April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[alenushka]

I am kind of bummed about the show times. I wonder if they will be sticklers about it. Our theaters never got filled up with our last cruise. I have early seating which I want, but I doubt I will be back from excursions and ready for a 5pm show and some nights we dont' mind skipping dinner and eating at Topsiders and going to a 7pm show. guess we will see how it pans out. Since we are B2b it won't be too much problem, but for just a three night, I think it would hardto hit the 5pm show each night.

I called them last night - we got 9 pm show with 6 pm dining, and that works for us. You should call DCL or your TA and try to change your show time if you think the assigned one will not work for you. If they don't have other time available, I am sure they have a waiting list.

 

[jilljill]

I had previously posted a few days ago that I had talked to DCL.

Showtimes for 1st Dining (which is at 6:30PM) are 5:00PM show and 9:00PM

Showtimes for 2nd Dining (which is at 8:30PM) are 5:00PM and 7:00PM.

With dinner at 8:30PM it might take a little Disney magic to get to the 9:00PM show.

Being assigned second seating myself, I am already trying to figure out how we are going to be out in time for Pirates In the Caribbean Show, which is usually at 9:45PM. Unless, they are changing the time for that as well.

Donna

My best guess is going to be that they push back all the night time entertainment to start at either 10:00 or 10:15. Right now dinner is at 8:15 with the Pirate Party starting at 9:45 - most of the other night time adult activities also start about 9:45. So if 2nd seating is at 8:30 it stands to reason they push back the late activities to 10:00.


There's going to be lots of changes on the Dream from what we are all used to and we're just going to have to adapt to the changes. Keep in mind, the CM's are also going to be dealing with the changes as well.

 

[pershing]

It got quiet here last 2days.

I'm kinda ambivalent about the show times. I tend to skip the shows at the last moment due to extreme laziness.

I had seen most of the shows at least once and going back instead of relaxing didn't appeal at the end of a full day.
Now there's 2 shows I think I haven't seen. I dunno. That tens to be my rainforest room time follows by a shower in the woman's locker room for dinner.

 

[Deb T.]

We try to see every show on every cruise. I've seen Disney Dreams 10 times now, and I've cried each time. I didn't used to be so emotional, but now I just can't seem to help myself. My favorite show is Toy Story, The Musical. I think Sid's character does an amazing job! My all-time favorite was Hercules - and I still wish they'd bring it back. I'm hoping there will be at least one new show on The Dream since that theater is supposed to have all the latest technology.

 

[bdink921]

Has anyone ever done the Blue Lagoon Island Dolphin encounter? We are thinking of doing it on this cruise and I am really not interested in doing the Dolphin encounter at Atlantis.

We did the Blue Lagoon dophin encounter in 2006. It was me, DH, and DS8. We met in one of the lounges at the appointed time and followed a CM through the terminal bldg in Nassau to a water taxi/ferry. From there we stopped once to pick up some people near Atlantis. It was a 20-30 minute ride to the Blue Lagoon. At the time we went the beach was closed . We saw a short orientation film then were divided into groups. There were maybe 4 or 5 ? groups/families to a trainer. We went to the encounter area and each group had their turn in the water with their dolphin. We got into the water on a platform. We danced with, hugged, kissed, and fed our dolphin. There was a photographer filming the encounter and taking pics. We also had our own camera and one of the other groups took pics when it was our turn. The whole encounter lasted about 40 minutes and we had maybe 10? minutes in the water with our dolphin. We had Ms. Merlin. It was a pretty cool experience. After the encounter there was the requisite gift shop where you could purchase pic and souveniers. We had a good hour or so to hang out and walk around and wished the beach was open--the area looked beautiful. We left at 10-1030am were back on board the ship by 2pm. It was totally worth the money we paid.

 

[guarn3md]

We did the Blue Lagoon dophin encounter in 2006. It was me, DH, and DS8. We met in one of the lounges at the appointed time and followed a CM through the terminal bldg in Nassau to a water taxi/ferry. From there we stopped once to pick up some people near Atlantis. It was a 20-30 minute ride to the Blue Lagoon. At the time we went the beach was closed . We saw a short orientation film then were divided into groups. There were maybe 4 or 5 ? groups/families to a trainer. We went to the encounter area and each group had their turn in the water with their dolphin. We got into the water on a platform. We danced with, hugged, kissed, and fed our dolphin. There was a photographer filming the encounter and taking pics. We also had our own camera and one of the other groups took pics when it was our turn. The whole encounter lasted about 40 minutes and we had maybe 10? minutes in the water with our dolphin. We had Ms. Merlin. It was a pretty cool experience. After the encounter there was the requisite gift shop where you could purchase pic and souveniers. We had a good hour or so to hang out and walk around and wished the beach was open--the area looked beautiful. We left at 10-1030am were back on board the ship by 2pm. It was totally worth the money we paid.

Wow Bridget thank you for that information!!! Now I really want to go! I will pass this info on to my family!!
I think my son and sister would love it!
Deb

 

[alenushka]

Hi everybody,
My DD is suddenly into Harry Potter. It seems like a good idea to visit Universals after our cruise. I think, a few of you posted in the past about your plans to go to Universals prior to or after the cruise. Is it better to take a package via one of their hotels? I would appreciate any tips, info, recommendations you could share.

 

[pershing]

Hi everybody,
My DD is suddenly into Harry Potter. It seems like a good idea to visit Universals after our cruise. I think, a few of you posted in the past about your plans to go to Universals prior to or after the cruise. Is it better to take a package via one of their hotels? I would appreciate any tips, info, recommendations you could share.

It is better because you have the ability to go to the front of the line with all the OTHER big rides. However, Harry Potter's big ride doesn't have an express line I heard and therefore the hotel id isn't much help in that way. I also found the packages and the regular hotel stays to be very expensive, but then I already have tickets bought so I'm factoring that in.

It's much cheaper for me to stay at WDW and pay for parking at Universal.

 

[jilljill]

Hi everybody,
My DD is suddenly into Harry Potter. It seems like a good idea to visit Universals after our cruise. I think, a few of you posted in the past about your plans to go to Universals prior to or after the cruise. Is it better to take a package via one of their hotels? I would appreciate any tips, info, recommendations you could share.

Have you looked at the US/IOA board that's on DIS?

 

[alenushka]

Have you looked at the US/IOA board that's on DIS?

Not yet; we just got that idea last night but thanks for the link, I will definitely check it out.

It is better because you have the ability to go to the front of the line with all the OTHER big rides. However, Harry Potter's big ride doesn't have an express line I heard and therefore the hotel id isn't much help in that way. I also found the packages and the regular hotel stays to be very expensive, but then I already have tickets bought so I'm factoring that in.

It's much cheaper for me to stay at WDW and pay for parking at Universal.

I like the idea of staying at WDW. We are not big roller coaster family , but we would love to see Harry Potter's park (I think, DD will only go on junior coaster ride there).

 

[allaboutdisney1967]

Made our reservations for Hyatt MCO the night before cruise!


8 more days until our 180 ADR for after cruise!

Donna

 

[guarn3md]

Hi everybody,
My DD is suddenly into Harry Potter. It seems like a good idea to visit Universals after our cruise. I think, a few of you posted in the past about your plans to go to Universals prior to or after the cruise. Is it better to take a package via one of their hotels? I would appreciate any tips, info, recommendations you could share.

Hello
DS (9) is also into Harry Potter. I am planning to take him to IOA the day we disembark from the cruise. He is not a big roller coaster fan so all we are doing is going into IOA making a beeline for Harry Potter - spending 3 - 4 hours tops then taking a taxi over to WDW. We have reservations for WL already - Thurs and Fri after cruise. We are going to meet up with the rest of my family at Epcot for a late dinner and Illuminations.
Connor, my son, is a Disney snob. He will only go on roller coasters at WDW. He has done Space Mountain, Everest, and Big Thunder...but we went to Great Adventure (NJ) two weeks ago and he wanted nothing to do with their rides. After an hour he was complaining to me that it was nothing like Disney and wanted to go home. He wouldn't even meet the characters! It drove my DH nuts!!!
Let me know what you decide to do. How old is your daughter?? My sister will also be on the cruise - she will be seven at the time of the cruise. It would be cool if they all met!!
Debbie

 

[jilljill]

Debbie your DS sounds like my DD, she doesn't even want to think about going to any other parks. We did take her to Busch Gardens Williamsburg when she was about 5, only because her ticket was the only one we had to buy. She's even opted out of several school trips to Dorney Park and Great Adventure because they aren't Disney.

 

[alenushka]

Hello
DS (9) is also into Harry Potter. I am planning to take him to IOA the day we disembark from the cruise. He is not a big roller coaster fan so all we are doing is going into IOA making a beeline for Harry Potter - spending 3 - 4 hours tops then taking a taxi over to WDW. We have reservations for WL already - Thurs and Fri after cruise. We are going to meet up with the rest of my family at Epcot for a late dinner and Illuminations.
Connor, my son, is a Disney snob. He will only go on roller coasters at WDW. He has done Space Mountain, Everest, and Big Thunder...but we went to Great Adventure (NJ) two weeks ago and he wanted nothing to do with their rides. After an hour he was complaining to me that it was nothing like Disney and wanted to go home. He wouldn't even meet the characters! It drove my DH nuts!!!
Let me know what you decide to do. How old is your daughter?? My sister will also be on the cruise - she will be seven at the time of the cruise. It would be cool if they all met!!
Debbie

Katya is 9. She just got into Harry P. She just finished her 3rd book and we spent an evening watching the 3rd HP movie (she had a sub at school and did all her HW there ). It's a very sudden addiction and we are not sure yet if we would be able to squeeze in the visit to US after our cruise. Last spring, during the cruise, we become great friends with a family from Miami and we thought we would go visit them for a few days after the cruise and prior to our drive back to NY. I thought we were all set with our trip, but now - decisions, decisions....

 

[svcutler]

Hey!!!! Where'd everybody go???

OK - Question: Who thinks that there's any chance that the new ship coming out in 2012 (Fantasy, I think is the name) will depart from NYC? No such luck, huh?

We're all so quiet lately. Miss you guys!

 

[outahere]

Hey!!!! Where'd everybody go???

OK - Question: Who thinks that there's any chance that the new ship coming out in 2012 (Fantasy, I think is the name) will depart from NYC? No such luck, huh?

We're all so quiet lately. Miss you guys!

Sorry...... DCL has a signed contract with Port Canaveral to home port the Dream and the Fantasy there for several years (until at least 2015 maybe?). It would be possible for the Magic to do some cruises out of NYC, but we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hi everybody,
My DD is suddenly into Harry Potter. It seems like a good idea to visit Universals after our cruise. I think, a few of you posted in the past about your plans to go to Universals prior to or after the cruise. Is it better to take a package via one of their hotels? I would appreciate any tips, info, recommendations you could share.

We're staying at Royal Pacific for one night before our cruise..actually April 14th, then heading to Cocoa Beach for two nights. I booked with very high rates though...about $340 for one night. I do have an AP there though and will be getting dh and dd park passes for three days. So, hopefully, a good discount with the AP will come along.
I just figured that it's going to be very busy there at this time, so rather than pay oop for the FoTL passes for each of us, ones that allow one FoTL per attraction, I would stay at the resort and get FoTL perks for as many times as we want...it actually came out a bit cheaper that way, even with the high undiscounted rate for the room. For three of us, I figured the FoTL passes would be at least $50 each, probably more, per day. That's $150 right there. We would want to do it for both days, so now it's $300....the room is only $40 more...may as well stay onsite.

Maybe we'll see some of you there!

 

[alenushka]

We're staying at Royal Pacific for one night before our cruise..actually April 14th, then heading to Cocoa Beach for two nights. I booked with very high rates though...about $340 for one night. I do have an AP there though and will be getting dh and dd park passes for three days. So, hopefully, a good discount with the AP will come along.
I just figured that it's going to be very busy there at this time, so rather than pay oop for the FoTL passes for each of us, ones that allow one FoTL per attraction, I would stay at the resort and get FoTL perks for as many times as we want...it actually came out a bit cheaper that way, even with the high undiscounted rate for the room. For three of us, I figured the FoTL passes would be at least $50 each, probably more, per day. That's $150 right there. We would want to do it for both days, so now it's $300....the room is only $40 more...may as well stay onsite.

Maybe we'll see some of you there!

Thank you! I didn't even think of going to US prior to our cruise. I thought we had everything planned . But now, there is so much info to read/process that I stopped thinking straight. I just discussed this option with my DH and he thinks it is a good idea . As soon as we decide if we want to visit one US park or both, we will be able to decide on a hotel choice.

 

[bdink921]

We're staying at Royal Pacific for one night before our cruise..actually April 14th, then heading to Cocoa Beach for two nights. I booked with very high rates though...about $340 for one night. I do have an AP there though and will be getting dh and dd park passes for three days. So, hopefully, a good discount with the AP will come along.
I just figured that it's going to be very busy there at this time, so rather than pay oop for the FoTL passes for each of us, ones that allow one FoTL per attraction, I would stay at the resort and get FoTL perks for as many times as we want...it actually came out a bit cheaper that way, even with the high undiscounted rate for the room. For three of us, I figured the FoTL passes would be at least $50 each, probably more, per day. That's $150 right there. We would want to do it for both days, so now it's $300....the room is only $40 more...may as well stay onsite.

Maybe we'll see some of you there!

We're staying at Royal Pacific for 1 night on April 15th -- boy are those rates high, hoping for a AAA rate. Even with those rates it just makes sense to stay there for the FOTL perk. On the 16th we're heading to the port, but my heart is wishing we were staying at WDW for those 2 nights .

 

[allaboutdisney1967]

Hi!

We just got mail from DCL today confirming the showtime/dining rotation. Did any one else get theirs??

Donna