11-29-08 Nana Heads 3: Tiara Bob & The Dreamboats Reunion Cruise CONT'D THREAD #10!

[jd99]

GOOD MORNING NANA'S!!

My kids are getting really excited!! They only have 5 more days of school before we leave for Orlando.

This Saturday we're going to do a "test packing" to see how many bags we're going to need.

So far so good.....Delta hasn't changed our fly schedule for almost 2 weeks now!

I'm going to be busy today meeting with contractors and architects, but I'll try and check in when I can.

Have a great day Nana's!!

Whatcha building Greg?

Yep! That's what we thought. I mean, on Celebrity, I would have been worried about Wyatt going, but on Disney... I'm not worried at all. In the beginning, I was worried about dinner, but now that we are eating during the Main seating, I'm not as worried, b/c it'll be more kids to drown him out!!

He doesn't have a chance with Emily at the table. You won't even know he's there, right Shell?

 

[jd99]

Anyone have that link to the tipping site so I can be pre-prepared with all my tip envelopes before we sail?

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Lorna,
I never got the vote you said you were sending this weekend. I figure you just got busy. So I am just giving you a reminder.



I think there are still 3 or 4 people who havnt voted for the identities of Elmer, Verna and the Inspector.

Please send your votes this week if your going to vote so I can send the totals to Shell to announce at the meet.


Do your nanahead duty and cast your vote soon

Thankyou,

Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Anyone have that link to the tipping site so I can be pre-prepared with all my tip envelopes before we sail?

server $28
asst server $21
head server $7
stateroom host $28


Per person

 

[jd99]

Lorna,
I never got the vote you said you were sending this weekend. I figure you just got busy. So I am just giving you a reminder.



I think there are still 3 or 4 people who havnt voted for the identities of Elmer, Verna and the Inspector.

Please send your votes this week if your going to vote so I can send the totals to Shell to announce at the meet.


Do your nanahead duty and cast your vote soon

Thankyou,

Kathy

No vote from me. I wasn't paying close enough attention...

 

[jd99]

server $28
asst server $21
head server $7
stateroom host $28


Per person

Kathy - are those the new guidelines or the old ones. They updated them last summer right before our Mexican Riviera...

 

[dsparks]

Tonya, that WAS a great post! And definitely why we keep booking the same time of year over and over and over again. lol

CMom, the Magic Kingdom Fireworks will be at 9 pm on Friday. The best view will be from the Polynesian beach.

That's where we are heading too on Thursday! 9 p.m. Polynesian!

 

[lvstitch]

Hello Everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend.

Now that it's getting closer to the cruise, I am REALLY getting excited.

I have a question for all of you who have sailed on Disney before...

Why did you choose Disney? There are a lot of cruise lines out there and we are hoping Disney is a great one for us. But, I am curious as to why you all chose Disney too? I know some of you are going b/c your friends are going. But why Disney? Reasons other than b/c you enjoy the company of your BFFs. It really just for fun, to see why others cruise with Disney. It'll give us newbies something to look forward too.

Give me your answers!!!

My answer for choosing Disney is b/c we thought it would be great for Wyatt.

#1 Reason - We love all things Disney (which is why we chose them for our first cruise)

Why we continued to sail with them:

#1 Reason - Amazing Service
#2 Reason - Catered to Adults
#3 Reason - Cleanliness
#4 Reason - Castaway Cay

 

[TiggerKing]

Anyone have that link to the tipping site so I can be pre-prepared with all my tip envelopes before we sail?

Hey Jeff:

When we got our docs, it actually had a page that showed the tipping guidelines for 3, 4 and 7 night cruises. I can't find the link right now, but based on what I saw in our docs, Kathy's info looks like the same thing.

 

[TiggerKing]

#1 Reason - We love all things Disney (which is why we chose them for our first cruise)

Why we continued to sail with them:

#1 Reason - Amazing Service
#2 Reason - Catered to Adults
#3 Reason - Cleanliness
#4 Reason - Castaway Cay

I will just ditto Christine's response, because that is exactly the way we feel.

As far as service, I just want to give one example I like sharing. In 2006, our head server was from India. Sara asked him if that meant we would be having curry one night for dinner. He said "No, it isn't on the menu this week." However, on the second night, and every night thereafter, a plate of Chicken Curry with Rice was brought to everyone at our table, in addition to our regular entree. All becasue one person at the table asked one question! That is the reason we choose DCL.

 

[jd99]

I will just ditto Christine's response, because that is exactly the way we feel.

As far as service, I just want to give one example I like sharing. In 2006, our head server was from India. Sara asked him if that meant we would be having curry one night for dinner. He said "No, it isn't on the menu this week." However, on the second night, and every night thereafter, a plate of Chicken Curry with Rice was brought to everyone at our table, in addition to our regular entree. All becasue one person at the table asked one question! That is the reason we choose DCL.

Love that example. The best way for me to explain service (which I didn't even include in my long list of reasons why I love DCL but should have) is that if you think people in the parks are friendly and helpful, you ain't seen nothing yet. We were actually disappointed with WDW service the first year after our first cruise when we went straight to the Polynesian for a few nights. In fact, there was a big problem with getting the level of room we booked and the folks were pretty indifferent and Mina actually said to the guy behind the desk..."Where's my magic?" It was a classic moment.

 

[jd99]

Wow. That is the first top of the page I have gotten in a LOOOOOONG time. And it's a surprise one. The kind that makes us feel all tingly.

Happy Monday Nanas. Getting too close to vacation to be stressed about anything. It's happy time until we get back now!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Kathy - are those the new guidelines or the old ones. They updated them last summer right before our Mexican Riviera...

Those are direct from the docs that came, so they are current.

 

[lisarae]

#1 Reason - We love all things Disney (which is why we chose them for our first cruise)

Why we continued to sail with them:

#1 Reason - Amazing Service
#2 Reason - Catered to Adults
#3 Reason - Cleanliness
#4 Reason - Castaway Cay

That's pretty much our reasons as well. Honestly, we do not hate kids, I swear! But, we like well-behaved kids and parents who teach children that there are places to run wild, and places to behave like young ladies and gentlemen. What we have noticed is that typically, the parents on Disney take responsibility for their children. Plus, when the kids are involved in the Disney activities, they are having so much fun that they prefer to stay involved in those activities, and stay out of the adult-only areas. The other cruise lines don't seem to keep the kids as occupied.

We also really enjoy Norwegain Cruise Lines. They have very good service too, and lots of activities.

OMG, I can't wait to be on our way!

 

[lvstitch]

Don't be fooled Cheryl. She just wants FE gifts.

BITE ME

I'm glad someone used that on her for once! Especially a BFF!

 

[mickeyluv]

That's where we are heading too on Thursday! 9 p.m. Polynesian!

Us too!!!!
Our 1st trip to WDW was when DD was 6 yo and we stayed at the Polynesian!!! That was our Dream vacation and one we will never ever forget!!! I'm getting all teary eyed now just thinking about it!!!

Anyone have that link to the tipping site so I can be pre-prepared with all my tip envelopes before we sail?

Jeff,

Tip envelopes? Oh, do you make your own personalized ones or something? I've thought about doing that. Last year we just used the little envelopes our stateroom host left on our bed.

 

[lisarae]

I finally bought Twilight yesterday. I started reading it last night. Had already taken my Ambien, so I didn't get very far yet, but it seems interesting. Figured I had better read it so I would know what you ladies were talking about.

 

[jd99]

Those are direct from the docs that came, so they are current.

Ok great. The numbers were familiar (but too familiar) so I thought they were the old ones. Thanks!

 

[jd99]

Jeff,

Tip envelopes? Oh, do you make your own personalized ones or something? I've thought about doing that. Last year we just used the little envelopes our stateroom host left on our bed.

We use those too..but I pre-prepare them before we leave with the suggested amounts and then adjust if necessary - usually upward for our stateroom host and assistant server. Haven't had the need to adjust upward for main server..yet. Maybe this will be the year. We think the suggested amounts are really minimums as these folks really work their butts off...but for above and beyond we like to tip a bit more.

 

[woogal]

Good Morning Shell

Why did you and Mutt orginally choose Disney?

Actually, my dad picked it. He and Mom took all of us (12 total) on a cruise in 2005 to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Since we had big kids, little kids and adults, he thought DCL would be the best choice.

So when we decided to go again in 2006, Bill chose DCL since we had already done it. They we got addicted to Nana Heads, and that was all she wrote for the next 2 years.

But I think this is our last DCL for a while. First, the ship isn't as important to us as the company, and we love our friends so much and being with them is all that matters. Second, the cost of DCL for us not having kids and not being real "Disney" people like some doesn't justify it. Lastly, we want to try new ports and have new experiences, so we're really looking forward to RCCL (or wherever Joanna tells us to go).