August 25, 2012 Magic in NYC!!!!

[Aurora's Mommy]

175 days folks!

And, it's March!

And, those of you already booking excursions, etc. so jealous! We can't book anything until end of May, although the only thing I worry about is that we'll end up on a bus leaving late AM to go to WDW. Guess I can only hope there are alot of late risers on this trip.

We will probably spend the day at Epcot, with a brief stop at DHS to ride the re-vamped Star Tours (not me, it would make me queasy ) and the Toy Story attraction.

Hope everybody is well!

 

[annichan]

And, those of you already booking excursions, etc. so jealous! We can't book anything until end of May, although the only thing I worry about is that we'll end up on a bus leaving late AM to go to WDW.

My worries exactly! One can only hope that they don't spread the departures evenly but rather foresee many people wanting to leave for the parks early, and schedule lots of early buses. Keeping my fingers crossed!

And for everybody allowed to book earlier than us, please imagine looking deep into the eyes of Kaa the Python from the Jungle Book:

"You want to sleep innnnn .....
You want to book seats on a late bussssss ..."

 

[hbg4]

175 days folks!

And, it's March!

And, those of you already booking excursions, etc. so jealous! We can't book anything until end of May, although the only thing I worry about is that we'll end up on a bus leaving late AM to go to WDW. Guess I can only hope there are alot of late risers on this trip.

Don't worry there's only 22 concierge cabins on board this ship.
I got so excited and called concierge to also book the first bus out. I want to make sure we get our fast passes and be able to park hop to at least 3 parks.
DCL said they're only taking requests a this time for the early bus reservations and not for the actual booking.
We have to wait until "April" to book DCL shore excursions, but concierge and anyone else can book directly with WDW for the theme park related reservations starting this month.

 

[Sunflowergirl66]

We won't be on the 1st bus out....probably 9:30ish...trying to get lunch at Cinderella's castle (fingers crossed we get it)...then on to Epcot...



The time is really passing quickly!!!

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

"You want to sleep innnnn .....
You want to book seats on a late bussssss ..."

Don't worry there's only 22 concierge cabins on board this ship.
I got so excited and called concierge to also book the first bus out. I want to make sure we get our fast passes and be able to park hop to at least 3 parks.
DCL said they're only taking requests a this time for the early bus reservations and not for the actual booking.
We have to wait until "April" to book DCL shore excursions, but concierge and anyone else can book directly with WDW for the theme park related reservations starting this month.

"Requests"? Do you think they are trying to get an idea how many transports they will need?

BTW, those of you getting the Disney Visa premier card, it is taking us two weeks to get the cards! I actually called because I was concerned, and I got the impression that the program was a little more popular than they anticipated. My card (Tinkerbell!) hasn't arrived yet, but DH's arrived today. If it doesn't show up by Monday, looks like I am calling again.

 

[AlexandNessa]

The concierge sent us a form to fill out our requests for our WDW day.



What WDW Theme Park are you planning on visiting first?
□ Magic Kingdom
□ EPCOT
□ Disney’s Hollywood Studios
□ Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Which bus departure are you planning on taking from Port Canaveral to WDW?
□ 7:30 a.m.
□ 8:30 a.m.
□ 9:30 a.m.
□ 10:30 a.m.

What WDW Theme Park are you planning on visiting last?
□ Magic Kingdom
□ EPCOT
□ Disney’s Hollywood Studios
□ Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Which bus departure are you planning on taking from WDW to Port Canaveral?
(Buses departs every half hour)
□ Between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
□ Between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
□ Between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
□ Between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
□ Between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
□ Between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
□ Between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
□ Between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.


They also asked about dining preferences, which I believe can be booked today.

I don't think we are going to book a bus for our WDW day through concierge as we plan on doing the Wild Africa Trek and you are told not to pick a bus time if signing up for that tour.

 

[Sunflowergirl66]

Just confirmed lunch in Cinderella's castle...

I am sure my husband would have chosen something else for his birthday lunch...but as he always says "it's al for the kids"...ok..i'm going with that.

I'll have to surprise him on the boat with something!!!

Today is the day to reserve dining, etc. at the parks..

 

[Sunflowergirl66]

We got a Disney Premier Visa at Downtown disney 2 weeks ago...they gave it to us on the spot...pretty cool!

 

[Capt. Minnie]

Should everyone be calling about their bus times or do we have to wait until we are at our time window to check in comes?

 

[AlexandNessa]

Should everyone be calling about their bus times or do we have to wait until we are at our time window to check in comes?

I'm thinking that you can't book bus times until your shorex window opens. At least that is what I understand from concierge.

 

[mommy2tati]

Happy Thursday everyone!

So we've decided to try for a cabana on CC day since there are 8 of us. What are the chances of us snagging one at the 90 day mark? Of course it cannot be in Serenity Bay since we'll have 5 children with us. Can one of the concierge folks keep me updated and let me know availability as the date approaches?

 

[annichan]

And I would like to throw in another request to the concierge and platinum cruisers on this thread, please ...

Would somebody kindly copy and paste the starting times of the Nassau excursions to this thread?


Thank you!


I know, Nassau is a bit of a boring "been there, seen it, staying on the ship" place to many of my fellow cruisers, but for us it's the first visit there. I have posted a request for typical excursion times on the main cruise forum but with no results.
Now we are trying to decide what to do and how to see as much as possible in that one day (so we can stay on the ship too next time - just kidding ).

 

[mindelmouse]

And I would like to throw in another request to the concierge and platinum cruisers on this thread, please ...

Would somebody kindly copy and paste the starting times of the Nassau excursions to this thread?


Thank you!


I know, Nassau is a bit of a boring "been there, seen it, staying on the ship" place to many of my fellow cruisers, but for us it's the first visit there. I have posted a request for typical excursion times on the main cruise forum but with no results.
Now we are trying to decide what to do and how to see as much as possible in that one day (so we can stay on the ship too next time - just kidding ).

How would a concierge or platinum person even know that yet, since we can't book until 120 days out? My DH may call the concierge to find out but other than that, I don't know that you can get that info yet.

 

[hbg4]

Would somebody kindly copy and paste the starting times of the Nassau excursions to this thread?

I'm also booked on the April five night double dip Castaway Cay cruise on the Dream.
Our booking window is still up.
I counted 27 different shore excursions for Nassau.
The initial page does not tell you what time options you have until you attempt to book, so there is no way to copy and paste starting times unless a person attempts to book every single excursion available.
The Dream and the Magic are scheduled to get into Nassau around 9.30 and most of the earliest excursions started at 9.45am.
Hope this helps.
Brenda

 

[bigbootee]

And I would like to throw in another request to the concierge and platinum cruisers on this thread, please ...

Would somebody kindly copy and paste the starting times of the Nassau excursions to this thread?


Thank you!
QUOTE]

I spoke with the Shoreside Concierge staff. Since the port times vary with each cruise, there is not definite schedule yet. For most excursions, though, there will be an AM departure around 8:45 to 9 and a Noonish PM departure.

 

[annichan]

Thank you all for your comments and information on Nassau excursions!

How would a concierge or platinum person even know that yet, since we can't book until 120 days out? My DH may call the concierge to find out but other than that, I don't know that you can get that info yet.

Of course you are right! I got a bit carried away, I should have waited with posting my request until then, or at least added "... as soon as that info becomes available to you" to my post.

I counted 27 different shore excursions for Nassau.
The initial page does not tell you what time options you have until you attempt to book, so there is no way to copy and paste starting times unless a person attempts to book every single excursion available.
The Dream and the Magic are scheduled to get into Nassau around 9.30 and most of the earliest excursions started at 9.45am.
Hope this helps.
Brenda

Thank you! I certainly wouldn't want anyone to go through the process of attempting to book every single excursion available just to find me some info! (Unless some of you are that undecided ... In that case, please let me know your findings! )
I will repost my question closer to our sail date, with just the specific excursions I'm looking at.

I spoke with the Shoreside Concierge staff. Since the port times vary with each cruise, there is not definite schedule yet. For most excursions, though, there will be an AM departure around 8:45 to 9 and a Noonish PM departure.

Thank you! Basically, the reason why I asked this question is that we have about 6 or 8 excursions we find interesting, and we are trying to find out how we could possibly combine two of them in one day.
Therefore I'm glad to hear that many excursions will indeed have both an a.m. and a p.m. departure!

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

We got a Disney Premier Visa at Downtown disney 2 weeks ago...they gave it to us on the spot...pretty cool!

That is pretty cool! My Tinkerbell finally got here on Wednesday, 2 1/2 weeks after I ordered it. When it hadn't come Monday, I called again, and they told me that some designs were so popular they were backordered. I asked if I could change the order, I didn't HAVE to have Tinkerbell. Nope, once the order was in there was no going back. The only thing that still bothers me was she gave me no indication on Monday that it was already in the mail (which it would have had to have been for me to get is Wed). My concern the whole time is that I wanted to make sure the cards weren't getting pinched from my mail box.

And I would like to throw in another request to the concierge and platinum cruisers on this thread, please ...

Would somebody kindly copy and paste the starting times of the Nassau excursions to this thread?


Thank you!


I know, Nassau is a bit of a boring "been there, seen it, staying on the ship" place to many of my fellow cruisers, but for us it's the first visit there. I have posted a request for typical excursion times on the main cruise forum but with no results.
Now we are trying to decide what to do and how to see as much as possible in that one day (so we can stay on the ship too next time - just kidding ).

I think I'm like you, I just want to PLAN already. And, if I can't plan, I want information. We've never been to Nassau either, but in our case I don't think it so much a desire to see the island, as much as a desire to get off the boat and do something after 2 whole days at sea (as much as I intend to love
those ).

Speaking of planning and days at sea....and days in Nassau....any speculation on what night might be formal night, and what might be pirate night?

 

[mommy2tati]

That is pretty cool! My Tinkerbell finally got here on Wednesday, 2 1/2 weeks after I ordered it. When it hadn't come Monday, I called again, and they told me that some designs were so popular they were backordered. I asked if I could change the order, I didn't HAVE to have Tinkerbell. Nope, once the order was in there was no going back. The only thing that still bothers me was she gave me no indication on Monday that it was already in the mail (which it would have had to have been for me to get is Wed). My concern the whole time is that I wanted to make sure the cards weren't getting pinched from my mail box.



I think I'm like you, I just want to PLAN already. And, if I can't plan, I want information. We've never been to Nassau either, but in our case I don't think it so much a desire to see the island, as much as a desire to get off the boat and do something after 2 whole days at sea (as much as I intend to love
those ).

Speaking of planning and days at sea....and days in Nassau....any speculation on what night might be formal night, and what might be pirate night?

I know Pirate Night is Nassau day.

 

[wmarin]

My wife and I are on board. We can't wait for our first Disney Cruise. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to sail from NY to WDW. The end of the summer can't come soon enough.

 

[spoohs]

Hi all,

It has been a while since I have posted. We weren't sure for a while if we were going to be able to do the cruise, but we have decided to go for it

Not sure if it is still to early but my DD (13) is interested in getting to know others in her age group. If any of you have children interesting in corresponding please send me a pm so we can exchange info.

I also had a question about transportation. We are from southeastern MA and are thinking about taking the bus from Providence RI (closer than Boston). We really can't afford to take the bus (or train for that matter)a day early and stay in NY overnight since we are really pushing it by going on the cruise anyways. My question is does anyone know if the bus is reliable? If we take it the same day and we take one that is do to arrive late morning, are the odds that we will make the ship? I won't trust flying the same day, but feel like the bus and train may be different. What are your thoughts.