October 15, 2005 anyone?

[shmoogrrrl]

We have decided for sure to drive to port canaveral this year but we will have fun! We are going to stay at the Radisson for the first time.

We love the Radisson. It is in a nice location and the rooms are very nice. The pool is AWESOME, so make sure you get there in enough time to use it!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

I finally figured out how to post pictures. So...who wants to sit beside this kid at dinner?

What a cutie! How old will he be on the cruise?

 

[shmoogrrrl]

had dinner at the Melting Pot on Saturday night. WOW! That place was awesome - such good food and so much fun!

Oh yum! We adore the Melting Pot. We also fondue at home, but it just isn't the same as going there and letting them cook and clean up for you!

YUM!

 

[PearlandPaige]

What a cutie! How old will he be on the cruise?

He'll be 18 months then. While his table manners have improved significantly since that picture was taken, I bet he'll look about like that after his twentieth Mickey Bar of the cruise...

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

He'll be 18 months then. While his table manners have improved significantly since that picture was taken, I bet he'll look about like that after his twentieth Mickey Bar of the cruise...

Heck we may all look like that after our 20th Mickey bar!!!

Kids get to have all the fun!


I have always wanted to try the Melting pot!!! Maybe for my Birthday!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

He'll be 18 months then. While his table manners have improved significantly since that picture was taken, I bet he'll look about like that after his twentieth Mickey Bar of the cruise...

Last time we cruised, my daughter was 10 months, and our friends daughterwas 15 months. They both had their share of goodies,that is for sure. The coolest thing was that the servers were veryhelpful. Any table foods that I ordered for my Daughter, they made sure that it was small enough for her to eat. It was great because they would bring us small portions of anything that we wantedforher to try, and ifshe hated it, they were happy to try something else. It was great for experimenting!

We'll have two little ones this time in our group (One will be 16 months, and one will be 21 months) so they may be friends in Flounders Reef!

 

[PearlandPaige]

We'll have two little ones this time in our group (One will be 16 months, and one will be 21 months) so they may be friends in Flounders Reef!

It's good to know there will be other kids his age or close to it there. He's finally getting to the point where he's interested in what other children are doing, so maybe he can make buddies.

 

[txaggie94gigem]

I am sooo jealous of those pictures in the wildflowers....i grew up in texas and i went to Texas A&M (yeah, big surprise!) and i remember all the wildflowers every spring in the Brazos Valley along the highway...i guess i need to drag my kids down there for pictures.....

 

[PearlandPaige]

I am sooo jealous of those pictures in the wildflowers

Fortunately, Will's birthday is in April, so we'll be able to have bluebonnet and paintbrush pictures for his birthday every year. I was spoiled growing up in the mountains of western North Carolina and didn't hold out much hope for natural beauty in the greater Houston area when I moved down here, but those wildflowers are a sight to behold. And to eat, if you ask Will...

Off to catch a plane to Utah! Have a great week, y'all!

 

[cntkg1]

Hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend. We spent ours laying ceramic tiles in our dining area, kitchen, mud-room, pantry, powder room. YIKES...am I ever sore. Way too much bending, kneeling, and running out to the garage to cut tiles. Next weekend...."grouting"!!! I can hardly wait until it's all over....but....then we are laying hardwood flooring in our hallways and family room. GEEEZ it never ends. We'll be ready for that cruise in October.

So, I have a question. I read here that if you pay up your cruise, you can make reservations online for Palo. Does that include the brunch? We won't be going to Palo for dinner, cuz DH is a very picky eater. Unless they have hamburgers, we won't be going there. I thought I read that I can't make reservations until it is 75 days away (1st time cruisers). We are ready to pay for our trip now. Can we pay it up and make online reservations now????

Brenda, we are also very interested in the buttons or t-shirts. I wish I could help somehow. I took a peek at the t-shirts that other group is offering. WOW....very nice!! I'm impressed.

Talk to you all later,
Nancy

 

[shmoogrrrl]

It's good to know there will be other kids his age or close to it there. He's finally getting to the point where he's interested in what other children are doing, so maybe he can make buddies.

I bet there are a lot of kids around their age. October is a good time for us parents without kids in school to cruise because it is cheap and you don't have to worry about getting the kids out of school!

Of course, I will have to take my daughter out of preschool, but I think she will get by!

 

[SamR]

I read here that if you pay up your cruise, you can make reservations online for Palo. Does that include the brunch?

Yes! You can book all Palo reservations (dinner, brunch, and high tea). You can also book excursions and some (but not all) spa appointments online. For those traveling with children, they can make Flounders reservations online and register their kids for the kids clubs.

I thought I read that I can't make reservations until it is 75 days away (1st time cruisers). We are ready to pay for our trip now. Can we pay it up and make online reservations now????

No. You can't make online reservations until you are paid in full AND your reach the appropriate milestone below:

• 75 days before sailing for first-time cruisers
• 90 days before sailing for Castaway Club members (repeat cruisers)
• 105 days before sailing for concierge guests (Categories 1-3) and those booking the REAS package

We're paid in full and I'm just patiently (yeah, right! ) counting the days until I can do my online bookings!

 

[cntkg1]

Thanks SamR. Crystal Clear now. I'll have to mark my calendar for day 75.

 

[txaggie94gigem]

Sam...

I booked the REAS package and i did the calculations...105 days out from our cruise is July 3rd right?

I know this cruise will be kinda full but i am wondering if most people have gotten the dining rotation they asked for. we have late dining, which i think increases our chances. The only reason i am asking is because i don't want to reserve Palo this far out and end up with that day being the day for the Character breakfast! It is so hard to fit it all in...my mom is going with us but my hubby was hoping to have brunch with me alone...but there is just not another good day to have brunch 2 times! Oh...how complicated my life is!

Has anyone gone on the eastern before and just explored on your own without excursions? How did you like it?

 

[shmoogrrrl]

I know this cruise will be kinda full but i am wondering if most people have gotten the dining rotation they asked for. we have late dining, which i think increases our chances. The only reason i am asking is because i don't want to reserve Palo this far out and end up with that day being the day for the Character breakfast! It is so hard to fit it all in...my mom is going with us but my hubby was hoping to have brunch with me alone...but there is just not another good day to have brunch 2 times! Oh...how complicated my life is!

I know this wasn't to me, but I will say that we've never requested a dining rotation, but I've heard mixed reports on people actually getting them.

We ended up with Palo Brunch scheduled the same day as the Character Breakfast, and it worked out fine. We just went to the Character Breakfast and ate VERY light (it is the standard breakfast, for the most part so we didn't feel that we were missing anything). We were fine for brunch!

Has anyone gone on the eastern before and just explored on your own without excursions? How did you like it?

Yep! We have, but only close to the ship. We've never rented a car or anything. Mostly shopping and stuff. St. Martin had a little beach off of the shopping block that was not crowded and nice for a swim! I don't know if it is still public or not, though.

 

[SamR]

...105 days out from our cruise is July 3rd right?

Actually, I believe July 2nd is exactly 105 days before we embark. Mark your calendar! I know mine is marked!

...i am wondering if most people have gotten the dining rotation they asked for.

They won't tell you ahead of time what your rotation is, and like shmoogrrrl said, I have heard that it's pretty much hit or miss on whether or not they grant your request. I also agree with shmoogrrrl that if Palo Brunch and the character breakfast land on the same day, you probably won't be missing much if you let the kid(s) eat at the character breakfast and just have some coffee or something yourself, while building up your appetite for brunch. One thing that you do need to keep in mind is that since you have late dining, I think that also means you have a later start for the character breakfast. So, to allow time for your family to make it through the breakfast, you might want to avoid scheduling one of the earliest brunch time slots.

 

[oybolshoi]

One thing that you do need to keep in mind is that since you have late dining, I think that also means you have a later start for the character breakfast. So, to allow time for your family to make it through the breakfast, you might want to avoid scheduling one of the earliest brunch time slots.

That is correct! We had late dinner seating last October and our character breakfast was scheduled for 9:45AM (I think the first one was 8:15 or 8:30...I can't remember exactly).

Brenda

 

[txaggie94gigem]

thanks! last time we had brunch right at 1000 but this time just in case i will make it later!!!! since this is my first 7 day i am still trying to figure out which meal to lightly skip when we go to palos...i thinkwe will go the last night because we were not impressed with that menu aboard the wonder.....i figure we will eat at palos at the earliest time then meeet up with out family for drinks and dessert the last night!!!

 

[jenmack]

txaggie94gigem, Just an FYI. On our last day/night we were on Castaway Cay til about 3:30pm. It was so beautiful there! Then, we had to hurry back because they want @ least one person from each cabin to go to this in informal "disemarkment meeting." (You don't have to go, but they recommmend it). Then they have the little show that the kids put on for the grown-ups. Although, I can't remember, but I think it's just the kids from the kids club/lab. I could be wrong, though. Then of course there's the packing. Even though I started the day before. I still spent quite a bit of time packing the last night. Anyway, I didn't get to relax as much as I thought I would on the last day. My DH did though.

Well, needless to say. This time we will still spend just as long on Castaway Cay. (Unless it's raining ). And of course, It's just the 2 of us this time, and not the five us so hopefully things will be a little less chaotic.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

All our planning and this trip is fast approaching!! I have to get mine paid off by July 17th so I can make all my ressies for Palo and the Spa.

Did you guys get that thing from Chase Visa (Disney Visa) that if you put $400 on your card between now and the end of July you get a companion airfare voucher???? I will put more than that on mine when I pay off this baby..So I will take the voucher and use it for our our trip to WDW next May cause I won't have it in time for this trip.

Still waiting for Southwest to have a sale. Anyday........

My best friend that cancelled is thinking about going again. There are still rooms so we will see what she does???

I am a bit confused about what I want on this trip. I have never been on a 7 day. So many decisions. I forgot about the Character dining.
Guess I need to look over my folder again.

We have early dining and I did request a rotation,but don't really mind if I don't get it. Just thought I would try????