April 16th, 2011 -Western Caribbean

[FJS961]

I need to get car service from the port to Polynesian after the cruise. Has anyone done this before? Which are the reputable companies? Most importantly, what time should we request pick up? We will be anxious to get back home to the Poly. We love it there.

won't the disney transportation take you to the Poly? thats what we did last summer, took us there instead of the airport

we will be on this cruise too ... wife and I with kids 11,8,5 (g,g,b) ...

 

[dueley]

Hello everyone,

So far we only have 5 families participating. Anyone interested in joining in the fun, please send your names, cabin number, ages (for children), dinner seating, and any allergies or celebrations that would be important or noteworthy to others!! You can either send a PM or email (dueley@verizon.net)

I will send out a listing at the end of the week for those participating. Thereafter, I will send out bi-weekly updates (even if just to say - no changes).

Thanks,
Tammy

 

[Erickson99]

We will participate!!

I got the kids a FE off ebay for Christmas. It is hanging in the house so they get to look at it all the time. I will email you!!!

Since we are 1st time cruisers we can't book anything until Jan 31st...bummer

 

[maggie blossom]

OK fellow cruisers:

It is FREEZING cold here in the northeast and they are predicting another snow storm.

Can I just say I CAN"T WAIT to cruise to the Caribbean!!!!!

 

[TanyaS]

Do anyone have advice on the best night to book Palo if we don't want to miss the Animator's show or pirate's night?

What port excursions is everyone considering?

We are leaning towards Xcaret Eco Park in Cozumel, but haven't quite decided about the others.

My MIL and niece (age 7) have booked on this cruise also, so we'll probably need to pick something we'll all enjoy.

I saw that my boys were old enough to do the Parasailing and was thinking they would enjoy it, but then I saw the weight restrictions and asked DS#1 how much he weighed. He is six pounds under the minimum, but he informed he that he'd probably be able to do it since he plans to gain that much weight eating on the cruise at the all you can eat buffets.

I will probably also reserve the tube/snorkel/bike package for CC. DD can't ride without training wheels yet, so teaching her may be moved up on my to do list next weekend.

I have a box that I am slowly adding to with things I pick up for the cruise. I ordered a FE and items to make my FE gifts.

Now I just have to go swimsuit shopping.

 

[MEdisneyfan]

It is freezing here in Maine. Another snow day and school is cancelled. Oh well, more time to sit at home and dream about the cruise. Maybe we will watch the info cruise video to just get us even more excited. I also need to finish my countdown calendar.

I had read on one of the boards that Pirate night was night 5 leaving Cozumel or night 4 Grand Caymen. Animator's night is usually one of the first three nights during your normal rotation. We booked Palo for night 6 at sea day, that way we can enjoy the last night back in the dining rooms for the 'till we meet again dinner.

Hope this helps!

Can someone explain the FE process? We are interested but I need more info!!

 

[maggie blossom]

As far as the FE process I am no expert, haven't even been on a cruise yet, but I will tell you what I understand it to be based on all I have read.

You can choose to participate. Someone keeps a list of all people and room numbers.

You give out little gifts to each room. You can give one per cabin or one, or more, per person. Seems it REALLY varies as to amount that is given, and spent.

I think the organizer decides if you have an assigned date to give or if you can give whenever you want.

We are doing it because it looks like FUN.

Maybe someone else can fill in the parts I missed; or correct me if I got it wrong,

 

[dueley]

I'm coordinating the FE exchange. It is voluntary, but seems like a lot of fun. This is our first cruise, but I have been using this forum extensively to get ideas and answer questions (I think I'm becoming a little obsessed!!)

Anyway... being as how most of us are newbies, there are few rules. I will compile the list of participants (and distribute periodically). There is no set date or time for when to exchange or what to exchange. Just have fun with it and enjoy (both the giving and the receiving).

The cutoff date is March 20. If there are more than 15 statements, then we will divide up the group (so there are not so many things to pack).

I'm looking forward to the "Magic"ical time that we will be having in just a few months. I'd better get busy - time is going fast!!

Tammy

 

[Erickson99]

Maggie - where in MA are you from? We are from Wilmington. Snow Day for us today too! blech. We are flying out of Manchester b/c Boston flights were OUT of control cost wise!

 

[maggie blossom]

HI Melissa

We are in Arlington, MA. I have had it with the snow! Even DD was hoping NOT to have another snow day from school today.

We paid a bundle to fly in and out of Boston. $1400 for 3 of us on Southwest. Isn't that ridiculous. They know they have us because with kids we have limited weeks we can go.

Thinking about excursions; nothing booked yet. And also reading obsessively to learn as much as I can. Kinds fun to look forward to it and think about it don't you think?

 

[maggie blossom]

Ohh I forgot to ask:

How do you get one of those fancy counters of the bottom that show how many days until your cruise????

 

[SplatInc]

BMCD

I did some checking on the cabanas.

It seems you cannot prebook them. You must book on board the ship. You get free soda and snorkel equipment, magazines and a bike ride. Cost is (hold on to something) $599!

I have been to CC twice and see no need to pay that much for so little. Talk about pirates in the Caribbean.

When you exit the ship keep going down the beach and it thins out very quickly. The beach is 1700 feet long, more than enough for everyone.

 

[bmcd1998]

BMCD

I did some checking on the cabanas.

It seems you cannot prebook them. You must book on board the ship. You get free soda and snorkel equipment, magazines and a bike ride. Cost is (hold on to something) $599!

I have been to CC twice and see no need to pay that much for so little. Talk about pirates in the Caribbean.

When you exit the ship keep going down the beach and it thins out very quickly. The beach is 1700 feet long, more than enough for everyone.

Thanks Splat...yikes...that's a steep price tag. I wonder if they actually sell them out at that price?

 

[SplatInc]

As far as I can tell they are not selling out. I read more than a couple comments saying the price was to high. However I never underestimate how much money people will spend to seem cool.
BTW I am also located in Charlotte. We should get together for planning excursions and activities.

 

[SplatInc]

The way to get a cool counter is to go to the "user cp" in the red bar at the top of this page. You can get the BB code and paste it into your signature there. Go to edit signature on the right side of the page and just above you sig info is a banner ad for DIS counters.

Dining rotations are by request through your TA or Disney. There are three rotations.

My DW and I have done the dolphin swim in the Bahamas. Be careful to read the descriptions as there are usually several levels from just watching all the way up to actually swimming with the animals. Usuallythey give you a briefing then show you some tricks and then you get to interact (dolphin kisses, feeding, sometimes they squirt you with water) finally the swim is usually a foot push or you hold the dorsal fin and the dolphin pulls you around. Always tell the company you want to get the big picture package and DVD even if you dont end up buying it, that way they will concentrate on you and you will have more pics to choose from.

Sorry to take so long to answer everyones questions.

Have a magical day

 

[SplatInc]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/cr-stateroom-navigator.htm

Scans of the daily navigator from prior cruises. There will be some changes but it will give you a general rundown on shows and activities as well as character meet and greets. Don't miss out on Cpt Jack Sparrow on CC. If you take the tram you will go right by the spot. Last time we were there he came weaving out of the bushes and was a dead ringer for Johnny Depp.

With the new pirates of the Caribbean movie coming out this summer does anyone think we will get any special showings or activities?

 

[SplatInc]

Movie from our last Disney cruise.

http://gallery.me.com/splatinc#100501

Pics from our trip, these include several that are useful as desktop wallpaper. Dolphin encounter pics as well.

http://gallery.me.com/splatinc#101592&bgcolor=black&view=grid

 

[maggie blossom]

Thanks so much for the ticker advice!!!!!

 

[maggie blossom]

Ooops. Looks like I better try that again.

I think I better also keep my day job

 

[SplatInc]

Maggie
You have several options with the signature code. Use the one that has square brackets. I believe it's called BB code.
You can then quit your day job and live off the accolades of your peers.