Hey loves – guess what, we’re ba-a-a-a-a-ck!
Anyone that read my August 2011 family TR is aware that shortly after returning from a Dreamy vaca, the girls and I booked a seven day Mexican Riviera cruise. Well, we’re 50 days out – and as is my custom, here is the pre-TR to set the stage.
THE CAST
Lauren
Does the mane look familiar? Yep - back in May 2010 (has it been that long?) we did the Vorld and the Vonder (TR May 2010) as a halfway-through-our-undergrad celebration with Paige and Erica. Since, there have been some ups and downs, but La is set to graduate in May with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography, double minor in History and Sociology. Smart cookie. She’s applying to some Masters programs (mostly Sociology based) and Bachelor of Education programs for next year. We’ve known each other basically forever – starting in grade primary in French immersion. We’re on our third Disney trip together (luckily, you were all spared the graduating high school trip pictures, they are not cute), and this is Lauren’s second Disney Cruise.
Still bein' BFFs
Rachael
Cruise and WDWM newbie. Her last/only Disney trip happened when we were in grade 11. She’s an old friend – we all started school together back in the day, so we’ve known each other since age 5. Rach goes to St. FX - a French major, Rachael is applying for some Education programs after she graduates in the spring. This will be her first “magical” cruise experience, and giving her the highlights of past trips has been the funnest part of the whole planning process.
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La and Rachhh over Christmas
Kenzie
What up? If you don’t know me by now, I’m clearly not doing my job properly. Twenty one (we all are), Psychology major at Mount Allison, double minor in French and Sociology. Next year is still up in the air, but applications have gone out for Master of Arts programs in School Psychology and for my Bachelor of Education (as a means to an end) – the waiting is killer, but hopefully after we get back everything will fall into place! This will be my fifth Disney cruise, fourth on the Wonder (it’s almost like home!), but the first 7 day cruise ever taken. Also, first trip to Mexico!
THE PROCESS
Lauren and I have been discussing another trip since our return from May 2009. We seem to do a Disney trip every two years or so together – and with a graduation happening this year, it only seems natural to celebrate the milestone Mickey-style. The first order of business was to figure out who we could put up with for a week – Paige and Erica opted out, either for family tripping or just wanting a different kind of vacation for graduation. Rachael expressed interest – and it was onto the planning stages (though trips for three are not ideal).
The first trip we had totally planned was four days at Port Orleans Riverside, free dining. Lauren’s uncle has a house in Florida so we were just going to hang out there for another three days, beach, shop, and maybe WWOHP. Then, after we even had food planned out, they changed the dates of the free DDP. Talk about upset – we went back to school with zero ideas on our Disney plan.
Mom called me one day in October with a confession. First, she made sure I was not having an emotionally unstable day, because this would have done me in – and it did anyway. Our longtime friends/practically family the Harts had booked their trip in March, and Mom/Dad/Carly were heading out two days later with longtime friends from our church (Nannie and Grampie have since been added to the plan). We’re talking EVERYONE I would want to trip with – unfortunately, I’ll be in school prepping for exams. The jerks.
Then it was time to make a trip happen, because it’s the worst knowing that you’re not going when your WHOLE ENTIRE family is. I was browsing special offers when I saw it – the magical, perfect, special offer - 25% off for Canadian residents on the Mexican Riviera cruises. In February. One which leaves the Sunday our Spring Break starts. Perfect.
I called Disney, priced it out, and asked what the girls thought. Lauren was all for it – Racheal was in Halifax, had no access to a computer, but was like – Mexico, cruise, Mickey? SURE! So I put a hold on our reservation, which was category (what) with a porthole, the cheapest room they had left, and we all talked it over with our family members. It was decided.
When I phoned back to make the reservation, the woman on the phone was super excited for us. She looked through the available rooms and gave me more good news – a category 11 for three had opened up. Yep. All in all, the cruise came to approximately $753 each – that’s with transfers to and from the airport, and the extra insurance! RIGHT?! Seriously, how could you not go.. especially when the Air Canada flights (through Toronto – which is great because we’re familiar with the airport) were CND$650. Very reasonable trip for three hard-working university students, I must say.
THE PLAN
Since we’re about as far East as you can get, and we have to go about as far West as you can get, the travel to/from is going to be unfortunate. We leave Halifax at 5:40AM on February 19, have an hour and a half to get through customs in Toronto, and take off for LAX at 8:30AM. Land at 10:40AM (talk about time change confusion!), hop the Magical Express (is it still the Magical Express?) to the Wonder!
We’re at sea the first two days, then spend a day in Puerto Vallatra, followed by two days in Cabo, a day at sea, and back to LA! Hoping to find a beach somewhere in Mexico, but we have no excursions planned.
Unfortunately, we’re stuck at LAX for hours after we get ejected from the Wonder – our flight isn’t until 10PM. We won’t land home until 10AM – and remember, it’s not really “home”. Laur and I have a three hour drive back to Sackville, and school on Tuesday is not going to be pleasant. But worth it!
If anyone has any advice or news of the cruise, hook me up!
See ya 'real soon!
]
Loves.
Anyone that read my August 2011 family TR is aware that shortly after returning from a Dreamy vaca, the girls and I booked a seven day Mexican Riviera cruise. Well, we’re 50 days out – and as is my custom, here is the pre-TR to set the stage.
THE CAST
Lauren
Does the mane look familiar? Yep - back in May 2010 (has it been that long?) we did the Vorld and the Vonder (TR May 2010) as a halfway-through-our-undergrad celebration with Paige and Erica. Since, there have been some ups and downs, but La is set to graduate in May with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography, double minor in History and Sociology. Smart cookie. She’s applying to some Masters programs (mostly Sociology based) and Bachelor of Education programs for next year. We’ve known each other basically forever – starting in grade primary in French immersion. We’re on our third Disney trip together (luckily, you were all spared the graduating high school trip pictures, they are not cute), and this is Lauren’s second Disney Cruise.
Still bein' BFFs
Rachael
Cruise and WDWM newbie. Her last/only Disney trip happened when we were in grade 11. She’s an old friend – we all started school together back in the day, so we’ve known each other since age 5. Rach goes to St. FX - a French major, Rachael is applying for some Education programs after she graduates in the spring. This will be her first “magical” cruise experience, and giving her the highlights of past trips has been the funnest part of the whole planning process.
La and Rachhh over Christmas
Kenzie
What up? If you don’t know me by now, I’m clearly not doing my job properly. Twenty one (we all are), Psychology major at Mount Allison, double minor in French and Sociology. Next year is still up in the air, but applications have gone out for Master of Arts programs in School Psychology and for my Bachelor of Education (as a means to an end) – the waiting is killer, but hopefully after we get back everything will fall into place! This will be my fifth Disney cruise, fourth on the Wonder (it’s almost like home!), but the first 7 day cruise ever taken. Also, first trip to Mexico!
THE PROCESS
Lauren and I have been discussing another trip since our return from May 2009. We seem to do a Disney trip every two years or so together – and with a graduation happening this year, it only seems natural to celebrate the milestone Mickey-style. The first order of business was to figure out who we could put up with for a week – Paige and Erica opted out, either for family tripping or just wanting a different kind of vacation for graduation. Rachael expressed interest – and it was onto the planning stages (though trips for three are not ideal).
The first trip we had totally planned was four days at Port Orleans Riverside, free dining. Lauren’s uncle has a house in Florida so we were just going to hang out there for another three days, beach, shop, and maybe WWOHP. Then, after we even had food planned out, they changed the dates of the free DDP. Talk about upset – we went back to school with zero ideas on our Disney plan.
Mom called me one day in October with a confession. First, she made sure I was not having an emotionally unstable day, because this would have done me in – and it did anyway. Our longtime friends/practically family the Harts had booked their trip in March, and Mom/Dad/Carly were heading out two days later with longtime friends from our church (Nannie and Grampie have since been added to the plan). We’re talking EVERYONE I would want to trip with – unfortunately, I’ll be in school prepping for exams. The jerks.
Then it was time to make a trip happen, because it’s the worst knowing that you’re not going when your WHOLE ENTIRE family is. I was browsing special offers when I saw it – the magical, perfect, special offer - 25% off for Canadian residents on the Mexican Riviera cruises. In February. One which leaves the Sunday our Spring Break starts. Perfect.
I called Disney, priced it out, and asked what the girls thought. Lauren was all for it – Racheal was in Halifax, had no access to a computer, but was like – Mexico, cruise, Mickey? SURE! So I put a hold on our reservation, which was category (what) with a porthole, the cheapest room they had left, and we all talked it over with our family members. It was decided.
When I phoned back to make the reservation, the woman on the phone was super excited for us. She looked through the available rooms and gave me more good news – a category 11 for three had opened up. Yep. All in all, the cruise came to approximately $753 each – that’s with transfers to and from the airport, and the extra insurance! RIGHT?! Seriously, how could you not go.. especially when the Air Canada flights (through Toronto – which is great because we’re familiar with the airport) were CND$650. Very reasonable trip for three hard-working university students, I must say.
THE PLAN
Since we’re about as far East as you can get, and we have to go about as far West as you can get, the travel to/from is going to be unfortunate. We leave Halifax at 5:40AM on February 19, have an hour and a half to get through customs in Toronto, and take off for LAX at 8:30AM. Land at 10:40AM (talk about time change confusion!), hop the Magical Express (is it still the Magical Express?) to the Wonder!
We’re at sea the first two days, then spend a day in Puerto Vallatra, followed by two days in Cabo, a day at sea, and back to LA! Hoping to find a beach somewhere in Mexico, but we have no excursions planned.
Unfortunately, we’re stuck at LAX for hours after we get ejected from the Wonder – our flight isn’t until 10PM. We won’t land home until 10AM – and remember, it’s not really “home”. Laur and I have a three hour drive back to Sackville, and school on Tuesday is not going to be pleasant. But worth it!
If anyone has any advice or news of the cruise, hook me up!
See ya 'real soon!
Loves.
Haha! I'm hoping we can plan one for next summer though! Boo for having to study while your on the cruise, that's not fun!