May 12, 2007 -- Taking the Magic to the Mediterranean -- 14 day Repo Cruise!

[tig82174]

Thanks for the jog of the memory, need to make a DVC reservation for before this cruise. Maybe an EPCOT resort as we are sailing across the Big Blue Wet Thing to the Continent. Looks like a Monday morning Project.

We will get a 1 bedroom, DVC unit and host a wine and cheese meet during the early evening of May 11, 2007.

Too much planning going with the 11 Southern Carib trip, Oct/Nov WDW trip and selling the house and moving sometime…

Yeah this has been a busy week for us, too, and so we haven't yet booked our week at AK Lodge yet either. That will have to happen this week....but we don't anticipate that this far out we shoudl have any trouble getting the reservation do you? We're planning on checking in early Sunday morning the 6th and checking out the morning we leave for the cruise, the 12th.....I suppose if we can't get in there we'll try for "home" at Saratoga Springs.

We're even more excited about the trip now because we've been watching Disney specials on the Travel Channel all day today.....SUPER FUN!!

 

[Scott H]

I doubt if it will be a prob at all, we will do OKW. It is large enough so it should not be a prob.

 

[tig82174]

I doubt if it will be a prob at all, we will do OKW. It is large enough so it should not be a prob.

Cool, good to know!

Also...I'm sure this is on the DVC website somewhere...but I find that site very cyclical and not entirely helpful unless all you want is points charts....anyhow, how far in advance can you book at a Disney resort that is NOT your home and NOT a DVC resort (like AK Lodge, Contemporary, Caribean Beach, etc.)? I thought I remembered seeing or hearing at one point that it was 11 months early just like your home resort...but is that true? If not then we may have to wait a little longer to book.

And on a totally unrelated note....anyone else counting down to the new Pirates movie? hehehehe

 

[padalyn]

DVC books 11 months at your "home resort" and 9 months for "non-Home resort" - does that help?

 

[Scott H]

You can book the Disney Resorts(i.e. Polly, AKL, et.) at the 11 month window.

AKL is great and we really enjoy it, between the cruise and the planned Tompson Safari, both via DVC we will kinda need to watch the point useage a little closer.

Waiting till 7:00 AM so as to make the pre cruise reservation.

 

[tig82174]

You can book the Disney Resorts(i.e. Polly, AKL, et.) at the 11 month window.

AKL is great and we really enjoy it, between the cruise and the planned Tompson Safari, both via DVC we will kinda need to watch the point useage a little closer.

Waiting till 7:00 AM so as to make the pre cruise reservation.

Great info, thanks!

Yeah I hear ya about points ratioing....in the future that will be a bigger issue for us, too, i assure you. This year we have the ability and inclination to splurge, however. We JUST bought into DVC in February as I said....and as part of the incentive they gave us a full year's points for basically a half year of membership/dues, etc. (our use year starts Sept. 1st). So basically they gave us 200 points in late February.....but we bought our membership on the last day of our 12 day Feb. vacation (8 days at the World and 4 on DCL) so we really don't have the time or finances to take another big vacation before Sept. 1st this year....so right after getting the points, we immediately banked the full balance into next year.....so basically next May we'll have 400 points (I know some people have that many annually, but for us that feels like a lot)....so I got Jason to agree to let me book AKL because he knows I've always wanted to stay there but we've never wanted to pay out of pocket for it.....so while that's way more detail than anyone needed that's how/why we decided to go AK Lodge this trip!

 

[ssnyder]

I had a sort of crazy idea. Since Scott is planning a gathering at a DVC resort on the night before the cruise, would it make sense for a bunch of us to get together and rent a grand villa for that night. I'm not a DVC member and I understand that most of the DVC members on this cruise are using up most of their points for this trip and wouldn't have extra to rent to the rest of us. But, maybe we could still rent from other DVC members. Anyone think this is a good idea and interested in sharing?

 

[Scott H]

Susie, Interesting idea. We have done this previously and there always seemed to be enough room in a 1bdr. Then again maybe wait and see how big this group gets and how many will be at WDW before the cruise. Seems like a good number of folks like to go to the coast for the night before the cruise.

 

[mom_rules]

Our decision on whether to stay the night before rests entirely on the airfares available-so far not looking very positive.

 

[kpros]

You can book the Disney Resorts(i.e. Polly, AKL, et.) at the 11 month window.

AKL is great and we really enjoy it, between the cruise and the planned Tompson Safari, both via DVC we will kinda need to watch the point useage a little closer.

Waiting till 7:00 AM so as to make the pre cruise reservation.

We are staying at Saratoga Springs the night before the repo cruise. This will be our second stay at SSR. Kind of fun being a DVC member now.

Ken

 

[Scott H]

Yesterday I got us in at OKW, it is our favorite of the DVC resorts. Still like all the others. DVC has been very very good to and for us.

 

[tig82174]

Yesterday I got us in at OKW, it is our favorite of the DVC resorts. Still like all the others. DVC has been very very good to and for us.

Called this morning and had my first conversation ever with the DVC Member Services....they were extremely friendly and helpful....and we got our reservation so we're all booked at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Savannah View Room checking in Sunday 5/6/07 and checking out Saturday 5/12/07 before we head on down to the port and hop on board the Magic. WOO HOO!!!

I was disappointed that you can't get the Disney Dining Plan deal if you use your points to book a trip and stay in DisneyWorld hotel instead of a DVC resort...but we'll manage.

 

[Scott H]

I was disappointed that you can't get the Disney Dining Plan deal if you use your points to book a trip and stay in DisneyWorld hotel instead of a DVC resort...but we'll manage.

This may be a blessing as we have many many many days on the ship to graze away.

 

[tig82174]

This may be a blessing as we have many many many days on the ship to graze away.

ha ha

Possibly, but I was more interested in the Dining Plan because I suspect that Jason and I spend more the $40 a day per person on food anyway.....we are pretty conscious about our eating and exercise habits here at home but at the World and on the cruises I am the first to admit I'm a candidate for overeaters anonymous!! When I plan out our itineraries and what we're going to do on each day I usually use what and where we're going to eat each meal as the guide for what park we'll be in at what time....and I sometimes think that there are certain restaurants/meals that are as important to me as the rides and parks themselves! (If I don't have a chili dog and peanut butter fudge ice cream sundae at Beaches & Cream at least once during the trip then it isn't a vacation...or the Pooh character (with tigger of course!! ) breakfast buffet at the Crystal Palace...or dinner in Mexico at Epcot oh the list goes on and on!!)

My mouth is watering already just thinking about it!!

Although I may not have to wait for very long....Jason found out yesterday that an international conference he is expected to attend for work is being held at the Grand Floridian for almost a full week in late September.....and his job would be paying for his airfare and his hotel and I could just tag along....so WOO HOO!!!!

 

[CSNYDER]

When I plan out our itineraries and what we're going to do on each day I usually use what and where we're going to eat each meal as the guide for what park we'll be in at what time....and I sometimes think that there are certain restaurants/meals that are as important to me as the rides and parks themselves!

Hmmm... sounds like a certain spouse of mine.... who shall remain anonymouse...

(now hiding under my desk, she works in the next building... don't tell her where I'm at)

 

[ssnyder]

Originally Posted by tig82174
When I plan out our itineraries and what we're going to do on each day I usually use what and where we're going to eat each meal as the guide for what park we'll be in at what time....and I sometimes think that there are certain restaurants/meals that are as important to me as the rides and parks themselves!

Hmmm... sounds like a certain spouse of mine.... who shall remain anonymouse...

(now hiding under my desk, she works in the next building... don't tell her where I'm at)

Well - I was sort of thinking that this sounded like me also, so you can come out from under your desk (for now).

 

[videogal1]

Hi All
Sorry about the way things went but I am SO sick of trying to negotiate an equally accessible and service dog friendly cruise with DCL that I'm cancelling.

I'll think of you as I'm navigating the glaciers in Alaska and the hot spots of Puerto Rico...

Love,

 

[Scott H]

Lynda, Bummer... sorry to hear that, but we understand. We will miss you.

Erik, don't you know that food on vacation has no calories... really....

Good point on the money side, never really looked at the dining program as I can not eat that much. Gastric bypass usrgery , wow, 5 years ago. Forgot it had been that long.

 

[tig82174]

Lynda, Bummer... sorry to hear that, but we understand. We will miss you.

Erik, don't you know that food on vacation has no calories... really....

Good point on the money side, never really looked at the dining program as I can not eat that much. Gastric bypass usrgery , wow, 5 years ago. Forgot it had been that long.

...aw...that does stink that videogal is out of the trip ....I think if I found out tomorrow that I couldn't go I'd weep openly either that or go on some sort of terrible rampage and you'd all see me on the news!

Yes I did know that vacation food has no calories...and actually I'm pretty sure not only are there no calories in the food, but you automatically BURN more calories when you're in the World, too....that's Disney magic...I just know it!

 

[milestogo]

Hi All,
Well, I’ve been extremely busy with family from NC going to DL for the past two weeks. On Saturday they had the big premiere for the Pirates movie which ended up on the news all day and night – it looked really fun. We went on Monday morning at 8:30 for the big opening day of the ride. When we arrived it was 8:30 and the line began at the Emporium and went all the way through Frontierland to Pirates. Surprisingly it only took us one hour.

The ride was really fun. They didn’t take anything out, but added some great effects, new audio, polished the gold, and, of course, Captain Sparrow. I was worried they would take out my favorite line… “you bloomin cockaroaches!” But it was still there!!

We then went on to the new Café Orleans restaurant to try the new 3 cheese Monte Christo Sandwich… it was tasty, but very heavy. Not a light lunch.

The crowds have been extremely heavy, the heat has been unusually hot in the high 90’s, but they loved it coming from NC.

Lynda, I’m so sorry to hear you are leaving the cruise. Have a good time wherever you end up.

Scott, Do you have to be careful watching everything you eat or can you sample?

Erik, I’m glad to hear about the calories too. I’d be as wide as I am tall (and that’s only 5’1) I plan all rides, attractions, shows etc. around the food and restaurants I want to sample. I wish I was staying with you guys at AK, it sounds fabulous.

We’re off to see ‘Cars’ at the Drive In this holiday weekend. Everyone have a great holiday, what are you all doing?