From WDW to DL With Love - January 06, 2011 part 2

[LindaBabe]

Been away to the world for the weekend, it was Jeff's birthday. We met up with WeLuvDCL and family. Jack (DS) and Emily (DD to WeLuvDCL) had a great time at Blizzard Beach.
Just found out on the main cruise board that Barb and Tony (yes that Barb and Tony) are going on our cruise. I invited them to come on over and say hi on the thread.
Back to writing papers for school....

Typhoon Lagoon has a super little kids area! and the themeing is wonderful.

Barb and Tony! Boy! They'll win the "most cruises" award, hands down.

Woohoo! How did you do that? That is quite a feat...

All is well. Things have been busy since our return from Europe. Putting the travel insurance through for the ash cloud was a pain. Then we had birthdays galore and soon a trip to Melbourne. The planning for our trip to the States is moving along really well. The info pack that you sent me was invaluable! We managed to get rooms that fit 5 in DC at the Holiday Inn for $109 per night tax inclusive. It looks quite close to the National Mall so we're happy about that! We also bought our train tickets from NY to DC for $171.50 for all 5 of us, so we're really happy about that too! Best of all, I managed to get the price of our hotel in NY down from $346 per night to $277 per night. Sorry about the rant, but I'm very excited about all the savings!!!

THAT's WONDERFUL! You did Well, Shushh

Terrific page! I wish I was there too!

Hey how many pages do we have to get to before the shut this thread down and we have to open another one?

For those sending Jeff updates, he is umpiring little league tournaments all week (every.stinking.day). So updates will take a bit.

250. And Happy Birthday Jeff!

 

[JenKatt]

Tickets to broadway shows are really that much cheaper the day of. Found this article talking about how to get tickets cheap. Its a few years old, but gives a nice overview. BUT you are looking at the holidays, so it will be harder.

 

[Bookwood]

Bookwood - What's your name? I'm pushing to get people to sign their names tho with my situation i'm not actually learning them so we will be behind the 8 ball when we get there. Anyway, we're close in age, staying on the same floor of the boat and eating late! :-D . But also I see you are from texas. my boss's daughter is doing a softball tourney in somwhere texas (i think near college station) and he sees it's only about 3 hours to corpus christi. he's looking for a place, preferably with a beach, to do a few days vacation. are you familiar (or is anyone else reading this) enough to offer advice for me to pass on?thanks!

Sherri (and Alan)

Hey Sherri,

I'm Pam Dh is Mike and we're from Indiana so sorry I can't help you on the Texas question. Now if you want ideas on where to stay near Ft Wayne Indiana I'd be happy to help!

I'll try to change my sig so the name are in it- I too want to learn some first name (I know I'll never get hometowns and such for most.)

 

[Tami0220]

So I am a super freak planner. I like to plan, organize, and get all my duckies in a row. The sooner I start my research and planning the longer I have to obsess and think about all the possibilities. I have started to look into some port adventures but would love to know.......AM I ALONE???? Has anyone started to plan and look into what to do at PORT? If so what are your thoughts?

I also love to plan. I have been planning ports and adventures since the day I booked which was the opening day. I plan on zip line and Walmart in Puerto Vallarta, and Tortuga beach in Costa Rica, hanging at the beach in Aruba and CC and probably staying on the boat the rest of Mexico.

The first time I went to WDW I had a spread sheet and itinerary of where we would be and when. What restaurant we would have each of our meals at etc. It was an all inclusive plan and we got receipts for each activity or meal we did. At the end I had saved almost $2K over what I paid for the package. Planning pays off!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

So I am a super freak planner. I like to plan, organize, and get all my duckies in a row. The sooner I start my research and planning the longer I have to obsess and think about all the possibilities. I have started to look into some port adventures but would love to know.......AM I ALONE???? Has anyone started to plan and look into what to do at PORT? If so what are your thoughts?

Yes, I love to plan, but am busy with my ta first before I let this cruise engulf me,lol

 

[WDW Princess 71]

I also love to plan. I have been planning ports and adventures since the day I booked which was the opening day. I plan on zip line and Walmart in Puerto Vallarta, and Tortuga beach in Costa Rica, hanging at the beach in Aruba and CC and probably staying on the boat the rest of Mexico.

The first time I went to WDW I had a spread sheet and itinerary of where we would be and when. What restaurant we would have each of our meals at etc. It was an all inclusive plan and we got receipts for each activity or meal we did. At the end I had saved almost $2K over what I paid for the package. Planning pays off!

Have you been to Tortuga beach in Costa Rica before, or any beaches in Aruba? Are you planning to do them on your own or with DCL excursion? This question is for the OP and anyone else--I want to do beaches in both of these ports and was hoping I could get feedback from those of you who have been before and/or are planning to go, what are your plans?

 

[CruznLexi]

We never do cruiseline shore excursions. We do something on our own. For Aruba I thnk we will get a jeep and go around the Island do some snorkeling maybe. Costa Rico not sure yet. The Mexican ports will do something but do it on our own.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Have you been to Tortuga beach in Costa Rica before, or any beaches in Aruba? Are you planning to do them on your own or with DCL excursion? This question is for the OP and anyone else--I want to do beaches in both of these ports and was hoping I could get feedback from those of you who have been before and/or are planning to go, what are your plans?

Sorry Nicole,Ive no big plans, except to chill and go for a wonder around the ports,might change my mind but I doubt it, although Aruba seems nice.

 

[carmie3377]

We never do cruiseline shore excursions. We do something on our own. For Aruba I thnk we will get a jeep and go around the Island do some snorkeling maybe. Costa Rico not sure yet. The Mexican ports will do something but do it on our own.

We plan on doing the same in Aruba. We also hope to check out Arikok National Park while there. Costa Rica, we plan on going through a tour operator and doing a day tour. Puerta Vallerta DD is swimming with the dolphins. Cabo I think we are doing whale watching. Manzanillo is the only port we haven't decided on. Like CruznLexi, we plan to do all this on our own.

 

[aan1701]

My excursions are so simple it kills me. CC day. Lunch at the Air BBQ. Drinks at the Conched Out Bar after lunch. Aruba I will walk to Dunkin Donuts and then back to the ship. Costs Rica and the rest of the ports, nice quiet time at the Cove. I would like to thank everyone who does excursions so I can have a ship to my self.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

My excursions are so simple it kills me. CC day. Lunch at the Air BBQ. Drinks at the Conched Out Bar after lunch. Aruba I will walk to Dunkin Donuts and then back to the ship. Costs Rica and the rest of the ports, nice quiet time at the Cove. I would like to thank everyone who does excursions so I can have a ship to my self.

Sounds a bit like my plans, except dd, those glazed ones they serve on the ship will do just fine. Maybe stock up on drinks but thats about it.
I know I shouldnt compare bu I really wish I never got the ship at cozamel and Im thinking that maybe they will all be like that.

 

[aan1701]

They are not all like Cozumel. DW and I are thrilled that this cruise has a lot of repeat ports as the 08 crossing. This will be saving us a ton of cash cause we have been there before. DW is about the ports, but I cruise to be on the ship. Ports mean nothing to me, DW likes them but she is really happy she does not feel like she needs to go on tours.

 

[sak0526]

So I am a super freak planner. I like to plan, organize, and get all my duckies in a row. The sooner I start my research and planning the longer I have to obsess and think about all the possibilities. I have started to look into some port adventures but would love to know.......AM I ALONE???? Has anyone started to plan and look into what to do at PORT? If so what are your thoughts?

First - what are your names? please use them in ur posts - i'm working hard to try and get people to sign their names!!

normally i'm obsessive about thinking/looking but too many things going on but DH is usually the planner

sherri (and alan)

 

[JenKatt]

First - what are your names? please use them in ur posts - i'm working hard to try and get people to sign their names!!

normally i'm obsessive about thinking/looking but too many things going on but DH is usually the planner

sherri (and alan)

Just FYI, some people don't want to post their names on a public message board. It would be nice if everyone did, but some people are not comfortable doing that.

 

[danfromca]

We never do cruiseline shore excursions. We do something on our own. For Aruba I thnk we will get a jeep and go around the Island do some snorkeling maybe. Costa Rico not sure yet. The Mexican ports will do something but do it on our own.

We almost always do the DCL excursion. Yes, I know you can save money doing things on your own. But it's vacation - and the DCL excursions are no stress. Don't even have to worry about running late - knowing the ship will wait adds some peace of mind.

I don't disagree with anyone who does their own - it's absolutely the logical thing to do.

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Sounds a bit like my plans, except dd, those glazed ones they serve on the ship will do just fine. Maybe stock up on drinks but thats about it.
I know I shouldnt compare bu I really wish I never got the ship at cozamel and Im thinking that maybe they will all be like that.

I felt the same way about St. Thomas on my most recent cruise this past January, wish I hadn't gotten off the ship! The whole island seemed rundown and sketchy, and the taxi situation was horrific--while our short time at Sapphire Beach was nice, it felt like we spent more time waiting around to fill up the huge group taxis and in traffic around the island past many undesirable sights. I was spoiled on vacation in St. John before, thinking ST would be similar, and was dead wrong. By the time we got back on the ship around 2 pm, we were disgusted and exhausted, and wished we had never even ventured off and instead just enjoyed the quiet ship.

I've only done 3 cruises, and 2 of them were Nassau and I happen to love Atlantis so this was the first time I'd experienced a disappointing port. I think I was so fixated on the idea of cruising to new ports that I essentially "forced" myself to enjoy them, even if I could sense it wasnt for me. I'm glad I had my experience in ST, because now I know if I get to a new port and get a sense that it is not what I had imagined, or I'm not having a nice time, that I'll be perfectly happy to just stay aboard or head back to the ship early in the day to enjoy time there. I am still optimistic and looking forward to the ports on our cruise since I've never been to any besides CC, but I wont be crushed if any of them are downers and lead me back to the ship instead.

 

[KayR]

For the WDW veterans...do you think the fantasmic lunch or dinner package is worth the 2TS credits? We're doing the dining plan and the only times we could get a reservation with the fantasmic package is either 2pm for lunch or 3:40pm for dinner! I wonder if we might be better off having a separate meal and then lining up for the show?

You really don't save that much time getting the fantasmic package. I'd line up for the show - or if there are two the day you are planning, go to the second one.

I think it depends on the day you plan to go and if the parks are likely to be busy. I would guess the week between Christmas and New Years will be super packed.

My general rule of thumb is if the park is not busy, don't bother with the Fantasmic Dining. If it is busy, do it. The seat allocation (unless they have changed it) is not the best. Last time I did the dining package, the seating was the left hand section as you look at the stage. You still have to line up (albeit not as early as if it were a high attendance day) and seating is NOT guaranteed - so you can't just turn up at show time and expect a seat. I don't think the package cost any more than a regular meal, so its not a big money issue. Of course, all this is info is countered with "as long as Disney have not changed the way they do things"

Yes, the second showing (if there is one) is easier to get into.

If you are going to be at WDW during the Christmas/New Year season, I would highly recommend having a touring plan. We did WDW at Easter one year (with 15 of us!) and even I used a touring plan. I used TourGuideMike.com - they update park hours for you, recommend best days to visit based on anticipated crowds, suggest itineraries and the best order to tackle the parks. We did the best of the parks and were out by mid afternoon (the time the parks were getting unbearably busy) still with extra fastpasses we could have used had we stayed.

-Kay

 

[Tami0220]

Havent been to Aruba or Costa Rica. I just googled the areas and looked for stuff that looked fun or relaxing. We will probably use DCL excursions just for the no brainer, so hoping they do Tortuga island

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I felt the same way about St. Thomas on my most recent cruise this past January, wish I hadn't gotten off the ship! The whole island seemed rundown and sketchy, and the taxi situation was horrific--while our short time at Sapphire Beach was nice, it felt like we spent more time waiting around to fill up the huge group taxis and in traffic around the island past many undesirable sights. I was spoiled on vacation in St. John before, thinking ST would be similar, and was dead wrong. By the time we got back on the ship around 2 pm, we were disgusted and exhausted, and wished we had never even ventured off and instead just enjoyed the quiet ship.

I've only done 3 cruises, and 2 of them were Nassau and I happen to love Atlantis so this was the first time I'd experienced a disappointing port. I think I was so fixated on the idea of cruising to new ports that I essentially "forced" myself to enjoy them, even if I could sense it wasnt for me. I'm glad I had my experience in ST, because now I know if I get to a new port and get a sense that it is not what I had imagined, or I'm not having a nice time, that I'll be perfectly happy to just stay aboard or head back to the ship early in the day to enjoy time there. I am still optimistic and looking forward to the ports on our cruise since I've never been to any besides CC, but I wont be crushed if any of them are downers and lead me back to the ship instead.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[LindaBabe]

good morning!

We've been to Cozumel twice - the first time we went to Nachicocoom - it was WONDERFUL. The second time we just wandered around - kinda off the beaten path. We had fun doing that, but it sure was hot.

St. Thomas twice, too - first time an excursion - fun but never again, and the second time just wandered through the Havensight shops ( found some wonderful hand made note cards) and back on the ship. It sure was hot.

St. Croix - went off to the botanical Garden in a taxi - it was great.

Grand Cayman - husband took a tour - loved it, I went off on the local bus and had a great time too. The second time, we wandered around, visited the local museum and craft market, book store, and back to the ship. it was enough.

I dunno about Aruba, but cousin has a condo in one of our ports, so we'll go to that resort, and I have friends in PV, so we'll probably hang with them. NOT big on being herded around on tours, kwim?

Happy day, all!