A Dream Come True - 2/6/11 4-day Bahama Cruise

[BethC1952]

I think that is a great idea! My youngest is pretty easy going and loves making new friends! My oldest is much more shy. Any on board with a 14 yo girl?

Have you, or anyone on board, cruised with Disney before?

I forgot my manners! Welcome!

This will be my 10th Disney Cruise, DH's 9th (I was lucky enough to take a "girls only" cruise for my birthday in 2009), and DGD's 2nd, although she was only 3 1/2 on her other cruise. She remembers a lot about it and still says it was her favorite vacation ever. Of course, all of her vacations have been Disney-related somehow!

Naturally, this will be our first cruise on Dream. Jim and I have cruised twice on Magic and the rest have been on Wonder. I just found out that I will be reviewing the cruise for a local travel agent who specializes in Disney vacations. He met his wife at Disney World, and they honeymooned on Magic! I met him through work, and we got chatting, and before I knew what happened I was agreeing to do this. And yes, we did actually accomplish the business that brought him to my office!

Beth

 

[TheThomsLuvDisney]

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlsY8okcfxo

Great video!

 

[wallyb]

Great video!

Thanks-
Admiral Donald is the mascot of the Dream.

 

[TheThomsLuvDisney]

I forgot my manners! Welcome!

This will be my 10th Disney Cruise, DH's 9th (I was lucky enough to take a "girls only" cruise for my birthday in 2009), and DGD's 2nd, although she was only 3 1/2 on her other cruise. She remembers a lot about it and still says it was her favorite vacation ever. Of course, all of her vacations have been Disney-related somehow!

Naturally, this will be our first cruise on Dream. Jim and I have cruised twice on Magic and the rest have been on Wonder. I just found out that I will be reviewing the cruise for a local travel agent who specializes in Disney vacations. He met his wife at Disney World, and they honeymooned on Magic! I met him through work, and we got chatting, and before I knew what happened I was agreeing to do this. And yes, we did actually accomplish the business that brought him to my office!

Beth

This will be our 6th and 7th (our first B2B). We have only cruised on the Magic. Our first cruise was the inaugural year when my oldest daughter was then only 2 1/2 years old (now going to be 14). We like to joke with her how she almost drowned in the Mickey Pool!

I saw that you have also cruised B2B, how was it? We were so excited about the Dream and just can't imagine cruising on the new ship for only 4 days!! Was the disembarkation/reembarkation as easy as I've read? I heard that the adult only area is the only space available. How does this work with kids? Will they be allowed to swim if they want to?

Have you participated in FE's? We did on our last cruise and the girls loved it! I hope someone arranges it for this one!

Denise

 

[rosiep]

I think that is a great idea! My youngest is pretty easy going and loves making new friends! My oldest is much more shy. Any on board with a 14 yo girl?

Have you, or anyone on board, cruised with Disney before?

Hi and Welcome!!

I act like a 14 year old sometimes....does that count?

 

[BethC1952]

This will be our 6th and 7th (our first B2B). We have only cruised on the Magic. Our first cruise was the inaugural year when my oldest daughter was then only 2 1/2 years old (now going to be 14). We like to joke with her how she almost drowned in the Mickey Pool!

I saw that you have also cruised B2B, how was it? We were so excited about the Dream and just can't imagine cruising on the new ship for only 4 days!! Was the disembarkation/reembarkation as easy as I've read? I heard that the adult only area is the only space available. How does this work with kids? Will they be allowed to swim if they want to?

Have you participated in FE's? We did on our last cruise and the girls loved it! I hope someone arranges it for this one!
Denise

We loved our B2B. It was back in 2005 before they required you to get off the ship and back on again. We had to go to Guest Services and check in, but were able to remain on the ship. Nothing was open and no services were available. We weren't restricted to any particular place, just asked to stay out of the way. We sat in the adult area, and I had some work that I had to do. While there was no food or drink available for guests, the CM's offered to get us coffee or anything else we wanted. It was amazing to watch them get the ship ready! Make sure you look over the side of the ship and see the supplies that will be brought on. I never saw so many bags of potatoes in my life! I doubt that the kids will want to swim--the pools were being cleaned and were roped off until other guests were allowed to board. Of course, that may have changed!

The CM's all treated us like returning royalty on the second half. The dining room manager was able to rearrange our dining so that we had the same servers (we had loved them).

We actually thought about doing the same B2B that you're doing, but decided to go back to WDW with the granddaughter instead, for some "quality time" with her. If I can scrape together the deposit money, I think we'll rebook for the fall or early winter while we're on board, if there's anything available. Since we live at the shore, we tend to vacation in the off season, because why would I want to go anywhere else in the summer?

We participated in the FE on our Dec., 2007 cruise. We had a big DIS and it was a lot of fun. However, with the fees airlines are charging for luggage now, and the fact that we'll have a lot of luggage since this is a long vacation, I don't think we'll participate this time.

Beth

 

[wallyb]

Need a drink of the day - NOW!

 

[BethC1952]

Need a drink of the day - NOW!

I'm in...a Bahama Mama would be good right about now. The a/c is out in our office. I'm lucky--I have four windows in my office, open and bringing in the ocean breeze (as well as an incredible amount of street noise and I can't hear myself think). The others--well, it's about 90 degrees now in the rest of this place!

 

[wallyb]

I'm in...a Bahama Mama would be good right about now. The a/c is out in our office. I'm lucky--I have four windows in my office, open and bringing in the ocean breeze (as well as an incredible amount of street noise and I can't hear myself think). The others--well, it's about 90 degrees now in the rest of this place!

90 - yikes!
That would be a good reason for a frozen something.

So where will everyone tend to hang on the ship?

My group tends to hang at the pool on the adult deck.

 

[sarbah77]

I'm in...a Bahama Mama would be good right about now. The a/c is out in our office. I'm lucky--I have four windows in my office, open and bringing in the ocean breeze (as well as an incredible amount of street noise and I can't hear myself think). The others--well, it's about 90 degrees now in the rest of this place!

Well, I'll share some of my AC! I have my space heater running almost full blast and my office is at 73! (We're in an OLD building - 4 floors, so the people on 4th floor are ROASTING... they somehow managed to not touch the heat/cool system when they stripped the building to almost-studs for a massive reno in 2003)

 

[sarbah77]

90 - yikes!
That would be a good reason for a frozen something.

So where will everyone tend to hang on the ship?

My group tends to hang at the pool on the adult deck.

We've never been on a Disney cruise before! I wouldn't have a clue!!

My biggest problem with RCI's Jewel of the Seas was that there were no common areas that didn't have something at all times - a bar, blasting World Cup games, the card lounge with constant for-money card games, etc. I hope the Dream has better!

 

[BethC1952]

Well, I'll share some of my AC! I have my space heater running almost full blast and my office is at 73! (We're in an OLD building - 4 floors, so the people on 4th floor are ROASTING... they somehow managed to not touch the heat/cool system when they stripped the building to almost-studs for a massive reno in 2003)

Our offices are usually REALLY cold in the summer and REALLY hot in the winter. It's also an old building, about 125 years, but the a/c and heat were new when we moved in seven years ago. They just never worked right. And to add insult to injury the roof leaks now and then. As my boss says, "It only leaks when it's raining!"

As to where we'll be hanging out, I don't know yet--I guess it depends on what DGD decides to do! If she goes to the club then we'll be somewhere near the adult pool, enjoying a few moments of peace and quiet after being with a VERY chatty almost 11-year old. If she wants to hang with us, who knows? And of course, we'll need to spend some time on the verandah!

Beth

 

[wallyb]

We've never been on a Disney cruise before! I wouldn't have a clue!!

My biggest problem with RCI's Jewel of the Seas was that there were no common areas that didn't have something at all times - a bar, blasting World Cup games, the card lounge with constant for-money card games, etc. I hope the Dream has better!

You'll for sure find a great place to hang on DCL - they got it all figured out - but if you are down by the adult pool please come hang with us if you like - we're crazy for sure - but friendly and fun!

 

[TheThomsLuvDisney]

90 - yikes!
That would be a good reason for a frozen something.

So where will everyone tend to hang on the ship?

My group tends to hang at the pool on the adult deck.

My favorite place to hang out is also at the adult pool, especially during PTT (Prime Tanning Time)!!! It's usually so quite and relaxing, it's even better with a nicely chilled adult beverage!!

We just hit the 199 day countdown before our trip (Doing a week at WDW prior the cruise)! Just love watching the countdown ticker!

 

[BethC1952]

My favorite place to hang out is also at the adult pool, especially during PTT (Prime Tanning Time)!!! It's usually so quite and relaxing, it's even better with a nicely chilled adult beverage!!

We just hit the 199 day countdown before our trip (Doing a week at WDW prior the cruise)! Just love watching the countdown ticker!

I still have my countdown set for the cruise because we haven't decided which day we'll head to Florida. The younger generation is heading out a few days before we do so that they can have some time alone with their kids at WDW before Grandma and Grandpa arrive to share the fun. It will be the little ones' first visit, but the granddaughter cruising with us is a WDW veteran. They're going to camp at Fort Wilderness for a week. We did that in Dec., 2007, but this time we're going to stay in one of the resorts, probably Pop Century. We're still deciding about that, and about where we'll stay after the cruise. I'd really like to treat DGD to the Animal Kingdom Lodge again!

Beth

 

[sarbah77]

You'll for sure find a great place to hang on DCL - they got it all figured out - but if you are down by the adult pool please come hang with us if you like - we're crazy for sure - but friendly and fun!

Hooray! I am... a giant wallflower. If by "giant" I mean 5ft2 and a little when I stand on my right leg (shorter, when standing on my left).

But I'll look out for you all!

I still have my countdown set for the cruise because we haven't decided which day we'll head to Florida. The younger generation is heading out a few days before we do so that they can have some time alone with their kids at WDW before Grandma and Grandpa arrive to share the fun. It will be the little ones' first visit, but the granddaughter cruising with us is a WDW veteran. They're going to camp at Fort Wilderness for a week. We did that in Dec., 2007, but this time we're going to stay in one of the resorts, probably Pop Century. We're still deciding about that, and about where we'll stay after the cruise. I'd really like to treat DGD to the Animal Kingdom Lodge again!

Beth

Treat me, too!

I'm hoping to con...vince DH to fly down on Friday but we'll see. He invited a friend of his and his family (wife, son). If they come, I'll probably have a better chance as the son has never been to Disney before! (I don't pretend to understand, I just take it and run)

AirTran did have airfare for $165 buuuut husband isn't interested in buying that, yet. Ah well.

 

[TheThomsLuvDisney]

I still have my countdown set for the cruise because we haven't decided which day we'll head to Florida. The younger generation is heading out a few days before we do so that they can have some time alone with their kids at WDW before Grandma and Grandpa arrive to share the fun. It will be the little ones' first visit, but the granddaughter cruising with us is a WDW veteran. They're going to camp at Fort Wilderness for a week. We did that in Dec., 2007, but this time we're going to stay in one of the resorts, probably Pop Century. We're still deciding about that, and about where we'll stay after the cruise. I'd really like to treat DGD to the Animal Kingdom Lodge again!

Beth

We'll be staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge the week before the cruise (we've never stayed there before). We live in Seattle and figure if we are going all the way across the country for the cruise, we need to stay awhile!!!

We have stayed at Pop Century and liked it alot!

Denise

 

[wallyb]

We'll be at WDW for 4 days prior.
Think we're doing Wilderness Lodge club level.

 

[BethC1952]

We have stayed at Pop Century and liked it alot!

Denise

We stayed there the day they opened, and have stayed many times since then. I love it! I've stayed in a lot of WDW hotels, and I love them all. The last time we had DGD with us, she stayed for two nights at AKL while her mom and dad stayed in the tent in Fort Wilderness. They got some "alone time" and she got some "inside a warm hotel room in December" time. We didn't spend much time there, however, because we were always out doing "stuff". This time, when we return from the cruise, it will be relaxing time, not park time, so it may be the best time to stay at AKL and really enjoy some of their amenities!

Before this cruise, the rest of the family will be at Fort Wilderness again (most likely), but I just can't get into the idea of sleeping in a tent in the winter again!

Beth

 

[rosiep]

90 - yikes!
That would be a good reason for a frozen something.

So where will everyone tend to hang on the ship?

My group tends to hang at the pool on the adult deck.

Is that for the soup?