Disney Magic - Nov 10, 2012 - Western Caribbean from Galveston - Sun, Fun & Beaches!

[dolphingirl47]

Here are the people who have so far signed up on the form for the Fish Extender exchange:

Heard02
Golden Rose
vmedisneymom
surberd
cruisingbuddy3
Tammie shaiq
UCFALUM

I will close this on October 13th and will send the link out by PM/ email the same day. Until then you can sign up using this link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFhWMTdZYnRVQmFBSWxWdWJzQ0JZdlE6MQ#gid=0

Corinna

 

[mouseearstx]

Hiya folks! We will be on this cruise too! It will be myself, DH, DS 7, and DD 2. We will also be traveling with my parents and another couple who are friends of theirs. This will be my 4th cruise, all DCL. It will be fun to return to the Magic since the last time I was on that ship was six weeks after her maiden voyage, so it's been a while.

I was so excited when I found out DCL would be sailing out of Galveston, and amazed we found such a wonderful deal!

 

[dolphingirl47]

Hiya folks! We will be on this cruise too! It will be myself, DH, DS 7, and DD 2. We will also be traveling with my parents and another couple who are friends of theirs. This will be my 4th cruise, all DCL. It will be fun to return to the Magic since the last time I was on that ship was six weeks after her maiden voyage, so it's been a while.

I was so excited when I found out DCL would be sailing out of Galveston, and amazed we found such a wonderful deal!

Welcome on board.

Corinna

 

[Golden Rose]

Hiya folks! We will be on this cruise too! It will be myself, DH, DS 7, and DD 2. We will also be traveling with my parents and another couple who are friends of theirs. This will be my 4th cruise, all DCL. It will be fun to return to the Magic since the last time I was on that ship was six weeks after her maiden voyage, so it's been a while.

I was so excited when I found out DCL would be sailing out of Galveston, and amazed we found such a wonderful deal!

Welcome to the group! I laughed when I read your post, because we're traveling with our DS 7 and DD 2 (well, almost 2, just 3 weeks from 2). We're also traveling with my mom, and my step father was supposed to come, but had to back out a month ago.

This is our first time on DCL, although it will be my 11th cruise. We've gone on several different lines over the years, but we've been wanting to try DCL for a while. They finally made it easy for us, leaving from Galveston this year. (We've done a lot of cruising out of Galveston; we love having a cruise port so close.)

 

[mouseearstx]

Mine is almost two as well, she turns two on 9/18! Our kiddos are sure to run into each other!

 

[Brooke3L]

Hi Folks!
I found a couple of sites that may have economical travel to Galveston if you're heading in a day or 2 early. I think we'll go with the Super Shuttle for our group of 5, others may find other more economical transport.

We're still looking for someone to share a ride back to Hobby possibly to split the cost even further on the 17th.

Super Shuttle
https://reservations.supershuttle.com

Airport Shuttle
http://houston24hourairportlimo.com/cgi-bin/houston24_limo.pl

Elite
http://www.elitelimohouston.com/cruisetransfers.htm

Hope this helps for some as I think the Disney ground transportation is a bit too pricey.

Disney transfers are $30.00. Right??

 

[GetGlowing]

Hello everyone! Just booked this cruise for me and my dad. He'll celebrate his 72nd birthday on board, so I'm hoping to make this extra magical for him! He's coming along somewhat reluctantly. He's mobility impaired now, walking with a cane or walker, and I think he feels like I won't be able to do some of the things I want since he'll be "holding me back." To that I say, nonsense! I wouldn't have asked him to come if I didn't want to spend the week with him!

But I'd love to meet other cruisers and hopefully make some friends so if I do want to go off on an excursion, he won't feel like he's stuck by himself. He's annoyed the ship doesn't have a casino.

We have an aft balcony handicapped room that looks pretty great. Excited about that!

I'm also interested in hearing from anyone experienced in these ports about how handicapped accessible they are. I know about the tenders in Cayman, so we're iffy about going ashore there. I guess it depends on the weather and how bouncy the water is that day. Dad can get off-balance pretty easily. Hopefully we'll have a scooter so he can get around the ship easier and get off in Cozumel/Costa Maya.

I'm looking forward to joining you all!!

 

[Tower]

Hiya folks! We will be on this cruise too! It will be myself, DH, DS 7, and DD 2. We will also be traveling with my parents and another couple who are friends of theirs. This will be my 4th cruise, all DCL. It will be fun to return to the Magic since the last time I was on that ship was six weeks after her maiden voyage, so it's been a while.

I was so excited when I found out DCL would be sailing out of Galveston, and amazed we found such a wonderful deal!

Welcome mouseearstx! I have you in the spreadsheet. On my way out the door to take kiddies to school and then to a job site out of town today, so I'll get the Roll Call inserted when I get home this afternoon.

Hello everyone! Just booked this cruise for me and my dad. He'll celebrate his 72nd birthday on board, so I'm hoping to make this extra magical for him! He's coming along somewhat reluctantly. He's mobility impaired now, walking with a cane or walker, and I think he feels like I won't be able to do some of the things I want since he'll be "holding me back." To that I say, nonsense! I wouldn't have asked him to come if I didn't want to spend the week with him!

But I'd love to meet other cruisers and hopefully make some friends so if I do want to go off on an excursion, he won't feel like he's stuck by himself. He's annoyed the ship doesn't have a casino.

We have an aft balcony handicapped room that looks pretty great. Excited about that!

I'm also interested in hearing from anyone experienced in these ports about how handicapped accessible they are. I know about the tenders in Cayman, so we're iffy about going ashore there. I guess it depends on the weather and how bouncy the water is that day. Dad can get off-balance pretty easily. Hopefully we'll have a scooter so he can get around the ship easier and get off in Cozumel/Costa Maya.

I'm looking forward to joining you all!!

Welcome as well to GetGlowing! I can't wait for the time. My mom was 75 when she joined us on our first Disney cruise. While she was not mobility impaired, she had a great time, I'm sure your dad will too!

8 weeks from Wednesday my family leaves the kids' school and head our way to Buffalo to catch our flight to Houston and we'll all be together on Mickey's ship!

 

[llqool]

Hello everyone! Just booked this cruise for me and my dad. He'll celebrate his 72nd birthday on board, so I'm hoping to make this extra magical for him! He's coming along somewhat reluctantly. He's mobility impaired now, walking with a cane or walker, and I think he feels like I won't be able to do some of the things I want since he'll be "holding me back." To that I say, nonsense!

We're bringing along my 82 yr old mom (her first cruise!), and she has the same concerns. She doesn't use a wheelchair, but I'm having her take her walker (which she doesn't regularly use, either, but I think it's best to be prepared!)

We are going snorkeling in Grand Cayman, and since my mom's been there before, and since it's a tender port, we are leaving her on the ship.

In Costa Maya, I noticed that all the Disney excursions to the ruins are not "friendly" for those w/mobility issues. So we are booking a local excursion that got good reviews on Trip Advisor and other boards. I have contacted them directly, and they tell me that the ruins have flat pavement, and they will also bring their own wheelchair if I want them to, just in case.

In Cozumel we may just get off the ship and wander around a bit and then get back on.

 

[Golden Rose]

Just a quick note to those considering ruins with mobility impaired relatives... We aren't traveling with someone who is mobility impaired this trip, but we have in the past.

Generally, the reason they tell you the ruins are difficult for mobility impaired guests is because there is a lot of uneven ground. The paving, if it is paved at all (much of the time you're on dirt/grass paths), is often broken in places, and there are a lot of tree roots. Most of these sites have been reclaimed from jungle. (I haven't been to Costa Maya before, so I can't speak for the ruins there in particular, but I've been to a lot of Caribbean and Central American sites.)

We've found that if you go with reasonable expectations, and you have a good guide, someone who is mobility impaired can still see a fair amount and have a good time. If you are with a tour, there is no way to keep up with the tour the whole time, and since there is only one guide for the tour, you miss out on a lot of the talk. I'm sure that is why they tell you not to sign up for the big tours. If you are with a small group, particularly on a private tour with a tourguide who knows his or her stuff, at most sites, you should be able to see enough to get a feel for the ruins. No, you won't be scrambling up temples, but I wouldn't have been either if someone didn't have to follow the 7 year old up it while DH kept the toddler. (Not that I'm speaking from recent experience, or anything )

Let me add that I really don't recommend heading to the ruins on the mainland when we're docked at Cozumel if you're traveling with someone who is mobility impaired, (or with young children, for that matter). While we loved Tulum, getting there was a pain, and it was miserably hot. You have to take a (sometimes rough) ferry to the mainland, walk a distance to a bus, take a bus to the Tulum parking lot, and then either walk a long distance or wait for a tram out to the ruins. In Cozumel, I really recommend grabbing a taxi and heading to Chankanaab. You can relax on the beach, you can snorkel, you can watch a sea lion show, or you can swim with dolphins or manatees if you want to pay a bunch of extra money. It is much cheaper to do it on your own than to book a ship's excursion. We've tried just getting off the ship and wandering around in Cozumel, and while we didn't feel unsafe, we didn't really enjoy it much either.

 

[llqool]

Thanks for all the good info, Golden_Rose!

I've been to ruins in several places (Chitchen Itza, Tulum), so I'm aware of the issues, which is why we are going to the ones you can get to from Costa Maya vs. taking a ferry etc to the mainland. And I am having them bring a chair, b/c I don't quite trust their description of "flat" and "paved". I figure my mom will at least have a place to sit while we walk around!

I have heard several others recommend that place in Cozumel. Just don't know if we want to commit to something like that. I'm sure my mom will say she doesn't want to go....(we're originally from FL, so beaches don't hold quite the allure they may for others!). Maybe we can find a beach with a very low entry fee that we can go to so we wouldn't have to feel guilty about turning around and leaving after a very short time.

I wonder how easy it is to find taxis *back* to the ship once you're at the beach?

 

[dolphingirl47]

Hello everyone! Just booked this cruise for me and my dad. He'll celebrate his 72nd birthday on board, so I'm hoping to make this extra magical for him! He's coming along somewhat reluctantly. He's mobility impaired now, walking with a cane or walker, and I think he feels like I won't be able to do some of the things I want since he'll be "holding me back." To that I say, nonsense! I wouldn't have asked him to come if I didn't want to spend the week with him!

But I'd love to meet other cruisers and hopefully make some friends so if I do want to go off on an excursion, he won't feel like he's stuck by himself. He's annoyed the ship doesn't have a casino.

We have an aft balcony handicapped room that looks pretty great. Excited about that!

I'm also interested in hearing from anyone experienced in these ports about how handicapped accessible they are. I know about the tenders in Cayman, so we're iffy about going ashore there. I guess it depends on the weather and how bouncy the water is that day. Dad can get off-balance pretty easily. Hopefully we'll have a scooter so he can get around the ship easier and get off in Cozumel/Costa Maya.

I'm looking forward to joining you all!!

Welcome on board.

Corinna

 

[Tower]

That's 31 families that are participating on this thread so far. Welcome again to our newcomers!

We're rarin' to go, but I think that's enough right? I mean, any more families and we'll sink the ship!

I've updated the Roll Call at the top of page 5. Please check it and let me know of any changes desired.

I'm off out of town for one night tomorrow, so any changes won't likely happen to that list until Wednesday.

 

[Golden Rose]

I have heard several others recommend that place in Cozumel. Just don't know if we want to commit to something like that. I'm sure my mom will say she doesn't want to go....(we're originally from FL, so beaches don't hold quite the allure they may for others!). Maybe we can find a beach with a very low entry fee that we can go to so we wouldn't have to feel guilty about turning around and leaving after a very short time.

I wonder how easy it is to find taxis *back* to the ship once you're at the beach?

Cozumel has free public beaches; you should be able to find some nice ones you pay nothing to be on. They can get crowded. Let's me check... ok, on the day we're scheduled to be in port, there are just 4 ships docked in Cozumel. (That's not TOO bad, although one of them is the Oasis of the Seas.) Cozumel also has several beach clubs that include food, palapas, lounge chairs, and alcohol at a set price, and while those are great for some people, it doesn't sound like a good fit for you. Chankanaab on your own doesn't include the dolphins or food, but it does (or it did in February, when we were there) include access to palapas, beach chairs, the sea lion show, and the garden area. You pay separately for food, photos, and the animal interactions. I think the base fee is $21 a person. Part of what you're paying for is the places to sit and relax, and the lack of crowds. Cabs back from it are easy; they have a line of them waiting outside the park. I don't know about the public beaches, though.

I will say, we were at Chankanaab with my mom in February, and she liked it so well that she says she is never going anywhere else again when we dock in Cozumel. It means that when we travel with my mom, we're going to have to listen to kid campaigning for another dolphin encounter or swim for a long time.

Let me just add that I've heard good things about Mr Sancho's, although I've never been. It's a beach club about 15 minutes by taxi from the cruise terminal, and it's supposed to have free beach access. You just pay for any drinks or food, or any activities you want to participate in, but use of the chairs and restrooms are free. (I believe they also have an all-inclusive option, but that wouldn't be your thing, obviously.)

 

[dolphingirl47]

I did some research on the Mastic Trail in Grand Cayman over the weekend.It can be done on your own, but the agreement seems to be that this is a waste of time and it is a local guide that brings it alive. There are also tons of mosquitoes there. As I am allergic to mosquito bites, this is probably not a smart idea. So I think Grand Cayman is back to the drawing board. I have to say I am curious about Stingray City, but I am worried that it would freak me out to have them swim all around me.

I made the mistake to have a look at the DCL website earlier. They have Veranda cabins available on the Interline rate again. When I booked the cruise, I just narrowly missed out on one. I also spotted that I could now select a cabin for my booking category, but I am still showing as GTY. Maybe there will be some pixie dust headed my way.

Corinna

 

[GetGlowing]

So we got some pixie dust today -- my mom will be able to join dad and me on the cruise!

Now I think my dad will be more comfortable, and my Mom, who is full time caregiver for my 93-year-old granny, will hopefully get some rest and rejuvenation! I'm really excited.

What's funny is we've had a big December family cruise scheduled on the Dream for a year now. We'll be setting sail again just a couple weeks after we disembark from the Magic!

Thanks for the info on the ruins. I'll be picking y'all's brains some more now that mom is along for the journey.

 

[caniac27]

So I was finally taking a look at this cruise after a very busy summer, arranging pre-cruise hotel in Houston, transfers,etc when I decided to take a look at DCL and see where the prices were at. To my chagrin the price of my "T" suite had dropped by about $1700. Yikes! Knowing that I am paid in full and in a no-refund, no change situation, I dropped my TA an email and just asked if there was anything we could do. She got back to me right away and said she'd call DCL in the am. I was sitting in a meeting this morning when I got her reply. I almost yelled out loud! She worked some Disney Magic and got me the refund! Whoo hooo (thanks Michelle at Mousefan). And thanks Disney for knowing what good customer service is all about. They kept an 8th DCL cruise family very happy and committed to their brand. The point is- it never hurts to ask, and having a good TA can make a big difference (and the onboard credits are a nice perk too )

 

[sunholt2]

Hi all.

I am new here. First Disney cruise, first Disney forum post, etc. So my hubby and I are excited about the cruise, but NOT excited about the price to get from Houston to the port.

Wondering if anyone is interested in sharing a Super Shuttle cost on the morning of the 10th. We will be flying in on the 9th and grabbing a hotel near the Hobby airport. We are also flying out on the day the cruise gets in.

Not sure how this works, but would love to share the cost with a few couples or so. If that is possible. Thanks Susan

 

[Tower]

I am new here. First Disney cruise, first Disney forum post, etc. So my hubby and I are excited about the cruise, but NOT excited about the price to get from Houston to the port.

Welcome to Susan and Hubby! You'll love the cruise.
As for ride sharing, we can't share the ride down as we're flying to Houston on Jetblue on Thursday, but we can possibly share a ride to Hobby on Saturday with you. We're flying home on the Sunday, but if we can get to our airport area hotel for less $$ we'll be happy to share!

BTW, I've updated the Roll Call at the top of page 5 again!

 

[dolphingirl47]

So we got some pixie dust today -- my mom will be able to join dad and me on the cruise!

Now I think my dad will be more comfortable, and my Mom, who is full time caregiver for my 93-year-old granny, will hopefully get some rest and rejuvenation! I'm really excited.

What's funny is we've had a big December family cruise scheduled on the Dream for a year now. We'll be setting sail again just a couple weeks after we disembark from the Magic!

Thanks for the info on the ruins. I'll be picking y'all's brains some more now that mom is along for the journey.

That is great news.

So I was finally taking a look at this cruise after a very busy summer, arranging pre-cruise hotel in Houston, transfers,etc when I decided to take a look at DCL and see where the prices were at. To my chagrin the price of my "T" suite had dropped by about $1700. Yikes! Knowing that I am paid in full and in a no-refund, no change situation, I dropped my TA an email and just asked if there was anything we could do. She got back to me right away and said she'd call DCL in the am. I was sitting in a meeting this morning when I got her reply. I almost yelled out loud! She worked some Disney Magic and got me the refund! Whoo hooo (thanks Michelle at Mousefan). And thanks Disney for knowing what good customer service is all about. They kept an 8th DCL cruise family very happy and committed to their brand. The point is- it never hurts to ask, and having a good TA can make a big difference (and the onboard credits are a nice perk too )

Wow, that is some serious pixie dust. Makes me wonder if I should just be brave and ring them to see if they will let me upgrade to the Veranda rate.

Hi all.

I am new here. First Disney cruise, first Disney forum post, etc. So my hubby and I are excited about the cruise, but NOT excited about the price to get from Houston to the port.

Wondering if anyone is interested in sharing a Super Shuttle cost on the morning of the 10th. We will be flying in on the 9th and grabbing a hotel near the Hobby airport. We are also flying out on the day the cruise gets in.

Not sure how this works, but would love to share the cost with a few couples or so. If that is possible. Thanks Susan

Welcome on board.

Corinna