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

[mousefan64]

148 Days, can't wait can't wait can't wait........


Wally Terrie Milford lets goooooooo nowwwwwww

 

[Carmouse10]

I have not contacted them yet. I am waiting until we determine the time and place. It appears the adult beach on castaway cay offers the best location with a bar and food plus the ability to have music. We just need to determine which castawy cay day and time.

Hey!

I am a firm believer in "if it was fun this time, lets do it again tomorrow.." Based upon that, if we do this the first CC day, perhaps formally start around 11ish so people have an opportunity to get themselves settled in, and find it is a swash-buckling success, then we can always do a repeat on the second CC day. While the potential second one may not be "official" or have a promised soundtrack, I honestly do not believe that is a prerequisite.

Personally, I tend to believe that the "DJ" might just pull out the tunes from CC day 1 if he finds he has a rowdy group of DISers who wanna buy their drinks and have fun on their island if he complies with their request. (as compared with an iritable bunch that includes a fireman who does not fear hugging a shark when necessary...)

Just my two cents... I am looking forward to joining in and learning the ways of the Parrothead.

 

[friends with mickey]

Hey Carmouse,
I have read your posts, you have mastered the Parrothead way of life already. It is just have a good time in everything you do and try to help others whenever you can. As a firefighter you already do that every shift you work. Day one followed by a follow up on day two is my idea of how to have a great time. Keep the suggestions coming in folks.

 

[Hoosier John]

I know it will be 5 o'clock somewhere, but that seems a little early to me, as I plan to drink at the event.

For my time of day suggestion, I have a couple of questions first:

If we want food also available, then I believe we have to start by 1:00, because lunch ends at 2:00, unless there are still snacks available. Does anyone know if there were snacks available past 2:00?

And, do the excursions stay active all day long, or do some excursions tend to be morining only events?

I like the idea of having two days of Parrothead music. If we can talk DCL/DVC into doing one day, I doubt they'll object to the second.

 

[Carmouse10]

I know it will be 5 o'clock somewhere, but that seems a little early to me, as I plan to drink at the event.

For my time of day suggestion, I have a couple of questions first:

If we want food also available, then I believe we have to start by 1:00, because lunch ends at 2:00, unless there are still snacks available. Does anyone know if there were snacks available past 2:00?

And, do the excursions stay active all day long, or do some excursions tend to be morining only events?

I like the idea of having two days of Parrothead music. If we can talk DCL/DVC into doing one day, I doubt they'll object to the second.

John, I agree with your thinking on this and took a lot of the same thoughts into consideration. My problem is that I have never done any of this before so I am going on presumptions.

I presumed that food was served between approximately 11 - 2 and that we would get onto the island around 9 and must be off around 4.

With that in mind, people would be coming and going, some with early plans and others with end of the day plans for excursions and the such. From that, I figured the event would actually end up running 11 - 1530 and we could maximize food potential and still get a solid 4 plus hours in. I myself will probably not start downing cocktails until 12-1 and probably will be doing excursions or swimming and all that until almost that time anyway. Ian on the other hand, will be standing there with that glazed look in his eyes to meet the big bottle of dark rum sitting behing the bar at 1059

As I mentioned, my thought process is faulted due to my lack of knowledge so just poke me with a stick when it is time to plow the fields and I will be good.

 

[Carmouse10]

Hey Carmouse,
I have read your posts, you have mastered the Parrothead way of life already. It is just have a good time in everything you do and try to help others whenever you can. As a firefighter you already do that every shift you work. Day one followed by a follow up on day two is my idea of how to have a great time. Keep the suggestions coming in folks.

Hey Mike, how far from Dallas are you? I was there summer of 2009 for a Fire Chief's Conference and had a real blast! I am a city boy by location but a straight-out country boy at heart so I was loving the western shops and all that type of atmosphere.

My biggest problem once I got home was that there were not enough opportunities for me to wear my cowboy hat

 

[dvc deernut]

I know it will be 5 o'clock somewhere, but that seems a little early to me, as I plan to drink at the event.

For my time of day suggestion, I have a couple of questions first:

If we want food also available, then I believe we have to start by 1:00, because lunch ends at 2:00, unless there are still snacks available. Does anyone know if there were snacks available past 2:00?

And, do the excursions stay active all day long, or do some excursions tend to be morining only events?

I like the idea of having two days of Parrothead music. If we can talk DCL/DVC into doing one day, I doubt they'll object to the second.

AS FAR AS I KNOW ON THE ADULT BEACH THEY ARE DISMANTLING THE BBQ AT 2pm CLEANING UP TO PREPARE TO PUT EVERYTHING AWAY. LAURA AND I HAVE MISSED THE FOOD A FEW TIMES. ITS A LITTLE LESS FORMAL AT ADULT BEACH. THE BAR IS A SMALL METAL SHED BUT YOU CAN JUST LIE ON THE BEACH OR SIT IN YOU CHAIR IN THE WATER AND THE WAITERS BRING YOU YOUR DRINKS. THE EXCURSIONS LAST ALL DAY. FINISHING UP LATE AFTERNOON. IM NOT SURE IF BAR HAS SNACKS, I JUST GET MY DRINKIES THERE

 

[dvc deernut]

John, I agree with your thinking on this and took a lot of the same thoughts into consideration. My problem is that I have never done any of this before so I am going on presumptions.

I presumed that food was served between approximately 11 - 2 and that we would get onto the island around 9 and must be off around 4.

With that in mind, people would be coming and going, some with early plans and others with end of the day plans for excursions and the such. From that, I figured the event would actually end up running 11 - 1530 and we could maximize food potential and still get a solid 4 plus hours in. I myself will probably not start downing cocktails until 12-1 and probably will be doing excursions or swimming and all that until almost that time anyway. Ian on the other hand, will be standing there with that glazed look in his eyes to meet the big bottle of dark rum sitting behing the bar at 1059

As I mentioned, my thought process is faulted due to my lack of knowledge so just poke me with a stick when it is time to plow the fields and I will be good.

THE TIME WE DISEMBARK VARIES A LITTLE. THEY HAVE TO READY THE ISLAND. THE ISLANDERS THAT RUN THE WATER EXCURSIONS RIDE OVER FROM ABACOI THINK THAT IS THE SPELLING. EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON WEATHER. WE HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN THEY CANCELLED ALL THE WATER EXCURSIONS DUE TO WEATHER. WINDS! IVE SAT IN MY LOUNGER ON THE ADULT BEACH IN THE WATER AS A HUGE DOWNPOUR CAME ACROSS BEACH. I SAT SIPPING MY CONK COOLER. FUNNY THOU THE FAMILY BEACH NEVER GOT ANY RAIN. I THINK ITS 11am or 1130am THEY HAVE THE GROUP SHOT TAKEN ON THE SEADOO BEACH.

 

[Carmouse10]

THE TIME WE DISEMBARK VARIES A LITTLE. THEY HAVE TO READY THE ISLAND. THE ISLANDERS THAT RUN THE WATER EXCURSIONS RIDE OVER FROM ABACOI THINK THAT IS THE SPELLING. EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON WEATHER. WE HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN THEY CANCELLED ALL THE WATER EXCURSIONS DUE TO WEATHER. WINDS! IVE SAT IN MY LOUNGER ON THE ADULT BEACH IN THE WATER AS A HUGE DOWNPOUR CAME ACROSS BEACH. I SAT SIPPING MY CONK COOLER. FUNNY THOU THE FAMILY BEACH NEVER GOT ANY RAIN. I THINK ITS 11am or 1130am THEY HAVE THE GROUP SHOT TAKEN ON THE SEADOO BEACH.

Thank you Ian!

 

[Hoosier John]

John, I agree with your thinking on this and took a lot of the same thoughts into consideration. My problem is that I have never done any of this before so I am going on presumptions.

I presumed that food was served between approximately 11 - 2 and that we would get onto the island around 9 and must be off around 4.

With that in mind, people would be coming and going, some with early plans and others with end of the day plans for excursions and the such. From that, I figured the event would actually end up running 11 - 1530 and we could maximize food potential and still get a solid 4 plus hours in. I myself will probably not start downing cocktails until 12-1 and probably will be doing excursions or swimming and all that until almost that time anyway. Ian on the other hand, will be standing there with that glazed look in his eyes to meet the big bottle of dark rum sitting behing the bar at 1059

As I mentioned, my thought process is faulted due to my lack of knowledge so just poke me with a stick when it is time to plow the fields and I will be good.

Andy, hope to be able to join you for the first cocktail of the day!

It's all good, this concept is new to all of us. Just trying to get as many ideas and opinions out there as possible, so when Mike makes a decision he has as much advise as we can give him.

So you're planning on closing down the island (kinda like closing down the bar, eh?). If it goes 4 hours, I might get try to get there for the last couple of hours, as I'm sure Lara will want to do family stuff.

I can't say why exactly, but in the back of my mind I figured about 2 hours long, initially. Andy envisions about 4 hours.

What does everone else think might be a good length?

 

[Hoosier John]

AS FAR AS I KNOW ON THE ADULT BEACH THEY ARE DISMANTLING THE BBQ AT 2pm CLEANING UP TO PREPARE TO PUT EVERYTHING AWAY. LAURA AND I HAVE MISSED THE FOOD A FEW TIMES. ITS A LITTLE LESS FORMAL AT ADULT BEACH. THE BAR IS A SMALL METAL SHED BUT YOU CAN JUST LIE ON THE BEACH OR SIT IN YOU CHAIR IN THE WATER AND THE WAITERS BRING YOU YOUR DRINKS. THE EXCURSIONS LAST ALL DAY. FINISHING UP LATE AFTERNOON. IM NOT SURE IF BAR HAS SNACKS, I JUST GET MY DRINKIES THERE

From my notes on last year's SSMC:

10:00 am Anchor
10:30 am First activities on CC start (Power Walk, Group Photo (2nd visit), etc.)
11:30-2p Lunch at Cookies BBQ
5:00 pm All Aboard

So our maximum window is probably 10:30 to 4:30 (possibly more like 11:00 to 4:00, because the Adult Beach is pretty far away).

 

[Truffle]

Thanks John for all the coordinating you are doing to make sure a good time is had by all! I would like some feed back on a Parrothead get together during the cruise. It seems like Jimmy Buffet music and fans and DVC members like to have a fun time whevere we are. I propose getting as many of us together as possible. Please send your opinion. We can try to meet on one of the Castaway Cay days at the adult beach for fun to Jimmy Buffet music or meet on one of the sea days in one of the bar areas. I will work with DCL entertainment to make sure there is the right music for our gathering. Please let me know which would work best, the island or on board. Once we establish a time and place I will work with the folks at radio Margaritaville to see what other surprises I can arrange. All ideas are welcome and encouraged so get your Parrothead hats on and let me hear from you. Thanks and fins up!

We would very much like to participate. I have a feeling that the land get together might be difficult to arrange, since many folks will take advantage of some of the trips and events on CC. I would propose that it be on a sea day since that would allow maximum attendance.

I don't know about Terrie (calypso726) though, because of all the fins. She just may be afraid of the sharks that swim on the land!

 

[dvc deernut]

From my notes on last year's SSMC:

10:00 am Anchor
10:30 am First activities on CC start (Power Walk, Group Photo (2nd visit), etc.)
11:30-2p Lunch at Cookies BBQ
5:00 pm All Aboard

So our maximum window is probably 10:30 to 4:30 (possibly more like 11:00 to 4:00, because the Adult Beach is pretty far away).

I USUALLY GO TO TOP DECK TO WATCH US DOCK AROUND 7am BUT THE TIMES VARY IT DEPENDS ON WHEN THEY ARRIVE. THOSE TIMES OF 10am ETC SHOULD CHANGE A BIT DEPENDS ON WHEN THE SHIP IS CLEARED FOR DISEMBARKING. I WOULDNT WAIT UNTIL 430 TO LEAVE ADULT BEACH. YOU MIGHT BE WAVING GOODBYE YOUR CUTTING IT KINDA CLOSE. THE PHOTOS I TOOK AS WE APROACHED THE ISLAND

 

[Hoosier John]

I USUALLY GO TO TOP DECK TO WATCH US DOCK AROUND 7am BUT THE TIMES VARY IT DEPENDS ON WHEN THEY ARRIVE. THOSE TIMES OF 10am ETC SHOULD CHANGE A BIT DEPENDS ON WHEN THE SHIP IS CLEARED FOR DISEMBARKING. I WOULDNT WAIT UNTIL 430 TO LEAVE ADULT BEACH. YOU MIGHT BE WAVING GOODBYE YOUR CUTTING IT KINDA CLOSE. THE PHOTOS I TOOK AS WE APROACHED THE ISLAND

Nice job with the Panaramic View, Ian!

I wonder if the larger ship will take longer to board/disembark? Hopefully they will use dual gangplanks.

PS. I would hate to be left behind on Castaway Cay. I hear the lifeguards stay on the island and have been known to party on the Pirate ship which used to be there. At dusk, they say the misquitos are horrible, though.

 

[Hoosier John]

Well Mike,

The good news is you're getting a lot of good views.
The bad news is they are all different.

Keep the ideas/opinions coming ...

 

[lpotter]

I got ya covered there. You can borrow my heat lamp ... I'm sure you've seen them up north, restaraunts use them to extend their outdoor dining season... A burner that deflects heat back down on you.

Collect 5 of these ... one in each corner and one in the middle of your "beach", should do it.
I can see you now and poor Milford in the distance, to his 3rd job to cover the gas bill.

Probably will have to hook them up to your house gas, because they'll burn through about 20 pounds and hour, collectively.

[ John, Actually they are available in an infra-red type that is hard wired into an electrical connection with a wall controller. ]

Heck you might as well go all out and put a large flatscreen out there, playing an ocean view with wave and bird sounds.

I am NOT a water skier ... (but I could play one on TV with loads of really bad special effects ) John, we'll have to stick together on the cruise so that NEITHER one of us "goes missing" (whatever the heck THAT means) ... Instead of water skiing maybe I could just sit in the inflatable Donald Duck pool ringy thingy and be pulled by the boat

Michael, I think that is called tubing

 

[DizDragonfly]

Ok, there's NO way I can catch up on all the posts from the last three weeks. LOL But, we are home and I finally finished unpacking. So, now it's time to throw myself in on planning our WDW/DCL B2B trip!

Aside from my whiny and surly 16 year old, it was a good trip. He said that 7 days was too long for Disneyland (we also did Universal Hollywood and Knotts Berry Farm). I think he's cracked. The DH and I are considering leaving him home next September, but he swears up and down that he won't be bored at WDW because there is more to do. *sigh* I swear, if we do take him and he starts whining, I'm putting him on a plane home and he can sit on his backside at Grandma's house. Grrrr!!!

 

[Hoosier John]

Ok, there's NO way I can catch up on all the posts from the last three weeks. LOL But, we are home and I finally finished unpacking. So, now it's time to throw myself in on planning our WDW/DCL B2B trip!

Aside from my whiny and surly 16 year old, it was a good trip. He said that 7 days was too long for Disneyland (we also did Universal Hollywood and Knotts Berry Farm). I think he's cracked. The DH and I are considering leaving him home next September, but he swears up and down that he won't be bored at WDW because there is more to do. *sigh* I swear, if we do take him and he starts whining, I'm putting him on a plane home and he can sit on his backside at Grandma's house. Grrrr!!!

Well, he does have a point about WDW. There are a lot more parks and there is a lot more acreage, so he probably won't get bored. Last time we went to DisneyLand, we also did Knott's Berry Farm, Sea World, and San Diego Zoo, so I'm kinda on his side.

Fly him back home ... Do you know how much it would cost to fly him back early. They have a kennel, where you can board him ... I doubt the animals would mind.

 

[friends with mickey]

When we were there the end of October they had bloody marys 2 for 1 from 10a-12n at the adult beach. My first one at 10a went down real good. I was thinking the time for Parrotheads could be 11a-1p and then we are right there for lunch. I think the adult beach has at least one drink priced 2 for one the whole time we were there.

 

[friends with mickey]

Andy,
Katy is a suburb of Houston which puts us about 180 miles from Dallas.Our fire department in Houston is very good and gets a lot of support from the citizens.