October 15, 2005 anyone?

[paulmc80]

SamR - Great to see you and your family coming along with us all. I think your family, and birthday DD, will have a most wonderful time.

 

[Verandah Man]

Welcome to our group Sam and Family!!!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Originally posted by SamR
Add a North Carolina family to the list.

Welcome! My parents moved to North Carolina (from Virginia) last year! They live in Hendersonville, which is near Ashville!

Glad you al lwill be joining us!

 

[d'Isigny]

Happy Thanksgiving to all – warm wishes from Phoenix, Arizona.

Appears the Smith family will be joining a long, and distinguished list of DIS-cruisers on October 15.

We are;
Kevin (me) 44
Nancy (DW) 44
Karin (DD) 11
Kelsey (DD) 8
Kristen (DD) 5

Congratulations to Verandah Man/Hazel on 30 years of marriage!!! Nan and I hope to dine at Palo on the 19th...to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary.
Still working on the logistics…planning on a week at the parks before joining you all. This will be our fourth DCL cruise and first Eastern – we are soooo excited!!!

As I understand, The Magic will host its first run to the West coast – then spend time in dry dock before we board. Does anyone know of any proposed changes to the ship – or, are they planning on painting…cleaning…etc.

Also, am curious if anyone has heard of changes to dining themes…shows…etc.

Well…time to get off the computer and start carving. Looking forward in meeting all….take good care, K

 

[crazyformickey]

Wow! We are becoming quite the group - how wonderful.

A warm welcome to all Dis-cruisers joining our group!

I have to tell you all a story...

Since I booked this cruise back in March, my DS(11) has had to put up with my daily... "When we are on the cruise..." or "Guess what I read on the Boards..."
So I guess you could say my DS(11) is getting a little tired of my rambling - . Until last night while getting ready for dinner, he asked, "When we're on the Disney Cruise do you think we will sit with a family who has a boy my age?"
I couldn't believe it! Here he's been complaining that I talk too much about the cruse, and HE is the one to bring it up.
I made such a big deal about it, that I don't think he'll say anything for another four months.

 

[oybolshoi]

Greetings, all!

Add two more to the roll call. My husband and I took our first Dinsey cruise this past October (Western) and had such a lovely time that we re-booked on board for the 10/15/05 Eastern - we wanted to find out if we could have as much fun traveling in the opposite direction.

I can't wait to get back to the Rainforest, and Palo, and a room with a verandah and... well, you get the idea, right?

See ya around!

Brenda

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

Not too many more days and we will be under 300!!!! Still seems to long,but I am trying to figure out a way to get to WDW with my Cousin in May and so that should break up the wait. We may even have to drive to Cape Canaveral and watch the Wonder leave port....

I love Palo too!! I also love the aromaspa ocean wrap and massage!! Heaven!

This is our first 7 day and I can't wait for the Pirate Party and Fireworks!!

Let's keep it going..........

 

[oybolshoi]

This talk about fireworks at the Pirate deck party has me intrigued - I don't recall seeing fireworks in October. Of course, we had a late seating and it's possible that they set them off before we made it up to check out the party, but we were on deck by 10PM and stayed up there until about 11:30 ( we were actually paying more attention to the lunar eclipse, maybe that's why I didn't notice ). We never saw or heard anything remotely resembling fireworks.

Oh well, just something new to look forward to! Knowing Disney they will have changed it on us again by next year.

Speaking of the spa, I think our favorite treatment was the Surial mud treatment ( that was bliss ) - we went over our 1 hour time limit, though. Couldn't hear the attendant knocking on the treatment room door because we were in the steam room -

We can't wait to have that treatment suite all to ourselves again!

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I forgot you were just on there.... It will be neat if they do shoot off fireworks.
We always do early dining cause I don't like to eat that much food that late in the evening....
Heck on the 4 day we even skipped dinner one night and hung out by the pool and ate Pizza!! So I am sure we will skip one or two on the 7 day.

I think it is fun when you have been before cause you relax and take it all in since you kind of know how the ship works.

If things work out right Maybe I will be able to try that Suriel bath too!
We will see if I can add my special person to my cruise.... I plan on it!

HEY!!!!! I SEE YOU ARE FROM MISSOURI TOO!! WE ARE ABOUT 45 MILES OUTSIDE ST.LOUIS...I WORK IN THE CITY THOUGH AT WASH U MED SCHOOL.
COOL!

 

[oybolshoi]

HEY!!!!! I SEE YOU ARE FROM MISSOURI TOO!! WE ARE ABOUT 45 MILES OUTSIDE ST.LOUIS...I WORK IN THE CITY THOUGH AT WASH U MED SCHOOL.

We live in O'Fallon and I work in Clayton - you may be the only other person who understands the agony of driving 30+ miles to and from work in rush hour traffic.

I know what you mean about the late dinner seating - there were a few nights that we just waddled back to our room, too fat with food to do anything more than just sit on the verandah and watch the sea roll by. We did like not feeling rushed to get to dinner, though; especially when we had shore excursions planned.

I'm happy either way - it's vacation and it's Disney... what more could we ask for?

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

Luckily I start at 7:00 am so I miss most the traffic build up on 44. Still can get bad sometimes...
Wow then we work pretty close...I guess you are a pretty big Disney fan too.
I just love it!! My family does not understand!!! They just don't get it. DD and I have so much fun on our Disney trips.

Are you guys going to fly down a day early. I hope to fly down that Friday afternoon and stay at the Radisson. Just make things less stressful and you can board earlier. No worries!

 

[oybolshoi]

Are you guys going to fly down a day early.

We haven't decided exactly what we are going to do yet. This year we spent four nights at WDW before the cruise - we were celebrating 5th anniversary and my birthday and had used a bunch of our vacation club points to cover the stay at WDW as well as the cruise.

I would love to spend at least two night at WDW before the cruise next year, but since we'll be paying with real dollars this time I have to convince DH that it will be worth it. I don't think I'll have to work too hard at that -

I guess you are a pretty big Disney fan too.

My grandmother lived in Kissimme when I was a little girl and we used to visit her every year - I grew up going to the Magic Kingdom and then EPCOT. I adore vacationing down there - it's like existing in an entirely different world! Luckily DH likes spending time there as much as I do - we usually go once every year or two. Sometimes we use our vacation club points to travel to other places - just for some variety. But it's always a joy to come back to WDW.

 

[crazyformickey]

Being that I'm a newby and all - I have a few questions for everyone...

Are you traveling down the day before?
If so, where is the best place to stay?
Is anyone doing WDW before or after the cruise?
And, What are the pros and cons of early & late seating? - My DS11 & I are down for late seating, but I didn't know if we should switch?

Thank you,
Marnie

 

[oybolshoi]

Hello Marnie!

There are probably people on this board who can answer your questions better than I can because I'm a relative newbie myself, but I'll give it a go!

I've heard that it's less stressful if you can get yourself to Florida the day before the cruise and I think I agree with that - this year we spent a couple of days at WDW before our cruise and I can tell you that I would not have wanted to be up by 4AM to catch an 8AM flight to Orlando and then have the 60+ mile drive to the port so that we could check-in and try to be on board ship by noon. You obviously don't have to be there that early, but there is a lot happening that first day and it can get hectic - we were tired and we didn't leave our resort until 10AM that morning.

Personal preference - I would rather do WDW before the cruise rather than after. Wear yourself out at the parks and then you can relax on board the Magic. I guess you could wear yourself out on the ship, too, if you really wanted, but we really enjoyed doing WDW first and then kicking back on the cruise - best vacation ever!!!

Dinner seating - I've only been on one Disney cruise and my DH and I had late seating. We really liked it because we could take our time and not worry about holding up the cleaning / service for the seating behind us. There were a couple of nights when our table was the last one out of the dining room! This isn't to say that you would be rushed in the earlier seating - I'm sure you wouldn't be. Again, I think it's your personal preference. The earlier seating will allow you more time for after dinner activities and you won't be stuffed for those late night buffets. The late seating gives you more time to enjoy the earlier evenng activities but we found that once we were finished with dinner by 10:30 we really didn't want to do very much. Having said that - we're still doing the late seating on this cruise, too!

Have you picked up a copy of The Passporter ? I ordered one over the summer and found that between these boards and that Disney cruiseline guide that many of my questions were answered. It's a great resource and includes a lot of info about hotels in and around Port Canaveral - I think they may be coming out with a new edition soon, but if you get a chance order it from Amazon - i think it was $15. I still go back and read through mine when I need a cruise fix.

Hope this helps a little!

Brenda

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I have been on the Wonder twice and had late seating the first time and then early the second time. I personally like early dining....I just did not like eating that late and the kids were just tooo crabby and tired by the time dinner came.

I found that we all got up early and started our day and so by 6:00 we were ready to eat dinner. This worked much better for our group as we all had 5-7 year olds with us. After dinner they would go into the clubs and watch movies or play and then we had some time to ourselves.

One night we did not even go to dinner and I know we will probably skip a couple on the 7 night.

We always fly down early on the day before and stay at the Radisson in Cape Canaveral. It has free shuttle service too the port and has a lovely pool area and restaurant to eat breakfast. We have enjoyed our stays there for around $79 per night....

We did WDW after our cruise and I agree with Brenda....Go before. WDW is hard work and can wear you out!

Hope this helps....Really it is up too you...Just know that they feed you all the time...After the first day I was never really hungry again!! OMG! Don't miss Palo!! We loved eating there...So good!!

Bye!!

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I cancelled it this morning,but am still booked on the 10-15-05 cruise!
I just got too excited when I saw the double CC trips posted,but it is crazy. It inflated my VISA right at the Holidays and it is 2 years away. So I believe I did the right thing. I was freting about it since I booked it.

I figure when I am on the MAGIC this coming October I can decide then whether to book or not and get my on board credit. Disney's prices just seem too get higher and higher. This will be my 3rd Disney cruise and I feel lucky to have been able to afford that.

I checked to take my DD in April 06 for her 8th Birthday on a the 3 day Wonder and the price on a CAT 11 was $1700!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe it is time to venture out and try other places...I would really like to do a cruise too the Dominican Republic in the Southern Caribbean.
I leave for RCCL "Enchantment of the Seas" Jan 12 and so I will see how I like cruising another line.
Thanks for listening guys and you bet I will be on the 10-15-05 sailing!!! That one is staying booked!!!!!

My Visa bill will look a lot better next month!!!

When I took off the 10-14-06 counter I had to remove my other one because it said I had too many characters????? I read on the Tech board that they are trying to fix it???

 

[sara]

Hello fellow cruisers! My family and I will be joining you on the cruise. I called DCL yesterday to get the $50 ship board credit from Visa, and I realized I booked the cruise Feb. 2004!!! I've been hanging low, not to get too excited, but it's time to come out of the closet!!!! My kids will be DD-9 and DS-8. This will be our third cruise. We've done the four day and Western. I think I have a lot of catching up to do...of to read the long thread!

Sara

 

[USNE8RET]

You can add another rather large group. My wife and I, our son, his wife, her parents, other son and his best friend, his best friends parents, his best friends parents business partnets (X8), one of my wifes business partners and his son, both of my brothers and their wives and the names keep coming. This will be our second Disney cruise, last one was Halloween 2003 - western. We are hoping to use some DVC points the night before the cruise and stay at Saratoga Springs. Sounds like this is going to be a real fun group.

 

[oybolshoi]

Welcome aboard!

My DH and I used some of our DVC points to stay at the Beach Club Villas in October before our Western cruise - we absolutely loved it!

We also have points at Saratoga Springs, but we've yet to stay there. I'd love to hear your opinions if you spend some time there before the cruise.

Brenda

 

[Masonpips]

Hi All! This is the cruise we're considering re-booking for when we're on board in two weeks (WOO HOO, 2 weeks!). Kids have Fall Break and I need to confirm with the principal, but this is the "typical" week for it and that way they only miss 3 days of school.

I looked at allseastravel and Travelocity to get ideas for pricing when we're onboard. It looks like the Cat 9's are filling up fast, I only got an option for 4 cabins (I guess this could be given the TA and what they were able to book) - anyone who booked recently get a larger selection of rooms?

We're really debating between this and NCL Dream (which I know won't live up to the Magic, but we can drive down and it saves airfare costs) - I think once we're onboard the Magic and have a wonderful time it'll be easy to make our decision! I'll let you know when we get back.