"Double Dip Delight" Alternate Western 09/27/08

[tig82174]

Does that happen? I am pretty happy with my cat 10 SPH room, but it is the other half of a connecting room.

DH and I discussed getting a stateroom with a balcony, but I'm a little leary about having young children with the open water. At AKL we were on the 4th floor and even though the railings were very tall, it still made us nervous whenever the kids would get near the edge. We are just strange that way.

Perhaps on our next DCL cruise we will splurge for the open balcony when the kids are older.

I will issue this warning to everyone.....once you go balcony you never go back!!!

 

[pfishgirl]

We are looking into booking 2 more rooms. Our friends may come with us and They have 6 kids They need 2 rooms.

 

[Scrappingjen]

When we have cruised in the past we always got a balcony...but now that we have kids with us we decided its not worth the money.

Unless you like to order room servce and sit outside in your robe. They are usally windy and there are always better places to be board to be. Not to mention other places......(do I hear the spa calling) to spend money.

Thanks for the weclcome. I have been a long time lurker (dreamer)

 

[NHdisneylover]

Welcome Scrappingjen! I think I responded to a post of yours on the main board, but I might be confusing you with someone else. Either way, I'm glad to have you on board!

About verandas: we have never had one until our most recent cruise (the transatlantic) where we did a port upgrade. We felt it was worth it for the long cruise (at the reduced rate), but even then we had to maek a point of scheduling down time to spend out there enjoying it. We decided that on a 7 night we would never have enough time to make the cost of having it worthwhile.
So, yes you can go back! We booked a cat 11 for this cruise. We really debated between a cat 10 (was only $40 more) down on deck 1 or a sideways cat 11 up on deck 5. In the end we went for the higher deck (we have been in both cats 10 and 11).

 

[tig82174]

Welcome Scrappingjen! I think I responded to a post of yours on the main board, but I might be confusing you with someone else. Either way, I'm glad to have you on board!

About verandas: we have never had one until our most recent cruise (the transatlantic) where we did a port upgrade. We felt it was worth it for the long cruise (at the reduced rate), but even then we had to maek a point of scheduling down time to spend out there enjoying it. We decided that on a 7 night we would never have enough time to make the cost of having it worthwhile.
So, yes you can go back! We booked a cat 11 for this cruise. We really debated between a cat 10 (was only $40 more) down on deck 1 or a sideways cat 11 up on deck 5. In the end we went for the higher deck (we have been in both cats 10 and 11).

Really?!?!

Somehow Jason and I always find time to be out on the verandah...especially late at night we love it before we go to bed...and much like Chris and Rob we tend to like to sleep with the door open letting in the fresh tropical air.....we also love to order in-room breakfast and eat out there most mornings...especially port mornings since we often book early morning excursions and so can't be bothered with getting up in time to be ready to eat in one o the restaurants! Especially on this most recent cruise another thing we decided we really loved was getting up early and going out on the verandah in the morning when we were pulling into port!

I still feel like we could never stay in a room withough a verandah----that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

We are a corny family, WE LOVE TO DRESS ALIKE. I just bought the hawaiian shirts for Dh and Ds and the dresses for DD and myself ( I bought a size smaller so I HAVE TO LOSE WEIGHT BY THE CRUISE) from Disneyshopping.com. I also bought the lime green T shirts for our trip in December, I think we have enough matching shirts for our whole cruise and them some. I LOVE the tie idea, our entire family would be in for that.

We have NEVER been on a disney cruise, how many shirts and ties does dh have to bring, I will start collecting disney ones NOW if we need them for everynight. To be honest dh is more a khacki & golf shirt kind of guy but will go with the flow.

Also some opinons from my double dip experts. We are staying at BCV in Dec for 5 nights, we booked the poly luau, any experience with it? It was between that and HDDR and Dh chose the Poly. We are doing MVMCP but no parks, just hanging at the pool, doing water mice and exploring the resorts decorated for Christmas

Late posting - we were in WDW when you posted this We did the luau in 2004, and just did HDDR this trip. We loved the luau - the food was good, but not great - I liked the show, loved the "fire dancers" --We didn't like the HDDR much - it was fun for the kids, though. The jokes were almost too corny - and I like the slapstick - so if I thought so, most people would probably agree with me.

 

[scoutsmom99]

Welcome back Tammie. How was your trip?

 

[LadyShiva]

Late posting - we were in WDW when you posted this We did the luau in 2004, and just did HDDR this trip. We loved the luau - the food was good, but not great - I liked the show, loved the "fire dancers" --We didn't like the HDDR much - it was fun for the kids, though. The jokes were almost too corny - and I like the slapstick - so if I thought so, most people would probably agree with me.

Fiona was 22 months when we went to HDDR, and she had a blast! Her favorite parts were using the spoon to make a racket with the washboard and sticking her face in the strawberry shortcake:

I agree it was corny!
Brandie

 

[Dahly]

Hey ya'll...i have been lurking for a few weeks now, and you guys seem to be experts on all things Disney, which is great for a first timer like me. So a question for whoever would like to offer up an answer...although we have booked the cruise, I somewhat forgot the important step of actually getting to the Florida and the Port. Do you generally fly/drive in the day prior to the cruise? The morning of? What is the preferred method of transportation from the airport? Have you used the Disney transportation? Shuttle Service? Cab? Help! There will be three in our group.

thanks much, and looking forward to meeting you all!

Leslie

 

[NHdisneylover]

Welcome Dahly!

We ALWAYS fly in at least a day early (I am so afraid of flight delays). We prefer to fly in a week early and get a week in at the parks first which is what we are currently planning for this trip.

When we fly in a day early, we generally stay overnight at a WDW resort hotel. We take Magical Express there (for free) and then go straight from there to the port the next day.

We like to use a private towncar service (we have had the best luck with tiffany town car and will use them again). I think once you have 3 people you are cheaper to go with a towncar. I KNOW with four of us it is cheaper. Even if it were a bit more, we would probably go with the towncar for these reasons:
1. It will pick us up anywhere we want. We often stay at Value resorts the night before which do not have DCL shuttle service.
2. They will stop for groceries/liquor on the way for us.
3. WE CAN ARRIVE WHENVER WE WANT. I do not like being at the mercy of the shuttle bus time table.
4. No crowds.
*People who are prone to motion sicknesses or have children who may be overwhelemd in crowds (big groups on those busses--and getting off those busses; we did take htem the first two cruises) should especially consider this option. I have heard of people being denied boarding becuase their child threw up on the bus. The parents knew it was a motion sickness thing (big busses exagerate that motion), but DCL (understandably I feel) cannot be sure and must protect the other passengers from the possibilty of a virus. So, stick with the less liekly to cause motion sickness private vehicle if that is a problem for your family.

The drawback is you do not have that Disney feel in the towncar. We love the Disney feel (always stay on site that night before for that reason), but feel the luxiouriousness of a private ride is also a really great way to ge tto the cruise.

 

[tig82174]

Regarding the transportation question.....

The best thing to do is to do what Jason and I do....fly into Orlando at least a week early and then stay at WDW for a week playing and relaxing and then go to the port after that!

Seriously though....I concur with Hadley. I know some people do fly in the day of the cruise, but I would be too stressed about missed or cancelled or delayed flights for that. I know that Chris and Rob (Scoobypop) usually fly on an overnight flight from the West Coast and arrive in Orlando the morning of the cruise...but I think even they have decided that in the future they're gonna plan the extra night to make sure they arrive on time.

As far as getting from MCO (airport) or WDW resorts to the port...you can certainly use a car service like Hadley...or rent a car like Jason and I have in the past...but we used the DCL bus for the first time on the recent repo and we liked it just fine. It's very easy and convenient. They do pickups at the airport and at several resorts, too. (And if you're staying at a resort on WDW property that doesn't have a DCL pick up you can probably just hop over to a resort that does or take the Magical Express back to the airport and take the shuttle from there). We really liked the DCL bus because everyone on the bus is going to the ship...so the excitement is palpable and you can meet a few of your fellow cruisers.....also they show a video on the bus about the ship that is very cute and is a great intro to your cruise! We took the first shuttle which left at about 10am and we arrived at the port in plenty of time to check in before the crowds and sit around the terminal before boarding the ship. The other nice thing about the DCL bus is that you give your luggage to the porter when you board the bus and then you don't have to worry about it again until they deliver it right to your stateroom aboard!

 

[NHdisneylover]

I am totally in the "need a week in the parks" first camp. I am also utterly in awe of peopel like Chris and Rob who can make day of flights without feeling totally stressed about it.

We do miss the Wonder (haven't sailed it since '99 as 4 days is just not enough). So I was just pricing the September 21, 2008 4 day sailing of it this morning. I was thinking maybe just this once we could skip the parks and instead take a cruise before the cruise (I want to see that new show). Of course, I haven't even mentioned THAT idea to Dave. AND I have no clue where we'd get the cash for another deposit right now (having just got of the repo cruise and paid for that plus the deposit on this and having to pay off this September's WDW trip next month). But, a girl can always dream, right?

 

[Dahly]

Thanks for the suggestions on my questions! It's helpful to hear what you seasoned cruisers have done in the past. Thanks again.

Leslie

 

[tig82174]

I am totally in the "need a week in the parks" first camp. I am also utterly in awe of peopel like Chris and Rob who can make day of flights without feeling totally stressed about it.

We do miss the Wonder (haven't sailed it since '99 as 4 days is just not enough). So I was just pricing the September 21, 2008 4 day sailing of it this morning. I was thinking maybe just this once we could skip the parks and instead take a cruise before the cruise (I want to see that new show). Of course, I haven't even mentioned THAT idea to Dave. AND I have no clue where we'd get the cash for another deposit right now (having just got of the repo cruise and paid for that plus the deposit on this and having to pay off this September's WDW trip next month). But, a girl can always dream, right?

I am personally opposed to this silly idea of a cruise before a cruise....first of all I take great issue with you thinking you need THREE days of Castaway Cay in such close succession....save some Cay for the rest of us, please!!! Furthermore....how in the HECK are Jason and I supposed to hang out with your fabulous family for a few days prior to the cruise if you're going to be on the Wonder and we are going to be at Animal Kingdom Villas? This plan will just never work....I suggest you go back and rethink it!!!

 

[jcemom]

We haven't done it before, but we're planning to spend a week at WDW prior to the cruise. I'm hoping for free dining again next year, but as long as we have the funds we'll do it regardless. I'm also planning on a towncar to and from port.

 

[tig82174]

We haven't done it before, but we're planning to spend a week at WDW prior to the cruise. I'm hoping for free dining again next year, but as long as we have the funds we'll do it regardless. I'm also planning on a towncar to and from port.

I think lots of people are hoping for that....hopefully it will apply to people staying in DVC resorts, too so that Jason and I can take advantage, too!!

 

[jcemom]

I think I'd be willing to give up free dining and do all counter service if I could stay at AKV.

AKL is my favorite resort, hands down. So I would guess that a villa there would be heaven on earth, LOL, at least to me. A DVC purchase is not in the near future for me, unfortunately. The AKV plans I've seen look incredible, like paradise.

 

[tig82174]

I think I'd be willing to give up free dining and do all counter service if I could stay at AKV.

AKL is my favorite resort, hands down. So I would guess that a villa there would be heaven on earth, LOL, at least to me. A DVC purchase is not in the near future for me, unfortunately. The AKV plans I've seen look incredible, like paradise.

Yes we adore AKL, too....and we just bought our AKV points on the repo cruise because we knew we couldn't bear to not be able to stay there....so we own in two places now....AKV (where we'll probably always stay if we can) and Saratoga (those points we'll probably bank and borrow to stockpile to pay for cruises and nonWDW trips, etc.)

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Just posting so you can see a picture of my princess. I have no shame.

 

[LadyShiva]

Just posting so you can see a picture of my princess. I have no shame.

*chuckle* Good picture!

Brandie