Dec 5, 2009 -- now traveling to Tortola

[TCKLdisney]

I am glad to hear there are reservations still for Palo. I am traveling on this cruise, but when I put in my number it says I have 91 days til I cruise. I guess I will try in the morning and call the cruise line if it still is not working,

 

[Tower]

I am glad to hear there are reservations still for Palo. I am traveling on this cruise, but when I put in my number it says I have 91 days til I cruise. I guess I will try in the morning and call the cruise line if it still is not working,

I hear ya TCK. We booked in January of 2008, yet we still have to wait for our booking days for Palo. I do really hope we can get SOMETHING!

It would be fun otherwise, but we do like to do our special 'Mommy/Daddy' things too.

 

[Inkmahm]

I am glad to hear there are reservations still for Palo. I am traveling on this cruise, but when I put in my number it says I have 91 days til I cruise. I guess I will try in the morning and call the cruise line if it still is not working,

It still said 91 days until the cruise for me, too, when I was booking last night. I thought maybe the counter didn't reflect Eastern time, or something. I had all my requests booked before midnight my time as I live in central time. It still worked for booking. Just had to retrieve my reservation and at 11 pm my time, all the "buttons" for Palo, excursions, and spa worked. Only the one for the nursery didn't, but I didn't need that one anyway.

 

[Inkmahm]

I hear ya TCK. We booked in January of 2008, yet we still have to wait for our booking days for Palo. I do really hope we can get SOMETHING!

It would be fun otherwise, but we do like to do our special 'Mommy/Daddy' things too.

The first DCL cruise we did was a 4 night one and I was able to get dinner for us at Palo at the 75 day mark. I think it was for embarcation day, but it was still a reservation! I figure there are the same number of people on the ship for the 7 day cruise as for the 4 day cruise so there are quite a few more openings at Palo per person with all the dinners, brunches and high teas. On the 4 day cruise there was only one brunch besides the dinner each night and no teas at all. In other words, I think you still have a good chance.

Personally, I'm hoping to get more than one night at Palo and will try for more reservations once I'm on the ship and know my dining rotation. The food at Palo is definitely better than the food in the regular dining rooms.

 

[Inkmahm]

I've still got 15 days since we've never sailed before. But I do have a couple of questions:
1) When are the themed nights? I really don't want to miss formal, semi-formal or pirate night.
2) Also, since we won't know dining rotation until check-in, will we be able to make Palo changes after finding out our rotation? I don't want to miss AP on the first night when they do the light show.

TIA

From the sticky above on this forum with the alphabetical listing of cruise topics: plannning tips link to navigator copies:http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/DCL-Navigators/02-28-09-Magic.pdf

It's great to be able to read what is all available to do but remember, the schedule on our cruise COULD be different. The old navigators work as a guideline but aren't cut in stone.

 

[mrstbalt]

We got our Palo ressies last night. I usually don't stay up that late but
for Palo I will! We got High Tea, Brunch and Rasual too. We have
never done any of these before, looking forward to it!
I can't believe we are 90 days out..time goes so fast. I have been
waiting since Jan 2008.

 

[Inkmahm]

I found this thread today: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2214851

I'm happy to hear the food is good on the Magic. Last I read about it, everyone was complaining that the new menus would be terrible and you couldn't get food done plainly. Now I'm looking forward to the food in the regular dining rooms as well as for Palo!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hi All I am happy so many of you were able to get what you wanted last night (and I hope the rest of you do at 75 days).

We are odd and do not much care for Palo's brunch or dinner. We will do dinner if we are sailing with friends and all want to dine togeher as an adult group one night, but always miss the dining room. The soufle is fabulous--but we bought the cookbook and make it ourselves now and it is just as good (actually our last two trips to Palo our soufle was overdone so our home version is better). BUT, I did want a tea. I would have loved to ahev done it for my birthday, but can't because that is not a sea day. Soooo, we will celebrate early on Monday. I have to say I adore my travel agent--she gets up on booking night and makes the reservations for me

Anyway, Tower (and anyone else)--lots of peple love Palo--and it is good but it really is not the end all be all and you will miss something special in the dining rooms to do it so for a first cruise it is really not all that bad if you end up not getting it (also we have alwasy had good luck going right into Rockin' Bar D when we board and getting whatever we could not get online). Yo ucan always still put the kids in the club and enjoy a meal without your OWN kids at least once.

 

[Inkmahm]

I just checked and all the Palo brunch and tea reservations are taken, plus a few of the dinner slots are full. I am guessing that DCL keeps some reservations open for booking when you get to the ship though so it is probably still worth it to try in person.

There must be a lot of Castaway Club members on this cruise for the Palo reservations to book so quickly!

 

[hurley03]

thanks nhdisneylover,

we are at late dining. and we are also staying at wilderness lodge before our cruise.

doreen.

 

[hurley03]

Hi all,
I saw the fish extender thread and it looks fun.
and since it is Christmas time when we are going, and
specifically, St. Nick Day on December 6th, ...would
a St. Nick stocking be okay to use as a fish extender?

and we would just put little treats in others extenders?
(that sounds weird, sorry.)

thanks
doreen

not a newbie to cruising, but a newbie to fish extender things.

 

[Inkmahm]

Hi all,
I saw the fish extender thread and it looks fun.
and since it is Christmas time when we are going, and
specifically, St. Nick Day on December 6th, ...would
a St. Nick stocking be okay to use as a fish extender?

and we would just put little treats in others extenders?
(that sounds weird, sorry.)

thanks
doreen

not a newbie to cruising, but a newbie to fish extender things.

Our first two Disney cruises were in Dec 06 and Dec 07 and there WERE people who hung stockings as their FE's. Worked well!

 

[Inkmahm]

thanks nhdisneylover,

we are at late dining. and we are also staying at wilderness lodge before our cruise.

doreen.

Hey, you're from my area at home and you're staying at Wilderness before the cruise, too! When are you getting there? I'm starting to think there' s enough of us going to Wilderness (although we're at the Villas) before the cruise that we're likely to see each other there before hand.

We're actually getting there on the 2nd (Airtran flight in the morning). I have ADRs for dinner at 12/2 Jiko, 12/3 Artist Point, and 12/4 Flying Fish. We're doing Animal Kingdom during the day on Thurs and MVMCP at night, then Epcot on Friday. Since it is EMH at HS on Sat. we're stopping there first before heading to the port on Saturday.

I wonder if we're going to run into any of you with that schedule?

 

[mrstbalt]

Hi! I just asked Hadley, she seems to think that you
may be in charge of this one...FE lit that is.
I will have to look at our cabin #s again, but it's
me and DH in cabin 1 and my mom, and DD's 8&9 in cabin 2.
Will get the cabin number when I have them in front
of me.
Thanks. Have a nice Labor Day weekend.

Jen

 

[NHdisneylover]

Doreen--I think a stocking would make an excellent fish extender

Jen--It is mommyoftwinfants who had started a fish extrender list. I PMd her my info a few days ago but have not heard back yet. I imagine having twon 6 year olds takes tons of time! If peopel would like, I could add an asterik* next to the posting names of those who will have FEs on the roll call--but you have to let me know who you are. Jen and Doreen--I'll put one by each of you since it is clear you will have one (so will I--we love them. We are planning on bringing some German candies for sure)

Well, since it is Monday (happy Labor Day to those of you in the U.S.) I guess we should have another Question of the Week While we are on the topic of pakcing, and now that we all have lots of good ideas of WHAT to pack, What is your best tip on how to go about packing? How to get it all in, or how to sort it, etc.

I will share two tips specific to cruising:

1. Remember that you will be staying in a small room and your luggage must stay in there with you (some lines will stow your empty bags but DCL does not). With that in mind we find the best things to bring are rolling duffles and a soft sided garment bag. Anything soft and collapsable like that can be stuffed under the bed for the week and thereby out of the way

2. The bags you check onto the ship (either at the airport that day if flying in same day and using DCL transfers--or when you arrive at port) may not arrive at your stateroom until 5 or 6 pm (though most things make it by 4:00). This is several after you have made it onboard. I ALWAYS put our swimsuits and some sunscreen in the bag we carry on. It seems no matter what the weather or the "plans" the kids end up wanting to be in that pool shortly after boarding.

I am really looking forward to seeing tips. I am always refining the packing process. . .

 

[Tower]

What is your best tip on how to go about packing?

My best tip on packing is to let the butler do it

Ok, Ok, we don't have a butler (or a maid etc.) I have learned to stay out of DM's way when there is packing to be done. If I try to do something then something else gets left out. (one person assuming the other has packed a specific item)

My bride typically makes a list of items that have to be packed and checks it off when packing day arrives. I make sure some items are on the list, then I stay out of the way!

Christine's big tip, pack everything you think you will need, then divide it in half, then divide it again in half, and finally divide that in half. Then you have all you really need.

So disappointed that there are no High Tea slots left. I think the cruise line should restrict people to one reservation per cabin for either a dinner or lunch and after a certain date, but after the 1st timers can put in their dates, open it up for more reservations for everyone, 1st come, 1st served.

 

[NHdisneylover]

So disappointed that there are no High Tea slots left. I think the cruise line should restrict people to one reservation per cabin for either a dinner or lunch and after a certain date, but after the 1st timers can put in their dates, open it up for more reservations for everyone, 1st come, 1st served.

The rule is one brunch, one tea and one dinner per cabin. There are just so many repeat cruisers anymore that it still books up. There is just not enough space in Palo for everyone to even get one trip in each. I imagine the new ships will have a bigger version of Palo (or more than one).

I just logged in and am seeing that brunch is sold out but tea is still open on Monday (it is NOT high tea--just finger sandwhiches, scones and pastries) and dinner is still available every night.

 

[Tower]

I just logged in and am seeing that brunch is sold out but tea is still open on Monday (it is NOT high tea--just finger sandwhiches, scones and pastries) and dinner is still available every night.

Hey! Thanks Hadley! That's Wonderful News!

I really wanted to have High Tea with just the 3 adults once and then dinner with my bride, just once. The rest is family time.

We'll take it from there.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hey! Thanks Hadley! That's Wonderful News!

I really wanted to have High Tea with just the 3 adults once and then dinner with my bride, just once. The rest is family time.

We'll take it from there.

Tips:
Whatever is left will likely be gone within about 5 minutes of teh 75 day booking window opening up. So figure what time the window opens in your time zone and be logged in and online about 5 minutes prior (because clocks can vary). Keep telling it you want to reserve Palo and refreshing your reservation from 5 til until you get in. Tea will go first so go for that immediately. Then as fast as you can after tea is booked gor for dinner. KNOW without having ot slow down and look at it what days/times are okay for you and pic kfast and book it. If you do not get something--remember taht 20% are held for booking onboard and you can do that as soo nas you board. Also remember than many people cancel later on so checking back often is a good idea.

 

[hawaiian mickey]

Hey, you're from my area at home and you're staying at Wilderness before the cruise, too! When are you getting there? I'm starting to think there' s enough of us going to Wilderness (although we're at the Villas) before the cruise that we're likely to see each other there before hand.

We're actually getting there on the 2nd (Airtran flight in the morning). I have ADRs for dinner at 12/2 Jiko, 12/3 Artist Point, and 12/4 Flying Fish. We're doing Animal Kingdom during the day on Thurs and MVMCP at night, then Epcot on Friday. Since it is EMH at HS on Sat. we're stopping there first before heading to the port on Saturday.

I wonder if we're going to run into any of you with that schedule?

aloha,
We are also coming in on 12/02 in the afternoon. We are having at Artist Point on 12/02. We would love to have drinks with anyone who is staying at WL or other resorts.
It would nice to meet some new friends before the cruise.

aloha,
hawaiian mickey