Traveling Turkeys Part 2 11/22/08

[Mean Queen]

Coming to you live from Disney Vero Beach....our first time staying here (we stopped for lunch once after a cruise) and it is very nice so far....Lia and mason made it to the campfire and enjoyed smores...I confess to watching football at the time b/c DS has dominated the TV w/the Hanna Montana marathon. But the kids club worked well tonight...Lisa and I got to enjoy dinner at Mr. Manatees while Mason was entertained here....and yes they had very cute T-shirts to sell....dinner tomorrow will be at a disboards recommended place called Squid Lips..not making this up....3 weddings here this weekend and the place is close to full up...no recession at Disney...

Chuck

We had our first visit to Vero in October. If you can, try Capt. Hirams. It had a fun atmosphere, beautiful view, and good food. Though I also heard good things about Squid Lips. I'd love to go back to Vero, but I don't know if we'd stay in the beach cottage again. It took up more than half our points for a Friday/Saturday stay.

 

[Mean Queen]

If you are going to do DVC, the place to do it is on the ship...they always have a discount per point and usually throw in some extra first year points or similar enticement...however, you can usually get a double point discount, or close, by using the onboard discount combined with the knowing someone in DVC discount....for instance, when we bought about 3 years ago, price per point was $98...there was an onship discount of about $90, but since we knew someone, everyone does, we got our points for $83 per point....the only catch was a slightly larger down payment for the second discount....out for now...will check in sometime tomorrow..

Chuck

Do you know if they do great discounts for add-on's on the ship? I'm really wanting to get BLT, but I want to wait for a good deal. There is one going on now, but if the ship might be better, I'll buy there.

 

[disneypoor]

Kim,

This is from my experience in 2005 . . They would only check in those cabis that were truly CC members. Our parents were not and they had to go to the other line. But honestly, it did not take that much longer. Who knows, the policy could have changed by now.

Suzanne, Sorry about Zazu . . .


Yesterday was Kiahs real birthday party with all of her friends. We ended up with 4 seven year lod girls last night . . . I dont think I will ever recover.

Ken,

When Brianna had her 12th birthday, we let her have a big sleepover with 13 girls. It was definitely a one time deal! I'm still scarred from it. Is Kiah pretty excited about the cruise? My kids don't act all that excited yet, but they will the night before we leave. They have been talking about it a little more though. They've known since March of 07, so I think that took some of the excitement out of it. But, I can't keep a secret, so what do you do?

We were laying in bed last night and I turned to my DH and told him that at that time in two weeks I'd probably be sea sick. Isn't terrible to dream about being sea sick and think it's a good thing?
Susan

 

[Mean Queen]

Here are some of our Vero Beach pictures, for those interested. You don't have to be a DVC member to stay.

The 3 bedroom cottage we stayed in. It's right on the beach, but you can't walk to the beach from the cottage.

The view of the beach from our top deck.

The character breakfast at Shutters with Goofy and Donald

The upstairs area, kitchen, dining room & living room

My girls enjoying the beach

 

[Zandy595]

Coming to you live from Disney Vero Beach....our first time staying here (we stopped for lunch once after a cruise) and it is very nice so far....Lia and mason made it to the campfire and enjoyed smores...I confess to watching football at the time b/c DS has dominated the TV w/the Hanna Montana marathon. But the kids club worked well tonight...Lisa and I got to enjoy dinner at Mr. Manatees while Mason was entertained here....and yes they had very cute T-shirts to sell....dinner tomorrow will be at a disboards recommended place called Squid Lips..not making this up....3 weddings here this weekend and the place is close to full up...no recession at Disney...

Chuck

We live 45 minutes south of the Vero Beach Resort. We went to Shutters for dinner a couple years ago and I've been trying to talk DH into taking a little mini vacation there ever since. I've never been to Squid Lips myself, but my mom has and she really liked it. I hope you, Lisa and Mason have a nice trip.


Shay ~ The pictures you posted look totally different than what I saw when we went there. Where are the cottages in comparison to the main building?


Suzanne ~ I'm so sorry about Zazu.

 

[Happy4Disney]

Shay, nice pictures, your girls are so cute! I would love to go to Vero Beach sometime

Ken, how was the surprise? I know you are still in shock from all of the sleepover excitement. Ha Ha one of mine had a sleepover at one of her BFFs and I am on my way over to bring her home. It sure was nice and peaceful at our house last night!

My girls are getting excited but they keep asking if they can give the FEs to their friends and of course I relented and some went to the party last night, I have to get replacements today. Not sure how some of you are organizing them but I am going to try those accordian file folders.

 

[disneypoor]

Shay,

Your pictures are great, and your girls are dolls! How do you stay if you aren't DVC? I went online and checked out the site, but I didn't see where you could make ressies without being a member. Also, where would you fly in to--Orlando still or is there somewhere closer? Thanks so much for the pictures! They were great! I think we're just looking for a place to go for a weekend, so Vero Beach may be perfect if we can get it all worked out.

Susan

 

[Zandy595]

Is it possible to have the latest dinner seating and still make it to the Pirate Party? I'm trying to figure out if I should try to get us switched to main instead of late.

 

[disneypoor]

Shay, nice pictures, your girls are so cute! I would love to go to Vero Beach sometime

Ken, how was the surprise? I know you are still in shock from all of the sleepover excitement. Ha Ha one of mine had a sleepover at one of her BFFs and I am on my way over to bring her home. It sure was nice and peaceful at our house last night!

My girls are getting excited but they keep asking if they can give the FEs to their friends and of course I relented and some went to the party last night, I have to get replacements today. Not sure how some of you are organizing them but I am going to try those accordian file folders.

Mine aren't really organized, but they do have tags on them with stateroom numbers, names, etc. I bagged up everyone's gift and put them in their own bags for each person. I hope the airline doesn't mess them all up! I will organize by deck once we get on the ship and have the kids help us pass them out. I just thought having room numbers on each bag would make it easier to pass them out. I'll know for sure in just a few short weeks!

Susan

 

[disneypoor]

Is it possible to have the latest dinner seating and still make it to the Pirate Party? I'm trying to figure out if I should try to get us switched to main instead of late.

Sandy,

We've always had the latest seating and attended the pirate party. Sometimes we've had to roll to the party after eating dinner, but.... We're used to eating late though because DH is a farmer. It works out well for us.

Susan

 

[Zandy595]

Sandy,

We've always had the latest seating and attended the pirate party. Sometimes we've had to roll to the party after eating dinner, but.... We're used to eating late though because DH is a farmer. It works out well for us.

Susan

So you didn't miss the very beginning of the party? Did you tell your servers you wanted to leave early or did it just work out? I've read that the late seating can sometimes last 2 hours. I don't like to linger that long at dinner. There is just too much to do to sit in the dining room for that amount of time.

 

[lexandme]

We had 8:00 dinner and made it to the Pirate Party. What time does it start?
Cindy - Organized? Ha! I'm bringing everything as is and putting them in bags on the ship. I guess I should at least put our name on the bag so you know who it's from!
Shay - Your girls are beautiful! Vero Beach looks like heaven. Just another good reason to join DVC or move to Fl.
Sleepovers! I feel your pain.............
DS admitted to me last night that he is very worried that he won't make any friends and that he will be bored. I assured him those are normal feelings and that a lot of kids his age probably have the same concern. I reminded him of the meet and that once he goes to the Stack the cast members will make sure everyone gets together with activities.

 

[Zandy595]

We had 8:00 dinner and made it to the Pirate Party. What time does it start?
Cindy - Organized? Ha! I'm bringing everything as is and putting them in bags on the ship. I guess I should at least put our name on the bag so you know who it's from!
Shay - Your girls are beautiful! Vero Beach looks like heaven. Just another good reason to join DVC or move to Fl.
Sleepovers! I feel your pain.............
DS admitted to me last night that he is very worried that he won't make any friends and that he will be bored. I assured him those are normal feelings and that a lot of kids his age probably have the same concern. I reminded him of the meet and that once he goes to the Stack the cast members will make sure everyone gets together with activities.

The last dinner seating is 8:30pm and the Pirate Party is 9:45pm

Tell Ian that Brendan has said the same thing to me. Encourage him to go to that first get together in The Stack, I've heard that's a must for the teens.

 

[cruisecrzy]

Chuck,

If only the cows didn't have to be milked every day.

Susan

I say teach the cows to milk themselves...they have the ones on TV that play checker so why not milk themselves You can call...I do not know the number to book reservations at Vero, but I know my friends that went two weeks just phoned in their ressies

I do have some questions.
Being a Castaway Club member will Disney let me check in at the port for my sister's family and my parents? This is their first time cruising with Disney.

Does anyone know how much the internet or phone is?

Kim

Last March we were CC members, but my parents weren't. They sent us both in the CC member line and they let them check in there. I would say it just depends on the time and the person "directing traffic." And I have seen times when the CC member line is far longer then the other.

Kim,


Yesterday was Kiahs real birthday party with all of her friends. We ended up with 4 seven year lod girls last night . . . I dont think I will ever recover.

You brave brave people. I am sure two weeks from now you will find a way to recover.

Not sure how some of you are organizing them but I am going to try those accordian file folders.

Wow organization. We just made up ziploc bag with pre-teen girls, teen girls, pre-teen boys, and teen boy. Oh and adults. They put those in one big bag and will just stick our hand in the bag and place item into FE. We are easy to spot walking around with the list trying to find the rooms and my daughter acting like a secret spy trying not to get caught making deliveries.

Shay,

Also, where would you fly in to--Orlando still or is there somewhere closer? Thanks so much for the pictures! They were great! I think we're just looking for a place to go for a weekend, so Vero Beach may be perfect if we can get it all worked out.

Susan

I believe Orlando is the closest. It is just South of Melbourne if that helps you at all with looking for it. You could try a WDW weekend. Sometimes they have great rates for that.

Is it possible to have the latest dinner seating and still make it to the Pirate Party? I'm trying to figure out if I should try to get us switched to main instead of late.

We typically do 8:15 seating, but last March we decided to do the 8:30. I think it was because we wanted PLA. Anyway we made up there just as the Pirate Party was starting and that included a stop to change daughter into her jammies. As far as the length of dinner I say it is upto you. Each time we go my husband talks to our server and tells them we understand the policy and we will talk to the head server if need be (once we had to). That we do not want them to wait until each person finishes a course before the next one is out. When someone finishes their soup hand them a salad....do not wait for everyone to finish their salad. And he tells them we want to do dinner in an hour to 1.5 hours. Some servers are funny and make it like a challenge. They say what is our goal tonight and we say "to see Belle and 9:45" then they make sure we are done by then. Does that make sense?

 

[lexandme]

Sandy - Thanks for the input about the DS's and the first meet in the Stack. I have told Ian and hopefully it made him feel better. Since he's a teenager he'll never tell us though!! He just grunts to acknowledge he hears me.

Michelle -Also thanks for the info about dining. That's really good advice and I will try to talk to our server prior. I know there are times when I don't feel like sitting and waiting either.

I have a question - Can someone tell me how you get the autographs on your pillow cases etc? Do you leave them at guest services?
Judy

 

[cruisecrzy]

Sandy - Thanks for the input about the DS's and the first meet in the Stack. I have told Ian and hopefully it made him feel better. Since he's a teenager he'll never tell us though!! He just grunts to acknowledge he hears me.

Michelle -Also thanks for the info about dining. That's really good advice and I will try to talk to our server prior. I know there are times when I don't feel like sitting and waiting either.

I have a question - Can someone tell me how you get the autographs on your pillow cases etc? Do you leave them at guest services?
Judy

Yeah Sandy with 6 kids under 9 sitting at our table we cannot afford a 2 hour meal Personally I would not do the main dining time......I find there is too much rush getting back from the islands or other activities. We like to go to diversions and snack on nachos and chicken wings if we feel the need before dinner.

Judy,
Yes you take them to guest services. I put my own markers in the bag some people put candy. I have fabric pens and that is why I put them in the bag. You can typically request the main characters, all the princess, a specific character or you can say everyone and anyone who will sign. We have had times that were great with all sorts of characters including the white rabbit, tink and lots of others. We have also had one time when I requested everyone and anyone and got only the six main characters. When I was talking to the character manager she said that at that time the policy was to either do only the 6 main charaacters or the princesses. But we have traveled twice since then and gotten tons of autographs when we requested the everyone and anyone. Hope that made sense.

 

[Daytonamom2]

Hi Everybody

Have not been on for a while. I tore a ligament in my foot and had to have it casted. It is slowing down my pre cruise shopping. And I can't try on any old clothes to see if they still fit. Doctor said he will take it off the Friday before we leave if I think it is better. Well I could have told him at that moment it would be better. The last thing I want to do is stand on one foot in that little bath tub to wash my hair. I had to help out at school almost everyday this week so I way behind on what's happening with you guys.

Lynn

 

[lexandme]

Yeah Sandy with 6 kids under 9 sitting at our table we cannot afford a 2 hour meal Personally I would not do the main dining time......I find there is too much rush getting back from the islands or other activities. We like to go to diversions and snack on nachos and chicken wings if we feel the need before dinner.

Judy,
Yes you take them to guest services. I put my own markers in the bag some people put candy. I have fabric pens and that is why I put them in the bag. You can typically request the main characters, all the princess, a specific character or you can say everyone and anyone who will sign. We have had times that were great with all sorts of characters including the white rabbit, tink and lots of others. We have also had one time when I requested everyone and anyone and got only the six main characters. When I was talking to the character manager she said that at that time the policy was to either do only the 6 main charaacters or the princesses. But we have traveled twice since then and gotten tons of autographs when we requested the everyone and anyone. Hope that made sense.

Thank you! It made perfect sense! I was going to make a pillowcase but ran out of time. I happened to find bevel cut mats at Walmart that are specifically for autographs. And the price was right, 1.99!! I bought stickers of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto and put them on as well. All we can do is ask, right?

Judy

 

[Daytonamom2]

Hi Judy,

My son Frank is the same age as Ian and sounds like they both like computer/video gaming. So I will make a point to find you at the meet and greet so they know each other. I think we are one the same floor (2) I can't remember and we have late dinner.

Lynn

 

[Daytonamom2]

One thing I learned about signing (and take this with a grain of salt just what I was told) that they will not sign anything that has non disney on it. I wanted they to sign a spring break hat but they said no. And they would not let Capt. Jack sign on the same side as the disney charaters. I had a bag and Jack signed on one side and Mickey on the other. But I don't know about a mat. Jack is my fav so I had to have his sig.

Lynn