"Double Dip Delight" 09/27/08 - Take 2 with Link to Original Thread!

[Scrappingjen]

I am trying to pick our hotle for the night before and since they all seem very simular correct me if I am wrong please. Is one of them closer like walking distace to a place to get drinks for in cabin enjoyment.

From what I understand the shuttle servce from the airport to the hotle will make 1 stop is that right.

thanks

 

[FatCat]

Shuttle service from hotel will in general make a grocery stop. Most say you have to pre-reserve it.

The Holiday Inn Express is on the outskirts of the Publix parking lot.

The Country Inn and Suites, Marriot, & Radisson are in walking distance to a 7/11 type place that is good for beer and bottled water but probably at a higher rate than a grocery store.

Now If I recall liquor cannot be bought in the grocery store. Only Beer and Wine. Well at least the Publix we stopped at for our grocery stop.

I do not recall if the Publix in Cocoa Beach had a liquor store in the same proximity.

We also like to buy sand toys at the grocery trip.

 

[Scrappingjen]

Is one hotel better than another? We just want some place with a pool and within walking distance to a restraunt and has a shuttle to the port. We are not renting a car thats why we have to be able to walk to a restraunt on Friday or it will be Pizza delivery and I don't think my N laws would be very happy with that

 

[crissichef]

Is one hotel better than another? We just want some place with a pool and within walking distance to a restraunt and has a shuttle to the port. We are not renting a car thats why we have to be able to walk to a restraunt on Friday or it will be Pizza delivery and I don't think my N laws would be very happy with that

We are staying at the MCO Hyatt. There are lots of places to eat and shop in the airport

Crissi

 

[FatCat]

The Radisson used to be the closest hotel near the Port.
Then the Marriot Residence Inn and the Country Inn and Suites came.

These 3 seem to be the most popular of the ones closest to the ports.

They offer differ.

Let me see if I get this right

Country Inn and Suite
Free breakfast(supposed to be expanded to a full hot breakfast very recently)
Pay for shuttle
No restaurant


Radisson
Pay for Breakfast
Free shuttle
Restaurant in hotel

Marriot
Free breakfast
Pay for shuttle
Restaruant in Hotel


Also I believe the above listed are in order of Price as well.


They all seem to offer

Hot Deals - Pay in full and have penalties for cancellation
AAA offers
Some of the hotels also offer Cruise Packages that encompass some of the a la carte items as well.


It is only one nite and perhaps depending on when you get there less than 18 hours total so I can deal with a lot. Especially knowing I will beon the Magic the next morning.

The one cool thing I liked about Country Inn and Suites you can actually get a room that you can see the ships in Port.


So it is really up to your situation, price and what you like that is included and not included.
IMHO the larger the party the more cost effective the van option to Cocoa Beach is vs. paying a fixed price for bus tranfers per person.

At the MCO Hyatt you can actually put your luggage out Friday nite and then board the buses the next morning. I have also read the crawfish bisque is AWESOME in one of the hotel restaurants.

 

[Paul2003]

God love and bless all of you making sacrifices due to your spouses being away at war!! I saw some of what it does to a family when my 2 Goddaughter's dad was gone for a year, yet I know it was much more difficult than their mom even led on.

Hadley, I've actually been wondering what the news was on Dave as I didn't recall if he had secured a new position or not. I'm sorry about the changes your family will face, yet thrilled that you will all be able to cruise with us still!!! Congrats to all of you for getting parts!!

Tammie, I'm so glad we still get to hear from you from time-to-time!

Due to signficant budget cutbacks (already!) for 2008 in our line of business of our company, I had to spend 3 hours in a budget meeting today and there's another 2 scheduled for tomorrow. Unfortunately, this means people cutbacks, too. I had to tell one person at the end of today that he'll be leaving at the end of the month. This sucks! There's at least one other as well...hopefully tomorrow won't reveal the need for more.

I suppose all eyes are on Ohio tonight. I made it to the polls to vote, but MAN is it raining like something aweful! At least we don't have what Northern Ohio is getting (sleet and snow).



Thanks for pointing the email out as I run to DISboards before I run to my email! Not that this is a ridiculous increase, but man...talk about short notice!

I have only $600 remaining on my cruise balance plus I have $1100 already contributed to my OBC. I could pay the balance off in the next 30 minutes, but honestly, I didn't want to completely pay off the balance yet....that "Just In Case" risk mitigator in me kicks in more often than not.

Besides the "just in case I have to cancel for unforseen reasons", I've been wanting to look into travel insurance that I've been reading about that is MUCH less than purchasing it through DCL. So I'm going to suck up and eat the $30 by not paying off tonight. I'm rather certain I can save much more than that if I make a change in my ressie by not purchasing trip insurance through DCL.

Kim,
Please don't think I'm trying to change your mind about DCL insurance, but having to use the insurance when my mom had her mild stroke on board the ship, having Disney Insurance made things go a lot easier.

 

[Scrappingjen]

Thank You FatCat for all the info. I have to get this all figured out th is weekend cause I am getting togther with my NLAws on Monday when they watch the kids and I want to get all the reservations done.

Its our first time on a Disney cruise and my kids first time to cruise period they are so exciteed to go on Mickys boat

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Kim,
Please don't think I'm trying to change your mind about DCL insurance, but having to use the insurance when my mom had her mild stroke on board the ship, having Disney Insurance made things go a lot easier.

Hey there, Paul! Thanks for your opinion as well. Do you mind elaborating on why you believe it made it easier? If you prefer to PM me, that's fine.

BTW, I hope you'll all over the ice up there! I know more snow is expected across the state today, but it sounds like it was a mess up there on Tuesday night.

 

[Scrappingjen]

Okay now I have figured out what a fish extender is I am hoing we are doing this on our cruise. What kind of presents do you bring for people? Please enlighten the newbie
thanks

Oh my mind is wheeling with ideas and that is alway very dangerous

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Okay now I have figured out what a fish extender is I am hoing we are doing this on our cruise. What kind of presents do you bring for people? Please enlighten the newbie
thanks

Oh my mind is wheeling with ideas and that is alway very dangerous

We are definitely doing this on our cruise!! Really it can be items that are practical that perhaps people might have forgotten to pack yet would need (like safety pins, band-aids, rubber bands, etc), something unique to their area of the country, rub-on tatoos for kids, glow sticks, bubbles, little toys....you name it!

Check out the Fish Extender Forum on our website (link is in my siggy if you need it). I have several DISboard threads listed on a post that include several ideas of goodies people give away.

 

[FatCat]

One other comment in my humble opinion.

insuremytrip is simply a broker.

They sell policies from legitamate insurance companies.

So if you do use an online broker I would do the research based upon the carrier that you select that is being offered.


In most cases that I have seen with the minor issues you pay with your own money upfront. You then get a check from the insurance company based on the result of the filed claim.

The unknown of course is always in the details of what is covered and what is not.


What I do not know is that if you have Disney Insurance and you have an issue on the ship do you not have to front the money?
Does anyone know this?

 

[Scrappingjen]

Thanks, I registered on the other board and am waiting for my password.

So Buckey girl are you getting snow Fri? We are supposed to but you never know.

 

[zweihund]

Speaking of drinks , Hey Erica... as the unofficial DDD bartender LOL. Do you have good drink concoctions to take to the snow? We are going this weekend and need some stay warm drinks and some 'we area already toasty by the fire' drinks what can keep us cool!

Well, we opted for wine most of the nights we were there, buuuut.....we did have some hot apple cider on the first day that I thought would have been perfect for a shot of something to keep you......warmer.....

Happy Friday-eve, everyone!

 

[Scrappingjen]

I am so excited I just got back form the fabric store and found some wonderful Tinkerbell fabric to make my DD a twirl skirt.

I saw this custom on ebay and LOVED it but would never spend that much on a outfit that she will outgrow in a season.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180218913230&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=008

The seller is really nice come to find out she is on my kids board. The fish fabric is discontinued. But I found some stuff to make my own version. I can not wait to make it. If we end up snowed in this weekend I will

 

[Buckeye Gal]

I greatly appreciate the additional thoughts on insurance!! It will help me make a well informed decision and know more of what to look for.

So Buckey girl are you getting snow Fri? We are supposed to but you never know.

Yes we are!!! The Columbus area is expected to get 3"-5" of snow in 20-30 mph winds along with some possible sleet. When it comes to forecasting snow accummultations around here, they're usually wayyyy exaggerated from what we end up getting. So as you said, "well see!"

This afternoon, I picked my mom up at the Columbus airport (she lives outside of Mansfield, which is the half way point between Columbus and Cleveland). She was in Lois' neck of the woods visiting my brother in Kansas, and one of the first things she said was "I hear we're going to have a blizzard tomorrow!" Even though they are only 80 miles north of us, they do always get worse weather than we have in Columbus due to the lake-effect snow that normally reaches down to them as well. CRAZZZZYY weather, I tell ya!

The twirl dress/skirt you had a link to is just ADorable!! I can't wait to see what you end up with! I'm sure Zoe will be just tooooo cute!

 

[Scrappingjen]

I'm near Dayton and we have heard 5-10" so you never know I got extra food and milk just in case but it might be nothing

 

[Grandma4ever]

One other comment in my humble opinion.

insuremytrip is simply a broker.

They sell policies from legitamate insurance companies.

So if you do use an online broker I would do the research based upon the carrier that you select that is being offered.


In most cases that I have seen with the minor issues you pay with your own money upfront. You then get a check from the insurance company based on the result of the filed claim.

The unknown of course is always in the details of what is covered and what is not.


What I do not know is that if you have Disney Insurance and you have an issue on the ship do you not have to front the money?
Does anyone know this?

I had DCL insurance and was told that we had to pay up front and then submit. I am sure if it was a large bill they may have been willing to make arrangments. I mean like if I needed a medical evacuation. Don't know if that is the way it still is. Lois

 

[Buckeye Gal]

I'm near Dayton and we have heard 5-10" so you never know I got extra food and milk just in case but it might be nothing

REALLY??? Wow! Maybe I should turn to the Weather Channel instead of watching Big Brother Afterdark!

 

[Scrappingjen]

REALLY??? Wow! Maybe I should turn to the Weather Channel instead of watching Big Brother Afterdark!

Thats what the road guys were saying but you never know. I do know our biggest snows always come from the south and the usally the more they hype a storm the middler it is. So with this ones hype maybe 1"

Personally I think 4 would be great the kids could go sledding and the roads will be cleared quickly

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

Is one hotel better than another? We just want some place with a pool and within walking distance to a restraunt and has a shuttle to the port. We are not renting a car thats why we have to be able to walk to a restraunt on Friday or it will be Pizza delivery and I don't think my N laws would be very happy with that

We are also staying at the MCO Hyatt this night before. We are going to be arriving around 8:00 p.m. and didn't want to travel any further.