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

[IamAnniM]

Philly's Finest in the House - or should I say - On The boat
Just booked 11/11 - looking forward to the double dip at Castaway. Took my first cruise in 04 and gotta go back. I REALLY enjoyed Castaway and am looking forward to the double day there. As an emptynester, am hoping to meet plenty of groups to join in on excursions. Checking into the Cozamel ruins tour - not sure about Costa Maya. Nothing better than beginning a New Year looking foward to a Disney Vacation.

 

[CJLKIM]

Welcome IamAnniM ...looking forward to getting to know you. Some of us were just in Costa Maya earlier this month so we might be able to give you some input!

A lot of knowledge on this thread....glean all you can! I know I sure have!

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

Welcome IamAnniM! I am also from the Philly area! We are in Huntingdon Valley and I work in Abington, how about you? There are several people from the area on our cruise I believe! My group is just DH and I, we are late 30's early, 40's and DINKS.

Not so sure about a 10 pm chat for me, I am very early to bed kinda girl during the week, but I will try!
My aol name is dizneydawn (I am also not a very good at coming up with orig. names!)

I am also unsure about Costa Maya, what did everone that was just there do? Did anyone go to the beach in the "fishing village"? I think it may be called Majahaul? Was thinking that might be what we do. Would love some input. TIA

 

[house_of_princesses]

Oh how you all keep me smiling!! I'm worrying about what to feed my family for New Year's Dinner...and you're all planning excursions!! Will someone give me 24 hours notice before I have to have my ressies in and I'll throw some darts and see where we'll be going!!


Happy New Year, All!!


Welcome to all the new comers!! Hope to be here Tuesday with everyone!!

 

[dizney-cruiser]

I just went back and checked on page one and see you added Linda's name to the list!! Perhaps now she will stop crying!! Thanks!

 

[ibouncetoo]

Pat, I'll PM you my AOL-IM user name (don't want to post it here as it very stupidly has my complete name in it). I'll also add you to my buddy list.

I've been avoiding thinking about excursions and other details yet, as I'm not 100% sure this is the date I will be sailing. I think I need to pin down my friend to see if she is ready to commit to a cruise this year and pick a date (she can't get off work in November)! I'd really like to do a trip with her, as my first cruise was solo and I know how much more fun it could be sharing it with a good pal. But, geeze, I'm starting to get attached to you people! Oh, maybe I should go check my Power Ball ticket for last night's drawing..........

Have a Happy New Year's day everyone.

 

[GrayFal]

Perhaps now she will stop crying!! Thanks!

I doubt it

Can you chat Tuesday???

 

[cjsmom97]

Happy New Year Everyone!! ​

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?

Here I am!! Just been busy with the holidays. What's new, right? I have been getting my office organized for end of the year stuff so that has kept me away from the computer. But don't worry... it won't last long. Sarah won't let me stay away for too long. She starts hunting me down by email.

 

[faireygod mother]

Wow, we are alive! Except I found us on page 2 today.

Pat the 136.00 rate was a corporate rate from my DH and DS's employer. We are trying to see if it will work again. Does not look promising though. I thought about USAA, but do not know if anyone has them. They are always ofering travel assistance.

As for staying close to the port... My concern is transportation. I am willing to be educated and informed.

Well I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years day. I went to see Disney's Lion King play and I must say it was wonderful. MY DGD 5 went, it was her first play and musical. She loved it. If anyone gets a chance to see it, it is worth the money, go.

Well, I had better get some work done. More later.

 

[house_of_princesses]

Well, I'm sitting here reading about hotels at the port, transportation to and from and it occurs to me....... I may need to think about this!!

I can't imagine going to that region of the country and not going to WDW. Yet I now have a dd in school, and most likely will have another in school come fall. That dag gone school thingy!! They actually want me to keep them in class! Horrors. I may have to skip WDW, and fly down. This is just too much for me to think about right now. I better go read my Passporter or something.....raise my spirits.

 

[house_of_princesses]

Saw the Lion King in Chicago. Superb!! A wonderful production and definately worth the $$. And that's not just because I'm a Disney Geek.

 

[faireygod mother]

Vicki, great minds think alike, I have been sitting here and looking at hotel and getting rates.

Well guys here is what I found close to the port. I used DCL tribute and expedia to get names and then went to each hotel to get rates.

Holiday Inn Express-(4.7 miles) $152.00

Best Western-(4.7) oceanside $155.48-169.00

Days Inn-(4.7) $95.00

Cocoa Beach Oceanside-(4.9) cont. bk., shuttle,old but well maintained $140-$170

Inn at Cocoa Beach-(5.6) oceanside, $135-325.00

Comfort Inn-(5.6) $99.95 right across the road from the beach, luggage storage available

Motel 6-(5.7) $75.99

Courtyard by Marriott-(5.9) $159.99

Hampton-(5.9) Nice cont. bk, basically oceanside, $159.00

Quality-comp. non avail

Doubletree- (6.4) $114.00 no view

Radisson Resort $139.00

Four Points Sheraton Cocoa Beach $159.00

Ron Jon Resort (3.2) $ 100 - $325

La Quinta (7.1) $119.00


For me, I think we will stay at the Hyatt. It is about the same cost and I only have to worry about transportation to and from the port and the porter will take our luggage to the hotel. I was advised that this is not off season for them anymore because so many people cruise then. I can see that by the prices now. I was shocked.

I have not checked ou the prices near the airport. That is always an option for those who do not want to stay at the Hyatt, but want to do the group transportation.

Something to think about.

 

[GrayFal]

Well, I'm sitting here reading about hotels at the port, transportation to and from and it occurs to me....... I may need to think about this!!

I can't imagine going to that region of the country and not going to WDW. Yet I now have a dd in school, and most likely will have another in school come fall. That dag gone school thingy!! They actually want me to keep them in class! Horrors. I may have to skip WDW, and fly down. This is just too much for me to think about right now. I better go read my Passporter or something.....raise my spirits.

Hahahhhha....just reading this thread is enough to raise MY spirits.......and for some reason, I am suddenly getting email notification so I know when Dee is looking for me (insert Jessica CHEESE smile here)
I am tossing around staying in Orlando until Monday Night or Tuesday night (BIG Cheese Smile) - getting a Marriott TS unit with a Friday check-in so we can come right from the port to the rooms - drop off our stuff and relax or hit the parks.......have to do some MAJOR convincing for that.....

Hmmmmm....looking GOOD!

Pat the 136.00 rate was a corporate rate from my DH and DS's employer. We are trying to see if it will work again. Does not look promising though. I thought about USAA, but do not know if anyone has them. They are always offering travel assistance.

As for staying close to the port... My concern is transportation. I am willing to be educated and informed.

My darling Dee.......it is wonderful to be open - but I am NOT...LOL.
We have done the drive down and stay before and the fly down and stay by the airport at a nearby hotel......

I really am convinced for me (arriving after work on Friday - probably 10pm or later) that the Hyatt is the way to go. I want to be relaxed and ready to get in my van by 9 am Saturday - stop at the market on the way and be at the port by 10:30.

Our 11/13/04 cruise - LUCKILY we stayed at the airport instead of out by the port because we made it to Orlando by 9:30 pm - picked up our car and were at the airport hotel by 10:45 had a bite and were in bed by 12 BUT our luggage was still in Miami

We had to drive BACK to the airport and pick up our bags at 8:45am...thank goodness they were there.....and we did arrive at the port by 10:45 but Tom had to drop off the rental car.........

Soooooo...Yo Ho, Yo Ho - The Hyatt Life For Me!

 

[GrayFal]

For me, I think we will stay at the Hyatt. It is about the same cost and I only have to worry about transportation to and from the port and the porter will take our luggage to the hotel. I was advised that this is not off season for them anymore because so many people cruise then. I can see that by the prices now. I was shocked.

I have not checked ou the prices near the airport. That is always an option for those who do not want to stay at the Hyatt, but want to do the group transportation.

Something to think about.

LOL...I started to post then had coffee and convinced Tom we should stay for a few days....and came back and continued with my post and YOU have been busy!

So what rate can we get at the Hyatt?????

Edited to add - this is Veterans Day weekend = Kids off from school and the end of "New Jersey" week...when we sailed in '04 the hotel prices were HIGHER than usual and more than what you would expect this time of year - we ended up staying at the Marriott Courtyard by the airport on points.

 

[faireygod mother]

Well, we are busy today. At time I hate being an OCD planner, but I want to get things done and then relax!!!

Pat , I agree, staying at the Hyatt is going to be the best way to go. I want to relax, not rush. In fact I am not going to DD this time as I do not want the hastle of renting a vehicle and driving there and back. I just want to sit and watch people or walk around the airport or better yet, watch the planes land.

As for the price, I will call USAA today and then call the Hyatt back. She quoted me 169.00 (if my memory serves me well). I will get all the specifics.

Enjoy your coffee and have a great day.

 

[txaggie94gigem]

HI!

well here we come...we are crazy and booked this cruise today! we will only be taking our 3 year old boy this time but my hubby and i could not resist the double dip and decided to sqeeze this in before we take a big cruise in 2007 (hopefully the med!?) with the whole gang....

i'm ready now...let's go!

 

[DIS NURSE]

Welcome! And no, I don't think you are crazy at all!

Who could pass up a Double Dip after Hurricane Season? And Key West can go by the wayside IMHO! Going to be sooooo fun!

We are DEFINITELY staying at the Hyatt the night before. We took the kids out of way too much school this last Fall and went early before our cruise. Did Cocoa Beach and was fun and all but the prices at the Port are getting way too expensive I think! I spent way too much (FL TOURS) getting us there, too!


I really liked the Hyatt (stayed there one night on our return home).
Did someone say they go find your luggage at the baggage claim for you? I now remember our bell boy telling us that and I couldn't believe it!

We got a rate of $169 plus tax....the day after Thanksgiving. So should have been high time also.

Our airfare to get from Oregon to Orlando is starring at me in the face! SHould I buy it now? We can get from our hometown to MCO for $344 each!

.....and that's flying home 2 days before Thanksgiving!

 

[txaggie94gigem]

Whew! i just read this entire thread...sounds like y'all have been having fun for awhile! and it seems i will fit right in...I am also a nurse....labor and delivery!

 

[DIS NURSE]

Ut-oh! Now you've got problems.....a Labor and Delivery RN mixed with an NICU RN!......nobody will want to sit next us!....too many "gross" and twisted stories from the world of post conception!

 

[GrayFal]

we take a big cruise in 2007 (hopefully the med!?) ....

The "Med" is mighty tempting....isn't it....I was going to do Alaska in 2007 but an August Med Cruise could be pretty cool....maybe the Fall Repo????

How's that sound Linda & Sarah