First Ever DISUnplugged Podcast Cruise 5/10/2009

[halliesmommy01]

Good for you! Are you working on you BS or MBA?

My BS, I was silly and thought I was smarter than I was and dropped out of college when I was 19 to work full time. Stay in school kids!! This is a lot harder at 32(33 on Halloween) with a DH and 2 kids, Plus a full time job.

I am planning on grad school, actually I am considering law school.

 

[chickie]

Becky,
Congrats on the good grades on your finals!!!

 

[froggy5657]

Yay! Congrats!!!

 

[pershing]

Jeanigor and Namine! arty:

I'm all about a get together too, but we aren't getting park tickets either. We probably won't get in until around 7pm or so.

Yeah, I think we are looking for a out-of-the park spot for the pre-cruise meet. Don't you think so at this point? We need an initial spot that can include non-ticket holders and kids. Then, we can move to Jellyrolls for the after-meet. lol

The area outside the Swan and Dolphin is so big, not to mention the Boardwalk and the Beach Club area. You'd think there'd be an area. I'll have a rental car, I can bring oeuredeuves. (spell ck needed!) I'm just wondering if any indoor area would really have enough space?

 

[jeanigor]

Yeah, I think we are looking for a out-of-the park spot for the pre-cruise meet. Don't you think so at this point? We need an initial spot that can include non-ticket holders and kids. Then, we can move to Jellyrolls for the after-meet. lol

The area outside the Swan and Dolphin is so big, not to mention the Boardwalk and the Beach Club area. You'd think there'd be an area. I'll have a rental car, I can bring oeuredeuves. (spell ck needed!) I'm just wondering if any indoor area would really have enough space?

Its been almost 4 years since I've been down, so I would have to defer to an expert on locations, but I was planning on renting a car as well. Namine has never been to Florida before and I thought I would drive him around and show him some old haunts....I-drive, Celebration, Chatham Square, Old Town, ABC Liquor, etc. Maybe even take a drive up to City Walk(since PI is no longer). Of course we would do a monorail tour so he could see the MK, Epcot, and the Monorail resorts. The flight I'm looking at gets into MCO around 4, so neither one of us can justify buying a park ticket for only a few hours. Any suggestions? Highlights? Must sees?

Oh and by my count, 215 days until "Fun on a Boat!" My friends and family will be so glad when this cruise is over. I sing the 'Fun on a Boat' song over the words to almost any music that comes on. I'm a dork; but, I don't care.

 

[froggy5657]

I'm a dork

Aren't we all, aren't we all

 

[lttlmc3]

I know I am!

 

[SamIAm21]

It's been a slow day here, so I had time to go online and check out the shore-excursions for Nassau. I'm not really interested in going over to Paradise Island and thought of just a short hour or two off the ship. My daughter loves the Mickey slide and I'm trying to maximize her ability to get her fill of that and besides, I'd much rather eat my meals on board than off the ship. So, I'm thinking of a cab to Ardastra Gardens rather than a ship sponsored excursion, which is pricey.

Has anyone else ever been to these gardens before? I'm not expecting world class "anything" just a diversion for an hour or two.

 

[Hedy]

Hope I don't go too eeyore on everyone...
Anyone else thinking they may back out of the Podcast cruise? I'm not happy about it, but given the economy, I'm a little hesitant to keep on going...anyone else?

 

[DLBDS]

Hope I don't go too eeyore on everyone...
Anyone else thinking they may back out of the Podcast cruise? I'm not happy about it, but given the economy, I'm a little hesitant to keep on going...anyone else?

I have no plans to cancel but I won't hesitate to do so if I become affected by this economic downfall. Right now, all's good. Besides, I think we have a few more months before the cancellation deadline. Why don't you wait it out and make your decision then?

 

[lttlmc3]

I have had a crappy year. There is NO WAY I'm cancelling my cruise. I deserve it darn it! I'm already staying in the lowest category. I would stay in the lifeboat if I had to to get on that ship!

 

[aaronmckie]

I have no plans to cancel but I won't hesitate to do so if I become affected by this economic downfall. Right now, all's good. Besides, I think we have a few more months before the cancellation deadline. Why don't you wait it out and make your decision then?

I'm sure AskTracy will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the final chance to back out with your full deposit refunded is January 25th. I know it's sometime in January for sure.

Unless you need the deposit money for other things (then I'd for sure consider canceling), I'd hold on to the reservation until the end... you never know what'll happen

 

[winotracy]

I'm sure AskTracy will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the final chance to back out with your full deposit refunded is January 25th. I know it's sometime in January for sure.

Unless you need the deposit money for other things (then I'd for sure consider canceling), I'd hold on to the reservation until the end... you never know what'll happen

February 24 is the last day you can cancel without penalty, unless you are in a suite.

 

[SamIAm21]

At this point, I *think* we are pretty much at the bottom of the bad news in the market. It's not going to recover quickly (think at least 2 years), but we shouldn't really have too many more skeletons to uncover at this point. After the election/inauguration, we should start to see things stabilize a bit.

If you are holding up okay at this point, you might want to wait until February before canceling. We might be seeing a pinpoint of light at the end of the tunnel by then.

 

[aaronmckie]

February 24 is the last day you can cancel without penalty, unless you are in a suite.

That's what I get for saying "January for sure"

 

[klam_chowder]

Hope I don't go too eeyore on everyone...
Anyone else thinking they may back out of the Podcast cruise? I'm not happy about it, but given the economy, I'm a little hesitant to keep on going...anyone else?

I can certainly empathize! DH's company just laid of 40% of the people at his site.

We are VERY lucky he wasn't one of them, esp since he's been there for only a year. If the cuts had required 1 or 2 more people, he would have been included.

We just bought a place as well (making us less mobile) and of course incurring the associated expenses of moving into an old home (just spent $1300 fixing the chimney, and found our yesterday our expected $300 drainage tile fix probably will require new drainage pipes right to the street:$3000. We are watching our expenses on things we buy and scaled back some of our travelling (no dog sledding or helicopter tours on our trip later this month). Also I was to go visit family for 3-4 weeks in Jan/Feb and I've held off even booking airfare for that.

However, cancelling the Podcast cruise has not been a topic of discussion at all!! I believe DH knows I will be crushed if that happens. If it has to happen, of course it will; we won't go into debt for it. But, it will be a last last LAST resort.

Hopefully the economy will stabilize and slowly build back up again - best to all!

cheers,

 

[DVCsince02]

It's a good thing I'm youngish. My 401K lost 20% this month.

I may have to downgrade our cabin, but no chance I'm canceling.

 

[scarlett873]

There are two reasons why we'd cancel the podcast at this point.

1. Either DH or I lose our jobs and are unable to find anything else

2. We get matched for our adoption in China sooner than we expected. That's always a possibility...we are going to submit our paperwork for our agency's special needs program. If we continue our wait as we had originally intended, we'll be waiting to be matched to our daughter for another 2-3 years. Within the special needs program in China, we could get our referral much, much quicker! DH and I have discussed with our agency our special needs that we could handle and hope to be matched within the next year. If that happens before the podcast cruise, we'd probably have to cancel as we would need every penny for that trip to China.

I certainly don't want to cancel the podcast cruise, but if either of those situations arise, we'll have no choice.


***note to self...check out trip cancellation insurance!***

 

[halliesmommy01]

Can I just tell you how wonderful I think you are for adopting. I work with 2 men from China and the stories they have told me are horrible. Lots of pixie dust for you as you go through this journey.

There are two reasons why we'd cancel the podcast at this point.

1. Either DH or I lose our jobs and are unable to find anything else

2. We get matched for our adoption in China sooner than we expected. That's always a possibility...we are going to submit our paperwork for our agency's special needs program. If we continue our wait as we had originally intended, we'll be waiting to be matched to our daughter for another 2-3 years. Within the special needs program in China, we could get our referral much, much quicker! DH and I have discussed with our agency our special needs that we could handle and hope to be matched within the next year. If that happens before the podcast cruise, we'd probably have to cancel as we would need every penny for that trip to China.

I certainly don't want to cancel the podcast cruise, but if either of those situations arise, we'll have no choice.


***note to self...check out trip cancellation insurance!***

 

[exwdwcm]

Brandie- hope the adoption goes well and quicker than you expect! i know it must be a long wait! But what a blessing it will be! good thoughts and hugs to you! If we can afford it, we might adopt #2. not sure I want to endure IVF again to have #2, especially when there are so many children who need homes. good luck!!!!!

No reason for me to cancel other than I somehow end up pregnant unexpectedly, but seriously doubt that (see note above!).......lol

I am fortunate that my parents are treating my cousin and I. It was my idea to go- my sister and I listen to the podcast. My parents don't. They visit the boards some though. I mentioned a girls only trip and turns out neither of my sisters could take off work. So it ended up my mom, dad and cousin (like a second mom to me). DH decided to stay home with the baby, he isn't a huge disney nut- so not sure he would enjoy being surrounded by disney nuts. One is enough for him. Because my parents came into some money with my grandfather's passing this year, they are lucky enough to actually have some money to cruise and do other things they normally couldn't afford. So we are thrilled to go and my mom said nothing is getting in our way!

I hope no one has to cancel, but i definitely understand. It is a scary time and soemtimes you just have to cut back in places you normally wouldn't and sacrifice.