Jan. 22- 29 , 2011 Western Caribean Cruise on the Disney Magic!!!

[SSR Lover]

I was so excited to see the Kids Sail Free offer, but since we booked with half DVC points and half cash it would be more than double what we've already paid, so my husband doesn't want to switch to the veranda room. But the good news is my friend's husband just booked this cruise!! I'm not sure if she knows about it or not, as I suspect she would have called me this morning to tell me because she has been dying to do a Disney cruise. So not only do I have to keep a secret from the kids, I may have to keep a secret from her! I may be looking like this by the time our cruise rolls around, LOL.

 

[clawmachine]

Welcome FabFivePA!!! Some girls finally - yay!

 

[canadakath]

Well with this ksf discount, the boat should be a little more rounded - not just all us boring Canucks, but lots of wild wee ones!!!

The ksf discount would cost us an extra $1000 for our travel party (two 9B to 5B) but would have saved us a $1000 had we booked the verandah originally. We aren't willing to give up our connecting 9B rooms so that sealed the decision. I am just SO looking forward to sticking all the kids in one room and having some adult hang-out time with our friends (OK, we are boring and will be in bed by 10 too, but one can dream...)

Does anyone have experience with a KSF discount in January - do the kids clubs get crazy busy? My 4 year old can get a bit overwhelmed if it's too busy, but with his borther and best friend there I'm not too worried. I'm asking more for my friend who was hoping to use Flounder's Reef for her 1 year old a few times, including one of the shore days.

As for excursion plans, I am thinking of going with Cap'n marvin's on Grand Cayman - we want to be able to do both the Stingray City (and since we have < 5 year olds, we can't book through DCL), and the Turtle Farm (DS 4 loves turtles). What are others planning for GC?

 

[FabFivePA]

Thanks for the welcome!! Glad we could help the girl population. LOL
I enjoyed reading through everyone's posts!

I have NO experience, so just thinking out loud. I wouldn't think it would be too bad, even though we're one of the KSF people. LOL
The kids would have just had long breaks for thanksgiving, Christmas, new years, so hesitant to take school-aged kids out then ... a lot of places have February, March and/or April break.. (notice no promo Feb 19) ... so they take vaca then. That and you had to book a verandah room, and with 2 adults in the room... so no connecting rooms would work for one family with the promo.. which means it costs quite a bit even with the promo, unless you were already booked on the ship previously.
Anyway, as I said, I am clueless as far as experience.. but these are the points I am trying to tell myself.
For us, I am more worried about a storm keeping us from making the 16-hour drive down! We're used to driving, but a blizzard would not be a good thing. AH!

We are going to take it easy on excursions, one, due to budget, two, we still have a 4 yr old, and three, my 8 yr old is a worry wort and if we spent money for an all day thing she would be freaking out all day that the ship was going to leave without us, especially being our first cruise... so it just would be stressful for her ... also would love to have some time to enjoy the ship/pools a bit while people are in port.

I glanced at them. And so far I am thinking the Butterflies and Aquarium in Key West, the Nautilus and maybe just the turtle farm on our own at Grand Cayman, and Dolphin kids at Dolphinaris in Cozumel would be our little splurge.. need to compare the 2 different dolphin places though... gotta hunt down reviews on all these too if I can.

What is everyone else planning? There looks like a lot of great excursions for adults or with older kids... so I look forward to tackling those down the road!!

We're going to tell the girls about the cruise on Christmas morning... so looking forward to their reaction!!! Have to think about how I'm going to do it. We got them good last time when we told them 10 days before our WDW trip.

 

[Tinkerkell123]

Hi FabFivePA! Glad to have you with us! This is our 2nd cruise and we were in cat 10 inside cabin on deck 2 last time. We rebooked onboard and got the same cabin. I would really have loved a verandah but didn't want to spend all that extra money since we aren't in there that much...

HOWEVER, that may change thanks to KSF!! I changed to at cat 5verandah but am not going to tell the family until we are on the ship and it's time to go to our cabin. Got to figure our a REALLY good reason why we have to go on deck 7 in order to make our way to our deck 2 cabin. If anyone has any good ideas, just let me know. Right now, I guess I will tell them there is something I really have to see before we go to our (former) cabin. It is going to kill me to wait!!!!!

We are going to do the trolley tour (getting tix online) in Key West. We walked last time and the whining that ensued was unbelieveable! And that was just the DH! So we are getting the online tix for that so we can get off and on when we want to. In Cozumel I think we are going to do Chankanaab, possibly with manatee encounter. Thanks clawmachine for the info and new link to check out! In GC we are probably going to stay onboard and enjoy the pools with less people there.

Regarding the kids clubs being busy on a full ship. Our ship was full last time and when our kids went to the clubs they did not seem overly crowded at all. Don't know about Flounders as ours are not babies...

Under 5 months to go!!! (me dancing with GiddyRhino & Lokkabear!)

Kelli

 

[Lokkabear]

Ok, is it just me or is there WAY too much complaining about the Kids Sail Free Promo? I mean, this IS a DISNEY CRUISE right? Shouldn't there be alot of kids? I mean seriously, going on a FAMILY cruise line with kids! What were they thinking!
Everyone is complaining that there will be SO Many kids but the promo is for veranda suites only so it isn't like every cabin will be filled with 1 adult and 3 kids! I think more kids gives the kids more new friends to interact with. RAWR! Some people!

Ok, on to a lighter subject, thanks for letting me vent!

How excited is everyone?!?!?!?!?

I hope we get MORE in our FE and Meet! I have been shopping for stuff already! Oh, btw, Kelli, I need an updated list one you get it done. I am sure I am going to have an unproductive day since there is NOTHING ON MY DESK!!! I am going to work on my FE plans...lol how sad am I!? It seems we may be overrun with girls from what I have read, of course I was reading at 11pm after shopping all night with the kids so who knows what I read. Maybe it wasn't even out thread...lol.

Ok, Excursions! We have decided t take the trolley tour that is NOT through DCL but everything else I am booking through DCL so I dont screw anything up on our first crusie. I know, I am paranoid but this will give me a feel for everything since I never travel. We are doing the TULUM Ruins in Cozumel becaue I NEED to see the ruins! It was the whole reason we went Western Caribbean rather than anywhere else. When I saw we were going to Cozumel, that pretty much killed even checking out any other routes. I hope this is a good one and if anyone has a better one, feel free to let me know. Grand Cayman we are donig the dolphin and turtle farm. My family LOVES animals so it will be an extra fun treat! That leaves Castaway Cay! We want to feed the stingrays for the same reason I mentioned before. I think we will probably do a bike ride of some sort too. The kids are really looking forward to Pelican Plunge and Spring a Leak at CC.

Ok, again I have rambled forever. Releasing you from my boring chatter! Have a spectacular day!

 

[Tinkerkell123]

PS... See post #37 if you are interested in doing a meet, Fish Extender, magnet exchange or scavenger hunt!

If you have already signed up, please PM me with your e-mail address if you haven't already. I think it will be easier to be able to e-mail the list to everyone who is participating as time gets closer...

I am also on the lookout for anyone who likes to play spades...

 

[Lokkabear]

Hi FabFivePA! Glad to have you with us! This is our 2nd cruise and we were in cat 10 inside cabin on deck 2 last time. We rebooked onboard and got the same cabin. I would really have loved a verandah but didn't want to spend all that extra money since we aren't in there that much...

HOWEVER, that may change thanks to KSF!! I changed to at cat 5verandah but am not going to tell the family until we are on the ship and it's time to go to our cabin. Got to figure our a REALLY good reason why we have to go on deck 7 in order to make our way to our deck 2 cabin. If anyone has any good ideas, just let me know. Right now, I guess I will tell them there is something I really have to see before we go to our (former) cabin. It is going to kill me to wait!!!!!

We are going to do the trolley tour (getting tix online) in Key West. We walked last time and the whining that ensued was unbelieveable! And that was just the DH! So we are getting the online tix for that so we can get off and on when we want to. In Cozumel I think we are going to do Chankanaab, possibly with manatee encounter. Thanks clawmachine for the info and new link to check out! In GC we are probably going to stay onboard and enjoy the pools with less people there.

Regarding the kids clubs being busy on a full ship. Our ship was full last time and when our kids went to the clubs they did not seem overly crowded at all. Don't know about Flounders as ours are not babies...

Under 5 months to go!!! (me dancing with GiddyRhino & Lokkabear!)

Kelli

You could tell them you need to see me! I am on level 6 but THEY DON"T KNOW THAT!!!

About Spades... I have played a few times before but I probably suck at it! My mom sugested I teach you farmers rummy. She said it is the perfect way to make a lady not so lady like...lol. It is fun and can be very frustrating but I have never seen anyone swear at it as much as my mom....lol.

 

[Tinkerkell123]

Ok, is it just me or is there WAY too much complaining about the Kids Sail Free Promo? I mean, this IS a DISNEY CRUISE right? Shouldn't there be alot of kids? I mean seriously, going on a FAMILY cruise line with kids! What were they thinking!

Ummm, yeah!


Everyone is complaining that there will be SO Many kids but the promo is for veranda suites only so it isn't like every cabin will be filled with 1 adult and 3 kids! I think more kids gives the kids more new friends to interact with. RAWR! Some people!

Totally agree!

Ok, on to a lighter subject, thanks for letting me vent!

The kids are really looking forward to Pelican Plunge and Spring a Leak at CC.

Ours are too. Well, and I am too!

Ok, again I have rambled forever. Releasing you from my boring chatter! Have a spectacular day!

You, boring? Never!

You could tell them you need to see me! I am on level 6 but THEY DON"T KNOW THAT!!!

That is an awesome idea!!! They know we "talk" a lot so it wouldn't be unbelievable...

About Spades... I have played a few times before but I probably suck at it! My mom sugested I teach you farmers rummy. She said it is the perfect way to make a lady not so lady like...lol. It is fun and can be very frustrating but I have never seen anyone swear at it as much as my mom....lol.

We would definitely want to learn that game! Sounds fun!

 

[FabFivePA]

I saw that Manatee excurstion.. my 6 yr old would FLIP!! She is manatee crazy.. it's all she wanted to see at Sea World when we were there last month. But I didn't see it on the DCL list.. and like Lokkabear said, I am afraid of screwing things up on our first cruise!!

That's awesome on the cat 5, Kelli!! I would definitely use some.. have to see something someone posted on the boards type of excuse if you needed to.. what a great surprise!! We had to take a cat 4 since there's 5 of us.. wish we could do a 5 and save a bundle of $$... but getting this 7 day compared to what we were paying on a 4-day dream is fantastic... the per night breakdown was a nice difference and we get a longer cruise out of it!! And speaking of crowded, I was nervous about the Dream the way everyone is talking about the areas being the same size with double people... so we'll see how that goes when people start cruising!

we'll be on deck 8.. I am excited that our cabin has really good reviews online from what i've come across.

I am going to go back and read the "fun" thread and will let you know. Just remember total newbie at any of this. LOL

Tammy

 

[Lokkabear]

I saw that Manatee excurstion.. my 6 yr old would FLIP!! She is manatee crazy.. it's all she wanted to see at Sea World when we were there last month. But I didn't see it on the DCL list.. and like Lokkabear said, I am afraid of screwing things up on our first cruise!!

The Manatee would be fun but do I really save money by boking elsewhere? I would have to cover transportation etc, and worry about being late....

That's awesome on the cat 5, Kelli!! I would definitely use some.. have to see something someone posted on the boards type of excuse if you needed to.. what a great surprise!! We had to take a cat 4 since there's 5 of us.. wish we could do a 5 and save a bundle of $$... but getting this 7 day compared to what we were paying on a 4-day dream is fantastic... the per night breakdown was a nice difference and we get a longer cruise out of it!! And speaking of crowded, I was nervous about the Dream the way everyone is talking about the areas being the same size with double people... so we'll see how that goes when people start cruising!

Isnt 5A veranda rooms for 5 people?

we'll be on deck 8.. I am excited that our cabin has really good reviews online from what i've come across.

I am going to go back and read the "fun" thread and will let you know. Just remember total newbie at any of this. LOL

Tammy

SEE! Told you I was goign to be nonproductive at work! So far today I have, reset some passwords, gone through the mail, deleted some old junk in my email and ate caramel corn...lol

 

[FabFivePA]

You know, I'm not category savvy enough to know. LOL But i've searched it as a family of 4 (just curiousity) and 5 and 5A wasn't a category that popped up, so guessing there aren't any... I am checking daily though to see if a cheaper rate comes up!

LOL I work at home, so very easy to be distracted and be unproductive.. as I have been since we booked this cruise!!

 

[clawmachine]

Just saying hi! Yes, I agree with whover said there is way too much worrying going on on the main board regarding KSF. I believe some people will only be happy if they fly to their own private island for a week! Then again, the only people who can do that are usually Hollywood types and they never get left alone either, lol! My children will absolutely think the more kids the better!!

Kelli - since your kids will know you are coordinating the FEs, it should be pretty easy to tell them you need to go to one of the families' rooms to check on a last minute bit of info (someone's name, age, etc). Hope that works! I was getting so overwhelmed lately by just how much this trip was going to cost us (we already ahd the cat 4 with 3 kids in it) and now this surprise discount has just made the whole thing so much more enjoyable for me!!

Whoever asked: no, the manatee and sea lion encounters at Chankanaab are not offered through Disney (yet) BUT that is a good thing, because if they were, then Chankanaab would most likely not allow you to book directly with them (at a cheaper price!) due to exclusivity arrangements they make with the ship. This is already true for the dolphin encounters or so I've been told. I was able to book the manatee one online directly with them and state that I was on DCL and it went through just fine. When considering to go on a DCL tour or your own, do consider this: it is basically the same folks or type of folks who drive you to your destination either way. You may get a few extra protections going with Disney, but in general, all of the island transportation throughout the Caribbean can be a little harrowing if you are not used to it. Our Royal Caribbean tour bus slammed right into a parked car when we were returning to port. No one was injured but the driver's "Hakuna Matata" attitude about it was kind of enlightening!

 

[Lokkabear]

You know, I'm not category savvy enough to know. LOL But i've searched it as a family of 4 (just curiousity) and 5 and 5A wasn't a category that popped up, so guessing there aren't any... I am checking daily though to see if a cheaper rate comes up!

LOL I work at home, so very easy to be distracted and be unproductive.. as I have been since we booked this cruise!!

Oh, I have no idea really, I just remember playing on the site and seeing if there were still alot of veranda rooms left and thought I saw it. I think it was $100. more per person for our group but we dont need to sleep 5. Check it out! You may get lucky!

Ok, Lunch time! Time to go home and relax with my book till I decide to come back to the office and read more forums...lol

 

[dizzi]

HI

I am hear chekin out this meet thread, as we may be joining you......

I know it seems odd but we have a few choices and to narrow down i am checking out the meet threads.........

Gotta have a good meet thread going its one of the GREAT THINGs about Disney Cruises..


BUT I GOTTA KNOW WHAT IS FARMERS RUMMY?????

 

[Lokkabear]

HI

I am hear chekin out this meet thread, as we may be joining you......

I know it seems odd but we have a few choices and to narrow down i am checking out the meet threads.........

Gotta have a good meet thread going its one of the GREAT THINGs about Disney Cruises..


BUT I GOTTA KNOW WHAT IS FARMERS RUMMY?????

LOL! Farmers Rummy is a game played with 3 decks of cards where the 2's are removed. The dealer deals cards according to the first card you get which is dealt face up. So an example would be... if I flipped up your first card and it was a 7, you would get 6 more cards dealt to you face down for a total of 7 cards. If I dealt the next player an Ace, they would get 12 more cards dealt face down. Then whatever card I deal face up for myself(the dealer) is wild along with jokers. Say I dealt myself a 3(Which is the worst card because then you only have 3 cards to work with), then 3's and jokers are wild.
So to play, it goes around the table like any other game but you can only lay down cards in sets and you must have 3 naturals(7,7,7 or any 3 of the same card) to start off. After that you can use jokers for ANYTHING! Once you have cards on the table, you can lay cards down that match what other players have down.
Aces and wild cards are worth 100 pts good on the table or BAD in your hand. My mom and I have played games where we were so far in the negative that my mom taught me words I didn't know SHE EVEN KNEW!!!!
Ok, so back to our mock hand... since I have a wild card and only 3 cards, I have to either throw away the wild and work on 3 cards that are easier to get or lay down 3 wild cards.
Picking up form the discard pile is tricky to explain in text but easy to show in person so I guess you are goign to have to come on our cruise so I can show you! lol

Well I hope you find the cruise that will suit you best! Do you have kids and if so what ages? Boys/girls?

 

[dizzi]

Yes 2 kidds 17 and 14 which is why we are looking right now.....
we started looking becasue my DS wants one more Disney Cruise befoe he cant go in the teen room

And of course the dreaded kids sail free.

My only draw back is the weather i do love it being REALLY HOT on a cruise...and i think Jan will be the coldest we have ever attemted but i think it may be the one we go with.

My Dh has to leave the day we get back for 2 weeks for work andif we chose the one for when he gets back, i would have solid worry for months that he wouldnt make it back with his flight in time for the cruise...

I like to be there at least a day ahead of time.

And that game sounds really fun........would love to play

I learned another game from a friend of mine recently it is somekind of rummy, but each hand is differnt....like one hand is a straight and a run the next hand is 2 straight the next hand 2 runs etc pretty fun too.

I will let you guys know tonight what we deicde to do.

Thanks for letting me interupt your regularly scheduled chat!!!!

 

[dizzi]

we are booked..........

verandah room 7586

I just did the going on a DISNEY CRUISE dance in my living room!!!

YIPEE!!!!!

It will be
ME......Lynn........age 42 4th dis cruise
DH......Mike.........age 40 3rd dis cruise
DS......Joe..........age 17 3rd dis cruise celebrating his BDAY
DD......Allie.........age 14 4th dis cruise

CANT WAIT!!!!!

 

[Lokkabear]

we are booked..........

Verandah room 7586

i just did the going on a disney cruise dance in my living room!!!

Yipee!!!!!

It will be
me......lynn........age 42 4th dis cruise
dh......mike.........age 40 3rd dis cruise
ds......joe..........age 17 3rd dis cruise celebrating his bday
dd......allie.........age 14 4th dis cruise

cant wait!!!!!

welcome welcome welcome!!!!!

 

[dizzi]

Thankyou..

We just did an all girls cruise on the wonder in July and i still cant wait to get back.

CLAWMACHINE.....My soon to be DIL lives in Baltimore, and i grew up just outside of HAGERSTOWN........

I know your pain of the Hot weather....It is way worse than the HOT we get here in Florida now.

Okay i have to clean my bedroom and go to wrok and clean the bathrooms there and then i will be back on to try and catch up some more.

TTFN!!!