Jan 9, 2010 Western Magic

[actuarian]

Taswira, SOG was built as a Disney resort. It was "Disney's Golf Resort" before Disney sold it to the Department of Defense. Nevertheless, it is not "themy" and probably never was. My 2003 cruises were in winter, just like this one will be. For those of us who are not lucky enough to live in Florida, winter is the best time to get away!

 

[taswira]

Dave - Yes, I know that SOG was originally built as Disney's Golf Resort. That was part of my College of Disney Knowledge training, way back when - lol. But it is supposed to be the least "Disney themed," and that idea appeals to my DH, as he somehow thinks the characters are just for kids. Unfortunately for him, I am a serious character fan. To see how much, try clicking on the graphic for my Dec. 2010 cruise in my sig.

 

[actuarian]

Taswira, you are right that SOG is less themed than the other resorts. DW and I love the characters too. However, the Polynesian is right across the street from SOG and the money we save by staying at SOG will pay for quite a few breakfasts at 'Ohana with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto!

 

[taswira]

I am SO thrilled! DCL officially announced their NEW Castaway Club benefits today. Since I am Platinum level, today was the day I could start making reservations for Palo dining and such. My mother and I have 10 a.m. Palo Brunch on Sunday, Key West day, and 7 p.m. Palo dinner on Wednesday, Grand Cayman day. Since she is elderly and we won't be doing excursions, those are ideal days and times for her. Anyway, we are happy.

 

[Tatiana]

Hey!
Did anyone else get their flight information today?! I just got an e-mail with all my flight times and transfer points! I didn't think we would get that info till December! Works out perfect for me since I'm a compulsive planner

 

[tow-mater-1]

I am SO thrilled! DCL officially announced their NEW Castaway Club benefits today. Since I am Platinum level, today was the day I could start making reservations for Palo dining and such. My mother and I have 10 a.m. Palo Brunch on Sunday, Key West day, and 7 p.m. Palo dinner on Wednesday, Grand Cayman day. Since she is elderly and we won't be doing excursions, those are ideal days and times for her. Anyway, we are happy.

Congratulations. I can't believe that we are getting that close to be making resies already! Although I will have to wait another 7 weeks, hopefully there will be spots left for palo for newbies like Tatiana and myself. We were going to do the REAS but we decided against it when we had to do some unexpected house renos, although I heard that they weren't offering it anymore anyways.

 

[tow-mater-1]

Hey!
Did anyone else get their flight information today?! I just got an e-mail with all my flight times and transfer points! I didn't think we would get that info till December! Works out perfect for me since I'm a compulsive planner

So did you book your flights though Disney? We booked our flights ourselves just last week. It's a beautiful thing to have everything in order, I hear ya about being a compulsive planner. My family always teases, So are ya going to schedule a pee break in there for us. I just sigh and say I try and work it in if I must but I'm not makin any promises.

 

[taswira]

Congratulations. I can't believe that we are getting that close to be making resies already! Although I will have to wait another 7 weeks, hopefully there will be spots left for palo for newbies like Tatiana and myself. We were going to do the REAS but we decided against it when we had to do some unexpected house renos, although I heard that they weren't offering it anymore anyways.

Thanks! I'm sure there will be spots left, especially if you are willing to stay up late for the moment you are able to start making the ressies online. Even if not, on the 7-night sailings there is of course more availability. When I've done the shorter cruises, getting ressies was sometimes a nightmare! Yet another reason I prefer the 7-night.

 

[Tatiana]

So did you book your flights though Disney? We booked our flights ourselves just last week. It's a beautiful thing to have everything in order, I hear ya about being a compulsive planner. My family always teases, So are ya going to schedule a pee break in there for us. I just sigh and say I try and work it in if I must but I'm not makin any promises.

Yep, I booked my flight and ground transportation through Disney! I'll also be staying at the Hyatt Orlando hotel the night before the cruise

 

[actuarian]

When I've done the shorter cruises, getting ressies was sometimes a nightmare! Yet another reason I prefer the 7-night.

I assume that everyone on this cruise prefers the 7-night; that is why we booked the Magic. However, those of us like me who are only gold or those of us like Tatiana who are newbies could get to be platinum in half the time by taking the shorter cruises. If you spend the same 7 days and approximately the same expense on back-to-back cruises on the Wonder, you get credited for 2 cruises instead of 1 (and you get 2 days at Castaway Cay instead of 1)! --Dave

 

[tow-mater-1]

I assume that everyone on this cruise prefers the 7-night; that is why we booked the Magic. However, those of us like me who are only gold or those of us like Tatiana who are newbies could get to be platinum in half the time by taking the shorter cruises. If you spend the same 7 days and approximately the same expense on back-to-back cruises on the Wonder, you get credited for 2 cruises instead of 1 (and you get 2 days at Castaway Cay instead of 1)! --Dave

I have to admit that I didn't pay too much attention to the new tier system since this is our first cruise and figured it will be a looong while if ever before we get to gold. However I was reading a thread and someone implied that since they have to get two cabins it counts as two sailings. Do you know if this is the case? If it is, all I would have to do is book a back to back with my huge family which would equal 4 cruises plus this one which is 2 and I would be gold right? We had discussed booking while on board but didn't know which itinerary we would choose but since we are coming from Canada it would definitely have to be at least 7 days. We never considered a back to back. Thanks for giving us another option to think about!

 

[mancub]

Cannot believe that we have waited so long to look up this site - just finished ready all of the previous posts, catching up on everyone. This will be our second disney cruise - the first being a 4 nite (sept.28-Oct.2, 2009), but our first 7-nite. SO excited!! DH, DS, age 13 and DD, age 11 will be joining me - more kids! We also have two other families(with similar aged children) cruising with us, but they are not the disney "freaks" that we seem to be. Read earlier talk about the fish extenders and DD is excited to do this again on this cruise, if anyone else is interested. Emails or facebooks for the kids would really excite them so they know even more people when they get to the cruise.

Happy cruising!
amy

 

[tow-mater-1]

Welcome mancub! My DS13 is very happy more kids are coming

 

[Jusacuz]

Hi everyone. My daughter and I will be joining you all! This is the second time I've changed our cruise date, but I'm done changing it. lol. We were going on the 4 night on the 10th because I was going to do the marathon, but I've decided that I'm not ready to commit to a full marathon yet. I did the half last year and don't really want to that again either.

My daughter will be celebrating her 17th birthday on the 12th. This is her 3rd cruise, my 4th. Our first on the Magic. We can't wait to see some different ports.

Is there a fish exchange going on because we'd love to sign up? I saw it mentioned earlier in the thread, but didn't see any final word on it.

 

[lulu1996]

Our family will also be taking our first cruise with Disney and our "kids" are also on college winter breaks (daughter is in graduate school and will be 23 in Nov, son is 20). We are wondering if we should book shore excursions that include snorkling or if should wait until when on ship and have a better idea what the weather and water temperatures will be like---do many of the excursions "fill up" before we would "set sail"?

"lulu1996"

 

[taswira]

Our family will also be taking our first cruise with Disney and our "kids" are also on college winter breaks (daughter is in graduate school and will be 23 in Nov, son is 20). We are wondering if we should book shore excursions that include snorkling or if should wait until when on ship and have a better idea what the weather and water temperatures will be like---do many of the excursions "fill up" before we would "set sail"?

"lulu1996"

Hi, Lulu! I'm the one who replied to you on that "other board," but you'll probably get more variety of answers here.

Good to see you on the DIS!

Shari

 

[lulu1996]

Shari--thank you for telling me about this discussion board, I wasn't aware of it but a quick search got me here! I'll hope for some additional replies

 

[Tatiana]

to all of you new to this board! Looks like we have a good size group coming together!

 

[newbydisney]

Welcome to the new folks!

We have snorkeled at St Johns before in January. Water was fine. But St. Johns I believe is further South than anywhere this cruise goes. Feel free to correct me...I haven't studied the that map carefully..
The first year we went it was warm enough to swim and snorkel at castaway Cay..the second year it was not. The air was warm but the water was quite cold.
We have had excursions that we wanted to go on sell out...but I think usually there are non Disney excursions available.
I think you should be able to get the information you need for a specific location from a website ..as they say try googling it!

 

[cmclaura]

Hi everyone. My daughter and I will be joining you all!

My daughter will be celebrating her 17th birthday on the 12th. This is her 3rd cruise, my 4th. Our first on the Magic. We can't wait to see some different ports.

I am delighted to see that there's going to be at least one other teen close to my daughter's age (she turns 16 in December). Will your daughter be going to the Teen Club? Keighley loves it!

Please contact me if you're interested in having the girls email before the cruise. CMCLaura@aol.com

This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise.