Feb 6 2010 7 Night Western

[shenaniganzz]

We're in Ottawa and all of the flights from here weren't great... all had stops.
So, we booked a flight out of Montreal. We're driving up to Montreal the evening of the 4th then flying out early on the 5th. We arrive in Orlando at noon. We booked a ride through FL Tours (anyone know of them??) to CC for that day. We'll spend a leisurely afternoon/evening there. Maybe some Cocoa Beach time.

We are flying directly home after the cruise. Our flight leaves at 12:50. So after disembarkation we'll be picked up at port and taken to Orlando.

ITA that the December will pass by quickly with the holidays!

 

[wallyb]

2 nights in the Poly club level - before the cruise!
First time staying at the Poly.

 

[islandjen]

When we booked and payed for this cruise in Oct. I didn't know about the disboards. I was a bit eager and did not do a lot of research. I'm hoping our schedual won't be a problem (the TA said Disney said no problem with our flight times). We didn't like the flight options out of Sault Ste. Marie or Toronto so we are driving to Detroit, Michigan on the 5th. If the weather in our area isn't good then we will drive to Detroit on the 4th (it's a holiday here). We arrive in the morning same day as cruise (direct flight). Our flight home is at about 1:30pm same day as cruise returns. We will spend the night in Detroit and then drive home.
Jen

 

[son3disfan]

When we booked and payed for this cruise in Oct. I didn't know about the disboards. I was a bit eager and did not do a lot of research. I'm hoping our schedual won't be a problem (the TA said Disney said no problem with our flight times). We didn't like the flight options out of Sault Ste. Marie or Toronto so we are driving to Detroit, Michigan on the 5th. If the weather in our area isn't good then we will drive to Detroit on the 4th (it's a holiday here). We arrive in the morning same day as cruise (direct flight). Our flight home is at about 1:30pm same day as cruise returns. We will spend the night in Detroit and then drive home.
Jen

Jen,

Last year we stayed at the Westin ( attached to the airport in Detroit) for a super Great rate ( $99.00)which is more then half off the going rate. I will see if I can find the link for the current deal if you are interested. Nothing like walking out to your plane directly from the hotel room!

 

[islandjen]

Jen,

Last year we stayed at the Westin ( attached to the airport in Detroit) for a super Great rate ( $99.00)which is more then half off the going rate. I will see if I can find the link for the current deal if you are interested. Nothing like walking out to your plane directly from the hotel room!

Thanks!

 

[son3disfan]

Thanks!

Here you go...

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1415

If you click on HOTEL OFFERS, you can find all the specials on right now.

Good luck.

 

[islandjen]

I was just wondering who has received something in the mail with details/confirmation of travel plans. We booked our flights and cruise with Off to Neverland and I paid in full but I haven't gotten any paper work on my flights. My cruise arrangements seem fine (I can access everything online and have made reservations). I just find it kind of strange that I haven't had anything mailed to me about the trip. This is our first cruise and our first time dealing with Off to Neverland Travel so I was just wondering if this is normal.
Jen

 

[wallyb]

I was just wondering who has received something in the mail with details/confirmation of travel plans. We booked our flights and cruise with Off to Neverland and I paid in full but I haven't gotten any paper work on my flights. My cruise arrangements seem fine (I can access everything online and have made reservations). I just find it kind of strange that I haven't had anything mailed to me about the trip. This is our first cruise and our first time dealing with Off to Neverland Travel so I was just wondering if this is normal.
Jen

Nothing here yet.
Just the planning booklet - but that was a while ago.

 

[IrishCowboy]

subscribing

 

[shenaniganzz]

Has anyone else been on a cruise this time of year before? I'm just wondering how busy the cruise is going to be! I noticed some of the excursions are already booking up, but this thread seems so quiet (not that this thread is the ONLY indication ). I thought maybe it wouldn't be too busy since March Break is the following month and that is when most families will be going on vacation?

 

[Sweetpeabass]

Hi All,

We are flying in on Feb. 5 on Southwest and get in around 4 p.m. We also booked FL Tours for a round trip from AP to Port then Port to WDW. We are staying at the Best Western Cocoa Beach night before cruise. They do have a shuttle to the port, but we are getting a cab earlier than the shuttle leaves.

After the cruise, Saturday night we stay at another Besat Western (free with my points ) and then Sunday-Friday we go to the Beach Club Villa. We plan to go to WDW on Saturday-Friday, then go to the Best Western by the AP and fly home to Oregon on Saturday Feb. 20.

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!

 

[Sweetpeabass]

Has anyone else been on a cruise this time of year before? I'm just wondering how busy the cruise is going to be! I noticed some of the excursions are already booking up, but this thread seems so quiet (not that this thread is the ONLY indication ). I thought maybe it wouldn't be too busy since March Break is the following month and that is when most families will be going on vacation?

We have only gone on these cruises in December previously, so not exactly sure of how busy it will be. I do know, however, that at WDW, beginning on February 12, 2010 (of course 2 days before we arrive) they have indicated that as a "PEAK" time and are charging more for the Disney Dining Plan for WDW. It is still way worth it, but how is February 12 a peak time???? I hope it is not super busy. I am like you. I thought, "Well, Spring Break is just a month after that, so WDW should not be too busy during the week." I hope I was not wrong

 

[shenaniganzz]

That's where we are staying the night before too, Shannon!

Like you, I hope it isn't crazy busy.

Just curious, has anyone been on this cruise before?

 

[love2driveinct]

subscribing

Welcome to our meets thread! Will you be joining us?

 

[Sweetpeabass]

That's where we are staying the night before too, Shannon!

Like you, I hope it isn't crazy busy.

Just curious, has anyone been on this cruise before?

Very cool!! Yes, I usually stay at a Best Western if one is available. in my experience, they are usually clean and affordable. There was one we stayed at last time, though, that is in another city, I think is it called Cocoa, and it was SCARY and icky. We actually called it to the main Best Western to complain. I am a little worried about the one near WDW when we return, although the pictures look o.k. It was on 8000 points and most of the places are 16000 or more, so I wondered why?? But, since I had enough points, it made it free and I can stay most places, not all, for a few hours for FREE ; )

I have not been on this cruise, only Eastern Caribbean and Bahama's. Was supposed to do the double dip Western Caribbean in 2006, but had to R/S to 2007 and did Eastern.

 

[GuardMusic]

Has anyone else been on a cruise this time of year before? I'm just wondering how busy the cruise is going to be! I noticed some of the excursions are already booking up, but this thread seems so quiet (not that this thread is the ONLY indication ). I thought maybe it wouldn't be too busy since March Break is the following month and that is when most families will be going on vacation?

In 2008, BFF and I did this Western Cruise the last week of Jan/first week of Feb.

The ship wasn't full, but there were still PLENTY of people. We still had to get to the shows somewhat early to get good seats. Palo was booked, but we still got online reservations. We were able to change our dining rotation upon boarding. Not sure what this actually says about the cruise!

The water at Grand Cayman was just a bit cool. The water at Serenity Bay was COLD, but by lunch I got used to it. Keep in mind I'm highly sensitive and I HATE cold water, so others might not agree with this assessment.

I just looked online and staterooms are still available on our cruise for Cats 4-12. As there are still Cat 12s available (guarantees only, not exact stateroom number), THIS tells ME the ship isn't very full at all.

So much going on at work, it feels like the time will fly until we fly!
Gayle

 

[shenaniganzz]

Great!! More attention for all of us! We booked adjoining Cat 10 inside rooms - I wonder what the chances/odds are that we could be upgraded to adjoining rooms with a porthole?!

 

[mamakdjco]

Hi everyone!

I'm brand-new to the boards - posting anyway. I've been reading for a while, though. This will be our first DCL cruise and we are so excited! It's me, DH, DD6 & DS4 plus my mom & dad. They are BIG Disney fans and great grandparents so it will be wonderful to have them along. DH & I did a RCCL Southern Caribbean cruise last December and my parents have done several Alaskan cruises, but this will be our kids' first cruise. They started asking to go as soon as DH & I got home last year. When they heard that Disney did cruises they asked us about once a week until we booked in August. I started a countdown chain at 100 days out and the kids are currently more excited to take those links off than to do the advent calendar!

I do have a question that I haven't easily found the answer to. Thanks to these boards, I knew to pay our final payment ahead of time and check out Palo reservations at 75 days and we booked what we could. We really want to do one night there with my parents. We're booked for Sunday, which is fine except that we do not want to miss the AP show! If we get our dining rotation and that's our AP night, will we be able to either change Palo reservations or our rotation? Which one will we have better luck with?

Looking forward to learning more and building the anticipation!

-Kim

 

[shenaniganzz]

Not sure about the AP change, but wasnted to say hi!

 

[love2driveinct]

Hi everyone!

I'm brand-new to the boards - posting anyway. I've been reading for a while, though. This will be our first DCL cruise and we are so excited! It's me, DH, DD6 & DS4 plus my mom & dad. They are BIG Disney fans and great grandparents so it will be wonderful to have them along. DH & I did a RCCL Southern Caribbean cruise last December and my parents have done several Alaskan cruises, but this will be our kids' first cruise. They started asking to go as soon as DH & I got home last year. When they heard that Disney did cruises they asked us about once a week until we booked in August. I started a countdown chain at 100 days out and the kids are currently more excited to take those links off than to do the advent calendar!

I do have a question that I haven't easily found the answer to. Thanks to these boards, I knew to pay our final payment ahead of time and check out Palo reservations at 75 days and we booked what we could. We really want to do one night there with my parents. We're booked for Sunday, which is fine except that we do not want to miss the AP show! If we get our dining rotation and that's our AP night, will we be able to either change Palo reservations or our rotation? Which one will we have better luck with?

Looking forward to learning more and building the anticipation!

-Kim

Welcome! Thanks for joining our thread -- we are a relatively small (and quiet) group right now, which we are hoping means the cruise will not be fully booked and translates to a ship without lots of people and more attention from the CM's .

Check out the list of folks at the top of Page 6; this gives you an idea of who has joined this meet thread so far. Lots of different folks -- people without kids, people with kids, people on their first cruise, and veteran cruisers. If you want to tell me a little about your kids' interests, I can post that as well. Might help with the kids' clubs as far as making friends, etc.

I'm not totally sure about the change, either, but from what I've read on these boards, it looks like you have a good chance of being able to change at least one of those to suit your preferences. Since this is a 7-day cruise, I'm assuming that we're hitting each restaurant at least two times, so theoretically you wouldn't miss out on AP, anyway, right?