November 11, 2006 - MAGIC - Special Western "Double Dip" Cruise 11/11/06

[GrayFal]

Suzadrew is Cat. 2 -- concierge level. Be nice to her.

We are nice to all "C" Class Tavelers

Hi to everyone - the summer is wizing by.....and did someone say 99 days!!!
Let me make it to labor day, okay ????

Enjoy the weekend and now tha I have a new modem, I will see you all at CHAT on Tuesday.

TTFN

 

[TiggersPal]

Where do I go to find out about this cruise? I'm thinking the cruise that would please my dear darling DH!@!!!!!! You think?

 

[Vanvmom]

txaggie94gigem - I ordered the same lime green shirts from Disney.com for my boys to wear on our cruise that you did. My oldest may from embarrassment to match his younger brothers, but as a mom... I feel that embarrassing him is part of my job!

 

[txaggie94gigem]

i made my ressies! i made my ressies!

i got all the ressies i wanted and i am ready to go!!!!
i hope to see the rest of you cheering soon!!!

 

[txaggie94gigem]

vanvmom....i know what you mean...our oldest is getting past the pics with the characters stage (he'll come back to it---haven't we all!!!) and the characters were very happy to embarass him further....minnie mouse gave him a kiss and the other characters would try to steal stuff to make him laugh (he did)!

so far i have not heard complaints about matching clothes but we shall see....

 

[suzadrew]

It won't let me in to make my resies!!!

 

[txaggie94gigem]

have you paid off your cruise in full? i paid mine off yesterday so i could make ressies....

 

[ibouncetoo]

Good morning Double-dippers!

Hope all our concierge level travelers are able to make their on-line reservations today (or did it last night!). Suzadrew, did you make it through? Fifteen more days and the Castaway Clubbers will get their shot (yeah, that's me!). Speaking of the number 15.....

15 WEEKS TILL WE CRUISE

 

[suzadrew]

Good morning. Well I made my bookings this morning. I didn't get the exact times/days I wanted at Palo but it's ok I will just do some things differently. I'm still doin' the ressie banana dance.

Hi txaggie94gigem, yes I had everything paid off, it was just one of those annoying system overloads when overplaners have to book everything right away and lock up the system. Then us casual planners can't get in. ( I can say that 'cause it was a whole hour after they opened up that I tried to book )

Pixie Dust for everyone else to have no problems in 14 short days.

 

[TiggersPal]

I wonder if we won't get our time slots... oh well, if not we can re-organize our options I guess. We just might have to run to Palo on a night we've been out on an island doing some fantastic excursion... instead of a sailing night. Geez, I think I can live with that...

 

[RayRing]

I just wanted to introduce ourselves.

I feel we are a little late to this Cruise Meet thread. We are long time readers of the DIS, but I just started reading the cruise forum again, to start planning our itinerary. That's when I discovered this Cruise Meet Thread.

We are a family of four. My DW, DS6 and DD5 will be on the November 11th., double dip cruise. We are also DVC members (since about 96). We actually made reservations for this cruise shortly after they were announced (about 1.5 years ago). This was a couple of months after we took a 3 night cruise (combined with a stay at WDW). I thought the 3 night cruise would be a good way to try out cruising, to see if everyone liked it. Of course everyone loved it. The kids especially loved CC. So when they announce the special double dip cruises, we thought it would be great for the kids. I think they are a little young to enjoy all the different ports, and the excursions available at each port.


I will start to read through this lengthy post, and look forward to familiarize myself with our follow cruisers. I want to finalize our itinerary before we are able to sign up for them. I know that date is coming up fast. It is just that small matter of "paying in full" that we have to get by.

Being a plan-a-holic, when we go to WDW, I am going to try and take a much more relaxed approach to our cruise. We asked for the early dinning (I think it is best for young children).

I was thinking of the following...

Castaway Cay (2 days)
I was thinking that both days would be lots of beach time.
I was thinking of trying snorkeling with the kids - They have been taking swimming lessons for a couple of years, so even though they are young, they might be able to do it. I was thinking of bringing their masks and snorkels, and just renting fins. We might also rent a paddle boat, raft, or bikes, just to break up the beach time.
The only other excursion I was thinking about was the Glass Bottom Boat tour.

Cozumel
I am not sure. I am still working on this.
I was thinking of Paradise Beach

Costa Maya
Again, I am not sure.
I was thinking of walking thought the new shops, and taking a taxi to Majahual, spending a couple hours at the beach, and then heading back to the ship. I was also thinking about the Chaccoben Mayan Ruins Tour, by David and Ivan, but I am a little concerned with the total length of the excursion ~5 hours, and the 1 hour ride to and from them. It might be a little much for our 5 and 6 year old.

Palo's
On our 3 night cruise, my DW and I didn't get a chance to go to Palo's. I actually made a reservation, but then cancelled them.
This time we would like to go (at least once, if not twice)
I haven't figured out when we should go.
I was thinking there might be two possibilities.
* Pick a night, with a dinner that we wouldn't mind missing, and have the kids go to the club during the early dinner period, we would go to Palo's at that time, and then we could all go to the late show.
* Pick a night, with a show that we wouldn't mind missing, either sit with the kids, while they eat at the early dinner - or have them go to the club during the early dinner, then they would either go to the club, or stay in the club, and my DW and I would go to Palo's, instead of the late show.

Of course both of the above options depend on if the kids would like to stay at the clubs for that length of time, during those periods.


Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

It's nice to meet you all, and glad to be on board.

 

[CJLKIM]

I just wanted to introduce ourselves.

Welcom RayRing and all the newbies to the thread. I'm looking forward to getting to know you as well. I'm sure our resident obsessives will give you the scoop on everything that's happening....we've all be working on our plans for what seems like forever.

I've been a little out of sorts lately and had some catching up to do....

Well back to the wedding plans.....talk to you all hopefully at chat on Tuesday...

 

[Vanvmom]

Welcome RayRing & Suzadrew (and anyone else I may have missed)!

It has been a crazy first week of school for me, but I am back to surfing the DIS. I subbed all week for a 1st grade teacher who was out on maternity leave, and her doctor had not yet released her to return to work. Fun group of kids - some more fun than others. If you've ever been in a room of 20 6 year olds, you know what I mean. It was everything I expected it to be, and I now know exactly what my youngest DS will be doing when he starts back to school the end of Aug. All in all, I think the children enjoyed their first week of 1st grade, and I had fun setting up their classroom. Today of course is the day I get everything else done that has sat "undone" all week while I was working.

Very exciting that excursion booking time is coming up!
We too are thinking about Paradise Beach in Cozumel. Palo is the big ressie we'd like to be able to make (love the salmon)! I think we are also trying to do brunch in Palo one day. As for other excursions, my oldest DS really wants to do the Wild Side excursion on CC with the teen group (as he will be in Middle School, and 30 days from turning 13 when we cruise). But we can't get book him until we are on the ship due to the fact that he will not officially be 13 yet. We've heard from other cruisers though that this particular excursion is one that there are age exceptions to. I know that with the excursions DCL contracts with vendors for they are extremely strict with the age restrictions-liability thing I know. I just can't picture him in the lab... he's already 5'4", and often gets mistaken for being older than 12.

Well, my kiddos want lunch, so I've got to go!

 

[ibouncetoo]

I wonder if we won't get our time slots... oh well, if not we can re-organize our options I guess. We just might have to run to Palo on a night we've been out on an island doing some fantastic excursion... instead of a sailing night. Geez, I think I can live with that...

Not to worry. OK, here's what I've been TOLD from reading on the DIS, if anyone knows if this is true or false, please chime in....if you KNOW FOR SURE.

In regards to PALO, they open up a certain amount of seatings with each booking window. Only so many at 105, then release some more at 90 and more again at 75 days, and hold back HALF the seating for shipboard booking.

So as Frankerfurter would say, "Babies, don't you panic!"

However, Miss TiggersPal, we will need a plan "B" before you leave for Wyoming, if we have to do second (or third) choice.

 

[PoohJen]

Hi HannoMom, GrayFal, ChiChiHoney, FGM, TiggerSisters and all you other lucky cruisers!!! Just peeking in to see how you are coming along...Tsk Tsk...you'll have to start chatting it up if you're ever to compete w/ my DIS group's 9000 posts!!!

oh, by the way, did I mention we sail in 21 days!!!!! But don't you worry, we'll bring her back safe and sound for your November cruise!

 

[TiggersPal]

I just wanted to introduce ourselves.

I feel we are a little late to this Cruise Meet thread. We are long time readers of the DIS, but I just started reading the cruise forum again, to start planning our itinerary. That's when I discovered this Cruise Meet Thread.

We are a family of four. My DW, DS6 and DD5 will be on the November 11th., double dip cruise. We are also DVC members (since about 96). We actually made reservations for this cruise shortly after they were announced (about 1.5 years ago). This was a couple of months after we took a 3 night cruise (combined with a stay at WDW). I thought the 3 night cruise would be a good way to try out cruising, to see if everyone liked it. Of course everyone loved it. The kids especially loved CC. So when they announce the special double ...]

So glad to have you aboard! We are, IMHO a good group of folk, who are enjoying getting to know each other a bit before our cruise and who are looking VERY forward to the Cruise!

This is my first cruise and I kinda "jumped onboard" by telling my sister (ibouncetoo) that I'd love to go with her... I'll let her tell you the story about how she became involved with the DCL - but just know that I am very happy to have a vacation with just my sis and I...

I have a DH - (he and I are going to do our couples vacation in two weeks) to Wyoming. (Our first time at Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Old Faithful).

I hope some day to get my DH on a cruise - but haven't found the right venue yet. He's not a swimmer and not big on boats or water - but is willing to try - so I believe a 3 day is in our near future for him to "test" the cruise idea.

We (DH & I ) are D. I. N. K.S. (dual income no kids) but don't let that fool you - we adore children and I am the biggest 47 year old kid there is! And I know a few people on the DIS that can vouge for that.

Anyway, glad to meet you - and hopefully you can join our Tuesday night chat - 7p.m. Arizona time - all you need is an AIM sign in (pm ibouncetoo) and she'll add you to the list. We have a great group of folk who chat - and sometimes it gets a little crazy - but it's fun.

Have a great weekend everyone - talk to you soon!

Wendy - i was going to say something about your post - but have totally forgotten!

 

[TiggersPal]

Hi HannoMom, GrayFal, ChiChiHoney, FGM, TiggerSisters and all you other lucky cruisers!!! Just peeking in to see how you are coming along...Tsk Tsk...you'll have to start chatting it up if you're ever to compete w/ my DIS group's 9000 posts!!!

oh, by the way, did I mention we sail in 21 days!!!!! But don't you worry, we'll bring her back safe and sound for your November cruise!

HEY There !!!!

So glad you popped in - I can't wait till we are only 21 days out! I know you will have a GREAT time!!!!

Have fun - and if you can - PLEASE snap a shot of Capt Jack for me - will ya?

 

[Hannosmom]

Hi HannoMom, GrayFal, ChiChiHoney, FGM, TiggerSisters and all you other lucky cruisers!!! Just peeking in to see how you are coming along...Tsk Tsk...you'll have to start chatting it up if you're ever to compete w/ my DIS group's 9000 posts!!!

oh, by the way, did I mention we sail in 21 days!!!!! But don't you worry, we'll bring her back safe and sound for your November cruise!

You just keep rubbing it in....you know you are going to pay for this in November. Emails everyday with MY timer on it. Don't forget the trip report. (I am so jealous)

 

[Hannosmom]

Welcome Ray and family . You all (it is so hard not to say "ya'll") will have such a good time!

I still haven't decided on an excursion in Cozumel. I might just wing it and hope for the best.

Oh! I finally went to see POC II. Loved it, loved it, loved it! And....when I bought the tickets on-line, I noticed a "buy movie posters here" button and I bought two posters of Capt. Jack. Whoo hooo! One for me and one for my sis. I am such a good big sister, LOL! (but I don't think my DH will appreciate it as much as I do )

 

[woody73]

. . . It's nice to meet you all, and glad to be on board.

Welcome aboard.

Woody