Disney Dream - April 3, 2011 - 4 nights

[WDWCrazyfromGA]

Hello Everyone!! We will also be joining you on this 2011 Spring Break Cruise

We are still suffering from post vacation depression from last week's trip on the Wonder and to WDW - so the plans for 2011 is the only thing bringing us out of the slumps

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

WDWCrazyfromGA


Yes, beginning to plan a new vacation/cruise is the best way to get over the post-vacation/cruise blues! We were in WDW last week also...the weather was great! I hope that next year will be the same. Last year for Spring Break...Orlando hit record lows and we had to buy sweatshirts! It did warm-up in the Bahamas, though!


I hope that everyone is having an awesome start to spring!


Crystal

 

[Kanga+2Roos]

Welcome to the group WDWCrazyfromGA! So, how was the weather when you were cruising last week & more important, how were the seas? I know Florida hasn't exactly had normal weather for the most part this year but I think they've been back on track now.

Crystal--how was youre springbreak getaway at WDW? No issues with the van I hope!

We are hitting the 80 degree mark today so I'm enjoying a little taste of summer! I love this time of year!

 

[WDWCrazyfromGA]

Welcome to the group WDWCrazyfromGA! So, how was the weather when you were cruising last week & more important, how were the seas? I know Florida hasn't exactly had normal weather for the most part this year but I think they've been back on track now.

Crystal--how was youre springbreak getaway at WDW? No issues with the van I hope!

We are hitting the 80 degree mark today so I'm enjoying a little taste of summer! I love this time of year!

Hi! Thanks for the welcome. The weather for our cruise was AWESOME !! The seas were moderate one evening - I had to take 1/2 dramamine, but DH and DD did not notice anything. CC was absolutely perfect - I laid in a hammock for 3 hours I was worried after reading so many reports of them missing CC b/c of rough seas - but we were good to go.

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

Hi Everyone!

Kanga+2Roos - Disney was great! We really took the time to enjoy Pop Century, the pools, good food and just relaxing. We also threw in a morning at Sea World, Aquatica and Adventure Island. We arrived at open for each of those parks and had everything (that we wanted to do) done by noon. It was a lot of fun! I also got to go to Downtown Disney's new Vinylmation Store called D-Street. The kids and I are really into this vinlymation thing, and it was neat to see an entire store dedicated to it.

Oh, and about the van......we got 2.5 hours from our home on the trip down and the van started acting up. So we drove back home (2.5 hours.) From this incident we were able to diagnose the exact problem with the van (after my husband spoke with a very good friend and mechanic.) Anyhow...the boys were still very anxious to go to Disney...so we packed, snugly into the mustang and drove about 8 hours. Disney was kind enough to take off our first night's stay. And the next day we drove the rest and all was well!

Our van is now fixed...my husband did it all by himself (keep in mind he's a finance guy.) So I am pretty impressed with his extra skills!

WDWCrazyfromGA - I know about the Dramamine thing! My entire crew has to take Dramamine from the start to the finish of a cruise. It's quite interesting how some are more affected by the motion than others. We have cruised with folks before who don't need to take anything...ever...

BTW...a hammock at CC right now would be wonderful! We are full swing into baseball season and it's crazy around here!

I hope everyone is doing well!
Crystal

 

[disneytraceyl]

I am already feeling pretty confortable and this is my first post. We are also from Upper Michigan. It will be me, husband, daughter 9, and daughter 4. We are so excited about sailing on the Disney Dream. We having been on many other Disney cruises. We will be doing the a b2b 3/31 and 4/3.

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

I am already feeling pretty confortable and this is my first post. We are also from Upper Michigan. It will be me, husband, daughter 9, and daughter 4. We are so excited about sailing on the Disney Dream. We having been on many other Disney cruises. We will be doing the a b2b 3/31 and 4/3.

It's great to have you join our sailing! As you can tell, many of us are very excited about this Disney Dream Cruise! I can't wait to see what the ship looks like and to enjoy the restaurants and the new amenities....Is it 2011 yet?


Crystal

 

[disneytraceyl]

We are very excited to see the Dream. My oldest can't wait to try out that slide.

 

[jk8]

Finally ready to join this group. We sailed our third cruise April 3 on the Magic and just had to let that all soak in before moving on to next year.

I am excited to be on the Dream but will feel a bit disloyal to our beloved Magic. We spoke with many crew members who are going to be moving to the Dream and some who just want to stay put on the Magic. We will miss seeing those who are staying, but honestly hope to be back on the Magic in a few years. I don't know if I really believe that bigger is better.

We have booked in inside Cat (11C ) for the first time. Feeling we would not in the the room much on only a 4 day and intrigued by the virtual porthole. Plus we were happy to spend as few DVC points as possible.

I look forward to the next year of anticipation!

 

[disneytraceyl]

Welcome. It is always good to try something new. I hear you with the size of the ship. We might just like the Magic and Wonder better.
See you on the Dream.

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

Welcome jk8! Glad that your joining us! I think that you will be pleased with an inside cabin...especially on the 4 day cruise. You are right...not much time is spent in the cabin...


And as far as the size of the ship...it's going to be interesting to see just how large it is...or if it is still small in comparison to RCI's freedom class ships. I know that it won't be as large as the Oasis...that's a good thing! But I really did enjoy the freedom class size...the top decks were awesome! Anyhow...looking forward to seeing the ship and all its new amenities!


Crystal

 

[odhrty]

We are from Washington state so we were going to try a 7 night Mariner of the Seas out of LA but our cruise was cancelled as the ship is being moved to Europe. I was then able to talk my DH into flying to FL again. He gets seasick so the 4 night cruise sounded better to him and I told him it would cost $1400 more to do the 7 night disney cruise out of LA. I really wanted to go on the Dream and see the new Harry Potter land so its all working out. We didn't really want to go to the Bahamas again since DD fell out of her tube at the rapid water ride in Atlantis and the whole family was a little traumatized watching her whisked away by the rapids. However we plan to just stay on the ship and enjoy that. DD isn't excited about being seperated from her brother with the tweens and teen thing. She says, "I'm going to be 13 shouldn't i get to be with the teens." ( I don't like the thought of her being with older teens but she's concerned about not having a her brother as a buddy) Does anyone else have a DD around her age going? I can't wait for our whole trip it's good to know I'm not the only one who thinks of it often. My DS said, "You mean there's a whole website with people like You!" Here's to the waiting game.

 

[disneytraceyl]

Welcome. It will be a fun cruise. We never get to excited about the Bahamas. We are definately on this cruise for the ship. We will just stay on the ship and enjoy it in Nassau.

 

[tripodjw]

We are from Washington state so we were going to try a 7 night Mariner of the Seas out of LA but our cruise was cancelled as the ship is being moved to Europe. I was then able to talk my DH into flying to FL again. He gets seasick so the 4 night cruise sounded better to him and I told him it would cost $1400 more to do the 7 night disney cruise out of LA. I really wanted to go on the Dream and see the new Harry Potter land so its all working out. We didn't really want to go to the Bahamas again since DD fell out of her tube at the rapid water ride in Atlantis and the whole family was a little traumatized watching her whisked away by the rapids. However we plan to just stay on the ship and enjoy that. DD isn't excited about being seperated from her brother with the tweens and teen thing. She says, "I'm going to be 13 shouldn't i get to be with the teens." ( I don't like the thought of her being with older teens but she's concerned about not having a her brother as a buddy) Does anyone else have a DD around her age going? I can't wait for our whole trip it's good to know I'm not the only one who thinks of it often. My DS said, "You mean there's a whole website with people like You!" Here's to the waiting game.

I know plenty of people who say that and mean t as bad thing - i think it's fab having Disers out there

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

odhrty


Here's three cheer's for the waiting game! And yes, it is great to be able to experience the waiting game with all the wonderful DISers!


odhrty - So are you all going to be able to incorporate a visit to Universal Studios in with your Dream cruise? That sounds like a great plan! My crew loves Universal, however; I have one child who still needs to grow a few more inches in order to be able to ride everything. The Harry Potter area is going to be really neat...can't wait to see it and hear about the reviews. We don't have a trip planned to Universal yet, but hope to sometime in the next few years.


I hope that everyone is doing well! We opened our pool last weekend...now the temps have been dipping down into the 40s at night...go figure! Hopefully it will warm up this weekend and stay that way!


Crystal

 

[odhrty]

odhrty


Here's three cheer's for the waiting game! And yes, it is great to be able to experience the waiting game with all the wonderful DISers!


odhrty - So are you all going to be able to incorporate a visit to Universal Studios in with your Dream cruise? That sounds like a great plan! My crew loves Universal, however; I have one child who still needs to grow a few more inches in order to be able to ride everything. The Harry Potter area is going to be really neat...can't wait to see it and hear about the reviews. We don't have a trip planned to Universal yet, but hope to sometime in the next few years.


I hope that everyone is doing well! We opened our pool last weekend...now the temps have been dipping down into the 40s at night...go figure! Hopefully it will warm up this weekend and stay that way!


Crystal

Yes we are going to Universal right after the cruise, just for 2 days. I guess they have a new roller coaster since we were last there.(rip something) My husband doesn't want to mess with a rental car so I found a place that will take us from Orlando airport to port, port to Universal then Universal to airport for $270.
Looks like you are on Liberty soon I'm really wanted to try RCI this time so I'll be interested to hear how u like it. Have you done both cruise lines before?
We are opening our pool within the next two weeks since we actually had a mild winter this year. Looks like the East coast took all our snow this year.

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

odhrty - That transportation service you are using for $270 sounds like a great idea! No thinking needed...just enjoy everything!


Yes, we just did the Liberty in December...and we loved it! I got a great deal for August of this year...plus some direct flights into Ft. Lauderdale...and we are set! Take a look at page 3 of this thread...I posted a small review and some pictures. If you get a chance...give it a try! Your kids are at the exact ages to really enjoy the ship! My kids really only want to cruise RCI now...they liked it that much!


And as far as winter and snow went...We did take your snow! We have never seen so much snow! We live on the east coast of Virginia...so our winters and snow are usually very mild due to the sea temps...the coastal air keeps us warmer than the inland areas. Anyhow...this year that was not the case! There was no stopping those storms that came through!


Where are you all staying while at Universal? We stayed at the Royal Pacific a few years ago. It was very nice! And the front of the line access for resort guests was awesome!


I hope that the opening of you pool goes smoothly...some years are better than others!


Crystal

 

[odhrty]

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.

 

[odhrty]

I just read your Liberty post and pictures. Which private island did you like better? What is RCI's like? It does look like the Dream might have mini golf. Has everyone seen the new menu from Remy's on facebook. My DH is not fond of little plates of food but it looks delicious to me.

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

Yea, I have been reading about RCI taking the Mariner of the Seas out of LA. Lot's of folks not too happy about that! RCI offers a great experience...different from Disney...but loads of fun! I think that my crew will only be totally happy with the freedom-class or Oasis sized ships. We like them big and with lots of stuff to do! So far I think that RCI is moving some of them over to the Med...but I haven't heard of the larger ships going to the west coast.


My crew is still very excited about cruising on the new Dream! My boys are 12 and 9 right now. I believe that we have come to an agreement to only cruise DCL for 3 or 4 nighters and to cruise RCI for 7 nights or longer. That way we get the Mickey fix in...and we get to enjoy all the amenities on the RCI ships. It's a win-win! Your kids are right...you are never too old for Disney! This cruise is going to be awesome!


You all will really like the Royal Pacific...the views from the windows are great! Also...it's an easy walk over to the theme parks. Oh...and they have a wonderful swimming pool with lots of activities that the life guards do.


About the private islands...that's a hard one! We went to Labadee with RCI. It really reminded us of Castaway Cay except that it had more for older children to do. I mean they both had all of the water toys and rides. They both have the little island activity area for the kids. They both had the barbeque lunch. Labadee had a zipline and a mountain coaster...CC had swimming with the stingrays and a small snorkeling area. I don't know which I prefer...I'd like to be at either one right now! Ha!


Pools: My crew is swimming right now! We just got through a very long day of baseball - my youngest plays little league and travel ball...and it was over 90 degrees today! Didn't I just write about it being in the 40s? Oh and I kind of cheated this year with the pool. The water looked so bad...that I drained all of it and refilled it! Fixed that problem...haven't gotten the water bill yet, though!!!


It's great to chat with you...this board has had a lot of subscribers and I bet as the cruise gets closer...things will be getting very busy!


Crystal