From WDW to DL With Love - January 06, 2011 part 2

[sak0526]

I'm trying to catch up and because my mind is elsehwere i have to ask: what's GC or DGC and CCI?

we are obviously not making reservations anywhere for a while. till we find out if we can get trip insurance having used our DVC Points (i know lots of folks think that's an expensive way to spen dthem, but we were going to lose them if we didnt, so it worked for us).

 

[LindaBabe]

I'm trying to catch up and because my mind is elsehwere i have to ask: what's GC or DGC and CCI?

we are obviously not making reservations anywhere for a while. till we find out if we can get trip insurance having used our DVC Points (i know lots of folks think that's an expensive way to spen dthem, but we were going to lose them if we didnt, so it worked for us).

GC= Grand Californian Hotel
CCI = Candy Cane Inn (off site hotel within walking distance of DL/CA)

 

[DCL_FAN_TAC]

I'm trying to catch up and because my mind is elsehwere i have to ask: what's GC or DGC and CCI?

we are obviously not making reservations anywhere for a while. till we find out if we can get trip insurance having used our DVC Points (i know lots of folks think that's an expensive way to spen dthem, but we were going to lose them if we didnt, so it worked for us).

Sending prayers & peacefulthoughts your way as you care for your family!

GC = Grand Californian hotel
DGC / VGC = DVC's Villas at Grand Californian
CCI = Candy Cane Inn (it's close to DisneyLand and is one of the nicer non-Disney hotels)

IMHO, DVC points should be used however U want to use them!! We've enjoyed them at WDW, DL, DCL, NYC and hoping for Hawaii at some point in the future!

 

[perdy1234]

Hey fellow cruisers! Can't believe how fast this cruise is coming. We have our pre and post cruise res made. We fly out on Dec 31 so that we can spend new years at wdw. We are than booked at GC for 3 nights following the cruise than its back to reality lol. Can't believe we are going to get to see world,cruise and land all in one trip. Just gotta book our port of la to gc transfers and wait for excursions! Have a good evening everyone!

 

[emum]

Hi All,

Hope you all had a great weekend. Fathers' Day in the US I take it ? It's not until September here in Oz. I hope it was anjoyable for all who celebrated it.

DCL_FAN_TAC - just noticed your DD is 13. My eldest turns 13 in 3 weeks' time (doesn't know about the trip yet).

We're not staying in LA after the cruise - we're flying home that evening. We're staying at the DLH from Dec. 25th-29th. We loved it there in 2008, but am a little worried this time, due to the renovations (they're about to start renovations on the tower we've requested). Anyway, we have a 2br suite booked, and hoping for CL (can't be booked ahead with suites thanks to issues in the past).

Speaking of - some of you gave same great advice for activities before our VERY late evening flight from LAX to SYD that night, but I think we'll probably want to do some outlet shopping before we head back - can someone suggest where would be best (pref. between the port and LAX) ? Clothes are just SO much cheaper in the US.

I've been watching our $AUS over the last few days - it's starting to creep back up again, so I may start purchasing $US once it goes over 90 cents again. Just don't want to risk it plummeting to the low 80s again.

Speaking of countdowns, its' exactly 6 months from Friday until we fly out - we leave Christmas afternoon here and arrive Christmas morning in LA - two Christmases !

Have a great day.

Cheers,
Sally

 

[JenKatt]

That was the weirdest part about flying to Oz. Flying there we lost a whole day. March 19th, 2002 never existed for us. However the day flying back we got two of. We left Melbourne at 11am and landed at LAX at 10am the same day.
Weird, just weird - but awesome. We LOVED Oz and NZ.

 

[ACDSNY]

Mmmmm, sounds wonderful. Could you let me have the recipe?

Can you send it to me too? thanks!

havent been on much. dealing with my dad and his tumor and whether he should stay in nursing home or go home with a 24/7 home aide. sigh.

I've sent both of you the recipe, enjoy!

Sherri - I feel for you, these are such hard decisions to make, I'm sure you'll do what's best for your family. I lost my mother almost 12 years ago to cancer.

 

[clungstrum]

we are obviously not making reservations anywhere for a while. till we find out if we can get trip insurance having used our DVC Points (i know lots of folks think that's an expensive way to spend them, but we were going to lose them if we didnt, so it worked for us).

We're using points as well. For us it was the only way we could afford the trip. We could have tried to rent out the points and made enough to pay for the cruise and had some extra spending money too. I'm sure renting points can be a hassle, especially with the number we had to use to book the cruise. Plus Disney discourages making a business out of renting points. Also I've heard they can cancel your reservations if you start doing it all the time.

 

[PBader]

Have fun staying the extra few days.

My DH birthday is also Jan 24th, but he'll be back at work on that day. We're only staying Jan 21st - 23rd at the GC.

This will be the 1st one in many many years I won't be at work

 

[disneywondergirl22]

I'm trying to catch up and because my mind is elsehwere i have to ask: what's GC or DGC and CCI?

we are obviously not making reservations anywhere for a while. till we find out if we can get trip insurance having used our DVC Points (i know lots of folks think that's an expensive way to spen dthem, but we were going to lose them if we didnt, so it worked for us).

the great thing about southwest, which is what we fly, is that you can cancel your flight at no cost at just about any time. they will bank those dollars (save email confirmations, you'll need them later), and then you can use those dollars towards other flights. it's what i did when i had that callback at thanksgiving last winter. when i had to change travel plans. i reused those dollars when i came home in May, and my flight was basically paid for. it was a more expensive flight than the one last thanksgiving, so i had to pay a bit more out of pocket, but it didn't cost me anything to cancel the flight, or change it.

so if you can convince daddy to fly southwest, you won't need trip insurance for the flights. only if you fly anyone else except southwest. flights on the way down are currently $90-104, depending on which day you go.

ask daddy to call DVC and ask. he's probably not as busy as you.




clungstrum: what do you mean by "renting" points? (i'm not a member, just curious)


emom: i don't think it's the BEST outlet center, but for a "local" outlet, you'll want to go to the Citadel Outlets, which is just off of the 5 (where the 5 and 60 meet). there are better ones, but you'll waste all day trying to get to them, and they aren't near town, at all. and this one doesn't have a Disney Outlet

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Hey fellow cruisers! Can't believe how fast this cruise is coming. We have our pre and post cruise res made. We fly out on Dec 31 so that we can spend new years at wdw. We are than booked at GC for 3 nights following the cruise than its back to reality lol. Can't believe we are going to get to see world,cruise and land all in one trip. Just gotta book our port of la to gc transfers and wait for excursions! Have a good evening everyone!

I know, I can't believe it either, getting to do the World, Cruise, and Land in one big trip- hence why I tell people I'm going on my Ultimate Disney Vacation! Sometimes I have to pinch myself and say, is this really true? Am I really getting 21 nights of Disney magic??! I just cannot imagine how I'm going to feel on January 2, the night before this amazing adventure starts for me!!

 

[DCLtravler]

I love starbucks.
Starbucks=vacation for us !!!

Ditto!!! My license plate frame says "Outta my way, I'm going to Starbucks"-- I think that says it best

Luckily there is Starbucks at MCO when we land! Yes, have DD...she will turn big 1-4 at the end of July, so she'll be 14 1/2 (almost) on the cruise -- with so few kids (compared to summer & holidays) they should be really pampered with the tween activities.

We are staying at MCO Hyatt upon our flight landing, then ME shuttle to the port in the morning. After we've had our Starbucks & Krispy Kreme 'fix'!! What are your plans?

We are staying at the Sheraton Suites just outside of the airport and then we will take a shuttle back to the airport in the morning to pick up the DCL bus...I tried to go as easy as possible for this one

Well time to go back home. I am sitting in the Manchester airport enjoying some incredible Iced Coffee from Dunkin Donuts. Sorry to the Starbucks lovers, this coffee kickes the daylight out of Starbucks and the food is way better than Kispy Kreme. I so wish we had Dunkin back home. Well fight in one hour and thirty min from now.

Actually, when it comes to straight coffee, I prefer Peets. But, for my "Iced Venti, Non-fat, two pump, no whip, white mocha," there is no place like Starbucks!!!!

yyyyeeeeeeeeee hhhhaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sure, I'll send it later tonight.



Can you send it to me too? thanks!

havent been on much. dealing with my dad and his tumor and whether he should stay in nursing home or go home with a 24/7 home aide. sigh.

Just wanted you to know that you and your family are in my prayers every night!!

Hi All,

Hope you all had a great weekend. Fathers' Day in the US I take it ? It's not until September here in Oz. I hope it was anjoyable for all who celebrated it.

DCL_FAN_TAC - just noticed your DD is 13. My eldest turns 13 in 3 weeks' time (doesn't know about the trip yet).

We're not staying in LA after the cruise - we're flying home that evening. We're staying at the DLH from Dec. 25th-29th. We loved it there in 2008, but am a little worried this time, due to the renovations (they're about to start renovations on the tower we've requested). Anyway, we have a 2br suite booked, and hoping for CL (can't be booked ahead with suites thanks to issues in the past).

Speaking of - some of you gave same great advice for activities before our VERY late evening flight from LAX to SYD that night, but I think we'll probably want to do some outlet shopping before we head back - can someone suggest where would be best (pref. between the port and LAX) ? Clothes are just SO much cheaper in the US.

I've been watching our $AUS over the last few days - it's starting to creep back up again, so I may start purchasing $US once it goes over 90 cents again. Just don't want to risk it plummeting to the low 80s again.

Speaking of countdowns, its' exactly 6 months from Friday until we fly out - we leave Christmas afternoon here and arrive Christmas morning in LA - two Christmases !

Have a great day.

Cheers,
Sally

My DD will be almost 13 by the cruise, so one more tween to meet
I agree, the outlets at the Citadel are probably the best if you are looking for close...
Now if you want to go further out...Just hop on the 10 FWY and hit Ontario Mills (about 30-35 min from D-Land) and then keep going to the Cabazon outlets (about 30-35 min from Ontario)--Cabazon is well worth the trip (Coach, Kate Spade, Brighton, Saks, UGG, True Religion, Ed Hardy, D&G, the list goes on...and on...and on...)!!!
There is a Disney outlet just down the street from D-Land and in that same shopping center is a Marshalls. There may not be as much to choose from as an outlet mall, but you can usually find even better deals at Marshalls.


Back to work for me...I am in Long Beach at a conference for the next two weeks! You'd think that would be nice, but we rarely leave the hotel, so it will be a LONG two weeks!

Have a great day!
~Melissa

 

[granmaz]

Sure, I'll send it later tonight.



Can you send it to me too? thanks!

havent been on much. dealing with my dad and his tumor and whether he should stay in nursing home or go home with a 24/7 home aide. sigh.

Such a difficult time for you all. I hope the decisions becomes clearer for you.

I've sent both of you the recipe, enjoy!

Thank you, I look forward to trying them.

 

[LindaBabe]

Good Morning! Once again, I couldn't stay asleep.

 

[sak0526]

Again, thankyou all for your support and prayers.

and thanks for the recipe!

sherri

ps jen send daddy that info in email!

 

[CruznLexi]

I am so excited! I have booked the PC 5 times and never gone and now have 3 payments left. We leave on Jan 2 and get to stay at BCV and then GCV afterwards.

 

[disneywondergirl22]

[QUOTE
There is a Disney outlet just down the street from D-Land and in that same shopping center is a Marshalls. There may not be as much to choose from as an outlet mall, but you can usually find even better deals at Marshalls.
[/QUOTE]

eh, it's not a great one, IMPO. the outlet store near DLR. it's huge, but somehow, it doesn't have much.

i went to that outlet store a few weeks ago. there was almost nothing "traditional" disney, like Mickey/Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, princesses, pooh and friends... it was primarily Hannah Montana, HSM, and some stuff from the newer films (tho no princess tiana, that i remember seeing), some critter-type items. but i'm not sure who these characters were.

but for an outlet mall between LAX and DLR, you'll want Citadel.

that said, you can go to any mall and get great deals, you just have to know which stores to avoid b/c of their already high prices.

 

[carmie3377]

but I think we'll probably want to do some outlet shopping before we head back - can someone suggest where would be best (pref. between the port and LAX) ? Clothes are just SO much cheaper in the US.

IF you're ever in Central Texas near San Antonio or Austin (or any of you that like outlet shopping), you'll need to hit San Marcos. They have two outlet malls side by side and between the 2 there are over 250 stores and they have just about EVERYTHING. Anyway, I know it's not what you were asking about but just wanted to let anyone know that's ever in Central Texas! We try to go there at least twice a year and hit my favorite, Michael Kors!

We're using points as well. For us it was the only way we could afford the trip. We could have tried to rent out the points and made enough to pay for the cruise and had some extra spending money too. I'm sure renting points can be a hassle, especially with the number we had to use to book the cruise. Plus Disney discourages making a business out of renting points. Also I've heard they can cancel your reservations if you start doing it all the time.

I rented points out once because I had borrowed, then had to change, and couldn't use them in time. I will never do it again. The member assumes ALL responsibility for anything that happens on those points such as room damages and unpaid room charges (I have read of it happening!). Our last cruise was on points and people told me over and over how I shouldn't use them to cruise and I should rent or transfer to another member. Renting, I won't take the risk. Transferring and taking money for the points is strictly against contract so I won't do that. Plus, when I figure how much my points cost me(price paid + annual dues), I didn't lose any money at all. So, for me, it's not a bad use of points . I guess what I don't like about it is not being able to change at all w/o penalties.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

No hotel for us in CA. DH has to go back to work on Monday so he wants to get home on Friday to try to get back to the real world.

Thats like our ta, right home, gonna be sad not even having 1 night.

Ditto!!! My license plate frame says "Outta my way, I'm going to Starbucks"-- I think that says it best

We are staying at the Sheraton Suites just outside of the airport and then we will take a shuttle back to the airport in the morning to pick up the DCL bus...I tried to go as easy as possible for this one

Actually, when it comes to straight coffee, I prefer Peets. But, for my "Iced Venti, Non-fat, two pump, no whip, white mocha," there is no place like Starbucks!!!!

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just wanted you to know that you and your family are in my prayers every night!!


My DD will be almost 13 by the cruise, so one more tween to meet
I agree, the outlets at the Citadel are probably the best if you are looking for close...
Now if you want to go further out...Just hop on the 10 FWY and hit Ontario Mills (about 30-35 min from D-Land) and then keep going to the Cabazon outlets (about 30-35 min from Ontario)--Cabazon is well worth the trip (Coach, Kate Spade, Brighton, Saks, UGG, True Religion, Ed Hardy, D&G, the list goes on...and on...and on...)!!!
There is a Disney outlet just down the street from D-Land and in that same shopping center is a Marshalls. There may not be as much to choose from as an outlet mall, but you can usually find even better deals at Marshalls.


Back to work for me...I am in Long Beach at a conference for the next two weeks! You'd think that would be nice, but we rarely leave the hotel, so it will be a LONG two weeks!

Have a great day!
~Melissa

What is it you do again?

Good Morning! Once again, I couldn't stay asleep.

I had one night of from nightshift last night and I couldnt sleep, it was rubbish, Len slept like a flimmin baby next to me, so frustrating, now I am back at work for 3 extra night(disney dollars) and Im so tired, hope were quiet so I can get a sleep tonight.

I am so excited! I have booked the PC 5 times and never gone and now have 3 payments left. We leave on Jan 2 and get to stay at BCV and then GCV afterwards.

Yipeeeeeeeee

 

[JenKatt]

Points should be however you want to use them. We wouldn't use them on a cruise, for us we can get more for the buck at WDW, DL or going elsewhere. But that's us, who gives a rat's booty what you do with your money???