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

[Buckeye Gal]

I won't use it for this cruise, so for my future reference, if you make this reservation, do you need to pay for it upfront, or does this begin your stateroom bill? I'm thinking they would make you pay for it up front, but logic isn't always reality....shocker, I know!

 

[anc22]

Kimberly: They make you pay for the REAS up front

We opted to purchase the REAS, not so much for the early booking (105 days), but because of the other things that come with it. (RainForest passes, wine, palo, gifts, breakfast in bed, etc.)

 

[skoi]

Hello to all the newcomers!

Thanks to the lanyard team!

Don't remember who mentioned it, but we've seen uniforms on formal night- Marine enlisted (nice uniform, minus the sword), Coast Guard officer, and even a Canadian naval officer in Palo once. Dh would never wear his because he's a reservist and technically can't wear it unless he's activated, and of course, now that he is activated, he can't come with us! I've also seen firefighters on board in dress uniform for formal night.

Palo Question:
Do we know what days brunch at Palo will be offered and what days tea will be offered?

Just trying to plan out my days...not sure if we will be booking any excursions yet or not.

Brunch and tea are on sea days.

Still looking for penpals in the 12-15 range for dd.

Julie

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

Can someone tell me about the Rainforest Pass?
Also, if we book REAS, can I book Palo brunch?

I am leaning towards doing this, I really dont want to miss Palo!

 

[Buckeye Gal]

...Cute/funny story to share....He gets this huge smile on his face and says..... "I'm 3 & 1/2 now but I'm turning 4 on the Disney Cruise!" ...

Well, we got a cabin number now..we were a Cat 7 gty. We are now on Deck 7 Starboard Navigators, so that's good news. We paid off the cruise and got the REAS package.

Hey there, Cheryl! Long time no see!

Your DS's response is too adorable! Congrats on getting in the "Paid Off Club"! We're also Cat 7 on Deck 7, however, we are Port in 7122. I'm jealous because you'll be facing Castaway Cay when we dock!!

On a side note, I'm excited that more and more of you are coming out of Winter/Spring hiberation (or in your case, Tania, Summer/Fall) and getting back on the boards after months and months of waiting for the upcoming milestones!

 

[zweihund]

The REAS package stands for "Romance at Sea" I think...basically for $359 you get:
2 cruise long Rainforest passes
1 8x10 Shutters photo
1 stateroom gift (picture frame I think)
Romance turndown service one night (rose petals on the bed)
In room Champagne Brunch (room service from a special menu)
Palo Dinner for 2
Bottle of Wine (from upgraded list)
last but not least you can book Palo and spa treatments at 105 days.

Just called my TA and she added it..also you have to pay off cruise to book at 105 day mark.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong or missed anything.

That is actually not a bad deal, if you add it all up. I'm tempted. Must investigate further.

 

[cyndifan]

The draw on the REAS package for us is the early booking since we're 1st timers & we'll be cruisin' w/lots of CC folks.

I may use the rainforest pass, we'll see. The other things are pretty neat. However, w/a 5 yr old in tow, not sure how 'romantic' things will be.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I learned an interesting lesson at work today - it's not always good to work by an amusement park! I live and work by Dorney Park and can literally see it from the offices that are located on the second floor of the building. Well today I had to run over an order to the local pizza place (we have birthday parties on the weekends and with some of the packages the party receives pizza) and it's literally next door to the water park at Dorney. Well, I could hear the amusement park announcements and kids screaming and having fun and all I could think about was "I have to go back to work...this bites!"


Hope everyone is having a good day!

 

[FatCat]

Just checked my ressie after a while.

Still a guarantee.

I guess I should pay first to have a better shot.

Last year our guarantees came about 30 days out as I recall.


I WANT MY FREE UPGRADE.

3rd cruise. Never Upgraded

 

[skoi]

Just checked my ressie after a while.

Still a guarantee.

I guess I should pay first to have a better shot.

Last year our guarantees came about 30 days out as I recall.


I WANT MY FREE UPGRADE.

3rd cruise. Never Upgraded

This is our 4th cruise, first time sailing guarantee. Have to say I'm nervous they won't squeeze us in! Do you have to check through your travel agent, or can you do it through Disney?

Thanks-
Julie

 

[scoutsmom99]

Welcome to all of the new folks

Wow this thread is moving fast these days. We are still trying to decide on excursions. I have it narrowed down to a few for each port. I picked out my fish extender gifts a few weeks ago I'm so excited for them!! I still need to make a fish extender for our cabin as well.

All of this REAS talk is making me consider booking it for the trip...I'm nervous about not getting Palo well the tea as well(tea is very high to do on mom's list)...we will probably be running to Rockin D to get our reservations on the morning of the cruise with our luck!

 

[GammaRee]

I served on the USS George Bancroft(SSBN643)Blue and we were chased by you guys a few time. I stood sonar watches as you tryed to find us under the thermo layers, but we were tooo quiet. By the way I was a Yeoman.
Thanks to all that are serving us today and in the past. Your honor and dedicatoion is the reason we enjoy our freedom today and every day.

AMEN to that!
Hey Panman Man & Cyndifan & Skoi and all other servicemembers & families -
Would you like to have a get-together on the boat? We could swap tall tales and drink a cup of coffee or an adult beverage. My youngest decided to join the USMC last year and I could use some good jokes to feed our Navy-Corps rivalry.

I was a TraDevMan 2nd, or TD2. We were often called the Toy Doctors because we dealt with anything & everything related to training. From reel-to-reel tape recorders up through multimillion $$ weapons, crew, flight, or survival trainers. I had a great time!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hey All,
I am back from Neverland We had a great show and big audiences the second weekend and had a balst doing it and are exhausted from it!!!

A couple of quick replies to some of the MANY thigns I missed the past two weeks:

Brandie: I have seen many people wearing dress uniforms on formal night. I think there were a dozen or so on the Tran Atlantic alone.

Crissi: Wonderfully sweet photo. Thank you for sharing.

Kimberly: My short form take on Palo is we would actaully be skipping dinner entirely at this point were it not for the fact that we love the chance to dine with friends we are not otherwise dining with. I always miss my regular servers and have never gotten "better" service in Palo and the food does not apeal much to either of us (I am very picky and this comes as no surprise but Dave is not picky and it is surprising he does not care for it). The pizza and souflee are wonderful though (but now we can make the soufle ourselves so that has lost some appeal). It is lovely there and I do think it is at least something you should try once. Like Erik and Jason, we were totally unimpressed with the brunch and have no desire to do that again at all. Dave is generally not a froo froo kinda guy but he agrees with me that tea is delightful and I am hoping we can snag a ressie for that this trip.

My Disney memories (I have narrowed it to three which is the best I can do) in no order:

1.The transatlantic cruise last May. Wow. I just can't describe how completely magical this trip was from start to finish. A perfect trip with perfect people. It is really a BUNCH of top notch memories all strung together into one amzing, perfect, never to be duplicated vacation:
Dancing at 80s night with Chris and Rob and Sandi and Darrel and Deanna and Greg and Cindy
The pirate party with Erik and Jason
Watching the kids turn it ON for HSM karaoke
Pictionary with Sandi and Darrell
Rio and Erik winning Mickey Mania by a landslide (the photo of them holding up their medals afterwards is one of my all time favourites and hangs on our dinig room wall amid the best family photos)
Winning two Don "Ducky" Williams sketches between the four of us
and on, and on and on. I made my best friends on this trip (and so did Marika--she considers Abby to be one of her two very best friends).

2. Many years ago, when we had Annual passes to WDW Nestle had made their corporate lounge in the Land Pavillion available to annual passholders to use. It was a quiet and cool place to escape on a hot day. Located above the Garden Grill it contained many comfy couches, free fountain sodas, several TVs and some board games. It was gret palce to take the kids and just chill out. One day we were in there and the kids were playing Chutes and Ladders (they were probably 3 and 5 at the time). Chip and Dale came up from their rounds at the Garden Grill and sat down and started playing with the kids (on the floor). Chip only stayed a moment (As I expected) but Dale played with Rio and Marika for about 20 minutes. It was just so sweet and unscripted and fun. Nothing like standing in line for autographs. I loved that time for the kids (who were still little enough to believe) just getting to PLAY with Dale.

3. Last September. We were at the Comedy Wharehouse's first show of the night. The audience was only about 1/2 full and we were all the way down front. During one of the games Rio was pulled up on stage and drawn into the action. He was told by the comedian playiong a crook to pretend he was said man's son. The girl playing the police officer asked Rio "What's his name?" It was clear she was expecting Rio to say he didn't know and then "capture" the crook red handed, etc. (sorry I know I am not being clear here). Rio--my little performer--threw his arm around the man;' shoulders and said "I just call him DAD" while fluttering his insanely long lashes. The girl nearly broke character and the otehr people on the edge of the stage as well as the audience, lost it. I know I am a mom, but it really was funny and he was so natural up there and it was fun to see that. They ended up keeping him up there about 3 or 4 minutes and ahnding him a mike. I truly think he did a good job of rolling with the punches nad being funny without upstagine anyone or just being a "cute kid". Taht is something I could never do. Needless to say Comdey Wharehouse (along with Adventurer's Club) is high on Rio;s list of must visit agains.

 

[GammaRee]

Heya, mom! Nice to see you! You think you'd go back with me and do the cool train for your next milestone birthday? Or maybe MY next milestone birthday? I'd even let you point out all my grey hairs if you'll go with! Or do you think after these 2 cruises you're gonna be sick of me and want the peace and quiet of Alaska all to yourself?
.

Maybe ... If Princess Fifi can sit still for that long. Say, in 5 or 10 years? It would be a great trip! And who cares about grey hairs? When I get tired of mine I invest in Redken products

That's not to say we can't arrange a get-together/memorial, but currently, I have not seen one on the Navigators. ... There's no way for passengers to communicate with each other on a large scale while on the boat, either, so if we do try to arrange this, it would need to fly under DCL's auspices. ...Lemme know if you want me to make some calls.

Let's see how many people express interest. If enough people like the idea I'm sure we can reserve a meeting room or something.

 

[skoi]

AMEN to that!
Hey Panman Man & Cyndifan & Skoi and all other servicemembers & families -
Would you like to have a get-together on the boat? We could swap tall tales and drink a cup of coffee or an adult beverage. My youngest decided to join the USMC last year and I could use some good jokes to feed our Navy-Corps rivalry.

I was a TraDevMan 2nd, or TD2. We were often called the Toy Doctors because we dealt with anything & everything related to training. From reel-to-reel tape recorders up through multimillion $$ weapons, crew, flight, or survival trainers. I had a great time!

Sounds good to me. I even have a good one for you now. A friend of ours in church (he was our sponsor when we converted) was a Marine. He said he'd often meet Navy people who'd say "Well you know, the Marines are just a department of the Navy," and he'd give the standard answer, "yeah, the men's department". Of course, dh is now in the "Narmy"- the Navy-Army since he's been tasked out to the Army (on my nephew's base-- he's the commander at HQ Co but they haven't managed to see each other yet). We were sure he'd be doing intel for the Marines in Afghanistan down south, but he's doing something with the local troops when he gets there.

Julie

 

[Buckeye Gal]

We were out and about until late this evening today. So I get home and head to the mailbox and in the dark, I pull out this large 9"x12" envelope that is pretty thick.

"Hmmm...what did I order that's in this envelope" I thought to myself. Then I thought maybe it was a prospectus....yeah...those are this size and feel heavy like this did. I turn around so some light hits it. "Oh wait! I know that butter-colored envelope. Wow! There's Mickey's head!"

Being I'm a first time guest on DCL, this was an unexpected surprise to get in the mail!! I received our "Travel Kit", which is a lovely little ship and shore vacation book along with a short letter that reminds me of the upcoming dates for booking excursions and spa appointments as well the acknowledgement that September 27 is our vacation start date, saying "Horray! Your vacation starts toda. Paradise awaits."

Looking inside, I found yet another little treasure that I've been begging people on the boards to post pictures of. They have GOOD pictures of all the DCL exclusive gifts that you can find on DCL's .com site.

I tell ya...the little things in life that put a smile on our face.......priceless!

 

[GammaRee]

Yeah, my son's tried to use that line on me before.
Here's a prayer that your loved ones will come home safe & sound.

Let's see how many others we can get to join us for "Story Hour".

 

[cyndifan]

Sounds good to me. I even have a good one for you now. A friend of ours in church (he was our sponsor when we converted) was a Marine. He said he'd often meet Navy people who'd say "Well you know, the Marines are just a department of the Navy," and he'd give the standard answer, "yeah, the men's department". Of course, dh is now in the "Narmy"- the Navy-Army since he's been tasked out to the Army (on my nephew's base-- he's the commander at HQ Co but they haven't managed to see each other yet). We were sure he'd be doing intel for the Marines in Afghanistan down south, but he's doing something with the local troops when he gets there.

Julie

Ouch!!! What a great come-back. I'm sure DH has some good retorts for stuff like that, I just don't know them to post them. I'll have to remember to ask him about it tomorrow.

One of my favorite stories of his from his Navy days was when he & a friend went out & about in Egypt. They encountered a tribe of Bedouins. Through the course of their visit w/the nomads, they were shown native hospitality & allowed to pick out their own dinner. I'll let DH tell you specifically what that dinner consisted of. Suffice to say, it was NOT fare he was used to as a good ole Southern boy.

 

[cyndifan]

Yeah, my son's tried to use that line on me before.
Here's a prayer that your loved ones will come home safe & sound.

Let's see how many others we can get to join us for "Story Hour".

I'm thinking we would be a 'go', but don't want to answer for DH. It would be great if we could do this when DD will be in the kid's club. Trust me, much better for all.

 

[NZMUM]

We were out and about until late this evening today. So I get home and head to the mailbox and in the dark, I pull out this large 9"x12" envelope that is pretty thick.

"Hmmm...what did I order that's in this envelope" I thought to myself. Then I thought maybe it was a prospectus....yeah...those are this size and feel heavy like this did. I turn around so some light hits it. "Oh wait! I know that butter-colored envelope. Wow! There's Mickey's head!"

Being I'm a first time guest on DCL, this was an unexpected surprise to get in the mail!! I received our "Travel Kit", which is a lovely little ship and shore vacation book along with a short letter that reminds me of the upcoming dates for booking excursions and spa appointments as well the acknowledgement that September 27 is our vacation start date, saying "Horray! Your vacation starts toda. Paradise awaits."

Looking inside, I found yet another little treasure that I've been begging people on the boards to post pictures of. They have GOOD pictures of all the DCL exclusive gifts that you can find on DCL's .com site.

I tell ya...the little things in life that put a smile on our face.......priceless!

That's really exciting Kimberly .

One of our cruise members from the 4-11 Oct group got theirs the other day. I thought our group Double Dip group might be missing out . I just hope we get ours soon .

Oh & yes we might be going into hibernation for winter soon . It is winter but the weather doesn't know it yet . Only cold nights/mornings so far & today is the first attempt at rain for ages.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Tania