May 13.2006 Eastern

[DrCavin]

Dr. Cavin is a great resource on this thread

Hooks, I just try to help Planning one of these cruises can overwhelming, but this board has helped us immensely.

Looks like the Raddison will be a busy place. We are staying at Motel 6, never stayed at one so this will be an experience. www.dcltribute.com had some good reviews for it, as long as it is clean I am golden
Last time we got to the hotel about 3 pm, kids swam for an hour or so, then we went to dinner. By the time we got back everyone was ready for bed, it was a long day!!!

This year we get in to MCO at 10:15, going to go to Downtown Disney & do some sightseeing & grab something to eat. Then head over to Cocoa.

FYI Once you get on the B-Line, you won't find any place to eat until you get almost into Cocoa. Last year our plan was to hop on the B-Line and the first place to eat we would stop & have lunch WRONG.. I think our kids were ready to eat the luggage by the time we were able to find a place

Anyone going to Grills for dinner Friday night? http://visitgrills.com/ We had a mini-dismeet on Friday night b4 cruise, about 4 families showed. It was good food, but the wait was long since it was rainig & that took a bunch of seats out of commission. They wouldn't take a reservation and it was pretty crowded.

I will have to update the cruise-info sheet tonight if I get a chance. It has when people are coming in, where staying, kids ages/names, stateroom, dinner time, etc. It is on the Yahoo site if you want to browse it.

 

[Hanover]

Thanks for doing the cruise- info sheet Dr. Cavin. Could we post a poll on where people would like to meet once on board or has our group already come to a definitive choice? Seems like most people are ok with the Mickey Slide.


Hooksenemy-I hope you feel better. There's nothing worse than feeling really sick. Everyone seems to be sick in our area too. Our youngest son's preschool has been passing around a nasty stomach virus and I've went to the doctor yesterday thinking I had strep (which was going around the wrestling team). I ended up having 2 ear infections and a sinus infection...but at least it wasn't strep.

What kind of camera did you buy? I have a Nikon D-70 and I don't know know how to use 90% of the features/functions. It's the same one that the CM's use at WDW....each and every photopass CM let me know that fact when I asked them for a family picture with our camera, and were nice enough to adjust it to the best settings. I just keep it on automatic and it does a good job. Our last WDW trip I thought I brought the instructions to read on the plane and I brought the foreign language one by accident. One of these days I'll read the photography board or take a class on it.

We are flying down the night of 5/10 and heading to MK and Epcot 5/11 and 5/12. We will try and hop between MGM and AK on 5/20.


I did finally hear back from DUT yesterday about the possible upgrade to a Verandah from a category 8 and was offered the original quote of $800. We skipped it...that will pay for all our excursions, and half our tips or photos.

 

[bxirishrn]

Looks like a mini Dis meet at the Radisson as well !!

 

[bpd196]

Hi Kerri,

What flight are you on? We're flying down on Continental on Friday as well, out of Newark.
Our flight is scheduled to leave at 12:40 p. Flight CO37. Our DD Christina is 7 as well

We leave in 64 days !!

Kathleen

Hi Kathleen
We are flying right after you Flght#492 at 1:40 PM.
We are staying at the Holiday Inn Select about 1 mile from the airport.
We listened to our TA who said to get the Disney transfers, which now turns out to be $$$$and not worth it. Oh Well!!!

 

[bpd196]

Hi Kerri
just wanted to say hi, I live in Old Bridge and my kids will be 4 in 2 weeks Weaew flying down the day before. I believe we are staying at the Radisson
Tara

Hi Tara,
We are neighbors. Great we have to hook up. My kids talk about it everyday. I'm sure their teachers can't wait for them to get it over with.
Old Bridge is huge. I'm right off Rt 9 by Gordons Corner. My Dr. is in Old Bridge.
Counting down the Days!!!!! It's going to be 70 degrees here tomorrow
Can you believe it. I'm ready for SPRING!!!!

 

[hooksenemy]

I bought the Nikon D50 a week ago - I love it but don't want to get stuck in auto so I am trying to learn as much as possible.

I am having the hardest time trying to upload in photobucket so I can share photos online - I posted on 2 thread and though I got 1 response it was over my head so I need to find a book. I got a couple of recommendations on the photo thread about books for the camera - you should go over there - our cameras can do so much - I also have a Pentax Optio 3.1 MP Point & Shoot - I love that also however I bought the D50 so I could do more!

I have played a little but not nearly enough! I am going out today if I can get motivated to purchase a couple of the books that came recommended.

We will be at MK & AK on 5/12 I am sure we will be having dinner at the brewery at the Boardwalk that night and then heading back to Downtown Dis which is where our hotel is near (1 mile away!)

We should be on the road 5/13 by 8:30 for a planned 9:30 arrival to the port! Early I know but I am not one to be late for anything it causes me anxiety

 

[bxirishrn]

.

Anyone going to Grills for dinner Friday night? http://visitgrills.com/ We had a mini-dismeet on Friday night b4 cruise, about 4 families showed. It was good food, but the wait was long since it was rainig & that took a bunch of seats out of commission. They wouldn't take a reservation and it was pretty crowded.

I will have to update the cruise-info sheet tonight if I get a chance. It has when people are coming in, where staying, kids ages/names, stateroom, dinner time, etc. It is on the Yahoo site if you want to browse it.

Grills sounds yummy!! We just looked at the menu. We're for it.

A DIS-meet before the DIS-meet! The kids can meet too.

Dr. Cavin I still can't get into Yahoo Can you pm me the info sheet?

Kathleen

 

[Hanover]

I bought the Nikon D50 a week ago - I love it but don't want to get stuck in auto so I am trying to learn as much as possible.

I am having the hardest time trying to upload in photobucket so I can share photos online - I posted on 2 thread and though I got 1 response it was over my head so I need to find a book. I got a couple of recommendations on the photo thread about books for the camera - you should go over there - our cameras can do so much - I also have a Pentax Optio 3.1 MP Point & Shoot - I love that also however I bought the D50 so I could do more!

I have played a little but not nearly enough! I am going out today if I can get motivated to purchase a couple of the books that came recommended.

We will be at MK & AK on 5/12 I am sure we will be having dinner at the brewery at the Boardwalk that night and then heading back to Downtown Dis which is where our hotel is near (1 mile away!)

We should be on the road 5/13 by 8:30 for a planned 9:30 arrival to the port! Early I know but I am not one to be late for anything it causes me anxiety

You'll love the Nikon. It really takes great pictures. I don't even use my point and shoot anymore. I took over 1,000 pictures on it on our land and sea cruise last February and ended up printing 800 they were so good. My scrapbook is in 3 volumes!

I will definitely have to get motivated to read my instruction manual to enhance them some more. In January at MK, someone at Goofy's Barnstormer walked over to me when I was waiting for my boys to come around on the ride to photograph (he also had a Nikon D70) and told me to use a slow shutter speed and I didn't even know how to change it. I still got a decent picture, but I'm sure his were better. He then asked me about where I store my pictures (I told him on the computer/discs/external hard drive) and then proceeded to hand me a business card to his online photostorage business. I guess he was just trying to get some business from me. I have lurked in the photo thread for a while, but it's all over my head too. They do run weekly Nikon classes in a nearby town, but they are next to impossible for me to make between my children's activities and my husband's schedule (he's a police officer). I'd really like to learn how to take some good night shots. I have a tripod but never carry it around (it folds up but is still 18 inches long). Unless I lean on a railing, I get a slight blur.

We were thinking of doing AK early on either 5/11 or 5/12 just to do Everest, the safari and Festival of the Lion King Show and hopping to MK or Epcot, but don't know yet for sure. I think if we went to AK in the afternoon, fast passes would already be gone for Everest. If we wait to long to go to Epcot, Soarin fast passes will be gone. We may just have to wait until 5/20 and hop on the day we plan to do MGM (for Star Wars weekend). We have an early flight out on 5/21 but are trying to change it so we could spent most of the morning at AK and not worry about hopping. However, at this point to change it's $900 more! Let's hope for a last minute ding rate. I guess if we miss it, it's just another reason to plan another trip before the end of the year.

 

[DrCavin]

Dr. Cavin I still can't get into Yahoo Can you pm me the info sheet?

I didnt get a chance to update it, but I will over the weekend. I am not sure I can attach anything via a PM, but if you pm me your email address I can email it to you.

 

[Cali-Mouse]

Good Morning Everyone,

Thanks to everyone for the tips and information. My wife can't believe how much information I have gathered in just the last few days!

I will actually be in Orlando from May 4th - 11th for a tradeshow, and my wife & kids will be flying in from California on the 11th. We may end up doing AK on the 12th for 3/4 of day, then driving to the Raddison that night. Maybe I'll see you at AK Hanover!? I think I'm going to get a baseball hat that says CALI-MOUSE on the back. So if you see me, stop me and say hi.

We are hoping to get on the first hotel shuttle to the ship on Saturday morning. I think I read somewhere it leaves at 10am.


We are up for meeting by the Slide and we will also probably end up going to whatever restaurant is closest to the hotel. Michael

 

[Verandah Man]

Good Evening,

It's been a most interesting 24 hours. I found out late yesterday that Florida Resident Rates were available for the May 13th cruise. Although I live in NJ, my mom is a Florida resident, so I was able to book the cruise with my mom as the lead person for our cabin. My family was scheduled to cruise in August of this year, but my DD decided she wanted a big Sweet 16 Birthday Party instead of going on a cruise. To make a long story short, after talking it over with my DW and DD, they both agreed that it would be OK if I were to surprise my mom, and take her on the May 13th cruise as her 70th Birthday and Mother's Day gift this year. It was stated way back in this thread that I have other family members that had already booked this cruise, so when I called my niece Teri this afternoon and told her I booked my mom and I for this cruise, she was very excited. I was able to get early dining and hook up our ressie with the rest of the family. If it wasn't for the Florida Resisdent Rates, I wouldn't have been able to book this cruise. We are having a "surprise" 70th Birthday Party for my mom on March 26th. I am planning on getting dressed in my pirate outfit and when it comes time to give my mom her cake, I'll drop the cruise surprise on her then. This is going to be some 70th birthday for my mom, and I'm glad to know that she doesn't have any heart conditions!!!

I was glancing through this thread today, but didn't have time to catch up on everything. I know my sister and niece have ressies at the Radisson, but I haven't made my room ressies just yet. I still have to get my plane ticket as well, I have to check out what flights are available for Friday May 12th.

So, I guess I will be seeing some of you onboard, or maybe even at the Radisson Friday night.

I was able to get cabin #2560, at this point I don't care about not having a verandah, just getting back on the ship is good enough for me. I'm still pinching myself that I will actually be cruising again this year afterall!!!

Andy

 

[bxirishrn]

Good Evening,

It's been a most interesting 24 hours. I found out late yesterday that Florida Resident Rates were available for the May 13th cruise. Although I live in NJ, my mom is a Florida resident, so I was able to book the cruise with my mom as the lead person for our cabin. My family was scheduled to cruise in August of this year, but my DD decided she wanted a big Sweet 16 Birthday Party instead of going on a cruise. To make a long story short, after talking it over with my DW and DD, they both agreed that it would be OK if I were to surprise my mom, and take her on the May 13th cruise as her 70th Birthday and Mother's Day gift this year. It was stated way back in this thread that I have other family members that had already booked this cruise, so when I called my niece Teri this afternoon and told her I booked my mom and I for this cruise, she was very excited. I was able to get early dining and hook up our ressie with the rest of the family. If it wasn't for the Florida Resisdent Rates, I wouldn't have been able to book this cruise. We are having a "surprise" 70th Birthday Party for my mom on March 26th. I am planning on getting dressed in my pirate outfit and when it comes time to give my mom her cake, I'll drop the cruise surprise on her then. This is going to be some 70th birthday for my mom, and I'm glad to know that she doesn't have any heart conditions!!!

I was glancing through this thread today, but didn't have time to catch up on everything. I know my sister and niece have ressies at the Radisson, but I haven't made my room ressies just yet. I still have to get my plane ticket as well, I have to check out what flights are available for Friday May 12th.

So, I guess I will be seeing some of you onboard, or maybe even at the Radisson Friday night.

I was able to get cabin #2560, at this point I don't care about not having a verandah, just getting back on the ship is good enough for me. I'm still pinching myself that I will actually be cruising again this year afterall!!!

Andy

Welcome Verandah Man,

What a great sweet sixteen!! My niece didn't want a party either when she turned sixteen so they went to Jamaica for a week. DCL has it beat tho!!

Where in NJ are you from?

My husband's brother lives in Tampa, I wonder if we coul've been able to use his address. I didn't know there was a FL resident discount, but WE GET SNOW and they don't!!!

We're in cabin 2114.

Kathleen Pete and DD Christina (8)

 

[Verandah Man]

Welcome Verandah Man,

What a great sweet sixteen!! My niece didn't want a party either when she turned sixteen so they went to Jamaica for a week. DCL has it beat tho!!

Where in NJ are you from?

My husband's brother lives in Tampa, I wonder if we coul've been able to use his address. I didn't know there was a FL resident discount, but WE GET SNOW and they don't!!!

We're in cabin 2114.

Kathleen Pete and DD Christina (8)

Hi Kathleen,

Thanks for the warm welcome!!!

Just to clarify, my DD didn't want to cruise, she wanted to have a big Sweet 16 party which we will be having in September, so my DW and DD will not be on this cruise, they are staying home and "allowing" me to take my mom on this cruise to celebrate my mom's 70th Birthday and Mother's Day all in one.

The only reason I was able to get the Florida Resident Rate is because my mother is a Florida resident and will be staying in the same cabin as me. The ressie was actually put under my mother's name, but since I am paying for it, the confirmation letter will come to my house, but the cruise docs will be sent to my mom's house in Florida. By the time she gets the docs, she will have already been told about the cruise. It's fun being sneaky, especially with my mom because she thinks no one can pull anything over on her.

I just got my plane ticket purchased with Southwest, but I will be flying in on Thursday night May 11th. I think I made out rather well even booking the flight this late, I got a RT ticket for $177.10, next is to see about getting a room at the Radisson.

 

[Hanover]

Welcome Verandah Man!

Our 5/13 Dis group is getting larger every day.

The Radisson looks like it's the place to be on the 12th!

I picked up some lime green scrapbook cardstock at A.C. Moore today. I'm going to attempt to make a Mickey head, write our names on it and laminate it with clear contact paper for our stateroom door. I also got 2 5X7 white photo mats (1/2 off this week) to drop off at guest services to have the characters sign them.

I bid on 2 new tuxes on EBay for my boys to have for formal night. If I win them (there's an hour left), I will have paid less than $45 for both. That's less than the one navy blue blazer I was considering buying ds8 for semi-formal night!

I hope everyone else is going to have the same nice weather we are getting this weekend.

 

[Verandah Man]

Yes, and I think "I" will be getting larger everyday that I'm on the ship!!!

I already had door signs made up for our August cruise, so I can just bring them along, except the one with the Double Dipping at CC and going to Cozumel and Costa Maya that is.

 

[Verandah Man]

Just got us booked for the Radisson for Friday night, had to take a room with the Sleep Number beds. I've been wanting to try one of these beds, now I've got my chance!!!

Whew, what a day!!!

 

[DrCavin]

Welcome aboard V-Man. Maybe you will get upgraded to the Roy/Walt suite

I have always wanted to try one of those beds too. I would be afraid that I would really like it & want to buy one...

I am surprised they offered fl rates for this cruise, it has gone up so much since we booked that I was assuming it was nearly sold-out... Great for you & for us maybe it wont full... nay.....

 

[Verandah Man]

Welcome aboard V-Man.Thanks!!!

Maybe you will get upgraded to the Roy/Walt suite One can only dream!!!

I have always wanted to try one of those beds too. I would be afraid that I would really like it & want to buy one... That's what I'm afraid of as well, LOL!!!

I am surprised they offered fl rates for this cruise, it has gone up so much since we booked that I was assuming it was nearly sold-out... Great for you & for us maybe it wont full... nay.....I was also surprised with it being so close to Mother's Day, but heck, I'm not going to complain. I was so excited with everything that happened yesterday that I was awake from 3am to 5am this morning, trying to figure out if it was all a dream or not. Luckily for me, it wasn't, LOL!!! The only thing left to do is to go into work on Monday and put in for some vacation time, luckily, that's one thing I have plenty of!!!

 

[ragdoll]

Welcome, Verandah Man! I am so looking forward to meeting you! Sometimes you can just tell what a nice person someone is from their posts and Verandah Man certainly falls into that category! And what a thoughtful surprise for your mother! We are in room 2060. I love deck 2. Actually, I prefer it to a verandah.

DH and I have a Sleep Number bed. He loves it. I hate it. Seems like most people really like them though. Personally, I really loved the heavenly bed at the Dolphin. I never dreamed that a bed could feel that wonderful!

 

[Hygiene99]

Welcome aboard V-Man.Thanks!!!

Maybe you will get upgraded to the Roy/Walt suite One can only dream!!!

I have always wanted to try one of those beds too. I would be afraid that I would really like it & want to buy one... That's what I'm afraid of as well, LOL!!!

I am surprised they offered fl rates for this cruise, it has gone up so much since we booked that I was assuming it was nearly sold-out... Great for you & for us maybe it wont full... nay.....I was also surprised with it being so close to Mother's Day, but heck, I'm not going to complain. I was so excited with everything that happened yesterday that I was awake from 3am to 5am this morning, trying to figure out if it was all a dream or not. Luckily for me, it wasn't, LOL!!! The only thing left to do is to go into work on Monday and put in for some vacation time, luckily, that's one thing I have plenty of!!!

We are So Happy For You, Hazel & Angelina

Peter & Jenn

Oh just wanted to let you know May 13th is my birthday !!
Everyone have a Great Cruise..