Our Big Celebration Cruise Pre-trip report updated 4/8 About This Page:

[disneymom9092]

Well, we have gone to WDW twice a year for as long as I can remember. Now usually we go for our first week in March for spring training as we are such baseball fans. However, last year DS#1 Andrew's varsity high school baseball team played at Disney's Wide World of Sports at "their" spring training so we went in April. (He is a catcher). With the boys getting older and in high school it actually is becoming more difficult to take them out of school for a week in March with all they would miss.

So anyway, last year after planning our trip in April, I asked the boys if they wanted to go to WDW again in April in 2008. Then Andrew said to me, "Mom-you know that is our last spring vacation before I go to college" Well, that realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I am sooo not ready for this

So I spoke to DH Tom. After all, this year is our 25th wedding anniversary also. So we thought, "Why not finally do our dream of a Disney Cruise as this may be out last big family vacation and it is our 25th". We did take a cruise for our honeymoon back in 1983 . It was on the Carnival Cruise Line and they had a special of 3 days at WDW after the cruise . Now DH had NEVER been to WDW, and I was a HUGE Disney fan having been to WDW twice so it was a "no-brainer" for me to add this on . We did stay off site, but that was OK. Just to give you an idea, we got 3 day passes as the "E" tickets were no longer available. MK was open of course but at Epcot only Future World was open. They were working on "World Showcase". My goodness-how far Disney has come in 25 years!!!

So in February 2007, we did all of our research. We quickly realized that even though we are DVC members, this would just use up too many points so we would need to pay cash for this trip. We decided on a category 4 room. After researching on Passporter which rooms were noisy, etc, we chose room 8050 with what was available.!! It is close to mid ship and not under the Goofy Pool. Thanks Passporter!!

We are just getting started!!!

[Colexis Mom]

Great start Dianne!! I can't believe the trip is so close I'm so excited for you guys

[iamgrumpy]

Great Start! Can't wait to hear about this!

[SouthernBelle]

WAHOO add me to the list of those who can't wait for this trip to start
This is going to be a wonderful trip for all of you.

Okay Dianne, I am ready for the next chapter

[DyanKJ130]

Great start!! Can't wait to hear all about it!

[DrDolphin]

Dianne - we stayed in 8052 right next door!!! I can't wait to read all about your trip!

[NanaTink]

OHHH! It's almost time! I'm sure you are hopping out of your skin! Can't wait to read ALLL about it!

You are sooooo gonna it!

[KathyL]

Twelve days and off you go. Have a fantastic trip. Bon Voyage!

[debsta922]

Can't wait to hear all about your trip Diane!

[Jillybean]

I'm SO excited for you!

Jill

[dizzymom]

This is so cool. I can't wait to hear all about it.

[chezp]

Great start Dianne - and your trip is almost here!

[lauren-roxy]

Great start Dianne and congrats on 25 years!!

[disneymom9092]

I guess I had better get everyone up to date . We booked this cruise 15 months ago and it is so hard to believe it is almost here

We decided to do our own flight as I was really concerned with our timeframe. DH has to work the night before we leave as he could't get off that day , and I didn't want to leave our flights up to chance :. I think it must be the "control freak" in me . So I started the endless on-line search for different airports/airlines to see what we could come up with. Now remember this was about a year from the travel date. It is also spring break week here in New England so prices were really hefty We finally found Contiental out of Newark for about $400 less per person than any other airlines!! While looking, I further found that at that time, first class was only $50 more pp round trip!!-and still cheaper than any other airlines coach!! So I called DH over and guess what??? We booked first class!! The funny thing was calling out DS's and asking them to pick out their seats on the flight. At first they just stared at the computer screen. Matt says "Are we going on a little plane-is this a joke??" . Then Andrew said "Is this first class?" The looks on their faces was priceless I know-I can be so mean sometimes!! One thing off the "to do" list!

There were so many celebrations on this trip, that I couldn't wait to start making reservations and shore excursions! I spent many hours reading our Passporter Cruise Line book! (AND our new one arrived 3 weeks ago-just in time!!!
First-I really wanted to do something romantic for DH Tom So I booked a couples massage in the Cabana at Castaway Cay!! shhhhhhhh. I am just so excited about this! Tom went through alot last August with his hip replacement so he deserved this!

Now we know we probably will never see the boys, but I did make the rules that they have to check-in and we will all have dinner together .. I bought a magnetic post-it holder with pencil to put on the state room door so they can just write a little note! I have also heard that people leave messages on the room voice mail so this is an option also! Well-I just had to make a special reservation at PALO for our 25th anniversary!! !! We took a chance and called DCL, as we had a few questions anyway. We asked if there was any way that we could get our dining rotation as I really wanted to book Palo on a particular night! Well-I can't believe the pixie dust on that day as the CM actually told me! We have the early seating (requested-I hate to eat late and then go to bed being so full) 6 pm and LAPLAPL!! That is exactly what I wanted !! Since the CM was so sweet I requested to speak to her manager and I put in a wonderful report for her! (I didn't mention what she did as I know they are not supposed to do that . It seems like we always hear the negative and never the positive, you know??? Hopefully there won't be any changes as then it will goof up all my plans . So I made a reservation for PALO on day 3 at 7 pm. We will go with the boys at 6 pm and sit with them and maybe have an appetizer or something. I so hope we get a window seat and it will still be light out so we could have a beautiful ocean view while eating! Please keep those fingers crossed .

[disneymom9092]

Now for those excursions!!

I already booked the Couples Massage, as I said. I am just so looking forward to this! Now, Tom and I have both been to St. Maarten and I have been to St. Thomas-but oh so many years ago. Since Tom speaks fluent french and he loves the French side of St. Maarten, we decided to rent a car and head on over there for some shopping! We were going to take an excursion over there, but it goes to the beach (you all know about those beaches there and there is NO WAY anyone will see this body in that 'state' ) Plus, having rented a car for a week when we were there, and there really is only one road all around the island, it is easy to maneuver and not get lost! There is also a very special restaurant in Marigot that has wonderful memories for us and we want to have lunch there!

Now as far as ST. Thomas, I really wasn't sure. I love the shopping but the beaches are beautiful, so we are going with the flow there and probably just relax on the beach. We may change our minds though one we get on ship

I wanted to something special for the boys while on Castaway Cay. They already informed us they will be on the teen beach (no surprise there), but they had talked about parasailing! We did this a few years ago while at the Contemporary and they loved it! The view of the island from up there must be incredible I can't wait to surprise them as I told them it was too expensive!! See what working some OT can do . Tom and I are booked for snorkeling and I am soooo psyched for that

With all that set, I wanted to do something else as well. So I called DCL and arranged to have champagne and fruit in the room! (the one with those incredible chocolate covered strawberries! ). I also ordered the romance package for DH and I!! Now just to let the "little ones" know to stay in the stack for a while on that date . I also ordered 4 water bottles so they can have something to put those drinks in!!

My mom told me she arranged for the boys to have something delivered to the stateroom as well. It is the package with the binoculars in it! I said "I know what they will use those for....looking at the girls! Well-if you could have seen my mom's jaw drop!! She said "I never thought of that!!" Can you tell she never had a son????

So now we are down to 3 days! I have decorations for the stateroom door (all magnet of course), and I still have packing to do! The tux's are in the garmet bag with my formal dresses, and everything is in piles!! . Guess what I plan on doing tonight? I plan on bringing my laptop so I hope to check in "Live" from time to time! I will miss you all but, I'll be back all too soon, I know!