The High School's Going -- And So Are We!

[erincon23]

Seven weeks away! We leave 3/20, stay in Orlando until 3/26, then hit the Disney Wonder until 3/29! Our first Disney cruise! I can't wait, but I think my DH is getting tired of my giving him the play by play. So I thought I'd post here, where everybody is excited about Disney! Our high school band and choir is going down, and since DS 16 is in band, jazz band and choir, he's going -- so we are too!

We've had some trouble with flight reservations, and the current configuration is awkward. We're flying down separately -- DS16 going with school (has to be at school at 4:45 a.m.) Then I'm flying at 8 a.m. (we're doing frequent flyer tickets on two different airlines), and because of a major American Airlines screwup, DH and DS13 are not leaving until 12:50 p.m. I had thought they were going out at 10 a.m. on a non-stop (after American changed our original connecting flight, which had been Chicago-NY-Orlando, to Chicago-LaGuardia-get yourself over to Kennedy-Orlando, so I thought we had changed it to a now-open nonstop to Orlando, but American actually just changed it to Chicago-New York; so when I finally realized it, the only flight they'd put them on was the 12:50). So, I have six hours in Orlando by myself, picking up the rental car, checking us into the timeshare, grocery shopping, going back to pick up my now-exhausted family!

Plan currently is to go probably to MK Friday night, whenever they get in
Saturday - Epcot
Sunday - MK
Monday - DH and DS13 go to Blizzard Beach, I get to go on my own for a while, then we hear all the band/choir performances
Tuesday -- AK
Wednesday -- pick up DS16 from the band group (they fly back that day), rush to HS to let him audition for Idol, then do the park. Wash clothes, wash clothes, wash clothes, pack!
Thursday - drive to Port Canaveral, board the ship! (have already talked to several DISers going on the same cruise through the cruise thread)
Sunday -

We've been to Disney several times, so we're not trying to commando the parks, just do stuff that we've really enjoyed before or haven't done for one reason or another (Dinosaur comes to mind). Since DS16 will be on his own for several days, I'm encouraging him to use PHotopass and I'll prepurchase the CD, then have us all use it while we're separated. Just wish they did it on the cruise! That would really make it worthwhile. Why don't they? Would seem like a great add-on.

BTW, I have two things I can no longer use --

- a great ADR at Le Cellier for Sat, 3/28 at 6 p.m. for four (since now we'll be on board that night) -- if you can use it, PM me NO LATER THAN FRI, 2/6 -- first one to contact me can have it! I don't like having loose ends laying around, so I want to either transfer this or cancel it so someone else can use it.

- one Universal Studios 1-day, 1-park ticket from Coke Rewards. (expires in August) By the time I saved up enough points for the second, they were out of stock, and we don't want to spend the money to purchase two tickets. They retail on the US website for $63.99 -- if you would like it for $40 (to pay for the Diet Coke I bought to try to get this), PM me and the first to do so gets it.

Our biggest problem at the moment is the 12:50 p.m. flight. American told me I can call every day if I want to try to change it -- that's my next chore today! Wish me luck -- I'd love for us all to get down there earlier in the day and have more time that first day. I also am a chicken driver in unfamiliar areas, and REALLY don't want to have to go get that rental car on my own, drive into Orlando and go back to the airport! I have my GPS and all, but still, not my idea of fun. I'd rather let my much more able hubby handle that chore.


So that's where we stand right now! CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!

Hope to hear from you--

Erin :earboy:

 

[erincon23]

Very sad that nobody's replied to my post... waah!

Anyway, plans go along. Still haven't resolved hubby's flight dilemma, will keep trying. I'm arranging a photopass share with several parents of other kids going on the trip, but not asking for a financial commitment until they see the pictures and decide if it's worth it. Have changed our itinerary slightly -- we'll do Chef Mickey's on Monday (got a nice early time) before DH and DS 13 go to Blizzard Beach, adn then I'll already be at the monorail to head into the parks on my own for a day! I'm making some family shirts sometime this week, I think (not sure if it'll be this week or next, but I'm sure I'm making the shirts lol).

We got our cruise documents for the second half of our trip. We booked a gty 12 and got bumped to a cat 9! Very nice! Travel agent aunt refuses to take her commission so she'll be sending us an onboard credit. I was shocked at how little commission travel agents actually make! They get 10% of your actual cruise fees, not including the port charges and taxes. So on our 3-night cruise for 4 that came to $1645, about $650 is port charges and taxes -- the agency's commission came to $100, and she splits that, so her actual commission is only $50! Keep that in mind when you've called your agent for the 50th time to make some small change -- they make next to nothing. I actually did almost all the arrangements myself (she made our payments) and had it transferred to her so she would make something (somebody ought to), but she insisted that she wanted to give it to us. It'll pay for 1/2 of our glassbottom boat tour!

Starting to pack, buy little "fish extender" items, still have to get a fish extender. That's part of this afternoon's items -- trip to the fabric store! Not finding anything I can afford or want to use. May combine this with some of the DISigns I've found and modified. I'm not really a sewer, but I figure I can manage something like this. At least I hope so!

Thanks -- your thoughts are always welcome!

-Erin