A MAGICAL Columbus Day Cruise Texas style 10/6/2012

[PrincessSophiasMom]

OK everyone I am trying to organize a DIS meet the first day on the ship. I am thinking 2:30 in Studio Sea (deck 4). From what I understand the muster drill starts around 4 so that gives us time for the meet before that!!! Any thought or comments or if anyone has a better idea just let me know!!!! I hope to see everyone there so we can put faces with user names lol.

 

[CrusinLattas]

We are just driving in that morning, we live in near Port Arthur and it is only about 1 hour and a half to drive so my BFF was so nice to agree to drive our family to the port. Not quite sure how we are getting home yet but the most important thing is getting there lol. Maybe one of your family members or friend would be kind enought to drive your family. I plan on filling up my BFF's gas tank and buying her family breakfast for driving us.

What a nice friend! Our's is closer to a 6 hour drive, so I don't think I have a friend that nice.... I went ahead and reserved the parking across from the port - we splurged and did the covered spot for $65, it seems like a great deal for us. The biggest question was going the day before or getting up at 5 AM, but I think we will be eager to drive down - we normally drive to Cape Canaveral, so this will be easy!

 

[itzkelly]

OK everyone I am trying to organize a DIS meet the first day on the ship. I am thinking 2:30 in Studio Sea (deck 4). From what I understand the muster drill starts around 4 so that gives us time for the meet before that!!! Any thought or comments or if anyone has a better idea just let me know!!!! I hope to see everyone there so we can put faces with user names lol.

Sounds like a great plan! Thanks for organizing this...

Btw, my DD will be turning 2 on 10/13 and we have already pre-booked hours in the nursery for her, primarily on sea days for a couple hours before her nap time (this will give us a chance to take our boys, ages 5 and 7, to the pool to swim. We also booked a couple hours on the formal nights for her, too. I'm hoping she likes it, which I think she will since she will be with other kids her age and the fact there will be babies, which she is SO into right now!

 

[PrincessSophiasMom]

Sounds like a great plan! Thanks for organizing this...

Btw, my DD will be turning 2 on 10/13 and we have already pre-booked hours in the nursery for her, primarily on sea days for a couple hours before her nap time (this will give us a chance to take our boys, ages 5 and 7, to the pool to swim. We also booked a couple hours on the formal nights for her, too. I'm hoping she likes it, which I think she will since she will be with other kids her age and the fact there will be babies, which she is SO into right now!

We booked our DD in the nursery for a few hours during the day on 2 days (cant remember which ones) and one night late so DH and I can go to the piano bar =) I also have my Grandmother coming with us to help out with DD but I knew she would want to get down and play with kids her own age so I booked her in the nursery. I am so excited about our DIS meet!!!! Hope everyone can make it!!!

 

[leahsmom0813]

What a nice friend! Our's is closer to a 6 hour drive, so I don't think I have a friend that nice.... I went ahead and reserved the parking across from the port - we splurged and did the covered spot for $65, it seems like a great deal for us. The biggest question was going the day before or getting up at 5 AM, but I think we will be eager to drive down - we normally drive to Cape Canaveral, so this will be easy!

I have the same drive as you. We are going the night before because my parents are flying into Houston, we'll pick them up on the way down. I'm looking forward for the DIS meet.

 

[ginny75]

OK everyone I am trying to organize a DIS meet the first day on the ship. I am thinking 2:30 in Studio Sea (deck 4). From what I understand the muster drill starts around 4 so that gives us time for the meet before that!!! Any thought or comments or if anyone has a better idea just let me know!!!! I hope to see everyone there so we can put faces with user names lol.

sound good to us

 

[Rtcounts]

I am trying to figure out the answers to a few questions and thought someone here might be able to help. The 75 day check in mark is Monday for those of us that are 1st time cruisers. Do any of you know what time we can "check in or register" for the cruise and what time we can make reservations for Palo, kids clubs etc.?

Also, I am trying to decide if I should get my 3 yo a passport or if I should just use her birth certificate. What are others planning to do?

Thanks in advance.

Check with your travel agent. We were told in 2010 that all passengers have to have a passport in order to sail with Disney. It cost a little more, but I would do the book and not the card.

 

[maleficent esq.]

Welcome! This is my second Disney cruise (first for my kids) and 4th cruise (2 Carnival) My Carnival cruises were out of Galvaston so I am familiar with the port, city etc. We are staying at the Baymont Inn. It is nothing fancy but I have stayed here twice before and everything was clean. Its $140 a night for two King beds and there is a breakfast in the morning with waffles. It is also walking distance to the beach. We are parking our car at EZ Cruise parking. I have already booked my reservation for parking online. If you use the promo code Summer you can get $5 off your parking. So our parking was $45 (we have an suv). I have no complaints with EZ Cruise. They have 2 large fenced lots. The lots are a few blocks away from each other and we have parked at both. The shuttle was right there to pick us up and they will load your luggage on the shuttle. They take you right to the cruise terminal, unload your luggage for you. Make sure you bring some ones to tip them and the porters. After our cruises the shuttle was right there to take us back to our car. Very nice! Hope this helps you!

I am so sorry I have not been on these boards in a long time. GotMickey, I thought we could just leave our car at the Baymont while we were cruising, am I mistaken? Good to be back on with everyone

Cheryl
Mal

 

[maleficent esq.]

OK everyone I am trying to organize a DIS meet the first day on the ship. I am thinking 2:30 in Studio Sea (deck 4). From what I understand the muster drill starts around 4 so that gives us time for the meet before that!!! Any thought or comments or if anyone has a better idea just let me know!!!! I hope to see everyone there so we can put faces with user names lol.

Sounds wonderful to me. A good chance for our girls (6) and also turning (4) to meet other kids. Welcome to all the new members on the boards and I am excited about the fish extender although I think I may be in waaay over my head. Can't wait to meet everyone.

Best to All
Mal
Cheryl

 

[CrusinLattas]

Check with your travel agent. We were told in 2010 that all passengers have to have a passport in order to sail with Disney. It cost a little more, but I would do the book and not the card.

At this point all you need for this cruise is an original birth certificate and government issued ID -like Driver's License. Flying into the US from any other country, including Mexico, a passport is now required, so Disney strongly recommends that you get one - that way if an emergency happens and you have to be flown back or if the government decides it is time to enforce the passport laws for cruise ships you will be covered. We go out of the country every year on a cruise and just feel more comfortable having the passports. Currently what is being enforced is that if a cruise ship leaves and returns from the same US port (like ours is in Galveston) then a passport is not required. Hope that helps!

 

[Mummum]

I am excited about the fish extender although I think I may be in waaay over my head.

me too.

dd really wanted to do the FE this cruise, so we have officially signed up.

 

[CrusinLattas]

OK everyone I am trying to organize a DIS meet the first day on the ship. I am thinking 2:30 in Studio Sea (deck 4). From what I understand the muster drill starts around 4 so that gives us time for the meet before that!!! Any thought or comments or if anyone has a better idea just let me know!!!! I hope to see everyone there so we can put faces with user names lol.

That sounds like a good place and time! We will try to be there!

 

[CrusinLattas]

That sounds like a good place and time! We will try to be there!

I with this site had like buttons similar to Facebook - So many comments that are made I like and agree with but just don't want to do more than push a button.

 

[GotMickey?]

I am not sure if you can leave your car at the Baymont. We never have. I like the idea of my car being in a fenced in lot so we have always done the Ez cruise parking. The people are friendly and the shuttles are great.

 

[kdzbear]

I have several questions that I hope some of you have answers to. First, the rotational dining includes 3 restaurants, but the cruise is 7 nights. Does this mean that we get to go to each location more than once?

Also, we are still looking for a hotel for the night before. It is a 10 1/2 hour drive from our home. I can't decide if we should stay in Dallas and do the rest of the drive in the morning or stay in Galveston and find a hotel where we can leave the car. It seems that most of the hotels in Galveston are on Seawall Blvd, which is the opposite side of the Gulf than the cruise ship. It is only 3-5 miles across, but that is not walking distance.

 

[disneyli22ie]

Fish Extender

Ok everyone I am going to give this a try it will be my first time so bear with me. I will need the:
Names, first and last of all people in the cabin
Ages of children
Gender of children
Cabin number
Email address so I can email updated list as needed.maybe this should be PM to me

it will be up to each family to decide if they want to do a gift per person or per cabin and only one gift or more it's your decision.

Be sure to include any birthdays or anniversaires and if there are any food allergies.

cut off date to sign up will be September 1 2012 this will give people 5 weeks to do something for the people who sign up late.

I want to sign up, but this is my first post, so I can't PM yet. Can you PM me with your email so that I can email you my info?

Thanks!

Liz

 

[disneyli22ie]

We are going to be there as well! My mother, daughter (age 8), and myself are planning to have a blast! This will be my first cruise and I'm looking forward to joining the fish extender group. I'm going to get started making them as soon as I hear back from the organizer. I have no idea how many little gifts to make!

 

[disneyli22ie]

Can you tell me what you are making, or is that against the rules? We want to do the FE as well. Can't wait, so excited!

 

[Shartman79]

I have several questions that I hope some of you have answers to. First, the rotational dining includes 3 restaurants, but the cruise is 7 nights. Does this mean that we get to go to each location more than once?

Also, we are still looking for a hotel for the night before. It is a 10 1/2 hour drive from our home. I can't decide if we should stay in Dallas and do the rest of the drive in the morning or stay in Galveston and find a hotel where we can leave the car. It seems that most of the hotels in Galveston are on Seawall Blvd, which is the opposite side of the Gulf than the cruise ship. It is only 3-5 miles across, but that is not walking distance.

I would suggest staying in Glaveston. Especially for traffic issues. We are staying at the La Quinta East. It's $79 and you can leave your car for free.the port is only 2 miles away and They will call you a taxi and it's a $7 fare. Lots cheaper than the $150-$200 per night hotels across the street from the port. hope this helps

 

[ChristyTX]

Also, we are still looking for a hotel for the night before. It is a 10 1/2 hour drive from our home. I can't decide if we should stay in Dallas and do the rest of the drive in the morning or stay in Galveston and find a hotel where we can leave the car. It seems that most of the hotels in Galveston are on Seawall Blvd, which is the opposite side of the Gulf than the cruise ship. It is only 3-5 miles across, but that is not walking distance.

I would stay in Galveston. It's a long drive from Dallas to Galveston the morning of the cruise and I'd be worried about traffic too.