20050514..May 14, 2005...Official Check in Disney's 1st 14 Day thru Panama Canal Part 2

[moocow35]

On your mark, 10hr 41min to go!!!!!!!
Bill

Funny! Seriously though, do you think it will be that bad? I don't believe that Disney sent out excursion information to everyone, so those that booked in May, still think they have till March to make their final payment and then book the excursions. Don't you think it will be us "dis board" addicts?

Good luck everyone!

Robin

 

[cotomom]

Oh Robin,

I sure hope so!!! But we'll know tomorrow if we get 'em!

So, who's going to maintain the list of who's on what shore excursion?

 

[dd3rover]

Hello:

I've been reading the discussion thread for a while now, and enjoying immensely the wonderful information and camaraderie amongst the group. This being only our second cruise ever, it's wonderful to learn from those more experienced.

I have a question I haven't seen asked yet... Does anyone know how hard and fast the age limits are on the excursions? Is there a waiver that parents can sign if their children are under the age limit, but experienced at the given activity (horseback riding, for example)? Do the excursion companies check the child's age or assume he/she is old enough? Any insight would be appreciated, as I have two 9 year-olds who will miss out on many activities!

Thanks,
Sheryl

 

[kellib36]

If I call tomorrow, it'll be to check if they know which excursions are/should be wheelchair accessible. The only thing I know we want to do is the glass bottom boat at Castaway Cay.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Kellib36 - we did the glass bottom boat excursion on Castaway in November and I just want to give you a little bit of information that is not on anything about the excursion - you have to stand the entire trip on the boat. I was not told this when I booked our excursion and I surprsied my Mom with this excursion because we had been on a glass bottom boat ride in the past at Weekee Watchee in Florida (I think that was what it was called) and she loved it. She said had she known she would have to stand she would have passed on it. Just thought I'd let you know, in case you are travelling with someone that may be mobility impaired.

Elaine

 

[kellib36]

Wow! You're right, Elaine! That's not on ANY documentation!!!! So, do they allow wheelchairs on the boat?!?! I guess Keith and I could stand if they allow her wheelchair on the boat, it wouldn't matter.....guess I will have to check on that! How odd! We've never even been around close to get a look at the boats they use, but I sure wouldn't have expected that, thanks for the info! Kelli

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Kelli

I would check with Disney but I don't think the boats are big enough for a wheelchair - I know when you get on the boat it is down like two steps. My Mom said she remembered there were 2 seats on the boat but felt that if you sat there you wouldn't be able to see anything because it was too far away from the railing you hold onto and look over.

Hope this helps.

Elaine

P.S. I hope everyone gets the excursions they want - I hope we get to reserve spots on the excursions we would like - like the tours of each of the ports. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[moocow35]

Welcome Sheryl! I've put you down for the pins. Glad you decided to stop lurking and join us! Read over Peter's great record keeping list of all the activities. What would we do without Peter keeping it all straight! I'll be passing out the pins in the terminal, and at the sailaway parties.

I think that Disney sticks to the age limit thing, however a waiver might work. I would call them and ask. In Cozumel I wanted DD to drive the jeep, and the age limit was 25 (per the excursion company) but I could sign a waiver stating that I would take all responsibility for damage to the vehicle. LOL I took one look at the jeep, and said "you've got to be kidding me!" They were serious, so needless to say, I drove and it was Disney's insurance.

Robin (aka Brunhilda Pink Toe )

Hello:

I've been reading the discussion thread for a while now, and enjoying immensely the wonderful information and camaraderie amongst the group. This being only our second cruise ever, it's wonderful to learn from those more experienced.

I have a question I haven't seen asked yet... Does anyone know how hard and fast the age limits are on the excursions? Is there a waiver that parents can sign if their children are under the age limit, but experienced at the given activity (horseback riding, for example)? Do the excursion companies check the child's age or assume he/she is old enough? Any insight would be appreciated, as I have two 9 year-olds who will miss out on many activities!

Thanks,
Sheryl

 

[SandraLee]

dd3rover . . . I about fell off my chair. I live in Norcross, too.

Wow! I have DS9 and DD6 on the cruise with us.

Welcome. . . . As far as the age limit... If you book your excursions through DBL, yes, the age limits are rigid. Sometimes, you can find a tour operator that you can work with outside of DCL. But, you are responsible for booking, getting there, getting back. Some people don't like the idea of booking their own excursions.

 

[nyccajun]

Kelli,

I haven't been able to get any good information out of DCL on the phone about wheelchairs and the excursions, they don't seem to know about the buses/shuttles I guess cause these ports are new ?

I'll keep trying and I have an email out to DCL asking for recommendations and restrictions . I'm going to try and do some more research later tonight and tomorrow but so far nada !!!

I didn't check into Castaway Cay cause you have more experience there than I do ......

Thanks Elaine for posting the info about the glass bottom boat , it was probably the only excusion i was thinking of booking for DH thinking he might be able to make it on the boat never even considered that there wouldn't be seats !!

Carol

 

[nyccajun]

I checked with Mazatlan Frank on his thread asking about wheelcair access to the trams from the port to town in Mazatlan and here's his response

>>The tram/shuttle from the boat to the taxis, does have wheelchair access. They have a ramp that comes down and you can board it. Not all of them have this feature but most do. Taxis do not have wheelchair access. There is only one tour van, maybe two, that have this ramp for a wheelchair. So if you get a regular taxi, you probably have to seat the passenger and put the wheelchair in the trunk. The van has the capability to have the person in the wheelchair and tour around.<<

So you should be fine with any of the tours there for your MIL. I know Don doesn't care about getting off the ship except for Curacao where he will be waiting for the casino to open ! Wish we were staying there later than 4:30 momma needs some serious shopping money !

Carol
who still hasn't found a pirate name she likes ...

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

We are looking at booking Highlights Tour at Cuacao and Acapulco Highlights Tour

I can not decide between the Harbor Cruise and Senic Drive or the Coasta Highlights Tour in Cabo

Nothing excites me in Mazatlan

I just realized we are doing the highlights!

Debbie

 

[moocow35]

Carol, how far is the Casino from where we dock? I never thought about doing this, and it sounds like fun. I bet my DD who is 18 can even hit a slot or two. I know that drinking age is 18.

Robin

 

[wrabitdad]

Hi,

We're new to the thread but are excited to see so many others that are as excited about this once-in-a-lifetime event. The reading and planning has been a great way to get through our recent blizzard. Oh, by the way, it is not supposed to snow much on the Cape (guess 30+ inches with hurricane force winds isn't much). New England weather only makes us yearn for May 14th.

Please put us down for the following:

10 pins
2 patches
2 medallions

Thanks so much, Dale & Bob

 

[moocow35]

Welcome Dale and Bob! Glad you found us, and let us know if you have any questions. I will add you to the pin list. Gee, down here in Connecticut we are not getting any bad weather, but it is cold again! I hear you on yearning for the warm cruise!

Robin

 

[NejTheLion]

For whoever was asking, we just confirmed this evening that excursion booking for the cruise will commence Sunday morning (Feb 13 - I think we all know that by now) at 9:00 AM EST. That's when the DCL line opens on Sundays (I was curious why it wasn't the standard 8:00).

 

[DisneyPinDiva]

Welcome Dale & Bob!!

Glad to see more people coming out of Lurkdom!

We are not stressing about the excursions...,, DH can't make up his mind and I don't care if I ever leave the ship!

We are doing one excursion outside DCL in Mazatlan... a different Stone Island deal that includes some activities such as horseback riding and kayaking, plus a full lunch and open bar. It would be SO convenient if 70's night followed.....

 

[3DAN]

Leslie, does the excursion that you are taking allow children? Kristen is nine and I am looking for a horseback riding excursion.
Bill

 

[DisneyPinDiva]

Bill
I read thru the entire description and no where does it say there is an age limit for the horseback riding. Here is the link to the site
Cruise Ship Travel to Mazatlan Mexico:

Check out the one that says Stone Island Exposure. You can choose one of 3 different packages... with or without activities and price is based on what you want to eat.. We'll have our fill of shrimp on the ship so we're going with package two. Not a bad price considering what's included. Plus.. they'll take you on a city tour too... see the cruise ship bonus. We've never booked anything outside DCL before.. but this time we're going to take a chance.

 

[videogal1]

If I call tomorrow, it'll be to check if they know which excursions are/should be wheelchair accessible. The only thing I know we want to do is the glass bottom boat at Castaway Cay.

Hi Kelli

This is the VOICE OF EXPERIENCE. (drum roll, please)...For anyone needing accessible excursions:Talk to Heath at the Shore Excursion Desk on the day that you board the ship. The on-shore personnel know little about the accessibility of the excursions and simply prefer to say that an excursion is not accessible or to sign up someone who is mobility impaired for an excursion that is totally inappropriate for them. In December I raked them over the coals about this very thing, plus the fact that I had just taken a cruise on another cruise line where ALL the excursions were made accessible. In December I contacted many people, from taxi drivers to government workers on the islands we visited on the 10-day cruise about them helping to make visits to their islands accessible and shared all my information with DCL, especially with the staff on the Magic. The supervisory CMs at the Shore Excursion Desk also told me that the shore-bound excursion "specialists" have not been on the excursions and know little about them in any practical way...like the mile-long walk to Atlantis from the water taxi pier at Pleasure Island (Nassau) Bahamas. I suggested that they put a notice to the effect that the SE Desk would be happy to work with those having special access requirements in the staterooms of those needing accessible excursions and he stated that they were more than willing to make an excursion accessible, if at all possible if they knew in advance what was required. So, here I am, now, in February, standing back watching all this flurry of excitement over shore excursions with a lump in the pit of my stomach knowing full well that I've been advised by the head of Shore Excursions that I should wait until I'm on board to arrange for an accessible version of an excursion...and all desirable excursions are closed..before I can sign up for any that I'm interested in...Hmmm. Looks like its time to start kicking again. I can only suggest, Kelli, that you use my experience any way you think might help you get an accessible version of the excursion that you want because if I sign up for that excursion and am told it is accessible and it is not...well......grrr. Look out, Heath...
Really, DCL needs to know that an excursion is accessible or not from people who have actually been on it...For them determining accessibility is like asking a blind man to describe an elephant only by feeling its trunk.