Halloween 2011. Oct 29th on the Magic

[glindamood]

You guys inspired me to get back to planning for our excursions. I just looked at our reservations and found that the cabin with my son in it has a booking date of July 1 (I believe it's early because of Make A Wish), the other, connecting cabin, has a date of August 15.

I sure hope they'll change it so they are both July 1. I'll feel a lot better when we figure out some of what we're going to do.

My DDs 9 & 11 are worried because there aren't really any girls their ages on this thread yet. I'm having a hard time convincing them there will be a bunch of girls in their age ranges on the trip. Apparently, to them, these boards are the official ship manifest.

Too cute - I am sure there will be lots of girls their age. But I can also bet that it is fun for them to get to meet new girls here.

My planning is all done, well, except for trying to figure out when to do brunch. The rest will just all fall into place - Cozumel and Grand Cayman are taken care of, Key West is just exploring - and the winery and CC is just a beach day. Flights are purchased but Delta has changed both outbound and return from what I booked so there still could be some 'excitement' there. We are staying at Villas at Wilderness Lodge from the 25th to the 29th, ADR;s are made and I have a car rented to get us to the port. No MNNSHP for us this time.

 

[MommaMouse411]

Sailworkless...there will be other girls their ages...I'm sure of it! my stepsister came with me last time..lucky there was a girl her age in our dis group...and they still keep in touch..but they made friends with other kids quickly.


Gail!~ must be nice to not have to plan so much!! I was just calculating the tips for that week's cruise!!! I might have to pick up a part time job just for the tips

 

[glindamood]

Gail!~ must be nice to not have to plan so much!! I was just calculating the tips for that week's cruise!!! I might have to pick up a part time job just for the tips

I love the planning and miss it once it is over. I do a budget first (that includes those tips) and see what else we want to do with an estimated cost (drinks, tips (including room service tips), excursions, souvineers, Palo and what I think it will cost me to book another two cruises and then plan my savings accordingly. I try really hard not to end up with anything on the plastic when we come home. I did great on the PC cruise (should have booked 2 cruises then, idiot that I am) and intend to manage this time as well. I just have to be careful with purchases between our trips and the like but it feels so good to me to do it that way.

 

[MommaMouse411]

thats what I was doing yesterday..calculating how much money we will need for the whole trip:

I have to get mnsshp tickets, overnight stay, cruise terminal parking, souvenirs, 1 excursion, tips (including room service tipping), food/drinks, Palo, Nursery Times (believe it or not I spent about $$$ on sodas and snacks at Walt Disney Theatre!) and since this trip is so close to Christmas..I have to make sure I have money left to do what I always do for Christmas!!!! (4 days at WDW including MVMCP!, 1 day at Seaworld, 1 day at Busch gardens, and since Legoland will open in Oct, 1 day in Legoland!) The good thing is I have passes to all (Except Legoland, I will buy when opening gets closer).

Its really tough to save money for all this but if I don't travel and do these things, I would go nutz!

 

[glindamood]

thats what I was doing yesterday..calculating how much money we will need for the whole trip:

I have to get mnsshp tickets, overnight stay, cruise terminal parking, souvenirs, 1 excursion, tips (including room service tipping), food/drinks, Palo, Nursery Times (believe it or not I spent about $$$ on sodas and snacks at Walt Disney Theatre!) and since this trip is so close to Christmas..I have to make sure I have money left to do what I always do for Christmas!!!! (4 days at WDW including MVMCP!, 1 day at Seaworld, 1 day at Busch gardens, and since Legoland will open in Oct, 1 day in Legoland!) The good thing is I have passes to all (Except Legoland, I will buy when opening gets closer).

Its really tough to save money for all this but if I don't travel and do these things, I would go nutz!

I get jealous that you can do both Florida Resident Rates (you are watching, right?) and park passes at a discounted price too. I really do not have much desire to move to Florida but, from a Disney perspecitve, it would be benificial.

But, that aside, not only do I have a budget for this trip but youngest DS is getting married next August and we have a trip on the Fantasy booked so my budget is pretty far reaching.

 

[MommaMouse411]

my mother said I should just move to orlando and work at disney since most of my money goes to them anyways

 

[glindamood]

my mother said I should just move to orlando and work at disney since most of my money goes to them anyways

I would happily work for Disney but it would require a large move for me and, while the grandchildren are currently furry and four-legged, someday that won't be the case and I would like to be around for that. You don't live too far do you??

 

[sailworkless]

Gail/MommaMouse,

Reading your plans is making me so jealous. We were just discussing last night how there's virtually no way we'll be able to do another trip like this for years. We brought our two oldest to WDW when they were 5 and 7. Even that was a pretty big budget hit. I don't think an onboard booking is in our future


We settled on Boatswains in GC last night. I don't see any way that we're booking it through Disney, though. $92 for 10&up, $72 for 3-9. We can buy the tix directly from Boatswains for $45 for DW and I and $25 for the 4 kids. Plus, there's a 20% discount for online tix purchases. Boatswains says they have transport to and from the port, too. I don't understand what Disney has included that could make it worth more than 3X the cost.

For Cozumel, it's the ruins at San Gervasio and the Discover Mexico Cultural Park. We're thinking of doing Disney on this one. Haven't looked into doing it on our own, yet.

I assume the big plus for booking through Disney is help catching the ship if something goes terribly wrong and you miss departure. Do you agree?

I think we've decided to wander on own in KW. I have made everyone know I will not be pleasant unless I get a piece of chocolate covered, frozen key lime pie on a stick. My DW and DD11 really want to go the the southernmost point marker.

CC is going to be a total beach day. It appears we can get bikes or whatever else on the spot, so no sense trying to plan it. I do want to run the CC 5K - do you know if they still do that in any form?

Waiting on this cruise is making me feel like a 6 year old waiting for Christmas...'It's never going to get here!!!!!!!'

 

[MommaMouse411]

SailworkLess..My kids and I are doing Boatswain as well. I was going back and forth emailing Boatswain so I was suprised at the amount DCL was charging..I think I heard the DCL excursion involves a Guide? Idk..But I don't need a guide, I just want to check out the turtles...and its only for 4hrs, so we plan to be first one off ship and then back @ noonish and back on board!!

my perspective for this trip...stay on the ship as much as possible...I can see it now...everyone at Cozumel..my kids and I lounging around!! Playing in the splash pad, and swimming in the pool...I think I'm going to come home from this trip a LAZY BUM...

Gail I live like an hour away... (last time with FL Residents DIscount Dreams Unlimited contacted me about the verandah upgrade, so that's what I'm hoping happens!!)

I cannot imagine living anywhere else now that I have kids...I'm not only addicted to DIsney, but seaworld, busch gardens, and zoos. and just travelling to different beaches....now with Legoland opening I really have no reason to move....if I HAD to move it would be to California even if I've never been there before.



my goal is to try and do a LAND & SEA in 2013 or 2014...I really want to go to Disneyland and Alaska DCL.

 

[glindamood]

Gail/MommaMouse,

Reading your plans is making me so jealous. We were just discussing last night how there's virtually no way we'll be able to do another trip like this for years. We brought our two oldest to WDW when they were 5 and 7. Even that was a pretty big budget hit. I don't think an onboard booking is in our future


We settled on Boatswains in GC last night. I don't see any way that we're booking it through Disney, though. $92 for 10&up, $72 for 3-9. We can buy the tix directly from Boatswains for $45 for DW and I and $25 for the 4 kids. Plus, there's a 20% discount for online tix purchases. Boatswains says they have transport to and from the port, too. I don't understand what Disney has included that could make it worth more than 3X the cost.

For Cozumel, it's the ruins at San Gervasio and the Discover Mexico Cultural Park. We're thinking of doing Disney on this one. Haven't looked into doing it on our own, yet.

I assume the big plus for booking through Disney is help catching the ship if something goes terribly wrong and you miss departure. Do you agree?

I think we've decided to wander on own in KW. I have made everyone know I will not be pleasant unless I get a piece of chocolate covered, frozen key lime pie on a stick. My DW and DD11 really want to go the the southernmost point marker.

CC is going to be a total beach day. It appears we can get bikes or whatever else on the spot, so no sense trying to plan it. I do want to run the CC 5K - do you know if they still do that in any form?

Waiting on this cruise is making me feel like a 6 year old waiting for Christmas...'It's never going to get here!!!!!!!'

You are correct on booking a DCL excursion - the ship will not leave until you are back. Boatswain's is close by and you shouldn't have any issues returning, even if you have to rent a cab or something. We did it with NativeWay and I am all for promoting the island excursion companies. They do an outstanding job and if word gets out that they had a group miss their ship, it would not be good business for them so I just use Cruise Critic as a resourse and search people out. I would LOVE to do the Tulum Ruins in Cozumel but DH would get sicker than a dog on the boat ride over so Nachi, here we come! We are all going to have the best time. I am trying hard not to wish my time away but I could be packed and ready tomorrow!!

SailworkLess..My kids and I are doing Boatswain as well. I was going back and forth emailing Boatswain so I was suprised at the amount DCL was charging..I think I heard the DCL excursion involves a Guide? Idk..But I don't need a guide, I just want to check out the turtles...and its only for 4hrs, so we plan to be first one off ship and then back @ noonish and back on board!!

my perspective for this trip...stay on the ship as much as possible...I can see it now...everyone at Cozumel..my kids and I lounging around!! Playing in the splash pad, and swimming in the pool...I think I'm going to come home from this trip a LAZY BUM...

Gail I live like an hour away... (last time with FL Residents DIscount Dreams Unlimited contacted me about the verandah upgrade, so that's what I'm hoping happens!!)

I cannot imagine living anywhere else now that I have kids...I'm not only addicted to DIsney, but seaworld, busch gardens, and zoos. and just travelling to different beaches....now with Legoland opening I really have no reason to move....if I HAD to move it would be to California even if I've never been there before.



my goal is to try and do a LAND & SEA in 2013 or 2014...I really want to go to Disneyland and Alaska DCL.

I have been to CA twice but just LA area - no DL. I have no desire to live there. In all my years (and I would be pretty old) I have never seen such traffic and so many people (I have been to NYC and that wasn't as bad).

 

[sailworkless]

You are correct on booking a DCL excursion - the ship will not leave until you are back. Boatswain's is close by and you shouldn't have any issues returning, even if you have to rent a cab or something. We did it with NativeWay and I am all for promoting the island excursion companies. They do an outstanding job and if word gets out that they had a group miss their ship, it would not be good business for them so I just use Cruise Critic as a resourse and search people out. I would LOVE to do the Tulum Ruins in Cozumel but DH would get sicker than a dog on the boat ride over so Nachi, here we come! We are all going to have the best time. I am trying hard not to wish my time away but I could be packed and ready tomorrow!!

We really wanted to do Tulum as well, my 5 and 8 year old would not approve. I think it's 45 minutes on a ferry, then over an hour on a bus, all to look at 'some stones'. We need something on a much smaller and closer scale.

 

[MommaMouse411]

wow 1 1/2 to get to one place...NO WAY...I would be too scared to travel out that far from a port

 

[Dixielady908]

So since I am the "new kid on the block" do you have a cruise mate list going? Just curious....or any type of meets being planned?


Talking excursions Wally and I were talking last night and decided this eveing that in Cozumel we are going to do the Jeep tour...Key West, thinking of just doing on conch train ride tour...I did that back in 2008 but he wasnt with me, went with one of my girlfriends...figured he would like seeing Key West, but I agree with sailworkless, I did not get a keylime last time I was there, this is my goal on this cruise......I'm just sayin

 

[glindamood]

wow 1 1/2 to get to one place...NO WAY...I would be too scared to travel out that far from a port

In this case, it would be with DCL so there wouldn't be any issues (at least I would do it with DCL). When we wernt to Costa Rico on the PC trip in January, our bus trips were a little over an hour - if not 1-1/2 hours. Most of them involved that kind of travel time.

 

[glindamood]

So since I am the "new kid on the block" do you have a cruise mate list going? Just curious....or any type of meets being planned?


Talking excursions Wally and I were talking last night and decided this eveing that in Cozumel we are going to do the Jeep tour...Key West, thinking of just doing on conch train ride tour...I did that back in 2008 but he wasnt with me, went with one of my girlfriends...figured he would like seeing Key West, but I agree with sailworkless, I did not get a keylime last time I was there, this is my goal on this cruise......I'm just sayin

MammaMouse411 is keeping the FE list. It is also posted earlier in the thread. I certainly hope we do a meet but I don't think we have decided on a time/place. Suggestions anyone?

 

[MommaMouse411]

normally I think everyone meets @ 3pm in promenade lounge..gives us time to check our rooms and then time to go to Drill..


Dixie in my siggy I have a link to the FE list...Fish Extender List...

 

[glindamood]

normally I think everyone meets @ 3pm in promenade lounge..gives us time to check our rooms and then time to go to Drill..

We have met up on deck as well in the past - by the pool so people can watch their children in the pool and meet. We tried on deck 9 once, back by the drink station but we really created a bottleneck so I don't think I would suggest that. PL seems to be the best place.

 

[Dixielady908]

afternoon:

Still deciding about the FE.....but the last couple of cruises I went on we had a nice meet in the promanade lounge around 2:30-3PM ish...we also did a "gift" from where we live....

I will have to contact some of my past cruisers to "remind" me how we did this...(not that I'm forgetful or anything) but it was an little inexpensive gift from our local area....
if after I get all the facts and anyone is interested in doing this, I would be more than happy to keep the list of this.....

gotta run
Denise

 

[glindamood]

afternoon:

Still deciding about the FE.....but the last couple of cruises I went on we had a nice meet in the promanade lounge around 2:30-3PM ish...we also did a "gift" from where we live....

I will have to contact some of my past cruisers to "remind" me how we did this...(not that I'm forgetful or anything) but it was an little inexpensive gift from our local area....
if after I get all the facts and anyone is interested in doing this, I would be more than happy to keep the list of this.....

gotta run
Denise

I have participated in 'white elephant' type exchanges that were something from 'home', postcard exchanges (this is lots of fun) and Secret Mickey's along with FE's. We can do anything we would like to do.

 

[glindamood]

Happy Saturday everyone! Hope you are all enjoying your weekend. Youngest DS and his DGF are here for the weekend so we have had lots of fun visiting and eating. Sunny and warm here.

Take care! In 21 weeks it will be our turn (and considering I booked this cruise in November of 2009, I have not been waiting too long!