January Dream Pre Trip it's going crazy lately but we'll get there

[Bytor01]

I think I need to take my mind off a lot of things that have been going on in my life right now. So, instead of just reading some reports I've decided to put font to thread and start one of my own. Yes, we will get into the craziness that has been floating around lately but first some introductions and information.

Hello, I'm Tim...I am a DISNEYholic. (all in unison now....hi Tim because I know 75% of you are too whether you have admitted it or not). I am the planner for our lovely family of four. My better half is my DW Mary. She kind of just goes along with my madness and just shakes her head at the 30 page questionnaires I hand out to friends who are traveling with us to WDW or tells people that their asking the wrong family member about Disney when a question comes up about going to WDW or on DCL. Yeah after 2 months shy of 18 years she puts up with me but she has the bug too but won't truly come out yet.

Then I have my twins, both hit double digits this year. Uhhh they are twins so yes, they are the same age and no they are not identical. Yeah, just two of the craziest questions we have heard. My DS is James and my DD is Moira. They love going down on trips to the World and cruising. Man, these kids are spoiled. They have been on 15 plus trips all told between WDW and DCL. I wish I was them growing up. They both keep me active as they are involved with numerous sports and activities. They are why I get up in the morning and taking them away with us is just a little something I hope I can add to their wonderful childhood memories.

So, now that the introductions are done here's the information...

We are going down to Florida on January 13th, 2012. We will be staying two nights at the Bay Lake Towers at the Contemporary Resort. We had some left over DVC points we needed to use and they had BLT available so we figured why not and try it. Now this will be the first time we are going to the World and do not plan on making a visit to the parks. So, that will be interesting. We are flying in Friday night, plan on renting a car and visiting my 92 year old Aunt on Saturday. Then on Sunday we will drive the rental to Port Canaveral to Board the Disney Dream for the four night sailing on January 15-19th. This will be our fifth cruise and second four nighter (FYI - we will be doing a 7 nighter on the Fantasy in August). We will fly home on the same airline we flew down in, JetBlue and then head home.

I guess I should have put this under the introductions but it is also information as well. This cruise is going to be a little different. How you say? We'll I'll tell you. This is the first cruise we will be going on with family. Now, I love going with other people, friends, family...I think it adds to my whole excitement. Of course, the planner in me goes wild and the DW's eyes roll. But, I've been getting help and I think I've been good. There has been no questionnaires, no late night calls for excursion ideas, no stalking looks on how the DCL DVD was when they watched it after they miraculously received one in the mail without knowing about it. OK, that last one I did, I just had to know.

So, yes, my SIL Kathy and my 12 year old nephew Sean are coming with us. They have traveled with us on three other occasions and Kathy seems much more understanding of my obsession and she follows along as if she is closing her eyes. I wish she could now just talk some sense into her sister to obey my every Disney whim.

We are in a category 5a on deck 10 and my SIL and her son are in a 5d on deck 6. I booked both rooms, on our January 2011 7 night Magic cruise. I am getting the OBC and 10% booking discount for my room and the 10% discount for the other room. DCL will give the booking discount but only the OBC to those that have sailed before while booking on the ship. But, I had the agent on the ship put my TA's name attached to the reservations so both rooms will get OBCs from her.

Well I think that's all for the background of the upcoming trip now here's some pictures to chew on...

Here I am the obsessive DISNEYholic (you know it's really not that bad)

Here's my beautiful wife who allows me to plan all her good times

And if it wasn't for those meddling kids none of this may have been possible

Pictures are two years ago and need to download more photos to my account. I promise to do that.

Stay tuned for the crazy times and meet Kathy and Sean

Can you say 25 days until we leave and 27 until we sail away...?

 

[Bytor01]

So, I didn't have the werewithall to have some recent pictures of the kids. So, I had to scramble this morning and get some pictures uploaded.

Here is James and Moira at our Christimas pictures...

Of course, here are our stowaways on the trip, my SIL and Nephew

 

[Bytor01]

So, as I have said it's been a real busy week or so. Some things were really a shock to the system.

But, to understand I need to bring everyone back to the time of May and June of this year. I was hurt while working and started to have severe neck pain which then shot down through my left arm. I was diagnosed with two severly herniated discs iin my neck that were causing the nerves in my arm to be pinched and actually crushed and rotated. It was hard to use my arm at times and sleeping was an almost non existant thing. The pain was constant and I had no mobility of my neck.

Well fast forward a couple of months and while I still have the problems with my neck, my mobility and strength have improved. I still had constant pain down my left arm. That pain didn't improve even with physical therapy and epidurals shots into my spine. Yeah, that was fun. So, the decision was made to correct my condition with the only other way it can be corrected and that is through surgery. Yep, you guessed it football fans me and good ole' Peyton Manning were going to have something in common and that is the same type of neck surgery. It's called Anterior Cervical fusion. Sounds fun, doesn't it. Well Peyton is a sucker because he only had it done on one level of the neck while I need to have it done on two levels. Surgery was scheduled for December 12th (Crazy thing #1).

I suffered for a couple of months but coming on here and planning our upcoming cruise is what helped a little. Especially late at night when I couldn't fall asleep. I would come on, read some gerenal threads, comment here or there, read some reports and think, "boy, I can't wait until this crap is over, it's January and I'm on the cruise."

Well, we are passed the 12th of December. I did have my surgery but something very very wrong and depressing happened on the morning of my surgery that has put me in a rut all week.

To find out how it went, what went wrong and all my other cruise news and notes, stay tuned. It may get depressing before it gets better. But, hey, as Hans Gruber said in Die Hard, "It's Christmas, it's the time of miracles..." So, it's gotta get better.

Before I leave, here are a few pictures from our January 2011 7 night Eastern cruise

 

[CRUIZEN MAMMA]

Subbing, My family and I are on this same cruise. It will be me ,dh and ds-12 -our 4th DCL cruise, my MIL and FIL- their first DCL cruise but not first cruise and our best friends and their kids DS -11 and DD 7 their 3rd DCL cruise!

Can't wait to hear you adventures.

 

[Bytor01]

Subbing, My family and I are on this same cruise. It will be me ,dh and ds-12 -our 4th DCL cruise, my MIL and FIL- their first DCL cruise but not first cruise and our best friends and their kids DS -11 and DD 7 their 3rd DCL cruise!

Can't wait to hear you adventures.

That's great Cruizen. That's quite an entourage you got going with you.

 

[Bytor01]

So, we are trying to catch up to the present but before we get there...

One of my major dilemmas is trying to think of how we are going to get to the port. Usually, we stay at the Hyatt at MCO as we fly in the night before our cruise, get up in the morning check in and then get on the bus. We pay the transfers there and back.

Two Augusts ago, we did a do it yourself land and sea package with 4 nights at WDW and a 4 night cruise. On that trip we rented a car and drove down to the port. We paid for the transfers back to MCO. Som that was my decision, finally. I decided and called up our TA, Coleen over at Mousefan travel, to add the $35 transfers for the return trip to MCO. What gets me is I can't update our online check in to say Disney transfers for the return trip. I know they got the transfer request, TA confirmed and they took the payment. I have a feeling that it is because my return flight is at 12:10 pm and they recommend no flight before 12:30pm. C'mon really? They kick our *** off the boat starting around 7:30-8:00 and they can't get me MCO in time. I know it used to be 12pm but I guess they changed it.

Ok..anyways...so here I am, it's last Monday awaking on the day of my first surgery. I was really not looking forward to it and was kind of freaked about it. Well, I hit Facebook and I have all these messages on a page of where I used to work. I see it can't believe what I'm reading and quickly hit the news sites for more information. It turns out, that a friend of mine, a guy I worked with was murdered in the line of duty from a criminal who shot him in the face during a home invasion robbery. I was devastated. As a police officer I know it can happen and it does but rarely to someone you know and have worked with. This time it really hit home. So, how's that for a pick me up on the day of surgery? The officer's name was Pete Figoski, NYPD- 75th pct. I spent my last day as a city PO with him as he drove me to headquarters in order to resign to take another PD job. A bad day was now flat in the horrible window.

So, we flash forward to my surgery...6 hrs when it was supposed to be 3, had to almost out me in traction to work on me and had to position me and literally tape me down to the table. Wasn't fun but I woke up...phew!!!

Good thing is the pain running down my left side was completely gone when I woke up but now my right hand was completely numb with massive pins and needles...oh don't worry that will go away it's because we made you into a pretzel during the operation and we might have tweaked that nerve. I am glad to say is I type this up I have no pain in my left arm, my right hand IS back to normal but my neck (front and back) and throat is sore as sh?!. Also, I'm hoping the surgery did not do anything to any other discs as I have some pain in my right shoulder. I hope it's still just sore from the pretzel treatment.

So, yesterday (Monday) we buried Pete. It was one of the largest funerals ever for an NYPD member. The estimates were 10,000-15,000 people attending. The place was packed. It was a very sad day.

All through it, I kept reading here and that's why i said hey, let me write some stuff down and get into the mood.

So, now that I completely depressed everyone who's ready for some cruising?

Btw, I know I can save some money by renting a car for the return trip but I just find it so easy to put the bags out the door the night before, leave empty handed in the morning, hop on a bus, get dropped off at MCO's front door, head through security and board the plane. Not much too worry about is there?

Tell me what's your favorite way to get to and from the airport and port? Don't be shy...

 

[CRUIZEN MAMMA]

That's great Cruizen. That's quite an entourage you got going with you.

This is the first time we are all cruising together, not only that but it is a total surprise to all the kids - we are telling our son Christmas morning! When we get to grandma and grandpa's we will continue the surprise by telling him sure wish gma and gpa were comming -then as we leave for the night tell him that they are We are hoping to keep up the charade of our friends joining us by just showing up at the terminal -we'll have to see if the kids put two and two together before then.

Living in FL we usually just drive to the port early that morning, on our 7 day we stayed 4 days in Cocobeach before the cruise so we used Radissons shuttle services to get to and from the port- We are leaning towards just driving up this time but may stay at CIS the day before. This cruise fit in perfectly with the kids school schedule since school is out for 3 of the 4 days for MLK and teacher work days. I'm so excited to be finally crusing on the new ship!

 

[Bytor01]

Oh man, I wish I can keep a Disney secret hat long. I never can plus my kids are really loving being Disney freaks like me. Funny but last night my DD was yelling at me because it's been over a year since we've been to WDW.

I really hope the whole package of secrets work for you because that would be so really cool.

Our kids get MLK day off but we do have to pull them out for Tues-Thurs. they are going to go to school the Friday we leave but we are going to pull them out about 11:30am for our 3pm flight. Easy way for them to get credit for a school day

 

[CRUIZEN MAMMA]

Well we havent had to keep this secret long, this was a last minute FL resident rate -couldnt pass up the great deal cruise. It has been very difficult to keep the secret though, my DH has almost blown it twice- just a few more days till the big reveal can't wait!

 

[Paragd911]

We are on this trip too!! Cant wait to meet you guys!.. I have Irish twins too. they are 10 months apart. I was a Cop in the Air Force for 3 years. I put myself through paramedic school then i was a Flight paramedic in the gulf war. I got the Military deal 2 months ago for this cruise. (I was Injured in the AF). This will be are 12th cruise on Disney..2 time on the Dream.


I will be the one in a wheelchair with a Big white dog..

 

[Bytor01]

Well we havent had to keep this secret long, this was a last minute FL resident rate -couldnt pass up the great deal cruise. It has been very difficult to keep the secret though, my DH has almost blown it twice- just a few more days till the big reveal can't wait!

Those big mouth husbands they just can't keep their mouths shut....at least that's what I'm told ...A LOT

Good luck on keeping the secret for the next three days. You're almost there.

I can't believe it's almost Christmas. It certainly doesn't feel like it. 55 degrees up here in NY today.

 

[Bytor01]

We are on this trip too!! Cant wait to meet you guys!.. I have Irish twins too. they are 10 months apart. I was a Cop in the Air Force for 3 years. I put myself through paramedic school then i was a Flight paramedic in the gulf war. I got the Military deal 2 months ago for this cruise. (I was Injured in the AF). This will be are 12 cruise on Disney..2 time on the Dream.


I will be the one in a wheelchair with a Big white dog..

How can we miss that big beauty of a dog you have. I saw you on our meet board and that's actually one secret I'm keeping away from my kids...your dog. They love dogs and I want them to be surprised when they see yours.

Those are certainly Irish twins. 10 months, boy you guys didn't wait long, ha ha. It was tough in the beginning but it's great now. They drive each other crazy but they love each other but can't let he other truly know it...ahhh siblings

BTW...God Bless you for your service for all of us Americans

 

[Bytor01]

So as we close in on three weeks until we depart glorious NY for the southern piece of Heaven of sun and Mickey called Florida we are settling in. I'm feeling a little better and this tough week is coming to a close.

I woke up after a nap today, hey c'mon I still love my afternoon naps, to an email from Coleen, my TA. Apparently, DCL has sent her my cruise documents and she has put them in the mail to get out to me. Now I'm psyched. That's the last stuff I am waiting for and we are all set. It's not that you really need those documents anymore, as most stuff is done online anyway now, but it's nice to have them in hand isn't it? You just feel like the cruise is concrete once you see that nice brown book. I hope I get them by tomorrow because it will be cool to present it to my SIL on Christmas.

I leave you with a couple of shots of the beauty you may see on a Disney Cruise

 

[Amy162]

Hi Tim! Yes, I think we are all Disneyholics around here!

DH Rob and I will also be on the Jan 15 cruise, with DD9 Bethany and DD6 (7 in Feb) Anna. We are also bringing my MIL Barbara along. This will be the first Disney cruise for DH and I and the first cruise for my girls and MIL. It will be the first Disney experience for MIL. She won't come to the world with us, so the only way I could get her to experience Disney with us was to book the cruise. (like I really needed an excuse! )

DH is also a police officer. I am sorry for the loss of your friend and coworker. It's one of our greatest fears, and something you never think will happen to those close to you!

We are driving to FL, leaving on Saturday and driving all day. (yes, I'm REALLY looking forward to 13 hours in a car with MIL!! ) We are staying at the Comfort Inn in Port Canaveral and have an 11:00 boarding time on Sunday.

I look forward to tagging along with you on your PTR! Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for you as well!

 

[Bytor01]

Hi Tim! Yes, I think we are all Disneyholics around here!

DH Rob and I will also be on the Jan 15 cruise, with DD9 Bethany and DD6 (7 in Feb) Anna. We are also bringing my MIL Barbara along. This will be the first Disney cruise for DH and I and the first cruise for my girls and MIL. It will be the first Disney experience for MIL. She won't come to the world with us, so the only way I could get her to experience Disney with us was to book the cruise. (like I really needed an excuse! )

DH is also a police officer. I am sorry for the loss of your friend and coworker. It's one of our greatest fears, and something you never think will happen to those close to you!

We are driving to FL, leaving on Saturday and driving all day. (yes, I'm REALLY looking forward to 13 hours in a car with MIL!! ) We are staying at the Comfort Inn in Port Canaveral and have an 11:00 boarding time on Sunday.

I look forward to tagging along with you on your PTR! Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for you as well!

Hello Amy, welcome aboard...no pun intended.

I can't believe you're driving 13 hours. I never thought of driving as its anywhere from I guess 17-19 hours from Long Island, NY where we live.

I would probably slam my head against the door all the way from well, probably around your neck of the woods to Florida. I think one of my retired guys live around your area. He was a big union supporter and retired down in Virginia, I think in Fredricksburg. He also just passed away. Yeah, it hasn't been good in the knowing Tim department lately.

Great news, got my documents today. Very exciting. I did notice that the change in the Palo reservation is not noted. Funny, because I changed that a long time ago. It still says it on the online check in so we should be good.

Also, it says that if my flight is before 12:30pm we can't do the online board check in for our return flight. Man, our flight back home is at 12:10pm. I hope that's not true. We never really ran into this problem before. We have taken this flight twice home with our first two cruises and as long as the flight was after 12pm, we were good. The other flights were closer to 3pm so there's no problem there. We shall see.

Also, my TA Coleen, what a great person. Along with my cruise docs she sent us a nice bag that has a nice design for the Dream's inaugural cruise. I have to say we have been using her for our cruises for the last five years and haven't been disappointed, ever. She's the best. It's funny, because except for cruising I never use a TA. I do everything. I will post a picture of the bag tomorrow.

Still trying to find a good rental price. Can't seem to get one I like. I'll keep searching.

 

[Bytor01]

As promised, the pictures of the nice Beach/Tote bag that was sent to us by our Travel Agent, Coleen...big shout outs to her.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas this Sunday for those that celebrate like me...

 

[jedijill]

Joining in. So sorry for all you have gone through. Hope you continue to heal. Can't wait to hear about the cruise.

Jill in CO

 

[Bytor01]

Wow I can't believe Christmas is over. We are just flying and the year will almost be over. That will mean we would enter into the "Year of the Sailing" for all of us. What a shame.

I have been holding off on our car rental reservations for awhile now. As you know we will be spending two nights at Bay Lake Towers before and I just really haven't seen any good deals.

We usually do the Disney transfers when we stay at the Hyatt but we rented a car and drove ourselves to the port on our 4 night in August 2010. We had rented from Dollar, which is where we usually rent from. With it getting closer, as we are actually under three weeks to the cruise, I decided to make the reservation while floating around my iPad in bed last night.

I have also rented from National before. They are located in a couple of places in WDW, Car Care Center near MK and the Dolphin. So, I checked their rates for a minivan (6 of us and we will need the space for a 7th when we visit my aunt on the Saturday before the cruise). So for one day can you believe a minivan rental is $325.00 plus taxes? Yes, that's right, $325.00+, that's not a typo. I couldn't believe it. How outrageous is that? It's freakin crazy. So, I checked Alamo also just for kicks and they were $313.00+. I couldn't believe it also.

How can these places get away with charging prices like that? I will tell you why...they kill you if you return the vehicle to a different location. Of course, I want to take it down to the Port and return it there. Ready for the price difference...it would be $88.00+ if not returned to a different location. That's a crazy difference close to $240.00.

Now, I almost go crazy and am afraid to check Dollar. I put all the info in (Dollar is located in the Holiday Inn-Lake Buena Vista right next to Downtown Disney) and get ready...Bam a rate of $91.00 is what I see. While this is a little more than what I am used to its a great, great, great price compared to National and Alamo.

I didn't have my wallet on me (I was in my bed) so I didn't make the reservation. I woke up, went to the computer, put all the info in and the rate didn't change so I wasn't dreaming. But, what did change was there is now a city special of 10% off. So, my rate was now $81.00+ and came to $90.00 with taxes. Absolutely unbelievable...

I have one thing to say...is National and Alamo are out of their minds. Dollar #1, yeah!!! What rental company do you use? Any tricks of the trade that you use?

 

[CRUIZEN MAMMA]

Merry Christmas!


Well all surprises have been revealed at our home. After opening all our gifts we headed over to the inlaws for more presents and celebration. I handed my son a tiny box with a DCL passport shaped pin and an envelope that read the biggest surprises can come in the smallest of pakages, then I had him open the pin and then the envelope that had a picture of the ship wrapped in mickey head paper( thanks millie pie from the dissigns board). When he finally put 2 and 2 together,we asked what would make this trip better- then grandma said how about if grandma and grandpa come too.
DS was thrilled to hear GMA and GPA are comming along. My BFF has not yet revealed to her kids so DS has to keep quite to his BFF. My friend was going to tell them on her son's bday(Jan 3) until his sister said that's what she wanted for her next bday and he commentted cruises are expensive their not for bday gifts now my friend doesn't know what to do. since she can't give her daughter a cruise next September.

After talking with my MIL,we've decided to drive to the port Saturday and stay the night -booked a great rate at Four Points Shearaton for all of us and now they offer Park and Cruise with shuttle services. When we stayed there in 2009 you had to drive to the Raddison and park and use their shuttle so this is much better since Shearaton has a parking garage.

My only concern now is that we are a party of 9 and are waitlisted for early dining. My FIL has digestive issues and can not eat late night- I plan to get to the port to be sure that the dining gets changed even if my BFF and her family have to split off from us to accomadate the early dining seating.

I can't belive we leave in 19 days!!!!! This is the first time I'm really looking forward to MLK day!

 

[Bytor01]

Merry Christmas!


Well all surprises have been revealed at our home. After opening all our gifts we headed over to the inlaws for more presents and celebration. I handed my son a tiny box with a DCL passport shaped pin and an envelope that read the biggest surprises can come in the smallest of pakages, then I had him open the pin and then the envelope that had a picture of the ship wrapped in mickey head paper( thanks millie pie from the dissigns board). When he finally put 2 and 2 together,we asked what would make this trip better- then grandma said how about if grandma and grandpa come too.
DS was thrilled to hear GMA and GPA are comming along. My BFF has not yet revealed to her kids so DS has to keep quite to his BFF. My friend was going to tell them on her son's bday(Jan 3) until his sister said that's what she wanted for her next bday and he commentted cruises are expensive their not for bday gifts now my friend doesn't know what to do. since she can't give her daughter a cruise next September.

After talking with my MIL,we've decided to drive to the port Saturday and stay the night -booked a great rate at Four Points Shearaton for all of us and now they offer Park and Cruise with shuttle services. When we stayed there in 2009 you had to drive to the Raddison and park and use their shuttle so this is much better since Shearaton has a parking garage.

My only concern now is that we are a party of 9 and are waitlisted for early dining. My FIL has digestive issues and can not eat late night- I plan to get to the port to be sure that the dining gets changed even if my BFF and her family have to split off from us to accomadate the early dining seating.

I can't belive we leave in 19 days!!!!! This is the first time I'm really looking forward to MLK day!

Oh man, I am so glad you were able to really get the surprise and then double it with the GParents. Hopefully, your friend can figure something out so your son won't have to hold the secret long.

Great news on the new plans at the Sheraton. I'm crossing my fingers for your whole party to dine together.

17 days left until we leave and it's time to start thinking about our last minute plans or ideas.