February 12th, 2005 Western. Who's going???

[MImom]

Welcome everyone!
Stepheni, I've also read that you can bring door stops ( the wedge things you shove under the door) to keep connecting room doors open.

 

[tigger002]

Last minute decision to go and our friends are coming too.
40 something for us, DS 17 and 15 and dd 11 yr old. Our friends are 40 something too with 3 dd 15 and twin 12 yr old. We can not wait esp since it has been sooo cold, 9 degrees this morning and a storm coming tonight.

 

[JenGang]

Welcome tigger002! Glad you and your family could join us! There are a couple of us that also have 11yo DDs. We're having a DIS meet on the first day outside Studio Sea just to get be able to put faces with names. We'd love for you to join us. Also we're going to try to get group Palo reservations. If you'd like to be included in that, I'll be collecting names and room numbers soon.

 

[rifgirlsmom]

I'm also ready to get out of Michigan, the forcast isnt nice.
Welcome to all recent posters.
Jen did find some shorts last night @ dicks, not what i had in mind but dd says will work
I'm off to look at a new digital camera, been rather unhappy with current one.
When is a resonable time to expect our documents?
I'm going to start getting organized this weekend. Hopefully.
Stay warm to all in the northern parts & warm up in the south
Wendy

 

[Steph Dolin]

Welcome everyone!
Stepheni, I've also read that you can bring door stops ( the wedge things you shove under the door) to keep connecting room doors open.

Thanks for the tip. I was wondering if you or anyone else has used the ocean club and if so have you tipped the counselors, how many are there, and how much do you give. I have read a lot of people giving phone cards but no one has said how much.

 

[disneypilots]

Hi Tigger002, Welcome, and yes we are expecting 6 inches of snow.............. Looks the children will have plenty of friends to meet with.

Mark

 

[JenGang]

Thanks for the tip. I was wondering if you or anyone else has used the ocean club and if so have you tipped the counselors, how many are there, and how much do you give. I have read a lot of people giving phone cards but no one has said how much.

Stepheni, We did use the the Club and the Lab last time. We bought a package of 120 minute phone cards from Sam's Club. Then we let the girls each pick out a counselor or two that they really liked and they wrote them a note and put the phone card with it. We also gave our servers and room steward a phone card.

 

[dizny4us]

Stay warm to all in the northern parts & warm up in the south
Wendy

and stay healthy! For those of you getting snow, feel free to ship some down here. DDs preschool is having a "trip to the North Pole" on Wednesday. They are having 5 tons of snow delivered! I'm originally from the north and it always makes me laugh to hear that they are making snow down here when people usually try to get rid of it up north! at least it melts fast!

 

[Steph Dolin]

Stepheni, We did use the the Club and the Lab last time. We bought a package of 120 minute phone cards from Sam's Club. Then we let the girls each pick out a counselor or two that they really liked and they wrote them a note and put the phone card with it. We also gave our servers and room steward a phone card.

Jen,
How many come in a package? And how much is each phone card worth? Also, for Palo's do we go and sign up for that first, or do the camps first. I was told that you can only make one reservation at Palo's per cabin, and if we have two cabins can we make two reservations?

 

[JenGang]

Jen,
How many come in a package? And how much is each phone card worth? Also, for Palo's do we go and sign up for that first, or do the camps first. I was told that you can only make one reservation at Palo's per cabin, and if we have two cabins can we make two reservations?

I think there were 7 cards in the package and it was right around $24. Each card is 120 minutes but if they're calling internationally, and most are, they are worth less than that.

I'd say go to Palo's before anything else if you really want those reservations. And I don't know how it works if you have 2 cabins. Mark, you've been on more cruises than I have, do you know the answer to this one?

 

[Steph Dolin]

If I go to Palo's first is there a chance my kids will not get into the ocean club (help me if that happens, (LOL). Also, you said there is 7 cards in the package do they have only 7 counselors or less that I could give to the steward in additon to the tips.

 

[JenGang]

If I go to Palo's first is there a chance my kids will not get into the ocean club (help me if that happens, (LOL). Also, you said there is 7 cards in the package do they have only 7 counselors or less that I could give to the steward in additon to the tips.

There are a bunch of counselors but I didn't worry about giving to all of them. I let my girls pick out one or two that they felt made their trip special. And as far as I know, you won't have any problems getting your kids into the club. They will only accept so many kids in each age group on each cruise in order to have room for them all in the club or lab.

 

[kyydd2000]

Okay, getting a little excited now that I have seen the Disney Video sent to my house today...

Today was -17 degrees!!!!! Not nice....

Booked our tandum parasailing for the 1:30 time slot. At least if I go down he is going toooooo!!!!

Thanks for the tip Mark, picked up the pair of white T-shirts for the boys for the signatures.

Speaking of tipping, according to this Disney Video, we have the same waiter/waitress throughout the cruise. If this is so, what is a reasonable amount to tip at the end of the cruise or do you do this each day?

Jen, when you are gathering names and room numbers please count us in. We already know our room number so just let us know when you are ready.

Julia

 

[disneypilots]

Hi Julia, all of the tipping is done at the end of the cruise. You will be given guidelines as to how much, then you decide from there. Your room key will be the device for all on ship purchases. It goes to your shipboard account, which is settled at the end of the cruise.

Mark

 

[disneypilots]

Steph, Dont worry about signing the kids up for the club or the lab right away. Make your Spa and Palo reservations as soon as you get on the ship. The clubs will be open to accept registration up untill the lifeboat drill at 4 pm. Since you have 2 cabins, you can have an adult from each cabin sign up for Palo's ( 2 reservations). Hope this helps !!!

Mark

 

[disneypilots]

Hey Jen, did you find that pixie dust yet..........I don't wanna shovel snow. Actually I have a snow blower, but I dont want to use that either.......... This is gonna be the longest two and a half weeks of my life.........It was 7 degrees tonight when I stopped to pump gas. Stinkin Michigan Winter Weather !!

Hey Dizny4us....... 5 tons of fake snow......I will have that much of real snow on my driveway LOL !!!! The only frozen precipitation I want to see is in my drink glass !!!

 

[Steph Dolin]

Wow, thanks Mark. So, now the big is, question if we make two reservations at Palo's which restaurant do I give up during the week? Also, do most people eat dinner with there kids. We booked our reservation back in June, and they gave us late seating which I am on a wait list for early seating, How do I push for
that? There is no way my kids are going to eat 8:30-9.

 

[Steph Dolin]

Steph, Dont worry about signing the kids up for the club or the lab right away. Make your Spa and Palo reservations as soon as you get on the ship. The clubs will be open to accept registration up untill the lifeboat drill at 4 pm. Since you have 2 cabins, you can have an adult from each cabin sign up for Palo's ( 2 reservations). Hope this helps !!!

Mark

Also, we do we go for reservations Palo's or guest service.

....ok, I have some advice given please tell me if these are needed, bubbles, address labels, dry pack, roll of quarters, 2way radios, clothes pins.
I have a DS 4 and a DD 6 anyone traveling with young ones too. I also was planning on bringing our own wine will they allow that.

 

[JenGang]

Also, we do we go for reservations Palo's or guest service.

....ok, I have some advice given please tell me if these are needed, bubbles, address labels, dry pack, roll of quarters, 2way radios, clothes pins.
I have a DS 4 and a DD 6 anyone traveling with young ones too. I also was planning on bringing our own wine will they allow that.

Bubbles are just for if you want them at the sail away party. We had some last time and honestly, I just thought it was a mess. Address labels are nice because on the last night they give you luggage tags to put on all your bags. If you have address labels, you can just stick them on there instead of taking your time to fill them out. Quarters I suppose if you want to do laundry. I'm on vacation and unless we have a disaster, I'm not doing laundry! 2 way radios can be tricky because of the ship being all metal. Also with you having younger kids, I'm not sure it would be necessary. I think that's more for people that have older kids that can check themselves out of the clubs. Clothes pins for if you want to hang things on the clothes line in the shower. I just draped them over it. And you can bring wine but you can't put it in your suitcase. It has to be carried on by you. I would also suggest if you're bringing wine to being a corkscrew but I would pack that in your luggage.

 

[Steph Dolin]

Wendy, Key West is known for Famous Bar Tshirts, Keno Sandals, and Key Lime Pie. Grand Cayman is the place for Upscale Jewelery, Gold, Perfume, and Rum. Cozumel is the place for Silver, Footwear, Mexican Artwork and Crafts, Diamonds, and Booze.

I will be shopping for Diamond Solitare Earrings in Cozumel. DW has hinted a few times. Will leave me clear to shop at the Bar shops in Key West, The Harley Davidson Store in Grand cayman, and the Duty Free Liquor in Cozumel.

Mark

Hey Mark, queston regarding jewelry in the Islands, can you trust and if so who?
Also, is Grand Caymen the only island that has a Harley Store, my husband has a Harley and of course were ever we go we must get a shirt.... LOL (closes thing to the real thing)