July 29th 2011 DREAM

[patsal]

We are down in Florida now, missed all the latest snow up north. Next week we'll buy our annual pass and start visiting WDW three or four times a week. The weather has been very comfortable and will go up to the mid 70's next week. A little chilly in the morning but gets warm by 10am. The grandkids will be down in 8 more days, there in a big countdown up there

Sounds like a nice break form the everyday inch or two of snow I'm getting in Western New York! Enjoy--have fun with the kids!

 

[bzkds]

I am just booking on the Dream for July 29th! It will be our first cruise ever.. me, dh, dd18, dd15 and ds 12. We are also on 2nd seating. Staterooms 8550 and 8552. This is all so new and crazy.. I hope I can figure it out haha.

Beth

 

[kittyscrap1]

I am just booking on the Dream for July 29th! It will be our first cruise ever.. me, dh, dd18, dd15 and ds 12. We are also on 2nd seating. Staterooms 8550 and 8552. This is all so new and crazy.. I hope I can figure it out haha.

Beth

Beth...you will have a blast!! And the new teen area I heard is amazing! We are down the hall from you all. We've been on a few of these and I was a travel agent for 20 plus years so let me know if I can help at all.

 

[bzkds]

I was a travel agent for 20 plus years so let me know if I can help at all.

thanks! Ok I have a couple of questions.. how does tipping/gratuities generally work on the ship? What is customary?

and... can you explain the dinner seating to me? I was reading on a few threads that dinner can take 2 hrs, so if we have 2nd seating, it seems like that would take up the entire evening. Is there time to see shows, etc?

oh and I notice you're from VA? My husband grew up in Winchester, but we've been in California since the early '80's.

Beth

 

[scrapmom12]

Family of four signed up for our second cruise. I have two kids ages 9,11.
On our last cruise, my kids enjoyed all the decorated doors and fish extenders. This time we are planning to make our door magnets and make a fish extender. It would be great to meet other cruisers and have fun with fish extender gifts. If anyone has more experience with this, i would appreciate any comments or suggestions.

 

[patsal]

thanks! Ok I have a couple of questions.. how does tipping/gratuities generally work on the ship? What is customary?

and... can you explain the dinner seating to me? I was reading on a few threads that dinner can take 2 hrs, so if we have 2nd seating, it seems like that would take up the entire evening. Is there time to see shows, etc?

oh and I notice you're from VA? My husband grew up in Winchester, but we've been in California since the early '80's.

Beth

From previous cruises with Disney we had second seating and dinner was 1.5 to 2 hours lon, but they rushed us a bit on pirate night so we could see the show. When I booked I was told second seating and the 7 pm show time. So I figure we will dress for dinner before the show, from the show maybe have drinks then head to dinner.
From Disney's site:
Onboard ServicesQuestion
What about gratuities?
Answer
It is customary to give gratuities in recognition of service, which you will most likely be treated to in abundance aboard the ship. As a guideline, we suggest the following:

Per Guest per cruise 3-Night 4-Night 7-Night
Dining Room Server $12.00 $16.00 $28.00
Dining Room Asst. Server $9.00 $12.00 $21.00
Dining Room Head Server $3.00 $4.00 $7.00
Stateroom Host/
Hostess $12.00 $16.00 $28.00
Dining Manager Your Discretion
Room Service Your Discretion
Palo Gratuity included
Vista Spa & Salon Your Discretion
Babysitting Gratuity not expected
Shore Excursions Optional;
not included in shore
excursion price.

For your convenience, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs. All gratuities can be charged to your room charge.

 

[2carsboys]

subbing. we are celebrating my parents 40th anniversary on this trip. there will be 11 of us. 6 adults and 5 kiddos. we can't wait!!!!

 

[scrapmom12]

This will be our first time in the Bahamas. My kids are not thrill seekers. Will the Atlantis Aquaventure park be too much for our kids age 9, 11? I was debating between the waterpark or the beach? We are all getting excited about the cruise. I just finished sewing my fish extender.

 

[bzkds]

This will be our first time in the Bahamas. My kids are not thrill seekers. Will the Atlantis Aquaventure park be too much for our kids age 9, 11? I was debating between the waterpark or the beach? We are all getting excited about the cruise. I just finished sewing my fish extender.

I haven't cruised before, or been to the Bahamas, so take this as you will.. but I was reading somewhere else someone suggested not spending to do the beach in the Bahamas since Castaway Cay is so much nicer. But as I said.. I haven't been to either yet lol!

Anyone else's kids interesting in "meeting" before the trip? Patsal's dd and mine have connected on Facebook.. I saw someone else has an 18 year old going? I have dd18 and ds 12 who would love to know some others.
Beth

 

[FirstTimeDC]

Bzkds & Patsal - we have a 17 yr old nephew going. Will your girls be in the teen club or are they too old? We also have two little girls going. Can't wait! Getting closer.....

 

[patsal]

Bzkds & Patsal - we have a 17 yr old nephew going. Will your girls be in the teen club or are they too old? We also have two little girls going. Can't wait! Getting closer.....

Yes for my DD, def not too old for the teen clubs...last cruise DS was 17 and spent a lot of time there.

 

[FirstTimeDC]

Thanks! Good to know. He loves the teen clubs. He has met some great kids/teens on our Disney Cruises. He doesn't like the teen clubs on other cruiseships, but loves it on Disney. ?!?

 

[kittyscrap1]

thanks! Ok I have a couple of questions.. how does tipping/gratuities generally work on the ship? What is customary?

and... can you explain the dinner seating to me? I was reading on a few threads that dinner can take 2 hrs, so if we have 2nd seating, it seems like that would take up the entire evening. Is there time to see shows, etc?

oh and I notice you're from VA? My husband grew up in Winchester, but we've been in California since the early '80's.

Beth

Hi Beth..I think your questions were answered already...I haven't been on for a while. I am in VA but not from here..military transplant..we've been in NoVa and beach area. Grew up in Chicago area.

We haven't done Atlantis...we went over there on our own once..did the Dolphin adventure once..and did just the Market and Senor Frogs the other time..I have one that wouldn't enjoy the waterpark but have heard it's pricey but alot of fun.

 

[natt]

Bzkds & Patsal - we have a 17 yr old nephew going. Will your girls be in the teen club or are they too old? We also have two little girls going. Can't wait! Getting closer.....

Hi Everyone, haven't checked on this thread for awhile. Our DD16 will be traveling with us and we also have 2nd dinner seating. I'm happy to see that there are more posts showing up to reassure her that there will be kids around her age in the teen club

 

[patsal]

Just checking in, looking at my ressie on line today and doing some extra planning, so I thought I'd stop and see how everyone else was doing!

 

[scrapmom12]

I just realized my son and daughter will not be in the same kids club. My ds just turned 11 and he will be in the Edge and my dd9 will not. Last year they were in the same club. Anyone else have a child planning to hang out at the Edge?

I have been working on making us some family tshirts for the cruise. Counting the days.

 

[Dizzyworld]

Good Morning.......add us to the list of charaters sailing on this cruise. Actually we have been booked since 11/09 but with our DS starting college in the fall 2011, I was still debating about the cruises. Since I bought airfare and paid off the cruise, I guess we are going. We are doing a B2B also. We will be on the 8/02 after this cruise.

It will be my DH, DS (17 - 6 weeks to early to go to Palo - next cruise), DD (16), and myself. This will be cruise # 8 for us.

As for excursions, the only ones we are hoping for is scuba at Nassau and fishing at CC both for DH and DS. [Last year they did scuba in the big tank at EPCOT. Lots of fun for them.] Not sure what else we might want to do?

Looking forward to communicating with all of you over the next few months. Being part of a Dis meet has always made our trips more fun.

 

[Dizzyworld]

Anybody out there? How's the planning going?

 

[natt]

@Dizzyworld; Happy to see you have a DD16 who will be in the teen club also.

 

[scrapmom12]

Hi.I was able to make reservations for palo and excursions. I also looked at some spa options but have not booked yet. I read about the Rain forest room. Has anyone used the rain forest showers before?