July 13, 2008 - Cruisin' the Mexican Riviera

[SuJo]

Wow, I can't believe we are so close. I am starting to rethink some of our excursions because I have not been hearing good things about them. We might try and do more stuff on our own rather than going through the boat. Not sure yet but I have to decide soon

Carole88, sorry to hear about the DD's wrist, I will have to let my DD know so she can email her. I hope it feels better soon and that it is better for the cruise. The concert sounds amazing. My DD13 loves PATD as do I. Right now all she has seen is Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers. Both were great concerts but not sure about the crowds at PATD, any problems with the older kids?

Found out this weekend that we may not get our cruise docs in time because we are heading out the week before on a tour of CA. They might be able to send them to the Grand California which is where we are staying when we go to DL. We are leaving DL on Friday morning so we won't be able to do the meet n greet that is being setup. Bummer.

Having to pack for a 2 week trip is going to be challenging. We know we are going to have to do laundry before the cruise but how do we pack for both weeks were we need nice clothes for the cruise. Not sure how this is going to work yet.. The girls are going through their closets this week to get rid of all their small clothes so I can see what they have left. Might have to go shopping before we leave on vacation.

Susan

 

[Mulan's Ma]

Wow, I can't believe we are so close. I am starting to rethink some of our excursions because I have not been hearing good things about them. We might try and do more stuff on our own rather than going through the boat. Not sure yet but I have to decide soon

That is what we are doing. DD wants to play in the club, swim and play on the beach. That's it! My parents aren't planning to get off the ship at all. Really, the cruise is the vacation and the ports are incidental.

 

[DMMarla07860]

Wow, I can't believe we are so close. I am starting to rethink some of our excursions because I have not been hearing good things about them. We might try and do more stuff on our own rather than going through the boat. Not sure yet but I have to decide soon

Carole88, sorry to hear about the DD's wrist, I will have to let my DD know so she can email her. I hope it feels better soon and that it is better for the cruise. The concert sounds amazing. My DD13 loves PATD as do I. Right now all she has seen is Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers. Both were great concerts but not sure about the crowds at PATD, any problems with the older kids?

Found out this weekend that we may not get our cruise docs in time because we are heading out the week before on a tour of CA. They might be able to send them to the Grand California which is where we are staying when we go to DL. We are leaving DL on Friday morning so we won't be able to do the meet n greet that is being setup. Bummer.

Having to pack for a 2 week trip is going to be challenging. We know we are going to have to do laundry before the cruise but how do we pack for both weeks were we need nice clothes for the cruise. Not sure how this is going to work yet.. The girls are going through their closets this week to get rid of all their small clothes so I can see what they have left. Might have to go shopping before we leave on vacation.

Susan

I can anwser a question at PATD crowd I've seen them in Phillt, NYC, and NJ. I'd say don't go up front if you have pit tickets or stay to the side. I'm the type of person to go up front and I've been up front for PATD but, my god some of the fans are crazy. I'll never go up close for them again but I'll go up front for senses fail any day. But PATD puts on a great show other then the crowd so if you go you'd love it

 

[carole88]

Hi Susan,

The PATD crowds were fine. Even the floor, which is general admission was surprisingly calm. Not my cup of tea, though. I prefer a seat!!! The crowds are kind of odd because there are various ages. I thought the crowd might be a little out there but they weren't at all.

I can't remember what excursions you are going on. Which ones did you hear bad things about?

You're going to love the Grand California Hotel. We stayed there back in March and will be staying again in August. The hotel is beautiful! Can you print out all of your documents online? I don't think that we really need the ones that are sent to us anymore. I think the last time we cruised the only thing we needed that was mailed was the Bahama form and since we're not going to Castaway Cay this time (boo hoo) we don't need this form. I would get in touch with your TA to confirm.

You said that you are leaving DL on Friday. Where are you them heading out to and where are you staying Saturday night? Hopefully we can meet up.

If anybody is staying at the Holiday Inn we can meet up at the pool!

 

[Displaced CA Girl]

We're staying at the Crowne Plaza hotel. I'm hearing mixed reviews about the area around the port. Not a good area after dark but we needed a place that would do a park and cruise deal. I'm so happy that we're less than a month away!!

 

[DMMarla07860]

Hi Susan,

The PATD crowds were fine. Even the floor, which is general admission was surprisingly calm. Not my cup of tea, though. I prefer a seat!!! The crowds are kind of odd because there are various ages. I thought the crowd might be a little out there but they weren't at all.

The PATD crowd was fine? That's shocking to me, but if is a different place so different things all the shows I have seen have been pretty crazy. Don't they put on a good show though

 

[wonder]

What has anyone heard about the excursions? We will be at DL on the Friday before the cruise...we would love to meet that day! I was reading about the Fantasmic and Electric parade priority dessert seating. Has anyone done this and if so is it worth it? I did not know if the cost was justified...I think it said it was $59 a person.

 

[SuJo]

Our excursions are: Cabo - Nikki Beach Resort which I am hearing is bad because it has gone all Techno music and has like young 20-21 year olds hanging out. Mazatlan - Best of Mazatlan - I haven't heard anything about this one yet and people have been asking but it looks like not many people on this board have done it. Puerto Vallarta - Paradise Beach Adventure. I picked mainly going to a beach/hotel and hanging out for the day. We have done the dolphin thing a couple of years ago, I am afraid the girls will chicken out of a zip line because of the height, but I wouldn't mind trying an ATV like excursion. Not sure what to do and we are getting close. The only one I know I need to change is the Nikki Beach Resort one as I don't think we will like hanging out with 20+ year olds and listening to techno music.

Friday night and Saturday night we are staying at the Best Western Sunset Plaza Hotel on Sunset Boulevard. We were hoping to see the Chinese theater and the walk of fame. Also we are going to need to do laundry before the cruise. We will have to see how far away your hotel is and see if we can meet up.

Susan

Hi Susan,

The PATD crowds were fine. Even the floor, which is general admission was surprisingly calm. Not my cup of tea, though. I prefer a seat!!! The crowds are kind of odd because there are various ages. I thought the crowd might be a little out there but they weren't at all.

I can't remember what excursions you are going on. Which ones did you hear bad things about?

You're going to love the Grand California Hotel. We stayed there back in March and will be staying again in August. The hotel is beautiful! Can you print out all of your documents online? I don't think that we really need the ones that are sent to us anymore. I think the last time we cruised the only thing we needed that was mailed was the Bahama form and since we're not going to Castaway Cay this time (boo hoo) we don't need this form. I would get in touch with your TA to confirm.

You said that you are leaving DL on Friday. Where are you them heading out to and where are you staying Saturday night? Hopefully we can meet up.

If anybody is staying at the Holiday Inn we can meet up at the pool!

 

[DMMarla07860]

So I am going to NYC on Thursday, should be fun, I'll share pictures of the adventure this weekend

The excursions we are doing on this trip are Cabo Beach Break in Cabo and Mazatlán Beach Escape in Mazatlan

My dad and I are also going to be doing Palo Brunch on Friday

 

[califchris]

Okay, the big countdown has begun for me and I am totally starting to panic!!
I haven't done anything to get ready. My friend is going to stencil some designs on pillow cases for my daughter and her friend, but I haven't done the template yet. I haven't gotten around to making our door decorations. I haven't gotten my photo mat to have it signed. AAAAAHHHHHH!

Okay, I feel better now.

 

[carole88]

Okay, the big countdown has begun for me and I am totally starting to panic!!
I haven't done anything to get ready. My friend is going to stencil some designs on pillow cases for my daughter and her friend, but I haven't done the template yet. I haven't gotten around to making our door decorations. I haven't gotten my photo mat to have it signed. AAAAAHHHHHH!

Okay, I feel better now.

I feel you're pain! I feel like there are a million things I have to do that will never get done. You just reminded me that I need my photo mat!

 

[Deb T.]

Hi Everyone!

Sorry... I've been sort of distracted from this thread for a while - we've had a lot going on - good and bad. However, I have been keeping up on the FE Gift Exchange participants and will be sending out an update by Private Messages by tonight. Right now, we have a grand total of 16 families!

DH and I just got back from a quick trip to Northern California where we've been visiting our DS. We had a great time - visited a redwood forest and spent an entire day walking all over San Francisco! Now I'm heading to DD's this afternoon to stay with her for a couple of days while she recuperates from a couple of procedures to try to find out why she's been having so much stomach trouble for over a year. Right now, the doctors suspect either Celiac or Crone's Disease. Poor thing, DD just wants an answer. We're hoping she has one before the cruise!

So, now that things are settling down around here a little bit (for the moment), let me take a few minutes to catch up with everyone...

First of all, a great big WELCOME to mom4mad! Thanks for joining our Meets Thread! We're glad to have you aboard!

DH and I will be arriving on Friday around noon and are staying at the Grand Californian on DVC points. We have family that live in the area (also coming on the cruise), so I can't promise we'll be able to meet up with everyone on Friday, but if you set a time/place, we will certainly try! Will everyone have tickets into the parks or should we chose a spot in Downtown Disney? SuJo, if we set the meet at noon, is there any way you can hang around long enough to participate? (And SuJo, I hope they're able to mail your cruise docs to the GC, but don't worry if they can't because the baggage handlers at the cruise terminal will put the tags on your bags so they'll end up at the right cabin. Just as carole88 mentioned, everything else you'll need can be printed online.)

Over the last six years, we've averaged a trip to DL about twice a year, so I can also answer some of your questions regarding the two theme parks there. We've also stayed in all three DL hotels, so I can answer those questions, as well. We live in NC and are fortunate enough to also get to Disney World 3-5 times a year, but I have to say that I like DL better! We love how everything is all right there together - all the hotels, the two theme parks, and Downtown Disney.

carole88 - I'm so sorry to hear about your DD's wrist! Thank goodness the cast will be off before we sail. Here's Pixie Dust that she'll be cleared for the zip line excursion!!!

I'm working on my FE gifts! No new FE yet, though. I've previously used a royal blue nautical bag from the Dollar Tree, but it's really too small. I think I have some Disney tote bags that I might adapt to use as our FE this time.

As far as excursions, we're doing the Canyon Canopy Adventure in Cabo, Hike to the Lighthouse in Mazatlan, and then DH and DD are doing the Outdoor Adventure in Puerto Vallarta. I decided that riding a mule up the side of a mountain and then rappelling back down wasn't my idea of a fun time, so I sheduled myself a nice, relaxing massage while they're away! No Palo for us this trip. However, I did book it for a "date night" for my niece and her DH Friday evening while we watch their four kids that night.

wonder - we've never done the Priority Dessert Seating, but I've heard both good and bad things about it. The good is that you have a great view and they give you treats. The bad is always about how expensive it is. Justmestace mentions it in her Mexican Riviera trip report, so you might want to check it out: Post #58 on Page 4 http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1851396 Or, you can always post your questions on the DIS's Disneyland board.

califchris - I am right there with you!!! It always seems like the cruise is soooo far away and then all of a sudden it's here!!! I've been having fun getting the FE gifts together. However, I'm totally not looking forward to all the packing I have to do!

Okay, I think that about catches me up on everything here. I'm really looking forward to meeting all of you SOON!!!

 

[Mulan's Ma]

Right now, the doctors suspect either Celiac or Crone's Disease. Poor thing, DD just wants an answer. We're hoping she has one before the cruise!

One of the families traveling in my caravan keeps gluten free due to their DD's Celiac. The mom is an expert and will be happy to share tips with you and your DD. One of the great things about DCL is that they have many gluten free options including a GF cake if you buy the welcome package!

Linda

 

[Deb T.]

Doin' the DOCUMENT DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!

I was just backing out of the driveway at 2:30pmEST when up pulled that beautiful brown UPS truck with the Package Fairy! He usually visits the neighbor across the street (I swear she gets mail order stuff at least 3 days a week!!!) but TODAY he walked up to ME with a little white puffy envelope! I was very surprised when I saw the return address was DCL because I didn't expect docs until next week at the earliest! The address label said 3-day tracking. So, be on the lookout for your very own Package Fairy to pay you a little visit!!!!!!!!!

 

[Deb T.]

One of the families traveling in my caravan keeps gluten free due to their DD's Celiac. The mom is an expert and will be happy to share tips with you and your DD. One of the great things about DCL is that they have many gluten free options including a GF cake if you buy the welcome package!

Linda

Thanks, Linda! If that's the diagnosis, we will definitely spend time talking with your friend for as much advice as she can give! I'm heading to DD's now. Wish us luck for tomorrow! ~Deb

 

[wonder]

We are doing the cruise document dance also!!! We just received ours from the UPS guy....I was surprised they came this early! We also printed out our wonderful sign that Tinkerbell's shadow made for us....We are just waiting for a door to put it on!!!

 

[califchris]

I'm excited that the documents are starting to arrive, but that means the cruise is close and I need to get my butt in gear and start getting ready. I was able to get my pillowcase stencil design done last night, so that's one less thing to do. Whew!

 

[BeachyGirl]

Wow-I can't wait to get home to see if anything has been delievered to my house!!
How exciting!!

 

[Displaced CA Girl]

No documents for us yet Maybe tomorrow But then again, the anticipation is part of the fun!

 

[carole88]

No documents for us yet either. I think it takes a little longer if you went thru a travel agent.