DREAM OCTOBER 14, 2012 4 Night Bahamas~If You Can DREAM it...

[PredzMan]

LOL You should do it now Jerry! Have you cruised before? I haven't had a bad serving team on the two cruises I went on. I did have a stateroom host I didn't much care for. Or perhaps it was on the first cruise I had one I absolutely LOVED so this one was just passable. He had a real attitute if you asked him about anything and seemed very unapproachable. When concierge asked if we needed anything else. we asked if they could arrange for us to have ice brought each day around 4. The stateroom host brought it (I actually thought that was a room service thing) and was angry that we didn't ask him. I guess he felt we had got him in trouble.

You mentioned you were going to have aunts, uncles and friends going with you. How large of a group will you be?

Yup, we went on the Disney Alaskan cruise this summer for our 10th anniversary (without the kids). Even splurged for the add-on package with Rocky Mountaineer (but in cahoots with Disney) to take the wine train from Vancouver to Whistler and spend a few days up there prior to the cruise. It was probably the best vacation we ever had - so far.

We loved our stateroom host too, like in your case the first cruise made a very good impression. Our beverage server was one of the highlights of the cruise. He was studying to be an executive chef (from South Africa) and had to do time on a cruise ship for his training. He knew more about wine and food than the sommeilier we had for our dinner service group. Plus he knew all the good napkin hat tricks and crayon brain teasers. The four triangles one stumped us for about 30 minutes. Our food server did stay late on dessert night to reserve us a table and champagne to make sure we had a "good spot". Those little things really made the difference with us. When the guys were on Deck 9 during the day our head waiter got food from Parrot Cay and brought it out to us every so often. Of course we paid the favors back by getting all of them a 6-pack of fresh beer from the Alaskan Brewery when we docked at Juneau.

For sure it's four of us, one set of aunt/uncle, and one co-worker and his wife/daughter. We still are waiting for maybe up to 6 more staterooms of people to join on. Who knows yet, but we're trying to apply the polite magical gentle pressure on the family to get with making their reservations.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Yup, we went on the Disney Alaskan cruise this summer for our 10th anniversary (without the kids). Even splurged for the add-on package with Rocky Mountaineer (but in cahoots with Disney) to take the wine train from Vancouver to Whistler and spend a few days up there prior to the cruise. It was probably the best vacation we ever had - so far.

We loved our stateroom host too, like in your case the first cruise made a very good impression. Our beverage server was one of the highlights of the cruise. He was studying to be an executive chef (from South Africa) and had to do time on a cruise ship for his training. He knew more about wine and food than the sommeilier we had for our dinner service group. Plus he knew all the good napkin hat tricks and crayon brain teasers. The four triangles one stumped us for about 30 minutes. Our food server did stay late on dessert night to reserve us a table and champagne to make sure we had a "good spot". Those little things really made the difference with us. When the guys were on Deck 9 during the day our head waiter got food from Parrot Cay and brought it out to us every so often. Of course we paid the favors back by getting all of them a 6-pack of fresh beer from the Alaskan Brewery when we docked at Juneau.

For sure it's four of us, one set of aunt/uncle, and one co-worker and his wife/daughter. We still are waiting for maybe up to 6 more staterooms of people to join on. Who knows yet, but we're trying to apply the polite magical gentle pressure on the family to get with making their reservations.

Awww... that sounds so fun. I want to do the Alaskian cruse as well. We are a group of 13-15 right now. I am excited!

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Someone just posted this youtube video they created from the inside stateroom porthole animation! I thought it was great to see some of the animation!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1FFYASGj6c

 

[SallySkelington]

Someone just posted this youtube video they created from the inside stateroom porthole animation! I thought it was great to see some of the animation!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1FFYASGj6c

Oh wow!!! I'm kinda surprised by the range of different animated characters! And no Little Mermaid characters or Donald Duck. Sad day... But love that they include Ray the Cajun firefly and my favorite scene from the Emperor's New Groove.

 

[PredzMan]

We've decided to fly down the night before and stay at the Hyatt at MCO. After reading a few threads on this it seems like we'll get on one of the first DCL buses and in the first groups to board. That means first to eat! It's all about the food...

Is anyone else doing this?

 

[tink_lover]

I think we are going to fly out a couple days before and stay in Cocoa Beach area. We stayed one night at the Residence Inn last time. We are planning to go to parks for a few days after. Last time we did the parks first so we are flip flopping for this trip. Still not sure about car rental, but have not rented a car for years when at WDW. We usually either use ME or car service. The car service is nice because we get grocery and liquor store stop.

 

[PredzMan]

I think we are going to fly out a couple days before and stay in Cocoa Beach area. We stayed one night at the Residence Inn last time. We are planning to go to parks for a few days after. Last time we did the parks first so we are flip flopping for this trip. Still not sure about car rental, but have not rented a car for years when at WDW. We usually either use ME or car service. The car service is nice because we get grocery and liquor store stop.

We too are staying after the cruise at the parks. Just have to do Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Epcot's Food & Wine Festival. Knowing my two girls, I'll be in good if I score a new Royal Room at Port Orleans Riverside.

I know we are doing Disney transportation, already signed up for that.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

We've decided to fly down the night before and stay at the Hyatt at MCO. After reading a few threads on this it seems like we'll get on one of the first DCL buses and in the first groups to board. That means first to eat! It's all about the food...

Is anyone else doing this?

I've kinda heard the same thing so I think you will be among the first on!

We are thinking of staying at CI&S the night before. We drive down from NC (about 6 hours) on Friday night and will then drive to the port Saturday afternoon to meet up with other guests we are cruising with. We have family in Jacksonville so we just stay there on Friday night and afterwards as we have a famly wedding the Saturday after cruising.

 

[SallySkelington]

http://youtu.be/fOZa7zDz8EI

Got me in a happy mood, it' s a little dated seeing as how the Flying Dutchman is no longer on the island and the Wonder has been relocated but a cool video none the less.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

http://youtu.be/fOZa7zDz8EI

Got me in a happy mood, it' s a little dated seeing as how the Flying Dutchman is no longer on the island and the Wonder has been relocated but a cool video none the less.

That was good! Also seems your cruise goes that fast.... you wait and wait and wait and then POOF it is over!

And then you book another one!

 

[PredzMan]

Would anyone know if the trick-or-treating night and costume party be on the same night as Pirate Night? I would think not, but that's just me.

We might need another suitcase just for costumes, because the DD's wouldn't dare wear the same costume on the ship as they do in the park! Heaven forbid that.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Would anyone know if the trick-or-treating night and costume party be on the same night as Pirate Night? I would think not, but that's just me.

We might need another suitcase just for costumes, because the DD's wouldn't dare wear the same costume on the ship as they do in the park! Heaven forbid that.

You know I just read this somewhere last week. Now to figure out where and what exactly. I do believe it was something like in the afternoon or something. I'll see if I can find it.

As for the girls... ... get another suitcase or TWO!

 

[MomsOf2boys]

I still haven't found that Halloween post but I did come across this link for the location of Castaway Cay on Yahoo Maps! Pretty cool. You even see the ship in port!!!

http://maps.yahoo.com/broadband/#***=s&lat=26.092594&lon=-77.530646&mag=4&zoom=15

 

[PredzMan]

I still haven't found that Halloween post but I did come across this link for the location of Castaway Cay on Yahoo Maps! Pretty cool. You even see the ship in port!!!

http://maps.yahoo.com/broadband/#***=s&lat=26.092594&lon=-77.530646&mag=4&zoom=15

Search for "Castaway Cay, The Bahamas" on Google Maps, the picture is from this year and you can zoom in a lot more. But no ship is there, which is a bummer.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Search for "Castaway Cay, The Bahamas" on Google Maps, the picture is from this year and you can zoom in a lot more. But no ship is there, which is a bummer.

Very cool! Thank you. There seems to be so much of the Island that isn't used.

 

[PredzMan]

Very cool! Thank you. There seems to be so much of the Island that isn't used.

I was thinking the exact same thing. My guess would be that Disney was allowed to purchase the whole island with the agreement that a certain percent would always remain a nature preserve. But that's just a guess.

Could also be the cost benefit of putting more stuff on the island too. I mean we're there at most 12 hours? If they had more things for us to do, they'd need more staff. More staff means more paychecks, more electrical bills, more water storage, more buildings etc... All that for us to spend maybe another $200 on a fancy excursion per person might not cut it. Just my best guess though.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

I was thinking the exact same thing. My guess would be that Disney was allowed to purchase the whole island with the agreement that a certain percent would always remain a nature preserve. But that's just a guess.

Could also be the cost benefit of putting more stuff on the island too. I mean we're there at most 12 hours? If they had more things for us to do, they'd need more staff. More staff means more paychecks, more electrical bills, more water storage, more buildings etc... All that for us to spend maybe another $200 on a fancy excursion per person might not cut it. Just my best guess though.

You are probably right. I love that little island!

 

[MomsOf2boys]

What ya'll been up to?

 

[SallySkelington]

Celebrated my little sisters birthday and finally got my hands on a sewing machine. Ahhhhh. It's Beautiful!

 

[SallySkelington]

388 days out and started planning the pirate costumes. Muahahaha. Maybe I should start a pre-trip report or somethin'...