09/05/09 LABORless MAGICal Meanderers

[disney minnie]

ibela we're doing some of the same things, but you will be experiencing most of them first.

We have Rasul on Monday at 2:00, Palo dinner on Tuesday, Brunch on Thursday @ 10:30, and parasailing @ 11:30.

 

[disney minnie]

prdaniel I just looked on the website and it looks like the cabana is still available for 10, 11, and 1:00. This could changed by the time you book, but it looks good now. The only time that is sold out is 2:00.

 

[TLHB70]

You may want to go back and double check because last nght and even this morning I didn't think I saw any dinner time slots being fully booked? Does the time maybe conflict with another booking of yours? Mine was getting a little confusing when I wanted to switch my dinner time because of my reserved nursery time so I had to cancel and then go back in and it took.

Editing to say I just went back and checked so I didn't give false information, the only fully booked Palo dinner time slot is Thur @ 7pm but 6:30 and 7:30 are both currently open that day.

Thank you for that information. I just went back to check, but it is still the same as far as I can see.
We wanted Palo on formal night, Monday night. DH plans to be diving in Key West late so we cannot book Palo that night. Tuesday is DD's birthday so we want to have dinner with her in the dining room to get her cake. Wednesday I we want to be in the dining room for pirate night. Thursday we want to be in the dining room to get pictures of our DDs eating lobster. Then we don't want to miss the final night in the dining room to say goodbye to our servers. So Monday night was our first choice. We had hoped to get the 8 PM slot so that we could be eating while DDs were in the dining room eating, and we were just going to go to the show together and split up to eat. I was only able to book the 6 PM Palo slot for that night. I am truly happy that I was able to book for that night. I just hate not being with DDs for the show and dinner. We have already bought their formal dresses and they are really looking forward to dressing up that night and eating without their parents and being little ladies (ages 10 -- soon to be 11--and 14). I was just hoping to go to the special show with them all dressed up.
I will try to get a later reservation once we get on the ship. I would definitely rather be 6 PM that night than later any other night.
Thanks so much for trying to help me.
If you happen to notice a slot open for 8 PM that night, please let me know.

We booked the dolphin swim for the Grand Cayman day. That is DD's birthday, and that is what she wants to do for her birthday. That was a very important thing to book, and I am thankful that I was able to book it!

 

[dewrlw]

This may be a dumb question, but how does tipping at Palo work? We have never gone before. I know you pay $15 per person to eat at Palo, but what about tipping? We don't know what the price of the meal would be, so how do you decide how much to tip? Do you just leave it on the table like you would at a regular restaurant? Like I said, dumb question, but I want to make sure we do it right.

 

[ibela]

Thank you for that information. I just went back to check, but it is still the same as far as I can see.
We wanted Palo on formal night, Monday night. DH plans to be diving in Key West late so we cannot book Palo that night. Tuesday is DD's birthday so we want to have dinner with her in the dining room to get her cake. Wednesday I we want to be in the dining room for pirate night. Thursday we want to be in the dining room to get pictures of our DDs eating lobster. Then we don't want to miss the final night in the dining room to say goodbye to our servers. So Monday night was our first choice. We had hoped to get the 8 PM slot so that we could be eating while DDs were in the dining room eating, and we were just going to go to the show together and split up to eat. I was only able to book the 6 PM Palo slot for that night. I am truly happy that I was able to book for that night. I just hate not being with DDs for the show and dinner. We have already bought their formal dresses and they are really looking forward to dressing up that night and eating without their parents and being little ladies (ages 10 -- soon to be 11--and 14). I was just hoping to go to the special show with them all dressed up.
I will try to get a later reservation once we get on the ship. I would definitely rather be 6 PM that night than later any other night.
Thanks so much for trying to help me.
If you happen to notice a slot open for 8 PM that night, please let me know.

We booked the dolphin swim for the Grand Cayman day. That is DD's birthday, and that is what she wants to do for her birthday. That was a very important thing to book, and I am thankful that I was able to book it!

I just checked and Monday at 8pm is available. Look at "My Cruise Plans" and double check if you have anything scheduled for Monday because it doesn't make sense why it shows available for me and taken for you.

This may be a dumb question, but how does tipping at Palo work? We have never gone before. I know you pay $15 per person to eat at Palo, but what about tipping? We don't know what the price of the meal would be, so how do you decide how much to tip? Do you just leave it on the table like you would at a regular restaurant? Like I said, dumb question, but I want to make sure we do it right.

It used to be $10pp and now it's $15pp supposedly for the $5 to be tip (I think). Before, it seemed like the DISboard standard was an extra $20 per couple so I guess now that would be an extra $10? Really, it's whatever you want, you'll see how much you feel like tipping when you're there. Last time when I had told dh about the extra tip he said he wouldn't leave any extra then he ended up leaving a lot.

As for how, they'll give you a slip to sign and there's a line for tip.

 

[TLHB70]

I just checked and Monday at 8pm is available. Look at "My Cruise Plans" and double check if you have anything scheduled for Monday because it doesn't make sense why it shows available for me and taken for you.

8 PM and 8:30 are completely full/blacked out on my screen.
Perhaps it is related to how many are in our group. We are dining with our friends that night so there are four in our group. Maybe a table for two would be available but not for four.
That might mean we could get a reservation for 8 once we get on board! That is what we are hoping for. If not, we will be fine with 6 PM. We just look forward to our Palo dinner!

 

[ibela]

8 PM and 8:30 are completely full/blacked out on my screen.
Perhaps it is related to how many are in our group. We are dining with our friends that night so there are four in our group. Maybe a table for two would be available but not for four.
That might mean we could get a reservation for 8 once we get on board! That is what we are hoping for. If not, we will be fine with 6 PM. We just look forward to our Palo dinner!

Ohhhhhhhhh, yeah I was doing a booking for 2. If I were you, I'd book separately and then just ask to be seated together when you get there (or call ahead to let them know you prefer to sit together so they keep the tables 'open' for you).

 

[WDW Enabler]

Being in the Navy, I have a hard time paying to go to sea, but we got a "free" cruise when we bought our last couple DVC properties.

WDW Enabler (living up to the name yet again)
31 DH
32 DW
4 DD

we are staying on the second deck by the elevator somewhere. other than that the DW will have to post the other details.

Mike

 

[queenof2princesses]

queenof2princesses - The dolphin experience is now 20% off. I'm still going to hold off a little while hoping for the children free discount. Since I have now seen three discounts over the last month and a half I feel like no matter what I will get something.

I have not been a very good friend here! Sorry disney minnie, I am going to finally book this tomorrow! What time did you book it? I have 2 DD's for your DS to hang with And we also have another DF's DD who is 11 coming with us. There are 5 of us booking this excursion. I also have Palo booked for 4 of us on Tuesday night. I am catching up so everyone bear with me. I am overwhelmed all of a sudden.

aussieinvasion, are you still in a cat 6 on deck 6? I think we are close I'd like to add us to the FE list, please

 

[queenof2princesses]

OK. Sorry, again, I have been working and playing and not planning! I have been lurking on the boards a little, but here is what I booked at midnight on Saturday
*Palo Brunch for mom and me..on my 18th anniversary, lol.. Monday

DH will be with me in spirit He is a football coach and is fully satisfied with 3 nt'ers. He said he would 'never' do a 7 nt. Now, of course, he wants to go. Too bad, honey, this is a girls trip Not a good time for him to go...I pursuaded him to let me book a 3 nt for the 4 of us to return next year. He is OK not going, now. We will celebrate our anniversary with each of our mothers, lol.

*Palo dinner with mom (Bonita) and 2 DF's, Shawna and Walter. They surprised their kiddos for Christmas with the cruise. DD11 and DS14. Oh, booked it for Tuesday at 6:30.

I am going to try to book Royal Swim for Cozumel tomorrow, hoping to get 11:00 for 5 of us. Disney Minnie, my daughters are excited about meeting Preston, a new friend sounds like a very good boy! I am an Awana leader/lead teacher here on the Alabama Gulf Coast We are incredibly excited about our cruise!

DD11 turns 12 on the 12th! DD9 and a friend's DD11 are going with my mom and me to the royal swim. We also plan to do stingray city. I have been trying to decide which tour to do. Native tours?? has one that looks interesting...with starfish snorkeling Thinking about that one...

We also booked with the 40%off resort code...got 2 nights at Contemporary, Tower room, MK View!! We will be the first ones to jump ship on our way to MK to celebrate DD's bday I am counting down till next week to fight for our ADR's..With free dining, I have a little competition, lol. DD12 wants BOMA bfast on Sunday, probably not too hard to get.

DF-DCL member is supposed to be booking our 2nd annual girls trip for the last weekend of F&W...she is going to try to get a treehouse, I bet they are all booked, please shed some pixie dust our way, we are trying to fill the suburban up with women for this trip! Last trip it was only 3 of us, we are shooting for 8 this time.

Thanks idrivealumina for the calendars, DD immediately clickclicked and made it my desktop! LOVE it!!!!!!!

We would like to add ourselves to the FE list! We will start brainstorming ideas for 'thoughtful' gifts,lol. The slow economy has hit us, and we are budgeting, although still cruising! Cruise meet sounds great. We will be covering our door in magnets, have been saving them in our pics for customizing and printing later....OK, enough for now, must sleep..dream

 

[LiseG]

We have never been to Palo before, although we have cruised on DCL seven times! I can't wait till September!!!

You'll love it!!!

 

[aussieinvasion]

Hey there dewrlw, I think I may have missed your post - are you joining us?? Let me know your details and I'll add you on to the first page

 

[aussieinvasion]

aussieinvasion, are you still in a cat 6 on deck 6? I think we are close I'd like to add us to the FE list, please

Cool, we are near the elevators I've added your name to the FE list on the front page.

Hope everyone is good, I am very jealous that a lot of you have been able to make your ressies for Palo etc Can't wait to make mine soon, hopefully I can get a dinner ressie

 

[idrivealumina]

...Thanks idrivealumina for the calendars, DD immediately clickclicked and made it my desktop! LOVE it!!!!!!!...

You are very welcome. It was one way to help meter the excitement around our house, and not explode due to the anticipation.

We cannot wait to go on this trip! We finally told our boys and had a great time doing it. I will post up the story and pics maybe this coming weekend as time allows. I can tell you it was full of geocaching, puzzle solving and treasure finding! Can't wait to fill you all in...

TTFN

 

[disney minnie]

queenof2princesses - Geoffrey and Preston are doing the royal swim @ 11:00 and Wilson and I are doing the encounter @ 1:00. Good luck on getting reservations!

We are also going to Stingray City in Grand Cayman and using Captain Marvin.

 

[queenof2princesses]

OK. I am just overly paranoid about booking on my own, I think. If the ship is 'ashore' at 9:30 in Cozumel, is that local time? Will we be able to make the 11:00 royal swim? I don't know why this is so hard for me to grasp

 

[ibela]

Being in the Navy, I have a hard time paying to go to sea, but we got a "free" cruise when we bought our last couple DVC properties.

WDW Enabler (living up to the name yet again)
31 DH
32 DW
4 DD

we are staying on the second deck by the elevator somewhere. other than that the DW will have to post the other details.

Mike

How awesome, a lot of us have same age dd. Mine turned 3 in April.

queenof2princesses - Geoffrey and Preston are doing the royal swim @ 11:00 and Wilson and I are doing the encounter @ 1:00. Good luck on getting reservations!

We are also going to Stingray City in Grand Cayman and using Captain Marvin.

Our encounter is for the same time!

OK. I am just overly paranoid about booking on my own, I think. If the ship is 'ashore' at 9:30 in Cozumel, is that local time? Will we be able to make the 11:00 royal swim? I don't know why this is so hard for me to grasp

I assume it's local time but the time different from local to EST is 1 hr so just be there a couple of hrs early. Actually, it's pirate night so you don't want to miss the show! I plan on being back before dinner anyway, it seems like it's only a 10 minute taxi ride from shore to chankanaab so don't worry. And don't get me worried!

 

[LiseG]

Actually, it's pirate night so you don't want to miss the show! I plan on being back before dinner anyway, it seems like it's only a 10 minute taxi ride from shore to chankanaab so don't worry. And don't get me worried!

DD and I did the Encounter on her 5th Bday in 2005 with DH looking on. Chankanaab is a fun place to lay on the beach and kick back a little before going back to the ship. You're right it's a quick taxi ride. We made it back in time to pick up some bargain Pirate t-shirts for DD and as gifts for her friends back home. (Gift shop at top of the skybridge walkway) I have a great photo of Sabrina wearing her shirt and looking dangerous with Stitch later that day during pirate night

 

[queenof2princesses]

Booked the royal swim! Disney Minnie, the 5 of us are swimming with your DH and DS!! It will be great to 'know' other people in our group

Hopefully these girls can hang out with your DS, I am a bit worried about DD9 going to the clubs. I know the older girls will have each other in the clubs, but the little one lost her cruise buddy early on when her mom got PG!! Anybody remember early in our planning? One of my BFF's was in the cabin beside me with her family, but had to cancel because she will be welcoming her new baby soon Well, she is missing the 12 week previous mark this weekend! She is about to pop, but not in time for baby to be old enough to cruise!

Now it is time to plan our day at GC. Still haven't decided who we are going with for Stingray City.

Anyway,
We are all so excited about cruising! DD11 has been working like crazy on our door magnets, now on to our FE and FE gifts

 

[disney minnie]

Congratulations on getting your reservations. I really wanted to do the royal swim, but Geoffrey wanted to do it and we either had to leave Wilson on the boat or split up, so I gave it up.

I'm sure the children will all have a great time! I wish I could introduce Preston to your daughter before we leave, but our children won't know about the cruise until we get on the boat. (hopefully!) Anyway, I'll try to post a picture before we go so she will be able to recognize him.