July 1st, 2006 070106 07/01/06 20060701 07012006

[mattmommy]

Some of our group (14) will be doing the Dolphin excusion. Rumor has it up at running on 6/30

DH wants to do the turtle/stingrays thing so I let him pick that trip. I was hoping for a nice beach day to get rid of the pasty, white, winter girl look. I'm sure I'll get sun wherever I go.

I just hope the beaches at cc and everywhere else are warm. Last time we went to St. Maarten and St. Thomas and it was soooo hot and the water was sooooo cold.

Sunday 2am. I'm there. I have to make them for DM and DF because they're not ready to commit to that early time and also because because df is surprising dm with an upgrade from inside to an oceanview
They're going from deck 7 to deck 2 right next to her 3 sisters and their rooms.

I can't stop reading these boards. At least I'm not sitting here reading the boards and eating chocolate. Or better yet a Palo souffle or a Lumiere's creme brulee.

 

[Skuba2]

Good luck with ressies guys!! Pixie dust your way.

We are booked on the dolphin excursion. If dolphin discovery does re-open, is that the one Disney uses? Will it be 3 -3 3.5 hours again? Tell me if anyone else gets to go on this.

Deb

 

[MrShiny]

I asked the dolphin folks (they have great online chat support on their web site) and they are not sure if Disney is booking with them in Cozumel yet (note, they are the same ones who do Cancun). Unless the site changes, it looks like Disney is only doing Cancun, which means an all day excursion (including the tender to Cancun and the bus to the dolphins).

I think if you want a shorter excursion, it might be better to book directly. However the park is only supposed to open a few days before we get there, so of course it's possible they might miss that mark (although they are taking bookings for those dates).

If it's a priority, check the cancellation policies. You might want to double book and then cancel the Disney one when Cozumel seems like a sure thing.

 

[mattmommy]

Ok. Here I am in NJ at 2... no make that 3am now. Can't get to make ressie. Is it possible the DCL site didn't "spring forward". I'm ready to drop, but I want to say I stayed up and did some good. Is it me?

 

[happyatdisney]

No, not you, I am here doing the same stupid thing. My family thought I was nuts. I must say though, glad it's not just me. I was having visions of all these Palo times getting booked as I sit here unable to do anything!

 

[mattmommy]

any luck yet? It's now 3-4am.

 

[happyatdisney]

Yes, finally!! It was at the 3/4 a.m. time slot. Guess DCL forgot to "spring forward" I can't believe I have been up for an hour and a half to do this.........

 

[mattmommy]

Yep. got mine. Had to get 10 palo dinners and only 4 cc members. got 8. as long as somebody brings me a soufle they won't get hurt.

 

[ldb1030]

I'm here also!

 

[ldb1030]

I THINK I'm done but it's 3:51am so what do I know!?!?
Going back to bed now! Good night everyone! Or should I say good-morning!?

 

[MrShiny]

Couldn't quite make it until 4, but got everything I wanted this morning.

We going to try Stingray City, although the kids aren't the best swimmers! From what I hear, we should be OK once we get to the sandbar from the boat.

Also booked a couple of things on our own - the Seaworld Explorer in Grand Cayman (the Disney version cost more and didn't leave late enough for us getting back from Stingray City) and the Dolphin Encounter Cozumel (they are still only offering Cancun through Disney).

Got a Palo dinner and a brunch, oh and a rasul too

 

[todayray]

Hi everyone-glad you all were successful in your ressies!
I thought i had everything good to go, but i didn't have my son's friend's birthdate at the time of booking, so it wasn't entered. I had noticed it earlier, but figured i would get around to entering it later....weeellllll-no ressies until it's in there, so i had to call at 9am for Disney to enter it into reservation. Now it's 9:15, and it tells me i can't pull up my reservation at this time. I hope it's not monday until everything gets adjusted properly
Well, i'm sure it will all work out, i was just so excited to get the ball rolling.

Did some shopping this weekend and made some serious headway!

 

[Funfoody]

Okay, I tried it at 3AM, but only because I had to go to the bathroom, anyway! When it didn't work, I went back to bed and tried again this morning.

The only thing I wanted that was booked was an early time for Palo on the Grand Cayman day (there were plenty of times available, just not 6pm), so I changed my plan a little... and I think my new plan was better. Instead of just Palo dinner on Tuesday, we're doing Palo High Tea on Monday and Palo dinner on Friday.

We wanted to book Palo early so we could retrieve the kids and give them their regular meals in the restaurant (we have the 8:30 seating). We didn't want to wait until the end of the cruise to experience Palo, but in the new plan, the High Tea is a kind of teaser earlier in the cruise.

We're going to Seaworld Semi Sub on Grand Cayman and the Tulum Ruins (I've been really hoping that we'd go to Cozumel and be able to see those- my husband and I went there before the kids were born, and had great time- we wanted to show that lovely seaside ruin to the kids... I hope it's still in good shape after the hurricane!).

Oh, and I checked our airline reservations, and they changed their times! Luckily, not to times that will be a problem- although it would have been nice if they had sent me an e-mail...

 

[ldb1030]

Sounds like everyone did well!

FUNFOODY- we got 6pm on Grand Cayman day! Now I feel bad but sounds like your plan will work!

Don't forget to email your party info (names ages, where you live), so I can make the list eventually!

 

[todayray]

Disney efficiently added the birth date info-and when i was fiinished my last post, i was able to get in and register. we're doing aquariders/snorkel in Grand Caymen and we're doing the Tulum tour too in Cozumel. My husband and the boys are doing the conch tram and museum tour in Key West, they are all history/information nuts. We're doing Palo on Key West night.
Question: jet skis on Castaway?? do you know prices and age for driving?
Michelle

 

[happyatdisney]

I always knew I was a planner, but now after last night, I feel like I have truly crossed the line into "Obsessive Disney Planner" territory! Really. There is nothing else on this planet that would willingly get me up at 3 a.m.........and keep me up for an hour and a half! All I could think of was: I have NOT been planning this trip for a year, only to not get what I want due to needing a little sleep!

Anyway, we got: Palo brunch on Monday, and dinner on Thursday, kayak cruise at Key West for Dan and Melissa (I am riding the trolley......booking independently so I can get on and off.....and touring the "town"), Bottom fishing at CC for Dan, and spa treatment for me on Sunday morning to start things off right! GC and Cozumel (assuming we go there) we are doing independent of Disney. I think we (or at least Dan and Melissa, not so sure about me) are going to do the stingray/snorkel thing with Captain Marvin, and I really think we are just going to explore Cozumel on our own right now. We did that at Nassau when we did our first cruise, and honestly it is still one of our fondest memories.

OK, so looks like we are good. Now, on to the next phase of trip planning: shopping! Who's got the sales??

 

[MrShiny]

Maybe we'll see you at brunch on Monday and dinner on Tuesday!

We thought about Tulum, but it is a long day and we were unsure of how the kids would handle it. Besides, Josie (7) had her heart set on dolphins!

Glad we got the rasul again (we did that treatment in '01). Even more glad my wife agreed to it! It is definitely worthwhile, imho! Steam, mud, and, um, privacy! a great combination.


Is anyone going to the parks before the cruise? We'll be there from 6/24.

 

[Husker4040]

I don't have anything to report on excursions yet, but I CAN help with the shopping. I've been shopping for what seems like forever! Without knowing what stores are in your local area, I'll tell you what I saw at the mall yesterday. JCPenney has a LOT of dresses on sale. Younkers, Von Maur, and Dillards were all the same. Of course, most proms have already happened in our area.

Shorts are out everywhere here. Kohls is where we got a LOT of stuff. In fact, if it weren't pouring rain, I might go again. I think they have another big sale this weekend.

I researched sun block. You want something with either Parsol 1789, or avobenzone. Same thing, but listed either way. I have looked at most of the sun blocks out there, and have only found 2 with this. One is No Ad, and I can't remember who the other was. With this ingredient, it blocks both UVA and UVB rays. I have a child who is a red head, and need to find her the most protection. I will very this info with the dermatologist this week.




Patti

 

[ldb1030]

Patti- My dermatologist recommends Parsol though I have not bought any yet.


Happyatdisney- did you book Captain Marvin's yet? We did! What time are you going? We are also probably going to do the trolly in Key West on our own so we can hop on and off!

I was just so happy I could get DH and DD on the parasailing at CC! They are VERY happy!

 

[happyatdisney]

Lisa: No, I have not booked Captain Marvin's yet, will probably do so this week. My problem with this one is me! I am not so sure I feel like getting in the water to play with stingrays......... I really have mixed emotions on this. But on the other hand, I would love to see DD and DH enjoy the excursion, and take pictures for them. They also want to do some snorkeling on this one, and again, that's not a me thing. So, I go and watch, or spend the time on the beach, relaxing and soaking up some rays........ There's my dilemma. What time did you book?

Patti: My goodness you have done some sunblock research. I had not even thought to go to the extent that you have. Thanks for the great advice! (Thanks for the shopping tips too: Kohls is our favorite too! )

Nancy