June 15 - June 22 2013 Eastern Fantasy

[TIGGER/POOH4]

Good morning fellow cruisers. Another week has gone by.
We now have only

weeks to go to the Fantasy.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

We've been "Disney Challenged" for the past year and a half, but we are now blessed with not only being able to stay at the Grand Californian at Disneyland this coming February, but we've also just booked 4 nights at the Wilderness Lodge villas for after our cruise! It's been about 5 years since we've done WDW, and staying at the WLV is just icing on the cake!

Is there anyone else spending time at WDW before or after the cruise (surf & turf vacation)?

Also, I remember bobbi saying that Fantasy Land at MK has been renovated? What has been re-done/changed?

 

[bobbi565]

We've been "Disney Challenged" for the past year and a half, but we are now blessed with not only being able to stay at the Grand Californian at Disneyland this coming February, but we've also just booked 4 nights at the Wilderness Lodge villas for after our cruise! It's been about 5 years since we've done WDW, and staying at the WLV is just icing on the cake!

Is there anyone else spending time at WDW before or after the cruise (surf & turf vacation)?

Also, I remember bobbi saying that Fantasy Land at MK has been renovated? What has been re-done/changed?

It is the biggest renovation since the opening of the park. Here is the link to the Disney World site's info on it...

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/magic-kingdom/new-fantasyland/

There are two new sections: Enchanted Forest and Storybook Circus. There's an enlarged Dumbo ride with an improved interacting queuing area. There are two new dining areas: Be My Guest Restaurant and Gaston's Tavern, both serving alcoholic beverages for the first time ever in MK. There's a reimagined Goofy's Barnstormer and a new stop on the Disney World Railroad. There's also a new castle, Prince Eric and Belle's, which houses the new Journey of the Little Mermaid ride. Yet to open is a new Princess meet and greet area and a Seven Dwarves Mine Train ride.

At the same time, Disney has renovated Test Track at Epcot and opened a new venue in Downtown Disney called Splitsville, a pretty cool bowling alley.

We really enjoyed the whole scene. I'll post the story when it appears in USA Weekend's spring break edition the first weekend in March.

 

[4newtocruise]

Happy New Year!!!

We are staying a couple days before and after at the Resorts! Not sure what parks, if any, we will do. I would love to go see Harry Potter at Universal.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Thanks for these details, KSDisneyDad! I will have to give this some serious thought. DH and I are both pondering this issue, so that adds to the mix what happens with DS while we're going through all the procedures to run.

BTW...good job in finishing under 30! I think my time would have to be closer to 40.

Thanks. My goal was 30 minutes and during the second lap around the lookout tower trail, I wasn't sure it was going to happen. Before the cruise, I could easily run 5K in 27 minutes here in Denver. I barely made it under 30 minutes. The humidity and heat is harder than running at altitude.

We've been "Disney Challenged" for the past year and a half, but we are now blessed with not only being able to stay at the Grand Californian at Disneyland this coming February, but we've also just booked 4 nights at the Wilderness Lodge villas for after our cruise! It's been about 5 years since we've done WDW, and staying at the WLV is just icing on the cake!

Is there anyone else spending time at WDW before or after the cruise (surf & turf vacation)?

Also, I remember bobbi saying that Fantasy Land at MK has been renovated? What has been re-done/changed?

We will be at Bay Lake Tower 4 nights after the cruise! My oldest actually wants to do the Richard Petty Exotic Car experience for his 18th birthday.

We will probably do Magic Kingdom, but not much else other than relax at the pool.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

We've been "Disney Challenged" for the past year and a half, but we are now blessed with not only being able to stay at the Grand Californian at Disneyland this coming February, but we've also just booked 4 nights at the Wilderness Lodge villas for after our cruise! It's been about 5 years since we've done WDW, and staying at the WLV is just icing on the cake!

Is there anyone else spending time at WDW before or after the cruise (surf & turf vacation)?

Also, I remember bobbi saying that Fantasy Land at MK has been renovated? What has been re-done/changed?

We are flying down to Orlando Tuesday before the cruise. We will stay a house and not at WDW. We are planning on going to SeaWorld, EPCOT and either Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon. We also hope to stop over at Downtown Disney to do some shopping.

 

[4everGoofy]

We've been "Disney Challenged" for the past year and a half, but we are now blessed with not only being able to stay at the Grand Californian at Disneyland this coming February, but we've also just booked 4 nights at the Wilderness Lodge villas for after our cruise! It's been about 5 years since we've done WDW, and staying at the WLV is just icing on the cake!

Is there anyone else spending time at WDW before or after the cruise (surf & turf vacation)?

Also, I remember bobbi saying that Fantasy Land at MK has been renovated? What has been re-done/changed?

We are staying at BLT/BCV after the cruise.

 

[4everGoofy]

I've done the CC5k several times and it really does not take away from cruise time. It is the first thing off the ship on CC morning. I'll just meet my family after the 5K on the beach. No time lost.

Sounds like a good plan! I am definitely going to try and do this run. Let me know if anyone else is going to do this, we can have a post race celebration!

 

[4everGoofy]

Has anyone seen a recent dining rotation ?

 

[bobbi565]

Has anyone seen a recent dining rotation ?

My TA finally emailed me last week to tell me she submitted the dining rotation request I had made months ago, so I'm assuming the new ones are the same as the old.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

Has anyone seen a recent dining rotation ?

Here are the rotations from a few month ago.

The Eastern rotations are
RAERAER (one)
AERAERA (two)
ERAERAE (three)

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

Happy New Year

 

[4newtocruise]

Here are the rotations from a few month ago.

The Eastern rotations are
RAERAER (one)
AERAERA (two)
ERAERAE (three)

Thank you! What day is formal, semi-formal and pirate night? I can start planning for Palo!

I feel the need to plan! Still have to figure out what excursions we are doing.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Thank you! What day is formal, semi-formal and pirate night? I can start planning for Palo!

I feel the need to plan! Still have to figure out what excursions we are doing.

When we did the Fantasy Eastern this past June, formal night was Sunday night (the first full Sea Day) and semi-formal was Thursday night (the last full Sea Day).

As I recall, Pirate night was St. Maarten night.

I would highly recommend a Catamaran excursion to St. John. It was the highlight of our trip. There is an all-day one that goes to Turtle Cove and I believe Honeymoon beach. We did the half-day one that went to Honeymoon beach. The only way to access that beach is by hiking trail or boat. We saw sting rays, sea turtles, lots of fish and even a baracuda.

I think we are doing Bernard's this year on St. Maarten. We did a Catamaran at St. Maarten too, but it the snorkeling was not as good. The ride was very rough which the boys absolutely loved. We want to spend more time at the airport beach and a little shopping on the French side this time.

 

[4newtocruise]

Thank you!!

Leaning toward Captain Alan's Three Island Tour! They have a 6 hour special going on.

http://www.captainalan.com

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

Thank you! What day is formal, semi-formal and pirate night? I can start planning for Palo!

I feel the need to plan! Still have to figure out what excursions we are doing.

On my three previous Eastern's, Formal night has been Sunday night, Pirate night was Tuesday night (St Maarten) and semi formal night was Thursday night. We have usually scheduled our Palo night for the last sea day (Thursday) this way we do not have to rush back from an excursion and we have already been to all the MDRs. The only thing you want to avoid is not to miss an AP night. The AP shows are better on the Fantasy than on the classic ships and second show with the dancing guest art is something to see and not to be missed.

We are also looking at doing Bernard's island tour so we should get all of us together and we may be able to cut a deal and tailor the trip. As for St Thomas we are looking at Trunk Bay over on St John's.

 

[4newtocruise]

We are also looking at doing Bernard's island tour so we should get all of us together and we may be able to cut a deal and tailor the trip. As for St Thomas we are looking at Trunk Bay over on St John's.

We're still interested in Bernard's! I got a quote from the on a private tour, did you see me previous post?

 

[4newtocruise]

I know some of you express interest in a private Bernards tour. I emailed them to ask some specifics and here is their response:

Great we can offer you a private customized tour where you will choose to do what so ever you desire for the day for $45.00 per person,what i would suggest that you choose a name so every one can confirm their reservation under that name,for example when they are making their reservation under the name of Fantastic day sxm..

Bernard.

Let me know how many are still interested and if enough I can make the reservation. Thanks.

Joan

Above is the info again on Bernard's for all who is interested.

 

[npuhala]

Hi Joan,

We might be interested- I just haven't had time to think about it:/ when is the latest you would want to know?
Thanks!! Natalie

 

[S'sMom]

Hi!

Unfortunately we had to make a change to our cruise, so we won't be able to join you guys. Have a blast!!