January 8, 2005 Magic Cruise - Let's Get Ready to Cruise!

[disneygal58]

Hello,
We held a Dis-Meet at Palo Brunch. It was great. There were about 16 of us and we were given the private dining room. We met on Sunday. I wish that we had done a follow up meet at the end of the cruise. It was great putting faces to names and running into each other throughout the week.

Dawn

 

[disneygal58]

Just bumping us up to the top...

 

[disneygal58]

Bumping up so we don't get lost....
Anyone new sign on yet? We're just two weeks away from our 300 Day Countdown!

Dawn

 

[brack]

BUMP

My wife is almost finished with a scrapbook of our latest cruise. She is doing an A-B-C book. It is really fun to see all we did on that two week cruise.

 

[disneygal58]

Just 45 more weeks until our first day at sea - Palo's Brunch, laying on Deck 4, wine tasting, the Rainforest Room....

Dawn

 

[musicdude]

Add somemore people to your list!!! My dw(35) and ds 7, dd 3 and dw friend and daughter also 3 and myself(33). Looking forward to our first disney cruise an our first trip to wdw. Thanks so much for putting this together. Were all from Colorado!!
Chris

 

[brack]

Welcome aboard Musicdude.

As a WDW vet for over 20 years and 4 time DCL cruiser I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

If you have any questions, this is the place. There is no other place quite like the DISBoard for good info and friends.

 

[disneygal58]

Welcome Musicdude,
It's going to be like traveling with people from all of my "hometowns" - Lisa lives where I was born, you are in Littleton - I lived in Fort Collins/Boulder for 20 something years before heading back East three years ago. My daughter goes to Western in Gunnison. If I can help you with planning gifts/ideas feel free to ask - postcards for the kids/trinkets from WDW etc... I live an hour from Disney and head over there about once a month.
It's nice to see more people joining the party. Be sure to watch According To Jim tomorrow night.

Take Care,
Dawn

 

[musicdude]

Thanks Brack and Dawn for Great Welcome! We are sooo excited about this trip Dawn, I have a question about booking is it cheaper to book wdw stay through cruise line or one our own? Anyway thanks for everything. Chris

 

[disneygal58]

Musicdude,
It's usually alot more cost effective to book yor WDW rooms on your own or through an internet agency like www.dreamsunlimited.com. Always ask for special rates and if the category that you want is sold out, ask for their upsell rate on the next. Another good site to watch for rates is www.mousesavers.com. I'm fortunate enough to be able to secure Annual Passholder and Florida Resident rates. (APs are good if you plan to spend at least 7 days over the course of the year at the Parks - I had APs when I lived in Colorado because we would plan our trips to WDW every 11 months to take advantage of the savings).

Take Care,
Dawn

 

[musicdude]

Thank you for the info. Right now we've booked everything through small world travel but are likely to cancel the wdw portion(staying at Port Orleans) The cruise seems like a good deal but I think we will cancel those transfers and rent a van or something. Anyway thanks again for all the info. and this meet sounds like a blast. Kind of nice to know some people ahead of time.
Bye,
Chris

 

[Lisa]

Musicdude,

Welcome to you and your group to the 1/8 cruise.

We are renting a van from MCO to Port Canaveral. Then again from Port Canaveral for a few days at WDW returning the van to MCO.

Got a good promotion code through www.mousesavers.com for Budget.

I will be booking our hotel accomodations at WDW on my own.

 

[disneygal58]

Riding the DCL bus from the hotel to the Port can be fun. But it is much less expensive to rent a van or private towncar for the trip. Then you are not at the mercy of DCL's scheduled pick up times - some of them can put you there after 1:00.

Dawn

 

[musicdude]

Lisa,
Thanks for the warm welcome. Can you tell me what rate you received from budget? Thanks for the information. Chris

 

[Lisa]

Musicdude,

We are renting a 12 passenger van (as we have 9 people) for $144.49 base rate.

Budget is the only car rental place that could guarantee that size vehicle at MCO and at Cape Canaveral. Avis has that size at MCO but couldn't guarantee the 12 passenger van would be there when you arrived. No 12 passenger van available at all at Cape Canaveral.

Last year when we did the 7 day western, we got a mini van (5 people) through Avis for about $74 each way with all added fees.

 

[Tarquin]

Hi there-
We are first time cruisers who are booked for this cruise and are very excited! We have been to WDW 13 times and decided that we needed a change of pace-
On the cruise it will be myself, DH, DD age 13, DS age 8 and DS 15
This is our celebration cruise- I just finished my Doctorate in Education and we had promised ourselves that when I finished, we'd go on the Cruise- so , YIPEEEEE-

We live in New York and plan on driving down the day before, unless we get SUPER good airfares- but even then, i can pack more and not have to worry about it if we drive- every day after reading this board, i add something else to the "must pack" list!

Haven't made ressies for any hotel the night before- I guess I have a little time, huh?

Look forward to meeting everyone from the board!

 

[Lisa]

Tarquin,

Welcome and congratulations on your doctorate. Good to have you on board. One of the kids (a boy) in my group will be 8 in August.

 

[musicdude]

Tarquin,
Welcome to the board. Im an educator as well. My son will be 7 1/2 when we cruise. Were very excited!!
Chris

 

[disneygal58]

Tarquin,
Welcome and congratulations! We look forward to helping you celebrate. If I may do anything to assist you from this end, don't hesitate to ask.

Have a good weekend,
Dawn

 

[disneygal58]

Happy Forty Four Week Countdown!
Just 44 more Saturdays until we finally let ourselves get out of bed after tossing and turning in anticipation of the delights that await us in the coming days....

Dawn