April 16th, 2011 -Western Caribbean

[maggie blossom]

Got more stuff to start making gifts for FE today. This makes it really fun!!

Melissa, we are flying out of Boston but NOT direct. We switch in PA, Phila I think. We end up arriving in Orlando at 7 pm ish thursday night.

We aren't splurging for Universal hotel so won't have the early admission hour to I of A. We will get there as early as possible thou. I think as long as DD gets to see all the HP stuff she will be happy. Whatever happens after that is gravy.

 

[stampinot]

We are mostly taking it easy on Castaway Cay. We have been there before. It is nice to enjoy the beach and the water if the weather is nice. We are going parasailing there, but that is it.
The FE-I have already started shopping, but it is expensive no matter how you shop. I am planning to order some items from Oriental trading company.
I am trying to shop for the different age groups. I plan on dividing and marking whose is whose before the cruise to make it easier to give them away.

 

[SplatInc]

The key to castaway cay is bring your own favorite sand toys. Disney will sell you toys for a profit. Then after we leave they clean the beach and sell any toys left behind again.

 

[stampinot]

The key to castaway cay is bring your own favorite sand toys. Disney will sell you toys for a profit. Then after we leave they clean the beach and sell any toys left behind again.

to be delivered to the boat with the kids candy for the movie, sand toys etc. Then we leave them behind if we don't have room in the suitcase. Disney will charge a fortune for a few toys and the baskets Shirley makes aren't cheap, but the kids love getting them when they get to the room.

 

[stampinot]

the night before the cruise? That is what we are planning to do.

 

[Erickson99]

We wound up getting a really good deal on a rental in Kissimee for Thurs/Friday night when we are there through our lawn service company (it's small and local) so we will be driving down to CC on Sat AM. I signed us up for the 1130am get on the boat time.

Maggie - we didn't want to splurge on the hotel either so whatever time we get there we get there. I am NOT rushing around on Friday that's for sure. We arrive at 830pm so I am sure we will not get to bed much before 11 or so.

 

[mbhpch]

the night before the cruise? That is what we are planning to do.

We are arriving early Friday morning. We are not going to go to Universal that day. My dd wants to see Harry Potter but we can not spend almost $1000 for a half a day at the park( since there are 6 of us) I checked to see and the park closes at 5:00 that day. Trying to figure out what to do that day. We are staying at the Hilton in Cocoa Beach on Friday night. We had some Hilton points to use. Hope that it is nice. We plan to arrive at the port around 10:30 on Saturday morning.

 

[stampinot]

I wanted to make sure we arrive a day early in case something should happen. We didn't want to miss the boat. Our check in time is 10:30am. I don't think we can board then right? It just means we may board earlier than if someone checked in at a later time I thought

 

[stampinot]

take on the ship? We are planning to take our own beer.

 

[bmcd1998]

We are flying in Friday evening and staying at the Airport Hilton (with Hilton honors Points). Have a car service scheduled to take us from the hotel to the port for our 10:30 check in.

Almost embarrased to admit this, but I just reserved a Spring Break 2012 5 night on the Dream April 10th. There are good deals this early for bookings, and we have till January 23rd, 2012 to cancel with a full refund. Got a real good deal. yay!!

 

[SplatInc]

FYI, if you book aboard you get an additional 10% discount and your TA can take over the booking. They also match rates, so if you were in say Key West and had access to the internet, found the same rate you currently have and went aboard the ship you could save an additional 10%. Thats if they don't raise the rates between now and then. You may just end up with more room credit but who knows? At Disney rates every little bit counts.

 

[maggie blossom]

For those with older kids are you planning on having your child carry a wavephone?


Any thoughts on what they will carry the wavephone in?

I think I will give one to DD when she is not with us, ie in kids club. But I am worried about her losing it. She is a good kid but when she is having fun she could lose anything.

Anyone else thinking about this?

 

[stampinot]

I have seen them on the threads, but was not sure what they are? How much are they to rent? How old do they need to be to have one? Do you get them on the ship?
I have a 16 y/o DD who will soon be 17. She thinks the whole Disney thing is a joke. She thinks there will be no other teenagers on the cruise! I told her different, but she is so sick of Disney since we are Disney freaks!

 

[stampinot]

We are doing a Fish Extender if you are interested.

 

[stampinot]

Anyone ever get one of these and what is it? Trying to decide if it is worth the money

 

[maggie blossom]

I think all staterooms get 2 wavephones. It is how you can communicate to each other on the ship. I am thinking it is like a walkie-talkie.

It is free to use but if you lose it the cost is something like $200. I think it is perfect for DD (11) to let us know where she is, or vice versa, but I can just see her putting it down and walking away...

I can get a sachel/purse/backpack/whatever for her to wear but if she doesn't think it is "cool", or if no one else is using one I can forget it! Just thought I's plan ahead if other parents of tweens were planning on using anything in particular.

Stampinot hopefully your teen will find some friends and have fun once on the ship. I can't imagine there will be no other teens

 

[FJS961]

We are on this cruise too. This will be our 3rd cruise but 1st 7 night Caribbean and are really excited about it. First two were 3 and 5 night Bahamas on Wonder. We fly down friday afternoon and staying at Hyatt MCO.

It is DW and I (42) and DD(11), DD(8) and DS(5)

We have the kayak, snorkel, dolphin watch at key west for age 5 and up

Pirate encounter in am on GC and perhaps taxi to beach or some other excursion on own fir afternoon ... Suggestions?

Doing dolphinaris dolphin swim on Cozumel in am - done by 1pm?

 

[Erickson99]

So what's the deal with mailing stuff down there to the ship? Does anyone have the address or a link to the information about this? Is there a restriction on size/weight, etc?

 

[stampinot]

recent Western Carribean trips?

 

[SplatInc]

castawayclub (dot) com

Has all sorts of info including recent Navigators

Hmm DIS doesn't like castaway club, they keep blanking the website address.

Also for those who are prebooking shore excursions check out shoretrips (dot) com
You may be able to get the exact same excursion for less moola.