DREAM 3 day May 5 - 8, 2011

[pmurphy713]

Thank you so much for a wonderful trip report! It was so informative and answered several of my questions. I, too, had wondered about pre-paying our tips and will call my TA to do so. We are sailing out on June 7 and cannot wait as this will be our first (but not last) cruise. Thanks also for the great tips!

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

MUSTER DRILL
Nothing is scheduled from 3:45 to 4:15.
Muster to begin at 4:00
Take your KTTW card, as they check you off a list.
Your muster station location in on the map on your door.
Ours was in the Walt Disney Theatre, balcony level.

You don’t have to take your life jackets.
The instructions lasted about 10 minutes. Painless.
When it was over, the leader of our group took questions.
Wide variety of questions. Very informative.

CHANGING DINING RESERVATIONS
Changes were taken from 1:00 to 3:00 in the D Lounge.
3:30 to 4:30 by phone. Number listed in Navigator.

REMY AND PALO
Reservations by phone 1:00 to 3:30
Number listed in Navigator

BINGO
7:30 – D lounge
30.00 and 40.00
(there might have been a smaller package)
They had several drawings giving away Disney stuff.
There are drink servers available.
(no, I didn’t win a thing!)

Other Activities:
Spa Tour
Spa Raffle/drawing
Port and Shopping show
Family Superstar Karaoke
Family Fusion Game show
Jeff Civillico Family Show
Jeff Civillico Adult Show

Buena Vista Theatre
Man Needs Moms
I Am Number Four

Funnelvision
High School Musical 2
Tarzan
101 Dalmatians
Beauty and the Beast
Toy Story


THE GOLDEN MICKEYS
This was our favorite show.
6:15 and 8:30

We went to the 6:15, since we had late dining.
Show was an hour.
The Cruise Director spoke after each show about the next day’s activities.

Thanks for the trip report!
So am I reading this right...Palo and Remy reservations were taken by phone instead of going to a certain place after getting on board? I'm anticipating we won't get a Palo reservation in advance.

 

[BlondeJungleBookFan]

Thanks Gladys Kravitz! I just loved you on Bewitched!!
Thanks PMurphy! Have a great cruise.

Miss Daisy:
The info about Palo and Remy was on the Navigator they gave us at the port. You could probably go to the D Lounge, along with the people changing dining times and someone would help you.

BUT, if you could get them by phone....and get what you wanted. OR find out there wasn't anything available, that would save you a trip and a wait in line. Since I didn't do Palo or Remy, I'm afraid I'm not much help. Perhaps someone will chime in that has done this.

 

[rriley25]

And very informative too.

You mentioned a "spiral bound" booklet. I don't cruise till July, but I don't have one of these. Was this item sent near to your departure date? It sounds important.

 

[poohj80]

And very informative too.

You mentioned a "spiral bound" booklet. I don't cruise till July, but I don't have one of these. Was this item sent near to your departure date? It sounds important.

Yes, you'll receive it with your luggage tags.

 

[lilpooh108]

To the OP---loved your trip report! You are so organized and it was so easy to read.

We were also on this sailing....and had the EXACT SAME dining team and rotation.

I have to say though, we did not love our dining team! We were actually pretty disappointed. We had the earlier seating (which may have made a difference), but Carlos was always no where to be found, we never got drink refills and the service was always so slow and not attentive. On the first night at Royal Palace, our dinner lasted 2+ hours. Our DD (only 2 years old)broke down in tears 30 minutes from the end of the meal since she had been sitting so long and was getting really fussy. We liked Thomas since he was pleasant and polite. Other than that, the dining service was lackluster.

We also had Boarding Group 3. The terminal was less crowded than I had anticipated.

Thanks for the trip report!

 

[BlondeJungleBookFan]

RRiley:

Yes, you'll get this book and luggage tags, closer to your cruise date.

I had always taken stuff like that before, as I'm quite an organized planner...okay okay... a little obsessive

I had read on the boards that this book wasn't necessary, just take your online signature form. This page will print for you once you do your online check-in. It prints just the signature page, and not the whole thing.
So I took that, and the page in the "spiral book" about Onboard Airline check-in.

I had the spiral book with me, but it was in my checked luggage. (duh)

The cast member made do without the book....never making me feel bad for not bringing it. She just said "that's okay, I can just find it..or I'll just print something and we'll use that'. That's Disney - very accomodating!

I just wish I would have carried it with me, as I'm not one to want to cause extra work or slow up a line or something.

 

[BlondeJungleBookFan]

LilPooh:

I'm so sorry to hear about your dining experience, with the same servers.

I'm thinking that since we had late dining, that made the difference?
More people, more little ones at the early time?

The late dining seems more relaxed to me...servers not hurrying to get everyone fed before the late diners come in.

I choose late dining because I want the families with children to have the early, as I know it's hard for kids to eat that late.

Me, I can adjust my dining time for a few days..no big deal.
I could even miss a few meals....But, I'm not willing to make THAT sacrifice

 

[BlondeJungleBookFan]

Let me just add this..

I love kids! I think they are precious and they grow up so quickly.

Getting to enjoy the kids on our cruise see Mickey up close, or shake hands with Goofy....or have their pictures made with the Princesses...PRICELESS!

The kids on our cruise were
well behaved
sleepy late at night, and being carried by a parent
sweet and precious
very good in the dining rooms
and excited during the shows, as they should be.
Sure, they were running around at the pool and Aqua duck...they are supposed to! They are kids!

We ran into several young men who held the door for us "older gals"
and also some that said "Thank you Ma'am"
That was so nice to experience.

I saw one tiny meltdown by a 5 or 6 year old, and it was really nothing.
I've seen much worse.

I commend all the parents who work hard at encouraging well-behaved, polite children!

So, I would NOT hesitate to go on yet ANOTHER Disney cruise!

 

[lilpooh108]

LilPooh:

I'm so sorry to hear about your dining experience, with the same servers.

I'm thinking that since we had late dining, that made the difference?
More people, more little ones at the early time?

The late dining seems more relaxed to me...servers not hurrying to get everyone fed before the late diners come in.

I choose late dining because I want the families with children to have the early, as I know it's hard for kids to eat that late.

Me, I can adjust my dining time for a few days..no big deal.
I could even miss a few meals....But, I'm not willing to make THAT sacrifice

I think you are right about the late dining....we had to choose early dining since our DD could not wait until 8pm to eat...but it was more hectic in the dining room (I could imagine).

I'm glad to hear that the server team worked out for you. That gives me more hope that our next Dream cruise will be better. We were lucky enough to have done the Wonder last Dec 2010. We had late dining then and our server team was fantastic.

Did you get to interact with Erasmo, the head server very much? During our seating, he had to speak to us frequently about allergy issues. I noticed that he did make it a point to get around to all of the tables each night.
Just curious as to whether he chatted alot with everyone or if it was just us and the tables around us.

 

[BlondeJungleBookFan]

Erasmo!! I couldn't remember his name...thank you.

We saw him the first two nights and he chatted and made sure we were happy with the food and service. The last night we didn't see him. In fact, I don't remember even seeing him in the area.

 

[Toria]

Really enjoyed the TR! Thanks for the tips they will come in handy!

 

[meg8182000]

Oh my goodness - just loved your TR! So much great information and your sense of humor made it such an easy read.

It was also great as your trip really is the one that closely resembles my upcoming trip. I leave next Wednesday (the 17th) to fly down to MCO with my mom and we'll also be staying at the Hyatt. So glad to hear that it worked so well for you. I just booked our disney transfers and was told that we'll be able to check-in in the Hyatt lobby instead of going to the baggage claim area. We're you told this too? I plan to check-in as soon as is possible as I'd like to get an early boarding # - I mean as long as we're already there why not.

Thanks again for taking the time to write up this great TR and so glad that you and Mary had a wonderful time.

Mary

 

[BlondeJungleBookFan]

THANKS MARY!

No, you can't check in at the Hyatt for the cruise.
Once you check in for your hotel stay, just tell them you are taking a Disney Cruise. (they will probably ask you first)

The Disney check in area is by the luggage claim. Lower level.
It's set up like the airline check-in counters.
Plenty of signs.

The instruction sheet that the Hyatt will give you, shows Disney Cruise Check in begins at 8:30.
You can be down there at the time and get everything done.
The busses don't leave until 9:30.
So, you could go to breakfast or back up to your room for a bit.

You can either catch a later bus and enjoy your room OR go on out to the port on the first bus. Just remember you'd sit there until noon, before you can start boarding. You have everything done, so really no need to hurry to the port.
Up to you.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Really enjoyed your report! I'm starting to check out Dream reports to send to my neices for our 3 generation family cruise in November, so they'll have an idea what to expect. This will be one of them!

.

 

[meg8182000]

Reba - thanks for the update about the check-in at the airport. I appreciate all the extra tips. We booked our cruise last July and it seemed so far away that I can't believe that now I leave in just 5 days! Can't wait and reading your TR has just gotten me even more excited for the fun time ahead.


Mary

 

[BlondeJungleBookFan]

Mary... 5 more days!! woo hoo

Have a wonderful trip and I hope you write a trip report when you come back..even if it's just a short one.

BON VOYAGE!

 

[BlondeJungleBookFan]

America's Funniest Videos was on tonight and Tom Bergeron and the show was filmed on THE DREAM! It's being re-played on the Disney Family channel.

Tom rides the Aqua Duck and he films it.
You also see a Great Shot of him at the end of the ride, and getting out of it. I know a lot of people have asked how and where the ride stopped.

I think you can see it on ABC.COM - if it's still there.

They just mentioned Part 2 for the big Disney Prize was next Sunday night.
I don't know if that means they'll be on The Dream again or not...
But, I'll be watching to see

 

[msbiscuit]

America's Funniest Videos was on tonight and Tom Bergeron and the show was filmed on THE DREAM! It's being re-played on the Disney Family channel.

Tom rides the Aqua Duck and he films it.
You also see a Great Shot of him at the end of the ride, and getting out of it. I know a lot of people have asked how and where the ride stopped.

I think you can see it on ABC.COM - if it's still there.

They just mentioned Part 2 for the big Disney Prize was next Sunday night.
I don't know if that means they'll be on The Dream again or not...
But, I'll be watching to see

I sure hope they do show the Dream next week - I missed tonight's episode (even thought they told us when it would air) and that was filmed during my cruise in February!!

 

[tinkslite]

(I’m sure that the Disney Cruise Line operators are thrilled I am finally aboard and won’t be calling them anymore. Perhaps I should call just to say “HI” )


Just so you know, they will NOT be lonely......My cruise is in September and I have taken your place on the 800 line!!!!