May 28, 2005 Mexican Riviera

[challada]

Poco-
I would rent a car instead of limo as I think it ends up cheaper (based on # of folks). Glad to hear you are doing SD b/w boat and DL...I think your kids will love it! We are members at the zoo down there (if you will be there couple days it's worth doing a family membership) and my kids LOVE their newsletters from SDZ! Very nice grown up magazines every month too! I'll check what my current coupons are and bring them to the boat for you (they are usually on stuff to buy in the park).

Sues...reading on the 14 day thread, they are major organized (I feel like an underachiever compared to them ). Looks like whoever is doing the scrapbook class is actually putting together goodies bags for everyone w/scrapbook stuff to let everyone make 4 pages while onboard at the class! I think they are using the lounge during the day. They are even publishing a daily navigator just for the DIS folks for the 14 day!

Where did you get your magnet paper? I went to my Staples store last week and asked the guy working the paper dept for it....he looked at me like I was from outer space and said there was no such thing! I told him everyone on my cruise would have it but me so he looked around and could find nothing! He said I should go to the local printers, but I would think I could find it at some office store...any ideas?

The girls will have so much fun at the ice cream party!
WM...my DS will be glad there are boys on board too! Close in age (he's 9 right now).

 

[wccruiser]

Hello,

I explained to Grace we will be meeting up with some new friends, Kelly, Katie, Emily and Maddie (am I missing anyone?) when we get on the ship and she was thrilled and I think a little in awe of these boards. As far as excursions go, in P.V. we'll do the Dolphin Encounter for Kids. I know Grace would say she would love to swim with the dolphins, but I'm afraid if I book the Dolphin Swim, we would get there and it would be too scary at this age. So, I'll do the Encounter this year and save the swim for when Grace is a little older. In Mazatlan, we probably won't book one and in Cabo we'll do the Cabo Resort Pool Getaway. I can't wait to get our documents so I can make some more plans! The waiting is killing me! I guess I'm a compulsive planner and list maker!

 

[challada]

Oh yea, shore stuff...we are looking at the Dolphin swim but also not sure if Emily will actually do it once she sees the size of the Dolphins...what is the Encounter?

I was hoping to do our own thing in Mazatlan...(Mazatlan Frank almost has me convinced to do the lighthouse!)

Tell Grace howdy from Emily! One of her friends here at home is Grace and she goes to school w/a Gracie as well so she will be very happy to have another Grace in her world!

 

[wccruiser]

Hi,
Please tell Emily that Grace can't wait to meet her. I'm sure all our little "princesses" will have a blast! I think this is a great age for this cruise. Hopefully they will all enjoy the Oceaneer's Club. Do you have the early or late dining assignment? The Dolphin Encounter for Kids (ages 4-8) is where they only go in to knee deep water, but still get to pet, feed,hug, dance with and learn about the dolphins. They also get a "kiss" from the dolphin and they photograph it and sell it to you at the end. There is also a Dolphin Encounter for older kids and adults (10 and up...hey, what about the 9yr olds?..)that goes in waist deep water. The Swim with the Dolphins (ages 5 and over) is where they actually go into 15 feet of water (with a life vest though) and can ride and swim with the dolphins. The Swim is much more expensive. I just think as much as Grace dreams of swimming with dolphins like Ariel, the reality will be scarier. I'll promise her she can do a "swim" in a couple of years. If you do one of these, remember to bring a long sleeve t-shirt and hat as they don't allow sunscreen use.

 

[first timers]

Where did you get your magnet paper? I went to my Staples store last week and asked the guy working the paper dept for it....he looked at me like I was from outer space and said there was no such thing! I told him everyone on my cruise would have it but me so he looked around and could find nothing! He said I should go to the local printers, but I would think I could find it at some office store...any ideas?

Someone said they got the magnet paper at Walmart. We found some half page magnet paper (set up for photo frame) at Walgreens. Alex

 

[challada]

Thanks for the info on the encounter...I think that will be what we choose instead of the swim w/the dolphins. Emily would probably freak out in 15 feet of water with four foot long dolphins around her! The encounter sounds just like what we were looking for our dolphin interactions so I'll email the grandparents to see if they are up for that choice.

What are folks doing in Cabo? A friend of mine just got back from there (w/out her kids) and said it was nice (but got all the year's rainfall in the week they were there ). I think I want to just kick back on the beach there.

Thanks for the warning on the longsleeve shirts! I burn if I just think about going outside.

 

[poconoboatniks]

Hey,

I've read on other posts that you can get the magnetic paper at Walmart. I'm not that organized, so I haven't done that part yet. I'm in the process of putting together the week after the cruise right now. MY DH reminded me last evening that we need to get going on selecting our excurisons. No pressure! HA!

Have you guys gotten your lime green mickeys from Home Depot? That's how dissers identify other dissers on the ship. We wear ours in the plastic pocket of our lanyards. I saw a door sign that someone made to look like a lime green mickey.

Door tag sounds like fun. We'll need a list of all participating and their room numbers. I can work on that next week. This week, I'm finalizing the plans for my Girl Scout troop's overnight trip to Baltimore next month.

Challada, I checked into renting a car, but we're getting into LAX too late. The last rental goes out at 9:30pm and we're getting in around 9:55pm.

Pocono

 

[challada]

That's weird that the rental counters close that early (before last flights come in???)...you might consider a supershuttle instead.

I have several different Mickey heads from Home Depot (spent last week at DS's piano lessons peeling them off)) but didn't realize I need lime green...will have to go thru my stash.

Went to Wallieworld today....no magnet paper there either so I just bought strips of magnet tape and will print on cardstock then ad magnets to the back (I was probably going to laminate anyway).

Okay taggers...I'll start the list, right now we are 2626 and 2628 (never know if I'm going to be tempted in port to bump to a veranda).

 

[suesings]

Hi,
We don't know our cabin number yet. Not sure when they tell us that? We booked a GTY.

I am really surprised that Staples didn't have the magnetic paper? Do you have an Office Depot? I'm trying to remember where I got it? I'm sure you can buy it online too.

So you can "peel" the mickey heads from the Home Depot paint swatches? I need to go see if I can find some.

My husband and I did a Dolphin Encounter in Tahiti 6 years ago (before kids). I think Kelly might be scared, not sure though?

 

[challada]

sue...

The mickey heads are just glued on to the rectangles for taking home to compare paint colors...I've found that most of them peel right off the rectangles, but there were a few that were more stubborn than others. They kinda curl up when you peel them so I stuck them under my "cruise pile" of travel iron, shoes, etc and they are straight now!


We do have an Office Depot...haven't tried there yet (gotta find my teacher discount card I have laying around).

 

[G.G.G.]

Chris,

DG checking in and testing the discussion board to come up to speed what we can expect. As far as encounters, while we would certainly think the knee deep wading excursion will have to be on our scheduled. This DG and I'm sure the other DG need to also do the 15 ft swimming one as well.

On the car retal, Enterprise, is open till 10pm but will not rent after 10pm, so a 9:55pm arrival would probabaly not make it. But Hertz is open longer and they do have a downtown Long Beach drop which is not walking but cabbing distance. (and they said something about a 10$ credit for taking cab to port or returning not sure which).

And finally, yes on the booster seat.

 

[challada]

Howdy GGG! Welcome aboard! (wink, wink)

GGG is half of our traveling group...grandparents who are cruising w/us.

Our problem on the dolphin thing, will be that both the wading and the swimming thing are at the same port, so I don't know which one we need to do. Actually Alex could easily do the swim and would probably rather do that anyway, so we might need to split up and let you guys take the deep swim w/the older one and I can go pet them w/Emi.

Thanks on the booster! We'll be OK

 

[carriep1657]

Hi GGG. Welcome to the DIS. So, Challada, I'm guessing your name is Chris.

My DS(4) really wanted to do the Dolphin Encounter. I've decided against it. I have a feeling he'd get scared when it comes down to it. Do you think parents can go in with them at the encounter? It seems like I read that parents stay high and dry. If I could go in, he'd be great.

Does anyone know if there's a beach within walking distance of the port in Cabo? It sound like town is within easy walking distance. I'd love to visit a beach too.

 

[challada]

Carrie-
Yep, I'm Chris...grandpa gave away my secret

When I read the Dolphin Encounter it looks like there are two options for parents...one is the $35 ride on the bus and then sit far away while your kid wades in the water and the other is the $120 ride on the bus and get to wade in w/your kid. If we do it, I would do the wade in w/Emi as I think she would get scared even in the shallow water w/out me there.

I was trying to read up on Cabo and it sounds like there are lots of beaches right there but might be a cab ride from port to beach. Also sounds like you can't swim in the ocean on one side (I haven't figured out which yet)...or that might have just been the rules at the one beach, it was late when I was reading it last night.

I'm looking into non-Disney shore excursions for our time there, I'll keep everyone posted on options!

 

[Jedisan]

Does anyone know if there's a beach within walking distance of the port in Cabo? It sound like town is within easy walking distance. I'd love to visit a beach too.

The beaches/town are within walking distance of the pier. It's about a mile (I think), but not a strenuous walk. When we were there a couple of years ago, my DH and DD (7 at the time) handled the walk without any problem.

We are all getting very excited. I was telling Katie about all the girls her age who will be on the ship. She is really looking forward to meeting some new friends.

With regard to the magnetic paper, I went on-line and Staples carries it. Avery is one of the brands. Looks like it's ~$10 for five 8-1/2 x 11 sheets.

Since I'm pulling my two DDs out of school for the week, I was wondering if any other parents might want to have a homework club while on board? My kids will get full credit as long as they complete all their school work.

 

[wccruiser]

Hi all,

Sorry, but I missed the whole magnetic paper thing. What is it and what is it used for? I'm a new to all this.

 

[poconoboatniks]

WCC

Magnetic paper is used to create a door sign for your stateroom. If you do a search, you can see examples of what other cruisers have created for their stateroom doors. I did read a thread where someone else was making a door sign to be hung from the little pewter fish which is alongside your door. Hanging the sign from the little fish will make it easier to spot your room from down the hall. I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet. We will need a magnetic tag, if we're going to play door tag.

Hey Challada, What's a supershuttle and where can I get information about using them to get to the port? How far is Hertz from the port? They will reimburse $10 cab fee, but how much is the cab? If it's only $10 or $15 then it's something to be considered.

These boards are so useful. I don't know what we would have done without them. Well, we would be doing a lot more research. I would not be as comfortable as I am in going on this trip.

Poconoboatniks

 

[wccruiser]

Thanks for the info. Making a door sign sounds like fun. I saw a thread that had a Disney link for Disney script. I'll check it out. OK, here's my next dumb question...what is door tag? Also, how about we create some kind of identifying name tags to wear that first day or t-shirts? Maybe with the sail date and/or a name for our group? Or at least just have the kids wear them...I don't think DH will be into wearing the t-shirt.

 

[poconoboatniks]

Door tag is tag where a disser secretly tags your door with a magnetic tag and then you tag someone elses door. I'm going to work on a list of dissers next. Everyone will have a copy of the list of dissers wanting to play before we go on the trip.

Lime green mickey paint chips from Home Depot are how we identify each other on the ship. I usually wear mine in the plastic pocket on my lanyard with my KTTW (key to the world) card. I think the repo cruise is having t-shirts. We would have to decide on something quick, if we wanted to do something like that. On past cruises, we've met other dissers in front of Scoops at 3:00 on the first day. We can do the same thing on this trip.

Poconoboatniks

 

[challada]

Poconos-

Supershuttle is the blue vans that will take you from airport to/from anywhere for a flat fee (like $50 trip). I know they have them at LAX, you just have to arrange a pickup time.

I don't know where Hertz is in relation to the port, maybe GGG can chime in since he booked w/them orginally and talked to them about all the locations/cost/reimbursements...I know Hertz is further away than Enterprise but not all the way in LongBeach.

I'm amazed that Staples online had the magnet paper but the store didn't!
Walmart didn't have it either so I just bought strips of magnet tape and will use that. I have enough to do my paint chips too and can make the DIS door tag to get us started.