OCT 16 2010......7 Night Western.... "BRING BACK THE MAGIC"!

[schwenksvillemouse]

It does help. Thanks. I thought the state room reports were somewhere on the Deb Wills page, but I obviously couldn't find it there.

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

I read for parasailing at CC 13 and over need to have an adult with. Does this mean that you have to go tandem, or just an adult needs to be present with a child under 13? I'm assuming it mean a tandem ride, but I just thought I'd ask.

 

[mommy2777]

this picture goes out to who ever may need a good laugh, i thought it was hilarious!!!! jus look at his teeth!

 

[nenner1]

How's this for a countdown?

18 months

or

1 1/2 years

until we begin the Bring Back the Magic cruise!!! That's not too long is it?

So it is 9 months until our first cruise...and then 9 more until the Bring Back the Magic. Kindof like having one baby...then another. That makes it sound *really* far away!

How did you get your pics side by side in your siggie?????

Yup, just a space between the codes, don't hit enter. :thumbsup2

[quote="schwenksvillemouse, post: 31386288"]Thanks all in advance. Here it goes.

1) We are in room 2606 - Deck 2 - Cat 9. Any comments on this area? When touring the ship on line it looks like there is really nothing above us. I also remember seeing a site somewhere, sometime ago, that had cabin reviews. I was looking for this earlier, but I couldn't find it. [COLOR="Red"] We haven't stayed on deck 2 before...26, that must be aft. The porthole rooms are very nice! We had one on deck 6 for our last cruise! [/COLOR]

2) Can somebody give me a run down on the pre-purchase of the pictures package? I read in a trip report it was better to purchase the package, but they didn't state why. [COLOR="red"]Unfortunately I can't give too much advice here because our previous cruise was one of the last ones before they converted to "Photopass" onboard. (I put Photopass in quotes because as I understand, it is not at all like Photopass in the parks) As far as the prepaid packages as I understand it (and you can read about it [URL="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2144614"]here[/URL] they are geared towards peoiple giving them to cruisers as gifts, and may not be the most useful combinations. Package A is 10 6x8's. Package B is 5 8x10's. Package C is the only prepaid combo package and it is 6 6x8 and 8 8x10's. Obviously package C is a good deal, at least compared to how the packages used to be (I think the package we got on our cruise was 10 8x0's and 2 6x8's for $189.95) HOWEVER I have read that the prepay price is the same price as when you buy it onboard and if that is the case I would wait.

AFAIK the prepaid photos have only been available for about a week (April 10) so there isn't that much info about it out there yet.
Photopass onboard (basically just Shutters the way it always was just looking at your pictures on a kiosk instead of printed up on the shelf)
[/COLOR]

3) I saw in Key West you could rent an electric car. However, on the DCL site it states kids have to be atleast 8. My DD will only be five when we go. Has anybody done this one on their own with little ones around 5 years old?

[COLOR="red"]Yeah I would check into doing this directly like Ron said.[/COLOR] :goodvibes

4) Lastly - I've read in trip reports to sign your kids up for the kids clubs in the terminal once arrived. I also saw on the DCL site you can sign up at 75 days out from your cruise date on line. What's the differnece? Do I need to do both?

[COLOR="red"]Yup, to echo my hubby...complete the sign in online (less paperwork) check in and pick up your pager at the terminal...OR if you want just check in and pick up the pager from OC/OL itself once you board the ship.
The first night is "Family Time" (meaning no regular club activities, Parents must stay with kids if you bring them the the clubs/labs...so that is also a good time to do it. [/COLOR]

Again, thanks in advance for all the help :thumbsup2[/QUOTE]

[COLOR="red"]You're Welcome! That's what we're here for, right![/COLOR] :goodvibes

[quote="schwenksvillemouse, post: 31389508"]I read for parasailing at CC 13 and over need to have an adult with. Does this mean that you have to go tandem, or just an adult needs to be present with a child under 13? I'm assuming it mean a tandem ride, but I just thought I'd ask.[/QUOTE]

[COLOR="red"]Yes, as I understand it...tandem. [/color]

[SIZE="1"]Boy I would sure like to do that someday....:rolleyes1:confused3popcorn:: (wonder if he'll get that!)[/SIZE]

Oh and since I mentioned Shutters/Photopass here are the onboard photo prices and combos...I was curious so I dug 'em up:

SHUTTERS

6" X 8" $9.95
8"X 10" $19.95

6"X 8" Packages:
• 10 for $84.95 (save $15)
• 15 for $119.95 (save $30)
• 20 for $149.95 (save $50)
• 30 for $219.95 (save $80)
8" X 10" Packages:
• 5 for $84.95 (save $15)
• 10 for $149.95 (save $50)
• 15 for $219.95 (save $80)
• 20 for $289.95 (save $110)
Combo Packages:
•
• A: for $169.95 (save $40), any 5 6"x8"AND any 8 8"x10"
• B:for $239.95 (save $79), any 8 6"x8"AND any 12 8"x10"
• C:for $299.95 (save $119), any 12 6"x8"AND any 15 8"x10"

Compared to the old packages this is a savings! We bought a $399 package before and got nowhere near the amount of pictures listed under the new "C" package! In fact om our first cruise we spent over $600 in Shutters (!) :scared1: (and I had to promise to never do that again...sigh...):rotfl:

 

[DizzylandDeb]

this picture goes out to who ever may need a good laugh, i thought it was hilarious!!!! jus look at his teeth!

Awww, he's cute!

 

[dizzi]

I'm here!!
Just in a different time zone

Thanks DEB!!!

i love your count down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dizzi]

AMy i went to your chat just now and it worked GREAT!!!!
AWESOME!!!!

Cant wait to start our weekly chats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes we bought a house so exciting!!!!

But we have not made any plans yet the only real thing we have done so far is name our group....

Which you already know since you have it on thre AIM CHAT!!!!

 

[dizzi]

I have a few questions about VERO BEACH RESORT.

S mouse i see you have been several times.......

Finally DH and i will be there soon!

And Amy i know you live close.............

SO

1. IS the food expensive there? Can we split a meal and add a salad like at WDW?

2.Would you reccomend eating at the resort or somewhere else?

3. We are trying to do our trip in under $250 is the dinner there well worth the money?

4. Are there beach/lounge chairs to rent on the beach and if so how much?

5. We will be there for one whole day and about 1/2 of another, what would you reccomend doing besides laying on the beach which i am sure will fill up most of our first whole day.

Thanks

 

[mommy2777]

my last cruise with sg4disney btw, thursdays and saturdays were our nights? do we want to make saturday one of the nights? i will be checking the boards to see what every1 says. how about 7ish? OH and Dizzi, was any1 else in chat? im glad to hear it worked!!!!!!

 

[livingis2me]

It's nice to see that our thread is starting to get busy again! Speaking of busy, we have a busy weekend planned. My daughter's dance group is in a parade followed by a performance. Then my son's little league game. Then we are going out to dinner to celebrate my B-day. 35 tomorrow Then we are spending Sunday at Adventure Island (Busch Garden's waterpark). At this pace a year and 5 months and 29 days doesn't seem like too long!

 

[nenner1]

 

[livingis2me]

Boy I would sure like to do that someday.... (wonder if he'll get that!)

Yes, I got it. So would I...

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

I have a few questions about VERO BEACH RESORT.

S mouse i see you have been several times.......

Finally DH and i will be there soon!

And Amy i know you live close.............

SO

1. IS the food expensive there? Can we split a meal and add a salad like at WDW?

2.Would you reccomend eating at the resort or somewhere else?

3. We are trying to do our trip in under $250 is the dinner there well worth the money?

4. Are there beach/lounge chairs to rent on the beach and if so how much?

5. We will be there for one whole day and about 1/2 of another, what would you reccomend doing besides laying on the beach which i am sure will fill up most of our first whole day.

Thanks

Here's my two cents. We own DVC at Vero Beach, and it's a great family resort.

1) The food at the resort is over priced, but not out of line with other resorts or resturants at WDW. We usually have a room with a kitchen so we don't eat much at Shutters or Sonya's. Now we do have lunch at the pool usually. Food is good at poolside, but it's your typically burgers, wraps, etc.

2) There are plenty of good resturants in the area. Again, we typically eat in, but have gone to several places down in Vero Beach. Go to the DVC boards here and you'll find a lot of good suggestions.

4) You can rent beach chairs, umbrellas and small cabana's by the day. I think it cost us about $30/day for a couple chairs and umbrella give or take.

5) For me laying at the pool or beach is perfect for Vero. There is plenty of golf if you like that. For 1.5 days I'd just soak up the resort, and take it easy.

Have fun.

 

[shaunaday]

Well, I found something to keep me busy and to make the time fly by faster...I just signed up for the Avon Breast Cancer 3-day walk that will take place the end of this October. Since I am soooo out of shape right now, I have some serious training to do! I have wanted to do this for years, but everyone thought I had lost my mind and NO ONE wanted to participate with me...but this year I found people as crazy as me!!

So, I will be working my tushie off for the next few months so I don't wimp out during the three day, sixty mile walk for a cure!

Thanks for letting me share my news! Okay. Back to cruise talk...

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

I've seen people reference different rotations that they like. What are the advantages of certain rotations? How do I request a rotation? Do I have to wait until the 75 out window to do so?

Thanks.

 

[dizzi]

I know that some people like or perfer to have formal night in a certain restaurant or pirate night in a certain restaurant.

Alsosome people were black and white clothes for Animators.

Truly to me it doesnt matter although if i had a preference it would be to have my formal night in Lumiers and maybe Pirate night in Parrot Cay.

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

I know that some people like or perfer to have formal night in a certain restaurant or pirate night in a certain restaurant.

Alsosome people were black and white clothes for Animators.

Truly to me it doesnt matter although if i had a preference it would be to have my formal night in Lumiers and maybe Pirate night in Parrot Cay.

Thanks. When is the right time to request a rotation?

 

[nenner1]

I've seen people reference different rotations that they like. What are the advantages of certain rotations? How do I request a rotation? Do I have to wait until the 75 out window to do so?

Thanks.

Thanks. When is the right time to request a rotation?

You can call and request anytime, although I personally think it would be better to make the request closer to sail time. Like 90 days out or so. They do not actually make the rotation assignments for the cruise until a few weeks prior to sailing so there is no rush. Plus things do change over time. I read today (and I may be behind on things) that the Magic is getting all new menus in June.

As far as requesting rotations go, it is hit or miss. We have done it on all three cruises we've been on and it has worked 2 out of the 3 times. Interestingly, and I don't know if there is a connection or not, the one time it DID NOT work was list time, when we used a TA and she did the requesting for us. The other two times we booked directly and called DCL ourselves.

Why to request? Presonal preference really. Different rotations have different eating times (on the Magic). For instance the first rotation let's call it APL is 8:00 and that means your dining time is 8:00 the entire cruise, no matter the restaurant you are in. The next one we'll call LAP and say they eat at 8:15. And then the PLA will be 8:30 all week. (These are examples, I'm not sure offhand which rotation eats when now, but on our last cruise we had PLA and 8:30) Plus like Dizzi said certain rotations put you in certain places on certain nights. For instance, like her we personally prefer to eat at Lumiere's on Formal/Semi formal because the atmosphere fits with that theme well. Same with Parrot Cay and Pirate night.
We always try to make sure we don't miss the "show" at Animators, so we will be trying to schedule Palo accordingly and that can be difficult without knowing you have a certain rotation.

Like I said making a request is pretty much a crapshoot. Our last cruise we requested PLA 8:30 but we got one of the other rotations that totally did NOT work with our plans. We went to Rockin' bar D on the first day and had it changed but that didn't really help with our preferences because the whole rotation had changed for our cruise. Instead of PLAPLAP (old version) or even PLLAPLA (new version) we had a third version (PLLAAPL). It was wack. I felt terrible about it because I had worked hard to make a spreadsheet with the rotations and dinner themes, etc. on it for our thread and then DCL went and changed it so everyone's plans were messed up. In the line to change our rotation there was a guy (I didn't know him on sight but he was obviously part of our meet thread) when he told the workers the rotation wasn't "right", he pulled out the spreadsheet I made (the one that was wrong because DCL changed everything) and they asked him "Where did you get that?" OMG...I was back in the line with my head down hoping he didn't recognize me!

So I think it is probably too early to try to figure that stuff out, unfortunately. But not too early to start thinking about what your preferences will be!

I may or may not be making a spreadsheet for this cruise, but if I do it will come with a disclaimer...LOL!

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

Thanks much. Your feedback was helpful. I'll put it on the plan for 90 days out.

 

[kritter]

Hi, all,

We had a GREAT time in WDW.....Can't wait to go back in August.........


I just read the posts about requesting dining rotations times. Our TA has always gotten us the time we wanted no troubles at all... She is the best. So booking with a TA is a huge benefit especially if your booked with a TA who is on top of things....

I know our TA has always requested our rotation from the day we have booked.......