1/15/2005

[kellimomo3]

Pershing,
Are you talking about the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservation Center in Ma?? We live near there in CT and have visited a few times! Small world!

It is funny to hear you speak of your 6 year old working the beach, one of my sons is just like that.

My husband and I are planning to explore the pier at Key West ourselves while the kids stay on the ship.

As far as Grand Cayman I am trying to get a feel on the good beached there. My boys love to play at the beach so instead of paying for an excursion I think we will just go off on our own as long as I can narrow it down to a good beach!


Kelli

 

[pershing]

Wow, didn't even know about that Butterfly place! The one I was talking about used to be off of 495 in Westford, but it may have closed one of my friends said.

Actually, we live on the Cape. Always feel funny about saying that 'cause people assume you don't need a vacation if you're five minutes to Ocean on both sides of you. Sure, the summers are great (minus the onslaught of traffic in our small town) but winters can be downright bleak and gray. We don't always get the snow to play in, just the freezing weather.

Anyway- I'm going to print up more trip reports and take them to the beach today. Its hard to sit and read trip reports on the computer without- 'Mom, can you....mom, mom, mom!'

I hear you on not paying for excursions. When I tried to talk to the kids about it, they all said they didn't even want to leave the ship! We did a 3 day wonder in November and they just remember there being SO much to do! I've tried telling them this will be TWICE the cruising time, but they're afraid I'm going to keep dragging them out of the kid's clubs.

My youngest is like 'but there are Sharks in that Ocean!' I almost said it was the same Ocean as ours, but ....um...thought better of it. Instead I told them there are nets up to keep the sharks out.
He seemed satisfied with that.

We are doing a couple days of WDW before the cruise and a couple of days at Universal after. I'm waiting for January airfares to drop. Seems like they drop first in Hartford or Providence. I've gleened from my online reading that the cheapest days to fly to Orlando are Tues. and Weds, so I'm trying to arrive and depart on those days. The kids have Fri. the 14th as a Staff Dev. day which is nice with MLK day off. Less school missed. I would really like to try Jetblue Airlines. I heard great things about their price and service.

Well, enough gabbing. I've got to print up those reports and get the bathing suits out of the dryer!

Talk soon!

 

[mickeymom30]

Hi everyone,

I can't believe that our vacation is approaching so quickly. Kellimomo3 we are also from CT (the Hartford area) I have two daughters age 5 and 7. Are you also from the Hartford County? I would love to meet and talk Disney sometime if you are in the area.

Dana

 

[kellimomo3]

Wow!!! It really is a small world.....

Pershing, I was born and raised on the Cape in Eastham, lived there until I graduated high school at Nauset. My entire family still lives there as a matter of fact we just returned from a weeks vacation in Eastham!!!

Dana, yes we are from the Hartford area, a bit more east actually. I don't know if it is smart to give the exact town on line but PM me if you want...

Pershing, we are doing a week at Disney & Universal before the cruise. We are flying Song Airlines out of Hartford. I got a pretty good rate and have heard good things about them.

I feel like I already know you DISers! It makes cruising that much more fun!!

Kelli

 

[pershing]

kellimomo3-


Definately, the world is small! I agree with you on not naming hometowns. Suffice to say, you probably went to middle school in my town. I've only lived here permanently for the last almost decade though. The schools are wonderful although I bet you didn't think so at the time.

I did some trip reading at the pond today and only one beach was mentioned for Grand Cayman-Holiday Inn Beach. I only read about 5 trip reports.

Seems like everybody does the Stingray City and snorkel in Coral Gardens. And you know, they've had such glowing experiences that I think we're gonna try it! I was comforted by the comments that the kids who were scared could stay in the boat-both at the Rays and Coral Gardens. (I still have this picture in my head of me standing in the water with the Stingrays.With all 3 of my sons climbed on top of me, scared to death! Makes me laugh every time I picture it.) I don't think the snorkeling is that deep at Coral Gardens 'cause one trip report talked about his 5 year old loving that snorkel and being exhausted and scared in Cozumel's cause there was no way to exit and the water was 25 ft deep for the most part.

Anyway, what confuses me is the duplicate trips mentioned in the excursions brochure. I guess those represent the two companies; Nativeway and Captain Marvins. For all that everyone talks about Capt. Marvins, there are actually more glowing less troubling trip reports re: nativeway. My major concern is being able to handle all three boys. I may just call and see if it really is a case of one or two of the kids being able to stay in the boat while I go with the third.

What else did I learn about Grand Cayman from trip reading? There's a really cool store called Del Sol downtown and you can buy stuffed toy Stingrays at a store called British Outpost.

If I bump into any beach reviews, I'll let ya' know. I'm printing out more now.

Hey, mickeymom30! We'll all be praying for no New England snowstorms this January! Which reminds me, I have to get the trip insurance squared away!

 

[mark & sandra]

pershing- We did the snorkling and sting ray tour in Grand Cayman last trip with Capt. Marvins. The boat ride out to the sandbar took about 1/2 hour. You arrive at the sand bar and there are many other boats coming and going the whole time you're there. The boats back into about 5+ feet of water and drops anchor. Everyonr who wants to exit boat get into water and walks about 15 or so feet and the water is 3-4 feet in some area. Once you start feeding the rays, it's like pigeons in the park. My kids, DD10, DS8, freaked out. My daughter went right back onto the boat and my son crawled up onto my head. It was hilarious, a funniest video winner for sure. The rays only want food and leave to other areas if they don't get it. The only weird part is when a ray practically climbed up my back. I thought another adult was pushing me until I turned around and saw a ray there. Everyone was laughing except my son who screamed and squealed. He kept grabbing my face and I couldn't see where I was moving or who I was banging into, It probably was other parents with kids up on their heads. The snorkling was in water about 15 feet deep. You must wear a life vest so you just skim the surface and the fish and rays are down on the bottom...Mark

 

[mark & sandra]

Well another milestone passed. We have only 6 more months to go.

 

[pershing]

Thanks Mark & Sandra for the info.

I did make a res. with Nativeway though and they sent me back a very nice email confirmation. I know Capt. Marvin's a fav. on this board, but I think I'll stick with NW. Gut instinct and all that!

kellimomo3- Nativeway said they will drop us off at 7 Mile Beach (Cayman) after our excursion around 11 am. So, that's the beach we'll probably start with. I'm gonna read up on it. Nativeway had a link to Cayman Island Info site :

www.caymanislands.ky/vacation_essentials/flash_map.asp

Its about a 4 dollar per person taxi ride back to the boat. Mark & Sandra have you been to this beach? Is it nice?

I can't believe it's only 6 months left. I'm more anxious than excited about that. There's alot more SPENDING MONEY I need to earn between now and Jan. for the trip! And I'm waiting for a better airfare deal. Gotta DO the travel insurance thing. Nevermind all the 'what am I gonna bring' lists!

Think I'll go read more trip reports, so I don't have to think about all that stressful stuff.

 

[mark & sandra]

When we sailed last January, the seas were too rough for the tender boats. Some passengers were already ashore and we had a film crew filming an episode of According to Jim onboard. They had planned to take over alot of deck 9 and 10 for filming, hoping that most people would go ashore. I guess that's why the captain decided to to move the ship and try the other side of the island. It messed up everyone's morning and by the time our excursion was over we rushed back to the boat. We hope to see Grand Cayman this trip. We haven't thought of which beach to visit yet...Mark

 

[Phyllisi]

We booked a room at the Hyatt by MCO the night before the cruise. Does anyone know how the luggage transfer work and the time we board the Disney transfer bus?

 

[Houzer]

Phyllisi: Hi there Meshee's family and my family have also booked the Hyatt the night before the cruise. We were told NOT to put the DCL tags on our luggage before the flight unless we want to wear what we flew to the MCO in. LOL We were told to put the tags on while at the Hyatt and then in the morning you place your luggage outside the door of your room and the DCL staff would pick up our luggage. I plan on asking the Hyatt staff to confirm this for me. We were also told by the DCL that when we check into the Hyatt let them know that you are cruising and they will tell you where to meet for the cruise bus. I believe they said the boarding starts around 9:30 for the buses. Hope this helps! Do you have any children coming with you on your cruise? Where are you coming from? Talk soon Pauline

 

[Phyllisi]

Yes, we will be traveling with our 6 year old daughter (1st grader). We live in the suburbs of Chicago. I originally booked a Sat flight. Then I rescheduled to Friday because last year our plane was deployed for two hours due to bad weather in Las Vegas (where the plane we were taking was coming from). To make a long story short, we did not board the Magic until 2 PM, got up at 3:45 am and were very tired the first day of thr cruise. My spouse only gets 18 days off a year and we are going on the Aug repo cruise too. We want to spend some time in LA prior to that cruise. He worked it out with his boss and will work either 8 hours on Sunday or 10 hours Mon - Thru so he will not have to take a day off the day prior to the Jan cruise. I get five weeks off a year plus earn plenty of comp time. My daughter and I may fly to LA a few days before my husband in Aug.

 

[Houzer]

Phyllisi: We also have six years olds but boys, they will all be in club together. Meshee also has a 12 year old DD and I have a 12 year old DS. We are flying in from Ontario and we also were booked for the Saturday but after looking at the boards and talking with co-workers decided that we better come in on Friday just to be safe. We all get five weeks plus holidays so we don't have to worry too much about our time off. I can't imagine trying to nigotiate with a boss, best of luck with that part.

This is our first cruise for all of us so the kids and parents included are very excited about this trip. I know the week is going to go by way too fast and the weeks to pass are going by way too slow.

Have you thought of any excursions as of yet? We are looking at the sting ray swim and the catimaran beach party. Not absolute on these ideas yet but definetly voting for these two. Talk soon Pauline

 

[pershing]

I gather our cruise will be pretty full. I'm guessing of course, but for a family of four: Cat. 12, 11, 7, 6 are no longer available (not even GTY). Cat. 10 and 8 are GTY.

Not counting 1-3 (online doesn't really detail those), that leaves Cat. 4, 5, and 9.

I didn't run through what was left for a family of 3. When we went on the Wonder in November, the lower Cat's were still open the week we sailed!

I know none of this is relevant if you've already been assigned a cabin and stuff.

Think of it as an imaginative way to bump the thread back to the first page.

 

[kellimomo3]

Pershing,
Does that mean the kids clubs are full for the ages you put in??
I know we've done this before but could you all refresh my memory and list the ages of the kids your cruising with.

I have boy 8, boy 7, and boy 4 1/2. I am keeping the 8 year old in the Club as he will turn 8 only a couple weeks before we sail, and that way he can be with his brothers!!

Kelli

 

[Houzer]

kellimomo3: I am sailing with two DS's one 12 the other 7 at the time. Our friends have a DD 12 and a DS 6. I also checked the reservation board after seeing your post and it does look like the cruise is filling up. Glad we booked when we did that is for sure. We had only decided to take this cruise in May and booked it half way through the month if I am not mistaken, good timing. Pauline

 

[Sydneli]

Hi!
Just wanted to say that we'll be sailing with you all too! We have 2 boys who will be ages 4 and 6 when we sail. We live in Virginia, outside the DC suburbs. Looking forward to chatting with you all, and seeing you in January!

Sydne

 

[kellimomo3]

Welcome Sydne!!!
We have boys the same age. We are giving the cruise to our boys for Christmas. Maybe after that we can exchange email addresses so the boys can meet on line?? Glad you're on board!!

Kelli

 

[Houzer]

Sydneli: Welcome....wonderful to hear you are also cruising! Is this your first cruise? Sounds like our boys may be together on this cruise. Pauline

 

[pershing]

Originally posted by kellimomo3
Pershing,
Does that mean the kids clubs are full for the ages you put in??

I read somewhere else in the forum that the Club and Lab has a limit and when they reach that they no longer accept reservations with children of that age.

Kinda hard to believe that! Wouldn't they just add more counselors if they could?

My boys ages again: 10, 8, 5. My eldest bonded with the lab totally. He loved the full screen nintendo. My youngest was king of beeping me every half hour and then changing his mind when I got there.

This time I plan on letting them eat more meals with the club/lab. Especially dinner for the two youngest. Its so hard for them to sit still for that long a time.