No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems: A Tremendously Tropical PTR

[sjs314]

Just an update on DH's job interview....

He said it went really well. He got some very positive feedback from the interviewer. So good in fact that they went ahead and told him that he will definitely make it to the final interview. There were 9 people that interviewed on this round today, and now there are only 3 left. DH was pretty excited, but really nervous and stressed too. He said he felt like he was in front of a firing squad! We are both just ready for this to be over. It is so emotionally draining. I'm hoping the final interview will be sometime next week, but they move so slow! Anyway, thanks for all the well wishes and prayers. They were very much appreciated. I'll let you all know when we hear the final word!

That is Great New Rinky! Geez I remember how stressful going to one interview was, this has to be taking its toll on the poor man. I will continue to pray and keep fingers crossed that they set up the next interview soon and he gets this position.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Thanks a bunch! I was really proud of him. He is just so ready for this to be over though. They interviewed him for two hours! You'd think he was trying to get on with the CIA or something!

If you are interested, you should look into cruising. I bet it would cost less than you think since it's just the two of you. I was pleasantly surprised by the price. And you can sail a lot cheaper on the Magic and Wonder too. For example, a 7 night Caribbean cruise (Magic) in October for two adults is about $1700. That sounds like a lot, but for 7 nights, and everything is included... it's really a bargain! You'll just have to start stashing away more of those nuts!

Two hours is a really long time to interview!!

I am interested in cruising, the hard part is planning when and also it's really hard for me to give up Disney World when I'm going to be in Florida for a cruise but those land/sea vacations can get pricey. It's in my mind though for in the future.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

That is Great New Rinky! Geez I remember how stressful going to one interview was, this has to be taking its toll on the poor man. I will continue to pray and keep fingers crossed that they set up the next interview soon and he gets this position.

Thank you! He is pretty stressed right now. I've never had to jump through all the hoops that he has to get a job/promotion, but with the economy like it is, they seem to be a lot more picky about hiring and there is a lot more competition for jobs.

Two hours is a really long time to interview!!

I am interested in cruising, the hard part is planning when and also it's really hard for me to give up Disney World when I'm going to be in Florida for a cruise but those land/sea vacations can get pricey. It's in my mind though for in the future.

2 hours is excruciatingly long! I think I'd rather go to the dentist than sit through that!

Yes, planning a cruise can be a challenge. There is a HUGE difference in price from one month to the next, so choosing when to go is a big decision. To me, summer rates are outrageous. Spring & fall prices are pretty good though, but the weather can be iffy. I'm already getting paranoid about hurricane season!

And land/sea trips can really rack up because of the travel issues. DCL transportation is not free, and it is priced like you are riding in a gold chariot with Prince Charming fanning you and massaging your feet! If you drive like we are doing, that part is a non issue, but it is still more expensive than just going to WDW.

I really think that if we like cruising, we will just do our cruises and WDW trips separately next time. But that means I want a 7 night cruise b/c I am not going all the way to Florida for just 3 or 4 nights!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Oh, the food!!! It's one of the best things about cruising. You can order something, and if you don't like it, you can get something else! Or you can order three appetizers and no main course if that appeals to you! I love the options! It's liberating to have a menu with no prices!

Private dining - we were a party of 4 and while we did not ask, we had our own table at all the dining rooms. There were quite a few smaller tables like that, along with larger groups. I'm sure you will have your own table.

We had a veranda (that was about all that was left when we booked) and while we loved it, the rooms were big enough that it did not seem cramped or claustrophobic at all. If you have a window, you'll be fine.

We have "someday" plans to cruise the mediterranean, but unless I get a job that pays twice as much, it probably won't be on DCL. Planning our London/Paris trip has opened my eyes to how expensive it is just to GET to Europe! But my goal is to go for my 50th b-day. Our kids will be in high school then. Jeez, it's really not that far away. I better start counting my nuts!

When we have cruised, we have managed to do the shorter cruises and tack on a few days at WDW. But usually not more than 5, it does get expensive (DVC helps!).
But if I were to do a 7 day DCL, that would probably be enough, maybe a day before I'd hit MK, since we'd come down a day early anyway. Again, DVC would help there!

Good for your DH on the job interview! I hope it goes quickly and you know something sooner rather than later!!

 

[jenseib]

Good luck to your DH. When will the next interveiw take place?

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Just an update on DH's job interview....

He said it went really well. He got some very positive feedback from the interviewer. So good in fact that they went ahead and told him that he will definitely make it to the final interview. There were 9 people that interviewed on this round today, and now there are only 3 left. DH was pretty excited, but really nervous and stressed too. He said he felt like he was in front of a firing squad! We are both just ready for this to be over. It is so emotionally draining. I'm hoping the final interview will be sometime next week, but they move so slow! Anyway, thanks for all the well wishes and prayers. They were very much appreciated. I'll let you all know when we hear the final word!

That's great news!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

You are going to love dining on the DCL! Most everything we had was so good, and you can order whatever you want, as much as you want.

We had a verandah room and LOVED it, we really enjoyed sitting out there in the mornings and evenings just watching the waves or watching us coming into/leaving port. Not sure I'd want to cruise without one now, but if I'd never had one I'm not sure we would have missed it, know what I mean?

Congratulations to your DH on making it to the final interview!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Oh Rinky! I've been MIA from the Dis for almost a month so I missed the start of this. I am thrilled that you are getting to go on a new WDW trip. I know how much you love Disney.

So here I am, in for the ride, all caught up now!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Oh, the food!!! It's one of the best things about cruising. You can order something, and if you don't like it, you can get something else! Or you can order three appetizers and no main course if that appeals to you! I love the options! It's liberating to have a menu with no prices!

I am going to love looking at a menu with NO prices!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait!

Private dining - we were a party of 4 and while we did not ask, we had our own table at all the dining rooms. There were quite a few smaller tables like that, along with larger groups. I'm sure you will have your own table.

I feel like we will too. From pictures I've seen, it looks like there are a lot of smaller tables. I wonder if that is something different they have done with the Dream?

We had a veranda (that was about all that was left when we booked) and while we loved it, the rooms were big enough that it did not seem cramped or claustrophobic at all. If you have a window, you'll be fine.

I would LOVE to have a veranda, but a land/sea trip is already so expensive. I had to cut something out. It just wasn't worth the cost to me on such a short cruise. I hope to have one next time though! And yes, I am assuming there will be a next time!

We have "someday" plans to cruise the mediterranean, but unless I get a job that pays twice as much, it probably won't be on DCL. Planning our London/Paris trip has opened my eyes to how expensive it is just to GET to Europe! But my goal is to go for my 50th b-day. Our kids will be in high school then. Jeez, it's really not that far away. I better start counting my nuts!

Yes, travel is quite an expensive hobby, isn't it? If you find that double salary job, let me know so I can apply too!

When we have cruised, we have managed to do the shorter cruises and tack on a few days at WDW. But usually not more than 5, it does get expensive (DVC helps!).
But if I were to do a 7 day DCL, that would probably be enough, maybe a day before I'd hit MK, since we'd come down a day early anyway. Again, DVC would help there!

I'll take a DVC membership to go along with my Med cruise.... what do you think my DH would say to that?

Good for your DH on the job interview! I hope it goes quickly and you know something sooner rather than later!!

Thanks! Me too!

replies in blue

Good luck to your DH. When will the next interveiw take place?

Thanks! We don't know yet. Hopefully next week, but it is now Friday afternoon and not a word.

That's great news!!

Yes, I'm real proud of him for doing so well so far.

You are going to love dining on the DCL! Most everything we had was so good, and you can order whatever you want, as much as you want.

I've heard the food is really good on the Dream. That is absolutely going to be the determining factor for DH wanting to go back!

We had a verandah room and LOVED it, we really enjoyed sitting out there in the mornings and evenings just watching the waves or watching us coming into/leaving port. Not sure I'd want to cruise without one now, but if I'd never had one I'm not sure we would have missed it, know what I mean?

I would really like to have the veranda, but the extra cost was just too much with the rest of the trip. Our trip is for 12 days, so there is a lot of cost just in being gone that long. Plus I really wanted to try out a moderate resort this time, so I just had to accept that I couldn't do it all. I really want one next time though. I know I would love it for he exact reasons you mentioned.

Congratulations to your DH on making it to the final interview!

Thanks!

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I've also been meaning to ask you how your waterproof ID lanyard thingy worked out. I need to order one and was wondering if yours actually did keep the water out.

Oh Rinky! I've been MIA from the Dis for almost a month so I missed the start of this. I am thrilled that you are getting to go on a new WDW trip. I know how much you love Disney.

So here I am, in for the ride, all caught up now!

Yay! I am so glad you are here Kelli! I hope you will do a PTR or TR for your next trip too. Have you decided yet when you are going back?

 

[jenseib]

We had a verandah room and LOVED it, we really enjoyed sitting out there in the mornings and evenings just watching the waves or watching us coming into/leaving port. Not sure I'd want to cruise without one now, but if I'd never had one I'm not sure we would have missed it, know what I mean?

Congratulations to your DH on making it to the final interview!

Thats exactly how I feel now. I didn't care before...but now it's all I want.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Thats exactly how I feel now. I didn't care before...but now it's all I want.

I have a question for all of you who have had the veranda. Did you get the one with the solid white wall at the bottom or with the clear plexiglass? If you got the white wall, were you happy with it.... could you see good enough with that one?

 

[jenseib]

I have a question for all of you who have had the veranda. Did you get the one with the solid white wall at the bottom or with the clear plexiglass? If you got the white wall, were you happy with it.... could you see good enough with that one?

WE had pexiglass

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Oh my goodness, I just found you but I promise to get caught up! I can't wait to read about all of your plans!!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I have a question for all of you who have had the veranda. Did you get the one with the solid white wall at the bottom or with the clear plexiglass? If you got the white wall, were you happy with it.... could you see good enough with that one?

We had the white wall on our veranda. It's the only veranda we've ever had and I absolutely loved it!
Are you joining a FE group? I might have missed this, so sorry. We did it on the dream this past June and it was fun! Your little sweetie pie would have a blast with it.

I'm caught up through your links, and the shopping pictures were fabulous! I love shopping! How do you like the Teva mush flip flops? I have several pairs and love them! When park touring I sometimes need a little "Glide" on the balls of my feet when I wear them all day. Not sure if it's just because my feet aren't used to flip flops at that time of year or not...

Is there any chance you are going to be in WDW during the middle of October? I'm sure you have been asked by a bunch from the girls trip.

Keep it coming Rinky! Love your plans!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

WE had pexiglass

I have a feeling that would be the best view for me since I am so short. I bet I wouldn't be able to see a thing while sitting down with the white wall.

Oh my goodness, I just found you but I promise to get caught up! I can't wait to read about all of your plans!!!

Yay! I think the gang is all here now!

We had the white wall on our veranda. It's the only veranda we've ever had and I absolutely loved it!
Are you joining a FE group? I might have missed this, so sorry. We did it on the dream this past June and it was fun! Your little sweetie pie would have a blast with it.

I just wonder if I would like the white wall veranda since I am so short???

I really can't sign up for a FE yet because I have no clue which cruise we will be doing. And if we end up with the 3 night, I wonder if we will even have time to do it???? I know DD would totally love it though! She would think Terence followed us on the ship!

I'm caught up through your links, and the shopping pictures were fabulous! I love shopping! How do you like the Teva mush flip flops? I have several pairs and love them! When park touring I sometimes need a little "Glide" on the balls of my feet when I wear them all day. Not sure if it's just because my feet aren't used to flip flops at that time of year or not...

Yes, I know how you love to shop! I haven't tried my Tevas yet because Terence brought the wrong color and I had to send them back, but DD loves hers. She keeps saying, "Mama they feel so squishy!" and apparently that is a good thing!

I'll have to get some of that body glide. Everyone says it is great. My feet need all the help they can get at WDW!

Is there any chance you are going to be in WDW during the middle of October? I'm sure you have been asked by a bunch from the girls trip.

I know all of you are going in mid October! I am so bummed that we will miss you by about a week. Even if we take the earlier cruise, we will still miss all of you by just a few days. But if by some miracle, something changes and we do overlap, I am totally crashing your DIS party!

Keep it coming Rinky! Love your plans!

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[Mndisneygirl]

We had the clear plexiglass on our verandah. I know what you mean - I'm short too, and if I sit down I have to peek through railings all the time!
It was so nice.

But, I agree with what you said earlier - if it means getting to go on the cruise or not going, I will gladly sacrifice the verandah! Especially on the shorter trips, you just don't spend a lot of time there. We seemed to use it more on our early mornings before we reached port or while waiting for our group to get changed for dinner etc. Just here and there.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Ok, I’m not one to do much updating on the weekends, but I have a crew of men working on my house today and I need something to occupy my mind while they are seemingly demolishing my home! We are having a cover (roof) put on our patio because as it is right now, we absolutely cannot use it from May through September. There is no shade back there and it is hotter than the fifth layer of Dante’s Inferno! (in this case, that's a flaming head smiley, not an angry one! ) I can’t wait for it to be done! My “theme” for the patio is going to be Castaway Cay! There’s going to be a hammock, some palm trees in pots, ceiling fans, and cushioned lounge chairs. All I’ll need are some lapping waves and a CM to bring me a drink!

Now, since these builders seem to be destroying my house on land right now, maybe we should talk about my home at sea! I put a great deal of thought and calculations into my decision on which stateroom to book, and here’s what my logic was……

1. This is our first cruise. We don’t know if we will like cruising. We don’t know if we will be sick as dogs the whole time. We pretty much know absolutely nothing about cruising whatsoever, so I had a hard time committing too much money to this first adventure on the high seas, considering we have so much uncertainty.

2. I also reasoned that since we know our cruise will be short (either 3 or 4 nights), that we will most likely be spending VERY little time in our stateroom. I’ve never been one to hold down the hotel bed all day long anyway. When I go on vacation, I want to see and do everything! No way am I just hanging around in a little bitty room with nothing to do but watch TV. That just isn’t me. It is quite possible that the only significant amount of time spent in our room will be when we are snoozing at night. There is just an enormous amount of stuff to see and do on the ship itself, which is all new to us. I have a lot of stuff planned for our port days as well, so we will have a very full itinerary.

3. Our trip is long! We will be gone for 12 days and there is quite a bit of expense wrapped up just in being gone for that long. We could shorten the trip to save enough for a stateroom upgrade, but I’d rather have the extra days on our trip.

4. And finally, I also like to try a new resort on each of our Disney trips. We stayed at AS Movies on our first trip and Pop on the second. We enjoyed both of them, but I really wanted to try somewhere different. I have no interest in staying at AS Sports, so that left AS Music in the value category, but for some reason ASMu just wasn’t appealing to me for this particular trip. I really had something more tropical in mind for the entire vacation. Well, when I did the math, I found out that we could upgrade our 7 night WDW stay to the “more tropical place” I had in mind for the same cost as a veranda upgrade on the cruise. That pretty much sealed the deal for me. I think we will get much more for our money with the WDW resort upgrade than we would with the veranda upgrade in a stateroom that we won’t be spending very much time in.

I certainly hope my logic for this decision turns out to be right! I would love to have the veranda, but our last name isn’t Rockefeller, if you know what I mean. We had to cut somewhere, and this seemed to be the right place for the ax to fall. I know having the veranda room would be awesome though and I hope if we do a longer cruise next time, we will have one!

So what choice did we make in the end………..

We decided on the inside stateroom with the virtual porthole. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, the porthole in your room shows you real time views from a camera outside the ship. This is the least expensive room category that you can book. To upgrade to a real porthole room was an extra $200 or so, and the veranda room was an additional $400 or more. Again, this trip was adding up quickly so we just decided to go with the cheapest option.

I am actually looking forward to the animations that come through the porthole though. There are several of these that float by or pop up on the porthole screen about every 30 minutes. I think DD will get a kick out of those!

I really hope I don’t end up regretting my decision on this, but we have a vacation budget and I am determined to stick to it. In the end, I am always just so glad to be there that these little details don’t matter much to me anyway. I’m sure I will feel the same way this time as well. But there is one thing that keeps nagging at me………………..….. I am claustrophobic! That does have me pretty nervous about this “inside” stateroom, but I’m trying very hard not to dwell on it. I think I will be ok as long as our cabin is not underwater. Someone please tell me that none of the rooms are “below sea level!” DH nor I can stand the thought of sleeping with the fish!

Up next…………. A flashy new, picture perfect prize for my birthday!!!!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

We had the clear plexiglass on our verandah. I know what you mean - I'm short too, and if I sit down I have to peek through railings all the time!
It was so nice.

But, I agree with what you said earlier - if it means getting to go on the cruise or not going, I will gladly sacrifice the verandah! Especially on the shorter trips, you just don't spend a lot of time there. We seemed to use it more on our early mornings before we reached port or while waiting for our group to get changed for dinner etc. Just here and there.

Well, I was asking about the veranda for a future cruise. We won't have one this time, but I think it would be great on a 7 night cruise. You would really have the time to enjoy it then. I bet it was so nice to sit out there in the mornings though! And I think the plexiglass one is the way to go for us shorties!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Hey Rinky! Just call me Dory! I looked back at our cruise pics and you could see through our veranda wall! Duh!
We had an inside stateroom on our first cruise too! I think the virtual port hole is an excellent way to go if you can deal with being closed in. I really think the illusion it will create will make you feel like you aren't in a box! You will have the time of your lives on that big boat and I predict many Disney cruises in your future! Psssst we have one booked for next June.....

 

[sjs314]

Rinky - I think your plan makes perfect sense. I had no idea there was such a thing as a virtual porthole. I think the illusion of being able to look out would work well as far as means of not feeling closterphobic. The staterooms size looks good. I am trying to remember what our friends complaint was about their bathroom, had something to do with the shower but I can not recall(was not a Disney cruise)

I never thought about stateroom being below the water level before and now all I can think of is how the water came into the below deck rooms first on the Titanic. DH has laughed at me because my worry has always been a wave turning the ship upside down like in the Posiden adventure.

Waiting patiently to hear all about your Birthday surprise