April 21, 2007 -- Western Magic -- anyone?

[ohMom]

If anyone has used a car service before, please tell me about it. We might rent a car on Friday, since we'll arrive around noon and have the entire evening to goof off in Orlando. I think when we leave the ship & head to the airport, I will get a car service though, just to make it easier all around. Thanks for any info!

we have used FL tours 2-3 times now and been pleased with them. the first time we had a foreign driver that didn't speak much to us at all. This past trip in Jan with my mom, we had a very nice polite gentlemen. I have used Tiffany once and had an obnoxious driver that talked the whole way with stories that were clearly not true. like waaayyyy far-fetched. but, i don't hold that totally against the company, to some extent it's the luck of the draw maybe with drivers. but FL tours we've been happy with their service beforehand in planning, etc; and their service during the trip so we just stick with them. if you get a quote through the DIS there a discount too. we like not having to figure out where we are going too. it's just a way to treat Preston from having to deal with the hassle of it I guess. usually the cost isn't that much more when you consider the time and hassle of renting. that's just our opinion.

ctc !! i have a DD age 14 but she hasn't been interested in the teen excursion, i have mentioned it to her. i figure we can add it on if she finds her friends of the week are going. sorry i'm not much help.
I don't think there would be any problem doing Palo your first night, only if you have APL rotation in which you would miss the "show" that is only run the first night in Animators. It is fun and i would say try not to miss it. but all in all Palo is fabulous. You can always go check which rotation you got then Palo availability and make that decision onboard. as long as you have your game plan........i'd be the one standing in line going...i'm not sure??? what do i do?? there is no way to know for sure which rotation you have until you board, but you can call DCL line and request a rotation.

oh yea curly -- on getting air booked! oh yea!!

i got one more PM in my box to add another family to our group information spreadsheet -- i'll get that added on and resend tonight. if anyone else is planning on sending me could you please when you read this ?

feels sooooo good to be under 2 months!

 

[ctc917]

Oh Mom what "show" would I be missing? I think you lost me? But considering this is our first cruise it is really easy for me to get lost..

I was really surprised that my son wanted to sign up without meeting anyone first but I'm glad he did.

ctc917

 

[ohMom]

well.............it's not a HUGE deal but it's a fun dealie-o in Animator's Palate the first night you eat there. i was vague b/c it's better to not really know the details and enjoy the changes shall we say. I won't tell all, PM me if you really want to know b/c there are some other first time DCL cruisers on our thread too. I missed it our last cruise b/c the boat was rockin' so much that DD and I left without finishing dinner. so i'm looking forward to it. it's one of those things that sounds decent, but in the moment seems more Magical.

ok, now i have you even more confused! LOL

 

[curlybop]

I love the fact that the ticker says 1 month, xxxx days now.

I cleaned out my closet this weekend. If you remember, I had this cruise booked since March last year, and DH didn't know. So I packed away some stuff. Um, maybe a lot of stuff. OK, a WHOLE LOT of stuff. I got it all out & sorted through it. Good thing too, because I bought stuff I didn't even remember having.

 

[ctc917]

Has anyone/everyone done their online check-in? when do you usually do it? Is there something to print out afterward or just info to fill in on line..Just wondering if we need to go ahead and do it now or wait?

OhMom, I will wait until I have dinner there for the suprise, thanks. Can you ask ahead for a certain rotation? Is it like requesting a room at a Disney Resort, "they will try but can't promise", is it worth trying? Has anyone requested a certain rotation? Is one better then another? Also we have early dinner seating, I thought it would be better with my little guy, does anyone know the times-isn't there a few different ones?, can a certain time be requested for this too? Anyone have any luck doing this before?

Thanks

ctc917

 

[alikat99]

Hey everyone!!! I'm glad to see everyone's plans coming along nicely. We've been waiting for AP rates for before/after the cruise and they finally came out, but I can't get a good rate for the night before. So, I think that we're going to stay at the Embassy Suites near the Orlando airport, then head over to the port after breakfast. Then, we're staying at All Stars Music for the night after (then we'll drive home).

As for requesting a certain rotation, I've never done that, as it never really concerned me much, as long as I have early seating. However, I have always linking dining with a fellow DISer, so that I at least know my tablemates ahead of time. And, that's always worked out perfectly for us.

For booking Palo, just go onboard and see if you can change your reservation to the night that works best for your rotation. I know for us, we wouldn't miss the formal/semi-formal night, the first AP night for the "show" and the Pirate night menu. What I did was looked at all the main dining room menus, and decided which one I wouldn't mind missing for yummy Palo.

 

[ohMom]

just popping in here -- but here is some info on the dining:



Night
Port
Dress Code

Saturday
Port Canaveral
Casual

Sunday
Key West
Casual

Monday
Day at Sea
Formal

Tuesday
Grand Cayman
Casual

Wednesday
Cozumel
Pirate Theme

Thursday
Day at Sea
Semi-Formal

Friday
Castaway Cay
Casual


sorry there is no way to make columns i don't think. here's the page it's on for easier looking

so the rotations are:

APL
PLA
PAL

A - Animator's Palate; P - Parrot Cay; L - Lumiere's; the rotation repeats so you will be at your first restaruant for the last night and disembarktion day breakfast. (APLAPLA for example)

your character breakfast is deteremined by your first night resturant.

P - Sunday
L - Monday
A - Thursday

some folks care and some folks don't. i happen to be in the 'care' category but i'd never let it ruin my day. and yes, you just call DCL and request a rotation, but it's not guaranteed. You can check it upon boarding and try to have it switched. I requested APL to put us in Lumiere's for the semi and formal night, Parrot Cay for Pirate night, and Thursday character breakfast.

are you are right, the times are staggered based on the rotation -- this is what i found on the main forum, i haven't confirmed with my old navigators

5:30 APLAPLA
5:45 PLAPLAP
6:00 LAPLAPL

8:00 PLAPLAP
8:15 APLAPLA
8:30 LAPLAPL

 

[Corryn]

Molli, I think everyone that posts here cares I care

Okay, was a DIS meet scheduled?

Like someone posted before, the meet during the deck party wouldn't be such a great time. Last time we cruised, we missed a big part of the deck party because we had a private party in the Cadillac Lounge - so this time we're going to whoop it up on Deck 10
And I'm bringing a Bubble Gun!!!!!

I was thinking and I was hoping that there'll be a DIS'er at the park or one of the restaurants on the canal in Port while we're sailing by taking photos of us...I would love a photo of us on the ship with all the streamers and such surrounding us! I'll post my "request" before we leave.

I just signed the kids up for the Wild Side excursion on CC.

53 Days until we board our flight!!!!

And keep those family photos coming...I think I know most of your names and faces by now!

 

[alikat99]

I've been onboard when they did the onboard DISmeet at 3pm on deck 10, so that it's before the lifeboat drill & sailaway party, but after everyone had lunch, etc. Timewise, I think it's a good time. But, I did see a post on the main boards that if it's a hot day (which it usually is in late April here in central FL) then we can bake out there. We could bring the DISmeet indoors to maybe the Promenade Lounge on dec 3, that way there are places to sit and we're in the AC. Just a thought!

 

[trings]

Hi everyone, signing on for my first time! Not sure what to say!

We are the party traveling with Bryantyme. This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise

There is me, DH (41), DS (12) and DS (9)

Just can't wait!

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

I'm trying to post a couple photos with the wonderful help of the previous tutorial, so I guess we'll see how well I follow directions...

This is our family picture for Christmas cards in 2005 (I know it's old, but DH & I haven't changed much, except his goatee is alot longer.

This was our 2006 Christmas card with just the boys...getting all grown up.

So that's us (hopefully)! I will probably submit my info for the list of everyone, but some of it has not been decided yet (Fri hotel, transportation to port, etc.). Plus, I can't open spreadsheets on this computer for some reason, so I wouldn't be able to "get to know" everyone. Maybe I can figure it all out soon.

Val

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

I don't know why they turned out so BIG! I'm sure you were all wanting extreme closeups of us!

 

[alikat99]

They look GREAT, Val!!! It's nice to put a picture with a name and your boys are adorable!!! How old are they again???

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

They look GREAT, Val!!! It's nice to put a picture with a name and your boys are adorable!!! How old are they again???

Just like my "name" says, Hudson is 5 and Lennon is 3! I believe your girls are around the same ages, aren't they?

Val

 

[alikat99]

Just like my "name" says, Hudson is 5 and Lennon is 3! I believe your girls are around the same ages, aren't they?

Val

Well, there ya go, I didn't realize that was your userid was your son's names/ages. And yes, Emily is 5 and Madison will turn 3 on the day of debarkation.

 

[Corryn]

Hi Val
Those are great photos!
Trings, we have kids your kids' age that are coming with us.

As for the DIS meet, I think the Promenade Lounge is a good idea

And for those who don't have Microsoft Office to open a spread sheet, I use something that is just the same as Office, but it's called Open Office and it's Free Free Free go to OpenOffice.org. There's a whole bundle of different software. There's one that's just like Power Point, too. My girls need the power point at home to do school projects.

But I'm sorry, I'm not going to be wearing a DIS green shirt but I'll have my DIS button!

 

[dvc2themax]

I looked for the lime green shirts, but could not find. So I will be wearing something DISNEY of course, and seeing pictures of people, will be of great value to find and start the group going.

Anyone know more they can share about the RAINFOREST room and what it is?

Almost to the 50 day mark for the cruise, and even closer for those that are going down earlier!

Have a great day

 

[alikat99]

We'll probably wear our lime green Disney shirts from Disney Shopping.com from last year. So, I'm sure that we won't be missed!!!

 

[curlybop]

We'll also be wearing our lime green Disney shirts. Those things are pretty bright, so you can't miss us either.

I'm still planning excursions for Cozumel. I looked at the Disney site, got a few ideas, but nothing definite just yet. Hmmmm........decisions, decisions. DH says it doesn't matter to me, if I plan it he will go. He's so well trained.

Anyone planning on sending a box down the week we cruise? I have thought about it, for some of DD's princess dress up stuff, things like water shoes, and small items throughout the week. Then part of me freaks out & wonders "what if it got lost or didn't get on the ship?" There are quite a few things I could box up & live without if it didn't make it - except those dresses, since I know if DD saw one other girl with hers on & she didn't have any, we'd have a meltdown on our hands. I'd rather avoid that, and avoid paying tons for any on the ship.

 

[alikat99]

Hey, I'll put this out there for anyone that is interested. We live in central FL, and we'll be driving over and have an SUV, so space is not an issue. So, if anyone wants to send anything down early, I can either give it to you at WDW on the Friday before (if you're there) or we're staying at the Embassy Suites near the airport on Friday night or at the port before checking in or just check it with our stuff and give it to you onboard. If anyone is interested, send me a PM and I can give you our address.