That Fantasy can't steal our Magic! March 30, 2012

[FrogLady23]

Anyone at the Radisson by the Port the night before?

Well, I am probably crazy, but my plan is to drive over from Tampa the morning of.... Saves one trip of hauling luggage in and out... However, I am getting a bit stressed about driving through whatever kind of rush hour Orlando has and there always seems to be something under construction...

It is only 2 1/2 hour drive, but I will probably leave around 6:30am...

 

[JWBmom]

We are driving from Central VA- leaving around noon on Thursday.
We are stopping south of Jacksonville in St. Augustine right off of I-95.
It is only about 2 hours from port and we have a 11:00 port arrival time,though I am sure with my neurotic planning and fear of traffic we will end up there before
We will probably get in to the hotel about midnight, but it least it gives us a chance to get almost a full nights sleep so we will be ready to go on Friday

 

[JWBmom]

Well, I am probably crazy, but my plan is to drive over from Tampa the morning of.... Saves one trip of hauling luggage in and out... However, I am getting a bit stressed about driving through whatever kind of rush hour Orlando has and there always seems to be something under construction...

It is only 2 1/2 hour drive, but I will probably leave around 6:30am...

That sounds like me.
We will be two hours away from port and I am sure I will be dragging my family kicking and screaming from the hotel nice and early

 

[UMTerp]

We are driving from Central VA- leaving around noon on Thursday.
We are stopping south of Jacksonville in St. Augustine right off of I-95.
It is only about 2 hours from port and we have a 11:00 port arrival time,though I am sure with my neurotic planning and fear of traffic we will end up there before
We will probably get in to the hotel about midnight, but it least it gives us a chance to get almost a full nights sleep so we will be ready to go on Friday

Wow! You are braver than I am. I would be sleeping the whole cruise!

UMTerp

 

[karajeboo]

We are driving from Central VA- leaving around noon on Thursday.
We are stopping south of Jacksonville in St. Augustine right off of I-95.
It is only about 2 hours from port and we have a 11:00 port arrival time,though I am sure with my neurotic planning and fear of traffic we will end up there before
We will probably get in to the hotel about midnight, but it least it gives us a chance to get almost a full nights sleep so we will be ready to go on Friday

There is a wonderful Wingate Inn in St Aug. Just don't go further south or you're in no man's land for a while. And St Aug is nice and safe!

 

[kgoldenh]

Are you flying or driving and where did you book? We are flying in on the 29th and staying at the Airport Hyatt. That way we will be down early for the first bus to the ship!

we are flying the morning before. we were to leave around 1145 - which allowed kids to go to school, get any last bit of school work and provide a leisurely day for mom and dad. Thank you Jet Blue for changing flights -we are now on a 9am flight so no more sleeping in or having the morning to get ready. On the upside we now have a whole 24 hours in Florida before we need to be at the port. We are staying at CI&S. We fly home the following Saturday afternoon.

Any good ideas for what we should do while in town? Was thinking the state park or just spending the day at the beach to get in the mood.

Kate

 

[kgoldenh]

We are driving from Central VA- leaving around noon on Thursday.
We are stopping south of Jacksonville in St. Augustine right off of I-95.
It is only about 2 hours from port and we have a 11:00 port arrival time,though I am sure with my neurotic planning and fear of traffic we will end up there before
We will probably get in to the hotel about midnight, but it least it gives us a chance to get almost a full nights sleep so we will be ready to go on Friday

I am not sure I could make it that long in the car with my kids.

 

[UMTerp]

we are flying the morning before. we were to leave around 1145 - which allowed kids to go to school, get any last bit of school work and provide a leisurely day for mom and dad. Thank you Jet Blue for changing flights -we are now on a 9am flight so no more sleeping in or having the morning to get ready. On the upside we now have a whole 24 hours in Florida before we need to be at the port. We are staying at CI&S. We fly home the following Saturday afternoon.

Any good ideas for what we should do while in town? Was thinking the state park or just spending the day at the beach to get in the mood.

Kate

We went to the Kennedy Space Center last time we had an extra day. We liked it!
UMTerp

 

[JWBmom]

I am not sure I could make it that long in the car with my kids.

My oldest will probably have his face in his ipod or sleep or just generally ignore us (he is a teenager after all)
The little one will probably make me insane!!! At least we have a dvd in the car so they can be occupied for a while and she does tend to go to sleep on long car rides so one can hope.

This drive will just make that first DOD that much more tempting

 

[JWBmom]

Wow! You are braver than I am. I would be sleeping the whole cruise!

UMTerp

Our original plan was to leave early evening and drive the whole way straight through the night. The thinking was at least my son would only miss Friday at school and they would probably sleep most of the way.
But then I figured I would probably be comatose for at least the first day and I don't want to miss a thing.

 

[JWBmom]

Good Luck tomorrow Kara

 

[UMTerp]

This drive will just make that first DOD that much more tempting

That sounds about right!

 

[karajeboo]

For anyone driving back north after you get back, if you have never seen St Augustine, I HIGHLY recommend it. It's one of my favorite cities!!! But it's very historical and you really need to do the tram tour to appreciate it.

We will be driving down on Thursday, leaving around 2:30 which will put us in around 11 or 12.... ugh.

But the port opens an hour later than last year so we can sleep in!

 

[FrogLady23]

For anyone driving back north after you get back, if you have never seen St Augustine, I HIGHLY recommend it. It's one of my favorite cities!!! But it's very historical and you really need to do the tram tour to appreciate it.

We will be driving down on Thursday, leaving around 2:30 which will put us in around 11 or 12.... ugh.

But the port opens an hour later than last year so we can sleep in!

Kara,
When you y'all driving back? Right off of the cruise, or are you heading to Orlando? Tori and I don't fly out until Saturday evening, and I'm pondering all of our options...
T.

 

[Dylcal]

Our original plan was to leave early evening and drive the whole way straight through the night. The thinking was at least my son would only miss Friday at school and they would probably sleep most of the way.
But then I figured I would probably be comatose for at least the first day and I don't want to miss a thing.

Wow -- driving that distance would be impossible for us! Ever since my son was a baby, he gets car sick after two hours in a car and then continues until our destination.I can't say much as I was the same way growing up. My cure was when I started driving and then I would just do the driving and problem solved! My son drives now as well perhaps we can switch off every hour and 1/2 to ward off the "sickness" When we go to the outer banks, I do the driving but leave early in the morning - Dylan stays awake until we leave and then sleeps the entire way! Flying may cost more but at least we arrive with out stomachs in tact!

 

[kikids]

I joined the madness today with the release of Magic and Wonder 2013 dates. Check out the new countdown banner! I am hoping to book on board with a 10% disc and cancel this ressie but if prices change, at least I'm locked in.

I heard people were calling in sick to work today to reserve at the 8 am opening release time. Of course, that's b/c we are lowly Silver members (no advance booking privileges). The last thing my husband said last night as I was pre-selecting my cruise at 11:30 pm, bleary eyed in front of the computer was "How many more of these d*mn things do we have to go on before we become Gold members and don't have to worry about this crazy stuff anymore?" I interpret that to mean I'm supposed to book 5 more cruises ASAP, .

 

[Im_A_Princess]

We booked the 7/13/13 Med to Greece

As for driving... no way. I must be getting "old" because the 1 hour drive home after the 2 hr flight from Orlando seems like forever. I don't even like connecting or stopping flights. I even like to stay at WDW on our DVC points the day before and after a cruise.
That is what we are doing for this cruise. Leaving late the 28th before the cruise & then staying until Sun night at WDW afterward.

 

[UMTerp]

We booked the 7/13/13 Med to Greece

As for driving... no way. I must be getting "old" because the 1 hour drive home after the 2 hr flight from Orlando seems like forever. I don't even like connecting or stopping flights. I even like to stay at WDW on our DVC points the day before and after a cruise.
That is what we are doing for this cruise. Leaving late the 28th before the cruise & then staying until Sun night at WDW afterward.

Nice! I was stupid and booked a flight home on Friday when we get back. Why didn't I at least book us for Saturday? Who knows?

 

[karajeboo]

Tammi, I haven't even thought about AFTER the cruise. We were talking about doing Kennedy Space Center though. Or maybe heading to Jacksonville and spending the weekend with our friends there.....

 

[Im_A_Princess]

Nice! I was stupid and booked a flight home on Friday when we get back. Why didn't I at least book us for Saturday? Who knows?

Flying back the day you get off the cruise is not bad.
We do it when we have to.
This cruise is using up DVC points so it just made sense to use a few more and stay at WDW on each side of the cruise.
We used to fly in the morning of the cruise too but that is really tiring. We were getting up at 4 to catch a 7 am flight. Didn't work well with kids.
Besides, I have to have my Disney withdrawl a bit slower than getting off the ship and then "bam" I'm home that night wondering who is going to cook dinner