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

[jd99]

That would drive me crazy too! I am too much of a planner to be able to handle the anticipation of wondering where my room was going to be.

I have never had GTY before but when we booked, the only Category 9s left were on deck one and I didn't really like being on deck 2 so I didn't want to move down. So I found out that the Cat 8 are on higher decks and didn't cost much more (and I wasn't ready to spring for a Cat 6 on this sailing - again availability was limited and the cost was high coz we booked kinda late)....so I said "what the heck. surely we'll get a cabin assignment long before we sail."

I'm with you Andria, maybe it means a huge upgrade is in the works. Can you say Category 4? Yes, I'm a dreamer too.

 

[ayumac]

I lived in South Kensington on Emperors Gate. It was right off the Gloucester Road exit from the tube.

I am officially back, again.
As I was going through this thread from page 1 a couple of hours ago, I could not resist posting a reply.

Dear Andria and Karen,
We were just there, on Gloucester Road, last December!! My DS6, the world's pickiest eater, went to Paul's had a dozen of croissants every single day.

I am still on page 16. More comments to come.

My shopping journal #15:
Bought See's lollypops for my dear DIS cruisemates FEs and CMs.

 

[ayumac]

Tomorrow's my birthday. Yep, I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy. A real live nephew of my uncle sam!

Happy BELATED birthday, Jeff!!
What a day to be born. I will remember you and your birthday from this year on.

My shopping journal #16:
Bought matching Mexican like dress tops (w/ embroidery, if you know what I mean) for myself and DD4 at Gapkids, on sale + 25% off.

 

[ayumac]

Then I hit the Disney Character Warehouse and got Pirate Mickey Ears, 2 for $6.

Dear D'Anne,

Thanks for introdusing me to this unknown world. I finally made it there last week and it almost made me ill. I was at Disneyland last Thanksgiving and most of the stuff I got were there, mostly 80% off.

All kinds of mickey ears, including pirates one were 99 cents. Boy, I was glad I only had a few minutes to stay. I almost got lost in that small space.

I think I now have enough stuff to fill "make our own gift basket for kids" for less plus some more FE goodies.

Thanks so much, D'Anne for the make your own gift basket idea and telling me about that store.

My shopping journal #17:
Bought some material for my FE .

 

[dlgrn3]

I think it will work out just fine. My husband felt the same way and now we are going on our 3rd one......Disney does have a way of working their Magic on anyone. My husband is a huge Disney fan, so that is how I convinced him in the first place....cruising was not his idea of a vacation...and to be honest even though I go on other cruises with my friends he would HATE those...but Disney is different so I think your DH may be pleasantly surprised.

I hear ya! I will be super pleased if I am sleeping on a deck chair!

My only fear is that this cruise will be a let-down after waiting to go for so long. I have been on 3 other cruises but DH hasn't. People at his office are always telling him that cruises stink. It was hard for me to convince him to take this cruise in the first place. I only hope he has a good time.

 

[bcnb103]

We had a gty room in 2005 and we found out when we got our package in the mail with everything in it what room we had. I had read that people didn't find out until they checked in si I called and asked Disney when we would find out and they said that we would find out when we got the package.( we have 2 rooms and one of them is GTY) So hopefully we will know soon!

Becky

 

[CAmom2boys]

Dear D'Anne,


All kinds of mickey ears, including pirates one were 99 cents.

Wow! I thought I got a good deal when I bought mine for $3 each.
I need to make another trip there to see if there's anything new. I need to visit Downtown Disney too. I want to see if they have any small pirate themed plush. DH has already started complaining about my pre-cruise spending. I'm not done yet!

D'Anne

 

[ayumac]

Dear D'Anne,

I noticed you said $3 after I pushed "post" button. I might have to go back there to grab the deal.

I am not sure if DT Disney ever have store wide sale, but if not, go to Disney Store and see they still have good deals going on. Two weeks ago, I saw small size pirate Mickey for $5 which normally is $10 each. Or they might have even been additional 40% off. I almost bought it, but we already have a big box full of pokemon plush as well as some Disney collection and build-a-bears, but I could not resist from buying cute mini Minnie pillow, which was $4.99, but when I went in 3 days later, it came down to $2.99. I was going to put it in the gift basket, but then my DD chose Doly (from Nimo) when we went in for the second time. We bought McQueen pillow for my DS's basket, but DD told him what we have bought. Now he wants Dino which is the other choice for boys.

OK, I found Dino one online (as I was writing on & on):
http://disneyshopping.go.com/webapp...&productId=1225636&langId=-1&categoryId=51002
They are so cute and so soft.

So this is my #18.

Luckily (or not?) my DH has not yet found out what I have accumulated in our guest bedroom, yet since the room is a mess with whole bunch of other "stuff".

I am almost done shopping, except for the final water supply at Costco in SoCA so, let me help you spend more money.

I am not trying to spend so much money once we are on the trip, except for photos, pins, "some" special drinks, those beautiful mexican tiles with Magic on them, see, that's it!

Cheers!

 

[ayumac]

we are meeting at the Promenade Lounge at 2:45 p.m. (just in advance of the boat drill) and you have a 3 and 5 year old right? I have four year old girl and Ayumi does as well!

Dear Andria,

Jeff is right! I also have DS6. However, we are driving up from Legoland that morning, so we are still not sure we can make it by 2:45

I now have read through this whole thread. I will be prompt from now on until the day we head down to LA .

My shopping journal #19:
Bought stickers for FE, w/ Mickey and some kind of big boat. Guess how much at Disney outlet? 10 cents each I wish I could post pics. Whoever wants it, I've got 10 or 20, I forget, I was too excited.

 

[jd99]

Dear Andria,

Jeff is right! I also have DS6. However, we are driving up from Legoland that morning, so we are still not sure we can make it by 2:45

I now have read through this whole thread. I will be prompt from now on until the day we head down to LA .

My shopping journal #19:
Bought stickers for FE, w/ Mickey and some kind of big boat. Guess how much at Disney outlet? 10 cents each I wish I could post pics. Whoever wants it, I've got 10 or 20, I forget, I was too excited.

Ayumi
I can't wait to meet you. You seem like a lot of fun. Your shopping journal just really makes me laugh. And you just have to get there for the meet!!!!!!!

jeff

 

[jd99]

With no Disney warehouse (i'm so jealous) to shop, I think we'll have the most boring Fish Extender gifts. So when you open up your fish extender and see dull presents, think of me.

 

[andriade]

With no Disney warehouse (i'm so jealous) to shop, I think we'll have the most boring Fish Extender gifts. So when you open up your fish extender and see dull presents, think of me.

I love the Disney Warehouse. I bought those pirate Mickey ears also. I have a special discount card because I spent SOOOOOOO much there on my first visit! DS has an adorable letterman jacket from there. I have some surprise princess items for DD. It should be great!

 

[andriade]

Can you all share what excursions you are doing????

 

[CAmom2boys]

We are planning to do the Dolphin Encounter/Swim in Cabo (DH and DS4 are doing the encounter, DS7 and I are doing the swim), the Best of Mazatlan in Mazatlan (duh!) and the Paradise Beach Adventure in Puerto Vallarta. I am still wishing more people who have gone on the MR cruises to date would post trip reports. The reviews I have read about each of these excursions have been positive, but they are limited. I want to see/read more reviews!

I'm also torn with the thought of saving money and doing Mazatlan and/or PV on our own. Walking to the beach on Mazatlan (Stone Island?) sounds good and the Krystal Resort in PV gets rave reviews on Cruise Critic. But at the same time, with respect to Mazatlan, it seems the people that try to do it on their own are the most disappointed with the port. Though they aren't the same people who go to Stone Island.

At one point I was so certain about our excursions, yet the more I think about it...

D'Anne

 

[jd99]

Can you all share what excursions you are doing????

We have the EXACT same schedule at D'Anne! (Dolphins in Cabo, Best of Mazatlan and Paradise Beach) How funny. However, we may be switching Mazatlan. I want to zip line and the rest of the family will either keep the Best of Mazatlan or just stay on the ship. The kids are asking to stay on the ship...but we haven't made a final decision.

 

[jd99]

Ok D'Anne - You got me thinking now and I went out and did some googling and found the Westin in Puerto Vallarta which also gets great reviews on CC - some say it's better than Krystal. I looked it up and it DOES look incredible. Maybe we'll switch our day to that instead of Paradise Beach...

I just emailed the hotel to get info on day passes and what it includes. Happy to post it here for everyone to see when I hear back.

 

[jd99]

According to my list (those who provided cabin numbers or will do so once out of GTY status), these are the people participating in the Fish Extender Exchange. I may have made some wrong assumptions so correct me if I'm wrong please.

JD99
Michpoit
Custard Tart
CaMom2Boys
Ayumac
Dizney73
bcnb103

 

[andriade]

We are planning to do the Dolphin Encounter/Swim in Cabo (DH and DS4 are doing the encounter, DS7 and I are doing the swim), the Best of Mazatlan in Mazatlan (duh!) and the Paradise Beach Adventure in Puerto Vallarta. I am still wishing more people who have gone on the MR cruises to date would post trip reports. The reviews I have read about each of these excursions have been positive, but they are limited. I want to see/read more reviews!

I'm also torn with the thought of saving money and doing Mazatlan and/or PV on our own. Walking to the beach on Mazatlan (Stone Island?) sounds good and the Krystal Resort in PV gets rave reviews on Cruise Critic. But at the same time, with respect to Mazatlan, it seems the people that try to do it on their own are the most disappointed with the port. Though they aren't the same people who go to Stone Island.

At one point I was so certain about our excursions, yet the more I think about it...

D'Anne

I am in the same boat. I think I am sure but then I think and think!

DH and I want to snorkel in Cabo. I figure that would be our best place to do so. Our kids are 5 and 3. Neither can swim in the ocean.

A question to everyone:
Have you or will leave your kids on the ship while you go ashore??? I am not sure what to do. Is this a standard practice on the cruise? Any help you can offer would be great!

 

[andriade]

By the way, these are our plans as of right now.

Chileno Bay Snorkel tour in Cabo

Mazatlan Beach Escape

Paradise beach Adventure in PV

 

[CAmom2boys]

I am in the same boat. I think I am sure but then I think and think!

DH and I want to snorkel in Cabo. I figure that would be our best place to do so. Our kids are 5 and 3. Neither can swim in the ocean.

A question to everyone:
Have you or will leave your kids on the ship while you go ashore??? I am not sure what to do. Is this a standard practice on the cruise? Any help you can offer would be great!

I personally wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my kids on the boat while I went on an excursion, but I've read threads that indicate people definitely do. I *might* leave them to go ashore for an hour of shopping...something close and for a short time. But, for us, this is a family vacation. I know they will enjoy the clubs, but I want to spend time with them on shore. I want them to see Mexico and experience another country and new opportunities. I don't have negative feelings toward those who choose to leave their kids and I'm not trying to discourage you at all. You have to determine what you are comfortable with; it's a very personal decision.

D'Anne