10/31/10 Halloween Wonder

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I am not really enjoying the planning part. It seems like there is sooo many choices and I don't want to "miss" something.

I look forward mostly to just relaxing and I really don't want to be "rushed" like most of my Disney vacations are. I try to do everything in such as short time and not actually getting to spend quality time with the kiddo's other than rushing them to the next "planned" event. This is one big reason I am excited to go on the cruise So Yes i want to do every Nassau excursion but I just want to pick one activity and take my time doing it. Now the problem is the "one" activity What do you think of the Snorkeling at Stuarts Cove?...Now I am back to square one... so many choices --

So now for some questions...
Do you think we will be a oddball family if we don't dress up? Or just do simple costumes? We aren't that "into" Halloween it just happened to be when we booked the cruise (timing issues). Yes, I would love do the Alice inWonderland (ha ha... just thought "wonder"cruise, "wonder"land- oohhh!!) theme but I am not that creative.

What kind of hassle is it going to be getting to the port from Budget Rent A Car? We are leaving from Universal Studios and dropping a car off at Budget. How much time you think I will need to budget for ( ha ha... budget car, budget for)? Plus we are then picking the car back up after the cruise and heading to the airport.

I have more questions, but if you are still reading this by now I will save them for later.

Thanks All!

Okay, first off, you will NOT be the odd ones that aren't dressing up. I truly believe that we will be the odd ones out dressing for Halloween. We are also in the minority dressing up on pirate night. And to be honest, we will probably just wear pirate t-shirts this year and not the full pirate outfit. I'm packing light! (or so I say now ).

As for not rushing, this is the place to do it. The simple answer to not being able to do everything is to book another cruise. We're on our third and have 2 additional ones booked. Relax, slow down and enjoy yourself. If you have a verandah then sit on the deck and relax with the cheese platter from room service. Aaahhhh!! Sit in the Promenade lounge and play a trivia game with your kids, drink smoothies at the bar with them in the middle of the afternoon, play ping pong or shuffle board or basketball. There are endless things to do and you can't do them all. Don't rush from activity to activity. Heck, we did 2 7 nights and still haven't seen all the shows. Follow the lead of your kids. DD collapsed one night at 9 p.m. She was 9 at the time. She slept straight through until around 8 a.m. the next morning. If I had pushed her to go out she would have been a bear.

We treat the cruises as a place to wing it with no set agenda. Relax and enjoy!! No need to overplan.
And I would personally look at an excursion that isn't run by DCL. They get a high premium for them. Nassau is loaded with cruise ships. Just google "Nassau shore excursions" and see what's out there. Also, look on cruisecritic.com. They have port specific boards. There are great recommendations over there.

Okay, as for Budget we haven't done the rental car yet. If you have a lot of luggage I might consider dropping off the spouse with the kiddos and the luggage, driving over to Budget and then catching the shuttle back. I believe it runs quickly but people on the main cruise board here would know better than I. We always just park at the port and pay the $15/day but then again we drive our own car so there is no one to return it to.

I hope that was somewhat helpful. I've had a long day and tomorrow is going to be even longer. Off to bed for me.

Put out the rest of the questions. We can answer them or at least pretend we are.

 

[frangi]

we plan on doing nothing in nasssau!!! my sister-in-law wants a ring. And i want to do a shot at Senior frogs!!! Long story! Other than that we will enjoy the ship.

we only booked two excursions? String ray and the jet ski thing on castaway Cay always wanted to do that. Never been on one and I like the idea of a guided tour.

I know I will be the only Pirate in my family but I like Pirates and I have a great outfit not costume, but hey I do theater!!!

And I love planning or non planning-- three days in the world first at the poly only going to parks for MNSSHP and EPCOT for food and wine. one whole day to hang by the pool and shop!!!

 

[warbiespig]

Weve brought pirate costumes for all four of us (were wearing them to mnnshp) i thought we might wear them to pirate night but we'll see.
We are not really that bothered about nassau so just a little walk about then back on the "wonder" to enjoy all she has to offer as far as castaway cay ive booked for dh and dh1 to hire a bike floats etc just to break up the day while me and dh2 can explore and look for captain jack.
Were busy potty training ds2 at the moment its a race against time at the moment ready for him to go into the oceaneers club with his elder brother but things are pretty hit and miss at the moment as some days are more successful than others but hey ho i will continue my quest for ds2 to be trained ready for the wonderful wonder cruise

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

We did the Stingray thing at Castaway Cay on our first cruise. It was a lot of fun. We just rent a float or a tube at CC now. Lots of fun and not required to be reserved ahead of time.

Captain Jack can be found just off the ship on the walkway to the family beach. There is a sign and he stands with the Flying Dutchman behind him. We haven't done a picture with him there because we always try to get one done on pirate night insideon Deck 4 (that's where he is usually). If you see him and want a picture, get in line. He usually only makes the 2 appearances - Pirate Night and then on CC.

FE list isn't getting any bigger. I'm kind of saddened by that because we have a kick butt one on the our last cruise. So as I have purchased oodles of stuff it appears that your FE will be overflowing with gifts for the kiddos. I haven't figured out what to give for the adults though. We usually like to do something for them as well. Guess I need to figure that out still.

 

[Phil & Deborah]

My DW and I won't be getting off in Nassau either. We did Atlantis last year, but we just want to enjoy the ship. Castaway Cay I may try parasailing if the weather is good and spend the rest of the time snorkeling and taking underwater pictures (just bought a new camera and have to try it out).

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

My DW and I won't be getting off in Nassau either. We did Atlantis last year, but we just want to enjoy the ship. Castaway Cay I may try parasailing if the weather is good and spend the rest of the time snorkeling and taking underwater pictures (just bought a new camera and have to try it out).

Which camera did you get? I have the Olympus SW something or other and love it!!! It's the waterproof/drop-proof/freeze proof thing. It's great!! I'm getting one for my mom for Christmas since she washed the last camera I gave her. "No mom. The camera I gave you wasn't waterproof. Why do you ask???"

 

[Phil & Deborah]

Which camera did you get? I have the Olympus SW something or other and love it!!! It's the waterproof/drop-proof/freeze proof thing. It's great!! I'm getting one for my mom for Christmas since she washed the last camera I gave her. "No mom. The camera I gave you wasn't waterproof. Why do you ask???"

I have the Pentax W90, 12.1 megapixels (Lime green); got it using points with airmiles. It is also dustproof and shockproof, but they say you have to get the seals checked yearly (always a catch). Can't wait to try it out on the cruise.
Phil.

 

[Sheria21]

Well I am now broading my searches here on the DISboards and stumbled upon the DISigners. WoW! I now have spend sereral hours looking at T-Shirt Desgins for our cruise. I am now coming up with more ideas of things I need to do now... ha ha

I did think of another question... Is the Castaway Cay 5k something I can count on being there? What do you know about it? Is is just for the runners or can their familes attend too? I have not yet searched that question on the boards yet cuz I am too busy looking at the DISigns. Maybe that will be next ?!?

Countin' down the days!

 

[Phil & Deborah]

Just received my airline times from disney, this is the final step before leaving. Only have to get to the airport now
Phil.

 

[warbiespig]

Were waiting for or cruise info to be delivered (were in the uk so im not sure when it will be delivered) and waiting for our airline tickets from virgin oh yes and one more pay day so i have all my spending money ready to visit the main mouse

 

[Sheria21]

oh yes and one more pay day so i have all my spending money ready to visit the main mouse

I second that!!! I hope to have many pay days before hand, but doesn't look that will happen

 

[katmania]

Hi, everyone! I've been following the thread recently and it's about time I make an appearance! There will be 7 of us on this cruise: me, DH, DD6, DD4, my parents, and DSIL. It's the first Disney Cruise for my parents, and the first cruise of any type for the rest of us! We're getting very excited! We're planning to do the dolphin excursion at Nassau, and just wing it at Castaway Cay.

We're thinking of dressing for Halloween. Our family wants to be Kim Possible characters: Kim, Ron, Rufus, and Shego, if we can swing the costume. Extended family may include a pirate, Pochahontas and Meeko.

The tips have been very helpful - particularly the ice cream and cookie-related tips. I would like to live in a world where I could have giant chocolate chip cookies delivered to my bedroom every night.

We would love to join the FE exchange - I'll email you the information, Allison. Thanks for organizing it!

-- Kathryn

 

[jfstorm2001]

Hi everyone! getting close to time!!!!!!!!!! I am jumping up and down right now because we just found out the Main Mouse decided to upgrade our stateroom! we booked late and only got the guarantee hold; and I noticed tonight as I printed out the paperwork that we had a stateroom assigned. I have to admit I was NOT happy when I saw it as it was Deck 2 when I had booked a Cat. 11 (decks 6,7,8)! I called DCL and got ready to show my "ahem" thinking we got the old cat 12 rooms (they are now 11c I think) and found out they upgraded us to a Cat. 9 and our AAA person got us several free extras like a bonus credit, floats at CC, and best of all chocolates and cakes delivered for my son's Bday!!! Kewl!
So, we are definately dressing up for both Halloween and Pirate night, and DS is not really happy about formal night but he has his clothes ready now. ugh, 6'2" at 13 is a bear to buy for. So do we have any other teens onboard yet?? He is asking what is new each night I talk to him. Allison, I'm apparently an idiot, because I cannot find the email address for the FE Exchange. I'll look again after this post. BTW, anyone who has not yet booked a room the night before the cruise, almost all the hotels in the area are booked. There is a big air show that weekend. We are going to arrive a day early and do the Space center then take the kayak tour that afternoon. there is a cool tour advertised that takes you thru at dusk/night and you get to see the bioluminescence in the river. booked a room for $100 that includes shuttle service and free parking, so that ends up saving more dough to cover Atlantis. Looks like any way you go Auquaventure is gonna run at least $300 for the two of us. I'm ready to go NOW! 47 days is a long time!

 

[jfstorm2001]

Were waiting for or cruise info to be delivered (were in the uk so im not sure when it will be delivered) and waiting for our airline tickets from virgin oh yes and one more pay day so i have all my spending money ready to visit the main mouse

wow, 3 weeks at POR! That will be awesome! French Quarter or Riverside? We stayed there back in June and had a blast enjoying the unsung things at the resort. Fishing and Kayaking were an absolutely fantastic and inexpensive way to relax and enjoy the "feel" of Riverside. Enjoy the Beinets!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Hi everyone! getting close to time!!!!!!!!!! I am jumping up and down right now because we just found out the Main Mouse decided to upgrade our stateroom! we booked late and only got the guarantee hold; and I noticed tonight as I printed out the paperwork that we had a stateroom assigned. I have to admit I was NOT happy when I saw it as it was Deck 2 when I had booked a Cat. 11 (decks 6,7,8)! I called DCL and got ready to show my "ahem" thinking we got the old cat 12 rooms (they are now 11c I think) and found out they upgraded us to a Cat. 9 and our AAA person got us several free extras like a bonus credit, floats at CC, and best of all chocolates and cakes delivered for my son's Bday!!! Kewl!
So, we are definately dressing up for both Halloween and Pirate night, and DS is not really happy about formal night but he has his clothes ready now. ugh, 6'2" at 13 is a bear to buy for. So do we have any other teens onboard yet?? He is asking what is new each night I talk to him. Allison, I'm apparently an idiot, because I cannot find the email address for the FE Exchange. I'll look again after this post. BTW, anyone who has not yet booked a room the night before the cruise, almost all the hotels in the area are booked. There is a big air show that weekend. We are going to arrive a day early and do the Space center then take the kayak tour that afternoon. there is a cool tour advertised that takes you thru at dusk/night and you get to see the bioluminescence in the river. booked a room for $100 that includes shuttle service and free parking, so that ends up saving more dough to cover Atlantis. Looks like any way you go Auquaventure is gonna run at least $300 for the two of us. I'm ready to go NOW! 47 days is a long time!

I wouldn't go crazy for formal night. The Wonder is less dressy than the Magic just because its a shorter cruise and people tend to pack lighter. While we did full dress up on Formal Night last year on the Magic we are only doing semi-formal (sun dresses for the girls and black dress pants for DH).

 

[warbiespig]

wow, 3 weeks at POR! That will be awesome! French Quarter or Riverside? We stayed there back in June and had a blast enjoying the unsung things at the resort. Fishing and Kayaking were an absolutely fantastic and inexpensive way to relax and enjoy the "feel" of Riverside. Enjoy the Beinets!

We're staying at Riverside we booked por as a package holiday then later we decided to use our dvc points to stay for three nights at kidani village and then dh booked this cruise so we have an action packed three weeks dh has already decided he is going fishing quite a few times over the three weeks

 

[Sheria21]

So it sounds like some people are receiving details on there cruise yet? I haven't I am now excited to get something. Is this early or when do you think I will receive something? I am excited to see what room I am in now.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

So it sounds like some people are receiving details on there cruise yet? I haven't I am now excited to get something. Is this early or when do you think I will receive something? I am excited to see what room I am in now.

It's still very early yet. I don't expect to see the documents for at least another 3 or 4 weeks. You should start seeing GTY staterooms soon though. Log on to your reservation on DCL and the stateroom number may be there.

 

[warbiespig]

Hi weve booked our cruise using our DVC points does anyone know if we get free wifi like we do in the resorts? i know its a long shot but i thought i would ask

 

[frangi]

Just checking in and saying hi.... I am into day 10 of my craziness till I leave. No more days off for. I work everyday 12 hours +. 11am till midnight and before that planning my day. This vacation can't come quick enough. I may crack soon!!!

Hope everyone else is having non stressful days!!!!

Tony