April 29, 2012 ~ Aloha! ~ Inagural Wonder to Hawaii-Part 3

[BoosGram]

We used the DCL transfers from DLH to the port in April for the Repo cruise to Vancouver and it was $30 per person. I'm not sure if round trip is cheaper than the one-way transfer we did.

I don't think round-trip is any cheaper.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Our bus pick up time was 12 noon. Our bus did not pick up from any other resort, as soon as the 20 or so people boarded, we were off o the port. We left just after noon and we got to the port at 12:40.

Forgot to add: DCL picked our luggage up from our room at 8 am....and delivered it to the ship. It was nice to only have to worry about our carry on for the bus and port.

 

[jdb in AZ]

DH and I took a small plane ride over the volcano on Hilo. We looked down into the crater and saw the lava bubbling.

On Kauai we took a helicopter tour. So many movies have been filmed on Kauai, and of course the pilots know what movie was filmed where. Also on Kauai we "tubed the ditch." This is basically floating on an inner tube along a canal that was used to irrigate a sugar cane plantation. The canal flows through caves so everyone wears a pith helmet with a miner's light on it. The sides of the caves are lava rock and rough, so everyone wears gloves. (equipment is provided by the company running the excursion.)

On Oahu we'd like to go back to Pearl Harbor. Maui has the road to Hana. So many shore excursions, so little time. We've rented cars in the past but it takes awhile to go get them from the rental agency, so we'll probably stay with the DCL shore excursions, assuming they have what we're looking for and aren't outrageously pricey.

 

[debg]

Our bus pick up time was 12 noon. Our bus did not pick up from any other resort, as soon as the 20 or so people boarded, we were off o the port. We left just after noon and we got to the port at 12:40.

Forgot to add: DCL picked our luggage up from our room at 8 am....and delivered it to the ship. It was nice to only have to worry about our carry on for the bus and port.

Thank you for answering so quickly - maybe DH and I will be able to get this one decided and checked off the list tonight! And I'd completely forgotten that if we book through DCL that they'll be dealing with the luggage, rather than us! That's a definite perk.

The one and only question is, will we be able to book a 2nd Palo brunch if we arrive at the port this late? That's the only sticking point - every single reason points to doing the DCL transpo, except for getting in the Palo line way too late.

Anyway, thanks again for your quick response. The more I check off the list, the more excited I get!

debg

 

[BoosGram]

Thank you for answering so quickly - maybe DH and I will be able to get this one decided and checked off the list tonight! And I'd completely forgotten that if we book through DCL that they'll be dealing with the luggage, rather than us! That's a definite perk.

The one and only question is, will we be able to book a 2nd Palo brunch if we arrive at the port this late? That's the only sticking point - every single reason points to doing the DCL transpo, except for getting in the Palo line way too late.

Anyway, thanks again for your quick response. The more I check off the list, the more excited I get!

debg

We also want to book a second Palo brunch. I'm hoping that with so many sea days, we'll be able to score one. I guess we'll see.

 

[Pixiegran]

We also want to book a second Palo brunch. I'm hoping that with so many sea days, we'll be able to score one. I guess we'll see.

Others have mentioned booking a second Palo brunch also ...does this mean some of you already have booked a first one?

 

[LindaBabe]

Others have mentioned booking a second Palo brunch also ...does this mean some of you already have booked a first one?

No. It means they're planning to book one when their booking window opens. However, the system won't allow prebooking two.

 

[dolphingirl47]

Do you remember about what time DCL picked you up? We're at VGC the night before this cruise and though DCL would make things very easy, we may need to take a private service if the port arrival is later than what we'd like. I'm making an assumption, of course, that the pickup time for this Hawaii cruise would be comparable to what yours was in April.

Thanks so much!

debg

We did DCL transfers from Grand Californian on October 2nd. One coach picked up from all three Disney resorts that time and we were the last pick up, which was at 12:20. When we got to the terminal, there was no lines at all and once we were checked in we walked straight on board.

Corinna

 

[debg]

We did DCL transfers from Grand Californian on October 2nd. One coach picked up from all three Disney resorts that time and we were the last pick up, which was at 12:20. When we got to the terminal, there was no lines at all and once we were checked in we walked straight on board.

Corinna

Thanks, Corinna. This sounds perfect. We've decided that a nice leisurely wake up and breakfast trump the need to be lined up first thing. If we get the 2nd brunch that will be wonderful, but the non-stress of using DCL transpo really can't be beat.

Now to figure out where and what to eat b/fast that morning.

debg

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Deb, the Rainforest Cafe in DTD has a great breakfast and reasonably priced....we ate there most mornings on our last trip to DL.

 

[seaulater]

We are on Oahu on Sunday, but they were talking about a luau (preferred by some who have been there) on Maui on Saturday they were looking into.

I would have to do some research, but our last cruise to the islands where ever we were on Saturday there were a couple of popular tourists attractions closed. Saturday apparently was a day of worship for whatever religion the owners practiced.
We were really surprised by a Saturday closure especially when there was more than one cruise ship docked.

We owned a condo on Maui at the Marriott and Maui is a timeshare haven. Most people check in and check out on Saturdays because they catch the night flight back to the mainland to arrive home on Sunday. That may be part of the reason.

I have been to the luau on Maui. It is awesome. RIght next to Lahaina. However, I think I'll spend my late afternoon/evening in Lahaina hitting Cheeseburger in Paradise or Bubba Gumps and watching the sun set before heading back for the 45 minute drive to the ship.

 

[gydell]

Do you mind sharing what tours/companies you booked. I am just starting to make some plane for shore excursions on our own.

I am using Safari Helicopters in Hilo. I have done this tour before and really enjoyed it. In Kauai I am using Wings Over Kauai. I have done this tour by helicopter but thought we might like to try it a little different. The plane seats six but they are letting us have the plane to ourself without paying any extra which I really like. Also everyone has their own window.

 

[seaulater]

DH and I took a small plane ride over the volcano on Hilo. We looked down into the crater and saw the lava bubbling.

On Kauai we took a helicopter tour. So many movies have been filmed on Kauai, and of course the pilots know what movie was filmed where. Also on Kauai we "tubed the ditch." This is basically floating on an inner tube along a canal that was used to irrigate a sugar cane plantation. The canal flows through caves so everyone wears a pith helmet with a miner's light on it. The sides of the caves are lava rock and rough, so everyone wears gloves. (equipment is provided by the company running the excursion.)

On Oahu we'd like to go back to Pearl Harbor. Maui has the road to Hana. So many shore excursions, so little time. We've rented cars in the past but it takes awhile to go get them from the rental agency, so we'll probably stay with the DCL shore excursions, assuming they have what we're looking for and aren't outrageously pricey.

I loved Tubing the Ditch in Kauai. It was a blast!

 

[debg]

Deb, the Rainforest Cafe in DTD has a great breakfast and reasonably priced....we ate there most mornings on our last trip to DL.

Brilliant! Rainforest Cafe it is! That's one more thing checked off the list. Thanks!

Next up to decide - where to have dinner on the 28th, which days for Palo brunch(es) and Palo dinners, and excursions. And maybe I shouldn't even bother setting up the Palo dinners in advance - will we know ahead of time which evenings are formal, semi-formal, and Pirate?

debg

 

[Pixiegran]

Brilliant! Rainforest Cafe it is! That's one more thing checked off the list. Thanks!

Next up to decide - where to have dinner on the 28th, which days for Palo brunch(es) and Palo dinners, and excursions. And maybe I shouldn't even bother setting up the Palo dinners in advance - will we know ahead of time which evenings are formal, semi-formal, and Pirate?

debg

We have eaten at all the Downtown Disney restaurants at one time or another. The food is good at all of them. A few we "always" try to hit even on a short trip are
-Naples Risortante - really good Italian, fun but relaxing if you can get outside table, inside noisy
-Ralph Brennan's - incredible southern food..we tend to eat a early dinner/late lunch time there so it is a little cheaper and snack later at night. The prices are a little higher than most but we are southerners who live in Seattle and the opportunity to eat #1 quality southern can't be passed up! (House of Blues also does southern in a very spicy non traditional way...it's good but not where I would eat the night before going to sea
-ESPN actually has a fun menu and the burgers and meat selections we have had have been really good. We love a really top of the line burger and salads were really good.
-Rainforest cafe has a fun menu also and not just a good breakfast place, but we have one locally so only go there if we are meeting others who have never been to one .
-there is a Mexican restaurant also that everyone says is good but we have never gone to...we save Mexican for inside Disneyland when we need to eat in the park.
Really the dining selections are so varied we usually go and read all the menus posted outside and decide what really just sounds good that night. We only pre-plan for Brennan's since we leave the park mid day to eat there.
Hope this gives you an idea of some of what is available.

 

[mommacat56]

Everyone going to VGC after the cruise have you made transportation arrangements yet?

Sounds like there is at least 20 of us or maybe more? 3 of us here.

We are staying at the VGC for two nights afterward (3 of us) and haven't yet made our transfers from the port. We were thinking of doing the DCL transfers, but if anyone has a group going, we would definitely like to join in!

 

[Happy Goofy]

First of all I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. A simple surgery turned into more than I expected. I was in the Hospital for 10 days and am now home. I am still very weak but glad to be here. My daughter has been keeping me up to date. At this point we booked DCL transfers from hotel to ship and vice versa. We would like to stay at Paradise pier April 26 AND 27 AND MAY 15 AND 16. I know I will not be able to lug suitcases around so this I hope will work out. Let me know if you get a group rate from them.

 

[granmaz]

So pleased you are home and I hope you can recuperate and get fully well quickly.

 

[ibouncetoo]

First of all I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. A simple surgery turned into more than I expected. I was in the Hospital for 10 days and am now home. I am still very weak but glad to be here. My daughter has been keeping me up to date. At this point we booked DCL transfers from hotel to ship and vice versa. We would like to stay at Paradise pier April 26 AND 27 AND MAY 15 AND 16. I know I will not be able to lug suitcases around so this I hope will work out. Let me know if you get a group rate from them.

Glad to hear you are home and recuperating! It seems like for the last week, every time my computer switched to my wallpaper (which is photos) the picture of you and Clayton dancing would be the one to come up first! (That or on of the photos of Handsome Daniel )

.

 

[MousseauMob]

Is everyone that is booking VGC DVC members? I'm not a DVC member, so I don't know how this works, so any explanation of how this all works is greatly appreciated.

Happy Goofy, I'm glad you're home and can recover, best wishes.