October 21, 2006~Magic~ Who's going?

[abitjaded]

Hey Monica, if you decide on WDW, the Food and Wine Festival will be going on at Epcot. This is great fun for both kids and adults. During the day you can taste your way around Word Showcase. If you are into gourmet wine and dining the special dinners are awesome. You can drop the kids at one of the Disney Kid's Clubs (Neverland Club at Polynesian was my kid's favorite but the ones nearer, Yacht, Beach, Boardwalk) are easy to drop the kids at and walk into the International Gate of Epcot straight into World Showcase.

Another option might be Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP). This is a hard ticket event, so you need not buy a park admission, too. Hopefully they will release the dates, soon, and there will be one on the Friday, Sat and Sun around when we cruise. It is a great way to see the Magic Kingdom all decked out and have smaller evening crowds. Depending on the crowds and the day, and how late you can stay, a lot of rides are a walk on.

We are hoping to get tickets that will get us in early enough on Friday to do MNSSHP, cruise, then stay around the Epcot lagoon area and do the FnW Fest, then hit Animal Kingdom on Sunday.

Carla

 

[yazee1]

Another option might be Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP). This is a hard ticket event, so you need not buy a park admission, too. Hopefully they will release the dates, soon, and there will be one on the Friday, Sat and Sun around when we cruise. It is a great way to see the Magic Kingdom all decked out and have smaller evening crowds. Depending on the crowds and the day, and how late you can stay, a lot of rides are a walk on.
Carla

Hi, Carla, I think it got buried somewhere in the thread that we're going to be in the DW neighborhood in a couple weeks when I go to visit my mom. BUT, that MNSSHP sounds like fun. Maybe, we'll have to look into that for later in the year or another year. What are the kids clubs you are writing about? I know nothing about Disney World. The last time I was there was the only time I was there and that was maybe 12 years ago, before we had kids.

 

[msr709]

Count us in! First time cruisers here. It will be my DSis, DBIL and me on this one. No kids this time around. Can't wait to go! Glad to see other DISers.

 

[yazee1]

I'm glad you found us. I'm also glad there are so many Disney World expert in this thread. We're just starting to turn our attention to the possibility of visiting the parks and maybe one day spending an extended amount of time there. You know how it takes a while to completely understand what people are telling you when the subject is new to you. So many places to stay, things to do, acronyms to learn. : ...

 

[abitjaded]

Yazee, I'll see if I can find you a link about the kid's clubs. They are "babysitting" available at some of the premium resorts. My kids looked forward to them a lot. They loved their night away from us. Their favorite was the Neverland Club.

Edited to add:

www.wdwinfo.com/Just_for_kids/childcare.htm#polynesiancare

Carla

 

[yazee1]

Wow, that link was very helpful. The latest turn of events is that we will have to put a new roof on our house very soon. That puts the bite on our plans to go to DW for two days. This time around, I think we'll just be going for one day to the MK....Maybe....Probably.

 

[abitjaded]

Monica,

Pray for a good hail storm, and good insurance. The first DCL cuise we went on was in late October. We got home and could not figure out what happened. The crabapples were smashed all over our sidewalk and the bird sitter had tracked tons of gunk into the house. When we looked on the back deck, there was still a pile of inches of huge hail in the shady part. Really strange for October in Denver. Every house in our neighborhood had to get the roof replaced, except ours. Everyone else had fancy wood or ceramic shingle. Ours was just the regular type, but was the only one not destroyed. However, the fence was even pock marked on the sides and a bunch of pottery suns that hung on the decking enclosure were smashed. And I had to shampoo the carpets.

Carla

 

[yazee1]

Wow. That's very unsettling. I'm glad you had insurance. A disaster that only effects our house and none of the neighbors would be just fine. That would be an answer to prayer. The house I'm talking about is one we own and rent out. It's empty right now. We lived there for many years before we rented it out. When the last tenants moved out, we decided to do some renovations. We're not talking a little paint and new kitchen cabinets, and dh is doing all the work himself. He gutted the kitchen and one of the bathrooms just for starters. Then the furnace went. When he started working on the bathroom, he had to replumb it. The floor of the rec room (30X 26) was built over what used to be a built in pool over 20 years ago, probably more. It was starting to rot. So, he tore the floor off and filled in the old pool, and while we waited for a cement guy to get serious about pouring the new floor, he put in the frame work and laid the subflooring. I won't bore you with the rest of the list but almost every weekend since last February, he's been at the house. Now, it's the roof. Well, it's better for the furnace and the roof to go while the house is still empty than have renters mad as hornets and maybe even sue us. Yes, a good damaging hail storm would be welcome.

So, as of today, when dh looked at the our bank account balance, he said, no Disney this trip. That's okay. There are worse things. Way worse things.

 

[yazee1]

HELLOOOO???? Anyone checking in today? It's the eight month countdown day.


We got back from Florida on Saturday, the 18th. Except for Sunday, two days after we arrived, when the temperature was downright winterish, the weather was great. We spent two days in the Everglades before heading north for four days to see my mother and go to Universal Studios while we were in the area. We spent the last two days in the Keys. Visiting the Everglades in early February was time well spent. We saw a lot of different species of birds and so many gators my four year old would count them going as high as she could count and start over. No bugs, mild but warm weather, and no crowds.

My thoughts about Universal. I'm glad we went but dh and I have no intentions of going back. The boys enjoyed it very much. It was the highlight of their trip. The internet deal was great. 99.00 for two days in both parks with a child's ticket for free. Bottom line for us, for a family of five it was 300.00 Since the parks were practically empty, we were able to go on all the rides and see most of the shows. The longest wait was 30 minutes for a few of the most popular attractions. Dh commented, and I agree, if we had paid anything near full price and had been in the park during a more popular time, it would have been a waste of money.

It was nice to have a respite from the winter weather. The kids were bummed that we finally got a big snow and they missed it. LOL.

How's everyone else doing?

 

[suz72]

Yipee, eight months!

I have been slowly preparing for our trip.

I have reserved a car for our week in orlando and drive to port. Still need to do return trans.

We bought new luggage.

Can't wait!

 

[nrsldy]

Well I am doing the 8 mo DAnce

One of the ladies I work with just got back from a cruise. I have been asking her alot of questions. I am ready!

 

[yazee1]

We bought new luggage.

Can't wait!

How does a person decide on which luggage to buy? It might be something we'll need to do in the near future.

TIA

 

[abitjaded]

Hey Monica,
We have bought good luggage and cheap luggage. The airlines seem to have an ability to wreck either type. So we often buy a bunch of the nested "wheelies" from Target on sale and call it our "disposable" luggage. Do not buy the really huge type, because it loads at over 50 pounds and you get charged extra. For our family of four, it takes one larger case to hold all the formal and semi-formal, then three smaller, carry-on or a bit larger, for day to day stuff. We like the pop-out type that can add a few inches by zipping around the case, then there is room for all the accumulated junk. I NEVER pop them out when I first pack. We also have a more pricey case that came from a dive shop. It is a back-pack that holds all the snorkel gear, but is mostly mesh sided so the sand can filter out. We pad the stuff with cheap beach towels. The airline will plastic bag it and it has survived many trips intact. So we usually manage one suitcase per person, plus a carry-on and the snorkel bag.

We just took a quick week-end escape to Arizona to see family and reached a real bench mark in family travel. We did it in three carry-ons and a smaller kid's case! No luggage checked, it was great! But I know we cannot do this for a week or more, the 9yo, especially, looks pretty darn grundgy after wearing an outfit for even an hour. He is fond of using his shirts as a napkin and using his behind to polish dirt hills.

Carla

 

[suz72]

How does a person decide on which luggage to buy? It might be something we'll need to do in the near future.

TIA

I have no idea. I have been trying to figure out the answer to that question for a while. I did a search on packing or suitcases or something like that. Everyone has their own opinion.

We have a mid sized rolling case already and we bought a set at Costco just this months. We also own lots of carryon type of soft sided bags.

I think we will try not to overpack, but I don't know. One piece of advice that I got is that the disboards rule of thumb is lay out what you want to bring, but only bring 1/2 of it.

SUsan

 

[yazee1]

Okay, thanks. We are on the same wave length on luggage. We have a couple sets of cheap(ish) luggage. Having never owned the "good" stuff I didn't know if there was a case for buying it. I'm happy with what we have except for the one set having retracting handles that don't have a button so they stick a little, and the wheels are on the small side. They tip more often than the other bags.

I learned first hand, this past trip we made to Florida, what you're saying about the problem with packing a large suitcase. The porter at curbside check-in was going to charge me extra for my heavy suitcase, but I guess when he put it on the scale it wasn't so heavy. Either that or after I tipped him, he decided not to mark it as over the limit.

 

[yazee1]

Hi, everyone,

I'm leaving you. Sorry. One of dh's college housemates is getting married and his wedding is on the 21st of October. The groom, 43, is the last of the six friends to finally tie the knot. We wouldn't miss this for the world. We rebooked for September 23rd. I know that's really tempting fate as far as hurricane season. I've read about it here. We'll deal with it. Even with the fact that we're rebooking 6 months out instead of 18 months like we did originally, the cost is 600.00 less!

Gonna go change my ticker!

 

[Timon]

Hello everyone!

Okay, this may be slightly premature but we just put in a quote with Dreams for 10/21/06.

We just decided tonight to go again this October. The only thing that will stop us is if we get pregnant in the next two months, which would put me over the 24 week limit of being pregnant and cruising/flying. We are trying for a baby but I've heard that (especially for your first) it can take awhile.

It will be hubby and I (and maybe someone in my tummy! ). It will be our 4th cruise, 3rd on Disney. We tried last October 10/22/05 for a Western as we did the Eastern in 2002 but due to Hurricane Wilma, our Western turned into an Eastern. I really miss the Stingrays and would love to do that again (can you do that if you are pregnant, I wonder?) and would love to finally see Key West!

I wrote a LIVE trip report with photos during our last vacation, which you can read HERE
while we were in WDW and on the cruise and I plan on doing the same again this October if we can go!

I only skimmed the all the pages on this post but I didn't see anyone who has started a web page for DISers on the cruise...did I miss that??

If not, then I will volunteer to start one. For those of you who have never cruised or never met DISers on a cruise before, or just are saying to themselves "what the heck is she talking about????" ...
usually someone has a web page with some helpful links for the cruise as well as a WHO'S GOING list with photos and/or staterooms numbers listed. Also we usually end up having at least one DIS meet scheduled early in the cruise just to get together and meet face to face. It's nice cruising with people that you "know"

Anyways....just wanted to say HI to my fellow potential DIS cruisers!!!

 

[nrsldy]

Monica~Sorry we will not be able to meet. Have a great time on your cruise and at the wedding.

Welcome Cass!
I hope things work out that you and your DH will be able to join us.Then on the other hand a new addition to the family would be great also.The web page idea would be a good idea.

Cruising wanabe here

 

[abitjaded]

Oh Monica, good-bye, but enjoy the wedding. We all will be rooting for a less active hurricane season for you.

Welcome Cass, et al. You never know, when we first tried, it happened so fast it made our heads spin. Number two popped up pretty quick, too (first month of trying).

We also had a slightly re-routed cruise on the Western. We were one of the first cruises diverted to Costa Maya. Hoping to FINALLY get to see the stingrays.

Cass , web site would be lovely. When is your for-sure-we-can-really-go date?

Carla

 

[Timon]

nrsldy, abitjaded,

Thanks for the welcomes!

My for-sure-I-can-go date would be at the end of April.

But if everyone e-mails me their nfo I will get started on the website this week-end.

Here's the deal...

Only send me what you feel comfortable in sending me.
This can include:

DIS name
Real first name
Names of family members and their relation to you
Category or Stateroom you are staying in
Late or early dinner seating and if you are wanting to link ressies wth other disers
Photo of you and/or family
Any personal info like anniversary/b-day/special occasion you are celebrating, how many cruises you've been on etc...
Any photo/personal websites you want to share with others


If you need some help with photos I am willing to help.

E-mail info to
cass@cassworld.ca