A Mother's Day Cruise on the Fantasy sandwiched between BCV (Complete 10/12, p.33)

[Pinkocto]

I love the Beach Club Turtles. They feed them from the bridge in the mornings which is why they are so keen checking people out that stand on that bridge.

Ahhhh, that explains it. They were very curious when people would come around. They were very fun to watch.

I am sorry that the transfers caused you so much stress. We had a a similar experience at the Grand Californian in 2011 and would not take DCL transfers from the resorts again. We have taken DME back to the airport from WDW and picked up the transfer from there, which worked great and also got us to the port much earlier.

Disney is usually so on the ball I was very worried we had somehow been overlooked when we didn't hear from them. I didn't even think to call the DVC concierge and he was able to check on it so quickly. Why didn't the front desk girl think of checking with bell services...

What happened with you at the Grand Californian?

How very strange to have the DVC meet before the safety drill. On most of our cruises it has taken place in the morning of the first sea day and I think on our only 4 nighter it was in the afternoon of a port day.

This has happened twice before, so three out of five cruises for me. It makes for a very rushed first afternoon.

I love the look of your stateroom. We had a similar stateroom on the Wonder last month, but that was not quite so spacious.

Can't wait to see your room pictures.

We were going to get this exact same cabin next year but an even bigger one was available, one of the corner rooms. We are very excited for that one.

I am reading your trip report with particular interest this time round. If we have to settle for plan B for our May 2015, we are planning to try one of the big ships as part of this. It is most likely going to be the Dream, but I think they are similar enough to give me an idea.

Corinna

They are the exact same layout cabin wise. The upper decks are what's a little different.

 

[Pinkocto]

Aw man, too bad it wasn't a smoother morning that day. A lot of miscommunication it seems.

Thankfully we were on the roster and nothing had to be arranged but boy was that a stressful two hours!

That is so neat that there are turles in the water! DH would have loved that

Big ones too! We loved watching them. We had a perfect room to view them, otherwise we probably wouldn't have known they were even there.

Wow that was a speedy check-in to get onboard!

We were on a mission! They were a bit bummed we skipped the embarkation photo.

So there is a DCL app? What does it do?

It's really cool, it lets you hook up to the ship's wifi and it's basically an electronic daily navigator. It also has a map of the ship and all the movies and times for the whole cruise. I don't like to keep my phone with me so we didn't use it after that first day but it could be really useful.

Love the pictures of the atrium. The carpet looks like a peacock design! Very cool.

Oh those carpets, let me count the ways!

Wow your room is very big! I'll have to keep this room number in mind if we ever get to go on the Fantasy someday. We just can't pull ourselves away from WDW, even though we know how fabulous DCL is. In fact, remember waaaay back in 2011 for our Mexican Riviera cruise? We had booked a dummy cruise and technically that cruise is supposed to be coming up in October. But I heard that you can no longer push your dates out. Is that true? What are my options for that cruise, since we obviously won't be able to cruise those actual dates.

I would call them and see how far you can push it, if you have any intention of cruising next year. When they put the restriction in place they gave pre-existing bookings 2 more years to move. Otherwise they'll just cancel it and give you your money back.

It's the same deck plan for the Dream too, for the staterooms.

We've got to get an overlapping vacation one of these years lady, I think that would be such fun!

your mom looks so happy with the icecream!

It's the simple things in life

Haven't seen the new muppet movie, but will definitely purchase it when it comes out on Blu-ray.

It was great, very funny. I'm shocked you haven't seen it yet.

 

[Pinkocto]

how nice re The Magic. How strange so are we lol...

What a fabulous coincidence!

 

[mousetravel]

Great update! I love your pics around the ship!
That room is pretty neat!

 

[Toria]

Hi it has been a long time I hope you can convince DH! Is there a good GTY that you can take advantage of? It's probably good I'm not down there or I'd be taking cruises left and right!

I wish there were better GTY rates. The ratrs are so much higher than last year.

 

[Pinkocto]

Great update! I love your pics around the ship!
That room is pretty neat!

We were so pleased with the room, it had so much space. I'm really excited about the next one.

 

[Pinkocto]

I wish there were better GTY rates. The ratrs are so much higher than last year.

I checked some of them last year. $1750 for a last minute Fantasy cruise. Its very good I don't live closer!

 

[Leshaface]

I would call them and see how far you can push it, if you have any intention of cruising next year. When they put the restriction in place they gave pre-existing bookings 2 more years to move. Otherwise they'll just cancel it and give you your money back.

It's the same deck plan for the Dream too, for the staterooms.

We've got to get an overlapping vacation one of these years lady, I think that would be such fun!

Do you know your cruise dates for 2015 yet? DH is going to call later and see what we can do about our deposit and see if we're able to move it to another cruise, possibly for 2015. I'll let you know what happens!

 

[dolphingirl47]

What happened with you at the Grand Californian?

Can't wait to see your room pictures.

Pretty much the same as your experience. Nobody at the hotel seemed to know anything. I checked with the front desk and the concierge next and nothing. One cast member even told me that they don't offer this in California and I must have got mixed up with how they do things at Walt Disney World. I did ring DCL about something else anyway and mentioned this and they told me not to worry. They then left me a message on the phone late that evening. I got back from a DIS Meet at about 10:30 and after I got ready for bed, I noticed that the message light was blinking. Fortunately I listened to it then as the message told me that we needed to have our luggage ready for collection by 8:00 AM. When we left the room the next morning, we still did not have the paperwork. At some stage I had to go back to the room and noticed that the luggage had gone and the instructions for our transfer were hanging from the door handle.

I also did not like one little bit that I got to the ship so late. Parrot Cay was already closed and there was nowhere to sit in Beach Blanket Buffet or even near it. So this is not an experience I care to repeat.

I just realised in horror that I never took any room pictures this time round.

Corinna

 

[MEK]

Sorry your morning was such a mess, but it sounds like your trip to the port went smoothly and your cabin is really cool. I can't imagine it being almost as big as your studio. Very nice!

Great pics from your travels around the ship. It looks gorgeous.

 

[Pinkocto]

Do you know your cruise dates for 2015 yet? DH is going to call later and see what we can do about our deposit and see if we're able to move it to another cruise, possibly for 2015. I'll let you know what happens!

There's a Baja cruise October, 18 2015 that Jenny and family and A & F are going on. The more the merrier!

I'll also be doing a Fantasy one with mom starting May 16.

 

[Pinkocto]

Pretty much the same as your experience. Nobody at the hotel seemed to know anything. I checked with the front desk and the concierge next and nothing. One cast member even told me that they don't offer this in California and I must have got mixed up with how they do things at Walt Disney World. I did ring DCL about something else anyway and mentioned this and they told me not to worry. They then left me a message on the phone late that evening. I got back from a DIS Meet at about 10:30 and after I got ready for bed, I noticed that the message light was blinking. Fortunately I listened to it then as the message told me that we needed to have our luggage ready for collection by 8:00 AM. When we left the room the next morning, we still did not have the paperwork. At some stage I had to go back to the room and noticed that the luggage had gone and the instructions for our transfer were hanging from the door handle.

I also did not like one little bit that I got to the ship so late. Parrot Cay was already closed and there was nowhere to sit in Beach Blanket Buffet or even near it. So this is not an experience I care to repeat.

How could the front desk or concierge not know!? I would have been so stressed. Absolute foolishness. And then to say you had DL and WDW mixed up. Ohhhh I would not have been happy.

Yes, the getting to the ship so late bothers me a lot. Makes for a very rushed first day on the ship. The mornings at the resorts have been lovely though, and overall a nice way to start vacation.

I just realised in horror that I never took any room pictures this time round.

Corinna

say it isn't so!

 

[Pinkocto]

Sorry your morning was such a mess, but it sounds like your trip to the port went smoothly and your cabin is really cool. I can't imagine it being almost as big as your studio. Very nice!

Great pics from your travels around the ship. It looks gorgeous.

Lots more ship pictures. I couldn't help it. I'd think, oh this is a different angle, can't remember if I got this yet, this will probably be better than the last one...

Minus the bathroom at BCV I swear the two are the same size. Ceilings are probably shorter too. The BCV studio felt like the smallest DVC we've stayed at, but as a cabin it was huge!

After I got over that early morning stress life was smooth sailing.

 

[rentayenta]

There's a Baja cruise October, 18 2015 that Jenny and family and A & F are going on. The more the merrier!

I'll also be doing a Fantasy one with mom starting May 16.

This is going to be SO fun! I am so glad we booked together. I wonder how big of a table we can get?

 

[Pinkocto]

This is going to be SO fun! I am so glad we booked together. I wonder how big of a table we can get?

It's going to be awesome!!!!

Something in the back of my mind is saying 12 is the biggest but I'm really not sure.

I wish everybody could come, like a huge family reunion of 30 people but it's all Dis friends. I think that would be so happy!

 

[rentayenta]

It's going to be awesome!!!!

Something in the back of my mind is saying 12 is the biggest but I'm really not sure.

I wish everybody could come, like a huge family reunion of 30 people but it's all Dis friends. I think that would be so happy!

I am guessing you'd hardly be able to talk to the other end of the table with 12.

I'm with you, the more the merrier! And everyone will behave or their story gets posted. J/K!!!

 

[Pinkocto]

I am guessing you'd hardly be able to talk to the other end of the table with 12.

I'm with you, the more the merrier! And everyone will behave or their story gets posted. J/K!!!​

I think you're on to something here

 

[rentayenta]

I think you're on to something here

I hope everyone knows I'm kidding. What happens on a Disney Cruise stays on a Disney Cruise.

You working today?

 

[franandaj]

Lots more ship pictures. I couldn't help it. I'd think, oh this is a different angle, can't remember if I got this yet, this will probably be better than the last one...

Minus the bathroom at BCV I swear the two are the same size. Ceilings are probably shorter too. The BCV studio felt like the smallest DVC we've stayed at, but as a cabin it was huge!

After I got over that early morning stress life was smooth sailing.

I know that BCV is smaller because we had just come from VWL and the closet fit several suitcases whereas at BCV it barely fit one.

There's a Baja cruise October, 18 2015 that Jenny and family and A & F are going on. The more the merrier!

I'll also be doing a Fantasy one with mom starting May 16.

That's going to be so much fun! I am also on a B2B out of SD that leaves on the 15th of May!

This is going to be SO fun! I am so glad we booked together. I wonder how big of a table we can get?

I know we can get a table for the eight of us. I've been seated at a table of eight. Oh yeah you guys were at an eight top with your drama mates. Wouldn't it be fun to have even more folks on the cruise?

 

[rentayenta]

I know we can get a table for the eight of us. I've been seated at a table of eight. Oh yeah you guys were at an eight top with your drama mates. Wouldn't it be fun to have even more folks on the cruise?

I like eight. It would be a blast! I am bursting at the seams to tell someone.

How's the move?