January 8, 2011 - 7 Night Western Caribbean Sailing

[DisneyGyrl]

Sign us up for the FE group. We have 3 lil ones, DD9, DS6 and DS4 at time of Cruise. Room Cat 4 GTY.
Now to learn how to sew?!?

Welcome!

My son (7) will be excited to hear that there are more children joining this cruise!!

 

[ddpaints]

Sign us up for the FE group. We have 3 lil ones, DD9, DS6 and DS4 at time of Cruise. Room Cat 4 GTY.
Now to learn how to sew?!?

If you look through the FAQ section there is directions from another DIS'er on how to do a no sew version. Even though I do have a sewing machine and use it I think I may do this for our FE. I'm going to be wearing it out making cloths for the kids and Halloween costumes

Also if I could get the initials (first and last) favorite colors and favorite Disney Characters of all people in your group that will help me with my FE presents I'm making

 

[WarrFamily5]

If you look through the FAQ section there is directions from another DIS'er on how to do a no sew version. Even though I do have a sewing machine and use it I think I may do this for our FE. I'm going to be wearing it out making cloths for the kids and Halloween costumes

Also if I could get the initials (first and last) favorite colors and favorite Disney Characters of all people in your group that will help me with my FE presents I'm making

CW (D9) Tinkerbell-Purple; SW (S6) Buz Lightyear-Blue; BW (S4) Woody-Red; RW (Wife) Tinkerbell-Yellow; and RW (me) Tigger-Red. This is why I married her for the easy monogram?!?
Already printed the no-sew instructions and have decided to look at the Ebay lady that sells them!!
Thanks,

Ronnie

 

[ddpaints]

CW (D9) Tinkerbell-Purple; SW (S6) Buz Lightyear-Blue; BW (S4) Woody-Red; RW (Wife) Tinkerbell-Yellow; and RW (me) Tigger-Red. This is why I married her for the easy monogram?!?
Already printed the no-sew instructions and have decided to look at the Ebay lady that sells them!!
Thanks,

Ronnie

How cool ! Yeah if I wasn't so hard headed about doing everything myself I would have looked into her too. DH Just smiles and goes along with me.
My Ds is also 4 maybe we can get the kids together to play. DS is probably the most outgoing kid I know. He seems to make friends no matter where he is and tends to also help the shy kids at school to join in.

 

[w-family]

We just booked two nights ago on a spur of the moment decision, and now our 90 day window is at midnight tonight! Any comments about the dolphin/turtle excursion in GC? Is it worth it with three kids? How about the ruins in Cozumel?

Also can I only book Port Adventures tonight, or is it for Palo and spa tonight too?

 

[lbgraves]

We hope to get dinner reservations at Palo on my Sister's birthday but have to wait until the 25th for reservations. Anyone know if we will have any luck with reservations for 2 at Palo on the 12th (I think that is pirate night)?

Right now there are open reservations every night at every time except 9 pm but of course that will change for some times after tonight. They only open 50% of Palo resies online and hold the remaining 50% for concierge guests and onboard resies. If you don't get a resie, don't give up. Keep checking back. People do cancel. When the private room is confirmed at the 30 day mark anyone who has an individual resie who will be in the private room has to have the seperate resie released so they start opening up early that morning when the Palo rep starts making the calls to confirm who is on the reservation for the private room. If that doesn't work, get to the port early and when you board head straight to Rocking Bar D to make a resie. You can get on the waitlist if there aren't any open. Once concierge has been offered their available resies any that are not taken are released for other guests.

We just booked two nights ago on a spur of the moment decision, and now our 90 day window is at midnight tonight! Any comments about the dolphin/turtle excursion in GC? Is it worth it with three kids? How about the ruins in Cozumel?

Also can I only book Port Adventures tonight, or is it for Palo and spa tonight too?

Well, I was going to tell you that all of the dolphin related excursions had no available reservations but just checked and they are all available once again. I suggest that you book that first since what is left will fill up quickly.

Everything is available for booking tonight for those who can at 90 days.

 

[ddpaints]

Just an FYI We are buying our tickets on line for the turtle farm it is about 1/2 price of Disney's . I know we will be responsible for our own transport but the cost savings will be much more. I also e-mailed the company and if for some reason we can't tender there they will refund our tickets. I think we are doing the same for the trolley tour of Key West. I think we are going to do the ruins but sans kids since MIL as so graciously offered to stay on board with them.

 

[w-family]

Just an FYI We are buying our tickets on line for the turtle farm it is about 1/2 price of Disney's . I know we will be responsible for our own transport but the cost savings will be much more. I also e-mailed the company and if for some reason we can't tender there they will refund our tickets. I think we are doing the same for the trolley tour of Key West. I think we are going to do the ruins but sans kids since MIL as so graciously offered to stay on board with them.

when you book the turtle farm, will it include the dolphins? We are all doing the ruins with no kids! We are also doing the same with the the trolly tour. I read it was cheaper to book yourself, and you could get on and off at different stops.

I am very excited, but a little overwhelmed right now. I am usually a planner, and this hurry up and book I have found myself in is getting me in a tizzy! But is it worth it!

 

[speedo]

Right now there are open reservations every night at every time except 9 pm but of course that will change for some times after tonight. They only open 50% of Palo resies online and hold the remaining 50% for concierge guests and onboard resies. If you don't get a resie, don't give up. Keep checking back. People do cancel. When the private room is confirmed at the 30 day mark anyone who has an individual resie who will be in the private room has to have the seperate resie released so they start opening up early that morning when the Palo rep starts making the calls to confirm who is on the reservation for the private room. If that doesn't work, get to the port early and when you board head straight to Rocking Bar D to make a resie. You can get on the waitlist if there aren't any open. Once concierge has been offered their available resies any that are not taken are released for other guests.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[lbgraves]

Just an FYI We are buying our tickets on line for the turtle farm it is about 1/2 price of Disney's . I know we will be responsible for our own transport but the cost savings will be much more. I also e-mailed the company and if for some reason we can't tender there they will refund our tickets. I think we are doing the same for the trolley tour of Key West. I think we are going to do the ruins but sans kids since MIL as so graciously offered to stay on board with them.

Another reason to do the trolley tour on your own is that you can get on and off at any time. I remember trip reports in the past that said you could not do this with the DCL excursion. This may have changed but is something to consider. The kids want to see Truman's home and I want to see Hemingway's house along of course with the southern most point of the U.S. I wish that we got to Key West earlier.

when you book the turtle farm, will it include the dolphins? We are all doing the ruins with no kids! We are also doing the same with the the trolly tour. I read it was cheaper to book yourself, and you could get on and off at different stops.

You can't book anything having to do with dolphins or stingrays without going through DCL. That is how they have set it up with the vendors now. It used to be a deal and much cheaper to book it on your own along with the fact that the vendors allowed children younger than DCL does. When I checked into the different options for this trip the websites all said that if you are with a cruise ship you must book it through them.

 

[carreyw]

Yes - My sister and I are both in our early 30's.

My husband is 31 and I'm 26.

 

[moonvxn]

AAARRGGGHHH!!! Why oh why didn't I realize this earlier!!??? I can't pay the final balance on our trip right now. It won't be processed until the next business day...and we are supposed to book our palo/excursions...RIGHT NOW!! argh. I so didn't realize that Dreams Unlimited didn't process payments right away. <sigh> so I have to wait until Monday.

 

[w-family]

YIPEEEEE! We just were able to book everything we wanted.

We are taking the kids to Dolphin/Turtle Adventure & Adult only time at Palo for brunch and dinner and Mayan Ruins tour.


There were still lots of open times for brunch and dinner! Thanks for all the info you guys passed on!

 

[DisneyGyrl]

Well, I was going to tell you that all of the dolphin related excursions had no available reservations but just checked and they are all available once again. I suggest that you book that first since what is left will fill up quickly.

Everything is available for booking tonight for those who can at 90 days.

I have to admit that your previous post about excursions being filled freaked me out a little bit...enough that I felt compelled to stay up tonight to make my reservations as soon as they became available. But as you said, everything seems to be open!!!

I made my Cozumel & GC ressies, so I feel pretty excited

Good luck to all of you folks looking for Palo reservations. There's one good thing about being a single parent travelling with a child----no stress over reservations at the "adult restaurant"

Either way, the cruise feels a little bit more "real" now that I've confirmed a couple excursions! I can sleep well tonight.

 

[lbgraves]

I have to admit that your previous post about excursions being filled freaked me out a little bit...enough that I felt compelled to stay up tonight to make my reservations as soon as they became available. But as you said, everything seems to be open!!!

It's really not uncommon for the dolphin & stingray excursions to fill up early so it didn't surprise me when they were all noted to not have any more openings. It's always been that way on most cruises even before we could book online and the concierge guests snagged most of them or those who booked the romance package because it allowed you to book Palo and everything else at the 105 day mark before the CC levels started. People would book that package just to get the excursions they wanted and Palo. I remember our first cruise in 2003 and you couldn't prebook Palo before the cruise. Talk about mayhem! LOL! I am very surprised that the only thing showing not available is golf in Key West.

There are no high tea resies showing for Palo at all.

Brunch is open on Day 2 but no 10:00 resies open on Day 3 and open on Day 6.

Dinner is still closed at 9 pm and a couple other times over the week but most are available.

That is amazing! I have been kept from getting a Palo resie at midnight at the 90 day mark before the CC levels started. They all went so quickly when we cruised in December.

 

[moonvxn]

Hi everyone!!

I'm so excited for more kiddos!!! My son will be 4 and is super shy so this is awesome...my daughter will be 7.

Can we get some updated lists?

Also are we meeting up the first day like I think was mentioned earlier on in the thread? I would love that to help the kids get settled and make some friends.

90 days!!!

 

[starlights]

Getting excited for the cruise! Here's some more info for FE:
AJS (me) Cheshire Cat - Green
NMS (DH) Chip & Dale - Blue
JAK(Sis18) Kevin (the bird from Up) or Tinkerbell - Green
JAK (mom) Cinderella's Fairy Godmother - Red
CNS (DD4) Sleeping Beauty - Yellow
AJS (DD2) Minnie Mouse - Pink

 

[luv2cruz24]

Hi Everyone! This is my first time posting, so I hope it goes okay.

We're going on this cruise too! It will be me, my hubby, DD who will be turning 13 on the cruise, and DD 9. This will be our 3rd Disney cruise. We did this same cruise back in 2007, and loved it. Heck, we'd love ANY Disney cruise. We will also be going to WDW Port Orlean FQ for 4 nts. prior to the cruise.

We were originally booked on this same cruise in Dec. 2010, then I got an e-mail about the "kids sail free" special. Couldn't resist that offer, besides, it meant that we also would get the free dining at WDW which we weren't getting with our Dec. trip. So here we are, sailing with you all in January.

Just a tip to anyone flying Southwest. Once you make your reservations, check your flights DAILY. My flights went from $1357 for the 4 of us, to $913. I couldn't believe how the prices fluctuate sometimes on a daily basis. It's great that SW lets you change your res. w/o penalty. They give you a credit to use on a future flight made w/i a year from the date the first res. was made.

Glad to see a Rhode Island family in the group. We're in MA not far from RI at all.


Lori

 

[goofypa]

We just booked our excursions: Semi Submarine (Cayman); Mayan Ruins (Cozumel); and Island Cruise (Castaway) and we are wondering if anyone else has booked any of these excursions or have been on them before? This will be our 2nd Disney Cruise, 1st one in 2005.

 

[WarrFamily5]

Just a tip to anyone flying Southwest. Once you make your reservations, check your flights DAILY. My flights went from $1357 for the 4 of us, to $913. I couldn't believe how the prices fluctuate sometimes on a daily basis. It's great that SW lets you change your res. w/o penalty. They give you a credit to use on a future flight made w/i a year from the date the first res. was made.

Glad to see a Rhode Island family in the group. We're in MA not far from RI at all.


Lori

We do all our grocery shopping in MA!?!

Any suggestions for Dinner and Breakfast outside the World? We are coming in the Friday before and since we will have a rental car we can actually leave the World for Dinner?!? Also suggestions for Breakfast on the way to the Port?