May 2, 2009~~~Magical MAYniacs!~~~ 7 day Western....Updated, April 3,2009!!

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!​

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Scrub fires are abound in the county. Yesterday, authorities closed a portion of I-95. We could see and smell smoke from our house. Conditions are not expected to improve over the next 7 days. We need rain!

 

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PARAPHRASING SOMEONE'S TRIP REPORT:

You folks will accompany us on our first entrance into that sun-washed atrium on-board the Disney Magic. You will hear “When You Wish Upon a Star” on the ship’s horns, and know that a Disney cruise is a wish come true. You will dine with us, gaze at the horizon with us, walk the streets of Key West, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel with us. You will bask in the surreal beauty of the beaches at Castaway Cay. You will watch the sunrise over a calm, beckoning sea, and touch the Eternal. You will experience the wind in your hair, the smiles from cast and crew, and sweet encounters with the most gracious Mr. Mickey Mouse. You will be greeted with turned-down covers, towel animals, and chocolates.

 

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Where did everybody go? I took a shower today.

 

[toribelle]

I am here, just trying to keep my head in work and not think too much about next May but it's real hard.

 

[colleenlg]

I am a crazy person! I have made a spreadsheet of the various on & off site resorts at Disneyworld based on info from my Passporter & the Disney website trying to figure out where to stay for our week after the cruise!

Did you realize it will be Mother's Day the day after the cruise? I'm already dreaming about my spa treatment at the Grand Floridian while my DH watches the kids!

 

[colleenlg]

Hmmmm....that is a pickle. Does he know that your friends are interested in going also? Perhaps that would help him to change his mind a little. Would he listen to what your thoughts are, or are you worried about how you might make him feel?

I haven't said anything about our friends going b/c I don't want my folks to feel like someone better came along so they're out. We just really need their help at the parks more than on the cruise & I love my parents but 2 weeks together may be more than I (or esp. my DH) can take! Now our friends say they are definitely in so I'm going to really have to start working on my parents!

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

We brought a more sturdy stroller than just an umbrella b/c we had to walk a lot more than probably needed in Caribbean since we were in Europe. We went on all-day excursions (& on our own) & wanted DD to be able to sleep in a reclining stroller - which worked out fabulously! She wound up sleeping through a lot of our lunches, which allowed us to dine leisurely (needed in Europe!) & then would feed her snacks we'd brought from home. For ex, I packed individual packs of soy crisps b/c they are light, easy & don't spoil but contain protein to help fill her up & are healthy. We used the stroller only on shore.

We planned to use the DCL crib but the couch that turns into a cot worked out great. We got the DCL guard rail & it was pretty much like a little crib but didn't take up space in the room. She was 2 & 1/2 at the time though - wouldn't work for an infant.

I can't remember what the high chairs were like - I think just like the wooden ones you get in restaurants without a tray or anything?

Thanks for the answers The umbrella stroller I have is actually pretty sturdy plus it has a sun shade on it so I think I will bring that one. Depending on how much Chase weighs at the time we sail we might bring a Bjorn as well. Just depends.

So who has used Flounders? Have you ever left the ship while your little one was there? Like if it is really hot outside and we just want to wonder around the port without putting him through the humid/hot weather? My Sister (that will be traveling with us) is due any day so we are hopeful that the kids will get a long and they can go into flounders together to keep each other company.

What about food in the dining rooms. Do you just order off the kids menu and mush everything up? I guess it will depend on how many teeth he has huh?

Does the Mickey pool have a place for little ones to splash around. Chase loves the water already so I really want him to be able to splash around. You would think that having sailed multiple times I would have paid more attention but alas I have not. The only reason I walked back there was to get ice cream and fruit punch

TIA again

 

[laura001]

I am here, just trying to keep my head in work and not think too much about next May but it's real hard.

That is me too!!!!! I start looking at posts and trip reports and before I know it a half an hour has passed and I have no work done!

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

I am a crazy person! I have made a spreadsheet of the various on & off site resorts at Disneyworld based on info from my Passporter & the Disney website trying to figure out where to stay for our week after the cruise!

Did you realize it will be Mother's Day the day after the cruise? I'm already dreaming about my spa treatment at the Grand Floridian while my DH watches the kids!

Oh you are so lucky!!!! And no you are not crazy!!! I will usually start gathering up things to take around six months out then start packing around three months out I'm an obsessive-compulsive overplanning disneyholic

What resorts have you stayed at before? What category are you most interested in and is in your budget? I'm partial to POR but that is just me...

 

[laura001]

I am a crazy person! I have made a spreadsheet of the various on & off site resorts at Disneyworld based on info from my Passporter & the Disney website trying to figure out where to stay for our week after the cruise!

Did you realize it will be Mother's Day the day after the cruise? I'm already dreaming about my spa treatment at the Grand Floridian while my DH watches the kids!

I haven't purchased the Cruise Passporter, is that the one you are using? If not, has anyone used the the Cruise Passporter, if so, what are your thoughts on it??

I know it is Mother's Day right after the cruise, our kids will be at home, so it will be a strange day for me. I had heard that there are some very good Brunch's that we can attend, but I am thinking about how bummed out I might be without the kids do that.......have to think about it. Perhaps the day at the waterpark and a nice dinner will work out better.

I haven't said anything about our friends going b/c I don't want my folks to feel like someone better came along so they're out. We just really need their help at the parks more than on the cruise & I love my parents but 2 weeks together may be more than I (or esp. my DH) can take! Now our friends say they are definitely in so I'm going to really have to start working on my parents!

You know, after thinking about it, I think that honesty is always the best policy (yup, took me a whole week to think of that ). Now that you are sure about your friends, perhaps being up front with them is the best way to do it. I would think that once they find out your friends are coming that they would probably want to switch to the other half of the vacation and have you all to themselves..........PLUS, it is Mother's Day as you pointed out! Special time for you and Mom having the day at GF spa perhaps???

 

[toribelle]

I have been reading many new posts from the post trip reports on the western caribbean and I am so not working. I already have many many notes on the notebook and already thinking ok what will my dining rotation be so I can think about Palo. This is going to be a very unproductive year....teehee.

 

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Welcome back everybody. I thought maybe everyone jumped ship.

My friends in Maryland can't make the cruise. However, it now looks like my in-laws will be going. I got a quote from DU (see ad at the top of the page) for $2100 (2 adults in a Cat 12 GTY), which includes $100 OBC plus another $25 for booking online. At least, that was an initial quote using fictitious names. I just submitted another quote request using real names - I just hope the numbers are close.

Sorry, I'm not much help for those with small children.

As for PALO, I waited too long to try to book a brunch on the last cruise. It may be tough to get, but I'd like to reserve a brunch during a sea day. I can't imagine choosing a PALO brunch while we are visiting a port. For dinner, I can't say at this time a good day to reserve a table. Personally, I don't think day 1 is good because I'd like to meet the wait staff. Also, that's when I will be getting my 'sea legs.' No need to overstuff on Saturday nite. I made the mistake of choosing pirate nite for our last PALO dinner. While everyone was walking around dressed like pirates, we were in semi-formal attire. We did things backwards - on formal nite, we went to Topsiders because we didn't want to bother packing dress clothes. So, we looked like bums while everyone else was wearing tux or gown.

 

[colleenlg]

So who has used Flounders? Have you ever left the ship while your little one was there? Like if it is really hot outside and we just want to wonder around the port without putting him through the humid/hot weather? My Sister (that will be traveling with us) is due any day so we are hopeful that the kids will get a long and they can go into flounders together to keep each other company.

What about food in the dining rooms. Do you just order off the kids menu and mush everything up? I guess it will depend on how many teeth he has huh?

Does the Mickey pool have a place for little ones to splash around. Chase loves the water already so I really want him to be able to splash around. You would think that having sailed multiple times I would have paid more attention but alas I have not. The only reason I walked back there was to get ice cream and fruit punch

TIA again

We used Flounders & DD loved it! She cried at drop off the first couple of times but there is a big one way window where you can peek in at the kids without them seeing you & within a few minutes DD was having fun. She cried the last night b/c we told her no more Flounders until we realized the tears were b/c she WANTED to go & we brought her in for one last visit. There were not many babies/toddlers on the Med cruise so we were able to just drop her off at Flounders last minute but doubt that will be the case in the Caribbean!

We left the ship w/DD onboard one time. It was the only night with a late enough sailing that we could have dinner onshore & this was later in the cruise so we felt comfortable leaving her at Flounders for a few hours while we had dinner in lovely Villefranche, France.

DD was 2 & 1/2 at time of cruise so she was eating solid food off the kids menu. You could pack some baby food of course. Flounders will feed the kids baby food & bottles if you provide it to them. One of the onboard stores may have had some baby food for sale - I'm sure very expensive tho.

One of the Mickey ears is for un-potty-trained kids. It's basically like sprinklers for them to splash in. You're not allowed to bring non-pt kids into the actual pool. We snuck in DD anyway on last at sea day & just took off her swim diaper so no one was the wiser. (I'm sure that pool is full of pee from the older kids anyway & she never would poop in the pool! Sorry...TMI?)

 

[colleenlg]

What resorts have you stayed at before? What category are you most interested in and is in your budget? I'm partial to POR but that is just me...

I've only been to WDW 2ce - once at age 14 (Polynesian) & once at age 4 (The Contemporary). Since I used to live in AZ & now in San Diego, I have been to Disneyland a million times instead. I am leaning toward getting a cabin at the campground - cheapest way to get a "suite" & there seems to be lots of fun things for the kids there. My folks would get their own cabin as well. Otherwise, we would try to get a villa at one of the vacation club resorts (although I've heard that can be tough). Another option would be to stay at the Grand Floridian in just a standard room. Usually DH & I try to get a suite when we travel so we can have some alone time away from the kids but they might be used to us being in close quarters with them on the cruise & we'd wind up bringing them into our bedroom anyway. I'm also looking at staying at a nice off-site resort for some downtime away from the parks & to save money. There is one that looks really nice called Ginn Reunion Resort in Kissimmee (I think). It got good ratings at hotels.com. Any suggestions for a family with a baby & 4 year old?

I haven't purchased the Cruise Passporter, is that the one you are using? If not, has anyone used the the Cruise Passporter, if so, what are your thoughts on it??

You know, after thinking about it, I think that honesty is always the best policy (yup, took me a whole week to think of that ). Now that you are sure about your friends, perhaps being up front with them is the best way to do it. I would think that once they find out your friends are coming that they would probably want to switch to the other half of the vacation and have you all to themselves..........PLUS, it is Mother's Day as you pointed out! Special time for you and Mom having the day at GF spa perhaps???

I've got the cruise Passporter (devoured that b4 our 1st cruise) & just read through the WDW Passporter. I loved them both! I think the cruise one is out of print...I bought it used from Amazon.

Thanks for the advice re: my folks. I suppose I could try honesty. The Mother's Day angle is a good one to try! Unfortunately my mom isn't much of a spa gal. Crazy, huh?!

 

[laura001]

I've got the cruise Passporter (devoured that b4 our 1st cruise) & just read through the WDW Passporter. I loved them both! I think the cruise one is out of print...I bought it used from Amazon.

Thanks for the advice re: my folks. I suppose I could try honesty. The Mother's Day angle is a good one to try! Unfortunately my mom isn't much of a spa gal. Crazy, huh?!

Well, it looks like you have your work cut out for you.....let us know how things are going.

I am going to check on the cruise passporter today, I used to use the other passporter years and years ago, really don't need that one anymore, BUT, the cruise one would be great!!!

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

colleenlg-Thanks for all the great info on Flounders As for suites have you looked into the new family suites at All Star Music. I don't know if you would want to stay at a Value resort or not but you can get a suite for about the price of a room at a moderate.

I think the cabins would be cool. I have been to Fort Wilderness for the Hoop-De-Do Revue and the grounds are very nice. There is a little store there as well that has some grocery items.

As for DVC you could try looking on the DVC board here. There seems to always be someone who is looking to "rent" out their points.

Keep us up to date on how things are going.

 

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Good morning Cruisers
We sail in 50 weeks!

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Another quick update - my DW's mom and dad are going.

Now there are 35 people.

Dis ID – Location – Names & Ages – Stateroom - Other

Laura001 – Niagara Ontario – Scott50, Laura46 - cabin #2578 - Celebrating 25th Anniversary; First DCL Cruise
Ashlotte – Pacific NW – DH, DW, DS4.5, DD2.5 - cabin #7012 - Celebrating 10th Anniversary; First DCL Cruise
Itutorfortravel – DH, DW, DD
Zero G – Florida – Randy49, Steph35, DS9, DD6 - cabin #2608
- - MIL and FIL - Arkansas - Cabin TBD - First cruise ever
Colleenlg - San Diego - Phil41, Colleen35, Karissa4, Leo1
- - Colleen's Parents - Scottsdale, Arizona - Ellen64, Tom65
Toribelle - Pennsylvania - DH38, DW38 - Celebrating 20 years together
DisneyDreamer8 - Oregon - DH33, DW32, DS(14 Months) - cabin #2126 - Celebrating 10th Anniversary
- - Sister's family: DSis36, DH37, DD14, DS11, DD1, and my mother in cabin #2124 & 2122
- - In-Laws
Lbullard - Virginia - Lynn38, DH41, DS10 - cabin #2052

 

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Disney cruises vacation heaven for kids

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/getaways/05/19/disney.wonder/index.html