FEBRUARY 14, 2009 (very early roll-call!)

[Jodi]

Now I feel a bit better. I went ahead & booked the Country Inn Suites for $173 total for the Friday night. Not bad. Plus it comes with a cheesy free breakfast! .

All that's left is the flight!

Are any of you guys planning to do any of the excursions? I can't decide if we will or not. Usually we rent snorkeling stuff @ Castaway Cay, but enough's enough with that. Perhaps we'll snorkel @ one of the islands?? Since everyone enjoys this activity.

 

[vavalynn2]

Jodi- you must be glad to have the hotel out of the way. It will be nice to be able to stay right near the port.

As far as excursions go, I read up a while ago on two ideas:
St. Maarten- There is a beach club (chairs, umbrellas etc) place called Chez Leandra at Bikini beach. It does not look like it costs much more than a cab ride and the beach club. I estimated between 30-50.00 with lunch for the two of us. From the posts I read, everyone seems to like it in that area and it is ways from the nude beaches.

St. Thomas- Sonny Liston's tour certainly looks interesting. There are good reviews all over the place for that one. sonnylistontours.com


I do know from our previous cruise that I will be hesitant to choose an excursion that calls for a lot of travel time. We wasted so much time at Grand Cayman getting to Rum point(the water was rough and took a long time to cross on a very bouncy boat), we did not have a lot of time there. While snorkling at St. John's interests me, we do not want to spend a lot of time getting there.

I am not sure we will do these excursions but we have some time to figure it out.

 

[disnutt]

Hi to everyone! We're done w/ school here. The kids are relieved. It just means we're one season closer to our cruise!

Jodi- I got all excited when I read your post because I thought that Country Inn had a CHEESE-y breakfast buffet!

Vava-How cool to be family of the day! I can't wait to ride Toy Story in Oct!

I can't decide about the excursions. We've got multiple generations and differing fitness levels. I have tried to engage the grandparents in choosing activities but they don't follow through on reading the books or even listening to the options. I'm just about ready to pick the most active activities and drag their tushes around until they drop.

Speaking of tushes... maybe I'll just arrange to send the in-laws to the nude beach!

Take care!

 

[rubbergypsy]

hi all, been reading all the posts. I too have yet to book airfare, for some strange reason the rochester-orlando flights on airtran have not been discounted, although buffalo-orlando were going pretty cheap. I am hesitant to book out of buffalo because of weather in February, I do not want to drive there and leave my car for that length of time. I look at least two times a day for fares. Cannot wait to get that over with.

We are off to the world on June 30th. We will be there until July 8. We are excited about the Toy Story Mania ride. It will surely be hotter than the sun when we go with the usual daytime thunderstorm. We always go 4th of July week and then Pres week. Trying to get a ton of stuff done before the trip.

They are calling for temps in the 90's tomorrow, feels just like Disneyworld

 

[disnutt]

We always go 4th of July week and then Pres week.

You must be the bravest people on the planet!

I suppose if I won a trip on the 4th or Prez day I would take it. But to CHOOSE to go on those days! Wow!!!!

 

[rubbergypsy]

Do not like to pull my son out of school, he will be a senior next year, it's a lot easier to do that when they are younger. I use tour guide mike and his touring plans are spot on, also with being a dvc member I know I will always be returning so there is no need to doing the parks commando style. Fourth of July week is great, I love the hot, and we do dinner at Ohana so we watch the fireworks from the restaurant, they pipe in the music, it is very nice, no way I am there with those crowds!!! Also after the fireworks the people leave the park by droves!!! then we sneak in and walk on most everything, it really empties out.
I found 79 dollar airfare nov22-24 so I have never seen the wdw at Christmas so just my daughter and I are doing that short little trip. My son will be going with his dad (my ex who has never been) nov 23-26. So it will be a girls trip!!

 

[disnutt]

Rubbergypsy-Even w/ our DVC I'm not strong enough to brave those dates! Maybe as the kids get older like you said.

Enjoy the girls only trip! I'm taking one for Tower of Terror in October with my 12 yo and my old college roomie. We'll be doing the girl thing, too!

 

[Jodi]

OK guys, bare with me b/c I had a thought this morning . I was thinking about using DVC points for 2 studios @ OKW on Fri. the 13th (40 points) & then paying for the DCL shuttle for 5 people ($350), instead of getting the rental car each way & dealing with shuttles back & forth to the hotel & Avis location. THAT total is $110 for the car (plus gas) & $175 for hotel. I realize I'm paying more to take to DCL shuttle by $70 or so, but I've heard that rental cars & such can be a pain in the gooly. And of course there's 40 DVC points that I'm burning up, but....

So what do you guys think??

 

[disnutt]

OK guys, bare with me b/c I had a thought this morning . I was thinking about using DVC points for 2 studios @ OKW on Fri. the 13th (40 points) & then paying for the DCL shuttle for 5 people ($350), instead of getting the rental car each way & dealing with shuttles back & forth to the hotel & Avis location. THAT total is $110 for the car (plus gas) & $175 for hotel. I realize I'm paying more to take to DCL shuttle by $70 or so, but I've heard that rental cars & such can be a pain in the gooly. And of course there's 40 DVC points that I'm burning up, but....

So what do you guys think??

Jodi- Will you have any time to enjoy OKW before the cruise or is it just going to be a place to camp out? If you can take advantage of the resort/parks I believe it would be worth it. (I would hesitate to spend my beloved DVC points just for a hotel room.) The ease of the shuttle can't be beat so you are paying for someone else to do the dirty work. Either way you go you can't lose!

 

[rubbergypsy]

we just booked a 3 night cruise for our tenth wedding anniversary, last minute and all but airfare was $89 non stop each way so that was a deal, had to book a cat 6 because only 8, 6, 5, and 4 left on the 9/18-9/21 dates. i really need to be midship, did the 4 night and we had a sideways cabin very forward deck 6, and that was the first time i got queasy for the first 24 hours, not fun. almost cancelled our atlantis shore excursion, but felt better once the day started. I cannot believe the $$ we put into this disney experience!!!
As for the points used for weekends, I have done it painstakingly, if I can book with dvc discount or ap that sometimes is better. por and pofq have cruise pickup also. Perhaps a decent ap rate will come out, although it is pres week so who knows.
For this new sept cruise we are coming in on wed eve and staying at ssr and one night and on the end on the 21st after the cruise we are booked akv studio savanah view, 11 points. You could give an akv value studio a shot, but we are not seven months out yet. those go pretty cheap.

 

[grizbuzz]

OK guys, bare with me b/c I had a thought this morning . I was thinking about using DVC points for 2 studios @ OKW on Fri. the 13th (40 points) & then paying for the DCL shuttle for 5 people ($350), instead of getting the rental car each way & dealing with shuttles back & forth to the hotel & Avis location. THAT total is $110 for the car (plus gas) & $175 for hotel. I realize I'm paying more to take to DCL shuttle by $70 or so, but I've heard that rental cars & such can be a pain in the gooly. And of course there's 40 DVC points that I'm burning up, but....

So what do you guys think??

We're staying at AKV for 3 nights prior to the cruise. However, I wouldn't do DVC for just one night for my family - we're jet lagged from the flight (from CA), late check in, early departure for the cruise, plus it's weekend's points. So I'd say, either bump it up and stay at OKW for TWO nights or just stay at a convenient hotel.

As for the shuttle...I'd opt for the convenience of not having to rent a car. But you might look into a private shuttle instead of DCL...could be cheaper with five people.

Just my two cents

 

[Jodi]

Allright guys, here goes.

First, thanks for all the feedback. I thought about it last night & you guys are right, it's just too many points to waste . I've got such anxiety about my points!! You guys have snapped me out of my temporary insanity, don't know what I was thinking .

So we're getting the FL tours van ($230) on the a.m. of the 13th when we get in &having it take us to the Country Inn Suites ($170). I know it's $100 more than renting a car, but I just feel it'll be less of a hassle. Then there's gas .

Meanwhile I'm waiting for SW to open up & debating whether or not to blow $20 on the '08 Passporter guide. I've heard a lot of people here talk about it...is it worth the jing?? Oh, and lets not forget trying to rack the VISA rewards card points via work . With any luck I'll pay for the entire cruise with points!!!

Have a great weekend all!

Jodi

 

[Jodi]

Hey Guys!!

Just bumping to ask if I should buy a passporter, especially with all the info here on the boards??

Thanks
Jodi

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hi Jodi,

Happy Summer!!!!

If I were you, I would call your local library, & order it. Read it & if you like it order it.

I have taken it out last month, & probably will do so again in December.

There use to be an excel sheet, that was going around, equivelent to a book. I had my DH print it out,(about 80 pages) I thought this was just as good as the passporter. Will look for it, or ask if it's still going around.

Off to shopping................

 

[disnutt]

Jodi I bought the Passporter using an online gift certificate and I wish I had used it on something else. I haven't seen anything that I haven't read on the boards.

Check it out of the library but I wouldn't recommend that you pay money for it. I gave mine to my mother so she could look it over. She seems happy with it.

 

[Jodi]

Thanks for the advice, guys. Yeah, it didn't look like too much was there that I hadn't seen b4. I'll save my $20 & get a margaruita on the boat .

Hey Kiena, any races coming up anytime soon? I got into the NYC 1/2 marathon in July & am SOOOO pumped!!

 

[disnutt]

Hey Kiena, any races coming up anytime soon? I got into the NYC 1/2 marathon in July & am SOOOO pumped!!

Congratulations on getting in to NYC!!!!! It's funny that we think that getting picked in a lottery to run a 1/2 is exciting! Yea! I GET to run 13.1 miles!!!

I will be doing the Chicago Distance Classic 1/2 in Aug. I may be doing some half in Erie in either July or Sept. My friend just left me a voice mail yesterday about it but I don't know the date. I'm going to use it as a long run day and just enjoy being up around the lake.

Why can't SWA just release the Feb flights? I just want that part over! The fuel prices are starting to worry me. I may try to convince the family that we should do the "Burgh to Boat" ultra-marathon and start running to the Cape to finish just in time to get on the ship!

 

[Jodi]

Kiena - I've always wanted to do the Chicago Distance 1/2...is this your first time? The 1/2 in Erie sounds beautiful. OK, what's this ultramarathon you speak of "Burgh to the Boat" or? Sounds interesting! I want to do the one in New Hampshire "Run to the Beach" or whatever it is.

SW better get their poop together & release those dates already.

Sorry for hijacking the thread guys!

 

[vavalynn2]

not much else to add except the new passporter does not seem worth it. i got it on amazon with a coupon for 15 with another book, so i recd free shipping. i would have rather bought a few konk coolers with the money.

i cant tell you how happy we are that we have airfare and a rental booked. i just checked on rental car prices and they have increased significantly since we booked a few months ago.

i will keep my fingers crossed for the swa fares to come out asap.

happy weekend!

 

[grizbuzz]

Congratulations on getting in to NYC!!!!! It's funny that we think that getting picked in a lottery to run a 1/2 is exciting! Yea! I GET to run 13.1 miles!!!

I will be doing the Chicago Distance Classic 1/2 in Aug. I may be doing some half in Erie in either July or Sept. My friend just left me a voice mail yesterday about it but I don't know the date. I'm going to use it as a long run day and just enjoy being up around the lake.

Why can't SWA just release the Feb flights? I just want that part over! The fuel prices are starting to worry me. I may try to convince the family that we should do the "Burgh to Boat" ultra-marathon and start running to the Cape to finish just in time to get on the ship!

OK...I'm completely impressed

I'm plugging along slowly here in my training. Will be doing my first 10k in August and then hope to be ready to move to a 1/2 marathon. Still have to pick one to work towards. I think it would be great to have a nice destination to motivate me.