6/13/2009 Western on Magic

[sinnika]

WOW... And your charge is???

That actually sounds great!!! I think I will end up telling my DD & see what she says (teenagerism has its moments). Since this will be our first chance for her to go to WDW ~ I am not sure what she will decide.

If you need any other suggestions on free/inexpensive things to do at WDW, let me know! DD 14 (almost) has been 14 times! I'll ask her favorite things to do. I know she loves having dinner at the Grand Floridian at 1900 Park Fare (its a character event with the princesses). We are going back on her 14th BD in Sept and that was where she wants to celebrate the big day! DS l2 liked renting the raceboats at the Polynesian. We've also rented bikes at the boardwalk on the other side of Epcot. Just some other food for thought, if you want to go to a Disney park, by the time you get from the airport to hotel to a park, it will be after 1pm and you've missed the cooler part of the day. Also, some of the most popular rides could be out of fastpasses for the rest of the day by then. Don't want to sound negative, but for her first time, make it as magical as possible. Go early, plan in advance. Nuff said.

 

[Diane71969]

If you need any other suggestions on free/inexpensive things to do at WDW, let me know! DD 14 (almost) has been 14 times! I'll ask her favorite things to do. I know she loves having dinner at the Grand Floridian at 1900 Park Fare (its a character event with the princesses). We are going back on her 14th BD in Sept and that was where she wants to celebrate the big day! DS l2 liked renting the raceboats at the Polynesian. We've also rented bikes at the boardwalk on the other side of Epcot. Just some other food for thought, if you want to go to a Disney park, by the time you get from the airport to hotel to a park, it will be after 1pm and you've missed the cooler part of the day. Also, some of the most popular rides could be out of fastpasses for the rest of the day by then. Don't want to sound negative, but for her first time, make it as magical as possible. Go early, plan in advance. Nuff said.

Since we are staying on Disney Property POFQ what is the best way for us to go and do this:

I would love to take the Epcot monorail (get some great photos of Future World), go back to TTC, take the resort monorail, and visit the different resorts - Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, (free), watch the water boat parade in the evening (can't remember what that is called) from one of any of these 3 resorts from their beach/marina area, stay and watch the MK fireworks (all free!).

 

[sinnika]

Since we are staying on Disney Property POFQ what is the best way for us to go and do this:

I would love to take the Epcot monorail (get some great photos of Future World), go back to TTC, take the resort monorail, and visit the different resorts - Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, (free), watch the water boat parade in the evening (can't remember what that is called) from one of any of these 3 resorts from their beach/marina area, stay and watch the MK fireworks (all free!).

You have a few options, depending on where you want to start out. If you want to go straight to the TTC and start the monorail touring, take the bus from POFQ to Epcot or MK. The Epcot monorail takes you between Epcot and TTC. From there, transfer monorails to the resort monorail. Goes to the 3 resorts mentioned and MK. All the resorts have great shopping too and are all very different and fun to tour. You can also catch the boat to DTD, then take the bus to TTC from there. The TTC buses can take you most anywhere. I'm sure there's a bus schedule with routes posted somewhere on the Dis boards. We usually rent a car when in WDW since we most often stay at Shades of Green and don't get the benefit of the ME bus. But we love riding the monorails, esp the resort monorail and touring on our first or last day of a trip.

 

[Diane71969]

You have a few options, depending on where you want to start out. If you want to go straight to the TTC and start the monorail touring, take the bus from POFQ to Epcot or MK. The Epcot monorail takes you between Epcot and TTC. From there, transfer monorails to the resort monorail. Goes to the 3 resorts mentioned and MK. All the resorts have great shopping too and are all very different and fun to tour. You can also catch the boat to DTD, then take the bus to TTC from there. The TTC buses can take you most anywhere. I'm sure there's a bus schedule with routes posted somewhere on the Dis boards. We usually rent a car when in WDW since we most often stay at Shades of Green and don't get the benefit of the ME bus. But we love riding the monorails, esp the resort monorail and touring on our first or last day of a trip.

Thanks!!!!

 

[Diane71969]

Hello it's me again...

I read on some thread that you can ship a box to yourself to be delivered to your cabin and it will be there when you get there.

Does anyone know anything about this?

Thinking it might be a way to send all the FE stuff vs. packing it in luggage for the airplane...

 

[triplefigs]

on the FAQ section there are specific instructions on how to ship a box to your cabin. HTH!

 

[triplefigs]

The Dolphin Discovery people are very nice! They are seeing if they can get authorization to override the 1 adult per child rule for the swim. We are outnumbered in our house, so we'd have to do the Encounter. There is a 10% discount right now too, and she authorized the full refund (minus 10%) if the ship can't dock/delayed.

 

[Diane71969]

on the FAQ section there are specific instructions on how to ship a box to your cabin. HTH!

I tried that 1st and it said there was nothing found. Still not coming up with anything.

 

[triplefigs]

Boxes Sent the Ship Ahead of Cruise - PLEASE follow these instructions carefully!!!!!! UPDATED AS OF 2/25/2009

• ONE box per stateroom, no exceptions.

• The package must have the guest full name, ship, sailing date, stateroom number or GTY if you have not been assigned a stateroom number.

• The package also must have a packing slip attached to the outside of the box that details the contents of the package. For prescriptions, a copy of the prescription is sufficient. Your list may or may not be read but it must have one. Write packing slip on the outside of the envelope.

• NO FOODS/DRINKS OF ANY KIND, LIQUOR OF ANY KIND, FIREARMS, ETC.. Items that cannot be shipped to the Disney Cruise Line Warehouse and delivered to the ship include: food products (any and all food products including baby food/formula), beverages (liquor, water, etc.), chemicals, and luggage. These items will not be accepted at the warehouse and will be returned. This may cause the dogs to hit on your box and that would be a bad thing.

• The required size of the cartons you are shipping down have to be about the size of a record storage box 12 inches on a side and should not weigh more than 20 lbs. (This has been asked personally by Dave Adams who is the owner)

Address your package(s) to:

Disney Cruise Line Warehouse
Guest Name / Stateroom # (GTY, if you don't know what it is when you send the package)
8633 Transport Drive
Orlando, FL 32832
Phone: 407-566-8196

In the bottom left corner of the top of the package put the following information: ATTN: HOUSEKEEPING
*Name
*Sail Date
*Ship
*Stateroom Number
*Packing slip that details contents of the package (for prescriptions, a copy of the prescription is sufficient)

• Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00pm for the 7-Night Cruise on the Disney Magic (Saturday).

• Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00pm for the 4-Night Cruise on the Disney Wonder (Sunday).

• Packages must arrive by Wednesday by 3:00pm for the 3-Night Cruise on the Disney Wonder (Thursday).

If your box is hit on by the screening dog or chosen for additional screening they will open the list and the box and look through it. They will close it back up and provided nothing bad is in it then it will be in your room as usual later after boarding.

These boxes will be coming on the ship with the crew mail among other things so they may be in the staterooms later then they were before as they are low priority in the scheme of things for Disney.

 

[nikkistevej]

The Dolphin Discovery people are very nice! They are seeing if they can get authorization to override the 1 adult per child rule for the swim. We are outnumbered in our house, so we'd have to do the Encounter. There is a 10% discount right now too, and she authorized the full refund (minus 10%) if the ship can't dock/delayed.

I know, when I was booking mine- the girl was really nice. It was good that it was so easy- I did the online chat thing.

 

[triplefigs]

I know, when I was booking mine- the girl was really nice. It was good that it was so easy- I did the online chat thing.

That's what I did too. Still waiting to hear back from them about the Swim vs Encounter.

 

[nikkistevej]

That's what I did too. Still waiting to hear back from them about the Swim vs Encounter.

We have to do the encounter because of DD6's age, but she wants to ride on a dolphin- we told her if she's good with the dolphins- we'll do another dolphin excursion when she gets a little older somewhere. I have been looking at Discovery Cove in Orlando- it looks really nice- but not for a couple more years.

 

[pixiedustaholic]

Does anyone know anything about Dolphin Discovery in Grand Cayman? The site said it's brand new but I'm curious as to why no one on the cruise board ever mentions it. All I hear about is Cozumel. You also get free admission to the turtle farm.

 

[sinnika]

Looks like alot of us will be at Chaakaanaab for the Dolphin Discovery! We should plan a Dis -meet somewhere - maybe at the pool for a drink. We have a 3:30pm royal dolphin swim for DS, DD and DD's new Dis-er friend. We plan to get to the park early to swim and snorkel first. When is everyone's times?

 

[sinnika]

Oh wow, just noticed I'm now a Mousketeer! I've earned my ears!!! Yea ME!!!

 

[djd7292]

Ok.. so I have talked to DD about MK (she wants to go but with more people since I don't do rides).

She is ok w/just doing the tour that sinnka suggested BUT if I rent a car for 1 day, leave it at the Port... how do I get back to the MCO when it is all over??

As you all can tell... I am not a Disney vacationer (sp). We have only been on 1 other Disney cruise (Aug 2005 w/Katrina blowing us back to Port).

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

 

[sinnika]

Ok.. so I have talked to DD about MK (she wants to go but with more people since I don't do rides).

She is ok w/just doing the tour that sinnka suggested BUT if I rent a car for 1 day, leave it at the Port... how do I get back to the MCO when it is all over??

As you all can tell... I am not a Disney vacationer (sp). We have only been on 1 other Disney cruise (Aug 2005 w/Katrina blowing us back to Port).

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

You can book a one way transportation with DCL. You may have to call them to do this. Or, if you want, you can travel back with us to MCO. We are hiring a service (Happy Limo, Ace, haven't picked which one yet). We have a family of 5. Most of the services have vans that hold 7-10 people with luggage for a rate of $110 plus 20% tip = $132 divided by 7 people comes to less than $20 pp. Less than your DCL transportation which runs $35 pp one way. It would be fun to go back as a group!
If we had more people, we could get our own little Dis-er bus! Let me know if you need any priceline tips or discount codes for your rental car.
Oh, I asked my DD what her favorite things to do for free was and she said to shop! She especially loves the stores in the resorts (Grand Floridian has 2 floors worth and I think the Poly does too). She also loves roaming the stores at DTD. OK, its free if you shop but don't buy!

 

[BethA]

You are going to end up with everyone wanting one-the design is amazing.Of course I want one too-or you could tell me how to make one.

I know, it is so cute, isn't it. I requested one too!! LOL She is talented. Are you decorating your door too?

 

[nikkistevej]

Does anyone know anything about Dolphin Discovery in Grand Cayman? The site said it's brand new but I'm curious as to why no one on the cruise board ever mentions it. All I hear about is Cozumel. You also get free admission to the turtle farm.

I believe it was quite a bit $$$ than Cozumel.

 

[nikkistevej]

Looks like alot of us will be at Chaakaanaab for the Dolphin Discovery! We should plan a Dis -meet somewhere - maybe at the pool for a drink. We have a 3:30pm royal dolphin swim for DS, DD and DD's new Dis-er friend. We plan to get to the park early to swim and snorkel first. When is everyone's times?

Ours is at 1pm- I think we're going to go early and swim and explore early too.