August 12, 2007 Wonder??? Anyone else booked yet??

[Big Willie]

Our group isn't as large as last time but there will be seven of us. You'll have no trouble finding us. We will be the family in matching outfits (yes, all four days)

Day #1 - Red Hawaiian Shirts
(Dinner - Ginger Tapa)
Day #2 - Red Disney Polos
(Dinner - Bali Floral)
Day #3 - Gold Tropical Outfits
(Dinner - Formal)
Day #4 - Virginia Is For Lovers Shirts
(Dinner - Purple Floral Shirts)


The Gang
DH - Me (retired US Navy - 23 years submarine force)
DW - Scrapbooking Guru, loves fishing
DD - 4 year old, soccer loving, Goofy crazed
My Sister - College Professor who lets her hair down
Sister's Husband - Easy going, loves fishing
Sister's Son - 13 year old, avid sportsman (baseball, football, basketball)
Sister's Daughter - 9 year old, soccer & track star, "Miss Personality"

The Trip
4 nights at Carribean Beach Resorts (Our first time on-site)
4 nights on Wonder
3 nights at Ron Jon Resorts (absolutely the "BEST")

See you onboard. Any one care to "challenge" us with matching outfits?

 

[goofy4tink]

Hey, how great is that?? No way can I get my dh into matching shirts of any kind, much less florals!!! But, I'm sure we'll be running into you guys. And a first stay on-site at WDW...that's very exciting. We check-in at BW on Aug 5. Only 4 months to go now!!

 

[NowaSki]

I guess there are two threads for the same cruise: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1203128

I had posted to the other thread several months ago.

We will be on the cruise celebrating my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. There will be 18 of us, my parents, us and our three kids (DD6, DS9, DS11), my three older brothers (two with their wives, one can’t make it), their kids (one niece is 5, the other nieces and nephews are in their early 20’s).

Thirteen of us will be in WDW for the week prior to the cruise; the rest (mainly the older nieces and nephews) will be meeting up with us the night before the cruise.

Still, can’t decide on excursions in Nassau Most of the group plan to take taxis to Atlantis and hit the casinos. I am thinking about doing the Blackbeard’s Cay Stingray excursion. We did the Dolphin encounter in Cozumel in ’05, and we did the Atlantis Beach Day in ’03. My oldest son wants to go to a beach, my wife would like to stay on the boat and enjoy the pools without the crowds.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hi Mark...I'm with your wife on staying onboard and enjoying the pools. I think we're going to just take a brief walk around Nassau..perhaps do the Pirate Museum. But, then it's back to the ship for some relaxation.
Sounds like you have a terrific group going. Here's hoping we get some more DISers going.

 

[Parkranger]

HI Mark,

We are also going with a semi large group. 6 adults and 6 kids (12,10,9,9,6,4). This will be our first trip to FL and our first cruise. We will be at WDW the first 3 days. I have decided to do the dolphin excursion with my 2 daughters and my 2 nephews. My husband will spend time with his 2brothers, mom, and other niece and nephew on the beach or boat.

Castaway Cay we are going to do the banana boats then just enjoy on our own.

Congradulations to your mom and dad on 50 years. My parents had 38 before my father passed away and his parents had 70 years together.

Have a great time.
Kate

 

[NowaSki]

I went on the bananna boat ride back in '03 with my brother, father, and two nephews. I was sitting up front and at one point ended up with my feet in the air and my head nearly in the water still holding on . My brother was able to grab the back of my vest and pull me up right . It was a lot of fun!!! And, no one fell off and that is the goal!!! The front and the back seem to get the most bounce.

My dad wants to rent bikes and tour the island so we will be doing that. We also plan on doing some snorkling. It's a great place for beginners and kids to snorkle. I recommend doing the snorkling as early as possible. Later in the afternoon with everyone in the water kicking up the sand, the water is not as clear.

 

[goofy4tink]

I went on the bananna boat ride back in '03 with my brother, father, and two nephews. I was sitting up front and at one point ended up with my feet in the air and my head nearly in the water still holding on . My brother was able to grab the back of my vest and pull me up right . It was a lot of fun!!! And, no one fell off and that is the goal!!! The front and the back seem to get the most bounce.

My dad wants to rent bikes and tour the island so we will be doing that. We also plan on doing some snorkling. It's a great place for beginners and kids to snorkle. I recommend doing the snorkling as early as possible. Later in the afternoon with everyone in the water kicking up the sand, the water is not as clear.

Thanks for the insights!! We're thinking of snorkling while at CC...dd, 13, has never done it before and neither have I. How sanitary is it to use the equip they rent out?? I know, I know...I sound like a Lysol spraying mom, but heck, that snorkle goes in your mouth!!! Would we be better off buying our own stuff before we board the ship?? We're spending a few days in Cocoa Beach beforehand so we'll have the time.

 

[NowaSki]

Thanks for the insights!! We're thinking of snorkling while at CC...dd, 13, has never done it before and neither have I. How sanitary is it to use the equip they rent out?? I know, I know...I sound like a Lysol spraying mom, but heck, that snorkle goes in your mouth!!! Would we be better off buying our own stuff before we board the ship?? We're spending a few days in Cocoa Beach beforehand so we'll have the time.

We found the equipment to be sanitary. When you return the equipment, they have three huge tubs full of some kind of cleaning/sanitizing solution, there are several CM's there, and they take the equipment and submerge it into the solution before it gets stored away. I forget what the price was to rent, but I've read here on the boards, several people say it is cheaper to buy a basic snorkle set. You are still required to wear one of the vest, which DCL will provide for free if you use your own equipement. The one downside is that you have to have room in your luggage for the equipment.

 

[bluehorizonlover]

We will be joining you also. Never been on these boards before but started a thread on cruisecritic dot com and didn't get any takers so thought I would try these boards and sure enough here you all are.

I will be making my 16th cruise, but first on Disney, Aug 12 for 4 nights. I will be traveling with my DH and twin sons who will have just turned 17. I will be celebrating my birthday on board. Should be alot of fun.

Any past Disney cruisers can you fill us in. I heard soda is free. Don't need to buy soda cards.

 

[bluehorizonlover]

We are flying to Orlando on Aug 11. Staying in a hotel close to the port. After the cruise we are driving to Royal Pacific at Universal and visiting Universal for 2 days before coming home. Last summer we did Disney for the entire week so this year we decided to give Universal a try and a Disney cruise too. Should be a really fun filled week.

 

[goofy4tink]

Welcome bluehorizonlover!! Glad you found us. There seem to be more DISers going now!!! This is our first cruise.....dh really wanted to see what all the fuss was about, so we opted for a 4 night cruise after some WDW time. Nice to see some other kids going. Sure do wish I could find a 13-15 y/o girl to hang with my dd though. Perhaps she'll find someone when she gets onboard.
See you all there....only a bit more than 2 months left to go!!!!

 

[bluehorizonlover]

You will be hooked after your first cruise. I got hooked on cruising when my twins were 9 years old. That was 8 years ago. I think my kids had more fun cruising when they were little. They loved all the activities in the kids program and couldnt wait to go there each day. Now that they are older it is hit or miss whether they will find friends and have a good time. But my husband and I have fun every time. We love the ports, swimming in the ocean, going to the shows, eating really nice dinners. Whenever I enter my cabin for the first time I say "I am home again" I just love everything about cruising. This cruise will definitely be tooooo short. And Disney charges so much money for such a short cruise. We are paying double what we would pay for another cruise line. Crazy. But they charge it and they get it too. So I am sure it will be great!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay, I admit it...I was up at 3:00 am to make brunch reservations!! So, have any of you guys made any shore excursion reservations or Palo reservations?? Just curious where we may run into each other!!!

 

[bluehorizonlover]

Not going to do the alternate dining. We like to dine with our kids. See them so rarely now that they are older. It is a treat to all eat together..

Just going to enjoy the warm waters of the ocean at all the stops. After going on so many cruises we don't like to spend all our money on the shore excursions.

This will be my 16th cruise. First on Disney.

 

[goofy4tink]

Sounds good. Dd is now almost 14 so actually wants some time alone!!! Poor thing..has to be seen with her parents from time to time. But, we will be eating meals with her, whether she likes it or not. We'll eat(well, dd will eat, dh and I will have a salad/soda) at Parrot Cay for the early seating on our first night, then dh and I will head to Palo for more elegant eating. Dd can't wait to get to one of the shows that night!!!

 

[bluehorizonlover]

Goofy -

You didn't really wake up early on May 29 when Disney opened up the alternative dining did you. Were you trying for the brunch which seems to be already filled up? When I saw that all the reservations were taken already for the brunch I was shocked. What is so special about the brunch that it was already booked on May 30. Food is food. I never saw such a thing. I don't get it. Can you fill me in? Is it becuz the people can put their kids in babysitting and then go to brunch kidless? I could do that anyway. I never see my kids all day until dinner as it is. The buffet breakfasts are very nice. There isn't any food that I could be craving. What is so special about that brunch? Now they got me wondering.

Also why is Palos so special? Cause you can have a special dinner without the kids? My travel agent told me Disney has fantastic food so I am assuming that will be in the regular dining rooms too.

Don't go crazy on the shore excursions. The best part of the shore excursions is getting back to the ship. LOL. Blue

 

[bluehorizonlover]

Goofy when we get closer to cruising everyone could email me and I can put together a room number list and we can make a time to meet on board too if anyone is interested. my email is my member name at yahoo dot com.

 

[goofy4tink]

Goofy -

You didn't really wake up early on May 29 when Disney opened up the alternative dining did you. Were you trying for the brunch which seems to be already filled up? When I saw that all the reservations were taken already for the brunch I was shocked. What is so special about the brunch that it was already booked on May 30. Food is food. I never saw such a thing. I don't get it. Can you fill me in? Is it becuz the people can put their kids in babysitting and then go to brunch kidless? I could do that anyway. I never see my kids all day until dinner as it is. The buffet breakfasts are very nice. There isn't any food that I could be craving. What is so special about that brunch? Now they got me wondering.

Also why is Palos so special? Cause you can have a special dinner without the kids? My travel agent told me Disney has fantastic food so I am assuming that will be in the regular dining rooms too.

Don't go crazy on the shore excursions. The best part of the shore excursions is getting back to the ship. LOL. Blue

This being my first cruise ever, I an tending to go 'overboard' (excuse the pun!) just to be sure everything is in place. So...I can't give you any first hand Palo advice, but from what I understand, it is an incredible dining experience. Children are not allowed to dine there, so that's a huge plus for me. don't get me wrong...I love kids. I have three of my own. But it will be nice to have a meal or two with no kids running all over the place. Food quality? Palo has quite the reputation. Very, very good stuff. Since the brunch covers only an hour and a half, it seems to book quite quickly. Add that to it's only being offered once on the four day cruise and you have a very limited capacity. At least dinner is every night, and spread out over the evening as far as seatings go.

So, yes, I did get up early in order to get on-line and book Palo. I really wanted brunch, but when I went back on-line later that morning and saw dinner was still open, I figured I would take that too. My dd is thrilled about being able to head off on her own while dh and I eat with the grown-ups.

As far as shore excursions go...nothing is booked for Nassau..we're just getting off the boat early, and then walking for a bit through Nassau. Probably head out towards the Pirate Museum and walk for about 2 hrs. Visit the Straw Market and buy a thing or two. Then, back to the ship for a late lunch.
In CC we booked The Wild Side for dd, just in case she meets some new friends and wants to hang out with them. Dh and I are doing the Extreme Getaway package with bikes, floats, snorkle and sting rays. And the banana boat for all three of us. We're not apt to just sit on the beach for the whole day so need something to break it up a bit.

We'll be in touch as we get closer to our date. We leave for Florida on the 5th for some fun at WDW before the cruise. This vacation is covering two weeks, so it should be interesting to see how we all fare.

 

[bluehorizonlover]

goofy -

Is there an extra charge for the Palao dining experience? Blue

 

[NowaSki]

Looks like we won't be doing any excursions in Nassau. Going to take advantage of a (hopefully) very empty ship. Most of the adults in our Group plan to grab a cab over to Atlantis for the Casino.

In CC some of plan on renting Bikes. Also plan on doing some snorkling, but looking into buy our own gear so the kids can practice in the pool before we go.


Blue - Yes there is an extra charge for Palo's but I don't know how much it is. We've never gone to Palo's, maybe next time.