The Good Ole Freap Chat ~ Sequel Part III ~

[NATALIEBELLESmom]

Pictures from animal kingdom and epcot tomorrow.

 

[pperfectmom]

Hey Marna- all this talk about Mexico! Have you looked into an all-inclusive?? Not necessarily Mexico- some of the deals are pretty good! And you can't beat unlimited food and DRINKS!!!!

I booked our last trip through the Apple website.

We booked through Apple and went to one of the Sandals resorts in Jamaica for our honrymoon. I loved Jamaica, mon! I would definitely go back. Dh and I did venture away from the resort. We took a bicycle tour in the Blue Mountains which was awesome. We would also just leave the resort and walk around the area(which they don't recommend but we didn't have any problem) and found prices in the regular stores waaaay cheaper than in the touristy spots. In researching for next spring, I have looked at Beaches and the Dreams Tulum in Mexico. If we go for longer than 3-4 days, we would have to take the kids since I couldn't ask anyone to watch the little beasts for longer than that. Which, of course, that makes everything costs a whole lot more. I do know if we take the kids, it will have to be someplace that has a child care program where we can abandon them for long periods of time.

 

[maddhatir]

We booked through Apple and went to one of the Sandals resorts in Jamaica for our honrymoon. I loved Jamaica, mon! I would definitely go back. Dh and I did venture away from the resort. We took a bicycle tour in the Blue Mountains which was awesome. We would also just leave the resort and walk around the area(which they don't recommend but we didn't have any problem) and found prices in the regular stores waaaay cheaper than in the touristy spots. In researching for next spring, I have looked at Beaches and the Dreams Tulum in Mexico. If we go for longer than 3-4 days, we would have to take the kids since I couldn't ask anyone to watch the little beasts for longer than that. Which, of course, that makes everything costs a whole lot more. I do know if we take the kids, it will have to be someplace that has a child care program where we can abandon them for long periods of time.

I am pretty sure that Dreams and Beaches can be more expensive than some of the other hotels that are equivalent. Have you checked out the RIU? Most of the hotels will tell you if they are "family friendly".

I know it is not Jamaica but, my SIL went on a family vacation with her daughter, her daughter's husband and her little boy who was 3 at the time and they stayed at a new hotel (at the time) called the Great (not Grand) Parnassus in Cancun.
http://www.parnassusresorts.com/great/eng/Amenities.html

They have a lot of things for the kids to do! They loved it.

 

[SHAYMARAYSMOM]

Theresa- continue posting these photos. I could look at them all day everyday!! Aww.. how i dream of WDW right about now...

Madd- Where in Mexico are you planning on going this time? Love me some Mexico!

IAHD & Others- Thanks for sending good wishes this morning. We got to see the baby, which is always exciting... and I think for the first time its all really hitting me because I can "come out" to my friends and stuff. They did change my due date just a hair (Sept 15th)... so im 6 weeks and 4 days per what she said. We got to see the heartbeat and it was 125bpm. So glad everything went well!! Now back to normal freaping!

Maggie I am glad all is well.

I will keep the pictures coming as long as no one minds. I am glad that the doctors appointment went well and enjoy the process.

I love looking at the pictures

Hey Marna- all this talk about Mexico! Have you looked into an all-inclusive?? Not necessarily Mexico- some of the deals are pretty good! And you can't beat unlimited food and DRINKS!!!!

I booked our last trip through the Apple website.

I want to go to Mexico.
Madd as you said the deals are not what you would think. I work with someone that thought this would be a great time to travel. She was shocked to see how the prices are not as good as she thought they would be.

I like your idea about Priceline on the Hotel room.

 

[Alesia]

I love seeing the Disney pics. We leave in 8 weeks!!!

Kellie - thanks for the box tops!

 

[SHAYMARAYSMOM]

I love seeing the Disney pics. We leave in 8 weeks!!!

Kellie - thanks for the box tops!

glad you got them. Sorry they took so long.

 

[pperfectmom]

Madd-where have you stayed in Riviera Maya? I think Tulum looks like a neat place and I've always wanted to visit Chichin Itza(I know that is spelled wrong-SORRY! ). Dreams actually doesn't look too expensive but airfare into Cancun is very high. I think my sister stayed at one of the RIU's in the Dominican Republic and they loved it but I haven't really looked into those. Our requirements are kid friendly, plenty o' booze and affordable. I don't really want Cancun or any bigger city-type place. I don't like crowds and I don't like shopping. I'm going to look into a few places in Costa Rica also. The kids would really dig the rainforest, I'm sure. I looked up cruise prices yesterday, even though that is not really appealing to me, and I couldn't believe how costly they are, especially the Disney ones! It's fun to look at different options, though, and I haven't totally given up on the possibility of the Winter Olympics.

 

[hadleysun]

Hey everybody! I'm glad to see more chat going on! Great pics, great news, great vacay plans! I don't honestly have much to add at this point and time, but I'm present and accounted for and happy to read everyone else's news and plans!
for everyone!

 

[maddhatir]

Hey everybody! I'm glad to see more chat going on! Great pics, great news, great vacay plans! I don't honestly have much to add at this point and time, but I'm present and accounted for and happy to read everyone else's news and plans!
for everyone!

Madd-where have you stayed in Riviera Maya? I think Tulum looks like a neat place and I've always wanted to visit Chichin Itza(I know that is spelled wrong-SORRY! ). Dreams actually doesn't look too expensive but airfare into Cancun is very high. I think my sister stayed at one of the RIU's in the Dominican Republic and they loved it but I haven't really looked into those. Our requirements are kid friendly, plenty o' booze and affordable. I don't really want Cancun or any bigger city-type place. I don't like crowds and I don't like shopping. I'm going to look into a few places in Costa Rica also. The kids would really dig the rainforest, I'm sure. I looked up cruise prices yesterday, even though that is not really appealing to me, and I couldn't believe how costly they are, especially the Disney ones! It's fun to look at different options, though, and I haven't totally given up on the possibility of the Winter Olympics.

Have you checked a package with hotel and air included?

Also- You could be in Cancun or Riviera Maya- If you do not go outside of the resort- you can never tell if you are in the city or the outskirts


We stayed in Riviera Maya twice. The first time was at the RIU Palace and the 2nd time was at the Grand Sirenis

We were in Cancun twice. The first time we stayed at the Grand Oasis and the 2nd time was at the RIU Cancun

We really loved the RIUs!

 

[pperfectmom]

Have you checked a package with hotel and air included?

Also- You could be in Cancun or Riviera Maya- If you do not go outside of the resort- you can never tell if you are in the city or the outskirts


We stayed in Riviera Maya twice. The first time was at the RIU Palace and the 2nd time was at the Grand Sirenis

We were in Cancun twice. The first time we stayed at the Grand Oasis and the 2nd time was at the RIU Cancun

We really loved the RIUs!

I looked at the RIU websites and they look awesome. Unfortunately, I don't think they look as kid-friendly as the Dreams resorts. I think we are almost "sold" on Dreams Tulum unless we find something cheaper that looks as good. So far, all the resorts I've looked at are about the same price. DH is all on board since the kid's club will keep the kids all day and they even have a beach campout one night.

 

[maddhatir]

I looked at the RIU websites and they look awesome. Unfortunately, I don't think they look as kid-friendly as the Dreams resorts. I think we are almost "sold" on Dreams Tulum unless we find something cheaper that looks as good. So far, all the resorts I've looked at are about the same price. DH is all on board since the kid's club will keep the kids all day and they even have a beach campout one night.

Sounds great! Make sure you let us know when you make your plans!

I am here listening to Mouse House Radio and once again- I am getting the "Disney pang"

This is the weirdest thing- but I dream about Disney a lot, always have, however, it is always the same exact scenario- no matter WHO I am with, they never want to go to the parks Never. We are always there for more than a few days, we do odd things the first few days and then all of a sudden I have to beg everyone to go to the parks with me b/c our vacation is almost over.

I just had that dream a few nights ago and I was with DHs family and I had to beg them to go to the park.

Last night (or early this morning) I had another one- I was with my cousins. We were there for 7 days. Well, 4 days went by and we did not do the parks yet. I said PLEASE- we only have 3 more days left- can we do the parks? My cousin gave me a bunch of crap and I started yelling at her about how much we spent on park tickets and we did not even go yet!

Right when I was yelling at her- DH woke me up and said he was leaving for work.

For years, I have always had the same dream but with different people annoying me

In my most recent dreams, I make it a point to tell them that I have been so patient and have not planned anything to death. I have been just going with the flow. Unlike the past, when I was an overplanner.

Ironically- This is actually my arguement IRL with DH. Do you THINK this is weighing on my mind just a bit

 

[jeankeri]

Madd- you need to start dreaming of hitting The World with your freaps! There's no way we would refuse to park hop with you!!!

 

[maddhatir]

Madd- you need to start dreaming of hitting The World with your freaps! There's no way we would refuse to park hop with you!!!

I cannot understand why everyone is not like us!

Actually my one cousin who was in my dream is a Disney freak. She is 45 and up until 2 years ago, she had not been to Disney in a long time, show went, and now she cannot get enough- she should have not given me crap in my dream! I am going to have to tell her about that!

 

[mtblujeans]

Madd- you need to start dreaming of hitting The World with your freaps! There's no way we would refuse to park hop with you!!!

I vote we do a freap-meet during free dining....more $$$ for drinks!!

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I vote we do a freap-meet during free dining....more $$$ for drinks!!

I'll be there beginning of Sept.

 

[jeankeri]

Fellow freaps -wish me luck! It is the booking window for my NYE trip to Boardwalk Villas. December ressies are a huge flustercluck and I'm sooo nervous about getting shut-out. Phone lines open at 9.....

 

[maddhatir]

Fellow freaps -wish me luck! It is the booking window for my NYE trip to Boardwalk Villas. December ressies are a huge flustercluck and I'm sooo nervous about getting shut-out. Phone lines open at 9.....

Good luck!!!!!!

 

[jeankeri]

Whoo-hoo!! We got our ressie!! I was off the phone by 9:15, but then got sidetracked with laundry . This will be the boys first real test of NYE partying. They have always wanted to be involved in something bigger than us three, Ryan Seacrest, and confetti . So, this will be great since it will be much warmer there than it ever gets here in VT. And, oh yeah, I LOVE the Boardwalk. If it gets crazy, or they poop out, the rooms are Boardwalk view, so they can sit on the balcony and still be part of the excitement!

 

[maddhatir]

Whoo-hoo!! We got our ressie!! I was off the phone by 9:15, but then got sidetracked with laundry . This will be the boys first real test of NYE partying. They have always wanted to be involved in something bigger than us three, Ryan Seacrest, and confetti . So, this will be great since it will be much warmer there than it ever gets here in VT. And, oh yeah, I LOVE the Boardwalk. If it gets crazy, or they poop out, the rooms are Boardwalk view, so they can sit on the balcony and still be part of the excitement!

The description of your NYE on the BW just made me jealous! I was perfectly fine until I read your post!

 

[jeankeri]

Madd, I honestly can't wait! My oldest is really pretty much Disney'ed out, but he was all for doing a NYE thing. My youngest gets seriously into planning EVERY trip- he can't quite figure out how he ended up with his older brother... .