Feb 20, 2011 - Presidents' Week - Mexican Riviera

[samily]

Hi everyone,
We are also booked for this cruise & can't wait! The kids are soooo excited to be sailing out of CA! We have 2 adults (me & DH) and 4 children sailing (2 girls 13 & 12, 2 boys 9 & 6). We would also like to participate in the FE.

We have flights booked from the east coast coming in Friday night. Haven't booked flights home yet though. Where is everyone staying? We are booked at the Residence Inn in Long Beach.

Beth

 

[betsy2010]

Hi everyone,
just wanted to let you know that we booked the Dolphin Signature Swim directly with vallarta adventures for HALF the price of the Disney excursion. I know we'll have to take a taxi to Nuevo Vallarta but it's not going to be $350 for a RT taxi! For me, DH & 2 kids it was $353 for the signature swim. Same package on Disney was going to be $708! I think there are a few spots left for the 11am on 2/23 (they day we are in PV)

 

[minie_meese]

Beth - welcome - I added you to our FE group - see the first page for this thread. Looks like we will have a really good group!

 

[rrbar]

Minnie Meese,

Actually I am going on the Disney cruise to Mexico on January30th but I saw your thread and was looking to see if any of you have any shore excursion ideas.

I live not too far from Manhattan Beach and often notice the Marriott Residence Inn on Sepulveda Blvd in Manhattan Beach. I know there is a Rubios not far, Ihop across the street and the newer shopping center with the Whole Foods that is in El Segundo but not far has a number of restaurants and shops so the location of the residence inn has a lot of businesses around plus the Ralphs grocery, Starbucks and Robeks juices isn't far away. I know someone who stayed there and liked it so I would suggest it. From the airport, it is probably just 1 mile or 2 so the taxi ride wouldn't be much. Also, there is a Embassy Suites on the same street a few blocks up but it is in the city of El Segundo and even a little closer to LAX. Hope this helps!

 

[CeCe]

Elaine,

Go ahead and put us on the FE list. I'm sure we can come up with something to say on the sheet about her allergies. I know the cruise is still a while away, but at what point do we know how many to buy for? I'm going to start picking up things soon, but I will buy other things as the date approaches.

Thanks!
Cheryl

 

[silence]

I've been MIA from this board for a while, nice to see a bunch more families!

Just to update the sheet for our group, my kiddos are DS (13) and DD (7) at the time of the cruise.

Yes, my real name is Silence. HAH, go figure right? Definately a conversation starter.

Anyways, I read for hours last night on cruise critic and compared to the excursions listed. Currently we are leaning towards doing the dolphins in Cabo, since you get the FREE observer pass and DH does not want to swim and my mom may not either, I can go with the kids.

I'm struggling with Mazatlan though, there didn't seem to be as much listed for this port?

In PV I think we are going to do one of the beach resorts, I think that is the one that I saw that had a hotel with water slides? I dunno, it's all running together at this point! Information overload!

 

[minie_meese]

Elaine,

Go ahead and put us on the FE list. I'm sure we can come up with something to say on the sheet about her allergies. I know the cruise is still a while away, but at what point do we know how many to buy for? I'm going to start picking up things soon, but I will buy other things as the date approaches.

Thanks!
Cheryl

Hi CeCe -
I'll add you to the list and I noted to make sure I ask about allergies as time gets closer. For the current number of FE participants just look at the first post on this thread. Right now we have 14 families with about 25 kids. I am keeping a running list of DISers on the cruise, ages of kids. Anyone participating in FE is noted in red. It will ask people for a final yea or nay before the holidays to give people time to get things organized but the list on page one should get you started.


rrbar - thanks much for the hotel comments. We have a reservation at the Residence Inn in Manhattan Beach - I really enjoyed Manhattan Beach when I traveled out to El Segundo for work a number of years ago. We are going to stay there a few days.

Elaine

 

[rrbar]

I've been MIA from this board for a while, nice to see a bunch more families!

Just to update the sheet for our group, my kiddos are DS (13) and DD (7) at the time of the cruise.

Yes, my real name is Silence. HAH, go figure right? Definately a conversation starter.

Anyways, I read for hours last night on cruise critic and compared to the excursions listed. Currently we are leaning towards doing the dolphins in Cabo, since you get the FREE observer pass and DH does not want to swim and my mom may not either, I can go with the kids.

I'm struggling with Mazatlan though, there didn't seem to be as much listed for this port?

In PV I think we are going to do one of the beach resorts, I think that is the one that I saw that had a hotel with water slides? I dunno, it's all running together at this point! Information overload!

I saw Mazatlan Frank listed several times here and on cruise critic with good reviews. I contacted him and you just put a small deposit with him for your date via paypal. He responds fairly quickly also. He is supposed to be very good for tours of Mazatlan. I saw Stone Island mentioned several times and it sounds like it is inexpensive to go there and arrange transportation yourself. How about checking out Randi's Happy Horses? I know some that are going on the January 23 week cruise said good things about her so that might be an option if you wanted to do horseback riding. Hope this helps!

 

[samily]

Beth - welcome - I added you to our FE group - see the first page for this thread. Looks like we will have a really good group!

Elaine, thanks for organizing the FE! I haven't read through all pages of the thread yet - is there anything else planned that I missed? ( a meet, magnet exchange, etc.)

Beth

 

[minie_meese]

Elaine, thanks for organizing the FE! I haven't read through all pages of the thread yet - is there anything else planned that I missed? ( a meet, magnet exchange, etc.)

Beth

Hi Beth - We haven't done much yet. Our posts have been a little spotty until recently. I was going to wait until I get back from my WDW trip in 2 weeks to start getting some conversation going regarding what people want to do but we can get it started now. People seem to be on the board a little more often now that we are getting closer.

On our last cruise we had a brief meet early in the cruise where we passed out copies of the final room list (a few people had rooms change the day of the cruise). I've not done a magnet exchange. How have you seen it work?

 

[samily]

Hi Beth - We haven't done much yet. Our posts have been a little spotty until recently. I was going to wait until I get back from my WDW trip in 2 weeks to start getting some conversation going regarding what people want to do but we can get it started now. People seem to be on the board a little more often now that we are getting closer.

On our last cruise we had a brief meet early in the cruise where we passed out copies of the final room list (a few people had rooms change the day of the cruise). I've not done a magnet exchange. How have you seen it work?

I thought it would be easier to look back at one of our past meet threads and just copy the info on the magnets from there. There were 2 different magnet things going on:

Traveling Mickey Magnet
Traveling Mickey is a large Mickey head with magnets on the back so he can stick to our stateroom doors. There is a list of families and their cabin numbers on the back. Mickey will show up on your door sometime during the cruise. When you get the magnet, put a check by your cabin number and add a message before you pass him on. Suggestions: family info, names, where you live, number of magical cruises.....or add a message to share your best “magical moment” from the day. We try to have Mickey visit everyone by noon on Castaway Cay day.

Whoever ends up with Mickey gets to takes him home---PLEASE take a picture and post it on our DIS thread.


Magnet Exchange
Everyone on the list agrees to make or buy a magnet for each cabin/family on the list. You deliver your gift of a magnet to each cabin door on the list sometime during the cruise. (Ten cabins on the list...you bring 10 magnets to give away. That includes one for yourself!) It is more fun if everyone doesn't deliver their magnet on the first night. During the week, it's great to find a new one on your door.

Sometimes door magnets have been reported to "fall off and walk away." So some people have been adding room numbers or family names on the magnet somewhere to help them stay on the right door. The giver can put their DIS name on the magnets they give or not. No real rules except to have fun and share the MAGIC!!

Magnet ideas are on several recurring threads on the DIS DCL forum. The possibilities are endless. There are even some very nice and talented DISers who help make custom magnets for the computer and/or not real creative types.

We've gotten DISNEY calendar magnets, ones with our ports listed, special pirate night magnets, some make special birthday greetings, anniversaries, etc. Sometimes it's a magnet from where the giver lives. They do not have to be only Disney themes. Whatever is fun for you to make and give. Then everyone goes home with great memory souvenirs and you end up with beautifully decorated fridges at home!! (This helps perk you up when reality returns.)

If I remember correctly, some people participated in everything - magnets, FE's etc., while some chose just to do the magnets, or just the FE. I honestly don't know how it all worked out in the end as we ended up having to reschedule that trip

Beth
__________________

 

[dwickham]

Hi everyone... We are also sailing to MR during the week of Feb 20. There are 6 of us... me, dh, dd(13), ds(11), dd(9) and dd(6-1/2). This will be our third cruise with Disney, first time on the Wonder and our first time to Mexico. Just now looking at excursions and hoping we can do most on our own (that's what we usually do on the Caribbean sailings.) Has anyone found the schedule when formal night, pirate night, etc is for this week? I wonder if they will have pirate night or will that be changed to something else?

 

[minie_meese]

Beth - The magnet exchange sounds like fun. Not sure about the traveling Mickey but I've never done either.

dwickham - Welcome to the group. I read somewhere there is supposed to be a pirate night. I've not heard or seen anything about formal night.

We have quite a few families - you can see everyone who has posted on this thread thatwill be traveling with us on the cruise by looking at post 1. I added your family to the list. Let me know if you are interested in the fish extender group and I'll indicate it next to your name. We are glad to have you join us on the cruise.

 

[dwickham]

wow - you are quick!! ;-)

 

[Dishy24]

Hi everyone... We are also sailing to MR during the week of Feb 20. There are 6 of us... me, dh, dd(13), ds(11), dd(9) and dd(6-1/2). This will be our third cruise with Disney, first time on the Wonder and our first time to Mexico. Just now looking at excursions and hoping we can do most on our own (that's what we usually do on the Caribbean sailings.) Has anyone found the schedule when formal night, pirate night, etc is for this week? I wonder if they will have pirate night or will that be changed to something else?

Welcome dwickham! My ds will also be 11 at the the time of sailing (his b-day is February 11th)-- Glad you are joining us! We are doing a zip line/ mule excursion (on our own) in Purteo Valllarta. Gavin (ds) is really excited to do it-- my Mom on the othet hand, isn't afraid of the zipline-- she is fearing the mules!!! lol

http://puertovallartacruiseexcursions.com/CanopyZiplineMuleTour.html

 

[dwickham]

Welcome dwickham! My ds will also be 11 at the the time of sailing (his b-day is February 11th)-- Glad you are joining us! We are doing a zip line/ mule excursion (on our own) in Purteo Valllarta. Gavin (ds) is really excited to do it-- my Mom on the othet hand, isn't afraid of the zipline-- she is fearing the mules!!! lol

HA! That is funny...and have to say I don't blame her! Thanks for the link. Ziplining is SO much fun! I wonder how strict they are on the 7 yr age minimum. My youngest won't turn 7 until April...but she has ziplined in Whistler a few years ago (albeit the kiddie-version of the big one the rest of us did). Hmm...I think I may need to make a phone call. It sounds like a great excursion!!

 

[Señor DonDuck]

FYI, I found this link a few days ago where another DIS'er called to find out the times for Pirate, formal and semi-formal night.

Originally Posted by son3disfan
We are on the March MR cruise as well.

I spoke with CS and yes there is Pirate Party on the MR cruises.
Pirate Party is on Wednesday night ( Puerto Vallarta ).
Formal night is second night on ship.
Semi formal is Friday night ( Cabo).

Hope that helps!

 

[Jennifer_W]

Hello--
We booked onboard for this cruise last December, and are now getting serious about it.

I need advice! We have done 3 DCL cruises out of Port Canaveral, but I do not know anything about cruising out of California! Here's what we would like to do:

Fly from Minnesota (would prefer northern MN, but could drive 3 hours to Minneapolis airport) in evening of Friday, Feb. 18; sleep somewhere, have transportation to get to Legoland

Spend Saturday at Legoland in Carlsbad, stay somewhere that night

Get to the cruise somehow Sunday morning

Help me fill in the blanks, please! Which airports are you finding good airfare at? Rental car? Other option? Are embarkation and debarkation times the same as sailing out of FL? What hotels would you recommend? We have me, DH, and our 3 sons (16, 14, & 3 1/2).

Thanks!!!

 

[Jennifer_W]

As far as excursions go, we usually book our own to save money with a family of 5 (Caribbean)--but how are you all feeling safety wise for the MR? Are any of our ports where the drug stuff has been going on?

I just want safe excursions & for DS to practice his Spanish for a bit. That's all.

 

[rrbar]

Hello--
We booked onboard for this cruise last December, and are now getting serious about it.

I need advice! We have done 3 DCL cruises out of Port Canaveral, but I do not know anything about cruising out of California! Here's what we would like to do:

Fly from Minnesota (would prefer northern MN, but could drive 3 hours to Minneapolis airport) in evening of Friday, Feb. 18; sleep somewhere, have transportation to get to Legoland

Spend Saturday at Legoland in Carlsbad, stay somewhere that night

Get to the cruise somehow Sunday morning

Help me fill in the blanks, please! Which airports are you finding good airfare at? Rental car? Other option? Are embarkation and debarkation times the same as sailing out of FL? What hotels would you recommend? We have me, DH, and our 3 sons (16, 14, & 3 1/2).

Thanks!!!

Jennifer,

John Wayne airport out of Orange County is closer to Legoland for sure but would be farther to go back to from the port at the end of the trip. There are major chain hotels near LAX as well as John Wayne. LAX of course is closer to the cruise line. Long Beach has a small airport but not many airlines fly out of it. If you want to rent a car, that would make it easier I think? Legoland is about 1 3/4 hours or up to 2 hours drive from the cruise ship. Legoland usually opens at 10 am. There are often coupons around for kids free, etc. so check on ebay for one before you go. Some people have stayed at the Doubletree hotel in San Pedro. I believe they have free shuttles to the cruise ship as well as free parking while you are on the cruise and it is a nice hotel to stay at. I hope this helps! The transportation to all of these places will take some thinking to figure out your best options. You could arrange for a limo or car type service to pick you up from the terminal at the end of the cruise.