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

[Dizney73]

Hi fellow cruisers,
We have been looking over the excursions and think we will try to do a beach/resort getaway in most ports. We do have a 2 and 1/2 year old and many of the excursions are for 3 and up. If we can't get the excursions through Disney we will just go to a cruiseship friendly resort when we get to the ports. Cruise ship excursions always give me a sense of security that doing something on my own doesn't give me. This is our 1st Disney Cruise so we can't book until the 27th or 28th. We are going to pay the cruise off this week using the Disney Visa of course so that I can get the $$$$.

In other news... I haven't had time to post much lately because we have been very busy getting TWO adoptions prepared! We adopted our 2 year old from China in July 2006. We will be waiting for a VERY long time for our next next child from China. We are expecting to wait 4 to 5 years. So we just signed contracts to adopt from Taiwan, too... while we wait. We are expecting Taiwan to take us about 2 years total. Am I allowed to give you my blog address to follow along? I don't want to break any rules.

Oh and CustardTart... thanks for showing me where to get my tickers... though I have not yet used one on here ( I will real soon) , I did use 3 of them on my blog!

 

[jd99]

Hi fellow cruisers,
We have been looking over the excursions and think we will try to do a beach/resort getaway in most ports. We do have a 2 and 1/2 year old and many of the excursions are for 3 and up. If we can't get the excursions through Disney we will just go to a cruiseship friendly resort when we get to the ports. Cruise ship excursions always give me a sense of security that doing something on my own doesn't give me. This is our 1st Disney Cruise so we can't book until the 27th or 28th. We are going to pay the cruise off this week using the Disney Visa of course so that I can get the $$$$.

In other news... I haven't had time to post much lately because we have been very busy getting TWO adoptions prepared! We adopted our 2 year old from China in July 2006. We will be waiting for a VERY long time for our next next child from China. We are expecting to wait 4 to 5 years. So we just signed contracts to adopt from Taiwan, too... while we wait. We are expecting Taiwan to take us about 2 years total. Am I allowed to give you my blog address to follow along? I don't want to break any rules.

Oh and CustardTart... thanks for showing me where to get my tickers... though I have not yet used one on here ( I will real soon) , I did use 3 of them on my blog!

Congratulations on your adoptions!

We have cruised with a little one as well. Our youngest was 2 1/2 on our first cruise and she loved Flounders. She had a very good time seeing the princesses and we did mostly beach days at the ports. We actually rented a day room at one port (Grand Cayman) so we could use the pool at the resort and have a room to get a break from the sun and take a real shower (as opposed to a cruise stateroom shower!). All in all it was great.

I'm betting we all end up at many of the same excursions since that is really what our kids want to do (go to the beach) though we will probably do the dolphin encounter in PV.

 

[andriade]

Hi fellow cruisers,
We have been looking over the excursions and think we will try to do a beach/resort getaway in most ports. We do have a 2 and 1/2 year old and many of the excursions are for 3 and up. If we can't get the excursions through Disney we will just go to a cruiseship friendly resort when we get to the ports. Cruise ship excursions always give me a sense of security that doing something on my own doesn't give me. This is our 1st Disney Cruise so we can't book until the 27th or 28th. We are going to pay the cruise off this week using the Disney Visa of course so that I can get the $$$$.

In other news... I haven't had time to post much lately because we have been very busy getting TWO adoptions prepared! We adopted our 2 year old from China in July 2006. We will be waiting for a VERY long time for our next next child from China. We are expecting to wait 4 to 5 years. So we just signed contracts to adopt from Taiwan, too... while we wait. We are expecting Taiwan to take us about 2 years total. Am I allowed to give you my blog address to follow along? I don't want to break any rules.

Oh and CustardTart... thanks for showing me where to get my tickers... though I have not yet used one on here ( I will real soon) , I did use 3 of them on my blog!

Congrats on the adoptions! I am adopted and I love seeing people adopt. I was adopted in the USA though and I know going abroad is a much longer process. My parents said it was draining 34 years ago but now going abroad is even tougher! Good luck. I hope you get the child you long for sooner than later! They told my parents 9 year wait and I came 9 months later. You never know!

I hope to run into you on the cruise!

 

[Fawn]

In other news... I haven't had time to post much lately because we have been very busy getting TWO adoptions prepared! We adopted our 2 year old from China in July 2006. We will be waiting for a VERY long time for our next next child from China. We are expecting to wait 4 to 5 years. So we just signed contracts to adopt from Taiwan, too... while we wait. We are expecting Taiwan to take us about 2 years total. Am I allowed to give you my blog address to follow along? I don't want to break any rules.

QUOTE]

Congrats on your adoptions!! I have 6 "handpicked" children of my own...my youngest two will be with me on this cruise!

I have to read back several pages since last time I was online...lost my computer this winter in a crash! I'm still trying to decide a couple things.

1. Where to stay and what to do before cruise. I'm bringing 2 17 year olds and an 18 year old and they are all kinda iffy on disneyland...go figure! I'm thinking some kind of resort....we're planning on coming out three or four days before cruise.

2. Excursions...there's so many!! LOL Anyone heard advice from previous cruisers on any of them?

94 days and counting...we sat at lunch today and discussed our outfits and packing strategies! I love having daughters!!

 

[Dizney73]

Wow! I can't wait to meet you all! It seems that we just have so much in common... and our love for Disney seems to be just a beginning!

And... ooooo... I like the idea of maybe booking a room for the day in a port. I might have to look into that! We booked a day room after the cruise nea the LAX airport so that we have some facilities to use while we wait for our 11:00 PM flight. We chose the late flight because we hope that our daughter will sleep.

 

[jd99]

In other news... I haven't had time to post much lately because we have been very busy getting TWO adoptions prepared! We adopted our 2 year old from China in July 2006. We will be waiting for a VERY long time for our next next child from China. We are expecting to wait 4 to 5 years. So we just signed contracts to adopt from Taiwan, too... while we wait. We are expecting Taiwan to take us about 2 years total. Am I allowed to give you my blog address to follow along? I don't want to break any rules.

QUOTE]

Congrats on your adoptions!! I have 6 "handpicked" children of my own...my youngest two will be with me on this cruise!

I have to read back several pages since last time I was online...lost my computer this winter in a crash! I'm still trying to decide a couple things.

1. Where to stay and what to do before cruise. I'm bringing 2 17 year olds and an 18 year old and they are all kinda iffy on disneyland...go figure! I'm thinking some kind of resort....we're planning on coming out three or four days before cruise.

2. Excursions...there's so many!! LOL Anyone heard advice from previous cruisers on any of them?

94 days and counting...we sat at lunch today and discussed our outfits and packing strategies! I love having daughters!!

We are going to disneyland but of course I have two younguns - 9 and 4. Staying at the Grand Californian for 3 nights before the cruise. After the cruise, we are staying at the St. Regis Monarch Beach in Orange Cty for five nights.

Excursions really are plentiful -more so than the eastern and western caribbean it seems. At least there are more that the little kids can do.

 

[bcnb103]

Fawn:
/ on the 17 year olds. I will have my and foster both 17 on the cruise. My 13 year old didn't want to come.

Andriade:
Congratulations on the adoption. I have 2 adopted children 13 and 17. My hubby and I looked into international adoption many years ago but then I had a neice live with us for 10 years and we adopted our 17 yr old daughter (at birth) and then we started foster care and adopted our 13yr old (got him at 3 and adopter at 5) and then at 43 I had our son (I was told I would most likely never have children) WOW what a surprise.

We will most likely be going on one of the beach excursions. I have to look into them more. I would like to get one where we have a room or house, something to go into if the baby get cranky and tired. Or even if I do hehehahha I am not much of a sun person (fair skin/blonde) OUCH burn easy). It will be nice meeting with all of you soon. We will be coming in the day before and staying at the airport although depending on the time of the flight (booked through Disney) We are going to go to Disney for the day.

 

[Fawn]

Fawn:
/ on the 17 year olds. I will have my and foster both 17 on the cruise. My 13 year old didn't want to come.

Andriade:
Congratulations on the adoption. I have 2 adopted children 13 and 17. My hubby and I looked into international adoption many years ago but then I had a neice live with us for 10 years and we adopted our 17 yr old daughter (at birth) and then we started foster care and adopted our 13yr old (got him at 3 and adopter at 5) and then at 43 I had our son (I was told I would most likely never have children) WOW what a surprise.

We do have lots in common! My late husband and I adopted 6 children out of the 25 or so we fostered through the years. The three teens I'm bringing on this cruise are my 18 year old daughter and her boyfriend, and my 17 year old daughter. If your kids would like to e-mail before the cruise, I'm sure my girls would be up for it!

 

[Fawn]

I know I already offered this but I thought I would put it out there again. I live is SoCal and I go to Disneyland almost weekly. I was born and raised here so I know a lot about L.A. If you have any questions or need advice, please ask away!

I know your children are a lot younger, but since you lived there maybe you can help. I'm looking into doing Disneyland for a few days. The kids are agreeable, but not thrilled. My feeling is I don't know if we'll ever go out that way again, so do it now!

I've also thought about maybe a nice resort for a few days...just sun and fun to get us relaxed for the cruise.

So...for teens...any suggestions of definite to-do items?

Suggestions...please...anything! LOL

 

[jd99]

I know your children are a lot younger, but since you lived there maybe you can help. I'm looking into doing Disneyland for a few days. The kids are agreeable, but not thrilled. My feeling is I don't know if we'll ever go out that way again, so do it now!

I've also thought about maybe a nice resort for a few days...just sun and fun to get us relaxed for the cruise.

So...for teens...any suggestions of definite to-do items?

Suggestions...please...anything! LOL

Ok I'm not the OP..but I used to live in Orange County, Calif....so we go out there pretty often. If you are looking for a cool beach resort close to Disneyland, we have stayed at the Hyatt in Huntington Beach. It's a great hotel and your kids will love Huntington. It's a really "cool" place for teens and older. We're not staying there only because we like Southern OC a bit better - especially because our kids are smaller -- so the St. Regis in Dana Point is our goal for post-cruise. If money is no object, the Montage in Laguna Beach is an incredible resort but it is big bucks. The place we are staying, The St. Regis is somewhere between the Hyatt and the Montage cost-wise ut it looks like a really great property. We have never stayed there before.

 

[m&p'smom]

Hi Everyone!! Well it is getting closer!! We will soon be able to make our excursion plans and I am so ready for this vacation...It is ashame though that I am wishing my summer to hurry on by.....
I think we may try the snorkeling on one stop and the beaches on the others....and shopping on all....of course.

 

[jd99]

Ok now that we really are getting close, my nine year old daughter wanted me to officially ask if there are any girls her age going on this cruise (8 year olds okay too since they'd be in the same group in the Lab). She'd like to communicate via PM or email to anyone out there. Anyone?

 

[jd99]

Found us way too far down on page 2. Everyone ready for excursion booking?

 

[michpoit]

Hi Everyone,

How did all of the Castaway Club members do with their online reservations last night? I was very excited that I got my dinner and brunch reservations at Palos. I have a party of 5 for each though and of course you can only make a reservation for up to 4 people. What I ended up doing was getting reservations for 2 tables at the same time for each meal. Do you think if I call them that they can combine the 2 tables or will I still have to fix it on the first day of the cruise? How about excursions? We are going on a city tour of Mazatlan through Disney. We will probably just get off the ships and look around at the other ports. The kids proably won't get off the ship at the other 2 ports - they would rather stay in the clubs. The armed guards in Costa Maya on our last cruise pretty much scared off my 12 year old. He would be very happy never getting off the ship unless, of course, we are at Castaway Cay!

Jeff - I am so sorry that I did not get back to you sooner. My daughter Samantha who is also 9 would love to get in touch with your daughter before the cruise. It seems like the closer to the end of the school year we get, the crazier our schedule gets here! Today really takes the cake for activities too! I've had a whole 5 1/2 hours of sleep so it should be interesting to see how long I make it to tonight!

Have a great Monday everyone!

 

[jd99]

Michelle, Great to hear about Samantha. My daughter Elizabeth is very excited that she will have a "friend" before we board.

We did great on our reservations too. We got Palo Brunch and dinner as well but it is, of course, for just my wife and I. For the first time we actually booked excursions through DCL because we are not familiar with these ports. Booked the Dolphin Kids for the girls in Cabo and I booked a dolphin swim for me - though I may cancel because it's the same time as the girls' experience and I probably don't want to miss watching them. In Mazatlan, we booked the "Best of Mazatlan" which it looks like is the same as what you booked. And in Puerto Vallarta, we booked the Paradise Beach Resort excursion.

I have a feeling you have to fix your Palo reservation when you get on board.

Shall I have Elizabeth send a PM to you for Samantha? We are also winding down the school year and with school, Brownies, Swim Team, Soccer and a Dance Recital all either winding down or starting up it is wild.

Jeff

 

[michpoit]

Samantha would love it if Elizabeth sent her a PM. It is always nice to have a friend on board. Our schedule sounds like yours. Sam has Girl Scouts - I'm the leader - tennis, dance and violin. My son has Boy Scouts and Glee Club. There is never a dull moment at this time of the year.

I have a feeling that I am going to have to fix my Palo Reservations once I get on board too. At least I have everyone booked for the same time though. I like to get to the port nice and early for check in. That being the case, I have yet to run into a huge line for Palo Reservations once we board the ship. It would be nice not to have to go there at all though!

 

[jd99]

Samantha would love it if Elizabeth sent her a PM. It is always nice to have a friend on board. Our schedule sounds like yours. Sam has Girl Scouts - I'm the leader - tennis, dance and violin. My son has Boy Scouts and Glee Club. There is never a dull moment at this time of the year.

I have a feeling that I am going to have to fix my Palo Reservations once I get on board too. At least I have everyone booked for the same time though. I like to get to the port nice and early for check in. That being the case, I have yet to run into a huge line for Palo Reservations once we board the ship. It would be nice not to have to go there at all though!

Michelle - That's so funny. My wife Mina is the brownie leader as well! The girls are "bridging" to juniors after school today. And Elizabeth is getting ready to start tennis once dance and soccer are over.

I've never run into a problem standing in line at Palo as well but I know what you mean..don't want to have to worry about it on your first day. On our first cruise, we didn't know anything and so we didn't book Palo or anything else in advance. We went on board and had to get put on a waiting list for both brunch and dinner. Got a call for both ! So I never really worry about it.

I notice in your signature that you are going to disneyland too. Are you doing that before or after the cruise? We have plans before and after but in advance, we are staying at the Grand Californian. If you folks are doing it before the cruise, it'd be great to set up a get together then as well to have the girls have a chance to meet each other.

 

[michpoit]

We are flying down the day before the cruise but will not get in until 8pm. We are staying at the Doubletree in Long Beach for the night. We will be going to DL & CA for 4 days after the cruise. We've never been there before and are so excited to check it out! We are going to stay at the DLR. My son is disappointed because he does not feel it is going to be "Disney" enough. I'm sure he is going to love it once he gets there. I guess we just can't help but to compare it to WDW.

 

[bcnb103]

Yea we got everything booked We booked Chelino Bay Snorkeling in Cabo for hubby and DFS. We will then meet up when they are done and walk around Cabo. We booked paradise beach escape in Puerto Vallarta. I also reserved Flounders for the night of the 13th for a couple hours because that is our 25th Anniversary.

michpoit: They have the guards in Cabo too. You have to taxi in and when you get in you walk through these check point type of things and then you have the Camo wearing big gun carrying guys it is quit scarey I looked at my hubby and said OK I am ready to go back to the ship now! So be prepared if they go into Cabo.

jd99: If you have a chance to swim with the dolphins do it my hubby and daughter did this and said it was amazing. It was only going to be my daughter and Disney changed the rules so at 15 DH had to be by DD side and he wasn't looking forward to doing this but once he did it he said he was so happy for the rule change!

Well we will be seeing everyone real soon! I have to get going to another busy day. My daughter started back up at dance for school dance team they had about a month off after State comp. AHHHHHH busy busy busy.

 

[jd99]

We are flying down the day before the cruise but will not get in until 8pm. We are staying at the Doubletree in Long Beach for the night. We will be going to DL & CA for 4 days after the cruise. We've never been there before and are so excited to check it out! We are going to stay at the DLR. My son is disappointed because he does not feel it is going to be "Disney" enough. I'm sure he is going to love it once he gets there. I guess we just can't help but to compare it to WDW.

Hi Michelle

You WILL compare the two and dare I say it (I hope no one flames me here) but nothing compares to WDW. We have never stayed onsite at DL before but are staying at the Grand Californian this time so perhaps I"ll change my tune. But overall I really really like DL (I've been going since I was 4) but it's just that WDW has so much more and it bugs me that the DL castle is so much smaller. That being said, we have had some of our best "Magic Kingdom" days in DL...so you WILL have a blast. It's just different.