11/06/04 Western New and Improved Official Thread!

[MiaSRN62]

Thanks to all of you for posting the links to Paradise Beach in Cozumel. I was trying to check on the rental prices of the water toys they have there but couldn't find any info.

As for the lime green Mickey Heads---if your HD is out of lime green, I'm sure the lightest green they have will work fine. I'm getting really excited now because our CRUISE DOCS ARRIVED TODAY !!!! Well, at least in part........my dh and ds did. Still waiting on mine and my two dd's.

As for the speculation about Grand Caymen......I don't want to get myself too excited, but boy would that be super if this port was back on our itinerary !!!!

It was cold here in PA this morning too ! Woke up to upper 30's and frost outside. And to boot, I've caught an early case of the flu. I was practically bed-ridden Mon and Tues. Today I'm just so-so. I'm praying the rest of my family doesn't catch this from me so close to our trip !

 

[Mindymom]

Sherry,

My family is arriving on Thursday the 4th and we have late dinner seating.

(myself, DM, DF, DS11 & DD9)



Somebody actually received their cruise docs!! How exciting . Can't wait.

Mindy

 

[thumpery]

I need to confess, I've been a lurker for over a month - everyday I've been watching since I found this site! Finally, I registered!

We are also going to be on the Magic Nov 6th cruise! We've been booked since January, 2003. It's been a LONG wait, but it'll be sooo worth it. We're a party of 4, myself, DH, DS11, DS9. Early dinner seating. We were on the Eastern cruise back in April, 2002. We loved it so much that as soon as we got off the boat I starting looking into going again. Now it is almost time! WE'RE SO EXCITED!

I also need to say THANKS! I have learned so much for you guys. I even saved $ on my rental car.

I do have one question I'd like to ask. I have read that the Wonder characters will sign pillowcases if you leave them at Guest Services. Will the Magic do this?

Thanks again - you all seem like wonderful people!

 

[makaira]

I also admit to being a lurker here and also thank everyone for the valuable info I have learned.

My wife and I and DS9, DD7, DS4 will be on the Nov 6 cruise, our first, and are all very excited. Right now will be at late seating (hoping to get early). Arriving Friday.

Hope to see lots of you on board.

 

[scottygirl]

MiaSRN62,

Hope your feeling better. I have a wicked sinus headache! I took an Allegra-D. Better to be sick now! DS10 just got over bronchitis and walking pneumonia, and he is NEVER sick. I was going to get everyone the Flu shot but now there is a shortage and they are asking that only the frail, elderly and chronic get the shot. You are the first to get your DOC's! I keep looking for mine.

Welcome to thumpery and makaira. I hope you join in with our chats and come to the DISmeet! Sorry, I can't answer your pillowcase question as this is my first DCL cruise.

I just looked at my counter and we will be leaving for our cruise in less than 30 days!! Where are my DOCS!!!

TTFN,

Jackie

 

[MiaSRN62]

Hi Scottygirl ~
Thanks....I'm feeling better today than I have the past three days. I'm on the mend and just hoping the rest of my family doesn't get this. I've been going a little crazy with handwashing and Lysol spraying !
I also want to say "welcome" to thumpery and makaira
Thumpery, I'm not 100% sure about the pillowcases but I believe they will do the same as the Wonder. This is only my second cruise. Makaira---here's hoping you get the early seating you want.
As for the docs....from reading these boards, it seems they can arrive anywhere from 2-4 weeks in advance on average. Here's hoping everyone gets their's soon.

 

[makaira]

Let me ask a question re: early seating. Has anyone been successful switching to early seating from late once they board? I keep checking but am told I'm still on the wait list. We are staying in PC and plan to be at the terminal early.

 

[CatLady]

I got home today, and DH had been to Home Depot to pick up lime green Mickey heads! I think my sister suspects that we have lost it.

I'm ready to go NOW, except for the whole getting packed, thing...

 

[confal1]

YEEEEHAAAA!!!! I just got my documents for the Nov. 6th Cruise!!!!

 

[WheresGoofy]

Our last cruise, we changed from late to early once boarding the ship without a problem. There should be a good chance you can change too this time.

 

[jjgarv]

to all the new-comers! And thank you for the tip re: Tchoup Choup. We may have to rethink that because DH and my Dad are BIG eaters! We joke that my dad eats everything on his plate, including the garnishes!

Can't believe that some folks have gotten their docs already. That's awesome! I want to have t-shirts made for my family who is cruising as well. It will also be my sister's 30th birthday while on board...hee hee! So much to do, so little time!

I'm a little concerned about some of the recent negative feedback re: Costa Maya. What are your thoughts? Any one have a good idea what they will do there, if we can't go to Grand Cayman? I'm sort of the official "cruise director" for my family who has never done a Disney cruise, and I want to have a good idea of what we're getting into. I've created a spreadsheet of our week on the ship, including ports, characters breakfast, AM/PM excursions, dinner locations and themes, etc. I even added some fun clipart...my family (and DH, for that matter) thinks I've gone nuts and teases me about it, but whenever I threaten to "resign," they beg me to keep up the planning!

Oh well! Gotta start hitting the tanning bed! LOL

Jennifer


PS I'm in PA near Harrisburg, and I had to scrape ice off my windshield yesterday morning!

 

[CatLady]

I'm not sure what to suggest if you don't go to Tchoup Choup. What sort of food are you looking for? I'm sure I can make some recommendations, being a local.

Gee, I'm glad I'm not the only one with a spreadsheet. I have even have various tabs on my spreadsheet for packing, scheduling, etc.

I have mixed feelings about Costa Maya right now. I talked to a friend who was there on a cruise earlier this year (different cruise line) who said it wasn't a great port, but I think that we will make the best of it and take the ruins excursion. Having seen the ruins in Cozumel (not worth the time it takes unless you're going to take the ferry to the mainland and see Tulum), I'm kind of interested to see ruins that have pyramids.

On the other hand, I have always wanted to see Grand Cayman... but I don't think I want to see Grand Cayman if it's in as bad a condition as reports have said. I can see plenty of hurricane damage right here in my own back yard (literally!), and I would feel funny about being in the way of recovery efforts if they're still ongoing there. Hard call.

We're starting to waver about what to do in Key West. I checked the Port of Key West web site and we are scheduled to dock at Pier B, not far from Mallory Square. I was hoping we would dock at the Cruise Ship Mole, which is close to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park (beaches, snorkeling)... so we're trying to decide whether to rethink snorkeling there or not. Decisions, decisions!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

YEEEEHAAAA!!!! I just got my documents for the Nov. 6th Cruise!!!!

Yeah ! Glad you got them confal1---anyone else yet ?

DH had been to Home Depot to pick up lime green Mickey heads! I think my sister suspects that we have lost it.

LOL.....well at least you and your dh will be in good company on the ship because I'll be off to get the lime green Mickey heads today too ! I guess your sister will think we're all a little goofy

I'm a little concerned about some of the recent negative feedback re: Costa Maya. What are your thoughts? Any one have a good idea what they will do there,

I'm still on the fence about Costa Maya (still hoping for GC). I think after hearing how the beach wasn't too clean and the snorkeling excursion left much to be desired, we may just check out the free pool at the port and do a little shopping then spend most of the day on the Magic.

and I would feel funny about being in the way of recovery efforts if they're still ongoing there. Hard call.

I agree with what CatLady said here, but otoh, I've read how much they depend on the tourist dollar for their livelihood and I'm sure they need money now more than ever. But I wouldn't want to dock there if it looks like a war zone and we would be in the way of recovery efforts. I really feel for those people there.

 

[sjcubedofct]

My thoughts regarding Costa Maya... any place is better than CT. It will be warm, sunny and someplace we've never been. If we don't like it, we go back to the ship... yet another place that is better, warmer and sunnier than CT.

Sherry

 

[jel0511]

I was doing some research on another trip, here is the post on the Cruise Board.

http://130.94.75.33/showthread.php?s=&threadid=659508

Anyway, I also found on the cayman.org website that the Caymans aren't opening to tourists BEFORE November 15th, which is after our scheduled stop of November 9th. Here is the quote from the website:

However, the CI government has announced that Cayman will be start to re-open for tourism on or about 15 November 2004 -- in time for US Thanksgiving vacations. Please note that, independant of immigration rules, some tourist properties and companies may not be open for quite some time to come.

It looks like Costa Maya here we come!!!

 

[thumpery]

Just wondering if anyone knows if this cruise is full.

My sons made a calendar today to count down the days! We are so excited. Bought water cameras and even tuxes for them today. (Cheaper to buy the tuxes at Marshall's than rent through Disney.) We have had this vacation planned for almost 2 years and are really doing it up!

We leaving Wednesday, Nov. 3rd for 3 days of WDW and then OFF TO THE MAGIC!

As far as Costa Maya - I'm pretty disappointed but will make it the best of it. One of the first things we planned when we book the cruise was to swim with the Stingrays, and I've always wanted to go to Grand Cayman. Oh Well, will just have to book another cruise!

 

[MiaSRN62]

As far as Costa Maya - I'm pretty disappointed but will make it the best of it. One of the first things we planned when we book the cruise was to swim with the Stingrays, and I've always wanted to go to Grand Cayman. Oh Well, will just have to book another cruise!

My sentiments exactly.......GC was probably the deciding factor in our choosing the Western over the Eastern itinerary. As for another cruise.....my oldest is 17......just not sure he'll accompany us on another cruise. This was probably our last opportunity to do the sting ray snorkel and see GC as a family.
Oh well......like jel0511 said, it beats staying home.

 

[jel0511]

I'm also bummed about GC, and still hold out hope we'll get there, but is is looking VERY bleak. DH and I took our first ever vacation together to Grand Cayman, 12 years ago. It holds a lot of memories for us, and we were looking forward to visiting Stingray City with our kids. I'm kind of disappointed with Costa Maya, based on the reviews it's received so far. I'm definately going to do an excursion with DCL, but I just don't know which one. Hopefully, DCL will make an announcement shortly so all of us can look over the excursions and decide.

 

[lUVTOGO]

Oh Well, The kids are going to be so dissapointed!! So what is there to do in Costa Maya?

I didn't see anything interesting on the excursions. I guess we can get off and go to the beach. And shopping is always fun!!

I still haven't decided what to do in Key West. Our neighbors are not plan ahead people, so we will probably wing it. The only thing their son asked to do is snorkel and swim with the stingrays.

We did get to book Paolo's Tuesday Night thru our TA, so that is good.

I do have about 5 extra Mickey Heads from Home Depot so I will bring them to the DisMeet on Saturday!!

I do need to get some pillowcases also. On our last cruise we brought them to Guest Services, and when we went to pick them up they were no where to be found. So we will try again this cruise.

Maryann

P.S. Karen (Jerry112) when are you going to stop in and visit??

 

[jerry112]

Hi Maryann,

Wednesdays are the best days for me to get a chance to stop in and say hi. Of course that is the one day you don't work! I'm still
hoping to make it in before we leave for the first leg of our trip on Nov. 1. (3 weeks!!!)

Still waiting for those docs! So much to do, so little time.

Karen