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

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Great day today - I am at the 90 day mark today for our 9/19/09 Magic cruise!!! Booked Palo brunch and dinner; excursions at Grand Cayman and fishing for my DH on CC.

Jan

We have a trip in 3 weeks to WDW at BCV and then in Oct at the BLT to hold us over till the cruise.

I am wishing, hoping and dreaming of this cruise!

IF we go it will be our first cruise ever and will be booked with DVC points (our 3rd DVC trip, none of which has ever been at a dvc resort). We'll be a party of 3 from Chicago, DH and DS who will be 2.

Any spare pixie dust would be wonderful.

So what is the questions/doubts you're having as far as booking this trip? We've booked a cruise on points before. I think when we did it, we booked the first two on points and then cash for the other because it can be cheaper for the 3rd and 4th at times depending on the specials, etc.

 

[Lucille1963]

We have a trip in 3 weeks to WDW at BCV and then in Oct at the BLT to hold us over till the cruise.
So what is the questions/doubts you're having as far as booking this trip? We've booked a cruise on points before. I think when we did it, we booked the first two on points and then cash for the other because it can be cheaper for the 3rd and 4th at times depending on the specials, etc.

Wow! It sounds like you have some wonderful trips planned.

We're not sure about this cruise yet because we're seeing how some money situations work out.

Our plan was to visit Disneyland for a week in January and stay at the new GC Villas. When we got our most recent DVC planner I realized that a cruise wasn't really out of the question (like I always assumed it was). I then realized that if we did take a cruise that would be less out of pocket cash expenses.

Then, a few weeks ago, we took our DS ( 20 months old) to a little amusement park where he wanted no part of any type of ride. We're super laid back park tourists and before we had kids it wasn't unusual to spend a day at a park without ever going on a ride, but now that we have a little one we can't really fill our days with 2 hour breakfasts and beer soaked afternoons

January is our favorite month to vacation and this cruise leaves on my birthday!

Upon further consideration and after hours of reading these boards cruising is really seeming like it is the best option.

We'll probably make our final decision in the next month.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Then, a few weeks ago, we took our DS ( 20 months old) to a little amusement park where he wanted no part of any type of ride. We're super laid back park tourists and before we had kids it wasn't unusual to spend a day at a park without ever going on a ride, but now that we have a little one we can't really fill our days with 2 hour breakfasts and beer soaked afternoons

This may or may not change over the years. Our 5 year old thinks Toy Story Mania is a thrill ride. I got him on Test Track last Oct. And I've prob. heard about 50 times since then that he's not going on that one again. Soarin' I think I might get him on again. Maybe not this next trip.

Now unless there's a major shift in personality, his little brother is going to be the adrenaline junky.

Our trips to WDW are so far from commando these days. They never were much to begin with, but now that we're DVC members and with little kids, much less so.

This will be the 1 yo's first cruise, but the 5 yo has been on a few. I know a lot of people frown on tots on cruiselines especially if you go to a place like cruise critic and read on some of those boards, but it's really a great vacation for them if you understand what's involved.

We were really nervous going on a Princess cruise the first time when our oldest was 16 months because of some of the stuff we read on the boards, but once we got on the ship so many people came up to us and loved our kid because they missed their grand kids. The average age on that boat was about 60. DCL is definitely more family friendly.

 

[Lucille1963]

Only SIX more months!!

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

We'll probably make our final decision in the next month.

So...any decision???

In other news my cousin and his GF might be going now. More likely they will. They have a cabin reserved. Have to wait till early Oct to see if she can get the time off. Shes a nurse. So with my parents, my brother and them they have 4 consecutive cabins. We're down a ways on the other side of the ship.

I'm book smart.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Great day today - I am at the 90 day mark today for our 9/19/09 Magic cruise!!! Booked Palo brunch and dinner; excursions at Grand Cayman and fishing for my DH on CC.

Jan

Time flies. Less than a month now and you can get things ready for us.

 

[rhinosbiggestfan]

HI!!!! im rhinosbiggestfan and im 13. this will be our 3rd disney cruise!!! we hope to go on this cruise but we may change the date due to school vacations!!!!!
THE FAM- (in code names)
PARENTS-
Goofy
and Minnie

KIDS-
Me-rhinosbiggestfan
Stitch-12
Tinkerbell-7
Woody-5
Buzz-1

 

[Lucille1963]

So...any decision???

UUUGGGGHHH.....No cruise ressies yet, but we do have the 29th booked at BLT. It was fun picking a DVC resort for one and discussing all of the pros and cons. I'm excited to be staying at the new resort and our only solid plans are to take the Monorail over to the Poly and have DH buy me a Lapu Lapu for my birthday!

We joined DVC in 2007 and this will be our first time in a DVC room!

I'm not even really sure why we haven't booked yet. We talk about how "we are going" all the time. It just seems like bad thing after bad thing keep happening lately. Hopefully things will calm down soon.

Thanks for asking! How was your recent trip?

HI!!!! im rhinosbiggestfan and im 13. this will be our 3rd disney cruise!!! we hope to go on this cruise but we may change the date due to school vacations!!!!!
THE FAM- (in code names)
PARENTS-
Goofy
and Minnie

KIDS-
Me-rhinosbiggestfan
Stitch-12
Tinkerbell-7
Woody-5
Buzz-1

Welcome Rhino!

 

[JanDave]

Welcome Rhino and Family!!!

Nicole - Hopefully things will calm down enough so that you can book the 1-30-10 cruise. Do you plan to book through DVC? We've done both - DVC and cash. We bought both DVC contracts while on the Magic - in 2001 and 2004.

Just 2.3 weeks from now, I will be on the Magic enjoying dinner! September 19th can't come soon enough.

Even though I've been on many DCL cruises, it's still exciting each time I board the Magic or Wonder.

Have a great long weekend everyone.

Jan

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

UUUGGGGHHH.....No cruise ressies yet, but we do have the 29th booked at BLT. It was fun picking a DVC resort for one and discussing all of the pros and cons. I'm excited to be staying at the new resort and our only solid plans are to take the Monorail over to the Poly and have DH buy me a Lapu Lapu for my birthday!

We joined DVC in 2007 and this will be our first time in a DVC room!

I'm not even really sure why we haven't booked yet. We talk about how "we are going" all the time. It just seems like bad thing after bad thing keep happening lately. Hopefully things will calm down soon.

Thanks for asking! How was your recent trip?

The trip in July was good, but hot. We can cross July off of our list now. We did get to tour where we're staying next month (and where you'll be on the 29th) about a week prior to opening day and it was cool. I've been a DVC member since '98 and I've never set foot in a GV until touring the one at BLT. That place was bigger than the apartment my wife and I lived in after we got married. We can't wait to go back next month to stay. Most of our ADRs are either in the MK, or at monorail resorts. I wasn't really interested in the lounge when we added on there but now that I've been up there I definitely want to try it out on our stay.

 

[Paragd911]

Hi Guys!

We are joining you on this cruise!

Its just my wife & I(plus my service dog) It will be are 5th cruise on Disney. even the dogs too! (and its my birthday)

 

[Lucille1963]

Welcome Mark!

Great logo!

When is your birthday? Mine is Jan 30.

 

[Paragd911]

Welcome Mark!

Great logo!

When is your birthday? Mine is Jan 30.

the same !!!!!

I saw you where in Chicago. I grew up in Arlington Hts. IL (near the Track)

 

[JanDave]

Hi Guys!

We are joining you on this cruise!

Its just my wife & I(plus my service dog) It will be are 5th cruise on Disney. (and its my birthday) even the dogs too!

Welcome, Joy Mark and Shadow! Mark, were you on the 1/10/09 Magic? We met a couple on that cruise with a service dog. Just wondering.

Jan

 

[Paragd911]

Welcome, Joy Mark and Shadow! Mark, were you on the 1/10/09 Magic? We met a couple on that cruise with a service dog. Just wondering.

Jan

No this will be my first time on the Magic! We were on the Wonder for New Year 2009

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Hi Guys!

We are joining you on this cruise!

Its just my wife & I(plus my service dog) It will be are 5th cruise on Disney. even the dogs too! (and its my birthday)

Welcome to the thread and the cruise.

the same !!!!!

I saw you where in Chicago. I grew up in Arlington Hts. IL (near the Track)

I just saw this. I don't know if you cracked my code (or if I mentioned it on this thread), but I'm from Chicago too. I actually live in the city and I'm about 4 miles from Ohare. I think we got our last minivan from Arlington Hts. I know there's a Yankee Candle store near the track so at the very least my wife has spent a car payment in the area.

No this will be my first time on the Magic! We were on the Wonder for New Year 2009

That is a beautiful dog.

 

[JanDave]

Mark - Welcome to the Magic! We'll be on the Magic two weeks from TODAY!!! Can't wait!!!!

Jan

 

[JanDave]

Just an FYI about my afternoon phone calls to DCL.

My cruisemate, Carla, and I were talking this afternoon and we decided to switch from at Cat.11 to a GTY 12 to save $200 each. There isn't much difference between the two categories, primarily location. On our last cruise on 1/10/09, we booked a GTY 12 and got a comp upgrade to a Cat 9. We are seldom in our stateroom and decided to spend the extra $200 on spa, excursions, coffee, beverages, etc. So, the first CM at DCL told me that a 12 is more expensive than an 11??? So, I hung up, went back to the DCL website and looked at the cost difference which showed $400. So, I called back and CM#2 repeated the same info as CM#1. I told her that I was looking at the website and that a 12 was $400 less than the cat. 11 we booked onboard. She put me on hold for several minutes and came back to explain that her manager had to manually change our reservation with the quoted price on the website. I'm still confused but glad I knew what I was talking about. Just wondering how many potential cruisers will call in and pay incorrect DCL prices. I wonder if each reservation is audited for correct amounts. Anyway, our onboard credit carried over but we did lose the 10% discount as it does not apply to a cat. 12. Also, there are so few 12s on the ship and several are taken by DVC CMs, so our chances to get an upgrade, even to an 11, are good.

Several years ago, I had to call DCL twice in order to get the correct price of an "obstructed" verandah stateroom. The first CM told me there was no price difference. I thanked her, hung up, called again, and CM#2 gave me the correct quote.

Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend.

Jan

 

[rhinosbiggestfan]

YAY we got our cruise books today!!!!!!!
Only like four months to go! lol

 

[Paragd911]

YAY we got our cruise books today!!!!!!!
Only like four months to go! lol

cool beans!!