December 12 - 19, 2009 Western Magic

[pxlbarrel]

We're hoping the limo gets us to the pier at 11:30 am. Do you think we can snag ressies then?

 

[Juney]

but there's a couple of excursions we really want to go on and I don't want to miss out.

Right now 3 of the excursions are full: Key West electric car, Cozumel Underwater Scooter and Grand Cayman 7 Mile Beach Break.

I didn't plan to book dinner, but when I saw brunch and tea were both gone I booked it. We really wanted to do dinner as a family each night too, espeically with my daughter's food allergies. Oh well, I'm sure it will work out. Hopefully we will be at the port early since we are staying on the Cape the night before.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Right now 3 of the excursions are full: Key West electric car, Cozumel Underwater Scooter and Grand Cayman 7 Mile Beach Break.

I didn't plan to book dinner, but when I saw brunch and tea were both gone I booked it. We really wanted to do dinner as a family each night too, espeically with my daughter's food allergies. Oh well, I'm sure it will work out. Hopefully we will be at the port early since we are staying on the Cape the night before.

Thanks for the update on excursions. So far ... phew. Not the ones we wanted. Called my TA and she hasn't called Disney yet with our payment. Arghhhhh. Oh well....she's calling them now. LOL

It's been a cruising weekend for me. Travel agent on Sat, shopping for cruise clothes the rest of the weekend!! I am NOT a clothes horse and one of the worst things in the world that I can think of...to do is going clothes shopping with my mom (to say our tastes clash is an understatement). But the magic of Disney had us shopping for clothes without incident and quite happily. Ain't da magic grand??

 

[Juney]

I quite like this "device" for power:


Looks like it'll pack nicely too.

I can't post a link because of my low post count, but check Amazon for this adapter. They have the exact same one for under $7.00.

Also, about your clothes shopping .. what are you buying? I'm worried about the weather (for clothes and excursions). When I look at the weather at the ports for December, the highs really don't seem that 'hot'.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I can't post a link because of my low post count, but check Amazon for this adapter. They have the exact same one for under $7.00.

Also, about your clothes shopping .. what are you buying? I'm worried about the weather (for clothes and excursions). When I look at the weather at the ports for December, the highs really don't seem that 'hot'.

Thanks for alerting us about Amazon. Unfortunately, I'm from Canada and the shipping would probably negate any savings. I ended up buying it the other day by going to a Tiger Direct store near my house. It's not light...but it's probably lighter than a power strip. I can pack it in a nook or cranny in my luggage.

As for clothes. I was just trying to find something that wouldn't make me look like a slob at dinner. LOL When I said I wasn't a clothes horse, I'm not even a clothes mule. So I just ended up getting some shimmery stuff and some shirts to go over tees so it would "dress" me up a bit and would also work for formal/informal evenings. Everything was on sale so we got more stuff than was needed (think feeding frenzy and you can picture my mom and I).

I don't intend to bring any shorts so I didn't buy any of that stuff. Every time we've gone to Florida in December, we've ended up wearing our winter coats in the parks. I know we're going a bit more south than Orlando but it doesn't look that hot, as you said. I'm bringing autumn type clothes and if it gets too cold, we still will have our winter stuff that we had to wear to get to the airport up here. I believe the trick is to dress in layers. haha I can always peel stuff off (to a point!) if too hot.

 

[IndyDisneyFan]

No brunch or tea left last night. I wasn't planning to have dinner at Palo because we were going to dine as a family everynight. My TA is suggesting Pirate Night since the show doesn't start until 10 pm. I originally picked late Sunday evening. Any opinions?

I really want to see the shows as well.

Hoping to get a brunch once onboard.

Pirate night is a good night to go to Palo's but you miss the fun in the dining room (everyone dressed up, special pirate menu). It takes about 2 hours to eat dinner there, so I would not make the reservation any later than 7:00 p.m. Even though the party does not start until 10:00, if you don't get there early you will not be able to see what is going on on stage. The fireworks will be shot off of the right side of the ship as you are looking at the stage. Have fun and enjoy dinner!

Laura

 

[Shelebeen]

Thanks for alerting us about Amazon.

I don't intend to bring any shorts so I didn't buy any of that stuff. Every time we've gone to Florida in December, we've ended up wearing our winter coats in the parks. I know we're going a bit more south than Orlando but it doesn't look that hot, as you said. I'm bringing autumn type clothes and if it gets too cold, we still will have our winter stuff that we had to wear to get to the airport up here. I believe the trick is to dress in layers. haha I can always peel stuff off (to a point!) if too hot.

We were on a Princess Western Cruise last January 9-16th and while cool (there had been a storm), we still wore shorts almost daily. We swam in Jamaica (very hot), snorkelled and swam with sting rays in Grand Cayman and went in with the dolphins in Cozumel (even though it was raining sideways) the ocean was way warmer then the air that day.

I brought the kids fall/spring jackets which they wore to the airport and home again, but mostly we wore a sweater if it was the least bit chilly... no pants or winter wear...

we will most likely bring one pair of pants (other then dress up stuff) and one heavy sweatshirt and a wind breaker... other then that.. summer wear! Thats why we leave Calgary in the winter to hit the sun and warmth!

 

[kcashner]

As to boarding...last Feb. we got to the terminal about 11:20. We were boarding group 9. We were ON THE SHIP at 12:03, less than 20 minutes after boarding started. So....don't panic over a boarding number.

Only 1/2 of the Palo reservations are available on line. The rest are held back for after boarding. If you don't get what you want in advance, IMMEDIATELY after boarding go to Rockin Bar D (check the welcome aboard Navigator, rarely the location changes), and request what you want. Note...go immediately, not after lunch or whatever. Only one adult needs to go if that matters. The other can take the kids to get Tea With Alice tickets or whatever. If they still don't have the Palo that you want, ask to be waitlisted. (they may or may not offer). The concierge holds a certain number of ressies till the end of the first afternoon, and people do cancel. Waitlists do get called.

7 mile beach break--do it on your own. The DCL price is a total rip off. 7 Mile Beach is FREE. There is a beach shuttle that leaves from the tender area, or you can take a cab. You can rent whatever you want at the beach, or you can be there all day for the cost of the cab ride. When you're ready to leave, there are usually cabs sitting there. If not, any of the booths will call one for you.

Key West Electric car--can rent them at the pier or reserve in advance from a private company.

Cozumel Scooter--can't help with this one, sorry.

Pirate night is usually movie night in the theater so that the stage cast can be ready for the pirate party and not be tired from doing 2 shows already. NOTE this is not always the case, and on the Wonder they do a show and then do their part in the Pirate show. The Pirate show will feature cruise staff, stage performers, and some of your favorite furry friends.

Definitely bring one "winter" outfit on the cruise as well as a sweater for theatre and dining rooms. December isn't usually cold, but it can be!

 

[pxlbarrel]

Definitely bring one "winter" outfit on the cruise as well as a sweater for theatre and dining rooms. December isn't usually cold, but it can be!

Actually, I think my main concern is how cool it might be inside with the AC. LOL However, I have been in Orlando when there's been a cold snap (our photos from that trip are hilarious....us in tees at Epcot and the next day at the MK in our winter coats. They mention the sudden rain showers in Florida but neglect the sudden climate changes!

My brother and I booked the Tulum ruins, the whole family's going on the Grand Cayman tour and my dad and I are going fishing at Castaway Cay. If anybody knows of a cheaper fishing trip, let me know!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Thank you! I will continue watching for openings.

My daughter and son in law are planning on doing the zip lines.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Yes, definitely as long as you get to Rockin Bar D immediately after boarding as kcashner has said. I think you'll have no trouble snagging the ressies you want.

We're hoping the limo gets us to the pier at 11:30 am. Do you think we can snag ressies then?

 

[kcashner]

We did the Grand Cayman island tour thru Captain Marvin's. It was $30 per person, and included the turtle farm. If you do the turtle farm alone on your own, the admission is $30 per adult and you still need the cab to get there....

I'll long remember the WDW trip when it was in the 40s and I spent a small fortune on sweats and warm clothes. You know there's not a huge selection when you're stuck at WDW without a car.....

 

[pxlbarrel]

The Grand Cayman tour excursion is $39 and is supposed to include a visit to the turtle farm. I hope it's good.

edit: Actually, I just changed it to the tour that includes the butterfly farm.

 

[kcashner]

The Grand Cayman tour excursion is $39 and is supposed to include a visit to the turtle farm. I hope it's good.

That was kinda my point--you can do the same tour privately and save $9 per person. In addition, you'll have the option of being dropped off at either the ship or 7 Mile/Sea Grape Beach after the tour. If you are planning a beach afternoon, that would save you cab fare for one way.

For anyone who hasn't booked yet...I just checked our cruise. MANY days have Palo dinner and brunch ressies available for groups of 2. Tea is full. If you are planning on Palo, you might want to nail one of these ressies even if it isn't the perfect day or time that you wanted. You can always move it after you board (or even cancel if you're not happy with what you can get), but it's better to have a ressie than not!

Also LOTS of cabins still showing as available. Here's hoping for pixie dust flying around!

 

[pxlbarrel]

I changed the tour to include the Butterflies. I don't mind the "extra" bucks if I don't have to worry about finding a tour after we get off the ship. If it were a lot more, then I'd change. LOL We're not beach people so we don't mind being dropped off near the ship. .... ummm... are there things to look at there? LOL

I checked Palo this morning and all they had was dinner... did it change so quickly?

 

[pamrob]

There were no tea or brunch spots left Sunday evening when I checked.

 

[disneyfan19712006]

Anyone want to do High Tea together? I don't want to do it solo.

I am booked with my daughter on the first sea day. We would love to have company.

 

[disneyfan19712006]

The Grand Cayman tour excursion is $39 and is supposed to include a visit to the turtle farm. I hope it's good.

edit: Actually, I just changed it to the tour that includes the butterfly farm.

We are taking that one to at 8 AM. Hope we can get up.

 

[pxlbarrel]

We are taking that one to at 8 AM. Hope we can get up.

Oooo, we are too. I figured do the early tour and still have time to do other stuff when we get back. Cool! (and yeah, I hope we can wake up)

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Thank you for all the tea invites! I hope to take someone up on their offer!