March 31-April 7, 2007 Eastern...3rd try :-)

[dpuck1998]

no luck with airfare for us yet. Getting geared up for school to start so have been super busy. Once labor day is gone we will start looking again. If anyone see any good prices let us know!! I'm leaving from Detroit.

 

[ScrapinDisney]

We haven't made any airfare arrangements yet but we've been kind of watching. They have been high so we are hoping they drop...I know wishfull thinking!

 

[ScrapinDisney]

We need to move this baby up towards the top, we are falling way back. Do we have any new cruisers going with us???

 

[dpuck1998]

I need to subscribe now :-( since the search system is so bad. Anyway, I do have a question for those that have cruised. Are there any play areas for kids to play with parents other than the clubs? Anything inside the ship?

 

[minniesota]

Hi to all!
Sorry, I'm not sure about any "play areas" exactly. There's Deck 10 where my son and his friend and the dads played lots of ball - and the shuffleboard area on Deck 4 seemed to draw lots of families.

We finally broke the news to our kids over Labor Day weekend! We took them out on the pontoon for a cruise around the lake. I brought several Disney CDs and popped in the instrumental favorites CD as we headed out. Soon it became a game and everyone got to pick a favorite selection from the "parks" CD - Tiki Room, POC, Small World, etc. Then I said I'm putting on my favorite (I had downloaded the ship horn on a CD) and pressed Play. My DS12 looked so confused - "I know that one - what ride was that?" and my DD15 and niece,14, looked at each other and giggled. I finally had to say that it sounded like a horn and they all got it at once! "We're going on the Disney cruise!" I pulled out the travel brochures we got from the TA and they were all so excited. Of course I snapped pictures - the first in a line of many Im sure. When we returned to the cabin, they popped in the cruise DVD I brought and now the planning and dreaming can keep them busy!

Hope you are all settled into the school outine and it wasn't too painful. It seems like the cruise is still so far away but we all know how fast the holidays approach once the kids are in school. It will be here before we know.

 

[dpuck1998]

I asked this on another thread, but how are you guys getting to port? We are considering staying in Cocoa Beach for 2 nights before departure, but not sure how we are getting from Orlando to Cocoa and from Cocoa Beach to Port. We are considering Ron Jons or The resort at cocoa beach. Thoughts my friends??

 

[ready4fun]

Hi Everyone

My wife and I are with you guys! There will be 5 of us (B15, B15, G7). We were originally supposed to be on the July 8th Disney Cruise, but had to cancel and reschedule for March. We are trying to get back on the "let's get excited" mode again. Thinking back... I think we packed too much stuff. We each had a suitcase and carry-on. Does anyone know if it is worth taking your own snorkel equiptment or better off just renting? Maybe it was just too much clothes... I like to hear any advise anyone has to share.

How about them CHARGERS !!

 

[minniesota]

dpuck1998- We are still discussing that. Since we have a larger group, we may do two different things. We are staying at the Residence Inn in PC Friday night. We are either going to hire a van (if we can find one large enough for all of us - or get two?) and then we would have to take a shuttle or cab to the port Sat, AM. OR we rent a couple of larger vans or SUVs and get ourseleves to the the Residence Inn and port in the morning and hire vans to take us back the the airport when we return. That's waht we did last time, I liked the flexibility of having our own transportation on the way there and the convenience of having someone waiting for us when we got off the ship.

ready4fun- - Welcome aboard!
Glad you are joining us and the teens in our group will be happy to see more of "their kind"! When we were on the cruise in 2004 (kids were 13 and 11), we took 3 suitcases, each kid had a backpack, DH an insulated bag with wine, etc. and I had a tote with the essentials. We did bring our own snorkles and masks but no fins. DH and DS rented tuxes so we didn't pack suits or jackets for them. And I still felt like we had too many clothes! Now that the kids are older, however, I think we'll add another suitcase - probably a steamer trunk for DD15.

Where are you staying the night before? What deck are you on? Any plans for excursions?

Now that our kids know about the cruise, I'm getting excited again!

 

[ready4fun]

we are planning to spend the night before in coca beach, I think... we are still planning. I read that the raddison is a nice location, close to the ship. We will rent a car at the airport and drive to the port area. We hope to stay a few days after the cruise in the area too. I heard a place called Ron Jons is a cool place to stay, so maybe I will try that place.

On the ship we have two rooms (cat 9 and cat 11) on the 2nd level. We want to go snorkeling, maybe a tour of the islands and jet skiing too. We are thinking about a spa day. Oh and of course eatting at Palos.

Right now we are second seating for dinner. We are on the waiting list for main dinning. Eating at 8 just seems so late.

GO CHARGERS....

 

[minniesota]

I've read good things about Ron Jon's too and I think a lot of Disers stay at the Radisson. We liked the idea of 2 bedrooms so we went with the 2BR suite at the Residence Inn - and we got a deal at $99! I guess it's only one night so we will most likely just get in and have dinner, then off to sleep before the big send-off day.

We have two connecting rooms on Deck 7 - that way the kids have their own space and we get to use the bathroom whenever we want!

We have second seating too and I think it will be fine for us. We had the main seating last time and we always felt a little rushed. Probably the hardest thing though was trying to stay awake for the evening entertainment. We'd eat at 6, have some wine and then go sit at the shows. I know that I was caught dozing more than once! After that I was usually ready to sleep so we missed out on a lot of adult activities after the shows. ANd actually, we are in the central time zone so 8 is really only 7 to us and when the ship goes through a time change, 8 is like 6. So we are hoping the late seating works. I think our teens will especially like not having to rush off the islands to get ready for dinner.

Have fun planning!

I take it you're a Chargers fan!

 

[dpuck1998]

Weclome Ready4fun!

We have ironed out our plans finally. Instead of staying in Cocoa Beach we are going to be staying on Hutchinson Island in Stuart. My inlaws are snow birds and live there in the winter. We thought we would be nice and stay with them for a couple days. They can drop us off at the port that way also, so it takes care of lots of problems for us. Now I have to cancel my ressies for the Hilton and The Resort on cocoa beach.

Also, in case you were following my group we have 3 rooms. However, it appears my inlaws won't be going so I'll be cancelling that room soon. It's a cat 9 on the deck 1. If anyone is interested in the room let me know and we can work out the timing for me to cancel it and someone else get the room.

 

[ready4fun]

The Hilton or Resort at Cocoa Beach? Have you stayed there before? I read about it and was thinking about that place after the cruise. Its right on the beach right. I was just wondering if it was family friendly or (kid friendly).

 

[dpuck1998]

I haven't stayed at either before, but I did a lot of research and we were going to stay at The Resort on Cocoa Beach. We were looking for close to the beach and big condo style rooms. I use www.tripadvisor.com to do a lot of research and many of the other travel sites. You can have my room since we are cancelling it soon

 

[ScrapinDisney]

Hi Everyone

My wife and I are with you guys! There will be 5 of us (B15, B15, G7). We were originally supposed to be on the July 8th Disney Cruise, but had to cancel and reschedule for March. We are trying to get back on the "let's get excited" mode again. Thinking back... I think we packed too much stuff. We each had a suitcase and carry-on. Does anyone know if it is worth taking your own snorkel equiptment or better off just renting? Maybe it was just too much clothes... I like to hear any advise anyone has to share.

How about them CHARGERS !!

Hi Ready4fun...Chargers huh??? Well my Brother-in-law is from SD and will be on the cruise but hubby is a Vikings fan and I'm a Detroit fan. We're just north of you by about 2 hours...Pasadena area. We're staying at the Residence Inn on Friday before the cruise. Like Minniesota we got the 2 bed suite for cheap. Haven't decided about transportation yet, most likely renting a couple of SUV's or vans since there will be 6 adults, 4 kids (DD15, DD12, nephew8, niece4) and the guys can drop us off at port and then return the car and catch a shuttle back to the ship. We've never done a cruiseout of FL so it's all new to us, we did one of the Wect Coast cruises to Mexicao last summer.

 

[dpuck1998]

Bet Hubby enjoyed the game Sunday. I was there Section 134 row 10, nice and close to the Panthers players. I still can't believe they threw that pass on the punt return. I'm not a panthers fan, but I was dumbfounded. I myself am a dolphins fan But I enjoy football of any kind!! Had a good time in minneapolis this weekend, not sure I'd stay down town again though...little seedy!

 

[minniesota]

hey dpuck1998 - Where did you stay? What else did you do besides attend the game? I'm way more into the Twins and I might mention that we are now only 1/2 game out from the Tigers. We have season tickets so we are hoping for the playoffs. It somehow makes summer last a lot longer!

 

[dpuck1998]

We stayed at the Radisson, great hotel. We ate ate Murrays, great food!! We went to the mall of course. Went to the game, went to brunch somewhere on 5th?? Some place owned by a local sports broadcaster? We got some popcorn at Candyland and went shopping on the nicolet mall. All and all we had a good time. But I wouldn't stay downtown again. We would prolly stay at the Grand Lodge or near the mall.

 

[minniesota]

dpuck - We love Murray's!! And of course a trip to MOA is always on the to-do list of our out of towners. I was just there yesterday checking out the fall styles - I think I'm getting old. Came home with jeans and a basic long-sleeve t. My DD15 just rolls her eyes.

Hey, fellow cruisers! Now that all the Halloween stuff is out, how many of you plan to dress up for Pirate night? I'm sure the kids in our group will but not so sure about the adults. Has anyone been to that event? How many people do dress up? Just wondering...

I've been out of cruise mode and into resort mode. Looks like DH and I will be at the Grand Floridian mid-Dec., hopefully with my folks if my dad is feeling ok. We are staying concierge in the main building - honeymoon suite! Ooh-la-la! I love WDW at Christmas and GF is just gorgeous that time of year. I just hope my dad can make it. He recently underwent whole brain radiation for 13 tumors - a result of spreading melanoma cancer. He loves Disney as much as I do so this trip would really be a wish come true. Keep him in your prayers if you are so inclined. Have a good weekend, everyone!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Well, we just added two nights at Saratoga Springs Resort after the cruise. We realized our son also has Monday off, so we thought we'd get permission for him to miss Tuesday as well and get home Tuesday.

 

[dpuck1998]

dpuck - We love Murray's!! And of course a trip to MOA is always on the to-do list of our out of towners. I was just there yesterday checking out the fall styles - I think I'm getting old. Came home with jeans and a basic long-sleeve t. My DD15 just rolls her eyes.

Hey, fellow cruisers! Now that all the Halloween stuff is out, how many of you plan to dress up for Pirate night? I'm sure the kids in our group will but not so sure about the adults. Has anyone been to that event? How many people do dress up? Just wondering...

We bought pirate costumes for our two boys so we can use them three times Once for halloween, once for the pirate/princess party at the MK and once for the cruise! Can't wait. My oldest is Davy Jones and my 5y/o is Jack Sparrow. Since this is our first cruise we haven't been before, but we are excited. Hopefully we can all stay up late enough for it! Glad this time of year is so busy, that time seems to fly. We'll be cruising before you know it.