JANUARY 27, 2007 "PAL MICKEY" Western Magic ROLL CALL

[ThePhantomsGirl]

I don't have any excursions planned yet, but I would like to do one of the Ruins tours. Probably will do the Trolley in Key West.

 

[Cruising canuck]

Hi all!! If I counted right we only have 108 sleeps 'til we leave for WDW on the 24th!!! We are getting there Wed. afternoon and staying at All Star Movies and spending a couple days at the parks before the cruise. We did this last time and liked the chance to get reaquianted with Disney before the cruise and get a couple days over with and then spend a couple days at the Parks afterwards. Also it was a much better feeling knowing we had a couple extra days leeway in the event of any weather delays.

I just had a funny flashback to our last Disney cruise. We were walking out of the hotel with our luggage and waiting at the front for our towncar to take us to the Port, and watched as new families were coming in, looking all excited. Some looked at us sadly as we left maybe thinking we were on our way home and we laughed together as I said to my DW they don't know it but the best part of our vacation is just starting.

We haven't decided for sure about excursions on Cosumel or Grand Cayman but we thought we would like to take in the Pirate Museum in Key West as part of our day. Has anyone been through it and could give us a heads-up on if it is worth it for us and the kids? I went to the website, (FYI, the cruise Passporter Field Guide is a MUST HAVE if you don't have it, get it) and it seemed like it is well put together, but I thought I would ask here anyway, as you guys have so far been great for all sorts of information!

We had door magnet last time we were on-board and we thought they were a fun addition. No-one stole it, suprisingly, and everyone who seen it when we were there asked where they could buy one, it seemed to be quite a unique item. One of the ladies from our last Dis Meets forum made them for everyone and surprised us with them on-board!!

All for now, later!!
Gord

 

[GSCM_DisneyScout]

Probably will do the Trolley in Key West.

We did the Old Time Trolley Tour in Key West this past January and enjoyed it quite a bit. The thing I like best about the Old Time Trolley Tours is you can get off at any point along the way and explore, then you can get back on the next Old Time Trolley that comes by and the tour guide is usually at the same portion of the tour explaination, so you don't miss anything. This is also one of those tours that I usually just go register for on my own, rather than use Disney's excursion service.

http://www.historictours.com/keywest/
http://shophta.com/acb/stores/15/product1.asp?SID=15&Product_ID=13

For comparison:
Disney Cruise price: Adults (children ages 10 and up): $24, Child (3-9): $12
Direct from Old Town Trolley: $22.50, $10.80 respectively

The route has 24 places of interest:
1. Chamber of Commerce
2. Mallory Square
3. Hospitality House
4. Waterfront Theatre
5. Key West Aquarium
6. Mallory Market
7. Audobon House
8. Capt. Tony's
9. Sloppy Joe's
10. Key West Hand Print Fabrics
11. Turtle Kraals
12. Oldest House/Wrecker's Museum
13. San Carlos Theatre
14. Bahama House
15. St. Paul's Church
16. City Cemetery
17. Lowe's House
18. Hemingway House
19. Lighthouse Museum
20. West Martello Fort
21. East Martello Fort & Museum
22. Casa Marina Hotel
23. Key West Welcome Center
24. Southernmost Point

There are also packages you can purchase that include the trolley and discounted admission to some of the local sites:

Paradise Passport: Conch Train or Old Town Trolley, Key West Aquarium, Ernest Hemingway House & Museum, Key West Shipwreck Historeum, Harry S Truman Little White House, Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, and Shopping Discounts for $73 for adults, $40 for children.

Island Passport: Conch Train or Old Town Trolley, Key West Aquarium, Ernest Hemingway House & Museum, Key West Shipwreck Historeum, Harry S Truman Little White House, and Shopping Discounts for $56 for adults, $28 for children.


The other two places we went last year were the Pirate Soul Museum and the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. The kids really enjoyed the Pirate Soul Museum! There's a new restaurant there that we're planning to try out this time. The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum was neat, too, but I think the kids enjoyed the Pirate Soul more.

Kim

 

[GSCM_DisneyScout]

...we would like to take in the Pirate Museum in Key West as part of our day. Has anyone been through it and could give us a heads-up on if it is worth it for us and the kids? I went to the website, (FYI, the cruise Passporter Field Guide is a MUST HAVE if you don't have it, get it) and it seemed like it is well put together, but I thought I would ask here anyway, as you guys have so far been great for all sorts of information!

To quote my DS11, who I just asked if she remembered the Pirate Soul Museum "I thought it was really cool!" I have to agree with her. The museum does a good job of showing what real pirates were like (with real pirate artifacts). There are interactive stations in the museum - crayon rubbings and things to touch. The photo gallery at the website really does a great job highlighting the tour. http://www.piratesoul.com/gallery/gallery.aspx There's also a downloadable educational sheet about pirates. When asked if she would go again, DS11 says "Yeah!" without any hesitation. Blackbeard's animatronic head even brings a Disney feel to the museum. Yo Ho Yo Ho a Pirate's Life for Me.

Oh, and for the bigger folk, Pirate Soul Museum just opened the Rum Barrel Restaurant, featuring a Rum Bible as opposed to a wine list. The menu looks great! It's family friendly, too. My DD3 already wants to order the Octopus Hot Dogs off the kid's menu.

Kim

 

[WeCantWait]

We also plan to do the Trolley in Key West. We are going to do it on our own because we would like to option of getting off and back on. In Grand Cayman we are doing the Seaworld Explorer Semi Submarine. I booked this myself because they are located right at the port and I was able to save $42 for our family of four. In Cozumel we are going to do the Dolphin Discovery, something I have wanted to do for a long time but have been waiting for our children to be old enough. This I plan to book through Disney.

 

[taswira]

We had door magnet last time we were on-board and we thought they were a fun addition. No-one stole it, suprisingly, and everyone who seen it when we were there asked where they could buy one, it seemed to be quite a unique item. One of the ladies from our last Dis Meets forum made them for everyone and surprised us with them on-board!!

Hey Cruising canuck - Were you by any chance on Cruisetoberfest 2004?

 

[speakupjc]

Key West = Trolley, Butterfly Museum, Little Whitehouse

Cozumel = Stingray Excursion

Cayman Island = All Inclusive Beach Resort

All trips were booked on our own and not through DCL.

 

[Cruising canuck]

Hey Cruising canuck - Were you by any chance on Cruisetoberfest 2004?

We weren't on Cruisetoberfest 2004, our last DCL cruise was November 2003, sounds great though!

Thanks for the input Kim we checked out the website for pirate soul and the kids thought it looked fun. We will look into the trolley tour also.

 

[GSCM_DisneyScout]

This past January, we used shoretrips.com for all the reservations for our shore excursions. We were able to do anything Disney offered on our own time, with slightly reduced costs and they offer some excursions that Disney doesn't. (For example, a pub scavenger hunt in Key West.) They have all kinds of guarantees, such as money back if the ship arrives too late for the tour and I thought they also had a guarantee you would make it back to the ship in time also, but I'm not seeing that at the moment.

Gotta go,

Kim

 

[taswira]

It pays to read the very fine print in agreements to see exaclty what the guarantee means - - If you miss the boat will they get you to it, or to your next port, or will they just buy you dinner on the island? - LOL. A guarantee must specify how they will compensate you if they fail to deliver.

For excursions that are within walking distance of the ship, you can save money safely booking direct. The ones to be cautious about are where you must travel by vehicle (land or sea) to get to them. If you book direct with the supplier, do get (in writing) a statement about how they will compensate you if they do NOT get you back to the ship in time to sail. A lot of people take the chance and usually have no problem, but sometimes things happen. I have seen passengers miss the boat!

 

[binky1]

WeCantWait, For the Seaworld Explorer Semi Submarine - who did you book with ?? We (family of 5) want to do the same thing and anywhere I can save $$ would be great!! Can you give me a website or PM me with the info if the Moderator doesn't print the info??

For Key West, we're just planning to tour ourselves and possibly take the kids to the Aquarium - I'm hoping to find some coupons. Cozumel, we may go to the beach or stay on the boat - we'll see.... kinda hard to make definite plans with a toddler. I'm so flexible sometimes it hurts

Made our final payment today - called the credit card company to warn them about a honkin' big purchase that I had authorized. The credit card rep said "Have a nice vacation." Oh, I'm definitely planning on it.....

Cheers Everyone!!

 

[WeCantWait]

binky1, we booked the Seaworld Explorer through www.Atlantisadventures.com.

We would also like to go to the Aquarium in Key West, please let me know if you find any coupons. Only 4 more days to go until the booking begins. I am getting very excited.

 

[binky1]

Thanks for the info!! Do you know if under 3s are free?? I tried to call the number but it doesn't work from Canada....

I can't wait either!! I'm the most excited of our bunch - I think because during times of extreme insanity in my household I just think about the cruise - no cookin', no cleanin' and somebody else to make my bed and fetch me drinks!!

 

[WeCantWait]

Thanks for the info!! Do you know if under 3s are free?? I tried to call the number but it doesn't work from Canada....

I can't wait either!! I'm the most excited of our bunch - I think because during times of extreme insanity in my household I just think about the cruise - no cookin', no cleanin' and somebody else to make my bed and fetch me drinks!!

You're welcome. I noticed on the website that it said children 30inches to 12 years old are charged the childrens rate $19. I would assume that that under 30 inches would be free but I am not certain.

To not have to cook and clean for a week is going to be heavenly. I seem to be the most excited in my family also. I tell them that's because their entire life is a vacation.

 

[binky1]

If anyone is looking to do the Atlantis semi-submarine in Grand Cayman, kids under 2 are free (yahoo!!).

The weather here is rainy, cold and dreary.... but on Castaway Cay it is 81 degrees - can you tell I'm kinda obsessed?!?!

Cheers everyone,

 

[WeCantWait]

If anyone is looking to do the Atlantis semi-submarine in Grand Cayman, kids under 2 are free (yahoo!!).

The weather here is rainy, cold and dreary.... but on Castaway Cay it is 81 degrees - can you tell I'm kinda obsessed?!?!

Cheers everyone,

Dreary and chilly here in NY also. I am glad to see I am not the only one obsessed.

 

[GSCM_DisneyScout]

The end is near! After much discussion with the doctor, I am scheduled to go to the hospital Tuesday, October 17th at 8:15 am to check in and prepare for an induction. It's quite possible that I will go into labor on my own before then. I know I'm certainly ready.

My cruise cast will be complete.

Kim

 

[taswira]

After much discussion with the doctor, I am scheduled to go to the hospital Tuesday, October 17th at 8:15 am to check in and prepare for an induction.

Since infants under 12 weeks old are not allowed on the cruise, and since the countdown clock now reads 3 months, 2 weeks, 2 days, that sounds like an EXCELLENT decision! Good luck and take care!

 

[secretkeeper]

The end is near! After much discussion with the doctor, I am scheduled to go to the hospital Tuesday, October 17th at 8:15 am to check in and prepare for an induction. It's quite possible that I will go into labor on my own before then. I know I'm certainly ready.

My cruise cast will be complete.

Kim

Best wishes!

 

[binky1]

Good luck next week!! I'm sure you'll have your hands full and won't be able to visit the DIS boards quite as much but we'll be thinking about you & your family!