April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[jilljill]

Sandy don't even try to do it all and don't even freak out about not doing it all. You know that can't be done in 4 days. DD & I were down 7 weeks the last 2 summers and still didn't get to do all we wanted to.
We've never used any of the tour books or anything, I hate to make plans. To me planning out your days is so much more stressful than just going down there and having fun. I have a friend that used to do the obsessive planning for every trip, spread sheet and all, and I always laughed at her and told her she forgot to included bathroom breaks in her planning. She said she might be able to work them into her day - that's how much she planned her days.

That's my 2 cents on planning - I don't do it.

 

[jilljill]

I have never used that service, but since no one has sailed on the Dream yet, I'm not sure how much it will help in planning. Granted, it appears that a lot of what happens on the Wonder will probably happen on the Dream, but there will be differences. We have found that it is pretty easy to check the Navigator in the evening to plan out the next day. Even though we have been on 9 DCL cruises, there are a lot of things that we have never done. I would suggest that you not try to cram everything into 4 days. If you do, you will need another vacation to recover.

She's looking at planning for WDW not while on the cruise.

 

[jilljill]

We are booked on the Dream April 17th-21st and I am starting to think about the planning. I had this DIS Forum bookmarked but have not visited in a long time. It is my daughter and her dad's first Disney cruise but my third. After seeing the nearly 80 pages of posts here I feel like I am behind in my planning, my honey thinks we have lots of time, but then again he is not a planner. I want it to be a special experience for them. I am hoping to get some good tips and share whatever I can remember from my experiences. I sailed on the Wonder in the Roy E Disney suite about 8 years ago, my only claim to fame. I am not sure when is the best time to sign up my daughter, 6, for Oceaneer's Lab. We want to do the shows and dinners but also want to spend some family time together and some time alone while she is enjoying the lab. I went with my niece and nephew years ago and they loved it! I want her to experience it and the drawings of Pixie Hollow and Andy's Room look awesome. Anyone have any good tips? Anyone have a daughter around the same age that could potentially be a friend for her to play with at the lab? She is really outgoing and loves to make new friends so I am sure she will bond with whoever is there.

We are driving down from VA on the 15th and are thinking of getting a Platinum Pass for SeaWorld and Busch Gardens and spending a day at Sea World Orlando on the 16th. Busch Gardens in VA is very close to us so we would really use the pass in the next 2 years. It has a 24 month payment option so we would not have to put out the money all upfront.

I would like to join your facebook group, can you add me?

I look forward to meeting some of you in April,
Thanks, Karen

to DIS and to this group.

As fas as signing your DD up for the club, that can be done online when the paperwork opens up on DCL's website which for you would be at 90 days out. You can sign into the Castaway Club part of the DCL website for all that info and for making online reservations. Remember you are a Castaway Club member since you have sailed with DCL before - if you do not have your member number just give DCL a call to get your number to make sure you get the onboard benefits.

There's lots of great info in the FAQ sticky at the top of the main cruise page and lots of info in the pages and pages of threads. Of course, there's not much info out there on the Dream yet. Hopefully this afternoon we'll learn a bit more since there is a TA webinar at noon with more Dream info to be announced.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[svcutler]

I have never used that service, but since no one has sailed on the Dream yet, I'm not sure how much it will help in planning. Granted, it appears that a lot of what happens on the Wonder will probably happen on the Dream, but there will be differences. We have found that it is pretty easy to check the Navigator in the evening to plan out the next day. Even though we have been on 9 DCL cruises, there are a lot of things that we have never done. I would suggest that you not try to cram everything into 4 days. If you do, you will need another vacation to recover.

Thanks Outahere. I'm sorry but I may have miscommunicated my concern. The TourGuide Mike reference to my 4 days is when I'm off the Dream and now in WDW at the parks.

Thanks though!

 

[svcutler]

Sandy don't even try to do it all and don't even freak out about not doing it all. You know that can't be done in 4 days. DD & I were down 7 weeks the last 2 summers and still didn't get to do all we wanted to.
We've never used any of the tour books or anything, I hate to make plans. To me planning out your days is so much more stressful than just going down there and having fun. I have a friend that used to do the obsessive planning for every trip, spread sheet and all, and I always laughed at her and told her she forgot to included bathroom breaks in her planning. She said she might be able to work them into her day - that's how much she planned her days.

That's my 2 cents on planning - I don't do it.

Thanks Jilljill, although I think you said in our FB group that Jill is not your real name...

Unfortunately, I am a lot like your friend with the spreadsheet. In fact, I've taped mine to the back of the hotel room door so everyone has a sense of what we are about to embark on for that particular day!

I wish i could be more calm and collected like you, but it's in my genes!

 

[outahere]

Thanks Outahere. I'm sorry but I may have miscommunicated my concern. The TourGuide Mike reference to my 4 days is when I'm off the Dream and now in WDW at the parks.

Thanks though!

Sorry 'bout that....... since you said 4 days, I guess I assumed you meant the cruise. Probably should have more coffee before I start posting!

Have fun planning!

Ed

 

[jilljill]

Thanks Jilljill, although I think you said in our FB group that Jill is not your real name...

Unfortunately, I am a lot like your friend with the spreadsheet. In fact, I've taped mine to the back of the hotel room door so everyone has a sense of what we are about to embark on for that particular day!

I wish i could be more calm and collected like you, but it's in my genes!

I know what you mean, when it comes to people that plan, they can't seem to change.

Does TGM have a section on planning a trip during a busy holiday week? That would alter planning to just a regular busy week or an off-peak week.
We usually stay away from MK Easter break week or just go after 6:00 or so. We don't do AK, it's been well over 1½ years since we've been there. We spend most of our time at Epcot and HS.

I know, still not much help.

 

[Donnaksmj]

 

[Donnaksmj]

We are coming too....Hubby,8yr old boy and me...yay

 

[jilljill]

We are coming too....Hubby,8yr old boy and me...yay

Welcome

 

[jeni37]

My group of 11 all have 7pm show and 8:30pm dinner!

 

[jeni37]

Hi Everyone!


On another topic, has anyone taken their kids to Epcot and done the Kim Possible scavenger hunt with the phones, etc? Looked cool so just wanted to know if it was as fun as it seemed.

We did the Kim Possible in January with my 3 kids: (dd5, ds9, 1ds3). My DS9 absolutely loved it! My DD5 and DS13 found it a little boring. We did one assignment during the day which took us around Norway, it was lots of fun. Then we did another after dark that took us around China which he loved! The instructions are easy to follow and you can keep the Kimmunicator for as many adventures as you can fit in before the park closes. I hope this helps!

 

[alenushka]

We are booked on the Dream April 17th-21st and I am starting to think about the planning.
I would like to join your facebook group, can you add me?

We are coming too....Hubby,8yr old boy and me...yay

Welcome!!!
Karen - send PM with your email to NESS and she will send you an invite to FB group.

 

[jilljill]

Is anyone going to be booking for 2012 this week?
I looked at the dates/itineraries and we've decided to hold off until the rest of 2012 come out and we can book for later in the year.

 

[Deb T.]

Is anyone going to be booking for 2012 this week?
I looked at the dates/itineraries and we've decided to hold off until the rest of 2012 come out and we can book for later in the year.

Not booking anything yet, either. We're hoping for another Baltic itinerary.

 

[guarn3md]

Hi Guys!

Ok, ok.... I have been to WDW at least 8 times and I am GREAT at putting together a cool itinerary for a week's worth of vacationing. However, with the cruise, I now only have 4 days and am freaking out that I won't be able to do everything so.....

I bought Tour Guide Mike online. Anyone ever use him and will he really be able to make it easier for me (than I could have done myself)?

I have used the Unofficial WDW book with their touring itineraries and found them pretty helpful, but I went with TGM for this trip.

Wish me luck, but I'd like to know someone else's opinion.

~ Sandy

Sandy
I have used Tour Guide Mike for all of my trips since 2007. I only planned one trip without and that was my first trip in 2006. In the past three years we have had gone four more times - two trips at very busy times - Thanksgiving 2008 and 4th of July 2010. Both trips I felt we "zagged when others zigged!" I think that is TGM's favorite expression. I would never plan a trip without his advice - I wouldn't know what to do without my Green, yellow, red days.
Any questions let me know!
Debbie

 

[guarn3md]

Hi Everyone!

We received our envelope in the mail also. I never thought it would be a rebate but that's because I'm a cynical NY'er (living in CT) ((I did wish though...)

Donna, you are onto something there about dinner. We also are seated at the 8:30 seating and show at 7:00. I'm thrilled about this because one of my DD's and my DH LOVE to take naps in the afternoon, but I never want to waste a minute so and am never able to settle down for a nap . Our plan is that while they snoozing , I will get dressed, etc., and go off to the show(s) and meet up with them for dinner. Hopefully they will get their butts up quickly though and be able to see some of the actual show with me (Never gonna happen!)


On another topic, has anyone taken their kids to Epcot and done the Kim Possible scavenger hunt with the phones, etc? Looked cool so just wanted to know if it was as fun as it seemed.

We got our dining/show time too. We got the 7:00pm show with the 8:30 dinner. Sounds like this is a trend.

My son has done the Kim Possible scavenger hunt many times - he loves it. The cellphone kimmunicator is really cool. We always have to make time for it in our trips. He discovered it in our Sept '09 trip and did a couple of the missions. In July 2010 we had to block out time for two more missions. We were begging him to return the kimmunicator!
This will be a must do for April and Thanksgiving 2011! My sister has never done it so I know she will enjoy it too!
Debbie

 

[guarn3md]

Karen from VA

Just wanted to let you know that my sister will be on the cruise - she will have just turned 7 before the cruise. She is also very outgoing and loves meeting new friends.
Looking forward to meeting everyone in person! Our cabin is on Deck 10.

Debbie (from Annapolis, MD)

 

[jilljill]

Debbie did you get back to Bethany this past weekend?
Just wondering how the wind was down there if you went.

 

[guarn3md]

Debbie did you get back to Bethany this past weekend?
Just wondering how the wind was down there if you went.

We did go to Bethany again this weekend! I can't believe we went there two weekends in a row. I'm still wondering who this man is and what he did with my DH!
We were a bit concerned about the weather. Left MD Friday around noon and it was windy. When we got to BB it was a little more windy. Sea Colony has two indoor pools - so we just went swimming all afternoon. Had dinner up on the boardwalk - not bad.
Saturday was still on the windy side - we walked to the beach and on the boardwalk - lots of people and the weather was warm when the wind wasn't blowing.
Sunday was a different story - it was a beautiful! No wind, sunny! We played tennis, went in the pool and then to the beach. DS swore he was not going in the ocean so he didn't wear his bathing suit - just shorts and t-shirt. We were on the beach for five minutes and he was in the water! It was really nice sitting on the beach! I didn't want to leave. We ended up leaving BB around 6pm. DS told us Saturday afternoon that he loved BB and we should buy a condo there! We are just happy to have great friends who own a condo there and loan it to us!
Sad to say it is back to reality this weekend - no beach!
Thanks for asking!
Debbie