August 17, 2013 - A Fantasy Cruise to Paradise

[Keever]

Anyone planning to do the CC 5k?

Can one walk the 5k and still get a medal?
L

 

[linkandclover]

I think all you have to do is complete it for the medal. Last year there were people doing a combination of walking and jogging. Not sure if there is a time limit.

 

[ladyleslie]

Hi!!

Does any one know when Formal night is?

 

[dizneeat]

Wow! Lots going on here ...........

First off, I am sorry I haven't posted or gotten back to you in a while, but at first, real life threw a few projects my way which needed full attention, then we went to Disneyland Paris for a little vacation fun.

There was lots of concern about the FE list being too large. I could not agree with you more, especially since we still have three months until we cruise!
We will definitely NEED to split it. I am thinking of splitting by "head count" which I think might be doable by around 50 people per group.
Given that we are still two months from our cut off date, I guess we will make it to three groups.
I would like to just keep the list as it is at the moment, then after cut off we will devide and try to put together the lists with the location of staterooms in mind, so we do not have to run all over the ship delivering.
Hope that is okay with you all.
On the other hand, if you want to be in more than one group - please let me know, so I can include that as well.

Hope all you gold Castaways got your reservations today!

 

[dizneeat]

I just read through some of the posts again and I guess most of the ones considering FE were answered (hopefully) in my previous post. Please forgive me for not getting back to each and every one of you personally.

Just booked last week for this cruise. Looking forward to seeing the new ship. Traveling with a 15 year old and 10 year old. I'm hoping there will be lots of kids in this age range. I will need to read all the posts to catch up to all of you!

Only 105 more days to this cruise.

I was looking for input about cabin choice. As a family of 5, we are a bit limited. When we booked, only 4A was available. I was assigned a cabin on the 10th floor. I thought it was wonderful at first but upon reading some cabin reviews, I'm not sure now. I see many experienced folks are on a different floor. As a mother of 3 with a husband who travels often, I tend to be a light sleeper. My travel agent said there was nothing available on floor 9. Does anyone know if it likely that cabins will open up at the 90 day mark? I assume that's when everyone needs to pay in full. Either way, I'll be on a Disney cruise will my family so it will great whatever happens with the cabin.

We have been on deck 10 several times. It has its pros and cons. First, we just love being high up, so that was a pro for us.
More than being high up, we were on deck 10 close to the aft stairwell/elevator and it was just a deck up to be right in the middle of Cabanas, which made it pretty easy to just grab some food and take it back to our room. It was also close to the adult only dining and pool deck. Plus, if you are not right mid ship, the aft and forward elevators are much less "used" so easy to get up and down.
As for noise, we could hear them cleaning early in the morning and shuffling around tables, but it was not unbearable noise. We slept right through it most of the time.
I am no help with your question of rooms opening up at 90 days, as we have never looked again around that time.
Oh, and I like that you said, no matter what stateroom you will get, you will be on a Disney cruise ...... I am sure you are going to have fun!

Can one walk the 5k and still get a medal?
L

I think all you have to do is complete it for the medal. Last year there were people doing a combination of walking and jogging. Not sure if there is a time limit.

Please check IF you will be awarded a medal either way. I am pretty sure I read somewhere that they are only giving out certificates as of a short while ago as there are too many guests participating.
I am NOT a runner, so I am NOT sure if that info is correct, just wanted you to know.

Hi!!

Does any one know when Formal night is?

Leslie, I googled it and it came up as formal night would be day 2 and semi formal night 6. PLEASE, take it with a grain of salt, as I just GOOGLED it. But since I came upon it more than once it seems likely to be correct.
Did you book your reservations today?

 

[garytam]

Got our Palo and Remy reservation done this morning. Also got the 11:00-11:30 Port Arrival Time.

We will fly in day before, arriving MCO 8:00 am and the rental car have to be return by 8:00 am Saturday to avoid the next day charge.
But the shuttle will not drive people to port until 10:30. May mean sitting at the car rental agency for couple hours.

 

[gosshaus]

Wow! Lots going on here ...........

First off, I am sorry I haven't posted or gotten back to you in a while, but at first, real life threw a few projects my way which needed full attention, then we went to Disneyland Paris for a little vacation fun.

There was lots of concern about the FE list being too large. I could not agree with you more, especially since we still have three months until we cruise!
We will definitely NEED to split it. I am thinking of splitting by "head count" which I think might be doable by around 50 people per group.
Given that we are still two months from our cut off date, I guess we will make it to three groups.
I would like to just keep the list as it is at the moment, then after cut off we will devide and try to put together the lists with the location of staterooms in mind, so we do not have to run all over the ship delivering.
Hope that is okay with you all.
On the other hand, if you want to be in more than one group - please let me know, so I can include that as well.

Hope all you gold Castaways got your reservations today!

Welcome back! We missed you! Thank you for being open to splitting the FE list after we 'close.' Being on more than one list is a great option as well for those with plenty of items and room to pack them. Thanks!

Could you address how we will handle informing our group of any stateroom changes at port? We hope to upgrade at port - but would hate to miss out on FEs as a result.

Thanks!

 

[dizneeat]

Got our Palo and Remy reservation done this morning. Also got the 11:00-11:30 Port Arrival Time.

We will fly in day before, arriving MCO 8:00 am and the rental car have to be return by 8:00 am Saturday to avoid the next day charge.
But the shuttle will not drive people to port until 10:30. May mean sitting at the car rental agency for couple hours.

Okay, nosey me wants to know ....... dinner or brunch/lunch at Palo and Remy?
We are doing the brunch and dinner at Palo and the Champagne lunch at Remy. We had dinner at Remy twice last summer and they even came up with an alternative menu for the "repeat" guests.

Did you consider taking a taxi to port? I don't know who you are renting with, but Hertz is pretty close to the port, so a taxi would be my choice.

Welcome back! We missed you! Thank you for being open to splitting the FE list after we 'close.' Being on more than one list is a great option as well for those with plenty of items and room to pack them. Thanks!

Could you address how we will handle informing our group of any stateroom changes at port? We hope to upgrade at port - but would hate to miss out on FEs as a result.

Thanks!

Thank you!
I don't usually leave on vacation without giving notice on the boards, but things were getting pretty crazy before we left.

Splitting the FE list is the only logical thing to do. I just didn't have time to "actually" look at the list. I added and uploaded it. And someone even pointed out some mistakes in there. Once I have a little more time I need to go over the lists with a fine tooth comb.

There are a few possible ways to inform the rest of your group of a possible stateroom change.
You could hand out notes with your new stateroom number during a meet and greet. (Is there a meet and greet planned? I get a bit mixed up with two cruises back to back). But not everyone makes it to the meet and greet. So the other, and in my eyes best solution, is to just drop a note with the stateroom change into the FE of the people on your list.

I know that some groups have a dry erease board for messages, but we had our door scribbled on once and had we not been good friends with the stateroom host, who provided us with cleaning materials and helped clean the door, we would have gotten a nice bill from Disney.
I don't mind a souvenir bill, but not one for a door. So no more dry erease boards for us.

 

[gosshaus]

Hi!!

Does any one know when Formal night is?

The April 13 Fantasy (Western Caribbean) Navigators show:
Sat - Cruise casual
Sun - Formal
Mon - Cruise casual
Tues - Cruise casual
Wed - Pirate or cruise casual
Thurs - Semi-formal
Fri - Cruise casual

 

[dizneeat]

The April 13 Fantasy (Western Caribbean) Navigators show:
Sat - Cruise casual
Sun - Formal
Mon - Cruise casual
Tues - Cruise casual
Wed - Pirate or cruise casual
Thurs - Semi-formal
Fri - Cruise casual

Looks like what I found on the internet was correct! Thanks for posting this. I never thought about looking at the Navigators.

 

[gosshaus]

Thank you!
I don't usually leave on vacation without giving notice on the boards, but things were getting pretty crazy before we left.

Splitting the FE list is the only logical thing to do. I just didn't have time to "actually" look at the list. I added and uploaded it. And someone even pointed out some mistakes in there. Once I have a little more time I need to go over the lists with a fine tooth comb.

There are a few possible ways to inform the rest of your group of a possible stateroom change.
You could hand out notes with your new stateroom number during a meet and greet. (Is there a meet and greet planned? I get a bit mixed up with two cruises back to back). But not everyone makes it to the meet and greet. So the other, and in my eyes best solution, is to just drop a note with the stateroom change into the FE of the people on your list.

I know that some groups have a dry erease board for messages, but we had our door scribbled on once and had we not been good friends with the stateroom host, who provided us with cleaning materials and helped clean the door, we would have gotten a nice bill from Disney.
I don't mind a souvenir bill, but not one for a door. So no more dry erease boards for us.

I wondered where you were - and found your 'at Disney Paris' post on another thread!

I'm the one that noticed the couple 'mistakes' on the list. Hope it is ok I inquired about them.

I'll prepare a little pre-made 'we've moved' note with a blank for the new stateroom and hope I don't jinx my chance for an upgrade! : )

Thanks!

 

[dizneeat]

I wonder where you were - and found your 'at Disney Paris' post on another tread!

I'm the one that noticed the couple 'mistakes' on the list. Hope it us ok I inquired about them.

I'll prepare a little pre-made 'we've moved' note with a blank for the new stateroom and hope I don't jinx my chance for an upgrade! : )

Thanks!

How fun you found my post on my pre-trip report. I intended to update that daily, but the internet we had was just too patchy.
We take a short (4 - 6 night trip) to DLRP whenever we can fit it in. There is a small villa we rent close to the parks and it is such a wonderful getaway. Lots of really yummy French food too!

Thank you for pointing out the mistakes! I often have to update the list "on the fly" and just add names and forget about staterooms or head counts. I am glad there are people out there who help out and let me know about my mistakes!

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, so you'll be able to upgrade. Are you thinking of upgrading to Concierge?

 

[gosshaus]

How fun you found my post on my pre-trip report. I intended to update that daily, but the internet we had was just too patchy.
We take a short (4 - 6 night trip) to DLRP whenever we can fit it in. There is a small villa we rent close to the parks and it is such a wonderful getaway. Lots of really yummy French food too!

Thank you for pointing out the mistakes! I often have to update the list "on the fly" and just add names and forget about staterooms or head counts. I am glad there are people out there who help out and let me know about my mistakes!

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, so you'll be able to upgrade. Are you thinking of upgrading to Concierge?

Lucky you to be so close to Paris! Love that beautiful city! Have you ever eaten at Le Soufflé? It is heaven (expensive heaven!)

Yes, hoping to upgrade to Concierge, but realizing even if we get early check-in time that this sailing may be too full to snag an upgrade. We shall see!

 

[dizneeat]

Lucky you to be so close to Paris! Love that beautiful city! Have you ever eaten at Le Soufflé? It is heaven (expensive heaven!)

Yes, hoping to upgrade to Concierge, but realizing even if we get early check-in time that this sailing may be too full to snag an upgrade. We shall see!

Sometimes living in Europe has its advantages.
No, we haven't eaten at Le Souffle. Is it in Paris? We very rarely go into the city. I just love the quiet little villages in the country. But if you recommend the food that could easily change my mind.

Check online if they still offer Concierge staterooms closer to sailing. This will be our first (well, second) cruise on the Fantasy and I have no idea how sold out they are. The ones on the DREAM in August usually were sold out and they even had a sign out saying that there are no possible upgrades. But I am still keeping my fingers crossed for you!

 

[gosshaus]

Sometimes living in Europe has its advantages.
No, we haven't eaten at Le Souffle. Is it in Paris? We very rarely go into the city. I just love the quiet little villages in the country. But if you recommend the food that could easily change my mind.

Check online if they still offer Concierge staterooms closer to sailing. This will be our first (well, second) cruise on the Fantasy and I have no idea how sold out they are. The ones on the DREAM in August usually were sold out and they even had a sign out saying that there are no possible upgrades. But I am still keeping my fingers crossed for you!

I think I have reached my typo quota for the day! 'Lucky you to be so close'?! Ack!
Yes, Le Soufflé is in the city - not far from Le Louvre.
Thank you for the good upgrade vibes. Either way we'll have a blast!

 

[garytam]

Okay, nosey me wants to know ....... dinner or brunch/lunch at Palo and Remy?
We are doing the brunch and dinner at Palo and the Champagne lunch at Remy. We had dinner at Remy twice last summer and they even came up with an alternative menu for the "repeat" guests.

Did you consider taking a taxi to port? I don't know who you are renting with, but Hertz is pretty close to the port, so a taxi would be my choice.

We book Palo brunch (first sea day), both Palo and Remy dinner. We did Remy two years ago on Dream but it was too long for me
(I am not the type of person who can sit still for 3-4 hours no matter how good the food are). On our March Fantasy cruise, we learn you
can request the server to finish the dinner in less than 2.5 hours, so we give it another try.

Car rental is from National, we may need to take a taxi. It is better to wait at the port than the car rental agency

 

[dizneeat]

I think I have reached my typo quota for the day! 'Lucky you to be so close'?! Ack!
Yes, Le Soufflé is in the city - not far from Le Louvre.
Thank you for the good upgrade vibes. Either way we'll have a blast!

Just added Le Souffle to my notes for possible things to do when we hit the city again. Thanks for the heads up!
I think this might be the place to visit next summer after our Med cruise. We plan on spending 10 days to 2 weeks after the cruise in Paris, so this would be perfect.

 

[dizneeat]

We book Palo brunch (first sea day), both Palo and Remy dinner. We did Remy two years ago on Dream but it was too long for me
(I am not the type of person who can sit still for 3-4 hours no matter how good the food are). On our March Fantasy cruise, we learn you
can request the server to finish the dinner in less than 2.5 hours, so we give it another try.

Car rental is from National, we may need to take a taxi. It is better to wait at the port than the car rental agency

I like the fact that Remy dinner takes a while. I think it is a European thing to just sit in a restaurant forever. We did Remy dinner twice last summer, but not really for the food, but we had such a good time with our server.
We did the Champagne lunch last summer too and this is much more my liking - not THAT much food and we eat our main meal at midday here, so it fit perfectly.

I don't know where National is located, but I can tell you that the car rental places are not really fun to hang out. We were in line last September for over an hour and there were TWO chairs in the whole room. SO NO fun. We'll take a taxi when we pick up our rental after the cruise too.

 

[Keever]

Okay, here's the plan. DISmeet, August 17, 3:15 pm in the Bon Voyage lounge adjacent to the atrium on Deck 3. I will bring name tags.
Everyone welcome!

 

[linkandclover]

We booked Palo for dinner ( first time going so I hope it lives up to the expectations others have made). We also got the 11:00 boarding time ( almost forgot to do this). Our hotel has a shuttle to the port but I fully plan on hiring a cab to get there if needed.

I like the idea of splitting the FE group and leaving the option for people to be part of more than one as I already organized gifts for everyone on the list so far.