3 Day Wonder 10/16/08 with lots of pics and some advice

[hillfam]

Just tell the front desk that you want to check in and out at the same time. There was no problems and everyone in line was doing the exact same thing. I booked online (using the LPGA rate) and arrived at the desk in the morning. I paid the money, they gave me a receipt and I had to take that to the towel hut to get the wrist bands. Easy as it could be.


Hey...me again...quick question: When you booked did you reserve the day before, because I think I saw on the website that checkin is 3. Thanks, again!

 

[brucechase]

Hey...me again...quick question: When you booked did you reserve the day before, because I think I saw on the website that checkin is 3. Thanks, again!

I booked for arriving the day of our Nassau stop (which was Fri for our 3 night). I did send them a note stating I would be arriving early and wanted to checkin early.

 

[hillfam]

Thanks, again!

 

[DisneyWhirled]

Brucechase, your report was great! Very informative and helpful!! I do have a few questions for you, too!

Did you book through Comfort Suites dot com?
Do they have life jackets at Atlantis for the kiddos?
When you get a cab to the boat, do you just tell them to stop you at the shopping mecca??

Thanks for you help!!

 

[brucechase]

Brucechase, your report was great! Very informative and helpful!! I do have a few questions for you, too!

Did you book through Comfort Suites dot com?
Do they have life jackets at Atlantis for the kiddos?
When you get a cab to the boat, do you just tell them to stop you at the shopping mecca??

Thanks for you help!!

Did you book through Comfort Suites dot com?

Yes, I did book thru them. Go here and enter in your dates. This should take you right to the LPGA rate at the hotel.

http://www.choicehotels.com/ires/en-US/html/Choice-lpga?sid=pYJ0i.TIJzNgc50.7


Do they have life jackets at Atlantis for the kiddos?

I'm not sure, I know I saw plenty of kids with them, I just don't know where they got them or if there was anything special to get them.


When you get a cab to the boat, do you just tell them to stop you at the shopping mecca??


Yes, we asked to be dropped off at the Tortuga Rum Cake factory. The remaining shopping area is within a 3 minute walk and the ship is right there - maybe another 3-5 minute walk. It was very easy. There was no need to take a cab from the boat to the shopping area or back. There was quite a few people who wanted to braid the kids hair, but a simple no thank you worked very well. They really weren't pushy at all. Also, there is a post office right inside the building right off the ship. You can get some post cards and send them from the Bahamas right there (just in case the Post Office at Castaway Cay is closed like when we went).

 

[ShootingStarMom2]

Thanks for all the great photos of you trip. My DH and I cruised 5 years ago for our honeymoon and had the best time. We are going on a 4 night with my DH's entire family (all 18 of us!) in December. We are the only family out of all of us that have done a Disney cruise before. I just keep telling them how much fun it will be!

I love your idea for bottled water for the FE. How did you get them onboard with you? We are planning on doing something fun like that but I'd hate to carry around 3 cases of water while waiting for our cabin to become available.
Also, I saw the link for meeting who will be on our cruise, but where did you sign up to participate in the FE exchange? I don't want to miss out on all the fun.

Thanks,
Jen

 

[1stdisneycruise]

Dear Bruce,

We are new to Disney and new to this site. YOur post was the first one I read and you are great. TY

I would think these was my family with your report. You also dance like my hubby and you guys have the same kitchen table as us!

We love the Kickey magnets and the water bottle labels Where did you get to labels how did you make them?


So here goes all of my questions. I hope you can answer or some one can:rolleyes:

Did you go to the Toy Story show. That is the one we are looking forward to and hope it is good. We are not so sure about the Golden mickey????

If you guys stayed in Cocoa before or after did you go to Cocoa beach? We would love to and know where to go and have family time on the beach. plus we would love to go parasailing there if we can? Any suggestions?

Thank you for letting us know about the fruit in nassau. We really do not want to by food from there

What is rum cake? I here it is dry old cake but if your wife bought 4 of them they must be good. Plus an you take them bad on the ship of do you have to eat them before you get back on the ship and how much were they?

We are just planning on walking in nassau.

Do you have to go to the class about nassau to get the coupon for the $5.00 braclet?

On the ship when you got the bandanas did you get to keep them?

Then you go back in May your kids should do the Friendship rocks kids program. I here you get a free t-shirt and mickey hat. That is what my kids are looking forward to. We have kids like your one can not wait until the club and one that wants to say with us

At castaway cay do you have to pay for the yellow lifejackets?
We already bought our own snorkel gear we spent less then renting the stuff and we get to keep them

How much were the Konk Kollers and where they great or would you skip them the next time around?

We love your idea aobut the 2 gallon ziplock bag. TY

My hubby want s to get the energizer lithium batteries now. I hope they are not over priced

On of the things I am looking forward to is playing the matchmate game. Does everyone get to play if they are on time or only a few people. I always wanted to play the newlewed game. So sounds a lot like it. We have been married for almost 12 years.

On the vivitar water cameria 5188 for $55.00 did the water protector come with it or was that more money? Plus where did you buy yours?

As you can see we are on a budget and we want to get the most for our money. We have been on two other cruise lines much cheaper and got more days. So we are tring to think for the price Disney is going to step it up

On costa the kids got backpacks , wallets, chain things, t-shirts and other things for free all I can think of right now and they still have those things because they felt that there club leaders gave them to them as a gift. So we are hoping to get things like that from Disney.

We are going to do the pillow case and photo frame and take to guest services. I am glad to know that is true.

Please disboard help the newbe.

We do have 2nd dinner and we are hoping we can eat and be out of there in an hour to do fun family and couple things.

 

[brucechase]

I love your idea for bottled water for the FE. How did you get them onboard with you? We are planning on doing something fun like that but I'd hate to carry around 3 cases of water while waiting for our cabin to become available.
Also, I saw the link for meeting who will be on our cruise, but where did you sign up to participate in the FE exchange? I don't want to miss out on all the fun.

Thanks,
Jen

I packed the water in a suitcase and told the porters at the port what was in them. I was prepared to carry them on when they slapped a tag on it and took it. Luckily I didn't have to carry around 3 cases

The meet thread needs someone to step up and organize the FE. That can be you if you want. All it takes is gathering names and room numbers and emailing to everyone so all have the same information. I am organizing one on our May cruise.

Have fun on your 2nd and I hope everyone has more fun that you want them to.

 

[brucechase]

Dear Bruce,

We are new to Disney and new to this site. YOur post was the first one I read and you are great. TY

Wow, I'm going to have to get bigger Mickey ears now! My head is getting too big!

I would think these was my family with your report. You also dance like my hubby and you guys have the same kitchen table as us!

Your poor husband. I have no rythum at all.

We love the Kickey magnets and the water bottle labels Where did you get to labels how did you make them?

I order them at www.labelsbythesheet.com . I printed them myself and I am amazed at how well they stand up. I have one still in the refrig and it looks like the day I got it.

So here goes all of my questions. I hope you can answer or some one can:rolleyes:

Did you go to the Toy Story show. That is the one we are looking forward to and hope it is good. We are not so sure about the Golden mickey????

Didn't make it to Toy Story, but the golden Mickey was great.

If you guys stayed in Cocoa before or after did you go to Cocoa beach? We would love to and know where to go and have family time on the beach. plus we would love to go parasailing there if we can? Any suggestions?

We stayed at the Radisson before, but I lived in that area for 5 years and there are some wonderful beaches to stay at. I normally stayed in Melbourne at the Holiday Inn beachfront (don't know if they still exist). Any place there is great (but be careful, the water is nothing like the beaches on the cruise). I never went parasailing and am not sure if you can do it there, but I would try it on Castaway Cay if you are interested.

Thank you for letting us know about the fruit in nassau. We really do not want to by food from there

Take a beach bag and you'll have no problem.

What is rum cake? I here it is dry old cake but if your wife bought 4 of them they must be good. Plus an you take them bad on the ship of do you have to eat them before you get back on the ship and how much were they?

Rum cake is extremely moist and delicious. The cake doesn't have hardly any alcohol content but tastes just like rum. Took them back to the ship and then home. Don't open it if you are on the ship unless you want to eat the whole thing. We still have one left in the pantry - maybe have to eat it soon.


We are just planning on walking in nassau.

Do you have to go to the class about nassau to get the coupon for the $5.00 braclet?

You can probably get it afterwards or just stop by and enjoy the presentation. You never know, you might win a $300 necklace!!!!!!! They do give out other prizes there (like rum cakes and t-shirts)

On the ship when you got the bandanas did you get to keep them?

Yep, still got them, it's a great gift.

Then you go back in May your kids should do the Friendship rocks kids program. I here you get a free t-shirt and mickey hat. That is what my kids are looking forward to. We have kids like your one can not wait until the club and one that wants to say with us

I hope they do get more into it this time. Since we are on a 7 day, they should have a little more time to do things.

At castaway cay do you have to pay for the yellow lifejackets?
We already bought our own snorkel gear we spent less then renting the stuff and we get to keep them

Lifevests are free and required for snorkling. I had some also, just no room in the luggage with 3 cases of water taking up so mucy room.

How much were the Konk Kollers and where they great or would you skip them the next time around?

I think $7, but I'm not a huge drinker so it didn't matter to me. I hear that on some drinks they lower the price in the afternoon, but I didn't see that.

We love your idea aobut the 2 gallon ziplock bag. TY

I'll buy more for our next cruise!

My hubby want s to get the energizer lithium batteries now. I hope they are not over priced

Since Circuit city is going out of business, check there. At Walmart, they are about $2 per battery and I think well worth it.

On of the things I am looking forward to is playing the matchmate game. Does everyone get to play if they are on time or only a few people. I always wanted to play the newlewed game. So sounds a lot like it. We have been married for almost 12 years.

You have to get there early. Only 3 couples are chosen for the game.

On the vivitar water cameria 5188 for $55.00 did the water protector come with it or was that more money? Plus where did you buy yours?

The case was with it. I got mine at Walmart.com

As you can see we are on a budget and we want to get the most for our money. We have been on two other cruise lines much cheaper and got more days. So we are tring to think for the price Disney is going to step it up

On costa the kids got backpacks , wallets, chain things, t-shirts and other things for free all I can think of right now and they still have those things because they felt that there club leaders gave them to them as a gift. So we are hoping to get things like that from Disney.

You won't get much stuff like that. But you won't be disappointed either. What they don't give you, they more than make up for in service.

We are going to do the pillow case and photo frame and take to guest services. I am glad to know that is true.

Please disboard help the newbe.

We do have 2nd dinner and we are hoping we can eat and be out of there in an hour to do fun family and couple things.

Have fun on your cruise. I hope that it is more than you expect!

 

[1stdisneycruise]

Thank you for the great help. Walmart should give you something for helping them make money

Sorry it took so long to write back. I was finding your post to find that water camera. I need to see if they can send me email when I get post back

I got to check out the labels site also.

I do have a question. Ok another one

My hubby asked how did you get the water on the plane?
I do not need to take as many as you did but would like to take like 4 bottles for Nassau.

Thank you again for your great advice.
Ginny

 

[brucechase]

Thank you for the great help. Walmart should give you something for helping them make money

Sorry it took so long to write back. I was finding your post to find that water camera. I need to see if they can send me email when I get post back

I got to check out the labels site also.

I do have a question. Ok another one

My hubby asked how did you get the water on the plane?
I do not need to take as many as you did but would like to take like 4 bottles for Nassau.

Thank you again for your great advice.
Ginny

We drove down so there was no problem. If you stay at the port the night before, you can pick it up anywhere, otherwise, pick up 4 bottles when you land in Orlando and stick them in your bags.

 

[1stdisneycruise]

Ok. I did not think about that. We could do that. We are staying a night before thank you

 

[ppony]

GREAT report!
Would you believe this is the first and ONLY trip report I have ever read since my joining DIS prior to 1999 and the big DIS crash? (Anyone that was around then remembers that. )

WODNERFUL pictures and story. It helped me visualize SO much and answered questions you didn't even know you would answer.
Thanks for taking that time!

 

[deanna85]

Great report. Very informative and I loved all of the pictures. Thanks for sharing

 

[astempel]

Fabulous trip report!! I leave in 14 days and I can't wait!

 

[Narnia_girl]

gosh, this was such a helpful report. thank you for taking the time and effort to do this.

 

[SWB]

Great trip report and has been very informative for this first timer. Thanks for the tips!

Steve

 

[Terapin]

I enjoyed your report, too. Thanks!

 

[jessica52877]

Now for my last bit of advice to anyone who takes the time to read my trip report.

Life is short and you only get a chance to do it once. Don't get too upset if things aren't exactly perfect or don't go the way you planned. Enjoy the time with your family and savor every moment. The memories you make today will last a lifetime.

Great thought there. I really enjoyed your report and now I want to go back to the Bahamas and do Atlantis. It looks like so much fun!

 

[b00kw0rm429]

Atlantis has everything for all ages. You won't have a problem if you want to take a toddler. You won't be able to take a 2 YO on the slide, but there is plenty to do.
This whole process was one of the easiest things on the trip. I would suggest this way anytime. Do not be nervous about this. Make sure you take some cash for the 2 way cab trip and you'll be fine. I didn't get a locker or anything and no one touch any of our bags.[/QUOTE]

If you have a weak swimmer, can they wear a life vest? My 7year old likes the slides, but is not a great swimmer. Also, I checked out the rates and there is no mention of wristbands to Atlantis, did you call? How did you know? Was there a special code or program? Thanks! I'm enjoying your TR.
Laura