DREAM Sail Date December 11th 2011

[PrincessaC]

Is it almost time yet?

 

[gydell]

Is it almost time yet?

I wish!

 

[DL1957]

Has anyone in this group been on DCL during the Christmas holiday time frame and can share all the extras that go on.
So far I have heard you can go to GS and sign up for the gingerbread house making and that there is a special tree lighting where a child spreads pixie dust and the tree lights up. Anything else that someone can share for us first timers during December? Sue

 

[gydell]

You can make a gingerbread house but you can't take it off the ship. The 1st night a child is picked to do the lighting of the tree. I was disappointed in the decorations. There were not as many as I had thought there would be. My friends that were with me laughed and said our houses were decorated more than the ship was.

 

[Tikihula]

Yup, as you're guarenteed a place on the ship in at least the category you paid for there is no discount.

The only 'bonus' for being GTY if you can call it a bonus is that if the cat you are in is at capacity and you haven't been allocated a stateroom number you can be bumped to a better category.

As the DCL website says , you have a guarenteed room, but if there are no rooms left in your category you will be bumped to a better one.

At least that's how I think it works.

That's right - I just read it in my new PassPorter Guide to the Disney Cruise Line that came in the mail yesterday. Fell asleep last night reading about the amenities on the Dream. I'm looking forward to reading about the Alaska shore excursions, as we want to do that cruise next year.

 

[gydell]

That's right - I just read it in my new PassPorter Guide to the Disney Cruise Line that came in the mail yesterday. Fell asleep last night reading about the amenities on the Dream. I'm looking forward to reading about the Alaska shore excursions, as we want to do that cruise next year.

We loved the train trip in Skagway & the tram and ziplining in Juneau.

 

[PrincessaC]

You can make a gingerbread house but you can't take it off the ship. The 1st night a child is picked to do the lighting of the tree. I was disappointed in the decorations. There were not as many as I had thought there would be. My friends that were with me laughed and said our houses were decorated more than the ship was.

Oh I think I'll make a gingerbread house. Too bad we can't take it off the ship. Can we at least take it back to the cabin?

 

[Maggie62677]

Oh I think I'll make a gingerbread house. Too bad we can't take it off the ship. Can we at least take it back to the cabin?

We decorated GBH's on our Christmas cruise two years ago, and it was so much fun to see how creative the 'little people' are! You have to sign up at GS for a 'time block' and the bonus is there is NO extra cost for this! Oh, and you can most definiely take it back to your cabin!

 

[Maggie62677]

Has anyone in this group been on DCL during the Christmas holiday time frame and can share all the extras that go on.
So far I have heard you can go to GS and sign up for the gingerbread house making and that there is a special tree lighting where a child spreads pixie dust and the tree lights up. Anything else that someone can share for us first timers during December? Sue

This will be our second DC during the Christmas Holiday season. IMHO I think they did a fairly decent job with the decorations, classy and definitely not overkill. Besides the GB decorating and the tree lighting, there are several opportunities to hear Mrs. Claus retell 'The Christmas Story' in the main lobby. We saw carolers on several different occaisions during our four night cruise, and even got to join in the fun singing along.

Also, Castaway Cay is turned into a 'Winter Wonderland' -- totally decked out for the season! We found great photo opportunities with the Christmas tree and life size 'presents' as well as holiday themed crafts for the kids, and special 'reindeer games' for them as well.

 

[Maggie62677]

Would you guys that are gold please post back here about what port arrival time you get? Are you going to try to get the earliest one at 11:00?

First, when you arrive at the terminal you'll have a small check in point. Make sure you have your ID handy, and they will check you off as officially 'arriving'. After dropping off your bags to the porter and parking your car (you can leave your family at the curb to wait for you) you'll go inside the the actual terminal, head through security and then proceed upstairs to the check in desk, this is where you will receive your boarding number, i.e. boarding 'order'.

We're in Tampa, which is about a good hour and fourty from PC and we have always (this will be our 6th DC) left around 7am. HOWEVER, this was when you were able to arrive at the terminal at 10. Previously we would grab a quick breakfast in town and then head over closer to the port.

However, it is my understanding that the gates for cars to enter Disney's terminal now open at 11 AM, where previous it was 10 o'clock -- can someone clarify this for me?

Haven't decided if we'll adjust our timing for this cruise yet ... ...

 

[DL1957]

This will be our second DC during the Christmas Holiday season. IMHO I think they did a fairly decent job with the decorations, classy and definitely not overkill. Besides the GB decorating and the tree lighting, there are several opportunities to hear Mrs. Claus retell 'The Christmas Story' in the main lobby. We saw carolers on several different occaisions during our four night cruise, and even got to join in the fun singing along.

Also, Castaway Cay is turned into a 'Winter Wonderland' -- totally decked out for the season! We found great photo opportunities with the Christmas tree and life size 'presents' as well as holiday themed crafts for the kids, and special 'reindeer games' for them as well.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Tikihula]

First, when you arrive at the terminal you'll have a small check in point. Make sure you have your ID handy, and they will check you off as officially 'arriving'. After dropping off your bags to the porter and parking your car (you can leave your family at the curb to wait for you) you'll go inside the the actual terminal, head through security and then proceed upstairs to the check in desk, this is where you will receive your boarding number, i.e. boarding 'order'.

We're in Tampa, which is about a good hour and fourty from PC and we have always (this will be our 6th DC) left around 7am. HOWEVER, this was when you were able to arrive at the terminal at 10. Previously we would grab a quick breakfast in town and then head over closer to the port.

However, it is my understanding that the gates for cars to enter Disney's terminal now open at 11 AM, where previous it was 10 o'clock -- can someone clarify this for me?

Haven't decided if we'll adjust our timing for this cruise yet ... ...

I just read that effective August 11th(?) that you can't check in before 11am. It's probably taking longer to get all those passengers off the ship and get it restocked. I don't think the parking garage opens before 11, but I'm not 100% sure. It was mentioned on the PassPorter web site.

 

[DL1957]

Does anyone know if this differs if you are coming from WDW resort? We have not done this since 1999! When we have done the European tours we checked in at the DCL hotel we were staying at and got on the bus they day the ship was leaving and got in line at the port just to board this ship. It this the same in Flordia?

 

[gydell]

Does anyone know if this differs if you are coming from WDW resort? We have not done this since 1999! When we have done the European tours we checked in at the DCL hotel we were staying at and got on the bus they day the ship was leaving and got in line at the port just to board this ship. It this the same in Flordia?

I can't help with this. Hopefully someone can.

 

[arielhead]

I just thought I would look thru the board this morning to see the latest. This thread is so quiet, but I loved seeing the tickers! My DH was shocked it was so close. This summer has flown by and we hadn't counted days in a while.

Like others, we've had friends and family on vacation this summer and we are still looking forward to our vacation! I need to get focused on final plans!

 

[arielhead]

Does anyone know if this differs if you are coming from WDW resort? We have not done this since 1999! When we have done the European tours we checked in at the DCL hotel we were staying at and got on the bus they day the ship was leaving and got in line at the port just to board this ship. It this the same in Flordia?

This is what we are planning to do. We will be flying down Friday evening, going to a park on Sat., staying on property (most likely PopCentury), and catching Disney bus to PC as early as possible Sunday morning.

 

[arielhead]

We are planning three park days around the cruise. Any preferences to Magic Your Way or Park Hopper? Any known celebrations at parks around our cruise?

 

[gydell]

We are planning three park days around the cruise. Any preferences to Magic Your Way or Park Hopper? Any known celebrations at parks around our cruise?

MVMCP is going on then. Check the dates and see if it matches your time frame. Tickets will depend on whether you are going to try and do 2 parks in 1 day.

 

[DL1957]

This is what we are planning to do. We will be flying down Friday evening, going to a park on Sat., staying on property (most likely PopCentury), and catching Disney bus to PC as early as possible Sunday morning.

I believe we can check in at the resort at least I know we can do that at SSR where we are staying. Just wondering if we can then just take the bus and board the ship like we have done on our non PC cruises. I guess I will give DCL a call and see what they say. Sue
PS 12 days until the booking window opens for gold CC members!

 

[gydell]

I believe we can check in at the resort at least I know we can do that at SSR where we are staying. Just wondering if we can then just take the bus and board the ship like we have done on our non PC cruises. I guess I will give DCL a call and see what they say. Sue
PS 12 days until the booking window opens for gold CC members!

What are you booking?