Hey everyone! First of all a huge thank you to to all of you and this board! I felt I went on this cruise with loads of info that i had found on the disboard.
We went on the Western 4/10 thru 4/17 Easter cruise. Got home last Saturday night.
There were a total of 19 in my party (all family) 7 in my immediate family group. Just the cruise fare and the air fare probably came to around $10,000. Let me tell you...IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY!!
Omg. I had such high expectations going into this. It surpassed all of those expectations!
I will try and answer as many questions as i can. I want to go into some detail on others...
We spent the night at the Orlando Days Inn on Friday evening. Caught a shuttle back to the airport on Saturday. The DCL shuttles arrive around 9:00 or 9:15 am. We got there around 9:30 am. DCL is very organized and it is a very easy process!! All the DCL shuttles are at the mears landing on level one. Once there, there are several DCL reps in their blue coats waving their Mickey hands. You then have to go into the doors (airport) and go thru a little maze. A rep will give you a blue envelope. On the outside of this envelope it will list/itemize what DCL docs you need to fill out and place in the envelope. It is very easy and convenient. They tell you to fill out the docs on the bus on your way to the port. If I were you I would complete as much as I could prior to getting to the airport so you can relax a little until you get to the port.
Once at the port...you just get into a line (again a maze) and it all goes by very quickly! You give this DCL rep your docs; birth certifs and photo id. Here they can make any changes to rooms. They issue you your KTTW card (for every passenger in your party) and you then you wait until they start boarding. On this day they started boarding around 12:30 pm. was not a long wait at all. There is a little cafe there, which does cost $. I felt that we could wait until we got on the ship! All of a sudden the Mickey Mouse doors open and you walk in. Then you are in the Atrium and they are announcing your name on the microphone and castmembers are clapping!! It's quite amazing!!
Rooms are not ready until after 1:30 pm. They actually block off the entrance to the hallways so you cannot even get to the rooms. Our Dining rotation was PLAPLAP. Any dining rotation is great...it would not matter what you were assigned. For 1 year we were wait listed for early seating. We were not expecting it, but then we got it w/o even asking for it at the port; etc. First seating at 6 PM! DH took kids to the Mickey Pool while I ran to make res for Palos and get kids signed up at the Oceaneers club. Palo reservations are made in Rockin Bar-D on deck 3 which is what I considered my main deck. Was probably 2 people in front of me. No problem on getting any reservation I wanted. I can see though if you do not get into the port relativaley early how there would be few open spaces. Once that was done on to Oceaneers club to sign up my 7 yr old dd and 4 yr old ds. The CM's were very nice. I requested that my 4 year old be with my 7 year old. Was no problem at all!! Was assigned my pager. Gave them my password and listed the people that were allowed to check out my kids. They give you a Childrens navigator which tells you the entire schedule for the week with times; etc!! I carried this with me everywhere.
My kids went into the Oceaneers Club just a handful of times. Really my dd said that she thought it was boring. There are times that they go into the Lab which is for the 8 and over kids which she wished she could go into at all times. Don't let your kids miss the Goofy Slumber Party. The kids had so much fun here...and they are given a pillowcase which was a great treat!!
Our waiters were Ronald from Netherlands and Moni from Hungary. Room steward was Ari from Indonesia. ALL WERE AWESOME!
Our Rooms were on deck 6 Foward #6502 and #6504. This was a great spot for us. Easy access to everthing. Laundry room down the hall a bit. I think there was only one room on our left. Rooms are of good size. The couch turned into a bed and the bunk was down every evening. the shower is a shower/bath combo which was great for my kids! You will not spend much time in the room!!
Deck 9 is all the pools. Spent all pool time for us at the Mickey Pool. This pool is great for kids 7 and under. The slide is awesome! It was about 3' deep with 2 wading type pools. Right here is a walk up beverage bar and a seperate window for food such as burgers; chicken strips; hot dogs; etc. Is VERY convenient and yummy!! We booked thru AAA so we had the soda pkg stickers on the card which worked out great!!
The weather was great. The deck party's were awesome. Watch the sail away party from deck 10. It is amazing! Our first stop was Key West. We did the Conch Trolley Train Tour w/the Aquarium and Shipwreck Museum. Next stop was Grand Cayman. Very hot here. We did the Stingray tour w/Captains Marvins with the Turtle Farm and Hell. They say there are about 2 blocks to the left of the port but it is more like 3 or 4. Very nice people!! Next stop Cozumel. Here we did the Dolphin Encounter. Was Wonderful! Last stop - Castaway Cay. What an amazing place. Would be great to spend 2 days here. I agree with everyone who has been here....the day goes by way to fast. My daughter had her hair braided here. They are wonderful and fast. Most of the ships female passengers (youth) get there hair braided here or in Mexico. Appts on the ship go very quickly. You have to go to guest services to make you braiding appt for castaway cay. I did this on Thursday and got in for noon!
Re the braiding. IT HURTS. Every little girl crys at one point, but once done it looks sooo cute!!
All The shows were awesome. Your wait staff will push the best shows which are Golden Mickey's...Disney Dreams and Hercules. DONT MISS THESE SHOWS. On the last night there is the farewell show which i am told by dh and others....is the best also!!
Re clothing...formal wear; etc. People pay too much attention and spend too much time trying to figure out formal wear; etc...this is a Disney Cruise. I did not see any formal gowns; etc. 99 times out of 100 men were in polo/golf shirts and slacks. little boys were in polo/golf shirts and khaki type dress shorts and sandals. little girls in sundresses; skirts; etc. Women in capris; sundresses; etc. I would suggest not worring too much about formal night...semi-formal night; etc. It is not worth the time or stress. Dinners last about an hour and 1/2.
There are 2 "stores" on board. Both with clothing; toiletries; disney items; etc.
Laundry cost $1 for the washer. $1 for the dryer and $1 for a box of soap out of the machine. They dryer cycle is 32 minutes. Took me $3.00 just to get the clothes dried completely!!
This cruise was a once in a lifetime cruise! It was an incredible trip and experience. I wouldn't trade any of it for a dime! Be so excited to go. Savor every minute of it...and you'll remember it always.
I would be sooo happy to answer any questions on the board or you can email me at terri.hoff@unigard.com
Cheers!
We went on the Western 4/10 thru 4/17 Easter cruise. Got home last Saturday night.
There were a total of 19 in my party (all family) 7 in my immediate family group. Just the cruise fare and the air fare probably came to around $10,000. Let me tell you...IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY!!
Omg. I had such high expectations going into this. It surpassed all of those expectations!
I will try and answer as many questions as i can. I want to go into some detail on others...
We spent the night at the Orlando Days Inn on Friday evening. Caught a shuttle back to the airport on Saturday. The DCL shuttles arrive around 9:00 or 9:15 am. We got there around 9:30 am. DCL is very organized and it is a very easy process!! All the DCL shuttles are at the mears landing on level one. Once there, there are several DCL reps in their blue coats waving their Mickey hands. You then have to go into the doors (airport) and go thru a little maze. A rep will give you a blue envelope. On the outside of this envelope it will list/itemize what DCL docs you need to fill out and place in the envelope. It is very easy and convenient. They tell you to fill out the docs on the bus on your way to the port. If I were you I would complete as much as I could prior to getting to the airport so you can relax a little until you get to the port.
Once at the port...you just get into a line (again a maze) and it all goes by very quickly! You give this DCL rep your docs; birth certifs and photo id. Here they can make any changes to rooms. They issue you your KTTW card (for every passenger in your party) and you then you wait until they start boarding. On this day they started boarding around 12:30 pm. was not a long wait at all. There is a little cafe there, which does cost $. I felt that we could wait until we got on the ship! All of a sudden the Mickey Mouse doors open and you walk in. Then you are in the Atrium and they are announcing your name on the microphone and castmembers are clapping!! It's quite amazing!!
Rooms are not ready until after 1:30 pm. They actually block off the entrance to the hallways so you cannot even get to the rooms. Our Dining rotation was PLAPLAP. Any dining rotation is great...it would not matter what you were assigned. For 1 year we were wait listed for early seating. We were not expecting it, but then we got it w/o even asking for it at the port; etc. First seating at 6 PM! DH took kids to the Mickey Pool while I ran to make res for Palos and get kids signed up at the Oceaneers club. Palo reservations are made in Rockin Bar-D on deck 3 which is what I considered my main deck. Was probably 2 people in front of me. No problem on getting any reservation I wanted. I can see though if you do not get into the port relativaley early how there would be few open spaces. Once that was done on to Oceaneers club to sign up my 7 yr old dd and 4 yr old ds. The CM's were very nice. I requested that my 4 year old be with my 7 year old. Was no problem at all!! Was assigned my pager. Gave them my password and listed the people that were allowed to check out my kids. They give you a Childrens navigator which tells you the entire schedule for the week with times; etc!! I carried this with me everywhere.
My kids went into the Oceaneers Club just a handful of times. Really my dd said that she thought it was boring. There are times that they go into the Lab which is for the 8 and over kids which she wished she could go into at all times. Don't let your kids miss the Goofy Slumber Party. The kids had so much fun here...and they are given a pillowcase which was a great treat!!
Our waiters were Ronald from Netherlands and Moni from Hungary. Room steward was Ari from Indonesia. ALL WERE AWESOME!
Our Rooms were on deck 6 Foward #6502 and #6504. This was a great spot for us. Easy access to everthing. Laundry room down the hall a bit. I think there was only one room on our left. Rooms are of good size. The couch turned into a bed and the bunk was down every evening. the shower is a shower/bath combo which was great for my kids! You will not spend much time in the room!!
Deck 9 is all the pools. Spent all pool time for us at the Mickey Pool. This pool is great for kids 7 and under. The slide is awesome! It was about 3' deep with 2 wading type pools. Right here is a walk up beverage bar and a seperate window for food such as burgers; chicken strips; hot dogs; etc. Is VERY convenient and yummy!! We booked thru AAA so we had the soda pkg stickers on the card which worked out great!!
The weather was great. The deck party's were awesome. Watch the sail away party from deck 10. It is amazing! Our first stop was Key West. We did the Conch Trolley Train Tour w/the Aquarium and Shipwreck Museum. Next stop was Grand Cayman. Very hot here. We did the Stingray tour w/Captains Marvins with the Turtle Farm and Hell. They say there are about 2 blocks to the left of the port but it is more like 3 or 4. Very nice people!! Next stop Cozumel. Here we did the Dolphin Encounter. Was Wonderful! Last stop - Castaway Cay. What an amazing place. Would be great to spend 2 days here. I agree with everyone who has been here....the day goes by way to fast. My daughter had her hair braided here. They are wonderful and fast. Most of the ships female passengers (youth) get there hair braided here or in Mexico. Appts on the ship go very quickly. You have to go to guest services to make you braiding appt for castaway cay. I did this on Thursday and got in for noon!
Re the braiding. IT HURTS. Every little girl crys at one point, but once done it looks sooo cute!!
All The shows were awesome. Your wait staff will push the best shows which are Golden Mickey's...Disney Dreams and Hercules. DONT MISS THESE SHOWS. On the last night there is the farewell show which i am told by dh and others....is the best also!!
Re clothing...formal wear; etc. People pay too much attention and spend too much time trying to figure out formal wear; etc...this is a Disney Cruise. I did not see any formal gowns; etc. 99 times out of 100 men were in polo/golf shirts and slacks. little boys were in polo/golf shirts and khaki type dress shorts and sandals. little girls in sundresses; skirts; etc. Women in capris; sundresses; etc. I would suggest not worring too much about formal night...semi-formal night; etc. It is not worth the time or stress. Dinners last about an hour and 1/2.
There are 2 "stores" on board. Both with clothing; toiletries; disney items; etc.
Laundry cost $1 for the washer. $1 for the dryer and $1 for a box of soap out of the machine. They dryer cycle is 32 minutes. Took me $3.00 just to get the clothes dried completely!!
This cruise was a once in a lifetime cruise! It was an incredible trip and experience. I wouldn't trade any of it for a dime! Be so excited to go. Savor every minute of it...and you'll remember it always.
I would be sooo happy to answer any questions on the board or you can email me at terri.hoff@unigard.com
Cheers!
