Wild Turkeys and Dancing Banana Heads Cruise 11/25/06

[TIGGER41681]

Hello Everyone,
Hope all is well with everybody!! Another cold SPRING day here is New York!!
I was wondering has anybody made reservations for Palo's?? I want to eat there one night to celebrate my DH 30th birthday. I tried to book it on-line and it says it has to be 60 days ( Castaway Member) to disembarkment. Did anybody call to make reservations?? Talk to you soon
Lynn

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

Hi Lynn,

It's still too early. When your time comes (Castaway Club member vs. 1st time passenger vs. Top Categories), you'll be able to do everything on line. Reserve Palo, spa treatments, sign kids up for the club, and take care of your excursions. I remember staying up until midnight EST to do it for our cruise last fall, and was very disappointed that I couldn't get in. I went back to bed for 2 1/2 hours and got through at 3:00 a.m. EST on the dot. I do not know if you can do everything over the phone on that day but you'd still be hours behind any DIS fools who get up at 3:00 a.m. EST

Anybody figure our when our times will be here? Are they 45, 60 and 90 days and do you count the date of departure?

 

[Dixielady908]

Question: I am sure this has been posted before for so forgive me if it has....can castaway members book for non-members? 2 out of 2 familys are castaway members that I am sailing with....I of course am one of the non-members. So if they make Palo ressie before we leave, can they just say for 8 instead of 4? etc...??

Thanks
Denise

 

[DutchsMommy]

Hi all,

Sorry I can't answer the questions about online ressies - they weren't around when we cruised last Feb.

We have early seating and have one DS who will be 4 3/4 when we sail. He is BIG into Dinos, snakes, reptiles, and generally being a typical 4 yo boy. Would love to link ressies with anyone on early.

I booked the Residence Inn in Cocoa Beach for the night before the cruise. Not sure yet if we will rent a car at the airport and rtn it to the Port or just get a towncar. We want to (ok, I want to) go to Ron Jon's and maybe a few other places in Cocoa Beach before boarding. Maybe grab a few adult-bevvies to take onboard with us. I am also thinking of asking Shirley at Perfect Gift for a basket for Dutch - we'll see about that a bit closer to the sail date.

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

Question: I am sure this has been posted before for so forgive me if it has....can castaway members book for non-members? 2 out of 2 familys are castaway members that I am sailing with....I of course am one of the non-members. So if they make Palo ressie before we leave, can they just say for 8 instead of 4? etc...??

Thanks
Denise

If you are a Castaway member and there are non-Casts on your reservation, my guess is that you could probably book seats for everyone under your ressie. I am also not sure how many spots one person can reserve at Palo...all I know is it is 1 Palo dinner ressie per person and 1 brunch per person. Now, I have read about folks reserving 4 spots when they are just 1 couple and inviting another couple to join them. If the other couple does the same, then each couple gets to visit Palo twice.

I do know that DCL does leave Palo spots open for those guests who do not have internet access. So, when you get onboard (as early as possible) you sprint to wherever they're taking Palo ressies and sign up. Same with the spa.

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

Hi all,

Sorry I can't answer the questions about online ressies - they weren't around when we cruised last Feb.

We have early seating and have one DS who will be 4 3/4 when we sail. He is BIG into Dinos, snakes, reptiles, and generally being a typical 4 yo boy. Would love to link ressies with anyone on early.

I booked the Residence Inn in Cocoa Beach for the night before the cruise. Not sure yet if we will rent a car at the airport and rtn it to the Port or just get a towncar. We want to (ok, I want to) go to Ron Jon's and maybe a few other places in Cocoa Beach before boarding. Maybe grab a few adult-bevvies to take onboard with us. I am also thinking of asking Shirley at Perfect Gift for a basket for Dutch - we'll see about that a bit closer to the sail date.

If anyone is interested in renting a car, I was able to get some good deals through Budget which is the closest agency to the port with a free shuttle. I reserved a 4 dr. Ford Focus for the drive out for $28.82 total and a Ford Escape for the ride back to the airport for $44.06. I found the best rates with the following discount codes: For the rental TO the port, I used an American Airlines code U072400. If you're not an American member, it's easy to sign up online. For the way back to the airport, I used a discount code for customers of Shaw's Supermarkets in New England. I don't live in New England but signed up for a Shaw's card online. The discount code is X724300. Now, there is a great website called FlyerTalk.com and, if you scroll down to the rental car section, you can find lots of discount codes that might work better for you. Once you make a reservation, you can keep checking to see if the rate goes down and, if so, just cancel your first one and make a new one. There's no penalty or cost to do that and Budget doesn't even ask for a credit card when you make the reservation. It's a game!

We've done the DCL bus in the past so $73 bucks (plus gas/tolls) is a heck of a lot cheaper. We will fly to Orlando Friday around noon and then we plan on getting a 4* room by the airport through Priceline for Friday night. Last fall, we got the Hyatt for $58! With the rental car, we'll be able to drive around on Friday afternoon/evening and then out to the port when we'll maybe make a grocery stop. Sure is a heck of a lot cheaper than the DCL bus.

 

[TIGGER41681]

Hello All,
Thank you for the information on the reservations!!
Lynn

 

[LAMPSKIES]

That's right- I forgot that it is a different schedule. And, where is Ron??

Here I am....just been busy!!!!!!!!!
Work is nuts, Jessica turned 16 on the 9th, b-day parties etc....I NEED A VACATION!!!!!!

Hey Trey here is that shirt.....

And Jessica B-day gift with her "Daddy"...LOL

 

[DenverVal]

Nice gift! Will you adopt me?

 

[disneediva]

OK forgive me all but I must brag for a moment my LSU Tigers just beat #1 ranked Duke We are on our way to the elite eight (sorry any Duke fans) but we need some cheer down here .
Great gift Lampskie Happy belated birthday to your DD
Wendy

 

[DutchsMommy]

Good morning all. Lampy - sweet prezzie - she must be thrilled. Major Daddy bonus points!

Jamie - you are obviously the deal-Queen and I will likely have to ask you to remind me of all those great codes a little closer to the date. We still havn't finalized flight plans so I want to wait for that before commiting to a car/towncar etc. It's a toss-up right now btwn Westjet out of Pearson (the Int'l airport in Toronto) where we would their get my sis to drive us or park and fly there (doubtful as it is $$) or drive to BUF and fly SWA. Usually we fly out on the early SWA flight and therefore spend the night before in BUF....but I would love to avoid that expense BUT the only non-stops are early am and early pm. If we take the pm that means we lose a day in Cocoa Beach to go shopping. Oh decisions, decisions! Another clincher will be the price. SWA is always WAY cheaper than flying out of Canada, but I am hoping to have sufficient Airmiles to fly down from Toronto for free (well you have to pay the tax so I guess kinda free). I am hoping this will get sorted by the end of summer.

Some news happening around our house these days. DH has been talking for years about starting his own business. Well, looks like he will be telling his current employer on Monday that he is quitting. He and his business partner will be meeting on Tuesday with the property manager from a really neat studio/retail space downtown Toronto to discuss rental costs etc and when they can move in! In the meantime DH has projects he can complete from home. Man-oh-man I hope this works out!! It will be tough sledding for a while on just my salary, but I can't help support him in this. I figure worst that would happen is it doesn't work and he has to go back and get himself a job 'workin' for the man' as he calls it LOL. But if he doesn't try I think he will always regret it. So - wish us luck over the next few months!


PS - Wendy - what's that egg thing? I've seen a bunch of people with them - what's the deal?

 

[woogal]

Nice gift! Will you adopt me?

I was thinking the exact same thing ...

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

I like how the "Bug" matches the lime green Mickey Heads from Home Depot and the shirts!

Good luck to Dutch'sDad on his new venture. New things are always exciting yet scary at the same time. If he has passion and enthusiasm, he's sure to succeed.

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

OK forgive me all but I must brag for a moment my LSU Tigers just beat #1 ranked Duke We are on our way to the elite eight (sorry any Duke fans) but we need some cheer down here .
Great gift Lampskie Happy belated birthday to your DD
Wendy

Go LSU...it would be nice to see Louisiana have something good happen and win. Don't tell any of my neighbors that I sent this note. We only live 45 minutes from 'Nova so they are the hometown faves.

 

[disneediva]

dutchsmommy,
If you click on the egg it brings you to a graphic website that hatches a new creature each month my DS asked me to do this so he could see what the "baby" would look like. Whynot?
Wendy

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

Hey TK...saw your post on another thread. Where have you gone?

Wonder if you and dh work for same consulting firm...he's at Accenture.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Hey Jamie - we use Accenture here sometimes - mostly Oracle database work (one of our systems is on a Siebel/Oracle base). I doubt your DH has had to travel all the way up here though!

 

[TiggerKing]

Hey Jamie! I sent you a PM. I wasn't sure what you meant when you said ACN, but I am well familiar with Accenture. Don't like those folks too much. Old Anderson people! Just kidding. My old firm actually used ACN's site in Chicago for a lot of our training.

Job took me to Portland this week for a few days, so I haven't spent a lot of time on the computer. Since it was such a short trip, and the client got into the office early, we generally tried to stay on eastern time. Sad thing is that I was asleep before 9:00 almost every night!

I will have to spend some time this weekend getting caught up on posts amongst the group. I am SO looking forward to this cruise and getting to meet everyone, especially now that I know Jamie's husband and I can bore everyone to death with consulting stories.

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

Hey Jamie - we use Accenture here sometimes - mostly Oracle database work (one of our systems is on a Siebel/Oracle base). I doubt your DH has had to travel all the way up here though!

We've been very lucky in that he hasn't had to travel as much as some consultants. He has been placed on many assignments fairly close to home (1 hr. drive or less). Never to Canada. He has, however, been on long-term projects that were out of state and that really stinks. Leaving late on Sunday night and not getting back until Thursday for 8 months straight when I'm home with an infant. .

I have "nothin' but props" and deep respect for single parents.

 

[TiggerKing]

We've been very lucky in that he hasn't had to travel as much as some consultants. He has been placed on many assignments fairly close to home (1 hr. drive or less). Never to Canada. He has, however, been on long-term projects that were out of state and that really stinks. Leaving late on Sunday night and not getting back until Thursday for 8 months straight when I'm home with an infant. .

I just changed firms back in September because of this very reason. Last year, I spent three months in Detroit, 6 weeks in Europe, and was slated to spend 6 months in North Carolina (which I love dearly), but I was tired of it. Although DW and I have no children, it was wearing on me just being away from her every week. At the new firm, traveling is the rarity. These two trips to Portland are actually for an Atlanta client. But, I love to get out of the office, and town, every now and then, just not on the long-term assignments.

Well, Atlanta is starting out in the low 30s today and it is going to be a fairly chilly weekend. Hope everyone has a great one!