March 13th 2011 Fiesta time on the Wonder!

[mtgdisney]

Hey Hope, Mike will be making Hotel plans soon, I will let you know. We might be able to get to port together since we need to check in together.

 

[hopelea]

Tara what are you having a problem figuring out?

Denise....I am sure we will be talking about that soon. I have our hotel booked. We will have to take a shuttle to the port. I am thinking about scheduling it for a 9 AM pick up. It should take us about an hour to get to the port. Maybe if we use the same shuttle service, they can get us first, then swing by to pick you up...if you don't have free shuttle from your hotel.

I still don't have a room assignment. I wish they would hurry

 

[Euphscott]

Further muddying the water is that there are conceivably 4 airports to fly into with relatively similar distance to the port! So, figuring which one that gives the best fit is a puzzle as well.

So far, flights from Texas are running close to $600 roundtrip, so I am not real thrilled with those options. I KNOW I can do better...

 

[lmhall2000]

Tara what are you having a problem figuring out?

I still don't have a room assignment. I wish they would hurry

Moi dilemmas!

wee wee little budget! HA! So little it flies away when I try to pin it down! HA! That airfare savings helped me a load..so happy!!!

We fly in on Saturday...so need hotel from LAX...and we'll need 2 rooms (extra kids going with us)...I have enough points for two $100 gift certificates on either Hilton or Marriott...so I'm trying to find which hotels in between might be able to have free shuttle from LAX then take a shorter taxi the next morning to the port (saves us money...even $10 savings is good for me! )

Then on our return, I need to get our niece to the airport EARLY!!! I know many will croak, but her flight leaves at 10:55 AM....FF we were limited and she HAS to get back to Boston that night so she won't miss classes the next day. So my dilemma...I reallly feel that we should be with her to the airport (she's 20 but I don't want her traveling alone to airport)....the rest of our flights don't hit until 11:35 PM!!! EEK! So my options are:

Find red shuttle or whatever color that thing was to LAX...all go together $$ and see her off, then figure a CHEAP way to get to Disneyland...I really don't want to blow 11 hours in an airport....I figure if we get a van rental we can store luggage in it while at Disney...then I think, maybe I should rent a van from the San Pedro spot and drive to LAX then go to Disneyland and just pay the fee for different drop off...

I'm just hoping a travel fairy will drop down out of the sky and oila it'll all be done for me! I just can't blow a few hundred getting us all around and with 6 of us at sometimes $30 a person for rides her and there..and I did find a van for $24!!! with Advantage from LAX..but we'd still have to get a way TO LAX...

I'm sooo confused!!!! We haven't been to Disneyland in 11 years and Disneyworld in 5 so we're sooo ready to ride rides...all the kids are earning money to pay their day ticket so I don't have to pay for that...I literally budget down to the dollar....somehow it's always worked out...already have tips on a saving plan and should accrue by then..but all these unknowns are driving me nuts!

oh! I called about rooms, one of our rooms 11B is on floor 6 and the other is on floor ONE!!! 10a..I panicked! My sister-n-law really needs us to be next door to each other so she has peace of mind....I called Disney and they said SOOO much is volatile right now, rooms dropping left and right and they will send out official rooms AFTER the final payment date of December 28th...she said at that time if the rooms aren't how we need them they can try to adjust them..but not right now...hope that helps on room assignment!!

TAra

 

[hopelea]

Okay, I will see if I can help here. I am trying to get us flights out of LAX on Sunday @ 1:20. If we can get those flights....your neice can do the same transportation we are taking. We can see her to the airport. I am not sure how we are getting to the airport yet. It all hinges on one thing....we are not booking our own tickets. A man from church has southwest travel vouchers and he is selling them to us so he has to book our tickets. Well, we asked him to book our ticket into Ontario airport. He THINKS that he will be able to book our return out of another airport. So, if that is possible, he is going to book our return out of LAX. We really want the 1:20 flight. My dd's need to be home also that night. I won't know anything until Oct 5.

How many people do your rooms sleep? I have a friend that has a room that sleeps 3 on deck 6....she would love to trade rooms with someone that has a room that sleeps four. Hers is an 11 b, I think also.

 

[lmhall2000]

Okay, I will see if I can help here. I am trying to get us flights out of LAX on Sunday @ 1:20. If we can get those flights....your neice can do the same transportation we are taking. We can see her to the airport. I am not sure how we are getting to the airport yet. It all hinges on one thing....we are not booking our own tickets. A man from church has southwest travel vouchers and he is selling them to us so he has to book our tickets. Well, we asked him to book our ticket into Ontario airport. He THINKS that he will be able to book our return out of another airport. So, if that is possible, he is going to book our return out of LAX. We really want the 1:20 flight. My dd's need to be home also that night. I won't know anything until Oct 5.

How many people do your rooms sleep? I have a friend that has a room that sleeps 3 on deck 6....she would love to trade rooms with someone that has a room that sleeps four. Hers is an 11 b, I think also.

Aww! That would be great! But I hate y'all having to get off ship so early, I actually like leaving early b/c you avoid the crowds...our ship in the Med was told it wouldn't be cleared by customs until 8am..folks were getting off at 6:30!! So I'm sure we can get off by 7:00 and head over to LAX..the parks don't open until later on Sunday I'm guessing, so as long as I can get her to LAX she's good...she's flown a lot from BU the past year so she knows her way around airports.

One of our rooms must sleep 3..because that's why she said she had such a problem trying to get us on the same floor now, b/c all is booked up at those levels with 4 in them...but she feels certain nearing Christmas, many rooms will drop..and many pinge on airfare...I highly urge any of you looking to go directly to the website for fares and check often...
I've found killer deals that not even the hot search engines show...on Sunday afternoons and midnight on Monday night

HTH!
Tara

 

[lmhall2000]

Tara, I have not been on here for a while but am trying to catch up now between Dis and facebook. Did you ever go any further with plans for the zip lining? I am just trying to figure out what to do in each port.

I have some issues here..one being financial and one being security issues...my dh has been talking with his sponsor on his security clearance...they (if we were sailing at this point) would not allow him to enter the country..they flag his passport....things change on a daily basis and my dh just does not want to put our family at risk...me? I feel the risk is less than 2%...but dh sees we're carrying nieces with us and doesn't want to take any chances....so we're on a wait and see with Mexico to see if things get better....

I had to sigh when I read a headline that a Mexican representative was blaming all their safety issues on the manufacturing of guns in our country...oh not the actual guys pulling the triggers...

I've been looking at planning excursions and with 7 of us...it just gets soo pricey...if it were just the fee for zipline, I'd probably book now to get the discounts, but we have to get transportation TO the check in office, another $140-$160...then I've read how some of the zip line companies really try to force you to eat at the 'only' restaurant available at exorbitant prices..and if I'm on vacation I just want to relax, don't want to deal with being held hostage for me to spend more...oh and then there's tipping the guides...some have 3-4 of them....ahhhh...money pit....I just think...cruise this time, get off at Cabo for some walking around and enjoy the ship...when we're completely healed from having 2 mortgages for 31 months, we'll go again and do the extras...

Now if I hit the motherlode and funds just magically appear, I'll give it serious thought! Just in a wait and see right now
Thanks!!
Tara

 

[Dicecatt]

I am in the process of setting up a group tour for ziplining. I will let you all know if/when/how much...I've got so many people I know on this cruise that it just makes fiscal sense for me to form a group. It will be at least a week but I'll let everyone know if there is room and how much it is!

Edited to add...which port are you all most interested in ziplining? I might choose based on that, I have group quotes for all three ports.

I am also very interested in doing a whale/dolphin watching excursion. I might just set up groups in all three ports and I'll let you all know in case you want to join in!

 

[lmhall2000]

I am in the process of setting up a group tour for ziplining. I will let you all know if/when/how much...I've got so many people I know on this cruise that it just makes fiscal sense for me to form a group. It will be at least a week but I'll let everyone know if there is room and how much it is!

Edited to add...which port are you all most interested in ziplining? I might choose based on that, I have group quotes for all three ports.

I did research that, I spoke at length with friends from that area and they all agreed Puerta Vallarta for ziplining, mainly b/c the other areas have things for you to do right off the ship....nicer/safer to walk around...PV the forests/river make for a more scenic zip..the one I was looking at had 14-16 zip lines that stretched over a looong distance and those that have done all the major ones really preferred that one...I think the website was puerta vallarta tours or something like that...

HTH..Thanks so much for letting us know!!

Tara

 

[Dicecatt]

I did research that, I spoke at length with friends from that area and they all agreed Puerta Vallarta for ziplining, mainly b/c the other areas have things for you to do right off the ship....nicer/safer to walk around...PV the forests/river make for a more scenic zip..the one I was looking at had 14-16 zip lines that stretched over a looong distance and those that have done all the major ones really preferred that one...I think the website was puerta vallarta tours or something like that...

HTH..Thanks so much for letting us know!!

Tara

Thanks, that helps. Puerto Vallarta has the whale watching tour I am interested in (least expensive) but I'll wait and see what groups comes back with...perhaps it can be combined, depending on duration. Or maybe there is a whale watching in one of the other two.

 

[aliron682]

Good news is we added a 3 day cruise before our Nov 21, 3 day. (Back to back Nov 18, 21)....yea! But the bad news is that we canceled this one. Bummed we won't be sailing with you all to the Mexican Riviera, but I hope you all have a wonderful cruise.

 

[BigRed1]

Good news is we added a 3 day cruise before our Nov 21, 3 day. (Back to back Nov 18, 21)....yea! But the bad news is that we canceled this one. Bummed we won't be sailing with you all to the Mexican Riviera, but I hope you all have a wonderful cruise.

Sorry you won't be going with us, but you are still cruising so it's not all bad!! I got your message and will take you off the list. Thanks for letting us know and have a great time on your other cruises!!

 

[DukeBombay]

Although I had not forgotten about this cruise, I had not turned my mind to this thread until I received an email notification yesterday about a reply. I had not received any notifications for months and obviously had not been looking. Imagine my shock when there were 28 pages of posts, two Facebook pages and a list of DISers circulating. So yesterday and today I read through all of the posts. I joined the Facebook page, but have not really looked at that. I will PM BigRed1 with our information.

I am looking forward to the cruise, but as long as I can still play golf here in Toronto I am able to keep my excitement in check. DD12 is busy with school and dance so she too is distracted. DW has DD5 to worry about so she is good. DD5 is beside herself with anticipation since she will be celebrating her five and a half birthday (the half birthday being her own invention) while we are on the cruise.

Looking forward to meeting everyone.

 

[lmhall2000]

DD5 is beside herself with anticipation since she will be celebrating her five and a half birthday (the half birthday being her own invention) while we are on the cruise.

Looking forward to meeting everyone.

Half birthdays are ALWAYS a fun thing! What a great way to celebrate!! Have fun golfing before the cool winds come!

Tara

 

[BigRed1]

Here comes the 4th edition of the cruise list! Let me know if there are any additions or corrections!!

 

[BigRed1]

Although I had not forgotten about this cruise, I had not turned my mind to this thread until I received an email notification yesterday about a reply. I had not received any notifications for months and obviously had not been looking. Imagine my shock when there were 28 pages of posts, two Facebook pages and a list of DISers circulating. So yesterday and today I read through all of the posts. I joined the Facebook page, but have not really looked at that. I will PM BigRed1 with our information.

I am looking forward to the cruise, but as long as I can still play golf here in Toronto I am able to keep my excitement in check. DD12 is busy with school and dance so she too is distracted. DW has DD5 to worry about so she is good. DD5 is beside herself with anticipation since she will be celebrating her five and a half birthday (the half birthday being her own invention) while we are on the cruise.

Looking forward to meeting everyone.

Got your info & sent you a PM! Back!!

 

[BigRed1]

Everyone please let me know if you got the new list or not. I'm having problems with my aol email......go figure...I may have to resend from G-Mail.

 

[krazy4crusing]

Hi All!! We havent been around for the past little while. We just moved to a new house and we are in the throws of some major renovations! All the more reason to day dream about our upcoming vacation. I hope everyone is enjoying the planning for our trip!

Big Red, I did not get a copy of the upcoming list.


I am looking forward to making our FE gifts! I have it figured out already and now I just have to stop working around the house so I can put them together.

 

[Meredith71]

Just booked our flights to LA. Got a great rate on Delta through Travelocity. $108 one way per person from Tulsa to LAX on Thursday, March 10. I could not find anything at this price range. Most RT tickets are $350+ from here and not any better out of Wichita or Dallas. I was hoping to fly into San Diego as I have family there and we were hoping to go to Sea World or Legoland. We will be renting a car anyway and have a couple of days so we might make the drive down. Now I am anxiously waiting for Southwest's release of flights for the return flight. I hope there will be something good.

I do not usually book flights this early and it makes me nervous to do so. But, I could not pass up this rate.

 

[BigRed1]

Just booked our flights to LA. Got a great rate on Delta through Travelocity. $108 one way per person from Tulsa to LAX on Thursday, March 10. I could not find anything at this price range. Most RT tickets are $350+ from here and not any better out of Wichita or Dallas. I was hoping to fly into San Diego as I have family there and we were hoping to go to Sea World or Legoland. We will be renting a car anyway and have a couple of days so we might make the drive down. Now I am anxiously waiting for Southwest's release of flights for the return flight. I hope there will be something good.

I do not usually book flights this early and it makes me nervous to do so. But, I could not pass up this rate.

FYI in case you haven't seen this anywhere, Southwest moved the next release date from October 5th to September 28th.