Sept. 11, 2011 It's never too early to Dream

[Shannon1984]

And see, it's those kinds of $$$$$ figures that make my DH say DRIVE!!!

If we do drive, that will be the 3 such trip on our van. DH isn't big on that, but still considering driving is better on the pocket book than flying.

So Shannon, are you considering driving?

We're driving! With 4 kids it will just be worth the extra $$$ we'll save. We do have to fly the kids home with grandpa after though, so we can honeymoon on the 3 day. But, that still won't be too bad on the pocketbook, I hope.

 

[GetGlowing]

We'll definitely be driving from East Tennessee. My in-laws live in St. Augustine, so we'll stay with them before and after and leave the car with them. They can chauffeur us to the port and wish us well and wave goodbye to us from the pier!


{ack, just noticed the tickers for our September trip: 1 month, 1 week! SO much going on between now and then. I'm happy to be a pre-planner.}

 

[tjbaggott]

We'll definitely be driving from East Tennessee. My in-laws live in St. Augustine, so we'll stay with them before and after and leave the car with them. They can chauffeur us to the port and wish us well and wave goodbye to us from the pier!


{ack, just noticed the tickers for our September trip: 1 month, 1 week! SO much going on between now and then. I'm happy to be a pre-planner.}

St. Augustine..... Isn't that where there is a huge Disney Outlet Store? Have you ever been? Is it worth stopping by there for souveniers on the way down rather than buying in WDW do you think?

 

[tjbaggott]

Hmmm, I was just reading this PDF file from the Meyerwerft Press Release Kit. I was totally exicited about the Aquaduct, as far as myself riding it, but after reading this, I really don't know!!! I'm NOT a roller coaster person for sure, and neither is DS7, but we love log flume rides. The part below that mentions being pushed forward 20 feet per second, has my stomach already doing loops
So based on this full description, what do you all think... Is this for someone who doesn't do rollercoasters, but loves log flumes and gentle water slides in water parks?


Disney Cruise Line debuts a cruise-industry first: a shipboard water coaster … AquaDuck!
Guests aboard the Disney Dream will get swept away on an exhilarating
high-speed flume ride featuring twists, turns, drops, uphill acceleration and river rapids
– all while traversing the upper decks of the ship.
AquaDuck stretches 765 feet in length - more than two and a half times the length of
a football field - and spans four decks in height. Guests slide 13 feet over the side of
the ship in a translucent "swing out" loop allowing them to look down on the ocean
150 feet below. Guests experience coaster-like thrills as high-powered water jets
push them upwards and forwards at 20 feet per second. AquaDuck continues
through the forward funnel, encounters a 335 foot stretch of river rapids and splashes
down to an end on Deck 12.

 

[davidls]

Hmmm, I was just reading this PDF file from the Meyerwerft Press Release Kit. I was totally exicited about the Aquaduct, as far as myself riding it, but after reading this, I really don't know!!! I'm NOT a roller coaster person for sure, and neither is DS7, but we love log flume rides. The part below that mentions being pushed forward 20 feet per second, has my stomach already doing loops
So based on this full description, what do you all think... Is this for someone who doesn't do rollercoasters, but loves log flumes and gentle water slides in water parks?


Disney Cruise Line debuts a cruise-industry first: a shipboard water coaster … AquaDuck!
Guests aboard the Disney Dream will get swept away on an exhilarating
high-speed flume ride featuring twists, turns, drops, uphill acceleration and river rapids
– all while traversing the upper decks of the ship.
AquaDuck stretches 765 feet in length - more than two and a half times the length of
a football field - and spans four decks in height. Guests slide 13 feet over the side of
the ship in a translucent "swing out" loop allowing them to look down on the ocean
150 feet below. Guests experience coaster-like thrills as high-powered water jets
push them upwards and forwards at 20 feet per second. AquaDuck continues
through the forward funnel, encounters a 335 foot stretch of river rapids and splashes
down to an end on Deck 12.

Ok, now this sounds like it's going to be FUN. I for one Judy am already in line for this. Not a big roller coaster fan either, but I do love going on Big Thunder Mountain a WDW!!! I can't imagine the AquaDuck will be any faster then Big Thunder Mountain. What do you think?

 

[GetGlowing]

I have never actually been to the Disney outlet in St. Aug! I think our route to town bypasses the outlets, and hubby isn't much of a shopper, and it's at the end of our loooong drive, so stopping is not on the itinerary.

Don't be afraid of the AquaDuck! I roller coasters, and I like a lot of water slides. The slides aren't as intense as coasters, but they're SO much fun! You'll enjoy it.

 

[ragdoll]

We all need to try the AquaDuck. We will always wonder what we missed if we don't try it. I can't do bumpy coasters anymore, although I loved them when I was young. I imagine this would be smooth enough. If it's rough then once will be enough! I can still manage Big Thunder Mountain.

 

[GetGlowing]

Water coaster/slides aren't rough on my back like a coaster can be. I need to get in better shape for my next theme park trip! Our Pennsylvania adventure last week at Kennywood and Idlewild was hard on my back. I need to get back into Pilates.

 

[tjbaggott]

I do have to agree with that comment "We will always wonder what we missed if we don't try it"!! I guess I must also remind myself that we will be sitting in rubber dingy's and not strapped in, so it can't be all that scary, am I right?
I'm busy now try to finish my trip report from the cruise last fall, so I can begin my pretrip report for this falls Magic cruise, then onto the Dream one!
It's a lot of work when my internet is causing me grief!

 

[ragdoll]

I guess I must also remind myself that we will be sitting in rubber dingy's and not strapped in, so it can't be all that scary, am I right?

That's what I keep telling myself so you must be right!

 

[GetGlowing]

There's a new blog post about the Dream today!

 

[davidls]

http://www.disneytravelagents.com/disneydream/minisite/

Here is a site everyone might want to check out. Very interesting. It shows allot of the new Dream. If I find anything else, I'll send it along for all to see.

Yeah guys, we all have to try the AquaDuck at least once. I know it's going to be one great ride!!!

Gots to get back to work now!!!

 

[UGAFan0829]

I'm intersted to know what y'alls thoughts are on the Quiet Cove pool?!

Very neat video of the Aqua Duck...I love how the one part almost looks like Space Mountain.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Quiet Cove pool looks very small. It will be interesting to see it in person.

The Aqua Duck looks fun but I wonder how hot it will be with those enclosed tubes. I've ridden water slides before that were in enclosed tubes the entire way and the air was so hot that it was hard to breathe (especially in the dark parts of the ride). Hoping that Disney has something in the design to keep the air from getting so stifling hot since the entire ride is enclosed.

 

[UGAFan0829]

Quiet Cove pool looks very small. It will be interesting to see it in person.

The Aqua Duck looks fun but I wonder how hot it will be with those enclosed tubes. I've ridden water slides before that were in enclosed tubes the entire way and the air was so hot that it was hard to breathe (especially in the dark parts of the ride). Hoping that Disney has something in the design to keep the air from getting so stifling hot since the entire ride is enclosed.

I agree that the pool looks small. I have to say that while I love the whole design, I'm disappointed in the size. It will be very interesting to see what the passengers on the first couple cruises have to say about it.

I never even thought about it being hot on the slide. That's a very good point. It reminds me a lot of Crush N' Gusher at Typhoon Lagoon, but I think parts of it only has a net around it instead of an actual tube.

 

[GetGlowing]

I would enjoy a deck-sized pool with in-water lounge chairs for all. They will be a hot commodity.

 

[tjbaggott]

Well for the past few days, it has actually felt like FALL weather here! It wice to not have the humidity, but the cool breeze to the point where you needed a sweater, was NOT nice Today the temp seems to be more summer like, but Thunder Shower/Storm is in the forecast.

I'm trying to convince DH to go to a Walk in Clinic today (regualr Dr's are closed on Sunday). He was being a typical MAN yesterday, climbing onto the roof to trim some of the neighbours tree branches away from our windows and roof. If he had had someone helping, then perhaps what hapenned wouldn't have happened. He pulled the ladder up onto the first tier of the house and propped it up to get up to the 2nd tier. Now tell me, on a slanted overhang, WHAT ON EARTH IS THERE TO HOLD A LADDER IN PLACE? Well he did in fact get most of the branches cut before he FELL!! I was dong some video editing for that Birthday party of my mothers friend. The kids were playing quiety downstairs, and I heard a loud bang, the house shook and then Nothing. I thought it was another earthquake, or not,...... I got up and quickly went outside. I saw all the branches on our front lawn and quickly realized what must have happened. I ran into the driveway so I could see up to the roof, and there was DH sitting on the 1st tier, looking very shook up! He was shaking his hand and examining his leg..........

Once down and in the house, we noticed how swollen his hand was, but he said it wasn't broken, just bruised. By evening, the fleshy part beneath the thumb was a deep purple/red and even ice packs weren't helping much. Now this morning he is saying it really hurts (but of couse he only says that if I ask, for he'd never offer that info on his own). He won't go to a doctor though. I mentioned that maybe he wont' be able to work tomorrow, if he can't LIFT (he works for a courier company), and to still get paid, he'll need a doctors note.

Aside from that alls well here on the home front. How's everyone else's weekend panning out?

 

[davidls]

Well for the past few days, it has actually felt like FALL weather here! It wice to not have the humidity, but the cool breeze to the point where you needed a sweater, was NOT nice Today the temp seems to be more summer like, but Thunder Shower/Storm is in the forecast.

I'm trying to convince DH to go to a Walk in Clinic today (regualr Dr's are closed on Sunday). He was being a typical MAN yesterday, climbing onto the roof to trim some of the neighbours tree branches away from our windows and roof. If he had had someone helping, then perhaps what hapenned wouldn't have happened. He pulled the ladder up onto the first tier of the house and propped it up to get up to the 2nd tier. Now tell me, on a slanted overhang, WHAT ON EARTH IS THERE TO HOLD A LADDER IN PLACE? Well he did in fact get most of the branches cut before he FELL!! I was dong some video editing for that Birthday party of my mothers friend. The kids were playing quiety downstairs, and I heard a loud bang, the house shook and then Nothing. I thought it was another earthquake, or not,...... I got up and quickly went outside. I saw all the branches on our front lawn and quickly realized what must have happened. I ran into the driveway so I could see up to the roof, and there was DH sitting on the 1st tier, looking very shook up! He was shaking his hand and examining his leg..........

Once down and in the house, we noticed how swollen his hand was, but he said it wasn't broken, just bruised. By evening, the fleshy part beneath the thumb was a deep purple/red and even ice packs weren't helping much. Now this morning he is saying it really hurts (but of couse he only says that if I ask, for he'd never offer that info on his own). He won't go to a doctor though. I mentioned that maybe he wont' be able to work tomorrow, if he can't LIFT (he works for a courier company), and to still get paid, he'll need a doctors note.

Aside from that alls well here on the home front. How's everyone else's weekend panning out?

Judy......all I can say is OUCH!!!! So sorry to hear about your DH. He sounds like most of us guys..........we won't say anything unless asked. I'm like that too. (Then other times I want to be held by DW like I was a baby again!!! Usually when I get a boo boo of some kind!!) Sounds like he was very lucky he didn't break anything.......and right before your cruise in October. But, I have to agree with you, he should go to a clinic to get everything checked out, just to be sure everything is ok.

We too are having some rain here in sunny FL today. But it is still as hot as ever. No let up on the heat. I take extra breaks during my lawn mowing on the week-ends, to get out of the heat and drink plenty of water.

Well, I have to go and do my walking on the ol' torture machine. So far I have managed to lose about 25 pounds. (When I turn sideways you can't even see me anymore!!! I just disappear!!!)

Everyone have a great week-end. Talk to ya'll again soon.

 

[tjbaggott]

OK, I'm back into our cruise planning mode for a bit here. I'd like your opinions on something: Think creatively!!

For this falls trip, we are now planning the reveal in Washington, or the start of it anyway. The plan is for me to hide some Mickey head cards with text on them and tape stuck on the back, at each point of intereste we'll be visiting in the Washington Mall area. Each card will have a small black symbol of the next point of interest on it. I need help in deciding what clues to print onto the cards. We will start at the Capital building. Somewhere outside, perhaps on a railing leading up the stairs to the front of the building, or perhaps in the hand of a security officer around there (if I can convince one to hold the card and and get in on the surprise by Play acting, about some character in a suit and tie asked him to give this to a Tim and Daniel Baggott, then hand it to my boys).

The first card will have written on it "We Miss You" and a symbol of the White House.

I was thinking of the next one saying "Something Bigger is Coming" and a symbol of the Washington Monument.

Then the next one saying "_________________" and a symbol of the Castle Smithsonian.

The next one saying"_____________" and a symbol of the War Memorial.

The next one saying "_____________" and a symbol of the Lincoln Memorial.

The next one saying "Make A Wish" and a symbol of the Einstein Statue.

That last one will have some GPS Co-ordinates on it that will lead us to our Dis friends house a half hour drive away from there. On her front lawn she will have a Huge DCL "WELCOME ABOARD" sign, and attached to it will be an envelope with my boys name on it. Inside the envelope will be the letter from Mickey, the one with him standing in front of the Ship holding open a big scroll that reads "Tim And Daniel", Are you Ready for some Magic? Your parents are surprising you with a 7 night Caribbean Cruise aboard the Disney Magic! Oct. 30th - November 6th, 2010! Your Pal, Mickey




So, can someone help me fill in the blanks above? Something that will get them thining, but won't GIVE AWAY the reveal just yet? Maybe something like "Do you Miss Us?" and "Are you having Fun Yet?"
I'm STUCK!!!

 

[HRCCrazy]

This fall we are staying at Country Inn and Suites Pre Cruise. I've heard lots about it, and actually there are quite a few from our Meets board that are staying there too, that same night. I got a fabulous Priceline deal on that room ($49.00) so if we like that this fall, I'll try for that again for this Dream Cruise.

Sorry for the delay in getting back and Thank You for the info, just as I was loging in last week when my cell went off, knew it was going to be bad, as it was the from the Police Toy Drive & Memorials, we had 3 Chandler Police officers shot, and one didn't make it, so we "PTD&M staff" went to work working with the city, helping out, (our toy drive warehouse is in Chandler, and I had many Chandler officers stop by and stay with me on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as I stay and sleep there to keep it open for the Police & Firefighters who are in need of toys for kids who won't get anything), this is the 3rd time this year so far, we had to help out with a fallen officers, we also have started to raised funds to add his name to the memorial we already bulit for past fallen officers at the Chandler PD HQ. I was in Washington DC for Police Week this past May to help with the Arizona officer there for a falled DPS officer, and I already been ask to go next year. I hope they don't block this, here is the web site www.PoliceToyDrive.com

OK back to the cruise,
Thanks for the in about the CIS, I know it's way early, but if I can get a cheep room, car, and airfare, they I will up grade my room on the ship, so I'm looking now for the best deals, I have miles for a free ticket, and as soon as the dates open up I will see if I can get a free ticket. I see they just open up the WDW rooms for next year and will work on that for after the cruise.