March 22-29, 2008 - Here Before You Know It!

[MN Dis Fans]

Season's Greetings to all! Not long to go now. Obviously less than the 90 days. We also booked our shore excusrions and Palo yesterday. Now it's time to just sit back and count down the days to cruise time!

 

[JerseyBelle]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone.

 

[fantasia2400]

Merry Christmas....and Happy Holidays! We too booked Palo Brunch yesterday and our Couples Cabana Massage at CC.....ahhhhhhh!!! I think one more excursion to book....either the semisubmerged sub or the full sub...not sure yet....any thoughts??? Our kids are 4,6, and 7 at time of cruise.

I am just soo happy to have things booked with all those site problems and all.....

 

[dlf246]

I don't know if this had anything to do with web site problems, but for those of you with multiple rooms:
We had strange problem in which we could not book all of our adults from one room (ressies are linked), but could from the other room!
Merry Christmas everyone.

PS Book Palo as soon as you can!!

 

[JerseyBelle]

Merry Christmas....and Happy Holidays! We too booked Palo Brunch yesterday and our Couples Cabana Massage at CC.....ahhhhhhh!!! I think one more excursion to book....either the semisubmerged sub or the full sub...not sure yet....any thoughts??? Our kids are 4,6, and 7 at time of cruise.

I am just soo happy to have things booked with all those site problems and all.....

In reference to your sub vs semi. I am speaking just from research as this is our first time in Grand Cayman and our first time with such an activity. We looked at the actual website which was listed in our passporter. The Seaworld Exployer Semi and the Atlantis Submarine are the same company. http://www.atlantisadventures.com/cayman

The viewing windows of the full sub looked so much smaller than the semi. The website is pretty good.

The website for the Nautilus Undersea Tour is not that good. http://www.nautilus.ky

We booked the Seaworld Exployer Semi Submarine for us and our DD10. We will then just grab a taxi and go to the seven mile beach or paradise beach. Couldn't book the beach through Disney due to conflicts in time.

I should also mention that the selecting of the semi came up with only two time slots left (don't know how many can be in each) (8:00 am - 10:10 and 10:30 to 12:40). We are taking the early one to leave the rest of the day open.

Hope this helps.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

What did you all book?
We're going to do Key West on our own. Probably do the Conch Trolley Tour (I think that's the one that makes multiple stops, and you can get off?) See the Southernmost point, the Hemingway museum, perhaps another cultural stop?
The Cayman Islands: 7-mile beach day, although I'm tempted to do this on our own.
Cozumel: The Jeep excursion which stops at El Cidral (sp?) ruins, and does a bit of beach / serves lunch.
And we've got Palo's Brunch booked Monday? morning.

What's everyone else doing?

Still looking for some penpals for our 2x DS's (10 & 12 ) It's so much better when they know someone before they got on the boat.

 

[JerseyBelle]

We haven't booked anything in Key West yet but might still. Electric car on our own sounds promising.

We have booked Seaworld Explorer Semi-Submarine on Grand Cayman for 8:00 am and will grab a taxi to a beach afterwards.

In Cozumel, we decided to book the Cozumel Beach Break. Although we really wanted to go to something with ruins, we felt that most of the excursion of this type were all day events and involved large amounts of time traveling instead of doing.

We have Palo for dinner on the 2nd at sea day.

My DD is 10 and loves the Oceaneer Lab (we did the Wonder 3 day in Nov 2006). She should love to know someone before hand if your boys don't mind it being a girl. She isn't the "Disney Princess" type. Takes Karate and plays softball. It is good your two boys will be in the same age group for the Lab. Often siblings are split up due to the way they organize the age groups.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

JerseyBelle: I've tried to PM you , but for some reason can't seem to do this from my work computer. Our DS's are for the most part quite respectful and would like the idea of exchanging mails prior to cruise time. It can be really intimidating sometimes (even for kids) getting to know a whole new group quickly. (Although saying that, the Club Counselor's do a great job of getting everyone together.)

"It's nice to have the 2x DS's in the same age group?" Actually, when they're not trying to kill each other they get along great.

 

[SMDent]

We're in, we're on and we're back!!!

Our family missed the last time Mom and my sister and her family did a cruise, this year, we all (Me, my brother and our families) are going.

I have no idea WHERE our rooms are (Mom hasn't told me yet, I'm calling the AAA Travel agent tomorrow.)

DH and I are going without kids (ages 18 and 20).

We're planning on doing the Tulum Ruins in Mexico.

ETA: Does ANYONE know about the Easter Sunday Church Services on board?
We are scheduled to dock AFTER the last Mass at St. Marys' (12 noon) which is 0.7 miles from the cruise ship docks in Key West.

When we cruised in 2003 over Easter (Eastern Caribbean) there was a Priest on board and we had two Masses on Easter Sunday, but that Sunday was a "Sea Day" too.

 

[JerseyBelle]

I was just reading about the fish extenders. Has anyone on this sailing participate in this kind of activity or is planning for this cruise? I think my dd10 would love leaving small inexpensive gifts to other Disers.

If you need an explanation, here is a thread.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1650316

 

[ICEMANPAD]

if the thread is still there, check out the turkey day 2007 cruise, probably buried on the last page of cruise meets by now...as we have chosen to use the 2009 Turkey Day thread instead...however, we had about 40 kids in the rounds of fish extenders and about 20 or so cabins...FE's can easily be found cheap on E-Bay and the loot from Oriental Trading Company...we will be on the eastern the week after your cruise.

Chuck

 

[dlf246]

If you are Castaway Club members, make your palo/spa reservations NOW! I think the reservations open to all other cruisers in the next day or so.

 

[DisneyMom92]

I've made ressies for the Atlantis sub on Grand Cayman and the Stingray Rays on Castaway Cay. Kids want to do the Dolphin Swim in Cozumel but I will have to book that one on my own. Disney doesn't offer the one they want.

My kids are 12 DS and 15 DD. Both cruised same time last year. 12DS is used to hanging out with older kids and was bored last year in the Lab and OQ. I am kinda hoping they will let him in the Stack this year, but recognize they may not.

My 12 DS *might* exchange e-mails or something but might not. We can always try. If you want, PM and let me know what you DS's interests are and we can see if something sparks conversation.

 

[dlf246]

I've made ressies for the Atlantis sub on Grand Cayman and the Stingray Rays on Castaway Cay. Kids want to do the Dolphin Swim in Cozumel but I will have to book that one on my own. Disney doesn't offer the one they want.

DisneyMom92: I discovered Dolphin Discovery had only one more spot for the royal swim at 3:30PM (Still openings at other times.) Since we are doing scuba thing in AM, could only do the 3:30 slot (in fact one other family member wanted to; we are going to hope for one no show). If that is the excursion you want, be sure to book soon.

To everyone: DisneyMom92 is correct that Disney only has the 2 "lighter" dolphin excursions available. If your child is 8 or older, I urge you book one of the bigger excursions directly from DD. Another catch: a photog will be taking pics (can't remember if also video). the pictures are huge, good, and very very expensivo...

 

[MN Dis Fans]

Hi Again DisneyMom92,
I think you kind of disappeared from us for a while; mind you this thread has been quite quiet. I would have though that with less then 3 months to go, there would be a bit more chit chat going on here.
I sent you a PM a bit ago.

My DW saw the comment on the fish extenders. We've not done them before, but I believe her bag just got heavier! if you know what I mean?

 

[whamma]

Hi All, I'm new to the DISboard. Don't know why I haven't joined before since we've been fans of traveling Disney-style for a few years.

Looking forward to our first DCL cruise with all of you! I'll be traveling with DH, DS (10) and DD (5).

Since I'm DCL "newbie" last night was (finally!) our day to book shore excursions. I was up til midnight--yawn! Not sure how well I did. Palo brunch and tea ressies were long gone.

I'm enjoying all of your wisdom!

 

[MN Dis Fans]

Hi Whamma
Welcome Aboard.
To bad you didn't get your Palo brunch or tea. I wouldn't worry to much about it though, you can make reservations when you get on the ship, and is long as you are there earlier (like when they open) rather than later, it seems that most people get the reservations they want. (At least that's what numerous threads on this board seem to indicate)
Good Luck!
I'm still looking for a pen pal / somebody to hang out with for our 10x year old DS If you're interested, let me know.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

oops. multiple post.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

Ooops. Multiple post.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

ooops. multiple post.