What exactly DID you do at Disney? May 2011 TR (TR link pg 44)

[pinkxray]

I have been thinking about the trip situation and I am pretty sure that I would like to do something in Oct. or Nov just in case we do end up getting pregnant I would like to have one more trip before DH shuts that door for a few years. DH was home for lunch and I gave him a few more options to save money or at least get more for our money but he seems resistant to change. I find it very odd that I am the one trying to get him to give up a Disney cruise.

DH really wants to go to Atlantis. They have a special with the 4th night free and includes 2 dolphin swims. We would fly to Orlando first and then fly to Bahamas so we could add on an extra day to do the Halloween party at WDW. Still a few hundred cheaper than the weekend cruise and it will be 5 nights altogether.

Or we could switch to Royal Caribbean or NCL for a 3 night cruise for about half the price of the dream and add one a night at WDW to do the Halloween party. I can't add anymore nights at WDW b/c I don't want Caitlin to miss more than 4 days of school. This is the cheapest option but I am not sure if RC or NCL is better. Has anyone tried either?

I get my Halloween party and DH gets his beaches and relaxation. Caitlin will be happy either way.

What do you guys think?

 

[amandaw]

I think those are both good alternative choices for your trip. I've never stayed at Atlantis, but have walked thru it & it seems really, really nice. I'd like to go & stay there one day. I haven't heard much about NCL, but I know a few people who LOVE Royal Caribbean.

 

[All7OfUs]

I've never cruised since high school, so can't really add anything to the conversation, except to encourage you and say that I know whatever you decide will be fine in the end. The key is good and continued dialogue with your hubby. Let us know what you all decide!!

 

[KatMark]

Or we could switch to Royal Caribbean or NCL for a 3 night cruise for about half the price of the dream and add one a night at WDW to do the Halloween party. I can't add anymore nights at WDW b/c I don't want Caitlin to miss more than 4 days of school.

I like this option the best.

I wouldn't totally rule out leaving Caitlin at home. We did trips without our kids and it was the best thing for our marriage.

 

[pinkxray]

I think those are both good alternative choices for your trip. I've never stayed at Atlantis, but have walked thru it & it seems really, really nice. I'd like to go & stay there one day. I haven't heard much about NCL, but I know a few people who LOVE Royal Caribbean.

I have spent a bit of time looking into both but they are both pretty much booked for Oct and Nov for balcony rooms Atlantis does look pretty nice and I think I might be able to actually relax if we went there.

I've never cruised since high school, so can't really add anything to the conversation, except to encourage you and say that I know whatever you decide will be fine in the end. The key is good and continued dialogue with your hubby. Let us know what you all decide!!

I have tried to keep DH involved but he doesn't seem to want to talk about the trip. He refused to switch to Atlantis so I got myself back in the DCL cruise mode and figured out how to plan the perfect trip. Of course he came home and decided we should go to Atlantis. I really think he is trying to drive me crazy.

Or we could switch to Royal Caribbean or NCL for a 3 night cruise for about half the price of the dream and add one a night at WDW to do the Halloween party. I can't add anymore nights at WDW b/c I don't want Caitlin to miss more than 4 days of school.

I like this option the best.

I wouldn't totally rule out leaving Caitlin at home. We did trips without our kids and it was the best thing for our marriage.

I like this option best too but there isn't really much availabilty on RCL or NCL for a short cruise. Who knew?

We need to have an adults only trip soon but Caitlin has already been so involved in the planning I would hate to leave her out. When we do go away we will have to be very quiet about it so she doesn't feel left out.

 

[pinkxray]

We have reached a decision that will involve a bit of ticker maintenance but unfortunately I can't reveal my master plan yet. I booked our cruise with Dreams Unlimited and the agent I used is on vacation until Monday. I don't want to change everything around until I her from her. Ugh, why did I use an agent again? I could have everything switched around by now.

 

[pinkxray]

I finally heard from our TA and our change is plans is taken care of. I have switched our airfare and purchased DH a very important ticket.


Instead of going on the Dream Nov. 3-6 we will now be sailing on Oct. 20.
We will be on the Dream Oct. 20-23. Once we dock we will rent a car and drive to WDW to spend the day at the resort. At 4pm we will head to MK to attend MNSSHP. We will leave on Oct. 24th. I haven't picked the resort for our 1 night stay but I am going to guess POFQ.

I tried to switch cruiselines but apparently people make travel arrangements more than 67 days out so only inside rooms are available or the date don't fall where we can attend the party. I didn't get our price down much but at least we get to attend the party which makes me happy.

Since I had already purchased the tickets for the 23 for the trip Caitlin and I were to attend all I had to do was get DH's.

 

[amandaw]

Yay! I'm so excited for y'all! I think that sounds like a great compromise and gives you a little something extra in addition to the cruise.

 

[TinksThree]

This sounds like a fantastic plan!! I hope to attend MNNSHP one day...hopefully next year!

 

[KatMark]

Great plan Diane. You are going to LOVE MNSSHP.

 

[PirateKate]

It sounds like everything worked out perfectly with your cruise and MNSSHP. I'm glad you decided to still go now. Caitlin seems like she's at a fun age for MNSSHP. Have you started thinking about costumes?

 

[pinkxray]

Yay! I'm so excited for y'all! I think that sounds like a great compromise and gives you a little something extra in addition to the cruise.

I think it is a great plan. I told DH if we added the one Disney day I wouldn't force us to do all of the shows on the cruise or all the character meets. Let the cruise be more of a relaxed trip instead of a Disney weekend.

This sounds like a fantastic plan!! I hope to attend MNNSHP one day...hopefully next year!

I can't wait.

Great plan Diane. You are going to LOVE MNSSHP.

I hope so. It looks so fun!

It sounds like everything worked out perfectly with your cruise and MNSSHP. I'm glad you decided to still go now. Caitlin seems like she's at a fun age for MNSSHP. Have you started thinking about costumes?

I am so happy I got DH to agree. I have a tiny suspicion that DH isn't really sure what he agreed to but he agreed. I think once I stated that I would keep the Disney shows to a minimum on the ship he stopped listening. I am going to give him a few days before I mention costumes. Caitlin is going to be Ariel so I was thinking of going as Ursula. I also kind of wanted to be Drizella though. I'm not sure what DH will be. He will already have a pirate costume from the Pirate night on the cruise. I am not sure if he will agree to full costume. If not I was thinking of making him a King Triton T-shirt so we could all be from Little Mermaid.

 

[pinkxray]

I am determined to finish this trip report by the end of the week. Only one and a half days to get through.

We left off having a not so fun time at Akershus.

I thought it would end up being a bad day and since we already had our Epcot day I stated we could go back to BC and go in the pool. Caitlin and DH wanted Test Track. We headed for Test Track and rode two times. Caitlin was determined to ride Soarin so I believe we went to get some fast passes.
I insisted that we ride Figment. “Didn’t we ride that last year?”

They played a few games afterwards.

Afterwards we ended up at Cool Club. I was a bit annoyed at DH for being such a grump and ruining my perfect Epcot morning and thought he deserved some payback.
“Try the one from Italy.” I said, camera ready. Unfortunately, he decided to turn away from me and I didn’t get a picture of the taste. He wasn’t amused, but the 2 ladies behind him thought it was very funny that I made him drink it and tried to get a picture.

DH and Caitlin headed off to get a pass for Kim Possible while I grabbed a cappicino smoothie at Fountain view.

I waited awhile and they didn’t return. I found them inside making a video game. We stayed to do the Piggy bank adventure and they played some playstation for at least an hour.

Yep, Playstation when you are at Disney. At least they were Disney games, right?
We used our FP for Soarin and then headed to WS to do our Kim Possible mission. Caitlin saw Duffy and wanted to meet him but we decided to do it later.

While waiting for the boat Caitlin decided she was hungry so we made our way to Promenade to grab a hot dog.

Only my family chooses a hot dog when you have so many yummy options in WS.

For some reason after this I don’t have any pictures. We did our KP mission, which I found a bit boring but might have liked if Caitlin was more into it. DH ended up finishing it. It could have just been the way the day went or that it felt like the sun was beating down on us but I wouldn’t want to do it again.
After MP we headed back to BC for some afternoon pool time.

We decided to go to the quiet pool this time.

I knew DH would not go back to Epcot so I cancelled our Via Napoli ADR with hopes to make it to Beaches and Cream but made an adr for Captain’s Grill just in case.

After the swim we chilled out in the room for a bit. Caitlin worked on her trip journal.

DH had tried to drop his attitude and was okay most of the day. He did state that from now on no more long trips. 7 days tops b/c after that he wants to be home. He also learned that he does not like Epcot and will no longer go anywhere near WS. From now on our plans will be EMH in Epcot where they can do Soarin and Test Track. DH and Caitlin will go to a waterpark or back to the resort while I move on to WS.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I think this is the first time I have ever seen a picture of the BC quiet pool!

Sounds like a good future Epcot plan! Don't understand who anybody could not like Epcot let alone World Showcase!

 

[basketkat]

The girl who does my hair hates Epcot. She proclaimed there is NOTHING to do there! I really like it....

I am super excited for you and your cruise/MNSSHP plans! You will really like the party!!! It is SOOO fun!!!!!

 

[amandaw]

Well, y'all left Epcot on a better than it had started. Even if it may not be your ideal plan, at least you'll know what to expect on your Epcot days next time y'all go. And you'll be able to fully enjoy WS.

 

[jenbear123]

Sorry to hear you had to cxl your Via Napoli ADR. It's too bad your DH doesn't like WS. I can understand in a way because it's such a huge place. Many people die out from all the walking it takes

 

[KatMark]

Diane, I think the plan to do Epcot for EMH and then let your DH and DD go to the Water Park while you tour WS is an awesome one. This way everyone is happy.

 

[bouncycat]

I agree with everyone on the Epcot plan. While it's not one of my favorites, I do walk it. I found KP boring also. I chose a quiet place in the shade to sit while the kids did it this summer. The BC quiet pool is nice!! I always like quiet pools, I hate being run over or kicked by other kids, so we rarely do main theme pools.

 

[TinksThree]

Sometimes I really think we have married the same man!! Your DH sounds so much like mine except thankfully he like sWS at Epcot since it is my favorite!! We need a trip together to just walk around WS and go to cool places to eat!!