NASCAR Fan & Disney Cruise HELP!

[tchoney]

Oh my, have I made a giant mistake. My family and I are all Nascar fans. In fact, we live just 15 minutes from Lowes Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. Every year, we have a "race bus" that we take into the infield during the 2 weeks of racing in Charlotte. We cookout, talk, shop, take photos, hang out with drivers, just really have a great time. Anyway, it seems that I booked our Mexican Rivera cruise (DCL) on the weekend of the race. We would be flying out on the day of the Busch race. Needless to say, My family is Angry at me and I am angry at myself. I never would have done this on purpose and really feel badly about it. My delima is... We booked our cruise really early like on the first day they went onsale and now what we have is approximately $1500 more, so if we change dates, it will cost us that much more. Which, we don't have financially. It has been a stretch to afford it anyway.

Finally, my question is... Can you watch Nascar races on the ship? Do the tv's pick up Nascar?

Sorry to ramble on, but I'm in a real pickle right now. I appreciate any advice or answers....
Thanks!
Tina

 

[gdulaney]

Hi Tina!

First the bad news...no NASCAR on tv...but there is hope. If you have XM radio, you can take along the boom box and listen to the race. We left port on "Bristol Saturday" (the night race) and my husband was NOT going to miss the race. We ate an early Palo dinner and then headed to the secret deck 7 area, where we set up his XM boom box. We made a lot of friends that night and had a blast listening to the race!

Ginny

 

[fortierv]

Sorry, don't have a solution. I would like to offer my expert "race bus" babysitting service though. We have an infield RV season pass for California Speedway and know it's tough to give up a Nascar weekend. I had to miss one last year for one of the kids swim meets. Hope something works out but if not we would love to fill in.

 

[ann-e-mator]

I'm not trying to be the stick in the mud here, but your on a cruise that you just spent thousands of dollars on in the middle of the Atlantic ocean on your way to the Bahamas/Caribbean... Can't you just find out who won when you get home???

 

[fortierv]

I'm not trying to be the stick in the mud here, but your on a cruise that you just spent thousands of dollars on in the middle of the Atlantic ocean on your way to the Bahamas/Caribbean... Can't you just find out who won when you get home???

Actually, I think she will be somewhere in the Pacific unless they moved the Mexican Rivera while I wasn't looking. OK, thay was my attempt at being funny. To answer your question. NO, it's NASCAR.

 

[StuartMI]

Just watch Formula 1 instead

 

[MickeyB426]

I've always been more of an IndyCar fan, but I follow NASCAR as well.

I remember my first DCL cruise aboard the Magic in February of 2001 I missed the Daytona 500 (the second day of the cruise, at sea).

It was the race where Dale Earnhardt died and most of us found out on the internet later that evening.

As for your dilemna, is it possible to reschedule your race-watching activities to another week, at another Speedway?

 

[lrodptl]

Now the insidious Nascar is working its way onboard. I suppose you could bribe ,oh forget it, I'm not going to entertain this topic!

 

[JC Butterfly]

Well it seems like you have a couple of options

1) Ask your family if they would rather give up cruising on the Mexican Riviera in order to participate in day festivities as other years. Then book a cruise for later in 2005 NOT one of the Mexican cruises.

2) Ask your family if they are all willing to pitch in to make saving up another $1500 possible so you can change the dates of your cruise . . . .(willing to eat Mac-n-cheese at least once a week to "save" on groceries", willing to get part-time jobs to supplement your current income)

3) Can you go to another speedway for a different race and still be content?

If you are going to spend thousands of dollars on a vacation that is a bit of a stretch for your family in the first place, do you really want everyone "angry" that they are missing a race back home? The family has to prioritize. If the cruise is most important, they have to be prepared that they might not see or hear details of this race for a week. If the race is more important than reschedule the cruise for a different Mexican date or just do the Carribbean thing. good luck with your choice.

 

[DrCavin]

You *MAY* get to see the race. They show other sporting events in Diversions during the cruise, so you can always hope. Will probably depend on where the ship is as to what stations they can receive. I think I remember seeing ESPN being broadcast in Spanish, so I think they get what they can.

I would give up a race or two to be on the Magic!!

 

[disneybride96]

First, let me say that we live less than 10 miles from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and I have never been to the Brickyard 400. I can hear the Busch cars at IRP from my deck, and I have never been there either. So now you know what I think of NASCAR, but I really do understand your delimma.
We made the mistake of sailing on Purdue/Notre Dame Football Saturday. The good news was that you do get ESPN and that ticker at the bottom of the screen kept us updated on the score. It about killed us at the time & I hated to miss seeing us stomp the Irish in their home stadium. Now two months later, it was a great game, but the memories of the cruise are so much meaningful.
It's kind of like looking at life at an observer or a participant. Cruising is Living!

 

[tecdavidt]

Do some research and find out if the race is on TV. If yes, what channel. If ESPN, you should be in luck because Disney owns ESPN and it should be on the ship. If the answer is no TV, well, you need to make the decision on if he change the cruise or not. Kathy

 

[WDWLVR]

The XM idea sounds like your best way. They won't show it on the ship because it isn't ESPS. You can try and ask really really nice in Diversions but don't know if it will do much good.


We have a conflict in 2005 as well with a WDW trip and our tickets to the Milwaukee Mile with Busch & Trucks so I feel your pain.

My suggestion. Tape the race this year, enjoy your cruise, and get your updates on the internet!

Enjoy!

 

[Dcanoli]

So GOOD to see NASCAR finally hit the disboard! (Contrary to the earlier post above!!!)

We were supposed to cruise in September, and as it approached, all we kept thinking was WERE GOING TO MISS A RACE! YIKES! Nascar fans have it bad, don't they?

Anyway...two options--XM sounds great and so does Diversions. However, doesn't Lowe's have two races? Now, I can't remember the schedule right off hand and I haven't looked, so I'm going off memory and the fact that a lot of the tracks have two races.

We live in Atlanta, and we are there when the track opens Friday, Saturday, and Sunday every March and October. I don't think one race will actually kill you--although it will FEEL like it...However, you are a "big boy" and you know that once everyone is on the ship, the anger and disappointment of missing your favorite sport in the world will slowly dissapate. They won't forget, but it will actually pale in comparison to what they are experiencing.

If you're going to lose the $1,500, then, of course, you don't want to cancel. But, if the $1,500 is still refundable, then just reschedule it. You know what? "You live and learn!"

GO AND HAVE FUN!!!!!!

 

[RellingTwin]

We are also NASCAR fans and attend the Fall Darlington race every year (this year was the last as the Southern 500 is no more ) When we sailed in Oct. last year we got updates from the internet. If we had been in port we would have found a sports bar showing the race.
I agree that you and the family must make a decision what is more important to them and you. I also love the idea of having everyone work at earning the extra $1500. A yard sale, a part time job for the kids (babysitting,yard work, pet sitting) if the kids are old enough.
Another option is to rebook for the East Coast and save the airfare to California. OR (don't flame me) book with another cruise line!

 

[NCDisneyMom]

Oh my, have I made a giant mistake. My family and I are all Nascar fans. In fact, we live just 15 minutes from Lowes Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. Every year, we have a "race bus" that we take into the infield during the 2 weeks of racing in Charlotte. We cookout, talk, shop, take photos, hang out with drivers, just really have a great time.

I don't have an answer for you...sorry! But, the first thing I want to say is "hi neighbor!!" I live about 1/2 hour NW from Lowe's Motor Speedway, and while we don't do the infield thing, we have been to the races. And, I know how you feel about missing the race (especially when you're used to doing the infield thing!). We are probably the only people who take breaks on our WDW vacations to go back to the room to watch the race!

Diana

 

[houleboule]

I sympathize with you tremendously, I also am a NASCAR fanatic, but also a Disney freak. I however analyized the race schedule(we attend both races at Loudon, NH in July and Sept) and the available dates for our cruise prior to booking. My advise to you is to take the cruise and enjoy it, you and your family can attend the next race. A Disney cruise isnt an every week event.

 

[Dcanoli]

This subject has really taken a life of it's own hasn't it? It seems Disney fans are as dedicated as Nascar fans!

AWESOME!

Now....GO BIG 88!

 

[996turbos]

Just a thought, but how about buying the unlimited computer time on board. Should be $89.00 or so. Then get the NASCAR Pit Pass and watch it on streaming video while on board. If the pass is bought a week or so before the race there may be a refundable trial period. You may, however, need to check with the cruise line to make sure the right program is available on their computer. It may require a Real Player to view it. In any event have a great cruise.

ps: This is my first post. I have been lurking here for months prior to our last 7 day cruise on 10/16/04. I couldn't wait to offer my 2 cents about this. Thanks for bringing me into the light-lol.

 

[Doctor P]

With all due respect, I think it would generally be very inconsiderate and rude to even consider staying on the Internet for such an extended period unless it was a shore day and there were no people waiting to use the computers. Many times, all computers are full and people are waiting to use them (though that may not be evident due to the cafe's location and the tendency for people to just walk by and check). Yes, by all means get the Internet package and check for regular updates, but I wouldn't plan on watching the race on the Internet for any extended period of time.