Dream 5-Night March 4, 2012

[fredgirls]

Anyone else have any pre-trip things they do?
QUOTE]


Yes!!! We just had a group diner last saturday
There's 13 of us going on this cruise, some came from far away in Canada, so we took advantage of their presence her with us

125 days to go!!!!

It's so nice to get together with friends and family Hope you all had a great time.

 

[fredgirls]

November 1st! This time in 4 months we'll hopefully be on the plane!
And today we're all paid up!

So...any of you lurkers been thinking about joining the fish extender group? If you're new and wondering.. what?! it's all explained here...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2660789

and if you fancy joining here's our group link...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2768387

Look forward to seeing some more of you there!

 

[fredgirls]

Hi,
I'm Alice. I was wondering if some of your kids could come and join us at the kids thread. It will be nice to get to know them before we go on the cruise.
Hope to see you there, Alice
Here's how to get there,
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2816747

 

[ShelleyLynn]

I need some advice from experienced cruisers. Can we make a 11:40 departure out of Orlando? I seem to remember you can start disembarking at 7 and have to be off the boat around 9. We are going to have a town car service pick us up at the port and I thought I could schedule that for 8, we could be in Orlando by 9/9:30 and that would be plenty of time for a 11:40 flight. Am I missing something? My next flight would not depart until 2 so we would have 3-4 hours of sitting around the airport for the next flight.
TIA for advice

 

[rngrblu9]

even though "they" tell u not to book a flight before noon...i believe u can make the 1140a departure with no problem...we've done it!!!

I need some advice from experienced cruisers. Can we make a 11:40 departure out of Orlando? I seem to remember you can start disembarking at 7 and have to be off the boat around 9. We are going to have a town car service pick us up at the port and I thought I could schedule that for 8, we could be in Orlando by 9/9:30 and that would be plenty of time for a 11:40 flight. Am I missing something? My next flight would not depart until 2 so we would have 3-4 hours of sitting around the airport for the next flight.
TIA for advice

 

[Morsel (Chris/Lynn)]

I need some advice from experienced cruisers. Can we make a 11:40 departure out of Orlando? I seem to remember you can start disembarking at 7 and have to be off the boat around 9. We are going to have a town car service pick us up at the port and I thought I could schedule that for 8, we could be in Orlando by 9/9:30 and that would be plenty of time for a 11:40 flight. Am I missing something? My next flight would not depart until 2 so we would have 3-4 hours of sitting around the airport for the next flight.
TIA for advice

We are scheduled for this cruise also and saw your question about flight time. We just did the Dream this past April. We had a Jetblue flight for 11:40. We had time to get off the Dream at 7:30, when they actually opened the gangway to let us off, get our luggage (You will put it outside your stateroom the last night on board), go through customs, get to MCO and check the luggage in and go through security. Even had time for a coffee and danish before boarding call for the flight. Sounds like your 8am pick up is fine. You should be at MCO by 9am with your 8am pickup. Hope this helps.

Chris

 

[lisagirl88]

We are getting to Orlando on Wednesday so we will have 3 full days in the park before we board the ship. We are debating whether to add Legoland to the end of the trip and go there on Friday when we get off the ship. I am torn though. I feel like I would rather just get home and have the weekend before the kids go back to school. However, I don't know when we will get to Florida again and our boys(7 and 9 years old) are at the perfect age for Legoland and are obsessed with Legos. I guess it's the extra cost involved too. Decisions, decisions....When can Castaway Cay members check in and make ressies. We are the lowest level. Is it 90 days????

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

The day we leave the ship is always a day wasted in my opinion when we take a flight home

Why not make the most of it and go to Legoland!!! Next time your boys may be too old

 

[fredgirls]

We are getting to Orlando on Wednesday so we will have 3 full days in the park before we board the ship. We are debating whether to add Legoland to the end of the trip and go there on Friday when we get off the ship. I am torn though. I feel like I would rather just get home and have the weekend before the kids go back to school. However, I don't know when we will get to Florida again and our boys(7 and 9 years old) are at the perfect age for Legoland and are obsessed with Legos. I guess it's the extra cost involved too. Decisions, decisions....When can Castaway Cay members check in and make ressies. We are the lowest level. Is it 90 days????

Hmm, the big question....should we do the parks aswell?
It certainly has to be a personal choice for each family.

Staying another day would obviously cost more but as you said your boys are at the perfect age for Legoland.

Also worth thinking about is that after the cruise you might be relaxed and refreshed and a day at Legoland might end your holiday on a more "stressed-out-queuing-all-day" state of mind.

Saying that, we're staying a couple of extra days to get our money's worth out of the cost of flying there!

As far as checking in/ making ressies, your date should be on your online reservation page.

 

[RN_Mom]

OMG>>>>IS IT MARCH YET????? Just a tad excited here....finally feels like its getting closer especially since the holidays fly by. Just waiting another couple weeks to be able to register and book Atlantis. THis is our 3rd trip to Nassau via DCL but we have yet to check out Atlantis and since we are taking the in-laws on there first ever cruise thought we'd make it this time. I CANNOT WAIT FOR TWO DAYS OF CASTAWAY!!!!

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

I also wish we go be there tomorrow

But the good thing for you is that Thanksgiving is right around the corner

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

Just wanted to wish to all of my American Cruise friends a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving day

 

[RN_Mom]

WE ARE IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS!!!!!

 

[fredgirls]

WE ARE IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS!!!!!

Your last 2 posts have really made me smile!
I can't believe I missed the double digits milestone! With all the holiday craziness already started my mind has been elsewhere I guess!
But we are also feeling the uppercase letters too!
See you all soon!
With the holidays, it's all going to come upon us very quickly I think/hope

 

[lisagirl88]

I have been on one cruise before so we are Castaway club members. Can I start to book things at the 90 day mark???? I can't believe I don't know this! Honestly I really need to figure out what I am booking because aren't we almost at 90 days???????

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

I have been on one cruise before so we are Castaway club members. Can I start to book things at the 90 day mark???? I can't believe I don't know this! Honestly I really need to figure out what I am booking because aren't we almost at 90 days???????

December 5th will be the day you'll be able to make your check-in online and do ressies

 

[Morsel (Chris/Lynn)]

I have been on one cruise before so we are Castaway club members. Can I start to book things at the 90 day mark???? I can't believe I don't know this! Honestly I really need to figure out what I am booking because aren't we almost at 90 days???????

In addition to what FrenchSnowWhite stated about your on-line and ressies begin Dec. 5, remember that you can start your ressies (excursions, dining, etc.) at midnight Eastern time. The on-line check-in can't be done until midnight Pacific time, which is 3 am Eastern time. Seeing your are in Philly, when the clock hits midnight to begin Dec. 5 start your ressies. Some excursions and dining times go fast. At 3am start your check-in. For that have on hand documents for ID, flight information, etc. At the end of the check-in, and only at the end of that process, you will be able to select your port arrrival time slot. These time slots are in 30 minute intervals and the first time slot is 11-11:30. Hope this helps.

Chris

 

[lisaradz]

In addition to what FrenchSnowWhite stated about your on-line and ressies begin Dec. 5, remember that you can start your ressies (excursions, dining, etc.) at midnight Eastern time. The on-line check-in can't be done until midnight Pacific time, which is 3 am Eastern time. Seeing your are in Philly, when the clock hits midnight to begin Dec. 5 start your ressies. Some excursions and dining times go fast. At 3am start your check-in. For that have on hand documents for ID, flight information, etc. At the end of the check-in, and only at the end of that process, you will be able to select your port arrrival time slot. These time slots are in 30 minute intervals and the first time slot is 11-11:30. Hope this helps.

Chris

So does that mean, that at 11:59 on Dec 4th, I can start to login to make my ressies? I'm Pacific time. We just switched to late dining for our party of 7. Last time we did main dining, and thought it would be fun to try something different especially since we are on west coast time. We totally scored and transferred our reservation to a TA and got $150 onboard credit the exact amount for DH & I to go to Remy! It's like a freebie!

 

[Morsel (Chris/Lynn)]

So does that mean, that at 11:59 on Dec 4th, I can start to login to make my ressies? I'm Pacific time. We just switched to late dining for our party of 7. Last time we did main dining, and thought it would be fun to try something different especially since we are on west coast time. We totally scored and transferred our reservation to a TA and got $150 onboard credit the exact amount for DH & I to go to Remy! It's like a freebie!

Howdy lisaradz,

Seeing you are on Pacific time you should be able to start making your ressies for excursions, special dining such as Palo and Remy, spa stuff, etc. at 9 pm Pacific time Dec. 4 (Midnight Eastern time). For your check-in on-line you will have to wait until midnight your time, Pacific time (11:59pm Dec. 4).
Those of us on the East coast, Eastern time, had to wait until Midnight to make our ressies for excursions, special dining, spa stuff, etc.. Then at 3 am we could make our check-in on-line stuff.
In short, for whatever reason, ressies are tied to Midnight Eastern time (9pm your Pacific time), and check-in on-line is tied to Midnight Pacific time (3 am my Eastern time ).

Chris

 

[lisagirl88]

I don't plan to book remy or palo this time around, but I do want to book babysitting for my twins. I REALLY don't want to stay up until 12 a.m.(I am EST) so if I just want to book babysitting and nothing else can I wait until morning and not loose sleep???

Also, I didn't book airfare yet and my kids don't have their passports yet so can I still check in online without this info????