June 10, 2012 Dream 5-Night Double-Dip

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Ooh! The design is fun!

Have you looked into rooms at POR? I prefer the Magnolia Bend section (which has a limit of 4 people), but the Alligator Bayou section has rooms that allow for families of 5. There's a trundle bed for the 5th person. It's also a "moderate," so should be about the same price as CBR.

We are not planning to visit WDW in conjunction with our trip. We went to WDW for a week in January 2010 and the kids really wanted to try a cruise, so that's what we're doing this time. I must admit that I'm second guessing myself though! We're all ready to go back to WDW so I hope the cruise can live up to our expectations. I hope I don't hear "I wish we'd gone to WDW instead." (I must admit though, that our last trip was just about perfect in every way. I am not sure we'll ever be able to top that one.)

We are still not sure exactly when we are coming and whether we are driving or flying. We had originally considered driving to arrive on the Saturday before the cruise. However, I think my daughter's dance recital might be that Saturday, so we're considering flying early on Sunday. We haven't made a firm decision yet.

I thought I read on DIS somewhere that POR was being remodeled and would no longer accommodate 5 people? And instead Disney was pushing the new value suites (which I think are quite expensive!) Not sure. For a future trip, I'd like to rent an RV and stay at Fort Wilderness. Just not sure when we'd go back for a longer WDW trip.

I hope the cruise is just as good or better than WDW! Because we love WDW and I am sad that we're not going to EPCOT.

 

[alltheparks]

We don't have a hotel booked yet, probably stay at the Hilton (my DH's favorite). Our current plan is to fly down Wed, June 6, and go to Kennedy Space Center - Thursday, the guys will go to Star Wars Weekend on Friday and Saturday. After the cruise we plan on spending a day or two exploring the new Legoland (another favorite of the guys).

 

[coastiewifern]

I just got an email that our balance for the cruise is due next week. I don't know how that snuck up on me!!! With moving and all that craziness I hadn't bothered to make any payments.

 

[design_mom]

I just got an email that our balance for the cruise is due next week. I don't know how that snuck up on me!!! With moving and all that craziness I hadn't bothered to make any payments.

That's not for *this* cruise, is it? I thought the balance wasn't due until sometime in late March, 2012. (I figured we would have a good idea of how many "snow days" the school district would use before the balance was due.)

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

I thought it was due on March 27???

 

[Pumba's Dad]

In looking at my travel papers, final payment is due March 27, 2012

 

[coastiewifern]

I thought it was due on March 27???

I am going to contact DU. This doesn't seem right at all

 

[coastiewifern]

The mistake was found and corrected, whew

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Tick, tock, tick, tock...will our cruise ever get here? 241 days to go.

How is everybody doing?

Have you heard the news about the Fantasy pools? They sound cool. If we end up liking this cruise I'd like to book a 7-Day cruise on the Fantasy next.

What is your strategy for enjoying the pools on the Dream? Avoid them? Grin and bear it?

For us, we'll be staying at Caribbean Beach Resort for 3 nights prior to the cruise. I plan to have my kids soak up that pool as much as possible before we go on the cruise. Also, my kids are super early risers (up by 7 a.m. at the latest) so we plan on going to the Mickey pool about that time, I suppose. I just wish that Nemo's Reef and the Aqua Duck opened earlier (it seems by looking at Navigators that they don't open until 9 a.m.)

 

[coastiewifern]

Tick, tock, tick, tock...will our cruise ever get here? 241 days to go.

How is everybody doing?

Have you heard the news about the Fantasy pools? They sound cool. If we end up liking this cruise I'd like to book a 7-Day cruise on the Fantasy next.

What is your strategy for enjoying the pools on the Dream? Avoid them? Grin and bear it?

For us, we'll be staying at Caribbean Beach Resort for 3 nights prior to the cruise. I plan to have my kids soak up that pool as much as possible before we go on the cruise. Also, my kids are super early risers (up by 7 a.m. at the latest) so we plan on going to the Mickey pool about that time, I suppose. I just wish that Nemo's Reef and the Aqua Duck opened earlier (it seems by looking at Navigators that they don't open until 9 a.m.)

No what's the word with the fantasy's pools?

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

No what's the word with the fantasy's pools?

They will have 3 additional water areas on the Fantasy. One is a splash zone that's bigger for all ages, an additional family splash pool and an additional adult pool.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Is this cruise ever gonna get here???

Ok, so 2 months from today we will surprise our kids with the news. The day before we leave for our in-laws for Christmas. Mickey is calling at 9 a.m.

 

[Vanvmom]

Cruise is getting closer...but still too far away IMO!

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Who is flying to FL for the cruise? Do you have your airline tickets yet? I've been looking at the prices over the past few months and they are so much higher than what I'm used to. Every time we've flown from Dallas to Orlando, it's been around $150-$200 max per ticket. Now, the prices are in the $350-$400 range! And not just in June, but in the months prior to that, too.

I saw on the cruise board that Southwest Airlines is releasing schedules for June 2012 on Sunday. I'm hoping they're at least below $300.

 

[Pumba's Dad]

We're not sure if we're flying or driving. Airlines are currently paying a lot more for fuel, so the prices are high. That should come down after the holidays. It still may be cheaper for us to rent a van and drive down, when you compare airfare and luggage fees for 4 people. Just the luggage fees alone would amount to 2 additional plane tickets when we each have 2 bags.

But we'll see what the fares are after the holidays and whether we get any bonus money this year...

 

[design_mom]

I saw on the cruise board that Southwest Airlines is releasing schedules for June 2012 on Sunday. I'm hoping they're at least below $300.

Thanks for the tip on SW. We are planning to fly.

We had originally planned to drive (thought that the Sunday begin date would be perfect), but then we found out that DD's dance recital is on June 9. She joined the competition dance team this year (heavens, what have I gotten myself into!) so she is required to participate in the recital. We will have to fly down late Saturday or early Sunday, I guess!

 

[MorganR]

Hi my name is Morgan
Im not gunna say im OFFICIALLY Going on THIS cruise date!
But me and My Mother are looking into this one
Im Going to be going with my...
*Disney Mom :Shannon
*Disney Dad: Rick
*Disney Brother: Mitchell (15)
*Disney Sister: Melissa (8)
*Disney Husband: Joel (19)
*Me: Morgan: (18 until June 4th)
*Disney Son: Jordan (6 Months) `

Hopefully we can go to THIS cruise date! Im super exited! gunna have my husband who has NEVER been to anything disney and my new born son (7 months pregnant)

We will also be going to Disney World for a week

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Welcome, MorganR! Keep us posted on your plans.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

FYI--today a room-only resort discount came out for WDW in the days prior to our cruise (up until June 14th). I was able to get 25% off CBR for 3 days prior to the cruise. It's on their website as a special promotion.

In other news...we booked our airfare last week. Prices dropped for one day, the day before Thanksgiving.

We're telling our kids about the cruise in 22 days. Finally, it seems like this vacation is getting closer!

How is everybody doing?

 

[lgauer]

DH and I just booked our first Disney cruise on the Dream sailing June 10th, 2012!

This is the 4th cruise for DH and I, but the first Disney cruise for the entire family. We've heard so many wonderful things and are very excited!

A good friend who is expert on all things Disney told me to join this board and get the inside scoop. I'm a big researcher/planner, so any tips/tricks/helpful hints are much appreciated!