"Double Dip Delight" 09/27/08 - Take 2 with Link to Original Thread!

[MagicMe]

Okay - never been on the Magic (can't wait for my first time) but my favorite place on the WONDER (come to think of it, I was just discussing this with my Mom today) is late night on Deck 4 lounging on those comfy chairs listening to the lapping of the water. So peaceful!!!

crissichef - I live in Hatboro and actually work in Spring House, PA. Sorry, don't think I've been to East Windsor (heard of it but never been).

 

[crissichef]

crissichef - I think you said you lived or worked in East Windsor! I use to work in East Windsor. That is something you don't see often. I still love that area when I go back to visit.

Hello - It's a very small world!

Yes, I work in East Windsor at Conair. Where did you work?

Crissi

 

[Buckeye Gal]

At 11:00 pm EDT today, I had DVR'd "What You Get for the Money: Walt Disney World". I'm just starting to watch it now.

They showcased three families and how they spent $1600. So if you're looking for a new WDW featured show, check out the remaining air times that FLN has posted.

AIR TIMES:

• April 13, 2008 3:00 AM EDT
• April 17, 2008 5:00 PM EDT
• April 20, 2008 11:00 PM EDT
• April 21, 2008 3:00 AM EDT

 

[CrazyZeus1]

At 11:00 pm EDT today, I had DVR'd "What You Get for the Money: Walt Disney World". I'm just starting to watch it now.

They showcased three families and how they spent $1600. So if you're looking for a new WDW featured show, check out the remaining air times that FLN has posted.

AIR TIMES:

• April 13, 2008 3:00 AM EDT
• April 17, 2008 5:00 PM EDT
• April 20, 2008 11:00 PM EDT
• April 21, 2008 3:00 AM EDT

That sounds neat! I wish we got that channel. Thanks for sharing!!

 

[nenner1]

Hi gang,
I know many of you recommend David and Ivan for tours of the ruins in Costa Maya. For those who have used them before (or those who have seen either the Chacchoben or Kohlunich ruins in CM) I need your advice....

First off - and this is according to the "anticipated" excursion list it appears that thru DCL with the baby we can go officially on Kohlunich but not Chacchoben (5 and up). We would prefer to do Chacchoben b/c the excursion is shorter and the kids want to see the pyramids....SO

Q1. Do David and Ivan do either of those excursions for DCl, or do you have to book through them independently?
Q2. For those who have toured with them in the past, do you recommend booking directly?
Q3. Which ruins would those who have seen either (or both) would be better toting around an infant (we plan to use a sling or a baby bjorn, not a stroller)? Is this even feasible or are we nuts?
OK Next question...

I know this has been discussed fairly in depth in the past somewhere in the thread(s)....so a gentle nudge in the right direction is fine.

Thanks....

Oh, and since I'm soliciting advice, we were thinking about doing a Cozumel snorkeling excursion, or maybe one of the zip line tours. Anone have any advice in those departments? (We're not taking the baby at least and maybe not the kids even on the Cozumel one)

The OCPD is kicking in pretty intensely. I literally have scrawled pages of charts of each day, rotations, menus, excursions, events, lol. I am a sick puppy.

Thanks for the help!!!

 

[shoes99]

Since DH is not going on the Costa Maya cruise with us, I decided to book a 4 night free dining reservation at All Star Sports. We check in the first day that FD is available, Aug 24th, 2008 and we return home August 28th, 2008. This will give me 4 weeks to recuperate and get ready for the Magic with Pfishgirl and family.
Free dining runs Aug 24th to Sept 20th for this promotion. There are other promotions, but I booked with the Disney Visa promo.

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Since DH is not going on the Costa Maya cruise with us, I decided to book a 4 night free dining reservation at All Star Sports. We check in the first day that FD is available, Aug 24th, 2008 and we return home August 28th, 2008. This will give me 4 weeks to recuperate and get ready for the Magic with Pfishgirl and family.
Free dining runs Aug 24th to Sept 20th for this promotion. There are other promotions, but I booked with the Disney Visa promo.

Excellent!! Congrats!

 

[CrazyZeus1]

Nenner1--Just my two cents. PLEASE chime in anyone else who has more experience than I do!

I have read that mosquito-borne illness is a possibility when you venture to the ruins. You might want to do some more indepth reading, or talk to your pediatrician, but if your wee one isn't protected yet from these illnesses by vaccination schedules, perhaps this could pose a danger.

Again--I remember reading briefly about the port area being safe & sprayed to keep the mosquitos at bay, but once you venture further inland there's a chance for problems.

Anyone else on the board know more?

 

[nenner1]

Yikes, I didn't think of that....

We'll have to check with the Dr.!

 

[skoi]

nenner1:

We booked independently with David and Ivan, but only took the two big kids. Dd was a bit over 3 and stayed on board with dh. There were people with babies and strollers-- pushing them over the grass.

We didn't have issues with bugs at all at the ruins. Though obviously there are problems, as you can't give blood for a year after going to Costa Maya. It was a great tour, David was our guide, and he told us a lot of interesting stories about the area, and how it's been changing with immigration and development as well as the standard ruins tour. They also went off the beaten track to find medicinal plants for the kids to sample.

Julie

 

[LuvtheEars]

The OCPD is kicking in pretty intensely. I literally have scrawled pages of charts of each day, rotations, menus, excursions, events, lol. I am a sick puppy.

Some people clean the house like a mad woman while they are Nesting! It sounds like you are Cruise Planning instead!

Tiffany

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

I hope this questions is not too personal...

how much spending money is everyone bringing? Obviously we dont know exactly how much is needed, Anyone with crusing experience care to share their thougths and budget?

Thanks

 

[CrazyZeus1]

I hope this questions is not too personal...

how much spending money is everyone bringing? Obviously we dont know exactly how much is needed, Anyone with crusing experience care to share their thougths and budget?

Thanks

We usually bring a few hundred dollars cash for "just in case" situations. We charge EVERYTHING we can because we feel it's safer than carrying cash.

I brought about $50 in one dollar bills for tips & whatnot on board. The rest were in small bills for things in port (street vendor shopping things, etc).

Hope that helps!

 

[Buckeye Gal]

...how much spending money is everyone bringing? Obviously we dont know exactly how much is needed, Anyone with crusing experience care to share their thougths and budget?

Well I'm not sure if you question is specifically around cash, or all the "extra" expenses.

So assuming you're referring to "extra expenses", here are the items I have on my budget list:

• Airport parking fees
• 2 one-way car rentals
• Pre-cruise hotel
• Deposit money for booking next cruise!!
• Basic gratuities (servers, stateroom host, etc.)
• Misc. gratuities (airport handlers, room service, porters, excursion guides)
• Special beverages (smoothies, alcohol, Cove Cafe)
• Shutters (that one hits me hard!)
• Palo Tea/Brunch/Dinner
• Salon/Spa/Rainforsest services and tipping
• Excursions
• Spontaneous purchases at ports (snack, small souvenirs/market purchases)
• Castaway Cay rentals
• Postage at Castaway Cay
• Souvenirs

As far as cash goes, we plan to only have cash for the items listed in green. So with that in mind, only a few hundred will go in the safe. For the rest, I've already put a big chunk on my OBC account so little to nothing ends up getting charged.

 

[FatCat]

I usually like to have a lot of small bills for the sport of haggling in Cozumel.

I do the Disney Visa 0.0 card for the cruise cost

So my initial 1000 (250x4) paid off after 6 months.

At 75 days prior to sailing I will pay remainder of cruise.
Then prior to cruising I will pay off that card at 0.0%

Then on board I will book another 0.0% for $2000.
Two rooms. (Relatives ) and get 0.0 for 6 months from cruise on the deposits.

All room charges go on a different card which I pay off when and if I get home.

Lot of work but it ends up being in my favor

 

[zweihund]

Lionel and I are adding up the costs of all of our excursions, Palo, spa and tips and setting that aside.....plus probably a few hundred for drinks and miscellaneous. I guess it depends on what you spend your money on typically. If you're not a drinker, and don't plan on getting any photos, then you can probably get away with spending very little.

Me, on the other hand....my bar tab usually ends up being the budget for a small country.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Jen--My understanding about misquitos that carry malaria in Mexico is that they are NOCTURNAL (the day time ones do not carry)--so that may not be such a big issue (as per our doctor who actaully has quite a bit of experience with malaria). I also heard recently (but you will want to verify this) that you can now give blood after visiting Costa Maya. Having said that--we loved the Kohunlich ruins, but no way would I take an infant to them. It is very far inland which means no sea breeze which means HOT. It was right about 100 degrees when we were there and HUMID. Remember you will be walking around the ruins (mostly in the sun at midday) for a good two hours with NO indoor air conditioned place to go. I cannot fathom having to carry a baby in that heat--and I do think it would be a very real possibilty that your little one could get over heated (and I believe the ship would be the closest decent medical facility!).

About spending money:
Boy that varies greatly from person to person (and for us from trip to trip). We have actaully taken a 7 day cruise in which we spent money on tips, plus the Palo fee and that was the entire bill for the week! We are pretty frugal but here is what we generally spend:

Suggested tips plus about 20% (we charge them to our Disney Visa to satrt building up our rewards again).

$20-$30 in cash tips to porters and room service

$40 Palo (meal charge plus extra tip)

$20-$60 for photos at Shutters (we mostly take our own but usually end up with a couple form them we like--I love the candid ones htey get of the kids on Castaway Cay)

Cost of the float/bike/snorkle rental on CC for two (too lazy to look that up now)

$20-$30 for alcohol including a tasting activity (not big drinkers)

$100 or so to spend in port

We only use cash in port and for the porter and room service tips (dollars work fine in Mexico).

There are many things to spend $$$ on that we do not but you may want to, such as:
smoothies
gift shop
arcade
movie snacks
BINGO
Art auction
Shutters photos (yes we get a couple but you have NO IDEA until you see it just how much most people feel compelled to spend on this)
shore excursions

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Check this out. I found it on ebay this evening. The seller has generic Disney ones as well. She did a great job with both of them.

Check out the "surprise" on the auction site:

http://cgi.ebay.com/DISNEY-CRUISE-Scrapbook-Explosion-Box-Album-Pages-pics_W0QQitemZ300215093662QQihZ020QQcategoryZ11791QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[googles111]

Jen, I am so sorry to hear about your aunt. Sorry about the baby too, I will be praying for you guys!

Our whole family had pirate costumes I made them last year but I don't know if DH and I will wear ours Here are the kids in ther costumes

http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k223/scrappingjenjer/?action=view&current=Bigslide021.jpg

Love the pics.. so cute! What do you wear if you can't sew like me? Do people wear shirts or something that doesn't cost a lot and you can wear again?

Well being that I have never been on the Magic.. or Wonder.. Im sure I will have a great time come sailaway with a drink in hand standing next to Tonya (google111 one of my BFF's LOL) oh and next will be in any of the dinning rooms with all the yummy food ugg 5+ months can not come fast enough LOL

LOL.. Yes that's us! I can't wait. After the day I had today with the kids I need a drink! lol

Oh and our favorite characters are..
Me ..Tonya I have always liked Classic Winnie the Pooh or The Lion King characters. I love Timon and Pumba.

Mike.. I don't know if he has a favorite character. I have to find out. Maybe Sarge from Cars.

Jaren - would be Mater cause he jokes all the time.

Braden- anything from Cars. He loves that movie.

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Jen (nenner1), just wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you and your family today. I hope all goes well for Sarah and you.