Hey! July 30th, 2005 cruise to Mexico DISfriends!

[jfis1020]

The whole family was wiped out with the stomach flu this weekend.

Didn't get a chance to book anything yet. May be to late anyway, but is it true there is an age limit for the Pirate excursion. I think I read somebody said five. That will be terribly disappointing to our five year old since her sister is almost three.

Hope all is well with your family! So sorry to hear about their "flu battle"!

 

[jlawall]

Hey! First of all, WHERE IS ALBIL?? So, we are getting SO CLOSE!!

I will be booking our excursions tomorrow, it is so soon, whooooooooopppppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

 

[gouodux]

First - Dodger Dogs are THE best. Highly recommend one, or two!

When we had season tickets to the then "California" Angels, they had the best nachos and margaritas. We have sampled the baseball parks in Baltimore, Florida, Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Anahiem, San Diego, and of course Arizona.

Thank you for the information regarding the Pirate Sail. Last night we discussed with our children the different places we could visit on our cruise and have decided that we aren't going to do any excursions. Really wanted to do the Dolphin encounter for our five year old but we took her to one in the Keys a few years ago. Our other daughter is just too little. That was the same conclusion with the Pirate sail. Two hours on a boat both directions just seems too long for our soon to be three year old. Nowhere to escape if she decides she has had enough. So, we are going to wait to hear all the other trip reports and see what we can do on our own. We really just want to venture into the different cities and see what they are somewhat about anyway.

From the UCI days (1987-1991). Spent freshmen year in the dorms. One year out on Balboa. One year at Stanford Court, and two years at Park West. Earned BS degrees in Biology and Psychology. Both of which use today. Psychologist by day, biology instructor via internet for local college at night.

On a side note, both of us have been offered jobs back in Orange County. Tough decision, more $$'s, more room for advancement, friends and family closer, beautiful area. Negative points - more traffic, more people, more smog, ridiculous housing costs, quality of life drops a few notches. Tough decision!!

Enjoy your week

 

[macbaby]

Just wanted to let you know that I was at San Pedro Port this morning picking up my mother from her Panama Canal Cruise. I take her back Sunday for a Mexican Rivera cruise (ahhh, the life of retirement). Any way, if you have any questions regarding the port (or the ports we will be visiting) let me know!

 

[LiserAnn]

Actually I do have a question - perhaps you may or may not know the answer. From what I've gathered there are two lines when you disembark, one is for those holding passports, the other is for those with birth certificates. It's my understanding if the adults have the passports the entire family can go in the passport line even if the children have birth certificates. Apparently the passport line moves about 2-3 times faster which is what's prompting my question....

Are you cruising with us in July? If so, please post your info and I'll add it to our list of thread members and repost the list!!!

 

[LiserAnn]

I went over to the May 28th west coast thread and asked since they were in their 30 day window if anyone knew when the theme nights were....so, someone called DCL and got the info. And, here it is:

Saturday - Casual Dress/theme yet undetermined
Sunday - (AT SEA) Formal Night/Golden Mickeys
Monday - (AT SEA) Casual Dress/theme yet undetermined
Tuesday - (Puerto Vallarta) Pirate Night!
Wednesday - (Mazatlan) Casual Dress/theme yet undetermined
Thursday - (Cabo San Lucas) Semi-Formal Night/Captain's Gala (LOBSTER!!!)
Friday - (AT SEA) Casual Dress/theme yet undetermined
Saturday - Disembark

At least now we can prepare to indicate our rotation preference. The last time I called Debbie to book my REAS ressies, she told me to call back one month before....well, that seems a little late to me, so I'm going to call once the repo cruise sets sail and is out of her hair.

 

[lwilliam]

 

[LynnTarrant]

Well done Lisa I had just come across this on the main board and was set to copy and paste, This definitely helps the planning alot!!!
Thanks

 

[littleowensmommy]

I just booked my Palo and Spa reservations online at Disneycruise.com. I also registered the kids for the Oceaneer Club and downloaded all of my cruise documents. I cancelled my REAS Package since I am a Castaway Club member and CC members can book online at 90 days out and we are within that. I booked Palo Brunch for Sunday at 11:30 am and Palo Dinner for Monday at 7:30 pm. I booked an Aroma Stone Therapy for DH on Friday at 9:30 am (it's his birthday) and a Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap with Half Body Massage for me at the same time. We'll also use the Rainforest Room that day. It's so relaxing. On the day of your treatment it is only $8.00.

Kathy

 

[littleowensmommy]

Suite/REAS can book online at 105 days out
Castaway Club Members can book at 90 days
1st time cruiser w/o REAS can book at 75 days out.

Your cruise has be to paid-in-full.

When booking Palo reservations you are offered either a reservation for 1-2 people or a reservation for 3-4 people. Those of you that are traveling with friends should consider booking 3-4 people each so you can go to Palo twice. It's so good! I plan to feed the kids at Topsiders or send them to the Oceaneer Club for dinner and then take them to the early show before we go to Palo.

We are currently 79 days out.

You can also book shores excursions and Flounder's Nursery reservations.

All you need to do is register at Disneycruise.com if you haven't already and have your reservation number available. You can link to these reservations with your ressie # and your birthdate.

Here's a tip for embarkation day...Pack your bathing suits and sunscreen, etc. in a carry-on. Your luggage may not be delivered to your stateroom until late in the day.

Kathy

 

[LiserAnn]

Well, I'm up with an upset tummy so I thought I'd try to book my ressies now and avoid the online rush tomorrow. Since this is our first DCL cruise we're not CC members BUT I was able to get online and print out my docs, register the kids in the clubs, AND make Palo ressies...it would not allow me to do excursions or spa ressies yet. I also noticed that it will let you book at Palos the number of adults that are linked to your DCL reservation and provided they've paid in full. (Liz-we're in for dinner on 8/3 at 7:30pm and brunch on 8/5 at 11am, is this good for you guys? Didn't do tea, undecided on that, I'm not really a tea person.)

The other interesting thing is when I registered the kids for the clubs it also showed the names of the other adults in our group so you could indicate if those people were allowed to pick up your kids from the club (FYI Liz-I put you and JP down).

The only thing it doesn't do is it doesn't allow you to indicate a dining rotation preference. I'll have to call Debbie about that. We do have the REAS package. I guess this online service eliminates the need for the REAS but that would be if the only reason you booked it was to avoid the ressie rush or to get premium times. I'm pretty sure the only way I'll get DH to the spa is with the REAS, so shhhhhhhhh, don't tell him! The only part that still makes the REAS desireable for some would be *maybe* having a full breakfast in the room and being able to indicate the dining rotation preference.

Kathy or anyone who's cruised DCL before-what's your take on the dining rotation. Is it weird being in Parrot Cay in a gown and tux? I'm just trying to figure out how important it is to indicate a dining rotation preference. Maybe it's not worth having the REAS now? Input appreciated........

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[littleowensmommy]

Lisa,

I don't think that being able to select your dining rotation makes REAS worth it and I don't think that they'll guarantee your request. What rotation do you want? It really doesn't matter what restaurant you're in for Pirate night or Formal/Semi Formal nights as the menu, etc. will be the same in each. I can see why you'd prefer Parrot Cay on Pirate Night and Lumines on Formal night. In that rotation your character breakfast would be on Friday morning. If I could pick my rotation and I am going to try even though I no longer have the REAS Package, I originally thought I would want LAP so we would only have to dine in Parrot Cay once and our character breakfast would be on Monday, but following your line of thinking (I am not worthy) I now think PLA will be better so I changed our Palo to Wednesday at 7:30 pm as I think it will be cool to watch us sail out of Mazatlan in Palo. I internally debated changing our Brunch reservation to Friday since it is Ted's birthday but with the character breakfast that morning (assuming I can request and get PLA) and our spa reservations it will be to much to do one day. This will be our 3rd cruise (which probably doesn't matter) and I have a suite (CAT 3) booked for our 24 June 2006 Cruise (our 20th anniversay splurge before the big move back to CA and abject poverty) and we've booked through All Seasons Travel which seems to have some DCL clout so I'll run my request through them and try to get some mileage out of the 2006 suite. I will also request a table for 4 at dinner. We had our own dining table on our first cruise (CAT 4) and we shared a table with another family of 4 on our last cruise (CAT 9). I wonder if your stateroom category has anything to do with that. We enjoyed the company of the other family. We all wondered if DCL...aka Big Brother, had purposely put us together based on our demographics. DH was a neurosurgeon, DW was a stay-at-home mom and they had a DS and DD the same ages as our kids, although much to our chagrin, their kids were much better behaved during dinner. I don't think our service during dinner was as good though. I think we got more personal attention when we dined alone and I think my kids who are normally exceptionally well behaved in restaurants were distracted by the other children at our table. I had originally booked REAS to prebook Palo reservations. The couples massage wasn't our first choice for spa treatments and we intended to use it as an additional treatment. (DH loved the stone massage he had on our cruise last summer and requested it as a birthday treat this year) I also don't care about the gift (we'll get a gift for being Castaway Club members and another from our travel agent) or the romantic turn down service...let's be real, how romantic can it be with your kids 3 feet away...the same goes for the champagne breakfast in bed. And what a mess my kids would make with those rose petals! Do you think I over think all of this just a bit? And I'm over-thinking 5 other trips in que at the moment. All of my friends think I missed my true calling for a career in travel.

Kathy

 

[littleowensmommy]

I just called Debbie at the REAS number. I explained to her that I no longer had the REAS Package booked on my reservation but I'd still like to request a 4 top PLA dining rotation. She took care of it for me! (no guarantees, of course) FYI...she told me that for main seating ALP is at 6:00 pm, PLA is at 6:15 pm and LAP is at 6:30 pm. She didn't offer late seating times since we're confirmed for main dining.

Kathy

 

[lwilliam]

I just booked PALO thru the Castaway Club membership - I love these
boards!

 

[LiserAnn]

Kathy-your post really made me laugh. . Especially the part about 3 kids and romance.....too funny and so true. Well, your discussion was so compelling now I don't know what to do!! $339, which is already paid for, could go towards a FEW nice massages!!! I could cancel the REAS and just book the massages and not say a word to DH. He actually wants a facial, believe it or not (my DH is so not the pampered typed - it kinda took me off guard when he told me that).

The dining rotation that is most "attractive" to me is PLA. Like you said, it would be cool to be in PC on pirate night, Lumieres on formal and AP on semi. It just fits so well and therefore keeps my compulsive planning disorder at bay HA!!! Oh, and yep, I do know they don't guarantee it but it's worth a try. I think I'm going to call DCL today and see if they can put a request in for it for me?!

The table arrangements are already pre-set for us...we're with three other families so we'll be at one table, or so DCL told me.

I wonder why I was able to make Palo ressies last night given I'm not a CC member yet it wouldn't let me do excursions or spa ressies. Might try again today.

By the way Kathy....CAT 3!!!!! Is that the double scoop Castaway Cay trip? Can ya tell I'm jealous???

All kidding aside, thanks for you indepth analysis!

Liz-What are you thinking about the REAS after reading Kathy's post?

 

[LiserAnn]

Good thing I was up at 1am...my upset tummy was there for a reason! I just read on another thread DCL turned off the Palo ressies...it was turned on for everyone by accident........

 

[littleowensmommy]

Lisa,

I bet you were able to book your Palo reservations because you have the REAS package on your reservation. The REAS package doesn't allow you to make additional spa reservations although I don't see why you couldn't have reserved a time for the included couple's massage.

I feel done with the planning for this trip!!! I've got all the details set for Coronado. I do need to to a little work on the Disneyland portion of the vacation. (PS reservations, etc.)

We are really excited about the 2006 cruise. Our plan is to be closed on the sale of our Virginia house with our household goods moved by 16 June. We're having both of our vehicles shipped to San Diego at that time also. We're going to fly to WDW on 17 June for a one-week stay in a 2-bdr villa at SSR. We'll then cruise 24 June-1 July. On 1 July we'll fly to San Diego and hopefully our household goods and vehicles will be waiting for us. Now if we can just find a house in Coronado...Here is my VA/CA house formula: VA house sq ft/2 + VA$ x 2=CA house. Two other families are joining us next year including the family who had to cancel this summer due to military deployment. They are going to reap the benefits of being linked to our suite reservation.


Kathy

 

[LiserAnn]

Well, I called DCL and they did tell me I could request a dining rotation but needed to do it through our TA. So, I decided to cancel our REAS. There's no real benefit as I see it. I'll just book the spa treatments as soon as it shows up on the website. I requested PLA for our group.

Kathy-I think you're right...I was able to book Palos because I have the REAS. Hopefully it won't go away once I cancel the REAS. Great formula for buying a CA house! My friend just sold their house here and bought a gorgeous custom built 4200 sq foot house in South Carolina (her DH was transferred). By the way, your DH's bday is 8/5? Mine is 8/6!!!

By the way, if anyone needs pirate stuff for pirate night, here are two website that have good stuff:

dead men tell no tales . com (but put it all together when you type it)
us toy . com

Saw the info on other threads

 

[kndyglr]

Hey Lisa,

I am still debating on the REAS--but I am able to book Spa treaments on the DCL website now--are you not able to??

 

[LiserAnn]

I am still debating on the REAS--but I am able to book Spa treaments on the DCL website now--are you not able to??

Nope, I can't book spa treatments, not sure why I can't and you can!

Caryn put in a request for PLA rotation for our group.

Did you check your cabin # online...just to make sure it's right?