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

[DVCinderella]

What is everyone doing in terms of drinking water while on-board, and at ports-of-call?

I've read a lot of posts re bringing bottled water on-board, and it seems like a big hassle. Plus, even if we brought a case, no way it would last us for 15-days...so anyway you slice it, we're going to have to get our water on-board at some point.

I've read that the drinking water on-board is heavily filtered, and as good as bottled water, and that we could keep refilling water bottles on Deck 9.

I saw the following in the LL Bean catalog, and thought it would be nice to get personalized ones for the whole family:

18 oz - http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/61876?from=SR&feat=sr
27 oz - http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/61877?from=SR&feat=sr

Does anyone have any recommendations on good reusable water bottle brands...in terms of size, convenience, and especially keeping beverages cold?

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Actually, you should hope the 2012 dates open while your on the ship. Sorry if you already know this but even if the dates don't open while on the ship you can book a "placeholder" while onboard and then move the reservation to the one you actually want once the cruise opens up. You keep any deals they gave you for booking onboard, like onboard credits and low downpays and % off. Then if the rate drops even more before your final payment, if you (or your TA) call, you can ask them to recalculate at the better rate. We're booked on the transatlantic crossing, Barcelona to Port C, the day before final payment was due the cost dropped 61%. So it is worth it to wait to make final payment to the last minute and to watch the price. Again, sorry if I am telling you something you already know.

val

Ours never changed price, v slightly went up, wish it HAD went down by 60%!!


I just took on a couple f bottled waters and refilled them, water tasted fine to me,but imnot fussy when it comes to water, only wine,lol.

We repriced our cruise when the fuel supplement was no longer being charged, and yes if you had a cabin they would not gty it, but that said disney does change its mind a lot.
we just have a cat 11 though?

 

[JenKatt]

We've never brought bottled water on board. We have bought a bottle or two for some excursions, but rarely. The water on the ship is fine, as is most of what you will get served in Mexico (it's bottled in my experience).
Having said that, DS has a Sigg bottle that we have a neoprene sleeve for that we will bring for him to refill. I have a variety of bottles for the rest of us to have to bring on excursions and what not. But really, I just be drinking whatever the drink of the day is and letting the alcohol do it's job

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't pay for water. Anywhere. I haven't paid for water on any of the cruises, even Mexico and Europe. All the filtered water you could want is available on Deck 9, and they've given out water bottles on a lot of the excursions I've been on. (Aboard ship I'll only pay for booze)

 

[JenKatt]

TDC Nala brings up a good point. The full day excursions almost always have bottle water and drinks on the bus/ boat/ jeep whatever for you. Not sure about half day excursions

 

[poohs4me]

So excited about this cruise. My Dad worked for the Corps of Enginers and traveled to Panama frequently. Told me all sorts of storeis of the Panama Canal. Then the love boat came out and sailed through it. Still one of my favorite shows. Don't laugh.
Lexi

Me too!!! I wish they would come out with more of the seasons on DVD

 

[goofprincess]

Hello everyone. We are booked on this cruise and looking forward to planning with you. I am Valerie and my other half is Bob. We live in San Francisco and are thrilled the Disney is bringing a boat to our side of the country. It looks like you have been very busy for sometime with the planning. Hope you don't mind us joining in at this later date. Is there a thread you suggested we refer to that would bring us up to speed? Val

WELCOME.

We are in California too; down the peninsula near San Jose.

It's going to be a great cruise and yes I too am thrilled the Wonder is here to stay.

 

[goofprincess]

So excited about this cruise. My Dad worked for the Corps of Enginers and traveled to Panama frequently. Told me all sorts of storeis of the Panama Canal. Then the love boat came out and sailed through it. Still one of my favorite shows. Don't laugh. We moved to Seattle when I was 8 and had our own locks in front of the house. I would sit on the hill and watch the boats sail in and out of the locks. I think I was 10 or 11 and told my dad I wnated to see the Big canal. He told me 1 day we would go. Well my dad died almost 22 years ago so I am fullfilling our dream. I am going to be everywhere that day. I want to soak everything in. I don't have a balcony but I do have a large port hole on deck 2.
Lexi

Lexi, great story and wonderful tribute to your dad. My daddy always wanted to go through the canal so I feel like I'm doing it in his honor. My brother lives in Seattle area so I have been to those locks and found them fascinating. I always watched the Love Boat too.

 

[danfromca]

What is everyone doing in terms of drinking water while on-board, and at ports-of-call?

I've read a lot of posts re bringing bottled water on-board, and it seems like a big hassle. Plus, even if we brought a case, no way it would last us for 15-days...so anyway you slice it, we're going to have to get our water on-board at some point.

I've read that the drinking water on-board is heavily filtered, and as good as bottled water, and that we could keep refilling water bottles on Deck 9.

I saw the following in the LL Bean catalog, and thought it would be nice to get personalized ones for the whole family:

18 oz - http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/61876?from=SR&feat=sr
27 oz - http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/61877?from=SR&feat=sr

Does anyone have any recommendations on good reusable water bottle brands...in terms of size, convenience, and especially keeping beverages cold?

The water on the ship is distilled from sea water. As such, it's as good or better than most bottled water you can buy.

As for which reusable water bottle to buy - I have yet to get a straight answer. Some say the plastic bottles leach chemicals. Some say the metal bottles leach metals. My tentative conclusion is that anything you use to carry the water is dangerous, as is the water and anything you might choose to drink instead of water.
The one thing I am certain of is that should anyone come up with the "right" combination of bottle and beverage, it won't be more than 24 hours before a civic minded news network will broadcast a special report on why it is surely even more dangerous than the alternatives.

 

[aan1701]

When it comes to water I just drink the tap water. I have read it is acctuly just as clean as the bottled water they sell. I guess the process they put the salt water through really makes it very clean.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

We've never brought bottled water on board. We have bought a bottle or two for some excursions, but rarely. The water on the ship is fine, as is most of what you will get served in Mexico (it's bottled in my experience).
Having said that, DS has a Sigg bottle that we have a neoprene sleeve for that we will bring for him to refill. I have a variety of bottles for the rest of us to have to bring on excursions and what not. But really, I just be drinking whatever the drink of the day is and letting the alcohol do it's job

sounds like a good plan,

TDC Nala brings up a good point. The full day excursions almost always have bottle water and drinks on the bus/ boat/ jeep whatever for you. Not sure about half day excursions

I have memories of disney handing out water when we were waiting in line to get on and off tender boats?

 

[granmaz]

What is everyone doing in terms of drinking water while on-board, and at ports-of-call?

I've read a lot of posts re bringing bottled water on-board, and it seems like a big hassle. Plus, even if we brought a case, no way it would last us for 15-days...so anyway you slice it, we're going to have to get our water on-board at some point.

We have always used the water from the drinks station and have no problem whatsoever. Tastes just fine. The servers do bug you at lunch on embarkation day though to sell the packs, so you just have to smile sweetly and say no thanks!!!.
We always collect some when up there and put it in the cooler in the stateroom. A tip though, transfer it from the little cardboard cups to something like a plastic 'bottle' or cup for storage as the water can take up the nasty paper cup taste after a while. By morning it is disgusting!
You aren't supposed to use anything but the cups provided to get the drinks from the drinks station because of cross contamination, so always use a new paper cup and transfer.
We have been known to buy a bottle on the way out of the ship going ashore if we have forgotten to fill our water bottles, but it pains John tremendously to do so!!!

 

[LindaBabe]

Does he have a train? Hmmm.. we joke thathe's going to have to register with the federal railroad authority soon since he has more engines than CSX. My dad is a train nut so he's made sure Jack has a bunch of train things. However, he's my Mom's only grandchild and thus is spoiled rotten - we're having a hard time finding Thomas trains he doesn't have!
Lexi, that is an amazing story!

Ok, then! Guess that's not a gift his future fairy grandma Linda should consider. Of course when he's old enough for N-guage, I've got a whole box of them in the cellar from when we lived in Europe.

 

[Bookwood]

We like to have Ice water in the room and it's always been yummy (and convient for taking meds,tylenol, or just having a drink)

 

[glindamood]

I always get a few bottles of water when we make our pop-stop and then refill the bottles with tap water. Works for us.

Have a great day - stay cool and dry.

 

[poohs4me]

We buy water - either before the trip if we have the luggage room and the time for a grocery store stop or on the ship. We like the convenience of the bottled water to take with us on excursions. We are not opposed to the water on the ship either.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

We have always used the water from the drinks station and have no problem whatsoever. Tastes just fine. The servers do bug you at lunch on embarkation day though to sell the packs, so you just have to smile sweetly and say no thanks!!!.
We always collect some when up there and put it in the cooler in the stateroom. A tip though, transfer it from the little cardboard cups to something like a plastic 'bottle' or cup for storage as the water can take up the nasty paper cup taste after a while. By morning it is disgusting!
You aren't supposed to use anything but the cups provided to get the drinks from the drinks station because of cross contamination, so always use a new paper cup and transfer.
We have been known to buy a bottle on the way out of the ship going ashore if we have forgotten to fill our water bottles, but it pains John tremendously to do so!!!

A man after my own heart. It would pain me to do so also.

 

[zakerdog]

I just made my ADR for 'Ohana for Jan 5/11. dinner at 6:30pm

 

[glindamood]

I just made my ADR for 'Ohana for Jan 5/11. dinner at 6:30pm

How cool is that? Just makes it all seem more real and that much closer.

 

[DCLtravler]

When it comes to water I just drink the tap water. I have read it is acctuly just as clean as the bottled water they sell. I guess the process they put the salt water through really makes it very clean.

Yep, I agree...the desalinization process usually takes away everything leaving nothing but pure H2O behind (please read that 2 as a subscript--the chemist in me is crying). In fact, they actually have to add minerals!
A few thoughts on this...1. Don't we get Castaway Club metal water bottles, or are they changing the gift next year? 2. Every DCL sponsored excursion I have been on (long or short) provided water. 3. If you need lots of water, you could always get the camel backpack, it keeps the water cold for a long time and holds TONS--Costco always has them this time of year. 4. The best insulated mug I have ever found was actually a coffee mug from Starbucks. I don't know if they still sell it, but it looks like a regular large travel coffee mug with a handle that has a carabiner type latch so you can hook it to your backpack. It keeps my coffee hot or my ice water cold all day.
I tend to stay away from water bottles, as we have too many in our landfills already, so I plan on bringing travel mugs or making sure we get new ones in our CC gift
Alan, did you hear about George Steinbrenner? I know the Yankees aren't your team, but sad nonetheless.
I hope everyone is having a great day!

~Melissa