January 25, 2009 on the WONDER

[ashman]

Atlantis also has a swim with the dolphin encounter that looks even more interactive, but I can't find out how much it costs or if you have to be a guest to do it.

 

[jennifaerie]

Atlantis also has a swim with the dolphin encounter that looks even more interactive, but I can't find out how much it costs or if you have to be a guest to do it.

I had looked into it, and it turned out to be too much money... but I can't remember if that's because you had to be a guest.

 

[jennyh2829]

Jennifaerie - how was the cruise this year? Weather, mainly? Was the water frigid or tolerable? We've never cruised this time of year and am trying to think excursions and CC. I know the pools will be heated but not too sure about other water. What type clothes would you recommend?

We are flying but can't get prices until the beginning of March. That's when I'll be watching like a hawk for deals. We usually fly AA. We've done that several times and have had no problems.

We are also planning on flying in on Sat. just in case of weather, etc. Here in TX you never know what it might be doing one hour sleet/snow the next 70 degrees. So I said let's plan to go a day early just to be safe. Now we're trying to decide where to stay Sat. night. Probably somewhere near the airport and shuttle back Sun. Am and catch the bus to the port. Has anyone ever done that before?

 

[ashman]

We are doing the same this time. When we went last Feb, we flew the day of the cruise. We didn't miss the ship but it was a bit tight at our connection due to a late takeoff. Even if weather wasn't an issue, I think it will be better to go the day before. We were exhausted at the end of the day because we had been up so long (and didn't really sleep well the night before!) We used MH Transportation and plan to use them again we will just have them pick us up at the hotel. We plan to stay at a hotel near the airport (Hyatt is a tad pricey) Most near the airport have a free shuttle from the airport. That way we don't have to get a shuttle to the hotel and then another one to the terminal the next day

 

[jennifaerie]

When we got to Orlando the day before the cruise, it was 40 degrees and raining. I thought, Gee, why did I even come here? It's like being at home.

Port Canaveral was a bit nicer. Probably sixties and sunny. When we left port, it was very windy and quite chilly. I refused to use the pool that day (and I'm not a big swimmer anyway), but I used the pool every day after that, sometimes twice because of the heating. Disney lists the temperatures of the pools on one of their TV channels, so I know it was always in the 80s.

When we got to Nassau, though, it was a complete turnaround. We had been watching the weather, and we saw high sixties, low seventies. But we were lucky, and the forecasts were wrong. It was at least high seventies. Castaway Cay? Eighties. It was perfect.

That being said, I'm spoiled with the heated pools. The water at the dolphin swim was *freezing*, but it wasn't shallow. The water at Castaway Cay was warmer, but still too cold for me. I'm one of those weenies who gets crampy feet if the water's too cold, so I didn't spend much time in the water.

I was really paranoid about what to pack, because I'm *always* cold. So I packed a lot of everything. On the islands, I wore very, very light pants, t-shirt, and a light zipped hoodie, so I could de-layer as it got warmer. On the boat, I dressed warmer, because everything is air conditioned. Jeans, courduroys, hoodies, long-sleeved shirts. But remember, I'm always cold. Other people walked around in shorts and t-shirts even out on deck and were fine.

My recommendation would be to pack for everything. Bring some warm stuff, bring some cool stuff, and bring some heavier things for nights out on deck. If you're a naturally warm person (Texans usually are ), you should be okay with whatever you pack.

But I will tell you this-- my fiance, who is one of those "I don't need a coat" people, didn't bring a sweatshirt and found himself quite chilly on deck anytime we went out (especially at night or when we were moving). He will make sure to pack one this time!

The last time, we stayed at Disney the night before, but it was because we had free passes to Magic Kingdom from a rained out Halloween Party. We rented a car to drive from Disney to the port, and then we took Disney's transfers from the port to the airport. Renting a car for two hours was forty dollars (because I didn't fill the tank with that 1/4 gallon I used), and the transfers would have been seventy-something for the both of us, so it worked out well.

But if you're staying at a hotel near the port, they have shuttles that'll take you there. You'll just need to get transportation from the airport to the hotel or rental agency.

 

[Pumba's Dad]

Unless some great deals on airfare come out, we'll probably drive down. We usually drive down the day before just to get settled in. We've learned the hard way from flying in the same day as the cruise. we nearly missed a cruise to Alaska because of a tie up at customs. Luckily we had booked the airlines through the cruise ship so they waited for 10 of us. Then we missed the boat drill and had to do that separately.

Now I don't remember the pools on the ship being warm?? I remember them being salty.. We probably over pack, as every time we watch the forecast, the opposite happens. One year we had to run to walmart to get sweaters and pants cause the temperature dropped so much. Another time we were swimming on land from the amount of rain.

Now if we drive down and you need anything, just let us know.

 

[Texasgal74]

This will be my family's first cruise, and we couldn't think of a better way to intiate ourselves than on a Disney cruise. We are SO excited!!! My three girls don't know about it yet, so it will make for a nice Christmas surprise. In addition to this 7 day Land/Sea package, my fiancee and I are getting married in Naussau on the beach during our day at port!! It should make for the most memorable vacation EVER!! Now, if I could just figure out how to make time go by quicker....

 

[Pumba's Dad]

Time is flying by and Congrats on your upcoming wedding.

 

[jennifaerie]

Congratulations! That sounds like lots of fun. By then, I'll be married (getting married in September and going to WDW for our honeymoon), so it'll be more of a getaway.

I hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[ashman]

Welcome to the DIS and congrats! How is everyone else doing?

 

[jennifaerie]

I'm ready for my cruise! Or the honeymoon! Or something! Big software release go-live next month, and it's just been one hurdle after another. So I'm ready!

Ever notice post-vacation niceness doesn't last nearly as long anymore?

 

[ashman]

I think our family is driving. I just looked at air prices. It would run us $750 for us to fly down that is WITH TWO free Frequent Flyer miles tickets. Even with gas being what it is it would be over $500 cheaper to drive down.

 

[Texasgal74]

We drive EVERYWHERE because the airfare has become so outrageous! We leave next week to go down to Galveston, Texas for Spring Break and are driving. The time in the car sucks, but having about $1500 extra in our pocket makes up for it.

 

[Pumba's Dad]

Well I've been checking out flights from Charlotte and they seem fairly low. About $175 pp. Our problem now comes in the form of the extra baggage charge. I'd end up paying anywhere from $150 to $300 each way depending on the carrier. So driving for us this year again.

 

[slk537]

Hi all!!

DH booked us on the cruise today so I am signing up on the thread! We are veterans of the parks, but this will be our first Disney cruise. DS is so excited to hit the Oceaneer's Club and DH and are so excited to drop him off there

I was really hoping there would be a thread already started for this and was so pleased to see this and "meet" you all! DH has a conference, so we will be flying down from the Chilly North on Friday or Saturday, doing the cruise, a few days at the conference and then spending some time at WDW before coming home. Currently we're booked at VWL and SSR, but come the seven month window we will switch to BCV.

Looks like a lot of you are doing the land and sea...? Is the land before or after the cruise?

Looking forward to planning and getting to know everyone in the next 10 months!

 

[jennifaerie]

Welcome!

We're doing the bookable land/sea, so we go to Disney World three days prior, and then go on the cruise.

 

[Pumba's Dad]

We'll be doing the Land/Sea package too. We'll be at Poly and then the Ship and then we may return for a day or two.

 

[Texasgal74]

We are staying at the Beachclub. I look forward to getting to know all of you over the next nine months as well!! Thank goodness for the DIS..it helps make the time go by so much more quickly for me! Reading the trip reports makes me feel like I am there with everyone on their vacation. I can't wait to write mine when we get back. We'll have to all compare stories and pictures.

 

[jennifaerie]

We're staying at the Beach Club as well! I've never been, and I want the experience of being within walking distance of Epcot.

 

[ashman]

We are staying at the Beachclub. I look forward to getting to know all of you over the next nine months as well!! Thank goodness for the DIS..it helps make the time go by so much more quickly for me! Reading the trip reports makes me feel like I am there with everyone on their vacation. I can't wait to write mine when we get back. We'll have to all compare stories and pictures.

I agree, reading trips reports help the time pass nicely. Writing them is a blast!