August 16, 2011, Disney Dream - Part 4

[jenanderson]

Posted this on FB but thought I would post it here as well....To anyone staying at CI & S and also taking the shuttle to port...

I called the CI & S to find out about getting on the shuttle schedule. I was very nice and chatted with the lady a bit and she then asked if she could put me on hold...she went and printed out the shuttle schedules so if you call and ask nicely, you should be able to get scheduled for one of the shuttles.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Good thing the beds have been raised for luggage clearance...with 7 bags, you are going to need it for storage.

Chuck

 

[jenanderson]

Good thing the beds have been raised for luggage clearance...with 7 bags, you are going to need it for storage.

Chuck

The good thing is that as soon as I pass out my FE gifts, 2 1/2 of the suitcases will be empty and then some of the luggage can be nested. I plan on doing my FE gifts ASAP!

 

[ICEMANPAD]

I had put this on last week's thread, but thought I'd post here as well.

As to boarding, it really was based on whether you were concierge, platinum, castaway club or first timer...

There is a separate check-in line for concierge and platinum and they both get to board first, in that order...

Thus, we got to drop-off about 10:55 (ok it was our third lap), but we received a #1 boarding group as platinum...now, we missed the separate line and were in the regular Castaway Club line and the folks nearby who were first timers received a #20 at the same time we got the #1....

Thus, I think the repeat customers are getting to board first, but I also note that we boarded at 11:30 and that Disney is trying to get people on faster and more spread out to avoid the absolute chaos that used to exist at 12 noon.

Chuck

 

[jenanderson]

I had put this on last week's thread, but thought I'd post here as well.

As to boarding, it really was based on whether you were concierge, platinum, castaway club or first timer...

There is a separate check-in line for concierge and platinum and they both get to board first, in that order...

Thus, we got to drop-off about 10:55 (ok it was our third lap), but we received a #1 boarding group as platinum...now, we missed the separate line and were in the regular Castaway Club line and the folks nearby who were first timers received a #20 at the same time we got the #1....

Thus, I think the repeat customers are getting to board first, but I also note that we boarded at 11:30 and that Disney is trying to get people on faster and more spread out to avoid the absolute chaos that used to exist at 12 noon.

Chuck

Thanks for the updates. I am done being anxious over the whole boarding process at this point...just happy to know we are going to be on that ship!

This will be our 3rd cruise so we don't have gold or platinum status. We had signed up to arrive at port at 10:30 AM but our time was changed by DCL to 11:30 AM (no one can figure out really why but DCL also told me that everyone's time would change and we all know that did not happen).

We ended up getting signed up on the CI & S 10:30 shuttle. It will be interesting to see how this is handled when we get dropped off and if we will be told we need to wait.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Having been there last week, I would be very surprised if that 10:30 shuttle actually leaves at that time as the port is a 5 minute drive at most, but with Disney, anything is possible....that said, I was hearing last week that none of the hotel shuttles would be there before 11:00 or shortly after....but it really does not matter...Cabanas is huge and there is no more buffet line...just go to a pod and get what you want....also, I strongly recommend lunch at Cabanas over Enchanted Garden for first day....either way, you will be on board by noon or shortly thereafter...

Chuck

 

[jenanderson]

Well, all the suitcases are pretty much packed. One small suitcase needs to have the last of the toiletry kits added to it and my computer needs to go in my carry-on bag.

We are going casual for supper (basically, whatever you can find in the house to eat...eat it and that is supper)!

Kids will shower tonight and get their clothes laid out for tomorrow. I am going to lay out my stuff as well.

The plan is to get to bed early, watch some TV and try to fall asleep...I know we will be doing the "I'm to excited to sleep" routine...the alarm will go off around 4:30 AM so we are ready for DBIL or DSIL to come and get us to the airport.

We should be landing in FL around 2:30. DH and kids will go get luggage and I will go to the Alamo rental area to get everything figured out for the car. Hope to have us on the road ASAP with a stop at the liquor store on our way to CI&S at port.

Can't wait to see everyone!!!

 

[renda460]

Well, all the suitcases are pretty much packed. One small suitcase needs to have the last of the toiletry kits added to it and my computer needs to go in my carry-on bag.

We are going casual for supper (basically, whatever you can find in the house to eat...eat it and that is supper)!

Kids will shower tonight and get their clothes laid out for tomorrow. I am going to lay out my stuff as well.

The plan is to get to bed early, watch some TV and try to fall asleep...I know we will be doing the "I'm to excited to sleep" routine...the alarm will go off around 4:30 AM so we are ready for DBIL or DSIL to come and get us to the airport.

We should be landing in FL around 2:30. DH and kids will go get luggage and I will go to the Alamo rental area to get everything figured out for the car. Hope to have us on the road ASAP with a stop at the liquor store on our way to CI&S at port.

Can't wait to see everyone!!!

Have a safe trip. Looks like the last of us will finally be leaving tomorrow!

I woke the kids very early this morning, in hopes of an early bedtime tonight. We will be leaving the house at 4am, so I think I may be having the kids sleep in their travel clothes. We will try to carry them to the car and hope they continue sleeping to the airport, but I have a feeling they will wake and be so excited they wont sleep. Maybe we will get lucky and score a nap out of them on the plane.

 

[Minniemouse07]

We arrived this morning...not a ton of sleep on the train...but it was good.
At the ILs today and tonight and heading up to KSC tomorrow ..then over to PC to check in and meet everyone for dinner.
Thx for the shuttle check in reminder Jen. They tried to tell me the list wasn't ready yet, but I knew better thanks to your post! We are all set for the 10:30am shuttle!

 

[jenanderson]

We arrived this morning...not a ton of sleep on the train...but it was good.
At the ILs today and tonight and heading up to KSC tomorrow ..then over to PC to check in and meet everyone for dinner.
Thx for the shuttle check in reminder Jen. They tried to tell me the list wasn't ready yet, but I knew better thanks to your post! We are all set for the 10:30am shuttle!

I am so glad that you were able to check in for the shuttle as well! Normally they do not print the list until the day before but I told her I was flying in the morning and so she went and did it special for me.

We will be seeing you on the shuttle!

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

I've been busy packing last minute things. Now I'm going to sit in the tv room with a glass of wine and go through all my notebook of all the dis stuff and cruise paperwork. Kids are super excited but they managed to fall asleep about a second after hitting the pillow at 8pm. It will be a different story for me, I think! I always have a hard time sleeping before a big trip.

Can't wait to meet all of you. Feel like I kind of know many of you already!

 

[jenanderson]

I've been busy packing last minute things. Now I'm going to sit in the tv room with a glass of wine and go through all my notebook of all the dis stuff and cruise paperwork. Kids are super excited but they managed to fall asleep about a second after hitting the pillow at 8pm. It will be a different story for me, I think! I always have a hard time sleeping before a big trip.

Can't wait to meet all of you. Feel like I kind of know many of you already!

I probably should have gone with the glass of wine idea tonight. I just took a relaxing shower though and am trying to just lay low.

Good job at getting the kids into bed and getting to sleep! Mine are in bed but I know that there is no way they are sleeping.

Can't wait to meet you guys either! There is such a great group of people here and I know we are all going to have a great trip!!!

 

[HallsofVA]

Had a great day at Universal IoA park today, and the Portofino tonight. The WWoHP was a hit, even though our oldest was still an inch too short to ride the big ride. We did the "castle tour" 2-3 times, and that was great. Liked the butterbeer (but I always did like cream soda). And our matching "thing" shirts were a huge hit!

Another Universal day tomorrow, then off to the ship on Tuesday morning.

See everyone there!

 

[cruisinpenguin]

It's getting closer!!! So can't wait to be on the Dream!
Was a great day yesterday meeting Kristin and Mary's families we enjoyed talking with all of you!! Kristin, hope to see you before you leave VB tomorrow. If not, have a safe trip to PC and we'll see you on the Dream!!
Laurie

 

[uncw89]

Had a great day at Universal IoA park today, and the Portofino tonight. The WWoHP was a hit, even though our oldest was still an inch too short to ride the big ride. We did the "castle tour" 2-3 times, and that was great. Liked the butterbeer (but I always did like cream soda). And our matching "thing" shirts were a huge hit!

Another Universal day tomorrow, then off to the ship on Tuesday morning.

See everyone there!

Did you get the mother of all things shirt? We did the studios today and finished up the things we wanted to do. Did any of you ride the big ride? It was fun! Have fun tomorrow!!! We are headed to the port sometime tomorrow. I'm not sure what we are going to do before we had out though. We might go to MK!

 

[kritter]

It's getting closer!!! So can't wait to be on the Dream!
Was a great day yesterday meeting Kristin and Mary's families we enjoyed talking with all of you!! Kristin, hope to see you before you leave VB tomorrow. If not, have a safe trip to PC and we'll see you on the Dream!!
Laurie

Mary nice seeing you. We are going to meet Mary & Family at the pool tomorrow. We are not leaving until 2!! So hoping to see you again!!

 

[kritter]

Can't wait to see everyone tomorrow night @ RI!!

 

[kritter]

HI Kristin, I don't mind at all. How many people do you think will be coming? Can't wait to get on the plane tomorrow!

Beth

I would say between 30-40..Thank you!! Call me tomorrow when you land!!

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

I would say between 30-40..Thank you!! Call me tomorrow when you land!!

Kristin -- I'll call you when we land!

I've been up laminating magnets while everyone else in the house is snoozing. Looks like the mom in the family is very excited to go on a Disney vacation. I'm hoping for good weather as it is pouring up here in Northern VA right now.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Well from a weather standpoint, living here in South Florida, which is pretty close to CC and the rest of the Bahamas, I can say we are in our usual August weather pattern, and having checked the forecast, would say there is a pretty good chance of a scattered T-storm most days....but, usually down here, scattered T-storms mean it will be sunny most of the day, pour for an hour or less, and be sunny again....Florida is known as the Sunshine State for having over 300+ days of sun per year, but if you add up the rain days to those totals, the number exceeds 365, and the reason is the numerous scattered T-Storms...so overall, I think we should be fine, and the captain is usually pretty good at steering around the rain while at sea, especially since we will not really be going anywhere in particular once we hit the Bahamas...CC and Nassau are only about 100 miles apart, so the captain can avoid bad weather often while driving the ship in the circles that we will be doing anyway.

Chuck