March 17, 2007 7 Day Eastern

[SB's Mom]

Stacie

In June our family ate at the Rose and Crown. If you get seated inside. . .they have a special area for you to go out and see the show. Paul and Stacy went outside to watch and I was able to watch it from the window inside. We had dessert afterwards while the crowds were leaving the park. Have a great time!

Charlene

 

[disneypoor]

Stacie--we rented from Budget for our cruise this past June and are renting from them again this March. Our total for the rental is less than $100, and that is for the car to the port and then picking it up again after the cruise. I figured that's a heck of a lot less than using DCL transportation. Plus, we're flying in the night before and can get to the port early.

 

[jenbrem1]

I think that since we are traveling with 7, we will get a car service. Florida Tours or Tiffany Town Cars. I can't even imagine the luggage we will have with 7 of us. Do any of you have any experience with either of those companies? I think we'll have to get a 15 passenger van.
Jen

 

[DW4US]

We're flying Midwest, but we are flying into Tampa. I was kicking myself for not booking them before when they were having their fare sale awhile back, so when I saw $219 into Tampa ($248 after taxes), I went ahead and booked it. I hope it was a good decision.

We've had our best luck with Budget also. I would go ahead and book now and then just keep checking the rates every so often to see if they go down. You can cancel and make new reservations as many times as you want, car rentals don't require anything (charge card) to reserve a car. Also, join Budjet's Fastbreak club, it's free and it allows you to skip the line at the airport (believe me you want to skip that line, especially with little ones, rental lines are beyond sloooow) and just go out to the lot and choose the car you want from the class you've rented from. You can find all the info on it on their website. Also, check Mousesavers for discount codes. Also, when checking the prices the location code for the the port to drop off the car is CC5.

Susan --- where are you all staying the night before, I can't remember if you said or not. What size car did you rent? We got a full size for $47 on Friday, then another full-size for the return for $87 (ouch). We're not returning it until Sunday and we're going over the 24 hours so that's why it's so much. Hopefully I can do better than that.

 

[disneypoor]

Patty--We are staying at the Radisson at the Port. We got a mid-size car. That's what we had last June, and we had five people that time because we took one of our friends with us. It worked just fine. I can't remember our total for each way for the rental (I do have it at home in my cruise stuff) but I know it was under $100 in all. We are leaving KC on Midwest on the Friday night before in the evening. Our flight leaves around 7:00 I think. I wanted to leave earlier in the day but I'm a teacher and have inservice that day. I had to ask off for two days in November because we are going to Disneyland for the week of Thanksgiving. I figured I'd be pushing my luck if I also asked off for that Friday before spring break.

We are moving in to a BRAND NEW school this week! It was supposed to be finished before school started but didn't make it. I only have students today and then they get the rest of the week off while we move. It's exciting, but I'll be so tired by the end of the week!

Have a great week everyone!

Susan

 

[kcarl021]

Hello All! Just booked this today. This will be our 3rd cruise. Stupid us, we did the Eastern in 05, the Western this year, and then decided NOT to book another one while we were on board because we thought we were done. Well we've been looking for somewhere else to go since March and nothing seems as fun AND everything else we were looking at was just as expensive, if not worse!

So we are me (KC), DH (Rick), DD (Molly - 7), BF (Heidi), BFDH (Peter), BFDD (Helen - 6), Grandma (Kathy), Grandpa (Jeff). Potentially 2 more cruisers coming along, just not sure yet.

We booked Cat 6 6624, 6626, 6628. I booked directly with DCL and then moved my reservation over to Small World Vacations. They will send us a $200 check when we get back from the trip.

I was surprised at how much more this cruise was than the one we did this year. We booked that one when we were on board, and that 10% discount really make a difference.

We are midwesterners too! Im in STL and BF is in Kansas.

 

[kcarl021]

We're flying out of KC Friday also.

What airline did you book? I was looking at SWA since I usually get free flights, but they aren't booking for March yet.

 

[disneypoor]

What airline did you book? I was looking at SWA since I usually get free flights, but they aren't booking for March yet.

Hi and welcome to our thread! I booked with Midwest. I'm sure Southwest will possibly come out with cheaper flights, but I'm one of those people that has to book EVERYTHING the first week after I book something.

We were on the wonder this past June and rebooked onboard for a four night for next May. When we got home, we were able to get air through midwest for $198, so we went ahead and booked it. Then, we changed all of our plans and are now booked on the 7 night eastern. Midwest won't refund your money so we had no choice but to book our spring break trip with them also.

Glad to see you're going on the Eastern again. That must mean it's a great cruise! Welcome!!!

 

[jenbrem1]

Hi KC. I'm Jen. We're traveling from the Des Moines area. My kids are DS (8) and DD (6 - almost 7 when we cruise). We haven't told them yet. My son saw a commercial for Norwegian Cruise lines the other night and asked when he would ever go on a cruise. It was all I could do not to tell him. I can't believe we've held off this long.

Welcome!

 

[kcarl021]

Eastern and Western both have their good points. I really wanted to do the Western again but it didn't work out due to the dates we needed to take. I wanted to do the Western because out of all of the ports I LOVE Grand Cayman the best! We were routed to Costa Maya last year and missed Cozumel, and I really did NOT like Cota Maya. I would have enjoyed seeing Cozumel. However, the Eastern has the extra day at sea and you cruise longer before hitting a port - so you kind of get into the swing of things first. I think St. Maarten is a bit "messy" of a island all around, but the beach is to die for! St. Thomas is a shopping mecca! We loved it there. So good with both - honestly, you just can't go wrong either way I don't think!

Hi Jen! It will be so nice to meet you. My BF and I met when we went to school at Northwest Missouri State, so we knew plenty of people from Iowa, and actually went up to Viesha one time! She was from Nebraska at the time, and is now in Topeka, KS. Ahhh those were the days! We both have DD's around the same age as yours too!

 

[DW4US]

Welcome KC!

We're from KC - myself, DH, DD16 & DD14. We're flying Midwest Friday morning and staying at Boardwalk that night. Good luck on finding good airfare. I'm sure there will be something good come up since I booked ours last week! If I remember correctly SWA didn't release their schedule for March until after the first of the year this year. We went to WDW for spring break this year and I finally ended up booking with Air Tran around the end of January.

Susan --- Good luck with your move!

 

[dutch_girl_scout]

Welcome KC to the Midwestern Spring Break Cruise! Glad to have you aboard!!

 

[dutch_girl_scout]

Between this cruise and our 12/07 cruise I was getting confused on who was who. I compiled the following list for this cruise. Let me know if I have left somebody out or have the wrong info.

jenbrem1 (Jen), DH, DS8, DD6, DBrother, Grandma, Grandpa
mwrogers (Marcus), DW, DD3, DS1
Mother of mwrogers, DH, DD17
MN_Dis_Fans, DW, DS11, DS9
dutch_girl_scout (Stacie), DH, DS14, DD12, Dbaby~4months
TiaMaria (Maureen), DNephew9, DNiece8
SB's Mom (Charlene), DH, DD8
Nala9824, Dsis, DB-in-law, DNephew11, Grandma, Grandpa
DW4US (Patty), DH, DD16, DD13
smartyone, DH, DD8
MollieJo, DH, DS15, DS10
disneypoor, DH, DD11, DS8
Friends of disneypoor, DD11, DS9
kcarl021 (KC), DH, DD7, Grandma,Grandpa
Friends of kcarl021, DD6

 

[SB's Mom]

Stacie ~ it looks like you got all of us listed!

Welcome KC!

This will be my family's (myself, DH & DD (who is 8)) third Disney cruise also! We did a 4 day in 2004 and then a 7 Western this past June. We rebooked before leaving the ship! We live in south Alabama and will be driving in late on Friday to the port. Stacy doesn't get out of school until 3:30 and we will hit the road!

Have a great evening everyone!
Charlene

 

[TiaMaria]

Hello again!

Sorry it's been awhile but it has been SO busy! We are still waiting for my niece and nephew to receive their passports (any day now).

Stacie, you did a great job compiling all the info. We should think about getting stateroom numbers together and starting a discussion about a meet on sailing day. How are you feeling these days?

KC, welcome from another St. Louisan! Go Cards (starting Game 5 as I type this). We don't have our air yet. Holding out for some hopefully good SW air, but we will see. PM me if you want and we can chat about "where we went to high school" lol.

Susan, we are staying at the Radisson on the 16th also. Hoping to catch an early flight that Friday so we can get in and enjoy the pool. We are probably going to try to eat at Grills that night.

Jen - I think we are doing the limo service also. Friends of ours that sailed on RCCL recommend Southern Elegance. Not the least expensive, but they said great service and very prompt.

We are doing 2 nights at the Grand Floridian afterwards since my niece and nephew don't need to be back at school until Tuesday. We are figuring on flying home early to mid morning on Monday.

OK all, gotta go root for my team. Talk to you all later!

 

[kcarl021]

I think the Cards are losing. I try to avoid getting into any STL sports until we are closer to the final series. Seems like EVERY team we have here makes it into post season so it's almost like its not a big deal! Isn't that terrible team spirit?

If anyone knows when SWA releases their mid March flights - let me know! I also need information on good transportation AND info on how to ship a case of wine to the boat. I've seen people talk about it and people do it, but I don't recall how its done. As for transportation, we used FL Tours last year, and I really wasnt impressed at all!

 

[jenbrem1]

Stacie - just to add a couple to the list under me....

Grandpa and Grandma
DB (30) - he has a room booked but I haven't convinced him that he will have fun as a single guy yet

 

[dutch_girl_scout]

I can put a website together for this cruise with staterooms, family pics, etc. Just let me know.

Maureen--I'm feeling VERY impatient, 20 some days seems like forever. Other than that everything is going great. The nursery is ready, everything is folded, put away, cleaned. Just waiting, waiting, and more waiting.

 

[TiaMaria]

Stacie,

Glad to hear you are well (if impatient!). A website sounds great if you are up to putting it together. Just let us know what you need from us and we will help.

I am getting so excited....but....there are so many things to do around the holidays first. This will be the first Thanksgiving and Christmas without my Mom (she passed away in Feb) and with my Dad's cancer -well - I want to do everything I can to make these days happy - as will my sister and brother...but it seems like we are all just feeling our way around and trying to figure out what will be best. We want to keep things as "normal" as possible for all the little ones in the family, but that empty chair is still there, you know?

Thankfully, everyone is well and my Dad is doing pretty good so we will all pull together, I'm sure.

I have done so much of the cruise planning already, I feel like it's OK if I put it aside for a few days at a time - and then I am always astonished to see how much time is left (not) on my ticker!

Again, just let me know what you need as far as the website, and count me in!

Maureen

 

[dutch_girl_scout]

Maureen--My DD and I were talking tonight about how fast it's coming up, holidays, then her birthday (Feb 6) then the cruise. I'm getting nervous about bringing baby but I think it will be fine. He can't be much trouble!!

For the website (this is what is on other meet sites let me know if you have other stuff you want added):
DIS name(s)
First and Last name of people in your group including ages of kids at time of cruise
Where your from
Stateroom
If you have early or late seating
E-mail address (if you don't want it listed let me know)
Birthdays for your group, including age kids will be on next birthday
Family Picture
Brief description of occupations, familie's intrests/activities
Any Pre and post cruise plans
For each child: picture, activities and/or interests, grade they will be in at cruise time, activities they are looking forward to on the cruise

You can e-mail it to me at vanweeldens@mchsi.com. Once I get the info I'll e-mail you back with the site address.

Jen--Since you started the thread can you copy this into your first post so that any newcomers can find it easily?