10/23/11 - Disney Dream

[TheDisneyGirl02]

It's our very first cruise!! We are so excited!

Mommyminnie (40)
DH (38)
DD (17)
DD (14)
DS (8) we will be celebrating his 9th birthday on board!

Would love tips for first time cruisers and what would be fun for kids of various ages. We have been to Disney several times and feel like we have that ALLL figured out! Now on to a new adventure!

Welcome!!!!!

 

[WhitGB]

WhitGB,

I read A LOT of the cabana post. Thats where I found out there even is a h/c cabana. What other info do you know of? I know it is # 1, the closest one to food and the potty!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks
Sherry

Sherry-

You probably know about as much as I do. I have only looked online too, but I did see there was only one h/c and it was #1 also. I really hope this works out for you.

We are with another couple so I am thinking about splitting the cost with them, that is if we can even get one.

Good Luck

 

[INDY1919A4]

It's our very first cruise!! We are so excited!

Would love tips for first time cruisers and what would be fun for kids of various ages. We have been to Disney several times and feel like we have that ALLL figured out! Now on to a new adventure!

Welcome

One thing look at a few of the navigators (the ships newspaper of the events and activities of the day) That people have posted from previous cruises, For the most part they will reflect the same events and activities that will happen on your cruise.

This way you can plan ahead a little an know some of the things you will want to do.. Also its a great way to live the cruise on cold and raining days at home...


Also Rebook another cruise as soon as you can while on board at the ships reservation desk, Honest, you do not know how that takes the edge off of leaving the boat on the last day to know you have another cruise in the wing...

Take care

Mike

 

[INDY1919A4]

Hi Indymike. We are about an hour southeast of Indy. I hope everyone is staying warm. Come on October!

Hello,

Well it is a well known in maritime lore that hoosiers make the best cruisers

take care

Mike

 

[DrMomof3]

I need a cruise NOW! Another insanely crazy week....

I'm happy to report that we've gotten a few details figured out. We're staying at the airport Hyatt on Saturday night before the cruise. We decided that we don't need to buy wine/water for a 4 night cruise, so we're taking DCL transfers from the airport on Sunday morning. Since we have a late flight on Thursday, we're going to do a one-way rental and spend that day at a park. We're AP holders so parking is free and we've already paid for entrance. Not sure which park or anything but we can just go wherever we want!

Still not sure if we're going to do a shore excursion on Nassau or just hang out on the ship. Luckily I don't have to decide this week!!!

Amanda

 

[dsnydaddy]

I believe that you can check in and check out at the same time at the Comfort Suites, that way you don't have to go back at the end of the day and do this. We probably will try to get off the ship ASAP and then come back later in the afternoon -3:30ish. I don't know how long the kids will make it (8 and 5)/

Still debating on this. I'd love to go to that waterpark myself, so I don't know why I'm debating this so.

My DH isn't someone who can think about a vacation 7 months in advance so it's useless to ask his opinion.
It sounds like we don't really need to plan ahead for Castaway Cay and we can decide on the spot what we want to do. I, personally, would love the private cabana but certainly can't justify the cost with 2 of us. Maybe when we bring the kids....

Cheers!
Amanda

I was never the one to plan out far in advance. Until I met the DISboards. I found them while trying to decided on a Disneyworld Trip for the family, then started reading up and realized, "Hey, You really have to plan for this thing!" (the fact that I was spending $4500 in one lump added to this revelation.) So, I planned and planned and when we took the trip, my wife couldn't stop praising me for the best vacation ever. Since I have a major jones for praise, I was instantly hooked on the DIS.

You're right about CC, Just go with it. The beauty of a tropical paradise, is that there's not planning required. Just pure enjoyment. I could so live on that Island!

Good morning folks

Welcome to all the new folks

We still haven't booked air yet can't decide if we just book it now or hope for a summer deal with some of the charter outfits

Airfare has gotten crazy lately. I'm looking at better than $600 pp. to go to Hawaii from the west coast!!!!! That's insane! My feeling on airfare is determine a price that you're okay with spending then when you find it, buy. Then stop looking because you'll drive yourself crazy. For me, if I can find CA to FL for less than $340 pp then I'll be Okay with booking. If I can find it for less than $300 I'm flippin' estatic!

It's our very first cruise!! We are so excited!

Mommyminnie (40)
DH (38)
DD (17)
DD (14)
DS (8) we will be celebrating his 9th birthday on board!

Would love tips for first time cruisers and what would be fun for kids of various ages. We have been to Disney several times and feel like we have that ALLL figured out! Now on to a new adventure!

Welcome!!!!

There is enough on the ship that you may not want to get off (except for Castaway Cay).

In Nassau there is a Ardastra Gardens/Zoo and City Tour which is only $42/pp; our shipmates on the last cruise did it and liked it. But, their suggestion is to skip the tour and just go to the Gardens/Zoo directly. I checked the web and admission to the Park is only $15/pp for the day, then come back to town for shopping if desired. So, that is probably what we will be doing this cruise.

That's not a bad idea. If I could just get that waterpark out of my head, I'd jump at that one. (There's no really good waterparks in CA, just too expensive to run with all the regulations, so when I'm somewhere where there is one, I'm always dying to try it.)

Sherry-

You probably know about as much as I do. I have only looked online too, but I did see there was only one h/c and it was #1 also. I really hope this works out for you.

We are with another couple so I am thinking about splitting the cost with them, that is if we can even get one.

Good Luck

I thought about doing that with my brother who will be on this cruise. But in the end, just decided to relax on the beach. Maybe a bike ride, we haven't done that yet.

Also Rebook another cruise as soon as you can while on board at the ships reservation desk, Honest, you do not know how that takes the edge off of leaving the boat on the last day to know you have another cruise in the wing...

Take care

Mike

Amen to that! My son was 6 on the first cruise and the only way I got him to stop crying after walking away from the Magic the first time was by assuring him that we'll be back. Funniest thing. I had heard of it happening, but when I saw the post cruise depression in my kids faces, I now know it's real!

 

[dsnydaddy]

I need a cruise NOW! Another insanely crazy week....

I'm happy to report that we've gotten a few details figured out. We're staying at the airport Hyatt on Saturday night before the cruise. We decided that we don't need to buy wine/water for a 4 night cruise, so we're taking DCL transfers from the airport on Sunday morning. Since we have a late flight on Thursday, we're going to do a one-way rental and spend that day at a park. We're AP holders so parking is free and we've already paid for entrance. Not sure which park or anything but we can just go wherever we want!

Still not sure if we're going to do a shore excursion on Nassau or just hang out on the ship. Luckily I don't have to decide this week!!!

Amanda

I really liked the Hyatt when I stayed there. The transfers are nice, they take a lot of the worry out of things. (I still worried though) My wife preferred taking the Limo (but then again, she would) But that comes out to about $100 more than the transfers so I really debate about the best use of our money. For this trip, we're planning on splitting the cost of a van with my brother and his family. 7 of us in the van won't be cramped even with luggage.

 

[ppartekim]

Welcome

Also Rebook another cruise as soon as you can while on board at the ships reservation desk, Honest, you do not know how that takes the edge off of leaving the boat on the last day to know you have another cruise in the wing...

That is one advantage cruising with DVC, If you call DVC within 3 days after a cruise and book another cruise you get roughly 10% off the points. The main advantage is that I do not have to sit in line and wait 30-60mins or more waiting the one booking agent they have on the ship.

 

[INDY1919A4]

That is one advantage cruising with DVC, If you call DVC within 3 days after a cruise and book another cruise you get roughly 10% off the points. The main advantage is that I do not have to sit in line and wait 30-60mins or more waiting the one booking agent they have on the ship.

--> That is neat. One of these days I am going to get smart enough to understand the Disney vacation Club stuff.. Every time I try, get lost and think fondly of relaxing with the Tax code to give my mind a rest.. But on the cruse I have bumped into DVC members who love it...

Mike

 

[ppartekim]

--> That is neat. One of these days I am going to get smart enough to understand the Disney vacation Club stuff.. Every time I try, get lost and think fondly of relaxing with the Tax code to give my mind a rest.. But on the cruse I have bumped into DVC members who love it...

Mike

DVC is the one timeshare I would truly recommend if you are a Disney fan. You can use the points for Disney Resorts/Hotels, Cruises and Adventures, and either RCI or II (not sure which since we never used that option).

While we have timeshares with Worldmark, Disney and Orangelake, DVC is the only one that we have always used the points every year. We bought Orangelake only for those years we have used up the DVC points and still want to stay in Orlando. Worldmark we bought a decade earlier and while they have an Orlando place now, we did not like it when we used it (and bought Orangelake that year), tho, we are using Worldmark in Vancouver (The Canadian) when we do the Inaugural Disney Alaskan Cruise on May 3rd (before, after and during-to store the car).

Since Orangelake is part of Holiday Inn, we used them to convert points to Priority Club and booked the rooms in Dublin and Barcelona for a week before our Disney TA cruises in 2007 and 2010.

So basically, we now use DVC and plan the other timeshares around our use of DVC points for cruises. PS, all 11 of our cruises ( 7 taken, 4 booked) have been taken using DVC points and that includes spending the night at a DVC resort (usually Boardwalk or AKL) before 7 of the cruises. DVC has paid for itself (can't say the same for the other two yet).

 

[shadowryter]

Hi everyone and welcome new cruisers.I haven't been around for a bit so just wanted to check in. Are plans are moving along pretty well. Got our flights out of TF Green through Southwest...a lot less than I expected. I'm actively working on my FE gifts and bummed as I look out my window at around 3 inches of snow and more to come, depending on which channel you are surfing. October can't get here soon enough.Happy planning.
Linda

 

[JLDSMD]

We still haven't booked air yet can't decide if we just book it now or hope for a summer deal with some of the charter outfits

Airfare has gotten crazy lately. I'm looking at better than $600 pp. to go to Hawaii from the west coast!!!!! That's insane! My feeling on airfare is determine a price that you're okay with spending then when you find it, buy. Then stop looking because you'll drive yourself crazy. For me, if I can find CA to FL for less than $340 pp then I'll be Okay with booking. If I can find it for less than $300 I'm flippin' estatic!

We booked our air already. We couldn't wait as all the schools in WI are closed the Thur and Fri of that week. Airfare is crazy right now and worse for that week. Prices actually went up from what we booked already. Glad I pulled the trigger when I did. The cost was high though, about what we use to pay to go to the west coast before the fare wars.

 

[JLDSMD]

It's our very first cruise!! We are so excited!

Mommyminnie (40)
DH (38)
DD (17)
DD (14)
DS (8) we will be celebrating his 9th birthday on board!

Would love tips for first time cruisers and what would be fun for kids of various ages. We have been to Disney several times and feel like we have that ALLL figured out! Now on to a new adventure!

Welcome to the cruise. You will love your "new adventure". Best things for the kids, the clubs. Your son for sure will have a blast (ours never wants to leave them). Not sure what they have for the teens, but there appears to be activities all day long for them as well.

 

[JLDSMD]

I was dreaming of being on the dream this morning literally!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come on October!

Hope it was a good dream.

Good news is we have less than 7 months until we sail.

 

[dsnydaddy]

We booked our air already. We couldn't wait as all the schools in WI are closed the Thur and Fri of that week. Airfare is crazy right now and worse for that week. Prices actually went up from what we booked already. Glad I pulled the trigger when I did. The cost was high though, about what we use to pay to go to the west coast before the fare wars.

I bought my tickets already too. My brother has been lagging on his though. I found a halfway decent price for him one night, he thought he might do better and he's still waiting.

 

[Disneygrl36]

Hope it was a good dream.

Good news is we have less than 7 months until we sail.

It was a funny dream where my DH & I were chatting with AFEG & his wife about afternoon tea.
Woo hoo I am ready for the 6 month mark to hit.

 

[JLDSMD]

I bought my tickets already too. My brother has been lagging on his though. I found a halfway decent price for him one night, he thought he might do better and he's still waiting.

Hope it works out for him. Given our situation, I wouldn't feel comfortable waiting, but who knows what will happen with prices. Plus, the AirTran - Southwest merger should be complete by the end of the 2nd quarter, not sure what that will do to flights or if AT will continue to have their planes still in the air or if they will become SW by then.

SW was higher priced than AT. Once AT is gone, we're down to only SW and Frontier flying non-stop to FL. Less competition, higher prices.

 

[JLDSMD]

It was a funny dream where my DH & I were chatting with AFEG & his wife about afternoon tea.
Woo hoo I am ready for the 6 month mark to hit.

Sorry to hear your dream (nightmare) had AFEG in it.

Afternoon tea with Mrs. AFEG would be good, however, I don't think you'd get Chris there. Better to just meet him at the pool bar in late afternoon. We seemed to be at the Quiet Cove pool bar every afternoon on the last cruise. It was a great place to meet (nothing planned, despite what some people think or will say) and catch up with other DISers. Just make sure to bring AFEG some chicken fingers or a Boddingtons.

 

[Disneygrl36]

Sorry to hear your dream (nightmare) had AFEG in it.

Afternoon tea with Mrs. AFEG would be good, however, I don't think you'd get Chris there. Better to just meet him at the pool bar in late afternoon. We seemed to be at the Quiet Cove pool bar every afternoon on the last cruise. It was a great place to meet (nothing planned, despite what some people think or will say) and catch up with other DISers. Just make sure to bring AFEG some chicken fingers or a Boddingtons.

Agreed as British as he is I can't see Chris at tea! I will have to file that little meet up plan away in my mind!

 

[INDY1919A4]

Welcome to the cruise. You will love your "new adventure". Best things for the kids, the clubs. Your son for sure will have a blast (ours never wants to leave them). Not sure what they have for the teens, but there appears to be activities all day long for them as well.

I 110% agree about the clubs and all for the kids... But the best things are for the parents.. A lot of time for great adult relaxation and alone time

Mike