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

[Pixiegran]

We are PIF and looking forward to all the great adventures in April. Thank you to everybody that has shared information.

This trip will be me, my mom and my 9 year old son.

Only 115 days until we board!

Angel

Hi Angel, I think they will be able to tell those of us from Washington by our total lack of sun color . Are you driving to meet the ship or flying? My daughter (adult) and I are driving down from Seattle area. Look forward to meeting you onboard.

Judy

 

[SerbianPrincess]

I have to take a Vit D supplement due to our lack of sunshine, plus I pack SPF 50 so I do not look like a lobster by the end of the trip.

We are flying down from Portland on the 28th, it is a nice drive and lots to see on the way with Southern Oregon and San Francisco. It should be a fun drive

 

[MrsMork]

We are PIF and looking forward to all the great adventures in April. Thank you to everybody that has shared information.

This trip will be me, my mom and my 9 year old son.

Only 115 days until we board!

Angel

Glad you have joined the group here. We lived in Oregon near Portland for 21 years, have a sister in Vancouver, nephew in Battleground, so we know your neck of the woods well.

 

[Pixiegran]

I have to take a Vit D supplement due to our lack of sunshine, plus I pack SPF 50 so I do not look like a lobster by the end of the trip.

We are flying down from Portland on the 28th, it is a nice drive and lots to see on the way with Southern Oregon and San Francisco. It should be a fun drive

Ditto on the Vitamin D for both of us . We have made the drive many time and fortunately like it. Have restrictions on flying so it is the only way for us to go. But if you run out of sunblock we will have from 50-75 SPF in our cabin...plus daughter wears sun blocking clothes and if too hot will use umbrella..she actually is allergic to sun. But love to travel and see new things so really looking forward to seeing more of Hawaii - have only been there once before - on a cruise ship obviously - so still lots to see.

 

[aan1701]

May I ask....

Robin & Angel "D"

The Iao needle tour. The one you cant still book on line. When it comes to the dining, I think they are just going to split the Pirate Party (boring anyway) and the dinner because of the fact they never do the fireworks far from land and also I am sure there will be some type of special menus that are Hawaian themed.

 

[padalyn]

We found jeeps very expensive, unless you are planning some off road travel, you might just opt for small car, which are also expensive, but cheaper than jeeps!

Cayla - sounds like a great trip! We will give you a report of Aulani after we get back!

Thanks for the vehicle heads up - I am getting closer and closer to just ditching DCL and exploring stuff for my graduation trip...Lynn, this is a trip that is just in the planning stages - we will keep everyone posted. I saw some of Michael's pictures from the opening, I am sure there will be a few changes. Please, post photos on FB!!!

AW!!! That's the original pirate party....and we LOVE it! I love all the characters and all the music they do all the dancing to (Proud Mary by Tina Turner, Believe by Cher, Maniac from the Flashdance Soundtrack....and Holding out for a Hero as the music for the fireworks)----it's so uber-gay! LOL

I am hoping that's the pirate show we get on this cruise, as well. I know you didn't like it, and that's totally cool....but the pirate show on the new ships is even worse, I promise! LOL

Erik - I agree about Uber-Gay When Cathy and I were on the Dream in Nov the show was worse than I remembered from the Maiden - that one was truncated as I recall due to technical issues. In Nov, the crowd was pushy and it was difficult to get to the food inside because of bottlenecks in the entrance of Cabanas. The crew was working hard, the music was similar, but fireworks in the middle just felt wrong somehow. Unfortunately this was Cathy's FIRST pirate party and she was a little disappointed. it didn't help that almost no one was in costume. The crew seemed a little disappointed by that, since she and I were and got much attention because we stood out (even the bears were well loved!!) I have not told her how much better the classic show is, in fear they will change it

 

[castoff]

The Iao needle tour. The one you cant still book on line. When it comes to the dining, I think they are just going to split the Pirate Party (boring anyway) and the dinner because of the fact they never do the fireworks far from land and also I am sure there will be some type of special menus that are Hawaian themed.

This is the one I would like to do. I hope DCL will fix it on website before the 15th. If not I am looking for something else to do.

 

[Lexa]

I have a question...what is the latest to get off the ship on debarkation day. We don't fly that day, so we are not in a rush, but I need to get my ride from port to LAX hotel and they need to know when to pick us up.....

 

[SerbianPrincess]

Good Morning!

I have a question what is Wi-Fi like on the boat. I have a son who is home schooled so we will need to do home work while we are cruising and need a link to the outside world.

Thanks!

 

[BoosGram]

Good Morning!

I have a question what is Wi-Fi like on the boat. I have a son who is home schooled so we will need to do home work while we are cruising and need a link to the outside world.

Thanks!

I don't like being the bearer of bad news, and it's possible it will be different in the Pacific, but it was very slow and spotty between Europe and America.

 

[SerbianPrincess]

Darn, so much for school, I guess it will be a true vacation

Thanks!

 

[tig82174]

And here I thought DCL noticed that my birthday was on the 11th and that they were going to do fireworks that night in honor of ME!

Well if they HAVEN'T made those arrangements...let's get them on that ASAP! Call them and tell them it can be for your birthday and a late celebration of my wedding! LOL

Erik - I agree about Uber-Gay When Cathy and I were on the Dream in Nov the show was worse than I remembered from the Maiden - that one was truncated as I recall due to technical issues. In Nov, the crowd was pushy and it was difficult to get to the food inside because of bottlenecks in the entrance of Cabanas. The crew was working hard, the music was similar, but fireworks in the middle just felt wrong somehow. Unfortunately this was Cathy's FIRST pirate party and she was a little disappointed. it didn't help that almost no one was in costume. The crew seemed a little disappointed by that, since she and I were and got much attention because we stood out (even the bears were well loved!!) I have not told her how much better the classic show is, in fear they will change it

Yeah, I know some people hate the pirate party or are over it...but some people feel that way about Animator's Palate on the classic ships now, too....but not me! I love love LOVE the pirate party....I love dressing up...I love the soundtrack...I love dancing with the characters....I love the uber-gay music selection and dancing to the backstreet boys with the cruise director...and I love the fireworks! I, too, was horrified by the new pirate show on the Dream....I think I wrote about a page about it in my survey/eval and I saw several cast members I knew aboard the ship when we were there and saw it in December and I think my exact words were "What the hell was that?!?!" And they just laughed and rolled their eyes! Whatever, though, if pirate night does change it certainly won't ruin my cruise....how exactly do you ruin a 15-night honeymoon cruise on a Disney ship to Hawaii anyway?!?

Good Morning!

I have a question what is Wi-Fi like on the boat. I have a son who is home schooled so we will need to do home work while we are cruising and need a link to the outside world.

Thanks!

In a word: it's AWFUL. It's very very slow and intermittent at best...especially when you're out at sea. And the ship blocks many sites that use high bandwidth...so you cannot use any form of video or audio chat site like google+ or skype....it also blocks personal blogging sites (Jason and I always blog about our trips on our site...which is woefully behind right now cuz i'm so busy....but we can never do it on the ship...we have to find internet in the ports or we have to email our text and pics to a friend on land who does the posts for us). Also, while they say there's shipwide wi-fi...we've found there are definite hot spots....like on one cruise we found our internet only worked in the room if our door was propped open (our stateroom hostess actually gave us a doorstop for that purpose...but it limits privacy for sure)....or....wait for it....sitting on the toilet in the bathroom (I'm assuming because it was near the hallway) ....so, yes, on that cruise you could often find me sitting in the bathroom (not USING it, of course!!) typing and reading emails!

 

[SerbianPrincess]

LOL I can imagine the wi-fi and sitting anywhere to get a signal, not worth it. The trip will be an education he will not forget!

Thanks so much for the laugh!!

Angel

 

[Lexa]

Well if they HAVEN'T made those arrangements...let's get them on that ASAP! Call them and tell them it can be for your birthday and a late celebration of my wedding! LOL




Yeah, I know some people hate the pirate party or are over it...but some people feel that way about Animator's Palate on the classic ships now, too....but not me! I love love LOVE the pirate party....I love dressing up...I love the soundtrack...I love dancing with the characters....I love the uber-gay music selection and dancing to the backstreet boys with the cruise director...and I love the fireworks! I, too, was horrified by the new pirate show on the Dream....I think I wrote about a page about it in my survey/eval and I saw several cast members I knew aboard the ship when we were there and saw it in December and I think my exact words were "What the hell was that?!?!" And they just laughed and rolled their eyes! Whatever, though, if pirate night does change it certainly won't ruin my cruise....how exactly do you ruin a 15-night honeymoon cruise on a Disney ship to Hawaii anyway?!?



In a word: it's AWFUL. It's very very slow and intermittent at best...especially when you're out at sea. And the ship blocks many sites that use high bandwidth...so you cannot use any form of video or audio chat site like google+ or skype....it also blocks personal blogging sites (Jason and I always blog about our trips on our site...which is woefully behind right now cuz i'm so busy....but we can never do it on the ship...we have to find internet in the ports or we have to email our text and pics to a friend on land who does the posts for us). Also, while they say there's shipwide wi-fi...we've found there are definite hot spots....like on one cruise we found our internet only worked in the room if our door was propped open (our stateroom hostess actually gave us a doorstop for that purpose...but it limits privacy for sure)....or....wait for it....sitting on the toilet in the bathroom (I'm assuming because it was near the hallway) ....so, yes, on that cruise you could often find me sitting in the bathroom (not USING it, of course!!) typing and reading emails!

You were USING it...just not the way we would think

 

[tig82174]

You were USING it...just not the way we would think

true that....although ironically on that particular trip, that was the best use of the toilet in our cabin because we kept having mechanical problems and the toilet did not want to flush consistently confused....so for that trip it made a better internet chair than it did a "facility" anyway! LOL

....but that's enough potty talk....anyone who doesn't know me is going to think I'm the most vulgar creature...which I promise I'm not!

 

[Rat-a-too-ee]

Is anyone else completely dumbfounded about what to do in each port? I have no clue what I want to do right now, everything sounds great and I am sure there is no wrong choice.

Also, how long before DVC assigns cabins? Should I call them for my assignment or wait? Is there a chance I may luck out with a better cabin, and if so, is it better to wait for them to assign, or call in?

Thanks!

 

[MJGirl]

Hey folks!

... Once you have made your request for lanyards (even if you did so a long time ago), please visit the most up to date spreadsheet by clicking HERE. On that spreadsheet (which is in alphabetical order by DIS names), please double check to make sure that your info is correct and complete. Any revisions can be sent to me at the same email address (dcl.hawaii.lanyards@gmail.com).

Just a note to let you know that my information is all correct. Kirstyn and I are all paid up and waiting to book excursions... Now if we can just agree on which ones

 

[Happy Goofy]

Finally PIF!!!!!!!!!!!!. Now to wait till the 15th to book

 

[SerbianPrincess]

I have to wait until the 30th to sign up for excursions. Then in Honolulu we are renting a car so we can go to the Swap Meet at the stadium and see Pearl Harbor and maybe watch some surfers on Northshore, does anyone know how long we are in port on May 6th?

Thanks!

 

[Shananana]

I'm back from my birthday trip in the WORLD and we are PIF (wow! that was a lot of Disney $$$).

I will be back checking this thread weekly.

Hi all!