January 20, 2008

[NancyIL]

Not to repeat what Nancy said, she's right on, but I'll share my two cents.

From my understanding DCL is different totally than other cruises! It doesn't matter which restaurant you are in, it depends on the "night" which clothes you wear at dinner.
1st night - cruise casual
2nd night - dress-up night
3rd night - cruise casual or pirate dress
4th night - cruise casual

And Nancy is exactly correct, "dress up" is not formal night, it means jackets suggested. I've head the phrase "church wear" before, but we wear jeans to church So I dug further...from what I've read, most men will be in dress shirts and khaki pants (maybe a tie) and women in dresses or pant suits.

Palo you need a jacket...

You're right - today I wore corduroy pants and a turtleneck to church! I should've said, what people USED to wear to church in the "old days"!

 

[dustermom02]

Yep, you're right about the cruise wear for "formal" night. We went on a 3 day and my dh and I decided to get really dressy for the dressy night. He wore his tux but only about a handful of guys did that night. We did end up getting a fabulous picture of us together on the big white back ground in the lobby. I forget what its called. But, he told me yesterday he is not bringing it this time. My 7 yr old ds however has a tux we found on ebay for 14.99 over a year ago and he intends to wear his, that is if he's still awake for the 2nd dinner seating....

And about the dinner rotations, we ended up having dress up night in Parrot Cay, which is the least dressy restaurant, not in Tritons, and we were a little disappointed. Also, we didn't know which restaurant we ate at when until we got on board. I remember wanting to see that on the advance paperwork, but it wasn't there. The other thing I didn't realize on my first cruise is that the restaurant you eat dinner at is the same restaurant you can eat breakfast at the next morning - BUT - there are 1st and 2nd breakfast seatings (same as your dinner) and we were never up early enough to go.

I just read a cruise report and it looks like one of the groups met at the mickey pool around 3:00. Anyone interested?

 

[NancyIL]

I just read a cruise report and it looks like one of the groups met at the mickey pool around 3:00. Anyone interested?

The Mickey pool at 3:00 sounds good to me! Maybe I'll even remember to bring my DIS lanyard!

 

[dustermom02]

My mail just came - but not my cruise docs yet.

 

[mmps108]

My mail just came - but not my cruise docs yet.

I talked to my TA today (Mouse Fan Travel) and she is getting our cruise docs from her headquarters today and she's mailing them to us tomorrow!!! I'm guessing we'll all have them very soon!!!!

 

[locoexw]

Hi all! I've been reading, but not posting. No docs for us yet, either. I emailed the TA and she sent back my address to confirm and it was wrong. Yikes.

I want to repeat what one poster already wrote - go to ACCUWEATHER - they forecast 15 days out. Of course, it's not particularly right, but it feels useful to check!

There are four of us cruising - Lowell/Elaine (Dad/Mom), and boys who are 9 and 6. We'd be happy to meet up at the Mickey Pool at 3...

We're leaving next Wed! Driving down from Maryland and doing Friday aft at SeaWorld, Friday night at Disney Quest and Saturday at Epcot (am)/Studios (pm/Fantasmic of course) (what's the park called now?). We have Platinum BG passes, so no more $$$. We also have 10 day no-exp from 3 years ago, so DQ and the parks will also be no more $$$. We're staying at the HI near MK - anyone stayed there? I got ENT rate, plus I get tons of points (there's some bonus thing), so it's worth it even if it's not great.

Then the Cruise. We've been before - 3 years ago I think. And it was great. Water is too cold at Castaway Cay for me, but the kids will swim anyway. They got in the water in Virginia Beach in December one year. I made them leave when they started looking blue.

THEN, we are going to see Grandma for 2 days, and then we are taking the Auto Train back.

And, I repeat, I have not started packing.

 

[dustermom02]

We have Platinum BG passes, so no more $$$. We also have 10 day no-exp from 3 years ago, so DQ and the parks will also be no more $$$. We're staying at the HI near MK - anyone stayed there? I got ENT rate, plus I get tons of points (there's some bonus thing), so it's worth it even if it's not great.

That is smart planning!!!

Then the Cruise. We've been before - 3 years ago I think. And it was great. Water is too cold at Castaway Cay for me, but the kids will swim anyway. They got in the water in Virginia Beach in December one year. I made them leave when they started looking blue.
.

I found shorties on sale and I'm hoping that will keep us warm enough for the snorkling. Did they try that or do they just go in bathing suits?

THEN, we are going to see Grandma for 2 days, and then we are taking the Auto Train back.

What day do you get on the auto train to go back? We're on there the 26th-27th going home. We can all be sad together...

I hope all the quoting works. I've never tried this before.

 

[locoexw]

We have some swim suits that are one piece - top and bottom combined - but that wouldn't keep me warm. They'll be fine, though!

We are coming back on the Auto Train on 1/26 also. Maybe our boys can hang out together on the train. What is your 7 year old in to? We've got regular Lego, Bionicle and Transformers going on right now. I wrote that I have a 6 year old, but that's wrong - typo! I have a 7 year old and a 9 year old (nearly 10).

Are you (is everyone) already packed? Any special/helpful items you figured out that might not be on everyone's list already?

 

[mmps108]

I don't have a lot of time to post...must...work...today...LOL!!

here is a thread that has the ultimate packing list on it: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=935094&highlight=packing+list. I sent this thread to dustermom02 in a private message, but I should have posted it here too. I got it from the sticky: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1002071
I found a lot of good info here!

Happy 12 days!!!

 

[arieltoo]

Good afternoon,
I read this thread for a while, but we were all so quiet, I forgot to check it! Glad people have kept it going.

We are very excited and ready for our trip! We have a 10 year old boy and (in four days) an 8 year old girl. They are happy to both be in the Lab this year, but I think they divide them for some activities 10-12 and 8-9? My son will be fine, but my daughter can start out shy (but as I tell her teachers she soon will be running the show). If there are any 8-10 year old girls out there, my daughter would love to know about them before the trip.

We plan a quiet cruise this time, without any excrusions booked. In Nassau we plan to use the frommers walking tour to walk around a bit. We did this back when we were pushing a stroller, hope it will be easier this time (and we can walk the steps this time.) In '06 we split boys and girls and girls did the dolphin excrusion and the boys swam w/rays.

Keep us posted when the documents begin to arrive!!!

Mary Lee

 

[bettydau]

No cruise docs yet, and we're leaving the 16th-four days in the World before the cruise. So I sure wish Disney had hurried more.
I've put nothing in a suitcase, but I have all the clothes out (unless I change my mind, ha) and stuff all over the guest room.
Accuweather is saying thunderstorms on the 21st, our Nassau day. I know there's still plenty of time for that to change, but we're to go to Atlantis (vis Comfort Suites), so DON'T want thunderstorms.
And the next day looks cool, so we all want that temp to go up for our CC day.

 

[bettydau]

So I keep checking Accuweather and Weather.com and they don't always agree with each other (I usually like the Weather.com better!)

 

[mmps108]

So I keep checking Accuweather and Weather.com and they don't always agree with each other (I usually like the Weather.com better!)

UGH! It looks like its going to get cold just for us! I hope it changes in the next week!!!

 

[sue0911]

Hi everyone! I called DCL this morning and asked when the docs were being sent out and she said they all went out last night 2 day UPS so that means we should have them tomorrow or Friday!!!
Everyone in my house is very excited as this is our first cruise.
We are ending our vacation with a three night stay at Beach Club Villas. I hope it is warm enough to swim!
Sue

 

[bettydau]

Our AAA TA just called and the Cruise docs are there! She's going to UPS them overnight to the out-of-town family members (we have five families going), and we'll pick ours up from her this afternoon. Progress!

 

[arieltoo]

Yeah!! Progress on the docs! I am also waiting for an accessories pack for my new camera. I am trying not to spend the day staring out the windows. So think I will go shopping for a few things to get us thru the next 10 days.

Mary Lee

 

[NancyIL]

My mom is listed as the lead passenger on the cruise, and UPS just delivered the docs to her this morning. She was concerned because my name is mentioned nowhere, and she said it was the skimpiest cruise docs she has ever gotten! I told her that when I booked several Royal Caribbean cruises through an online discount travel agency, everything was done online and I received nothing in the mail before the cruise. I also said that I did the online check-in and that my name IS mentioned there! Not only that, but the online forms requiring a signature are in my possession, and the things she got in the mail can be picked up at the port.

 

[NancyIL]

UGH! It looks like its going to get cold just for us! I hope it changes in the next week!!!

I checked the 10-day forecast at www.weather.com that goes through Jan. 18th - the day I arrive. Looks like highs in the low 70's and rain that day in Orlando - but how can a forecast be accurate 10 days out? I'll stay at WDW for 4 days after the cruise, so a high of 70 would be fine - although I'd prefer it to be a tad warmer.

My first cruise was at the end of Feb. 2004 out of Port Canaveral (on Holland America). I stayed 1 night at WDW before the cruise, and it was a very chilly afternoon and evening - probably in the 40's. I went home right after the cruise, and it wasn't much warmer in Orlando.

 

[SeattleGirl]

Docs came today!

(actually, it was not all that exciting since there is virtually nothing in the package)

 

[NancyIL]

Docs came today!

(actually, it was not all that exciting since there is virtually nothing in the package)

Tha's exactly what my mom said!