October 25, 2008 Western DD

[ulittletinker]

All,

Please review the Role Call on Page 1 Post #6. It should now reflect all information up to post 399 (assuming this is post 399). Please let me know if you have any corrections or updates you would like to see . . .

Have a Great Week!

thank you dizney-cruise, I'll update the spreadsheet list and email you an updated
Virginia

 

[rylisal]

Hi Sally

Your DS Ryan will be the same age as my DS Daniel. We haven't booked any flights yet. We will probably spend a few days before or after cruise either at WDW or the beach. Who are you flying with?

After much shopping around for flights, we've gone with Virgin, mainly so that we can have 16 nights instead of the standard 14!!
We were going to wait a while b4 booking but found some flights for the date we wanted at a price we could just about cope with!!(Virgin during school hols never that cheap!)

Anyones kids signed up to 'chat' on our Private web site yet?
My DS Ryan is up for getting to know the other kids b4 we cruise!

 

[HelenSB]

Hi rylisal & TotallyAngellic,
Will you have to take your kids out of school/college for this trip at all? We hope to fly out on the 16th Oct (not booked flights yet) and had hoped that the half term break would be for 2 weeks as per last year, but it seems it's not to be Looks like they will have to take several days out of school...just hope I don't get too much grief over it (from school that is, not the kids!! )

 

[rylisal]

Hi rylisal & TotallyAngellic,
Will you have to take your kids out of school/college for this trip at all? We hope to fly out on the 16th Oct (not booked flights yet) and had hoped that the half term break would be for 2 weeks as per last year, but it seems it's not to be Looks like they will have to take several days out of school...just hope I don't get too much grief over it (from school that is, not the kids!! )

Hi Helen
Here in Bournemouth we still have the 'old' school terms until 2009/2010 so that means our half term is the week of the cruise.....So DS will have to have a week b4 & a few days after as extra days(10 in total)
School probably wont be too happy but they do allow 10 days per year as long as other attendance is good!
May have to take some work with us to keep them happy!!

When you hoping to book your flights? When I was looking, the prices dropped for the Sunday 19th so thats why we chose them & have tagged 4 nights on after cruise at St Petes Beach!(DH didnt want to go straight home after cruise anyway!)

 

[bigben]

Remember tonight to watch Fat March on ABC 9/8C

 

[suziemva]

BigBen - watched the show tonight and must say I'm impressed! WOW! Can't wait to see how everything plays out!

 

[GAkitkat]

Hello everyone! I recognize some of the names from when we did the Disney Cruise in May, 2005. My name is Kathy (39) and my daughter is Katelyn (8). We live in Atlanta, GA. I think most of you know my friend Trish from WA. I think her log on is "Ruby's Mom". We had cabins next to each other on the last cruise but have been friends for over 10 years. We met on a ski vacation....actually it was her honeymoon! Our families have vacationed together for years. So here is one more to add to our growing list! Trish and I are a bad influence on each other....just a mention of vacation and we encourage each other to go!

Anyway, we put out deposit on this cruise last week and are looking forward to it!!!!! I will be joining you on the boards until our cruise. We can't wait for another GREAT cruise!

Kathy

P.S. I have been watching Fat March. Very good show and motivating. BigBen...are you saying you are on the show?

 

[suziemva]

Hey, Kathy! WHOOHOO!! Trish just told me that you were signing up! Oh, boy! We've got to hang out at the adult pool again! So much fun!

Glad to see you guys going!

 

[HelenSB]

When you hoping to book your flights? When I was looking, the prices dropped for the Sunday 19th so thats why we chose them & have tagged 4 nights on after cruise at St Petes Beach!(DH didnt want to go straight home after cruise anyway!)

Hi Sally,
We are going to use some of our Virgin airmiles to get 'Miles + Money' flights when they are released.....hopefully in early December. Judging by this years prices we are budgeting for about £400 each...fingers crossed!! Like you, we want to go for 16 days so the charter airlines are out and, unless another scehduled airline can beat the price, we'll stick with Virgin.
The plan is to fly out on the 16th, then spend 3 nights at Universals Royal Pacific Resort & go to a Halloween Horror Night , then head off to a Disney resort (probably POFQ) for 6 nights .That's the idea so far!!
We've already changed our minds several times already, though, so it could change again!!

Any one else going to HHN or MNSSHP??

 

[bigben]

Kathy

P.S. I have been watching Fat March. Very good show and motivating. BigBen...are you saying you are on the show?

Yes I'm on the show. Michael is who I am. stay tuned I think you'll be amazed.

 

[LetsGoSteelers]

where have you booked flights? I tried AA and a few others and the dates only go out until July 08...

TotallyAngelic..Sarah!
Hi, great news that there are some more Brits joining in the fun now!!
This will be our 2nd Disney Cruise, the first being the 3 night Wonder back in Feb for my 40th!!
I am now well & truly hooked!!
There's me(Sally) DH Chris(another just over 40yr old!) DS Ryan 14(atoc) & Liam 3(atoc)
Ryan is really looking forward to hanging out in The Loft this time with all the Teenagers, as last time being only 12 he ended up with the little kids!
I'm hoping Liam will go join in with the kids club to give us some 'adult' time by the pool but we'll have to see...He screamed the flounders nursery down last time so that was out!!LOL!!(was only 22 months though!)
Are your flights all booked now?
We fly out 19th Oct & do Orlando for 6 nights b4 cruise, then have 4 nights after cruise at St Petes & fly home 4th Nov!!CAN'T WAIT!!!

 

[rylisal]

Hi Sally,
We are going to use some of our Virgin airmiles to get 'Miles + Money' flights when they are released.....hopefully in early December. Judging by this years prices we are budgeting for about £400 each...fingers crossed!! Like you, we want to go for 16 days so the charter airlines are out and, unless another scehduled airline can beat the price, we'll stick with Virgin.
The plan is to fly out on the 16th, then spend 3 nights at Universals Royal Pacific Resort & go to a Halloween Horror Night , then head off to a Disney resort (probably POFQ) for 6 nights .That's the idea so far!!
We've already changed our minds several times already, though, so it could change again!!

Any one else going to HHN or MNSSHP??

We changed our minds several times before booking too!!
My parents & brother are now coming out to Florida with us so we have chosen a 4 bed Townhouse at Terre Verde for our first 6 nights....Yes we will all be doing MNSSHP but I think it will only be DH, DS1 & my Brother doing Universals HHN(Just a bit too much horror involved there!!)
When we leave for our cruise, My Mum & Dad are doing The Carnival cruise to The Bahamas at the same time(they didnt fancy Disney!!??) & my brother is flying up to New York for the week!!
We will all then spend a few nights after cruising at The Sirata Beach Hotel at St Petes before flying home!
Having done all the Parks loads of times before, we are planning on taking it a bit easier this time & only doing a couple during that first week & weather permitting we hope to go to Typhoon or BB as it was too cold when we went back in Feb this year!!

As i love planning I'm sure I'll have sorted out an itinary by the time we go...much to DH's dislike, he likes to just get up & decide what to do on the day!!

 

[rylisal]

where have you booked flights? I tried AA and a few others and the dates only go out until July 08...

We've booked flights through an agent here in the UK...Virgin flights, Gatwick to MCO.
Its not all that easy to get flights that far out here either, but certain agents get 'allocated' seats by Virgin before they go on general sale.
Its a bit of a risk booking so early as the price could go down but then it can go up too!!
We've paid £569 Adult & £489 Child, dont have any Virgin miles to use so have just swallowed hard & paid up!!(Only Deposits at this stage though!)
Our Townhouse is REALLY reasonable though so it kinda makes up for the flight costs!!

 

[HelenSB]

QUOTE=rylisal;20297053]

My parents & brother are now coming out to Florida with us so we have chosen a 4 bed Townhouse at Terre Verde for our first 6 nights....

We stayed in a villa at Terra Verde last August. It was a great location, good pool, not too far from the parks & restaurants & really close to the large Walmart for groceries. Have you stayed there before?? My brother is also joning us for this trip. We introduced him to Florida last year & he is now hooked!!

As i love planning I'm sure I'll have sorted out an itinary by the time we go...much to DH's dislike, he likes to just get up & decide what to do on the day!!

We always do an itinary....don't always stick to it, but it's half the fun planning what we're going to do & the only way to get my Disney 'fix' in between trips

My Mum & Dad are doing The Carnival cruise to The Bahamas at the same time(they didnt fancy Disney!!??)

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What......I didn't think there WAS any other cruise line???

 

[rylisal]

Helen
My big brother (He's a very young 50!!) came this year too but doesnt do cruising so will do his own thing again!!
The other Cruise Lines are worth a look as they are SO much cheaper...Just not Disney!!
Carnival & Royal Caribbean go from Port Canaveral as well as DCL.
Must admit I looked into the others too but was afraid it wouldnt live up to our last disney cruise!
The ony thing I'm worried about is that my parents may not enjoy Carnival!
They are both young 70 somethings & are very 'seasoned' cruisers, although never Carnival, I just hope they're not disappointed....Keep trying to change their minds but they both think they wont like Disney!!
They do however go on The QM2 to New York in May, so will have already had some 'luxury'!!!

 

[HelenSB]

Hi Sally,
We want this to be a bit of a 'special' holiday for us. DD#1 will be almost 18 atoc and will quite possibly not want to come with us again, or will be at uni, so it could well be our last proper 'family' holiday. We looked at all sorts of 'faraway' places, and other cruise lines (I have a whole stack of every brochure available....should start my own travel agency!!!) but we always seem to gravitate back to Florida. It's the only place we've ever been to that we wanted to re-visit.........I have been known to shed a tear or two at the airport on the way home
I'm still thinking of this cruise as a 'once in a life time' thing but, judging by the reviews on these boards, I may have to think again!!!

 

[TotallyAngelic]

This is also possibly our last "everybody included" family holiday. My stepson will be 19 and to be honest I didn't think he would want to come on this one, yet another Disney holiday, but he certainly does, but I am sure that this will be the last time. Our 2 girls will be 17 and I can see My DD Taryn wanting to come with us forever, although she really wants to get a Disney job for her gap year. So it will be really special for us too - I also looked at Carnival, but being such a Disney obsessive there was really no other option!

Helen - I can totally relate to tears at the airport when leaving Florida, and I have been known to start crying when we leave our last theme park on our last evening, particularly if we have just been watching the fireworks, which always give me a lump in my throat.

 

[HelenSB]

[

QUOTE=TotallyAngelic;20307948] Our 2 girls will be 17 and I can see My DD Taryn wanting to come with us forever, although she really wants to get a Disney job for her gap year.

I think my DD Rachel may get on well with Taryn (lovely name!). She too is looking to apply for a job at Epcot under their 'International Program' as soon as she completes her A levels. We spoke to one of the english girls working there last August & she suggested applying about a year or so in advance as it took her about 18 months from application to actually starting work!! I'm all for it.....just one more excuse to fly out again

 

[rylisal]

My DS1 Ryan is only 13 & already had me looking up how to get a Disney job!!
He really wants to spend a year doing it too...He loves little kids so fancies himself as Mickey Mouse I think!!LOL!!!
He actually wants to be a PE teacher eventually & has for a few years now..We will have to see !!

 

[suziemva]

LOL! I would love to get a job at Disney when I grow up!!! Forget the kids!! LOL! Actually, a friend's daughter is donig her internship at Disney this coming January. Never been so jealous of a 19 year old.....Hey, at least I might be able to retire there!

I keep telling Tori that she too can have a wedding there! Usually right after watching the tv wedding shows there....big sigh....