November 3, 2007 - Western on the Magic

[graygables]

Just wanted to use that smiley...not long now until the 90 day dance!!!

 

[mommynt]

Thanks for the reply's on Key West, I think we'll do The Butterfly Conservatory on our own, its cheaper, and we can go when we want. Since you were so helpful with that question, I have another. Palo's brunch: for those of you who have been what do you think of it, and have you seen people going solo to do this. It's just me and my daughter (11yrs old) so it would be just me.

thanks
Connie

 

[graygables]

Connie, my 21yo wants to do Palo, but meals are a very important thing with my younger DDs and me, so we've been discussing her doing it solo. Everyone I've asked has said that it is great and you will never feel funny or out of place. We may go ahead and try to squeeze in the brunch, but if not, she'll go solo one evening.

 

[graygables]

Here's a question for you...with the 90 day mark coming up and the chance to make reservations, how do you decide when you're going to do things, say, Palo? There are a few particular things I am interested in on the cruise and with my luck, I'll schedule something that conflicts. We had LOTS of conflicts with the kids' programming on the 3 nighter (I still don't know why they do so much "fun stuff" during the dinner/show hours rather than just make that the free time there seemed to be so much of the rest of the day...) I know the Navigators are given each day, but how is a planner supposed to plan??? Do they change much from one cruise to the next?

 

[love2travel]

Here's a question for you...with the 90 day mark coming up and the chance to make reservations, how do you decide when you're going to do things, say, Palo? There are a few particular things I am interested in on the cruise and with my luck, I'll schedule something that conflicts. We had LOTS of conflicts with the kids' programming on the 3 nighter (I still don't know why they do so much "fun stuff" during the dinner/show hours rather than just make that the free time there seemed to be so much of the rest of the day...) I know the Navigators are given each day, but how is a planner supposed to plan??? Do they change much from one cruise to the next?

I understand your concern.....you definately have to plan out things. What are some of your particular things you want to do? Maybe then I will know when they take place and can help you from there or i'll atleast try too.

 

[SweetSpot]

It is hard to figure Palo in on a first cruise because you don't want to miss anything. The nights people generally don't want to miss are Pirate Night (Wednesday) Animator Palate show if you haven't seen it before, the first and last night so you get to know and say goodbye to your servers. Formal night and semi-formal night can be done in Palo and you won't miss the lobster on semi-formal night as they also serve it in Palo. What we did the years we did Palo dinner was go to our normal early seating with our kids and have a fast dinner with us having an appetizer usually on Pirate Night. That night the main show is usually a movie that we could see off the ship so that was the one thing we felt okay missing. We would have dinner in Palo around 7:30 and be done in time for the deck party. Semi-formal night (Thursday) is also a good night since you have to get dressed nice anyway.

Brunch is only done on sea days so it's hard not to miss something since DCL packs their schedule. Key West morning is a great time to go since you are going to be getting off the ship so you are up and ready not planning a day around the pool. You can watch the ship pull into port and then when you are done it is usually the time you are allowed off the ship. I have all of the Navigators from Western last November and can answer any questions about possible conflicts. They do change the navigators so nothing is guaranteed but its something.

 

[mommynt]

bumping back to page one

 

[SamIAm21]

Okay, so everyone talking about the 90 day mark must be Castaway Members because according to the Disney website, I have to wait until the 75 day mark because this is our first Disney cruise. Is this correct? I don't really want to do Palo, so I guess I'm probably going to be okay with the 75 day mark.

 

[chop003]

So I don't lose sleep on the wrong night, our 90 day mark is Thursday night or Friday night?

 

[mommynt]

90 days is Sunday Aug 5th , and 75 days is Monday, Aug 20th and I think you can go online around 3 am EST. someone will have to correct me on the time though.

 

[michboro]

90 days is Sunday Aug 5th , and 75 days is Monday, Aug 20th and I think you can go online around 3 am EST. someone will have to correct me on the time though.

In this thread, people have posted that lately they were able to get into system at midnight instead of 3 am!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1523755

 

[Pengy]

I was able to get in a little after midnight (we could book at 105 days out with the REAS package). I was planning on staying up late while in CA, but for giggles I tried logging in around 9:15 CA time and was able to make the reservations. Our confirmations still show in the systems, so it may be worth a try at midnight eastern time.

 

[SamIAm21]

Okay, so everyone talking about the 90 day mark must be Castaway Members because according to the Disney website, I have to wait until the 75 day mark because this is our first Disney cruise. Is this correct? I don't really want to do Palo, so I guess I'm probably going to be okay with the 75 day mark.

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller??

 

[strousmouse]

Those of us who are new to dcl have to wait until the 75 day mark which is aug 20th. I can't wait although I can't decide when to do Palo. I am trying to convince DH to book another cruise while on board--for just the 2 of us! I don't have him convinced yet but then I wouldn"t feel pressured about going to Palo this time.

Has anyone who applied for passports in May or June gotten them yet?

 

[VeronicaWest]

We applied in late june and expidited and got them this past week. def worth it and now my poor dad can breath....

i think i just want to do palo brunch..brunch is my all time fav.

as for excursions...just not too sure

 

[SamIAm21]

Those of us who are new to dcl have to wait until the 75 day mark which is aug 20th. I can't wait although I can't decide when to do Palo. I am trying to convince DH to book another cruise while on board--for just the 2 of us! I don't have him convinced yet but then I wouldn"t feel pressured about going to Palo this time.

Has anyone who applied for passports in May or June gotten them yet?

Thanks for the reply strousmous! I applied in May, but have not received the passports yet. iwannabeminnie checked her status on line the other day and hers has been mailed, which is awesome news. My actual 12 week date is July 28, so I am hoping to have them in the next few weeks! Yeehaw!

Have passport, will travel!!

 

[iwannabeminnie]

My passport arrived today. I applied May 22. DH still shows his being processed and we applied at the same time.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

DH and I have ours from last year but we applied for the kids on April 14th and still have not received them.

 

[SamIAm21]

Don't give up hope on the passports even if they say processing on the status page. Mine, DH's and DD's all said processing as of last evening and we just got ours in the mail. There was never any indication of them being mailed.

But they are here and with all the horror stories I'm hearing about 15-20 weeks, I'm totally relieved.

I'm sending good luck and pixie dust to all those out there still waiting.

 

[iwannabeminnie]

Mr. iwbm got his today too, even though it says "being processed" on the website.