October 20th 2007 Western Magic

[oybolshoi]

We need all the help we can get! Thanks, Jo!!

GO CARDS!

Just helping you out, Brenda

 

[cntkg1]

Couple questions for all seasoned Konk Kruisers...

Can you get snorkel vests at CC at the adult beach? I know they are free but I'm not sure if they are available at the adult beach. Chuck and I got our snorkel stuff at the Family Beach last year and lugged it all on the tram. We now have our own snorkel equip (got a great deal) but not vests.

If we decide to rent a Towne Car to get us to the terminal, how does our luggage get on the ship?

Also, anyone have a rough estimate on the cost of a one way trip to the terminal from the airport? (Brenda, I know I asked you this already but I lost the info). And, how much would you tip the driver?

We are trying to compare the price of the following:

Hyatt on Friday night and Disney Transfer to the terminal:

Hyatt on Friday night and Towne Car Rental:

Hyatt on Friday night and Budget car one-way rental:

Car Rental with Budget on Friday and Raddison Hotel close to the terminal:

And last but not least, Hitch Hiking to the Port on Friday night, cuddling up underneath a sheet of cardboard in the parking lot of the terminal. I'm thinking since we aren't really in a car they can't charge us the $7.00/nightly fee.

Any ideas?

 

[Dyerneeds]

welcome dyerneeds!
DH and I will be celebrating our 32nd anniversary on the cruise too! Only our actual anniversary date will be the week before, Oct 11th

We have not planned any excursions yet, I have to do some research first. I do know that I want to go to Margaritaville in Key West and see Ernest Hemingway's house. Maybe Mel Fisher's treasure museum, if there is one...anybody know about this??

But I love planning trips so I'm looking forward to it.

I just realized I'll be in WDW when we hit the one year date for the cruise!
It's getting closer!

our anniv is on the 18th. so we will probably be driving down that day (thurs)so we can go to wdw on friday. thats what we did last year and it worked out great. although we are getting a little old for the 17 hour straight through drive.

 

[Dyerneeds]

Yay dyerneeds!! Welcome aboard!! It will be cool to cruise with some DISers that's we've already met Let me know if you want me to add you to the Who's Going Page for our cruise, I can even use your pirate picture from the last cruise if ya like

I know some of you are DVCers...did you hear about the new AKV?? Wooo hooo!! Sounds pretty cool! The new changes sound very interesting! We just may finally buy there if we end up liking it. We always thought we would buy at BCV when we finally had the money but I really love the AKL, and I think it would be a great place to stay at with kids!

Hopefully the first phase will be open by 10-09-07 so we can stay a night or two to check it out

robin says she will send a picture for the whos going page(where do we send it ?) im afraid the pirates picture might be too embarassing!!
we will have to try and schudule parasailing at the same time. dont you think its odd that there are no hurricanes this year when we are not going. kind of makes us worry what next year holds!!

 

[oybolshoi]

Nancy, we used and still use Florida Tours for our transporation when we go to Orlando or when we've taken a cruise.

They offer all kinds of options - we love their service! If they take you to the port they will drop you off in front of the terminal right where the porters are picking up luggage. You just drop it off with those burly guys (and give 'em a tip!) and check in at the gate before heading inside the terminal.

I don't know what FL Tours is currently charging for cruise service but you can find a link here on the DIS homepage that will take you to their website so you can get an idea of what they charge. Depending on the level of service we receive from the driver we usually tip between $10-$15.

Dyerneeds, I know exactly what you mean about the lack of hurricanes this year. I'm happy for everyone down South that they are getting some much needed recovery time this season, but Jason and I have noticed that there are no storms in the Atlantic for the first time in two years that we're not cruising in October. We are a bit worried about next year, too, and hope that there is no double-whammy next year.

Lucky Lindy-Loo Hoo will be leaving on the Wonder tomorrow...I hope she and her family have a great time.

PS. Go Cards!!

 

[oybolshoi]

Nancy!!!

I love the birthday card - it is so cool! And there is a martini recipe on the back.

Jason and I have started checking off the ones we've tried and making a list of the ones we still need to sample. Thanks so much for remembering me - you're so nice!

 

[oybolshoi]

Double post - got all excited with the 2nd inning baseball happenings at Busch Stadium.

Go Cards!!

 

[JLDSMD]

Couple questions for all seasoned Konk Kruisers...

Can you get snorkel vests at CC at the adult beach? I know they are free but I'm not sure if they are available at the adult beach. Chuck and I got our snorkel stuff at the Family Beach last year and lugged it all on the tram. We now have our own snorkel equip (got a great deal) but not vests.

If we decide to rent a Towne Car to get us to the terminal, how does our luggage get on the ship?

Also, anyone have a rough estimate on the cost of a one way trip to the terminal from the airport? (Brenda, I know I asked you this already but I lost the info). And, how much would you tip the driver?

We are trying to compare the price of the following:

Hyatt on Friday night and Disney Transfer to the terminal:

Hyatt on Friday night and Towne Car Rental:

Hyatt on Friday night and Budget car one-way rental:

Car Rental with Budget on Friday and Raddison Hotel close to the terminal:

And last but not least, Hitch Hiking to the Port on Friday night, cuddling up underneath a sheet of cardboard in the parking lot of the terminal. I'm thinking since we aren't really in a car they can't charge us the $7.00/nightly fee.

Any ideas?

Nancy,

We bought our life vest at the Scuba store in MF on Appleton Ave (next to Pop's custard). I don't remember how much they cost, but they fold down very small. We actually transport them in the mask case, with the mask in there. I will try to have DW pull the receipt to see what we paid. Either way, if you need a vest for snorkelling, you will always have it, even when you're not on CC.

Secondly, you missed one option on your transportation delimma. Get the rental car from Budget (although we prefer Avis) and stay at a Moderate in WDW and go to MNSSHP that Friday night before the cruise. Then drive to Port the morning of the cruise. That is our plan. They don't have the party that Saturday night we get off the ship.

Now to throw yet another wrench into the mix, you could take the Magic Express to PO-R, do MNSSHP, and then take the DCL Bus to the port (it picks up right from there at PO-R).

Jeff

 

[oybolshoi]

Woo Hoo!! A three-hit shutout...Go Cards!!

 

[cntkg1]

Thanks for the tips guys.

Brenda, I'll be checking out the Florida Tours website tomorrow. And, you're welcome for the birthday card. I bought it a few months ago and thought of you as soon as I saw it. Oh yeah, Chuck and I decided since the Brewer's never had a chance to make it to the playoffs, that we would help cheer on the Cards!!

Jeff, We'll be checking the vests out too. I didn't even know there was a scuba shop next to Pop's. I wonder if they are open on Sunday. Hey, I thought about you today too. We were at the new Walmart Super Center in Germantown and I saw a license plate with JLMS... on it. Any chance that was your SUV? If so, I'll be bummed that I didn't TP it!!

Anyone know how to capture a picture of the Wonder tomorrow? I'll bet Lindy Loo Hoo would love it!!

 

[JLDSMD]

Jeff, We'll be checking the vests out too. I didn't even know there was a scuba shop next to Pop's. I wonder if they are open on Sunday. Hey, I thought about you today too. We were at the new Walmart Super Center in Germantown and I saw a license plate with JLMS... on it. Any chance that was your SUV? If so, I'll be bummed that I didn't TP it!!

Nancy,

The scuba place also has a store out in Delafield just of 83 at 94. It is behind the "Barn" (the one that use to be the Yellow smiley face one). Not sure if they are open on Sundays. If they are, it would be after 10 or 11 for sure. The one in MF does scuba lessons I believe out at the quarry park.

Yes we do have an SUV, but no, that isn't the plate number. We normally go to the WM in Pewaukee at 164 and Capitol. DW will go to the new one in G'town on lunch however, but that would be during the week. So sorry, no tping for you.

Jeff

 

[JLDSMD]

Nancy,

I did a yellow pages search on Yahoo and the name of the place is Underwater Connections. They do have a website, www.uwconnection.com , but it says they are closed on Sundays.

It also shows they have a store in Hales Corners on 108th Street.

Jeff

p.s. I'm not up at 2:00 a.m. for nothing this morning, I'm at the 90 day mark for my January Western Cruise on the Magic. I got my Palo reservations and our excursion for Grand Cayman booked.

 

[cntkg1]

Got help from none other than "Verandah Man" to get that picture of the Wonder today. I'm hopefully going to print it out and send it to her before she gets home.

 

[cntkg1]

Ip.s. I'm not up at 2:00 a.m. for nothing this morning, I'm at the 90 day mark for my January Western Cruise on the Magic. I got my Palo reservations and our excursion for Grand Cayman booked.

Glad you got what you wanted. I've mentioned before that when the 90 day mark comes around for us, I'll be sleeping at 2:00 am. Believe it or not, we didn't care for Palo so we won't need ressies for that. What will you guys be doing in Grand Cayman?

Geeez Jeff, I can't imagine you and your family cancelling the Oct 20th cruise. Any word on if it's a definite "go"? You've become such a great member of the Konked Kruisers....we need you! Are you using a travel agent for your cruise? We nailed another $150.00 credit (on top of the $200.00 from rebooking on board last year) from AAA. Our TA is amazing. Let me know if you are interested in transferring your cruise to her. I'll email her to find out when they are offering more specials.

 

[oybolshoi]

Thanks to years of visiting my brother-in-law and his wife in Wisconsin, not only do I recognize (and in some cases visualize) places like Delafield and Pewaukee and Germantown, but I can pronounce them, too! But I think my all-time favorite has to be Oconomowoc... ...I love the way it sounds!

I guess I'll buzz off now and try to get some laundry and cleaning done...I just can't seem to get motivated and I'd better since we're leaving Wednesday morning. I am leaving work early on Tuesday but I have another follow-up with the doctor...hoping for some good news but I think I may already have another cyst developing. Oh well, it could always be worse and there are some benefits to going to WDW with a well-stocked supply of pain relievers...I'll be verrrrrrry mellow this time around.

Take care everyone and dare I say....

Go Cards!!

 

[perdidobay]

Brenda is a happy camper this morning for sure...
GO CARDS!

Did you have a birthday recently and I missed it Brenda? I hope it was a happy one


Nancy, according to Danny (who always gets the snorkel equp. for us) you can't get any life vests at Serenity Bay.
If you don't mind the driving yourself to the terminal, Budget was fast and easy when we used them last year.

Dyerneeds,
I hear you on the "getting too old for long drives". Danny and I used to love making cross counrty road trips... now our backs and bladders can't hold out that long!

 

[cntkg1]

If you don't mind the driving yourself to the terminal, Budget was fast and easy when we used them last year.

Hey Jo, we don't mind at all about renting a car for the drive. We're just looking for an inexpensive option. And the best option for my medical condition. (You know which one right?) The one day car rental at Budget was supposed to cost us only $38.00 last October after the cruise. When I looked at the receipt after we got home (Chuck had it tucked away somewhere) I realized it cost us $78.00 instead. Me thinks, we got ripped off there.

So, just to get things straight, we rent a car at the airport on Friday morning. We stay at a hotel somewhere near the Port. On Saturday, Chuck drops me off at the terminal with all our luggage. Some nice big strappin' man takes all my luggage for me curbside. I toss him a few dollars for being so kind, and I head into the terminal by myself and "check in" without Chuck. Chuck returns the car to Budget, hops on the shuttle, and bypasses all the check in stuff and meets me by the model of the ship. Right? Wrong? One day I will get this all straight.

 

[oybolshoi]

Nancy, I think Chuck still needs to check-in. Maybe someone else here will know better than me, but I thought all members of a party had to be present at check-in for identification purposes.

Jo, my birthday is Tuesday - thanks!

And happy anniversary to everyone celebrating this month - I think that would be three couples... Jo and Danny, Cass & Rob, and Dyerneeds...sorry not sure about names there yet!

So excited I just had to take a break from cleaning bathrooms (hey, we know how to have a good time at my house!)...we got our confirmation call for dinner next week at Victoria & Albert's! It's finally time to get vacation-happy!

Go Cards!!

 

[oybolshoi]

OK, I've risen to new heights of dorkiness.

While I was talking to this super-nice person at V&A she asked if we were celebrating anything and I said sure..my birthday. So now I've gone and ordered myself a birthday cake for extra calories that I certainly don't need at a 5-star restaurant where dessert is already included with the price of admission.

Guess what we're gonna be eating for breakfast for the rest of the week?

This is what happens when my family leaves all the planning in my hands.

Go Cards!!

 

[JLDSMD]

Thanks to years of visiting my brother-in-law and his wife in Wisconsin, not only do I recognize (and in some cases visualize) places like Delafield and Pewaukee and Germantown, but I can pronounce them, too! But I think my all-time favorite has to be Oconomowoc... ...I love the way it sounds!

O.K., let's try Shawano. It is NOT pronounced as it looks. Gotta love those Indian names.