Pre Trip Report -The World and First Cruise Ever - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
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To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Sounds like you and your family are in for a great holiday!
My DD did the BBB at about the same age and it was priceless! Yours will have a ball being treated like a princess.
And I'm jealous of your cruise! It's been almost a year since our last cruise and I can't recall ever sleeping so sound than when I'm on a ship. Hope you have the same experience as you will need the sleep after all the touring you are planning!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Hi Guys, hope you are all well and 2014 has been good to you all so far! Don't know bout you but I can't believe how fast it's going already.
So tomorrow marks the start of our double digit countdown, woohoo 99 days to go to our trip. The balance of our hols has to be paid next week so I am so very excited to announce we are officially PIF! It all starts to seem real when you start making huge withdrawals from your savings - if not a little bit queasy too.
Work has been completely mental recently for both myself and Sean. We seem to have been in that cycle of get up, work, eat, sleep and not much else, so I am determined to try and find some much needed family time just to catch our breath.
I have had chance to organise some of the essentials for our trip. The cattery is booked for our mini lion, we don't really have any family close by that could pop in to take care of her and I am a little OCD, I would constantly be thinking if someone was coming to the house, did they lock up? Did they let her out? Will she be ok etc etc so even though it's added expense It will help keep me sane while were away
The car park at the airport is booked which was so much better value than I was expecting.
I have also had time to pick up a new video camera to capture those special moments. My dad bought us one when we got married in 2006 and I think we took it on honeymoon to Las Vegas and used it a few times when my nephew and niece were born and that was it. When we were away last year it wouldn't focus right and we didn't really have the opportunity to record any of the character meets or parades etc which I was slightly disappointed with. So I went and had a look last week to get a new 1 and it's smaller than my hand!! Can't believe the differance a few years make! So I also need to learn how to do lots of fancy tricks with it between now and then
The next thing on my list is clothing inventory! Me and Maddison have been practically living in Uggs since November so the thought of trying on shorts and swimsuits is a bit surreal but does get me excited. I am soooooo ready for some sunshine. The first new swimsuit has been purchased and there has been an extra 10 minutes on the 'dreadmill' at the gym.
Mads has definately been growing so I am preparing to be buying her a whole new summer wardrobe. I am looking forward to getting her some gorgeous new outfits for the cruise - me too for that matter! I am still nervous as to what to take for the cruise, I've read my passporter so I've got more info then I had when we booked and it sounds like you don't have to be overly fancy dressed every night but because it's our first time, I kind of want to get dressed up every night! Hope we don't look like we fell off a Christmas tree when we meet our fellow diners.
We have planned to do a port excursion in Nassau and we are thinking of 1 of the beach days, either Atlantis or blue lagoon. I would organise it through Disney just for the added peace of mind but then I keep second guessing myself and wonder if we will be missing out by not staying on the ship. Then I triple guess myself and think were only gonna be in this neck of the woods once so why not make the most of it? The call of the Beach gets me every time.
Well, my niece and nephew are here for a sleepover tonight so better get on to preparing some tea. It does mean that I can immerse myself in Disney DVDs for the rest of the night!
Speak to you all soon
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Great start for your first report! Welcome to Sharing your Adventure!
We've been over the Memorial Day Holiday and while it is more crowded, it is bearable too! I saw that your daughter can't decide whether to be a Princess or Jedi and since you'll be there for Star Wars Weekends, I highly recommend you check them out for at least part of the day. The parade of characters shouldn't be missed, and is relatively short.
Congrats on your first cruise too! We took our first cruise (also 4 night on the Dream) this past October and it was amazing!
Looking forward to more!
I definately feel more organised now, thanks. Been in double digit celebratory mode for last couple of days
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Sounds like everything is working out well.
Got that Disney excitement feeling
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
Just signing in! Your plans look great!!!
Thanks!! I am really enjoying planning
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Great start for your first report! Welcome to Sharing your Adventure!
We've been over the Memorial Day Holiday and while it is more crowded, it is bearable too! I saw that your daughter can't decide whether to be a Princess or Jedi and since you'll be there for Star Wars Weekends, I highly recommend you check them out for at least part of the day. The parade of characters shouldn't be missed, and is relatively short.
Congrats on your first cruise too! We took our first cruise (also 4 night on the Dream) this past October and it was amazing!
Looking forward to more!
Hi! I am a little anxious around Memorial Day weekend, I think because I'm not sure what to expect. I'm likening it to bank holiday crowds here at the coast or theme parks as a gauge. Wasn't sure what to do about Star Wars weekends? I am probably only planning 1 day at Hollywood studios so was worried we would miss out on doing certain things if it was really busy with all the Star Wars stuff going on, and whether it would be better to enjoy most of the other stuff and go on a weekday instead??? Decisions decisions??? Sooooooo excited for the cruise, saw some fabulous pics on here from a fellow passporters review and it bought tears to my eyes
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Glad it's all coming together! Congrats on DD!
Thankyou!! I will be a Disney planning pro in no time
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Hi everyone, how are you all doing? Hope my update finds you all happy and healthy!
47 sleeps to go and were back in the sunshine state, can't believe how close it got so quickly. We've had lots of other distractions keeping us busy recently so I am more than ready to get back on my disney excitement horse.
Maddison has had lots of trips to the hospital with her teeth. She has a problem with how her enamel is forming on her adult teeth that are coming through and will unfortunately need to have some adult teeth at the back removed She has had some silver crowns put on to protect 2 of her baby teeth and I'm putting off the removal procedure until we are back from our holiday as I don't want to run the risk of infection or problems while we are away.
It looks like it's only the 2 that are causing the problem but sounds like she is in for lots of trips to the hospital/dentist in the future and braces when she's bigger.
There are worse things
My husband also had some bad news from his dad who he hasn't had the best relationship with recently that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
He lives a couple of hours away so he's been driving over there to see him and build a few bridges. He successfully had one of his lungs removed last week and needs to have some follow up treatment but the doctors were happy with the procedure and seem to be hopeful of a positive recovery. He was home 5 days after the operation!! Unbelievable really that you can undergo something like that and be home so quickly.
So less of the doom and more of the Disney - the week before last was my 75 day mark for booking port and ship adventures for the cruise and my alarm was set at 3.55 am to coincide with the turning of midnight over the pond.
I looked at the cabanas with a vague hope 1 may pop up as available after reading how virtually impossible it is to snag a reservation but it was not to be and all are sold out. I keep checking back but nothing as of yet. We decided against an excursion in Nassau. I had spent some time looking at old navigators online and we decided that the ship offers so much that we would make the most of the time we have on the dream. I opted instead for a spa treatment on the morning we are in port at Nassau. I have never visited a spa before so I am really looking forward to it. I went for the hot stone massage and I also called and reserved a couple of rainforest day passes so I could really take advantage of the spa. Sean wasn't bothered about a treatment so I'm flying solo.
I also made Palo brunch reservations for our day at sea after reading so many positive reviews and looking at gorgeous pics on here. Mad will have to spend some time in oceaneer lab while we eat and I'm hoping she's not too overwhelmed. She doesn't usually do any kid club stuff while we are away and because the cruise is a secret I can't talk to her about how she would feel about it. Any tips guys or reassurance appreciated? If she had a sibling with her i don't think I would be as worried but because she will be by herself makes me nervous. I'm hoping out dinner tablemates if we have the pleasure of being seated with someone will have a friend she can make so it's not as nerve wracking for her.
I also had to reserve seats for our flight out so chose to try out the bubble upstairs on the 747. We are seated on the right side of the plane and have read you can see the Rockies as you fly down the east coast
A lovely lady at Virgin holidays also arranged transfers from the Port to downtown disney for the day we fly home. We originally would have been travelling straight to the airport which meant a lengthy stay at MCO as our flight home isn't until 8pm. So instead we get to check in at downtown disney at lunch time and spend all afternoon there, luggage free and grabbing a few extra hours of Disney magic before travelling to the airport at around 4pm. It's going to be a long day whatever we decided to do - after flying at 8pm we don't land back into manchester until 7am the following day - but I think this sounds like the best choice.
I have a week off work next week so I'm planning on holiday clothes shopping and wait for it - getting the cases out - and start organising what else we need to purchase before the trip. Mads birthday is also coming up on the 28th so I'm planning a BBB esque party. My friend has a bistro and her daughter runs a salon above it. She's going to do the girls hair and then have princess themed party foods after in the salon. Princess dress up of course an essential
I think that brings things pretty up to speed. Next update will probably be the last before we fly, maybe even from the airport
Take care of yourselves xx
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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Disney Magic - Oct 2015
She has had some silver crowns put on to protect 2 of her baby teeth and I'm putting off the removal procedure until we are back from our holiday as I don't want to run the risk of infection or problems while we are away. 
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