Pre trip report for our Milestone MAGICal cruise - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Sounds like a great trip in the works! We'll be seeing you onboard! Have fun with those extra "Disney Days!" Our airfare was booked last June, and then the airline quit flying to our local airport, so they re-booked us on United for the same dates and at a better time. It would have cost us $1200 a person (and that's with a layover, no direct flights from here) to book those same tickets. Whew. We lucked out there!
Sounds like a great trip in the works! We'll be seeing you onboard! Have fun with those extra "Disney Days!" Our airfare was booked last June, and then the airline quit flying to our local airport, so they re-booked us on United for the same dates and at a better time. It would have cost us $1200 a person (and that's with a layover, no direct flights from here) to book those same tickets. Whew. We lucked out there!
glad that worked out for you, Rebecca. Always nice when an unexpected change works out for the better. I must say, I have been admiring the picture of your view for a while now. It looks at first like a black & white photo, but I see a touch of blue in the bottom right. I have similar pics from our balcony. I'll post one. looks like B&W, but this was early morning after a snowfall.
thanks for reading.
Sooooo… I spent the next several days planning some more. I can tell you that I kept changing my ‘to do’ list so many times, my head was spinning. I surfed a lot on the DCL site, going through the ports of call, the excursions and the like. And, I asked a lot of questions on these boards. And I actually made a couple of decisions.
I called DCL and ordered the ‘celebration’ package as a surprise for Lorne’s birthday.
He actually turns 65 on our sailing date!! The stateroom is going to be decorated with: A Happy Birthday banner, a table centerpiece, a cascade, a door magnet and a birthday cake. The CM that I ordered it from was very nice. She asked me “since it is a special birthday, would you like Captain Mickey too?” Of course, I said “SURE”. Now, I don’t even know what Captain Mickey means….. a figurine?? A toy?? A man?? LOL!! I really dunno. But anything called Captain Mickey just HAS to be good. She also said that she would note his birthday on our file (I thought our TA would have done that) and she would have ANOTHER birthday cake for him on our second night at dinner. How nice!!
OMG how much weight are we gonna gain???? Oh well, cross that bridge whenever.
As for excursions, again, after a lot of questions, I found that I am most looking forward to Key West and of course Castaway Cay. Those two are a definite MUST DO. Possibly Grand Cayman, and lastly Cozumel. Since we will have a balcony, I think we will be spending a bit of time on it. Either watching the ocean on the days at sea, or people watching while we are in port. All of it appeals to us. Breakfast on the balcony, perhaps one afternoon an ‘adult beverage of choice’ along with the cheese and cracker plate often mentioned here and maybe even an occasional nightcap on the balcony. Yup,, I could get used to this. In reading that back, it sounds like we are a couple of lushes…..nothing could be farther from the truth. When the time came, I was able to book Palo brunch on our Key West day. The brunch time is 11:00 and as I understand it, it’s a little passed Noon when we would be docking. This gives us enough time to have brunch and then walk some of it off in Key West. Sounds like a plan, Stan. I hemmed and hawed about when to plan the dinner at Palo. I was scared of missing out on something in the dining rooms. So I booked it for our Grand Caymen day, (day 4). That way I will see all three restaurants first and also not miss out on the Pirates night. Did that make any sense? Hope so.
Some of this is coming together, but I still wanna line up some neat stuff for us to do. While not exactly on a budget, the money is still not coming from bottomless pockets, IYKWIM. But I do plan on making this trip one he will always remember. (HE’S GETTING REALLY BAD AT REMEMBERING. (‘CUZ HE’S GETTING REALLY….. REALLLLLLY…. OLD) Please don’t tell him I said that.
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Cathy
You are a quite a writer. I'm enjoying your pre trip report! What a wonderful wife you are to plan all this for hubby's birthday!
While you are in Key West, don't forget to have some conch fritters. They are delish!
We found some at a little stand near the end of the Conch Train tour near the pier.
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Cathy
You are a quite a writer. I'm enjoying your pre trip report! What a wonderful wife you are to plan all this for hubby's birthday!
While you are in Key West, don't forget to have some conch fritters. They are delish!
We found some at a little stand near the end of the Conch Train tour near the pier.
Mulan, thanks for the kind words. And he's gonna pay me back for my 60th. He just doesn't know it. HEY!!! I'll have to plan that one too!!! Life is gooooood.
I keep hearing about conch fritters. Do they have a strong, fishy taste? If so, probably not for us. But we usually will try something new if it looks good. We both eat with our eyes first.
Now that Palo is booked, I can breathe. But you know……. you know…….. we really do need something else for the cruise. Now, whatever can I look at that will be a nice surprise for DH to be sure, but something that I can really look forward to as well???
Lets see now, we both really like the sauna in our condo building, so thaaaaaaaaat may be something I can check out. Hmmmmmm Here it is!! The rainforest room. That’s it!! I especially like the moist heat of a steam room, DH is not too sure. But willing to give it a shot…if not, there is always the sauna. Niiiiiiiiiiiiice. It will cost us $30 each time for the two of us. Oh, looky here….the Romance at Sea package gives you unlimited access to the Rainforest room. Sounds promising. Exclusive robes. Okay, and then? Delightful gifts upon your arrival. I love gifts. Palo whenever you want. (already done) Champagne breakfast….keep going….romantic turndown….and? and? A bottle of wine chosen from the ‘superior’ wine list when we have our night at Palo. SOLD!!!! Now, I have read good, bad, and indifferent reviews of the package. But after the (DISNEY) math…..we all know about Disney Math…right? I booked it! Really looking forward to all of it.
As for the ground transportation, I had booked the DME from MCO to ASMO, and from POFQ to MCO for the return trip. I had originally booked the transfers to and from the pier through Disney. It was okay from the pier to POFQ, but their busses don’t come near the value resorts, so we would have to schlep (is that a word?) our luggage from ASMO to the Swan resort in order to get the bus to the pier. On top of that, it was gonna be around 11:15 pickup. Too late for when I want to be there. Not happenin’ !! So I cancelled that leg of it. I am currently shopping around on the various sites and boards to find a town car service to take us to the pier. I also still gotta find sumthin’ to do before the cruise. Just because. I’ll find something, I’m sure.
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It would have cost us $1200 a person (and that's with a layover, no direct flights from here) to book those same tickets. Whew. We lucked out there!
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Pixie Dust
looks like B&W, but this was early morning after a snowfall. 
I surfed a lot on the DCL site, going through the ports of call, the excursions and the like. And, I asked a lot of questions on these boards. And I actually made a couple of decisions. 
Can't wait to read the next chapter, so hurry back 
look at that countdown ticker 
22 days and you will be on your way 
Hoping to get an update up soon.
DVC Member BWV- 6/08
Life is gooooood.
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