Disney Magic - Dec 10, 2011 - Western Caribbean Cruise - Sun, Fun and Beaches!

[KikiMouse]

This Disney Rookie is in need of your help!

It is my first time to a Disney Cruise- any booking/scheduling suggestions that you would like to offer if you've been before?! We will be traveling with a 3,4, 7,8 year old.

Any excursionsor onboard activities that are a "Must"?!

Also, can anyone suggest where I can buy a fish exchange holder or thingy?! I am the uncraftiest uncreative person known to man.

I'm also loving packing ideas/suggestions since I am a 'Type A Plan Ahead Kind of Girl'.

Also, I've been reading that there are discounts if you book another cruise on the boat... what is the savings? Do you have to preselect the dates/locations- Is this worth it?!

This is our first family vacation ever and we want to have an experience that will be amazing and memorable!

Welcome Back MandyO!
You should certainly get a lot of help from our group!
I have you down for the FE Exchange. So, I will add you to the list. If you haven't gone to the beginning of the meet thread in awhile, there is a link to the roll call and FE information.

Can you put your information in this form so I can copy and paste it to the list?
Example:
Carmen (DW), Joshua (DH), Hazel (DD3), Evie (DD2)
DISboard ID: CitaPita
Homestate: Wisconsin
Our First Disney cruise
Pre-cruise: Country Inn & Suites
***Interested in FE exchange***


In terms of the FE, there are some cute FE's on ebay. Just do a search for "Fish Extender" . In the past, I have used a Christmas stocking as my FE. I'm not crafty either, but I haven't wanted to buy a FE!

If you look in the FAQ section of the boards, there are many resources and answers to your questions. For example, I know there is a packing list.

There are also discussions about rebooking while on the ship. One way to find out information on this would be to do a search for "rebooking on board", or something like that. I haven't rebooked on the ship in awhile, but I think you get a 10% discount off the cruise, plus a $200 onboard credit from Disney. This is for the 7 day. The idea is to put in a dummy date (if you don't know yours) and then you can change the date. I don't know the guidelines in terms of deadline for changing the dates, penalties etc.

There have been a lot of discussions on this thread about excursions, so if you look through our thread you will find many suggestions, plus you should get expert help from our group! I haven't been focusing so much on excursions yet.

This is a start anyway, you chose a wonderful first vacation!
Kiki

 

[KikiMouse]

Hi Lauren! Thanks so much for adding the text. It looks great. And also thank you for your idea for the slogan name!
Kiki

 

[Sinderelly]

here you go

Lookin good

 

[Sinderelly]

This Disney Rookie is in need of your help!

It is my first time to a Disney Cruise- any booking/scheduling suggestions that you would like to offer if you've been before?! We will be traveling with a 3,4, 7,8 year old.

Any excursionsor onboard activities that are a "Must"?!

Also, can anyone suggest where I can buy a fish exchange holder or thingy?! I am the uncraftiest uncreative person known to man.

I'm also loving packing ideas/suggestions since I am a 'Type A Plan Ahead Kind of Girl'.

Also, I've been reading that there are discounts if you book another cruise on the boat... what is the savings? Do you have to preselect the dates/locations- Is this worth it?!

This is our first family vacation ever and we want to have an experience that will be amazing and memorable!

Your kids might enjoy Tea with Alice. You can get tickets onboard from Guest Services.

 

[CitaPita]

here you go

I LOVE it! You'll see it on our stateroom door for sure.

 

[MandyO]

Thanks!

 

[mareeld86]

No problems I dont use photoshop or anything like that just basic picasa.

I have finally finished my FE gifts Im so excited about them they look so good. Has anyone had any experience posting them to the cruise or wdw before you get there Im a bit scared they will get lost!!

 

[KikiMouse]

No problems I dont use photoshop or anything like that just basic picasa.

I have finally finished my FE gifts Im so excited about them they look so good. Has anyone had any experience posting them to the cruise or wdw before you get there Im a bit scared they will get lost!!

Hey Lauren
I shipped my box of FE gifts to the ship the past 2 years and each time they were in my stateroom. I timed it so it would arrive a few days before the cruise I'm not sure how you would do this since you are leaving a month in advance. But I believe it goes to a warehouse first. Follow the directions in the FAQ section for shipping. You might do a search to see how others' experiences have been, but I didn't have any problem.
yes, I was going to use Picasa but I didn't have an account set up yet and I was in a hurry! Thanks!
KikiMouse

 

[aymekae]

I survived the fiscal year end and Congress passed a continuing resolution last night so we HAVE FUNDING till 11/18. Ah the joys of government. I'm back and in full vacation-planning mode again!

Just booked our flights and I am on my way to booking hotel rooms for pre- and post-cruise. I have decided on the Hyatt Regency in the Orlando Airport because we will be arriving after midnight and we don't want to drive anywhere. For just the two of us, I decided to use DCL ground transfer since it wasn't too much more than renting a car, and well worth not having to deal with the hassle of it all. Post-cruise, I believe we're staying at the Loew's Pacific Resort next to Universal Studios. I'm not sure how we're getting there from the port yet, but we will probably just rent a car; we're only staying one night, and it will get us back to the airport the next day, too.

My question is... how do I find out what time to show up for the DCL bus? Do they mail us that info before the cruise? I couldn't find any info on my reservation.

Hope everyone is having fun dreaming of warm, sandy beaches like I am!!

 

[KikiMouse]

Staying at the Hyatt is a smart move, since you will be getting in late! We have done this and it saved up a lot of trouble.

Hyatt will let you know the procedure when you check in- I think the process starts around 9 am You leave your bags in the room and they get them to the bus. You go down to the lobby in the morning, they put you into groups to board and off you go. Its all very easy!

 

[HannahNoahMommy]

Let's talk port adventures (again)! What else are people doing? And am I assuming correctly that if you book through DCL, you pay now?

Thanks!
Renee

 

[GraciesMommy]

Let's talk port adventures (again)! What else are people doing? And am I assuming correctly that if you book through DCL, you pay now?

Thanks!
Renee

No. I think you pay a few days before the cruise. You have time to book and change. I'm not sure if I posted before, but here is what we are doing:

Key West: On our own. Thinking about renting an electric car after reading about it on the boards
Grand Cayman: Undecided still
Cozumel: The Salsa excursion. My daughter loves to cook and it has great reviews online. We're not big beach people so this sounds like easy fun for us.
Castaway Cay: My mother is going parasailing and we'll rent bikes. This is our beach day (although last year it was too cold to enjoy the water).

We also have a Palo dinner and Palo brunch booked. I'm really just looking forward to relaxing after finishing the semester.

 

[aymekae]

Key West: Palo Brunch at 10 AM before we reach port. Trolley to Hemingway Museum and the lighthouse, then back to the ship.
Grand Cayman: Nautilus Undersea Tour and Reef Snorkel (2 hrs from 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM, booked through DCL) After that, I have no idea what to do. Suggestions??
Cozumel: Nachi Cocom Beach Break, including a couple's massage and 30 min. jet ski rides (booked through Island Marketing). This lasts the whole day.
Castaway Cay: No reservations, just a vague plan of Serenity Bay and maybe snorkeling.
Day 6 (at sea): Palo Dinner at 6:30 PM

I'm happy with my itinerary so far! Like I said, though, I don't know what to do on Grand Cayman after 9:30 AM. I wanted to visit the Turtle Farm, but DH thinks that sounds lame.

 

[Sinderelly]

Let's talk port adventures (again)! What else are people doing? And am I assuming correctly that if you book through DCL, you pay now?

Thanks!
Renee

Key West-City View Trolley on our own or renting scooters

Grand Cayman-Island Tour booked through DCL (on our last cruise we did the shipwreck and reef snorkel & it was great

Cozumel-Undecided, Salsa & Salsa looks like fun or Nachi Cocom (last cruise DH did the Tulum Ruins and I did a dolphin swim)

Castaway Cay-relaxing on the beach

 

[CitaPita]

Let's talk port adventures (again)! What else are people doing?

Here's our list!

Key West: City View Trolley tour (Non-DCL...the DCL version uses Old Town Trolley and apparently doesn't allow hop on/off? Someone correct me here if I'm wrong)
Grand Cayman: Nautilus "Under the Sea" tour booked through DCL
Cozumel: Nachi Cocom (Another Non-DCL PA) We'll get beach massages here.
Castaway Cay: Nothing planned...I'm sure my little ones will be making sandcastles at the family beach.

 

[sesame_123]

Wow! I don't check in for a couple days and 2 more pages!! This is great! Sorry I've been absent, Blame it on the Brewers! As my husband says its great to be from Wisconsin right now, Packers, Brewers and the Badgers are all having a great year so far!!

As far as port adventures, we have nothing "planned for Key West" like Carmen I think we will do the hop on hop off trolley.
Cozumel we are doing the Nataulis undersea tour (not sure if that's the exact name but you get the idea) this is a DCL tour

Grand Cayman is the Island tour, I think Sinderelly is doing this as well. DCL as well for this

Castaway Cay is our splurge and we went for the private Cabana!
Really hoping its as good as I've been reading. Being from the cold north we are not the sun worshiping type and having a queit cool place will be great and If i can get my son to take a nap there total bonus

I can't believe its almost been 30 days since our 90 check in!! Time is really flying by now!

Tracy

 

[Grumpy333]

Sorry to be MIA for weeks but I have now been working overtime every week and babysitting Tracy's (sesame) kids a couple of days week and getting ready for my B-Day to WDW this week. I have been trying to talk both of my sister's into Palo Brunch but so far no real interest. We aren't foodies by any means so I might have to skip it and do a spa treatment instead. Anybody recommend one? As far as shore excursions go, mine's the same as Tracy's. I love the name we decided on!! Now to make magnets!
Tori

 

[CitaPita]

Well, I had a feeling it would happen. Proof that our cruise is, indeed, many bookings short of a full ship!

VGT rooms just released for our sailing. I'm pretty sad I can't go for it...would have been very, very nice to have a balcony.

 

[Sinderelly]

Well, I had a feeling it would happen. Proof that our cruise is, indeed, many bookings short of a full ship!

VGT rooms just released for our sailing. I'm pretty sad I can't go for it...would have been very, very nice to have a balcony.

I agree. It's a little frustrating seeing those VGT verandas up for grabs. We are booked in a GTY category and don't know our stateroom # yet.
Hoping you get some pixie dust for a free upgrade!

 

[CitaPita]

Hoping you get some pixie dust for a free upgrade!

We booked GTY too, but we were assigned our room about a month ago or so. Unfortunately, we remained in a 11A (which is fine, at least we're on the ship!) but a little frustrating seeing as the VGT category is only about $150 more than we paid for our inside stateroom.

Oh, well...We might try and see if there are rooms available for upgrade at port.