Mike & Missy's Grand Adventure! A DCL & WDW Pre-TR w/ pics! Updated-09/18

[UGAFan0829]

Hello fellow DIS'ers!
I am so excited to finally be starting my Pre-Trip Report. It seems like I have been waiting for this for a long time! Even though we won't be sailing until September 5th, I decided that now would be as good a time as any to get started on this...Especially being the obesessive compulsive planner that I am, I couldn't wait to start sharing my plans with y'all. (Plus I think it helps to pass the 234 more days until we set sail.)

So now to explain the reason behind our "celebration". We are actually celebrating for 2 different reasons. The first is that the DH and I will be celebrating 10 years of "Happily Ever After" on September 11th (which will be the last full day of our cruise). Ever since our very first cruise (a 3-nighter on DCL back in 2005), we knew that we wanted to spend our 10 year anniversary on a 7 night cruise. We took another cruise (4-nights) in January of '06 and fell even more in love with DCL and cruising. Even though we knew that we would be cruising for our 10th, we didn't know that we wouldn't cruise again until then! So we saved enough money for the deposit and shortly after the rates/dates were released I went online and booked! I'll get to the second reason for our celebration a little later.

Now, a little about us. I'm Missy, now 29, but will turn 30 exactly one week before the day we set sail. My DH is Mike, who just turned 32 TODAY! Here's a recent pic of us from the top of Stone Mountain:

In the past couple of years both of us have fallen in love with most all things Disney. Even though we took two cruises, we didn't fall completely in love with Disney until we visited the World in September of 2006. Ever since then we want nothing but Disney for our vacations. Both of us (but especially me), love any chance that we get to talk about Disney!!! One day we hope to renew our vows in Disney AND join DVC...but we've got some major saving to do before then!
Aside from Disney, we both love to travel in general, and if not to Disney, then to the beach (especially Panama City Beach) and the mountains (Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge). Another big part of our lives is dirt-track racing. I grew up in it, and Mike has come to love it, too. (A quick shout-out to my good friend Mickey's Goofy Gal, who is also a dirt-trackin', Disney lovin', Georgia girl).
Mike and I are very best friends, and we pretty go much go everywhere and do everything together. I honestly can't imagine my life without him, and he has made so many of my dreams come true. Just today, when my Dad called to wish him a Happy Birthday, Daddy told Mike that he was like the son that he never had...talking about making you tear up but also be proud!!

Okay, so back to the real reason that you're reading this--the cruise! So, back at the beginning of fall, Mike and I were talking to his sister (Gayle, who is 40-something) about our plans for the cruise. She and her husband have cruised before, on Carnival, but she told us that she would love to take her daughter, Brandi (23), on a Disney cruise...so of course, we told them they should come along! I think she thought we were just being nice at first, but we were really serious! She told us that they wouldn't want to intrude since it was for our anniversary, but we told her that we really would love for them to join us. So that was it, a couple of weeks later they came over and we got them all booked to join us! I was very super excited!(For the longest time, we'd been trying to "sell" them on a Disney cruise by telling them how much fun 2 adults can have, so I guess we did a pretty good job! ) Other than going over to one another's house for special occasions/Holidays, I've never spent a lot of time with Mike's sister or niece, and we've never been real close, so I saw this as an opportunity to bond with them a little. This will be Brandi's first cruise, and though she is excited, she is nervous about cruising during hurricane season. I admit that I'm a little nervous too, but I know that we'll be fine!! What's even better is that Gayle will also be celebrating her birthday while on board!! So there ya go, that's the second reason for our "celebration"!
Sorry that I don't have any pics of Brandi or Gayle to post right now, but I will try and get some put up later. (I always like to put pictures/faces with names.)

So that's the beginning in a nutshell and the history of how our cruise came together! Now it's time to get down to business with planning and getting everything together. I made myself a checklist the other day of things that I need to get done soon...getting our passports, reserving a hotel for the night before the cruise, finding something to wear for Pirate Night, etc...so stay tuned for all the details!

 

[Mickey's Goofy Gal]

I am so excited to have the chance to read all about your pre-planning! You are right - we are dirt-trackin', Disney lovin, Georgia Girls!!!!!!!! This is going to be a magical trip for ya'll. I am getting excited just hearing about it! I love the picture of ya'll too!!!!!!!!!

 

[UGAFan0829]

I am so excited to have the chance to read all about your pre-planning! You are right - we are dirt-trackin', Disney lovin, Georgia Girls!!!!!!!! This is going to be a magical trip for ya'll. I am getting excited just hearing about it! I love the picture of ya'll too!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for reading, Kim!! I'm definitely glad you're here. And I hope that one day soon I can read about your plans!!!

 

[lillygator]

a fellow strawberry blonde!! (overlooking the Bulldawg part!)

 

[UGAFan0829]

In my last post I mentioned Passports being on my list of things to get done soon. Now keep in mind that neither the DH nor myself have ever had a Passport, so I know very little about them except that you need them to travel outside of the US-or so I thought. So I decided to get online this morning and do a little research to find out what we needed to do to apply for one. I actually learned a lot, mostly thanks to the super smart people here on the DIS. What I didn't know is that there are now 2 different types of Passports-One being a card, and the other being a book, which is what I always think of when I picture a Passport. So in reading about this "new" card, I find out that it is good for sea travel, and crossing certain borders, but it is NOT good for international air travel. Since applying for the card is almost half the cost of applying for the book, I told the DH that we would just go with the card since we probably won't be flying out of the country anytime soon. Then after posting a question about the passport cards here on the DIS, someone pointed out to me that until June 1 of this year, you don't actually need a Passport to cruise! DUH! I had no idea! BUT...then the thought of an emergency happening and needing to get home struck me, and without the Passport Book we couldn't go anywhere! So I talked to the DH about it again...he called the DSIL, and we decided to go ahead and get ours. Yes, I know some of you may think that it's $$ wasted, but I think it will definitely give us peace of mind. Not to mention, since we aren't cruising until September, the laws regarding Passports could very well change! So, after all this blabbering, I'm happy to report that we have an appointment on Saturday to apply for our Passports! Yippee!!!! I know it's a minor detail, but it's another thing crossed off my list!

 

[Mickey's Goofy Gal]

Keep all of your notes for me! By the time I get to go they will probably require a pass port to go from state to state - LOL

 

[UGAFan0829]

a fellow strawberry blonde!! (overlooking the Bulldawg part!)

Hi, lillygator! Thanks for joining! Yes, please look over the fact that I'm a Dawg, though I am very proud to be one! It's very nice to have a fellow red-head here!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Keep all of your notes for me! By the time I get to go they will probably require a pass port to go from state to state - LOL

Ha! Yes, I will do that! I laugh at you saying that, but the scary part is that I wouldn't doubt something like that happening! Let's hope that you get to go on a cruise before then!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Woohoo! We finally went and applied for our Passports this morning! It was a lot easier than I thought!! We all had an appointment at 10:30 this morning, and we were all 4 in and out within a matter of 20 minutes or so! One thing I will tell anyone who is planning to get a passport...If you decide to go through the Post Office, go somewhere else to have your photo taken. The post office charges $15 per person, in addition to the $100 that the actual Passport costs, and we were able to get ours done at CVS this morning for $7.99. So we were able to get it for almost half of what the Post Office charges! The clerk told us that we should have ours within 2 1/2 to 3 weeks!! We were all a little relieved to hear that it shouldn't take that long as one of my niece's co-workers told her that it took 8 MONTHS to get theirs ...We would be in major trouble if it took us that long!
So anyway...we're almost official now! I'll make sure and let ya know as soon as we recieve them so that you'll know exactly how long it took! I know this probably isn't major news to anyone, but it's very exciting to me...It really makes the cruise seem that much closer!

 

[Mickey's Goofy Gal]

Today is one day closer than yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jennifer48]

Hi Missy!

Just found your report. I'm excited to read all about it. Did I read that correctly, if you are celebrating your 10 yr anniversary, you were married at 19?

I just got engaged in December and have DCL booked for our honeymoon in September. We'll be getting on the Magic when you are getting off!

I think you did right by getting the book. Who knows if the laws will change and you'll need the passport for other things. Not to mention, its good for 10 yrs so maybe you will fly internationally!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Today is one day closer than yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the encouragement, Kim!!! That's definitely a good way of looking at it!

Hi Missy!

Just found your report. I'm excited to read all about it. Did I read that correctly, if you are celebrating your 10 yr anniversary, you were married at 19?

I just got engaged in December and have DCL booked for our honeymoon in September. We'll be getting on the Magic when you are getting off!

I think you did right by getting the book. Who knows if the laws will change and you'll need the passport for other things. Not to mention, its good for 10 yrs so maybe you will fly internationally!

Hi, Jennifer! Thanks so much for joining in!!
Yes, you did read it right...We are celebrating 10 years this year! I actually turned 20 about 2 weeks before we got married. It's crazy when I think about it now...but I wouldn't change a thing, and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Congrats on your engagement. I know that you are going to have an awesome honeymoon! Will this be your 1st cruise?? I will make sure to leave the Magic in good condition for you!!

You're definitely right about the Passport thing. To me, it was just too big of a thing to chance! When we were applying for them on Saturday, the agent told us that they are good for 10 years, so I told my DSIL we were gonna have to see how many trips we could get in within 10 years to get our $'s worth! The DH gave me a funny look, but I can't imagine why!!

 

[Jennifer48]

Hi, Jennifer! Thanks so much for joining in!!
Yes, you did read it right...We are celebrating 10 years this year! I actually turned 20 about 2 weeks before we got married. It's crazy when I think about it now...but I wouldn't change a thing, and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Congrats on your engagement. I know that you are going to have an awesome honeymoon! Will this be your 1st cruise?? I will make sure to leave the Magic in good condition for you!!

You're definitely right about the Passport thing. To me, it was just too big of a thing to chance! When we were applying for them on Saturday, the agent told us that they are good for 10 years, so I told my DSIL we were gonna have to see how many trips we could get in within 10 years to get our $'s worth! The DH gave me a funny look, but I can't imagine why!!

Good for you! Ahh young love

Thank you! This will actually be my 3rd cruise. My 2nd 7-night cruise. I'm super excited about it! Any questions you need answered, I'll help as much as I can!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Good for you! Ahh young love

Thank you! This will actually be my 3rd cruise. My 2nd 7-night cruise. I'm super excited about it! Any questions you need answered, I'll help as much as I can!

Awww, thanks!!
You may regret telling me that I can ask you questions though!!
I just noticed the TR links in your siggie...I'm heading over to check out your cruise report right now!

 

[aussieinvasion]

Hey Missy,

Im having fun reading all of this, you're right it does pass the time a bit. Over here we only get the book type passports for 10 years and the kids are good for 5 years on theirs. Hey I just noticed your picture taken on Stone Mountain, I went there about 14 years ago!! What a small world

 

[UGAFan0829]

Hey Missy,

Im having fun reading all of this, you're right it does pass the time a bit. Over here we only get the book type passports for 10 years and the kids are good for 5 years on theirs. Hey I just noticed your picture taken on Stone Mountain, I went there about 14 years ago!! What a small world

Hi, Mel! Thanks so much for joining me! You're probably going to be soooo tired of hearing from me by the time that we cruise! At least you're having fun reading!!
Yep, the picture was from Stone Mountain. We live about 45 minutes from the park, but hardly ever go on our own. Mike's company has held their Christmas party there for the past 2 years, so that's when the picture was taken. It's very neat that you've been there!!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Soooo…Another one of the “to-do” items on my checklist is to book a hotel for the night before the cruise. All along, the DH and I had planned on staying at the Hampton Inn in Titusville for 2 reasons. One being that we stayed there before our last cruise and loved it, and the second being that since I’m a Hilton Honors member, I may just have enough points to get the room for free. Big bonus!!!
The Hampton Inn in Titusville:

After talking to the DSIL and DN, we decided that we would leave early that Friday morning and drive down. That would give us the afternoon and evening to do whatever. And since the DN wants to check out Cocoa Beach and Ron Jon’s, we figured then would be the perfect opportunity! So of course this is when my OCD kicked in and I went in search for hotels closer to the port and Cocoa Beach. I need to also mention that I am very picky about hotels. Why, I don’t know, I guess just another part of my OCD. Anyways, I didn’t have much luck finding anything that I liked that was anywhere closer than the Hampton Inn in Titusville. So I go online this morning with plans to go ahead and book the HI, but decided to do one last check for something closer. Of course, what do I find, but the Country Inn right there at the port!
The Country Inn & Suites in Cape Canaveral:

From what I’ve read, it’s pretty much the closest hotel to the terminals! Wow! So I went to my trusty Trip Advisor to check the reviews, and it’s pretty much in line with the Hampton Inn! By this time, I’m starting to get really excited at the thought of being so close to the ships that we could even see them from the hotel!! So then I check the rates to see what the difference would be…$176.00 after taxes and everything for a 2 queen room. Not bad, but even if I ended up paying for the room at the Hampton Inn, it’s still $50 more. So now I can’t decide…imagine that! Should we stay with the Hampton Inn, but have to drive 30 minutes or so over to Cocoa Beach after we check-in and then 30 minutes back to the hotel that night with another 30 minutes to port the next morning, or should I go with the Country Inn and pay $50 more, but yet be 5 minutes to everything??
I’m sure this is a no-brainer for some of you, especially considering the fact that I may even be able to get the room at the Hampton Inn for free. But, because my DSIL and DN will be with us, I really want to do what’s going to make it a better experience for them. If it were just the DH and I, I would go with the HI. But the thought of being 5 minutes from the ship AND being able to see them from the hotel…well, that’s worth $50 to me! Not to mention the gas that we’d save driving from the hotel to Cocoa and back, and then to port the next morning! So, what do y’all think? I really need some input here. I know that there will probably be rooms available at both hotels for a while, but I really wanted to go ahead and get something booked! I know that there are probably things that I’m not thinking about in deciding on one or the other, so I wanna know what y’all think. Help a girl out here!!

 

[Mickey's Goofy Gal]

Since Mama is OCD too, I thought that I would let you know that they stay at Country Inn and Suites most of the time when they are traveling for Daddy's job. She is comfortable staying there. Also, as far as $ for the hotel - not having that 1 hour of travel time may allow you to enjoy being there a little more & give you a little extra site seeing time since you will have a short period of time between the arrival in Florida and the cruise departure. As you mentioned, it will also take less gas to travel around.

 

[UGAFan0829]

Since Mama is OCD too, I thought that I would let you know that they stay at Country Inn and Suites most of the time when they are traveling for Daddy's job. She is comfortable staying there. Also, as far as $ for the hotel - not having that 1 hour of travel time may allow you to enjoy being there a little more & give you a little extra site seeing time since you will have a short period of time between the arrival in Florida and the cruise departure. As you mentioned, it will also take less gas to travel around.

See, this is exactly why I wanted to ask for input...I didn't even think about the extra time that we would have if we did stay at the CI! I'm also glad to know that your Mama likes the CI...that makes me feel good about it, too!!

And by the way, I was looking at the pic in your siggie, and it's crazy how much Kenny has changed since then. He looked like a teenager then, now he looks so grown up!

 

[Mickey's Goofy Gal]

I know he has grown and changed so much in the last few years. That was taken in July 2005. I can't wait to go back to Disney and to go on my first cruise - but you know - he chose a new race car over a Disney trip for his high school graduation gift from his dad and I. He said he is putting a Mickey Mouse by my name on his new race car! Gotta love Mickey!!!!!!!!!