4/20/2008, April 20, 2008 - Anyone with us?

[mommykds]

mommykds, we will definitely have to try and bump into each other in August!

Sounds good!! I would love to say "Hi". They keep playing the DCL show on the travel channel & we are getting to so excited about the cruise. My DH already commented that he might be interested in the on board credit for a future cruise.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I dug up the slide show I have of the 2005 DVC Member cruise. The kids and I sat and watched it for an hour! We want to get back on that ship so badly, it hurts! LOL

Seeing Castaway Cay again made the yearning really bad! Is it April yet?

 

[Jillpie]

Hi everyone!
Another Ma. Diser here Okay, big decision here. We are taking our boys out of school on April 16th, already have our flight down on Delta that day. We are DVC'rs and have ressies already at BCV's, but were going to stay at POR for a few days before that. A big Wed. to following Sat. vacation. Now, I thought, we've done the 4 day before, loved it. We did the 7 day, LOVED that. Should we stick the 4 day in between DW, like four days at POR, do the 4 day till Thursday, finish it off with 3 more days at DW? My kids absolutely love DCL and would take that over DW, even though they love DW. I actually called and found out the points for the cruise today, we'd use points for one person on it and cash for the rest of it. Sorry, rambling here.

What should I do?????? Hey, anyone else struggling with these unreal Delta prices for that week? I honestly don't know what we're going to do about the return, I'm crossing my fingers with Jetblue, cuz Delta isn't in the cards right now for our coming home trip. Anyway, should we join you guys or what?

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I say do what I am doing! LOL

We are heading out Wednesday (driving) to stay at Vero beach for 3 nights. Sunday-Thursday we will be on the cruise, and then we have 2 nights at Animal Kingdom Villas.

Give the kids the best of both worlds! WDW and the cruise. Also, the cruise ship won't be as crowded as the parks that week, think of that!

I hope you decide to join us....this thread needs more posters! LOL

 

[outahere]

Hi everyone!


What should I do?????? Hey, anyone else struggling with these unreal Delta prices for that week? I honestly don't know what we're going to do about the return, I'm crossing my fingers with Jetblue, cuz Delta isn't in the cards right now for our coming home trip. Anyway, should we join you guys or what?

I'd say to join us on the cruise. I'm not sure I could handle WDW for 10 days! I would be exhausted and need a vacation to recover from my vacation! We usually do a couple of days at WDW after the cruise, to try to ease our way back into "reality".

I hear you about the Delta prices. They still haven't figured out that there are other airlines going to FL from the Northeast. Even though Jetblue will be a little pricey, because it's school vacation week, they will probably be cheaper than Delta. I try to check their website almost every day to see when they open up the booking dates. If you book the first couple of days the dates are open, you can usually get a decent price. We waited a little too long, the last trip, and really paid for it.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Delta is also very famous for changing your flight. We flew them a few years ago, and our flight was changed THREE TIMES!

My sister and her friends are flying down to WDW in AUgust for our big family vacation, and Delta changed their flight time. When I called DVC member services to change the info for Magical Express, the CM just said, "Well, that's Delta for you."

I am so glad we drive!

 

[Magic4UsZ's]

We'll be joining you guys, it is our first time EVER cruising !!!!! We area excited!!!!!

 

[Magic4UsZ's]

so excited that i cant even type!!!!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

We'll be joining you guys, it is our first time EVER cruising !!!!! We area excited!!!!!

Welcome! Our 1st cruise was the DCL, and we have not cruised with any other line. You will LOVE it!

Do you have kids?

 

[outahere]

We'll be joining you guys, it is our first time EVER cruising !!!!! We area excited!!!!!

Welcome aboard!! I think you're going to love being on Mickey's ship! Have fun planning, and ask away if you have any questions.

 

[Magic4UsZ's]

Thanks Marie and Outahere for making feel welcomed!!

I've been reading Passporters (third edition from our library) and feel that we are going to have very little time to "rest". I have been known to go, go ,go. Just the kid in me who thinks I might miss something. Last night I told DH that I think we will want to take a seven night cruise next time. My problem with that is besides the obvious money factor is that they do not have any summer cruises to the carribean/bahamas. I just dont want to take the kids out of school for that long or pay the premium price for a xmas cruise. But I'd pay summer price for a seven night. Sounds like thats not gonna happen until the new ships are built. Way too long of a wait for me!! I have even been thinking of another cruise line but seeing how we have never cruised before I should wait and make sure we really love it.

I'm sure Ill be asking some questions regarding April's cruise later this weekend.

Thanks guys!!!!

 

[Magic4UsZ's]

Our family consists of me, DH,and two DD's.

Do you think the boat will sell out?

I'm secretly hoping that I can save some extra money after paying for the adventure and going to see if any upgrades are available to purchase at check in, but, if not, Ill be happy with our Cat 10.

Im excited and nervous all at the same time.

What time do you arrive at the port?

Z-mom

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Our family consists of me, DH,and two DD's.

How old are your DD's?

Do you think the boat will sell out?

It's hard to say. It IS school vacation up here in New England.

What time do you arrive at the port?

We have gotten to the port as early as 10AM when they open. You stand in a long line for 2 hours because they don't start boarding until 12pm. This time I think we will get there after 12, so we can walk right on the ship.


As for worrying about not having any down time, don't worry! There is plenty of relaxation even on the 4 day! You are going to LOVE Castaway Cay. If your DD's like going to the kids club, you and your DH will have much "alone time". Our kids have to be dragged out of the kids club kicking and screaming.

They even want to go to Scuttles on Castaway Cay. So DH and I are alone on the beach for part of the day.

We booked two Cat 10 rooms. We will be on deck 7.

 

[outahere]

Last night I told DH that I think we will want to take a seven night cruise next time. My problem with that is besides the obvious money factor is that they do not have any summer cruises to the carribean/bahamas. I just dont want to take the kids out of school for that long or pay the premium price for a xmas cruise. But I'd pay summer price for a seven night. Sounds like thats not gonna happen until the new ships are built. Way too long of a wait for me!!

Let's hope they do their usual 7 day itineraries in the Summer of 2009. After being away from those trips for two Summers, I have to believe the demand will be there (it probably already is - that's one reason to build new ships). Just so you know, in the past the Summer prices on the 7 night cruises weren't exactly cheap. That is high season for them. The prices are less than the holiday cruises, but still a little high.

As for missing something - there is no way to do everything, even on a 7 day. We didn't even get to do everything we wanted to do on the 14 night Panama Canal repo 2 years ago. Another good reason to keep going back.

 

[Magic4UsZ's]

DD's will be 9 and 13 on our cruise. They area your typical kids in that at first they may be a bit reluctant to go to the kids programs but then when they meet a new friend or two they'll be having fun.

Do you think that we should try for a Palo night? I'm thinking that I dont want to miss our night of each restaraunt(since I've never experienced DCL) nor pirates night. So Im lost as to what to try for, it would help if you knew what your dinner rotation was.

Our school (lutheran school) is having a spring teachers conferance so I'd thought that we would miss a few days and turn it into a good time to cruise, then head over to the parks to make good use of our annual passes.

So will I literally be standing for two hours inline for checking in, or will i get there and check in then sit around for the rest of the time until boarding?

We have a Cat 10 on deck 7, behind the front elevators. Sorry dont know all the boat lingo yet!!!

 

[mommykds]

Hi, glad to see more DIS er's are joining us!


Magic4UsZ's,
My kids are 7 DD, 8 DS, & DD12 in April. I booked 2 connecting cat 10's on deck 2.

We are flying in on 4/19 & staying near the port, the cruise, then 5 days in WDW. (but the kids don't know that we are going to WDW after the cruise )

 

[outahere]

So will I literally be standing for two hours inline for checking in, or will i get there and check in then sit around for the rest of the time until boarding?

Since the Magic went to CA two years ago, they have started a new boarding system. When you arrive at the port, you will be given a card with your boarding group # (the earlier you arrive, the lower the #). After checking in, which is pretty quick, you can then wander around the terminal or go sit down. You can also register your DDs in the Lab while you wait to board. Once boarding starts (concierge guests and those needing assistance are always in group #1), they call boarding group numbers and away you go.

Prior to this system, you did have to stand in a line which could get pretty long by the time boarding started.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Since the Magic went to CA two years ago, they have started a new boarding system. When you arrive at the port, you will be given a card with your boarding group # (the earlier you arrive, the lower the #). After checking in, which is pretty quick, you can then wander around the terminal or go sit down. You can also register your DDs in the Lab while you wait to board. Once boarding starts (concierge guests and those needing assistance are always in group #1), they call boarding group numbers and away you go.

Prior to this system, you did have to stand in a line which could get pretty long by the time boarding started.

Ooh! Good to know. We last cruised in Sept. 2005, and they still had the line. This new system will give me incentive to get there early now.

 

[Magic4UsZ's]

Thanks for the information regarding lines. I think we'll aim for 9:30/10 am to get to the port.

Our plans now are to fly in and stay at Cape Canaveral Sat night. Then we are heading over to WDW for four nights. I just cant seem to give up park time. We splurged this year and bought PAP's for us girls (we girls will be making three trip this year,so that's how I justified it)

I have seen prices for summer cruises (thats why we are doing April)
but would try and scrape up enough money to do a 7 nighter in the summer. I just thought it was ridiculious the amount they want for xmas or easter.

Hoping that during our April 08 cruise they will have the itinerary for summer 09 ( so we can rebook) and it has the 7 night cruises back, if not I may think about going on a different cruise company if we do indeed love cruising.

 

[Magic4UsZ's]

Can any of you give me some help with our nassau day?

Ive just started looking into excursions and am lost!!!!

First I thought we'd do one of the Atlantis excursions. Heard they have the new one with the waterpark included, but it sounds expensive. (worth the money?) (to us we LOVE Disney waterparks )Heard about the tip on getting a room at the nearby hotel that grants you access, but is that a hassel getting checked in and commuting?

So I thought maybe just the traditional Atlantis tour, now Im reading about the snorkeling tours and they seem like great fun, but which one?

Or is staying on the ship the way to go ?

I even was looking online at the possibilities of booking one yourself, saw a dolphin swim, but for 185 per person i think I'd rather put that towards a future Discovery Cove trip. I think if we were to swim with the dolphins now it might take away some of the magic from going there later.Which I think would be a better time than in Nassua.

What do you like to do/recommend?