DisneyDarwin
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 19, 2000
- Messages
- 268
Trip Report
The Players: DD (47), DW (46), DD (15)
The Trip: 8 days in New York City followed by 1 week on the Disney Magic
Feel free to ask questions in this thread or send me a PM and I'll try to help.
Ill save our New York trip report for another day. Or, if you want to hear about 10 plays in 10 days, you can send me a private message. We saw our final play at 2pm Saturday June 14th, then headed to EWR for our flight to LAX. Rainstorms delayed our 7pm departure to 10pm, and we arrived at LAX around 12:30am. We took a $70 cab ride to the San Pedro Doubletree (previously arranged via Priceline) and arrived about 1am.
Fortunately, we had nothing to do early the next day, so we caught up on our sleep. I woke up and walked to a grocery mart and bought three 6-packs of diet coke and some rum, which we carried on board. The rum was in my backpack, and the diet coke went aboard in a soft-side cooler I brought for the occasion. Our stateroom attendant kept our sodas on ice all week. No issues with the soda or rum during the boarding process.
We didnt want to spend much time waiting in the terminal and didnt feel the need to be the very first ones on the ship, so we didnt leave the hotel till around noon. The hotel was running free shuttles. Porters took our luggage at the curb, and we next saw it in the cabin. We went inside and queued up to check-in. We entered the Castaway Club line initially, but then noticed it was deep and long, while there were only about 10 people in the newbie line. Both lines seemed to have about the same number of attendants checking people in. We changed lines, and were quickly checking in. We had done our paperwork online (you must do so at least 48 hours in advance), so the process went very quick and we were directed through a doorway to a different area of the terminal. We waved to the people in the Castaway Club line as we headed in. DCL needs to figure that out, its supposed to be faster check-in for returning guests, not slower. There were a ton of return cruisers on this voyage. When passing through the big doorway, we got our boarding number, 14. Note: Our tablemates arrived very early, but took a seat after checking in, without knowing they needed to go to the other side and get a number. No one told them anything, and when they saw more and more people going through the lines, they investigated further and ended up with 14 also. Moral: get your boarding number as soon as you can. We queued up briefly in another line and took a picture with Mickey --- this was optional. By the time we finished, they called our group, so we literally never sat down. We passed through security quickly and easily and we were then on the gangway leading to the ship. They had two (or three?) stations for Welcome Aboard pictures and we stopped for another fabulous picture in our I Love NY shirts, newly purchased Disney crocs, and silly foam Statue of Liberty hats, holding 10 Playbills. A definite keeper. Then we boarded. All in all, from curb to ship was about 20 minutes. Very easy.
The rest of the report wont be so detailed, Ill just offer some highs and lows. But, I know there was a lot of interest in the boarding process, so I though I would describe it. This was our 6th DCL cruise, the 3rd on the Magic, with the last one being this same cruise in 2005.
Highs:
- We return to DCL because of the characters and the shows, both of which remain great. Golden Mickeys, Twice Charmed, and Disney Dreams were fabulous, as always.
- This was our first time to see the new-and-improved Disney Dreams, and we enjoyed picking out the new or different parts. It was grand.
- Characters were everywhere as always. We no longer need autographs, or even pictures with each and every one (been there done that a lot), but its still fun to see them, and watch them with the kids. And, we did get a few pictures, like with Sorcerer Mickey, Goofy, and a few others.
- I thought the entire crew was more warm and genial than I had ever experienced, and that is saying a lot. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful, and always smiling. Really delightful.
- DD enjoyed Rock Band, and Mario Kart in the Stack, but said they need more Wii units. They have plenty of idle TVs.
- Tune Trivia was fabulous, where they play songs on the piano and you guess the artist and song name. If you want to excel, brush up on your songs from Bambi and Petes Dragon, those were stumpers. Christian, the pianist, is fabulous.
- Disney Mania was also a lot of fun.
- Match Your Mate was a hoot, like always.
- We enjoyed the karaoke in Studio Sea several times, although the barrage of High School Musical and Hannah Montana songs was wearisome. DD sang often, and I was too cowardly.
- Till We Meet Again, the character goodbye event on the last night, remains a highlight. Its the kind of simple thing that makes DCL better than the rest.
- As does the Pub Show. If I Were Not Upon the Sea was grand.
- Kudos to the pubmaster for getting the US Open (golf) NBC feed and showing it in Diversions. We saw the end of the Sunday round and much of the 19-hole playoff (the latter was available on stateroom TVs too). He said they often struggle to get NBC programming as it is more protected.
- Q&A with performers was delightful. Candid conversation with 5 members of the cast. We met Franco from Twice Charmed, Prince Eric, Prince Charming, Cinderella, and a swing/understudy. They were impressive young people, and it was fun to learn about the shows and their lives aboard ship.
- The fireworks at the end of the pirate party remain grand.
- They showed Prince Caspian in the Disney Theater, and we loved it (again). Then they showed it more or less constantly in the Buena Vista theater, thereafter. We would have liked to have seen some other movie on that first day back at sea. I think they should increase the frequency of movies in the theater, and the variety. We did manage to see several: National Treasure, Enchanted (yeah!), and College Road trip. Ratatouille was only shown on the first day, and we missed it, otherwise we would have enjoyed it again.
- While I didnt buy anything this time, I still enjoyed the art auction, particularly the free martinis. The host (Emma? Emily?) did a very good job.
- Stephanie did a fabulous job taking care of us in the stateroom. Our attendants have always been amazing, and she continued the tradition.
- As always, I recommend the shoe holder on the door to keep up with your junk and keep order amidst the chaos.
Lows:
- The food has definitely declined since we last cruised. It is not bad, but there are less wows than in the past. Dont get me wrong, we enjoyed our meals, just not as much as before.
- Weve never cared for the first day boarding buffet, and it remained a disappointment. We tried a bit of this and that, but bailed and went to Plutos for chicken tenders.
- We were sorry to see Scoops gone, the soft-serve ice cream is lame by comparison. Still, we got our fill of ice cream at dinner and on the odd late night buffet.
- We found none of the pastries or donuts appetizing in the slightest.
- I found 3 cases during the week where the Navigator contradicted itself. In each case, the write-up would indicate one venue, while the at-a-glance schedule would indicate another. Call Guest Services to get the right answer.
- DD lost our camera on Tuesday during the cruise, so we had to make do with my cell phone camera. Since, were repeat cruisers, this wasnt the worst thing in the world, as we have lots of ship and character pictures already. The camera fell from her shorts while watching a show in the Walt Disney Theater (we narrowed it down to when she had it last). We went back and looked for it about 15 minutes later, but it was gone, and it was never turned in. Someone claimed an extra souvenir. Pity.
- Bingo is more expensive than ever, and they have begun using electronic cards so one person can play 24 or 48 cards at a time. Therefore, even when you are playing in a room the size of Rockin R D, there are still hundreds of cards in play. The bingos come very fast and there are almost always split pots. Still, we donated some funds to the cause.
Other:
- Our server team was not as special as some of our past teams. But, they took good care of us and we rewarded them for it.
- I tried to sneak DD into Palos one night, but they checked her age on the computer, so no-go. So, that evening we dined at the semi-formal space in Topsiders. We had the same pirate menu as the rest of the ship, and the experience was great. We had never done that before, and the service was actually better and more attentive than in our dining room. So, that evening turned out very well. The rest of the time we were in our assigned dining room. We had Parrots Cay three times, which is our least favorite venue; oh well.
- Our tablemates ate dinner at Topsiders 3 times, as they had trouble making the 5:45 early dining time, and the wait staff in Topsiders knew them by name. They, too, like it up there.
- We got the standard lecture from the waitstaff about the importance of excellent service on their scorecard. I hate the fact that if I comment on the dining experience, it could easily impact someones job.
Excursions:
- Cabo. Our only DCL excursion was the Power Snorkel to Chileno Bay. An excellent trip that we can recommend. The trip is aboard the Tropicat which is a very nice catamaran, with a great crew. They provide snacks and drinks, take pictures, tote that barge, etc. to make an overall grand experience. The snorkeling is nothing special. Plenty of fish, but the coral is pretty plain. And, the water is not the clearest, but not the murkiest either. Be aware that the water is cold! Far colder in Cabo than in Mazatlan or PV. If you happen to be there on a cooler blustery day, Id bail out of the trip or youll freeze. They always provide the jelly fish warning before you depart and you have the option to bail and get your money back. If it were cold, Id advise it. Otherwise, a really fun trip. Afterward, we went parasailing, In fact, I arranged it with a crew member on the Tropicat. We stepped off the catamaran to the dock, and boarded a shuttle to go out to the parasail boat. At $45/person, its a deal, and a hoot. We also met some cast members (friends of Tarzan, wink, wink) while para-sailing. If you are interested, Id recommend the para-sailing in Cabo above the other two ports. In Mazatlan and PV, we saw them landing and taking off from the beach, which is more of a hassle and they didnt seem to go as high. Plus, Cabo has prettier views up there. Afterward, we shopped in the huge market beside the dock and bought some trinkets.
- By the way, we encountered no jellyfish, and heard of none being sighted on this trip.
- The DCL Best of Mazatlan tour was sold-out when I tried to book it online over a month out, although apparently spots were readily available after you got on board. Go figure. Instead, took the same tour with Mazatlan Frank for $60/pp instead of $90 with DCL. We were in a small van and toured the cathedral, strolled the local market, saw cliff divers, went up to a look out for pictures, drove through old Mazatlan, stopped in a neat old neighborhood to walk the streets and look at some statues and courtyards, had 2 shopping stops (one had an excellent selection), drove through the El Sid area, and ended up at a beach resort. We had a very good included lunch, then played on the beach until exhausted. The waves were perfect for boogie boarding, and we had a great great time. Our guide was very knowledgable and told us lots of neat things about the area. We returned to the ship exhausted. Be aware that Mazatlan is the worst of all the stops as far as vending goes. The vendors are more bothersome than elsewhere, and they are everywhere. Just ignore them, as we did, unless you are interested in something. They mean no harm.
- Our tablemates went on the DCL Beach Escape and said the noise from the construction going on at their beach resort hotel was so loud and continuous, that they would not recommend that excursion to anyone. FYI. While surfing, I met a lady in the water who was on DCLs Best of tour. Apparently they ended up at the same resort hotel that we did and the tours were very comparable. It sounded like we had seen a bit more of the town. Also, their bus couldnt get all the way up the hill to the lookout, so they had to walk a bit to gain the viewpoint. Otherwise, she was very happy with her tour.
- In PV, we went horseback riding at Rancho El Charro. We debarked and walked to the adjacent pier to meet their representative. A short drive took us to the outskirts of town and to their small property. While we didnt go far, it felt like we were in the country. The neighborhoods definitely got poorer as we went. We were assigned horses and seven of us headed out with two guides. We rode alongside a creek and crossed it several times. We climbed one big hill via switchbacks for a spectacular view of PV and the Magic. Then we descended and rode along further to a mini-waterfall. The horses were healthy, stout, and well-trained and we had several opportunities to trot and gallop them. We took a slightly different route back and had a lunch stop near the end at a local cantina. The food was good, and the location and place were charming. One more short ride brought us home. All in all, we were out about 4 hours with about 3 of those on horseback. A really nice outing. $56/pp with lunch and transportation included. Three years ago we went to the Paradise Beach Resort, which was also fantastic, but we wanted a horse ride this time, and really enjoyed it.
- Our tablemates took the DCL horseback ride, and really enjoyed it. Their ride was with a different provider, but they had an equally fun time, and climbed the same big hill for the same view. That climb is a bit unnerving for those who dont ride much, like myself, so be forewarned. Just trust the horse.
- You tender at Cabo and dock at M and PV. The tendering went smoothly, but we were on a DCL excursion that day. It might be a little trickier if you are independent. We returned to the ship around 4pm, before the rush, so there were no lines or crowds flocking to get back aboard. Quite smooth and easy.
- You set your clock forward one hour the very first night. Then again the night before PV. Then you take an hour off the clock on Thu and Fri nights to get back to LA time. Regardless of what you have read (or what Guest Services told you), they keep it simple and ship time is always the same as shore time. PV is on central time thats why 2 hours were added before you got there. Then you take them back off the next two days to get back to west coast time.
- Debarking was a breeze. You go to a restaurant at 7:15am for breakfast, and before you are done eating they start calling the first groups to get off. We were in the second group, and we were called before we were done with breakfast. Theres a bit of a queue for customs, but that did not take very long. Then you go down an escalator and find your luggage which is separated by rooms by the color of your bag tag. It was very easy to find out bags (even if they werent all together) and head out. We used a porter, which I recommend --- its how they make their living and they are very efficient. All in all, very simple.
The Players: DD (47), DW (46), DD (15)
The Trip: 8 days in New York City followed by 1 week on the Disney Magic
Feel free to ask questions in this thread or send me a PM and I'll try to help.
Ill save our New York trip report for another day. Or, if you want to hear about 10 plays in 10 days, you can send me a private message. We saw our final play at 2pm Saturday June 14th, then headed to EWR for our flight to LAX. Rainstorms delayed our 7pm departure to 10pm, and we arrived at LAX around 12:30am. We took a $70 cab ride to the San Pedro Doubletree (previously arranged via Priceline) and arrived about 1am.
Fortunately, we had nothing to do early the next day, so we caught up on our sleep. I woke up and walked to a grocery mart and bought three 6-packs of diet coke and some rum, which we carried on board. The rum was in my backpack, and the diet coke went aboard in a soft-side cooler I brought for the occasion. Our stateroom attendant kept our sodas on ice all week. No issues with the soda or rum during the boarding process.
We didnt want to spend much time waiting in the terminal and didnt feel the need to be the very first ones on the ship, so we didnt leave the hotel till around noon. The hotel was running free shuttles. Porters took our luggage at the curb, and we next saw it in the cabin. We went inside and queued up to check-in. We entered the Castaway Club line initially, but then noticed it was deep and long, while there were only about 10 people in the newbie line. Both lines seemed to have about the same number of attendants checking people in. We changed lines, and were quickly checking in. We had done our paperwork online (you must do so at least 48 hours in advance), so the process went very quick and we were directed through a doorway to a different area of the terminal. We waved to the people in the Castaway Club line as we headed in. DCL needs to figure that out, its supposed to be faster check-in for returning guests, not slower. There were a ton of return cruisers on this voyage. When passing through the big doorway, we got our boarding number, 14. Note: Our tablemates arrived very early, but took a seat after checking in, without knowing they needed to go to the other side and get a number. No one told them anything, and when they saw more and more people going through the lines, they investigated further and ended up with 14 also. Moral: get your boarding number as soon as you can. We queued up briefly in another line and took a picture with Mickey --- this was optional. By the time we finished, they called our group, so we literally never sat down. We passed through security quickly and easily and we were then on the gangway leading to the ship. They had two (or three?) stations for Welcome Aboard pictures and we stopped for another fabulous picture in our I Love NY shirts, newly purchased Disney crocs, and silly foam Statue of Liberty hats, holding 10 Playbills. A definite keeper. Then we boarded. All in all, from curb to ship was about 20 minutes. Very easy.
The rest of the report wont be so detailed, Ill just offer some highs and lows. But, I know there was a lot of interest in the boarding process, so I though I would describe it. This was our 6th DCL cruise, the 3rd on the Magic, with the last one being this same cruise in 2005.
Highs:
- We return to DCL because of the characters and the shows, both of which remain great. Golden Mickeys, Twice Charmed, and Disney Dreams were fabulous, as always.
- This was our first time to see the new-and-improved Disney Dreams, and we enjoyed picking out the new or different parts. It was grand.
- Characters were everywhere as always. We no longer need autographs, or even pictures with each and every one (been there done that a lot), but its still fun to see them, and watch them with the kids. And, we did get a few pictures, like with Sorcerer Mickey, Goofy, and a few others.
- I thought the entire crew was more warm and genial than I had ever experienced, and that is saying a lot. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful, and always smiling. Really delightful.
- DD enjoyed Rock Band, and Mario Kart in the Stack, but said they need more Wii units. They have plenty of idle TVs.
- Tune Trivia was fabulous, where they play songs on the piano and you guess the artist and song name. If you want to excel, brush up on your songs from Bambi and Petes Dragon, those were stumpers. Christian, the pianist, is fabulous.
- Disney Mania was also a lot of fun.
- Match Your Mate was a hoot, like always.
- We enjoyed the karaoke in Studio Sea several times, although the barrage of High School Musical and Hannah Montana songs was wearisome. DD sang often, and I was too cowardly.
- Till We Meet Again, the character goodbye event on the last night, remains a highlight. Its the kind of simple thing that makes DCL better than the rest.
- As does the Pub Show. If I Were Not Upon the Sea was grand.
- Kudos to the pubmaster for getting the US Open (golf) NBC feed and showing it in Diversions. We saw the end of the Sunday round and much of the 19-hole playoff (the latter was available on stateroom TVs too). He said they often struggle to get NBC programming as it is more protected.
- Q&A with performers was delightful. Candid conversation with 5 members of the cast. We met Franco from Twice Charmed, Prince Eric, Prince Charming, Cinderella, and a swing/understudy. They were impressive young people, and it was fun to learn about the shows and their lives aboard ship.
- The fireworks at the end of the pirate party remain grand.
- They showed Prince Caspian in the Disney Theater, and we loved it (again). Then they showed it more or less constantly in the Buena Vista theater, thereafter. We would have liked to have seen some other movie on that first day back at sea. I think they should increase the frequency of movies in the theater, and the variety. We did manage to see several: National Treasure, Enchanted (yeah!), and College Road trip. Ratatouille was only shown on the first day, and we missed it, otherwise we would have enjoyed it again.
- While I didnt buy anything this time, I still enjoyed the art auction, particularly the free martinis. The host (Emma? Emily?) did a very good job.
- Stephanie did a fabulous job taking care of us in the stateroom. Our attendants have always been amazing, and she continued the tradition.
- As always, I recommend the shoe holder on the door to keep up with your junk and keep order amidst the chaos.
Lows:
- The food has definitely declined since we last cruised. It is not bad, but there are less wows than in the past. Dont get me wrong, we enjoyed our meals, just not as much as before.
- Weve never cared for the first day boarding buffet, and it remained a disappointment. We tried a bit of this and that, but bailed and went to Plutos for chicken tenders.
- We were sorry to see Scoops gone, the soft-serve ice cream is lame by comparison. Still, we got our fill of ice cream at dinner and on the odd late night buffet.
- We found none of the pastries or donuts appetizing in the slightest.
- I found 3 cases during the week where the Navigator contradicted itself. In each case, the write-up would indicate one venue, while the at-a-glance schedule would indicate another. Call Guest Services to get the right answer.
- DD lost our camera on Tuesday during the cruise, so we had to make do with my cell phone camera. Since, were repeat cruisers, this wasnt the worst thing in the world, as we have lots of ship and character pictures already. The camera fell from her shorts while watching a show in the Walt Disney Theater (we narrowed it down to when she had it last). We went back and looked for it about 15 minutes later, but it was gone, and it was never turned in. Someone claimed an extra souvenir. Pity.
- Bingo is more expensive than ever, and they have begun using electronic cards so one person can play 24 or 48 cards at a time. Therefore, even when you are playing in a room the size of Rockin R D, there are still hundreds of cards in play. The bingos come very fast and there are almost always split pots. Still, we donated some funds to the cause.
Other:
- Our server team was not as special as some of our past teams. But, they took good care of us and we rewarded them for it.
- I tried to sneak DD into Palos one night, but they checked her age on the computer, so no-go. So, that evening we dined at the semi-formal space in Topsiders. We had the same pirate menu as the rest of the ship, and the experience was great. We had never done that before, and the service was actually better and more attentive than in our dining room. So, that evening turned out very well. The rest of the time we were in our assigned dining room. We had Parrots Cay three times, which is our least favorite venue; oh well.
- Our tablemates ate dinner at Topsiders 3 times, as they had trouble making the 5:45 early dining time, and the wait staff in Topsiders knew them by name. They, too, like it up there.
- We got the standard lecture from the waitstaff about the importance of excellent service on their scorecard. I hate the fact that if I comment on the dining experience, it could easily impact someones job.
Excursions:
- Cabo. Our only DCL excursion was the Power Snorkel to Chileno Bay. An excellent trip that we can recommend. The trip is aboard the Tropicat which is a very nice catamaran, with a great crew. They provide snacks and drinks, take pictures, tote that barge, etc. to make an overall grand experience. The snorkeling is nothing special. Plenty of fish, but the coral is pretty plain. And, the water is not the clearest, but not the murkiest either. Be aware that the water is cold! Far colder in Cabo than in Mazatlan or PV. If you happen to be there on a cooler blustery day, Id bail out of the trip or youll freeze. They always provide the jelly fish warning before you depart and you have the option to bail and get your money back. If it were cold, Id advise it. Otherwise, a really fun trip. Afterward, we went parasailing, In fact, I arranged it with a crew member on the Tropicat. We stepped off the catamaran to the dock, and boarded a shuttle to go out to the parasail boat. At $45/person, its a deal, and a hoot. We also met some cast members (friends of Tarzan, wink, wink) while para-sailing. If you are interested, Id recommend the para-sailing in Cabo above the other two ports. In Mazatlan and PV, we saw them landing and taking off from the beach, which is more of a hassle and they didnt seem to go as high. Plus, Cabo has prettier views up there. Afterward, we shopped in the huge market beside the dock and bought some trinkets.
- By the way, we encountered no jellyfish, and heard of none being sighted on this trip.
- The DCL Best of Mazatlan tour was sold-out when I tried to book it online over a month out, although apparently spots were readily available after you got on board. Go figure. Instead, took the same tour with Mazatlan Frank for $60/pp instead of $90 with DCL. We were in a small van and toured the cathedral, strolled the local market, saw cliff divers, went up to a look out for pictures, drove through old Mazatlan, stopped in a neat old neighborhood to walk the streets and look at some statues and courtyards, had 2 shopping stops (one had an excellent selection), drove through the El Sid area, and ended up at a beach resort. We had a very good included lunch, then played on the beach until exhausted. The waves were perfect for boogie boarding, and we had a great great time. Our guide was very knowledgable and told us lots of neat things about the area. We returned to the ship exhausted. Be aware that Mazatlan is the worst of all the stops as far as vending goes. The vendors are more bothersome than elsewhere, and they are everywhere. Just ignore them, as we did, unless you are interested in something. They mean no harm.
- Our tablemates went on the DCL Beach Escape and said the noise from the construction going on at their beach resort hotel was so loud and continuous, that they would not recommend that excursion to anyone. FYI. While surfing, I met a lady in the water who was on DCLs Best of tour. Apparently they ended up at the same resort hotel that we did and the tours were very comparable. It sounded like we had seen a bit more of the town. Also, their bus couldnt get all the way up the hill to the lookout, so they had to walk a bit to gain the viewpoint. Otherwise, she was very happy with her tour.
- In PV, we went horseback riding at Rancho El Charro. We debarked and walked to the adjacent pier to meet their representative. A short drive took us to the outskirts of town and to their small property. While we didnt go far, it felt like we were in the country. The neighborhoods definitely got poorer as we went. We were assigned horses and seven of us headed out with two guides. We rode alongside a creek and crossed it several times. We climbed one big hill via switchbacks for a spectacular view of PV and the Magic. Then we descended and rode along further to a mini-waterfall. The horses were healthy, stout, and well-trained and we had several opportunities to trot and gallop them. We took a slightly different route back and had a lunch stop near the end at a local cantina. The food was good, and the location and place were charming. One more short ride brought us home. All in all, we were out about 4 hours with about 3 of those on horseback. A really nice outing. $56/pp with lunch and transportation included. Three years ago we went to the Paradise Beach Resort, which was also fantastic, but we wanted a horse ride this time, and really enjoyed it.
- Our tablemates took the DCL horseback ride, and really enjoyed it. Their ride was with a different provider, but they had an equally fun time, and climbed the same big hill for the same view. That climb is a bit unnerving for those who dont ride much, like myself, so be forewarned. Just trust the horse.
- You tender at Cabo and dock at M and PV. The tendering went smoothly, but we were on a DCL excursion that day. It might be a little trickier if you are independent. We returned to the ship around 4pm, before the rush, so there were no lines or crowds flocking to get back aboard. Quite smooth and easy.
- You set your clock forward one hour the very first night. Then again the night before PV. Then you take an hour off the clock on Thu and Fri nights to get back to LA time. Regardless of what you have read (or what Guest Services told you), they keep it simple and ship time is always the same as shore time. PV is on central time thats why 2 hours were added before you got there. Then you take them back off the next two days to get back to west coast time.
- Debarking was a breeze. You go to a restaurant at 7:15am for breakfast, and before you are done eating they start calling the first groups to get off. We were in the second group, and we were called before we were done with breakfast. Theres a bit of a queue for customs, but that did not take very long. Then you go down an escalator and find your luggage which is separated by rooms by the color of your bag tag. It was very easy to find out bags (even if they werent all together) and head out. We used a porter, which I recommend --- its how they make their living and they are very efficient. All in all, very simple.
