July 27, 2013 - Fantasy - Eastern Caribbean

[DayOhDisMom]

Anyone staying at the airport Hyatt the night before?

We are.

 

[DayOhDisMom]

Yes, our family (4 of us) is! So is Tinkerbell 99's family, and Bigeskimodog's family. We're hoping to catch the first bus out, Saturday morning!

Were planning on the first bus also. Maybe second......

 

[loricfam]

Were planning on the first bus also. Maybe second......

We are staying there, too. It's our first cruise, so can you please tell me what times the 1st and 2nd buses are?

 

[martinm]

For those of you planning to catch the first bus, what time is that bus and what is your scheduled port arrival time?

We're staying at the Raddison (sp?) and have not decided yet on how we're getting to the port.
I'm not sure how far that is from the actual port. I kinda expect the hotel to have a shuttle type service but won't count on it.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I (think?) the first bus departs about 9:30? I could be wrong. We might end up on the second or third, depending on how many others have the same idea.

We stay there before every cruise. Last year, we were still in the room when they came to get our bags at 8:30. We were finished packing, and they didn't waste a minute. (Which is very reassuring, to those who are concerned if their bags will make it.)

 

[bobbiwoz]

I need to hear from 1 person.i will be sending all participants PM to their Disboard account next week.

Bobbi

 

[bigeskimodog]

Has anyone ever shipped their FE gifts to port prior to arrival? We're they delivered to your room? How do you send them / address? Worried about weight in luggage for airplane.

This is from the FAQ. But I known people who have done this before without problem. If you want to be sure you can always call DCL.

Many people find with the airlines restricting the amount of luggage you can have it is easier and cheaper to send a box of your items to the cruise ship. It is a great way to save room and weight in your luggage when you ship a box containing your Pirate costumes, diapers and baby supplies, snorkel gear, beach toys, etc.* Before you ship anything, please be aware of the guidelines below.

Courtesy of the DIS Cruise Board

One box per stateroom, no exceptions.
The package must have the guest's full name, ship, sailing date, stateroom number or GTY if you have not been assigned a stateroom number.
The package also must have a packing slip attached to the outside of the box that details the contents of the package. For prescriptions, a copy of the prescription is sufficient. Your list may or may not be read but it must have one. Write packing slip on the outside of the envelope.
NO FOODS/DRINKS OF ANY KIND, LIQUOR OF ANY KIND, FIREARMS, ETC. Items that cannot be shipped to the Disney Cruise Line Warehouse and delivered to the ship include: food products (any and all food products including baby food/formula), beverages (liquor, water, etc.), chemicals, and luggage. These items will not be accepted at the warehouse and will be returned.
The required size of the cartons you are shipping down have to be about the size of a record storage box 12 inches on a side and should not weigh more than 20 pounds.
Address your package to:

Disney Cruise Line Warehouse

Guest Name/Stateroom # (GTY, if you don't know what your room number is)

8633 Transport Drive

Orlando, FL 32832

Phone: 407-566-8196

In the bottom left corner of the top of the package put the following information:

ATTN: Housekeeping

Name
Sail Date
Ship
Stateroom Number
Packing slip
Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00 PM for the 7-Night Cruise on the Disney Magic. (Saturday)

Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00 PM for the 4-Night Cruise on the Disney Wonder. (Sunday)

Packages must arrive by Wednesday by 3:00 PM for the 3-Night Cruise on the Disney Wonder (Thursday)

If your box is hit on by the screening dog or chosen for additional screening they will open the list and the box and look through it.* They will close it back up and provided nothing forbidden is in it, then it will be in your room as usual after boarding. These boxes will be coming on the ship with the crew mail among other things so they may be in the staterooms later than the rest of your luggage.

 

[cdl17]

For those of you planning to catch the first bus, what time is that bus and what is your scheduled port arrival time?

We're staying at the Raddison (sp?) and have not decided yet on how we're getting to the port.
I'm not sure how far that is from the actual port. I kinda expect the hotel to have a shuttle type service but won't count on it.

Can't remember bus times but we stayed at the Radisson last year and will do so again this year. We took hotel shuttle to airport and got on Disney bus there. Just have to check in at the airport.

 

[mug318ca]

The last time wr stayed at the Hyatt we had a balcony that overlooked the terminal. When we woke up the morning of the cruise, it was a gas to see the travelers waiting in the security lines while having our coffee on the balcony.

We also like to walk around the airport after most of the stores are closed. We usually have dinner at Chili's and breakfast in the hotel.

 

[BrooklynMommy]

Anyone staying in Cocoa Beach this night before? We have never been and I was wondering if there is anything that we MUST check out.

See you all soon!

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

We are staying there before the cruise. Last time we were there, we did a manatee sightseeing/kayaking expedition with Finexpiditions.com which I would highly recommend. $30 per person for 2 hours that we still talk about!

 

[thelathem5]

For those of you planning to catch the first bus, what time is that bus and what is your scheduled port arrival time?

We're staying at the Raddison (sp?) and have not decided yet on how we're getting to the port.
I'm not sure how far that is from the actual port. I kinda expect the hotel to have a shuttle type service but won't count on it.

We are staying at the Radisson also. They have a shuttle. We made reservation for the shuttle, recommend you do the same.

 

[BrooklynMommy]

We are staying there before the cruise. Last time we were there, we did a manatee sightseeing/kayaking expedition with Finexpiditions.com which I would highly recommend. $30 per person for 2 hours that we still talk about!

Thanks, I will look into that though I doubt my Mother in law will love the idea

We are staying at the La Quinta they have a free breakfast that I am debating about as I may want to get on the boat STARVING.

Happy Packing to ALL!

 

[miksilver]

We'll be at the Residence Inn by Marriott the night before the cruise. We stayed there last summer before our RCCL cruise on the Freedom on loved the space (1 bedroom). Since we are staying for a week at AKV before the cruise I like moving down to Pt. Canaveral and doing a bit of re-packing. What I wear in WDW is not the same as what I wear at night on the cruise. So, I'll be re-packing and then last year we ate dinner at Fish Lips. I think we are going to try another restaurant this time. Nothing wrong with Fish Lips, just want to change it up a bit. Then it's a relaxing night in the room.

I REALLY like having my car right at the port after the cruise so we'll just park there. I know it costs more than an hotel shuttle, but the convenience for us is worth it when we disembark the ship and get right in our own car to start the long drive home. Too many issues with waiting for crowded shuttles in the past.

We leave for our trip on Tuesday, so I am packing this weekend and getting everything ready now. I have a few more details for my FE gifts and those will be all set.

Anyone else worried about over packing?...

Kim

 

[mug318ca]

Guys don't overpack. If anything, we underpack and just deal with it. Ha ha ha...

 

[dbarker]

Guys don't overpack. If anything, we underpack and just deal with it. Ha ha ha...

And the last time DH packed, he left some very important things at home. Needless to say, he is definitely not in charge of packing for this trip.

 

[kgtatg]

We are being "unDisney" the Friday before the cruise and doing Legoland Florida? I'm guessing we are the only ones on the board doing that.

Has anyone else gone there and have any tips for us?

 

[bobbiwoz]

We are being "unDisney" the Friday before the cruise and doing Legoland Florida? I'm guessing we are the only ones on the board doing that.

Has anyone else gone there and have any tips for us?

No, haven't been, but would take our DGC sometime. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say about it!

 

[mrebuck]

On our last cruise, one of my favorite gifts for me personally was a mini bottle of rum. I was planning on giving them to the parents on the list, but then I saw a post on the Cruise Line forum where people said they would be offended by getting such a gift.

Frankly, that thought never crossed my mind. Now that it has, I thought I should ask if anyone on the FE exchange doesn't drink or has a objection to getting such a gift. If so, I'll use an alternate gift for those people.

 

[scottofsdea]

What is everyone planning on doing during the port calls? We know about Castaway Cay - but are at a loss for St. Marteen and St. Thomas. Any suggestions?