MR October 28, 2012 "Halloween Time"

[Kidlette]

Mostly lurkers but just getting around to joining the FE group! Our friends talked us into it, as they are cruising the week before and are very excited! This is our first Disney cruise, but we are big Disney fans, DVC owners and so excited to make it work! We have cruised before but Disney will be 100x better! Two adults and one very happy 9 year old son!

Welcome
I emailed you about the FE. I will add you this afternoon.

 

[Kidlette]

So...great news, things are better now and I can rebook my spa treatments! Yup - Ryan got a raise! BUT, re-booking spa treatment's isn't the good news. The good news is that because of this we were just able to book an 11 day WDW trip for Lorelai's 1st birthday!!!! 1/24 - 2/3 we will be there at our "home" celebrating her birthday! We're DVC members so "home" is Jambo House at Animal Kingdom Villas. We'll be in our usual studio savannah view. Hopefully that will be adequate; we assume we won't really need a 1 bedroom until she's a bit older. Either way we are STOKED!

As far as the cruise goes we are still not planning to do excursions. At only 9 months old, there's nothing good enough to compel us to take Lorelai off the ship.

 

[AmanduhAnn]

That's so awesome!! You guys are going to have so much fun!

I don't blame you for not booking excursions, save that money for the DW trip.

I am still going back and forth as to rather or not I should book DD (she's 6 y/o) for the kid's dolphin one. I need to decide quickly, I don't know if that fills up.

 

[Kidlette]

FE REMINDER: The list will be closed on 9/23, only 11 days away! After the 23rd you cannot add, so if you're still pondering whether or not you want to join - please be sure to make a decision soon!

 

[Kidlette]

That's so awesome!! You guys are going to have so much fun!

I don't blame you for not booking excursions, save that money for the DW trip.

I am still going back and forth as to rather or not I should book DD (she's 6 y/o) for the kid's dolphin one. I need to decide quickly, I don't know if that fills up.

Thanks - it's going to be a blast! Well, I suppose there's a possibility that it could suck if the little one is fussy the whole time rotfl, but we're going to aim for it to be good!

I'm not sure about that excursion, we've never done it. Hopefully someone on here can give you some tips though. It may sell out quickly, I'm not sure. Most things do. Good luck!

 

[kindsoul73]

Well, I just jumped the gun and went from my 2 kids doing the dolphin experience, to ALL 3 of us doing the dolphin SWIM. So freaking expensive, but a once in a lifetime opportunity.
I hope I don't regret it!

 

[sica1799]

Awesome! You rock!

Sent!!

****************************
Hi sica1799,

I can't send pm to you so here goes my request to kindly email me the Mexican Riviera Halloween Time Disney Cruise graphics.

Thank you!

~mickeyminnie2kids~

I need an email address

We're excited and want to share this with you all if you haven't seen it yet.

disneycruiselineblog.com/2012/08/happy-haunts-materialize-on-select-october-2012-sailings/

~mickeyminnie2kids~

This is soooo exciting!!!!!!!!!

Mostly lurkers but just getting around to joining the FE group! Our friends talked us into it, as they are cruising the week before and are very excited! This is our first Disney cruise, but we are big Disney fans, DVC owners and so excited to make it work! We have cruised before but Disney will be 100x better! Two adults and one very happy 9 year old son!

WELCOME!!!! It is so much fun!!

So...great news, things are better now and I can rebook my spa treatments! Yup - Ryan got a raise! BUT, re-booking spa treatment's isn't the good news. The good news is that because of this we were just able to book an 11 day WDW trip for Lorelai's 1st birthday!!!! 1/24 - 2/3 we will be there at our "home" celebrating her birthday! We're DVC members so "home" is Jambo House at Animal Kingdom Villas. We'll be in our usual studio savannah view. Hopefully that will be adequate; we assume we won't really need a 1 bedroom until she's a bit older. Either way we are STOKED!

As far as the cruise goes we are still not planning to do excursions. At only 9 months old, there's nothing good enough to compel us to take Lorelai off the ship.

I am sooo happy for you guys!!! That is beyond awesome to hear! She's going to have the best first birthday at "home"

Well, I just jumped the gun and went from my 2 kids doing the dolphin experience, to ALL 3 of us doing the dolphin SWIM. So freaking expensive, but a once in a lifetime opportunity.
I hope I don't regret it!

If I had the money I would do it too! Congrats!!!


All is well over here, I am just super busy with my new job, but I am approved for vacay and I am counting down the days!!

 

[CastMember 02]

will we all be sent the final FE lists? If so when

 

[Kidlette]

will we all be sent the final FE lists? If so when

The list is continually updated on page 1 of the board. It's the 2nd post on page 1. Please find the FULL AND FINAL list there.

 

[Kidlette]

I am sooo happy for you guys!!! That is beyond awesome to hear! She's going to have the best first birthday at "home"

Thanks! It's going to be FANTASMIC! We got almost the whole dining schedule done last night. I think we're doing a character meal every day! I can't wait to see how she reacts and responds to everything!

 

[kindsoul73]

I know it's not my business, so forgive me, but is a trip like that more expensive than a cruise? I'd love to do a trip like that one day.

 

[Kidlette]

I know it's not my business, so forgive me, but is a trip like that more expensive than a cruise? I'd love to do a trip like that one day.

No need to apologize, I don't mind talking about it. I love "promoting" DVC and would recommend it to anyone, so your question lets me do that

Yes, it's DEFINITELY more expensive. Using our exact dates, resort, room type, and tickets as an example - this is what you're looking at:

CASH/NOT DVC: Animal Kingdom Lodge/Villas in a Savannah view studio room for 10 nights plus 10 day base tickets (our dates, which is the cheapest time of year to go) for 2 adults (baby is free) is currently pricing at $5,776.14. That does not include airfare, food, or any "extras", that's ONLY the room and tickets for 2 adults!!!!

With that said, we are DVC members and pay $0 for the room and the 10 day base ticket is $636 total for 2 adults. In addition to that we have about $900 in airfare plus all food. We are doing a LOT of character and special dining which runs $40 - $60 per person. (I think Ryan budgeted $1,300 for food for an 11 day trip; most families with kids would probably eat cheaper than that though).

Now - with that said, since we are DVC members and essentially get our room "free" - we are in a deluxe property. That same length of stay in a value resort is WAY cheaper, 2 adults with room and 10 day ticket is only $1,986.02 (again, remember that you're going to still need airfare, food, and extras). Obviously, if you have kids then it gets more expensive. They have specials sometimes where they offer their dining plan for free, etc, but that's a personal preference. Ryan and I have always just gotten the tables in wonderland discount card and bought our food as we go. Since we do a lot of higher end dining and character experiences, it's cheaper than paying cash and getting the discount than wasting dining plan points. (I can explain if this doesn't make sense). All in all Ryan will spend bout $3,000 on the trip because we're DVC members. Without being a DVC it would be costing about $8,000. BUT, like I said, we get deluxe rooms because of DVC. Without it we would probably be in a value resort, in which case the trip would be about $4,000 when all said and done.

Really, it's a hard question because it depends on your preferences of where you want to stay, how you want to eat, extras you want to do, and time of year you want to travel. Above is just based on us and our preferences/situation.

I hope that helps! For the record, with DVC we didn't pay a penny for the cruise - not even port and tax!! We only pay gratuities and any excursions or extras we want! I HIGHLY recommend DVC to anyone!!

 

[AmanduhAnn]

For the record, with DVC we didn't pay a penny for the cruise - not even port and tax!! We only pay gratuities and any excursions or extras we want! I HIGHLY recommend DVC to anyone!!

Same for us!!! We love DVC!!!

 

[kindsoul73]

Wow, thanks for the detailed response. I will check out DVC while on board- and give them your name for sure!

 

[Kidlette]

Same for us!!! We love DVC!!!

That's awesome!

Wow, thanks for the detailed response. I will check out DVC while on board- and give them your name for sure!

My pleasure
If you have questions about DVC and want to know before the cruise so you're more prepared, just let me know. I'm happy to help! If you join, definitely use us (or anyone for that matter) as a referral - we both get something extra! You need the name and zip code of the current member. Ours are Ryan and Jessica McIntosh, zip 92582

As a side note, what we used to do when we went to WDW every year on DVC was buy an annual pass with the DVC discount. Instead of going every 12 months we'd alternate every 11 months, that way we could make 2 years worth of WDW trips on 1 ticket purchase. This meant that every trip we had $0 room charge, and every other trip we had $0 room PLUS $0 ticket charge! It makes/made going a LOT easier. You can save a lot of money alternating every 11 months that way. Truthfully, for something like the cruise is actually is some-what of a waste for your points. However, given that we had no airfare money this year using our DVC points for a cruise was the only way we were able to take a vacation at all. Even if you have to bank points and go every other year, it's still GREAT. But like I said, when you alternate every 11 months and use 1 AP twice, it makes a trip a lot easier. Then, there's a BIGGER discount for AP renewal - so after the first time you do it this way, it gets even cheaper! As an example, this year you would have $0 for room, about $800 for 2 adult annual passes, and then airfare and food. Go 11 months later for next years trip and you pay $0 room, $0 tickets, and just pay airfare and food! THEN, when you renew your ticket for the next 2 trips/years, instead of $800 it's only like $700, or maybe a bit less. It's FANTASTIC!

 

[Kidlette]

As a side note, what we used to do when we went to WDW every year on DVC was buy an annual pass with the DVC discount. Instead of going every 12 months we'd alternate every 11 months, that way we could make 2 years worth of WDW trips on 1 ticket purchase. This meant that every trip we had $0 room charge, and every other trip we had $0 room PLUS $0 ticket charge! It makes/made going a LOT easier. You can save a lot of money alternating every 11 months that way. Truthfully, for something like the cruise is actually is some-what of a waste for your points. However, given that we had no airfare money this year using our DVC points for a cruise was the only way we were able to take a vacation at all. Even if you have to bank points and go every other year, it's still GREAT. But like I said, when you alternate every 11 months and use 1 AP twice, it makes a trip a lot easier. Then, there's a BIGGER discount for AP renewal - so after the first time you do it this way, it gets even cheaper! As an example, this year you would have $0 for room, about $800 for 2 adult annual passes, and then airfare and food. Go 11 months later for next years trip and you pay $0 room, $0 tickets, and just pay airfare and food! THEN, when you renew your ticket for the next 2 trips/years, instead of $800 it's only like $700, or maybe a bit less. It's FANTASTIC!

I should add to this that every DVC member gets a discount on the annual pass. PLUS, as a DVC member you can buy a tables in wonderland card - it saves 20% on your meals at WDW. The card costs $100 so it depends on how long you will be there and the types of meals you want to eat as to whether or not it makes sense to get it, but for us it usually saves us a couple hundred dollars in dining! Anyway - just wanted to throw that out there

 

[Shoshie]

Hey all!

Can't believe it is getting closer (Not packed yet - but I did order our costumes). I think we're going to watch her sail off next Sunday from San Pedro.

We did have one small update:

 

[Laughogram]

Are any of you doing the certified dive excursions in Puerto Vallarta and/or Cabo? I'm looking for a dive buddy, if anyone is interested.

 

[MickeyMinnie2Kids]

Pls send me the graphics for the Disney Cruise Mexican Riviera Oct. 28, 2012.
My email address:
mickeyminnie2kids
@hotmail.com

Thank you!

 

[MickeyMinnie2Kids]

Hi,

I just wanted to ask if there is a way to have a prepaid gratuity (prepay before the cruise). How does it go and how does it work? Will it come out cheaper?

Thanks!