March 26, 2011 - Eastern Caribbean Magic and FE Exchange!

[karajeboo]

63 DAYS!!!!

I booked my car in St Maarten - we are getting a Jeep Wrangler for the day, I think that will be a lot of fun!!! And only $20 more than a Corolla type? The Mustang convertible was a lot more and won't be nearly as much fun!!!

 

[KristiMc]

63 DAYS!!!!

I booked my car in St Maarten - we are getting a Jeep Wrangler for the day, I think that will be a lot of fun!!! And only $20 more than a Corolla type? The Mustang convertible was a lot more and won't be nearly as much fun!!!

Kara - Who did you book through? I need to get our car. The Jeep does sound like fun.

 

[karajeboo]

Kara - Who did you book through? I need to get our car. The Jeep does sound like fun.

Panoramic Car Rental. I was reading Jeff Berger's "Everything St Maarten" and he said to avoid Hertz and Avis (any national companies) in St Maarten. This is the one he recommended that delivers to the port. It was $99 for the Jeep ($80 for a Corolla size!) and i added the collision damage waiver and liability for $20 more. I used to work for Enterprise Rent a Car and would never take extra coverage here, but in a foreign country for just $20? Might save a lot of headaches just in case......

 

[talewis]

Just added disney kat to FE exchange!

We'd also like to be on the fish extender. I'll send you the my children's information once I post 10 times.

 

[luvndizny]

So have you driven there before? (St. Maarten?) Just wondering what to expect- same side of road as in US? Trying to figure out if we're gonna walk it or drive while there. Probably doing St. Maarten on our own as well.

Getting so excited!! Having to set a timer so I don't spend all my waking hours (when not working) on here...

 

[KristiMc]

So have you driven there before? (St. Maarten?) Just wondering what to expect- same side of road as in US? Trying to figure out if we're gonna walk it or drive while there. Probably doing St. Maarten on our own as well.

Getting so excited!! Having to set a timer so I don't spend all my waking hours (when not working) on here...

Never been - but I did read that they drive on the same side of the road as the US. We are also super excited. It seems like the cruise is all I talk about

 

[FrogLady23]

Hello Everyone. Just joined DIS. New to everything. I just learned about FE last night and got on this forum for the first time this morning. Better late than never....

This is our first cruise EVER and we (mom, DS (12), and DD (8)) are very excited. We are booked for the Butterfly farm (me and DD) and the Doubloon Turtle Cove Sail & Snorkel in the morning. I also booked the Extreme Getaway Package on CC. With the new waterslide/park stuff, I am wondering if we will use all of the toys in the getaway package. I read great reviews about the stingray adventure and definitely wanted to do that, and so the rest of the toys weren't much more. I wish we had more time on CC.

I guess I'll have to post a bunch so that I can PM in order to join FE.

 

[MNBrooke]

Hello Everyone. Just joined DIS. New to everything. I just learned about FE last night and got on this forum for the first time this morning. Better late than never....

This is our first cruise EVER and we (mom, DS (12), and DD (8)) are very excited. We are booked for the Butterfly farm (me and DD) and the Doubloon Turtle Cove Sail & Snorkel in the morning. I also booked the Extreme Getaway Package on CC. With the new waterslide/park stuff, I am wondering if we will use all of the toys in the getaway package. I read great reviews about the stingray adventure and definitely wanted to do that, and so the rest of the toys weren't much more. I wish we had more time on CC.

I guess I'll have to post a bunch so that I can PM in order to join FE.

We booked the Extreme Getaway last year because it wasn't much more. The stingray feeding was interesting. The snorkeling on CC is not that great, especially if you booked snorkeling on an excursion. The bike ride was nice but it does take away beach time. If your in doubt, the stingray feeding is the only thing that may be busy. Lots of snorkeling gear, floaties and bikes if you decide to do them last minute. All things considered, the package doesn't save that much.

 

[FrogLady23]

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. I figure I can cancel out easier than I could get in later if I changed my mind.

 

[karajeboo]

Hello Everyone. Just joined DIS. New to everything. I just learned about FE last night and got on this forum for the first time this morning. Better late than never....

This is our first cruise EVER and we (mom, DS (12), and DD (8)) are very excited. We are booked for the Butterfly farm (me and DD) and the Doubloon Turtle Cove Sail & Snorkel in the morning. I also booked the Extreme Getaway Package on CC. With the new waterslide/park stuff, I am wondering if we will use all of the toys in the getaway package. I read great reviews about the stingray adventure and definitely wanted to do that, and so the rest of the toys weren't much more. I wish we had more time on CC.

I guess I'll have to post a bunch so that I can PM in order to join FE.

Welcome!

My hubs actually found the DIS 5 years ago before we took our daughter for the first time. He just browsed though and I got hooked big time!!! I've made some great friends on here (in fact, I meet a group every year for 5 days at WDW - this year will be the THIRD DISmoms trip!) and love writing trip reports, journaling my adventures.

You will love the info you can find here (although I don't think the DCL threads are as inclusive as those for WDW).

 

[coleenmark]

We are currently booked a the Airport Hyatt the night before we sail. We booked this through Disney and it seems convenient, but it is EXPENSIVE. Does anyone have any experience with the Hyatt? How do the Transfers form the Hyatt (Aiport) work - can we scheduel and go early, or do we not have any flexibility on when we go over to the port?

I like the idea of being able to get to the Port early and getting on the ship as early as possible. Will staying at the Hyatt allow this?

Thanks,
Mark

Me DW DS (8) DS (5)

 

[karajeboo]

We are currently booked a the Airport Hyatt the night before we sail. We booked this through Disney and it seems convenient, but it is EXPENSIVE. Does anyone have any experience with the Hyatt? How do the Transfers form the Hyatt (Aiport) work - can we scheduel and go early, or do we not have any flexibility on when we go over to the port?

I like the idea of being able to get to the Port early and getting on the ship as early as possible. Will staying at the Hyatt allow this?

Thanks,
Mark

Me DW DS (8) DS (5)

Orlando airport? My only suggestion would be to hire a car to take you to the port earlier. I've seen reports of $130 from Orlando to Port Canaveral one way...... Or maybe get to the port the night before and get a room there?

Otherwise, I have no experience with Hyatt.... sorry!

But I do know this....

You only have 61 days to decide!!!!!!

 

[karajeboo]

Just added talewis to FE exchange! Check out the list on p. 13 and make sure I haven't forgotten anyone! I will send out the email list about mid-Feb, with the cutoff and final list to go out March 1. Is this okay with everyone?

 

[MNBrooke]

We are currently booked a the Airport Hyatt the night before we sail. We booked this through Disney and it seems convenient, but it is EXPENSIVE. Does anyone have any experience with the Hyatt? How do the Transfers form the Hyatt (Aiport) work - can we scheduel and go early, or do we not have any flexibility on when we go over to the port?

I like the idea of being able to get to the Port early and getting on the ship as early as possible. Will staying at the Hyatt allow this?

Thanks,
Mark

Me DW DS (8) DS (5)

Staying at the Hyatt is the premium option, super convenient. You fly in and stay at the terminal hotel then take the Disney Expess bus to the port. Those buses are nice and take your luggage right onto the ship. The only drawback (other than price) is that you'll be arriving at the port with the majority of the people.
We booked a room near the port. We will take a shuttle from the airport to port hotel the day before. Then the hotel has a free shuttle that takes you to the port in the morning so we can be on the ship early and enjoy the pool. The cabin won't be ready, but we bring a travel bag and start our vacation early.
There are many port hotels with the free shuttle: Radisson, Country Inn, Residence Inn and Four Points.
www.happylimo.com specializes in taking you from the airport to the port.
You can book roundtrip, they will take you to hotel on Friday, then pick you up at ship and bring you back to airport or other destination on return.

 

[KristiMc]

Our flight gets in late but we want to get the traveling done on Friday so we are renting a one-way car and staying at the Country Inn & Suites for Friday night.

We got a good rate of $70.

 

[jcarwash]

To add on to MNBrooke's great info, you can also look into renting cars one-way to and from port. The Port Canaveral rental agencies provide shuttles to and from the port. That is what we are doing along with staying at a hotel near port.

 

[FrogLady23]

Welcome!

My hubs actually found the DIS 5 years ago before we took our daughter for the first time. He just browsed though and I got hooked big time!!! I've made some great friends on here (in fact, I meet a group every year for 5 days at WDW - this year will be the THIRD DISmoms trip!) and love writing trip reports, journaling my adventures.

You will love the info you can find here (although I don't think the DCL threads are as inclusive as those for WDW).

Thanks so much for the welcome. I spent most of the weekend reading this thread and 'what you wished you had packed'. I am so thankful for all of the advice that I read. It will make planning much easier. I am trying to decide about FE. It is a great way to make the trip more special. I am just not sure if I have enough time to get it all ready.
(mom) (DD) (DS)

 

[Ayeegit]

Got our Fish Extender ordered! Woohoo!

Just a few more days and we'll be able to say that our trip is "next month"! Can't wait!

 

[frazzlemommy]

Hello everyone! Just found this thread.

We'll be on this cruise, too! We're first-time DCL cruisers--myself, DH, DS10, and DD7. DH and I have been on another cruise line and have been to Jamaica before (two separate vacations) and it's all new to the kids--the Caribbean, cruising, etc. We get more and more excited every day that goes by! Sounds like Disney makes things really awesome!

We're booked for a 9C-GTY room but haven't gotten a room assignment yet since we called and upgraded from 10B. I've been checking and checking twice daily anxiously awaiting our room assignment.

Anyway, I've been reading and reading and reading these DISboards and making a packing list and going a little bit crazy with the whole thing, but... it's keeping me going! It's soooo cold here in Colorado I CAN'T WAIT to be cruising the Caribbean! I don't even remember what life was like pre-DCL-booking!

 

[KristiMc]

Welcome to all of our new cruisers to the group.