January 13, 2007 - 7 Night Magic Western

[woody64]

Just checking in prior to last payment.

We've been busy with football and now swimming also has started. Can't wait for the cruise.

 

[sopandbass]

WELCOME ~ Vulcandream, Crickee and familycruiser!!!!

Someone asked about cruising in January. I think it's probably just luck of the draw but when we cruised in January a couple of years ago, it was just beautiful. We were on the Eastern Itinerary and had lovely days at sea and in port. CC was great - I guess the water was a little chilly for some but we're from Michigan so it was fine and many people were swimming. We had a little wave action on the way out the first night but not much to speak of other than that.

I do remember reading a trip report from the week after we sailed and they had rougher weather and didn't make it to CC. So, as I said, it could go either way but we're hoping for the best!!!

We're getting excited about the cruise and planning our excursions, Palo and all the other things we're all thinking about!!! We are going to fly in on Wednesday, stay at All-Star Music and go to the parks at least a couple of days. On our last cruise, we took a towncar to the port on Saturday morning and that worked well for us so we're planning on doing that again - we used Happy Limo and we were happy. We'll take the towncar back to the airport for the trip home. Our flight is late, as it has been on our other cruises, so we'll get a day room at the Hyatt and relax and enjoy the pool and room service - it makes our vacation seem longer that way.

I think having a breakfast meet as well as a Sail Away meet would be great! If there are enough of us that want T-shirts or hats or other items, I am willing to work on that. We are looking forward to the trip and meeting all of you!!!

 

[cutie pie]

Hi Everyone!!!

We will be there with you!!

We are: me, the mom, my husband and my daughter, 12. The last time I posted her age on a cruise board (not this one) I got blasted, so don't yell at me! Thanks in advance!

We are Disney Cruise Returnees. This will be our 5th, but it's been 5 years. We were talking about our last Disney cruise 2 weeks ago at the dinner table and ny daughter didn't remember! It nearly broke my heart. So, we cancelled our Carnival Cruise for booked this one.

I am so excitied I can't stand it and so is my family. Are there any other 12 year old girls out there? My daughter would love to hear from you!

Take care!!

 

[pdarrah]

Hi Cutie Pie!

Welcome!

You won't get blasted here - I think most of us have posted our kid's ages. I just avoid using my son's last name (not the same as mine) since I think it would be very hard for anyone to find/contact him without it (even knowing his town & age!) Actually, it is pretty common on the cruise board here to post kids as "DS7" or "DD12".

I don't know if there are any other 12 year old girls. We have a cruise website with a "Who's Going" page, but only some of those here have asked to be included in the list. (I only include those who ask - not just take info posted here...) That list shows a 11 yo and a 12 yo boy, but no girls. If you would like to be included in the list, let me know.

Welcome back to DCL!

Pdarrah

 

[pdarrah]

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah! Paid in full!!


I just paid it off with DreamsUnlimited - does anyone know if there is any way to see at Disneycruise.com that it is paid in full? The status just says "Booked" - I was hoping it might say something like "Paid".

Did everyone have a good weekend? We had fun, although it was a little chilly. On Saturday, we went to a pumpkin farm - in addition to tons of pumpkins, gourds and squash, they also had a cornfield maze (12 acres!) and they shot pumpkins from catapults and canons. We had a blast! The trees have lost a lot of their leaves up there, but there was still enough color to be beautiful.

We are actually going to STAY HOME this weekend - what a concept! I only have about 3 weeks of housework to catch up with. I think the dust bunnies are winning the war About the only thing we have managed to keep up with the last few weeks is the laundry - everything else is a mess!

pdarrah

 

[thomprod]

Greetings fellow cruisers!

By my calculation, Castaway Club members (returning cruisers booked in categories 4-12) should be able to reserve Palo times, Spa treatments and excursions this Sunday morning, October 15th, at 3am Eastern Time (2am CT, 1am MT, 12 Midnight PT). That's late Saturday night for most of us. Set your alarm clock/PDA alarms/kitchen timers/roosters, etc.

 

[familycruiser]

We will be joining you on 1/13, never cruised dcl before....we are very excited! My dd8 and ds5 have never cruised before. Are there any other kids their ages going?

We have booked 2 cat 6 rooms for the 4 of us and second room will be for my in-laws. They say that this is under a "guarantee", if we pay a few hundred dollars more we can have adjoining cat. 5 rooms. Is this worth it?
I'm also considering weather I should get 2 cat. 9 rooms instead of 1 cat 6 room....would have to give up the balcony but would get double the room and an a extra bathroom ( for less $$ than 1 cat. 6!). My dh really wants a verandah though.

Since we are newbies, we can only book reservations for Palo, excursions, etc 75 days out. Is there usually still plenty available then? Any suggestions for which night to do Palo and which excursions to do?

 

[pdarrah]

Hi Thomprod - I had just worked out the same thing! At least it falls on a weekend so I can catch up a little sleep Sunday morning.

pdarrah

 

[pdarrah]

Hi Everyone!

Being the insane planning type that I am ... I just went through this whole thread and made a list of all the DISers who are cruising with us (so far!) I have put a next to each that is on the Who's Going list on our website (http://www.bwdarrah.com/dcl/whosgoing.htm). If you are not on the list, please consider joining. I can think of 2 reasons: (1) It really helps when reading this thread - when you can't remember who is who its is nice to look them up on the list. (2) When we get to our DISmeet on the cruise, it is nice to print and bring it with to help match up who is who in real life!

Anyway, if you would like to be added to the list, just let me know (email, PM, post here). You can include as much or as little info as you are comfortable having online. As you can see, some give only their group members (i.e. DW, DH, DD & DS) and others post everything and a photo!

If you asked to be included on the list and you're not there, PLEASE let me know. I think I have everyone listed, so I may have missed your email or just goofed it up...

DISers going on the January 13, 2007 Magic Western Cruise (as of 10/11/06)
pdarrah
Lisa
cepmom
CBJHockeyNut
Ginny
Woody64
CTPinkPrincess
antkim
Skylynx & Impala
mtt-swd
oiler
sopandbass & thomprod
ColoradoMom
Eeeyore3838
Bytor01
Trixiezzz
JLDSMD
Ideninge
The Dis Family
blacksmithcrm
VulcanDream
crickee
familycruiser
cutie pie

There is also 1 family who asked to be added to the Who's Going who I can't match up to any DIS name....

Even crazier than this ... I also worked out the ages of all the kids going (that have been posted - there are a couple generic DD's and DS's without ages.)

Age = 2, 1 boy
Age = 3, 1 boy
Age = 5, 3 girls, 3 boys
Age = 6, 2 girls
Age = 7, 2 girls, 2 boys
Age = 8, 2 girls, 2 boys
Age = 9, 2 girls, 1 boy
Age = 11, 1 girl, 3 boys
Age = 12, 2 girls
Age = 13, 1 girl
Age = 15, 1 girl
Age = 17, 1 girl, 1 boy

pdarrah

 

[cepmom]

hey everyone!!

Looks like we're all gearing up for our 3:00 am reservation dash this weekend!! (well, mine's at 3:00 am anyway )

pdarrah ~
it will not show as "paid" on the disneycruise site...it will continue to just show "booked".

Anyone going to try for Palo reservations? I think I'm going to try for brunch this time around...maybe dinner too. We didn't do brunch on the 4 night we went on last year and everyone raves about it so much, I didn't want to miss out this time!


familycruiser ~
Last year we booked our Palo and excursion reservations at 75 days out, but the online reservation system was very new and I think not too many people knew about it yet so there were plenty of times left to choose from. I have heard that they hold back some reservations for people to book once they are onboard. Hopefully, you get what you are looking for at your 75 day mark, if not, maybe you can try once you get on the ship.

 

[Colorado Mom]

pdarrah you are an insane planner! That is a neat way to see who is going though, thanks!!!

I was checking out excurtions and stuff on the Disney site and just realized that what we booked last August, is now about 1000 bucks higher. the waiting for so long is tough, but I like seeing that kind of savings.

I am looking forward to possibly booking a 2008 while on board. I figure that the schedule will be out then, and if there are any special cruises that would be the time to book one.

 

[Vulcandream]

I am enjoying getting to know the folks that are into Disney Cruises on the various boards. You strike me as a bunch of really nice people, but I have to say, you all are driving me crazy with all of the abbreviations. What is APLAPLA and PLAPLAP and LAPLAPL, ETC. ETC. ETC. Is there someplace where all of these codes are decyphered.
I like you folks but yikes, give me a break.

 

[skylynx]

Hi, there. Those crazy strings of letters are actually the different dining rotations available on DCL. APLAPLA is a dining rotation that begins with Animator's Palate, Parrot Cay, Lumiere's, etc. Why does this matter? Some folks like to plan their Palo dinners on a night when they visit their least favorite or a restaurant for a second time (for instance, Animator's Palate only does the color changing "show" on the first night you eat there). Some pirate minded folks (like us) would like to be in Parrot Cay on Pirate night because our outfits match the walls and tablecloths ;-)

Hope that resolves the mystery.

 

[pdarrah]

Hi Vulcandream!

I just got your email and I'll get you added to the "WHo's Going" list sometime today!

It looks like Denise (Skylynx) answered your specific question. There is a list of many of the abbreviations used at http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm. I don't think it has ALL of them and may not have some of the odder cruiseline specific ones (like BBB for Beach Blanket Buffet on the Wonder) Strangely enough, it also doesn't list all the family relationship ones either like DH (Dear or Disney Husband), DW (Dear or Disney Wife), etc.

When I first found the DIS Boards I was totally lost with all the abbreviations! What is scary is that after a while, you actually start using them when you are talking also

pdarrah

 

[mtt-swd]

I finally finished paying for the last 2 of my staterooms on Wednesday night I have 5 staterooms. I am getting really excited about going again. Can anyone believe there is only 3 months left?

 

[thomprod]

...Is there someplace where all of these codes are decyphered...

Yes: Pdarrah gave you a direct link to the abbreviations list and there is also a link to the same list in the FAQ (frequently asked questions) thread stuck to the top of the main board (http://130.94.75.33/showthread.php?t=1010690). This FAQ thread is good reading and I recommend it to all first-time cruisers.

 

[Vulcandream]

Well we are paid in full... until I get that ginormous bill at the end of the cruise that shows what wild abandon we exercized with our cards . All this anticipation for a week that will go by faster than
a fighter jet at Mach 3. As bad a si have post-Christmas blues, I think this will be even worse.

Anyway, thanks for the various responses. They were helpful. Next question, uh, how do I know what rotation we are going to be on? I know we have late seating. I am trying to decide what night we want to do Palo but there is so much more that is going on and I don't want to miss the fun dinner-related events.

I would also like opinions about door decorating. Is it too tacky or does everyone do it... or does everyone do it depsite how tacky it is? I already have in mind printing magnetic sheets and just slapping them on the door (the doors are metal arent they?), but my wife grimmiced at the idea.

 

[thomprod]

...Next question, uh, how do I know what rotation we are going to be on?...

VulcanDream, welcome to the cruise!

There is no way to know for sure what rotation you will be on until you check in at the terminal and get your KTTW (Key To The World) card, which will have your dining rotation listed as APLAPLA, or a similar mix of letters. Many have posted on the DIS board that, in general, DCL will try to start families with young children in Animator's Pallette, those with older children or teens in Parrot Cay and those with no children in Lumiere's, but there is no guarantee. I have also read that you can request a particular rotation through your travel agent, but agian, it is just a request. If you want a specific rotation and don't get it when you check in, there will be a place you can go to try and change it when you first board.

If this is your first cruise, I wouldn't worry about it. Relax and enjoy!

 

[blacksmithcrm]

I asked a cast member about the dining rotation last week. "It won't be assigned until you get to the pier" was the response. Somehow, I have difficulty in believing that they wait to see who shows up to assign dining, but that's their story and they're sticking to it.

You don't want to miss your first dinner in AP.

 

[thomprod]

..."It won't be assigned until you get to the pier"...

I think what they meant to say is you will not be told your rotation until you get to the pier. It must be assigned beforehand because it is printed on your KTTW card.