April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[pershing]

Ok, that $180 AAA rate for Comfort Suites was back again, but it's for a King bed only and the disclamers are this:

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So, the way I figure it, one more of my 3 DS's is free but then the other 2 (both above 12) are gonna cost me $80 more and then another $51 for the 'occupancy tax' plus another 18% (of what total, I dunno).

....I'm staying on the ship. I hope everyone else has a marvelous time!

 

[svcutler]

Sue, say it ain't so . My confirmation says the room is for 4people but I see what u mean. I'm going to play dumb with DD so when we get there he won't blame me! our family wants to really go and I was just given a nice $100 gift card so.... off to Atlantis we go!

 

[svcutler]

Hi again, I was reading the absolute funniest TR from podsnel about her cruise and mnsshp trip to wow from October. Anyway she had a picture of her dis meet group which I thought was good but what I thought was the smartest was when they met. The group got together about an hour before the muster drill. Then they always knew who everyone was during the whole cruise.

What are our plans or should we make them? I don't know how that all works but I sure hope we get to meet because I think of you ladies as my own personal Disney therapy group now!!

Thoughts and advise on how to do this (Oohhhh JILL and DEB)....

 

[svcutler]

Ugh! Its just starting here on the Cape! I was hoping the weatherpeople were wrong again.

ugh! It's only January and this winter seems endless. (Not a winter fan.)

Yep, lots of snow here in Trumbull. Probably about 7 inches And another 1/2 inch last nite

Sorry for the bad typing but I am on the iPad and get rather lazy on it.

 

[pershing]

I'm gonna ask the January People where they are holding their cruise meets.

They don't have much info to go on and it'll be interesting to see where they choose.

 

[guarn3md]

Hi again, I was reading the absolute funniest TR from podsnel about her cruise and mnsshp trip to wow from October. Anyway she had a picture of her dis meet group which I thought was good but what I thought was the smartest was when they met. The group got together about an hour before the muster drill. Then they always knew who everyone was during the whole cruise.

What are our plans or should we make them? I don't know how that all works but I sure hope we get to meet because I think of you ladies as my own personal Disney therapy group now!!

Thoughts and advise on how to do this (Oohhhh JILL and DEB)....

I think a meet at the beginning of the cruise is a great idea. Now that I am sharing information about this cruise with my son - he is very interested in everything. I told him about the FE and showed him the list of kids that are involved in the FE - I think he is really interested in meeting the kids. He watched a video of Yelena's daughter opening her birthday present that was posted on Facebook and wanted to know what she got, how old she was, and was really surprised that I am talking with people we are going to be cruising with... I am all for a meet...
Debbie

 

[mommybean]

Is anyone else planning on doing the 5K on Castaway Cay? Or has anybody done it before? (sorry if somebody had already posted about this - I haven't made it through all the pages yet - lol)

 

[Deb T.]

On the shorter cruises, I've always set up meets beside the Mickey Pool near Scoops (on the Magic and Wonder) about 45 minutes before the lifeboat drill. My theory was that the little ones could swim (and not be bored with all the adults ) and ice cream was readily available. Other than the impending muster drill, nothing else is going on at that time. It is really nice to meet everyone at the very beginning of the cruise. It always amazes me how often we all run into each other during the next few days! It's fun to say "hi" and ask how everyone's cruise is going.

Two spring breaks ago, one of the DISer's had the Roy Disney suite, so she hosted the meet there! She ordered treats from room service and I made name tags. We still set up the meet for 45 minutes before the lifeboat drill and it was just enough time to tour the suite and mingle a bit.

On the longer cruises, the meets are usually set up on the first sea day. However, lots of DCL activities are in full swing by then so some people tend to miss that meet.

I think that pershing has a great idea of waiting to see where the first cruisers set up their meets. That way, we'll have a good idea of which spaces worked and which ones didn't. Our group is large enough that we might need to notify DCL and let them chose a spot for us. Sometimes, they'll even set up some beverages (lemonade and water) and cookies for the larger meets.

 

[alenushka]

......because I think of you ladies as my own personal Disney therapy group now!!

I think a meet at the beginning of the cruise is a great idea. Now that I am sharing information about this cruise with my son - he is very interested in everything. I told him about the FE and showed him the list of kids that are involved in the FE - I think he is really interested in meeting the kids. He watched a video of Yelena's daughter opening her birthday present that was posted on Facebook and wanted to know what she got, how old she was, and was really surprised that I am talking with people we are going to be cruising with... I am all for a meet...
Debbie

We registered Katya and she is able to chat on Tween board. May be Connor should join too, this way they would know at least one kid in their age group.


97 days!!!

 

[guarn3md]

We registered Katya and she is able to chat on Tween board. May be Connor should join too, this way they would know at least one kid in their age group.


97 days!!!

I was going to ask Connor if he wants to chat on the tween board. He keeps telling me that he wishes he was a "tween" so he can go in the tween room on the cruise. I don't think he will qualify since it says 11 and up. He will be 9 1/2 (that 1/2 is so important!) I will talk with him tomorrow about it on the way to school. Maybe have him post as me to see what he thinks. Do you have the link to the tween board?
Trying to get my Universal trip in order. I am now trying to convince my parents that we should leave a day earlier than we planned and stay near Universal so Connor and I can go to IOA on Friday the 15th or the morning of Saturday 16th. I just don't want to go on Thursday 21st - I want to only go to WDW!!! (there is definitely a hint of whining in that statement!)
Back to work for me tomorrow after being off all last week for medical reasons. I have not been to work since the Wednesday before Christmas! 6am is going to come fast!!! Better get mentally ready for work!
Debbie

 

[svcutler]

Ok, another question- I heard u can ask for a specific order of which restaurant you would like to eat in on a specific night. Is this true? Also is there only 3 main dining rooms? So that would mean if I chose to eat at Palo, we wouldn't miss any of the main dining room shows etc, correct?

 

[alenushka]

I was going to ask Connor if he wants to chat on the tween board. He keeps telling me that he wishes he was a "tween" so he can go in the tween room on the cruise. I don't think he will qualify since it says 11 and up. He will be 9 1/2 (that 1/2 is so important!) I will talk with him tomorrow about it on the way to school. Maybe have him post as me to see what he thinks. Do you have the link to the tween board?
.....I have not been to work since the Wednesday before Christmas! 6am is going to come fast!!! Better get mentally ready for work!
Debbie

K will not go to the tween club during the cruise (she just turned 10), but it is still great to know/to meet a few kids prior to cruising, even if they are a little older. Her BFF is twelve. K did not post in a while bs we were busy with homework, holidays and her B-day party (as you saw on FB).

Ok, another question- I heard u can ask for a specific order of which restaurant you would like to eat in on a specific night. Is this true? Also is there only 3 main dining rooms? So that would mean if I chose to eat at Palo, we wouldn't miss any of the main dining room shows etc, correct?

That's what i have heard! But they always note "we can try to do our best, but we can not guarantee the assignment"......Most of the time, they follow up with your requests as promised

 

[Deb T.]

Ok, another question- I heard u can ask for a specific order of which restaurant you would like to eat in on a specific night. Is this true? Also is there only 3 main dining rooms? So that would mean if I chose to eat at Palo, we wouldn't miss any of the main dining room shows etc, correct?

Yes, yes, and no...

There are three main dining rooms: Enchanted Garden, Royal Palace, and Animator's Palate. Therefore, DCL has three specific set dining rotations. You, your table mates, and your servers all move from restaurant to restaurant on the same rotation. So far, no one knows what the Dream dining rotations will be. For example, it could be something like EG-RP-RP-AP, or EG-AP-RG-AP... the possibilities are endless so we are all eagerly awaiting trip reports to learn what the three rotations will be.

Once we know what the three rotations are, you can request one of those rotations. As alenushka noted, they won't guarantee any request. We've requested twice and were granted our request only once.

On the 4-night cruises, you will end up in one of the restaurants twice. One of those times it will be the restaurant's specific themed "show" night, the other time will be an alternate "show", like Pirate Night. So, until we get our KTTW cards, we really won't know for sure which rotation we have been assigned to. If you aren't happy with your rotation, you can try to change it immediately upon boarding (location yet to be determined). Since this sailing appears to be full, I imagine chances are going to be slim for changes.

Unfortunately, scheduling Palo is a shot in the dark right now since no one knows what the rotations are. We have late dining, so we decided to go with a 6pm Palo reservation so that we can still experience the main dining room "show" that night, too.

Hope this helps! Please let me know if my explanation is fuzzy and I'll try to clear up any confusion.

 

[Freddyfishstix]

Hey there just checking in and counting down the days Is anyone considering the Blue Lagoon Dolphin swim? About 90 days to go. Plenty of time to shed some left over Holiday lbs, right?

 

[guarn3md]

Hey there just checking in and counting down the days Is anyone considering the Blue Lagoon Dolphin swim? About 90 days to go. Plenty of time to shed some left over Holiday lbs, right?

We are contemplating the Blue Lagoon Dolphin swim...I checked some reviews on Trip Advisor and it gets positive remarks. Just waiting till Feb. 1 when I pay off cruise and then can book excursions (I think?). We are thinking of doing the cheaper version - I think it was $125.
Anyone know when you can book the cabanas at Castaway Cay, the prices, etc...
It is 95 days till we leave, but considering leaving a day early...just made reservations at Hyatt Place across the street from Universal. We would stay there April 15th, then over to Country Inn on the 16th. Probably do IOA on the afternoon of the 15th or in the morning of the 16th - not sure...
Debbie

 

[bdink921]

We are contemplating the Blue Lagoon Dolphin swim...I checked some reviews on Trip Advisor and it gets positive remarks. Just waiting till Feb. 1 when I pay off cruise and then can book excursions (I think?). We are thinking of doing the cheaper version - I think it was $125.
Anyone know when you can book the cabanas at Castaway Cay, the prices, etc...
It is 95 days till we leave, but considering leaving a day early...just made reservations at Hyatt Place across the street from Universal. We would stay there April 15th, then over to Country Inn on the 16th. Probably do IOA on the afternoon of the 15th or in the morning of the 16th - not sure...
Debbie

We'll be at Universal 4/15 and 4/16 too . Plan to be at IOA at opening on 4/16.

Did anyone check out the pics of the Dream posted on the trip report thread?? Beautiful

 

[golfnsuch]

Did anyone check out the pics of the Dream posted on the trip report thread?? Beautiful

Yep, I did. And my youngest can't wait to find the "duck butt" for himself!

E.

 

[svcutler]

Thanks Deb & Yelena! I'm so excited about seeing AP!

OK, i am thoroughly engrossed with the new TR for the Dream and he has another link to ALL his 450+++ pictures of the Dream.

Now you guys should know me by now. I ask a lot of what I hope are good questions for us newbies so here goes...

1. what's with the wave phones? Sounds so great. We usually bring walkie talkies but it sounds like we wouldn't have to do this, correct?

2. I forget what you guys told me in the past - on the 4 night cruise, is one night going to be "formal"? I think the answer was yes, and oh now I remember, we dont have to be very dressy, but sandals, sundress.... ok, it's coming back now...

3. What's the deal with bringing water bottles on the boat? I've read different stories....

4. fridge in room?

that's it for now but since I'll be SNOWED IN AGAIN on Wednedsday, I'm sure I'll think of more while looking at the 4 walls!

Thanks!!

Sandy

 

[outahere]

Anyone know when you can book the cabanas at Castaway Cay, the prices, etc...

Currently, only Concierge guests can book cabanas prior to boarding the ship. Cabanas can be booked at the excursions desk once onboard. The price is $499 for the ones on the Family Beach and $399 for the ones at Serenity Bay (adult beach). That price is for up to 6 people. Up to 4 more people can be booked, but the price goes up by $50 per extra person.

1. what's with the wave phones? Sounds so great. We usually bring walkie talkies but it sounds like we wouldn't have to do this, correct?

They are supplying 2 wave phones in each cabin (possibly more in suites) so unless you need more than 2, I wouldn't bother with the walkie talkies (we took them on one cruise and it was hit or miss where they would work).

2. I forget what you guys told me in the past - on the 4 night cruise, is one night going to be "formal"? I think the answer was yes, and oh now I remember, we dont have to be very dressy, but sandals, sundress.... ok, it's coming back now...

The 4 night cruises don't have a "formal" night - it's called "dress up" night instead. You may see some folks in really dressy/formal attire but they will not be in the majority..


3. What's the deal with bringing water bottles on the boat? I've read different stories....

Some people really only like bottled water, so they either bring it onboard or buy it onboard (pricey- $35 for a 24 bottle case). The water onboard the Magic and Wonder is very good, and I have to believe the water on the Dream is just as good.

4. fridge in room?

According to the DCL web site there will be a mini-fridge in every cabin. Unlike the Magic and Wonder which only have "cooling boxes".


that's it for now but since I'll be SNOWED IN AGAIN on Wednedsday, I'm sure I'll think of more while looking at the 4 walls!

I know exactly what you mean. We're supposed to get 12 inches or more tonight and tomorrow. Time to warm up the snow shovel!

Thanks!!

Sandy

Hope that helps.

 

[guarn3md]

OK, i am thoroughly engrossed with the new TR for the Dream and he has another link to ALL his 450+++ pictures of the Dream.

Sandy

Where is this trip report? Who is writing it?? I know I won't be able to view the pictures at work - they so nicely block that kind of content!
Thanks
Deb