November 1, 2008 "Election Day Castaways!"

[LBIGirl67]

Xcaret review is that it's a good way to take in a little bit of everything but young children got cranky by the end of the day because it lasted 7-7.5 hours. I don't see anything on Boatswain beach, is that in Grand Cayman?

Yes that is the turtle farm in Grand Cayman, the name may have changed. I have a 14yr old who is a Marine Biologist want to be, specializing in turtles. He's freaking out that this place has so many to be hands on with. I figured 2 boys, each pick an excursion and mom and dad get the rest. Youngest just wants the beach, so Castaway is my cheapest one !!

 

[tinapomp]

What time do you think would be good to get for a return ticket out of Orlando? Meaning, on Nov 8th, what is a good flight time to get for a return ticket? Is 12:30 pm good enough, or should it be later? TIA!

** Nevermind, sorry! I figured it out.

 

[buku]

Yes that is the turtle farm in Grand Cayman, the name may have changed. I have a 14yr old who is a Marine Biologist want to be, specializing in turtles. He's freaking out that this place has so many to be hands on with. I figured 2 boys, each pick an excursion and mom and dad get the rest. Youngest just wants the beach, so Castaway is my cheapest one !!

The Grand Cayman Island Tour that stops at the Cayman Turtle farm says "we were a little disappointed in this one. The turtles were interesting but not worth the outing." But if your son is so into that kind of stuff, he probably will like it...so I say go for it.

 

[muffin07]

Buku,
What part of the state of NJ are you from, we live in the Trenton, NJ area
and flying out of Philadelphia.
Muffin07

 

[buku]

Buku,
What part of the state of NJ are you from, we live in the Trenton, NJ area
and flying out of Philadelphia.
Muffin07

We live in central NJ. Exit 8A off NJ Turnpike. We're flying out of Newark.

 

[feenie]

We are doing the Romance package.
You get 2 7 day passes to the rainforest room in the spa, the romance gift basket, dinner at Palo for 2, romantic turndown service one night and breakfast in bed (full menu) one morning.
DH and I did this package before when it was a little cheaper and instead of the rainforest room you got a couples massage, but we felt it was still good for us because we LOVE the rainforest room, and always talk ourselves out of more than a one day pass.
The bonus of course is booking at 105 days out, but I would not have booked it for that alone.

 

[LBIGirl67]

Anyone else having trouble with DCL site. My reservation is " unlocatable" which was there an hour ago !!! This is nuts.

 

[buku]

I can't retrieve my reservation either. I hope I'm not staying up till midnight for nothing!

 

[LBIGirl67]

Any luck from anyone yet?

 

[stampinshauna]

I have the Birnbaum's guide as well. I was surprised to read the same review of the Grand Cayman Island Tour (that stops at the Turtle Farm), but I've asked other DISers who have done it and they loved the turtle farm. It is at Boatswains Beach, which is more than just a turtle farm--see www(dot)boatswainsbeach(dot)ky They have a whole park that you can go to or you can go to just the turtle farm. We were thinking of doing the turtle farm on our own, but for an extra $11 we can do the whole tour through DCL and not have to worry about getting there and back and we can see other sites. I think going to Boatswains for the whole park would be fun too, but I don't want to over do it with a 1 year old.

 

[podsnel]

Hi- I just wanted to say, hang in there with retrieving your reservations and booking stuff- the DCL computer system was screwy the night I booked, too, telling me I had not paid in full, but about 15 minutes or so after midnight it cleared up and I could book- VERY frustrating!! Good luck-

 

[buku]

75 more days!!!

Is anyone else (who isn't a castaway club member) not able to book things yet? I'm trying to book excursions for my mom and DCL's website is saying that access to book isn't until 75 days--which should be today.

Welcome BUKU! Check out the post on page 56 of this thread about wristbands. We're ordering some that say Election Day Castaways 2008, let me know if you want some too. Feel free to ask any questions about the cruise.

We'd love to have the wristbands. Put us in for 2 small and 2 large. We'd also like to be included with the fish extenders. Any suggestions on the best place to get one?

 

[Lisacarolr]

Anyone else having trouble with DCL site. My reservation is " unlocatable" which was there an hour ago !!! This is nuts.

I'm getting errors. Hopefully, it will work soon.

 

[plutospup]

I just tried to retrieve my reservation (11:57) and it said :

Sorry there's been an error.

We're having a problem with our reservation system that will prevent you from booking your vacation package or retrieving your reservation right now. We're sorry for any inconvenience. Please call your travel agent or call (800) 951-3532 weekdays 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. ET or weekends 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET and our agents will gladly assist you. (-10020

Hang in there Election Day Castaways! If it doesn't work tonight, try again tomorrow morning.

 

[tinapomp]

So frustrating! I still can't get into my reservation.

 

[muffin07]

No go with the online system, just keep getting an error, what a poor system
they have.
muffin07

 

[muffin07]

Well, It is two hours after midnight, now 2 in the morning and still no go with
Disney Online system, this system really sucks, what a piss poor system.
Muffin07

 

[muffin07]

Well, now 4:00 a.m. in the morning and I was just finally able to retreive
my reservation, after all that no luck for us, doesn't look like any pixie dust is left.
Muffin07

 

[Lisacarolr]

We kept trying to get in until about 1:30am. It was sooooo frustrating. My niece called me at 4:30am, we started again and got through.

We booked the Island Tour and Butterfly Farm in Grand Cayman at 8:00am, Cozumel Highlights and Mayan Ruins at 12:15pm. We couldn't get the earlier tour, but Carlos and Charlies's and Senor Frogs open at 10am, and we should have time for a beer after the tour before going back to the boat. We reserved snorkeling equipment for Castaway Cay for all 7 of us and Jet Skis for my niece and her Dad.

We took a Palo's reservation at 9pm on Monday night. However, we wanted High Tea, but nothing. May still try once on board. We are booked for late dinner so 9pm won't be terrible, I suppose. And it shouldn't interfere with some of the deck parties, etc.

Who would have thought it would be so tough? I didn't have as much difficulty getting Hannah Montana tickets last year. (OK, we'll maybe it's about the same.)

 

[LBIGirl67]

Well we got everything we wanted but Palo. No brunch left. Doing Xtera and Boatswain Beach.... Floaties at Castaway and Bikes for DH/DS14 as DS7 can't ride without training wheels yet and that's not an option. I have a glorious spa treatment Thurs. at 2pm waiting for me so that I may recuperate from the week. It's 6:30a.m. and I gave up last night at 12:30. Headed to shower, than to football practice w/DH14, taking dogs to field to run. Then I am headed to the beach to pass out, hopefully take somewhat of a nap and remember how much this whole experience booking wore me out before I even got on the ship....