May 3rd-10th****Dis Maytees-May Magic send off

[CruisinEars]

So, I was sitting here today minding my own business, and had such great luck!!!!

We hadn't booked our flights yet for the trip, partly because we just booked the cruise last week, partly because DH didn't get his passport yet and I wanted to make sure he did, and partly 'cause there just weren't any good rates.

We have the option of flying either out of Toronto or Buffalo, and usually wait to see what is going to work out best. Buffalo is a longer drive for us, 2 hours, but usually half the price than Toronto.

I checked the rates this morning for the two of us out of Toronto... $800 total. Went to lunch, got a West Jet Seat Sale email, so I checked it out. They had gone down to $500. I couldn't get ahold of hubby, so after a few phone calls, I just booked it...

When I checked back about a half hour later, the prices had gone back up to $650!!!!! I feel like I just won the lottery!!!!!!!!!!

Woohoo! that is a great deal for you. Sometimes you just have to make those executive decisions.

 

[DiMitch]

Hi. My name is Diane, and I live in Highlands Ranch CO. We will be doing 7 day western in Oct. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind bringing back extra copies of each days navigators. (they are the little daily newpapers that you get that list all the activiteis and events.) You can get extra copies each day at guest services. I had someone bring me back some for our last disney cruise and it was a huge help in planning our activities. I saw that you lived in Denver, and thought you might be willing to help out.

 

[Fizzgig]

Hi. My name is Diane, and I live in Highlands Ranch CO. We will be doing 7 day western in Oct. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind bringing back extra copies of each days navigators. (they are the little daily newpapers that you get that list all the activiteis and events.) You can get extra copies each day at guest services. I had someone bring me back some for our last disney cruise and it was a huge help in planning our activities. I saw that you lived in Denver, and thought you might be willing to help out.

Well, I don't see a problem with that--I've still got my Navigator's from the 4 Day we went on last year.

If you'd like to see the current Western Navigators now, they're posted online. I think I've seen last December's Western posted on wdwinfo, but it could be another website.

*wave*
Brandie

 

[Fizzgig]

Misslissa: That's awesome!

 

[DiMitch]

Hey thanks so much Brandie...I did see those navigators from Dec but it seemed like they had a lot of special holiday stuff going on. I also remember from our last cruise that the navigators changed a lot, unless you got them pretty close to your own cruise. I was hoping to get some even closer to our Oct Date, but it looks like the Magic is doing the whole Mexican Riviera thing again all summer and the only regular western that goes out before ours is just two weeks prior. I don't imagine anyone would have enough delivery time to mail them out to me from the sat they get off the boat till the Fri am that we fly out! The May cruise you are on is the closest similar cruise I could locate. I am not sure how the privatge message thing works but when/if I figure it out I'll send you my e-mail and/or mailing address and would be happy to reimburse any extra postage for them. Thanks again Diane

 

[CruisinEars]

I just booked Capt. Marvins for Grand Cayman. We are doing the 3 hour trip at 10:00. I haven't heard back yet if we are confirmed for that time or not. Hopefully they still have room. Kinda nice because they don't charge your card until you get there and if your cruise ship misses that port they don't charge you.

 

[Fizzgig]

Dawn: Do you have any clue how hard it is to not buy you this??? http://disneyshopping.go.com/webapp...&productId=1187439&langId=-1&categoryId=15070

But I remember you always had a kid in each hand whenever I saw you!

*wave*
Brandie

 

[misslissa]

Just wondering, when we book excursions and Palo, and possibly a spa treatment (that I am not telling DH about) next week... do we need a credit card to hold it? Is it charged right away? And, what is the cancellation policy?

 

[imheather]

I just booked Capt. Marvins for Grand Cayman. We are doing the 3 hour trip at 10:00. I haven't heard back yet if we are confirmed for that time or not. Hopefully they still have room. Kinda nice because they don't charge your card until you get there and if your cruise ship misses that port they don't charge you.

Hi Jennifer,

We are booked on the same tour! We did it a few years ago and it was fantastic. A trip your kids will never forget. We are even bringing are own snorkles. The ones on the boat were laying in a big bucket and it GROSSED me out....LOL

Heather

 

[imheather]

Just wondering, when we book excursions and Palo, and possibly a spa treatment (that I am not telling DH about) next week... do we need a credit card to hold it? Is it charged right away? And, what is the cancellation policy?

not until you are onboard....

heather

 

[CruisinEars]

Hi Jennifer,

We are booked on the same tour! We did it a few years ago and it was fantastic. A trip your kids will never forget. We are even bringing are own snorkles. The ones on the boat were laying in a big bucket and it GROSSED me out....LOL

Heather

Yay! We won't be able to bring our own snorkels though. We just don't have the suitcase room and I doubt we would ever use them again. My mom and dad will be with us too.

Oh, do you know if we can bring food from the ship into GC? I want to make sure we have snacks since it falls during lunch time.

 

[Faith&Hope]

Yeah! I am still trying to put everyone's info together! Do we have a long list of people put together yet? I don't recall seeing one.

I have a HUGE question!!! I would love to take my family to Stingray City (not through Disney because of the age requirement). I posted on the main boards but not getting any responses. I have a 2.9 year old and 5.5 year old. Does anyone have any experience with taking little ones? They love the water. My older one can snorkel but the little one would need a boogie board with the see through window. We did this 2 years ago in Hawaii and they loved it.

I've picked up names of outside vendors like StingrayCityTrips, Native Way and Captain Marvins. Who would be best to take for a smaller group that might cater more to kids?

Most importantly, I need to find out about the snorkel gear for the little ones. Can the little one wear floaties. Would she kick a stingray and get stung. Sounds like a weird question but just thought of that!

Oh yeah, I think it might be harder for my husband to get in the water than the kids!! Do you think the girls will freak out. ?

Thanks!

 

[Faith&Hope]

Has anyone made plans to take fish extenders on our trip? I've read some neat threads on these but I don't want to design one and then not have anyone participate!

Anyone??

 

[GoofysGr8]

Greetings to such a friendly bunch! I just read from pg 17 to the end of this thread and my eyesight is blurry.

We will be on the cruise, sorry, no 5 y.o boys--the popular variety for this cruise...our kids are in college, and we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary.

Spur of the moment decision last November to book this cruise. Looking forward to it. Sailed a 3 day Wonder last January and it was way too rushed.

Just the two of us, in our 50s, spending a few days on each end of the cruise at Disney's Old Key West. We've been DVC members since '92--though use our points only for stays at the resort, not cruising.

We were an Air Force family, now retired, so "home" has been all over the country, but we are in Rapid City, SD now.
Goof
Terry & Art

 

[bobbi565]

We will be on the cruise, sorry, no 5 y.o boys--the popular variety for this cruise...our kids are in college, and we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary.

Spur of the moment decision last November to book this cruise. Looking forward to it. Sailed a 3 day Wonder last January and it was way too rushed.

I don't know if 5 yo boys are the most popular variety of offspring for this group, just the most vocal...the nature of the beast! What a great way to celebrate such a wonderful milestone! I'm sure your family will create wonderful memories.

Which cruise were you on last January? If it was the 25 - 28, then we were there too! I agree, a 3 day is not nearly long enough!

 

[misslissa]

Yeah! I am still trying to put everyone's info together! Do we have a long list of people put together yet? I don't recall seeing one.

I have a HUGE question!!! I would love to take my family to Stingray City (not through Disney because of the age requirement). I posted on the main boards but not getting any responses. I have a 2.9 year old and 5.5 year old. Does anyone have any experience with taking little ones? They love the water. My older one can snorkel but the little one would need a boogie board with the see through window. We did this 2 years ago in Hawaii and they loved it.

I've picked up names of outside vendors like StingrayCityTrips, Native Way and Captain Marvins. Who would be best to take for a smaller group that might cater more to kids?

Most importantly, I need to find out about the snorkel gear for the little ones. Can the little one wear floaties. Would she kick a stingray and get stung. Sounds like a weird question but just thought of that!

Oh yeah, I think it might be harder for my husband to get in the water than the kids!! Do you think the girls will freak out. ?

Thanks!

Hey! I'm going to be booking Stingray City so I have been looking at lots of information regarding it. From what I have read, the Stringray thing at Castaway Cay seems to be more kid friendly than the one in GC. Do a search and I'm sure you'll pull up the threads that I read. I was also able to pull up pictures.

As for fish extenders, I'd love to do it... I'm actually going to go looking for "Door" items tonite after work. Hopefully more people can join in!!!!!!

 

[bobbi565]

Here's a little more info about Stingray City with Captain Marvin. I've pasted below the text of an email exchange I had with my TA. Sorry not to post the photos she attached

First of all, how do we get from the port to Captain Marvin’s; do we need to take a cab? Captain Marvin’s is about a 10 minute walk from the Port. Once you tender in, turn LEFT at the main street and walk down about 10 minutes. Captain Marvin’s will be on the right side of the street in a small plaza (you can’t miss it).

Also, my 5yo doesn’t really swim yet (and, actually, neither does my husband), how important are swimming skills to this experience. You can wear life vests if you like. The water is about 3 foot deep on the sand bar but you do have to swim a bit to get to the sand bar (maybe 50 feet or so). My 6 year old spend some time on my husband’s shoulders until she finally came into the water. J Finally, it’s hard to predict how Joel (the 5yo) will react to the stingrays. Will it be possible for one of us to get back on the boat with him during the experience if he decides he doesn’t like it? Yes, anyone can stay right on the boat instead of coming into the water. The boat hands (and Captain) are very nice and stay on the boat also (there is a photographer in the water with you).

I have attached a couple of photos so you can see how deep the water is and how it is set up. J In the first one, that is my daughter in her Dad’s arms! My other daughter, age 8 at the time, is standing next to them so you can see approximately the depth of water.

We did have one little girl in our group who sat on the boat the whole time and had a blast with the deck hands.

Please let me know if you have any questions at all.

Afterwards, we had them drop us off at the Royal Palms Beach and it was fantastic! We could see the Magic right there and the water was beautiful. Ok, I’ll attach a photo of that beach as well (can you tell I loved that cruise!!!!)?

 

[Yvet]

Has anyone made plans to take fish extenders on our trip? I've read some neat threads on these but I don't want to design one and then not have anyone participate!

Anyone??

I would love to participate with fish extenders.

Hopefully there are some more that would also like to participate........

 

[CruisinEars]

Hi,

To answer Faith&Hope, the most comprehensive list we have so far is on page 27 post 398. I am stating this again for the newcomers to this thread. If anyone wants to be included, pm me your names, where from, kids if you have any that will be on the cruise and cabin number. So far I have only had 13 families check in for the list.

I got my confirmation for capt Marvins this morning. We are on the 10 am half day tour. We hope to see more of you join us. I did check into the nativeway tour and felt the capt marvins one offered better timing. We only wanted a short excursion and marvins offered the best choice for us. So that is a factor you will want to check on before making your plans.

 

[misslissa]

Hi,

To answer Faith&Hope, the most comprehensive list we have so far is on page 27 post 398. I am stating this again for the newcomers to this thread. If anyone wants to be included, pm me your names, where from, kids if you have any that will be on the cruise and cabin number. So far I have only had 13 families check in for the list.

I got my confirmation for capt Marvins this morning. We are on the 10 am half day tour. We hope to see more of you join us. I did check into the nativeway tour and felt the capt marvins one offered better timing. We only wanted a short excursion and marvins offered the best choice for us. So that is a factor you will want to check on before making your plans.

That's cool. Does Captain Marvin's happen to offer an Island tour as well? I really want to see the "sights" as well as Stingray City and so far, I have decided on the DCL Island Tour and Snorkel at Stingray City but I keep hearing great things about Captain Marvin's...