February 7, 2004 Eastern

[sbatty]

Hi Everyone,

I got up early this morning to do some cruise planning and am having trouble making progress. I keep hoping that airfares will come down but so far I haven't had much luck. I am afraid that flying on President's Day might not be an option.

So ... I am looking for help/suggestions. Do you think that Seaworld can be done on the Saturday we get back into port? I have never been so I don't know how long it will take to see what there is to see. The other option is to try and get a late flight out on Sunday and be at the park early. How do you think crowds will be since it is a holiday weekend?

Lastly - our website is almost up and running. I should have an address for you soon. My DH added a discussion page similar to the capabilities we have on this thread so that we can go OT without all DIS having to read.

-Susan

 

[mrsdon]

Susan
On our last cruise wedrove right from the port to seaworld and it only took an hour and 10 mins. it was a very short drive.
We also went in Feb on our last crusie and seaworld was not vey crowded,
Cant wait till your DH ets a website up.
Thanks

 

[disneygal58]

Holiday weekends tend to be a bit more crowded due to the attendance of locals- at that time of the year it should still be quite managable.
I can commisserate with the airfare woes. Although I live a half hour from the Port, my mom is flying in from the Asheville, NC area and my sister is looking for a fare from Providence. They both plan to fly in on Thursday the 5th and return Saturday the 14th.
I look forward to seeing the site when it's up and running.

And hey, we can't be the only ones on board. Where is everyone? If that's the case, I would like an upgrade to a verandah! Currently, we are booked in a category 10 on Deck 2 and plan to look into upgrades at the Port. Anyone have any experience with this?
Happy Planning,
Dawn

 

[disneygal58]

Just wanted to bump this up to the front.
Anyone else out there that will be joining us?
My daughter Erin and I will be staying at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge, then attending Mickey's Not So Scary on Sunday. We're celebrating my birthday - now that's the truly "scary" part of the weekend. If anyone would like me to pick up postcards, small gifts etc... let me know before Saturday.

Till Then,
Dawn

 

[Annie12345]

Hi Everyone -

Have a great time at the parks this weekend, Dawn.

I've been trying to get the countdown timer up and running as well and I can't get it to work... We'll have to count down manually...

Just wanted to check in and say hi to everyone...

Have a Disney Day,
Ann

 

[disneygal58]

Thanks Annie.
I have never been able to get the countdown timer to work!
If anyone is planning to spend anytime at the Parks prior or post cruise, do not miss Mickey's Philharmagic at the Magic Kingdom or Mission Space at EPCOT. The Philharmagic is by far the best 3D endeavor that Disney has to offer.

Take Care,
Dawn Hope

 

[zellda]

We'll (DH and me) be joining you on this cruise. It will be our 5th DCL cruise, all of them Magical, and we are so looking forward to this one. Our last cruise was October 2002, Western; and we are hoping to make a back to back on this one, if we can.

 

[disneygal58]

Yeaaaa!!!!! More cruisers. Welcome Zellda. Have you sailed the Eastern itinerary before? We love the Western, but are ready for some new scenery.

Dawn

 

[Annie12345]

Welcome Aboard, Zellda!! We are doing a back to back cruise this time but we are starting off on the January 31st Western...

Maybe we'll be doing back to backs with you....

- Ann

 

[zellda]

Actually, this will be our third eastern itinerary. We were on the western last October, but didn't make Grand Cayman because of the weather. We really like the eastern with the extra day at sea - so relaxing, although we would like to try western again and maybe make all the ports this time. I don't really care where the ship goes, I just want to be on it, and the longer---the better!

 

[disneygal58]

I feel exactly the same way. We, too missed Grand Cayman in January and loved the extra sea day so much that we opted to try the Eastern itinerary. I don't care if we ever get off the ship!
Dawn

 

[DebiLL]

This is my first time posting anything so forgive me ahead of time if I say something not quite right. You all have these "codes" and way of talking that I'm still trying to figure out. My family(DH,DS 12yrs. and DD10 years) and I will also be sailing on the Feb. 7th along with some friends of ours. THis will be our 2nd DC but our first 7 day. Any pointers you have for us will be greatly appreciated. I've learned soooooo much from all of you thanks for taking the time to post all the great hints, ideas, and fun.

Debi

 

[Annie12345]

Hi Debi! Welcome!!! You will love the 7 day Eastern... It is great to have lots of days at sea. My best tip I can give you, you might have done this on the Wonder too, is to take an over the door shoe holder... I put it on the back of the bathroom door and kept our camera, sunscreen, sunglasses, you name it, it was in there, and we didn't have a bunch of clutter on our counters...
My DD 10 will also be cruising with us on this cruise. She was hoping someone her age would find her way to the DIS boards...

Well, I must go to work now, to help pay for the cruise!

Have a Disney Day,
Ann

 

[DebiLL]

Good morning Ann,
I just found your message, I'm still trying to find my way around the boards. We are looking forward to our cruise and thank you for the shoe organizer tip, we didn't do that last cruise and I can see it being a huge help. I'm trying to find the best transporation from our hotel, the Embassy to the terminal and also what is the best time to arrive at the terminal. We'd like to see about upgrading our cabin and am not sure where and how to go about that, any info would be much appreciated. Here is my email address if you have any info you can email me, that way I will "find it" instead of looking all over here. LadyLimpach@aol.com. THanks for your help and have a blessed day.

Debi

 

[berly1657]

We (DH, DS 8, DD 5 and myself plus our friends & same aged kids)will be joining you too!

We got great rates at Holiday Inn Express Cocoa Beach for under $80 2 nights before the cruise, great flights - direct 2hrs 38 min (vs the usual 4.5+ hours) Now if I can just find a great deal on a rental car for 2 days before and 1 day after- anybody have any good discounts?

A couple of years ago we were at WDW during presidents week and it was VERY busy - we couldn't figure out why (our kids didn't have school days off) my guess is the other theme parks are busy too.


Would love to join the website for info on excursions etc - This is our first cruise too (after reading all the posts - thinking maybe we should have left the kids home for this vacation!)

We can't wait - I am an obsessive planner for vacations.....

 

[disneygal58]

Welcome Berly and Happy 100 Day Countdown!
It's good to see more people joining the party.

Debi,
We're thinking of looking into an upgrade at the port, also. It's very simple - there is a desk dedicated to upgrades at check-in.

Are most people staying at the Radisson prior to the cruise or somewhere in Disney? If anyone is staying at the Radisson and has not called for reservations yet, would you consider asking if they offer massage therapy services on site? I am trying to sell them on the idea of my offering poolside massage for cruisers. If they get enough questions about it, they may listen to me!

Take Care,
Dawn Hope

 

[disneygal58]

Hello,
I wanted to bump this up to the front and check in with everyone. Less than 14 weeks to go. Anyone else beyond excited like we are?

Dawn Hope

 

[Annie12345]

Hi Everyone - Bumping this up... we are getting very excited as it is 3 months from today!! My DH and I just looked at our pictures and video from last year's eastern cruise and it makes us want the time to go even faster... especially since it is so COLD here!!! We already have snow!!!

If anyone would like to partake in the Palo brunch or high tea, I could try to get reservations since we are planning on staying on the ship between cruises.

Have a Disney Day!!
- Ann

 

[disneygal58]

Hello,
It's good to hear that someone else is as excited as we are. We are open to either brunch or high tea. We are among the fortunate few to have attended high tea in the past, but have never made it to brunch.
Have a good weekend,
Dawn

 

[sbatty]

I just logged in to check my count down clock - we are half way there. I am very anxious for the trip but I am amazed at how quickly the time is going. We are going to have to make excursion plans within the month.