September/October 2013 check in

[Marlea98]

we aren't huge swimmers, although i will insist that everyone at least wades into the water at CC. i really, really am dying to see some ruins (preferrably chacchoben in costa maya) and although carlo and i were going to originally go on this trip together, i figured we may as well do it this year with our siblings as well rather than delaying another year!!!

love hearing about cruise TRs so i will definitely do one. would love to read yours when you are back from it too

I'm still working on my TR on my blog If you have a look through you'll find our trip to the MR last December which was brilliant I'll definitely do a TR on here for next time though.

 

[Jade+3]

I am back in planning mode.

Our last 2 trips at WDW have been at Halloween. Both times we decided to miss MNSSHP, mainly because the kids were young and it would be too late for them. This trip they will be 8, 7 and 4. Still not sure that it is worth the money, especially with the unpredictable weather.

I am trying to talk DH into a week in New York but not having any luck.

 

[5ofus]

I am trying to talk DH into a week in New York but not having any luck.

Maybe you'll have more luck when Sandy has gone

 

[shushh]

I am back in planning mode.

Our last 2 trips at WDW have been at Halloween. Both times we decided to miss MNSSHP, mainly because the kids were young and it would be too late for them. This trip they will be 8, 7 and 4. Still not sure that it is worth the money, especially with the unpredictable weather.

I am trying to talk DH into a week in New York but not having any luck.

So good to see back!!!!

 

[australiankaren]

 

[Jade+3]

Maybe you'll have more luck when Sandy has gone

DH loves weather events. He was caught in a Super Typhoon in Guam years ago, and thought it was the best. Me on the other hand would have jumped on the first plane out of there.

So good to see back!!!!

Thanks. I had even forgotten how to multi-quote.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I am back in planning mode.

Our last 2 trips at WDW have been at Halloween. Both times we decided to miss MNSSHP, mainly because the kids were young and it would be too late for them. This trip they will be 8, 7 and 4. Still not sure that it is worth the money, especially with the unpredictable weather.

I am trying to talk DH into a week in New York but not having any luck.

Welcome back Jade.

 

[australiankaren]

Welcome back Jade.

Yep..so what's the itin???

 

[Jade+3]

Welcome back Jade.

Thanks PIO

Yep..so what's the itin???

Karen you may be sorry you asked, as we will be joining you on FOS. DS is the king of tantrums. If you see a red headed 4 year old lying on the ground screaming, that will be us.

Itin has to fit in with DD's dancing schedule, so will go something like this:

Mon 9 Sep - BNE-LAX (hoping for Air NZ as the night flight is better for the kids, rather than the direct flight which leaves here in the morning and has them awake for most of the flight).

9 - 13 Sep - I want to go to NY, but will most likely be around LA/Anaheim or perhaps San Diego. We are travelling with DH's parents who have never been to the US. Older DS wants to see Cars Land. We were going to go on the way back, but this will clash with Gay Days, so too crowded.

Fri 13 Sep - Fly to MCO, and drive to Port Canaveral. Kids want to stay at Ron Jon Resort after seeing the pools on the website.

15 - 22 Sep - Freedom of the Seas, Western Caribbean.

22 Sep - 3 Oct - WDW, Port Orleans Riverside. May extend this by a day or two.

3 - 8 Oct ??

Tuesday 8 Oct - LAX-BNE, need to be home on the 10th Oct.

It makes more sense to go to DL on the way home, but friends have just got back and said Gay Days was terribly crowded. We have not been to DL for a few years. Was thinking of doing Mon 7 Oct and Tue 8 Oct, before going to the airport. Not sure if that will be enough time, but we may be over theme parks by then. Open to any suggestions anyone may have.

 

[australiankaren]

Thanks PIO



Karen you may be sorry you asked, as we will be joining you on FOS. DS is the king of tantrums. If you see a red headed 4 year old lying on the ground screaming, that will be us.

Itin has to fit in with DD's dancing schedule, so will go something like this:

Mon 9 Sep - BNE-LAX (hoping for Air NZ as the night flight is better for the kids, rather than the direct flight which leaves here in the morning and has them awake for most of the flight).

9 - 13 Sep - I want to go to NY, but will most likely be around LA/Anaheim or perhaps San Diego. We are travelling with DH's parents who have never been to the US. Older DS wants to see Cars Land. We were going to go on the way back, but this will clash with Gay Days, so too crowded.

Fri 13 Sep - Fly to MCO, and drive to Port Canaveral. Kids want to stay at Ron Jon Resort after seeing the pools on the website.

15 - 22 Sep - Freedom of the Seas, Western Caribbean.

22 Sep - 3 Oct - WDW, Port Orleans Riverside. May extend this by a day or two.

3 - 8 Oct ??

Tuesday 8 Oct - LAX-BNE, need to be home on the 10th Oct.

It makes more sense to go to DL on the way home, but friends have just got back and said Gay Days was terribly crowded. We have not been to DL for a few years. Was thinking of doing Mon 7 Oct and Tue 8 Oct, before going to the airport. Not sure if that will be enough time, but we may be over theme parks by then. Open to any suggestions anyone may have.

thats frigging awesome freedom is a great ship if you havent sailed her before, your going to love it....dont forget to sign up for the cup cake classes...check out the photos on my awesome TR

as for tanty's..my DH can do doozies after 33 hrs traveling and no decent coffee to be found.....

excited i am

so in my trip I am having lunch with alicia at CP, and then constantly bumping into you and your motley crew on the FOS......sounds like a plan..can you mind me a deck chair for the days at sea?? thanks mate, adult pool area, second row on the left hand side....I'll be there around 9.

BTW...ANZ is kissy kissy.......I love you air new zealand!

 

[Jade+3]

thats frigging awesome freedom is a great ship if you havent sailed her before, your going to love it....dont forget to sign up for the cup cake classes...check out the photos on my awesome TR

as for tanty's..my DH can do doozies after 33 hrs traveling and no decent coffee to be found.....

excited i am

so in my trip I am having lunch with alicia at CP, and then constantly bumping into you and your motley crew on the FOS......sounds like a plan..can you mind me a deck chair for the days at sea?? thanks mate, adult pool area, second row on the left hand side....I'll be there around 9.

BTW...ANZ is kissy kissy.......I love you air new zealand!

We went ANZ last year but on one of the old planes.

Adult pool area sounds like a plan to escape the kids for a bit. So glad we are bringing grand parents.

I was showing DD your cupcake photo's, she is keen. We have a promenade room, i think we are above the cupcake cupboard on deck 7.

Do you recall if the gym had any classes?

 

[australiankaren]

We went ANZ last year but on one of the old planes.

Adult pool area sounds like a plan to escape the kids for a bit. So glad we are bringing grand parents.

I was showing DD your cupcake photo's, she is keen. We have a promenade room, i think we are above the cupcake cupboard on deck 7.

Do you recall if the gym had any classes?

get onto your TA as soon as possible and see if you can score the room over ben and jerry's, then you get free icecream the entire trip....hurry, do it now...the room you have is practically next door...do it, do it....its because your staring out the window at the cows bottom.....

gym has awesome classes, some free, some not....we did the 7am stretching class...great way to start the day, then I did the core strengthening....pain!

call your TA NOW!!!!!!

 

[Jade+3]

get onto your TA as soon as possible and see if you can score the room over ben and jerry's, then you get free icecream the entire trip....hurry, do it now...the room you have is practically next door...do it, do it....its because your staring out the window at the cows bottom.....

gym has awesome classes, some free, some not....we did the 7am stretching class...great way to start the day, then I did the core strengthening....pain!

call your TA NOW!!!!!!

Unfortunately the Ben and Jerry suite does not sleep 5. I did consider booking it for the inlaws as it was available. We are directly above it, in a family stateroom. We will still see the cows but won't get free ice cream.

Glad there are some gym classes. I was probably expecting too much to get body step or body attack at sea. Core strength is good. Will have to take DH. He thinks classes are easy, though he has never done one.

 

[alicia1506]

thats frigging awesome freedom is a great ship if you havent sailed her before, your going to love it....dont forget to sign up for the cup cake classes...check out the photos on my awesome TR

as for tanty's..my DH can do doozies after 33 hrs traveling and no decent coffee to be found.....

excited i am

so in my trip I am having lunch with alicia at CP, and then constantly bumping into you and your motley crew on the FOS......sounds like a plan..can you mind me a deck chair for the days at sea?? thanks mate, adult pool area, second row on the left hand side....I'll be there around 9.

BTW...ANZ is kissy kissy.......I love you air new zealand!

lol sounds like you will be busy

jade - i have added you to the roll call on the main page... welcome to the madhouse ... oops, i mean funhouse

 

[australiankaren]

Unfortunately the Ben and Jerry suite does not sleep 5. I did consider booking it for the inlaws as it was available. We are directly above it, in a family stateroom. We will still see the cows but won't get free ice cream.

Glad there are some gym classes. I was probably expecting too much to get body step or body attack at sea. Core strength is good. Will have to take DH. He thinks classes are easy, though he has never done one.

I asked but too dangerous on a moving ship same as attack....its more spin, and strengthening..but they have great machines so you will be able to get a good workout once you get your treadmill sea legs

 

[Jade+3]

I asked but too dangerous on a moving ship same as attack....its more spin, and strengthening..but they have great machines so you will be able to get a good workout once you get your treadmill sea legs

DH will be happy. Last year he left me in Cozumel with the kids so he could get back to his spin class.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Yay, I've finally committed. I just booked my flights AKL - LAX - AKL with Air NZ. I'll wait for more US flights to be released and some specials to be announced before booking the onward ones to Orlando.
I'm excited, but also a tad freaked out. It's quite a big financial commitment for us, but there's no turning back now. Eeek!

After all the discussion about skycouches on that thread a week or so ago, I ended up just booking normal economy seats. I uhmmed and ahhed for ages about the skycouch and even got out my tape measure to compare it to our couch at home. After trialing different lying positions on our couch at home, I realised that there is no way my husband, son and I could use the seats like a bed and therefore wasn't worth the extra $200 each way to us. I then started considering the option of booking an extra seat across the aisle, which had gone up an extra hundred dollars to $800 during the time I'd wasted uhmming and ahhing. Yet I just couldn't bring myself to pay the extra money for this either. I've decided I'd rather spend that money on an upgrade from a value resort to a moderate resort so we get the comfort of queen beds instead of doubles.

Anyway, it's full steam ahead from now on. Normally I'd think 10 1/2 months is ages away, but with all the planning and all the saving that needs to take place in that time, it seems so close.

 

[5ofus]

Yay Wanderlust! How exciting! I understand where you are coming from re: the Skycouches. I think having more than one adult would kinda make it hard, unless you had a spare seat, and I'd freak at spending that much extra on a seat!

All becoming now that you are booked in!

 

[Caroline NZ]

Yay for booking Wanderlust NZ. Onwards and upwards with the planning


I booked our car hire yesterday. 29 days for the top of the range luxury car category = US$1,343 including full LDW. I am happy with that. DH wants to be driving something nice, since we will be doing 3000+ kms on this trip.
Ummed and arred about getting an SUV, but DH really wanted a car, plus the car actually takes more luggage ( 5+ suitcases) and as we will be on the road quite a bit I wanted the luggage to be well out of sight in a proper boot/trunk.

 

[Minniemum]

Yay, I've finally committed. I just booked my flights AKL - LAX - AKL with Air NZ.

Well done! Booking flights is a commitment but one of the best commitments I know! Now the fun begins.