August 29th, 2009--Eastern Magic...Let's Get it Started!

[My4PhillyGirls]

We have early seating and since we have gone on 4 night cruises, I would like to know what is the preferred dining rotation that would maximize Formal Night and Pirate in the Carribean Night?

Joe

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Sorry Joe that no one answered your question.

It's my first Disney cruise so I have NO idea.

I'm not sure what you mean by "what is the preferred dining rotation that would maximize Formal Night and Pirate in the Carribean Night?"

Maximize in what way?

I'm thinking we are assigned a rotation? Are people able to put in requests?

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Sorry Joe that no one answered your question.

It's my first Disney cruise so I have NO idea.

I'm not sure what you mean by "what is the preferred dining rotation that would maximize Formal Night and Pirate in the Carribean Night?"

Maximize in what way?

I'm thinking we are assigned a rotation? Are people able to put in requests?

People sometimes put in a request but DCL may not honor it.

What I was trying to get at is that if you end up on a rotation that is in Lumiere's for formal night and Parrot Cay for Pirates in the Carribean night that might make the cruise more special.

Since there are three seatings for the main dining time. One of those times has to be have the best rotation to compliment the theme nights. Whether its 5:30; 5:45 or 6:00 p.m.

Joe

 

[SleepyatDVC]

People sometimes put in a request but DCL may not honor it.

What I was trying to get at is that if you end up on a rotation that is in Lumiere's for formal night and Parrot Cay for Pirates in the Carribean night that might make the cruise more special.
Since there are three seatings for the main dining time. One of those times has to be have the best rotation to compliment the theme nights. Whether its 5:30; 5:45 or 6:00 p.m.

Joe

Thanks for the explanation! Makes absolute sense.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

I went on the "My online checkin" page today and since we are repeat cruisers, we will be able to book our excursions and palo reservations on May 31, 2009.

Of course we will have to have paid the cruise in full by then.

Joe

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Trying to figure out if I want to go down to FL early before the cruise with the kids. I most likely will.

But where to go and stay? If we stay at WDW, it will be a non-park stay - no tickets. My other option is Miami the week before and then drive up either the morning of the cruise or the day/night before and either stay at WDW or at a hotel near the port.

What is everyone else planning to do?

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

We will be coming down a few days early and may stay a couple of days after the cruise so that we won't be too depressed when its over.

My girls will probably start school the Wednesday after Labor Day so we may take a flight home on Labor Day.

We have unexpired park tickets that we can use but my MIL will have to purchase hers or stay at the condo

WDW is less than an hour from the port if traffic is moving. Last year we left a little after 8:30 a.m. and got to the port early so we went to the McDonalds accross from the Radisson and then went to the port and sat in the parking lot until 10:00 a.m.

Since this is a 7 nighter, I will drop off the family and return the rental. Then I will catch a shuttle back to the port. When I return, we will pick up another rental and enjoy our last few days before the vacation ends and school begins.

Joe

 

[mrsmoore]

We are flying the red eye Wednesday night from Seattle. We will then have Thursday and Friday to relax and hit MK and maybe HS. I am trying to decide if HS is worth it, or just focus on MK and relaxing. We plan to stay at Wilderness Lodge, so going back and fourth to MK is easy. And, since only two days that way I don't need a park hopper pass. DD will be 4, so this will be her first trip to Disney, and some nap will still be needed, so don't want to burn her out.

We have invited our families, but none want to cruise with us. They may join us before though.

I can't wait!!! Oh, and the Hawaii vacation that was a maybe is a go!! So, I have that to keep me busy, and makes it worth moving our December 08 cruise back so far!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

We will be coming down a few days early and may stay a couple of days after the cruise so that we won't be too depressed when its over.

My girls will probably start school the Wednesday after Labor Day so we may take a flight home on Labor Day.

We have unexpired park tickets that we can use but my MIL will have to purchase hers or stay at the condo

WDW is less than an hour from the port if traffic is moving. Last year we left a little after 8:30 a.m. and got to the port early so we went to the McDonalds accross from the Radisson and then went to the port and sat in the parking lot until 10:00 a.m.

Since this is a 7 nighter, I will drop off the family and return the rental. Then I will catch a shuttle back to the port. When I return, we will pick up another rental and enjoy our last few days before the vacation ends and school begins.

Joe

Joe is your MIL traveling with you on the cruise?

That's a good idea. WDW before and after.

I think we will stick with just the before. I think my kids go back to school the day after Labor Day. We never like to go back to school or work the next day after flying home. Especially, my DH. He prefers at least one day at home to "decompress" before heading to the office. Also, I think that we can check in our luggage for our flight home directly on the ship? (Depending on the airline, of course.) Like what they have at the WDW resorts? If so, that would be super convenient.

Anyone know how much a day pass at the MCO Hyatt costs? In case we have a later flight.

Who knows, I may change my mind between now and then though. A day hanging by the pool at WDW after the cruise sounds nice too.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

We are flying the red eye Wednesday night from Seattle. We will then have Thursday and Friday to relax and hit MK and maybe HS. I am trying to decide if HS is worth it, or just focus on MK and relaxing. We plan to stay at Wilderness Lodge, so going back and fourth to MK is easy. And, since only two days that way I don't need a park hopper pass. DD will be 4, so this will be her first trip to Disney, and some nap will still be needed, so don't want to burn her out.

We have invited our families, but none want to cruise with us. They may join us before though.

I can't wait!!! Oh, and the Hawaii vacation that was a maybe is a go!! So, I have that to keep me busy, and makes it worth moving our December 08 cruise back so far!

That Hawaii vacation is definitely worth postponing your Disney Cruise for!!!

I like HS but it is a leisurely one day park for us especially since my kids don't do any of the thrill rides. (ToT or RnR). I don't think your DD4 will be doing those either.

We like the Animations drawing class. My girls will do 2-4 or more in a row if I let them. We usually do at least 2. We try see the Beauty and the Beast Show. Ride Star Tours and the Great Movie Ride if there are no lines. We may do Playhouse Disney and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid if the timing works out. (We did those 2 soooooo many times in the past when the girls were little that we are ok if we miss it - besides my girls are outgrowing Playhouse Disney). Then it's out of there and back to the hotel pool. We saw Fantasmic a few years ago and neither of my kids chose to stay and catch it over going swimming.

In your case, I might stick with the MK for 2 days. There are lots to see for a 4 yo there and you will be soooo close staying at WL.

 

[scrapperjill]

Doing a picnic near the falls would be cool. We'll have to plan it out to see when we all have some time open.

We'll be doing WDW before the crusie. We've done a couple days before our last two Disney cruises and actually planned a whole week before our first Disney cruise but that didn't end up working out. Anyways I'm looking forward to doing a whole week before this next time. We've actually tryed planning for extra days each cruise BUT we've ended up having a large group traveling with us for the past two cruises that we've always cut back to accomadate everyones schedules. This year we're going for it (at least I hope)...and anyone cruiseing with us that can't do the full time at WDW can just fly in and join us when they can

We're sticking with doing WDW before the cruise because our kids will acutally be missing the FIRST few days of school while being on the ship. Our school start half way though the week before Labor day...so they'll be missing Wednesday-Friday of the first week. It could be hard...but we figure the first three days of school is better than nearly two weeks after school starts...I'm thinking the hardest thing will be for our younger daughter..she'll be moving up to ther middle school that year...so she'll be missing the first few days at the NEW school. I acutally JUST realized that. I knew she'd be missing the first few days..but I just put the fact she'll be moving UP that year. Hmmmm

Well..it'll get worked out on way or another... We'll more than likely stay at Pop. We've stayed there for our trips in the past and have been happy with it. We like the busses and how Pop doesn't share with the other resorts and for as little as we're at the resort...it works well for us. Plus since we'll be having others traveling with us...it fits great in EVERYONES budget.

I really don't think there are any preffered rotations for dinning. I know the idea of having formal night in Luminers is ideal or to have Pirate night in Parrot Cay...But in all reality it doesn't matter. We've been on three Disney cruises so far and have had a formal night in Parrot Cay and Luminers...and honestly they were both enjoyable...the setting didn't make or break the night. On our first cruise I wanted SOOO badly to have everything perfect and have just the right dinning room for the nights theme...so I put in the request and got it BUT didn't plan on having a change in itenary making formal night move....anyways I was totally bumbed that now Formal night was going to be PC... Turns out I worried for NOTHING. It was great. The following year we lucked out and got the 'ideal' rotation again...and this time we actally ended up having formal night in Luminers..and you know what...it was the same as having it in PC...Turned out the setting didn't matter. Anyways I totally know what your saying about wanting to be in Luminers for formal night...but I can also tell you it REALLY won't matter once your on the ship.


IMO...deciding between two days at MK or one at HS and MK...with a 4yr....I'd pick the two days at MK. Like SleeyatDVC said there is sooo much to see at MK that you'll be busy for two days there no matter what. I'd actually think only one day at MK...you'd leave there feeling like you missed sooo much. Plus they have a good deal of things geared towards that age group...where HS may have some...I just don't think they have as much.


mrsmoore...I can't belive you have flights already. Makes me feel like I'm SOOOO far behind on the planning.

I'm off to look at flights and add the rest of our party to the booking (gotta get in before the May 28th thing)

 

[scrapperjill]

I just took a peek at the line up for the dinning rotation...and I can't see HOW right now it'd be possable to get the 'perfect' rotation.

They have for the Eastern...

Saturday= Casual (Rotation)
Sunday= Formal (Rotation)
Monday=Casual (Rotation)
Tuesday=Pirate (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Wednesday=Causal (Master Chefs)
Thruday=Semi Formal (Captains Gala)
Friday=Casual (Till we meet again)

The rotations are LAP APL or PLA

From the looks of it...the PLA rotation should get you in Luminers for Formal night and Parrot Cay for POC night...BUT in Animators for semi formal. I also think that rotation is normaly the second in the line up...for the staggared times.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

mrsmoore...I can't belive you have flights already. Makes me feel like I'm SOOOO far behind on the planning.

I'm off to look at flights and add the rest of our party to the booking (gotta get in before the May 28th thing)

Hmmm... I don't think she will actually be able to have booked her air since it's more than a year out. I think that it's probably just what she plans to book.

 

[scrapperjill]

That's why I was asking...seems early to have flights already. We did the red eye out of Porland Oregon last fall and still have mixed feeling about it. We ended up arriving in Orlando just after 5am...which is super early IMO...Most of the day we were all in a daze from the lack of sleep and rest. Luckly we didn't plan alot to do for that first day...just breakfast at Boma followed by shopping at DTD and a trip to BBB Anywho...I liked the idea of getting in a FULL day the day we arrived in Orlando...BUT for us it didn't work to sleep on the plane like we'd planned. I think it was pure excitement that kept us all awake. Anywho...haven't decided if we'll be doing the red eye again or not.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

That's why I was asking...seems early to have flights already. We did the red eye out of Porland Oregon last fall and still have mixed feeling about it. We ended up arriving in Orlando just after 5am...which is super early IMO...Most of the day we were all in a daze from the lack of sleep and rest. Luckly we didn't plan alot to do for that first day...just breakfast at Boma followed by shopping at DTD and a trip to BBB Anywho...I liked the idea of getting in a FULL day the day we arrived in Orlando...BUT for us it didn't work to sleep on the plane like we'd planned. I think it was pure excitement that kept us all awake. Anywho...haven't decided if we'll be doing the red eye again or not.

I have a feeling that you will let the $$$ decide. Lol. Depends on what the cheapest flights you can get turn out to be - red eye or not.

 

[mrsmoore]

Yes, it is what we plan on booking!! We are flying Alaska direct to Orlando, and basing our assumptions on the current schedule. FIL has miles and he has offered to upgrade us.

We debated Red Eye or not, and decided DD would likely sleep, and we wanted a direct, to avoid connection hassles with her. There are only 2 direct flights out of Seattle, and the red eye is cheaper, so worth it. We plan on a more relaxed first day, finger crossed we would get lucky enough to have our room ready early And relax at resort, then maybe head to park for dinner and enjoy evening, then enjoy entire next day, with an early to bed.

 

[mrsmoore]

That Hawaii vacation is definitely worth postponing your Disney Cruise for!!!

I like HS but it is a leisurely one day park for us especially since my kids don't do any of the thrill rides. (ToT or RnR). I don't think your DD4 will be doing those either.

We like the Animations drawing class. My girls will do 2-4 or more in a row if I let them. We usually do at least 2. We try see the Beauty and the Beast Show. Ride Star Tours and the Great Movie Ride if there are no lines. We may do Playhouse Disney and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid if the timing works out. (We did those 2 soooooo many times in the past when the girls were little that we are ok if we miss it - besides my girls are outgrowing Playhouse Disney). Then it's out of there and back to the hotel pool. We saw Fantasmic a few years ago and neither of my kids chose to stay and catch it over going swimming.

In your case, I might stick with the MK for 2 days. There are lots to see for a 4 yo there and you will be soooo close staying at WL.

My main reason for wanting to do HS with her is actually the PlayHouse Disney stuff, and the breakfast with the Playhouse Disney characters.

 

[scrapperjill]

Oh...I bet she'd LOVE the playhouse Disney stuff... You could more than liekly spend a good deal of the day with that alone.

Yep...I'm guessing the flight costs will play into it a bit. Although I was able to find flights for the same cost as the red eyes in the past...the down fall of those were they were all connecting flights and not direct. Maybe I look to hard for the good points of doing both... BUT IMO the connecting flights are also good because with long flights (like from Washington to Flordia)..you get a chance to stretch your legs and walk around a bit some where during the 6hr flight....but on the other hand a direct is good especialy if your doing the red eye (that's a MUST for the red eye).

Who knows Mrsmoore...depending on when we head to Orlando...we may be on the SAME red eye Last year I priced both Portland and Seattle and found Portland cheeper (plus we had somewhere to leave our cars with out charge)...but we'll see what happens next year Who knows...

Well...I got right on finishing our booking today after I read about the fuel charge being added. When we rebooked on board we only booked DH and myself with plans to 'add' the kids later (just to cut back on the initial deposit due when booking)...Anywho I went ahead and added them today so other than having the cruise paid off...it's REALLY official..we are ALL booked. Not that there was a chance they wouldn't be booked at some point...this just got things moving and got to busy with finishing things up. Now to decide how I want to pay it off. I'm tempted to use my Disney Visa to pay off the balance to get points...then turn around and pay the visa off But I'd hate to have my plans backfire on me and somehow NOT get the visa paid. :

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Now to decide how I want to pay it off. I'm tempted to use my Disney Visa to pay off the balance to get points...then turn around and pay the visa off But I'd hate to have my plans backfire on me and somehow NOT get the visa paid. :

Can you pay like $1000 at a time with your Disney Visa or so and pay off your card before making another charge and will they give you 6 months interest free each time?

I know they gave me 6 months to pay off the deposit so I'm in no rush to pay it off completely. I'll pay a bit each month and let the balance sit in the bank.

I don't use the card for anything else but Disney stuff.

Or maybe they will let you charge $500 each month and you can pay it off each month before charging more?

 

[scrapperjill]

I'm trying to figure out how to maximize the 6 month no intrest deal that the Disney Visa does... I knew if you booked or put a DISNEY vacation on it...you'd get 6month free intrest...but I didn't ever consider breaking it down to stretch it out over a year My problem is...I have some stuff on the card already that's not intrest free ...BUT I have the money to pay the cruise off in full... SO I was considering putting the money for the cruise (or part of it) towards the card balance...have the cruise added to it and get the free intrests. SO in a since exchaning the balacne that's getting intrest added with an intrest free balance (for 6 months)....PLUS getting the Disney points to use on vacation... I know I want to get the points...BUT I'm jsut not sure about the paying the card down and adding the crusie fair to it??