February 12, 2011 - 7 night Eastern

[capitalmom]

I really want to do the beach for St Thomas and St Maarten but worried about not going through DCL. I know it would be sooo much cheaper to just go on our own but I have major anxieties that we won't make it back to the boat or something will happen.

Hey there - welcome back! We've been to St. Thomas twice and St. Maarten once and found that both ports are easy, cheap and quite safe to do on your own (and with little kids, I like the flexibility of not being part of an organized tour). In both ports, there is a taxi service right at the dock and the taxis are actually large vans - and since you're travelling with a large extended family, chances are you'd have one all to yourself. In St. Thomas, we loved Magen's Bay beach, and were able to arrange for the same driver to come back and pick us up at a set time (but if not, it's no trouble to get a taxi for the return trip). The day we're there, there will actually be quite a few ships in port, so you'd probably want to go early anyway, and that will leave you lots of time to get back to the ship. In St. Maarten, they do say traffic can be slow getting back to the ship, so you'll want to leave enough time, but the last time we were there, we spent part of the morning at the market in the French capital of Marigot (speaking of shopping...), got in a few hours at Orient Beach, and then taxied back to downtown Phillipsburg on the Dutch side with an hour or two to spare so we could walk around and explore (and more shopping ) before walking back to the ship - and it didn't feel rushed at all... Granted, we didn't have the kids along on that trip - this time, I think we'll do something similar but will probably rent a car to avoid having to lug carseats around. Anyway, it sounds like you're a planner so it shouldn't be any trouble making your own fun

Seasideliz - welcome aboard!! I'm Danielle (noelk's wife). Hopefully some of the above might be helpful re ports, but if you have any specific questions, we'd be happy to try to answer them... I think it takes 10 posts to PM

 

[blessedmomofboys]

I just saw that the last eastern cruise itineraries were posted.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2587210

Doesn't look like much has changed since last year.

 

[seasideliz]

Great info Danielle , thank you!
It's nice to know we can do a bit of beach and shopping as well in St. Maarten. We will have kids with us, so need to be flexible!!

 

[ilovedevin]

I received my paid in full confirmation, so now I am official YAY I am so excited!!!! Now I just have to sit and wait until 12:00 am November 29th to do my online check-in stuff. I can not believe that we only have 27 more days until the 75 day mark.

 

[capitalmom]

Happy. Happy. Happy.

Just got confirmation that we've been switched to early dining, and it's not even final payment date yet!! Soooooo relieved.... Amy's usually asleep by 7 so late dining would have been a real challenge for us - and my one real worry about this cruise has now disappeared - so bring it on! This time tomorrow, our countdown tickers will be down to double digits! Yippee!!

 

[robinpgma]

ilovedevin sent it to me and there are 8 families i think on it. seems manageable so far!

Happy. Happy. Happy.

Just got confirmation that we've been switched to early dining, and it's not even final payment date yet!! Soooooo relieved.... Amy's usually asleep by 7 so late dining would have been a real challenge for us - and my one real worry about this cruise has now disappeared - so bring it on! This time tomorrow, our countdown tickers will be down to double digits! Yippee!!

WOOO HOOO.....I just called and we've been switched too....YES....Makes me SO much happier..... See you there....(maybe).

 

[seasideliz]

How did you get switched to early dining?
My travel agent is looking into it for us, my husband is FURIOUS (so much so he wants to cancel if we can't change it) that the late meal time is 8:45 - our 4 year old will be a BEAR if we have to eat that late every night!

 

[robinpgma]

We were on a waiting list and enough people cancelled I guess to pump us up to 1st seating....If you don't get 1st seating by the time you go...once aboard the ship you can go to the dining room at a specific time to request changes to your seating assignments.

Hope that helps...There are also other dining options onboard as well.

Robin

 

[seasideliz]

I had our TA put us on the wait list. It is also good to know that we can approach on the ship to get earlier times.
We don't mind using the other options for eating, but to be honest, we want the meals to be relaxing, I do so much cooking and food prep on a daily basis, half of the idea of an all inclusive cruise is so that I don't have to cook or think too much about food

 

[capitalmom]

Hopefully your number will come up on the waiting list after final payment (Nov. 29) when they usually have some cancellations. If not, according to the link to recent Navigators that Heather posted (thanks, btw!), on embarkation day, it says "TO CHANGE DINING ASSIGNMENT: Requests for different seating times will be taken today: 12:00 noon - 3:30 p.m., Rockin' D Bar". They also take Palo reservations at that time if you aren't able to book in advance. If you can't get your dining time changed before the cruise, I'd suggest arriving early-ish at the port and trying to board asap to get in line for dining changes. That was going to be our plan if we didn't get off the waiting list... We were quite concerned about this as well, but from the research I've done, it seems that Disney is able to accomodate most requests for early dining, especially when there are little kids involved - good luck!

Robin - great news! Wouldn't it be funny if our numbers came up at the same time due to a big group cancellation and we're at the same table? Laura would like that

 

[Jax]

Still on the waiting list to be changed to first seating, we will see how that goes.

Disneycruise says that the cruise is 101 days away!!!! Almost in double digits

 

[Jess Warren]

How did you get switched to early dining?
My travel agent is looking into it for us, my husband is FURIOUS (so much so he wants to cancel if we can't change it) that the late meal time is 8:45 - our 4 year old will be a BEAR if we have to eat that late every night!

We were originally looking at one in mid- January, but they only had late seating left, so my dh refused to book it... but now that I have heard about the "dine and play" (I think that is what it is called), I think we would have been fine. I am actually kind of jealous that they don't do that at the early dining time as well. If you haven't read about it, You let your server know you want to participate in it at the beginning of your meal. They bring your child's meal very quickly and about 45 minutes into dinner CM's from Oceaneers club/ lab come to the dining room and take them back to the Club/ Lab... it sounds so cool... Right now our 12month old isn't sitting for longer than a 1/2 hour at home at the dinner table without throwing all of her food on the floor... worried about how she will do on the ship.

 

[robinpgma]

Hopefully your number will come up on the waiting list after final payment (Nov. 29) when they usually have some cancellations. If not, according to the link to recent Navigators that Heather posted (thanks, btw!), on embarkation day, it says "TO CHANGE DINING ASSIGNMENT: Requests for different seating times will be taken today: 12:00 noon - 3:30 p.m., Rockin' D Bar". They also take Palo reservations at that time if you aren't able to book in advance. If you can't get your dining time changed before the cruise, I'd suggest arriving early-ish at the port and trying to board asap to get in line for dining changes. That was going to be our plan if we didn't get off the waiting list... We were quite concerned about this as well, but from the research I've done, it seems that Disney is able to accommodate most requests for early dining, especially when there are little kids involved - good luck!

Robin - great news! Wouldn't it be funny if our numbers came up at the same time due to a big group cancellation and we're at the same table? Laura would like that

Danielle....that would be fantastic if we sat together....Bethany would love it too....a girl her own age to "play" with..... you never know what will happen....

WOW almost double digits...I am so excited....

 

[seasideliz]

Yes, I did hear about the Dine and Play, so that would be OK, but we really prefer the earlier seating. If we have the late one, that means bedtime for the 4 year old will be 10:30 or 11 - and those late nights mean later mornings and we like to be up early and enjoy the day kwim?

Anyhow, we will work it out. If we don't get early seating prior to the cruise, I will go line up for it once we are on board.

I can't even imagine how I would figure this all out if it weren't for this board

 

[robinpgma]

Do I need an FE hanger for the FE exchange? If so, how much and where do I get it? I can't wait to start doing the FE stuff..... SO MUCH FUN....

 

[ilovedevin]

I got mine from gradysmommy from e-bay for around $20.00, you pick your designs and she make's them. Just search Fish extender's one-bay. There are two thread's on here that show how to make them both sew and non-sew, I have also seen where people used canvas bag's and decorated them very cute.

 

[seasideliz]

I got mine from gradysmommy from e-bay for around $20.00, you pick your designs and she make's them. Just search Fish extender's one-bay. There are two thread's on here that show how to make them both sew and non-sew, I have also seen where people used canvas bag's and decorated them very cute.

I just looked these up and they are adorable!!

I would say even if you don't participate in the FE - they would be great to hang inside your room to sort family items like toothbrushes, etc. to help keep the room / bathroom tidy + great keepsake from the trip!!

 

[Jax]

I have been tossing around the idea of trying to book a Illuminations Fireworks Cruise for Feb 19.

I am not sure if anyone else is going to WDW after the cruise, but I thought I would check here and see if (by some miracle) I am able to book the cruise, if anyone else would be interested in joining us.

The boat holds 10 people, there are 4 of us so we would have room for another 6 people.

According to WDWInfo the cruise costs $346, so it would be $34 per person.

Please let me know if you would be interested in this (I beleive the booking window for the cruise opens in a week or so)

 

[Jess Warren]

I have been tossing around the idea of trying to book a Illuminations Fireworks Cruise for Feb 19.

I am not sure if anyone else is going to WDW after the cruise, but I thought I would check here and see if (by some miracle) I am able to book the cruise, if anyone else would be interested in joining us.

The boat holds 10 people, there are 4 of us so we would have room for another 6 people.

According to WDWInfo the cruise costs $346, so it would be $34 per person.

Please let me know if you would be interested in this (I beleive the booking window for the cruise opens in a week or so)

dh and I did one of those on our honeymoon back in 2002... it was on "Breathless" out of the Yacht (and Beach) Club Marina- it was really pretty neat! Unfortunately, we are flying out on the 19th.

 

[Jess Warren]

Yes, I did hear about the Dine and Play, so that would be OK, but we really prefer the earlier seating. If we have the late one, that means bedtime for the 4 year old will be 10:30 or 11 - and those late nights mean later mornings and we like to be up early and enjoy the day kwim?

Anyhow, we will work it out. If we don't get early seating prior to the cruise, I will go line up for it once we are on board.

I can't even imagine how I would figure this all out if it weren't for this board

I totally understand what you are saying... with my girls, late nights still mean getting up at 7 or so... At least it sounds like in the kids club, later in the evenings the kids can get in their pj's, they have mats for them and they watch movies (do quiet activities)...
It is a great board- I have learned so much.