Just off the fantasy with an upgrade and ran the 5k

[kimerinc]

We went on the 7/26 fantasy. These are the things I learned.

1. When we left there were 5 1 bedroom suites available. We took a private vehicle to port, arrived at 10:10 waited in line to enter the terminal until 10:30. We were among the first to go through, but the terminal was already full. I checked in at concierge grabbed my key and went to the supervisors desk. I got the last 1 bedroom for $700 upgrade fee. This is about $10,000 in savings for me. If I had to do it again, I would have taken the bus from the airport. You have no advantage at all arriving yourself. You do have an advantage coming from the airport. The lady behind me wanted the suite, but got my room instead. If you want a high level room, get there first.

2. We did not start the 5k until 10:08. I have never felt so awful in a run in my life. My husband runs 1/2 marathons and usually a 24 minute 5k said this 5k was harder than 1/2 marathons. People who run triathalons and marathons were bothered by the heat. It was 90 degrees with 90-100% humidity. I kid you not. If you have not been running a lot before this, just run deck 4. I had a great time on my 5k run around the deck. It is way to hot to run at 10:00 a.m. on Castaway Cay in August.

3. The cabana is awesome. Especially after running the 5k. I was so sick I don't remember even getting there, but I laid there in the shade with the fan then took a fresh water shower with all my running clothes on. It is quiet, it is not crowded and if we had not had it, I would have been back on the ship.

4. Disney Signature excursions are awesome! If you can take one, the Too Rhum Punch boat in St Marteen was wonderful. There are just so many people on that ship it is nice to be with just a few for a while.

5.The concierge on the Fantasy is everything and more. They do so much more for you than on the Wonder and the Magic. We don't drink so the room was not a big deal, but the staff was incredible. It made everything very easy for us!

6. The one bedrooms on the Fantasy are smaller than the 1's on the Wonder and Magic

7. Trunk Bay Snorkel was dumb

8. The special magnets do work on the concierge doors.



Let me know if you have any questions I can answer for you. This board helped me a ton and my planning from this knowledge made the vacation incredible. Thanks so all those who have posted. Hope this helps someone else!

 

[MrsNick]

Thanks for the trip report!

If you don't mind me asking, from which category did you upgrade?

 

[kimerinc]

Upgraded from a cat v. Our friends were offered an 8a to our cat V for $1360. They declined it, but could have moved from 8a to concierge for that cost.

 

[Marypoppins14]

Before your cruise, do you notice if there were any concierge cabins available?

Thanks for your report -- especially regarding the 5K.

When I lived in Miami, we were advised not to run (or do any strenuous physical activity) outdoors if temp + humidity equaled or exceeded 180, especially if we had not acclimated to the heat (e.g., run/play tennis outdoors nearly every day during the month of April).

So 90 degrees + 90% humidity = 180 => no run!

But you know what "they" say about hindsight!

 

[kimerinc]

There were 5 1 bedroom suites available when I could check last (about Wed before the cruise) . There were no Cat V suites available until I gave up mine for the 1 bedroom.

I really thought I could handle the heat, I worked really hard, but it kicked my you know what. I would never do that again.

 

[Bettyscruise]

5. They do so much more for you than on the Wonder and the Magic.

First time cruiser here; booked for a Magic concierge suite in Oct. Other than the lounge and sun deck, what will we miss, service wise, by sailing on the Magic? What is done more than on the Wonder and Magic?

8. The special magnets do work on the concierge doors.

Could you explain what you mean by this.

Thanks for the trip report. Sounds like a great time.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I totally know your pain with the 5k! We ran it in May, and the humidity was awful. We were sweating like crazy, but of course the air wasn't absorbing it, so it was just gathering on our bodies - yuck. I can't imagine running it in July!

The biggest annoyance for me with the 5k is that it's not even a pretty run! There is nothing to look at... it's like running through Florida swamp land. I thought we'd at least get a character at the finish line or something to make it all worthwhile.

 

[Ariel484]

2. We did not start the 5k until 10:08. I have never felt so awful in a run in my life. My husband runs 1/2 marathons and usually a 24 minute 5k said this 5k was harder than 1/2 marathons. People who run triathalons and marathons were bothered by the heat. It was 90 degrees with 90-100% humidity. I kid you not. If you have not been running a lot before this, just run deck 4. I had a great time on my 5k run around the deck. It is way to hot to run at 10:00 a.m. on Castaway Cay in August.

We disembarked from the Dream on 7/24 and also did the 5K. We didn't start until 9:15...I don't know about you but it looked like they just kept letting people sign up and sign up, even though the Navigators said to sign up ahead of time at Guest Services. We'd arrived in Evolution a bit after 8 expecting to disembark by 8:30, and we didn't get off the ship until 9. I was furious!

I totally agree with your husband - I have run half marathons and 2 marathons and the 5K was up there as one of the toughest. Weather was similar to what you had.

I'm with you on just running deck 4, or the treadmill. This was my second time doing the 5K and definitely my last. Not worth potentially blowing your entire Castaway Cay day by making yourself sick. I'm sorry it went so badly for you.

I totally know your pain with the 5k! We ran it in May, and the humidity was awful. We were sweating like crazy, but of course the air wasn't absorbing it, so it was just gathering on our bodies - yuck. I can't imagine running it in July!

The biggest annoyance for me with the 5k is that it's not even a pretty run! There is nothing to look at... it's like running through Florida swamp land. I thought we'd at least get a character at the finish line or something to make it all worthwhile.

THANK YOU. I agree with you, the course is boring! I was so disappointing the first time, I thought we'd see the island...not just a bunch of trees and an empty airstrip.

 

[kimerinc]

First time cruiser here; booked for a Magic concierge suite in Oct. Other than the lounge and sun deck, what will we miss, service wise, by sailing on the Magic? What is done more than on the Wonder and Magic?

Could you explain what you mean by this.

Thanks for the trip report. Sounds like a great time.

The magnets were Neodymium Magnets. I read about it from a poster on this board. Worked like a charm.

Let me give you some examples of what they did for us. We had read on this board that they run out of castaway 5k shirts, so we asked concierge to buy them for us. They did.

The concierge people picked up my picture dvd and delivered it at the end of the cruise.

The took care of all of our forms, port stuff, ordered MDR room service for us, brought juice to our cabana..... Pretty much everything I asked for. If I could get them to run the spa too, they would have been perfect!

 

[kimerinc]

First time cruiser here; booked for a Magic concierge suite in Oct. Other than the lounge and sun deck, what will we miss, service wise, by sailing on the Magic? What is done more than on the Wonder and Magic?

Could you explain what you mean by this.

Thanks for the trip report. Sounds like a great time.

I should also say, the suites on the magic and wonder are bigger than on the fantasy This is huge for us! Concierge on the Magic and Wonder were really nice, but it was all about the room.

 

[kimerinc]

We disembarked from the Dream on 7/24 and also did the 5K. We didn't start until 9:15...I don't know about you but it looked like they just kept letting people sign up and sign up, even though the Navigators said to sign up ahead of time at Guest Services. We'd arrived in Evolution a bit after 8 expecting to disembark by 8:30, and we didn't get off the ship until 9. I was furious!

I totally agree with your husband - I have run half marathons and 2 marathons and the 5K was up there as one of the toughest. Weather was similar to what you had.

I'm with you on just running deck 4, or the treadmill. This was my second time doing the 5K and definitely my last. Not worth potentially blowing your entire Castaway Cay day by making yourself sick. I'm sorry it went so badly for you.

THANK YOU. I agree with you, the course is boring! I was so disappointing the first time, I thought we'd see the island...not just a bunch of trees and an empty airstrip.

Everyone got off at the same time. I really wanted to start earlier because heat is hard for me, but they just let everyone off. I did not see anyone sign up there, but we were early, saw a ton of people running to get their id. Another thing I learned from this board, you must have your id with you.

I am not a runner like my husband, but I am really working at it. I think if that was my first 5k I would never do another. I can sense your pain. You don't understand what even an extra half hour in the morning can mean to the heat index. I would have been really really upset.

 

[kimerinc]

I totally know your pain with the 5k! We ran it in May, and the humidity was awful. We were sweating like crazy, but of course the air wasn't absorbing it, so it was just gathering on our bodies - yuck. I can't imagine running it in July!

The biggest annoyance for me with the 5k is that it's not even a pretty run! There is nothing to look at... it's like running through Florida swamp land. I thought we'd at least get a character at the finish line or something to make it all worthwhile.

My friend said she made deals with the devil on the airstrip.

 

[su_A_ve]

2. We did not start the 5k until 10:08. I have never felt so awful in a run in my life. My husband runs 1/2 marathons and usually a 24 minute 5k said this 5k was harder than 1/2 marathons. People who run triathalons and marathons were bothered by the heat. It was 90 degrees with 90-100% humidity. I kid you not. If you have not been running a lot before this, just run deck 4. I had a great time on my 5k run around the deck. It is way to hot to run at 10:00 a.m. on Castaway Cay in August.


8. The special magnets do work on the concierge doors.

Did the first 5K in August 2012 and the second one in late Dec 2013. The humidity kills you. Temperature was 90 on the first and mid 80s on the second, but humidity was 90 on the first and 50 on the second one. HUGE difference.

I don't run marathons - I can do 2 miles without a 5 minute break at this time. The water stations help but there no shade and a boring scenery.

Now, what's a 'special magnet' ?

We disembarked from the Dream on 7/24 and also did the 5K. We didn't start until 9:15...I don't know about you but it looked like they just kept letting people sign up and sign up, even though the Navigators said to sign up ahead of time at Guest Services. We'd arrived in Evolution a bit after 8 expecting to disembark by 8:30, and we didn't get off the ship until 9. I was furious!

I wonder it's up to the CMs managing it. Back in 2012 (on the Dream) it was just show up and sign up on the spot. We did get a chance at the time to get a picture with Goofy on a jogging suite and were able to purchase the group picture with the CC2K logo...

But this past December on the Magic, we had to sign up at port adventures at least the night before. We had a couple that showed up the morning of and they were told they could run it on their own but would not receive bibs nor medals as they only had the exact amount based on signups. In the end they did receive medals and bibs because there were a couple of no shows.

Anyway, thanks for the reports...

 

[su_A_ve]

My friend said she made deals with the devil on the airstrip.

I don't mind the airstrip at all - at least I can see the end where I'm going. The problem with me is the loop. It's never ending and all maps make it look it's just a little short thing, when in reality it's most of the run.

 

[Deb in IA]

I don't mind the airstrip at all - at least I can see the end where I'm going. The problem with me is the loop. It's never ending and all maps make it look it's just a little short thing, when in reality it's most of the run.

I agree.

We did the 5K in August, 2011. Our DS, who was 16 at the time, was a great shape. He ran on the high school cross country team, and they had been working out every day at 8 am in the summer.

He ended up finishing 2nd overall, just under 18 minutes.

Afterwards, he was beat. We also had a cabana, and he spent the rest of the day lying inside, with the cold wash rags placed all up and down his legs!



We ran the 5K again this past May, at the beginning of the transatlantic cruise, and it was much better than in August!!

 

[jrabbit]

Fun and Run are NOT two words that go together .... EVER!!!!

The course is boring

Of course it it ... Castaway Cay is a Flat Desert Island ... not going to be to many sights unless you are running on the beach and that would make it even a harder run.

Damm It's Hot!!

In July and August and Duh. And you want some Disney Characters out there cheering you on ... They've been there before and know that you just want to hang out on the beach and play in the water because well ... it's Hot and Humid!! and Hot. Finishing is its own reward ... see "Fun .... Run"

I really thought I could handle the heat, I worked really hard, but it kicked my you know what.

It's OK to say "Butt" - see the Thong Thread from today.

 

[savage1117]

Thanks for the trip report. We will be on the fantasy category V. Seems all 1 bedrooms are already booked for our cruise. I can't wait!!

 

[Ariel484]

I don't mind the airstrip at all - at least I can see the end where I'm going. The problem with me is the loop. It's never ending and all maps make it look it's just a little short thing, when in reality it's most of the run.

"Never-ending" is exactly the way I would describe that loop, too. I agree with you, it's the worst!

Of course it it ... Castaway Cay is a Flat Desert Island ... not going to be to many sights unless you are running on the beach and that would make it even a harder run.

I'm not talking running down the sand, just running somewhere where you can see SOMETHING interesting. I know the race is free but I expected SOMETHING that would make it stand out as special in my mind, and it's just not.

 

[Ariel484]

I wonder it's up to the CMs managing it. Back in 2012 (on the Dream) it was just show up and sign up on the spot. We did get a chance at the time to get a picture with Goofy on a jogging suite and were able to purchase the group picture with the CC2K logo...

But this past December on the Magic, we had to sign up at port adventures at least the night before. We had a couple that showed up the morning of and they were told they could run it on their own but would not receive bibs nor medals as they only had the exact amount based on signups. In the end they did receive medals and bibs because there were a couple of no shows.

Anyway, thanks for the reports...

Back in September we just showed up and signed up. They changed things recently, I guess. I'm jealous you got a picture with Runner Goofy.

Sounds like your CMs were stricter than mine. At one point one of them went backstage in Evolution and dug out more bibs and medals, so they were not planning on cutting it of from what I could see.

 

[Narnia_girl]

My husband ran the 5K in late July. I think we had an unusually "cool" day because while it was hot, it wasn't unbearable. (mid 80s) He actually had decent time.
One place (Navigator?) said arrive at Evolution at 8:15, another place (maybe the app) said arrive at 8:30. We got there closer to 8:15, then stood in line, then sat and waited. Actual race started about 9:20.