4 Land 3 Sea questions

[MommyBull]

I have a few questions re: our upcoming land/sea vacation. Anyone can help?

 

[BALAMAV]

I'll help you any way I can. Give me the questions. We went last May. There was 20 of us. We had the vacation of a life time. It was perfect. I am helping a friend organize a Feb. trip right now. So I would be glad to help. If I don't know the answer. There are alot of great people here that can help too. Brenda

 

[MommyBull]

WOW 20 people!! We are only going with 8.

quick overview...4 Adults 35-ish 4 kids 2, 4, 5 & 8, nearly 3, 5, 6 & 9 all b-day's in Jan. Feb. march.

4 days at Carib. beach and 3 nights in steerage on Wonder.

What time should we expect to be picked up on our 4th day? My brother and his family have never been to WDW so wee need to make every minute count!

Who needs tips? I want to start planning the tip budget. What is the minimum to maximum number of folks I need to be tipping?

I also read in ?Passporter? that phone cards make good 'tips' as many of the staff are from overseas, Canada & Mexico. Does this sound GOOFY? or O.K.?

I know I have more questions but my brain is freezin'-literally I need to get outta here and get some sun!

 

[BALAMAV]

We drove to Disney so we drove ourselves to the terminal. But I heard through the boards that you can go over to the AKL for breakfast before you go to the terminal. Call Disney and ask about it. Also post a question on the boards and see what you can find out. Tipping is a must. They rely on it alot onboard. They get paid very little. You tip the room stewart, your main waiter and the asst. server. Then there is a main person in the dining room. I guess he organizes alot and you can tip him also. There has been a lot of debate on wether you tip him or not. Some say they never even saw him. We did and he knew are names so we tipped him whatever was the min. The amount for each I think is in the passporter. I will look it up and let you know. The phone cards are for extra's. That has been a big debate also. But most say to use those as extra tipping. Or for people that you don't have to tip like counslers at the kids clubs. When you get a drink anywhere on the ship that you have to pay for a 15% tip is in the price. So you don't have to worry about them.Let me know if you have more ?. You can IM me if you want. Brenda

 

[BALAMAV]

I for got to tell you. You will be at CB resort for 4 nights. That means you will have 4 full days at Disney. Sun., Mon., Tues., Wed. You will get up Thurs and maybe go to AKL for breakfast. If not you will take the bus to the terminal and board I think around 1-2pm and the boat will leave around 5 and go all night in the morning on Fri you will be at Nassua and leave there Fri. night go all night and get to CC on Sat. morning there till 5 and then head back to FL that night in the morning Sun. off ship by 8:30- 9:00. Hope that helps.

 

[Bethipooh4]

We did the exact trip you are doing back in May, even down to staying at CBR. Check in will handle everything, even your cruise portion of the trip. A word of advice, check in at the DCL portion of CBR first, it goes alot faster. And have your paperwork for the cruise all filled out ahead of time.

We decided to go to the AK on cruise morning. You will be given info when you check in, plus a number to call for reservations for the breakfast and the bus to the cruise terminal. They offer a breakfast buffet, AND you can leave you carry on bags at the DCL desk in the AK. They will also give you priority seating for some of their shows at the AK. We chose to see the Lion King, had front row seats.

We boarded the DCL bus at noon, and were at the terminal by 1- 1:15. Had a small wait in line and got right on the ship since you already were checked in. The same KTTW you used at Disney is the same you use on the ship.

We were on deck 2 and loved it.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[NCRedding]

One thing we did to maximize our UMPs--we actually flew in and got a cheap code rate on a room for Sautrday night--then, I went over to the Poly at 6:30 am (too excited to sleep) checked in and we were at Epcot by opening time. We also went to the parks on Thursday to get maximum use.

 

[MommyBull]

Our package actually commences on Jan. 30th. However we will be flying in on the 29th, arriving in the early afternoon, about 11a.m. or 12. I was told by DCL to call CB about a week before we leave to book a room only for the 29th. Should I do that now, I feel like only a week is not enough time, plus we'd like to keep the same room once a package begins.

I was wondering about the straw market in Nassau aswell. Do the vendors 'barter'? Is it too crowded to bring children? SIL and I were thinking to leave DH's and kids on ship whilst we shopped.

How about the jewelry stores are the prices good, OH and Coach? Or should I just take an hour drive to my nearest COACH outlet?

THANKS EVERYBODY!

HEIDI

 

[faireygod mother]

We also did the land and sea, but we stayed at the AKL. We did the princess breakfast at MK that morning then went to DCL. I agree with the others, check in at your hotel for the ship. We walked right on the ship and like they said earlier, your KTTW card is the same for the DCL. Iw was so handy and easy. We absolutley loved it. We were exhausted and having the sea portion last was just what we all needed to relax.

 

[bncschneider1]

In terms of the stay on the night of the 29th I would call and ask to add a prepackage stay at CB and request that you stay in the same room during your stay So then your reservations are set ahead of time, paid and you should likely stay in the same room. They are willing to accomodate, if one CM says otherwise call again until you get your request. You should call whoever you made your DCL reservation with (i.e DCL, or other travel agency)
And have this option added to your reservation. They should arrange everything else no need to call the hotel.


I'm sending pixie dust your way!! Don't forget that since you are a Magical Gathering of eight your group is entitled to set up special tours. Look under Grand Gatherings on the Disney website!!!

 

[Jiffymom]

We will be doing a similar trip in May 2005. Arriving a day early probably just stay at airport first night then to poly for four days. If we leave Poly in early a.m and go to AKL is there a short tour? Did you say we haul our luggage with us then get on the DCL bus at AKL. How do I get to AKL from the Poly with all our luggage/ Maybe to much to deal with.

 

[MommyBull]

I do believe DCL will pick up our/your luggage from the resort. And that you'll only need to carry your 'day pack' thinggy---I'm not positive.

If you have a Passporter (mine is not in my possesion)In there the say to have swim gear in your day pack. Because you may not see you luggage until well after boarding and you may want to take advantage of the pools.

oops got alittle off subject. But I do thinkk DCL handles the transfer of luggage.

HEIDI

 

[Bethipooh4]

If you have your bags outside your room by 8-8:30 they will take them straight to the ship for you. You can check your day bags at the DCL desk inside AK. Just be sure to make your reservations for the bus from AK to the port ahead of time.
We took disney transportation straight from CBR to AK. Had about a 1/2 hour wait for the bus though.

As far as Nassau you had asked about earlier, I prefer not to take my younger ones to the straw market. Its very crowded and cramped in there. Yes you can barter, and if you see something you want, and they aren't willing to meet your price, someone a few stalls down will have the same thing. I can't tell you about a Coach store, I must have missed that one.

 

[MommyBull]

Although SIL and I don't plan to spend heaps on money in Nassau (it'll spent on the ship!) Should we take along some Bahamian Currency?

And a Qusetion to EVERYONE-

What was the very cooolest/unique/best souvenirs?

What were the worst/most regretable?

TRANSPORTATION-We make the arrangements on our own, from ?wherever? we'll be in the world to port? Is that done at Resort front desk or do we call a certain phone number?

HEY GUYS-Thank you for all your information. You don't know how much it is appreciated.

Thanks so much
HEIDI

 

[Bethipooh4]

Everyone in Nassau takes american dollars, so I don't think you need to get the Bahamian(?) currency.

Question for you, did you purchase transfers as part of your package? Like from the airport to WDW, WDW to post, port to Airport? I have been assuming you had. If you did you will be given a special number to call to arrange the bus from the Ak if you decide to do that. Otherwise a DCL bus will pick you up at the resort at around 1.

If you didn't get transfers, and you want to I am sure its not to late.

My biggest regret was not getting a ships wheel clock while we were on the cruise.

 

[MommyBull]

Yes we did purchase the transfers with the package. And we booked right thru DCL-if that helps???

Thank You
HEIDI

 

[MommyBull]

We purchased the ground ransfers when we booked.

 

[mmouse37]

WOW 20 people!! We are only going with 8.

quick overview...4 Adults 35-ish 4 kids 2, 4, 5 & 8, nearly 3, 5, 6 & 9 all b-day's in Jan. Feb. march.

4 days at Carib. beach and 3 nights in steerage on Wonder.

What time should we expect to be picked up on our 4th day? My brother and his family have never been to WDW so wee need to make every minute count!

Who needs tips? I want to start planning the tip budget. What is the minimum to maximum number of folks I need to be tipping?

I also read in ?Passporter? that phone cards make good 'tips' as many of the staff are from overseas, Canada & Mexico. Does this sound GOOFY? or O.K.?

I know I have more questions but my brain is freezin'-literally I need to get outta here and get some sun!

Hi Heidi.....re your statement on "steerage" on the Wonder....Please do not feel that way. I hope you were saying that in jest because every deck on DCL is wonderful!! There is no less desirable deck than another. All passenger decks looks exactly the same and Deck 1 and 2 are actually two of the most conventient decks onboard to many, many activites...not to mention the ease in getting back to your stateroom after a day of excursions!!! You will be very close to photo ops, character autograph sessions, dining rooms, guest service, shore excursion desk, shops, show theatre, 18 and up clubs....really, the only thing that you are far away from is the buffet on Deck 9 and the pools but they are easily accessible via elevator...please do not worry about being in "steerage"...this is not the Titantic!!!! LOL!!!

You will be quite surprised at the location and you are not under the water line...as some people think!!

Have a great time!!!

MJ

 

[MommyBull]

I'm telling everyone we won our tickets in a card game. (Like Leo)

I really don't plan to spend a whole lot of time in our stateroom anyway. We only have 3 days and It's our first cruise, so we'll be plenty busy exploring.

FORMAL DINNER. There isn't a formal night on a 3 or 4 day is there? Hope not. DH barely owns a tie!! We'd have to go see the unsinkable Molly Brown!

I'm just so happy to be going I wouldn't care if I was sleeping in the boiler room.

Thanks

 

[Angelgirl13202]

a little tip about Nassau Dont let your Girls get their hair braided thier either do it on the ship or stand guard and make sure they do exactly what you want argue with them because i got them done and it took like 3 hours i made it back just in time for dinner.... my grandmother could not find where the lady took me in the tent she was nervios (i was 19 at the time perfect adult) i saw the girls who did it on the boat and they did a much better job mine took forever to take out and it hurt because she did it so tight. Not recomended for girls under three in my opinion....

because i got my hair braided i didnt get to shop much in the market but my grandmother Did.. she loved it.