12/22/2011 Disney Dream Christmas Cruise

[skoch]

Has anyone else booked any shore excursions yet? or planning on booking any?

We did the Bahamas cruise a few years back, and highly recommend Atlantis especially with the kids. It's basically a huge water park, and it's a very relaxing day (although, every day on the cruise is relaxing!!!). We'll be doing this one again for sure, the kids loved Atlantis. As for Castaway Cay, we're going to try the stingrays, and reserved some floats. We tried to get a cabana, but those were already taken by the Gold/Platinum members. Someday...

We were considering the Shallow Water Dolphin Excursion with Atlantis Waterpark since it was the only dolphin interaction that our youngest son (5) could do with us. But for all six of us (me, DH, DD - 14, DD - 13, DD - 10, DS - 5) it will be expensive. Is it worth it or should we just explore the beach or maybe play on the ship?

 

[haddybaby]

We did the Bahamas cruise a few years back, and highly recommend Atlantis especially with the kids. It's basically a huge water park, and it's a very relaxing day (although, every day on the cruise is relaxing!!!). We'll be doing this one again for sure, the kids loved Atlantis. As for Castaway Cay, we're going to try the stingrays, and reserved some floats. We tried to get a cabana, but those were already taken by the Gold/Platinum members. Someday...

Those are the exact same ones we reserved!! Lol

 

[skoch]

Ridiculous right? Oh well! Only Disney could get me to do that and still be smiling!

 

[haddybaby]

We were considering the Shallow Water Dolphin Excursion with Atlantis Waterpark since it was the only dolphin interaction that our youngest son (5) could do with us. But for all six of us (me, DH, DD - 14, DD - 13, DD - 10, DS - 5) it will be expensive. Is it worth it or should we just explore the beach or maybe play on the ship?

I would highly recommend doing the Atlantis Aquaventure.

 

[CaliMouseVacationeer]

Hi Skoch, which etsy site did they get theirs from? And by the way, you're now at 12 posts!!

I thought I read somewhere that the width of the panel where the FEs hang is narrower on the Dream than on the Magic/Wonder. Has anyone heard of this? I know it's 8" for Magic/Wonder, is it the same for the Dream?

 

[haddybaby]

Def interested in this too.. My FE is huge and would not fit in a narrower space.

 

[CaliMouseVacationeer]

I would highly recommend doing the Atlantis Aquaventure.

I definitely have to second that one! If you are going to Atlantis for the dolphin swim, and see the waterpark, you're not going to want to leave. The other option is to split up (although I know it's hard to do), but if either you or your husband stays with your little one, and the other goes with the two older kids to the dolphin swim and then meets up later at the waterpark together, that's another option. I think you could be observers at the dolphin swim, but don't have to pay, just sign up for the Aquaventure.

 

[CaliMouseVacationeer]

Def interested in this too.. My FE is huge and would not fit in a narrower space.

Found this on a previous DISboard thread:

*************
Quote:
Originally Posted by CVDAD View Post
Can someone who had already been on the Dream help out with a question on the FE size? DW has seen that the widest recommended for the Magic and Wonder would be about eight inches, but that the Dream has a narrower space for FEs. Any suggestions on the best width for the FE on the Dream?
the space at the side of the door is about 9 inches wide. A little bit narrower than the Wonder/Magic...interestingly there are 3 different "fish"....there are fish on one side of the ship, sea horses on the other, and starfish in conceirge. The seahorses are narrower than the fish - and I noticed that some FE's slipped sidewise on them a bit.

I was using a friends FE for the Dream Maiden - it was 8 inches wide and fit without any problem. I used my own (finally found a Pooh Bear one!!!) on the Wonder in April - it was fine for that ship. I will be using it on this cruise.
***********

So hopefully the recommended 8" FE should fit. Although may want to bring extra ribbon/string to make sure they fit on the "fish".

 

[skoch]

I definitely have to second that one! If you are going to Atlantis for the dolphin swim, and see the waterpark, you're not going to want to leave. The other option is to split up (although I know it's hard to do), but if either you or your husband stays with your little one, and the other goes with the two older kids to the dolphin swim and then meets up later at the waterpark together, that's another option. I think you could be observers at the dolphin swim, but don't have to pay, just sign up for the Aquaventure.

I would highly recommend doing the Atlantis Aquaventure.

Thanks for the info and advice!

Hi Skoch, which etsy site did they get theirs from? And by the way, you're now at 12 posts!!

I thought I read somewhere that the width of the panel where the FEs hang is narrower on the Dream than on the Magic/Wonder. Has anyone heard of this? I know it's 8" for Magic/Wonder, is it the same for the Dream?

The one she showed me was www.etsy.com and then I just did a search for Disney Cruise Fish Extenders and got great results. Just searching "Disney Cruise" also comes up with all kinds of other great stuff. I'm really excited to make magnets for our door too! Hadn't even thought about it until she mentioned it and I started looking through other threads. (obviously getting excited and spending way too much time on here tonight!)

 

[CaliMouseVacationeer]

Those are the exact same ones we reserved!! Lol

Hey Haddybaby, great minds...

 

[gourt]

Hi all -

- We are not planning any excursions on this trip. I've been to Nassau before and would probably prefer a ship day. I could get my mind changed, though, on Atlantis!

- I would love to reserve a cabana, and may try to check when we get on board to see if any are available. We have a party of 4, would be happy to add on others to share the cost (IF we are able to get one).

- Thanks for the info on the FE. I just measured ours and it is 8.25" so I think we're OK. My mom is coming on her first Disney cruise and we are thinking of just bringing a Xmas stocking for her FE. Here's a photo of ours from last year...

We did our final payment and bought our air fare this week...so yup! We are ready now

 

[haddybaby]

Gourt, I love your FE!! If you're talking about booking a cabana on Castaway Cay, they're all booked. You could keep checking the online booking to see if someone changes their mind.

 

[skoch]

We have four children so we have two adjoining staterooms. We put both cabin numbers on the spreadsheet, but do we need to have two fish extenders or just one? I'd rather do just one that has all our family names on it (like three pockets with two names each) . . . any advice from those that have participated before? Thanks!

 

[gourt]

Hi haddybaby - yes, the cabanas are definitely gone - I'm going to check on a waitlist when we get on board. No worries if we can't. Last year we had about 3 hours on CC before it POURED rain and we dashed back to the ship. Hoping for a longer CC day this time.

Skoch - when we did our cruise last year, we had no problem finding all the FE's. We had a great time wandering the decks with our list of cabin numbers and looking at all the decorated doors! There were a few that had multiple cabins but only one FE - it was not a problem to figure it out. I think you'll be fine to just have one FE.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

I've requested a different link for the FE stuff. This thread can continue to be for general discussion. I thought having the spreadsheet link at the top of the FE thread would make it easier for anyone else interested in joining.

Looking forward to December everyone!

 

[ScubaMickey]

Good Morning from Rainy Northeast, Florida,

Surprised that we were able to secure reservations for Pablo Brunch for Christmas morning for all six of us. We are only Silver members, so I was sure all the reservations would be gone.

Anyone else going to Palo for brunch on Christmas Day?

ScubaMickey

 

[TrySomethingNew]

Ack! 1st time cruiser and I've still got 1.5 days to wait to sign up for anything!

On the good side - we are Paid in Full!

 

[gourt]

ScubaMickey - did you get the brunch recently? I've been logging in every few days and no brunch coming up for me. I figured I'd try when we get on the ship! We are also "lowly Silvers" !

 

[ScubaMickey]

ScubaMickey - did you get the brunch recently? I've been logging in every few days and no brunch coming up for me. I figured I'd try when we get on the ship! We are also "lowly Silvers" !

Hi gourt:

We paid our cruise in full on Thursday and I logged in to check all the information on Monday. I was surprised when I clicked on Palo and the 10:30 a.m. time frame came up for brunch. Six of us in our group and all are on the reservation. I would keep trying. Yes, Silver is a lowly color!!! After this cruise, I graduate to gold

 

[gourt]

After this cruise, I graduate to gold

SWEET!

Just checked this morning and Palo brunch sold out for both the 12/18 and the 12/22 cruises. No worries - I will keep checking. When we cruised last year, we wanted Palo brunch for our wedding anniversary. Couldn't get it online but no problem once we were on board.

Love that brunch! (Although DH got seasick last time so I enjoyed it solo...)