November 11, 2006 - MAGIC - Special Western "Double Dip" Cruise 11/11/06

[faireygod mother]

I have not heard that. After my last cruise and the missing luggage. My OCD self would rather take my luggage to the port.

As the plans come together (in the next month) I will keep everyone posted.

We were hoping to be picked up by 10am so we can get to the port early and board early and of course start our vacation early.

 

[ibouncetoo]

OK, I just started to play with one of my Christmas presents....a alarm clock/radio/sound soother/CD player.

I set up my sound soother to fall asleep to the ocean and the alarm to my CD of the DCL horn (When you wish upon a star) that I got from the Castaway Club. I knew you guys would appreciate it.....my sister just gave me one of these:

 

[DIS NURSE]

Sounds like a great Christmas present!....pack that for sure!

On the transportation thing......we just did the "pay up the ying yang for 4 people to get personally transported to the Port".....was worth it ONCE but never aGAIN....COST US $110 FOR THE 4 OF US...and we see better options now. We, like yourselves, opted to go a little early and check out the Port's sites....we stayed 2 nights at Ron Jon's Caribe Resort. I would check it out as as possiblity but it is a time share place with lots of rig-a-mor-oll that comes with it. It was worth it once but I was not impressed with Cocoa Beach factoring the extra $$. This time we will only fly in one night ahead and likely stay at the Hyatt.

Count us in for the bus transport!

We need to take a head count I guess.
$169 a night isn't that bad.....we just paid a little more than that a night in November.....we stayed at the Hyatt and loved their class act operation! Reminded us of Disney! Granted, we had just spent 5 nights at the Nick Hotel after our Dinsey Cruise and had tainted views of the world in general! It is well worth sparing the headache for convenience!

We heard many taxi drivers and others speak of the "Disney Bus" nightmares of the DCL's patrons not getting their luggage delivered at the terminal, etc.

Main point here.....we can get to the terminal ON TIME (early!...say 10:00 to 10:30 AM ) by shuttling our own bus? That is the key right there!

.....in Nov., we took a taxi from Ron Jon's to the terminal and were one of the first parties on board after the "first class citizens" and the physically challenged. It was great!

The airfare from the West Coast (Oregon) to MCO (Orlando) is out and CHEAP! .....I am so tempted to but it now on a credit card.....and begin paying it of little by little. We fly home 2 days before Thanksgiving and I know those rates will go nothing but UP!

 

[dizney-cruiser]

i just checked the prices on expedia and they were no where near that $800 someone quoted - was that for one person? i can book a round trip flight for two for $547 - that is much closer to what i was expecting!

 

[faireygod mother]

That is not a bad price. It is 200.00 a person from Norfolk to Orlando.

I am holding off for a little while longer. I want to see what Air Tran is going to do and they have not released those dates yet.

 

[house_of_princesses]

Tracey, a few days ago I read your post about travelling alone with the three children. I've been thinking on that. I, too, travel alone with my four dd's all the time. They do marvelously!! For our first cruise we drove from Chicago area to WDW. From there to the port, back to WDW then over to San Antonio, TX. From there we went home. Lots of driving for me, but the girls did great. Same with the trips where we fly.

Give them each a back pack, put the rest on wheels and off you go!! As for the transportation, make it simple. If the long ride from All Stars is too dreadful, do what's not so dreadful.

Perhaps it's because they don't want to get left behind in an unfamiliar place, but they really seem to step up to the challenge of helping out and staying close while we travel.

Just trying to relieve a bit of that anxiety you may be feeling. I had it, too, but was more than pleasantly surprised on how smoothly things went on my first solo trip.

 

[jcemom]

Thank you!

 

[faireygod mother]

Okay you double dippers, where are you all? I assume you are double dipping in the egg nog?

We have not heard from Pat in a while or Jeanna. Do you think Pat is off basking in the hot sun drinking some fab martini with the cabana boys fawing all over her? Is Jeanna busy scrapping?

Well in case I do not get to write again before next year. I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year. I will see you all next year.

 

[ibouncetoo]

This double dipper took her last vacation day of the year and played with her best friend from 5th grade! We met for breakfast, shopping and a movie (Casanova) and had a great day. She had recently been back to our home town (in Indiana) and brought me a t-shirt from our high school. We only discovered a little over a year ago that we were both in Phoenix (and had both been for 20 years). It's great to renew OLD friendships

I just re-visited page one of this thread.....this group is growing! From the PLAP-LAPers who are sailing together again, to those on their first cruise, this will be a great crowd. I'll probably be a LAP-LAPL myself (statistically speaking), unless I link dining with a family.....a concept to discuss in the future.

I picked up a lottery ticket and a power ball ticket today.....just in case 'fate' wants to allow me to do multiple cruises this year after all, I have four weeks vacation!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

This double dipper had to work all day and came home to watch some college football, a favorite pass time of mine and DH. (huge VT fans for any other CB fans)

We will also most likely be a LAP-LAPL also, we were on our first two Disney cruises. Just the DH and we requested late dinning.

Every body have a GREAT new year!

Off to watch more bowl games

 

[jcemom]

So...you all know which dining rotation you will get? Or just what you will request? Fill me in please. Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[ibouncetoo]

For adult only groups, odds are about 70% that you would have the LAP rotation.....based on a highly scientific survey I did on the DIS months ago

 

[jcemom]

Ahhh, I see. So...late seating with one adult, one teen, one pre-teen, and one pre-schooler I'm guessing that it would be impossible to guess what I'll get, LOL.

 

[GrayFal]

Double post.......

 

[GrayFal]

Triple post..........

 

[GrayFal]

Okay you double dippers, where are you all? I assume you are double dipping in the egg nog?

We have not heard from Pat in a while. Do you think Pat is off basking in the hot sun drinking some fab martini with the cabana boys fawing all over her?
Well in case I do not get to write again before next year. I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year. I will see you all next year.

Dee, I am sorry I have not checked in....I am not 'basking in the sun' (DARN) just now but my 'heavy travel season' is kicking in soon...LOL.

I was not able to get a really better rate thru AAA Kim....either $159 or $169 - but we (not AAA as they WON'T do it!) would have to sign a contract with the Hyatt guarenteeing them say 20 or 25 rooms and would have to PAY IN FULL for the number of rooms contracted even if 5 people canceled.
Personally, Dee's rate of $169 for a room that can be cancelled (stuff happens) is a better choice.

,,,,,and my BIGGEST problem is I no longer get email notification ....so I didn't know you were looking for me......

CHAT - AOL IM - Tuesday 1/3 @ 10 pm Eastern​

What do you all think?
Does anyone need to get AOL IM? http://www.aim.com/download.adp?aolp=

Please post your AOL IM name so we can add to our lists....I am starting a new AIM Buddy Group "DIS DD"

My name is TUGmom2​

Will add the new people to the first page....​

Glad You Found Us!​

 

[GrayFal]

We paid $136 with tax at the Hyatt in October. I am hoping to get that rate or better. The rates have not been posted yet, I checked yesterday.

Dee, just curious....where did you get that rate...thru what web site?????

 

[Vanvmom]

Not sure if I can chat each week, but my aim name is vanvmom (I know... I'm not much for coming up with original screen names). I'm a mom... my last name starts with vanv...

 

[CJLKIM]

CHAT - AOL IM - Tuesday 1/3 @ 10 pm Eastern​

What do you all think?

Pat, I'm in....talk to you all Tuesday....
If I brainfade.....alert me so I know to wake up and hop to it......

 

[chichihoney]

10 pm i'm in. i did 2 scrapbook pages in the cruise scrapbook of dec 3 o5.