JANUARY 27, 2007 "PAL MICKEY" Western Magic ROLL CALL

[WeCantWait]

We are staying at the Hyatt Friday night before our cruise..........anyone else doing the same? We are flying in from VA and we are hoping that we can do downtown disney on friday afternoon but we will see how early our flights are. We are living dangerously we are letting Disney make our flight arrangements - its just easier for us!

We were not able to get the Hyatt for that Friday. We are not getting in from NY until about 7:30PM and we are staying at the Sheraton by the airport. We then have a limo picking us up at the hotel at 9:30AM Saturday morning to take us to the port.

 

[WeCantWait]

3 months, 3 weeks, and 5 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAY!!!

 

[GSCM_DisneyScout]

Yeah! Things are finally starting to come together. DH made reservations today to stay at Saratoga Springs the night before the cruise. Airline tickets are available (we haven't purchased them yet, but the dates are avaialble). We're finalizing the list of who is actually going, we're just waiting on my brother to find out whether he can get time off from work or not. Our whole group will total 3 rooms (7534, 7535 & 7536), 4 children, and either 6 or 7 adults.

Most of us are flying in the night before. My parents are considering driving down and staying at a Sun Terra resort prior to the cruise. I'm much happier with our decision to fly down. 14+ hours each way vs. less than 3 hours each way with 4 children.

So, all but my parents are currently planning to stay with us at Saratoga Springs Friday night (we got a good rate on a 2 Bedroom unit). Then Saturday morning, we'll get a van to take us from Saratoga Springs to the port and we'll be all set. We used Florida Tours last year, but I've heard a few others are just as good. Does anyone have experience using a different company?

I'm hoping to hit Downtown Disney Friday for a little starter dose of the Disney Magic. One of these days we'll go back into the parks, just the relaxation of the cruise is so nice compared to the chaos of the parks. We've also got kids in school, so we have to minimize taking them out of school for off season dates. (It's amazing, the school has no problem with field trips to Hershey Park, etc. with school groups, but balks at families taking kids out of school for family vacations. Miranda's chorus group will be going to Hershey Park in the spring.)

I showed Pal Mickey to DH and he thought we had already bought one. Maybe he said I could buy one in the past and I didn't jump at the chance. Maybe I can use my Disney Visa Rewards points to pay for him. Ilea's going to be so cute on the cruise. My parents are getting her a set of luggage (either Disney Pricesses or Tinkerbell - rolling bag, backpack, and carry on) of her own and then she'll have her Pal Mickey and she'll be all set.

TTFN

Kim

 

[secretkeeper]

We are also getting all finalized. We are staying at the Country Inn and Suites the 26th. We have a car reserved for the drive from MCO to the port as well as after the cruise for our stay the next week at WDW. We are buying the air tickets tonight as DH is sick of me hounding him. I can't believe we are close enough to be doing all this. Just leave some Palo slots open for us newbies that can't book until 75 days before, pleaseeeeeee!!!

 

[taswira]

It sounds like you guys are getting it all together!

Kim - If you have enough points and have them activated on your Disney Visa Rewards card, I see no reason you couldn't use them to buy your Pal Mickey.

secretkeeper - My mom and sister got back last night from San Diego. Everything went beautifully for the wedding and they had a great time. BTW - I don't think you need to worry about all the Palo spots being taken before you can reserve yours. You may have to switch your time or date preferences, but I'm sure you'll get in. Where it is really difficult is on the 3 and 4-night cruises because there are the same number of passengers vying for ressies but not as many days of cruising so fewer slots available.

 

[secretkeeper]

It sounds like you guys are getting it all together!

Kim - If you have enough points and have them activated on your Disney Visa Rewards card, I see no reason you couldn't use them to buy your Pal Mickey.

secretkeeper - My mom and sister got back last night from San Diego. Everything went beautifully for the wedding and they had a great time. BTW - I don't think you need to worry about all the Palo spots being taken before you can reserve yours. You may have to switch your time or date preferences, but I'm sure you'll get in. Where it is really difficult is on the 3 and 4-night cruises because there are the same number of passengers vying for ressies but not as many days of cruising so fewer slots available.

I'm not really worried, just a bit envious.

Dana

 

[VA_mouseman]

OK, our pre-cruise plans are starting to come together.

I'll be at a conference at the Swan/Dolphin from January 21-25, staying at the Beach Club Sunday night-Wed night. Wife and kids will be coming down Wed. night or Thursday morning, when we switch over to the Boardwalk Villas. We'll hit the parks Thursday and Friday, then up an on to the DCL bus Saturday morning.

Just started looking at park ticket prices. Yikes! $45 flat fee per ticket to convert a basic ticket to a park hopper. Makes sense if you plan on 5, 6 or 7 days at the parks but for us we're only getting in two days. We may consider just doing two parks on this visit. Discounted ticket sites were of no value.

 

[WldWcnWmn]

My DD and I are still dreaming of the cruise (it was a double dip and our second 7-day cruise) so we decided to book this trip and join you guys! We don't have a Pal Mickey, so we're a little out of the loop, there But we're looking forward to a good time!

 

[binky1]

Welcome!! Have read some of your hilarious posts. We don't have a Pal Mickey either but I have an 18 month old. Does she count??

 

[GSCM_DisneyScout]

We don't have a Pal Mickey either but I have an 18 month old. Does she count??

Nope, I already tried that with bringing a roughly 14 week old. It's not quite the same. (For one, I can leave Pal Mickey in the cabin if he gets to heavy to carry around! )

-Kim

 

[taswira]

My DD and I are still dreaming of the cruise (it was a double dip and our second 7-day cruise) so we decided to book this trip and join you guys! We don't have a Pal Mickey, so we're a little out of the loop, there But we're looking forward to a good time!

WELCOME WldWcnWmn! If you are on this thread you are not out of the loop! Pal Mickey is certainly not a requirement for a good time on this cruise, but we expect he will add to the fun of his "owners" and to the amusement of passengers who see him onboard.

I added your user name to our cruiser list (click HERE and select "Cruiser List" from the menu at the top). If you would like to add more information (DD's age, dining Main or Late, celebrations, stateroom location) just PM me or post on this thread and I will put it on our cruiser list.

We are happy to have you join us!

 

[WldWcnWmn]

Sorry Gang... I miss-read the rates... I hate my travel agent's web page...I looked at the rates and then booked the air on priceline, and then went back to book the cruise and realized the quoted rate was per person, not total! They know Disney charges "double occupancy" I dunno' why I thought that rate was real (wishful thinking) so now that I booked two airline tickets to Orlando for a week, I decided to book a carnival cruise. I'm afraid, I am very afraid anyways, the dates matched and it's going back to Costa Maya which was the clintcher for the deal. Sorry to pop in and out of your guy's thread...I'll see myself out.

I am still holding out for 2008 dates with DCL!

 

[taswira]

That's okay. I removed you from the cruiser lists. Sorry you won't be joining us. But yes, that is how ALL travel agent sites (as well as Disney Cruise Line itself) list their prices - per person, double occupancy.

Have fun on Carnival anyway!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Hey...

Just popping in to say "hi!"

 

[brady961]

howdy ho back!!!! LOL.

HEY 3 MONTHS 3 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to bon voyage

 

[GSCM_DisneyScout]

Hi!

We're getting there, slowly but surely. Made the airline reservations this evening.

Kim

 

[msaseifert]

We have finally decided to do our own thing in Key West, do the reef snorkel in Grand Cayman and we are not sure about Cozumel yet. We are definitely doing Castaway Cay Stingray excursion! Anyone else know what they are doing yet?? Won't be long now, OCT 29 here we come!

 

[secretkeeper]

The only thing I know for sure is we want to do a dolphin swim in Cozumel. We are going to wander Key West, play it by ear at Grand Caymen and hope Castaway Key is warm enough to enjoy. I really don't care because if we never leave the boat I'll still be thrilled by how lucky we are to be sailing!

 

[GSCM_DisneyScout]

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/myCruise/landing?name=PassportDetailPage

"My Passport

On October 4, 2006, the U.S. Government extended the deadline for Guests to obtain passports for sea travel to the Caribbean, including the Bahamas and Mexico. The deadline, which was originally January 8, 2007, is now June 1, 2009 — although this date can change to an earlier date at any time.

For air travel, however, the deadline remains January 8, 2007. This means that U.S. citizens traveling by air within the Western Hemisphere and abroad on or after January 8, 2007, such as Guests flying to Orlando, Florida from Canada, are still required to carry a valid U.S. passport.

Despite these new requirements, we encourage you to obtain your passport as soon as possible. Having a passport allows you to always be prepared to travel wherever you wish, and offers an added measure of security when you're traveling. For more information on the benefits of acquiring a passport, visit our FAQ."

Would you believe, we just sent the paperwork in for our passports September 30th?

Kim

 

[sap1227]

I can not believe it is October! The rest of the year always flys by and we will be cruising in no time!!

We are not planning any big excursions (with 7 kids 5 and under in our group we know we have to be flexible)

Our plans are to do the Butterfly Garden in Key West and make sure to go down to the "Southern Most Point" for a Photo or 2 and Doing the Trolley.

Probably Paradise Beach in Cozumel--depending on the weather

Not sure about Grand Caymen????

For once, waiting to the last second was good for me! I had not gotten my or my DSs passports yet (DH already has one), and now I will not be getting them!!