May 30, 2009 - Western Cruise Magic

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Well, I wanted to go on a cruise, but most of the other cruise lines you have to be at least 21 to book, but Disney was one of the few where you could be 18 to book and I went to Disneyworld when I was younger and I've always wanted to go back so I booked with DCL because I've heard great things about it.

Wow that's interesting. I didn't know that! So I guess that means that technically 18yr olds could book the cruise and then go to the teen stack? HAHAHA that's funny to me for some reason. LOL

(but kinda proves my point that it's not cool to have 14yr olds along with adults. LOL)

Glad you're with us and that you joined our thread too. Not much time to go before the cruise but good to get to know you a bit, before the cruise. I think there are quite a lot of 18yr olds on this cruise- atleast within our group of those that have posted on this thread. Kcashner herself has a bunch with her. LOL
(graduating gift I think it is- correct me if I'm wrong!)

So my point is you'll be in good company- lots of 18yr olds. that "college group" oughta be pretty big on this cruise. But you can join us in the adult stuff too- just can't drink but hope you do join us all!

 

[kcashner]

As to logistics....Grand Cayman day is Tuesday. With a sea day on Wednesday, we could theoretically be at Castaway on Thursday. We have to leave Grand Cayman before dark because it is a tender port and cannot dock at Castaway before light due to the facilities, so we'd have 36 hours or more to get there. In addition, there may be other ports we could visit--when I've been on hurricane cruises, we've gone to islands that weren't visited by DCL prior to that time--they really work hard to get shore excursions, etc. together.

On DCL, people 18-20 can be in a cabin with other 18-20s. They cannot have younger people in the room unless there is a 21 booked into the room. I have absolutely no idea what they do if you are 20 and have a 1 year old child....but we're not even thinking about something like that! Yes, most lines and many hotels require you to be 21 to book a room. It can be interesting if a teen (18) wants to do a college visit on her own.....off topic, sorry.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Hey, me and my girlfriend are both going on this cruise, we're both 18.

Welcome and congrats on the upgrade!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Okay I screwed up, I still haven't booked a rental car and have procrastinated. I do not know what size of car we will need. Any suggestions? There will be 2 adults, and 2 kids (age 12), we will probably have no more than 2 large and 1 medium suitcases. I had a good code for a standard SUV, but then the price jumped this morning (stupid me didn't book it while I could, I was still trying to get it cheaper.) I am not sure if I can are luggage into a car or not.

 

[Suzepoo]

A few of us have exchanged Facebook names in order to see pictures and other stuff of interest with each other, so if you want to share Facebook names, I started a group on mine called "DisBoard Friends".....request me if you want....Suzanne Hadden Keeton. Be sure to post your DisBoard name in the message, though, so I know who you are.....WOO HOO not much longer now!!!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

A few of us have exchanged Facebook names in order to see pictures and other stuff of interest with each other, so if you want to share Facebook names, I started a group on mine called "DisBoard Friends".....request me if you want....Suzanne Hadden Keeton. Be sure to post your DisBoard name in the message, though, so I know who you are.....WOO HOO not much longer now!!!

Great idea. I am new to facebook so I have trouble finding people still. You can find me under Heidi Van Horn Murphy. I will try and find you!

 

[kcashner]

Okay I screwed up, I still haven't booked a rental car and have procrastinated. I do not know what size of car we will need. Any suggestions? There will be 2 adults, and 2 kids (age 12), we will probably have no more than 2 large and 1 medium suitcases. I had a good code for a standard SUV, but then the price jumped this morning (stupid me didn't book it while I could, I was still trying to get it cheaper.) I am not sure if I can are luggage into a car or not.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I think with 4 people and 3-4 suitcases, you could do a medium sized car. You'll have a trunk which should hold the biggest suitcases. The drive is only 45 minutes, so if you have to put a suitcase on the floor or the passenger compartment, so be it! It might also fit on the seat between the kids if not in the trunk. I can fit 3 suitcases + in my sedan trunk.

Discount codes are available at mousesavers.com and rentalcodes.com.

 

[kcashner]

For the worry warts among us....I did a little research.

Carnival and Holland America have canceled stops in Mexico this week. DCL (at this moment) has not made any official statement.

There has been at least one case of swine flu supposedly confirmed at WDW in a tourist from Mexico...partially reprinted below.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Eyewitness News has learned of Orlando's first confirmed case of swine flu. According to the chief medical officer for Adventist Health System, Loran Hauck, the case was diagnosed Tuesday morning.

"A case was diagnosed here in Orlando today on a tourist from Mexico who came to Disney attractions two days ago to visit," Hauck wrote in an email obtained by Eyewitness News.
No further details have been released, but Eyewitness News is working to learn specifically what days the tourist was at the parks and which park the tourist went to.

Details about the tourist, beyond being from Mexico, have not been released.

Eyewitness News contacted the Orange County Health Department who was unable to confirm the report.


Here goes the panic at WDW!!!

The Magic is on an Eastern this week, so they don't need to do anything at this moment.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Maybe I'm crazy, but I thing with 4 people and 3-4 suitcases, you could do a medium sized car. You'll have a trunk which should hold the biggest suitcases. The drive is only 45 minutes, so if you have to put a suitcase on the floor or the passenger compartment, so be it! It might also fit on the seat between the kids if not in the trunk. I can fit 3 suitcases + in my sedan trunk.

Discount codes are available at mousesavers.com and rentalcodes.com.

Thanks. My husband drives a truck and I drive an SUV, so I have no idea the size of trunks in cars! Our drive is a little longer as we are driving to Pt. St. Lucie (near West Palm Beach).

Great, now everyone at WDW is going to be in a panic!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

As to logistics....Grand Cayman day is Tuesday. With a sea day on Wednesday, we could theoretically be at Castaway on Thursday. We have to leave Grand Cayman before dark because it is a tender port and cannot dock at Castaway before light due to the facilities, so we'd have 36 hours or more to get there. In addition, there may be other ports we could visit--when I've been on hurricane cruises, we've gone to islands that weren't visited by DCL prior to that time--they really work hard to get shore excursions, etc. together.

On DCL, people 18-20 can be in a cabin with other 18-20s. They cannot have younger people in the room unless there is a 21 booked into the room. I have absolutely no idea what they do if you are 20 and have a 1 year old child....but we're not even thinking about something like that! Yes, most lines and many hotels require you to be 21 to book a room. It can be interesting if a teen (18) wants to do a college visit on her own.....off topic, sorry.

Wow I hadn't thought of that. Some 20yr olds do have children (some even older tan 1yr old! LOL) Kinda weird that you could be married, been an adult for years and have children yet can't book a room for you, your spouse and children unless you're over 21.
Do they still require you to be 21 to rent a vehicle? I always thought that was weird too.

A few of us have exchanged Facebook names in order to see pictures and other stuff of interest with each other, so if you want to share Facebook names, I started a group on mine called "DisBoard Friends".....request me if you want....Suzanne Hadden Keeton. Be sure to post your DisBoard name in the message, though, so I know who you are.....WOO HOO not much longer now!!!

I don't have facebook- sorry!

Maybe I'm crazy, but I thing with 4 people and 3-4 suitcases, you could do a medium sized car. You'll have a trunk which should hold the biggest suitcases. The drive is only 45 minutes, so if you have to put a suitcase on the floor or the passenger compartment, so be it! It might also fit on the seat between the kids if not in the trunk. I can fit 3 suitcases + in my sedan trunk.

Discount codes are available at mousesavers.com and rentalcodes.com.

I agree- I think you can do it. We had a small minivan on our last trip and we managed to fit 5 of us and about 10 pieces of luggage even though there wasn't all that much room for luggage. I think most trunks had more room than this minivan did. LOL Good thing Jeff and I are good at making good use of every bit of space and worked that luggage like a jigsaw puzzle. LOL

As for panic at WDW- if it happens, it happens. Long as they don't close the parks (hey that's not a possibility is it?!?) I'm okay with people panicking if they feel the need. Maybe it will make the parks less crowded but I'm STILL GOING. I mean seriously- we could catch it anywhere so that won't keep me from going to the parks, that's for sure.

 

[grlzmom]

For the worry warts among us....I did a little research.

Carnival and Holland America have canceled stops in Mexico this week. DCL (at this moment) has not made any official statement.

There has been at least one case of swine flu supposedly confirmed at WDW in a tourist from Mexico...partially reprinted below.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Eyewitness News has learned of Orlando's first confirmed case of swine flu. According to the chief medical officer for Adventist Health System, Loran Hauck, the case was diagnosed Tuesday morning.

"A case was diagnosed here in Orlando today on a tourist from Mexico who came to Disney attractions two days ago to visit," Hauck wrote in an email obtained by Eyewitness News.
No further details have been released, but Eyewitness News is working to learn specifically what days the tourist was at the parks and which park the tourist went to.

Details about the tourist, beyond being from Mexico, have not been released.

Eyewitness News contacted the Orange County Health Department who was unable to confirm the report.


Here goes the panic at WDW!!!

The Magic is on an Eastern this week, so they don't need to do anything at this moment.

Thanks for doing the research and posting it all

 

[grlzmom]

Thanks to the Dis people who have posted their Facebook names. I am going to try to find some of you (not exactly Facebook proficient here)

My Facebook name is Jeanne Chapman Simons.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

This is an email message we just received from my agency regarding the swine flu.

Officials in the Department working closely with the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Personnel Management to be responsive and stay informed about swine flu outbreaks. I have mobilized the Department's emergency preparedness organization to be ready to respond and to help with the situation in any way we can. My primary consideration is ensuring your safety and keeping you informed.

Human cases of swine flu have been identified in several states and in other countries. Unlike the situation in Mexico, where deaths have been associated with the disease, cases in the U.S. have been less severe.
While medical experts continue to evaluate the virus, resources from across the Federal Government have been mobilized to provide guidance to the American public and protect public health.

It is important to recognize the ongoing nature of this event and the fact that public health guidance may change as this event transpires and more becomes known about this virus. Public health officials advise that good health habits like covering your mouth when you cough and washing your hands can often help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. Those who do catch the flu are strongly encouraged to seek medical help.

The best source of information about the flu can be found at
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/. This site contains the latest information
and will address questions that you may have regarding the current situation.

Throughout this situation, it is important that you stay informed and act wisely to protect your own health, the health of your co-workers, and be available to serve the public. We may be asked to step in and assist in efforts to respond to this event. In the meantime, each of us must take personal responsibility to practice the good health habits advised by medical experts. Your health, your families? well being, and the health of the Nation are foremost in my mind, and we will continue to provide the best possible information that we can.

 

[voyages]

Hey this is Swine flu not Mouse flu. I'm still going to WDW...maybe less crowds!

 

[kcashner]

Many car rental companies require that you be 25 to rent a car...some allow it at 21 but charge an increased feel. This makes sense as the accident rate for drivers over 25-29 is lower than the rate for 21-24 year olds. If you can tie the rules or costs to a statistic, you can justify it. Makes more sense to document how long you've had a license (is a newly licensed 25 year old safer than a 21 year old who got a license at 17? I don't know.)

And...regardless of DCL or legal terminology, my 18 year old DD really isn't an adult. What's neat is that she's starting to realize how much she doesn't know. That's the first step!

 

[mmmagic7754]

Add me to the facebook list,search keith higginbotham I have several pics from previous park and cruise.

 

[luvdmouse57]

You can add me to the facebook friends too. Karla Dick

Suzanne, I tried to add you to my friend list but forgot to include my Dis name. I'm kind of new at facebook & still trying to figure it out.

Karla

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Many car rental companies require that you be 25 to rent a car...some allow it at 21 but charge an increased feel. This makes sense as the accident rate for drivers over 25-29 is lower than the rate for 21-24 year olds. If you can tie the rules or costs to a statistic, you can justify it. Makes more sense to document how long you've had a license (is a newly licensed 25 year old safer than a 21 year old who got a license at 17? I don't know.)

And...regardless of DCL or legal terminology, my 18 year old DD really isn't an adult. What's neat is that she's starting to realize how much she doesn't know. That's the first step!

LOL
Isn't it funny when they are in their teens they know EVERY-THING but then when they get older they realize that's not the case? I can't wait for my teen to get to that point of realization. LOL And by the time she does- I'll have to go thru it two more times, pretty much seperately, with the other two.. that's what I get for spacing out the kids (although not intentionally LOL)

 

[homespun]

Facebook is the best. I've recently touched base with some work friends from 15 years ago. They found me on facebook--it was so great to hear from them.

It's really easy to join too if you're game.

You can find me at Karen Kern Gumino

Have wonderful day!!!

 

[homespun]

Add me to the facebook list,search keith higginbotham I have several pics from previous park and cruise.

Added everyone that posted so far