Disney Dream - April 3, 2011 - 4 nights

[mjvans]

But I am more worried about me messing up, LOL. Besides almost spilling the beans about the cruise last night, I also almost showed our itineray to DD for WDW, and it includes the reservations for the Wildlife Discovery tour that I booked as a surprise for her. LOL - I can't keep a secret for anything.

Guess I will have to shove a brownie in your mouth then! Heck, I can't keep a secret either! So, is that the tour you can take part in when you are on concierge level? I was thinking of doing that in April when we stayed at the Beach Club, but we decided to pass. Wonder if it worth doing when we are back there in August? ? Honestly, though, we didn't even go to Animal Kindgom in April. It is our least favorite park~

 

[jetskigrl]

Guess I will have to shove a brownie in your mouth then! Heck, I can't keep a secret either! So, is that the tour you can take part in when you are on concierge level? I was thinking of doing that in April when we stayed at the Beach Club, but we decided to pass. Wonder if it worth doing when we are back there in August? ? Honestly, though, we didn't even go to Animal Kindgom in April. It is our least favorite park~

I'm getting an interesting mental picture of this dessert party, LOL. Our husbands looking over at us wondering why in the heck we keep shoving brownies at one another

Yep, that is the tour My DD is a big time nature-lover/tree-hugger so she is really looking forward to AK because we don't have anything like that here at DLR. Plus I am dying to try out EE, LOL. We actually have 2 mornings planned for that park (although one is planned around the tour), and maybe the night they are doing EMH.

Opps, I have taken this too far off topic for the cruise thread. To all our fellow cruisers....I would love to hear what excursions you are planning? I was thinking about one of the dolphin encounters maybe.

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

Since we're not doing B2B the baby and I will probably stay on the ship, but DH and DS7 might do the submarine boat excursion. He is so into sea life and all and would love it! If we did the 7 day on the Magic we were going to book the Atlantis submarine thing in Grand Caymen, but since we decided on the Dream 4 night instead I think the only submarine thing in Nassau is a sub/boat, which is probably less claustrophobic anyway!

 

[mjvans]

I havent even really thought of excursions yet, but I know for a fact that I will find that shop that sells that mango rum in nassau for sure! I am originally from California so seriously, I would be overjoyed to find a safe secluded beach and have fun in the sun and surf all day long! Not sure if that is an excursion, but if it is, I am all over that, after the mango rum!

 

[kikids]

Fish Extender Sign-up Time!​

It's time to begin the list of fish extender participants for the April 3rd Dream Cruise!​

Details: Please send email thru DisBoards with your personal home email address, cabin #, first names of grown ups and first names and ages of children participating (Also if you have a child with a gender neutral name, please indicate DD or DS). If you have questions about how fish extenders work, ask here on the boards. Because this is such a big ship, we may split the list/divide the boat but we'll worry about that later. Regardless, everyone will get a master list. I will compile the list and email it to your personal email in excel format once per month and then a final list about three weeks before sail date. The last day to sign up will be March 3rd, 2011. Questions? Just ask.


Fine print: This will also be a good way for kids to get to know each other before the trip...perhaps email each other and make some friends. However, I understand some of you out there haven't broken the wonderful news to your families yet. If this is the case and it's still a surprise, either wait to join the FE list or make sure you tell me in your email that you are not ready to receive personal emails about the trip and I won't include you in the mailings until you let me know.

Have a great weekend!
Cindy

 

[mjvans]

Took some time and looked through all the excursions available at nassau. the dolphin encounter /swim looked interesting but I honestly can't predict for certain my kids would follow through and actually touch a dolphin much less swim with it. I will never forget the first time we went snorkeling. My daughter Paige, then 8, was so excited about snorkeling at castaway cay! However, a fish happened to swim by her and graced her leg and she totally freaked out and started screaming!! !! She asserted that she never expected to see real fish in the water!! Needless to say, she never tried snorkeling again. Fast forward now to age 14, I am not confident anything has changed!! So I am more leaning towards the Atlantis Aquaventure! I know my husband has always wanted to go to Atlantis and the wide variety of things to do fits more in line with our family. I did check with Comfort suites and the cheapest room is priced at $250.00 a night, max four people, so we would have to get 2 rooms which brought the total to $595.00 Then they add all these surcharges per guest which brought it up to right around $700.00. Disney is a hundred dollars more in tota,l but I think I would be more inclined to go directly through Disney. Something about Comfort Suites makes me nervous, but I really don't know why? Anyway, friends of ours on our first cruise did comfort suites and loved it. So, who knows! Anyone do this or the dolphin encounter and or swim before??

 

[mjvans]

Immerse yourself in the splendor of Atlantis Resort and its new 141-acre water park, Aquaventure — and experience an oasis amidst paradise.

Sit back, relax and take in the sights during an approximate 25-minute, air-conditioned motor coach drive through historic Nassau as you make your way to the world-renowned Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island. Recalling the mythic lost island city in breathtaking detail, Atlantis is home to the world's largest open-air marine habitat, where 14 fascinating exhibits and 13 sparkling lagoons brim with over 50,000 sea creatures representing 250 species. A plethora of luxury shopping, fine dining and casino gaming ensures Atlantis is as much fun on land as it is in the water. Upon your arrival at the resort, explore the underwater archaeological aquarium known as The Dig during an eye-opening guided walking tour — and behold a astounding array of manta rays, sharks, jellyfish and other wonders of the sea.

After your tour, dive into the magic of Atlantis' newest 141-acre treasure: Aquaventure waterscape. Featuring state-of-the-art water slides, river rapids, waterfalls, water holes and amazing special effects, Aquaventure is far from your usual water park. Just hop in your very own inner tube and sit back as you are propelled along a river to the main water attractions via a series of special escalators, waves and surges — without ever having to leave the water! Take the plunge from one of the four thrilling water slides of the 120-foot tall Power Tower. Plunge into the Abyss — a near-vertical 50 feet drop through a tumbling waterfall into total darkness — before finding yourself submerged in a deep cenote filled with Alligator Gars. Coast along the bouncy inner tube slides of The Drop, The Falls and The Surge and then catch some white-water waves at The Rapids. It's all up to you! Spectacular special effects, video technology and a lush landscape design make the journey even more thrilling.

After you've taken in the thrills and spills of Aquaventure, experience even more of what Atlantis Resort has in store. Chill out and soak up the sun and surf on one of the many beaches. Surrender to the elegance of the Royal Baths Pool or take in the laidback atmosphere of the Lazy River Pool. Hit the casino — awash with decorative glass sculptures that jet into the sky — and try your luck at slots, blackjack or craps. Or spend the afternoon shopping in the Marina Village. After your approximate seven-hour visit, return from paradise with a scenic 20/30-minute, air-conditioned drive back to the ship

 

[jetskigrl]

I was originally looking at the Atlantis one also. I would love to go there. My only concern is that we are traveling with my Mom, and that might be a bit much for her. She may decide to stay on the boat though, and I could take the kids by myself. Hum, if we did it that way, I would definitely book it through Disney, just for the comfort factor. I have a bit of a fear of traveling around just me and the kids.

 

[WhoDat]

Wow! There's been a lot going on with this thread since the last time I peeked in. I subscribed to it and use to get an email every time there was a new posting but I guess it decided to skip over me for the last few weeks. Welcome to all of the new folks.

I can't believe how many of us are on deck 7. We have verandah room on deck 7. I think they may have to reroute all of their other cruisers to other decks just to allow us enough room for our group.

We're (DH, DS 12 & me) looking at doing Atlantis through Comfort Suites, too. I keep going back and forth in my mind about whether to do it or stay onboard and enjoy the Dream.

In April we took our 1st cruise, a 3 night cruise aboard the Wonder. We did the Sea Lion excursion and loved it. This time we're just looking for something different.

I haven't decided about the FE yet. I'm about the most un-crafty person on the face of the earth. It's going to take some deep thought on my part.

Hope you're all having a great holiday weekend.

 

[mjvans]

We are so sad the Mariner of the Seas is leaving Los Angeles. I hope we get another nice big RCI ship. My DH feels flying to FL for vacation all the time is a bit extravagant plus he's a CA native so he likes to go there. We stayed at the Hard Rock last time but will try the Royal Pacific this time. I went and looked around the hotel properties last visit and like the location of Royal Pacific and the tropical feel of the place. How old are your kids and are they excited about the Disney Cruise after being on the Liberty? When I told my kids we were not going on the Mariner with all that stuff to do on the ship they were disappointed. When I told them I had changed the cruise to disney they said don't worry Mom you are never too old for disney.

Oh I know what you mean on the pool front. Some years I just want to fill it. We have sunk so much into it that it better be smooth opening this year.

I am originally from California too and will always call it home, but the last couple of years it has actually been cheaper for us to fly from seattle to orlando than to seattle to san jose! Crazy, right? Hope to get some good rates on our flights next year too!

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

I would be all on board for the FE, but (and please don't be offended), I don't really feel comfortable having my kids first and last names on a list that will be sent to people I don't, or hardly know. I am sorry to sound paranoid, but in this day and age...

 

[mjvans]

I would be all on board for the FE, but (and please don't be offended), I don't really feel comfortable having my kids first and last names on a list that will be sent to people I don't, or hardly know. I am sorry to sound paranoid, but in this day and age...

Ok, before you totally say No, why don't you take some time and really get to know the people here first . You do not have to even make a decision until March 3rd, 2011. You have a little over nine months to decide. Just a thought I had.........

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

Hi Everyone! Glad to see that the FE system has been set into motion! I will send in our information tomorrow. It's getting kind of late here and we are exhausted! We played 5 games total, won the first four and lost in the final game. The kids played great! We had fun...but glad to be home and semi-back to normal.


Speaking of excursions...our crew is looking into booking the Comfort Suites for Atlantis. We did that last time and had a blast! Right now the rates are crazy! I am hoping for a price-drop at some point. I'll post anything price drops if I see them.


For those of you on the fence about the FE exchange. No worries...you don't have to be crafty! The dollar stores and target's $1 aisle have some great gifts! Also airplane size of rum works, too! Water bottles are good. Small note pads or sticky pads. Highlighters for use in the cabin on the Navigators. Items from your home state or town. Also...I am beginning to think that our FE list is going to be pretty long and like Cindy said...we may end up splitting the list up or picking certain days to deliver. So simple is sometimes better. Although on my past cruises I delivered items three times...that is not the norm. And if the numbers are high...a one time delivery will be sufficient. Sorry for rambling...just wanted to get thoughts out!


OK...I'm retiring for the evening! My brain if fried!

Crystal

 

[mjvans]

Hi Everyone! Glad to see that the FE system has been set into motion! I will send in our information tomorrow. It's getting kind of late here and we are exhausted! We played 5 games total, won the first four and lost in the final game. The kids played great! We had fun...but glad to be home and semi-back to normal.


Speaking of excursions...our crew is looking into booking the Comfort Suites for Atlantis. We did that last time and had a blast! Right now the rates are crazy! I am hoping for a price-drop at some point. I'll post anything price drops if I see them.


For those of you on the fence about the FE exchange. No worries...you don't have to be crafty! The dollar stores and target's $1 aisle have some great gifts! Also airplane size of rum works, too! Water bottles are good. Small note pads or sticky pads. Highlighters for use in the cabin on the Navigators. Items from your home state or town. Also...I am beginning to think that our FE list is going to be pretty long and like Cindy said...we may end up splitting the list up or picking certain days to deliver. So simple is sometimes better. Although on my past cruises I delivered items three times...that is not the norm. And if the numbers are high...a one time delivery will be sufficient. Sorry for rambling...just wanted to get thoughts out!


OK...I'm retiring for the evening! My brain if fried!

Crystal

Hi Crystal!
Glad you made it home safe and sound! The tournament sounded exciting and it does sound like the boys played awesome! WOW! All the way to the championship game is an amazing feat!! I am impressed!
Thanks for the FE gift ideas! I am going to start looking at Target and the Dollar store now and stock up!
I am pretty sure we are booking the aqua adventure through disney directly. With our family size of 5 we have to book 2 rooms(cheapest room being $250.00 each) and with all the added costs it was just 100 dollars more to book through disney, Now I don't mean "just" because 100 dollars is not pocket change, but I am worried about booking outside of disney for some reason. I don't know why as a lot of people have done comfort suites without a problem but there is something about it that makes me ! UGH!! However, if the price drops down a lot and there are huge savings to be found, I may consider it!! Have a great Monday!!
Michelle

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

Hi Crystal!
Glad you made it home safe and sound! The tournament sounded exciting and it does sound like the boys played awesome! WOW! All the way to the championship game is an amazing feat!! I am impressed!
Thanks for the FE gift ideas! I am going to start looking at Target and the Dollar store now and stock up!
I am pretty sure we are booking the aqua adventure through disney directly. With our family size of 5 we have to book 2 rooms(cheapest room being $250.00 each) and with all the added costs it was just 100 dollars more to book through disney, Now I don't mean "just" because 100 dollars is not pocket change, but I am worried about booking outside of disney for some reason. I don't know why as a lot of people have done comfort suites without a problem but there is something about it that makes me ! UGH!! However, if the price drops down a lot and there are huge savings to be found, I may consider it!! Have a great Monday!!
Michelle

Michelle - you're too funny! Here's our Bahamas story...on our very first cruise to the Bahamas...we got off the ship...walked about 3/4 of a mile...waited at a bus stop for this van thing they call a Jitney...got on the Jitney and rode in the opposite direction of Atlantis. We were the only tourists on the Jitney! The Jitney is their bus system...and mainly locals use it to get to and from work. I read about it on another board...it came highly recommended...and it was cheap! We got off at the Wyndham Hotel. Bought day-passes there and had a wonderful time! After we had had our fun...we walked back out to the Jitney stop and waited for the next one! This time the driver left the door open (it had a small kind of bus type door) the entire trip back! My son was sitting right there...no problems...kind of not the safest thing...but hey...my kids still remember that ride! Yes, we are the adventurous type! We have even walked the streets of Jamaica! But I will tell you that getting a taxi and going to the Comfort Suites...and then walking over to the Atlantis...is a breeze! IMHO...


Also wanted to throw out there...we have cruised four times now...and not once have we booked an excursion through the cruise-line. So my opinions may be slanted slightly! Please do whatever is best for your family!


I hope that everyone is having a great start to the week!
Crystal

 

[Kanga+2Roos]

Hope everyone had a fun long weekend! We are in the home stretch & ready for the school year to end--two weeks to go! DS5 is having preschool graduation on Wednesday which should be absolutely adorable but I'll be an emotional wreck. I get so emotional at all these little milestones!

Crystal, glad your weekend turned out to be a success--they did wonderful!

Michelle & Jetskigirl--that is amazing that the two of you are booked at the exact same dessert buffet. Isn't that like the same odds as getting struck by lightning or something? Look out! Can't wait to hear how your brownie fest goes!

I have our two DISigns posted right under our picture of the Dream--they look awesome!

Have a great week everyone!
Kathryn

 

[kikids]

Hope everyone had a pleasant Memorial Day.

Last time we did the 4 day Wonder cruise we did a snorkeling adventure at Nassau. This time we're thinking either Atlantis or Wyndham day pass. I like the day pass idea b/c last time the weather wasn't great and had we paid in advance for Atlantis it would have been a disappointment. The day passes I hear you can just go out and get that day. Atlantis also seems expensive but I'll bet it's an unforgettable place. Anyway, it's great to have all this info on the boards from fellow cruisers to help in the difficult decision making!

Crystal, thanks for the FE suggestions; mini rum bottles?!? What a cool idea. I just told my husband yesterday "Okay, so we've got 10 months to come up with the coolest fish extender gift ever!". ---It's possible I need to get a life. Last cruise I handed out Disney PEZ for boys, Disney hair accessory packs from the Disney Store Outlet to girls, pirate shot glasses for adults, pirate rubber ducks to babies, and some other random stuff. We did love the highlighter that someone else gave us (for the navigator), and we got tons of sticky notes. So many that I took some to work (I work at a hospital). I had one doctor come up to me and ask "I seem to be missing a note that I stuck in this chart earlier, did you happen to see it? It was on a purple Tinkerbell post-it". It lightened my day just to hear this very serious surgeon all dressed in green garb actually say "purple Tinkerbell post-it". Also Crystal, the design you had created looks great, can't wait to print it on magnets for the door.

I took a minute to lurk on the boards for the Dream cruises shortly before and after ours. Some have lots of activity and some have only a page or two. But I see our thread here gets lots of views so if you're on this cruise and you haven't introduced yourself yet, please say HI!

Cheers!!!

Cindy

 

[mjvans]

Hope everyone had a pleasant Memorial Day.

Last time we did the 4 day Wonder cruise we did a snorkeling adventure at Nassau. This time we're thinking either Atlantis or Wyndham day pass. I like the day pass idea b/c last time the weather wasn't great and had we paid in advance for Atlantis it would have been a disappointment. The day passes I hear you can just go out and get that day. Atlantis also seems expensive but I'll bet it's an unforgettable place. Anyway, it's great to have all this info on the boards from fellow cruisers to help in the difficult decision making!

Crystal, thanks for the FE suggestions; mini rum bottles?!? What a cool idea. I just told my husband yesterday "Okay, so we've got 10 months to come up with the coolest fish extender gift ever!". ---It's possible I need to get a life. Last cruise I handed out Disney PEZ for boys, Disney hair accessory packs from the Disney Store Outlet to girls, pirate shot glasses for adults, pirate rubber ducks to babies, and some other random stuff. We did love the highlighter that someone else gave us (for the navigator), and we got tons of sticky notes. So many that I took some to work (I work at a hospital). I had one doctor come up to me and ask "I seem to be missing a note that I stuck in this chart earlier, did you happen to see it? It was on a purple Tinkerbell post-it". It lightened my day just to hear this very serious surgeon all dressed in green garb actually say "purple Tinkerbell post-it". Also Crystal, the design you had created looks great, can't wait to print it on magnets for the door.

I took a minute to lurk on the boards for the Dream cruises shortly before and after ours. Some have lots of activity and some have only a page or two. But I see our thread here gets lots of views so if you're on this cruise and you haven't introduced yourself yet, please say HI!

Cheers!!!

Cindy

Hey Cindy!!!
What is a day pass at Wyndham? That might be something to look into as well. Super exicted about the Fe's! Thanks for taking the task on
I think I am going to add liquor store into my shopping
Michelle

 

[mjvans]

Hope everyone had a fun long weekend! We are in the home stretch & ready for the school year to end--two weeks to go! DS5 is having preschool graduation on Wednesday which should be absolutely adorable but I'll be an emotional wreck. I get so emotional at all these little milestones!

Crystal, glad your weekend turned out to be a success--they did wonderful!

Michelle & Jetskigirl--that is amazing that the two of you are booked at the exact same dessert buffet. Isn't that like the same odds as getting struck by lightning or something? Look out! Can't wait to hear how your brownie fest goes!

I have our two DISigns posted right under our picture of the Dream--they look awesome!

Have a great week everyone!
Kathryn

Kathryn, Exactly! What are the odds, and on Friday the 13th no less!! I hope not to enjoy too many brownies but me and my big mouth tend to get me into trouble!
Take care!
Michelle

 

[mjvans]

Michelle - you're too funny! Here's our Bahamas story...on our very first cruise to the Bahamas...we got off the ship...walked about 3/4 of a mile...waited at a bus stop for this van thing they call a Jitney...got on the Jitney and rode in the opposite direction of Atlantis. We were the only tourists on the Jitney! The Jitney is their bus system...and mainly locals use it to get to and from work. I read about it on another board...it came highly recommended...and it was cheap! We got off at the Wyndham Hotel. Bought day-passes there and had a wonderful time! After we had had our fun...we walked back out to the Jitney stop and waited for the next one! This time the driver left the door open (it had a small kind of bus type door) the entire trip back! My son was sitting right there...no problems...kind of not the safest thing...but hey...my kids still remember that ride! Yes, we are the adventurous type! We have even walked the streets of Jamaica! But I will tell you that getting a taxi and going to the Comfort Suites...and then walking over to the Atlantis...is a breeze! IMHO...


Also wanted to throw out there...we have cruised four times now...and not once have we booked an excursion through the cruise-line. So my opinions may be slanted slightly! Please do whatever is best for your family!


I hope that everyone is having a great start to the week!
Crystal[/QUOTE

Crystal,
After reading your post, I definitely need to step out of the box and be a bit more adventurous! Heck, I might save some money that way too! So, tell me more about the Wyndham day pass! Also, maybe if enough of us go, comfort suites might be give us a group rate! Ha, wouldn't that be great!! Do let me know if the prices go down. Thanks!
Michelle