11/01/03 Eastern Cruisers, I know you're out there!!!

[twhipple]

tagall4, I'll try to answer some of your questions.

Dolphin excursion: look back in this thread, we had some discussions about it. You can do it on your own and it may be a little cheaper, especially for the watchers.

Suit for DH: If you plan to eat in the dining rotation rooms on Sunday and/or Thursday, you want a suit. My DH will be wearing a tux for whichever one is formal now (I think it's still Sunday) and a suit for the other. He'll also wear a suit to Palos. We're renting the tux from Cruiseline Formals.

Dinner Rotations: Doesn't have to do with booking Palos (directly). Each night you will move to another dining room for dinner. Your waitstaff will follow you. You will have the same table number, but in a different room. Last year we started in Lumieres the first night, Animators Palate on Sunday, and Parrot Cay Monday. Then you repeat. There are 4 special dinners during the week which everyone has in every restaurant that day. You will have the menu from the particular restaurant for meals on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. If you want to see the menus, look at Dave's site (dcltribute.com) or Barb and Tony's site (castawayclub.com). Both have copies of the menus for all 7 nights.

Palos: Palos is for adults only and is wonderful. What we did for Palos last time was to see what our rotation was going to be, determine which night we were willing to give up dinner at our regular rotation, and booked then. What some people do is double dip. Make an early Palos reservation if you have late dining and go to both (or the other way around). We picked the night that didn't have very much we were interested in trying and decided to go just for a second dessert to our normal rotation.

Hope this helps. If I messed anything up everyone, please correct me!

 

[dis4me]

hey tagall4 Wht distric tdo you work in?m I taught special ed in Hazlet and Union beach until last year when my son was born and I resigned. Do you have the whole week off?
Twhipple your answers looked good to me

 

[pann]

I'm so glad to see that there will be kids of the same ages as mine. 8 y.o. girl & 14 y.o. girl. This is our 1st Disney Cruise & have been counting the days. We hated to take the girls out of school, but it was the only time we could do it. We will just have to work hard before & after the time. We are not from Jersey, but the mid-west.
Counting the Days!!!!

 

[dis4me]

Welcome Pann

 

[debralisa]

So glad to see more people on board!! WOOHOO!!

My DS will start kindergarten in NJ this next week, after Labor day (and my daughter's 3rd birthday).

We are actually using the DCL air deviation out of Newark, so we are in the minority here...BUT we didn't need to pay any extra over the fee per seated passenger for the deviation itself AND we are covered this way if anything happens weatherwise/arilinewise, etc....DCL picks up the tab. With a family of 6, I figured this was the way to go this time around. We are also flying down of Halloween eve (I think we leave around 7pm from NJ). We will also be staying in the Hyatt at the Airport. Then we will take the DCL transport to the ship.

Can't wait!! We are renewing our wedding vows on the ship Nov. 6 and having some of our friends join in with us who are also on the cruise (masonpips is one!! WOOHOO!!). I have my first fitting in two weeks for my dress and can't believe it is right around the corner!!

Debbie

 

[dis4me]

Masonpips I hope you don't mind I copied your list and added the newcomers. Anyone missing?

The un-official Nov 1 cruise list:

jel0511 - Lori, DH (mid-30's), DD (5), DS (2.5)
masonpips - Debby, dh (37), DS (6), DD (4)
debralisa - Debbie, dh (mid-30's), DS1 (6), DD1 (4), DD2 (3), DS2 (~2)
sweetspot, DH (30's) and DS13, DS11 and DD8
savsawmom - Theresa, dh (mid-30's), DD (6), DS (3)
Thumpersmom - Myself, DH (35), DS (7)
+ My parents-(mid 50's)
+ Friends (30's)
+ Brother, SIL( both 32) and my niece (4)
+ Brother and girlfriend (27 and 23)
+ Michelson's - DS (1) (friends)
+ Foss's-grandparents of the Michelson's
+ Herrera's- DS1 (turns 3 in December), DS2 (9 mos)
+ Garcia's-grandparents of the Herrera boys plus another grandson (8)
twhipple (35) and dh (48)
grimgrinnin, dw (32)
goofysgirl, dh, DD1 (15), DD2 (12), DD3 (8)
lruggiero, dh, DS (4), mom, DNiece1 (16), DNiece2 (14)
esietz (Ephie), dh (Steve) (mid 30's) DS1 Nathaniel (10), DS2 Jonah (almost 7)
dis4me, dh (30 somethings) DD1 (8), DD2 (7), DS (1)
CRenze, SIL, DNephew1 (12), DNephew2 (10)
pann dd(8) dd(14)
tagall4 ds(14) ds(12) dd(8)
Friends dd(5) ds (12) ds (9)
Lisa_from_NJ dh, dd(3)
MJwritestuff dd(7) dd(8 almost 9) ds(8 almost 9)
vacationfinatic(38) dh(39)ds(9) ds(5)
her sister triplets 2 dd ds(5)
Bronco Joe ds(12) dd(8 almost 9)
mrspat2 dd(9) dd(7)

Please forgive me if I missed anyone. Feel free to add or change any mistakes.

 

[tagall4]

twhipple, thanx for getting back to me on some of those issues.
Do we definitely need a tux? I know my dh will not not be thrilled about that...a suit on vacation is enough for him. We want to book a night at Palos also. I just wasn't sure if one restaurant would be better to miss than another. Checking out the menu would make sense - duh. Thanx for Dave's site. I had Castawayclub but it's good to keep posting it so other's see it.

Dis4me, Thanks for the updated list. I found out the other nite that a dd friend (8) and her bro (11 or 12) are on our trip too. She's traveling with an aunt & family. I'll see if I can find out more info on them. I live and teach in Toms River. Last year I made a big move out of self-contained and into resource and inclusion-8th gr. This year I'll be teaching all inclusion in 7th. It was a great change. I'm not even dreading going back next week. You took a big step in resigning - Enjoy!

Debralisa, Congratultions!!!!!!! What a great idea. How many years?

To all concerned, we do not have the whole week off, only Th.-Fr.
My ds will miss a whole week of private HS because they don't get off for convention. I'm not too worried, he's a good student.

Hey, I just went back thru some of the thread. Can't remember who it was...but I grew up in Raritan, somerset cty. Keep wondering if we'll know who anyone is.

Got to run again. But I'll be checking back frequently, atleast till school starts.

 

[dis4me]

tagall4 My dh has not worn a tux on any of our dcl cruises. Some people do, many do not. It is up to your own person preference. he will definately need a suit for the formal nights though.
I did inclusion for a few years when it was first introduced here. However many older teachers were against it andit was not received well.I am glad to hear things have changed and you enjoy it. I loved resource room pullout. The small group seemed to make a difference for my students. have a great school year.
Ps We lived in Brick for a while when we were first married.

 

[Masonpips]

Hi everyone and welcome to our new people! Dis4me, thanks for updating the list!

We booked a private charter for St. Thomas so that's taken care of and we plan to go to Orient Beach by taxi in St. Maarten, plus do some shopping so I think our activities are ready. I started my cruise box (formally) this weekend. Now I have a spot to actually put everything I've been stuffing in drawers over the last few months!

My dh will rent a tux, but last year was the first time since our wedding (1996) that he had worn one (we laughed about that going to Palo's) so we still find it fun to dress up! It is not required by any means however. We did like the fact that it was less clothing for him to pack too!

I ordered a bunch of stuff from OrientalTrading.com so I am ready for any Halloween activities. I got a bunch of tattoos for the kids and stuff like that. We have our reservations at the Radisson already too!

And, last but not least, the weight bench has made it up from the basement to our bedroom and we are in the process of trying to get back in shape (oh how age plays evil tricks on the body). Luckily I think with 9+ weeks to go, we have plenty of time!

 

[Bronco Joe]

Originally posted by Masonpips
Dh (you did it right, dear husband, or another D word of your choice if you're not happy with him)

I thought it was "Disney" husband/wife/etc....

 

[lruggiero]

Debbie-

Hi,
Just curious, what is the DCL deviation flight from Newark?

 

[lruggiero]

Where is everyone???


Has anyone had to make their final payment yet?

 

[twhipple]

I made my final payment a couple weeks ago. Since I'm going on two cruises two weeks apart, one came due so I paid for both. I also wanted to get both on this credit card statement (using Disney card) so that I could earn the most DreamDollars possible only my TA messed up and only got one of the cruises in before the end of my billing cycle. I ordered the dollars and was told it only takes about 3 weeks, so I should have time to get more with the next statement!

Time to start organizing everything. I've got my packing lists and have some stuff set aside. Once we get past September 18, I won't expect any overnight guests before vacation and the guest bedroom turns into Packing Central!!

 

[Masonpips]

I paid DU about 10 days ago or so, once the Fl resident rates came out and it ended up being less for us to stay where we were with our onboard credit (we were going to swap people with our friends). Luckily they still got to take advantage of the better rates!

I have clothing hung up (DD's dresses, DS's tux), a box of kid stuff ready (clothing and OrientalTrading stuff) and a box of other stuff (suntan lotion, disposable cameras, shoe holder, etc.).

We're going to the lake this weekend so once we get back, I can de-summer my house of stuff and start moving what I need of it into my packing area!

 

[dis4me]

We paid last week.I was hoping the earlier I paid the better chance of getting fist seating.No such luck.Oh well I will try and get it on the ship.If not we will make do,we may wind up loving it. I still don't have my stateroom yet so i am anxiously awaiting that info.

 

[Bronco Joe]

We made our final payment a couple of weeks ago through our travel agent. We just received our charter member pin for the Disney Credit Card, too.

 

[tagall4]

We don't have a balance. We booked thru DVC. Hopefullly, all will work out well and we won't hit any snags. Everything has been easy so far.

Metting place...Deck 7....1st day...but what time?

walkers/joggers...any concrete plans yet?

2 days till school starts, but only 60 till departure

oh! almost forgot. Are we allowed to bring small cooler on board with drinks? I'm reading conflicting accounts on other threads.

 

[strasfamily]

I haven't seen the other threads saying you can't, but I haven't been keeping up very well either.

Maybe post a new thread to the people that have just returned to see if they were still able to bring a cooler?

 

[SweetSpot]

The documents you receive before you cruise say that you aren't allowed to bring coolers. They mean hardsided coolers. DCL is fine with you bringing on your own beverages. Last year we brought beer and soda onboard and had no problems at all. I packed the cases in roll on luggage and the porter took it from us and it was delivered to our room. I packed a collapsible cooler which our room steward refilled with ice everyday. We had absolutely no problem and we very upfront about what was in the luggage. I plan on doing the same thing again this year.

It is important to mention we did not fly. If you do you will probably have to buy your beverages on the way to the port.

 

[dis4me]

Hey all I just bought our tickets to MNSSHP on Halloween night.I realize it will be very crowded but since we usually miss Halloween by a few days we figured we would take advantage. Sorry that we will miss the trick or treat at the Radison though It sounds like alot of fun.
Is any one else going to MNSSHP on 10/31?