10/23/11 - Disney Dream

[INDY1919A4]

Welcome Mike and Family!

7 months is nothing, it will pass quickly. Think about it, 2-3 more months of school, summer vacation, then 7 weeks of school in the fall, and then we are cruising.

I have done a 23 month wait for the Westbound Transatlantic cruise, that took for ever!

Pj

Thanks.. ha ha This sounds like a scene from one of those old Prison movies..

"Don't worry about it kid, you can do a 7 spot standing on your head Some guys in here are doing 23"

But I thank you..

Ahhhhhh Transatlantic.. Now that is a cruise.. We need a few more years to do that.. To much time from school for the kids..

Mike

 

[PFlamingo]

Welcome Mike and Family!

7 months is nothing, it will pass quickly. Think about it, 2-3 more months of school, summer vacation, then 7 weeks of school in the fall, and then we are cruising.

I have done a 23 month wait for the Westbound Transatlantic cruise, that took for ever!

Pj

We're on this year's WBTA with a lot of people from last year's trip. Sounds like a fun group! That's my birthday present (tho b'day is a month earlier), and this one is for our anniversary. Can't think of a better way to celebrate anything than a Disney cruise!

 

[JLDSMD]

I think that we'll do the Atlantis tour. I doubt that we'll be going to the waterpark. I think it's just too expensive. Still trying to decide if I'll to the Atlantis tour on this cruise or the one immediately before it. On my second Nassau day, I'll not even bother getting off the ship.

Steve, you might want to check out the rates for the day we're there on the 4-night cruise over at the Comfort Suites. Another cruiser told me they have rooms at $164.

The Comfort Suites is supposed to have access to the Atlantis. Not sure if it is limited in any way though.

 

[JLDSMD]

Greetings and Salutations...

I would like to report in to this cruise

We are in room 5650... and we will be doing a B2B (our 1st b2b) and this will be our 1st cruise on the Dreams. We have always wanted a room on aft Deck 5 but with 2 kids & 2 adults. On The Magic & Wonder those rooms only slept 3. So this is our big break to finally get an aft deck 5 room (So this is literally a "dream" come true).

We will have 4 in our family DW (up there in age) DD 12, DS 18 and Myself

Also traveling With us is My Father-in-Law & Bride (5652)

And a Family friend (56xx do not remember room but its one of the inside forward rooms on deck 5

So We will have a Tassle of friends & Kin with us..

Caught up on the earlier posts, looks like a fine bunch..... My only complaint is having to wait 7 more months...

Mike

Thanks.. ha ha This sounds like a scene from one of those old Prison movies..

"Don't worry about it kid, you can do a 7 spot standing on your head Some guys in here are doing 23"

But I thank you..

Ahhhhhh Transatlantic.. Now that is a cruise.. We need a few more years to do that.. To much time from school for the kids..

Mike

That made me laugh!

Welcome to the cruise(s). I'm Jeff and I will be traveling with my DW Suz and our DS who will be 11.

 

[pjpoohbear]

Thanks.. ha ha This sounds like a scene from one of those old Prison movies..

"Don't worry about it kid, you can do a 7 spot standing on your head Some guys in here are doing 23"

But I thank you..

Ahhhhhh Transatlantic.. Now that is a cruise.. We need a few more years to do that.. To much time from school for the kids..

Mike

I love that way of thinking of it, lol. But our release day is going to be so much more fun, then the prison bus ride to town.

The TA cruise was fabulous, and the kids on board had a great experience, both at the ports and with the clubs.

Pj

 

[dsnydaddy]

Steve, you might want to check out the rates for the day we're there on the 4-night cruise over at the Comfort Suites. Another cruiser told me they have rooms at $164.

The Comfort Suites is supposed to have access to the Atlantis. Not sure if it is limited in any way though.

Jeff, I checked out their website. You do get access to all Atlantis amenities but the room was about $268 with more various fees added to that so I'm looking at about $300 for the room. Here's the kicker. Check in time is 1500 hours and out is 1100 hours. So, question is, if I get only one night. Will they allow me to use the pool before I actually check in -or- after I've checked out? I'd hate to spend all that money to "beat the system" just to find it beat me.

 

[INDY1919A4]

I Do Have a bit of a Moral Question Here...

Having never been on a Back 2 Back before .. When you are making a grand total List of all the Cruises you have been on.. Do you count the B2B as 1 or 2..

The Other night the whole family was in a huge fight over this, The screaming the yelling.. Finally hours later after everyone was horse and too tired to argue, it was suggested that we drag ourselves into the 21st century and let the Internet decide.

Now I understand that Disney only counts a 4 or Greater day cruise as a cruise. But when you are making your own list, do you count this as one or two?????

Now mind you if this was the Magic we were sailing on over the same time period this would only be one????

Mike

 

[pjpoohbear]

DCL says it is two for Castaway Club, although the various fractions of the DIS might disagree, I go along with DCL. It is two. Hey, my 14 & 15 night cruises only felt like one so once on and once off with passport is 1 cruise.

Pj

 

[dsnydaddy]

I Do Have a bit of a Moral Question Here...

Having never been on a Back 2 Back before .. When you are making a grand total List of all the Cruises you have been on.. Do you count the B2B as 1 or 2..

The Other night the whole family was in a huge fight over this, The screaming the yelling.. Finally hours later after everyone was horse and too tired to argue, it was suggested that we drag ourselves into the 21st century and let the Internet decide.

Now I understand that Disney only counts a 4 or Greater day cruise as a cruise. But when you are making your own list, do you count this as one or two?????

Now mind you if this was the Magic we were sailing on over the same time period this would only be one????

Mike

Disney counts all cruises as cruises. 3, 4, 7, 10 or more. Even the 2 night cruise to nowhere that I took counted as a cruise. It's a bone of contention amongst the DCL cruisers who have lets say four 7 night cruises under their belt (for a total of 28 days) will not be gold whereas five 3 night cruises (total of 15 days) would. B2B is two cruises.

 

[dsnydaddy]

To verify what I just said I went on the DCL website and logged in then went to the CC members only area where it says that I have take 3 eligible cruises. (one of those being a 2 night cruise) and have only 2 cruises remaining until I am gold.

 

[ppartekim]

Disney counts all cruises as cruises. 3, 4, 7, 10 or more. Even the 2 night cruise to nowhere that I took counted as a cruise. It's a bone of contention amongst the DCL cruisers who have lets say four 7 night cruises under their belt (for a total of 28 days) will not be gold whereas five 3 night cruises (total of 15 days) would. B2B is two cruises.

Agree with the contention part. We had taken 5 cruises (2 4-day, 3-14 day) totaling 54 sea days over the last 5 years and yet it only counted as 5 cruises for gold status which would make either up to 12 4-day cruises meaning platinum. So this year we took the Dream MV and almost didn't get anything sat there was an "excessive" amount of platinum cruises same with the Inaugural Alaskan cruise (May 3rd). So we took the extra 4-day on the Dream right after the MV (making it a B2B) and we are doing this B2B to complete cruises 9-10 so that we will be platinum before the Fantasy MV next year (maybe we will be able to book some Palo or Remy's then).

Luckly, we are DVC members so it just took a few points (well several hundred) to book all them all (only way I could have afforded them).

 

[INDY1919A4]

well we Thank all of you for setting us back on the Straight and narrow.. I had read the 3-day-cruise-not-counting-misinformation about a year ago on the disboard, it did not really effect me so I did not research it further..

So again we thank you all, now with out a hung head or an asterisk by the 3 day cruise we can count it Proudly....

Mike

 

[dsnydaddy]

a short term cruiser- and proud of it!

 

[JLDSMD]

I think the best way to settle all this gold/platinum stuff is to base it on the number of nights a person cruises.

However, I would go one further and give more points for better categories (inside = 1 pt per night, oceanview = 2 pts per night, balcony = 3 pts per night, and suites = 4 pts per night).

 

[JLDSMD]

Jeff, I checked out their website. You do get access to all Atlantis amenities but the room was about $268 with more various fees added to that so I'm looking at about $300 for the room. Here's the kicker. Check in time is 1500 hours and out is 1100 hours. So, question is, if I get only one night. Will they allow me to use the pool before I actually check in -or- after I've checked out? I'd hate to spend all that money to "beat the system" just to find it beat me.

I don't think I'd take the gamble. Not sure if I would even staying at the Atlantis. Would definitely call the hotel and ask them what their policy is for early check in.

 

[dsnydaddy]

I don't think I'd take the gamble. Not sure if I would even staying at the Atlantis. Would definitely call the hotel and ask them what their policy is for early check in.

That's how I was thinking Jeff. Calling ahead is an option. I'll look into that. Atlantis Aquaventure through Disney is >$600 for my family! So even at $300 it's a bargain, I've just spent more than my fair share of "chasing good money after bad" in my lifetime. So I'm somewhat cautious. I have to see what Laura really is interested in doing as well. I'd hate to pay entrance fare for her just to have her sit under an umbrella. If that's the case I can just buy entrance for Stuart and I and Laura and Leah can so something else. Ah! Decisions, Decisions.

 

[WhitGB]

I did a lot of research before our 3 day cruise last Sept and there is a ton of information on this board regarding posters who rented the room for one day at the Comfort suites to gain a "cheaper" access to the Atlantis waterpark. I don't have the links off hand, but if you use the search button there are trip reports and just basic q&A treads on the topic.

I am thinking of doing it for this trip since we are a family of 4. In Sept it was just my husband and I so going through Disney was about the same cost. Watch the hotel fees, there are a lot of them they tack on. You also would need your own taxi or get a group together and get a van.

I will see if I can locate the tread. I am not great on linking but it would get you in the right direction.

Any info helps

Ah ha...found something.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2551797&highlight=comfort+inn+and+suites+bahamas

 

[dsnydaddy]

Thank you! That was helpful. I'll have to read the whole thread when I get home from work.

 

[WhitGB]

I guess I should get my information in...

Myself - Kelsey
DH - Eric
DD - Madeline - 8 at cruise time
DD - Alivia - 5 at cruise time.

I did go online and book the comfort inn and suites for the day in Nassau, you can cancel up to 1 week before and get a full refund. It was $244 for the room and then an extra $75 for energy fees and housekeeping. As you can see above we are a family of 4. That price is a far cry from the $620 disney is asking for the 4 of us. I do understand I need a taxi and lunch but I don't think that will cost me $300.

If anyone else books, maybe we can meet and get a van over. It is nice to travel with others and the cost factor would be better.

 

[MissFitt]

I guess I should get my information in...

Myself - Kelsey
DH - Eric
DD - Madeline - 8 at cruise time
DD - Alivia - 5 at cruise time.

I did go online and book the comfort inn and suites for the day in Nassau, you can cancel up to 1 week before and get a full refund. It was $244 for the room and then an extra $75 for energy fees and housekeeping. As you can see above we are a family of 4. That price is a far cry from the $620 disney is asking for the 4 of us. I do understand I need a taxi and lunch but I don't think that will cost me $300.

If anyone else books, maybe we can meet and get a van over. It is nice to travel with others and the cost factor would be better.

Hi Kelsey!

We are also a family of 4 booked for the Comfort Suites. It's me (Linda), DH (John) and my DD, Shannon, who will also be 8 years old at cruise time, and my DS, Kenny, who just celebrated his 6th birthday on St. Patrick's day.

As the time gets closer we can discuss sharing a van over. I think the kids will have a blast at the Atlantis and I think doing it this way makes much more $ense

October can't come fast enough!