Feb.4,2006. Who else is sailing?

[mark_story]

mark,

we haven't really given any thought to the excursions. we will probably snorkel on castaway cay. i think that will be something to do as long as the weathers nice. i've never snorkeled before. as far as the other ports i would like to do some sight seeing. don't really know if i will ever get back there so might as well make the best most of it.

what is this passporter book? where do you get one? the tour you are talking about wouldn't be the "see and sea tour" would it?

palo's for dinner is nice but we enjoyed the brunch more. amy doesn't really care for real itallian food although i thought it was good. the brunch had a mixture of sea food and itallian food in it.

dan

Hey Dan,

Sorry I haven't responded earlier -- been on vacation with my family.

The Passporter (Passporter Web site ) is the definitibr travel giude for all things Disney and they have a special edition for Disney Cruises. The book contains tips and tricks as well as information about shore excursions, onboard activities as a wealth of other things that are useful for cruising on DCL.

I will say, however, that after having been on these boards for a while and reading tips, it makes the book a little less helpful since there is so much info available on this site. Nonetheless, it contains planning guides that help you make decisions about shore excursions, dining assignments -- and essentially plan your whole trip out before you even leave for shore.

Check out the Web site -- you might like it enough to buy it.

Mark

 

[mark_story]

Mark's wife Johnna here - what he forgot to reply to in Dan's email was about Palo's dinner vs. brunch. I, unlike Dan's wife, LOVE Italian and Seafood (maiden name is Giardiello - what do you expect ) so I'm sure either brunch or dinner at Palo will be a treat. It will be a tough decision - maybe we'll have to do both?!?

 

[dee47]

It will be a tough decision - maybe we'll have to do both?!?

That's what we always do -- both!

 

[Boxkite]

Hello,

Our family will be joining this cruise also! My name is Steven and my wife's name is Mary. We live in Dallas, Texas where I'm an IT Project Manager and Mary is a Psychologist in private practice.

We have two children, Martin who will be nine and Carly who will be six.

We are all looking forward to the cruise and making new friends!

I have not yet read all the posts, has anyone compiled a list of children going on the cruise? Our children are looking forward to meeting new friends on the ship.

We are flying in the day before and will stay at the airport Hyatt. Anyone else staying at the Hyatt? We are planning to take the Disney bus to the terminal. After the cruise, we will take a day room at the Hyatt before flying out Saturday night.

Steven

 

[mark_story]

Hello,

Our family will be joining this cruise also! My name is Steven and my wife's name is Mary. We live in Dallas, Texas where I'm an IT Project Manager and Mary is a Psychologist in private practice.

We have two children, Martin who will be nine and Carly who will be six.

We are all looking forward to the cruise and making new friends!

I have not yet read all the posts, has anyone compiled a list of children going on the cruise? Our children are looking forward to meeting new friends on the ship.

We are flying in the day before and will stay at the airport Hyatt. Anyone else staying at the Hyatt? We are planning to take the Disney bus to the terminal. After the cruise, we will take a day room at the Hyatt before flying out Saturday night.

Steven

Steven,

Welcome to our little corner of the DIS Boards. As you've read from the previous postings, we've got a nice little discussion group going here.

My wife and I have two children as well who will be five and almost three at the time of the cruise. I don't know what the winters are like there in DFW, but they're not so great near Washington, DC, which is where we live. For this reason, we're going down to Florida two days early and will stay at the Radisson, just to escape the cold here. I sure hope that we get good weather, both in Florida and on the cruise..

I don't think that anyone has compared children's ages or put together a list, but I'm sure it will happen as the date gets closer.

Have you guys sailed with DCL before?

Mark

 

[dee47]

Hi Steven!

We're (me and my firend Kat) staying at the MCO Hyatt as well. The way winters have been here in Seattle the last 2 years, I think we'll be fine flying the night before.

Sorry, Kat and I are leaving the husbands and kids at home this time! I have a son who's 9, but won't be joining us (moms' vacation!)

Anyhow, welcome!

 

[steveandtonya]

Welcome Steve and family. As you can see we are not too far from you. We are in a suburb of Oklahoma City. We have a son who will be 9 in October. He is very excited to have someone his age to hang around with. On our last cruise his sister had a penpal who was going on the cruise also and they were able to meet and still remain friends. Our son is named Zachary. If you are interested, my son would welcome the chance to correspond with your son, Martin. Is this your first cruise? My sister in law and her family are going also and I believe their son is 6. We are driving down from Oklahoma, leaving a few days before. Sister in law lives in Orlando. We also have a daughter, Delaney, who is 10. A cousin is going also who is 10. There will be about 10 of us all together. We will be on deck 7 front. Right below the bridge. Look forward to getting to know you.

Steve, Tonya, Delaney, Zachary

 

[Boxkite]

Steve, Tonya, and Family,

Yes, I think it would be great if Zachary and Martin could get to know each other before the trip. Martin will be getting a playstation for Christmas, and he's already wondering if he can bring it on the cruise! Martin loves to play sports, and he loves gameboy and gamecube. He had brain surgery last month, and we are so thankful that he is okay. This cruise is a celebration for us!

 

[mark_story]

Hey everyone,

For those of you who frequently lurk in the DIS Boards like me, you'll know that the Magic has spent the last three months based in Los Angeles and sailing on the West Coast. Well, the Magic is on her way back to us, having begun the Eastern repositioning cruise yesterday.

Check out the thread here -- it's a great way to track the ship as she makes her way back to us!!!! There have already been some great pictures posted.

Mark

 

[steveandtonya]

Steve and Mary, That's great that Martin and Zack will be able to get to know each other. Zack has an Xbox and he lives on it. Thank God for school starting, maybe it will get a rest. Glad to here that Martin is fine after his surgery, that had to have been scary. Hope everything is on the mend and this cruise will be a great time. Our regular email address is
carlsons91@hotmail.com That way they don't clog up this thread with their writing back and forth. Do you ahve any excursions planned yet? We read about a pirate ship cruise in St Martin, that sounds like fun. Talk to you later

Steve

 

[Boxkite]

Steve and Mary, That's great that Martin and Zack will be able to get to know each other. Zack has an Xbox and he lives on it. Thank God for school starting, maybe it will get a rest. Glad to here that Martin is fine after his surgery, that had to have been scary. Hope everything is on the mend and this cruise will be a great time. Our regular email address is [e-mail address removed] That way they don't clog up this thread with their writing back and forth. Do you ahve any excursions planned yet? We read about a pirate ship cruise in St Martin, that sounds like fun. Talk to you later

Steve

Thanks for the e-mail address, we will have Martin write to Zack. Maybe one of them can bring the gamecube/ps2/xbox onboard and they can play each other?

We have not yet formally planned the excursions, but the sub trip sounds like a good one for Mary and the children. Meanwhile I will be doing as many snorkel trips as I can fit in! I have snorkeled several times and it is a blast!

This will be our second cruise with the family. The first one was a Carnival cruise from Galveston Texas to the coast of Mexico.

Steven

 

[steveandtonya]

Steven, sounds good. Zack will look forward to having a friend on board. We will be on deck 7. Do you know where your cabin is? I don't think you can set up an play station or x box in the rooms. I don't think the tv's have the hookups for it. When we were in St Martin the last time, we took the See and Sea island tour- It was a bus tour around the island and then they go out on a boat that has underwater windows underneath it. You go underneath and sit and look at the fish while it floats around. Then you get back on the bus and they stop in Marigot on the French side for some shopping time and then back to the ship. It wasn't bad but the bus ride was interesting- the roads are very narrow and noone seems to know who has the right of way. Made for some interesting traveling. I'm not sure what we will do there this time. I saw something on line about a pirate ship that you can go out on and swim off of and other stuff. I'll try to remember the name. I've only snorkeled when we were in Castaway Cay last time. I'll need to work on it because it wore me out. I guess I'm getting old- 45 yesterday. Talk to you later.

Steve, Tonya, Delaney, Zachary

 

[ufcabear]

Hi,

I just happened onto this site today. My husband and I will be celebrating our 30th anniversary on the February 4th sailing. This will be his third and my fourth. All the others have been on the Wonder, so this is our first Magic trip. I have read that the ship will be refurbished this fall so it should be nice and new looking when we sail. I am getting so excited about the trip. We live in NC and will drive down to the port as we usually do. Look forward to reading more info from this forum.

Debi

 

[steveandtonya]

Welcome Debi and your husband. We are looking forward to a great trip. What part of N.C. are you from? We lived there for several years before moving out here 9 years ago. We lived in Hertford- just between Elizabeth City and Edenton. Hope to talk to you more as the time gets closer.
Steve, Tonya, Delaney, Zachary

 

[Boxkite]

Here is some information on Magic's makeover, as found on the Cruise Critic News web site:

August 18, 2005
Disney Schedules Makeover for Magic this Fall
Last fall, Disney Wonder returned from dry dock with a refurbished interior and exterior, and three brand-new venues. This fall, Disney Magic gets the royal treatment -- the 83,000 ton, 2,700-passenger ship will enter dry dock on October 1 for a 10-day makeover.

Here is a sampling of what to expect:

Lush, innovative spa suites. The Vista Spa and Salon's fitness area will double in size and receive more exercise machinery, plus an area for classes (such as spinning and Pilates). The spa itself will be outfitted with new-to-the-industry indoor/outdoor treatment suites. Each indoor suite will be connected to an outdoor verandah -- complete with personal hot tub, chaise lounge and more.

Fresh space for children's activities. Three conference rooms on Deck 2 will be transformed into Ocean Quest, a nautically themed hangout for kids. Inside will be a replica of the ship's bridge (an LCD screen will stream live feed from the bridge, and offer a simulation game for children to "steer" in and out of various cruise ports).

Larger-than-life movie screen. Following the lead of Princess and Carnival, Disney is adding a jumbo LED screen to the pool deck. The screen will measure 24 by 14 feet and be utilized to broadcast sporting events and movies.

Disney Magic will resume sailing an alternating schedule of Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises on October 15.

 

[mark_story]

Hey Julia and Tonya - I'm a dancer too. Mark's wife Johnna here - anyone who knows Mark knows it's not him! And I love the 80's stuff too.

Since the Sunday we're on board is Superbowl Sunday, I'm sure they'll show it on the new big screen on the pool deck - maybe the hubbies can go watch that and we can go to the club for Margarita's (my drink of choice!) and dancing! Thank goodness for all day and evening Children's Programming!

 

[UMPIRESLD]

Hi,

I just happened onto this site today. My husband and I will be celebrating our 30th anniversary on the February 4th sailing. This will be his third and my fourth. All the others have been on the Wonder, so this is our first Magic trip. I have read that the ship will be refurbished this fall so it should be nice and new looking when we sail. I am getting so excited about the trip. We live in NC and will drive down to the port as we usually do. Look forward to reading more info from this forum.

Debi

Hi Debi.............

We also will be celebrating our 30th anniv. on this cruise. We are bringing along friends that will be celebrating their 25th. This will be our 3rd cruise....their first..........We live in Pa "close to Hershey. " It will be great to get away in the middle of winter.............Steve and Lucie

 

[mark_story]

Hey guys,

As we are now 143 days away from sailing, the days continue to fly by as we count down to February 4th. Let's start a new thought:

For those of you who have cruised before, what are your best memories? I think that ours are the sail away party (when everyone is the happiest), spending time near the Mickey Pool and the farewell show on Friday when they have all the of the "graduates" from Disney Cruise University be part of the show.

And I know that it's been noted here before, but we will be at sea for the Super Bowl (played on Sunday, February 5th). I'll bet that Disney doesn something cool and special for it. It will be so neat to watch the Super Bowl while at sea!

What about you guys?

Mark

 

[dee47]

Rainforest Room at the spa

Open-air cabana massage

Disney Dreams

Atlantis Submarine

Golden Mickeys

CASTAWAY CAY!!!!!!!!!!


least favorite: stupid boat drill prior to sailing

 

[mark_story]

Rainforest Room at the spa

Open-air cabana massage

Disney Dreams

Atlantis Submarine

Golden Mickeys

CASTAWAY CAY!!!!!!!!!!


least favorite: stupid boat drill prior to sailing

I've heard that the cabana massages are great. We were thinking of getting massages in the spa, though. Would you recommend the cabana massage over the in-spa treatment?

Mark

PS -- I also forgot to mention that I think that the Mickey ice cream bars are the best food on the ship!