WDWLVR
<font color=green>DVC @ The Boardwalk</font><br><f
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2000
- Messages
- 31,459
Coach - let me see if I can help.
First off remember that even if you can't book someone online at your 75 day mark that they do keep about 50% of the reservations for booking the day you board the ship.
Here is my suggestion for getting the most out of the Member Cruise experience. Every night you will get a navigator in your room with things to do. Read it over and figure out what interests you the most. The front page will show you what the highlights for the day is and then inside is a grid that has a listing of SPECIAL. That is usually where the special DVC only events are listed. I know one thing I really enjoyed the past two years was the talk given by the Walt Disney World Ambassador. Not sure if we will have one of the cruise with us this year, but if you are into the history of Walt Disney you would have heard of the Ambassadors - these young people are amazing!
My thoughts on Palo - it is a wonderful experience. I prefer Brunch over dinner but both are great. Now I'll go out on a limb and others will disagree with me, but I don't think Palo is a MUST do. We didn't go until our 4th cruise and while we have enjoyed it since really didn't think we missed out. We enjoyed seeing all the different resturants and all they had to offer on our earlier cruises.
Castaway Cay - Being there for 2 days offers you a great chance to see all CC has to offer. If you want to snorkel plan on doing it first thing in the morning. The snorkel lagoon by the family beach has some great surprises under the water including a sunken Mickey and a sunken 20,000 leagues under the sea sub! I would suggest that you do that one day and maybe bikes on the same day. When biking head over to the adult beach and check out Serenity Bay. Then head over there on the second day and just relax! The view from Serenity Bay is so wonderful as you see nothing but sand, sky, and water!
Drinks - neither Mark and I trink but I will tell you that the signature drink on Castaway Cay is a Konk Kooler. Mark gets the virgin one (no alcohol) and enjoys it. It has orange juice, passion fruit, cream of coconut and in the alcohol version light and dark rum.
Last but not least this thread. This thread is much lighter than past DIS groups. We had many repeat cruisers on the 2006 cruise from 2005. Still at that time we were only maybe 5-10% of the rooms on board. One thing we have found on past Member Cruises is that while the rooms are all sold they aren't all full. There are a lot less children on the Member Cruises than on a regular cruise so you only have 2 people in many rooms that hold 4. So the ship and beach feels a little less crowded than on a regular cruise.
The one thing that Mark started with the first Member Cruise is the buttons we do. It will have your real first name and your screen name. We found that as people wear them around that you can recognize fellow DISers. Whether just for a quick wave and hello as you pass by or whether you stop and chat you'll know who your fellow DISers are. Most of all you'll be sailing with Disney fans like yourself. Those who enjoy their Disney Vacation Club...that's why we love these cruises.
Hope this has helped.
First off remember that even if you can't book someone online at your 75 day mark that they do keep about 50% of the reservations for booking the day you board the ship.
Here is my suggestion for getting the most out of the Member Cruise experience. Every night you will get a navigator in your room with things to do. Read it over and figure out what interests you the most. The front page will show you what the highlights for the day is and then inside is a grid that has a listing of SPECIAL. That is usually where the special DVC only events are listed. I know one thing I really enjoyed the past two years was the talk given by the Walt Disney World Ambassador. Not sure if we will have one of the cruise with us this year, but if you are into the history of Walt Disney you would have heard of the Ambassadors - these young people are amazing!
My thoughts on Palo - it is a wonderful experience. I prefer Brunch over dinner but both are great. Now I'll go out on a limb and others will disagree with me, but I don't think Palo is a MUST do. We didn't go until our 4th cruise and while we have enjoyed it since really didn't think we missed out. We enjoyed seeing all the different resturants and all they had to offer on our earlier cruises.
Castaway Cay - Being there for 2 days offers you a great chance to see all CC has to offer. If you want to snorkel plan on doing it first thing in the morning. The snorkel lagoon by the family beach has some great surprises under the water including a sunken Mickey and a sunken 20,000 leagues under the sea sub! I would suggest that you do that one day and maybe bikes on the same day. When biking head over to the adult beach and check out Serenity Bay. Then head over there on the second day and just relax! The view from Serenity Bay is so wonderful as you see nothing but sand, sky, and water!
Drinks - neither Mark and I trink but I will tell you that the signature drink on Castaway Cay is a Konk Kooler. Mark gets the virgin one (no alcohol) and enjoys it. It has orange juice, passion fruit, cream of coconut and in the alcohol version light and dark rum.
Last but not least this thread. This thread is much lighter than past DIS groups. We had many repeat cruisers on the 2006 cruise from 2005. Still at that time we were only maybe 5-10% of the rooms on board. One thing we have found on past Member Cruises is that while the rooms are all sold they aren't all full. There are a lot less children on the Member Cruises than on a regular cruise so you only have 2 people in many rooms that hold 4. So the ship and beach feels a little less crowded than on a regular cruise.
The one thing that Mark started with the first Member Cruise is the buttons we do. It will have your real first name and your screen name. We found that as people wear them around that you can recognize fellow DISers. Whether just for a quick wave and hello as you pass by or whether you stop and chat you'll know who your fellow DISers are. Most of all you'll be sailing with Disney fans like yourself. Those who enjoy their Disney Vacation Club...that's why we love these cruises.
Hope this has helped.
Okay, I know all of you veterans have special consideration for booking reservations and events for the upcoming cruise. When the time comes, I am hoping there will be some slots left for us to take advantage of our first DVC Cruise.
BUT, the brochure we got from DVC is nice, but doesn't tell us what we really WANT to know for this cruise.
What really do we need to do in terms of getting a good experience from the event? I know we won't be dressing up in any costumes, etc. as we don't know what to expect for these types of events. As first timers, we will sit back, watch and learn.
I also know my wife and I will want to just lounge on Castaway Cay beach on one of the days we are there.
If this is the case, what should we definitely do? We hear a lot about Palo's so should we reserve a lunch or dinner there? We have a late seating for our dinners if that helps. We are NOT intersted in swimming with the rays, but probably would enjoy snorkling and maybe biking on the island one day.
This trip is in celebration of my retirement and our 25th wedding anniversary so we want to be able to just relax and take it all in.
Do they have good Pina Coladas on the beach?
You guys have all been great and we look forward to this trip. We want to be able to relax and yet enjoy what the island experience will have to offer.
Finally, it seems like there are only about 40-45 people who write on this board. Is this indicative of what the turnout will be for the cruise Will it be full? What is approximate capacity for boat?
Thanks again all..... ?
The DVC rez number that I have with me here didn't help. So, where to I find the DCL number - and can I attach it to my account myself. (I'm surprized this isn't automatic. At least I will be home soon to find these numbers.) Likewise can I include my CC number myself so that I can take advantage of tonight's rezzie opportunity or am I out of luck?
The cool thing about that night was that it was in the private room and was with Jim, his wife, the WDW Ambassador and his wife as well. That was the night I found out that Jim Lewis is a big fan of Publix Sweet Tea just like us!
