10/15/2011 - Taking the West by Magic!

[TartanTinker]

Hello well it's not long to go now hope you are all excited I know we are. I still don't have the Internet working yet ( I'm over at my parents) looking forward to the meet and will sort out the $ for the bands. We leave on Friday so I've got a busy week ahead ( hair, nails, waxing) if I dont get back on I hope you all have a great vacation and look forward to meeting with you.

 

[joyjanet]

Took our DD and her DH and their soon to be DS and DD to Mickey's Not So Scarry Halloween Party on Friday night (they are in the process of adopting them). They loved the parade and the fireworks. They got lots of candy. Best place to get candy was by Splash Mountain as they had a few stopping points to get candy there. They went through that one 3 times. First parade was really crowed but the 2nd parade was nice. Would recommend you do that one and collect candy during the first parade. I was afraid it was going to rain so I took all our ponchos in but it turned out to be a beautiful night. Had I not carried the ponchos in it would have rained!! We only rode Haunted Mansion since we were really there for the candy, parade, and fireworks. Hope everyone that goes has a great time. See everyone on the cruise.

 

[diznpat]

I have been watching the weather at our Caribbean ports and it has shown rain everyday for the past two weeks. Does anyone know what will happen if ut is raining? Do you still go on the shore excursions if it is raining? Are the decks closed? Do people bring ponchos? Maybe it will be georgeous or the ship magically avoids rain. Anyone been on a rainy cruise?

Also, for all the experienced cruisers: how air conditioned is the ship? I am typically cold all the time. I am wondering if I have to pack all my sweatery items for all day and all night or if it is slightly warmer on board than say a typical office building or if some of the establishments are open air?

As always opinions welcome. Thanks

 

[tinkerbelx]

We have not received our packets yet, either. We're hoping they'll come sometime this week.




Alex and I are going to try and go on the 23rd.

We are going on the 23rd-maybe we will see you there.

 

[Cindy8944]

Does anyone know which night of the cruise is normally formal night? I was hoping it would fall on my dd's birthday which is day 6!

I believe formal night is Monday and semi-formal night is Thursday.

 

[Cindy8944]

I have been watching the weather too. On our last cruise, it only rained on our Castaway Cay day, but not for the entire day, so I'm not sure about the shore excursions.

I was going to ask about the air conditioning also. Our last cruise was in 2000. It was very cold in the dining rooms. I remember a lady at the table next to us asking her server for an extra table cloth every night so she could wrap it around her shoulders! I was hoping some of you with more recent experience could let us know if that is still the case. Thanks

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

I have been watching the weather at our Caribbean ports and it has shown rain everyday for the past two weeks. Does anyone know what will happen if ut is raining? Do you still go on the shore excursions if it is raining? Are the decks closed? Do people bring ponchos? Maybe it will be georgeous or the ship magically avoids rain. Anyone been on a rainy cruise?

Also, for all the experienced cruisers: how air conditioned is the ship? I am typically cold all the time. I am wondering if I have to pack all my sweatery items for all day and all night or if it is slightly warmer on board than say a typical office building or if some of the establishments are open air?

As always opinions welcome. Thanks

I have been watching the weather too. On our last cruise, it only rained on our Castaway Cay day, but not for the entire day, so I'm not sure about the shore excursions.

I was going to ask about the air conditioning also. Our last cruise was in 2000. It was very cold in the dining rooms. I remember a lady at the table next to us asking her server for an extra table cloth every night so she could wrap it around her shoulders! I was hoping some of you with more recent experience could let us know if that is still the case. Thanks

Depending on your excursion, it may be cancelled if it rains, they'll let you know. If it's cancelled, you get your money back. As for the ship, they may close the pools but the restaurants and such will be open. The movies and character meet and greets are usually inside so that's not a problem.

Inside the cruise ship is still pretty air conditioned, the dining rooms especially, and I've been chilled some nights.

 

[LySand]

We are planning on it too, haven't bought the tickets yet, but it's on the itinerary!

Thursday, October 13 for me as well but I am torn between going to MNSSHP and touring around Fort Wilderness campground and looking at the decorations. They are supposed to be pretty nice. And it's free more money for the cruise I have never been to Fort Wilderness so its a great opportunity to see it. I will probably decide the day of the party and hope that there are tickets left.

 

[momtylerashley]

How does this work? Are we assigned certain days and morning/night to hand ours out? I have a bag for of things for each family member and I hate to go all over the ship and find out that there is not room in their pockets to put my things in once I finally find their cabin. Also, it would be neat to have something each day instead of having it come in all at once. Is this possible???

Thanks,

Renee

 

[LySand]

I have been watching the weather too. On our last cruise, it only rained on our Castaway Cay day, but not for the entire day, so I'm not sure about the shore excursions.

I was going to ask about the air conditioning also. Our last cruise was in 2000. It was very cold in the dining rooms. I remember a lady at the table next to us asking her server for an extra table cloth every night so she could wrap it around her shoulders! I was hoping some of you with more recent experience could let us know if that is still the case. Thanks

You would think after a few nights she would remember to bring a sweater

I am not going to look at any weather forcast and just keep telling myself that it will be hot and sunny every day I was thinking if it did rain or was cold it might be nice to get a pass for the rain forest room and relax in there

 

[LySand]

How does this work? Are we assigned certain days and morning/night to hand ours out? I have a bag for of things for each family member and I hate to go all over the ship and find out that there is not room in their pockets to put my things in once I finally find their cabin. Also, it would be neat to have something each day instead of having it come in all at once. Is this possible???

Thanks,

Renee

I have never done the FE's before but I know there is a size limit on them. I think they can't be bigger than 9" wide. I have seen pleated pockets on some. I don't think we decided yet what to do, when, etc.
I have one thing that I know I will have to slide under the door and it's for the first day/night.

Lynn

 

[MouseMadness]

Thursday, October 13 for me as well but I am torn between going to MNSSHP and touring around Fort Wilderness campground and looking at the decorations. They are supposed to be pretty nice. And it's free more money for the cruise I have never been to Fort Wilderness so its a great opportunity to see it. I will probably decide the day of the party and hope that there are tickets left.

Fort Wilderness is great...you will love it!! You will definitely need to rent a golf cart or bikes, though. The campground is broken up into "loops" and it is too much to walk (even bicycle in my opinion too). Unless you are a registered guest, you can't even bring your car into the area. You will have to park up at the outpost and take a bus to reach the individual loops. You could "loop" hop via the busses, but they don't go down the loops (drop you off at the bus stop) and again, lots of walking!

 

[Onkel Hans]

I am not going to look at any weather forecast and just keep telling myself that it will be hot and sunny every day I was thinking if it did rain or was cold it might be nice to get a pass for the rain forest room and relax in there

LOL, I am doing the opposite! I haven't started looking at the weather yet, but I have tried to imagine it will be a washed out, rain every day cruise, so when it turns out to be sunny weather, I will happily surprised!

Have poncho, will quack like a duck!

 

[LySand]

Fort Wilderness is great...you will love it!! You will definitely need to rent a golf cart or bikes, though. The campground is broken up into "loops" and it is too much to walk (even bicycle in my opinion too). Unless you are a registered guest, you can't even bring your car into the area. You will have to park up at the outpost and take a bus to reach the individual loops. You could "loop" hop via the busses, but they don't go down the loops (drop you off at the bus stop) and again, lots of walking!

Do you know if the campground is fairly lit up at night? Do you have any idea how long it might take me to wander around the campground - hours? I thought if I did go there I would be there about 5:00 ish.

Thanks,
Lynn

 

[LySand]

LOL, I am doing the opposite! I haven't started looking at the weather yet, but I have tried to imagine it will be a washed out, rain every day cruise, so when it turns out to be sunny weather, I will happily surprised!

Have poncho, will quack like a duck!

The last two vacations Heather and I have been on have been unseasonably cold and/or wet!

Here's hoping the third time is a charm

PS the umbrella will come in handy to shade you from the sun

 

[momtylerashley]

I'm afraid that some of FE gifts, may be too big.

I'm not sure what to do.

Oh well...maybe I'll have to make two stops to every cabin! That will be o.k. too.

I CANT wait any longer....I'm so ready to go...Think sunshine and no hurricanes!

Renee

I have never done the FE's before but I know there is a size limit on them. I think they can't be bigger than 9" wide. I have seen pleated pockets on some. I don't think we decided yet what to do, when, etc.
I have one thing that I know I will have to slide under the door and it's for the first day/night.

Lynn

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

I'm afraid that some of FE gifts, may be too big.

I'm not sure what to do.

Oh well...maybe I'll have to make two stops to every cabin! That will be o.k. too.

I CANT wait any longer....I'm so ready to go...Think sunshine and no hurricanes!

Renee

We went pretty low key on when to deliver, you can do it whatever night you want. We had one FE gift last year that was too big, so the person who delivered it had out stateroom host put it on the bed, that was a great surprise when we came back!

Think sunshine, think sunshine!!!!!

 

[amazingact21]

LOL, I am doing the opposite! I haven't started looking at the weather yet, but I have tried to imagine it will be a washed out, rain every day cruise, so when it turns out to be sunny weather, I will happily surprised!

Have poncho, will quack like a duck!

That's a good way to think!
I just hope it doesn't rain the entire trip. Being from FL, I'm used to daily rain showers in the afteroon, but I don't want the weather to be nasty for 7 straight days.

Question for everyone going to the Palo brunch...has the reservation shown up on your page on DCL? Whenever I sign on and check my reservations, the brunch isn't on there. I didn't know if this was because we were using the private room.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

That's a good way to think!
I just hope it doesn't rain the entire trip. Being from FL, I'm used to daily rain showers in the afteroon, but I don't want the weather to be nasty for 7 straight days.

Question for everyone going to the Palo brunch...has the reservation shown up on your page on DCL? Whenever I sign on and check my reservations, the brunch isn't on there. I didn't know if this was because we were using the private room.

Interesting question Alicia, it doesn't show up on mine, I think it may only show up on Hans' page, since he coordinated the reservation. We're confirmed, so I'm not worried about not having it, and the Palo folks can get the costs billed to the right KTTW cards, so that's no biggie either.

 

[MouseMadness]

Do you know if the campground is fairly lit up at night? Do you have any idea how long it might take me to wander around the campground - hours? I thought if I did go there I would be there about 5:00 ish.

Thanks,
Lynn

The main road that the loops branch off from is lit up, but there are no street lights within the loops, so yes it can be very dark. However, if people are at their sites and decorations lit up, you can see ok. I would STRONGLY suggest getting a cart. It is super fun! And yes, you can spend hours there, the campground is huge! Fort Wilderness is the only place we have ever stayed at Disney, and I wouldn't go anywhere else We had never rented a cart, either, until our last visit (we always just brought our bikes) and I won't go again without it...looping is amazingly fun!!

I'm not sure if you know this, but they have an outdoor movie (Disney) that plays every night there and Chip and Dale come out before for autographs and stuff. It is played by the Meadows Trading Post. They also sell marshmallows and roasting sticks there so you can sit around the firepit before and enjoy marshmallows. It really is fun and relaxing...but remember bug spray! You can also go down to the beach area and see the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the dock.

HTH