Universal Adventures of Dreams AND Magic, and an expanding World!

[jenseib]

That's funny about the butt dial. Whenever I get one I'm always screaming HELLO!!!!!!!! in the phone trying to make the person here me

OK here's my guess. Doesn't Disney have a cruise leaving from Galveston?

What is a Castaway Cay member?

Ding ding ding!!!!! We have a winner!!!

A Castaway Club member is someone who has sailed on disney. So once you step on board your first cruise you become one. Then on your next cruise you can book excursions earlier than the newbies.
Once you sail so many more times, you become a higher rank and can book even earlier. it will be a long time before I get to that level.

 

[englishrose47]

Ding ding ding!!!!! We have a winner!!!

A Castaway Club member is someone who has sailed on disney. So once you step on board your first cruise you become one. Then on your next cruise you can book excursions earlier than the newbies.
Once you sail so many more times, you become a higher rank and can book even earlier. it will be a long time before I get to that level.

Me too!!!!

 

[jenseib]

Me too!!!!

I really need to play and win the lottery to fund my obsessions

 

[AquaDame]

I really need to play and win the lottery to fund my obsessions

I tried.... we will buy a ticket from time to time but no, no 235 million for me this week!

 

[jenseib]

I tried.... we will buy a ticket from time to time but no, no 235 million for me this week!

I know how that is.

 

[Kathy Jetson]

Yeah! I'm the winner

I told River the first thing I would do if I win the lottery is book a Disney Cruise!

 

[jenseib]

Soooooo.....

I think you all kind of have it sort of figured out...sort of.

My trip is a DCL cruise on the Magic out of Glaveston for 7 days.

How this came about~

I had earned a trip on anther line over the past year. So in May I starting looking at options. I could only pick from certain dates they released...and they didn't do it nearly as fast as I would like. At first I thought a nice summer trip with Claire and I would be fabulous. Looking at the dates released for June and July it was not possible. Every date coincided with some big event at home. I decided Sept would be a perfect time then. Skip said he was not going. He had too much work, etc. So I asked if he would be fine with me taking a friend and basically he didn't care.
I called my friend Lisa and told her what was up and that basically it was going to be a waiting game on where and when. She was able to have time off work easily and she was a bit excited. She hadn't done a real vacation in quite sometime.
I chose Lisa, because we used to travel to Florida together years ago before we got married and she is a person who won't mind if I go off and do something on my own, and vice versa for the most part. In other words, I won't have to entertain her to make her have a good time.

Here is a picture of Lisa and I from 1995 at WDW. We really were some hot chicks back then....or so we thought at least.

Time went by and Lisa decided to get a passpsrt to be on the safe side.

And time kept going by and still no dates released for Sept.

In the mean time, Skip had asked a few times if I was still going, and of course I didn't know.

He had a few days where he told me I shouldn't, etc...his same old stuff he gripes about. But I assured him that the cost was minimal and I had free flights and he said Ok once again. And by the way, I still haven't really told him when I am going, now that I think about it, because we have been so busy this weekend with tractor pulling and we don't do much talking except about tractors and even if I told him, he probably wouldn't "hear" me.

Last week the dates for the fall were finally released. NOT one single thing worked for us at ALL! I was stunned, upset, mad, just a rush of emotions. How could this be? I texted Lisa and let her know. Ironically her passport had arrived that day, which made me feel guilty then too. She seemed Ok with it though, and I told her I would keep watching and mayb next year we would get a break.
I couldn't let it go though. I went and priced out several cruises through the course of the day. The thing was, it was going to have to be dirt cheap for me to be able to go and I wasn't sure if she still would want to either.
By late afternoon I just gave up for now. Sometimes Carnival offers some last minute rates a month or so out, so I would just keep my eyes open.

All of a sudden an email appears in my inbox from Disney. There was a very special rate for select dates and sailings. I did the math and my jaw about dropped. I could actually do this!
I did have to get permission from my boss first, so I quickly sent out that message and then texted Lisa, who was at work and asked if she would be interested. We texted back and forht as I gave her info and she said she would call me when she got off work at 4:30. In the mean time, I was granted permission.

Around 4:40 my phone rings and I thought it was Lisa...and I was just talking away, and then I realized it wasn't. LOL. It was Claires friends mom. I bet she thinks I'm a little crazy now.

Right after I talked with her, Lisa called and said go for it.
I made th call and waited on hold forever! Well, really it was 30 minutes, but it felt like forever. I have heard these typ of trips sell out fast, and I just kept thinking that I would finally get through and my date would be gone.

I sighed in relief when I got a CM and she easily was able to make my reservation. I even had the choice of 1st or 2nd dining. I chose 2nd. But now I got to thinking that I will be in a different time zone, so we'll be eating pretty late. But we'll live. There is plenty of food to snack on.

I als owas given a choice of veranda or ocean view, and being this was a budget trip, I thought ocean view of course, till she told me the difference and I upgraded. LOL. It wasn't much more at all and I do like verahdas a LOT!

Once booked I made the call to Lisa. She is excited, but she also has no kids, so her only worry is that she will be able to go to adult areas, and I told her yes, there are a few, so she was happy. She likes kids...she has a step grandchild she takes weekly, but she said, she doesn't want a whole trip about children, and I can understand.

Next task was to figure out flights and wher to stay the day prior.

I started looking right away at some options. SW flies into Houston Hobby. That is only about 40 miles from the port. Sadly the flights were higher than I thought they would be. I was booking on points, but I didn't want to use a ton of them either. I would like to get another flight out of them yet in the future.

I found a Marriott near the airport that has a shuttle, and the price was reasonable. I was told by several people that this area is not the best part of town, but Marriott was one that was suggested to stay at. Also Disney may be using this Marriott as well, but right now it's being waitlisted. Not sure why.

After doing more research, it just made the most since to use Disney transportation to and from the port too. Renting a car or a car service was very pricey for just 2 people. I just wanted it to go as smooth as possible.

Ok, I have it all set in my mind...just need to watch flights and then book.

Wouldn't you know it, the next morning I got a SW email about sales. I checked and the price dropped quite a bit. Once again, this flight will be out of Columbus. The price was so much cheaper there, that it's worth the drive. The bad thing is that we'll have to leave around 5:30 AM. I still need to see if my sister can take us to the airport. The flight is around 11:15, and I need to find out what time she needs to be at work that morning. She works for my Uncle, so I am sure if she arrives a little late, it will be fine. She can make it up earlier in the week, which she often does when she wants to leave early on a Friday.

Flights are booked on Southwest on Sept 21, Marriott is booked for prenight stay. Disney bus is booked to (Sept 22) and from (Sept 29) the port. I am so relieved to have it all done with.

I have a lot of work things to do before I can go, so I don't know how much planning will be done on here. Once I get that done I can allow myslef to post more, but I must get several things done before I can play around too much.

This cruise will be more relaxed for me. Without Claire, I don't need to really plan all the cute little things I try to do for other trips. Sure I will plan a few "fun" things, but I am not going to throw my whole self into this one like I am for the Nov. cruise. Plus Lisa will think I am totally nuts. Well, she knows I am, but she'll know another way I am too.

So there you have it. In 6 weeks I'll be floating on the Caribbean!

 

[jenseib]

Yeah! I'm the winner

I told River the first thing I would do if I win the lottery is book a Disney Cruise!

I would book 5!

 

[mousetravel]

Exciting news about the new cruise plans!
Can't wait to hear more about it!

 

[jenseib]

Exciting news about the new cruise plans!
Can't wait to hear more about it!

Thanks!!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Woo hoo! It sounds like everything worked out for the best! Now you're going on another Disney cruise.

 

[jenseib]

Woo hoo! It sounds like everything worked out for the best! Now you're going on another Disney cruise.

Yes! very excited.

 

[englishrose47]

Yea for the cruise!!!!!!!

 

[jenseib]

Yea for the cruise!!!!!!!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Lucky, lucky you! I do so want to do a cruise again, but I don;t want one of those to heavy ships. I think the Magic would fit my requirements.

 

[jenseib]

Lucky, lucky you! I do so want to do a cruise again, but I don;t want one of those to heavy ships. I think the Magic would fit my requirements.

The Magic and Wonder would probalby be a perfect fit for you!

 

[Caretames1]

Awesome! I need a trip like that! No kids, no worries, low budget.

You need to start your cruise log, Dream, Magic...up next? Wonder? Fantasy?

 

[jenseib]

Awesome! I need a trip like that! No kids, no worries, low budget.

You need to start your cruise log, Dream, Magic...up next? Wonder? Fantasy?

Hopefully some day...but probably not anytime soon!

 

[jenseib]

I'm very excited...a few girls from my AEP group (trip last summer) have also booked this cruise...and another friend as well!

 

[Kathy Jetson]

Wow Jen this all sounds really exciting and fun! Where do you get to go on this cruise?