Making 40th Magic pre-trip report 9/19/09-9/26/09 About This Page:

[cakesnjammom]

Ok I am finally ready to start a pre-trip report.
ME - 37
DH - 39
ds - 7
dd - 5
DH and I started talking about how he would like to celebrate his 40th b-day???..he mentioned a few "guy" type places he would like to go and I mentioned "what about a cruise?". He said "oh yeah I like that idea" so I started looking into cruises for us ALONE. We have cruised once (RCCL- our honeymoon) and it was so great, we came off the boat wanting to plan to go again and then 11+ years later here we are PLUS 2 kiddos now that we wanted to leave at home so we could get in some Mom and Dad time. My mom had volunteered to watch the kids and we were sure dh's mom would help out too, maybe a rotation of sorts! The "grandma's" live in the same town but not where we live SO...we also have 2 dogs (beagles),Daisy and Lily, that would need care while we are away so it was all adding up to be a BIG undertaking trying to plan how we would get away and not have to "worry" about kids and grandmothers and dogs and how we would get everyone settled and on the road and be in "NO communication mode" for 4-7 days. It was not working out....my brain was discombobulated to say the least. I had been looking at Carnival cruises and then decided we MAY be to OLD for the Carnival party boats....topless decks??? WHAT? No, way too old! So I started looking into RCCL and I was really impressed with their "Freedom Class" ships...I thought it had enough sporty things to keep dh entertained and all the stuff I like too (shows and food)! So things were really heading that way but the thought of not being able to speak to our kids and kowing we would be wondering how things were with them while trying to relax and enjoy our time just did not seem to mix. So I started thinking Disney...we are Disney fans...we have been blessed to go to WDW several times over the last few years and all our trips have left us with such great memories, magical memories! With only one downfall...NO alone time for mom and dad, not to mention the run, run, run schedule....now a light bulb goes off....DCL....so I watch the cruise video online...I get so excited but did not know how dh would feel...so I call him and tell him when he gets back home I want him to watch something online...OK! When he comes in I explain to him what I had been thinking and that DCL has KIDS CLUBS so we could really do a lil' alone time too...I said I thought it was a win-win situation. So I left the video up for him to watch when he had time! AND....I was hoping the pixie dust would get him!

Pic from Epcot 2008...Flower & Garden Festival

[cakesnjammom]

Cont....
I have NEVER had a problem convincing dh to take a Disney vacation....once he started the video it was not long before he was saying "I am SOLD, when do we leave?" But the guilt hits us and we realize we cannot do a DISNEY cruise without our kids! The Oceaneer Club would provide us some adult time so kid problem WAS solved....they will go too. So NOW I needed to figure out the cost and what we could afford now that we were adding the kids to the sailing! SO the next morning I contacted Marisa - TA with Cruising Co/MouseEar Vacations and got some quotes for a 4-night Bahama's cruise. We decided that since Sept. had lower fares we would cruise then and take our chances during hurricane season. We paid the deposit and were all ready to start my favorite part.....planning: knowing what all is offered...you know the phase - that is why you are here, right! I kept reading the boards, asking tons of questions, bombarding Marisa with questions....starting the planning to get our passports....talking to friends who had done DCL and getting more excited by the day! THEN that "always want the biggest and best BUG bit me", you know the one, the BUG that says is 4 days enough on the ship...what are you missing out on by going on the 4-night vs. the 7-night? And I start reading 4 & 7-night trip reports, recalling my past cruise and how quickly the week FLEW by and soon enough I was nagging at dh (which lets face it, dh was thinking the same thing b/c some of our dear friends told us that the 4-night was just enough time to make them MAD when they had to get off the boat and that they were grumpy when they got home because they hated to leave the ship ). I just kept thinking as soon as we get on that boat we are gonna want to book that 7-night and then I started calculating (I never present a trip to dh unless I have a way for us to pay for it in mind). So add the 4-night to the 7-night cost and WHOA who knows when we will be able to go: kids in school: yada, yada, yada or should we just figure in the $1200 additional it would cost to upgrade to the 7-nighter now instead (yes - we lost our split bath and secret port hole) but we did it and booked a CAT 11! Our TA was able to offer us a group rate on the 7-night Western and since deposits had dropped we only had to pay $100 more in deposits - hey it was a NO BRAINER for me. So we decided we would do very few excursions and enjoy the boat...we have been to Key West so we knew what we wanted to do there and we knew we could get around on our own....the other places I am looking into excursions for us and we are so excited about Castaway Cay...that place will be a whole excursion on its own - very little if any additional costs. I was also happy to find CHEAPER trip insurance that covers our needs thru Access America...thanks Belle for that tip.

My dh needed to go ahead and get his passport for work so we started working on our passport forms and we headed to AAA for our passport photos (free to premium members). While we were at AAA I also checked into the trip insurance they offer and was pleased to realize they go thru Access America too...I also,for kicks, got a quote on our cruise at AAA and I had gotten a WAY better deal using Marisa....AAA wanted almost TWICE as much!

I started looking into hotels near the port...I knew I had to use Marriott because dh has reward points with them and that would make our stay FREE ! So after reading up I decided on Residence Inn near the port and they have FREE parking for the length of the cruise and FREE breakfast the morning we sail out. DH will just have to drop us at the port and take the car back and either get a taxi or shuttle to the port....that saves us $105 in parking....hmmmm still trying to decide on whether to park free or park at the port...so if you have tips please pass them along...a lil' worried about my car's safety at the hotel 7 days?

A friend has offered for dd to borrow TONS of princess gowns and crowns to take on our trip and my MIL can sew so I headed out last weekend to get fabric for somethings for MIL to sew and for a Fish Extender - FE (the thing that hangs on the fish outside your cabin and you sign up to give and receive gifts/surprises there...) so dh and I made the FE last weekend and I am still working at the finishing touches! Will post pic when I get it all fancy ! Other than that now I am just scouring the boards and waiting on my Passporter DCL 2009 (gotta love Jennifer and Dave and staff, passporter books and e-books ROCK)!

So if you have any advice for me...please post! Still pondering the tux issue for ds and dh on Formal Night...ds would love to "sport" a tux like Dad and I even cut out a pattern to make "Mickey" fabric bow ties for them...have not found the perfect fabric yet! Oh and forgot to mention...dh has made all the magnets for our door....he is the graphic designer here!

[sueh818]

What a great start! I'm so excited for you!

[cakesnjammom]

Thinking of adding the MNSSHP for Friday night and arriving earlier than planned on the 18th...but prices and dates are not being confirmed/released by Disney yet! Just wondering if we will be too tuckered out after the party to be up and out early the next morning having to get up, drive and head to the ship? My kids are night owls, especially when excited. Thoughts?

If I add the party it will mean NO free parking at the Cocoa Beach hotel because I will change to a hotel near WDW so there goes the $105 savings...but since I have NOT completely made up my mind to leave my car....hmmmm... and I am just thinking the Halloween party is a great way to see MK too for a 'lil bit and add to the MAGIC of the cruise! Thoughts and opinions...please! Kids could just wear pirate stuff/princess stuff that we are taking for the cruise anyway...THAT IS A PLUS! I wish I knew the ticket prices that would help but I am thinking $200 for 2 adult/2 child tickets?

[Colexis Mom]

Great start!! That's about right for MNSSHP..last year advance tickets were $52/$46. If they're night owls, I'd say go for it!!

[cakesnjammom]

Thanks ColexisMom! I need all the luck I can get with this one...I know it will drive our cost up but I know what a great start it will be too...I am torn!

[belle0517]

Great start! Can't wait to hear more.

[Disneymoon0909]

Just wanted to post and say great PTR...and...I WILL BE ON THE SAME CRUISE WITH YOU FOR MY HONEYMOON!!! I am so excited, just as you seem to be and I cant imagine how much fun it must be with little ones Feel free to PM me to chat about excitiement or stuff specific to **OUR** cruise

P.S. I did MNSSHP last year and loved it so much I will be doing it the 15th when "DH" and I visit the week before the cruise! Worth every penny!

[cakesnjammom]

thanks everybody!

disneymoon0909 I sure will and you too! Congrats on your honeymoon! Wish we could have done DCL for ours but NO Disney boats then!!

I will post more soon!

Also I guess I should tell you that I kids only think they can go on this trip if they are good and do not get 10 tick marks against them (keeping a list on the refrig)

[lauriep]

It's shaping up to be a great trip and it sounds like you're having great fun with the planning.

[cakesnjammom]

WOW! Been looking into excursions and I think I mentioned we are not doing many, if any, because of the cost. I think I can get away with staying on the boat in either Cozumel or Grand Caymen. So which one is the better spot for us to venture out on our own? Any suggestions?

My kiddos would really love to swim with the dolphins (I think...you know until they see that massive creature swimming towards them) and I found a place that they can participate for $8/each with a paying adult (dh and I would have to pay $86 each and then $16 dollars for them) so for $188 we could swim with dolphins in Cozumel (plus tax and transfers)...should we do this or the Halloween Party??? Anyone done both that can tell me their opinion? I just think the kids will get more out of the HP but I have been wrong before and will be wrong many more times I am sure .

Well chime in please! Let me know your thoughts? Man I just get more excited by the day!

[Kenny]

Great start!! I vote for the dolphin swim! DW and I did that at Cozumel and it was just an unbelievable experience! I've not been to MNSSHP so I can't compare, but it would probably last longer, so I'm sure it would be fun too.

Whatever you decide, have a Magic-al cruise!

[Disneymoon0909]

I did not do that exact dolphin excursion but I did a similiar one. As I said before I have also done MNSSHP. For kids, I would vote for MNSSHP. I was a tiny-for-my-age 11 year old when I did the dolphin excursion and was scared out of my mind until the last 10 minutes, it was a lot of money and I spent the majority of the time crying on the dock refusing to even go in the water. Not to mention, for the people who are actually brave enough to venture in with the beasts (lol) you don't get a lot of one on one time and you feel very rushed...thats just my two cents. Since I LOVED MNSSSHP I would vote for that. It lasts much longer, is cheaper, you get loads of candy, tons of pictures with characters, practically walk on to every ride and see one of the COOLEST parades ever...plus I will be there too- added bonus! Hope this helps!
Holly

[dattlightner]

GREAT start I have never been on a dolphin excursion (plan to do this when we cruise 11/2010) but my family has done MNSSHP and LOVED it!!!! If your kiddos are night owls, I say GO FOR IT!! My kids had a blast and they can't wait to attend Mickey's Christmas Party this coming Novmeber. It was worth every penny to my dh and I and I don't think you would regret it!! Can't wait to read more

[cakesnjammom]

Originally Posted by dattlightner

GREAT start I have never been on a dolphin excursion (plan to do this when we cruise 11/2010) but my family has done MNSSHP and LOVED it!!!! If your kiddos are night owls, I say GO FOR IT!! My kids had a blast and they can't wait to attend Mickey's Christmas Party this coming Novmeber. It was worth every penny to my dh and I and I don't think you would regret it!! Can't wait to read more

Great! Thanks for reading! MNSSHP here we come....in Sept of course!