July 5th Dream

[falconfan]

So we are 422 days out and I seem to get more excited every day . I want to know has anyone already planned their excursions? My DD and I are super excited to swim with the dolphins that is a must do for us. As for Castaway Cay we are thinking about parasailing. How about you?

Nassau we will probably just relax on the ship. At Castaway Cay we will probably enjoy the Adult side and leave the teens to the teen beach.

 

[luvavacation]

Hi! My family is also sailing on the July 5th Dream! This will be our 6th Disney cruise, and by the time the sail date comes around, it will have been 3 years since our last cruise, so we will be SO ready to have fun!

Sailing with me (Mom, the one starting her onboard shopping list already!) will be DH (the one saying, "Do we really need to buy that?" ), our daughters, one celebrating her 16th birthday, the other celebrating her 21st, and they are each bringing their best friends on the cruise with us. The girls will have an inside cabin, mom and dad get the veranda! Sure, it would have been nice to have connecting cabins, but DH has to have a veranda (hence we save and save instead of going on more frequent, less expensive cruises), and I was not willing to pay for two connecting verandas! Plus, the eldest DD and her best friend will be very strict about rules with younger DD and her friend! Since we have known the best friends since they were all very young, and consider them our "extra" daughters, we know we will have a wonderful time with them!


I am so excited at the thought of this cruise, and just hope that it all works out! I can't wait to share the fun of a Disney cruise with the best friends (they have not been as fortunate as my daughters when it comes to vacations), and we are all looking forward to spending time together before life takes the older girls on their paths away from home.

My future 16 year old and her friend are really looking forward to spending time in the teen club, and my future 21 year old would like to do Palo and the spa. Me, I just want to walk the path at Castaway Cay holding a fancy froo-froo drink in each hand as I gaze at the Disney Dream, thrilled that I got to go on it!

Is it really over a year away still?

Oh, and is anyone else planning on staying on Disney property before the cruise? If so, what are you going to be doing for 4th of July fireworks?

 

[falconfan]

Hi! My family is also sailing on the July 5th Dream! This will be our 6th Disney cruise, and by the time the sail date comes around, it will have been 3 years since our last cruise, so we will be SO ready to have fun!

Sailing with me (Mom, the one starting her onboard shopping list already!) will be DH (the one saying, "Do we really need to buy that?" ), our daughters, one celebrating her 16th birthday, the other celebrating her 21st, and they are each bringing their best friends on the cruise with us. The girls will have an inside cabin, mom and dad get the veranda! Sure, it would have been nice to have connecting cabins, but DH has to have a veranda (hence we save and save instead of going on more frequent, less expensive cruises), and I was not willing to pay for two connecting verandas! Plus, the eldest DD and her best friend will be very strict about rules with younger DD and her friend! Since we have known the best friends since they were all very young, and consider them our "extra" daughters, we know we will have a wonderful time with them!


I am so excited at the thought of this cruise, and just hope that it all works out! I can't wait to share the fun of a Disney cruise with the best friends (they have not been as fortunate as my daughters when it comes to vacations), and we are all looking forward to spending time together before life takes the older girls on their paths away from home.

My future 16 year old and her friend are really looking forward to spending time in the teen club, and my future 21 year old would like to do Palo and the spa. Me, I just want to walk the path at Castaway Cay holding a fancy froo-froo drink in each hand as I gaze at the Disney Dream, thrilled that I got to go on it!

Is it really over a year away still?

Oh, and is anyone else planning on staying on Disney property before the cruise? If so, what are you going to be doing for 4th of July fireworks?

Welcome. Nice thing about this cruise is being able to enjoy the walks on Castaway Cay twice.

We will, most likely, be staying at the Radisson at Port Canaveral. It is inexpensive and includes parking during the cruise and a shuttle to and from the ship. Hadn't thought about fireworks abut will probably just watch the Cocoa Beach fireworks.

 

[stitchy626]

Hi! My family is also sailing on the July 5th Dream! This will be our 6th Disney cruise, and by the time the sail date comes around, it will have been 3 years since our last cruise, so we will be SO ready to have fun!

Sailing with me (Mom, the one starting her onboard shopping list already!) will be DH (the one saying, "Do we really need to buy that?" ), our daughters, one celebrating her 16th birthday, the other celebrating her 21st, and they are each bringing their best friends on the cruise with us. The girls will have an inside cabin, mom and dad get the veranda! Sure, it would have been nice to have connecting cabins, but DH has to have a veranda (hence we save and save instead of going on more frequent, less expensive cruises), and I was not willing to pay for two connecting verandas! Plus, the eldest DD and her best friend will be very strict about rules with younger DD and her friend! Since we have known the best friends since they were all very young, and consider them our "extra" daughters, we know we will have a wonderful time with them!


I am so excited at the thought of this cruise, and just hope that it all works out! I can't wait to share the fun of a Disney cruise with the best friends (they have not been as fortunate as my daughters when it comes to vacations), and we are all looking forward to spending time together before life takes the older girls on their paths away from home.

My future 16 year old and her friend are really looking forward to spending time in the teen club, and my future 21 year old would like to do Palo and the spa. Me, I just want to walk the path at Castaway Cay holding a fancy froo-froo drink in each hand as I gaze at the Disney Dream, thrilled that I got to go on it!

Is it really over a year away still?

Oh, and is anyone else planning on staying on Disney property before the cruise? If so, what are you going to be doing for 4th of July fireworks?

Welcome!

So glad you mentioned the fireworks. We're planning on staying at the Airport Hyatt since our flight will get in late but I knew we'd be missing the fireworks. Now I'm rethinking the plan and my find a new place to stay.

 

[falconfan]

Welcome!

So glad you mentioned the fireworks. We're planning on staying at the Airport Hyatt since our flight will get in late but I knew we'd be missing the fireworks. Now I'm rethinking the plan and my find a new place to stay.

Radisson at the port is really nice. Close to the port and the beach. It has a free shuttle service that can be used to go for shopping or to the beach. Lot's of people stay there before their cruises and some people will have an informal meet and greet before the cruise at the pool. I'll look for some pictures and post them later.

 

[luvavacation]

Thanks for the welcomes!

If we weren't bringing the friends, I would consider the Radisson, as parking is an extra expense we don't like paying.

However, the friends have never been to Disney, and with banking and borrowing we have just enough points to stay at our DVC, so I thought it might be nice to stay there for a night or two and let the girls experience Disney. Nothing is set in stone yet, we will be having a meeting with girls and parents soon to work out plans and see if the girls would rather go to Disney or stay at the beach beforehand. It would be nice to watch fireworks on a beach somewhere, though I am hoping the Dream will also have fireworks one night at sea. Oh, the girls are going to love that!

Hey, it is bedtime! One night closer to the cruise.....

 

[Dylcal]

Hi! My family is also sailing on the July 5th Dream! This will be our 6th Disney cruise, and by the time the sail date comes around, it will have been 3 years since our last cruise, so we will be SO ready to have fun!

Sailing with me (Mom, the one starting her onboard shopping list already!) will be DH (the one saying, "Do we really need to buy that?" ), our daughters, one celebrating her 16th birthday, the other celebrating her 21st, and they are each bringing their best friends on the cruise with us. The girls will have an inside cabin, mom and dad get the veranda! Sure, it would have been nice to have connecting cabins, but DH has to have a veranda (hence we save and save instead of going on more frequent, less expensive cruises), and I was not willing to pay for two connecting verandas! Plus, the eldest DD and her best friend will be very strict about rules with younger DD and her friend! Since we have known the best friends since they were all very young, and consider them our "extra" daughters, we know we will have a wonderful time with them!


I am so excited at the thought of this cruise, and just hope that it all works out! I can't wait to share the fun of a Disney cruise with the best friends (they have not been as fortunate as my daughters when it comes to vacations), and we are all looking forward to spending time together before life takes the older girls on their paths away from home.

My future 16 year old and her friend are really looking forward to spending time in the teen club, and my future 21 year old would like to do Palo and the spa. Me, I just want to walk the path at Castaway Cay holding a fancy froo-froo drink in each hand as I gaze at the Disney Dream, thrilled that I got to go on it!

Is it really over a year away still?

Oh, and is anyone else planning on staying on Disney property before the cruise? If so, what are you going to be doing for 4th of July fireworks?

We have booked rooms at the Polynesian! I am sure we will hit a park for the fireworks or perhaps sit on the Poly's beach and enjoy them from a distance -- my son with be 17 but has never liked the noise and we have spent too many nights in the park trying to outrun it when he was small

We actually are on the Med cruise this summer so we have two years of our "Disney" fix. Keep saying this will be our last but my son loves the cuise!!!

Sheryl

 

[falconfan]

We have booked rooms at the Polynesian! I am sure we will hit a park for the fireworks or perhaps sit on the Poly's beach and enjoy them from a distance -- my son with be 17 but has never liked the noise and we have spent too many nights in the park trying to outrun it when he was small

We actually are on the Med cruise this summer so we have two years of our "Disney" fix. Keep saying this will be our last but my son loves the cuise!!!

Sheryl

My wife and I stayed at the Polynesian when she was pregnant with our son. We had a lagoon view room and were able to see the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom. The reflections on the water were beautiful! Also, if you can, eat dinner at Narcoosee's during the fireworks show. They offer beautiful views of the show and pipe the music in to the restaurant from the show. Great steaks too.

 

[Dylcal]

My wife and I stayed at the Polynesian when she was pregnant with our son. We had a lagoon view room and were able to see the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom. The reflections on the water were beautiful! Also, if you can, eat dinner at Narcoosee's during the fireworks show. They offer beautiful views of the show and pipe the music in to the restaurant from the show. Great steaks too.

We have stayed at the Polynesian several times and can't seem to go anywhere else! I think we we were spoiled when we were upgraded to the Concierage level one year. We enjoyed the lounge - my son loved the 24-hour snacks and I loved the Wine and Cognacs offered in the evening!

 

[falconfan]

We have stayed at the Polynesian several times and can't seem to go anywhere else! I think we we were spoiled when we were upgraded to the Concierage level one year. We enjoyed the lounge - my son loved the 24-hour snacks and I loved the Wine and Cognacs offered in the evening!

How did you get upgraded? Is this an extra cost or something that Disney did?

 

[Dylcal]

How did you get upgraded? Is this an extra cost or something that Disney did?

It was something that Disney did. It was our first cruise and my son was about 5 and I had to pay two adult fares since it was just the two of us. I figured they had the opening and were being nice! Anyway I was hooked after that so now I end up paying extra to stay there!! Probably smart business sense on Disney's behalf!

 

[keaster]

Hi everyone...we booked this cruise while on the May 5th med. It will be me, DH, DD8 and my mother in law (we booked two connecting staterooms).

It will be cruise #4 for us, #1 for MIL!!

 

[randlhome]

Welcome Keaster.

We have a DD8 too. Cant wait--- seems so far away.. HOW was the med???

 

[CodyBoy]

did you guys see this, it looks so fun !!
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...15580&CMP=SOC-DCLFY10Q3DCL_SocMedFacebook0034

 

[ejw]

Hi everyone...we booked this cruise while on the May 5th med. It will be me, DH, DD8 and my mother in law (we booked two connecting staterooms).

It will be cruise #4 for us, #1 for MIL!!

Hi keaster. welcome to the thread. we are on the aug 18th med. how was the cruise and did you do any of the disney excursions?

ellen

 

[keaster]

Hi Ellen!

The med cruise was great, we only had one rainy day at the port in La Spezia but once we got to Pisa for our excursion the rain stopped. The rest of the cruise was great weather, not too hot or cold.

We did DCL excursions in Valletta, Tunis, Naples, Rome and La Spezia. We just did our own thing in Villefranche and Corsica. The entertainment on the ship was great and the service was excellent. We'd never been to Europe before, so this was a great way to get our first taste of it.

Now time to countdown to the Dream

 

[ejw]

Hi Ellen!

The med cruise was great, we only had one rainy day at the port in La Spezia but once we got to Pisa for our excursion the rain stopped. The rest of the cruise was great weather, not too hot or cold.

We did DCL excursions in Valletta, Tunis, Naples, Rome and La Spezia. We just did our own thing in Villefranche and Corsica. The entertainment on the ship was great and the service was excellent. We'd never been to Europe before, so this was a great way to get our first taste of it.

Now time to countdown to the Dream

which DCL excursions did you do and would you recommend them?

ellen

 

[keaster]

Here's what we did:

Malta - Valetta for Kids
It's a short tour (3-4 hours) which is good because there is quite a bit of walking to various sites in the town. It includes a stop at the toy museum but be warned...I wouldn't really classify it as a museum...it's basically a two room building with a few display cases of old toys! Also includes a stop for ice cream. Good for younger kids because it is short.

Tunis - Bardo Musem and Medina with Youth Activity
First stop is the Bardo Museum, kids get to make their own mosaic while the parents check out the displays, lots of interested stuff there. Then its off to the souks (shops) in the Medina...if you don't like aggressive sales, this one isn't for you. The shopkeepers are very much in your face, but just politely say no if you're not interested...if you like to haggle its good. I actually enjoyed this one.

Naples - Lost Treasures of Herculaneum
This is another half day tour. Herculaneum was another town destroyed along with Pompeii by the Mt. Vesuvius volcano. This site is more well preserved because of where its located. The guide was informative, a little hard to understand. They then take you to a cameo-making shop where you get some refreshments and can do some shopping. Again, lots of walking through the ruins.

Rome - Classical Rome
The big full day tour. Bus takes you to Rome, first stop is the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square. The museum was packed with tour groups, so its not much fun for the little ones as they get shuffled along in the crowd and can't see much. Next is a three course lunch, which was pretty good. Then a tour of the Colisseum. Our guide was very knowledgeable (she actually works in the Vatican archives, so she had some good insight). Lots and lots of walking!!

La Spezia - Pisa
Another half day tour. The guide on the bus had the most annoying, loud voice, but the guide at Pisa was really good. Bus takes you to Pisa, you tour inside the Baptistry and church and the outside of the leaning tower (does not include tower climb). Also time for some quick souvenir shopping. This one was okay, despite some rainy weather at the start.

 

[ejw]

Here's what we did:

Malta - Valetta for Kids
It's a short tour (3-4 hours) which is good because there is quite a bit of walking to various sites in the town. It includes a stop at the toy museum but be warned...I wouldn't really classify it as a museum...it's basically a two room building with a few display cases of old toys! Also includes a stop for ice cream. Good for younger kids because it is short.

Tunis - Bardo Musem and Medina with Youth Activity
First stop is the Bardo Museum, kids get to make their own mosaic while the parents check out the displays, lots of interested stuff there. Then its off to the souks (shops) in the Medina...if you don't like aggressive sales, this one isn't for you. The shopkeepers are very much in your face, but just politely say no if you're not interested...if you like to haggle its good. I actually enjoyed this one.

Naples - Lost Treasures of Herculaneum
This is another half day tour. Herculaneum was another town destroyed along with Pompeii by the Mt. Vesuvius volcano. This site is more well preserved because of where its located. The guide was informative, a little hard to understand. They then take you to a cameo-making shop where you get some refreshments and can do some shopping. Again, lots of walking through the ruins.

Rome - Classical Rome
The big full day tour. Bus takes you to Rome, first stop is the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square. The museum was packed with tour groups, so its not much fun for the little ones as they get shuffled along in the crowd and can't see much. Next is a three course lunch, which was pretty good. Then a tour of the Colisseum. Our guide was very knowledgeable (she actually works in the Vatican archives, so she had some good insight). Lots and lots of walking!!

La Spezia - Pisa
Another half day tour. The guide on the bus had the most annoying, loud voice, but the guide at Pisa was really good. Bus takes you to Pisa, you tour inside the Baptistry and church and the outside of the leaning tower (does not include tower climb). Also time for some quick souvenir shopping. This one was okay, despite some rainy weather at the start.

thanks for the information. I appreciate it.

ellen

 

[luvavacation]

YES! Summer seems to be finally here! It is hot and humid outside, my home is 81 degrees inside (and I won't turn on the air until everyone in the home complains!), and the pool is almost ready!

For me, summer always seems to go by way too quickly. I love the heat, the sun, the flowers, even the humidity is better than snow for my liking. I figure if summer is finally here, then that means the next 3 months will just fly by, and then school will be starting again and winter setting in and planning for the Dream will be in full swing. The long wait until our cruise is easier to deal with when I am busy with summer!

Is anyone else NOT taking a nice trip before our Dream sailing? I know we aren't, though I would love to. Unfortunately, up until January, the last 18 months were terrible for us financially, and we just want to be prudent with our spending before next summer. Then, the wallets will be open and the bills will be spilling like a waterfall!

The waiting for a vacation is killer, though, and when we finally get on that ship, you will know me as the crazy lady screaming her head off because she finally gets to have a break and there will be no cleaning or cooking for me for 5 days! I shall just sit back and be pampered! Oh, and shop - the DCL Dooney and Burke is calling me (and I can't ever see spending more than $30 on a purse, but Disney has me so brainwashed, that I want to spend over $200 on a purse all because it is a DCL purse!).

But until then, yeah summer!