8/10/2008 - Mexican Party Cruise - Who's Here??

[jd99]

Hi all. We are hoping to book this cruise. I have a request in to Dreams Unlimited now and based on what is showing available on the DCL website, I think we'll be in. We were thinking of doing a 4-night Wonder in August but when I checked out the excursions for this itinerary I was hooked. Even if we just go to the great looking resorts in the cities and hang out at the pool and beach, it all looks fantastic.

This will be (hopefully) our fourth DCL cruise. We have done one western caribbean and one eastern but this will be our first Mexican Riviera.

Cast of characters is myself (Jeff), my DW and DD4 and DD9.

I used to live in Southern California so this will give us a chance to cruise and then spend a few days visiting old haunts in OC as well as Disneyland of course! Airfare from Pittsburgh is daunting but we're not going to let it stop us if we can book this one!

Hopefully I'll be back in a day or two with news that we have booked!

 

[CustardTart]

Hi all. We are hoping to book this cruise. I have a request in to Dreams Unlimited now and based on what is showing available on the DCL website, I think we'll be in. We were thinking of doing a 4-night Wonder in August but when I checked out the excursions for this itinerary I was hooked. Even if we just go to the great looking resorts in the cities and hang out at the pool and beach, it all looks fantastic.

This will be (hopefully) our fourth DCL cruise. We have done one western caribbean and one eastern but this will be our first Mexican Riviera.

Cast of characters is myself (Jeff), my DW and DD4 and DD9.

I used to live in Southern California so this will give us a chance to cruise and then spend a few days visiting old haunts in OC as well as Disneyland of course! Airfare from Pittsburgh is daunting but we're not going to let it stop us if we can book this one!

Hopefully I'll be back in a day or two with news that we have booked!

Great news!!! Hope you go ahead and book, Jeff! I think you're doing the same Tortola cruise as us and another cruiser, Paula (m&p'smom) so it would be great to meet you and your family!!!

 

[jd99]

Great news!!! Hope you go ahead and book, Jeff! I think you're doing the same Tortola cruise as us and another cruiser, Paula (m&p'smom) so it would be great to meet you and your family!!!

Yes we are booked on the Tortola trip! Just waiting for confirmation from Dreams now.

 

[Dizney73]

Hello fellow cruisers!
Getting excited! This is our 1st Disney Cruise so I am a bit nervous about picking out any excursions and then not being able to book them since I can't book until 75 days out. I have been reading other threads with people talking about 1st time DCL cruisers having very slim selections at booking time.
I have been checking out the ports though and getting the scoop on the beaches and activities in the areas. We will have a 33 month old with us and like was said... it will be too hot to drag her all over the ports. Would love to hang out at the beaches but I heard that this area was known for jellies. AAAHHHHH. Any past Mexican Riviera cruises who can yah or nay this?

 

[jd99]

Wow this cruise is the polar opposite of the other two we have booked in that the meet thread here is pretty dead whereas the other two have a chatty chatty bunch!

I asked this on the main board but to no avail. Where is everyone staying before the cruise and what kind of transportation arrangements have you made?

 

[CustardTart]

This is definitely a tumbleweed kinda thread, Jeff!!! To answer your question, DH, myself and DS arrive in LAX the day prior to the cruise and will probably be booking accommodation near the port - we've yet to decide which tho' probably the Doubletree... After the cruise, we're heading off to DLH for 6 nights...

 

[CustardTart]

As a result of your prompting, Jeff (thank you for that! ) I've booked the Doubletree as those beds look v-e-r-y comfy and it has a shuttle service to the port!!! Can't wait - every little step brings it a little closer!!!

 

[jd99]

This is definitely a tumbleweed kinda thread, Jeff!!! To answer your question, DH, myself and DS arrive in LAX the day prior to the cruise and will probably be booking accommodation near the port - we've yet to decide which tho' probably the Doubletree... After the cruise, we're heading off to DLH for 6 nights...

We may be doing the exact same thing. Although I used to live in Orange County so I have a hard time not staying near the coast. The Hyatt in Huntington Beach is great! I'm looking at the Fairmont in Newport Beach as well. And there is a great B&B in Dana Point that we love. WHat's complicating things is that it looks like our best choice for air is going to be going in and out of San Diego..so should we stay in SD after the cruise? We also love SD (who couldn't?) Decisions. Decisions. All I know is that I better get this cruise booked AND figure out air soon or else I'm going to end up paying more $$$$ than I want for the air in particular.

 

[Dizney73]

This was my dilemma a while back. I didn't even know where to start and I am still working on it! We are flying to LAX and staying at the DLH for 4 nights using DVC points. I got very nice flights in to LAX at a great price from our small International airport about 20 minutes away. Very convenient. We live in PA and flights home seem to be the problem for us. DCL recommends a flight after 1 pm. Most of the flights back to the East Coast are very early AM or late at night... so we booked our flights cautiously and with much consideration. In the end we book back to ABE(small airport) via EWR airport by bus. The final decision maker was that we have a 2 year old (she'll be 33 months at cruise time) and thought we would take the 11:10 pm flight from LAX. That brought up a new question... what to do the entire day we get off the cruiseship? Finally, I booked a day room at the Radisson hotel near the LAX airport. Free shuttle to the airport. but transfers... wow... I guess my best bet is the Disneyland Express for $30 each way pp from LAX to DLH. And Super Shuttle from DLH to Port on the day of the cruise and then also from the Port to Radissonday we get off. Can anyone offer me any other ways to get from each place to the next??? Is there a car rental at the port?????
I am sooooooo looking forward to this cruise... our first Disney Cruise!

 

[m&p'smom]

Hello Everone! It's getting closer.... I cant wait!!

 

[m&p'smom]

Wow this cruise is the polar opposite of the other two we have booked in that the meet thread here is pretty dead whereas the other two have a chatty chatty bunch!

I asked this on the main board but to no avail. Where is everyone staying before the cruise and what kind of transportation arrangements have you made?

Yes I caught up on this board alot quicker than the other board! We are staying at DLHotel prior to the trip and are using Disney transportation to get to the hotel, the ship and back to the airport...Has anyone found anything better?

 

[Dizney73]

We have been on many cruises over the past 10 years but we are 1st time DCL cruisers. We have a 2 year old... she will be 33 months at cruise time. I see that there are lots of you who are experienced DCL cruisers on this thread. So what can we look forward to on this cruise that sets it apart from all the other cruise lines? I am so excited to finally get to go Disney!!!

 

[princssdisnygina]

Yes I caught up on this board alot quicker than the other board! We are staying at DLHotel prior to the trip and are using Disney transportation to get to the hotel, the ship and back to the airport...Has anyone found anything better?

I would love to know the answer to this as well! We are staying at the DLH before as well!

 

[CustardTart]

Hello Everone! It's getting closer.... I cant wait!!

Hi Paula!!! Getting very excited!!! I've spent the past few days poring over what to do in LA - we've got almost 7 full days to see some sights as well as enjoy DL...

We can't decide whether to hire a car - how bad is driving in LA???

 

[jd99]

We can't decide whether to hire a car - how bad is driving in LA???

Depends on what you are used to. But that being said. you cannot be in LA without a car. There is no public transit to speak of and taxis would bankrupt you. And there is so much to see, especially if you haven't been there before. I used to live in Orange County - close to the coast in Irvine - but about 20 minutes from DisneyLand. You have to go to places l iike Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Santa Monica to soak up the So Cal vibe. All the tacky Hollywood stuff is fun once (walk of stars, etc). Universal Studios is VERY cool - much nicer than the Florida version - real TV/movie sets and sights to see. Drive up the coast to Santa Barbara if you have a day extra or down to San Diego both great places with lots to do. Just a few thoughts...

 

[CustardTart]

Depends on what you are used to. But that being said. you cannot be in LA without a car. There is no public transit to speak of and taxis would bankrupt you. And there is so much to see, especially if you haven't been there before. I used to live in Orange County - close to the coast in Irvine - but about 20 minutes from DisneyLand. You have to go to places l iike Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Santa Monica to soak up the So Cal vibe. All the tacky Hollywood stuff is fun once (walk of stars, etc). Universal Studios is VERY cool - much nicer than the Florida version - real TV/movie sets and sights to see. Drive up the coast to Santa Barbara if you have a day extra or down to San Diego both great places with lots to do. Just a few thoughts...

Hi Jeff! IMO driving in Europe is much worse that the US - I've driven in rush hour around the Arc du Triomphe in Paris FGS so I doubt it'll be too much of a problem. TBH I hadn't thought of a car to start with but think it's going to be much easier. Having said that, we were thinking of riding the Pacific Surfliner down to San Diego - any thoughts..?

We've been to DL before so will only spend a couple of days in the parks, but Universal's on our must-do list - maybe the VIP tour... And definitely one tacky tour!!!

Laguna Beach has an art fair on when we're there so I really want to head that way...

 

[jd99]

Hi Jeff! IMO driving in Europe is much worse that the US - I've driven in rush hour around the Arc du Triomphe in Paris FGS so I doubt it'll be too much of a problem. TBH I hadn't thought of a car to start with but think it's going to be much easier. Having said that, we were thinking of riding the Pacific Surfliner down to San Diego - any thoughts..?

We've been to DL before so will only spend a couple of days in the parks, but Universal's on our must-do list - maybe the VIP tour... And definitely one tacky tour!!!

Laguna Beach has an art fair on when we're there so I really want to head that way...

Great choices! Re the train trip, I have never done that but my sister used to ride the train every day from San Juan Capistrano (another great little town - go see the Mission) into LA.

 

[jd99]

Hey folks. This cruise is coming up fast! Where are all the DIS folks joining us? That's right, we finally booked last night! So we are officially *IN*

Cast of characters: Me (Jeff), DW, DD9 and DD4.

Looking forward to new ports and a great as always Disney Cruise experience.

 

[CustardTart]

Great news, Jeff!!! It'll be nice to meet you and your family before the Tortola cruise...

 

[jd99]

Great news, Jeff!!! It'll be nice to meet you and your family before the Tortola cruise...

Yes, same here. Now I have to plan all the other stuff (air, hotel before, hotel after and all my transportation needs). Yikes. The biggest problem is that the best air we can get it into San Diego - and I mean by hundreds of dollars per ticket. We love SD but would rather fly into Orange County. Don't mind not being able to fly into the nightmare that is LAX. So getting TO the port is our only challenge - probably have to take Super Shuttle from a SD hotel since it seems silly to rent a car to drive it up there and then park it for a week. Pick up the rental AFTER the sailing.