October 16, 2011 Mexican Riviera on the Wonder

[anthonysmama]

Last year my 3 year old was sad she couldn't get in the pool (not potty trained at the time). She did have a lot of fun in the splash area, especially when she had some water toys to play with.

How very cute she is! I was glad to read that at least they do have the splash area because when I first started reading where it said they weren't allowed in the pools, I was so very disappointed! My baby girl LOVES water! Seeing & hearing about your little girl helps me feel more confident that mine will have a good time playing in the splash area. I'll be sure to bring her some toys. Didn't even think of that! Thank you!

Brandy

 

[anthonysmama]

Hi again Trent. Thought of a couple more questions for you.

I was wondering if Disney allows us to bring our own bottled water onboard?

Also, have you used the nursery before? When I called DCL, they told me that when I do our online check-in, we are encouraged to book babysitting then, because space is limited and fills up fast but I don't have any idea what days and times to book because we've never cruised before so I dont know what night is what...Pirate night, formal night, etc. I was told this info would be in our daily navigator but if I have to book the babysitting before we get there, that doesn't really help me any! Does the nightly itinerary onboard change from cruise to cruise or is it always the same? (Like: night 2 is pirate night, night 4 is formal night, etc...)

Any help with this would be wonderful!! Thank you!!

~ Brandy ~

 

[phred84044]

I was wondering if Disney allows us to bring our own bottled water onboard?

You can bring your own water onboard; however this will take up valuable space in your luggage. Also, as the luggage is typically handled with less-than-friendly manners, be prepared for punctured or burst bottles in your luggage. Since lemonade, soft drinks and water are unlimited on the cruise I would recommend bringing a large mug to be filled up. It's easy to pack as you can roll up clothes to put inside of it. For days at port, you'll probably just want to buy bottled water.

Also, have you used the nursery before? When I called DCL, they told me that when I do our online check-in, we are encouraged to book babysitting then, because space is limited and fills up fast but I don't have any idea what days and times to book because we've never cruised before so I dont know what night is what

We used the nursery two times when Carson was not old enough yet for the kids clubs. This was before on-line check-in. We made reservations during the cruise and found availability pretty open. If you know what you'll be doing for your port tours, plan the nursery at online check-in for those times.

Pirate night, formal night, etc. I was told this info would be in our daily navigator but if I have to book the babysitting before we get there, that doesn't really help me any!

Again, they recommend booking ahead of time so there is availability. You will be in the same situation as everyone else. There should be availability for an impromptu or day before reservation.

Does the nightly itinerary onboard change from cruise to cruise or is it always the same? (Like: night 2 is pirate night, night 4 is formal night, etc...)

The Cruise Director uses the same template for the Navigator. The only thing that changes are the dates. You can review a recent navigator and have a pretty good idea of what will be going on and when. Book reservations based on those times and you should be good.

The only time the Navigators really change is if there are unseen circumstances while on-board; i.e., changed ports, etc.

 

[anthonysmama]

You are awesome! Thank you so very much for sharing your cruise knowledge with my cruise knowledge-impaired self.

I'll try not to bug ya with endless questions.

 

[Jathanis]

I was wondering if Disney allows us to bring our own bottled water onboard?

~ Brandy ~

You can bring your own water onboard; however this will take up valuable space in your luggage. Also, as the luggage is typically handled with less-than-friendly manners, be prepared for punctured or burst bottles in your luggage.

Just as a quick thought here - Disney prefers you to not pack anything like this in your checked luggage, but to keep it with you in your carry-on. This goes double for alcohol and triple for glass bottles! If they do see bottles in checked luggage, they may likely confiscate them as to prevent breakage, damage to other's luggage, and injuries to the staff handling the bags. Last cruise I went on, I just brought a small wheeled carry-on with me that had a bottle of Rum, two bottles of wine, and 8 cans of Guinness in it, wrapped in a sweatshirt to muffle the noise, and my swimsuit for the time until our room is ready. The X-ray tech was hilarious - I was wearing a hat that said "Got Beer?", and when he scanned my carry-on, he looked at me and said "Nice hat, matches your luggage!" with a big smile...

The water bottles are nice to have, especially the larger ones or the ones with the handles - I'd say throw a few in your carry-on, and use the water at the deck 9 self service Phred mentioned to refill them when needed...

 

[anthonysmama]

Just as a quick thought here - Disney prefers you to not pack anything like this in your checked luggage, but to keep it with you in your carry-on. This goes double for alcohol and triple for glass bottles! If they do see bottles in checked luggage, they may likely confiscate them as to prevent breakage, damage to other's luggage, and injuries to the staff handling the bags. Last cruise I went on, I just brought a small wheeled carry-on with me that had a bottle of Rum, two bottles of wine, and 8 cans of Guinness in it, wrapped in a sweatshirt to muffle the noise, and my swimsuit for the time until our room is ready. The X-ray tech was hilarious - I was wearing a hat that said "Got Beer?", and when he scanned my carry-on, he looked at me and said "Nice hat, matches your luggage!" with a big smile...

The water bottles are nice to have, especially the larger ones or the ones with the handles - I'd say throw a few in your carry-on, and use the water at the deck 9 self service Phred mentioned to refill them when needed...

LOL! Its nice to know there's people out there that still have a sense of humor! Thank you so much. Thats wonderful advice as well. I am a big water drinker so I'd like to have some on hand, in my room at all times. I'll stash a couple bottles in my carry on and that should work for me as long as I can refill them.

 

[princssdisnygina]

HELLO! I will be adding this cruise to my vacation plans tomorrow morning! I am a Disney Travel Agent and they are offering a deal! YAYAY! It will be me and my friend John! It will be his first cruise every and my 8th Disney Cruise! I will actually have just gotten off the Magic on October 1!

This is however, my first Mexican Riviera Cruise!

I am excited to be joining all of you!

 

[princssdisnygina]

I need some advice for those of you that have done this cruise before! I am Caribbean experienced but this west coast stuff is new to me!

What is a must see? If the ziplining is available I am thinking we may want to do it... has anyone done it?

I am lost and really excited but want to enjoy the ports!

I LOVE the beach and to shop! Not so much up for tours.

TIA!

 

[anthonysmama]

HELLO! I will be adding this cruise to my vacation plans tomorrow morning! I am a Disney Travel Agent and they are offering a deal! YAYAY! It will be me and my friend John! It will be his first cruise every and my 8th Disney Cruise! I will actually have just gotten off the Magic on October 1!

This is however, my first Mexican Riviera Cruise!

I am excited to be joining all of you!

Hi there! Welcome aboard! This is my family's first cruise ever so I am not speaking from experience, but everything that I have read says that the Harbor Cruise & Scenic Stop is the excursion to book in Cabo. Thats the one my family and I will be doing. Shows off all the popular rock formations and such there. We are super excited!! Can't wait!

~ Brandy ~

 

[anthonysmama]

I need some advice for those of you that have done this cruise before! I am Caribbean experienced but this west coast stuff is new to me!

What is a must see? If the ziplining is available I am thinking we may want to do it... has anyone done it?

I am lost and really excited but want to enjoy the ports!

I LOVE the beach and to shop! Not so much up for tours.

TIA!

We are traveling with a toddler, so no zipline for us! Sounds like fun tho! As far as Puerto Vallarta goes, we booked the Paradise Beach Adventure. Can't wait to soak up some sun at the resort! Hope you guys find some fun and exciting excursions to do! They had lots to choose from that looked fun, but we wanted to pick some the whole family could do together, so we went for the more mellow ones. Maybe on our next cruise, we'll leave the kids at home and do the fun/exciting stuff! I'm thinkin' Caribbean for the next one...any specific must do's there?

~ Brandy ~

 

[phred84044]

HELLO! I will be adding this cruise to my vacation plans tomorrow morning!

Welcome aboard, feel free to join in on the conversation!

I need some advice for those of you that have done this cruise before! I am Caribbean experienced but this west coast stuff is new to me!

What is a must see? If the ziplining is available I am thinking we may want to do it... has anyone done it?

We did the Mexican Riviera on our first cruise (Carnival) but due to a hurricane we did Puerta Vallarta and Ensenada and skipped Cabo and Mazatlan. Due to weather, our booked excursion in Puerta Vallarta was cancelled so we just walked the city. We were so hoping to get to see Mazatlan but apparently it's not meant to be as Disney has changed the port.

Currently, we have the zipline excursion booked in PV (still trying to talk Tracy into it) and the Dolphin Encounter in Cabo for Tracy, me and the two older kids. I have a friend from High School who did the zipline excursion with another cruiseline in PV last month and he said it was awesome!

 

[princssdisnygina]

Welcome aboard, feel free to join in on the conversation!



We did the Mexican Riviera on our first cruise (Carnival) but due to a hurricane we did Puerta Vallarta and Ensenada and skipped Cabo and Mazatlan. Due to weather, our booked excursion in Puerta Vallarta was cancelled so we just walked the city. We were so hoping to get to see Mazatlan but apparently it's not meant to be as Disney has changed the port.

Currently, we have the zipline excursion booked in PV (still trying to talk Tracy into it) and the Dolphin Encounter in Cabo for Tracy, me and the two older kids. I have a friend from High School who did the zipline excursion with another cruiseline in PV last month and he said it was awesome!

AWESOME! I have us signed up for the zipline in Cabo! We are in a GTY Deluxe Oceanview room... because I am on an Agent price I don't know what category or room yet. WHO CARES!

I am SO SO SO Excited!

 

[princssdisnygina]

OH.. is there a hotel near the port that is good? We are flying in on Saturday afternoon.

 

[DisneyKim68]

Does anyone know of a good place in Cabo to parasail or rent a jet ski for a few hours? We couldn't find any port adeventures in Cabo that sounded great, so hubby would like to do this instead.

 

[phred84044]

OH.. is there a hotel near the port that is good? We are flying in on Saturday afternoon.

We are staying at the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor about 1/2 mile from the terminal. I bid on Priceline for 3-1/2 star at $65. If you reserve from Crowne Plaza's website it is $169. The hotel offers shuttle to/from the pier.

 

[princssdisnygina]

We are staying at the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor about 1/2 mile from the terminal. I bid on Priceline for 3-1/2 star at $65. If you reserve from Crowne Plaza's website it is $169. The hotel offers shuttle to/from the pier.

I assume the Crowne Plaza is the hotel they gave you? This would be perfect for me and is actually one I looked at!

Did you put in San Pedro as the location? Priceline is such a risk and I want to make sure I get a hotel that takes me to the port.

 

[phred84044]

I assume the Crowne Plaza is the hotel they gave you? This would be perfect for me and is actually one I looked at!

Did you put in San Pedro as the location? Priceline is such a risk and I want to make sure I get a hotel that takes me to the port.

Yes, use San Pedro as the area. There are only two known 3.5* hotels in San Pedro; the Crowne Plaza and the Double Tree. However, I have only seen winning bids of the Crowne Plaza on betterbidding.com. The magic price is $65. I heard of others trying $63 unsuccesfully and then using a free re-bid at $65 and getting it. Others have just done $65 on first bid and gotten it. I tried $63 and was unsuccessful and was successful at $65. We have used Priceline for well over 24 hotel stays and have never had a bad experience. As long as your plans don't change and you go in with a strategy, there is no other way to get a lower rate on a hotel room than with Priceline.

 

[princssdisnygina]

Yes, use San Pedro as the area. There are only two known 3.5* hotels in San Pedro; the Crowne Plaza and the Double Tree. However, I have only seen winning bids of the Crowne Plaza on betterbidding.com. The magic price is $65. I heard of others trying $63 unsuccesfully and then using a free re-bid at $65 and getting it. Others have just done $65 on first bid and gotten it. I tried $63 and was unsuccessful and was successful at $65. We have used Priceline for well over 24 hotel stays and have never had a bad experience. As long as your plans don't change and you go in with a strategy, there is no other way to get a lower rate on a hotel room than with Priceline.

SWEET! I am gonna go for it then! Thanks!

 

[princssdisnygina]

Yes, use San Pedro as the area. There are only two known 3.5* hotels in San Pedro; the Crowne Plaza and the Double Tree. However, I have only seen winning bids of the Crowne Plaza on betterbidding.com. The magic price is $65. I heard of others trying $63 unsuccesfully and then using a free re-bid at $65 and getting it. Others have just done $65 on first bid and gotten it. I tried $63 and was unsuccessful and was successful at $65. We have used Priceline for well over 24 hotel stays and have never had a bad experience. As long as your plans don't change and you go in with a strategy, there is no other way to get a lower rate on a hotel room than with Priceline.

YOU WERE RIGHT! I got the Crowne Plaza too! It came to $82.11 after taxes and fees! The sure beats the $193 it would've been! Thanks!

 

[bradc]

We've singed up for Paradise Beach Adventure in PV. Our kids (6 and 4) love to play in the sand so here's hoping to great weather.

Has anyone ever participated in the dolphin encounters? It sounds like fun but I'm a little nervous because of the price. I'm trying to decide what else we might do in Cabo with the little ones. They tend to get bored on tours or shopping excursions.