Spring starts 1/30/2010. Punxsutawney Phil can kiss my...

[becca-becca]

And we are on first seating for dinner.

We also got 5 of the 6 SPH rooms and, one was gotten using points. I thought that room would be on the opposite end of the ship, but when the MS agent came on and said it was a SPH I was shocked!!!

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

We've been DVC members for over 10 years now. We did our first DCL cruise on the Wonder on points and this one is free from the promo they are running.

They have that stupid doorway to dreams place about 15 mins from my house. We had no intention of adding on at AKV or at BLT but we were bored and we walked through the models. We were going to book a DCL cruise in Jan of 2010 anyway so to get one for free was a big perk/motivator.

I have the oldest one's passport done from a previous trip. Going to wait until after the summer for the youngest because he'll change so much in 1/2 a year and the thing is good for 5 years.

 

[JanDave]

The Michigan jokes were great. I will have to share them with my mother. She grew up in Kalamazoo and I have been there many, many times.

Yes, we are AKV members. I will have to try to fix my signature.

In the past, our groups have been pretty good about knowing when to split off from each other. My kids will have 3 of their 4 grandparents on board and everyone gets along very well.

We are really looking forward to it. We are getting our kids' passports soon. I am going to try to get their passport pictures taken this weekend.

We can't wait!!

My DD and family live in Kalamazoo. I'm there frequently. Will be there this weekend for my grandsn's 5th birthday. She lives off Portage Avenue.

 

[JanDave]

And we are on first seating for dinner.

We also got 5 of the 6 SPH rooms and, one was gotten using points. I thought that room would be on the opposite end of the ship, but when the MS agent came on and said it was a SPH I was shocked!!!

You wil love the SPH rooms! We've had them twice. We have 2 SPH rooms booked for the 11-21-10 Wonder cruise.

Jan

 

[JanDave]

We've been DVC members for over 10 years now. We did our first DCL cruise on the Wonder on points and this one is free from the promo they are running.

They have that stupid doorway to dreams place about 15 mins from my house. We had no intention of adding on at AKV or at BLT but we were bored and we walked through the models. We were going to book a DCL cruise in Jan of 2010 anyway so to get one for free was a big perk/motivator.

We've been DVC members for 8 years. Bought our first contract (HH) on the Magic. We again bought another contract on the Magic in 2004 (SSR). Where is Dreams Place located?

On our September 08 Wonder cruise, there were 11 family members and 10 of us cruised on points!!! No, I don't have that many points. My DD from the Detroit area bought DVC points on the Magic in 2007 and with the extra points given to them to use within a year, we booked 3 staterooms. My DH, Dave, was a late add on, just a few weeks before the cruise, as he didn't know if he could get off work. He was laid off work that week and fortunately, DCL could accommodate one more adult. What a trooper he was, though. He is 6' and slept on the futon!!! Carla, my DD's m-i-l, who is my cruise mate for our cruise, and I had the beds split up and we slept well throughout the cruise!

I am out of points until 2012. I used our last batch of DVC points for our November 2010 Wonder cruise. Booked the two SPH rooms for my DS and his family who live in Morgantown, WV and us. Then with the remaining points, I offered to use points for our Michigan grandkids if the parents wanted to book a stateroom. My Kalamazoo DD booked a sideways room across from ours and I used points for her two kids. We're waiting for our Detroit DD and family to decide to go with us. I am SO looking forward to having ALL the family together for 3 days on the cruise.

Jan

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Doorway to Dreams is located in Woodfield Mall in Schaumberg, Il. It's just down I-90 a few minutes from Ohare.

The place is EVIL. Disney doesn't do high pressure sales. They just friendly you to submission. They had full models of AKV rooms and now have models of BLT.

 

[becca-becca]

Doorway to Dreams is located in Woodfield Mall in Schaumberg, Il. It's just down I-90 a few minutes from Ohare.

The place is EVIL. Disney doesn't do high pressure sales. They just friendly you to submission. They had full models of AKV rooms and now have models of BLT.

OMG!! It would be SOOO bad if I actually lived near a DVC "store". I would be in trouble I forgot about the deals they offer you on a cruise. I might have to save up for that!!!

We are thinking about going to WDW in August for the 4/3 special and are not using points.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

OMG!! It would be SOOO bad if I actually lived near a DVC "store". I would be in trouble I forgot about the deals they offer you on a cruise. I might have to save up for that!!!

We are thinking about going to WDW in August for the 4/3 special and are not using points.

The people at the Doorway store gave my 4 year old a pin. We told the woman he doesn't collect them and she said it was not a big deal he could have one anyway with a big smile on her face. They know exactly what they're doing. The first one's free-sounds familiar. If my kid gets hooked on these pins I'm going to have to get a second job or something.

A brief recap of my day. I guess in this case, the tree doesn't fall far from the apple.

I just talked to my parents today-the ones going on this cruise with us. They're in WDW as I'm typing this. (insert bannable words) They called me on the way to our guide's office. They have toured the BLT models and have purchased points also so they're now getting this cruise for free too as of today.

Everyone stay away from DVC. It's like a sick cult.

 

[becca-becca]

Tell me about it. We joined in February of 2008 and have added on twice already. (Luckily my Mom bought in too and in our account, so all the points are in our name to make it simpler). We have 350 points and I feel like I need MORE. I have addonitis bad even after just having added on 75 points less than one month ago. What is wrong with me?

 

[platamama]

Hi, I'm a newbie and just booked on the 1/30/10 sailing for my family for our very first cruise. I'm very excited! I've been learning a lot from this site and am so looking forward to the cruise! DD will have just turned 5 when we go so I hope it's something she'll always remember.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Hi, I'm a newbie and just booked on the 1/30/10 sailing for my family for our very first cruise. I'm very excited! I've been learning a lot from this site and am so looking forward to the cruise! DD will have just turned 5 when we go so I hope it's something she'll always remember.

What's up? What part of Colorado are you in? My wife has a friend in Broomfield so we've been to Denver a few times in the past few years.

How many people are sailing? I'll add you to the first post. Everyone else seems like they've been on the Magic like 50 times so I'm glad I'm not the only one who hasn't anymore.

My son turns 5 in June. He never shuts up. I'm hoping he starts to forget some of the stuff he's done in his life because I've heard the same stories for years now.

 

[platamama]

I live next to Broomfield actually - in Lafayette. It's pretty quiet but family friendly. It will be me, DH, and DD (5) on the cruise. I went with late seating since we're from Mountain time and hope that works out smoothly.

So our 5 yr olds will probably be in the OC together. I bet they'll have great new stories after that!

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I live next to Broomfield actually - in Lafayette. It's pretty quiet but family friendly.

I'm sure we'll be back in the area. The whole area was like a post card.

We did like a sampler plater when we visited.

We stayed at the Radisson Castle both times we were in the area. We went to a Mexican restaurant 3 Margaritas or something like that and Casa Bonita and we went up Mt. Evans and had lunch. 14,000 feet doesn't really agree with me so I'm glad I wasn't the one driving on that toothpick road. We also went to the Hammond's candy factory.

 

[platamama]

3 Margaritas is one of my favorites. Casa Bonita is a fun experience but you're definitely paying for the surroundings and not for the food quality. Sounds like you've tried some fun things!

I've been reading about fish extenders on here - is there a thread on that for our sailing or is anyone interested in participating in one?

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

We will for sure have a fish extender on our door even if I have to fill it with crap myself. My kids are the perfect age for that kind of thing. I don't know how they're run. I have to look into it more. I believe they're ran out of the same thread as the roll call, but they didn't have them on my only other Disney cruise.

 

[JanDave]

We will for sure have a fish extender on our door even if I have to fill it with crap myself. My kids are the perfect age for that kind of thing. I don't know how they're run. I have to look into it more. I believe they're ran out of the same thread as the roll call, but they didn't have them on my only other Disney cruise.

I think there is an FE thread on the main DCL DIS board. I participted in an FE gift exchange on the Magic last October. I've read variations of ways to do the exchange. In the only one I participated in, we bought gifts for each participating stateroom and/or persons in each participating stateroom. We staggered the gift giving so that not all gifts were delivered on a single day. Examples of gifts were candy, handmade items, stickers, pirate themed stuff, postcards, magnets, etc. It was fun. Just an FYI: the gifts will add weight to your suitcase which is important when flying.

Jan

 

[JanDave]

Hi, I'm a newbie and just booked on the 1/30/10 sailing for my family for our very first cruise. I'm very excited! I've been learning a lot from this site and am so looking forward to the cruise! DD will have just turned 5 when we go so I hope it's something she'll always remember.

Welcome Platamama and family!

Jan

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I think there is an FE thread on the main DCL DIS board. I participted in an FE gift exchange on the Magic last October. I've read variations of ways to do the exchange. In the only one I participated in, we bought gifts for each participating stateroom and/or persons in each participating stateroom. We staggered the gift giving so that not all gifts were delivered on a single day. Examples of gifts were candy, handmade items, stickers, pirate themed stuff, postcards, magnets, etc. It was fun. Just an FYI: the gifts will add weight to your suitcase which is important when flying.

Jan

I've started to read the FE thread linked in the sticky. Haven't read it all yet. I haven't come across how they're run, when to do them-stuff like that. I'd guess that's pretty much up to the people on the cruise and as the date gets closer there would be a lot of PMs flying around.

I've seen pics of people's booty from past FE exchanges and I knew I'd have to do that. Little kids don't seem to put the same value on things as bigger kids or adults so that on top of everyone likes a surprise and it becomes even more of an event.

"OMG!!! A $1 Mickey yo-yo!!! This is the best day of my life!"

We took an Alaskan Cruise with Princess before #2 was born. Everytime my oldest left the kids area they let him pick a cheapy toy from a box. He'd go from ready to meltdown to see ya ladies in a few seconds as he was trying to figure the new toy out walking down the hall. I can see using the FE as a motivational tool to get some people back into their cabin.

 

[platamama]

Welcome Platamama and family!

Jan

Thanks Jan!

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Well, my brother, his wife, and their four kids (age at sailing-boys 7,6 girls 4,1) are going now from what I understand.