Magic Christmas Cruise 2010 (Dec 18th - 29th) - PART II

[mickeyteachers]

We are also at CI&S the night before the cruise. I asked for a room facing the ship. My son will love it. We land at 4:30 and then we are off to DownTown Disney. My husband said it was the opposite direction of the hotel. So, help me out. Is it the opposite direction of the hotel? How far is it from the airport to DTD? How far is it from DTD to the outlets? Are the outlets on the way to the hotel? How far is it from the outlets to the hotel? My husband said we would be driving around in circles. Is this true? We also need to stop at Costco, WalMart, or SAMS to get water and energy drinks. Is one of those places close to DTD, the outlets, or the hotel? Need a little help. Thanks,
Kathy

 

[mrsnesbit]

Welcome Mrs. Nesbit!! Glad to have you aboard.

I do not want to weigh in too much on the fish extender math- but I worry that many are confused. Short list will be about 38 cabins and long list 60 cabins.

A few dropping out of the short list seem to think that there will only be 12 rooms. There are still more than 30 rooms- closer to 40 if I am doing the math right.

I'm not really understanding what the fish extender is, I guess I need to read more but thanks for the welcome!

 

[3princessMommy]

Just booked Country Inn and suites for the night before the cruise!

Asked for a room on the 4th floor with a view of the ship and the 10am shuttle to port.
Anyone else staying here also?
What time is everyone planning on getting to the port?
I cannot wait to wake up and see the Magic, am considering setting an alarm to watch her dock.
Colette

See you ar CI&S. They told me I could not reserve a shuttle until I checked in in person. I'd like that 10AM shuttle, too

We are at CI&S too. I thought we had to wait until checking in to get a shuttle time as well Would love to get the 10am but I will just be happy to get to port whenever I can

We are also at CI&S the night before - 3PrincessMommy, BigAWL & 3PrincessGrandma. I think we are planning to drive to the port on Saturday. I want to get there early to see about a possible upgrade. (Doubt ther'll be one, but you never know.)

Sounds like we'll have a good group of DISers there though! PARTY!!!!

Time to take a break from the fishies!

Any word on the Secret Santa trades?

We're going to the DTD shopping thing at 5am Saturday and I was hoping to get some things there for it. Are there any other adults signed up for it or just the kiddos? If it's just kiddos then we'll drop out- and I won't have to worry about getting anything for it on Saturday!

Just wondering?

5am... is there such a thing?!?

We are signed up for the Secret Mickey and I am not doing it as a kiddie thing. DisneyRocks hasn't posted much recently, but when DH contacted her, she said she was still organizing this.

We just booked a few weeks ago and we're very excited! I tried to join the facebook group at least a week ago but I'm still awaiting an acceptance. What do I need to do? It will be me-Lisa, DH Vince, DS Nick (14) and DD Jillian (10)

Check out the first page of this thread. It has all the information you'll need to immediately become an active member of this crazy bunch!

 

[3princessMommy]

We are also at CI&S the night before the cruise. I asked for a room facing the ship. My son will love it. We land at 4:30 and then we are off to DownTown Disney. My husband said it was the opposite direction of the hotel. So, help me out. Is it the opposite direction of the hotel? How far is it from the airport to DTD? How far is it from DTD to the outlets? Are the outlets on the way to the hotel? How far is it from the outlets to the hotel? My husband said we would be driving around in circles. Is this true? We also need to stop at Costco, WalMart, or SAMS to get water and energy drinks. Is one of those places close to DTD, the outlets, or the hotel? Need a little help. Thanks,
Kathy

As you saw from previous postings, I am horrible with directions. But I do believe that your DH is right on this one. DTD is the other direction from the airport than the hotel at the port.

The hotel will be about 45 min to an hour from the airport in one direction, and DTD about 25-30 minutes in the other (depending on traffic). The outlets are near Disney property, so not much closer or farther than DTD.

On the way to the Port, you can get off the highway and stop at a Target or a Walmart or a grocery store. I don't know if there's a Costco or a Sams out that way. I don't remember the exit number (DH says exit 45a), but it's right before you leave the mainland.

 

[bigAWL]

As you saw from previous postings, I am horrible with directions. But I do believe that your DH is right on this one. DTD is the other direction from the airport than the hotel at the port.

The hotel will be about 45 min to an hour from the airport in one direction, and DTD about 25-30 minutes in the other (depending on traffic). The outlets are near Disney property, so not much closer or farther than DTD.

On the way to the Port, you can get off the highway and stop at a Target or a Walmart or a grocery store. I don't know if there's a Costco or a Sams out that way. I don't remember the exit number (DH says exit 45a), but it's right before you leave the mainland.

This might help on the way to the port, I made this map of the area near the port, labeling some key hotels restaurants and shopping. When I made it, I'd never been to the area, and it is a few years old now. But I'm sure most of it is still somewhat accurate.
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g201/lockardaw/DCL/CapeCanaveralArea.jpg

 

[jgura]

We will see if this adds or subtracts from the confusion.
If we are operating under the assumption that gifts given should match gifts received, then the following description may help clarify.

Choice 1 (tinkmischief, 3 PrincessMommy, .. explanation)
Group A (People that don't want to split)
Group B (People that do want to split)

Divide Group B in half (Group B1 and Group B2)

Group A gives/receives gifts to/from Group A, B1, and B2
Group B1 gives/receives gifts to/from Group A and B1
Group B2 gives/receives gifts to/from Group A and B2

If we assume Group A is ~40 cabins and Group B is ~20 cabins (best guess based on current votes), then Group A will give and receive ~60 gifts. Group B will give and receive ~50 gifts. This decreases the count for Group B, but not by very much.

Choice 2 (Discruiser explanation
Group A (People that don't want to split)
Group B (People that do want to slit)

Group A gives/receives gifts to/from Group A and B
Group B ONLY gives/receives gifts to/from Group A

If we assume Group A is ~40 cabins and Group B is ~20 cabins (best guess based on current votes), then Group A will give and receive ~60 gifts. Group B will give and receive ~40 gifts. This decreases the count for Group B by a little bit more and probably makes more sense than Choice 1.

While my wife is going to say that I am talking like an engineer, hopefully this is a little bit easier for people to understand.

Thank you for spelling this out. Only choice 2 would make sense for those wanting to split. Knocking off 5-10 cabins does not make it worth the extra organizing for the group, nor take care of the reasons some needed to split to get it to 30 - 40.
If anyone does read this for the first time over the weekend they are not going to know what to do!

 

[DVC4US]

We just booked a few weeks ago and we're very excited! I tried to join the facebook group at least a week ago but I'm still awaiting an acceptance. What do I need to do? It will be me-Lisa, DH Vince, DS Nick (14) and DD Jillian (10)

Welcome Aboard mrsnesbit! We have a pretty great group here and have a lot of events planned so like 3princessmommy said make sure you read the first post. There is also a link on there for our teen thread if your son is interested in talking to other teens. Some of the teens have gotten together on Facebook too.

In case you haven't had the time to read through all the posts yet, I am organizing a Private Wine Tasting (Dec 20th 1-2pm) for our DIS group, and and I am trying to organize all the DISers on Late Dinning so we are all on the same rotation and sitting at tables near each other.(At least those who want to do this) If you are interested in either one of these please PM me and I can give you more information.

 

[DVC4US]

We are also at CI&S the night before the cruise. I asked for a room facing the ship. My son will love it. We land at 4:30 and then we are off to DownTown Disney. My husband said it was the opposite direction of the hotel. So, help me out. Is it the opposite direction of the hotel? How far is it from the airport to DTD? How far is it from DTD to the outlets? Are the outlets on the way to the hotel? How far is it from the outlets to the hotel? My husband said we would be driving around in circles. Is this true? We also need to stop at Costco, WalMart, or SAMS to get water and energy drinks. Is one of those places close to DTD, the outlets, or the hotel? Need a little help. Thanks,
Kathy

Hi Kathy,

Hate to say this but your DH and Joann are correct on this one. Another thing to keep in mind is that you will be hitting Orlando at rush hour which will add to your traffic.

MCO to Port - approx 1 hour
MCO to DTD - approx 30 min(about the same time for outlets since they are close to DTD)
DTD to Port - approx 1 1/2 hours

These are all approximate times and without rush hour added-in.

Hope this helps. Have a great Friday!

 

[MommyLissa]

MCO to Port - approx 1 hour
MCO to DTD - approx 30 min(about the same time for outlets since they are close to DTD)
DTD to Port - approx 1 1/2 hours

What outlets??? This could be dangerous! I haven't shopped in over 8 months!!!

 

[HFC1969]

6 weeks from today!



Hey if anyone is wants to kill some time... Here are a few pics of Vika's first trip to WDW...

 

[Liz Arjay]

Welcome Mrs. Nesbit!! Glad to have you aboard.

I do not want to weigh in too much on the fish extender math- but I worry that many are confused. Short list will be about 38 cabins and long list 60 cabins.

A few dropping out of the short list seem to think that there will only be 12 rooms. There are still more than 30 rooms- closer to 40 if I am doing the math right.

Welcome, mrsnesbit! We have teen boys also (15 and 16) - you will find them on Deck 10 playing basketball, or in the Stack during Smoothie Hour!

We are all getting a graduate class in Applied Mathematics with the FE tabulations! I can and will do anything I'm assigned on the "final tally". It is so much fun to start assembling things for the exchange - Really getting me into the holiday spirit.

Has anyone else noticed that the "Holidays" started the morning after Halloween? Full-on Christmas displays in every store window and in every sales flyer. I don't like that in general, but it actually may be helpful this year to prepare me for Dec 18!

 

[Liz Arjay]

We are also at CI&S the night before the cruise. I asked for a room facing the ship. My son will love it. We land at 4:30 and then we are off to DownTown Disney. My husband said it was the opposite direction of the hotel. So, help me out. Is it the opposite direction of the hotel? How far is it from the airport to DTD? How far is it from DTD to the outlets? Are the outlets on the way to the hotel? How far is it from the outlets to the hotel? My husband said we would be driving around in circles. Is this true? We also need to stop at Costco, WalMart, or SAMS to get water and energy drinks. Is one of those places close to DTD, the outlets, or the hotel? Need a little help. Thanks,
Kathy

Hate to say this (as my DH might get ideas), but your DH is correct - from the airport, you will have to travel a good ways West to Disney and Outlet Malls. Hotel is due East, and a straight shot from the hotel on the highway. You might try Google maps to locate the nearest Costco, Sams and Walmart - they are scattered around and maybe on your route.

 

[3princessMommy]

What outlets??? This could be dangerous! I haven't shopped in over 8 months!!!

There are a couple of large outlet malls not far from Disney. I don't remember the names, but did manage a visit last time we were there. There is a Disney store outlet there and lots of people commented on the cheap (discounted, not quality) trading pins/lanyards there. I grabbed the girls some lanyards and about 5 pins each and got out for less than $30. Compared to the prices in the parks, it was a steal. I had also forgotten my swimsuit (heading out on the cruise - yes, I know, should'a kept a list!) and broke my sunglasses, so I managed to find a nice suit and some great sunglasses that I still use today.

I sympathize with the shopping withdrawal. Not much window shopping in Uganda either - unless you count the street vendors who hold up stuff to the car window at the intersection...I guess that's technically window shopping.

 

[mndisfam]

Hi gang! I have been a very bad correspondent keeping up with everyone. My fault that I missed the FE...I am behind on stuff, but I have 2 questions - 1) is it too late to get involved in anything other than meeting everyone and 2) where is the facebook link?

Thanks everyone. I still can't believe we will be on the ship in a few short weeks. !!

 

[mndisfam]

Meant to add - will this be another TOAL like the Panama Canal - Trip of A Lifetime!!

There are some good books I am reading about the volcano explosion on Martinique in 1903 or so...My DH and I went to San Pierre once - kind of like a small Caribe version of Pompeii. Very small but neat museum, and you can still see damage from the explosion.

 

[skypixy]

So I watched the coverage of the Dream on GMA this morning. My DH says "Is this the ship we will be on?" He is a tad clueless. I told him we will be on the classic, less HUGE Magic.
Willing to be added to the Big Fish list.
Only 6 weeks? I have started wondering what I will do after we sail, and I am no longer able to obsess on the Dis!
Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[TheBeadPirate]

We are signed up for the Secret Mickey and I am not doing it as a kiddie thing. DisneyRocks hasn't posted much recently, but when DH contacted her, she said she was still organizing this.

Thanks Joann! I guess we'll just sit tight then and pick up some deals in the morning and hope they work out!

For anyone local- DTD has partnered with United Way for "The Benefit Sale" tomorrow morning. You pay $5 for vouchers for armbands and shop at DTD from 5:30-9:30am tomorrow. They are doing doorbuster sales ($5 tees, $5 packable jackets, and more), promotions (a bag for $12 w/$25 purchase, a Christmas lights castle throw w/purchase), percentage off(40% off board games, 75% off 2010 dated merch, 20% pin starter sets), product launches (limited edition 1000 pins, AP vinylmation, LE 9" Rocketeer vinylmation, Vinylmation Urban series 5), and the cosmetic/fragrance peeps from Epcot(Guerlaine, Dior, Aqua de Parma, Givenchy) have booths set up and deals.

Hi Kathy,

Hate to say this but your DH and Joann are correct on this one. Another thing to keep in mind is that you will be hitting Orlando at rush hour which will add to your traffic.

MCO to Port - approx 1 hour
MCO to DTD - approx 30 min(about the same time for outlets since they are close to DTD)
DTD to Port - approx 1 1/2 hours

These are all approximate times and without rush hour added-in.

Hope this helps. Have a great Friday!

If it helps any the South exit from the airport (hwy 417) takes you straight to Disney heading west without the traffic in town. If you take it back toward the east it connects with 528(the highway to the port) on the other side of the airport. Almsot NEVER any traffic- it's the way we go to the airport and the port!

What outlets??? This could be dangerous! I haven't shopped in over 8 months!!!

There's an outlet at the Premium Outlets near DTD, an outlet at Prime Outlets a little north on I Drive, and an outlet at Lake Buena Vista Outlets(a little dumpy and disorganized but often have the best deals).

Has anyone else noticed that the "Holidays" started the morning after Halloween? Full-on Christmas displays in every store window and in every sales flyer. I don't like that in general, but it actually may be helpful this year to prepare me for Dec 18!

I was thinking the same thing! We got a flyer from Walmart on 11/1- their doing an electronics event for Christmas this weekend. I got most of that covered already but they do have $50 Itunes cards for $35- limit of 2. I think we're heading there after DTD. In case Santa needs something small to deliver to the boat for DH(he's gone App crazy on the new Iphone).

 

[skypixy]

6 weeks from today!



Hey if anyone is wants to kill some time... Here are a few pics of Vika's first trip to WDW...

Thanks for sharing the photos~they are special! Looks like everyone enjoyed it.

 

[momssurprise]

Meant to add - will this be another TOAL like the Panama Canal - Trip of A Lifetime!!

There are some good books I am reading about the volcano explosion on Martinique in 1903 or so...My DH and I went to San Pierre once - kind of like a small Caribe version of Pompeii. Very small but neat museum, and you can still see damage from the explosion.

I hope this will be a TOAL...

And dp you mind sharing the titles/authors of the Martinique volcano? We are signed up for the Land & Sea with Little Train excursion and I would love to know more -- what a great idea!

I'm lost on the FE, and considering switching from split to whole b/c of my confusion... It is Christmas, after all....

 

[candmfox]

As you saw from previous postings, I am horrible with directions. But I do believe that your DH is right on this one. DTD is the other direction from the airport than the hotel at the port.

The hotel will be about 45 min to an hour from the airport in one direction, and DTD about 25-30 minutes in the other (depending on traffic). The outlets are near Disney property, so not much closer or farther than DTD.

On the way to the Port, you can get off the highway and stop at a Target or a Walmart or a grocery store. I don't know if there's a Costco or a Sams out that way. I don't remember the exit number (DH says exit 45a), but it's right before you leave the mainland.

There is a brand new Sam's off of I95 - two exits SOUTH of 528. It is on state route 520 right at the exit.