May 11th 2008 ~ Any Double Dippers Out There?

[Mousermom]

Now I can officially say that it is LESS than one year until my very first Disney CRUISE!!!!!!

Also, just checking in to say "hi" to my fellow double-dippers!!

Have a good week everybody!

Talk to you all soon.

 

[CustardTart]

Hey Mary Beth! Nice to see you online! Can't wait to meet you in less than 12 months time... Am I sad? Ah, who cares...?

 

[Bibbidi]

Anyone else have second thoughts about the cruise because of the cost and what else you can "get for the money" at Disney? I mean realistically I could get a MYWWD package for about 8 nights at POR for all 4 of us for about $2500. That is basically what the 4 night cruise costs when you factor in the passports we have to get for our girls. My husband keeps saying "let's do something different, I want to do the cruise". I just keep thinking, man, to stay 3 or 4 nights at POR after the cruise is going to bump this trip into the $3500-4000 range (once you add in food, hotel, park tickets for DH and oldest dd - I have an AP and youngest has enough days for next year). I think I'm also just paranoid about sleeping on a ship for 4 nights in the ocean. I'm used to boats and all that - my parents forced me to spend many summer nights on our boat as kids, nothing fancy, but we did it. Anyway, I just keep having second thoughts. Also, a disney package only ties up $200 now instead of $800. I think I'm totally stuck not cancelling because my husband is insisting on doing the cruise and I'd be an absolute FOOL to cancel a Disney cruise when my DH wants/I] to do it, I just am not so sure that it can be so much better than DWorld? KWIM?

 

[CustardTart]

Happy Mother's Day!!! ​

So sorry you're having 2nd thoughts, Bibbidi! We are all WDW addicts in my family so never thought a cruise could match up but the 3 night Wonder cruise DD and I did in May 2005 was really fantastic - an absolutely marvellous experience! I can't wait to introduce other family members to DCL cruising over the next 18 months!

It's different from a WDW vacation - more relaxing TBH as there's no racing around theme parks and queueing for rides but there's still Disney attention to detail, great customer service and theming. And those 2 visits to Castaway Cay will be fab! I know I'm biased, but I think you'll have a great time. Only you can know if it's right for you family - I know it's right for mine and therefore worth the $$$.

Good luck with whatever you decide...

 

[Bibbidi]

Karen,

Thanks for the vote of confidence. We won't be cancelling because my husband seems to be really excited about it. I've asked him a few different times if he thought we should cancel it and just rebook a package at WDW and each time he has said, "No, it will be fun, something different, I want to do it." This is from a man who really does enjoy Disney, but is not obsessed with it like me. So since he is really psyched about dropping the money on a Disney trip I should definitely keep the reservation. I am a creature of habit so I could continue to go to Disney and do the "same" vacation over and over. He likes a little variety, so I guess at least it's the Disney kind of variety next year. Hopefully he'll let me still book a couple days at POR on the end of the cruise, even if we only get a one day pass to Magic Kingdom, I would still get my theme park fix.

 

[Mousermom]

I just wanted to wish everybody a Happy Mother's Day!!

Have a good week!

Mary Beth

 

[branv]

Hi everyone! DH and I just tentatively booked our 2nd DCL cruise for the double dip!! Woo-hoooo!!! We didn't even know they were offering a double dip and had planned to cruise in January like last time. However, when we pondered over how little time we actually spent in the water b/c it was so , we thought, "hey, let's see how much extra a May trip costs." The double dip sold us! So very excited and glad to be joining all of you.

It's just DH and I, no kids (we do have 2 fat cats, but I'm pretty sure DCL frowns down on furry stowaways). We loved our last Disney cruise so very much. Though technically we ended up napping an obscene amount of time, but between the rocking of the boat and frequent BBC's, well...it was out of our hands

We think like last time we'll either go a few days before or a few days after the cruise to the parks. Though I still firmly believe going before is much better since you need a few days of cruising to recover your feet! I love WDW, but it's not really what you call a relaxing vacation

We will most definitely be staying on board for Nassau. Last time we booked it over and caught ourselves a cab to offer our donation to the Atlantis casino and spend some time on the beach. We were most unimpressed with both. We might consider snorkeling, but I'd heard it's something of a mad house with a bunch of people bobbing around scaring the fishes. Not sure how much we'd really get to see.

One question, does anyone know if they'll still have the Palo brunch on the last day despite our day at CC vs. an at sea day?

 

[branv]

I got a new one for ya----Magnetic Door Signs!!

Anyone plan on doing these???

Guess I'm just going to jump right on in, hope it's all right!

I did not one, but TWO of these on our last cruise. DH was like, "and why do we need two let alone one?" After I convinced him how much easier it made it to find the door, I then just had to explain to him that doing one was so fun I didn't stop. I still have the one I did with Tink on it. If I do say so myself, it turned out really cute and very easy to do using MS Publisher.

 

[buzzlightyear]

We were on the Disney Magic Western Caribbean (4/21-4/28) We had such a great time, we booked the double dipper. We found the Castaway Cay days to be the most fun & relaxing with the kids. That is the main reason we booked the double dipper cruise! And we get to leave on Mothers day! I am planning on going to the Atlantis for the day at Nassau. I have 3 kids. They will be 12 dd, 9 dd, 4 ds.

 

[Mousermom]

OOOOHHHHH, NEW PEOPLE!!!!!

Hello and welcome branv and buzz!!!

Looking forward to meeting everybody.

You should see the signs I am doing!!

If you have been reading this thread, we have dubbed ourselves the OEPDS!!

The Organized Efficient Planning Divas!!!!

Glad to have you guys join us!!

 

[branv]

I'm glad you told me what that stood for, at first I was thinking, "The Ope heads??" That's a very funny name to which I absolutely relate. It's always nice to know there are like-minded obsessive planners out there. Feels a little less like I'm the weirdo in the tin foil hat Can you believe that like a fool I gave away my last Passporter thinking I wouldn't need it again, but now I'm missing it like crazy!

Right now "An Affair to Remember" is playing and boy does it make me look forward to a romantic cruise Can you imagine if people still dressed like Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant for cruise dinners? *sigh* So dreamy. Though I would personally have a hard time giving up my Crocs for high heels.

 

[CustardTart]

aboard, branv and buzzlightyear!!!!

So happy to have you along!

As a quick resume (and to save you from reading the thread from the start ) I'm cruising with my DD25, Sophie, at the end of our Girls Only WDW VWL vacation. We have only done a 3 night cruise before and are sooo looking forward to relaxing on Serenity Bay during the 2 stops at Castaway Cay!

Have a great day, everyone. Look forward to chatting more as the months go by...

 

[Bibbidi]

aboard, branv and buzzlightyear!!!!

So happy to have you along!

As a quick resume (and to save you from reading the thread from the start ) I'm cruising with my DD25, Sophie, at the end of our Girls Only WDW VWL vacation. We have only done a 3 night cruise before and are sooo looking forward to relaxing on Serenity Bay during the 2 stops at Castaway Cay!

Have a great day, everyone. Look forward to chatting more as the months go by...

Welcome! I'll follow Karen's lead and introduce our family. There is me, my DH and our two daughters, one will be nearly 7 and the other nearly 5 at the time of the cruise. We have never cruised before, but I am definitely an OEPD. We liked the idea of two days at Castaway Cay, after reading lots of good things about it, so that is why we picked this as our first cruise.

 

[branv]

Hi and thanks for the welcome!

custardtart (luv the name btw) isn't DCL addictive? I expected to like it, but I honestly didn't expect to tear up when I was leaving the ship on our first cruise! That's when I knew we'd be back for sure. I can't believe you're traveling all the way from England, now that is dedication! And to think I complained that Texas was too far from Orlando So what did you find to be your favorite parts of the cruise?

Bibbidi - I read above that you were a little iffy about the cruise, let me chime in that you really are going to love it. It certainly is a different vacation than WDW, but it's just as good. Just wait until the sail away party when you are standing on deck, watching Mickey and your girls dancing away, and you hear the tremendous blast of the horn playing "When You Wish Upon a Star." I thought I was prepared for it (even listened to the recordings they have on the internet), but nothing prepares you for how powerful it is. I got chills! Even stoic, iffy about WDW DH's jaw dropped and he just said, "wooooooow." I'm kind of excited for you in fact! (But, of COURSE you have to add at least a day for the park. Who can be that close to Orlando and resist? I have to go just for the Dole Whip...though that would be one expensive Dole Whip)

 

[CustardTart]

custardtart (luv the name btw) isn't DCL addictive?

OMG! Addictive just doesn't cover it!!! And that DCL website makes it sooo easy - like shopping for groceries! Washing powder, cereal, Cat 7 stateroom for 2 on a May Double Dip, milk, bread rolls...

I expected to like it, but I honestly didn't expect to tear up when I was leaving the ship on our first cruise!

Exactly the same here! Thank goodness DD and I had a week at WDW to look forward to afterwards or we would've been blubbing like babies! After this cruise we're going straight to MCO however, so watch out for the crazy British ladies refusing to let go of the Mickey!

... I can't believe you're traveling all the way from England, now that is dedication! And to think I complained that Texas was too far from Orlando So what did you find to be your favorite parts of the cruise?

What can I say, the British Empire used to be huge so I guess we're just used to travelling to the good stuff! Favourite bits??? Mmm - Serenity Bay... Palo's without a doubt... Serenity Bay... the Wine Tasting... Serenity Bay... My pathetic non-haggling over a diamond in Nassau (long story)... Serenity Bay... Hercules the Muse-ical... and did I mention Serenity Bay...????

 

[branv]

Oooooh Paloooo. I have never been in so happy and yet in so much pain When I told our waiter I couldn't decide btwn 3 things...he of course brought out all 3. When I told him I couldn't take any dessert, but would love it if they had a little sorbet...he brought out every dessert on the menu. EVIL!!! One thing I learned by this experience: DO NOT schedule Palo dinner for the night before Palo brunch. We were still too full to eat We had the same waiter from the night before and he treated us right though. That one free glass of champagne turned into 3 free glasses of champagne I decided to look at the champagne as the french equivalent to Alka Seltzer rather than yet another carbohydrate.

Though Palo was one of the few times I really enjoyed the food. I can eat junk food with the best of them (well actually better than the best ) but on the other hand I'm a food snob. Everyone else thinks I'm crazy, I know, everyone else loves the food. But I felt like the dining room food was like cafeteria food dressed up. I think I'm more forgiving or a boring hamburger than a boring tenderloin

I would like to hear the diamond story I'm not usually much of a haggler myself. I become terribly embarrassed, let alone feeling guilty about appearing to be the gluttonous "rich" (ha!) trying to bilk the poor third world merchant. But I dunno...when we went to Cozumel one trip, I turned into a haggling fiend. It was like something possessed my body. Despite 2 wasted years of Spanish (from which I can really only remember how to say "sausage" "window" and "Where's the potty?"), I somehow managed to channel my the language gods well enough to get two really ugly blankets for half the price of the one he was offering (though we know I was still probably paying too much). I didn't even want the things, but goodness...haggling was like a drug. I think DH became a little afraid of me. But it was a one time thing - our honeymoon trip to Playa del Carmen was the anti-haggle. I practically threw my money at the vendors.

Thank goodness the shops on Castaway Cay have the prices clearly marked

 

[CustardTart]

Oooooh Paloooo. I have never been in so happy and yet in so much pain When I told our waiter I couldn't decide btwn 3 things...he of course brought out all 3. When I told him I couldn't take any dessert, but would love it if they had a little sorbet...he brought out every dessert on the menu. EVIL!!! One thing I learned by this experience: DO NOT schedule Palo dinner for the night before Palo brunch. We were still too full to eat We had the same waiter from the night before and he treated us right though. That one free glass of champagne turned into 3 free glasses of champagne I decided to look at the champagne as the french equivalent to Alka Seltzer rather than yet another carbohydrate.

Those cheeky Palo waiters - you gotta love 'em... Actually, I could easily learn to love anyone who gave me 3 free glasses of champagne - as far as I'm concerned that's virtually a proposal of marriage and I'd stick like glue...

...Though Palo was one of the few times I really enjoyed the food. I can eat junk food with the best of them (well actually better than the best ) but on the other hand I'm a food snob. Everyone else thinks I'm crazy, I know, everyone else loves the food. But I felt like the dining room food was like cafeteria food dressed up. I think I'm more forgiving or a boring hamburger than a boring tenderloin...

Oh, branv, sorry to say I am a low quality chick who can wax lyrical about any meal that mentions a wine reduction and/or a coulis - especially when I haven't cooked it! Seriously tho', DD and I did enjoy the food a great deal but it was Palo's that really rocked our gastronomical world. Sooo looking forward to the Palo Brunch - waiter, you can leave the bottle...

BTW did you dress up for Pirate Night? (I just wanted to use that smilie...)

 

[branv]

We actually did not dress up for pirate night. That was our Palo night Besides, my head is too big for any bandana. I'd look like a Q-Tip.

HA! "Low Quality chick"...anyone who eats in France can never say that about themselves

I have a theory that wine reduction is just a fancy word for boiling down a product that, if we just drank it instead of concentrating it, would have made leather taste good. In fact, last night we had a beautiful Shiraz with a little cheese and olives. What was supposed to be an appetizer turned into a main course. As far as liquid dieting goes, I'd say that beats SlimFast any day.

Coulis is just fun to say. Though it sounds like the name of a rapper...give it time, I'm sure someone will use it as their stage name. Maybe I'll start, "That's right, they call me Coulis B-V, know it, love it!"

 

[CustardTart]

...In fact, last night we had a beautiful Shiraz with a little cheese and olives. What was supposed to be an appetizer turned into a main course. As far as liquid dieting goes, I'd say that beats SlimFast any day...

Definitely! I actually tried SlimFast last week - it wasn't a roaring success! I managed 3 days of "a shake for brekkie, a shake for lunch and a sensible dinner" before discovering I'd put on 3lbs!!!! That and the sweetener-induced headaches were too much to bear so I quit and went back to low-carbing. Dropped the 3 lbs within 24 hours and no headaches... Just think I paid all that cash (and still have 4 days worth of shakes sitting in the fridge) to stay the same weight - what a result...

 

[Bibbidi]

Hi and thanks for the welcome!

Bibbidi - I read above that you were a little iffy about the cruise, let me chime in that you really are going to love it. It certainly is a different vacation than WDW, but it's just as good. Just wait until the sail away party when you are standing on deck, watching Mickey and your girls dancing away, and you hear the tremendous blast of the horn playing "When You Wish Upon a Star." I thought I was prepared for it (even listened to the recordings they have on the internet), but nothing prepares you for how powerful it is. I got chills! Even stoic, iffy about WDW DH's jaw dropped and he just said, "wooooooow." I'm kind of excited for you in fact! (But, of COURSE you have to add at least a day for the park. Who can be that close to Orlando and resist? I have to go just for the Dole Whip...though that would be one expensive Dole Whip)

You know, all I ever hear about the Disney Cruises is how fantastic they are. I think I'm just not good at trying something new.

And yes, how could anyone be that close to Orlando and not get to the parks? I think I would feel jipped (how greedy of me) if we didn't get to the theme parks for at least a day or two, since we're already down in Orlando and all

For me it's not the Dole Whip, but rather the less talked about Citrus Swirl over by the "Tiki Room".

Thanks for all the Cruise Confidence I'm getting from our thread