August 16, 2011, Disney Dream - Part 4

[uncw89]

FYI to anyone taking the shuttle from the Residence Inn....

I called this morning to ask about taking the shuttle from the hotel to port. The lady told me that DCL had told them they could not have shuttles leave their location until 11:15 and so their shuttle leaves at 11:15. She told me there are only 1 mile from port and it takes about 5 minutes.

I am a bit disappointed as I was hoping they would leave BY 11:00 (possibly at 10:45). I will now just hope that they are not running behind and leave later then 11:15 and that we get on the shuttle.

She also told me they only have one shuttle going to port and only at the 11:15 time and so I am going to be sure that my family is ready and there early to be sure we all get on (and all our luggage does as well).

Does anyone know how close the CI&S is to the Residence Inn in Cape Canaveral?

Right now we have reservations at the Residence Inn but when I check rates, the CI&S is cheaper right now.

I see you've already changed hotels! I don't blame you for trying to save money!!!

I just got off the phone w/ a lovely employee of CI&S (maybe Veronica or Victoria? Definitely started w/ a V).

Here is the skinny on their shuttle.

First off it is a BUS (holds >35 people)...so I am THRILLED about the booster seat issue being a non issue now (buses have their own built in safety systems and don't have seat belts...so no booster seats). Well worth the phone call just for that.

They have been instructed by DCL to not start their shuttles until 11am, which is when their first shuttle departs. Victoria/Veronica said I can call on the evening of the 14th to be put on the first shuttle list.

Upon check in we will receive more information as to what time to be in the lobby, etc... as well as any other special instructions.

Oh and Jen...she said they are a mile from the port.

I called and she told me the shuttle leave at 11 too!! I guess us Disers are calling them today!! I called after I read Jen's post and before I saw yours!!!! I should've checked on the rates to see if I could get a cheaper one!! Last year, we stayed here when we went on the Freedom. When we checked in and I asked if there was a cheaper rate and she said yes and adjusted my rate!!! I was happy. I think that happened in 2009 at the Residence Inn too!

Country Inn and Suites-They also have a free hot breakfast (and I believe make your own waffles). Refrigerators in the room. If you book the Kid's Suite it's in it's own sectioned off area (curtain divider) but there is a bunk bed and twin bed (3 extra beds) so the kids don't have to share a bed. The shuttle driver was very nice there, even drove us to Kelseys and gave us his card to pick us up again. My rate is $90.75 (they had a 48 hour sale) but it's sometimes even less if you prepay (kids suite). No problem joining the gang next door at RI. One downside is CI&S pool is very small (and no pool bar) They are the closest hotel to the port.

You got a great rate!!!

Now she will have to eat breakfast with me LOL!!!

and me!

Breakfast party at CIS!!

And me!!! Woohoo breakfast party!!! It's going to be Dis packed shuttle ride!

There is a thread asking any 8/2 cruisers that used the CI&S shuttle to post an update regarding their experience.

There aren't any replies yet, but that isn't surprising seeing as they are all out at sea at the moment!

I was thinking the same thing!!

 

[disfaninca]

Now she will have to eat breakfast with me LOL!!!

I knew you would be happy about it!! LOL

 

[elgerber]

I knew you would be happy about it!! LOL

You can come eat breakfast with us too!!! Kristin might not be happy with us though . We will have to have a drink/water on the ship ASAP!

Unless we get to CIS early enough to see you guys. It will probably be bedtime before we get there though.

I won't be on the shuttle from CIS, I will be on the Thrifty Shuttle.

 

[elgerber]

well, my computer was being screwy, so you don't need to see my last message twice LOL.

I just realized I never sent Jen pics for the website. Jen are you still updating or should I just post a pic here so people know who they are looking for?

 

[disfaninca]

You can come eat breakfast with us too!!! Kristin might not be happy with us though . We will have to have a drink/water on the ship ASAP!

Unless we get to CIS early enough to see you guys. It will probably be bedtime before we get there though.

I won't be on the shuttle from CIS, I will be on the Thrifty Shuttle.

LOL! I can't wait to see you guys!!! That sounds good to me!!! We won't be on the RI shuttle we will be on Avis, with a few people from here!

 

[disfaninca]

well, my computer was being screwy, so you don't need to see my last message twice LOL.

I just realized I never sent Jen pics for the website. Jen are you still updating or should I just post a pic here so people know who they are looking for?

Oh I know who I'm looking for!!!

 

[elgerber]

Oh I know who I'm looking for!!!

LOL, so you can run the other direction?

Yeah, I know you do and Kristin does, but no one else does .

 

[lauriegs]

i was wondering the same thing, if I should just post a pic here of us, since it's getting so close...am I able to do that, or does it need to be in a photobucket acct. and then linked here?

 

[jenanderson]

well, my computer was being screwy, so you don't need to see my last message twice LOL.

I just realized I never sent Jen pics for the website. Jen are you still updating or should I just post a pic here so people know who they are looking for?

i was wondering the same thing, if I should just post a pic here of us, since it's getting so close...am I able to do that, or does it need to be in a photobucket acct. and then linked here?

If you guys want me to put up a page for your family on our website, just let me know. It is really easy for me to do. You just have to e-mail me the info and photos you want and I will create the page.

 

[sherreis]

Is anyone renting a room at the comfort suites at Nassau to use the Atlantis paradise resort? Is it worth it? I understand the water park at Atlantis is great! It beats the Dcl excursion price.

All I know is when I priced it out for the 4 of us it was between $400 and $500 for the day-- there is the room charge and a lot of other charges tacked on. We just could not justify it - especially, if it ends up being a bad weather day. No Atlantis for us.

We will be at the budget spot too, although I'm not sure what time... How long is the drive from Orlando?

We drove from POP to PC 2 yrs ago and it took us about 1 hr 10 minutes.

I originally planned on Mario driving us from CI&S, dropping us all at the port w/ the luggage and then him going back to the hotel, parking, and taking the shuttle back.

Part of the reason was thinking it would be easier to just haul our own stuff in the van, and the other part was that ds is 5yo and doesn't fit in a seat belt w/o a booster seat. I know that FL law allows him to ride w/o a booster but I'm a volunteer CPST and understand that the laws of physics will supersede the laws of FL in the case of a crash situation.

With all the port confusion I have decided to suck up my booster seat concerns (but I will still be freaked out during the ride) and just have all of us go on the CI&S shuttle.

We also received the DCL email.

Last night I took Bethany to order new glasses since the contact lenses didn't work out. I love that our eye insurance covers glasses 100%. I asked about getting a pair of prescription sunglasses for her for the trip but they are over $100 which I'm not warm and fuzzy about paying for a 10yo that has broken her last two pairs of glasses. They are supposed to come in within a week...hopefully they won't be delayed!

Only 10 days until we leave! I'm having a difficult time concentrating at work which I am sure will get worse next week!

I can only imagine how us worker-bees will be next week. It's going to be quite difficult. I think the only thing that will keep me going is I have a lot of calls to make to my patients to make sure they are OK before I leave. (I'm a nurse case manager)

I was looking at cruises to (re)book onboard on the disneycruise website, and I had thought that the price of our Alaska booking went up (which really bummed me out because I am hoping to rebook onboard for the 10% discount). BUT-- I just looked today, and I realized that Disney now includes the vacation insurance in the quote--so that's why the price looked like it went up. Phew! If these prices can just hold out until the 16th....

Anyone know what happens to the other half of your deposit when you rebook a reservation on board? Can you get it back (at least until PIF date)?

That also means that the prices on the 2-day NYC I was looking at are also a bit less... May need to book this onboard and use it as a dummy date if the timing ends up being bad....

For anyone else who's checking prices, take note of the included vacation insurance cost in the quote.

Thanks for the info. I started pricing a cruise for next summer out of NYC and I will take a look again.

 

[hmansure]

Cruisecritic.com reports the first itinerary change for the 8/2 Dream. Nassau tomorrow instead of a sea day and then a sea day on Friday. Nothing posted about Saturday yet.

 

[acomasdiaz]

I usually do it. I find it helpful if we are arriving early (before normal check-in) or really late. Sometimes I think if they know you plan to arrive early they'll keep that in mind when assigning your room so it is more likely to be available earlier. Sometimes it's a faster line at check-in, too.

I think I'll try it out this time to see how it goes. Hopefully, it will give us some pixie dust and let our room be ready.

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

For those who are staying at the RI or the CIS, I propose we consider a post brekkie meet in the parking lot between our two hotels before we all leave for the port! My family is always up early. To my fellow Dissers staying at the CIS: if you see two feisty seven year olds wearing bright yellow tinkerbell shirts searching for muffins at the breakfast buffet, those will be my twins!

Beth

 

[jenanderson]

For those who are staying at the RI or the CIS, I propose we consider a post brekkie meet in the parking lot between our two hotels before we all leave for the port! My family is always up early. To my fellow Dissers staying at the CIS: if you see two feisty seven year olds wearing bright yellow tinkerbell shirts searching for muffins at the breakfast buffet, those will be my twins!

Beth

Beth - Love this idea! Everyone should meet in the parking lot before we all head out to the ship...wouldn't that be funny!

To my fellow DISsers staying at the CIS: If you see a teenage DD and a pre-teen DS fighting over the muffins at breakfast...those will be my kids!

 

[Minniemouse07]

Beth - Love this idea! Everyone should meet in the parking lot before we all head out to the ship...wouldn't that be funny!

To my fellow DISsers staying at the CIS: If you see a teenage DD and a pre-teen DS fighting over the muffins at breakfast...those will be my kids!

...and if there are no muffins left and you see a young lady w/ them all in front of her on the table...that will be Bethany!

 

[jenanderson]

Cruisecritic.com reports the first itinerary change for the 8/2 Dream. Nassau tomorrow instead of a sea day and then a sea day on Friday. Nothing posted about Saturday yet.

Oh no! I feel for all of the people on that ship. The good thing is that I feel DCL handles itinerary changes so well. Even though they handle it well...I hope we don't have any changes!

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Beth - Love this idea! Everyone should meet in the parking lot before we all head out to the ship...wouldn't that be funny!

To my fellow DISsers staying at the CIS: If you see a teenage DD and a pre-teen DS fighting over the muffins at breakfast...those will be my kids!

Oh this is going to be a very fun cruise!!!!!

 

[jenanderson]

...and if there are no muffins left and you see a young lady w/ them all in front of her on the table...that will be Bethany!

Too funny! From the sounds of it...it ought to be a lively breakfast!

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

...and if there are no muffins left and you see a young lady w/ them all in front of her on the table...that will be Bethany!

Too funny!

 

[elgerber]

Too funny! From the sounds of it...it ought to be a lively breakfast!

Do you think we need to call in advance to tell them to get extra muffins?