12/01/07 Western December 1, 2007 - Let's get the party started!

[Gerweniel]

Greetings fellow cruisers! I am a complete newbie to DCL and we are so excited about it! I want my sons to have a great time and not feel obligated to hang out with me and I am hoping to be able to have a brunch at Palo. Is it uncommon to dine there alone? Any other single parents out there that perhaps want to brunch together? I don't mean to make it a singles thing, but just a nice way to meet and enjoy some adult time.
Just a thought!
Counting down the days.

 

[mom+3girls]

I had to change my plans, I will be going the Wonder Dec 2.
Hope you all have a nice cruise and maybe I will see you all on another cruise.

 

[lbgraves]

I officially cancelled yesterday so 5520 is back in play for anyone who can snag it.

 

[wilsonxander]

We will be on the Western cruise December 1 and we are SO looking forward to it! I am traveling with my husband, two boys (5 years and 1 1/2 year), my mom, my sister, and her son (7 years). I've been planning this for such a long time...any suggestions those of you that have already done this have to offer? Thanks!

Laurie

 

[wilsonxander]

I noticed that several people will be traveling as singles on this cruise...just thought I'd mention that my sister will be, as well. She's a little nervous about it and I want her to have a good time! I think I'll tell her there will be other "soloists!"

 

[tampaguys]

My partner and I will be there...in fact, we just booked all our excursions and Palo dining yesterday, so it feels real now!

This will be our 2nd Disney cruise, first time on the Magic.

Plus, it will be my 40th birthday on the first night, so bring presents! (Make sure you print in large letters on the card...my eyesight is going.)

P.S.: If there are any 30-to-40-something singles or couples who want to link up for dining, send us a private message! We were lucky to have great dining partners on our last cruise, and hope we can have the same this time.

 

[kimszath]

Hi Everyone!!! SO excited!!! Got the call late yesterday from my TA, reminding me that they're charging the balance of my cruise yesterday, and that the 90-days prior for booking Palo and excursions is this Sunday--3 a.m. Eastern time. Is anybody else going to be up????

Silly me... as much as I like to plan things in advance, I have NOT planned. I don't even now which night to book Palo... has anbody else made their plans yet? I've got to sit down today and tomorrow and write it all out.... gotta figure out what time we're in port on which days. And let's see... don't want Palo on any of the first three nights (because we don't want to miss the show at Animator's Pallete) and don't want to miss the Pirates party... don't want to have to run back to the ship from shore excursions, either. UGH. Why did I wait until the last minute???? I guess that last minute would REALLY be calling on Sunday morning and not having a plan, though, right?

HOORAY!!!!!!

 

[kimszath]

I just saw in the regular forum that they now accept ressies beginning at midnight Eastern time... anybody else hear about that? Okay, I've now got three fewer hours to figure this out...

 

[Hanover]

I just saw in the regular forum that they now accept ressies beginning at midnight Eastern time... anybody else hear about that? Okay, I've now got three fewer hours to figure this out...

Yes, it sure was nice to be able to book at 12:00 AM and not 3:00 AM. I had to set the alarm to get up at 3AM on Easter Sunday to make reservations for our 7/7 Med cruise. The kids were sleeping light because of Easter bunny anticipation and I was so afraid they'd get up and be up the rest of the night (luckily they didn't).

We didn't book any excursions, but I did get Palo for dinner (Key West night), brunch (last sea day) and high tea (formal night). We figure we are going to do the trolley tour on our own in Key West. In Cozumel and Grand Cayman we are most likely going to take taxis to a beach and snorkel/let the kids play. It will be so nice to have sunny warm days on vacation while it will be freezing at home. We've done the dolphin excursion in Chankanaab and liked the beach there so we may go there. I'm going to speak with my ds6's school librarian to see where her daughter suggests we go in Grand Cayman. Her daughter has lived there for several years now.

 

[kimszath]

That sounds great!!! I did get everything I wanted (with the exception of the CC Island Cruise, which was not even listed... even before they allowed booking... guessing it's gone?)

I did get the Palo Brunch (Monday) and Palo Dinner (Thursday) when I wanted them, did no excursions in Key West (was born there--we can walk everywhere I want to go, or maybe call a taxi to go to Margaritaville!), added these excursions: Pirate Encounter in Grand Cayman, Tulum Ruins in Coz, and the Stingray Adventure in Castaway Cay. My DS (8) wants to go parasailing, but I think we'll wait on that until we do the double-dip in June!!! Hubby did the deep-sea fishing last time... isn't doing it again this year. Well... now it's real! Can't WAIT!!!!!

 

[WDWLODGE]

Hello Everyone,

I have been lurking around this post for quite a while. We will be joining you on the Dec. 1st Western. We plan on renting an electric car in Key West, we are doing the Palo Brunch on Monday, we decided on the Pirate Adventure in Grand Cayman, Dolphin Discovery in Cozumel, and The Stingray Adventure on Castaway Cay. We decided not to do the Palo Dinner this time. Any other Steeler Fans on board? I'm hoping to catch the game agaist the Begals on Key West night.

 

[kimszath]

Hi Bill! Looks like we'll be bumping into each other a few times! We have the 10:30 seating for Brunch on Monday at Palo, the 10:15 Pirate Encounter, and the 2 pm Stingray Adventure on Castaway Cay (wanted to leave time up front for the Island Tour, in case that comes back).

My son is 8--will be spending more time inthe Kids' Club this time than last--he wanted to be with his grandma most of the last cruise, and that was fine. He's a bit more independent this time around! I had almost forgotten that requried registrsation, though I don't think it's a big deal if they're not registered before embarkation. I don't think he was pre-registered last time... can't remember...

 

[WDWLODGE]

Hi Kim,

We also have our Palo brunch at 10:30, but we have the 1st Pirate Encounter (8:15AM) and we have the 1PM Stingray Encounter.

 

[missmulan]

where can i find what nights are the best for Palos?

 

[missmulan]

nevermind, i did a little searching and decided tuesday night works well.

we are excited!

 

[Gerweniel]

Hello all!
How are everyone's plans going? We are getting super excited for the cruise and we're having some fun figuring out what excursions to do. I've been going nuts watching DCL videos on Youtube and reading as much as I can.

My sons want to be surprised and don't like me telling them things to expect!
I really hope they enjoy the Stack because I want to give them freedom to roam and have some responsibility. My sons are 13 and 14 (will be celebrating 15th b'day on the ship) and if anyone reading has teens around that age that may want to correspond with them prior to the cruise please let me know!

One thing I am having problems with is their formal clothes. I had bought them jackets and slacks for a late June wedding and already they have grown out of them! I'll have to get them better fitting jackets closer to the cruise. I don't think I'm going to buy them complete suits because they'll be too small in 3 months. The formal nights I want to be special and to look great, but I just can't do tuxes and suits.

Well, I'm just Disney dreaming! Take care!
Jill

 

[Hanover]

I've purchased tuxedos for formal night off of eBay 3 times for ds10 and ds6. They were cheaper to buy brand new (including the shipping) on eBay than buying one sports coat in a local department store. I also bought them suits from the same seller for about $25/35 each. My boys have also been growing like crazy lately and I doubt very much the tuxedos and suits that I bought for our July Med cruise still fit them. I may just do button down dress shirts, slacks and a sweater vest for ds6. For ds10, probably just a button down shirt, tie and pants. He's outgrown the blazers I've bought him in 2 months this year and I'm not getting him a new one just to wear for one night. The casual nights they just wear polos and khakis/dress pants.

I picked Key West for our Palo night. I didn't want to go on any of the main show nights or pirate's night.

 

[Gerweniel]

I've purchased tuxedos for formal night off of eBay 3 times for ds10 and ds6. They were cheaper to buy brand new (including the shipping) on eBay than buying one sports coat in a local department store.

SUPER IDEA!!!! Thanks!
I checked out some Tux sellers on Ebay and think I can get a fairly good package deal. There is a particularly nice tux with tails that I'd love my 14 yo to wear as he's 6' and would look dapper, but he is SO scoffing at that idea. Now I've just got to figure out how to measure them properly for the tuxes as each time I bring them to try on jackets at stores the size fluctuates 2 inches or so

Today is the 75 day mark for me and I was up at midnight and tried to log on, but couldn't. I kept trying until about 12:20am and gave up as I was nodding off. When I awoke this morning, I was able to get an early Palo dinner on the last night. No brunches or teas available, so I'll try when we embark. I booked the Fury Catamaran in CZM and for CC I booked the boys the teen Wildside and a banana boat ride for the 3 of us! Can't wait!

 

[Hanover]

The sizing is pretty tricky with the tuxedos. I did measure my boys before ordering, but had to send back a size 10 and get a size 12 for ds10. Yet the suit from the same seller was perfect in a size 10. The tuxes my boys had were the ones with tails and the sleeves ran shorter than the store sizes we are used to buying.

I could not get my parents added on to our brunch or high tea Palo reservations last week. I'm going to add them when we embark. I did manage to get them a table for 2 at dinner the same night/time and will link those together to get a 4 person table. They are CC members but didn't pay off their balance until last week because they were thinking of cancelling this time around (they've been on 3 with us). My FIL did cancel out due to work commitments so room 6550 will be open for grabs.

I'm not sure if you've done the banana boats before, but if you haven't bring goggles/sunglasses with a string attached (so you won't lose them) so the salt water spray will be kept out of your eyes.

 

[kimszath]

Wow... thanks for the reminder!!! I had totally forgotten that my kiddo will at least need a jacket and a button-down shirt (not doing tuxes--my hubby won't wear one, so might as well not torture my DS8). I'm probably going to wait until the last minute to buy my gown. I started a kickboxing class last week to help me tone up a little, and have been warned that what I'm wearing likely won't fit in 3 months... woohoo!!! I love formalwear. Darn shame I live with someone so uncooperative... Oh, well. I did get a picture with Goofy in a tux last cruise, so there WILL be at least one hunky guy in a penguin suit to snuggle up to!!!

Ladies--where are you shopping??? For yourselves, I mean? I bought a beautiful "little black dress" in a boutique about three years ago... I've got some killer heels to go with it. I'll need a new evening gown, though. Something I learned on my last cruise: If you're wearing new shoes, especially heels, be careful walking in Parrot Cay. I watched two ladies fall and bust their butts on a very shiny DRY floor in there. (Happened right after I slipped, but managed to keep my balance!) They do such a great job on those shiny floors!!!