2007 DVC Member Cruise - SSMC07 - October 21, 2007

[gamomof2]

I've started a list on the first post of pre-cruise stays. I went back as far as page 28 to see who had mentioned their reservations.

Please send a PM if you were missed or would like to be added.

 

[MarylandPizzaman]

Will there be a pirate party on the member cruise?

 

[tinytink]

Hi Cobbler, we will be on the Member cruise also and we too have two boys who will be 12 and 10. Perhaps the boys will get to know each other on the cruise.

 

[tinytink]

Hi All, should I make my pre-cruise hotel ressies now??? I was thinking of staying at the Hilton near port cuz we get extra points on our credit card. I was thinking that we are flying in to Orlando get a limo service(a van) to drive us to the hotel, rent a car for the night in case we need to go anywhere and drop off the gang at port, then have the limo service(a van) take us back to the airport. Will the limo services do that kind of pick up/drop off? What do you all think of the Hilton down there? Should I be making my ressies now since I read somewhere the hotels down there are already booked. Thanks for any advice.

 

[WDWLVR]

Good morning everyone!

Cobbler - the sail away party is a lot of fun. It happens right after the safety drill so it is kind of hard to get an early start. If you and your family want to be right in the middle of it and dancing then head to the goofy pool on deck 9. The pool gets covered and that becomes the dance floor. If you don't want to be right in the middle of it you might want deck 10. That's where we usually go. You can still see and hear the party (especially with the dumbotron now) and we like to wave to the people on the shore as we go past.

MarylandPizzaman - yes the pirate party is very popular and has been on the previous Member cruises so I'm sure it will be on this one as well. Like the sailaway party it is held up on decks 9 and 10. If you want to be in the action be on deck 9, if you want to enjoy from a little further away go to deck 10.

Theresa - sorry I can't help with the Hilton. At the port we've only stayed at the Radisson and the Hampton Inn. I would, however, make your reservations as soon as you can. I'm a planner - what can I say.

 

[cobbler]

Thanks for the info on the sail away celebration. I think since this is our very first cruise the boys would love to be a part of the action.

Tinytink-
Will you be sending your boys to any of the kids clubs?? We were thinking about sending our oldest to one for a few hours maybe. My oldest isn't shy at all, so I know he will be excited that there will be other kids his age on the boat

Question -
How long of a day do we get at Castaway Cay? I want to plan a couple of excursions but wondered what time we can get off the boat and what time we have to be back on.

As for us on staying somewhere, not sure yet. We are driving down from MI and we aren't extending the vacation either before or after the trip. Haven't decided if we want to come in a night early and stay near the port for that night or have a 5 hour drive on departure morning. Still up in the air. Does anyone have any recommendations for somewhere to stay that is close to the port?? We are Priority club members so we can use our points for free Holiday Inn stays and also I think we have trip rewards?? the one more for Super 8 type motels, anyway, points for free stays there as well. Any one of those nearby? Or any recommendations at all? It will help me decide what we want to do.

 

[JOANNEL]

It's a full day at CC. They usually let you off between 9 & 9:30 and then back on at 4:30.


We have stayed at the Radisson & Residence inn at the Port. Residence in nicer & cleaner and has a free breakfast. I don't know anything about Holiday Inn's in the area.

 

[cherylp3]

Last year one of the days we didn't dock until 10ish.

 

[tinytink]

Hi All, should I make my pre-cruise hotel ressies now??? I was thinking of staying at the Hilton near port cuz we get extra points on our credit card. I was thinking that we are flying in to Orlando get a limo service(a van) to drive us to the hotel, rent a car for the night in case we need to go anywhere and drop off the gang at port, then have the limo service(a van) take us back to the airport. Will the limo services do that kind of pick up/drop off? What do you all think of the Hilton down there? Should I be making my ressies now since I read somewhere the hotels down there are already booked. Thanks for any advice.

I would rather stay at a Hilton to get the points but I am not committed to it. From what I am reading Raddisson and Residence Inn are closer than the Hilton might be so we might just go with the Residence Inn since they offer free breakfast.

What are your recommendation on the Limo Services?

 

[COACHSTING]

Thanks for the info on the sail away celebration. I think since this is our very first cruise the boys would love to be a part of the action.

Tinytink-
Will you be sending your boys to any of the kids clubs?? We were thinking about sending our oldest to one for a few hours maybe. My oldest isn't shy at all, so I know he will be excited that there will be other kids his age on the boat

Question -
How long of a day do we get at Castaway Cay? I want to plan a couple of excursions but wondered what time we can get off the boat and what time we have to be back on.

As for us on staying somewhere, not sure yet. We are driving down from MI and we aren't extending the vacation either before or after the trip. Haven't decided if we want to come in a night early and stay near the port for that night or have a 5 hour drive on departure morning. Still up in the air. Does anyone have any recommendations for somewhere to stay that is close to the port?? We are Priority club members so we can use our points for free Holiday Inn stays and also I think we have trip rewards?? the one more for Super 8 type motels, anyway, points for free stays there as well. Any one of those nearby? Or any recommendations at all? It will help me decide what we want to do.

Cobbler, leaving a 5 hour drive to get to the port can really leave you short if you have any car trouble, etc. I'd rather get to the port early and have the insurance of knowing if there is a problem, you bought some time to deal with it before sailing.

 

[cobbler]

That is the direction we are leaning towards Coach but the timing is kind of tricky. It is a 2 day drive from MI. If we left it would be after me and the kids get out of school and hubby is home from work. So lets say leave around 6pm. That would put us in Atlanta at 6am on Saturday. We could stay with family for a few hours and catch some Z's but we would still have to get back on the road sometime that day and journey the additional 8 hours (roughly) to the port.

And right now it's to early to tell what is going on with the kids school, as well as mine, to make the decision about pulling them out an extra day.

 

[WDWLVR]

That is the direction we are leaning towards Coach but the timing is kind of tricky. It is a 2 day drive from MI. If we left it would be after me and the kids get out of school and hubby is home from work. So lets say leave around 6pm. That would put us in Atlanta at 6am on Saturday. We could stay with family for a few hours and catch some Z's but we would still have to get back on the road sometime that day and journey the additional 8 hours (roughly) to the port.

And right now it's to early to tell what is going on with the kids school, as well as mine, to make the decision about pulling them out an extra day.

I know it's a hard decision with school and all but if you can take that Friday off by all means do it. The cruise is only a 4 day one and you don't want to be so wiped out from the drive that you don't enjoy it. If you could take Friday off and get by the port by Saturday afternoon/evening I think you will enjoy the cruise so much more after getting a good nights rest.

 

[WDWLVR]

Good morning everyone!

Jim (Marylandpizzaman) - got your info and hope to get the website roster updated this weekend. I have sent you an e-mail about the photo you sent.

 

[WDWLVR]

Good morning Member Cruisers! ​

​

We sail in 27 weeks!



​

 

[rbcheek]

Just a simple question, we have decided to take the cruise shuttle from the Animal Kingdom Lodge, but the shuttle doesn't leave until almost 1:00 p.m.
I have hears the shuttle can take from 2 - 3 hrs to get to the port.
So, what is the chances that we will be able to eat the lunch served on board before the sailaway party, and what are the chances that we will have our luggage before dinner?
Easy questions, but I tend to worry over small details.
Thanks for your replies

 

[WDWLVR]

Just a simple question, we have decided to take the cruise shuttle from the Animal Kingdom Lodge, but the shuttle doesn't leave until almost 1:00 p.m.
I have hears the shuttle can take from 2 - 3 hrs to get to the port.
So, what is the chances that we will be able to eat the lunch served on board before the sailaway party, and what are the chances that we will have our luggage before dinner?
Easy questions, but I tend to worry over small details.
Thanks for your replies

Transportation from WDW to the port only takes about an hour. The good news is that getting to the port at 2pm there will be no lines and you should be able to walk right on after checking in. Using the navigators from last years cruise I see that Parrot Cay was open until 2:30, Beach Blanket was open until 3:15 and Goofy's Galley and Pluto's Dog House were both serving until 3:30.

You room will be ready by the time you get there. As for getting your luggage before dinner. It should happen but if you have early dinner there is a possibility that they may not be there in time.

A few other times to keep in mind. We usually have the DIS meet at 3 pm and there is a mandatory safety drill that happens at 4 pm.





PDFG and all who need it.

 

[danandnan]

Good morning everybody. From the wind and rain swept coast of Maine. Can't wait until Oct. we just got our lettter from the club that we are all set for bus transportation to the Port from Old Key West. I only takes about one hour or so but it goes fast and before you know it your on board.Haven't been on for a while hope everybody is doing well.

 

[JOANNEL]

Good morning all.

I hope every one up the East Coast is doing ok. We had a cold rainy and very windy week end. I am so ready for the warm weather.

Have a great Monday.

Joanne

 

[danandnan]

Good morning Joan. well the Great state of Maine is just one big bag of Rain and very gusty winds about 40mph and the rain is side ways. If I remember you won't being on the Cruise.

 

[JOANNEL]

Oh no, we will be there. With Konk Kooler in hand!!!