Turkey Day Gang 2009

[ICEMANPAD]

For FE's, I suggest placing an order w/Oriental trading Company...generally we just load up on stuff for the kids, though some people include the adults occasionally, but we tend to make a few drop-offs during the week w/the small items that the kids love to see...we can get enough for the week for 40-50 kids for about $100 total at OTC.

Chuck

 

[jollytammy]

I just checked how much our room has gone up since we booked...it's now $614 more!!!

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Did anyone book Thanksgiving week 2010 today? I was able to grab a secret porthole room. Be forewarned, the prices are HIGH - the cat 10 I booked today was $700 more than what I paid for my 2009 cat 9!!

Jodie

Looks like we will be doing Carnival Dream in 2010 and most likely over Thanksgiving. I have been reading the reports since the dry dock and do not like what I am reading We sail DCL because it "was" a top quality product, if they are not going to invest in keeping up the rooms and having top notch service/food I will save my $'s and go else where until the new ships come out

Rob

 

[pillow]

Looks like we will be doing Carnival Dream in 2010 and most likely over Thanksgiving. I have been reading the reports since the dry dock and do not like what I am reading We sail DCL because it "was" a top quality product, if they are not going to invest in keeping up the rooms and having top notch service/food I will save my $'s and go else where until the new ships come out

Rob

What are people saying post dry dock?

Jodie

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Don't forget that unlike other cruise lines, Disney prices go up the closer to sailing it gets, not down, and if there is a surplus of rooms, they get offered to cast members at a discount or Florida resident specials generally b/c those groups do not need airfare.

 

[pillow]

Don't forget that unlike other cruise lines, Disney prices go up the closer to sailing it gets, not down, and if there is a surplus of rooms, they get offered to cast members at a discount or Florida resident specials generally b/c those groups do not need airfare.

Yep! But I do think there will be more cat 12 discounts due to the blasted economy. Someone mentioned today that this year's 7 night Turkey cruise had a cat 12 offer a couple weeks ago. I looked today, but it was already gone.

Jodie

 

[Mickeyhugger]

What are people saying post dry dock?

Jodie

1) little up keep to the rooms other than flat screen TV, reports of saggy bed mattress, carpets very worn in rooms. the wood work in the rooms and halls are showing their age and have not been repaired.( Nov. 2007 noticed that the room was looking aged and worn and could use some attention)

2) same with the hall ways showing their age and no repairs done( I noticed this on our Nov. 2007 cruise)

3) bathrooms needing a good cleaning (the air vent was full of dust on our last cruise)

4) a lot of repeat cruiser including myself are saying that the service is down compared to previous cruises.

I still love DCL very much but I will not shell out top dollar for just a "Mouse". DCL has been relying way to much on their repeat customers basis and needs to pump $$ into the ship, not just painting the decks and hull.

Rob

 

[bfosbenner]

We sail this Nov 1st. I hope not to see all the wear but I will give an update.
It will be a blast anyway.

 

[jollytammy]

I looked at Royal Caribbean last night--not because of the dry dock reports--but my parents just got off the Freedom of the Seas, and I was curious. The price was a little cheaper. But add in that soda is extra, the gambling, the non-disney shows, the reports of the food not being very good, and you have to pay extra for some kind of steak in the regular dinning room, I still think Disney's the way to go. I asked the kids (13 & 18) and they didn't seem interested in what the Freedom offered, they like the Magic and want to stay with the Magic--good or bad.

But biggest concern today is that my 13 has shot up a foot since we booked the cat. 10, and I'm beginning to worry he'll be too long for the "bunk" beds by the time we sail. I emailed our TA to see if she had any idea if he would "fit" in the bed, and what our options were. For the life of me I can't remember anything about the size/length of the pull-down beds, does anyone know if they are the length of a full-size bed?

THANKS!!!!
Tammy

 

[pillow]

1) little up keep to the rooms other than flat screen TV, reports of saggy bed mattress, carpets very worn in rooms. the wood work in the rooms and halls are showing their age and have not been repaired.( Nov. 2007 noticed that the room was looking aged and worn and could use some attention)

2) same with the hall ways showing their age and no repairs done( I noticed this on our Nov. 2007 cruise)

3) bathrooms needing a good cleaning (the air vent was full of dust on our last cruise)

4) a lot of repeat cruiser including myself are saying that the service is down compared to previous cruises.

I still love DCL very much but I will not shell out top dollar for just a "Mouse". DCL has been relying way to much on their repeat customers basis and needs to pump $$ into the ship, not just painting the decks and hull.

Rob

We'll be onboard the Wonder the week of Thanksgiving - curious to see if I notice the same things. Will give a full report back.

Did the Wonder go through dry dock as well, or was it just the Magic?

J

 

[Mickeyhugger]

We'll be onboard the Wonder the week of Thanksgiving - curious to see if I notice the same things. Will give a full report back.

Did the Wonder go through dry dock as well, or was it just the Magic?

J

The Wonder goes into dry dock in 2009 from what have have read on the dis boards

 

[ICEMANPAD]

We were on the Wonder over 4th of July and were very impressed w/ the upkeep, cleanliness, food and service!!

We will be on the Magic this Thanksgiving and will report back as to its condition. We sailed on the Magic in March and other than the engine issue which has been repaired in dry dock, we didn't have any complaints!!

Lisa

 

[pillow]

I did notice on our Med cruise back in 2007 that there were signs of wear in the staterooms - nothing horribly major at that point though.

J

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I looked at Royal Caribbean last night--not because of the dry dock reports--but my parents just got off the Freedom of the Seas, and I was curious. The price was a little cheaper. But add in that soda is extra, the gambling, the non-disney shows, the reports of the food not being very good, and you have to pay extra for some kind of steak in the regular dinning room, I still think Disney's the way to go.

Tammy

We sailed RCCL in 2006, and 2007. The food was AWFUL. Never again. I'm happy to stay with the Magic too, regardless of the wear, LOL.

Priscilla

 

[pillow]

We sailed RCCL in 2006, and 2007. The food was AWFUL. Never again. I'm happy to stay with the Magic too, regardless of the wear, LOL.

Priscilla

Uh oh. Did you read your dh's prior posts? Looks like your family might be taking separate vacations then??!! Rob on Carnival, and you on the Magic!!??

Jodie

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Uh oh. Did you read your dh's prior posts? Looks like your family might be taking separate vacations then??!! Rob on Carnival, and you on the Magic!!??

Jodie

But I wear the pants in this family

Rob

 

[pillow]

But I wear the pants in this family

Rob

Priscilla??? (this could get good)



J

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

 

[pillow]

Karen, I think my kids are gonna try Cub Creek camp next summer. My daughter has never been away to camp and is nervous to go by herself, but I think she'll like it once shes there. I think we're driving them out (14 hours - ugh), and my dh and I will just figure out something to do all week while the kids are at camp. Any recommendations? What is there to do in Rolla - or within an hour or so? Will we be bored to death all week? Not sure about Branson. All I'm picturing is old folks on buses (and if someone out there is old and likes bus tours, my apologies).

Jodie

P.S. Tried to PM you, but it was blocked.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Hi Jodie,

Yep, I'm off the PM list right now as "punishment" for something I said on the DIS in response to a thread about a rape issue and politics. I understand the moderator's concern, but I will always stand by what I posted (that has now been deleted). Anyway, I get PM access back October 21...yippee! Lesson learned is to not let bozos get under my skin...

Anyway, Cub Creek is awesome! I'm sure your kids will love it (by the way how old are they?). Rolla is about 1.5 hours from St. Louis, about 1 hour from the Lake of the Ozarks and about 2.5 to 3 hours from Branson. Personally, I do not like Branson! I was there once with DH, got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic for an hour (thank you, I can do that at home!) and I just don't like country music (or as I call it, twang!). As a teen I was tortured by listening to 22 hours of Waylon and Willie on a trip to Florida and I've never recovered! No offense to anyone who likes country music, it's just not my cup of tea!

The Lake of the Ozarks was nice when I was a kid, but getting out on the Lake now is a joke! The Lake is polluted and very busy with large boats (though the gas prices may change that). If boating isn't your thing, I will say that there are several nice resorts down there for golfing, etc. There is also a nice outlet mall there, so you can do some shopping.

Personally, I think I'd come up to St. Louis, but I don't remember where you all live (it may not be that much different than where you are from). I will say that we have a ton of good restaurants, a nice outdoor musical theater program in the summer, and lost of good adult activities (and good kid activities too!).

BTW...are they going for 1 week or more? Do you know which week? I'm still trying to convince Andrew to go again. He LOVED Cub Creek...but he also really enjoyed the "lazy bum" summer he had last year with my niece acting as his "nanny" and carting him wherever he wanted to go. You are welcome to contact me by email at msklcassidy at hotmail dot com (and I hope it's not illegal to post that here) and I'll be happy to answer your other questions.