March 13, 2011 - DREAM

[Spiffie]

Booked today! Couldn't get the same staterooms as both cruises ended up being GTY (11B on 3-13 and 11C on 3-17). We haven't told DD about the second one either. We figure we will tell her when we disembark that it was so fun that we should go back on...

YAY for yall! I wish it was us, but we just have to have our time in the parks too, so we spend those 3 days at WDW which is just as good!

Help a girl out here, what exactly does GTY mean? I have been trying to figure it out, but haven't come up with it!

Still very excited about this cruise!!

 

[tidefan]

YAY for yall! I wish it was us, but we just have to have our time in the parks too, so we spend those 3 days at WDW which is just as good!

Help a girl out here, what exactly does GTY mean? I have been trying to figure it out, but haven't come up with it!

Still very excited about this cruise!!

GTY means Guarantee. It means that we are Guaranteed at least that room category.

This actually messed us up a bit. Since we booked the 4-day portion first, which was all we originally intended to do, and the only thing they had for cheapest DVC points was an 11B GTY, we took it. Now fast forward a month, and we find out about B2B's and say "Hey, that would be fun", we look into getting the same cabin, but we can't since the 11B is a GTY. So, you might say, well, just upgrade the cabin, well, by that time only Verandas were available (too many points) and DVC charges a $95 fee for any reservation changes, so we stayed put.

Anyway, since they can't guarantee us the same room on the 3-day, we just went with the cheapest point booking, the 11C. Funny enough, we got another GTY...

For us, we have done Verandas before and while they are nice, quite honestly, the cruise experience (especially for the Bahamas) is the same for us either way, so we went with getting on the boat as cheaply as possible...

Best thing is that we still have a few points left over to save for Aulani the next year...

 

[jen-n-greg]

Welcome! We've got a great group started. I will add you to the FE list. I've been a teacher a long time and have had Skylars, Taylors, and Ryans of both sexes. I don't want to guess and do it wrong when I add you all to the list. Can you help me out? FEs are absolutely for adults, too. Would you like me to add your DM and DD, too?

Sorry-- didn't think of that, lol! Skylar and Taylor are girls - and will be 16 and 13 when we sail. Ryan is my son, and will be turning 11 during the cruise on March 19th. And, yes, please add my mom and stepdad - I ordered her a FE and am giving it to her for Mother's Day

 

[jen-n-greg]

Booked today! Couldn't get the same staterooms as both cruises ended up being GTY (11B on 3-13 and 11C on 3-17). We haven't told DD about the second one either. We figure we will tell her when we disembark that it was so fun that we should go back on...

Love it! We have the same rooms both times so I have to tell mine that they don't need to pack up - they are gonna be so excited

 

[Spiffie]

GTY means Guarantee. It means that we are Guaranteed at least that room category.

This actually messed us up a bit. Since we booked the 4-day portion first, which was all we originally intended to do, and the only thing they had for cheapest DVC points was an 11B GTY, we took it. Now fast forward a month, and we find out about B2B's and say "Hey, that would be fun", we look into getting the same cabin, but we can't since the 11B is a GTY. So, you might say, well, just upgrade the cabin, well, by that time only Verandas were available (too many points) and DVC charges a $95 fee for any reservation changes, so we stayed put.

Anyway, since they can't guarantee us the same room on the 3-day, we just went with the cheapest point booking, the 11C. Funny enough, we got another GTY...

For us, we have done Verandas before and while they are nice, quite honestly, the cruise experience (especially for the Bahamas) is the same for us either way, so we went with getting on the boat as cheaply as possible...

Best thing is that we still have a few points left over to save for Aulani the next year...

Well, thanks for the lesson on that!

I agree about the points and the rooms. We don't care about the veranda or a view. Matter of fact, I think we prefer inside rooms for the pure total darkness and privacy. Plus we squeeze as much out of our points as possible! We only get 320 pts a year so we are stingy with them. Now that you can buy a few points a year, we may have more options. We are going back to WDW in August and December plus the cruise next year and that takes care of our points for all of 2011. But I am gonna have fun all three times!!!!

 

[Louiepipbgeeco]

Hi everyone! Can't wait to get to know everyone ;0) This will be our 5th Disney cruise and we can not wait to see the Dream! We are Greg, Jenny and our 3 kids Skylar, Taylor and Ryan. We also (finally!) convinced my mother and her husband to join us for their 1st cruise ever I haven't had a chance to read all the posts yet - but we are definitely interested in doing the fish extender. We did it for the 1st time on our last cruise and the kids loved it I do have a question though -- I am thinking a FE would be a fun Mother's Day gift for my mom, since she is so excited for this cruise. Is this something for adults too-- or mainly for kids? Oh, I almost forgot -- we are doing a B2B -- March 13th and March 17th -- which is a total surprise for the kids-- they think we are just doing a 4 day cruise - which they are kinda bummed about Can't wait to tell them on the last day of the 4 night that they don't have to pack-- we are going again!

That is so cool!!! Now I am wondering if I should add the 3 day to ours....hmmm BTW I have a DD who will be 13 on this cruise too. My kids don't know we are going on this cruise yet

 

[MACfamily4]

Sorry-- didn't think of that, lol! Skylar and Taylor are girls - and will be 16 and 13 when we sail. Ryan is my son, and will be turning 11 during the cruise on March 19th. And, yes, please add my mom and stepdad - I ordered her a FE and am giving it to her for Mother's Day

I got it - thanks! FE for mother's day, what a great idea.

Happy May, everyone!

 

[MACfamily4]

I wish it was us, but we just have to have our time in the parks too, so we spend those 3 days at WDW which is just as good!

We're spending a few days at the World after our cruise, too. Wish I had two weeks and a lot of money; I'd do it all!

 

[Spiffie]

We're spending a few days at the World after our cruise, too. Wish I had two weeks and a lot of money; I'd do it all!

ME TOO!

I tell people that I hope my kids can work for Disney after high school because we are spending their college fund on vacations!!! This is not true at all, but if even one of mine were to get a full scholarship, I am sooo spending our money!!!!

 

[CBEB]

WELCOME ABOARD, EVERYONE!

Here's the beginning of our Fish Extender list. If you would like to participate, let us know in your post.

jen-n-greg - 2A; G(16); G(13); B(11)
jen-n-greg+ - 2A
spiffie - 2A; G(10); B(10)
tidefan - 2A; G(7)
my3sonstx - 2A; B(11); B(6); B(4)
jenerra11 - 2A; G(17); B(15); B(10); B(6)
taymaesmom - 2A; G(15); G(11)
macfamily4 - 2A; G(14); B(12)

A= adult
G= girl (age)
B= boy (age)

Hi Everyone!

My DH, DD14 and her girlfriend will be joining you on the Dream! this will be cruise #7 for us. We can't wait to see the Dream - always been on the Magic for our other cruises.

Please count us in for Fish Extenders - so glad there's a group that wants to do this - one of our favorite things on the cruise!

cbeb - 2A, G14, G14

 

[Spiffie]

Hi Everyone!

My DH, DD14 and her girlfriend will be joining you on the Dream! this will be cruise #7 for us. We can't wait to see the Dream - always been on the Magic for our other cruises.

Please count us in for Fish Extenders - so glad there's a group that wants to do this - one of our favorite things on the cruise!

cbeb - 2A, G14, G14

WELCOME CBEB AND FAMILY AND FRIEND!

Glad you are joining us! I am so excited! My FE is all ready and I am trying to decide what kind of goodies I am going to be using for my give aways!!

 

[MACfamily4]

Welcome, cbeb. I added you all to the FE list.

 

[Louiepipbgeeco]

I cannot believe I have still kept this secret from DS and DD
It has been so hard.
Having a hard time finding deals on flights for this cruise. I hope things look better soon. I don't want to drive.
Heading to the world in exactly one month and once that trip is done--I will be back to obsessing about cruisin.

 

[ksoehrlein]

Hello everyone! I just canceled our Alaska cruise on the Wonder tonight. But the really, really good news is I booked this cruise on the Dream instead!

I'm very excited to see a familiar face wave2: hi, Krista!) and some other Alabama residents on board. I live in Helena, but I work off of that dreaded 280 in the office park behind the big fountain. DH and I are Syracuse grads, so I'm partial to Auburn's colors but am otherwise neutral in the great AU/UA rivalry.

My cast of characters is me, DH, DD (10) and DS (7). I think we're a maybe for Fish Extenders. I love the idea, but can't promise I'll be organized to get my act together. I'll let you know for sure when we get closer to our sail date.

We're doing second dining. Anyone else? It's what we ended up with on our first DCL cruise and we liked it so much we did it again for our last cruise as well. I learned on the DIS about bringing your own wine on board and ordering a fruit and cheese platter from room service to snack on while getting ready for the evening show, and it made for a most enjoyable late afternoon/early evening. I can't wait to do that again!

"Sea" ya real soon!

 

[CBEB]

Hello everyone! I just canceled our Alaska cruise on the Wonder tonight. But the really, really good news is I booked this cruise on the Dream instead!

I'm very excited to see a familiar face wave2: hi, Krista!) and some other Alabama residents on board. I live in Helena, but I work off of that dreaded 280 in the office park behind the big fountain. DH and I are Syracuse grads, so I'm partial to Auburn's colors but am otherwise neutral in the great AU/UA rivalry.

My cast of characters is me, DH, DD (10) and DS (7). I think we're a maybe for Fish Extenders. I love the idea, but can't promise I'll be organized to get my act together. I'll let you know for sure when we get closer to our sail date.

We're doing second dining. Anyone else? It's what we ended up with on our first DCL cruise and we liked it so much we did it again for our last cruise as well. I learned on the DIS about bringing your own wine on board and ordering a fruit and cheese platter from room service to snack on while getting ready for the evening show, and it made for a most enjoyable late afternoon/early evening. I can't wait to do that again!

"Sea" ya real soon!

Welcome Ksoehrlein! So glad your joining us! We are DH, DD14, her her GF14 and me. We also have late dining - a new experience for us. This will be cruise #7 and the last 5 cruises have been early seating. Now that DD is older, I think the late seating will work out just great. Like you, we also bring wine on board and have a glass on the veranda before heading to dinner. What a life!!! Just hate it when it ends!

I just got back from a business trip to Disney yesterday. It was really hard to see those cruise buses at the airport and think I have to wait until March before its my turn to ride it again!

Happy summer everyone!

 

[Spiffie]

Hello everyone! I just canceled our Alaska cruise on the Wonder tonight. But the really, really good news is I booked this cruise on the Dream instead!

I'm very excited to see a familiar face wave2: hi, Krista!) and some other Alabama residents on board. I live in Helena, but I work off of that dreaded 280 in the office park behind the big fountain. DH and I are Syracuse grads, so I'm partial to Auburn's colors but am otherwise neutral in the great AU/UA rivalry.

My cast of characters is me, DH, DD (10) and DS (7). I think we're a maybe for Fish Extenders. I love the idea, but can't promise I'll be organized to get my act together. I'll let you know for sure when we get closer to our sail date.

We're doing second dining. Anyone else? It's what we ended up with on our first DCL cruise and we liked it so much we did it again for our last cruise as well. I learned on the DIS about bringing your own wine on board and ordering a fruit and cheese platter from room service to snack on while getting ready for the evening show, and it made for a most enjoyable late afternoon/early evening. I can't wait to do that again!

"Sea" ya real soon!

Welcome! Glad to see another Alabamian onboard!

We, too, are 2nd dining. We had that on our first cruise and liked it, so why change?

I have a brother-in-law that works on 280 for the southern co. Is that where you work? I know that isn't the only place around that area, but just thought I would ask!

Very excited about the cruise, but we have two WDW visits before then, so one at a time!! ha!

Great to have you along!!

 

[ksoehrlein]

Thanks for the warm welcome! I just learned that Krista will not be coming after all (she's sailing the following week instead due to the school calendar changing spring break on her), but I'm glad to know I'll have other "imaginary friends" on board. I don't work for Southern Company, just a small medical/wellness publisher.

CBEB, did you get to go into the parks during your business trip? I just had a work trip last month and had a day to myself to do MK and DHS. I always feel a little guilty when I go without my family, but I get over that quickly!

 

[ksoehrlein]

Tough decision time: As you know, we just booked this last night. As you may or may not know, the Kids Sail Free offer was just released today for the Mexican Riviera cruise on the Wonder and the March 13 sail date is still available. I now have a stateroom on hold for that cruise and our stateroom on the Dream is under deposit. The hold only lasts for 5 days, so we have to decide pronto.

Besides the obvious plus of getting to meet all of you, what would you say are the advantages of this cruise versus the Mexican Riviera? For what it's worth, a comparable stateroom will be $200 less than the Dream and we'd get three extra nights, but we'd have to fly out to LA rather than drive to Port Canaveral.

Decisions, decisions. But what a great "problem" to have!

 

[mkmommy]

I cannot believe I have still kept this secret from DS and DD
It has been so hard.
Having a hard time finding deals on flights for this cruise. I hope things look better soon. I don't want to drive.
Heading to the world in exactly one month and once that trip is done--I will be back to obsessing about cruisin.

We are hoping to do this from spring break, said I would not do a 4 day cruise again, but I want to go on the Dream, and we have to do something for spring break


There are some good rates on Delta , Detroit to Daytona Beach(Aprox $225) , or Tampa. Budget.ca had 1 way rentals staring at $19. using the Walmart code which I think is w810011

HTH

 

[CBEB]

Tough decision time: As you know, we just booked this last night. As you may or may not know, the Kids Sail Free offer was just released today for the Mexican Riviera cruise on the Wonder and the March 13 sail date is still available. I now have a stateroom on hold for that cruise and our stateroom on the Dream is under deposit. The hold only lasts for 5 days, so we have to decide pronto.

Besides the obvious plus of getting to meet all of you, what would you say are the advantages of this cruise versus the Mexican Riviera? For what it's worth, a comparable stateroom will be $200 less than the Dream and we'd get three extra nights, but we'd have to fly out to LA rather than drive to Port Canaveral.

Decisions, decisions. But what a great "problem" to have!

We're on this cruise becausse we want to see the Dream. We've never gone on a cruise for less than 7 days but absolutely must see the Dream.

We did the Mexican Riviera on our WBRepo - it was nice but just not our favorite place to cruise.