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

[disnutt]

Snow What Welcome to the group!

kimkreis Hope you can get the deal you need! The spa thing used to be the exotic rasul or something like that. You and a partner get to go into a massage/shower area together and give each other the treatment!

Purty Welcome back and way to go on ebay!

 

[sbflynn5]

I am not sure I am in with the right group but we are planning to book our first DC leaving out on Feb 12th! I would love to hear from others!!

 

[grizbuzz]

Just booked (or should I say moved my reservation) to Beach Club Villas for three nights before cruise. Now I just got to hope my family can get that many days off in February! BCV, BWV and WLV were all available Feb 11-14.

I'm still running - up to 1 hour long run which is only getting me alittle more than 4 miles. Need to get to 10k before my August run. Not sure how I'm gonna get there. I found a very cool running podcast to listen to for inspiration, which is keeping me moving. Just keep on runnning...

I was wondering if anyone was interested in doing a little gift exchange sort of a thing on our cruise. We did it on the Med cruise and my kids and I really enjoyed it. Just assigned interested participants one night of the cruise to distribute their goodies (any little thing from postcards of their home city, to treats, etc...) and I think participants got about a treat a day. I can organize if people are interested.

Still no airplane tickets booked. I'm hoping prices drop for the SFO-MCO tickets - I know they did last year in the last couple months before the cruise.

Hope everyone is doing well!!
Have a great weekend!

-Jen

 

[Snow What]

BCV, BWV and WLV were all available Feb 11-14

.
Thanks Jen-
That is good to know. I am still considering where I would like to stay. Home is BWV and BCV but was thinking about SSR. We usually don't do much time at DTD while we are there, so I thought it might be a little relaxing before the cruise to just hang out and walk around DTD a little and get the kids to bed early. I certainly don't see them going to bed early on the cruise.

I was wondering if anyone was interested in doing a little gift exchange sort of a thing on our cruise.... I can organize if people are interested.

That would be awesome! If you are willing to take on this task, I think it would be wonderful. I wouldn't know how to organize it, and I certainly wouldn't have much time to do it either...
I have been looking at the pictures other people have of their FE's and want to make one. I think my girls will get a kick out of it too.

Still no airplane tickets booked. I'm hoping prices drop for the SFO-MCO tickets - I know they did last year in the last couple months before the cruise.

Keep checking. I was able to get one ticket for 209. (another at 274 and 2 for 374 =average price 308) My family is travelling under 3 different itineraries (same flights), because the prices were different based on the number of travellers. If you are willing to split your itineraries, you may get better pricing with fewer travellers per itinerary. Then when I finished I called Delta and asked them to link the intineraries in their system, just in case they needed to change schedules or equipment, these 3 groups cannot be split up.
Good luck with the flight search!!

 

[grizbuzz]

.
Thanks Jen-
That is good to know. I am still considering where I would like to stay. Home is BWV and BCV but was thinking about SSR. We usually don't do much time at DTD while we are there, so I thought it might be a little relaxing before the cruise to just hang out and walk around DTD a little and get the kids to bed early. I certainly don't see them going to bed early on the cruise.

I'd guess SSR would be available too. I only asked about BCV, BWV and WLV for studio availability. MS seemed to think BCV was hardest to get, so if that was available chances were very good for all other resorts. I haven't stayed in an Epcot resort before, so we're excited!

 

[Snow What]

I haven't stayed in an Epcot resort before, so we're excited!

I LOVE staying at the EPCOT resorts. Walking distance to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios (it will always be MGM to me! )
You will love it too. BWV is my favorite, but BCV has a better pool area.

 

[rubbergypsy]

got akv from 2/11-2/14 this morning. going the value route. only 37 points for the three nights. need those points for our lengthy summer vacation. Just returned from ssr tuesday evening after being there for 8 nights. weather was great, only rained 3 times. only got in the nineties twice. cannot believe how quick it goes by.
as for the gift exchange that would be great, just let me know what i need to do.
cannot find decent air home, sure glad we can at least get there!!! who knows about going home!! i do however want to fly out after the cruise on saturday

 

[grizbuzz]

got akv from 2/11-2/14 this morning. going the value route. only 37 points for the three nights. need those points for our lengthy summer vacation.

We stayed in AKV value rooms last year after a Wonder cruise. I got studios for my parents and brother and I thought they were quite nice. They had a view of the pool area and were quite large after the cruise cabins. We stayed in a 2-bedroom value with parking lot view and I was happy there as well. It wasn't noisy and there wasn't a lot of traffic in the parking lots and there were trees, etc. So I'm thumbs up for 3 nights value for 37 points! We'd do it again, but we're ready to try something new after Animal Kingdom after our last two trips

.

That would be awesome! If you are willing to take on this task, I think it would be wonderful. I wouldn't know how to organize it, and I certainly wouldn't have much time to do it either...
I have been looking at the pictures other people have of their FE's and want to make one. I think my girls will get a kick out of it too.

I'll plan on organizing a little gift exchange! I'll just be collecting names of those who want to participate for now. So far I have Snow What and rubbergypsy. Other takers?

 

[Snow What]

I'll plan on organizing a little gift exchange!..... So far I have Snow What and rubbergypsy. Other takers?

I was telling my DSIL about the gift exchange and she was making fun of me because I have joined the DIS and wanted to 'meet' people before going on the cruise. Then she told me she wanted to do it too.... Well, I told her that she would have to register as a DISer and join in on the discussion. I think it is too much work for her, but she certainly sounded a little jealous.

 

[Snow What]

Those of you that are staying a few nights at WDW before the cruise, are you planning on going to the parks too? Do you have AP's? I don't and since we are only going for 2 night before, we are not planning on doing any parks. We are going in Dec (6-10th) and I was thinking about seeing if it is worth it (price wise) to purchase extra days on the park pass with the 'no expire' option. We would only have one day on our pre-cruise stay to go to the parks, so I am already thinking it is not going to be worth it.
I usually plan vacations well in advance but it has never been worth the $$ to purchase AP's for us. The kids are too young to be dragging all over the World with hopper passes, so we just stick to one park per day.

 

[grizbuzz]

I was telling my DSIL about the gift exchange and she was making fun of me because I have joined the DIS and wanted to 'meet' people before going on the cruise. Then she told me she wanted to do it too.... Well, I told her that she would have to register as a DISer and join in on the discussion. I think it is too much work for her, but she certainly sounded a little jealous.

The more the merrier! Hope she joins the boards. If not, she can still do the gift exchange, provided your willing to give her info.

Those of you that are staying a few nights at WDW before the cruise, are you planning on going to the parks too? Do you have AP's? I don't and since we are only going for 2 night before, we are not planning on doing any parks. We are going in Dec (6-10th) and I was thinking about seeing if it is worth it (price wise) to purchase extra days on the park pass with the 'no expire' option. We would only have one day on our pre-cruise stay to go to the parks, so I am already thinking it is not going to be worth it.
I usually plan vacations well in advance but it has never been worth the $$ to purchase AP's for us. The kids are too young to be dragging all over the World with hopper passes, so we just stick to one park per day.

We got the 10-day non expiration passes last year and used three days. I'm planning on using another 2 or 3 days before the Feb cruise. With the water park options, I'm thinking these passes will last us 4 trips to WDW. I think it's worth it for us.

 

[Snow What]

The more the merrier! Hope she joins the boards. If not, she can still do the gift exchange, provided your willing to give her info.

I'm with you! THE MORE THE MERRIER. I think I can manage to share the gift exchange info with her.

So, who else is in??

 

[vavalynn2]

I'm with you! THE MORE THE MERRIER. I think I can manage to share the gift exchange info with her.

So, who else is in??

First- Welcome Snow What and Kim!!! I have been away from the boards for a while, our group keeps growing! Yeah!!

A while ago I booked marked a few threads about the fish extenders. DH and I would be interested in joining the gift exchange. I am still trying to read about it and not sure I understand it just yet, but count us in

No real cruise updates here. We are set for hotel, car rental and airfare. As it gets closer I will spend more time figuring out excursions and looking at the most recent navigators. The one thing I would not like to miss on this cruise is the midnight dessert buffet. We missed it on the navigator and headed to bed early unknowingly on our first cruise. I would just like to see it in person. And maybe try a treat or two.

Hope all is well and enjoying the summer! We are enjoying it as much as possible. Before we know it we will be raking the leaves and getting ready for the snow.

Take care!

 

[Jodi]

Hey guys!!

Sorry I've been absent as of late....Count us in for the gift exchange . I'm kind of slow when it comes to this kind of stuff, so just let me know what I need to do !

I've been reading things like they'll be changing (or have already) the age requirements for teens @ the club. Now it'll be 14 & up. Fine by me, as my 13 y/o isn't ready for the "scene" that I've heard takes place up there late @ night .

For all of you waiting for SW tix to go on sale, I read on their site that they should be releasing flights for that week around 8/21! Let's keep our fingers crossed, eh?

Jodi

 

[disnutt]

Happy Monday everyone!

The gift exchange sounds like fun but I'm like Jodi and need clear directions!

Welcome to the newbies! I'm beginning to lose track of everyone's names/disboard names. I need to make a spreadsheet!

My calendar is marked for those SWA tix. I want that part over with ASAP!

Got to get to work. Take care!
Kiena

 

[grizbuzz]

Woohoo! We're getting more takers for the gift exchange!

Signed up for the gift exchange I have so far:
-grizbuzz (Jen, John, Max DS5, Nico DS3)
-SnowWhat and DSIL (Cabin 1: Jean, Eddie, Catrina DD5, and Christine DD will be 2 weeks shy of 4; Cabin 2: DSIL Debbie, Buzz, DS 11, DD9)
-Jodi (Cabin 1: Jodi and DH; Cabin 2: Spencer DS13, step-son Eli 13, step-daughter Skye 17)
-disnutt (Cabin 1- me, DH, DS 5; Cabin 2: disnutt's mother, DD-13, DD-8; Cabin 3- MIL, FIL)
-rubbergypsy (Cabin 1: rubbergypsy, DD8, DS17; Cabin 2 (?): Friend, DS6, DD9, DD12)
-lovesDLS (2 people)
-Jodijo (Cabin 1: Mitch & Jodi; Cabin 2: Mason (13) & Mickayla (11))

I will provide you all clear instructions on what to do as we get nearer the date.

Here's process we used on the 2007 Mediterranean cruise which I was planning to repeat.
-Participants will get small gifts for each cabin signed up. So as of now, each participant would bring 12 gifts (and hopefully we'll get more people to sign up!!).
-As we get closer to the departure date, you will PM me your cabin room.
-I will write up a gift exchange list to distribute at our DISMeet (we are having one, right?) with a list of cabins to deliver gifts to, as well as your assigned day to deliver the gifts. So that way, each day a gift or two will be waiting at your door.
-Fish extenders not required, though if you want to make/bring one, by all means do.

Kinds of gifts people brought at the Med cruise: postcards/treats from where they live, candy, scrapbooky kinds of things, items which might be fun/useful on the cruise. Only rules: not expensive and not too large (only so much room in the suitcase.

Idea is to be fun and entirely stress free!

Suggestions welcome on how we do it this year.

-Jen

 

[Snow What]

I know this might get confusing, but is there a way to find out the number of guests per family/cabin and the ages of any children?
Just thinking about stickers and tatoos for the kids. I am sure that a 7 year old boy would not be too happy about getting princess tatoos!!

 

[rubbergypsy]

myself, dd8 and ds17 in our cabin. my friend is also going on this cruise with her 3 children ds6 dd9 dd12. i told her about this thread so hopefully she will respond.

 

[grizbuzz]

Yes, I can keep track of this info as well. Though this will only be for the overambitious .

However, I suggest that we make it an option and not a rule to customize gifts for each cabin. As they say at my DSs' preschool..."you get what you get, so don't throw a fit about it!"

Signed up for the gift exchange I have so far:
-grizbuzz (Jen, John, Max - DS5, Nico - DS3)
-SnowWhat and DSIL (Cabin 1:? and Cabin 2:? )
-vavalynn2
-Jodi
-disnutt
-rubbergypsy (Cabin 1: rubbergypsy, DD8, DS17; Cabin 2 (?): Friend, DS6, DD9, DD12)

 

[Snow What]

I'm certainly not looking to customize gifts for everyone...who has time for that?!?!?! There are some ideas that I have been floating around in my head and one of them is a gift will be a one per person type of gift, not just a family gift. Other ideas involve tatoos and stickers and I really wouldn't want to disappoint any of the kiddos by giving 'girl stickers' to the boys! Although if my girls got boy tatoos they would be psyched!!
Besides, I am really excited about this and I like being creative. If I start early enough, I could plan something nice, yet inexpensive. I am a planner. I already bought new clothes and bathing suits for my girls, thanks to the summer sales that start so early. All of their stuff is packed away in my vacation bin! (yes, you can call me a loser!!)