April 8, 2006 Western Magic Cruise

[MNrae]

MNRae - from Minnesota (all 10 of us), early seating, first-time cruisers, myself & kids - never been to Disney World - plans to go right after the cruise

 

[UMTerp]

Hello everyone!

We are in cabin #2106 and have earling dining. We can make our ressies starting tomorrow!!! DH says he would rather not link dining. We will certainly meet up with everyone at other times though.

MNRae - We are interested in the Nativeway tour too. Do you want to try to get on the same boat?

Vavasmon - small world isn't it? Yes, Fairfax County spring break!

Anyone interested in an informal wine tasting on Monday or Thursday afternoon? Each couple brings a bottle of their favorite wine and we get some cheese trays/goodies and meet somewhere on deck? Let me know if you'd be interested.

Talk to you soon!

UMTerp

 

[windermerejudy]

Hi all! I am so excited tomorrow is the day. Hey it is actually almost midnight I wonder if we can do it then. I am just booking Palos and the spa. We have never stepped foot into the spa so I am looking forward to the first cruise with all kids clubbers. It might even be romantic?

Where is everyone?

It is so cold here this weekend!!!!! Alright it IS all relative. I know all of you who actually have winters are laughing, but for Florida ----ITS COLD. Low around 32-35. Highs today in the 50s. Sure would not want to be on CC.I bet the Mickey pool was empty today.

Have a great weekend.
Judy

 

[UMTerp]

Got my ressies for Palo! Hope everyone else got what they wanted!

Judy - we heard about the cold down there! My BIL and family are in Orlando now and I'm sure they are freezing too! I think it's going to be warmer here in VA today!

Have a great day!

UMTerp

 

[windermerejudy]

Hi guys---WOW what a hard decision not knowing when the character breakfast is and rotation. I always seem to mess it up somehow!!!!! I booked Palos for dinner on the KW night. My logic was that we would have plenty of time to get ready and that it would be rotational dining menus. I booked Brunch on the last sea dayThurs. due to feeling like by that time the character breakfasts should all be done. You will go to character breakfast the morning after you dine in Parrot Cay. And since you do not know that until you get to your room---it invariably happens that I place Palos brunch on the morning of the character breakfast. Besides by the time Thurs rolls around I am usually hungry for an outstanding brunch. I was able to get 2 spa treatments. Got all 3 of the kids registered for kids club....WHEW

FYI--there were tons of times open. Never had choices so vast.

So since most of you guys are new--any questions? I guess you have figured out that just about the time we get it straight in all of our DIS minds they go and change things like menus, shows, staggered dining times, which night is which....It was really interesting last summer because every cruise seemed to be different on themes. Maybe they were trying things out to see which worked best.????

I would love to do the wine tasting. How do we get it onboard or do we purchase onboard? We have spa times at 3:15- 5 on both sea days but any other time is great.

Well the DIS shop person has not returned my calls. I am going to find out about buttons. If not I will make them. We designed tshirts in June and did the iron transfer paper and I would not recommend it. When washed it began to peel. I ended up throwing them away.

Pocono where are you? I hope you are ok.

 

[Vavasmon]

Congrats on getting your reservations.

I need to call DCL in the am and get my club number (we just sailed the first time). I am debating when to book Palos - We did not eat there in Dec.


Our DD does not want to eat in the club so that presents a scheduling challange. I know in Dec that a 10 and 12 year old at the table beside us ate at Parrot Cay while Mom and Dad ate at Palos - I just don't know.

We also still can't decide about excursions - need to do a little more research.

 

[polly p]

Hi everyone

We get to start booking Jan.23. One cabin already paid in full, one to go.

I also would like to do the wine tasting. We do a lot of wine tours around the finger lakes and always have fun. It would be nice to do wine tasting other than NYS wines.

April will be here before we before we know it. Everyone in my house is so excited!!!!!!

Lori

 

[windermerejudy]

Vavasmon--what about room service or quick deck food that night? I actually prefer brunch BY FAR!!!! My best advice is go for brunch if you can't work it out. If they can get a snack early in the evening--they usually have late night pizza parties with the older kids.

 

[UMTerp]

Hi everyone!

We bring our own wine with us in a carry on rolling suitcase (small one).
We put it in the fridge about a day before we want to drink it (if it's a white wine). You can get wine glasses from any of the bars or room service. We also bring our own corkscrew but I've heard that DCL will give you one if you need one. We have Palo brunch on Thursday but it's at 11:00. Once everyone else makes their ressies we can pick a time for an informal wine tasting!

Judy - I know what you mean about Palo ressies! I made our dinner one for Tuesday night not thinking that we wouldn't have been to that restaurant before and the kids are going to have to find their way to the table by themselves! It will be OK. After four cruises, they pretty much know their way around!

Vavasmon - Our kids eat at the restaurant by themselves. The servers will take good care of them! Room service, Plutos, Topsiders, etc. are all good options. I second Judy's advice to at least go for brunch! It is wonderful!

At least we are doing the double-digit dance!

UMTerp

 

[windermerejudy]

Hi, just had a hard time trying to find us so I am bumping.

 

[UMTerp]

OK Judy - you caught me! Didn't even think to ask the "local connection"!

Anyone else planning to go to Kennedy Space Center the day before the cruise?

Where's everyone staying the night before? I'm thinking of staying someplace other than the Radison.

UMTerp

 

[MNrae]

Judy, I just realized our cabins are near you. We are in 6558, 6560, & 6562. Maybe you can share some WDW insider tips while we're on board. I've never been and we're headed there for 2 days after.

UMTerp, I've already signed up for Native Way. I've heard back from them when I requested information but not after I requested reservations. I'll have to wait and see. I heard from other threads that people have had difficulty getting a hold of them.

We also reserved space in Coz thru Cozumel Homes for the Dune Buggy excursion.

If it works, I'm up for the wine tasting.

 

[windermerejudy]

MN Rae,
Where are you going to stay while you are here. One of my favorite restaurants but very hard to get into is Ohanas in the Poly. Call early for ressies. Lots of local favorites away from the parks too. Remember don't do MK on Mondays as that is their busiest weekday. Epcots is Tuesday. Go when the gates open then leave in the middle of the day to refresh while the park is crowded and come back when crowds clear. .....More to come

We need Melora, Red Terp and lil1062 if you are out there somewhere to let us know if you are still cruising.

Updated:!st timers in Blue
windermerejudy (Florida) Judy, DH Dale, DS9 Drew, DS6 Dane, DD3 Blake Elllise, Judy's mom Jeanne Early 6540/6541
our friends (Florida) Melinda, DH Kurt, DS9 Grey, DD6 Kenna EArly ????
UM Terp (Virginia) DW, DH, DS11, DD8 Early 2106
Poconoboatniks (Pennsylvania) DW, DH Bob, DD11, DS8, MIL, FIL,SIL, BIL, Cousin 5
Vavasmon (Virginia) DW, DH, DD10 Late 6076
MNRae (Minnesota) DW, DH, DD7, DS7, MIL,FIL, BIL, SIL, Cousins 7, 4 Early 6558/6560/6562
Polly P (New York) Lori, DH, DD15, DS13, DD7
Loris neighbors (New York) DW, DH, DD14, DD13, DD6
Disney_mommy (Virginia) Self, Mom, Dad, DS7 Early


Boy today has flown!!! Today is my husband Dale's 44th Birthday so I am cooking a special favorite and making him clean the fish tank
Judy

 

[UMTerp]

Nothing new here, just giving us a bump back to page 1

UMTerp

 

[Vavasmon]

I booked Palo dinner ion the seciond night today. I wanted brunch on the sea day (day 6) but it was not offered as an option so I assume it is already full?

We are hoping for the APL rotation (same as the magic in Dec) that way we miss Parott Cay. We have decided the DD can eat in the dining room by herself (it is the second night so we will have met the servers). She is very excited about this idea. IOf we end up with another rotation I will try and switch when we board.

A couple of questions - does anyone know if they open more Palos slots at 75 days?

I am considering the Native Way Sting Ray and Island tour. I know UMTerp was talking about their RRR tour but I really want the island tour. I think this the same excursion offered by Disney but am hoping for a smaller group - does anyone have actual experice with the company or this tour. My other concern is that 8 are required for the excursion - we are only 3 - I assume they try and book others? Does anyone know what time we dock? I read 7:30 somewhere but not sure were anymore.

 

[polly p]

Hi everyone!

I thought I would do some surfing. I have to pull an all nighter. My DS is having an EEG in the morning and he needs to be sleep deprived for test. In other words they don't want him to sleep for 24 hours. I don't know if he's going to make it, or me. Right now he's watching movies. I told him later we can try on the suits I got him for the cruise to see if they need to be altered. Any way its going to be a long night. I'm on my second cup of coffee already and its not midnight yet.

wish me luck.

Lori

 

[windermerejudy]

Oh Lori, I feel for you. That must have been murder with a 7 yo. How did the rest of the night go? Since by now you had the scan--how did that go? I bet life at your house is going to be grumpy for a few days.

Vavasmon--I am not sure but I would think they do hold some but I KNOW for sure they hold some for the day of embarkation. I can't believe they were out. I would try back. As far as brunch goes, our cruise only has 2 sea days. I can see how thatwould fill up. Blake got sick this summer when our brunch time was, and they were very understanding and worked us in later. They keep a standby list going. Usually if you are flexible you wil get in.

Well we had applied to be a part of the tapings of the show --not the attraction--Who Wants To Be a Millionaire. They sent me an email to confirm that we were going to get tickets for tonight, but as of yesterdays mail we had not received them. They rarely tape here. Oh well!

Hey have you guys been into the thread about how kids clubs are not open now on the 1st night? Open house format only---no leaving your kids. Let me know what you think.

 

[UMTerp]

Home this afternoon. DS hurt his foot in PE. Had to go to the PDoc and xray. Looks like just a sprain!

Lori - Oh my! I hope you guys made it through the night without too much pain! I hope his scan went OK!

Judy - too bad about the show! That would have been fun!

No, I hadn't read about the kids club not open the first night! What's that all about? I'll have to go read that thread. I don't like that at all. That's when the kids start meeting up with other kids! I'll go add my two cents to the other thread.

I sent an e-mail to Native Way last night to try to reserve the Rays, Reef, and Rum tour. Looking forward to trying that one! MNrae - hopefully, we will be on the same boat! Let me know if you hear back from your ressie request so I'll know to look for mine too!

Vavasmon - I didn't see a minimum number to book a tour (I probably skimed right over that one!). I would send them an e-mail and see what they say.
Good luck!

Hope everyone has a great long weekend!

UMTerp

 

[poconoboatniks]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the private messages concerning my absence from the boards. DH is finally home from the hospital. Poor guy had not felt good since Dec 28th and ended up in the hospital last week and again this week. Thankfully, the doctor's think they have the problem licked and he's home from the hospital and will be out of work for one more week. I just want to know what the HR/Benefits people do in my husband's company? The whole process was confusing and frustrating. URGH!

In reading some of your posts, it looks like we missed making our Palo ressies and will have to make ressies once we're onboard.

Um sorry to hear about the PE accident. Kate broke both wrists this year in separate incidents YIKES! We are considering a trip to the space center on Friday before the cruise. We're staying at the Radisson.

Judy hopefully, you'll hear something from WWTBAM. BTW, we have early seating and I'll get our stateroom number to you for the list. Thanks for putting together the list.

Lori I hope the test went well.

Pocono

 

[polly p]

We survived our all nighter. My ds did great, but he dozed off occasionally. I slept from 3-5 when dh relieved me. The test went well much better than I anticipated. It only took about 1 hour. We won't get the test results until next week. Hopefully all is well.

I don't get to book until 1/23. This is our first time. My neighbor booked all her stuff though.

UMTerp- hope your ds is feeling better.

Poconoboatniks- I hope dh is on his way to recovery.

Off to cheerleading now

Lori