Disney Dream March 31, 2011

[Disney Dad Canada]

We're still here! I plan to start working on my FE gifts after the New Year since we're doing the back to back. That means back to back FE exchanges. We're not doing any excursions. We only plan to get off the ship at Castaway Cay. Otherwise, I want to spend the day exploring the new ship.

We already have plans to rebook while on board for the Fantasy in 2012 for DD's 13th birthday.

Just noticed your signature, you own at the same two DVC resorts that we do. Have you stayed at BLT yet? We're going to be in an SSR treehouse for a week before the cruise.

I'm thinking the same thoughts as you, and only going to Castaway Cay.

 

[disneytraceyl]

We will be going on the three night cruise. This group is a little quite. My four night group the sailing right after this one is very active. Is anyone keeping track of a fish extender groups.

 

[Mean Queen]

Just noticed your signature, you own at the same two DVC resorts that we do. Have you stayed at BLT yet? We're going to be in an SSR treehouse for a week before the cruise.

I'm thinking the same thoughts as you, and only going to Castaway Cay.

We have stayed at all the DVC resorts on this coast (so no GCV), though we haven't stayed in the Treehouse yet. BLT is my absolute favorite. I'm not sure if you can see the fireworks shot in my signature, but that was a panoramic taken from our GV on the 4th at BLT. Amazing. My DD11 stayed in the Treehouse with friends and loved the bunk beds.

ETA: The castle shot was also taken from our room at BLT.

 

[Mean Queen]

We will be going on the three night cruise. This group is a little quite. My four night group the sailing right after this one is very active. Is anyone keeping track of a fish extender groups.

We are doing the 4 night right before this one and it is much more active also. I guess since there's so little time on the 3 night, you don't want to spend too much of it delivering gifts to strangers.

 

[njmom23grls]

Just a quick post to say "hi" - I just booked a b2b with the 3/27 for my daughter and I for spring break (we moved our Med. reservation) - my DD is 12 and will be thrilled when she opens her gift on New Years ( we always leave one gift for New Years - its a family tradition). She has been following the Dream (and the Oasis) online - and while I'm not ready to brave the Oasis - I rethought the short cruise by booking them together so we get time to explore the new ship.

Lisa

 

[ariel68]

Just a quick post to say "hi" - I just booked a b2b with the 3/27 for my daughter and I for spring break (we moved our Med. reservation) - my DD is 12 and will be thrilled when she opens her gift on New Years ( we always leave one gift for New Years - its a family tradition). She has been following the Dream (and the Oasis) online - and while I'm not ready to brave the Oasis - I rethought the short cruise by booking them together so we get time to explore the new ship.

Lisa

Welcome aboard. I trust your New Years surprise was very exciting for your DD!! See you in 88 days

 

[JackNMel]

Hello everyone!! I am finally joining up to chat with you! I am doing a back to back on the 27th and this cruise with Mean Queen and another family. Just now am starting to gear up for things. In my opinion, Nassau isn't that exciting, but we have only gone walking around, and not done any excursions. I am so excited to check out the Dream, but the more people that get off the ship in Nassau, the less crowded it is for the rest of us, so by all means, go explore!!

And Mean Queen, if you need some liquid courage, by all means use it. But you will not fall off of the ship riding the Aquaduck, I guarantee it. It will be fun, I promise...

So is there an official FE group started? Who wants to do one? I do, I think, the one on the 1st cruise looks large, so what are a few more? Have a great day everyone!

Melody

PS. Forgot to introduce the family, me, DH-Jack, DD13 Savannah, DD11 Emily, and DD8 Veronica. This will be our 3rd Disney cruise, so looking forward to the Dream, it looks amazing.

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

Wow, lots of back-to-backers! Lucky you. I will be spending the first part of the week with the mother-in-law! Oh well, I guess three days is better than none. We plan to stay on the ship instead of going to Nassau. I am a high school teacher and have been showing my students the Dream in various stages of being built and now complete. They are anxious for my trip so they can see the real pictures! Can't wait! Maybe we can plan a meet and greet!

Katy

 

[disneytraceyl]

Getting excited, the cruise is getting closer. We are getting more excited as each day past. Cann't wait and hope all are as excited as we are!

 

[Mean Queen]

Did anyone see the pictures from the Dream arrived at Port Canaveral today? So beautiful! I wish I was there to see it, though there are few things I'd get up that early in the morning for... like maybe getting on the ship.

 

[porknbeans]

I got updates, live feeds, pics, etc. of the Dream coming home. Great to see.

 

[gunghomom]

Hi all. My family is joining you on this cruise. It's our first cruise ever and we're so excited! I'm just a little nervous about sea sickness, but I hope it doesn't happen. Anyway, our crew includes me and we're celebrating my 40th birthday aboard. Ugh! We also have my hubby, Daughter 10, daughter 8 and daughter 5. We're bringing my Mom along too! I hope hoping for lots and lots of fun.

We went to Atlantis on our honeymoon and are debating weather to return and show the girls. They really want to do dolphin experience though. Wondering where it might be best? Any ideas?

Hope to meet some of you soon!

 

[JackNMel]

Welcome aboard, GunghoMom!! We always pack dramamine just in case of seasickness, my hubby and girls tend to get motion sick sometimes. We have never had to use it though, the ship is huge and very stable.

I think you guys will have a ball, Disney cruises are the best!! We have never done the dolphin excursion with the cruise, but we were at Discovery Cove in December and did the dolphin swim there, the girls LOVED it!

 

[Mean Queen]

Welcome Gunghomom! My littlest will be so happy to know there's another girl her age in the group. She turns 5 the week before the cruise. We did the aquarium tour of Atlantis and really liked it, but it was a do one time type of thing. Though I bet the dolphin experience would be lots of fun!

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

Hi all. My family is joining you on this cruise. It's our first cruise ever and we're so excited! I'm just a little nervous about sea sickness, but I hope it doesn't happen. Anyway, our crew includes me and we're celebrating my 40th birthday aboard. Ugh! We also have my hubby, Daughter 10, daughter 8 and daughter 5. We're bringing my Mom along too! I hope hoping for lots and lots of fun.

We went to Atlantis on our honeymoon and are debating weather to return and show the girls. They really want to do dolphin experience though. Wondering where it might be best? Any ideas?

Hope to meet some of you soon!

Hi and welcome to the thread! We are in Park Ridge, so not too far from you. In fact, I have enjoyed the outlet mall in Huntley quite a few times! My DS will be just shy of 10 and DD almost 8 on cruise, so pretty close to yours. I have a feeling that Atlantis will be packed, but doing the dolphin excursion (having a plan) should be great. Haven't done it, but have heard good things...
Katy

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Just wondering what people are looking at in the way of add-ons, excursions etc? We'll be going after a week at WDW, so my energy (and wallet) might be running on empty.

 

[Mean Queen]

Just wondering what people are looking at in the way of add-ons, excursions etc? We'll be going after a week at WDW, so my energy (and wallet) might be running on empty.

All our money is going towards Shutters pictures, Palo's dinner, a few souvenirs, and lots of drinks (especially the tastings!)

 

[gunghomom]

Sounds like lots of fun people on board. My kids will be so happy to know their are others their ages, and even one from Park Ridge nearby.

We are on deck 7. Where is everyone else?

Is anyone doing this fish extender thing I keep reading about?

 

[douglas_in_philly]

[QUOTE="Cinder" Ella's Mom;38945190]Yep...we are still in! I recently paid to upgrade to a balcony from an ocenview room. This is our first balcony ever and I am not telling DH or the kids until we get on the ship. I know it is only for three days, but I think it will be worth it. It has been so exciting checking out the Dream and all of the cool pictures/videos on You-Tube. We are super-excited.[/QUOTE]

What's a balcony room like? It isn't oceanview? Is it an interior room? Does the balcony overlook something, I guess?

 

[douglas_in_philly]

Hello, everyone!

First an introduction, as this is my first day here on the forum:

My name is Doug. I'm originally from a little town in central Illinois, but I've lived in Philadelphia for about 16 years. I'm a web database programmer at a college in the Philly burbs.


Now, on to cruise-related matters:

My wife, daughter, and I will be on this cruise along with the rest of you. I found this forum today, as I began the process of figuring out what we'll do during the cruise--both on and off the ship. I just booked the cruise a few days ago.

My daughter is 7 now, but turns 8 a couple weeks before the cruise. It's my daughter's first cruise (she's been asking to "leave the mainland" for some time now, and we're finally doing it). My wife and I don't have much cruise experience, either--we took a cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to the Bahamas about 15 years ago, but that was just a cruise of a few hours, then a week on land, and another cruise of a few hours to get back to Ft. Lauderdale.

I asked in a post a couple up in this thread what a "balcony" room was, and I think (based on others' use of the term in this thread) that it's referring to rooms with what Disney calls a verandah. Is that correct? We have a room in category 05B, which is a "Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah."

I think we're on deck 6, based on the deck plans I saw on another web site. My reservation doesn't list the deck (it has a space for "Deck," but nothing listed next to it).

I'm sure I'll be posting more in the coming weeks. I have a lot of research to do!

We're going to be in the Pompano Beach area (south of Ft. Lauderdale) the week prior to our cruise (my dad spends his winters down there), and will be renting a car to drive from Pompano to Port Canaveral. Then after the cruise, we plan to rent another car and drive to the Orlando airport. Renting a car seemed cheaper than the Disney shuttle to the airport, but I will have to look into that a little further. I think the shuttle would be $35/person, or $105 total (plus a tip?), and the rental car would only be about $50 - $60, but we'd probably need a cab to take us from the cruise ship to the car rental place, so that would likely add another $10 - $20.


Anyway.....much more to come, I'm sure, as the days go by.

Hope everyone enjoys their cruise!



Douglas