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

[DIS NURSE]

For what it is worth, we just visited the Wilderness Lodge this past Nov to check it out.....heard it's modeled a lot after the Pacific Northwest, from which we are from and had to see for ourselves!
Yup, lots of Oregon wines on the menus and even pictures of our Cascade mountains on the walls! LOL!

Was beautiful and we would stay there in a heartbeat if we knew we were returning to WDW again soon. The past two years have probably been enough for a while and so we are planning other endeavors.

Speaking of which, I spent HOURS today researching the Atlantis Resort outside of Nasseua (sp?)........Bahamas.

The city itself sounds totally unappealing and we will stear away from the bad....but the resort itself sounds AMAZING! So much for us to do and I have already earmarked this vacation for our Nov 2007 event, unless DCL comes out will something I cannot resist!

Has anyone been to the Atlantis resort for more than just the day (DCL shorties)? The Harborside Suites is what we are looking at.....and I am fully aware of the food cost issue. I plan on packing 2 suitcases of snacks and food just so we can afford it!

 

[CJLKIM]

Has anyone been to the Atlantis resort for more than just the day (DCL shorties)? The Harborside Suites is what we are looking at.....and I am fully aware of the food cost issue. I plan on packing 2 suitcases of snacks and food just so we can afford it!

My boss and several co-workers spent about a week at Atlantis list past fall. Reports were that it was amazing. The biggiest expense was the outrageously priced food so you're on the right track to take whatever you can to cut costs. I watched a video they brought back explaining about the resort since we were originally supposed to be rerouted there in December and I'm quite anxious to see it as well.

According to my boss they have recently begun an expansion project and he said that if we were considering going then we should hold for for a year or so in order to enjoy whatever new they come up with.....

I will double check where they stayed at the resort and see if I can get some room ideas for you.

 

[rocketralph]

Hello everybody.
Well we just booked our airline tickets. We had enough points racked up on our American Airlines Card to get 2 first class round trip tickets.
I'm way too excited.

 

[dizney-cruiser]

wow!! first class tickets!! now that im jealous of!!

 

[CJLKIM]

Hello everybody.
Well we just booked our airline tickets. We had enough points racked up on our American Airlines Card to get 2 first class round trip tickets.
I'm way too excited.

Congratulations!

 

[clynne]

Hello everybody.
Well we just booked our airline tickets. We had enough points racked up on our American Airlines Card to get 2 first class round trip tickets.
I'm way too excited.

How fun!!!! Enjoy the views from up there And, the extra leg room...

Carolyn

 

[schwaja3]

Hello all. I'm a newbie to this site. I found out about it while planning for a Disney trip in 2000, and then forgot about it until we started planning a our cruise.

I'm going with a group of about 7 or 8 families from my town. As this will be my first Disney cruise I would love to get any tips or suggestions to make the cruise all the better.

Anyway, I'm going to start reading this thread more often.

Thanks.

Jack

 

[faireygod mother]

Welcome Jack you are in great company.

The cruiseline forum is also a great place to start and get some tips and of course ask questions. There are a few of us who are repeat cruisers and some more recent than others.

We also chat on Tuesday evening at 10pm on AIM if you are interested.

If you list all your people and ages our fearless leader will add you to the list.

Again welcome

 

[schwaja3]

Thanks for the welcome Fairy Godmother. In my family we have myself (Jack) and my wife (Debra), and 2 sons who will be 11 and just turning 8.

All the other families going with us have kids ranging from 3 to 13. One of them has done the Disney cruise before, so they have been our primary source of information.

I'm having fun checking out all the threads and getting excited for the cruise, even thought I still have 10 months to go!

 

[Vanvmom]

Welcome! I'm sure you will have a blast, and these boards are a wealth of information (and so are your fellow cruisers)

 

[IamAnniM]

DISNURSE - I visited Atlantis on my first DCL last year and took the excursion to the hotel. It was FANTASTIC. I vowed to go there ever since I saw the Mary Kate and Ashley movie at the Bahamas with my niece. The DCL arranged excursion was very nice and you get a tour of the hotel and aquariums. I loved it so much, I booked it for several nights using my DVC points. I think it is cost effective,though, to just wait for specials. I am staying at the Royal Towers, I am SO EXCITED!!!! Check out the site, Atlantis.com they have great outlines of the rooms, resturaunts and activities. They also have a food plan.
Alot of people who take the cruise work out a 1-day rate at an adjoining hotel which allows use of the Atlantis pools. The slides look GREAT but I am really looking forward to the lazy river!!

 

[IamAnniM]

Welcome SCHWAJA3 - looking forward to a wonderful trip - I'm glad your coming along - I have a special spot in my heart for "Jacks" - my dog's name is Jack -----Jack Sparrow, ofcourse
Flying in from Philly - where are you from in NJ??

 

[GrayFal]

Hello everybody.
Well we just booked our airline tickets. We had enough points racked up on our American Airlines Card to get 2 first class round trip tickets.
I'm way too excited.

We were upgraded to Business class on our flight home from STT.....really nice!
BTW, did your daughter cruise with you the last time???
Rocadonas??? was her DIS name???

 

[DIS NURSE]

DISNURSE - I visited Atlantis on my first DCL last year and took the excursion to the hotel. It was FANTASTIC. I vowed to go there ever since I saw the Mary Kate and Ashley movie at the Bahamas with my niece. The DCL arranged excursion was very nice and you get a tour of the hotel and aquariums. I loved it so much, I booked it for several nights using my DVC points. I think it is cost effective,though, to just wait for specials. I am staying at the Royal Towers, I am SO EXCITED!!!! Check out the site, Atlantis.com they have great outlines of the rooms, resturaunts and activities. They also have a food plan.
Alot of people who take the cruise work out a 1-day rate at an adjoining hotel which allows use of the Atlantis pools. The slides look GREAT but I am really looking forward to the lazy river!!

OOOhhhhhhooooo! You are gonna have SOOOOOO much fun! I see you are going in April.....I must get a FULL report from you when you return! The Harborside suites seem the most affordable for us and I just checked on airfare......all the way from our home town in Oregon...great times and perfect itinerary....only $500 each...doable in one LONG day.

Yup, we would go in Nov of 2007 so I am thinking whatever they are building should be done my then.

Remember, I want a FULL report when you get back.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Hello all. I'm a newbie to this site. I found out about it while planning for a Disney trip in 2000, and then forgot about it until we started planning a our cruise.

I'm going with a group of about 7 or 8 families from my town. As this will be my first Disney cruise I would love to get any tips or suggestions to make the cruise all the better.

Jack

Welcome to one Jack from another!

Welcome home, Pat! And isn't Jeanna due back now.....we want a report on Expedition Everest

 

[chichihoney]

jackie
jeanna is home she will do a trip report about her trip or during chat tomorrow
night

 

[cjsmom97]

jackie
jeanna is home she will do a trip report about her trip or during chat tomorrow
night

You guys sure are thorough!!! Gonna track me down one way or another, huh??

Ok... here goes....

First - Let's just say I will NEVER (and I really do mean NEVER) stay at a Value resort. Don't want to hurt anyones feelings about them so I won't go into detail.

Second - I will NEVER (yes, there is that NEVER again) do the Magical Express. Again, don't wanna be flamed so let's just go along with this one. TRUST ME!!!

Third - Expedition Everest - Got to ride it 3 times. It was pretty neat. I did think it got off to a slow start. It didn't really pick up speed until you were going backwards. It seemed to us that they tried to 'borrow' some ideas from The Mummy at Universal. They didn't do anything fancy with flames but they did do the track switch-a-roo where you go over the same part of the track more than once to do something different. Overall, I would say it is a pretty neat ride. Would I ride it again? Absolutely as long as I had a fastpass or there was very little wait. Would I wait in line for 40+ minutes? NO. Absolutely not. Put it to you like this. When we were ready to leave MGM, we wanted to ride Rock N Roller Coaster first. The wait was 60 minutes. And we gladly got in line. Luckily, while we were there, someone asked if we wanted their fastpasses. DUH!!!!! YES!!! But, the point is I would wait the 60+ minutes for that one but no way for Expedition Everest.

That's all for now.... They were starting to swarm so I thought I had better say something before they tracked me down!!

 

[ibouncetoo]

Thanks for the report, Jeanna!

Hmmmmm, Magical Express mishap or delays? Or worse yet, both!

I lucked out on timing the bus when I used it, but I do recall my luggage being a little 'tardy' arriving at the resort (though it didn't impact my activities that evening).

 

[DIS NURSE]

So glad you had a safe and fun trip, Jeanna! Thanks for that report.
Just a few things, however.....inquiring minds want to know! Now you HAVE to cough up the details! C'mon....you don't want us compulsive, obsessive planners who spend hour upon hour on the Internet researching vacations go astray!!!!!!....do tell your insights!

.......I have often thought that a stay at a value resort would put me over the edge! The food courts sound like a McDonalds from Hell nightmare!

.....The Magical Express deal is what freightens me about "the bus" from a WDW resort to the DCL Terminal.....have heard so many bad things about them and they are related, ya know.......

Trip Advisor gives me hours of entertainment and research frequently. Just think of your report to us as just a mere entry or two on Trip Advisor and we'll forget we know who you are.

 

[house_of_princesses]

TiggersPal - I have to ask, who said "Life is not a steady journey to the grave..." (I'm going from memory and my memory isn't that great.)? I like the sentiment, but wouldn't want to repeat it without knowing who originally said it.

Jeanna - home!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I can't agree more about the Value Resorts. We stayed at the music one I think. It was after our first cruise, and we decided to head back to WDW while disembarking. I didn't want to spend too much more $$$, seeing as I was heading to Texas. Should have spent the $$$.

Our October ME experience was marvelous! Was right there waiting for us on either end. Actually had a private van on the return because it was an early pick up. Sorry your experience wasn't so smooth.


Happy Tuesday!