will be cruising on the Disney Dream June 12, 2011...

What would be more perfect than watch the newest POCT movie on the newest Disney Cruise boat in the Caribbean???

It's doesn't get better than that!

 

[bairdbeth]

Well...no school again tomorrow. That makes 3 straight days. I am starting to get cabin fever. I did shovel half my driveway as it was a couple of degrees above freezing today. Tonight we get down to 18 with a high tomorrow below freezing (and low wind chills) and then 14 degrees Thursday morning with a below freezing high again. I am beginning to think this will never end
I did do more research into Universal with my free time. I found that if I bought two 2 day park to park VIP tickets (which would include unlimited express pass) it would be $272.64 more than just the 2 day park to park. If I bought two 2 day park to park tickets with express passes for the 17th($45.99 per person) and for the 18th($55.99 per person) it would be $217.22 more than just the two 2 day park to park tickets and only allows for 1 express ride for each person for each eligible ride per day. We park hop so we want the park to park tickets. So I guess I will just stick with the Hard Rock at rack rate as it then doesn't seem so high when factoring in the free unlimited express pass.
Foohpah, we have done the stingrays on CC 3 times and loved it! They will have you feed them as they swim onto a platform and then you can snorkel and swim with them as you like. We will be doing the sea lion excursion, but agree that my DD would be bummed if she was too young and could only observe. IS there a different age for the dolphin encounters? We have done those at Discovery Cove and they are amazing animals!
Hope that all those who are snowed in or will be snowed in stay safe!
Michele, I love...Double the pleasure, double the fun!
Two stops at Castaway Cay are better than one!
I am Disney Dreaming right now

 

[Lovin'themouse]

This is our first Disney Cruise and my first post!! Wow, wow, wow, I am so excited 5 months to hit the waters!! There will be 19 of us! We will be celebrating my in-laws 40th Anniversary along with celebrating both of them turning 60 this year! The guest list is myself (Tricia) 36, Hubby Peter 37, sons 17 and 12 and daughter 10. My 3 bother in-laws, 3 sister in-laws, 3 nephews and 3 nieces! It's a cause to celebrate!!

 

[Fab5Family]

This is our first Disney Cruise and my first post!! Wow, wow, wow, I am so excited 5 months to hit the waters!! There will be 19 of us! We will be celebrating my in-laws 40th Anniversary along with celebrating both of them turning 60 this year! The guest list is myself (Tricia) 36, Hubby Peter 37, sons 17 and 12 and daughter 10. My 3 bother in-laws, 3 sister in-laws, 3 nephews and 3 nieces! It's a cause to celebrate!!

Welcome! What a fun celebration you will have.