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

[Lovemy3babes]

Yay for 100 days!!! I hope a good discount comes out soon!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hmmm, you wouldn't be just a little bit biased in saying that would you since you just happen to be quite fond of where we are staying at WDW! I think you're right though. I think we are going to love **Resort, and I think it will be worth doing without the veranda to be able to stay there!

Maybe just a little....

 

[SoonerGirl]

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.

You know, I don't think we ever even got it wet! Maybe I need to submerge it a sink full of water for you and check it out

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?

Ours was plexiglass, don't think I would have been happy to sit down in the chairs and not be able to see anything!


I love your plans for your porch, sounds perfect! I'd do anything to be at Castaway Cay right now

I think you'll be fine with an inside stateroom. The virtual portholes look like so much fun. And, like you said, you can always go sit out on one of the decks if you start feeling a little closed in.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Woo Hoo for 100 days!!

Okay, so I went to look on Mousavers and found this handy little link that gives a chart for historical discounts and when they were released.

It is looking like most of the big discounts for October 2010 and beyond were released mostly in August but in July there was the free dining released but then in August 16, 2010 it looked like most of the discounts until the end of the year were released. There was also the room only rate discount released on August 16, as well. I'm guessing you probably have another month left to wait. I hope the link helps!

Thank you so much for that link! I was absolutely positively certain that we had gotten our free dining offer in July though, and when I went back and looked, I was right. But we didn't go to Disney in 2010 (we were doing that whole responsible adult thing with our budget, ya know). Apparently, they released it much later last year than it had been in previous years. I sure am hoping that is what's going on now. If they don't offer something for fall, I'll be in a real pickle!

Big ShoutOut for 100 Days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​

I wish I knew about a discount for the Fall. I am booked with a 20% pin which DH was lucky enough to recieve. Funny thing about that pin is I was booked for September I think, this was back in February and decided to take a chance and try setting up an account for DH on the Disney Site to see if it might generate a pin. Then I ordered a DVD in his name and when it asked about when he would be visiting for some crazy reason I put December, I guess cause I still want to go to WDW for Christmas.

Well DH rec'd a pin via snail mail good for 20% from 12/1 to 12/22. I about wanted to kick myself in the "you know what" for not putting down October since that was when I really wanted to go this year.

Anyway I called and played dumb, told the CM about the pin we rec'd but that I was confused about when it was good for. The CM said he did not see any pin listed but asked me to give him the numbers, and when I did he told me it was good from 10/18 to 12/22

So I changed our trip to October, lost 2 days to keep it within our budget since the discount was better for our Sept dates.

I was pretty sure something better than 20% would be released for the Fall
but as I wait, it seems the room availability is really decreasing.............but on the other hand the restaurants are not full at all , other than the ones that normally are booked CRT, 'Ohana etc. Sooooooooooo I do think FD will be offered for Oct-Dec. Just not confident about room discounts

I will have my fingers crossed for a discount for you Rinky.

Thanks! I need it. At least you got 20% off. I'd feel better if I had anything right now. I got a 20% off pin for December, but we had already decided to go in October and we didn't want to cruise in the winter. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you too that something even better than 20% off comes out! I can't imagine them doing free dining from Jan - September and not for fall. Fall is supposed to be one of the slowest times.

Congrats on 100 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




I hope you get FD or an awesome discount very soon!!

Thanks! Me too. I hate waiting for discounts. That would probably be the very best thing about DVC!

for 100 days!!!

And tomorrow we can do a double digit dance if you like!!

I know nothing about the free dining, so I'm no help there, but I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

I'll take all the dancing smilies you want to post as long as the days keep ticking down!

Yay for 100 days!!! I hope a good discount comes out soon!!

Thanks! If I was rich, I could just book whatever the heck I wanted and not worry about any discounts. Don't foresee that happening anytime soon though.

Maybe just a little....

Yeah, I thought so!

You know, I don't think we ever even got it wet! Maybe I need to submerge it a sink full of water for you and check it out

Hmm, then you must have used the lockers during your dolphin encounter??? And I guess you didn't get into the water at CC? I don't know how else you could have done that. I think I remember reading that there aren't any lockers at CC. I'm pretty sure we will be getting ours wet because all of us will be in the water at CC (weather permitting).

Ours was plexiglass, don't think I would have been happy to sit down in the chairs and not be able to see anything!

That's what everyone else has said too. I think the plexiglass is a must. I'd hate to pay that extra money and not be able to see anything!


I love your plans for your porch, sounds perfect! I'd do anything to be at Castaway Cay right now

Well, right now I just have a big gaping whole in the side of my house!

I think you'll be fine with an inside stateroom. The virtual portholes look like so much fun. And, like you said, you can always go sit out on one of the decks if you start feeling a little closed in.

I hope so. I think I will be so tired at night that I won't be awake long enough to start freaking out!

replies in blue

 

[SoonerGirl]

Hmm, then you must have used the lockers during your dolphin encounter??? And I guess you didn't get into the water at CC? I don't know how else you could have done that. I think I remember reading that there aren't any lockers at CC. I'm pretty sure we will be getting ours wet because all of us will be in the water at CC (weather permitting).

Yep, there were lockers for the dolphin encounter. We had the cabana on Castaway Cay, they are pretty secluded so we didn't think anything about just leaving our stuff in the closet inside of it. I guess technically another cabana renter could have gone inside and gone through our stuff while we were off doing things, but I never really worried about that.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Yep, there were lockers for the dolphin encounter. We had the cabana on Castaway Cay, they are pretty secluded so we didn't think anything about just leaving our stuff in the closet inside of it. I guess technically another cabana renter could have gone inside and gone through our stuff while we were off doing things, but I never really worried about that.

I didn't even put my stuff in the closet...
The cabana seemed so secluded. How can I go back next year and not have one? The plotting starts now....

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Yep, there were lockers for the dolphin encounter. We had the cabana on Castaway Cay, they are pretty secluded so we didn't think anything about just leaving our stuff in the closet inside of it. I guess technically another cabana renter could have gone inside and gone through our stuff while we were off doing things, but I never really worried about that.

I didn't even put my stuff in the closet...
The cabana seemed so secluded. How can I go back next year and not have one? The plotting starts now....

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Yep, there were lockers for the dolphin encounter. We had the cabana on Castaway Cay, they are pretty secluded so we didn't think anything about just leaving our stuff in the closet inside of it. I guess technically another cabana renter could have gone inside and gone through our stuff while we were off doing things, but I never really worried about that.

I bet that cabana was awesome! Can't wait to read about it in your TR!

I didn't even put my stuff in the closet...
The cabana seemed so secluded. How can I go back next year and not have one? The plotting starts now....

Private island.... secluded cabana.... does it get any better? You will definitely be spoiled after that!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Just for you Sheree...........

A double digit dance!!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Double Digit Dance Party!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sjs314]

I'm here and happy to be doing the double digit dance as long as I can do it here in the A/C.

Went to WM yesterday and on the way home I was complaining about how hot it was so DH says to me " and you want to go to Florida?" I sure hope it is not hot in October or I will never hear the end of it

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Oh Boy!!! I love the double digit dancing!!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Just for you Sheree...........

A double digit dance!!!!

I said I'd be back!!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I'm knee deep in planning today and ran across a question that I am sure one of you knows the answer to. Is there a bus stop at the front of Epcot for the Beach Club? We won't actually be going into Epcot that day, so I can't use the Int. Gateway. We will be leaving from our resort and I am wondering if I can take the Epcot bus and just get on a BC bus from there? Or could we take the bus to HS and take the boat from there to BC. I'm not sure if that's even an option???? Thanks!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

There's no bus from Epcot to the BC. So if you don't want to enter Epcot, you would need to take a bus to DHS and then a boat to the BC. Or the bus to MK or DTD and then a bus to the BC.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Double Digit Dance Party!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm here and happy to be doing the double digit dance as long as I can do it here in the A/C.

Went to WM yesterday and on the way home I was complaining about how hot it was so DH says to me " and you want to go to Florida?" I sure hope it is not hot in October or I will never hear the end of it

I know! I'm so hoping for cool weather AFTER my cruise is over!

Oh Boy!!! I love the double digit dancing!!!

I said I'd be back!!

Your word is good!

There's no bus from Epcot to the BC. So if you don't want to enter Epcot, you would need to take a bus to DHS and then a boat to the BC. Or the bus to MK or DTD and then a bus to the BC.

Thanks! I just had a hunch that there was no BC bus for Epcot since you can walk from the IG. I think we will go from HS and then take the boat. That sounds like the most relaxing way to get there. Although, there is a slight possibility that we will be coming from the Grand Floridian that day. If so, I guess we will take the monorail to MK and a BC bus from there. Or if I am really feeling froggy, we might take a cab!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I’m sure this isn’t news to some of you, but I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY! I’m not all that great at it, but I love it nonetheless, and I enjoy looking at other people’s pictures just as much as I like taking them myself. I’ve seen almost everything in other disser’s TRs hundreds of times, but I still love looking at their pictures and hearing the stories that go with them. I never tire of it because everyone seems to see things from a different perspective through the lens of a camera.

Currently, I am using a Canon Powershot SX 10 IS. It is basically a high end point and shoot with a large zoom (20X). I really enjoy it because it is more compact than a DSLR, but still takes good pictures and has lots of settings for all the fancy stuff (that most of the time, I don’t know how to use ). I’d love to make the leap to a SLR at some point, but I’m just not quite ready yet. I don’t think I know enough about photography to make it worth the investment right now. Someday though!

However, I have been wanting a super compact camera that I can carry in my pocket for everyday use. I don’t like dragging my Canon around for events that really don’t require all the bells and whistles that it has. My Canon is definitely more compact than a DSLR, but it is still way too chunky and heavy to slip into a pocket. I wanted something small that I could take to school parties for DD, church activities, soccer games, etc. where I really don’t need a fancy camera.

Well, I figured that if I was going to invest in a pocket camera, it might as well be multifunctional. I’ve also been eyeing a camera that would meet the needs of a “tremendously tropical trip!” We will be doing lots of water activities on the ship, in the Bahamas, at Castaway Cay, at the resort pool, and one other place that I haven’t mentioned yet. It just kept nagging at me that I would have no way to capture all that fun stuff without risking ruining my good camera, so I started dropping hints to DH that I wanted a compact, waterproof camera for my birthday. After months of my not so subtle hints, he finally said, “Just order it already!” He would have gotten it himself, but he knows how particular I am over my cameras, so he just told me to go ahead and order whatever one I wanted! I could have really socked it to him and got a fancy DSLR after that comment, but I was a very good girl and didn’t take advantage of him! I even waited, not so patiently, for it to go on sale, and I got a great deal on it from B&H Photo! Soooooo........ I am the proud new owner of the Panasonic Lumix TS3 in my favorite color… turquoise blue!

I have taken lots of pictures with it out of the water and have been very pleased. For it to be a very small camera, I think they turned out well. Here are some samples:

Our kitty, Holly

Our Chihuahua, Bella

The girls I keep in the summer swimming at my neighbor’s house

I was happy with those, but then I tried the underwater settings and they didn’t turn out so well.

I really need to practice more underwater before our trip, but the pool we go to in town doesn’t allow cameras! What the heck! I didn’t know that until I tried taking it in with me, and they told me it was against the rules. Now I have no idea how I’m going to practice with it! It would probably help if I read the manual! The sample pictures that I have seen from others using this camera look great so I know it’s me and not the camera. Regardless, I am very excited about it and I am looking forward to using it on our trip!

Up next… Bahama Mama!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Woohoo for a new camera!!!

You know I love photography and pictures too! I just have a Sony cyber-shot, but it takes pretty good pics. It's getting to be about 3 years old though and I have been thinking about getting something a bit newer. I'm not sure it will happen before the trip though.

Anyway -- Congrats!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Congrats on the new camera!! I love the pic of your puppy!!! It's the cutest chihuahua I've ever seen. Somehow I feel like we've talked about that before...

Anyway - when is your birthday? We don't want to miss an occasion to throw you a party!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Congratulations on your new camera!! Most of my underwater pics didn't turn out nearly as nicely as those I had seen while doing my camera research either, I'm sure it's me too.....