December 7, 2013 - Winter Fantasy Cruise

[KashasMom]

Hi everyone! I've been booked on this cruise for a bit but didn't realize there was a board already!
It's been crazy since my husband and I booked this cruise we found out we're expecting so its gonna be three of us instead of just 2. Also my mother and father , and my sister and brother in law are all coming now that its gonna be baby's first cruise. To be honest I think they just wanted to join us and are using that as an excuse!

I'm from Ottawa, Ontario but I am currently working in Orlando, FL at Disney World

I'm so excited to go on the fantasy. I've done the Magic so far, and I want to experience the Fantasy. Its gonna be everyone but my husband's first cruise and I have a feeling they will all love the Fantasy and become addicts.

Going to read the thread now and get to know who's all going. We're in state room 6514 and the rest of my family is more midship I don't know their rooms though off the top of my head

Welcome and congratulations!

 

[KashasMom]

We are looking at the same thing!! It's one of our favorite weeks to go! Just be aware, the first weekend in December is the weekend they shoot the Christmas Day Parade at the Magic Kingdom and Main Street is pretty much a mob scene!! We usually do Animal Kingdom Epcot and/or Hollywood Studios on those days and really have the parks be empty! If you want to go to MK on those days, you just have to get past Main Street and I hear the park itself is pretty empty. I can't say for sure, I've just always done something else. Plus the big tree on Main Street and the garland across the streets won't be up due to the parade shooting.

Hmmm, will that be the weekend of Nov 30th or the weekend of our cruise?? I'll have to remember to time around that since we'll be going to WDW as well. It will be my daughter's first time at WDW during Christmas! Can't wait!

 

[KashasMom]

Just wondering if anyone has been thinking of excursions? I haven't had time to even think of it (we have 3 cruise before this one) but I guess I should do that and also take a look at when to go to WDW. After reading some of your posts, I think maybe after our cruise?? I want to book a couple of character meals but don't think you can do that this far in advance. And the candlelight....?? what is it?? Oh so much to think about now!

BTW, we lived in Orlando too and it was sooo wonderful to be able to go to the parks anytime - especially off-season - and it's cheap, cheap, cheap to have an annual pass!!

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

Just wondering if anyone has been thinking of excursions? I haven't had time to even think of it (we have 3 cruise before this one) but I guess I should do that and also take a look at when to go to WDW. After reading some of your posts, I think maybe after our cruise?? I want to book a couple of character meals but don't think you can do that this far in advance. And the candlelight....?? what is it?? Oh so much to think about now!

BTW, we lived in Orlando too and it was sooo wonderful to be able to go to the parks anytime - especially off-season - and it's cheap, cheap, cheap to have an annual pass!!

I have. For Grand Cayman we want to do the Island Tour and Butterfly Farm and I want to see some ruins in Costa Maya. Im kind of limited because I'll have a baby under 3, and most of the excursions for Conzumel, Costa Maya and Grand Caymans are restricted on ages. But I love Butterfly Farms so


For my last cruise I did the sting ray encounter and glass bottom boat at Castaway Cay which was amazing. Im so excited for the ports this time. Nassau was a big dissapointed ,last cruise. We ended up going to the ship and enjoying it since it was relatively quiet.

 

[Va-NanaTink]

Hmmm, will that be the weekend of Nov 30th or the weekend of our cruise?? I'll have to remember to time around that since we'll be going to WDW as well. It will be my daughter's first time at WDW during Christmas! Can't wait!

Hmm, good question. It usually is taped around the first of December, so I think MAYBE Nov 30-Dec 1st? But it could be the next weekend, I guess since that would be the first FULL weekend in Dec. I know they do it early so they can do the post-production going between the different parks.

 

[philatiger]

Looking at the calendar, Thanksgiving is late next year, so they may be filming the weekend we leave for the cruise.

Here is a link to the candlelight processional at EPCOT: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/special-events/candlelight-processional/

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

Hmm, good question. It usually is taped around the first of December, so I think MAYBE Nov 30-Dec 1st? But it could be the next weekend, I guess since that would be the first FULL weekend in Dec. I know they do it early so they can do the post-production going between the different parks.

I'll ask at work tomorrow Usually they have the info by now.

 

[MinnieCruzer]

Hi everyone,

Just thought I'd check in and say "hi". I've been keeping up with the thread but haven't had any 411 to add.

Angie

 

[Marlea98]

I'm with your DH!! I am ok with crowds to a certain extent as long as I can see a way out. That doesn't exist in MK during the taping!!! Plus you have to agree to stay because they will stop and restart and stop again and it would look freaky, apparently.

Wow! I'd like a vacay like that!!! except the skiing!!! Beach is more my speed!

It costs way too much for us to fly over so we decided to make the most of it. Last year it cost us over $7000 for the 4 of us. I think DD12 will be classed as an adult for airfares next time so that'll add to the cost. I'm not good at skiing. I managed to graze my elbow on the bunny slope in all of my layers . The instructor said he's never known anyone to do that. I also now know that if you can't stop, don't aim towards a tree and grab hold of a snow-laden branch to slow you down

 

[Va-NanaTink]

It costs way too much for us to fly over so we decided to make the most of it. Last year it cost us over $7000 for the 4 of us. I think DD12 will be classed as an adult for airfares next time so that'll add to the cost. I'm not good at skiing. I managed to graze my elbow on the bunny slope in all of my layers . The instructor said he's never known anyone to do that. I also now know that if you can't stop, don't aim towards a tree and grab hold of a snow-laden branch to slow you down

YIKES!!!! I don't blame you for doing as much as you can all at once!

Thanks for the skiing tip....good to know!

 

[Marlea98]

Yeah, the tip came from experience - cold, wet experience...

 

[philatiger]

Yeah, the tip came from experience - cold, wet experience...

my first ski experience was my last. My first attempt on the bunny slope I was having a hard time stopping and I didn't think to fall, since the goal was not to fall....

So I figured eventually I would slow down. I ended up crashing into a few people watching at the bottom. They were mad at me, but I politely reminded them they were standing at the bottom of the beginner slope... you should have gotten out of the way....

The rest of the day didn't fare too well either.

 

[Va-NanaTink]

my first ski experience was my last. My first attempt on the bunny slope I was having a hard time stopping and I didn't think to fall, since the goal was not to fall....

So I figured eventually I would slow down. I ended up crashing into a few people watching at the bottom. They were mad at me, but I politely reminded them they were standing at the bottom of the beginner slope... you should have gotten out of the way....

The rest of the day didn't fare too well either.

You used LOGIC??? I'm more and more sure skiing is NOT something I want to try!!!

 

[Marlea98]

You used LOGIC??? I'm more and more sure skiing is NOT something I want to try!!!

I'll have another go again I think next time the opportunity comes up.

Hubby convinced me (more like cajoled me) into going down the blue slope with him. It took me 45 minutes to get down. Most of that time was spent on my hands and knees, chin-deep in the soft snow, with my skis tangled up beneath me. I think it took me about 10 minutes to then co-ordinate myself enough to connect my boots to my skis and heaven knows how long to get the rest of the way down. My idea at that time was "when in doubt, take the husband out", so I couldn't stop and just aimed myself in his direction - imagine a game of human skittles . Fortunately there was nobody else on the slope to take out or witness my attempts. Unfortunately, by that time, the chair lifts had finished running for the day and we were the last to come down.

The worst part of that trip? It was my children's first time skiing as well (hubby had skied before) and DS10 was going down the diamond slopes by day 3. I hadn't progressed past bunny slopes after day 2 To make myself look good I convinced DD11 (at the time) to stay with me. We mostly rode the lifts on the bunny slope to watch a squirrel in a tree

 

[Va-NanaTink]

I'll have another go again I think next time the opportunity comes up.

Hubby convinced me (more like cajoled me) into going down the blue slope with him. It took me 45 minutes to get down. Most of that time was spent on my hands and knees, chin-deep in the soft snow, with my skis tangled up beneath me. I think it took me about 10 minutes to then co-ordinate myself enough to connect my boots to my skis and heaven knows how long to get the rest of the way down. My idea at that time was "when in doubt, take the husband out", so I couldn't stop and just aimed myself in his direction - imagine a game of human skittles . Fortunately there was nobody else on the slope to take out or witness my attempts. Unfortunately, by that time, the chair lifts had finished running for the day and we were the last to come down.

The worst part of that trip? It was my children's first time skiing as well (hubby had skied before) and DS10 was going down the diamond slopes by day 3. I hadn't progressed past bunny slopes after day 2 To make myself look good I convinced DD11 (at the time) to stay with me. We mostly rode the lifts on the bunny slope to watch a squirrel in a tree

I'm picturing it...and putting me in as you....yep, it would have been HIGH-LARRY-US to be sure! I'm not so coordinated! My idea of skiing happens INSIDE the ski lodge...hot toddys in front of the fire....yup...THAT is my speed!

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Just stopping in to say hello!

Just getting ready for our October cruise and then maybe I can concentrate on this cruise.

Hope everyone is enjoying Summer. We start school here on Monday so enjoying our last few days of being lazy!

 

[MinnieCruzer]

Just stopping in to say hello!

Just getting ready for our October cruise and then maybe I can concentrate on this cruise.

Hope everyone is enjoying Summer. We start school here on Monday so enjoying our last few days of being lazy!

A friend of mine recently found a great military deal on the fall coastal cruises. We were already booked on Carvnival to the Bahamas though. Sounds like a good itinerary--Angie

 

[Marlea98]

I'm wondering if anyone has ever paid a deposit on a cruise then the cost of the cruise has come down and been able to score that cruise at the lower price?

I know many of us have booked our cruises so far in advance and there is the chance there will be great offers coming out in the future if the sales aren't great (we miss out on the wonderful kids sails free stuff as we never hear about it here), but I'm worried about paying the cruise in full then finding out we could have got it cheaper closer to the sail date. For the 4 of us it's already costing over $4000. And that doesn't take into consideration any other costs for us to get over or the rest of our trip.

I know if you have booked the cruise and paid in full then try and change it you have to pay a cancellation fee and possibly lose your OBCs (that happened to a friend who considered re-booking the same cruise at a much lower price than she initially paid and lost her good OBCs), so I'm wondering if I should leave the deposit as it is and then pay the balance off at the last moment, or take advantage of our high $AU compared to $US and pay it all now.

 

[philatiger]

I'm wondering if anyone has ever paid a deposit on a cruise then the cost of the cruise has come down and been able to score that cruise at the lower price?

I know many of us have booked our cruises so far in advance and there is the chance there will be great offers coming out in the future if the sales aren't great (we miss out on the wonderful kids sails free stuff as we never hear about it here), but I'm worried about paying the cruise in full then finding out we could have got it cheaper closer to the sail date. For the 4 of us it's already costing over $4000. And that doesn't take into consideration any other costs for us to get over or the rest of our trip.

I know if you have booked the cruise and paid in full then try and change it you have to pay a cancellation fee and possibly lose your OBCs (that happened to a friend who considered re-booking the same cruise at a much lower price than she initially paid and lost her good OBCs), so I'm wondering if I should leave the deposit as it is and then pay the balance off at the last moment, or take advantage of our high $AU compared to $US and pay it all now.

Yes, you need to be careful since you do not live in the states. For us in the states, we have up to the final payment date to cancel or change without penalty. We can also take advantage of any price drops should they occur prior to that date. But we too have to be careful when taking advantage of price drops that we don't lose any OBC's. We have never seen any price drops on any of our DCL cruises but I am sure they happen from time to time.

You could always payoff everything but a small amount to take advantage of the dollar.

 

[Va-NanaTink]

I'm wondering if anyone has ever paid a deposit on a cruise then the cost of the cruise has come down and been able to score that cruise at the lower price?

I know many of us have booked our cruises so far in advance and there is the chance there will be great offers coming out in the future if the sales aren't great (we miss out on the wonderful kids sails free stuff as we never hear about it here), but I'm worried about paying the cruise in full then finding out we could have got it cheaper closer to the sail date. For the 4 of us it's already costing over $4000. And that doesn't take into consideration any other costs for us to get over or the rest of our trip.

I know if you have booked the cruise and paid in full then try and change it you have to pay a cancellation fee and possibly lose your OBCs (that happened to a friend who considered re-booking the same cruise at a much lower price than she initially paid and lost her good OBCs), so I'm wondering if I should leave the deposit as it is and then pay the balance off at the last moment, or take advantage of our high $AU compared to $US and pay it all now.

I've only had it happen once, and my TA is the one who found it and took advantage for me, it was a military discount was added to a cruise we were booked on. I didn't have any obc to worry about however. Sorry I can't be more definitive!!!