05/09/2009 May 9, 2009 7-Night Eastern St Maarten... Watch Out!

[moebear]

The site froze, I rebooted, and now I cannot get onto my reservation.
I really hope my first Palo ressie is still there.
This site drives me nuts!!!!

 

[ufcabear]

If you go back and look at the time that our messages show we sent them last night it looks like it was before midnight. And...as we all know it was really after midnight because we were all trying to book ressies.

Hum? Don't you find that strange, along with the fact that we were having a hard time getting on?

 

[scottie]

Flounder Booking
For those of us with potty trained 3 yrs olds, who are wanting to book in some Flounder time online as a backup plan, I figured out last night you need to list your child as non potty trained when registering them to get the Nursery tab to open for booking. Once you complete the booking, you can go back and edit your childs registration to show potty trained.

 

[scottie]

Help.....I just booked Palo, for 4, for Sunday night at 7 and it went fine. But the High Tea and Brunch are greyed out so I cannot select them. Would this be because they are already full?

I was curious after reading this so I logged back in and also found the tea and brunch tabs greyed out. I think under it there was wording along the lines of "reservations not available" or something like that.
I find it surprising those two options are totally full for all days for online booking already. I wonder if it is just a system issue?

 

[lulu0506]

Don't they reserve spaces for people who want to book when they get on the ship? If so, they wouldn't open all slots online

 

[moebear]

I found that very strange also that the tea and brunch for Palo's were greyed out. So, I called Disney Cruise Line and they confirmed that they were sold out and I asked if maybe one of their policies is to block out some tables for the people who start reserving 75 days out. The woman on the phone said she didnt' think that was the case that it looks like they were just fully booked.

But I am going to check in periodically to see if maybe something frees up. With the experience of our two past cruises and the WDW site, I want to err on the side of caution and check in frequently to make sure my ressies are still there and I have printed everything out.

But , man, I cannot wait. It is 16C/60F here, the snow is almost all gone and the spring fever is coming on strong!

 

[moebear]

Here is some interesting info that I just read in my trusty PassPorter:

quote "Only one reservation per stateoom is allowed - we should note this policy may vary from cruise to cruise, as some guests report being able to make a reservation for dinner, brunch and tea while others (including ourselves) had to choose just one." endquote Page 121

Interesting........

Has anyone noticed that once they made a brunch or tea ressie the dinner option has greyed out?

 

[scottie]

Don't they reserve spaces for people who want to book when they get on the ship? If so, they wouldn't open all slots online

I have read several times on the boards before that there is a group of reservations left open and not listed on the site so people can book or adjust online bookings once they get to ship. I guess for those who dont have internet or book cruises at the last minute etc.
I am not sure if they leave a group set aside to release when the 75 day window opens or not

 

[lyn9856]

Weird. I have just tried it. And my Res shows my ressies for Palo..great,. all booked as I wanted. But when I try to go and book onwards..there are lots of spaces that I could change my booking to.. only ones sold out are the high tea ressies (I did book this but changed it because it would take up too much time from a relaxing sunbathing day at sea) but there are still slots for Palo Brunch and Dinner showing?????????
Do hope everyone gets what they wants
Lyn
x

 

[moebear]

Very very strange.

 

[YenSid1222]

I had no problem making a reservation for Brunch, Tea and Dinner...just logged back in and everything shows on our plans.

 

[airtime247]

Doh, I feel like such a moron! I thought it was midnight tonight. I just got online and got the Palo dinner time we wanted as well as spa times as well as registered my daughter.

Sure enough, all Palo tea and brunch times are greyed out for us. It's a good thing we don't have a verandah or else I'd be sleeping on it!

After an 18-minute wait, I finally got through to DCL. He said when it is greyed out online, there are no slots left and anyone who wants a Palo reservation will need to go to Rockin Bar D the first day at sea and get on a waiting list. Preference will be given to those who couldn't get a reservation. We'll go there to try to get a brunch or high tea but won't get our hopes up.

I think the wrist band idea is great. That's a good, inexpensive way to idenify us. Count us in for three. If you want, PM me your address and I'll send money right away. If you have PayPal, I can do that instead.

I agree we should go simple on the FE's. Everyone just bring whatever you want to use I'm sure you can find something at a place like Michael's. We can then arrange a master list of people participating, ages of kids, and cabin numbers. We just did one day of gifts but there were so many people participating, we got a gift every day.

I'm open to gearing the gifts toward the kids but there are also some folks sailing without kids so we'll need to consider gift ideas that would work for them as well.

We should keep an eye out for each other at the terminal but also arrange a meet at sailaway or sometime after for those not getting to the terminal until later. Maybe Deck 10 above Pinocchio's (facing the stage) during the sailaway party or right after the lifeboat drill? Any other ideas?

-steve

 

[MouseNDaHouse]

I REALLY hope they have some openings for people who are booking at 75 days out...cuz I REALLY want my wife to experience Palo!

Congrats to all of you for your successful bookings.

Wristbands - in for 4 here.
FE - I like simple.
Sailaway - the only concern I have is that I need to take my two oldest to the club to acclimate them that evening, so we would appreciate the sailaway finding a way to accommodate that.

Thanks all for the great ideas/plans! Can't wait to meet you all.

 

[airtime247]

Jeremy, when I called Disney, the CM said the managers at Palo do everything they can to make sure everyone gets to experience Palo. He said to make sure you put your name in once you get onboard. They give preferential booking to those without existing Palo reservations. Everyone else will be on the waiting list for other openings or cancellations.

We too will be spending quite a bit of time the first evening at the Oceaneer's Club so maybe we will also have an informal meet there the first evening. As I said, I'd love to give her the opportunity to make friends as early as possible to help get her excited about going future days. She'd better love the club in time for our Palo ressie. If we have to miss it, I'm docking her future allowance until she pays us back for this cruise!

-steve

 

[scottie]

I REALLY hope they have some openings for people who are booking at 75 days out...cuz I REALLY want my wife to experience Palo!

Congrats to all of you for your successful bookings.

Wristbands - in for 4 here.
FE - I like simple.
Sailaway - the only concern I have is that I need to take my two oldest to the club to acclimate them that evening, so we would appreciate the sailaway finding a way to accommodate that.

Thanks all for the great ideas/plans! Can't wait to meet you all.

Hopefully there will be some hidden Palo reservations waiting for you when you log into the site at the 75 day mark! Worse case as mentioned by Steve, you will just be making a swift job for the signup location when you board the ship on the 9th and we will be cheering you on as you knock us out of the way
Not sure how many people try to book up the 12 meter regatta prior to the 75 day mark?

I plan to be in the club (and possibly DW too) the first evening for a little while with Dylan. I am reminding him each day how much fun he is going to have with all the kids in there while we are at Palo on Sunday!!
Guess several of us adults will be racing the kids for the stairs to the slide on Saturday evening!

 

[scottie]

Here is some interesting info that I just read in my trusty PassPorter:

quote "Only one reservation per stateoom is allowed - we should note this policy may vary from cruise to cruise, as some guests report being able to make a reservation for dinner, brunch and tea while others (including ourselves) had to choose just one." endquote Page 121

Interesting........

Has anyone noticed that once they made a brunch or tea ressie the dinner option has greyed out?

I was just printing my confirmations and wanted to post the text that is listed on the confirmation in regards to Palo dining:

Each Guest may dine at Palo only once per cruise for each meal — Dinner, Brunch and High Tea.

 

[YenSid1222]

I never had a problem getting a Palo reservation upon boarding the ship. Even when we were in boarding group 22.

 

[MouseNDaHouse]

I never had a problem getting a Palo reservation upon boarding the ship. Even when we were in boarding group 22.

Best news I've heard all day!
Thanks, folks.

 

[dollysmom]

Hi Everyone! I haven't posted in awhile. I have been so busy with the kids. With my 8 year old playing competitive soccer 3 times a week, the birthday parties, school and all of the other activities they have, I barely have enough time for DIS and Disney dreaming!!!

We are in for the FE. Am up for the one time drop idea. And we were thinking of doing little goodie bags for the room.

Would love to get the bracelets. We need 6. 3 adults and 3 kids. I do not have paypal nor do I know how it works. I have no problem sending someone the money and a SASE to have my bracelets sent to us prior to cruising. Maybe for the bracelets we could get DIS May 9-May 16 2009? Just a suggestion. Not sure how the pricing works for the letters.

Here are the rooms and the participants info for the above.

Room 6605
Allison (me), Mike (dh), Chloe 5 (dd), Cooper 3 (ds)

Room 6604
Eva (My mom), Kennedy 8 (my other daughter who will be staying in this room)

If you need any other info let me know. Slowly but surely the cruise is coming upon us.

 

[Royfam]

On our last cruise we got in to Palos twice... now it was a 2 weeker. But I don't think it'll be a problem. I too will be at OC on the first night with my 5 yr old Josh I have the hardest time getting him to stay, I don't understand it?...the councilors are so nice! he says he gets to hot? I told him he has to go when we go to dinner! I'm so excited to see/meet everyone. Again we are in for the FE and the bracelets 6 adult 2 kids, just let me know what to do.