December 12 - 19, 2009 Western Magic

[kcashner]

Well, so far I'm refraining...it's still WAY too early. I've never seen room assignments till at least 45 days ahead (and that was a rare one). Most of the time it is right at 30 days. Do be aware that the assignment can change even after it's posted on line--if they can sell another cabin, they will...and if that means moving someone, so be it.

It's cold here. I finally gave in and turned on the heat. OK, how long till I'm on the ship in the middle of a WARM ocean???

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I refuse to turn on the heat, although, I'm freezing my butt off here this morning.

It will be nice to escape this cold in December.

 

[Shoog]

How many of you are there? The break even point between a limo service and DCL transfers is usually about 3 1/2 people; for a group of 4, the limo service should be cheaper! You could also choose to do the limo service one way and take the bus on the way back to WDW if you wish. There are a lot of limo services out there....don't let them overcharge you!

Who have you used that is reliable. I am noticing that the prices for a limo differ greatly - up to $100 - for the same limo through different companies.

 

[Shoog]

Since this is our first cruise - I would like a little advice to see if we have overbooked ourselves or not - I don't want to have too many things going on and feel like all we did is run. I figured it was easier to snag reservations while I could and cancel if needed before getting on the ship than trying to get reservations the first day on board. We will be spending the full week before the cruise at DW.
Key West - nothing (get off the ship for a couple hours and walk around)
Cayman's - snorkeling
Cozumel - dolphins (and then spend the rest of the day at the beach)
Castaway - snorkel first thing (the excursion) and then para-sailing
Palo's for brunch and dinner
kids 11, 7, 5 they are water kids not shoppers.
I know many of you have cruised several times and have a much better idea than I do of what is too much. We visit DL couple of times a year and they are good for a 14 hour day with a 2 hour nap stuck in there.
Is the Castaway snorkel worth paying for? or can you see plenty by snorkeling off the beach?

 

[HallsofVA]

Since this is our first cruise - I would like a little advice to see if we have overbooked ourselves or not - I don't want to have too many things going on and feel like all we did is run. I figured it was easier to snag reservations while I could and cancel if needed before getting on the ship than trying to get reservations the first day on board. We will be spending the full week before the cruise at DW.
Key West - nothing (get off the ship for a couple hours and walk around)
Cayman's - snorkeling
Cozumel - dolphins (and then spend the rest of the day at the beach)
Castaway - snorkel first thing (the excursion) and then para-sailing
Palo's for brunch and dinner
kids 11, 7, 5 they are water kids not shoppers.
I know many of you have cruised several times and have a much better idea than I do of what is too much. We visit DL couple of times a year and they are good for a 14 hour day with a 2 hour nap stuck in there.
Is the Castaway snorkel worth paying for? or can you see plenty by snorkeling off the beach?

The one thing that sticks out to me is that you may not get a lot of time to actually enjoy Castaway Cay which for me is the best part of the trip. But it depends on what is most fun for you and what you'd be happy with. For us, we look forward to having that last day of the cruise free just to hang on the beach and enjoy your last day of Disney magic before heading home.

 

[bevtoy]

Why do I keep logging into my reservation to see if I have a stateroom assignment yet? I know it's way too early to get one, yet I keep looking anyway. Perhaps it's because this is the first time we've sailed in a guarantee cabin, but then again I think I kept checking my friend's reservation last time until they got their room assignment. Anyone being irrational about stateroom assignments at the moment?

You got me ROFL because I am doing the same thing

 

[bevtoy]

Since this is our first cruise - I would like a little advice to see if we have overbooked ourselves or not - I don't want to have too many things going on and feel like all we did is run. I figured it was easier to snag reservations while I could and cancel if needed before getting on the ship than trying to get reservations the first day on board. We will be spending the full week before the cruise at DW.
Key West - nothing (get off the ship for a couple hours and walk around)
Cayman's - snorkeling
Cozumel - dolphins (and then spend the rest of the day at the beach)
Castaway - snorkel first thing (the excursion) and then para-sailing
Palo's for brunch and dinner
kids 11, 7, 5 they are water kids not shoppers.
I know many of you have cruised several times and have a much better idea than I do of what is too much. We visit DL couple of times a year and they are good for a 14 hour day with a 2 hour nap stuck in there.
Is the Castaway snorkel worth paying for? or can you see plenty by snorkeling off the beach?

I saw a place on line thats at Key West where you can para sail for 34 to 40 dollars first come first serve or make reservations. They are supposed to be fairly close to where the Disney ship docks. Has anyone tried them?
http://www.furycat.com/key-west/parasailing.htm

 

[bevtoy]

What time do we have to be bcak on ship at Key West?

 

[Shoog]

what time do we have to be bcak on ship at key west?

7:30

 

[HallsofVA]

Despite my compulsive checking of our reservation to see if we have a stateroom yet, I completely forgot to check to see if we'd received main dining, which we were waitlisted for. I just looked at our reservation online and it shows Main Seating as our dining preference so I assume we got it! Yea! Doing the happy dance.

It's funny because I kept assuming we had main dining (since we've never had late) and I found myself having to double think my trip plans since there was no guarantee we'd get off the waitlist. Glad it worked out.

Now I assume that if we got main dining that our friends who are linked to us for dinner also got main dining, but I'm going to have them check just to be sure.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Newbie cruiser here... What do you mean by "main dining"?

 

[HallsofVA]

Newbie cruiser here... What do you mean by "main dining"?

There are two dinner seatings. "Main Seating", commonly referred to as Early Seating is generally at 5:45pm or 6pm, and the second or late seating is generally at 8:15pm. Folks with Main Seating eat dinner at the earlier time, and see the shows around 8:30pm. Folks with late seating see the shows first, around 6:15pm and eat dinner at 8:15pm.

Having 2 little kids I like the early seating since that's closest to when we eat dinner back home, and lets the kids see the shows before bedtime. Early dining also doesn't usually take as long (up to 1.5 hours usually) while late dining can last 2 hours which is way too late for us. (But works out well for the older crowd or for west coast folks.)

 

[kcashner]

Who have you used that is reliable. I am noticing that the prices for a limo differ greatly - up to $100 - for the same limo through different companies.

As you said, there are many limo companies....and many are willing to bargian when you tell them that XYZ charges Q...will you match it? The worst they can do is say no. I have experience with Happy Limo and Tiffany limo...and one that I've been advised by a moderator not to mention on the boards as their web site links to some ads that are considered inappropriate. I've read of many others. The only one I've heard bad about is FL limo, and they are now supposedly under new management and have supposedly resolved their issues.

 

[Shelebeen]

Despite my compulsive checking of our reservation to see if we have a stateroom yet, I completely forgot to check to see if we'd received main dining, which we were waitlisted for. I just looked at our reservation online and it shows Main Seating as our dining preference so I assume we got it! Yea! Doing the happy dance.

It's funny because I kept assuming we had main dining (since we've never had late) and I found myself having to double think my trip plans since there was no guarantee we'd get off the waitlist. Glad it worked out.

Now I assume that if we got main dining that our friends who are linked to us for dinner also got main dining, but I'm going to have them check just to be sure.

Where does it show the dining online? I can't see it anywhere on my reservation...

 

[pxlbarrel]

Ok...gotcha on the "main dining". Our confirmation says 6:00 dining so I guess we got "main dining".

My TA is booking us with Elite to get us from CBR to Port Canaveral. She's booked them before and says hasn't had any complaints. I'll trust her on this one. Price I got quoted is $130 plus 20% gratuity for a mini-van to take us...it'll fit all of our luggage. LOL

So, we have assigned cabins (CAT9)...do WE have any chance of upgrade? LOL

 

[HallsofVA]

Where does it show the dining online? I can't see it anywhere on my reservation...

As long as you aren't using a TA, you can go online and retrieve your reservation. Click on the option to show details. Down in the section called Vacation Information (I think) is a row that says Dining Preference. If it says Main Seating, that's the early seating. Second Seating is the later seating.

I don't think you can see this if you are using a TA. You will have to retrieve your vacation information on the travel agency site.

 

[HallsofVA]

So, we have assigned cabins (CAT9)...do WE have any chance of upgrade? LOL

There's always a chance, albeit a slim one. Generally with an assigned cabin they'd call you or your TA before they tried to move you, though someone recently noted that they'd been moved out of their preferred cabin without a phone call.

 

[kcashner]

As PP said, there is always a chance for an upgrade. How good a chance depends on how full the cruise is and how DCL chooses to shuffle people to manage inventory. In recent months they have been known to call people (or TAs if used) and offer upgrades at a reduced price prior to sailing. These are good deals as they are about the same price as the upgrades at the port but you don't have to be there early and hope for one--you have it locked in. THe only thing is that there's no way to predict who might get these calls.

If you use a TA, you have access to your reservation on the DCL site. The only part you can't see is the financial info.

 

[disneyfan19712006]

You got me ROFL because I am doing the same thing

Me to. Just good old fashioned anticipation.

 

[disneyfan19712006]

Cabin screen name name adults names children names/ages
2122 & 2124 pamrob Pam 2 Mark & Pam 5 Marisa-15, Clare-12, Paige-11, Grace-11, Audrey-6
GTY bevtoy Bev 2 Bev & Jeff
GTY with bevtoy 2 Kate-19, Anna-12
GTY disneyfan19712006 Melissa 3 Melissa, Ivan, Nick
GTY with disneyfan19712006 2 Melody & Gabriel 1 Caroline-6 months
7556 Shelebeen Carole 2 Jim & Carole 2 Sarah- 9 Phillip-6
GTY Scooby3x1y Lori 1 Lori 2 Courtney-13 Daryl- 18
GTY Scooby3x1y Bruce 1 Bruce 2 Dalton-16 Mason-15
GTY experiment_627 Candy 2 Candy & L E Ott
GTY with Scooby3x1y 2 Daryl & Nancy
GTY badell Beth 2 Beth & Bill
GTY
GTY shugg


If any of your info is missing please let me know. I have been sick and am just getting back into trip planning mode. Maybe we will have room assignments by Halloween.