12/24/08 Christmas Cruise on the Wonder

[adrianna_sarah]

I'm not sure if we're flying or driving yet. We are trying to coordinate our travel but with us in Knoxville and Andy in Atlanta, it is a little complicated to do airline flights. I think we are all waiting to see what air fare does. We are booked for the night before at a hotel in Cocoa Beach, can't remember which one. It is one our travel agent has stayed in before to take his Disney cruises. They offer free parking while you take a cruise and free shuttle to the port. If you want the name, let me know.

Our kids are
Hayley - turning 7 while we are on the cruise
Andrew - 21 months at cruise time

Can you believe it is now less than six months!

Hey all-

I'm back. It has been a wonderful couple of days. Hkatmom, we'll have to introduce your daughter to Annette and I's boys. Even though the Oceaneer Club is 3-7, they usually have the 5-7 year olds off doing something fun together, like hanging out in the Oceaneer Lab when the 8-13 year olds are off having their organized fun. It really helps when they make friends from the start. Kids with sibings have the edge.

Adrianna

 

[brendalee59]

Glad you guys got home safely Adrianne. To you DH. Welcome home!

 

[AndymanGA]

So tell us what you did in Savannah

 

[drag n' fly]

Well today s Canada Day! Woohoo! Yesterday was our wedding anniversary we went to a brazilian bbq place...yum yum....Im a meat girl!

 

[brendalee59]

Well, first of all Annette

And best wishes for many more


Also.....

 

[brendalee59]

We got our Cirque tickets today! They are cool looking,like a credit card,or room key. Now if we could just get our ADRs for Planet Hollywood we'd be all set

 

[TXdeVille]

Boy do I love those!!!! I am lucky enough to have 3 (2 chains and 1 independent) within a 30 minute drive. My friend has the recipe for the cheese bread at Tejas de Brazil. Think we might have a special dinner tonight....YUM-O!!

 

[drag n' fly]

Good morning! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

 

[drag n' fly]

Interesting news:

Dining changes coming; ADRs going from 180 to 90 days?
Posted Today at 12:00 AM by Mark Goldhaber on Mouseplanet
While it hasn't been "officially" confirmed, Walt Disney World has made a bunch of interesting dining changes.

First off, from August 24 - September 27, Disney will increase the opportunities for the crowds with free dining to use their table service credits.

Chef Mickey's will be open for lunch from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Ohana will be open an extra hour for breakfast, from 7:30 a.m., and open an hour earlier for dinner, now from 4:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Whispering Canyon Cafe will also open an extra hour for dinner, from 4:00 - 10:00 p.m.

As of October 5, the Garden Grill will only be open for dinner. Lunch will no longer be available

But the biggie appears to foreshadow a major policy change. As of July 16, you will not be able to make any Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) for any dates past January 15, 2009. ADRs needed for January 16, 2009 or later will not be able to be booked until October 15.

There are 3 exceptions: Chef Mickey's, Cinderella's Royal Table, and Victoria and Albert's.

It looks like Disney is preparing to move the reservations window from 180 days back to 90 days, with the exception of the three most-in-demand. While the days of walk-up, same-day reservations everywhere are probably gone forever, it'll be nice not to have to worry about what you want to eat half a year in advance.

 

[TXdeVille]

That is too funny! Yeah, I hardly know what I'm gonna want to eat 180 days in advance either. Sometimes have an issue with 2 days! That will give Brenda more time to decide when and where. Me too! I wonder if it will fill up faster though....

Interesting to say the least.....

 

[TXdeVille]

Anyone planning on doing the Dolphins at Nassau? Has anyone done one or the other? Atlantis and Dolphin Encounters. I have looked up several other threads and just looked at pics online and can't decide. To me the dolphin encounters one doesn't look as nice as the Atlantis one. If I book Atlantis direct it is only about $30 more in a much nicer area and includes use of their beach for the remainder of the day. No penned in dolphins. Let me know!

 

[drag n' fly]

Honestly I am still up in the air on this one.

 

[brendalee59]

Anyone planning on doing the Dolphins at Nassau? Has anyone done one or the other? Atlantis and Dolphin Encounters. I have looked up several other threads and just looked at pics online and can't decide. To me the dolphin encounters one doesn't look as nice as the Atlantis one. If I book Atlantis direct it is only about $30 more in a much nicer area and includes use of their beach for the remainder of the day. No penned in dolphins. Let me know!

Naw. We did the Royal Dolphin Swim in Cozumel. It was awesome,amazing,and every other word you can think of.After the Royal Swim, the encounter would be a let down for us. Plus, I think you have to pay to just watch the others in your family do the encounter. We will stick with a walking tour of Nassau,and maybe if time allows, go check out the Dig.

 

[brendalee59]

That is too funny! Yeah, I hardly know what I'm gonna want to eat 180 days in advance either. Sometimes have an issue with 2 days! That will give Brenda more time to decide when and where. Me too! I wonder if it will fill up faster though....

Interesting to say the least.....

Gee, thanks Actually, we have all our ADRs still waiting on Planet Holywood reservations. Seriously, we never decide where we want to eat till we are hungry. Then it's whatever we are hungry for. How do we know 180 days out what we will be hungry for? That's why we do so much counter service meals.

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Anyone planning on doing the Dolphins at Nassau? Has anyone done one or the other? Atlantis and Dolphin Encounters. I have looked up several other threads and just looked at pics online and can't decide. To me the dolphin encounters one doesn't look as nice as the Atlantis one. If I book Atlantis direct it is only about $30 more in a much nicer area and includes use of their beach for the remainder of the day. No penned in dolphins. Let me know!

I think we are planning to do the Blue Lagoon one. Passporter gives the excursuion a 9. It might not be as pretty as Atlantis, but I like the predicibility of booking the package/transportation with the cruise line. Plus, it is going to be XMas day, and I think a half-day shore excursion will be enough. Some of the best times to play one the ship are the port days when most passengers are ashore.

 

[brendalee59]

Morning Adrianna,

You guys will love the dolphins. They are so smart and friendly.

Well, we got our Planet Hollywood ADR.So we're all set. Next up, making ressies for the ship



Dale and Michael get home tonight. Been out 28 days this run. Michael said no more this summer. He's ready to sit on the couch and veg out


I'm off to town. Going to take dd 27 to lunch,and maybe do a little shopping

Catch ya'll later!

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Well, we got our Planet Hollywood ADR.So we're all set. Next up, making ressies for the ship


Dale and Michael get home tonight. Been out 28 days this run. Michael said no more this summer. He's ready to sit on the couch and veg out

Yay! I have all my ADRs set up, too. At least the all WL ones could be booked on the same day. I was tired of getting up at 6:00 do talk dining with the operator.

The guy that moved us from GA to NY has his BIL as his help and every time the driver would leave the room he'd just shake his head and tell us this was his last run. "I'm just not cut out for this man..."

 

[drag n' fly]

Well we are up at 6am to head downtown for the Calgary Stampede Parade. Wooohoo 10 days of free food and lots of beer!

http://calgarystampede.com/

 

[drag n' fly]

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

 

[TXdeVille]

Happy Fourth of July to everyone!!! Hope everyone has a safe and happy one.

All my ADR's are done as well. All two of them. Thought I would never get them done!

As for the dolphins, I know there is the nice thing about having the predictability and transportation taken care of. And Passporter gives it a good rating but they don't have one for the Atlantis version because its new. Although I would book directly to save a LOT of money!! Don't need the water park. I think the time frame is about the same.

Brenda, were you saying that any of the encounters wouldn't compare or the one named dolphin encounters? Just trying to get clarification.