We invite you, if you dare Summer plans 08/04 Day 25

[Minnie&Nana]

Karin, I am so sorry to read of the passing of your dear Dis friend. It is always such a shock and I do not think we are ever prepared. In the years I have been on the Dis, several friends have passed - each one left a sort of empty place on the Dis and in my heart. The one that took me most by surprise was when we lost a dear Dis friend very unexpectedly to the flu.

I hope 2013 is a year of meeting our DIS friends and making life long friendships.

 

[englishrose47]

Sorry to hear about your Dis friend Karin!!! Yes I am really hoping that next year I can afford a trip that I pay for as well as my Free trip!! Kyle has also brought up wanting to go to Disney during the Christmas Season and as his birthday is January we may well one of these years give him an early birthday present !!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Rosie, I so wish I was courageous enough to do a cruise - I cannot think of any more fun than being on a cruise with you, Karin and Tom! I fear I'd be seasick the entire time.

 

[Mom&RN]

Hi Karin,
I'm back from vacation and I see you've started a new thread! I've subscribed! Looking forward to it. Now I need to go back and catch up on all I've missed on your 2012 thread while I was at WDW.
Barb

 

[eandesmom]

Wow, that sounds like a long day if you don't get sleep on the plane, I will be impressed if you make it to midnight! I do want to eat at the AoA food court one of these days but don't see it happening anytime soon.

 

[annmarieda]

Karin and Kathy - I will just miss both of you in the fall! Course... if I go a tad earlier than the rest of my group I may catch you Kathy.

Karin -
I am going to have to try and stay at OKW someday. Who knows... maybe I will try and stay there for my split in the fall. Every time I see pictures from your stay (or Kathy's) it makes me long to go there.

I am sorry things have been so stressful. Going back after the holidays are never easy.

I am so ex- ci- ted (imagine me sing/chanting that) for your february trip.

I do not envy you your travel day though... I bet you will be super tired by the time you fall into bed at Pop.

 

[WDisneyMom]

What a travel day! I would be exhausted before we even land!! Looking forward to more

 

[dizneeat]

Looks like your planning is off to a great start! Studios aren't so bad - we only have 150 pts, so that is what we always choose - that way we can save some points for the future. You will still have a balcony and a little table and chairs.

I love the new logos that Tom made!

The first day's plans are always easy, as there is not much choice for us. It's a long day, especially since we need to add on another 6 hours, leaving on European time.

Tammie, I know that studios aren't bad at all, my only problem with OKW is, that I know what's next door. We just fell in love with their 1 bedrooms, and staying "next door" and NOT being in one took a lot of weighing options. But it is so many points less that it just makes sense, especially as we won't have time to enjoy the kitchen and use the washer and dryer.

I am waiting on Summer AP rates! They are usually really good at OKW I'd love to meet you and Tom!! AND Kathy and Mark

Yes, AP rates for SSR and OKW are always good! I really hope you get an incredible one and will be there when we are.

The surprise/update will be revealed pretty soon. It all worked out - time to post it now!

Karin, I am so sorry to read of the passing of your dear Dis friend. It is always such a shock and I do not think we are ever prepared. In the years I have been on the Dis, several friends have passed - each one left a sort of empty place on the Dis and in my heart. The one that took me most by surprise was when we lost a dear Dis friend very unexpectedly to the flu.

I hope 2013 is a year of meeting our DIS friends and making life long friendships.

Thank you, Christine! We were so shocked when we heard of Ellen's passing. Even though we had not met in person we had formed a special friendship. It was especially hard, as we had so looked forward to meet her in person in February for the first time.

But on the other hand our first trip back to WDW and DCL in February seems to start out REALLY well - we will meet some incredible people!

Sorry to hear about your Dis friend Karin!!! Yes I am really hoping that next year I can afford a trip that I pay for as well as my Free trip!! Kyle has also brought up wanting to go to Disney during the Christmas Season and as his birthday is January we may well one of these years give him an early birthday present !!

Thank you, Rosie!
I will keep my fingers crossed for you, so your WDW trip and maybe an extra cruise will be possible! Hm, and maybe we can talk Christine into joining you on the cruise - this could be a lot of fun for ALL of us.
BTW, I love the fact that you want to take Kyle to see the Christmas lights. He's gonna love it!

Rosie, I so wish I was courageous enough to do a cruise - I cannot think of any more fun than being on a cruise with you, Karin and Tom! I fear I'd be seasick the entire time.

Christine, you would definitely enjoy a cruise and I do not think you would get seasick. I have yet to meet someone who really got seasick - apart from when we sailed through hurricanes. And chances for hurricanes are slim in February.
Cruising is SO much fun! Think about it, you still have a year to decide.

 

[dizneeat]

Hi Karin,
I'm back from vacation and I see you've started a new thread! I've subscribed! Looking forward to it. Now I need to go back and catch up on all I've missed on your 2012 thread while I was at WDW.
Barb

Welcome back!
So you have been at WDW? Lucky girl! Did you stay at WDW for the holidays?

Wow, that sounds like a long day if you don't get sleep on the plane, I will be impressed if you make it to midnight! I do want to eat at the AoA food court one of these days but don't see it happening anytime soon.

It IS a long day, keeping in mind that we have a 6 hour time change and actually leave at midnight Florida time.
As for sleeping on the plane - we usually take some sleeping aid, which more or less knocks you out. We were pretty impressed with the food court at AoA in the summer, so I am very much looking forward to trying it in February.

Karin and Kathy - I will just miss both of you in the fall! Course... if I go a tad earlier than the rest of my group I may catch you Kathy.

Karin -
I am going to have to try and stay at OKW someday. Who knows... maybe I will try and stay there for my split in the fall. Every time I see pictures from your stay (or Kathy's) it makes me long to go there.

I am sorry things have been so stressful. Going back after the holidays are never easy.

I am so ex- ci- ted (imagine me sing/chanting that) for your february trip.

I do not envy you your travel day though... I bet you will be super tired by the time you fall into bed at Pop.

I know, in the fall it's always hard, because we have to leave after the first week in September, but if we are lucky we will get to meet with Stefy and Dave, and that would be pretty awesome. Even though missing YOU sucks!

You should definitely try OKW one trip, Ann, it feels so much more like a small community than a hotel. That's what we love about it so much.

I cannot wait for our February trip either! I got the thumbs up from Michelle too - so I guess it's time to reveal.

I think our travel day is pretty similar to yours. All that I do NOT like is immigration and waiting in line FOREVER to see an officer. You are tired, have just been sitting on a plane for 10 hours and here you are in line for an hour or more.
But we have so much to look forward too, that we will be quite excited once we have landed.

What a travel day! I would be exhausted before we even land!! Looking forward to more

We are kind of used to those travel days. And taking that sleeping aid helps to "shorten" the time. And getting there is always far more exciting than going home, so we should be fine.

 

[KatMark]

Karin, your plans are off to a great start. Although with all of your experience, I would expect nothing less.

 

[dizneeat]

Karin, your plans are off to a great start. Although with all of your experience, I would expect nothing less.

I hope I can live up to your expectations with this pre-trippie, Kathy!

 

[dizneeat]

Well, last time I posted (more than just replies) I promised you all an update/surprise.

Today I can finally reveal what it is!

We will have a



wait for it ..........




wait for it ...............



ah, I just love to do this .............



a DISMEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And not just ANY kind of DISmeet. We will meet with more than one DISer - actually two!

Now those two will come with family and one of them is

(Sorry, Ann, stole this from your PTR!) YES, we will meet Ann, (Annmarieda) and her husband Steve, as well as their beautiful little Zoe!

and

Michelle, (Michelle9343) Vito, Vito Jr, Angelina and Michelle's sister, Tracy. We cruised together on the DREAM last summer and became kind of really good friends.


So, this is it, you ask?

No, it's not, because

we all will go on a Wishes Fireworks Cruise together on February 21!

 

[jenseib]

Woooo Hooooo!!!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Oh, Karin, how exciting!!!! A Dis Meet and Wishes Cruise - sounds like a dream come true!! Sooo happy for you all!! For many years, we would rent a pontoon boat every stay - we were usually at the Poly or CR. I miss those days and know what fun you will have (even better at ngt and seeing Wishes!)

The photos are fabulous - as always!

Ahh, the Cruise....part of me would love to try one, but the other part of me is terrified! I would want a cabin midship, where I understand there is less feel of the ship movement. Have the 2014 Cruise discounts already been released? Which Cruise are you doing that February? (Can't believe I am even asking...but it would be great to step out of my comfort zone!). (Rosie, it would definitely mean off site in December and lots of QS!)

ETA: So, I just spent about an hour reading about Disney Cruises on the Disney site and Mousesavers. I was just telling Rosie on our thread, that the Dream and Fantasy have deluxe inside staterooms with a fake window - which has a live feed of outside the ship! I am not sure if it would be too weird...but it is the most cost effective and the fake window would be kinda cool. Very few of those though and I wonder if they book up fast....just wonderin'...

 

[KatMark]

I'm so jealous that you get to meet Ann and Zoe....but what fun for you

 

[annmarieda]

So excited!!!!

 

[dizneeat]

Woooo Hooooo!!!

Me feelings exactly!

Oh, Karin, how exciting!!!! A Dis Meet and Wishes Cruise - sounds like a dream come true!! Sooo happy for you all!! For many years, we would rent a pontoon boat every stay - we were usually at the Poly or CR. I miss those days and know what fun you will have (even better at ngt and seeing Wishes!)

The photos are fabulous - as always!

Ahh, the Cruise....part of me would love to try one, but the other part of me is terrified! I would want a cabin midship, where I understand there is less feel of the ship movement. Have the 2014 Cruise discounts already been released? Which Cruise are you doing that February? (Can't believe I am even asking...but it would be great to step out of my comfort zone!). (Rosie, it would definitely mean off site in December and lots of QS!)

ETA: So, I just spent about an hour reading about Disney Cruises on the Disney site and Mousesavers. I was just telling Rosie on our thread, that the Dream and Fantasy have deluxe inside staterooms with a fake window - which has a live feed of outside the ship! I am not sure if it would be too weird...but it is the most cost effective and the fake window would be kinda cool. Very few of those though and I wonder if they book up fast....just wonderin'...

Well, actually Christine, it IS a dream come true.
I always wanted to meet Ann, we are getting together with Michelle again and we always wanted to do a fireworks cruise.
All in one ........

Christine, I really think you should push yourself and try a cruise. I can relate, as I had a hard time committing to the first one we did (I had I feeling I would feel "locked in"). But these ships are nothing else than really large swimming hotels. Once they have moved out onto the ocean I cannot feel much movement (well, I can if we sail through a hurricane, ) And I am sure you would like it.
The magical portholes must be fun, and I guess they are affordable as well. What about looking for a guarantee room? You better ask your TA about them, as I am not quite sure how they come about. GT means, that you book a certain category and THEY will assign you a stateroom. Might be the category you booked or an upgrade. If you want to have a certain area, then you would have to pay full price though.

Think about it, we would LOVE to sail with you and Rosie!

Oh, and btw, we are sailing Feb 16 next year.

I'm so jealous that you get to meet Ann and Zoe....but what fun for you

We are pretty happy that it worked out! The moment Ann posted that she might do the Princess run, I was keeping my fingers crossed.

Now if I could only talk you into getting to Disney early, or stay a little longer.

So excited!!!!

Us too, Ann, us too!

 

[dizneeat]

Day 2, February 17

Embarkation day

Having been out playing at the MK until the wee hours of the morning, we most likely will sleep in a little.
Around 9am we should be ready to hit the road again but first we will head over to Downtown Disney. It is our tradition to have breakfast at Wolfgang Puck’s Express before a cruise or driving somewhere from WDW, so we will stick with that tradition. And after having indulged on Breakfast Pizza

and other goodies we will hit the road and drive to Port Canaveral.

After dropping off our luggage again we will leave the car in the garage at the port and then head over to check in.
Our advantage at check in is that we need to go to the non US check in desk which usually has very little line, so after receiving the last set of gold lanyards, we soon will be ready to go on board.
Our next stop should be the Enchanted Garden for lunch.

This is a buffet with drink being served and we enjoy it much more than Cabanas. After we have finished our lunch and hopefully our first drink of the cruise

we will walk around the ship until 1.30 when the rooms will be opened and we will be able to get to our stateroom.

And after “moving in” we will make our way to the DVC presentation.

Once that is over we will pay a visit to the DISmeet

and get to know some of our fellow cruisers there and soon it will be time to put on the sun glasses and head outside for the safety drill. Once the safety drill is done we will head back to our stateroom, hope that most of our luggage has arrived until then, unpack what’s not unpacked yet and sit out on the balcony while the ship leaves the harbour.

We haven’t been to the Golden Mickeys in a long time, so we might even go and watch that or just walk the ship a bit until it is time for dinner.

After dinner we will check out the stores and then head back to our stateroom as we will be tired on that first night of the cruise. Before we head to bed

we will sit outside on the veranda for a while with an adult beverage and enjoy the first night on board the DREAM.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Oh, that clipart is Sooo pretty!! Tom certainly is talented!

Karin, your pictures are so inviting! I always love the photos you post from your veranda too - that would be my dream stateroom, with a veranda, but wow, those prices!!! I fear I'd feel cooped up in an inside stateroom, but realistically, a veranda just might not be affordable.

I never use a TA, but know at least two who are Disney Cruise Specialists - though I am sure they've not done as many as you and Tom! Maybe I will send an email today if I have a few free minutes.

 

[Disney9.9.10]

You can tell that this isn't your first time planning Everything sounds great!