The Grand Fiesta 10th Anniversary Trip - Pre-trip Final Update 8/10 About This Page:

[Jillybean]

I have always wanted to go on Breathless! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] That's great that you have two to choose from! And that airfare difference will pay for it!

Jill

[kimkdmm]

Congrats on getting both cruises...you lucky girl you [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
I hope that 6/6/6 brings you good luck [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]
Looking forward to more [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[goofy4goofy]

Great report so far!

Kelly

[luvnwdwgal]

Congrats for getting your Illumination's cruise! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

[bsblady01]

more please

[chezp]

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] on getting both Illuminations cruise - you're the new Queen of the Illuminations cruises with that result! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[kathy320]

Marnie, I am just catching up with this............you seem to be an excellent planner!! Everything is going to be great!!! Can't wait for more!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mickeysgal]

Wow! Two cruises to choose from! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] on the airfare savings! Look forward to more.

[Steph A]

We love the dining plan. Our September trip will be our second time using it. We also get the calculator our and check and re-check and we always make out ahead. It is really nice to know that everything is already taken care of.

I can't wait to read more and this is just the pre-trip report!

Have a wonderful trip!
Steph A

[mom2my4dwarfs]

Wow Marnie, what a wonderful start. I just got caught up with your pre-trip report. Can I be one of your kids? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[RobDVC]

I'm just catching up Marnie... your plans are terrific.
I wouldn't worry about the rental car. Alamo and National are the same company now. We've rented from Alamo the past few trips and have had no problems.

[disneyfan2183]

Great update!

[Colexis Mom]

Sorry for the long delay, it's been a tad nuts around here [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

<font color="blue"> Would 6/6/06 Curse Me or Be Kind [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img]


Finally, June 6th rolls around. It’s 6/6/06. Would luck be on my side, or would superstition get the best of me? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] I set the alarm for 2:54 AM the night before but I just tossed and turned all night. It was 11:30, then 12:45, then 2:18. You get the picture. Ugh. This is why we now fly to Orlando the night before, as we don’t get any sleep if we fly out in the morning. The alarm went off (finally) but the volume was a bit low as I had it on radio. Had I been sleeping thru it for a bit? Nope, thankfully, it still said 2:54 AM. I jumped into the cockpit (um, office chair), hit the power button, and I was on my way. I made it into the cruise website, and into my reservation by 2:58. Cutting it a little close, don’t you think? I do, especially since the day before there were numerous postings from people on the 7-day that leaves the day before that they couldn’t get Palo or some of their excursions. Yikes! I click on the Palo screen, and it says “you are not entitled to make reservations at this time” or whatever the message is. I refreshed, and refreshed, and refreshed, and then finally I was in like Flynn [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] All the days for Palo were available, but I was intent on reserving brunch at this point. All times were available and I scored an 11:30 AM seating [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img]


Off to the Excursions tab. I didn’t have any issues reserving the Atlantis excursion nor the Castaway Cay Stingray Adventure. When I got to the stingray adventure, it left Colin off the list [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img] Oh, because it’s 5 and over [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zcry.gif[/img] I (and Matt) missed that little point [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/foreheadslap.gif[/img] Why is it 3 years and older on Nassau, but 5 and older on Castaway Cay? I reserved it anyway and I’ll cancel either Matt or myself and one of us will go with Alexa. I made my way to the childcare tab and signed both kids up for the club. It’s 3:08 AM, now what do I do? For laughs, I went back to Palo to see what was still available since everything seemed to be going fast on the other boat. All days and times were still available. I tried for dinner on the night we’re in Nassau. I scored a 8:30 seating for dinner as well! I’m hoping we’ll eat dinner with the kids, and then they’ll go to the club. Fingers crossed on that one! All the excursions are booked and when we get on the ship, we can relax, eat lunch, and go to the pool! I didn’t book any spa treatments, as the only thing that I would consider is the Rainforest Room and I didn’t see that online. I figure that shouldn’t be an issue getting later if I decide I really want to do it! I turned off the computer, went back to bed, and thankfully fell asleep for about an hour, until my normal wake up time of 4:50 [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]


Later that morning around 7, I was online checking my email and the boards before I left for work. I was making my way down the forums, when Sara (Belle*) posted that Southwest had new internet only rates out, and she just scored tickets out of our airport for $59 each way. I had a panic attack and adrenaline rush while I looked for our confirmation number. I logged onto Southwest’s site, pulled up my ressie, and low and behold, the $59 flights were available on our dates and the flights we were already on! A few quick clicks here and there and we were now rebooked at $137 per person, down from $285 per person. Instead of having a $224 credit on Southwest, I now have a $550 credit on Southwest [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Now the flight out to California is completely paid for, and one of us will be flying free on the way home as well [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img] At least for me, 6/6/06 turned out to be quite the great day! Only 65 days left to go!


The week got even better! I had been in meetings all week at work and I wasn’t able to check the internet during my lunch break. When I got home Thursday night (6/8) there was a note from Maureen that AP rates had come out and she was working on it, and then another note that she was able to get us AP rates at AKL and the Poly! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Chalk up another $200 savings. Frankly, the AP discount wasn’t all that much, since we already had a AAA rate, but heck, $200 is $200! And that’s where my luck ran out. On Friday, a DING came out for $44 each way for our dates, but I was at work (where I can’t download DING to my laptop) and by the time I got home and checked, the return flight for our date was sold out [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zcry.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zcry.gif[/img] Oh well, I should be happy with what I had, although another $120 savings would have been nice [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]


Coming up Next……..Last minute debates and changes

[DrDolphin]

Great update Marnie!! Congrats on getting Palo and all yuor other wishes!! And WOW on the SW savings!

[disneydani]

Glad luck was on your side on 666! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]