April 12, 2008, 4-12-08, 4/12/08 Eastern Magic

[gfolchick]

My understanding is that they are trying to match the dinner with the show theme so they could move around the show nights too. I would imagine they'd keep Disney Dreams for Thursday, though.

I forgot to add that they are also experimenting with repeating nights 1 and 2 in addition to nights 2 and 3 so we won't know which rotation will be for our cruise.

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

We were able to get moved to 1st seating. I know it rushes the afternoon, but my parents who have never cruised before (and are treating the family to this cruise) want to eat early and then enjoy the shows.

FYI, I don't know if you've been reading the regular cruise boards, but there are changes in the dining rotations that Disney is experimenting with. For our Eastern cruise, the schedule is now (per my agent at Small World Vacations):
Day 1-Casual
Day 2-Formal
Day 3-Casual
Day 4-Casual
Day 5-Pirate
Day 6- Semi Formal
Day 7-Casual

Also, the new rotations are as follows:
5:30 and 8:00 LAAPLAP
5:45 and 8:15 APPLAPL
6:00 and 8:30 PLLAPLA

I called DCL myself this afternoon and I did not get any of the above rotations.

I got as follows:

5:30 & 8:00 - AAPLAPL
5:45 & 8:15 - PPLAPLA
6:00 & 8:30 - LLAPLAP

strange ... not the same at all ... and I gave her my ressie so she could look it up by date.

Also, I know that Pirate night was on night 4 ... and when I asked her about this, she said that "no where in her notes does it say that this changed ... " and that when she did the Eastern, Pirate night was on night 5.

Did it change or is it me??

kat

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

Does anyone know if the change in dining rotation will impact the show schedule? I had scheduled Palo for DH and I on Pirate night because I did not want to miss a show, so according to the old schedule, we were going on day 4. I just signed in to my reservation to see if I would be able to change to day 5, there is nothing available. Our current reservation is for 8:30...maybe we could go to the early show that night. Any input from more experienced cruisers would be appreciated.

Thanks,
CP

Nice to hear from you!!! Glad that you are still with us!!

I agree that the changes mess everyone up. I know Pirate night was night 4. You can definitely go to the early show if you want to.


kat

 

[gfolchick]

They are playing with the rotations so we won't know if we repeat nights 1 and 2 or 2 and 3. Last week's Western tested the nights 2 and 3 repeat and this week's Eastern is testing nights 1 and 2 repeat. My agent wasn't sure which we would get. Her email to me this morning said pirate night was night 5 now and she had just gotten the email from Disney as she was responding to me. So much for advanced planning!

 

[CinderellaPug]

Thanks for the feedback. I think we are going to wait on making any changes...there are pros and cons to changing at this point. I guess I am back to obsessing over what to pack...

CP

 

[ROIE01581]

Does anyone know if the change in dining rotation will impact the show schedule? I had scheduled Palo for DH and I on Pirate night because I did not want to miss a show, so according to the old schedule, we were going on day 4. I just signed in to my reservation to see if I would be able to change to day 5, there is nothing available. Our current reservation is for 8:30...maybe we could go to the early show that night. Any input from more experienced cruisers would be appreciated.

Thanks,
CP

Looks like being on the waitlist might have more options once everyone finds out the new dinning arragements..People may be changing and more openings.

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

Looks like being on the waitlist might have more options once everyone finds out the new dinning arragements..People may be changing and more openings.

At least that is one good thing.

I have Palo on Monday so it doesn't affect me that much.

PS ... Glad to hear that no one was seriously hurt in the accident. Our best to everyone!!

Kat

 

[TaraMom22]

I called DCL myself this afternoon and I did not get any of the above rotations.

I got as follows:

5:30 & 8:00 - AAPLAPL
5:45 & 8:15 - PPLAPLA
6:00 & 8:30 - LLAPLAP

strange ... not the same at all ... and I gave her my ressie so she could look it up by date.

Also, I know that Pirate night was on night 4 ... and when I asked her about this, she said that "no where in her notes does it say that this changed ... " and that when she did the Eastern, Pirate night was on night 5.

Did it change or is it me??

kat

How confusing! I put a lot of work into mapping out dining rotations and shows and formal nights to request a specific rotation and get Palo reservations on a casual night with a show I was willing to miss. Now I have to do it all over again IF I can get the correct information! I was thinking all my planning was done and all I had to do was pack.

 

[kellydizfan]

We have late seating - don't know the time yet. Requested to be moved to early if there was an opening. Won't know until we get there I guess. I made a Brunch ressie at Palo on Sunday as I didn't want to miss the shows or dinners and wanted to spend the time with the kids if we get to see them. So we will see - all these letters totally confuse me!

Another question regarding tipping - what is the average per person per day amount? I don't want to undertip but also don't want to do too much as there are 6 of us and there goes most of our money.

Thanks, Kelly

 

[Skuba2]

The rotations and dining assignments may not be set until a week or so before the cruise. Why are they changing the schedule--anybody know? Seems really weird to me.

Tip recommendations can probably be found in several places---the navigators found posted on castawayclub website, on the sticky on the top of the main board, or your papers coming probably this week or the next

I would worry more about confirming all your reservations with hotels, cars, etc than what dining rotation is going to happen. The latter you have no control over and is every-changing until the cruise.

Deb

 

[aprince&princess]

In the cruise forum there are comments about the dining rotation changing because of the cruises out of La for summer. Looks like they are trying a few different things. I agree that we will have to see when we get there, who knows if it will change again.

 

[Fast Pass]

We were wait listed for early dinner. We called like every other second or third week, then one day an open slot for the early rotation opened up and we were moved up.
Call Disney and see if there are any openings, don't wait for them to follow the list. I don't know if we were actually the next ones on the list or not but I wager to bet we were not and just because we called at the right time we were able to move up.
As far as the restaurant rotation goes, I don't care where we end up on what night, all I care about is if there is enough food!

 

[dsnyfangoofy2]

Here's what I've been able to find out.

It looks like the rotations TaraMom22 got were correct -- we will repeat the FIRST restaurant -- AAPLAPL, PPLAPLA, LLAPLAP. That means you could be in Lumiere's for formal OR Parrot Cay for Pirates, but not both, and maybe neither.

That is because formal night is still night 2 -- Sunday -- but Pirate night is now night 5 -- Wednesday -- instead of night 4.

They told me this is all definite unless they decide to change it!

Many of the customer service people didn't even realize this was all happening. They had been briefed on the cruises out of LA having different plans, but had not been informed about the changes for the Caribbean. (I know -- I've talked to several customer service people in the last hour!)

I'm guessing that the reasoning behind the Pirate night change was so you don't have to get up and go ashore the next morning, but nobody can tell me any reasons for the dining changes. Maybe they just wanted to let more people have at least one coordinated night.

Finally, they told me that as of right now there don't appear to be any changes in the show schedules, although I'm guessing they would put the magic show on Tuesday since Pirates are now on Wednesday.

I think the only people who should really be concerned are those who made Palo ressies for 9:00 or later on Wednesday. That will interfere with the Pirate party. Otherwise, I guess we can all adjust to everything else.

Bev

 

[rachaellou]

We picked 2nd seating for dinner, and I was just curious who else is 2nd seating for dinner?

Hi we are second seating for dinner, worked fine for us last time, very relaxed and plenty of food! The only thing was we didn't realise there would be a FEAST on pirate night or we would have held back, also we didn't realise there were canape's earlier in the evening until the last night (of 3 nights). No problem with seeing shows/karaoke/bingo etc, somehow(can't remember how - it was 3 years ago) it just all fitted in fine.

Rachael
DH 45!!
DD 13 1/2
DS 10 1/2

 

[Megand3779]

I am not in fear of broken bones---you can still go and have fun. It is the flu that I am in fear of interfering with the vacation. I have felt like doodoo the past week. Not enough to be the flu, but body aches and stuffed head. Yuck! Everything from pink eye to strep to a stomach bug is going through our schools. The Feb break didn't do much about it either.

Deb

My daughter woke up this morning at 4am with that lovely stomach bug! As long as it goes through the house and is gone in a week, I can deal with it. Hope you feel better Deb!

I also want to thank everyone for their concern about the accident. DH is fine (still a little sore) and the car can/is being replaced. I cannot wait for this vacation. One week of not worrying about cars!!

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

Omgoodness ... guys ... huge news for us ...

according to a post on the main boards ... WE CAN NO LONGER BRING ALCOHOL ON BOARD.

I'm not kidding and I hope I'm reading it wrong but the Coast Guard has mandated it as of today. No boxes can be pre-shipped and NO LIQUIDS whatsoever can be found in a soft cooler, luggage or carry-on or it will be confiscated.

Please someone else go read the thread and agree or disagree with what it appears to be saying.

kat

 

[Megand3779]

Omgoodness ... guys ... huge news for us ...

according to a post on the main boards ... WE CAN NO LONGER BRING ALCOHOL ON BOARD.

I'm not kidding and I hope I'm reading it wrong but the Coast Guard has mandated it as of today. No boxes can be pre-shipped and NO LIQUIDS whatsoever can be found in a soft cooler, luggage or carry-on or it will be confiscated.

Please someone else go read the thread and agree or disagree with what it appears to be saying.

kat

I was just going to post something about this too!! I read the thread and that's what it looks like to me. No more shipping ahead, and no more liquids (soda, water alcohol carried on or checked in). Guess I will be buying the bottled water package on board for the baby formula for the ports at least. It also says they are limiting the number of suitcases allowed on board as well to 2 per person and 1 carry on.

Here is the paragraph from the main board:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520273&page=27

"OK - here is the scoop and first I want to say I am truly very sorry to give everyone this news.
I made numberous of phone calls and what has been posted is true. Reasons being that so many boxes, cartons etc were coming in and there was no way to check all items shipped so the coast Guard said NO MORE OF ANYTHINg so anything shipped to IDS will be refused and returned back to you.

If you put water, sodas, liquor etc in carry ons or check ins and if it is found, it will be confiscated - now 2 suitcases and 1 carry on can be carried by each person which includes kids. You can no longer ship diapers, baby food etc. It has to be a carry on or check in.
Wish I would have had better news, but security has tighten down and getting harder, but it is in your best interest and safety that these steps were taken. To tell you how strong they have gotten, Norm and I now have to be double badged - one by the port and the second one by the US Government even though all our of stuff is checked, sniffed, looked at but so far the restrictions has not fell to us since they can control small deliveries such as our shop.
Always
Shirley"

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

We will have to stay tuned to see how this one plays out. someone just said they called DCL and that they said to them that you CAN STILL bring liquids but I trust the Coast Guard over DCL phone workers, quite honestly.

We'll see . . .

kat

 

[dsnyfangoofy2]

Kat wrote: "I trust the Coast Guard over DCL phone workers, quite honestly."

The impression I got on the phone was that they are very frustrated that they haven't been briefed. One that I talked to even thanked me for letting her know what was going on so she could know what to tell others who called! (She of coursed checked with a supervisor and didn't just take my word for stuff!)

Anyway, I think maybe some of these changes are just coming down really fast and they briefings haven't caught up with them.

Bev

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

That is all I meant, quite honestly. They rarely have up-to-the-minute information.

Case in point, lol.

kat