It's Almost Time for the BASH--Pre Trip Report 10/24/2009 DCL Magic Eastern Cruise

One of the cool things about the timing of our cruise is that we will disembark (not that that is a cool thing), on 10/31, Halloween Night.

My parents haven't been to WDW since 1996 and my dad always has said that a trip to WDW for a few days before or after a cruise would be great. I would tend to agree!

Well, my sister and I put our heads together and thought, "why don't we try going to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party on Halloween Night?" We sold the idea to my parents and then to Elaine. Everyone was in agreement, so we booked our airfare home a day later than our cruise, and waited on May 1st to buy our tickets. While I didn't buy them at the stroke of midnight, I did buy them later that morning while at work. For some reason, the internet wasn't working so I had to call, 1-407-W-Disney and talk to a friendly voice and buy our tickets. $200 and change later, we had tickets to the Party. It was cool as I was on an Instant Message with my mom who was on hold the same time I was. It was great to share in that excitement over the internet.

A week or so later, our tickets arrived and are safely stored with our other legal documentation.

It should be a fun night as many of the other BOBers are doing the same thing we are, so once again, we will see some familiar faces as we walk the Magic Kingdom.

Yet another thing I am totally stoked about is our lodging for the Party. We have only stayed in the value resorts on Property and while those are nice and it is great to simply stay on Property, I have always wanted to try the Port Orleans Riverside Resort. My wife is always skeptical as she doesn't think they are worth the extra cost and would rather spend the money in the parks and other incidental expenses.

Well I sent a room reservation request into DU for a value, the All Star Movies specifically using the fall value code. I got the quote back and it was for higher then I expected due to there being no availability for standard rooms. We were given a Preferred room for $100/night. I thought to myself, "I bet I can get a standard room at a moderate for slightly more." I called 1-407 W-Disney and once again talked to a lovely, friendly voice who helped me out. I thought to myself if I could get a room at a moderate for $120, I would do it. Well, the friendly CM came on and said that the cost for the room would be $122. I thought, ha, what's $2! and booked a room for both our family and my parents and sister. I once again, had my mom on Instant Messenger and was able to ask her on the spot if they were fine with that.

The funny thing is, I really wanted to stay at the Riverside, but my sister has a travel agent co-worker who suggested we stay at French Quarter due to its small size. I in fact, told the CM that I wanted French Quarter but for some reason she booked Riverside. When I questioned it, she offered to change it, but I said, "nah, I really wanted to stay at Riverside anyway!"

For the next day, I mulled over our ADR arrangements for lunch the day we disembark/arrive at WDW. I had a day before the 90 day window opened for reservations, so I scoured the internet and DIS to find information. Being up River from DTD, I thought we should go there for a decent lunch. We will be eating counter service at MK that evening, so a good lunch would be in order. I was looking at the new T-Rex Restaurant thinking my kids would love it, but then I saw that they have a Build a Dino shop that my kids would want a build a dino. I also noticed that it is very popular being new and even with ressies, it can take a while to check in. I have always wanted to eat at the Rainforest Cafe, but for some reason it never worked for me. I checked the menu and it looked good, and prices seemed reasonable for a resort sit down establishment.

The next day I booked our ADR for 11:30 at the Rainforest Cafe. We will get to the POR, check in, hop on the boat to DTD and enjoy a great lunch before relaxing prior to heading to the MK for 4:00.

The next day, 11/1, our flight for home leaves at 11:00 so we will check out around 8:30 and head to MCO for home.

Vacation Summary

10/22
3:15 PM--Pick up kids at School Dismissal
6:00 PM--Arrive in Maine at parents house
7:00 PM--Tracy and Sam to the mall for pedicures

10/23 Sleep In!!!!
11:30--Eat Early lunch
12:30--Head to Portland International Jetport
1:55--Wheels Up to Florida
5:07--Wheels down at Orlando International
5:30--Pick up Car at Budget
6:15--Arrive at Radisson--Check In
6:30--Dinner at Grills
7:30--DIS Meet at Radisson Pool

10/24-10/31--DCL Magic Cruise (Details Coming)

10/31
9:00--Hop on Avis shuttle and pick up a van
10:00--Arrive at Port Orleans Riverside, check in, look around
11:00--Head to DTD, check in at Rainforest Cafe
12:30--Go back to Port Orleans Riverside, relax, swim, maybe rent a boat
3:30--Hop a bus to MK for MNSSHP

11/1
12:00AM--Take bus back to Port Orleans
7:30 or so--Wake Up
8:30--Head to MCO
9:00--Return van to Avis
10:30--Board AirTran flight 799 for Home
11:00--Wheels up for Maine
2:15--Wheels down at PWM
4:00--Head Back to Connecticut
7:00--Arrive Home in Connecticut
 
I didn't mind your pre-trip on my boards.
I love reading about cruises.
If you are doing a dual report, you can put both reports on.
OhMari
Have a safe trip.
Our captain, took us through Tropical Depression Ana.
I didn't notice it, till my dd woke me up and told me we were really rockin.:rotfl:
Anyways, my daughter was really angry and wanted to know what was going on. Within and hour it was over and the Captain announced early in the morning that we sailed through the Tropical Depression just fine. Sure buddy, try telling my 25 year old dd that one, she was ready to come up on deck and throttle ya. The crew in Haiti all told us they were shocked to see us, it was reported to them, that we weren't docking at the private island.
 

i see you have the 23th planned to the minute.:thumbsup2
i cant wait to see how close your estimates are to the actual times.:thumbsup2
dont be late for the Radisson party.:wizard::3dglasses
 
i see you have the 23th planned to the minute.:thumbsup2
i cant wait to see how close your estimates are to the actual times.:thumbsup2
dont be late for the Radisson party.:wizard::3dglasses
I am usually pretty good at estimating times. Before GPS, I used to like predicting ETA's while travelling. On one trip when I was in college i used to always be within a minute or two. That was on a two hour trip.

If we are "off" it won't be my fault, but JetBlue Airways fault!!!!:thumbsup2
 
Informing Teachers
Last night was open house night at my kids school. We are in the Northeast, so school hasn't yet started. It always starts the week before Labor Day here and they start tomorrow September 2nd.

While meeting both of my kids teachers, we shared with them that the kids will be missing 6 days due to our cruise in late October. Without hesitation, both teachers responded, "oh can I come?" We thought that was a definitely a good sign. They both asked that we would give them a heads up in the form of a note as the time gets closer so that they could get some work together for the kids. Since we have a 3 hour drive to Maine on 10/22, that might be a good time for the kids to get their work done or at least put a major dent in it.

Sand Toys
There has been a debate in our house for the last month or so regarding the need or lack therof (my position) of sand toys on the cruise. In all three ports we are planning times at a beach. My DW thinks the kids need sand toys, and I tend to think not. If we were driving to Florida, I would not hesitate, but sand toys are not something that pack easily in luggage. My DW is a notorious overpacker, and I am the one lugging it all around and negotiating the airport with a cart that weighs a few hundred pounds!

My mom, who is ever the voice of reason, gotta love moms, suggested that after dinner at Grills, DW, parents, and sister go to a store in Cocoa Beach, or Merritt Island to secure some sand toys...small ones at that! Wow that is a sentence that would leave my English 15 professor at Penn State scratching his head! My mom has said that no matter what time we get in, she is not missing dinner at Grills. She said something about the Scallops there being the best she ever had or something like that. I just like eating on the water.

I will then bring the kids back to the Radisson to swim and meet the rest of the BOBers at the pool. This is where having 2 cars will work out great!

Computer
I had toyed with taking my computer on the cruise. I thought it would be convenient for a number of reasons. They are as follows.

Charging of iPods
All of us have iPods and plan on using them while travelling in the car to Maine, flying to Florida if there is nothing on the JetBlue TV...it will be afternoon afterall and no soaps for me! With 4 USB ports, I can charge all of the iPods at the same time from my laptop.

Picture Dumping
Currently I only have a 128MB memory stick for my camera. On my last cruise I was able to take approx. 200 pictures at a low but decent setting. All of the pictures I have posted on the DIS threads were taken at 1.2 MP setting. Well, I thought it would be nice to take pictures and video and have my computer to dump them on.

Remembering that my wife is a notorious overpacker, I thought to myself, "why take more junk?" Not that my computer is junk, but it is something that is unnecessary to take on a vacation.

Random Complimentary or Reasonable Internet Access
While waiting in Portland Jetport for our flight, it would be nice to jump on and update my trip report, or flying home on AirTran it would be great to do a live report from 35,000 ft, but I just can't justify it.

I do have a smartphone that has an unlimited data plan through Verizon Wireless. I can take 3.2 MP pictures on it, and upload directly to photobucket or FaceBook. My BlackBerry Storm should be sufficient to feed my geek appetitte for the times when I have a "non roaming" signal.

Therefore, my computer will be staying home...or at least at my parents house. I will be taking it to Maine so I can jump on the DIS on 10/22 & 10/23 and read all of the updates on the BOB thread. It will be so exciting to read about people boarding their flights, going to MNHSSP, etc. :surfweb:

I plan to buy myself a nice stylish backpack to use as a carryon to store all of our sensitive items, passports, chargers, cameras, cruise documents, car rental and hotel confirmations, etc. We always buy a few magazines when we fly so they will find their way into that backpack as well. I'll be hitting Kohl's or LL Bean to find a sweet one. Maybe an orange one from LL Bean with the initials, BOB mongramed into it??? :lmao::thumbsup2 Who knows, but then I don't know if I want the BOB for the life of the backpack, but it would be funny!

It's September 1st and for the first time I can say,

We are cruising next month!
 
I already have sand toys for Kira packed in my suitcase :thumbsup2 She can use some of them at the pool at the resort and then she will use them at 3 ports. We will leave them at CC. They tend to round up all the toys that are left for use in the kids area on CC :thumbsup2 They are bulky but are very light and then we will have room on the way back for souvenirs :goodvibes

We will be taking two computers, Rob's laptop and my netbook :scared1:

Yay, it's great to say that we're on vacation next month :cool1::woohoo:
 
I already have sand toys for Kira packed in my suitcase :thumbsup2 She can use some of them at the pool at the resort and then she will use them at 3 ports. We will leave them at CC. They tend to round up all the toys that are left for use in the kids area on CC :thumbsup2 They are bulky but are very light and then we will have room on the way back for souvenirs :goodvibes

We will be taking two computers, Rob's laptop and my netbook :scared1:

Yay, it's great to say that we're on vacation next month :cool1::woohoo:
If I was going to be gone as long as you are, I would definitely take a computer!

I forgot to mention that I am going to buy a 4GB (at least) memory stick for my camera. I'll probably get that sometime next month, or later this month.

My mom should have some banging pictures. She just bought a Cannon EOS Rebel. I think she wants to get a new lense for it for the cruise as well. When we get back to Maine, I will be putting the memory stick from her camera into my computer to upload those pictures!
 
I think buying some sand toys once you're in Cocoa Beach is a great idea. YOu can also have Shirley from The Perfect Gift put together a beach gift basket for you. It'll be in your stateroom waiting for you when you get there.

I have the BB Storm, too. :)
 
Just another Bober checking in....good start Christian. I look forward to reading more...
 
the radisson is ready for you dude.:cool2:

DSC00333.jpg
 
your posts are great both on here and the meets thread - I am on the same cruise with my dh dd(10) and ds(4) I have been late onto the boards for the planning of this cruise but you guys sound as excited as our family is for the 24th Oct Eastern. Here's looking forward to a great cruise :banana:

only 48 days until our transatlantic flight to the USA :yay:
 
your posts are great both on here and the meets thread - I am on the same cruise with my dh dd(10) and ds(4) I have been late onto the boards for the planning of this cruise but you guys sound as excited as our family is for the 24th Oct Eastern. Here's looking forward to a great cruise :banana:

only 48 days until our transatlantic flight to the USA :yay:

Hiya Pughfamilycruisers. Why not come over and join us on the B.O.B thread?
 
your posts are great both on here and the meets thread - I am on the same cruise with my dh dd(10) and ds(4) I have been late onto the boards for the planning of this cruise but you guys sound as excited as our family is for the 24th Oct Eastern. Here's looking forward to a great cruise :banana:

only 48 days until our transatlantic flight to the USA :yay:
Come on over to the B.O.B. thread. There are good times to be had me hearties! pirate:
 
Well as I already stated, I am far from artistic. After seeing fellow BOBer Cass' buttons that she designed, I decided to use her graphic and add my name to ours. In doing so, it also saves an outfit as I will just wear a polo on sailaway day and wear my pin. I can wear that same polo to dinner that night. :thumbsup2 If we drove, I would not care about luggage allowances, but I do not wish to spend an excessive amount on luggage fees to the airlines.

Yesterday prior to church I told Elaine that I was making pins and I encouraged her to wear them. She laughed and said something along the lines, "I am not wearing a dorky pin with you." I said, "awww come on, get festive and join the fun." She said that if my sister agreed to wear one, she would too. I immediately without hesitation, removed my BlackBerry from its holster and tapped out a text message to Tracy. Within minutes I heard the Magic horn echo from my phone (that's my text alert from Tracy), and Tracy said that she would wear one. I think Elaine honestly thought that Tracy would share her initial sentiment and she would be free of wearing a pin.

Last evening, since our cruise meet thread was so dead, I decided to plug away and play around with making the pins. I tried using the Waltograph Disney font, but it really didn't work too well with the rough edges of the letters. After about 20 tries, I couldn't make it work.

Just this morning I thought, "why don't I just use a normal font?" Well I did that and this is the result.

ChrisDISPin.jpg


Cass designed the graphic, so I only added my text. I will be making 7 for our entire travel party. Cass mentioned that Walmart put them together for her, so I will be giving that a try as well.

Now I should get busy on door signs!!!
 
Ok, I revised yet again...This time with Waltograph and I used a slightly different design for the actual pin.

ChrisDISPin-1.jpg
 


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