10/28/15 - 4nt. Halloween Magic Double Dip from Miami

[Henlady]

Welcome Karmacats!
With regard to the Magic, we have sailed all 4 ships and DH actually perfers the smaller ships. There really isn't too much difference in the activities on the ships, the ship is smaller, but here are also less staterooms and less people. The public venues are pretty much the same. There are multiple bars, the same type adult area, which is actually laid out better for less "thru" traffic. The only real difference is the lack of goofy golf and satellite falls area. I don't think you will be unhappy with the Magic.

 

[Mandersons04]

Hello everyone!!! We just switched to this cruise and are soooo excited to cruise during Halloween

Cruising will be me, DH, DD (9) and DS (7). It'll be our 5th Disney cruise and second time on the Magic. Can't wait to see the re-imagined beauty!! My sister will also be joining me on the cruise and hopefully we'll be adding more

Looking forward to getting to know everyone before we set sail

 

[wajones2]

Just stumbled on this cruise yesterday searching for a Castaway double dip. This will be our 4th DCL cruise, all on the Magic. Will be myself, DH and DD (5). Sign us up for FE.

 

[JoyB-UK]

It's 2015 here now - so happy new year to everyone. Welcome to the new people who have joined in the last few days. I will update the fe in the morning, it is now my bedtime.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Wajones2 I have added you to the FE list. Let me know if you want to add your names or any other information. Thanks for joining, Joy

 

[dizzi]

Hi

We have booked this cruise. Yeah!!!!
I am in the group with karnakats.

I have read a little of the previous posts.

Can't wait to meet you all.

The pub crawls are so fun.

I am already trying to decide on a costume.

Let the count down begin.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Hi

We have booked this cruise. Yeah!!!!
I am in the group with karnakats.

I have read a little of the previous posts.

Can't wait to meet you all.

The pub crawls are so fun.

I am already trying to decide on a costume.

Let the count down begin.

Hi, welcome to the group. Six weeks from today I will be in Fort Lauderdale do you have any recommendations on what I should do? We arrive very late Friday night and then have just the full day on Saturday to see things. The only plan I have so far is to watch the cruise ship sail out from the beach between 4 and 6pm and we have dinner booked for 7.30. Any must do/see's? We won't have a car that day and are staying at the Hilton Marina.

 

[dizzi]

My first suggestion would be the restaurant bar. beauty and the feast. But it would be quite a walk. It is on north Fort Lauderdale beach.

I would suggest if you are walking to the bridge to see the ships leaving to also walk a bit farther north to the actual beach. You can see them from there until they disappear

There is a hotel you would pass on the way. Sheraton Fort Lauderdale. It looks like a ship there is a bar inside that you sit by port holes and watch mermaids swimming. Check for times.

Just past the Sheraton on the left. Is a restaurant that most if there seats are gliders food not so good but great views.

There are several boat tours you can do. There are fishing charters. And many places to rent jet skis or parasail

Enjoy

 

[Henlady]

Welcome to those who have joined us, and Happy New year to all. We are at 298 days till cruise day.
Dizzi - I hope you won't mind questions about the Ft Lauderdale area. We will be flying into that airport and we have never been there. May need hotel suggestions .

 

[JoyB-UK]

My first suggestion would be the restaurant bar. beauty and the feast. But it would be quite a walk. It is on north Fort Lauderdale beach.

I would suggest if you are walking to the bridge to see the ships leaving to also walk a bit farther north to the actual beach. You can see them from there until they disappear

There is a hotel you would pass on the way. Sheraton Fort Lauderdale. It looks like a ship there is a bar inside that you sit by port holes and watch mermaids swimming. Check for times.

Just past the Sheraton on the left. Is a restaurant that most if there seats are gliders food not so good but great views.

There are several boat tours you can do. There are fishing charters. And many places to rent jet skis or parasail

Enjoy

Thanks for the suggestions, I will do you some research on all the areas we can walk to. I'm undecided as to getting water taxi passes for the day or just to use regular taxi on a couple of occasions. Trying not to overplan too much for a change as I want this trip to be more relaxing. Nothing on excursion websites have stood out to me yet.

 

[Dropplefamily]

We just recently booked this cruise! It will be our 4th with Disney and second on the Magic. This is a big surprise for our son. His 5th birthday is October 20th and he LOVES Mickey's ship. This will be our first cruise for a holiday so I can not wait to see the ship all decked out with Halloween decorations! We look forward to seeing you all on board!!

 

[dizzi]

I don't mind any questions about Fort Lauderdale.

Joy...... I totally understand wanting to chill out and relax.

Henlady,,,,I can give suggestions and have no problem going to look and take pictures of any hotel for you. My top suggested area s would be. Gault Mile, Los Olas. Or 17th street causeway.

Let me know how I can be of any help to you guys.

I can also as time gets closer take orders for delivery of alcohol or food etc to deliver to hotels the night before

 

[JoyB-UK]

We just recently booked this cruise! It will be our 4th with Disney and second on the Magic. This is a big surprise for our son. His 5th birthday is October 20th and he LOVES Mickey's ship. This will be our first cruise for a holiday so I can not wait to see the ship all decked out with Halloween decorations! We look forward to seeing you all on board!!

Hi, welcome to our group. I wish someone would surprise me with a cruise one day. I was going to do it with my daughter once but she's a teenager and I could not help but tell her, I was too excited.

I don't mind any questions about Fort Lauderdale.

Joy...... I totally understand wanting to chill out and relax.

Henlady,,,,I can give suggestions and have no problem going to look and take pictures of any hotel for you. My top suggested area s would be. Gault Mile, Los Olas. Or 17th street causeway.

Let me know how I can be of any help to you guys.

I can also as time gets closer take orders for delivery of alcohol or food etc to deliver to hotels the night before

 

[poison ivy]

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

We're enroute to Alaska in May this year so I apologize for being a bit absent on our cruise meet.

a few quick notes. I know I've mentioned this before, but JQ and I sailed out of Miami on the Magic in Dec 2013.

Embarkation: We flew Spirit airlines from Atlantic City, NJ into FLL and stayed at the Sheraton FLL airport hotel http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1115&language=en_US. They offered a reasonable price and provided a free shuttle service from the airport which was very convenient. (note: this hotel also provides free shuttle service to Port Everglades in FLL - NOT MIAMI)

We hired SAS Transportion http://www.ridesas.com/ - who picked us up directly from the hotel and dropped us off curbside at the Port of Miami.

Debarkation: We rented a car thru Alamo one-way from the MIA airport and drove close to 4 hrs north to Orlando where we dropped it off at the Dolphin Hotel at WDW.
(you can usually get some great car rental discount codes thru FlyerTalk / Costco / or sometimes Mousesavers websites) I'll dig up our receipt but it was not expensive.

Alamo/National Car is the only rental agency running a complimentary shuttle bus on a continuous loop with pickup and dropoff curbside between the Port of Miami and the MIA airport. (must have a reservation in hand to board the bus)

I posted about our experience w/photos on this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3337359

Hope this helps with the planning for everyone!

For this trip - we are doing things in reverse - fly into Orlando precruise, and out of either MIA or FLL. We plan to spend a few days in WDW for the food and wine, rent a car from Alamo/National at the Dolphin and spend the day/night before the cruise at Disney's Vero Beach (hopefully). From there, we'll drop the car at the MIA airport on 10/28 and hop the free shuttle to the port.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

We're enroute to Alaska in May this year so I apologize for being a bit absent on our cruise meet.

a few quick notes. I know I've mentioned this before, but JQ and I sailed out of Miami on the Magic in Dec 2013.

Embarkation: We flew Spirit airlines from Atlantic City, NJ into FLL and stayed at the Sheraton FLL airport hotel http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1115&language=en_US. They offered a reasonable price and provided a free shuttle service from the airport which was very convenient. (note: this hotel also provides free shuttle service to Port Everglades in FLL - NOT MIAMI)

We hired SAS Transportion http://www.ridesas.com/ - who picked us up directly from the hotel and dropped us off curbside at the Port of Miami.

Debarkation: We rented a car thru Alamo one-way from the MIA airport and drove close to 4 hrs north to Orlando where we dropped it off at the Dolphin Hotel at WDW.
(you can usually get some great car rental discount codes thru FlyerTalk / Costco / or sometimes Mousesavers websites) I'll dig up our receipt but it was not expensive.

Alamo/National Car is the only rental agency running a complimentary shuttle bus on a continuous loop with pickup and dropoff curbside between the Port of Miami and the MIA airport. (must have a reservation in hand to board the bus)

I posted about our experience w/photos on this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3337359

Hope this helps with the planning for everyone!

For this trip - we are doing things in reverse - fly into Orlando precruise, and out of either MIA or FLL. We plan to spend a few days in WDW for the food and wine, rent a car from Alamo/National at the Dolphin and spend the day/night before the cruise at Disney's Vero Beach (hopefully). From there, we'll drop the car at the MIA airport on 10/28 and hop the free shuttle to the port.

Thanks for the rental tips. I think I might book with Alamo for the free shuttle service. We will be renting both directions. It sounds quite convenient. I will check the prices now.

 

[Johnny Quest]

Hi Joy,

You can check Alamo or National Car rental rates for the best deal. They are the same company and both use that shuttle. If I find a good discount code I'll let you know.

Jim

 

[barefooting37]

Just booked this cruise! This will be our third - 1st on the Magic - second on the Dream - can't wait to get back on the Magic!!!

 

[karmacats]

Welcome to our group. I have added your names to the FE list, thanks for joining. Looks like we will be neighbours on the cruise as we are in 6652.

The Magic is big enough for a 4 nighter, it was our first ship and seemed huge at the time. One of Allure/Oasis/Anthem or Ovation will probably be our next ship. We have been on Indepedence and coming back to the Magic after that made it feel tiny. I want to go on the Fantasy (if only for the Muppets detective game) but after that we probably won't sail with Disney very often. When we are sailing as adults only in just a few years time I'm looking towards Celebrity as our preferred cruise line. All our cruises with Disney are on the Magic and each time we have discovered something new to do so I would not worry about it lacking in things to do.

Howdy, neighbor! Have you been able to find any good pictures of the balconies in 6152 or 6652? I've heard the balconies are extra-large so I am excited to see it.

I've been off the grid for so long because I was on Quantum of the Seas. Awesome ship, and I am really psyched for our Anthem cruise (Dec 12, 2015).

Welcome Karmacats!
With regard to the Magic, we have sailed all 4 ships and DH actually perfers the smaller ships. There really isn't too much difference in the activities on the ships, the ship is smaller, but here are also less staterooms and less people. The public venues are pretty much the same. There are multiple bars, the same type adult area, which is actually laid out better for less "thru" traffic. The only real difference is the lack of goofy golf and satellite falls area. I don't think you will be unhappy with the Magic.

 

[bethy]

I just booked our first ever cruise. I can't believe it! I figured this was a good itinerary for a first timer! We are a family of 5 and would love to join in on a FE exchange.

We are going to WDW first while my DH has a work conference there. Then we are going to spend 4-5 days at a beach before the cruise. We are beach people which is one reason we wanted the Double Dip!

It is our last year where we will be able to fairly easily take the kids out of school and so we want to make the most of the opportunity!

Editing to add our FE info:

2 Adults - Julie and Tyler - and 3 Girls, ages 14, 10, 4

 

[JoyB-UK]

Howdy, neighbor! Have you been able to find any good pictures of the balconies in 6152 or 6652? I've heard the balconies are extra-large so I am excited to see it.

I've been off the grid for so long because I was on Quantum of the Seas. Awesome ship, and I am really psyched for our Anthem cruise (Dec 12)

I haven't seen any photos of the balconies yet. This is actually the third time I have booked a cat 6 but we have yet to stay in one. The first time we got a free upgrade to a 5a and the second time I decided to downgrade and save some money. But this time it is actually happening, (unless the upgrade fairy visits again).
Glad to hear you enjoyed your Quantum cruise, I'm sure we will sail that class out of Southampton at some point. I'm excited that it won't be too long until I can book cruises outside of school holidays, it will be so much cheaper and varied for us.

I just booked our first ever cruise. I can't believe it! I figured this was a good itinerary for a first timer! We are a family of 5 and would love to join in on a FE exchange.

We are going to WDW first while my DH has a work conference there. Then we are going to spend 4-5 days at a beach before the cruise. We are beach people which is one reason we wanted the Double Dip!

It is our last year where we will be able to fairly easily take the kids out of school and so we want to make the most of the opportunity!

Editing to add our FE info:

2 Adults - Julie and Tyler - and 3 Girls, ages 14, 10, 4

Welcome to our group. You have chosen a very good place to start cruising with both Disney and the itinerary. There are a lot of experienced cruisers in this meet group so feel free to ask as many questions as you like.

I have added you to the FE list. Thanks for joining.