11/06/11 Dream 4 Day

[bellebud]

Cubes, folders and rolling duffle bags. Again, still not sure why people don't talk about the folders? I learned about them from someone who does a lot of cruising and I think they are invaluable for the button front camp shirts.

Suits and tuxes go in a folding garment bag.

ah yes, I should have also said folder. I've looked at those online and in the luggage store too. I like them - but again, feel like putting them on hangers in a garment bag is easier (??). They also look neat! I love all these packing gadgets and accessories... totally up my alley, whether I need them or not!

 

[leelee9878]

Can someone please explain the checking in online/boarding time to me? I've been on 3 Disney cruises and don't recall this for them, I've just checked in online at some point before the cruise and went to the port and waited in line. Is this a new thing, that you get your boarding time when you check in online?

 

[bellebud]

Can someone please explain the checking in online/boarding time to me? I've been on 3 Disney cruises and don't recall this for them, I've just checked in online at some point before the cruise and went to the port and waited in line. Is this a new thing, that you get your boarding time when you check in online?

someone else may answer you better... but from what I understand this is new as of August. They have you pick a time you'll be at the port, and you cannot get in the port area before that time.

Is that right everyone?

 

[iankh]

someone else may answer you better... but from what I understand this is new as of August. They have you pick a time you'll be at the port, and you cannot get in the port area before that time.

Is that right everyone?

Selecting a check-in window started earlier this year. I had to do it for our April 5th Mexican Rivera cruise. Beginning August DCL has started enforcing check-in times.

As I understand it they did it because of the new larger ships and to manage what had become overcrowding in the terminals.

So, yes, it is relatively new.

 

[iankh]

Shirely does wonderful work! We're considering a basket for the great neices this trip. The baskets are delivered to the ship in the morning and brought on board just like all the other supplies they are loading onto the ship.


.

Please don't be shy about sending gifts to our room too.

 

[PHILCT]

Hi Everyone !

I did the excursion and check in activities last night at 3 PM. I was surprised how short a window the Atlantis Adventure had for about 5 hours total, but that actually is probably long enough for the water park, but I wouldn't mind staying a little longer to check out the rest of the resort and casino.

I was hoping to snag a Palo Brunch, but that was all taken.
This is kind of sad, considering that me and Jay are dieting and yet still looking forward to WDW and Disney Cruise Restaurants.
It is like a fast before the feast.
Anyone else dieting?

I was surprised about all the excursion and rental stuff on Castaway Cay.
The only thing I am thinking of adding is the tube floats, but I'm not sure if you can use them at the adult beach?

In about one week. my fish extender pocket hanging thingy will arrive, I am curious to see how much can fit in each pocket, as I keep planning my fish extender gifts.

I am going back and forth to OFFICE DEPOT to laminate 8.5 by 11 sheets for turning them into Stateroom Door Magnets. I am wondering how sensitive the airport scanners will be to all the magnetic squares and circles we are bringing? I need another suitcase for all this stuff !


Phil & Jay

 

[ibouncetoo]

So I still have a question about boarding numbers... just say you're staying at MCO Hilton the night before, and have disney transfers to the port. You go down to the mco desk at 8am, check in (I've read you get your pic taken there, cabin door card, and ship boarding group number). Then at around 9am you get on the disney bus and get taken to the port.

Since we'll be at an Orlando hotel (not disney, but only a few miles from MCO), as I posted this morning, I checked in on-line at 3am and picked 11am for a check-in time. So that's when we're allowed in the port gate. Then we get in line w/ all the other 11am people, and get checked in there (pic, cabin door card, boarding group number).

BUT, if people have been checking in from the Hilton since 8am, won't all the early group boarding numbers already be gone with the people coming in on the disney cruise bus, since they've already been through the whole check-in process already?

What it comes down to is... I'd love the earliest boarding number we can get, since we'll be in Orlando already. I'd have us take a cab from our hotel to MCO at 7am, and just wait at the Disney cruise terminal desk until it opened, and check in there and get a ship boarding number and take the disney bus over.

So if anyone knows how the boarding numbers work (how they're given out at MCO really), I'd love any advice on that.

For surprising our kids, that would be a cool way to do it too... they'd think we're going to MCO to get on a plane to go home to NY, but we'd be getting on the Disney Cruise bus. That would be fun!

AND... so how do you all pack? Cubes?? Garment bags?? Regular luggage??
Come on, let's talk about packing... my dh doesn't want to hear it anymore

OK, first of all it is the HYATT at MCO (not Hilton). And I don't believe you can do the complete cruise check in at the Hyatt unless you stayed at the hotel. Folks who head back to the airport to catch the DCL bus do that at the airport TERMINAL Disney check in area (I believe that is the same place as Magical Express for the parks, but someone will need to verify that). But I havent done this since 2008 and things have changed since then (we did not do complete cruise check in back then).

Depending on how many of you there are, it may be less expensive (or close to the same amount) to hire a town car to take you directly from your hotel to the port, and you would have total control over pick up and arrival time. And most of them allow for a grocery stop on the way too!

Also, the difference between a boarding number 2 and a boarding number 5 is about 10 minutes. I've had boarding number 13 and been on the ship before 12:30. Personally, I don't think it's anything to stress over. Some folks have gotten into the terminal shortly after 11 and by the time they've checked in DCL is already doing open boarding (siince everyone isn't showing up at 10AM now the 'flow' is much faster).

.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Can someone please explain the checking in online/boarding time to me? I've been on 3 Disney cruises and don't recall this for them, I've just checked in online at some point before the cruise and went to the port and waited in line. Is this a new thing, that you get your boarding time when you check in online?

Now you will want to complete your online checkin right away, so you can process all the way through to selecting the boarding time. I know some folks who prefer to arrive between 12 and 1PM...after the early birds are out of the way, but before the DCL buses from the resorts arrive.

And just so everyone is clear it is your terminal ARRIVAL time you are selecting not a BOARDING time. Right now, boarding cards are still handed out by castmembers in the terminal and don't appear to have anything to do with your scheduled port arrival time.

Hi Everyone !

I was hoping to snag a Palo Brunch, but that was all taken.
This is kind of sad, considering that me and Jay are dieting and yet still looking forward to WDW and Disney Cruise Restaurants.
It is like a fast before the feast.
Anyone else dieting?

I was surprised about all the excursion and rental stuff on Castaway Cay.
The only thing I am thinking of adding is the tube floats, but I'm not sure if you can use them at the adult beach?


Phil & Jay

Some of us attempting to diet pre-cruise. I've spent so many weeks gaining and loosing and gaining the same 3-4 pounds that I finally bit the bullet and joined Weight Watchers this past Sunday. It's pretty obvious that I need the structure and monitering to keep me on track!

You can rent floats and tubes right at the adult beach, no need to schlep them from the family beach area. Just don't doze off in your tube and float out into the wide blue ocean!

.

 

[iankh]

Some of us attempting to diet pre-cruise. I've spent so many weeks gaining and loosing and gaining the same 3-4 pounds that I finally bit the bullet and joined Weight Watchers this past Sunday. It's pretty obvious that I need the structure and monitering to keep me on track!



.

Weight Watcher? I've never heard if it. Is it any good?

 

[bellebud]

Please don't be shy about sending gifts to our room too.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Weight Watcher? I've never heard if it. Is it any good?

Smart-alec!

.

 

[vmedisneymom]

I have been lurking but our board is really springing to life! I am happy to have our new friends joining us too! I have been paying for Weight Watchers since January and have only lost 8 lbs, but that is probably because I fall off the wagon. I got back on the wagon this a.m. My kiddo is back in school so time for me to get back on track! I have been tracking though and so I didn't gain any weight but didn't work out or eat very healthy this Summer! Today's meeting was on plateaus which I am obviously in so time to put my nose to the grindstone Can't wait to see y'all in November!

BTW - anyone worried about Castaway Cay and the hurricane? I hope it's still there when we go! Our CC day is my Birthday!

 

[ladybug23]

BTW - anyone worried about Castaway Cay and the hurricane? I hope it's still there when we go! Our CC day is my Birthday!

I am not worried, even if the Hurricane does damage - this is Disney and they would use magic to fix it up in a jiffy!

Tammy - I just sent you the FE email this afternoon! Getting really excited as I just ordered our FEs too!!! Finally something to look forward to. Well, this and the fact that the kids go back to school in 13 days!

Leslie

 

[Rather Be At WDW]

Hi, Fellow Cruisers

My husband and I will be joining you in November.

Although I have lurked for years and years, I finally broke down and registered. We're park veterans, but cruise newbies so I hope we enjoy this as much as I THINK we will!

TTFN

Linda and Merlin

 

[vmedisneymom]

I am not a veteran at any of this - but this is my second Disney cruise and I think you will love it! I didn't get to go to any Disney till I was 18 the Summer after high school, my friend and I went to Disneyland. I have been there 2 more times taking my son and my hubby and the other time my son, sister and nephew! Then we went nuts last year for my 40th and went to Epcot, Harry Potter and a Disney Cruise all firsts. This year we are back for my 41st and all the parks, Cocoa Beach and another cruise So excited! So Welcome and Good Morning everyone!

 

[ladybug23]

Castaway Cay............

I have a friend who is scheduled to go in a couple weeks. She mentioned that CC was taking a direct hit from Irene. I have jokingly told her that all it takes is faith, trust and pixie dust. I am hoping that whatever damage occurs from Irene that they can fix it up quickly. I will find out from her when she goes how "good" or "bad" the condition of the island is in. Of course, the will depend of whether they even get to go. It is still hurricane season.

I am just going to keep my fingers crossed. Spread the magic.....

Leslie

 

[bellebud]

I am not a veteran at any of this - but this is my second Disney cruise and I think you will love it! I didn't get to go to any Disney till I was 18 the Summer after high school, my friend and I went to Disneyland. I have been there 2 more times taking my son and my hubby and the other time my son, sister and nephew! Then we went nuts last year for my 40th and went to Epcot, Harry Potter and a Disney Cruise all firsts. This year we are back for my 41st and all the parks, Cocoa Beach and another cruise So excited! So Welcome and Good Morning everyone!

Wow! That's fantastic!!! What a great bday gift

 

[PHILCT]

Some of us attempting to diet pre-cruise. I've spent so many weeks gaining and loosing and gaining the same 3-4 pounds that I finally bit the bullet and joined Weight Watchers this past Sunday. It's pretty obvious that I need the structure and monitering to keep me on track!

You can rent floats and tubes right at the adult beach, no need to schlep them from the family beach area. Just don't doze off in your tube and float out into the wide blue ocean!

.

Sadly I have been diving into the Hurricane Irene emergency goodies, the weight loss has stopped for the last week, while Jay has lost another 2 pounds. Bad weather makes me want to cheat on the diet.

 

[vakamalua]

For any of you in Irene's path, stay safe. We'll be on the edge of it here in northern Virginia so it'll be a good evening to watch a movie with hurricane essentials--champagne and chocolate--and if we lose power, they go well with candlelight.

Andrea

 

[iankh]

I must be getting into the mood for a vacation. Today I created our door signs and got a little erasable magnetic whiteboard at CVS for $1.99.

Now I'm exhausted. Time to sit on the front porch.