09/29/2005 SEPTEMBER 29th I REFUSE TO GIVE UP!

[Laurabearz]

Just so ya know... your not green here on the DIS... your LIME GREEN.... the offical color of the DISBOARDS!

1st time cruiser's must wait until 75 days before the start of their cruise to book shore excursions and register their kids for the kids club. Sierra would be in the Oceaneeer Club. The online registration is just filling out paper work... allergies, and such. Once on board your given a Navigator (newsletter) that list what is going on for the day. She picks out things she wants to do shows up! The first time you drop her off they will give you a pager, show you around....
Here is a link on Disney's site that talks about the kids clubs...Kids Clubs

As far as dining rotations go.... Some people prefer to eat in certain restraunts on certain days... Formal night (Luminares) pirate night (Parrot Cay) etc. Disney doesnt tell you what your rotation is until after your on the ship. You may request a certain rotation, but you dont know if you got it until after your on the ship.... And so ya know... it seems everyone who requests a dinining rotation selects the one listed above, since those resturaunts are the best fitted for that type of celebration... ya know?

HTH!

 

[oscarmoraz]

Laura thank you for all you are sharing...I have talked DH ears off since he came home from work...lol.

I found this to the Wish Upon A Star horn blow. Does the Wonder have the same horn? And does she blow? lol

Just tried submitting the post, but I am not permitted to post a URL yet...lol, I am so new at everything....lol


Enjoy,
Cindy

 

[oscarmoraz]

Laura,

What time is second seating and what time do you think we will be out of there? Trying to get an idea what will work for Sierra...either way I want her to enjoy the Dining Rooms so we may put her down for a nap so she can be wide awake...just that she will miss Oceaneeers Club pretty much.

Working it out in my brain! lol
Cindy

 

[Laurabearz]

Well you stumped me... I think the first seating is around 6 and the second seating is around 8. They just started staggering the dining times but 6 and 8 give or take 15 minutes gives you an idea. To be honest, my kids are late nighters and I am debating about doing the late seating so we are not rushed during the day... takes a bit of time to dress 4 other people before me... SO late seating might work for us... have a early lunch, snack around 3 or 4, get dressed, see the show and head to dinner...... still working it out in my head too!

Not sure about the horn blowing thing, but I would bet that if the Magic has a cool horn, the Wonder does too

 

[oscarmoraz]

Good Morning Everyone,

Laura you have so much brain power, thank you fo sharing!

On your signature what does the 'Our adventures on Points' mean?

Where are you from? We are in Savannah, GA.

Cindy

 

[Laurabearz]

OUr adventure on points was after we joined DVC(Disney Vacation Club) Which is a point based timeshare system....

My Husband isnt much of a Disney fan, but he loved the 2 bedroom villas that DVC has to offer.... So we do a DVC trip 3 or 4 times a year. We dont go to the parks every day of every trip... we spend a lot of time just hanging out at the various resorts.

In Fact Friday we are leaving for HIlton Head SC and the DIsney Vacation Club there.... so we will be in your neck of the woods. We fly into Jacksonvilla and are driving into HHI from there... Airfare to SAV was close to $2000 for the 5 of us from Chicago... we travel way to much to pay that kinda of airfare so we are tourturing our kids with a flight and a drive!

This is all new to you.... after you hang out here for a while stuff will stick in your brain too (and clog it up lol) Just remember that nothing is as great as some say and nothing is as bad as others say.... ya know??

 

[oscarmoraz]

Indeed I know what you mean...lol.

You will enjoy HHI...very nice, clean, manicured! And the beaches are real beaches...lol.

I was loooking at the Disney Store on line...seems they are having a good sale on a few items. If you have a chance check it out. And I think if you use promotional code THUMPER25 at check out, you will get free shipping.

I sent an email to my TA and she told me that as soon as I register Sierra..that is when I can request dinner rotation...is that true?

I finally rec. the DVD on the Disney Cruise..can't wait for our grand daughter to see it!

Enjoy your vacation...I will continue to check the board! Have loads of fun and be safe.
Cindy

 

[oscarmoraz]

Where are you Wahoowa?

Cindy

 

[oscarmoraz]

Laura,

How does one join the Disney Vacation Club? Not sure if it will benefit us but we have another gran daughter who is 3 months old and annother on the way...so maybe it is time to start making our money work for us...lol.

Have A Great Day!
Cindy

 

[oscarmoraz]

Just checking my signature clock...

 

[Laurabearz]

Laura,

How does one join the Disney Vacation Club? Not sure if it will benefit us but we have another gran daughter who is 3 months old and annother on the way...so maybe it is time to start making our money work for us...lol.

Have A Great Day!
Cindy

We love DVC and think it is the only way to travel with kids. The 1 or 2 bedroom units give mommy and daddy a place to hang out during nap times and after the kids go to bed. Now that is a vacation.

There are a couple of ways to go about getting your foot in the door. Thru Disney you must buy a minimum of 150 points for somewhere around $90 per point. The $90 per point is a one time deal, and you get 150 points to use every for the next 38-48 years (depending on which resort you buy into) After the inital payout (which via Disney you can finance) you pay year dues which run around$4.00 per point depending again on your home resort.

You can also buy into DVC via a resale contract. If you go that route you can buy fewer than 150s, but 50-100 point contracts get scooped up and are pricey. (Closing costs are about the same for a small contract and a large contract so it works out to be more per point with a smaller contract, if that makes any sense)

We love the 2 bedrooms. Tomorrow we leave for Hilton Head Island and we cant wait. Disneys resort there is quite lovely.

The Disney Vacation Club Fourm here on the DIS is a wonderful place to lurk and ask questions.

HTH

Laura

 

[oscarmoraz]

Hi Laura,

I hope you are well. I have been MIA for a little while but am back in full swing!

I cancelled out inital reservation as I found it cheaper through another website, plus a shipboard credit was offered. All is good!

Our grand daughter, though 4, asks how many more days G'anma...lol. We have marked it on our calendar so when she comes over she can turn the pages...which she is enjoying.

I have a question...will they have fireworks each night? Are we able to begin our sign ups?

How was your trip to HHI?

Hope to start posting again,
cindy

 

[Laurabearz]

Hey Cindy!!!

Always good to save a buck on a cruise. We booked thru Dreams Unlimited (this sponser for the cruise fourm) and our price was reduced $50 per cabin just a couple of weeks ago... I was great to get an email saying... Guess what?? We found you a better deal... here is another $50 off per cabin! LOVE IT!

Fireworks are on Pirate night, which I beleive is the 2nd night of the cruise (Nassau night) but I could be wrong... lol

We are bringing extra pirate accessories with us for pirate night. DCL provides a pirate scarf.... We are dressing full pirate!

Our three kids dont know about the cruise yet. I think we will surprise them. I am trying to think of a way to pack without them seeing....

First time cruisers can book Palo, spa, and register the kids for the kids clubs 75 days out, so it is coming up quickly. I paid in full last week! WOO HOO We are skipping Palo this cruise, but I think I will have to try the spa.... lol I also will book our boy into flounders where you have to reserve a time (unlike the older kids clubs where they can come and go as they please.)

I am still looking for a place to stay the night before.... Hubby doesnt want to stay at WDW, so we are looking at a place near port. Raddison is one choice, Ron Jons another... what to do... what to do!!!

Hilton Head was wonderful. I love that place. You can do nothing or you can do everything. Beach...pool....beach....pool.... love it. Kids love it. The Cast memebers there are some of the best. Great with kids.

I cant wait for September!

 

[oscarmoraz]

Hi Laura,

You always give me great pointers and I appreciate it so much! Especially since I am so green...lol.

Yes, our time is coming very soon! With my youngest daughter due August 22, time will fly after that for me.

I have picked up costumes for Sierra already as well as Disney accessories. I have a question (again), are arm floaties permitted in the pool for the children? Or do they provide life jackets? Just wondering so she is able to swim.

How do you know which time to book as to being the best time for the activities at Flounders?

We are also skipping Palos. What are your plans for Nassau? We were thinking about staying on the ship.

So glad your trip to HHI was wonderful! Welcome Home!
C

 

[oscarmoraz]

Laura,

I found this link which has the kids Navigator as well as pictures.

http://community.webshots.com/user/maelcu

I am in research mode...lol.

C

 

[Laurabearz]

Morning Cindy!!!

Flounders is the 3 and under kids club, and you need speicific reservations for it. All the other kids clubs (oceaneer club is for 4 -7) you can register the kids online (at the 75 dy mark) and then they come and go. I do not belelive there are specific activities for kids in the 3 and under club.

It is drving me nuts that we have to book flounders blind... not knowing our dinner rotations or what activities will be at the Oceaneer Club for the girls. I would like to 'ding dong ditch' ALL the kids for a hour or two, at least once, in hopes that DH and I can do the Spa's couples mud thing.

I am still torn on getting off in nassau or staying on the ship. They have a couple of nice beaches.... Atlantis is lovely and I would love to see it, but we are a family of five... so we cant get a cheap room across the street at the comfort inn (we would have to get two day rooms) and the atlantis webiste wants us to get two rooms also. I have heard that if you go in person and request a day room Atlantis will sell you one room (if they have it) for 5, but I am not sure I want to take that risk.

There is also a glass bottom boat tour in Nassau, that I am considering. I think one excurision like that would be fun. Short and sweet, let the kids sort of kind of experience a different country.....

I belelive arm floaties are fine. I will poke around and find out for sure. If anything she wouldnt be able to go down the slide with them... not sure though, so dont quote me on it... Regardless I plan on bringing ours for the beach. I do know that they offer life jacket type of floaties at Castaway Cay, but I think there is a limimtied number of them.

Some searching tips for here on the DIS. Go to the main cruise fourm page... in the right hand corner there is a search buttonclick on it and a window drops down.... Click on ADVANCED Search. and it pops up another window. Now on the left side (of the new window) you have an option to search the whole thread or titles only. I find doing a title only seach brings up more things related to what I am looking for, than searching whole posts. but as we say here on the DIS.... YMMV (Your Milage May Vary) lol

So Sierra will be dressing up for pirate night... what about you and your DH?? I beleive at all the dinners you have an oppertunity to get photos taken... it would be a great photo of all of you deck out in pirate garb! LOL At least that is my thinking.

There is also NO formal night on the 3 day cruise, but we still plan on dressing up for one dinner(bringing DH's suit even though he will be irked about it. But again, I want the nice family photo!) But then again... not sure if I want to dress up the first night, second night is pirate night, and the last night is after a long day at Castaway Cay... hmm....... maybe I wont bring his suit.... Soooooooooooo many choices......... so little time on the 3 day.

Gee, I have rambled on and on... sorry. Just excited!!

 

[Laurabearz]

Just checking to see how your planning is going Cindy... we are just a couple of days away from registering the kids in the clubs and booking our excurisons.

I still havent figured out what we are doing in Nassau. I am preparing a post over on the main Cruise board with a bunch of questions about shore excruisons... after I write it I will link it here. It may help both of us since your GD is the same age as my middle DD.

Hope your summer has been pleasant.

Laura

 

[Laurabearz]

Hey Cindy.... Just noticed your a CruiseCritic memeber!!! I was over there researching my Carnival cruise a week after this cruise! I havent posted much over there (screen name UsedtobeSmith) just lurk! LOL

 

[wahoowa]

Sorry I have been gone for a while. Just a question, has anyone else noticed that many items are gone from the website very quickly? We are staying on the concierge level so were able to book early and I found very quickly that items such as the dolphin encounter and parasailing were gone almost immediately? I even called to check and they confirmed. It would suprise me that concierge level could take many activities all to themselves. Is there a possibility that a large group (corporare outing) could have swallowed up much of the good stuff?

 

[Laurabearz]

I booked everything we wanted too, and then some... I did find that Flounders was booked at peak times, but other than that, I am happy with our selections.

With that said... I am glad after this cruise I can book 90 days out and when we sail a 7 day, I will do the REAS package to be able to book 105 days out.