November 26, 2005/ 7 day Eastern Magic

[grlzmom]

Michelle2, I just noticed that your counter also lists USO. Are you going there before or after? We are going to be there for a couple of days pre cruise.

 

[TJGorman]

Michelle2 and grlzmom-I know my DD would be interested in e-mailing before the cruise.

 

[Michelle2]

TJGorman, that sounds great! My girls would love that. I was even mentioning to my DS12 today about emailing the other 12 year old boys closer to the cruise, and he was all for it.
Grlzmom, we are going to USO right after the cruise. We would never leave out one or the other while in FL, WDW is after US/IOA! LOL and we are so excited! Glad to hear that you are getting to go before...what a great combo, we love them both!

 

[thumpery]

Hi everyone! Under 300 Days till it's our turn on the MAGIC!

Michelle2 - Did you book cars / transfers / hotels? Sounds like you have a long vacation with USO and WD after. We're going a few days before and staying Saturday night after. Haven't book the hotel for before the cruise yet. We want to be near WDW. We really like getting a condo before; somewhere I can do laundry (at my leisure ie. after the parks) and save a bit of money eating in. Anyone have any reasonable ideas? I know it will be more expensive due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but any suggestions would be appreciated. We stayed at Cypress Pointe this past year and it was fine. So, I'm looking into it again. We've also stayed at the Holiday Inn Family suites. Where is everyone else staying before?

 

[Michelle2]

Yes, I have started really getting things in gear on reserving, I have been worried about it being December, and the different locations involved. You inspired me, Thumpery! I know that I can change the reservations if better deals come out, so I am just going with the guaranteed for now, and keep my eye out as the time gets closer...
We kinda made it a long trip since we are in the west and don't come to FL at all...Just one other time for a Disney trip in 2003 (haven't vacationed since then to save up for this next one), so we wanted to experience DCL, and this may be it for awhile. But looking forward to it!

 

[DsnysGr8t]

We're staying at the Doubletree Guest Suites in DtD (on Hilton points) the night before the cruise and at the Embassy Suites (points again) at the airport the night we get off the cruise. We're still trying to decide if we want to go to Universal the day we get off the cruise or something else.

Thanks to one of my co-workers DD and her BGF that is going with us now have gowns for one of the formal nights (plain black velvet, very simple). Hopefully one of them doesn't out grown them before then (or both!)

LGM

 

[DiaLady]

Listening to everyone talk about their plans is so exciting.!!

We're considering flying on Thanksgiving since it's usually less crazy. Then we would have a day to spend at Sea World and evening in Downtown Disney. My kids have never seen Sea World and we're getting Busch Garden passes this summer. I figure we'll get a hotel close to Sea World.

Hubby is asking me to put together a list of probable expenses for the trip. I know airfare, tips, hotel, transportation . . . Does anyone have some other items I need to remember to include?

Have a terrific day!

 

[grlzmom]

My girls would love to correspond with other dds their ages before the cruise. They did this once before and it really made a difference in their trips.

I need to get going on our reservations for the nights before and Saturday night after our cruise. Not to mention the airfare. Booking for a family of nine is never the easiest.

Dialady, we also budget for Shutters (photos), shore excursions, Bingo (ha ha, my girls are addicted and at 35 bucks a game it gets expensive), way overbudget on tips because our service has always been great and my girls love to do the room service thing so we bring lots of one dollar bills, and of course my favorite, spa treatments

My younger ones really want to stay at the Nick hotel before the cruise and I would much rather stay on property, but will probably end up caving in.

 

[thumpery]

Well, I just booked our condo before the cruise! We're going to stay at Cypress Pointe Grand Villas. We were pleased with them last year and I got a good rate.
Grlzmom - I checked into the Nick Hotel (I believe it used to be Holiday Inn Family Suites). We have stayed there numerous times and the rates were always pretty good. This year they were $203/nt. I couldn't believe the price increase. That was with a AAA rate. On Hotel Discounts website it was even higher. Anyways, just thought I'd let you know. Hopefully, you can find it at a more reasonable price. My boys will miss staying there. Just thought I'd let you know because I was just looking into it yesterday. Good Luck!

 

[DsnysGr8t]

I also budget for shore excursions, food (before boarding, in ports etc) and don't forget Palo's! If anyone finds a good coupon/deal on a mini-van "please" let me know.

LGM

 

[april riddle]

I am seriously thinking about Discovery Cove the day after Thanksgiving this year. I had booked it for last thanksgiving but decided to use the almost $1000 to stay 4 nights at Universal's Royal Pacific and 5 day pass for the same price. It was alot of fun and I would love to do that again this year but I know DH won't go for that two years in a row so I am thinking to fly in Thanksgiving Evening around 730 and do Discovery Cove Friday and stay somewhere around Sea World and drive to the port on Saturday from Orlando. I have already booked the rental car since it is cheaper for us to rent a premium car and leave it at the port and take it back to MCO than going Disney transfers for the five of us or getting a limo. I am dying to try Discovery Cove!!!!

 

[Michelle2]

DsnysGr8t, I am looking for a good mini-van rate and/or coupons too. I noticed that the good $!99 or less a week usually come out closer to when we go...a few months before or so. I have noticed on the transportation boards that Southwest has been having good minivan rates, but they only book out about 5 or 6 months in advance, bummer....
That was a really good point you made about leaving your car at the port being cheaper than transfers april riddle, I will have to look into that...We have a family of 6...grlzmom I don't know how you do it! LOL
We will be leaving on Thanksgiving day too, and have a stop over in Las Vegas for about 6 hours (my family is there) so we can kinda end up having Thanksgiving with them in the process of going on our trip! Just found this out last night, so i am really happy...trying out Delta song for the first time!

 

[grlzmom]

Michelle2, that is great that you will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with your family enroute to your cruise.

Thumpery, I caved in and booked the Nick hotel. I would much rather be at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, but, majority wins. We booked at the 203 per room per night and maybe I will get lucky and find a better rate later. If not, it will just have to be less bingo for the girls.

We have never rented a car for the duration of our cruise but a couple of times when not all the kids could go, we did the one way rental (from budget) and dropped it off at port and that worked out great and was really cheap, like 30 bucks each way. The limo works out least expensive for us. And, then dh and I can concentrate on the kids and not worry about schleping the luggage anywhere.

The kids I can handle, the luggage is another story

We are going to WDW in four weeks for all star cheerleading nationals and my girls can't wait. I can't wait til that's over and I can get planning on the cruise.

 

[thumpery]

Grlzmom - Thought I'd pass this on to you. I read somewhere on the board today that someone was booking at the Nick hotel and got a deal for being a return customer; I think 25% off. Might be worth looking into. This person was still not happy with the rate, and that the lady they were talking to gave them even a better rate. Something called Great Rate I think. Hope this might help you. As far as you going to FL for cheerleading, would that happen to be Tampa around March 3rd. If so, my niece will be there with my sister and BIL.

I have started making my riddles/clues for the scavenger hunt on Valentine's Day. That is the day the boys will find out that they are going on this cruise. The puzzle I had made of the ship came out great! They will get a few pieces to the puzzle with each clue. At the end, they will put it together and find out. Anyone have any riddles? The more clues/riddles the better. I've always done a scavenger hunt for Valentine's day and the boys love it. It's become a tradition.

 

[april riddle]

We pulled right up to where they unload the luggage - the porters come out and out take your luggage. We didn't do anything to it except put it in the car from the hotel. and I parked so close to the door that my dh and sons had about three people behind them going up to the security. it was a nice set up.

 

[DiaLady]

april riddle - what is discovery cove? Is it a hotel or is it a dolphin petting place? I'm still open to ideas. I'm just thrilled hubby has agreed to leaving on Thanksgiving day. Guess I"m not hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year . . .LOL

Thanks!

 

[april riddle]

Discovery Cove is a part if Sea World that is separate from it and it has a Dolphin experience where you get into the pool area with them. It is a whole day experience and there is snorkling and other areas where you can experience sea life. It is pretty expensive but it is a whole day of exposure and everything is included, including (from what I have read) a pretty nice lunch with it. For the four of us last year the price was $960.00 dollars. You spend about 45 minutes in the dolphin pool. I think it is alittle more expensive than the dolphin swim in St.Martin but I have this thing in my head about the dolphins not being taken care of properly in the islands. I know that this isn't probably true but going to Sea world several times the past few years the trainers just seem like they truly love the dolphins. You can put a deposit down and I think you need to pay the balance thirty days before you arrive. Since we did Nasa and Cape Kennedy this past November I think we may try this instead. There is also a whole thread committed to Discovery Cove on the DIS boards, there is also a website but I am not too computer literate so not so sure I could post the link. try www.discoverycove.com. It sounds and looks like a fun place to try. We are going the friday after Thanksgiving - maybe we will see you there.

 

[DiaLady]

Thanks aprilriddle! I wondered why our passes to Busch Gardens say they do not include Discovery Cove . . .LOL. I'll have to investigate it more and see what hubby thinks

I'm doing my best to put away extra $$ for this trip so we can enjoy a bit of the spa. I'd like to suprise hubby with it.

For those of you have been on board before, what is your favorite spa experience? Do you think it's worth it to have the Rainforest pass for a week?

I recently read a single mom's recommendations and one the cool things was showering up at the rainforest each nite in a big shower with great smelling shampoos, etc. I know for a single mom, it's a treat to have a break from the stress of a family, but I thought it was a great idea for a married mom, too

Have a fabulous day!

 

[TJGorman]

On our last cruise, I tried the Spa Tester. I chose the back massage and facial. On this cruise, I will choose the full body massage. I didn't try the rainforest pass, I am still deciding whether to use it on this cruise. I started considering the rainforest pass after reading all the positive comment posted here.

 

[Michelle2]

Those all sound really relaxing, we still do not really know which one(s) we are going to do...I was thinking of a facial. I am just kinda scared off by all the posts about the high pressure sales pitches...even those who write "no sales pitch please". Oh well, we will see!
And Discovery Cove sounds really fun!