What Happens on a Disney Cruise, Stays on a Disney Cruise? Right? Complete! 4/3/07!

[LovableGluttons]

Aaarrgghhh mateys! Welcome to a gluttonous trip report.

The Gluttons live in the boonies of central Montana. Montana + winter + travel = Uh Oh!

We even have this in our airport:

DH- aka "Chief Glutton", 38, a hottie, the cynical liberal originally from Massachusetts
Moi - aka "Obsessive Glutton", turned 40 on the trip, the idealistic conservative originally hailing from southern California
DS- aka "Prince Glutton", 10, a handsome, smart, funny, sensitive, amazing young dude
DD - aka "Princess Glutton", 8, gorgeous, smart, serious, and our baby!


I had been watching prices for Disney cruises for about six months. I didn't actully book the cruise until very late in January. Why book so late? I knew it would be a huge rip off, we'd all hate it, and cruising was for losers.


Or did I?

You believed that?

What was the REAL reason?


OK, it was all my fault! I wanted a 7 night cruise despite Chief Glutton's feeble protests about the cost and the sea sickness worries. I jumped on a deal without really telling the Chief. While I read the Disboards quite a bit, there were several items of interest I conveniently overlooked during my research. Shall I share?


I'm sharing anyway!

1. There is only one Disney Wonder and one Disney Magic. The Wonder cruises three and four night voyages, stopping at Nassau and Castaway Cay. The Magic generally heads to the Carribean, as well as some other special cruises.

Why am I sharing this with you? I told the travel agent I booked the cruise through that I wanted a 7 night cruise in March 2007, the earlier in the month the better. When she quoted me $1400 for a family of four in a category nine, I jumped on it. I surprised the Chief with it over dinner. I printed off my email confirmation which read.....

"This is to confirm your 7 night category nine cruise on the Disney Wonder leaving March 1st..."

Can you pick out what's wrong with the confirmation?

It took me over a week, almost two weeks to find the mistake. So now we're looking at the second week of February. Could we actually pull off this trip? ALL 7 nights on the Disney Wonder leaving the first of March?

How would we get there from the middle of nowhere?

Would snow keep us from our much anticipated cruise?

Would the beaches on Castaway Cay compare to Tunnels Beach on Kauai that we love so much?

Who gets sick?


Up next.....I smell Number Two!

Quick Links past the chatter to each segment:
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Four - Cont'd
Chapter 5
Chapters 6,7 and 8! Whew!
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Final Chapter

and our trip across country with a week in the world and free dining report (in progress)
and our trip across country with a week in the world and free dining report (in progress)

Thanks for sharing my adventure with me!

 

[Frye7127]

OOOHHHHH, don't leave me hanging like that. More please

 

[LITTLEKID58]

Yes please more....

 

[LovableGluttons]

OOOHHHHH, don't leave me hanging like that. More please

Frye7127 Would I do that to you?

 

[LovableGluttons]

Yes please more....

LITTLEKID58?? Is your name Oliver per chance???

http://www.fidnet.com/~dap1955/dickens/twist_more.html

 

[curlybop]

Nooooo.......don't make us wait!

 

[LovableGluttons]

When we last checked in with the Gluttons, their travel agent had made a terrible error with their Disney Cruise booking.....

Yep! The Wonder would be leaving Port Canaveral on March 1st, but not for a 7 night cruise. Instead, it was a three night cruise. The travel agent booked the Gluttons a three night cruise. No problem! We could just transfer our reservations to the 7 night leaving March 3rd! No, since we booked so late, we'd have to pay $85 per person to switch reservations. No biggie, worth it! Well, add that to the nearly $7000 price difference between the two cruises. I guess we'll keep the three night and allow the agency to give us $500 off for their mistake! $900 for a three night cruise on the Wonder for a family of four? Category Nine? We'll take it!

and try to be enthusiastic over the three night!

For a self proclaimed Glutton, I am a cheapie. Well, frugal, tighwad, tightfisted, pennypincher, you know the routine. Living in the frozen tundra of our nation's armpit means frequent escapes are in order no matter the expense. OK, expense matters. So we can take our frozen lemons and make frozen lemonade with them, right?

Well, in my little world that's the way it is. When plane tickets from nowhere to my Precious (Mickey ) cost over a grand per person, then some change in travel needs to be made.

How about Vegas, baby? Only a fifteen hour adventure by car. How bad can that be?

We could fly out of Vegas, Sin City, land of slots, shows, lights, and Tribbles.

Spirit Airlines could fly the four Gluttons from Las Vegas to Atlanta for $400 total. Sold! Chief Glutton didn't know those were red eye flights. SSsshhh! Some things are meant to be left in the dark for the good of all. The flight time was one of them. See, it is MY personal belief that Chief Glutton uses sleep to foster his hotness. Without plenty of rest, his hotness becomes a bit lukewarm. I figured he'd be less tired if he didn't have the anticipation of staying up all night flying across country to bother him. Makes sense, right?

"Dear Glutton children's teachers...while we understand you appreciate perfect attendance and the Glutton clan did miss two weeks to go to Hawaii in the Fall, we have a very educational trip opportunity we'd like to have them miss 12 days of school for."

Lucky for the Glutton kids, the school gave their approval as long as the merry little band of travelers completed all of the work they'd miss in advance. We worked on it together over a weekend. It was turned in and forgotten!

So we fly out of the Snow Miser's kingdom http://www.biggerboat.net/snowmiser/snowmiser.htm

on February 25th (at midnight teehee ssshhh!), landing in Atlanta at 0700 Eastern time, renting a car in Atlanta, and driving to Orlando. From home to Las Vegas, it's a paltry 933 mile trek. Atlanta to Orlando is only 400 miles and renting the car there instead of Orlando was much cheaper! We return March 11th. Cruise occupies March 1st through 4th, so we can visit Precious and sightsee to boot!

So we drive 900 miles on the first day, catch a flight to Atlanta, then drive another 400 miles, have four days to enjoy before the cruise, and 7 days after. What EVER shall we do to fill our Gluttonous time?

2. Sometimes paying more for airfare makes sense. Vacation time and sanity is worth saving a couple of dollars.


Ya think? Is it worth it to see if the beaches on Castaway Cay really do compare to our beloved Tunnels Beach?

Coming soon...Cheap accomodations and free Disney tickets! How the Gluttons do it!

Also, the Blue woman says "Number Tree"...

 

[tinkerbell87512]

ohhh Im loving your report!!!! I cant wait to read more!

 

[LovableGluttons]

Nooooo.......don't make us wait!

Me make you wait? Do I look like someone who would drag this out?

LOL

Isn't the waiting half the fun?

Amanda...the name reminds me of the Amanda from the United Kingdom working the bar in The Promenade Lounge and on Castaway Cay with those half priced bloody Marys.....

I think I sense a trip to the liquor store added to my day's agenda!

 

[LovableGluttons]

ohhh Im loving your report!!!! I cant wait to read more!

tinkerbell87512You have to wait! It will be 11 am here in the boonies once I get to the store for Bloody Mary supplies!

 

[disneyfan551]

More, more!

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Uh oh.....I see the makings of another classic Wonder TR ala Zweihund and Sleepydog and others.

This is looking good........

 

[christinou]

We want more.....
Great report so far....

 

[praisehisname]

Can't wait to hear more!!!

Denise

 

[LovableGluttons]

More, more!

disneyfan551 I agree! More Bloody Marys for everyone!

What? I used low sodium tomato juice?!

Add enough vodka and tabasco and you don't even notice its lower sodium taste.

Cheers!

 

[LovableGluttons]

Uh oh.....I see the makings of another classic Wonder TR ala Zweihund and Sleepydog and others.

This is looking good........

Ski-and-Sea Hhhmm?? You think so? I liken myself to Father Force, actually.

I'm not an OT, but an RN, which proves I'm naughtier and probably more desperate for a good time.

 

[LovableGluttons]

We want more.....
Great report so far....

christinou More? Is your name Oliver too?

 

[LovableGluttons]

Can't wait to hear more!!!

Denise

praisehisname you want more as well?

I'm sensing a major invasion of boys named Oliver all carrying empty bowls.....

 

[LovableGluttons]

Grab a fresh drink and be prepared for a numb bottom due to the length of this post...

A pinch of additional history. The chief of the Gluttons is an Air Force man retiring this summer. Retiring where? Florida of course (you saw that one coming, didn't you?). 38 years old with a 20 year military retirement under his belt and a MBA just screaming to get some use out in the real world. So, this jaunt to der Mudderland (Florida!!) is also to help with our relocation. I did give the Chief a good working over when I say analyst positions opening with Precious, but he stated he did not want to work for the Mouse. That's ok, Precious hires nurses too! Bwahahaha! Makes me wonder if the gloves Disney nurses wear are white and puffy?

We needed to stay someplace central to everything we needed to do in Florida and Spring Break was not the time to find a bargain in hotel accommodations in Orlando.


Or was it?

You believed me again, admit it!

Well, thanks to the powers that be on eBay, there are certain snake oil sellers, err, timeshare presenters, selling accommodations, and tossing in FREE tickets to Disney, all for a pittance. As long as you attend a teensy weensy 90 minute presentation with no obligation to buy. Since it sounded oh SO easy, I bought two! For roughly $40, I had 5 nights accommodations and four adult Disney tickets. A bargain!?????!!!???

In a former life, yours truly sold indemnity insurance door to door. Cold calling. The lower intestinal tract of ALL sales. I was really good at rebuttals. In fact, I purposely steered prospective clients to say "NO" just to rebuttal them. Like an illness. OK, I was more like a plague or a pest or EVEN a pathogen. Good times! So, bring on your time share presentation and get ready to rebuttal! For some reason, the Chief didn't look as forward to this segment of our fun Florida vacation as I did.

We booked the EconoLodge for a night in Vegas. Choice Hotels has an Easy Stamp program right now offering double stamps. After only 5 nights, you get $50 off your next night's stay.

We hauled Jaws, the Oscar to a friend's house while we were gone and our corgi to our vet for a pampering spa visit.

I had our bags packed three weeks before departure thanks to the tips offered on DIS INCLUDING matching homemade t shirts. Awww we'd match! Why does the Chief grimace when I bring this up?

I had pillowcases ready for character signatures, gift bags for servers and our stateroom host the over the door shoe organizer, night light, air freshener, pirate costumes, bus bar, moleskin, Body Glide, sent a box of goodies to our stateroom, and oh so much more! We maxed out the Spirit Airlines max of 50 pounds per bag.

I also booked the three nights immediately following the cruise at the military resort at Walt Disney World aptly named Shades of Green. The final four nights booked in Tampa at another EconoLodge. I reserved an economy car through Enterprise for 15 days for a whopping $298 total after taxes, fees, and offer of firstborn child.

We pulled out of Snow town at 5 am on February 23rd in the midst of a fresh snowstorm. SnowMizer obviously did not want us escaping. Tough!We had a beach to get to!

At this point I should backtrack just a skinch.....

The weekend before we were due to leave, yours truly did not watch television or check her emails. I was just too busy. But not too busy for Peter Pan peanut butter and saltines. YUM. Lots of them.

Sunday night, I had a raging fever, vomiting, and you KNOW what else. I was one sick Pepita! I stayed in bed for two days, finally seeking treatment from none other than my general dentist. Laugh away, but I knew he'd hook me up without making me go to the ER. I knew it would pass as long as I could stay hydrated. It did! They did it! The day before our departure, I was back in my full obsessive, penny pinching mode. But, a few things were overlooked during my bed rest.

We made it to Las Vegas (baby) at 8PM. The Chief tempted whiplash by whipping his head side to side to simultaneously look at all the naughty billboards and drive to the illustrious EconoLodge on Las Vegas Boulevard.

BANG! We were rear ended! Three teens in the vehicle behind us were gawking at naughty billboards too! The collision damaged a vanity hitch covering on the Chief's Avalanche and nothing else. The teens gave DH $20 to replace it and we were on our way.

3. People post reviews on hotels all over the internet. As easy as it is to book a stay, it is just as easy to read a few reviews before booking to find the best deal and the cleanest rooms!

The lights! The action! The clothes! The smells! We arrived at our none too fancy digs. (I mean it, NONE too fancy). We checked in and went to our room. Phew! Our room smelled like feet! SleepyDog's feet after a long run? Well, I don't know about that, but our room was pretty stinky. I ran to the Office to ask for another room and came back with a BIG can of Lysol and instructions for running the ac. The room was clean, just smelly. So we went to sleep like this:

The next morning the Gluttons gorged themselves on the complimentary continental breakfast provided by the five star EconoLodge along with the Goth, the downtrodden, and the toothless other denizens of that glorious establishment. When the Chief asked if I thought it was a good idea to expose our kids to this, I replied "these are some of the gems of our world, dear, and our kiddos are basking in their brilliance".

Or did I say something else? Or did any of that happen at all? And where is that blue lady? Was she, in fact, a lady at all? Hhmmmm


We did eat there, but amongst families that pretty much looked just like us. After breakfast we stripped the hit! OK, I digress (doesn't everyone use that word in their trip report?), we hit the Strip!

We stopped first at the Flamingo Hilton to introduce the kidlets to The Star Trek Experience!

Dh and I had not been to Vegas since 2000 and things have definitely changed! The Star Trek Experience added a Borg scenario. I'll post some pics in my next post of The Star Trek Experience.

We introduced the kiddos to Quark's Café (renovated and NOT for the better since our last trip) and encountered this Andorian woman who told us she would show us to our table for "TREE". I thought Andorians were supposed to be smart, not simply haughty?

Wait for it! Wait for it!

More Borg, Klingons, Tribbles and our adventures to come!

Up next...a dirty pirate says what?

 

[LovableGluttons]

Anyone willing to hazard a guess to what casino this is a picture of??

Taken on the run (baby).....

Just the ensemble for a Klingon wedding. Hhmmm think these would go over well at MNSSHP??