October 15, 2005 anyone?

[SamR]

I thought I was the only one that planned so far ahead.

On the DISBoards? That would be like thinking you're the only alcoholic at an AA meeting. The only difference here is that we're all a bunch of chronic planners that just egg each other on, rather than helping each other "kick the habit." (Like I even want to kick the habit! )

In our case, we are driving down (from the Raleigh, NC area), and needed to leave on Friday to do so. After finding out that Thursday would be a teacher workday, I decided we might as well just go ahead and leave Thursday instead. After a little more thinking, I've now decided we'll leave Wednesday as soon as school is out, drive partway, and then be there early afternoon on Thursday. (I'm hoping that there will be an MNSSHP on either Thursday night or Friday night, as we have never been to one and would like to check it out.) I've booked a room using DVC points at Saratoga Springs for Thursday and Friday nights.

This illustrates a serious affliction amongst some of us chronic planners...I call it "vacation creep syndrome." We keep concocting new ideas for adding days to either end of a vacation plan, turning a simple concept into a major operation. ("No really, honey, it'll just be a cruise this time!" )

 

[SamR]

DH and I don't have kids (if we had kids then we would have to act like adults!)

Well, I have three kids, and I'm pretty sure my parental contract has a special exclusion clause allowing me to act like a kid anytime I'm on Disney property!

 

[oybolshoi]

Sam,
you should be able to hit MNSSHP on Friday night (if the last two years are anything to judge by). I hope you get to go - it's a hoot!! DH and I go every time we make it to WDW in October - it's right up there with the food and wine festival in our book.


Well, I have three kids, and I'm pretty sure my parental contract has a special exclusion clause allowing me to act like a kid anytime I'm on Disney property!

See, our problem is that we act like kids, oh... almost all of the time. We watch cartoons, read Harry Potter, make hidden Mickey's out of pancake batter. We comfort ourselves by claiming that it is all part of our "charm."


BTW - Jen had a good point about a meet: There was a DISmeet last October @ the sailaway party, but to be honest it was hard to meet anyone becasue it was so crowded & loud.

I noticed that too on our cruise - it's very loud and crowded at the sailaway party. If we're really serious about getting together to meet and greet maybe we could try a different time and location??? I'm open to suggestions - I've only been on the Magic one time and the sailaway was the only thing I could think of that most people definitely attend.

Brenda

 

[d'Isigny]

Gosh...go away and come back to this thread…growing - almost doubling...awesome.

oyboshoi (please forgive me for not getting first names down...i'll work on it), we [Kevin(me), Nancy(DW), Karin(DD-11), Kelsey(DD-8) and Kristen(DD-5)] are just elated about this trip. Nan and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary on the 19th of October…so this just compounds our excitement. Our troop tends to take some small annual vacations - so we can take a bigger one every second/third year. We are spending a week at a timeshare in Kissimmee with ¾ day’s at the parks before heading to the Ship. Will look to make flight arrangements arriving the Sat/Sun a week before we embark on this cruise. Things just worked out for this time/special occasion. Our DD’s school offered 2 ‘teacher development’ days just before a weeklong fall break – luckily our 3 DD’s will only miss 3 days of school. I sure hate to take them out of school for even 3 days…but, family times like this are an education in itself – not to mention, a life-long memory. I can’t wait to spend 2 weeks with my ‘special princesses’.

You mention a question about car rental…the best web site that discusses this (IMHO) is “Dave’s” – www.dcltribute.com
This contains some unbiased info that can offer you some outstanding suggestions. Not to mention, there are some outstanding other wonderful finds educating cruisers about DCL. When you’ve made a choice that best suites your family (Avis, Enterprise or Hertz have locations at the airport and port – very convenient to pick up a car before and after the cruise), please spend some time on www.mousesavers.com ,this site posts discount codes/coupons that can save you money. We’ve used Avis and Enterprise…just to be different, we will probably use Hertz – as work has started using this rental company and I should be able to use some upgrade coupons.

Jen (see…I’m trying), outstanding suggestion for a DIS-meet during this cruise. I agree that meeting during the sail-away party is tough. We tried a meet just before/during the party on our 2nd cruise…just did not work. There is too much going on…and a lot to experience. What about meeting at the port terminal? It might be a good idea to meet near the seating area closest to the model of the ship. Another suggestion – how about a group breakfast…there is a large outside seating area – Topsiders on deck 9. What about Sunday or Monday morning…thoughts…anyone? Only reservation I have for Sunday…is…I enjoyed the non-denominational service I attended in Jan 03 – just can’t remember the time and don’t want to miss this. My second job is working as a sound engineer for a Church. Since my time is committed for Sunday worship service…I rarely get to worship anywhere else.

Sure would appreciate your continued suggestions about excursions. We have not started our research on scheduled Ports of call and have yet to make a decision. Will probably spend some time searching on these boards for suggestions. Thanks to all for sharing your plans. In the meantime…this sounds like a research project for my 2 older DD’s. We were planning on having them go to the library and research the islands we are scheduled to visit.

Well…after reading your posts…I’m going to have problems getting to sleep tonight. There are WAY too many thoughts about this special trip running through my head. Night to all…take good care of you and yours………..Kevin

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

We should be able to plan a meet somewhere along the way.

The sailaway is an idea. Maybe up on Deck 10 away from the crowds.

I was also wondering if some of the ladies might want to get together for the afternoon tea at Palo's one of the Sea days. I know my man won't want to do that and they say that there are ton's of good desserts!!!!

Keep idea's coming for meeting places...Like you said we have 8 months to figure it out.

Bye,
Michelle

 

[oybolshoi]

I liked Kevin's idea of meeting up on one of the days that we are at sea - sailaway can be really hectic and noisy and crowded, even on deck 10 (at least it was the last time I sailed). Of course, if we try to meet up around breakfast we'll run into problems with people missing their scheduled character breakfasts... and we don't want that to happen!
I'm sure we can all come up with something - surely there are some veterans out there with suggestions?

Michelle - you'd have a better chance of finding yummy desserts at Palo's brunch than at afternoon tea (although the chocolate eclair was pretty tasty!). Tea at Palo was nice and you should definitely try it if you already haven't, but DH and I have been spoiled by tea at the Grand Floridian and were a little disappointed.

Brunch and dinner, on the other hand, are a must-do!! I can almost taste that chocolate souffle as I type...

Back to work...I've been thinking about vacation too much lately.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I have only been on the 4 day and we did not get brunch. I did love the dinner there and the Chocolate Souffle.

My best friend has been making little comments about not knowing if she will still go..... Worries me. She said she is staying booked till final payment is due in August and then she will hopefully know for sure. "Marriage problem"!!!!!

So I may need to find a lady or two that wants to try Brunch at Palo.

About the meet!!! Sea day is a great idea! We have 3 of them.

 

[oybolshoi]

Sorry to hear that about your friend, Michelle. Hopefully everything will work out OK for all parties involved.

I am all over brunch! Make sure that you go to brunch at Palo - do not miss it, and don't go to Palo that same evening for dinner because you will be stuffed!

What are the odds that we could have some kind of Meet at Palo over brunch or tea one day? I'd go back for tea if it were a group thing, otherwise DH and I will skip it this time. Maybe we could have a family meet before the sailaway and then have a grownups meet another time? Of course, not having children I don't know if something like is attractive to those of you who do have children, but I thought I'd throw it out there for discussion.

We're flexible.

 

[jenmack]

I think all the ideas are good. I would do a Palo's brunch or tea. For some strange reason my DH preferred Palo's dinner over brunch, but I know he's pretty flexible & would do brunch again or tea. We are definetly doing Palo's dinner, no question. The souffle! Yummmmmmm!!!

Michelle, I too am sorry to hear about your friend & I really hope that she can go. Either way you know you will have a blast & so will your daughter. Kind of the same thing happened to me. My sister & her DH were to come w/ us this October, but do to work & her school they can't make it. Anyway, I know my DH & I will have a blast. Besides, we have all you guy's.

Have a good rest of the day, everyone! ~Jen

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

An adult meet at brunch would be fun!!
I am planning on some adult time on this cruise. DD likes the clubs enough that if I have something I have planned she will go.....No problem as long as she has enough time in the pool!!! LOL

Yes...Hopefully my friend will have her life in order by then. Atleast she is not cancelling yet. She went last time and we had a blast. So she knows how much fun it is!!

I am still going no matter what!!!!!

 

[llyolf]

Good afternoon,
I'm up for Adults only brunch meet... sounds good to me.... I am hopeful the DDs will be happily playing the OC... haven't planned on any real excursions.... will prolly go shopping and maybe to one of the beaches.... if not, no big deal, there tons of great things to do on ship while at port....

Have a good evening!
Paul

 

[cntkg1]

I'm among the "crazies" on this board. We are also on the Magic this October 15th. Cabin 7562 to be exact. This is our first cruise ever and we will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in June. The cruise is our gift to each other. Calling in our excursions this Friday to our travel agent. Someone thought it may be too early. I guess we'll see. DH and I go out for breakfast every Sunday (sometimes it's just McDonalds) and read our DCL book or I print out info from the internet and we read over that.

What are your thoughts on Passports vs. Certified copies of BC's? I hate to shell out $180.00 for passports, but I also don't want to risk losing my BC either.

So excited about this trip. Maybe some of us will meet up.

Later, Nancy

 

[oybolshoi]

Nancy that's fantastic - congrats to you both! Dh and I celebrated our 5th anniversary on our cruise last October (even though our anniversary is May) - be sure to let the cruiseline and your head server know about it so that you can get a yummy surprise one night at dinner!

As for the passport issue - we went ahead and invested in them last year because we are planning some overseas travel during the next couple of years. We also didn't want to worry about misplacing the certified copy of the birth certificate - and in my case with a birth certificate in my maiden name and a drivers license in my married name it just seemed easier to have a passport.

If you're not going to get any use out of the passport then I would suggest sticking with the birth certificates - why spend the money on them if you're not going to get any value from it?

Glad to have you with us!!

Brenda

 

[cntkg1]

It's me again. How did you all get that great "countdown" thing? I'd love to have it too.

 

[oybolshoi]

Here's a link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=381216

Read through the first post on this thread and click on the countdown link. It should walk you through setting up your countdown clock.

I spend waaaaaaaay too much time on these boards!

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

It is so easy to get another one!! I misplaced mine and just went to the State health dept in my town and they printed me a new one for $10.
All they needed was my drivers liscense and mothers and fathers name and the city born. It was that easy.
So if you are not going overseas I would not spend the bucks!!!

Of course as women our names differ on our I.D. and birth certs,but that never has been an issue on my past 3 cruises. There is no way around that unless you don't take your husbands name.

Welcome to our thread. We all sound like planners!! I have a travel folder that I print stuff and add to it all the time. I love to be organized and kind of have an idea of what we want too do. Although I am flexible and will change things as needed.

 

[cntkg1]

Thanks for all your help with the countdown. I finally got it to work. Does anyone know the difference between a stateroom with a "veranda" and a stateroom with a "pirvate veranda"? Thanks, nancy

 

[cntkg1]

Hey Michelle, If we are both going on the same cruise, how come our countdowns are different? I entered Eastern Daylight Savings Time because we are leaving from Florida (eastern) and I believe Oct 15th is still daylight savings time. Could that be the difference in our clocks?

Nancy

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I figure my vacation starts the day we leave St.Louis!!
So I put in Friday afternoon's date and so that is why mine is a little bit different.

I think we are staying in Orlando that night. The flight I want to book on Southwest leaves STL at 3:55 and arrives MCO at 4:30. So I was thinking about the Swan and Dolphin if I could get a good rate...
That would be a fun way to start our trip!!

I am really excited and we still have so long to go!!

I have been lookin on the internet and I think I have found the beach I want to go to in St.Maartens....Dawn beach looks beautiful and I have read it is easy to get too by taxi. So I think we are headed there for the day!

 

[oybolshoi]

I'm sure you people will think I'm nuts, but I'm just not a big fan of hanging out at the beach all day. A few hours, OK, but then I start to get bored. DH and I like to explore (and I love to shop!!) so we try to pick excursions that give us time to do those things as well as something fun that we wouldn't normally get to do in the landlocked Midwest. Of course, it's also easier for us to choose since we don't have kids.

I know that we are going to do the 12-meter regatta in St.Martan - I've heard so many great things about it and I love to sail. It's also about 3-4 hours so there's plenty of time to enjoy the port - I want to try to get to both sides of the island while we're there.

We're having a hard time with St. Thomas / St. John because we're only in port until about 4:30, I think. We'd love to get over to St. John but most of those excursions take up a good chunk of the day and that won't leave much time for shopping or exploring.

So many choices... so little time!!