What Sells Out Early?

[BrerNashville]

OK. I'm usually not this way, but I've found the Disney Cruise web site incredibly hard to navigate. Our booking window opens tomorrow for the March 22 sailing of the Dream on a five day (itinerary D, apparently -- Nassau, CC, at sea, CC, port canaveral) cruise. It's me, DW, DS 8, DD 6 & DS 4.

What reservations do I need to make ASAP? My wife and I would like a couple of spa procedures each. Are the CC excursions worth it? with kids or leave them on the ship?

Any must do excursions with the kids?

any info greatly appreciated. While I'm perfectly comfortable with my WDW knowledge, and my adult-only (with casino!) RC cruise comfort, I am a complete novice with the DCL. Thanks.

 

[mookie]

Brer, see you on the ship! I'm with you....never navigated this before, and I'm super nervous about doing it all right, and hopefully getting some of what I want. The Disney website is really hard, and I actually had trouble logging in this morning just to try it out! Hopefully there will be no problems. What excursions are you considering? We are doing the blue lagoon swim/encounter. Hoping it's not full! Good luck!

 

[mookie]

And btw...our dd will be 9 the day we leave, and our DS's are 4 and 5...pretty close to the same age as yours.

 

[kcashner]

It depends on what you want. The spa usually doesn't sell out; if you can't get what you want in advance, you can book it after boarding. Palo and Remy tend to go quickly, especially Palo brunch.

Excursions--stingrays and parasailing tend to be popular. Snorkeling, tubes, etc. you can wait and get on the island if you choose. Family vs. adult only is your choice, but you can't leave your little kids on the ship on Castaway day. The kid program is on the island...so you'll need to take them to Scuttle's Cove.

 

[BrerNashville]

So, the Oceaneers' clubs/labs are open until midnight. It seems like this would be the place to stash the kids while we do a Remy's dinner. Are there limits/capacities/reservations that need to be made for these kids' areas, or are they practical "drop in day care"?

 

[BrerNashville]

And btw...our dd will be 9 the day we leave, and our DS's are 4 and 5...pretty close to the same age as yours.

Hey -- that's pretty cool. I'm glad that our kids will be able to hang out in the same areas together. I'm sure our 4YO would love to have friends other than his older bro/sis! Our olders will be 7 and 9 (Bdays in February), so they will really be close to you guys.

Have you read that there are excursions that sell out quickly (like CRT for breakfast in WDW right at opening)? That would be the only guide I have to go on for ressies to make tomorrow.

I suppose the consolation is if we miss out on the ressies, we still have someone else to watch the kids while we drink drinks with umbrellas in the sun.

 

[mookie]

So, the Oceaneers' clubs/labs are open until midnight. It seems like this would be the place to stash the kids while we do a Remy's dinner. Are there limits/capacities/reservations that need to be made for these kids' areas, or are they practical "drop in day care"?

The clubs have no limit, that I've heard of, but I'm sure others can correct this. From what I know, you fill out your kids club forms online when you do your online check in. This way, they have bracelets waiting for them when you get to port. You can take your kids there and check them in/out as often as you like.

The things I have been told to book are: excursions, cabanas, remy/palo, spa treatments. It's better that you book these all as soon as you can, especially remy and the cabanas.

 

[mookie]

Hey -- that's pretty cool. I'm glad that our kids will be able to hang out in the same areas together. I'm sure our 4YO would love to have friends other than his older bro/sis! Our olders will be 7 and 9 (Bdays in February), so they will really be close to you guys.

Have you read that there are excursions that sell out quickly (like CRT for breakfast in WDW right at opening)? That would be the only guide I have to go on for ressies to make tomorrow.

I suppose the consolation is if we miss out on the ressies, we still have someone else to watch the kids while we drink drinks with umbrellas in the sun.

Our boys would love a pal to hang out with! Our DD (9) will definitely be looking for some new friends more her age than her brothers. We are definitely looking forward to that kids club, and so are they! More cocktails by the pool for mom and dad!

Just saw you mentioned getting your ressies tomorrow. Are you EST? I would go on tonight. That's my plan. The CM I talked to today said I should be on tonight at 11:01 PM CST (Midnight EST) to try to get the hard-to-get ressies.

And yes, it seems to me that there are some ressies that are just like CRT. (Cabanas and Remy/Palo, for sure.) Don't know about the excursions, but I figure if I don't get them, then we'll try to go through the place instead of through Disney. But if you are shooting for Remy, I would try to get on that tonight, as soon as the time opens up.

Hope we get to have a cocktail with you, our kids would love to meet some new friends!

 

[BrerNashville]

sorry for the scattershot questions. Do you know which night is the dress up nights in main dining? I would hate to schedule our adult night out for the same night that is dress up, thus depriving our DD7 the privilege of dressing up for dinner.

 

[BrerNashville]

And yes, it seems to me that there are some ressies that are just like CRT. (Cabanas and Remy/Palo, for sure.)

OK. [more than I can count] dumb question of the night -- Cabanas as in the restaurant or cabanas on the beach at CC?

 

[mookie]

I had a gret CM who helped me out today. Our pirate night is the 3rd night (Sat, we'll be at Castaway Cay that day) and our Semi Formal night is the night we're in Nassau (2nd night, Friday). Hope that helps!

 

[mookie]

...and ask all the questions you want. I've asked a TON of them in the past couple weeks, so hopefully I'll have an answer for you.

 

[BrerNashville]

do you have to be checked in to make reservations?

 

[kcashner]

do you have to be checked in to make reservations?

No, you just have to be paid in full.

Oceaneer's Club is open, no reservations needed. If you want the kids to eat there, be sure to check the schedule for the dinner time (it will be different than your dining room time!) Alternatively, you can feed them on the pool deck or from room service before you go to dinner.

 

[BrerNashville]

OK. [more than I can count] dumb question of the night -- Cabanas as in the restaurant or cabanas on the beach at CC?

I guess you meant on the beach -- they are all already sold out. Not that I was interested in paying $500 for a day on the beach??!!!

 

[mookie]

I guess you meant on the beach -- they are all already sold out. Not that I was interested in paying $500 for a day on the beach??!!!

LOL...yep...sorry..forgot to answer that question. We were trying to get one as a gift for DH parents, who are going with us.

DId you get Remy? The site seemed really glitchy tonight, but we got our dolphin excursion, so that's all I care about. (At least, I hope we did it the right way...I'm so worried its going to disappear after I log out...)