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

[trudy88]

I'm starting to get excited about our cruise! It just seems like it was so far in the future for so long. Now, I'm beginning to buy clothes, toiletries, etc. It doesn't feel so far away now!

 

[Tower]

Hey everyone! Just a reminder that if you're silver Castaway Club members, you can start booking excursions on Sunday at 12:01AM. I hope my TA got my email to finish off my payments for the cruise or we'll have to wait for Monday to book!

 

[trudy88]

We will be driving down to the port, I'm guessing I-45. We live in a small town and I do NOT like heavy traffic. For those that live around the Houston/Galveston area, what's our best bet for avoiding the worst of the traffic? I kind of thought we might spend the night on the north side of Houston and finish driving down on Saturday morning. Would appreciate any feedback.

 

[surberd]

We will be driving down to the port, I'm guessing I-45. We live in a small town and I do NOT like heavy traffic. For those that live around the Houston/Galveston area, what's our best bet for avoiding the worst of the traffic? I kind of thought we might spend the night on the north side of Houston and finish driving down on Saturday morning. Would appreciate any feedback.

Hi Trudy, we also live in a small town, in east Texas. We are traveling down Friday and staying near Kemah, you will be out of traffic and it's only about a 20 Minute drive to port . We are soooo excited its our 1st cruise!

 

[vmedisneymom]

The countdown is looking good - hope everyone who could book last night got what they wanted. We were able to get Monday brunch at 11 and Exotic Rasul at 2 afterward So excited. Got the excursions we wanted too - big change from 4 days where it seemed everthing was gone. Those of you that have to wait a bit longer - there seemed to be lots of availability for brunch etc. Also, found some info I thought you all might be interested in - I saw a rotation for dinner etc from someone who had called DCL. Its casual/rotational, formal (prince and princess), casual, pirate, casual, semi-formal (captains gala?), casual (till we meet again) I think. So I added in my assumptions in parenthesis. Don't hold me to any of this please - but I think it helps us plan

 

[dittymau]

Hi everyone, just getting acquainted with the forums here, have been researching the details and found this one during a search. We booked last week this cruise for my GF birthday trip. It will be a party of 2, and look forward to a great cruise, we will both be 55 at the time, so will be enjoying all the "adult" activities though I have been accused of being a Disney kid that never grew up. Hard to believe I went this long without a Disney cruise, but I did make a voyage on the big red boat when it was the only thing in Port Canaveral...

Kevin

 

[Tower]

Hi everyone, just getting acquainted with the forums here, have been researching the details and found this one during a search. We booked last week this cruise for my GF birthday trip. It will be a party of 2, and look forward to a great cruise, we will both be 55 at the time, so will be enjoying all the "adult" activities though I have been accused of being a Disney kid that never grew up. Hard to believe I went this long without a Disney cruise, but I did make a voyage on the big red boat when it was the only thing in Port Canaveral...

Kevin

Welcome Kevin and DGF! The Roll Call on the top of page 5 has been updated again and we're starting to get some activity here! For you newbies cruising with us, you can start booking Palo and excursions at 75 days from sailing, so research away on where/what you want to do and get ready at 12:01AM on that day to get the jump.

Let's keep rockin'.

 

[surberd]

We booked an inside stateroom,I'm claustrophobic so hoping we can upgrade the day of cruise to something with a verendah. Has anyone done so, if so what kind of a discount is offered ? Trying to budget for the unknown drives this OCD momma crazy! Sooooooo excited, it's getting so close.

 

[Tower]

We booked an inside stateroom,I'm claustrophobic so hoping we can upgrade the day of cruise to something with a verendah. Has anyone done so, if so what kind of a discount is offered ? Trying to budget for the unknown drives this OCD momma crazy! Sooooooo excited, it's getting so close.

You're thinking the right thing surberd. Another couple on our last DCL cruise upgraded to O/S from an inside when they checked in on the Saturday morning. As fate had it, they were moved to 3 doors down from us! We shared a ride to the port and we got to know each other pretty well here on the Dis so it worked great for our kids. I don't know what kind of discount, but I believe it's worth it. We can't do it as we have 2 connecting staterooms, and to upgrade to a balcony stateroom pair is very unlikely.

 

[UCFALUM]

So excited! Booked due to a great price tonight and wasn't planning on booking a cruise this am!
DH, myself, DS12, DS will just have turned 11 the week before, DD7, DD just turned 6 2 weeks before.
Talked my cousin into joining us. She, her DH, DS 8, DS6.
This will be our second Disney Magic Cruise. Went back in 2003 when we only had 2 kiddies. We have been on 3 NCL Cruises in the meantime due to the size of our family. So excited to get up to speed on all the details but free pop and can bring alcohol on? Awesome!

 

[dittymau]

Sent e-mail to DCL for clarification, I wanted to be sure of the schedule for dinner to make appropriate Palo reservation.

Here is part of their reply:

Below is the recommended attire for your cruise itinerary and is subject
to change:

On 7-night Western Caribbean cruises:
*Nights 1, 2, 4, & 7: cruise casual
*Night 3: "formal night" - formal wear for men: tuxedo or suit; for
women: gown or dress
*Night 5: pirate night with deck party - cruise casual or bring your
best pirate outfit!
*Night 6: "semi-formal night" - semi-formal wear for men: suit/jacket;
for women: dress or pantsuit.

These requirements are not mandatory for the rotational dining
restaurants on the ship; however, in order to re-create a classic and
memorable dining experience for you and all our Guests, we recommend the
attire schedule that is planned for your upcoming cruise.

Cheers
dittymau

 

[Tower]

Hey Everyone!
We finally booked our airfare for the return home! SW flights were cheaper on the Sunday over the Saturday and with 5 of us, it makes a big difference! We're going to have to stay the night at a Houston airport hotel, but I'm now wondering about transport to Houston.
We plan on taking a private shuttle each way, but since everyone will be getting off the ship and likely making their way to the airports, we thought it would be more economical to share a shuttle to HOU. We're flying into and out of Hobby. (One note that if you're flying to Hobby and taking the Disney transportation, DCL will shuttle you via commercial bus to Bush Airport and then one would join the queue to the Disney transportation to the port. There is no direct transportation between Houston Hobby and the Port. Only through Bush).
Would anyone be willing to split the cost of say a 10 seat shuttle back to Hobby on the Saturday? We're in no hurry since our flight's leaving on Sunday. (Remember, Bush Airport is at the north end of the city and Hobby at the south and closer to Galveston)

 

[Tower]

So excited! Booked due to a great price tonight and wasn't planning on booking a cruise this am!
DH, myself, DS12, DS will just have turned 11 the week before, DD7, DD just turned 6 2 weeks before.
Talked my cousin into joining us. She, her DH, DS 8, DS6.
This will be our second Disney Magic Cruise. Went back in 2003 when we only had 2 kiddies. We have been on 3 NCL Cruises in the meantime due to the size of our family. So excited to get up to speed on all the details but free pop and can bring alcohol on? Awesome!

Wow! Can't believe I missed this post from Wednesday! Well, welcome UCFALUM! I'll update the Roll Call presently, but it's going to be a great cruise! DS just turned 11 so he'll get along great with your DS (especially if he plays hockey!). DD will turn 9 in Sep so she'll get along well with your cousin's DS, and DS is 5 1/2 and should get along well with your DD and your cousein's DS. The kids will all have fun! (And because the kids are all occupied, so will we! )

 

[tajz90]

(One note that if you're flying to Hobby and taking the Disney transportation, DCL will shuttle you via commercial bus to Bush Airport and then one would join the queue to the Disney transportation to the port. There is no direct transportation between Houston Hobby and the Port. Only through Bush).
(Remember, Bush Airport is at the north end of the city and Hobby at the south and closer to Galveston)

That's so dumb! Hobby is on Galvestons side! Geez.... Is Disney thinking?

On a diff note, why not rent a car, stay in Galveston at one of hotels that offer free cruise parking and shuttle to port and then the day you disembark, stay the night in Galveston so you can enjoy the entire day there?

You can check out these 2 hotels

Holiday Inn

And la Quinta Sea Wall

Other hotels in Galveston may offer something similar.

 

[Tower]

That's so dumb! Hobby is on Galvestons side! Geez.... Is Disney thinking?

On a diff note, why not rent a car, stay in Galveston at one of hotels that offer free cruise parking and shuttle to port and then the day you disembark, stay the night in Galveston so you can enjoy the entire day there?

You can check out these 2 hotels

Holiday Inn

And la Quinta Sea Wall

Other hotels in Galveston may offer something similar.

Thanks tajz! We're planning on the Holiday Inn since I'm a Priority Club member.
The Roll Call at the top of Page 5 is now updated!

 

[UCFALUM]

Wow! Can't believe I missed this post from Wednesday! Well, welcome UCFALUM! I'll update the Roll Call presently, but it's going to be a great cruise! DS just turned 11 so he'll get along great with your DS (especially if he plays hockey!). DD will turn 9 in Sep so she'll get along well with your cousin's DS, and DS is 5 1/2 and should get along well with your DD and your cousein's DS. The kids will all have fun! (And because the kids are all occupied, so will we! )

Thanks so much! Yes, I bet our kiddies will have so much fun together. A gaggle of 9 kids ages 5.5-12. I've already read "the rules" from another thread to the boys and plan on having them sign it as well.
Can you add us to the FE list? With 82 days to go, we can get very crafty and what a great way to add excitement for the kiddies than making crafts for the cruise.

 

[Tower]

Can you add us to the FE list? With 82 days to go, we can get very crafty and what a great way to add excitement for the kiddies than making crafts for the cruise.

I've added the asterisk to yours and your cousin's name on the Roll Call. The next change will include that in the posting.

 

[vmedisneymom]

I am so excited!!!!! :debwalk:

 

[llqool]

So excited to be joining in. Had no intention of going on this cruise, but was surfing the net and saw that there was a military rate for this cruise and got the crazy idea that this would be a good time for us to go. So we're pulling our girls out of school for four days (it's going to be a TOTAL surprise to them!!!) and bringing my mom along for her first cruise (girls will be SO happy to see g'ma since they only get to see her once a year).

Now to figure out logistics....wish there was a way to do a one way car rental from HOU to Galveston?

Again, super excited, this is our fourth cruise, all on the classic ships. We had a reservation on the Fantasy but had to cancel b/c my husband couldn't take leave for those dates.

 

[Tower]

So excited to be joining in. Had no intention of going on this cruise, but was surfing the net and saw that there was a military rate for this cruise and got the crazy idea that this would be a good time for us to go. So we're pulling our girls out of school for four days (it's going to be a TOTAL surprise to them!!!) and bringing my mom along for her first cruise (girls will be SO happy to see g'ma since they only get to see her once a year).

Now to figure out logistics....wish there was a way to do a one way car rental from HOU to Galveston?

Again, super excited, this is our fourth cruise, all on the classic ships. We had a reservation on the Fantasy but had to cancel b/c my husband couldn't take leave for those dates.

Welcome llqool!! It's going to be an awesome time for you and your girls! One thing I recommend is to get your ressies in place for Palo now as I believe it's already opened up now for everyone. You may not get it, but with it being your 4th cruise, you already know that.
We're taking a port shuttle from Hobby directly to our motel in Galveston on Thursday night. The Holiday Inn Express (and I believe others in the area) has a free port shuttle that we're taking to the port. We'll enjoy 2 nights in Galveston first and may even squeeze in the Rainforest restaurant for the kiddies before we sail.
Coming back, our flight isn't till Sunday, but we're taking the same shuttle back to Hobby and then enjoy what Houston has to offer. If your schedule matches ours, you're welcome to share the shuttle with us!
I've updated the Roll Call just now. I've made a few assumptions that llqool is the DW? Let me know and I'll correct if necessary. It's found at the top of page 5.