09/18/11 - DVCers Take Over the Dream (S.S. Member Cruise 2011) - Thread #4

[Hoosier John]

Summary of What’s Goin’ On with DISboards Group (everything is optional and may require pre-arrangement)

DISboards SSMC discussion (first page has excellent information) (organized by disrailfan ) Thread 1 Thread 2 Thread 3 Thread 4
Pirate & Elizabeth Swan Competition (for posts ending in 00 and 99) (Prize for most of each presented by W@LL-E & scored by BigDogHU75 )
Website group (see Galley area for members & their photos) (hosted by disrailfan ) 2011 Members Cruise Website
Facebook group (hosted by calypso726 ) 2011 Members Cruise Facebook

Pre & Post Cruise stays (typically at WDW and Cocoa Beach) (List maintained by Carmouse10 ) Instructions
Informal Pre and Post Cruise Meetings/Gatherings/Dinners can be done from this list typically by arrangements made here on DISboards

DisBoard Meet & Greet (onboard, Embarkation Day, approx 3 PM, tba) (organized by Hoosier John and _your name here_ ) (anyone have experience?)
Gift Exchange group (called Fish Extender, or FE; deadline for signup around July) (organized by Luckymomoftwo )
Dream Stateroom Tour and Poker Run (inaugural event) (organized by Hoosier John )
Sunrise Coffee Club (informal gathering) (hosted by susieq55 , buttons maybe )
Food & Wine Club (informal gathering after late shows) (inaugural event) (organized by Mantle1509 , email Mick at DVCDreamWineClub@gmail.com)
Linked Dining Reservations (one large block of tables, pre-arranged) (organized by Luckymomoftwo )
Palo Brunch Reservations (extra charge; pre-arranged) (reserved by Mrs. Happycamper and organized by Luckymomoftwo )
Parrothead Gathering on Castaway Cay (informal gathering) (inaugural event) (organized by friends with mickey )
Official Cruise Shark Bait – calypso726. : Official Cruise Shark Antagonizer – dvc_deernut : Official Cruise Shark Rescuer – Carmouse10.

Back to Back (B2B) Cruises (list of those cruising just prior or after the SSMC) (List maintained by Mrs. Happycamper )
B2B Linked Dining List (prior cruise only) (organized by Luckymomoftwo )
B2B Gift Exchange (aka FE) (prior cruise only) (organized by Luckymomoftwo )

.................... = 99% certain I have this info correct
.................... Red = Change from last posting
.................... Orange = Older change(s)

Thank you very much to those above who work extra to make our cruise experience more enjoyable!!!
Please let me know if I should add/subtract your name or other details. Thanks

 

[Hoosier John]

Below is the information Andy needs to include you on the before/after lodging list:

If you are cool enough to be added to this list just PM me with the following:
DIS Name
Resort
Date Arriving at the Resort
Date Departing the Resort
Whether it is a tentative or confirmed reservation (Since we are outside of the 7 month window still)

 

[peloha86]

Good evening everyone! Now that we are on this thread I am posting an update here

Here is the summary of who is staying before and after the cruise and where.
If you are cool enough to be added to this list just PM me with the following:
DIS Name
Resort
Date Arriving at the Resort
Date Departing the Resort
Whether it is a tentative or confirmed reservation (Since we are outside of the 7 month window still) .[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Welcome to the thread!

We are flying in from the west coast, Friday or Saturday, experienced DISer's help!

Which area or date do you reccommend? We don't want to miss the ship!

 

[Hoosier John]

Okay guys and gals, I'm starting to organize the list of people interested in the Dream Room Tour. If you are offering your room to be trampled through by everyone, please give me your: Room Number & Category (I can figure out the rest). Whether you are offering your room for a tour or just want to be on the tour, also let me know if you have any interest in playing a poker hand (you won't have to know how to play poker, each would be given either 5 or 7 cards and there will be no draw, and others can help you pick out your best 5 card hand). This will just give me an idea if there is enough interest to make it worth while. Thanks

Offered Room / Cat / inside (tot) / Pts / DCL's Stateroom Description / Poker? / Member(s) Name(s)

Room 9020 / Cat 5A / 203 (246) / 193 / Deluxe Stateroom with Verandah / Yes / Hoosier John & laradenise (John, Lara, Laran)
Room 6038 / Cat 5D / 203 (246) / 187 / Deluxe Stateroom with Verandah / Yes / CaydennsMommy (Caitlyn, Cody, Caydenn)
Room 7124 / Cat 4C / 256 (299) / 211 / Deluxe Family StRm w/ Verandah / Yes / TIGGERmetooRoom (Tim, Terri, and DGD)
Room 8656 / Cat 5B / 203/246 / 190 / Deluxe Stateroom with Verandah / Yes / Truffle & clayfolks (Dan & Sue)
Room xxxx / Cat xx / sq ft ( ) / pts / virtual porthole room, deck 7? / undec / Diz4
Room xxxx / Cat xx / sq ft ( ) / pts / outside stateroom on deck 7 / undec / Diz4's Parents
Room 8643 / Cat 10A / 204 (204 ) / 132 / Deluxe Inside Stateroom / Yes / lpotter (Jim & Laura) (Virtual Porthole Room)

Alternate Room Offers:
Room 9560 / Cat 5A / 203 (246) / 193 / Deluxe Stateroom with Verandah / Yes / Lilliansmommy (Jim & Kelly)
Room 8532 / Cat 5B / 203 (246) / 190 / Deluxe Stateroom with Verandah / Yes / dvc deernut & deernut (Ian & Laura)

Interested in Tour Only?:

mlholster (Mark & Lynn)
disrailfan & mousefan64 (Milford & Shawn)
Luckymomoftwo & Steamboat WillyNilly (Room 6550) (Junior, Debbie, Brandon, Emilee)
W@LL-E & calypso726 (Wally & Terrie)

 

[Hoosier John]

We are flying in from the west coast, Friday or Saturday, experienced DISer's help!

Which area or date do you reccommend? We don't want to miss the ship!

Hi Jennifer,

I see from Andy's list that most of the people so far are staying onsite before the cruise. We have done this and have taken the DCL bus to the ship. The ship won't leave you if the bus breaks down, and they provide short cartoons on the monitors during the trip.

Lately we have been renting a car at the airport and spend the night before in a hotel at Cocoa Beach. The Hampton and others have a shuttle bus to the ship terminals (around $10 per person), and let you leave your rental car in their lot. This allows us to stop for food/wine, to walk on the beach at sunset, and drive to dinner. I have heard that transportation-wise, 3 people is about the break even point for renting a car. 4 people will save money renting a car rather than paying for Disney transportation.

I have heard others rent a car when they arrive and return it near the port, where at least one of the car companies has a shuttle to the ship. Erionm, I believe knows which car company(s) offer this. Then re-rent after the cruise.

On our last cruise I also spoke with a family who hired a service to drive them back and forth. This particular one was a full size Ford van (maybe 9 passenger?). They found him on the internet, and he dropped them off and picked them up. Their pick-up from the boat was on time, and I heard no complaints about dropping them off. They had a large family, so it probably really payed off for them.

What about the rest of you ... What do you all think is the best way to make sure you don't miss the boat?

 

[dvc deernut]

WELL WE USUALLY USE DISNEY TRANSPORTATION FROM RESORT. ONE TIME WE HAD 2 BUSES GOING FROM OKW. YOUR GUARANTEED TO GET BOAT IF YOU USE DISNEY BUS. WE ARE PLANNING ON STAYING AT OKW BUT CANT BOOK IT YET. WE HAVE RENTED A CAR FROM ENTERPRISE FOR 1 DAY FROM AIRPORT AND DROPPING IT OFF IN COCO BEACH. THEY SHUTTLE YOU OVER. THEN WHEN WE GET BACK WE DO THE REVERSE BUT I DRIVE OVER TO THE MARRIOTT TO DROP CAR OFF. THEY SHUTTLE ME BACK TO WDW. YOU CAN GET TO THE PORT EARLIER BY RENTING A CAR.

AS FAR AS PLAYING A POKER RUN THAT WOULD BE FUN. HOW WOULD IT WORK. WOULD WE HAVE A BEST TIME TO DO ALL THE ROOMS ON THE POKER RUN AND BEST POKER HAND? DO WE SWITCH A CARD AT EVERY ROOM WE STOP IN? DO WE START AND END AT A CERTAIN LOCATION ON THE SHIP? THOUGHT ID ASK SOME QUESTIONS. IM NOT SURE JUST YET IF LAURA WOULD WANT EVERYONE SEEING MY MESS IN ROOM WE ARE IN ROOM 8532

 

[Hoosier John]

AS FAR AS PLAYING A POKER RUN THAT WOULD BE FUN. HOW WOULD IT WORK. WOULD WE HAVE A BEST TIME TO DO ALL THE ROOMS ON THE POKER RUN AND BEST POKER HAND? DO WE SWITCH A CARD AT EVERY ROOM WE STOP IN? DO WE START AND END AT A CERTAIN LOCATION ON THE SHIP? THOUGHT ID ASK SOME QUESTIONS. IM NOT SURE JUST YET IF LAURA WOULD WANT EVERYONE SEEING MY MESS IN ROOM WE ARE IN ROOM 8532

Ian, we'll be fine with a messy room ... just blame the mess on Laura

The way you described a Poker Run is basically correct (except for the race to finish), however, each of the room donors will also want to see the other rooms. Initially I envisioned traveling as one group, but those rooms barely handle the occupants, so maybe have a 20 minute window to visit each room with 10 minutes of overlap? Only 5 or 7 rooms will be distributing cards, but you won't know which ones they are. At these rooms you would collect a card (or have your card written on your sheet). The person who has the best hand at the top wins. We will probably finish in the biggest room we have on the list. Start location, unsure at this time.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

Okay guys and gals, I'm starting to organize the list of people interested in the Dream Room Tour. If you are offering your room to be trampled through by everyone, please give me your: Room Number & Category (I can figure out the rest). Whether you are offering your room for a tour or just want to be on the tour, also let me know if you have any interest in playing a poker hand (you won't have to know how to play poker, each would be given either 5 or 7 cards and there will be no draw, and others can help you pick out your best 5 card hand). This will just give me an idea if there is enough interest to make it worth while. Thanks

Offered Room /Category/ sq ft / Cost (pts) / Room Description /Poker?/ Member(s) Name(s)

Room 9020 / Cat 5A / 203 / 193 / Deluxe Stateroom w/ Verandah / Yes / Hoosier John & laradenise
Room 6038 / Cat 5D / 203 / 187 / Deluxe Stateroom w/ Verandah / Yes / CaydennsMommy
TIGGERmetoo
Room 8656 / Cat xx / sq ft / pts / room description here / Yes / Truffle & clayfolks
Room xxxx / Cat xx / sq ft / pts / virtual porthole room, deck 7? / undec / Diz4
Room xxxx / Cat xx / sq ft / pts / outside stateroom on deck 7 / undec / Diz4's Parents
mlholister
dvc deernut & deernut
disrailfan & mousefan64
Luckymomoftwo & Steamboat WillyNilly (Room 6550)
Room xxxx / Cat xx / sq ft / pts / virtual porthole room / Yes / lpotter
W@LL-E & calypso726
Lilliansmommy ………(Yes on Poker)

Our cabin is 7124/ Cat 4C / / / Deluxe Family Stateroom w/ Verandah / yes for poker

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

I think it would be a good idea if we could do the "tours" early before the rooms get too messy.... ???

 

[dvc deernut]

I think it would be a good idea if we could do the "tours" early before the rooms get too messy.... ???

I GUESS YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO OUR ROOM BEFORE I OPENED MY SUITCASE LAURA PUTS ALL HER CLOTHES AWAY, I LIVE OUT OF MY SUITCASE EXCEPT FOR MY SUIT JACKET AND PIRATE OUTFIT. I THINK I WILL HAVE A BIG BOTTLE OF DARK RUM IN OUR ROOM

 

[Truffle]

I GUESS YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO OUR ROOM BEFORE I OPENED MY SUITCASE LAURA PUTS ALL HER CLOTHES AWAY, I LIVE OUT OF MY SUITCASE EXCEPT FOR MY SUIT JACKET AND PIRATE OUTFIT. I THINK I WILL HAVE A BIG BOTTLE OF DARK RUM IN OUR ROOM

I'm with Laura on that. After many, many years of traveling, much of which was for one kind of work or another, I cannot fathom how anybody can live out of a suitcase. I have to unpack and live INTO my suitcase. Keeps my clean clothes neater and fresher looking. Don't really care too much about the dirty ones, except that they make it home...

 

[dvc deernut]

I'm with Laura on that. After many, many years of traveling, much of which was for one kind of work or another, I cannot fathom how anybody can live out of a suitcase. I have to unpack and live INTO my suitcase. Keeps my clean clothes neater and fresher looking. Don't really care too much about the dirty ones, except that they make it home...

I DONT NORMALLY UNPACK FOR 4 DAY CRUISE, I WILL TRY IT THIS TIME I HOPE I DONT FORGET ANYTHING. WE USUALLY HAVE TO EMPTY SUITCASES ANYWAYS FOR MEMBER CRUISE TO FIT AND BE UNDERWEIGHT. OUR CARRY ONS USUALLY ARE JAMMED ALSO. ALL MY PINS AND DISNEY WEAR AND DVC GIFTS AND 4 BOTTLES OF RUM ARE ARRANGED FIRST IN AND AROUND OUR CLOTHES. IN SEPT I HAD TO LEAVE 2 PAIRS OF SHORTS AND MY OLD CAMERA BAG AT OKW TO KEEP WEIGHT UNDER 50 lbs

 

[Hoosier John]

Our cabin is 7124/ Cat 4C / / / Deluxe Family Stateroom w/ Verandah / yes for poker

Cool Terri, I have updated the previous post with your info.

I think it would be a good idea if we could do the "tours" early before the rooms get too messy.... ???

I thought about that too. Embarkation day would be ideal, but the schedule is so tight. Here are some notes I made from the last SSMC:

TYPICAL TIME SCHEDULE FOR EMBARKATION DAY (After that make plans from daily Personal Navigator)
11:00ish Approximate time doors open for Terminal Entry & Check-in
Noonish First groups allowed to board. Cabanas Restaurant and another restaurant? should be open for lunch
1:00 pm Palo & Remy reservation and dining schedule changes open.
1:30 pm Allowed access to room for first time (luggage should arrive before 5:30 pm)
3:00 pm? DisBoard Meet and Greet (check current DisBoard discussion)
3:30 pm Mandatory muster drill for all passengers
4:15 pm Adventures Away! Sail Away Celebration, 45 min (arrive early if you want a good seat)
5:00 pm Cast off

Then people with early dining (although I don't think we have many in our group) will be leaving and the early show will be starting.

I'm really am open to any suggestions here

 

[Hoosier John]

One advantage to having it later, if some people wanted to have hors d'oeuvres or drinks in thier room, they would have time to prepare. This would require a change in strategy: either one large group, or allow the room donors to take a quick tour first, then a more social tour. The problem is, I think most of the participants will also be room donors.

I'm thinking traveling as a pack will allow for more socialization and less of a time schedule to keep? More flexibility with time this way, but a lot of time standing in the halls rather than the rooms?

 

[lpotter]

One advantage to having it later, if some people wanted to have hors d'oeuvres or drinks in thier room, they would have time to prepare. This would require a change in strategy: either one large group, or allow the room donors to take a quick tour first, then a more social tour. The problem is, I think most of the participants will also be room donors.

I'm thinking traveling as a pack will allow for more socialization and less of a time schedule to keep? More flexibility with time this way, but a lot of time standing in the halls rather than the rooms?

John, We are in for the tour.. Rm 8643.. We have a virtual porthole.. so you can use us for that class. I know a lot of people were interested in them.

 

[Carmouse10]

Below is the information Andy needs to include you on the before/after lodging list:

Hey John! Thanks for bringing this into the "spotlight" for everyone.

I am thinking that I may get an occasional addition, but expect the floodgates to open once we hit the 7 month mark for the dvc properties.

I will continue to publish the list occasionally, even if there are no changes, just to give everyone easy reference to it.

As a side note. I saw the area where you can order gifts and packages to be delivered to the staterooms. As far as the merchandise listed on that page, is most of it also available in the shops on board or on the island also?

 

[dvc deernut]

Cool Terri, I have updated the previous post with your info.




I thought about that too. Embarkation day would be ideal, but the schedule is so tight. Here are some note I made from the last SSMC:

TYPICAL TIME SCHEDULE FOR EMBARKATION DAY (After that make plans from daily Personal Navigator)
11:00ish Approximate time doors open for Terminal Entry & Check-in
Noonish First groups allowed to board. Cabanas Restaurant and another restaurant? should be open for lunch
1:00 pm Palo & Remy reservation and dining schedule changes open.
1:30 pm Allowed access to room for first time (luggage should arrive before 5:30 pm)
3:00 pm? DisBoard Meet and Greet (check current DisBoard discussion)
3:30 pm Mandatory muster drill for all passengers
4:15 pm Adventures Away! Sail Away Celebration, 45 min (arrive early if you want a good seat)
5:00 pm Cast off

Then people with early dining (although I don't think we have many in our group) will be leaving and the early show will be starting.

I'm really am open to any suggestions here

WE USUALLY ARRIVE BY BUS AROUND 130pm, HEAD TO TOP DECK FOR DRINK OF THE DAY AND LUNCH. I GUESS THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE TO WANDER AROUND AND GET AQUAINTED WITH NEW SHIP. FIREDRILL I THOUGHT WAS AT 4pm THEN RUSH BACK TO ROOM TO DROP OFF LIFE JACKETS AND HEAD TO TOP OF SHIP. WE USUALLY STAND ON UPPER LEVEL LOOKING DOWN AT STAGE AREA. I GUESS IT WILL ALL BE DIFFERENT ON THE DREAM. BUT THE SHIP BEGINS TO MOVE WHILE THE SAILAWAY IS JUST ENDING. THEN WE ALL GO WAVE AT THE PEOPLE AT FISHLIPS AND ALONG THE SOUTH PIER AREA AS WE SAIL OUT TO SEA. SHOPS AND DUTY FREE OPEN UP AT 6pm.

THERE WE ARE!!!

 

[dvc deernut]

John, We are in for the tour.. Rm 8643.. We have a virtual porthole.. so you can use us for that class. I know a lot of people were interested in them.

YOUR JUST DOWN THE HALL FROM US . 8532

 

[Hoosier John]

As a side note. I saw the area where you can order gifts and packages to be delivered to the staterooms. As far as the merchandise listed on that page, is most of it also available in the shops on board or on the island also?

Great Andy,

And just to be sure you know where to sent my gifts ... that's Cabin 9020

Honestly, I can't answer your question about whether the merchandise is the same as what's in the gift shops. Anyone else???

 

[Hoosier John]

John, We are in for the tour.. Rm 8643.. We have a virtual porthole.. so you can use us for that class. I know a lot of people were interested in them.

Great, gocha in the room donor side.

I suspect some of the people I have in the Tour Only group really intended to offer their room as part of the tour, but it wasn't clear and I didn't want to put words in their mouths. If I have anyone else in the wrong place, please let me know.