October 25, 2008 Halloween on the High Seas (2)

[suziemva]

i could add them - but perhaps they should be on the private site - can we vote on that?

this time i was able to see them all though - thanks!

Janice, no issues.....I'll get with Arlene.

 

[michellebriana]

Hey dvc4life: Did you ever get into the Chat Room the other night?

I was just playing with my avatar and noticed the link for "chat;" I haven't moved to that next level of computer skills yet (although I am chatty). Just wondered if you had missed that you had to click User CP on the red bar at the top of the screen to find it?

I'm new too, and was fortunate enough to skim in at the deadline for the Fish Extenders mail/gift exchange program. It has added another dimension of excitement to cruise planning.

Other members of Group 2 FE: Are ya'll's names spelled correctly? Don't know if I'll personalize anything (still thinking/planning).

Here's our activities:

Castaway Cay, Day 1: I want to jetski (I've done it the other 2 cruises and love it); no one else wants to join me.
Cozumel: Tellum (my nieces can count it as a school day); I've been to Chichen-Itza, Tikal (Guatemala), and Copan (Honduras); couldn't miss more ruins while I was in the neighborhood
Grand Cayman: Aquaboat and snorkel - I see we're not the only ones
Castaway Cay Redux: Parasailing for DN Karen and me
Palo Brunch: Monday? (the first sea day) with my DSis Ann

I think our names are correct - Michelle, Pedro, Briana, & Alyssa just in case!

 

[mommy2777]

Day 1 - Port Canaveral - Saturday, October 25, 2008
Party time woo hoo!

Day 2 - Castaway Cay - Sunday, October 26, 2008
Parasailing, all 4 of us
10:30AM 11:30AM

Day 3 - At Sea - Monday, October 27, 2008
Palo Dinner Me + Todd, Rob + Missy
8:30PM 10:30PM

Day 4 - Cozumel - Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Nada, gonna sight see

Day 5 - Grand Cayman - Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Well Being Massage for Couples
9:15AM 10:05AM
Sight seeing

Day 6 - At Sea - Thursday, October 30, 2008
relaxing by the pool

Day 7 - Castaway Cay - Friday, October 31, 2008
Relaxing

Day 8 - Port Canaveral - Saturday, November 1, 2008
Reality hits, i dont wanna go home! whaaaaaaaa

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Look what I found - a present for Jenn ............

sorry Jenn - couldn't resist!

 

[dizney-cruiser]

Look what I found - a present for Jenn ............

sorry Jenn - couldn't resist!

i love those puffy hands!!

 

[mommy2777]

Look what I found - a present for Jenn ............

sorry Jenn - couldn't resist!

thats just great!, love it

 

[jenn&nelsonrego]

Look what I found - a present for Jenn ............

sorry Jenn - couldn't resist!

You people are EVIL creatures... Evil, I tell you... and yet, I still like you.... hmmmm....


p.s... for those of you who were in chat last night and know about this... my test sucked... really really sucked.... was not at all what I was expecting....

 

[CruisingCamper]

Hello All,


I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce ourselves to the group.

I have PM’ed several of you, and have tried to keep up with the posts, but have not found the time to actively participate in the on-going posts.

Hopefully, I can join in more actively in the coming month.


We are a party of 4
Me, my DW, DS [8], and DD [7].
We live in Massachusetts, about an hour’s drive, west of Boston.


I am a long time DIS'er, and have used the boards extensively for trip planning.


We are also DVC Members, and have been fortunate enough to have traveled to Disney World several times.
We have been DVC Members for over a decade. We Joined DVC prior to having children, so our kids have been lucky enough to have had many wonderful vacations over the years.


The October 25th., 2008 Cruise will be our third cruise.

Our first Cruise was a 3 day cruise, followed by some time in Disney World.

Our second cruise was a 7 night - double dip Western cruise in early November of 2006. We had a very active cruise meet post for that cruise. We ended up meeting a lot of the individuals we communicated with in the post, once we got onboard, and it was great to already know a bunch of the people onboard.


Having already taken a 7 night - double dip Western cruise, we really struggled with taking another one, or taking a 7 night eastern cruise. The deciding factor was the ages of our children, and the two stops at Castaway Cay. The kids love the beach, and play there all day long. I find it very enjoyable and relaxing. The short walk or tram ride to the family beach, the great lunch, the clean beach and beautiful water…….. What’s not to like.


I look forward to chatting with you on-line, and meeting you on-board.


If I can assist anyone in anyway, or provide answers or tips, based on our previous trips, please feel free to contact me.


Below is brief rundown of our itinerary (outside of our activities with this group)

Friday, October 24th., 2008
Fly into Orlando
Stay the night at the Orlando Hyatt

Saturday, October 25th., 2008
Take Disney Transportation to the port

Sunday, October 26th., 2008
Two-Day Float rental for the kids
Cabana Massage for DW
Thinking about Parasailing with DS
Hair Braiding for DD

Monday, October 27th., 2008
Spa Treatment for DW

Tuesday, October 28th., 2008
Dolphin Swim Adventure at Dolphin Discovery in the morning.
After Dolphin Swim, spend some time at Chankanaab National Park
If we have time, or don’t like the beach at Chankanaab, will go to Paradise Beach

Wednesday, October 29th., 2008
Go to some place on 7 Mile Beach, via Taxi’s

Thursday, October 30th., 2008
Spa Treatment for DW
Palo Dinner Reservations @ 6:00pm

Friday, October 31th., 2008
Stingray Adventure with the family, in the morning
Thinking about Parasailing

Hello!! We will be taking a Disney Cruise in Feb 2009. We plan on staying at the Hyatt Airport also due to late flight on departing day- Southwest, so we can take the shuttle to the port too. Do you know how all that works?

Will we have to claim our bags, or does the hotel do it?

And will we have to take our bags to the shuttle, or does the hotel help with that?

Thanks for any info you can provide!! Have a Wonderful trip!!

 

[RayRing]

I will try to explain the process you asked about.
If I do poor job explaining it, just let me know, and I will look around the DIS, and other sites for the information. I am sure that someone has probably done a better job, than I will.


Instructions for staying at the Orlando International Hyatt Hotel, and taking Disney Transportation from Orlando International to the Disney Cruise Port.

You should receive Disney Cruise Line - Luggage Tags with your travel documents.

DO NOT put the Disney Cruise Line - Luggage Tags on your luggage, when you check in, at your departure Air Port. Bring the Disney Cruise Line - Luggage Tags with you, with all your other documents.

When you arrive at Orlando International Airport, collect you bags, as you normally would, and take them with you.

Take your bags to the Hyatt Hotel, which is located in the central hub of Orlando International Airport.

There will be several elevators, which will take you from the concourse level, up on level to the Hyatt Hotel and Check In.

While you are checking in, tell the person checking you in, that you will be travelling the next day on a Disney Cruise. They will give you a sheet of paper explaining the process.


The process is (or at least was) as follows.

When you go to your room, and get settled, place your Disney Cruise Line - Luggage Tags on the luggage you want to have transported from the Hyatt Hotel, to the Disney Cruise Ship.

Place the luggage you want to have transported from the Hyatt Hotel, to the Disney Cruise Ship, outside of your Hotel Room Door, before the specified time (I cannot remember what that time was, but it was early – I cannot remember if I did this step before I went to bed, or the first thing in the morning when I woke up).

All the Luggage, that is outside of doors, which have been properly tagged, will be collected, placed in a large truck, with a lot of other peoples luggage, taken to the Cruise Port, Taken aboard the Disney Cruise Ship, and magically appear in your Cruise Ship Room, later that day.

On the instructions, you receive at check in, it will explain where and when you should meet to take Disney Transportation from Orlando International to the Disney Cruise Port.

The Location was Near where you check in at the Hyatt Hotel

Only one person needs to check in at this location for Disney Transportation.

The rest of your party can hang out in the lobby, or finish up their morning routine.

Once there are enough people collected at the Hyatt Hotel Lobby, a Disney Transportation Guide will walk that group to a Disney Transportation Bus, which you will board.

The Next Stop is the Disney Cruise Port.

On the way, they will play a little video, about the Cruise Check In Process and the Cruise…….. Or they will play old cartoons for the kids (one of those)

PLEASE NOTE: Pack what you will want and need, for the first several hours, in a small Day Bag, and Do Not have it transported to the ship. Carry it with you on the Disney Bus. Medicine, Camera’s, Computers, *** Swim Cloths *** for the kids, etc.

Additional Tip: At Home, when I packed for the trip. I did a couple of extra things, to make it easy for myself.
I Packed One Day Bag. (I placed it into a larger suite case, but it was all set to go, for me to carry it on the ship.
I Placed all our clothes that we would need to sleep in, in a separate plastic bag, and put it on top of everything else, in a large suite case.
I also placed all of our clothes that we would be wearing the next day, in a plastic bag, and also placed that on top of everything in a large suite case.
That way… we had everything we needed for the night, and next morning, in separate bags. I did not have to dig through our large bags, for this and that. So at night, I took out a couple plastic bags, out of our larger luggage bags, and in the morning we place our night clothes back in the plastic bag, and put it back in the larger luggage bag.
Simple ….

 

[CruisingCamper]

Thanks for your reply. I did read a little while ago on the Hyatt website that they collect your bags for you at the airport while you check-in, have you heard this?

 

[NewfieMom]

Based on one response we've received already....

WE HAVE A NUT ALLERGY WITH AT LEAST 2 OF OUR TRICK OR TREAT KIDS - PLEASE KEEP IN MIND WHEN BUYING YOUR TREATS, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

Thanks everyone.

Valerie

 

[NewfieMom]

Val,

I think in between dinner times one night would be a good time too. We'll just need to remember not to take Tori to the kids club yet! She's so ready to go after dinner - loves them.


I too like the stair shot but I think I really like the one in the hallway area - you know from deck to deck...okay, I know I'm not explaining that one well. But the stairwells on either side really gave it a defined look and everyone was placed nicely - no real stragglers off to the side.

Whatever is decided is fine. We will try to all make it. BUT I think we need to decide soon or it will never get decided!!!

psst - any thoughts on having on at the first meet too????

Actually, Suzie - that was the spot we were talking about...so it was me who didn't explain it very well ! And I am sure we'll get some photos taken at the first day dis meet as well!

Valerie

 

[suziemva]

Based on one response we've received already....

WE HAVE A NUT ALLERGY WITH AT LEAST 2 OF OUR TRICK OR TREAT KIDS - PLEASE KEEP IN MIND WHEN BUYING YOUR TREATS, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

Thanks everyone.

Valerie

Val, please make sure I know who these kids are and we will seperate their ToT bags our first before handling anything that could possibly have nuts to avoid cross contamination. I will try to get names onto those bags also so that we know when handing out the bags.

Thanks!

 

[disneycruising]

Val, please make sure I know who these kids are and we will seperate their ToT bags our first before handling anything that could possibly have nuts to avoid cross contamination. I will try to get names onto those bags also so that we know when handing out the bags.

Thanks!

The boys that have nut allergies are mine, Chris (DS 10) and JC (DS 13).

Thank you so much for understanding how important this is!

 

[NewfieMom]

Cindi - you might want to make everyone else on our FE list - I'm in the same group as you - aware of the nut allergy, for those who are planning to put little treats in the FE's. Middle of the ocean is not the place to have an allergic reaction

Valerie

 

[Aneille]

Did the password change for the website? I am unable to get in.

Kim

 

[suziemva]

Kim, check your pm's.

 

[Aneille]

Thanks Suzie! But now I am the only one in chat!

 

[suziemva]

The boys that have nut allergies are mine, Chris (DS 10) and JC (DS 13).

Thank you so much for understanding how important this is!

Cindy, we have a couple of families that we are friends with that have nut or someother allergy within. It is VERY important/life threatening and needs to be handled correctly to avoid cross contamination. Ed and I already discussed tonight what we need to do when doing the bags.

 

[suziemva]

Thanks Suzie! But now I am the only one in chat!

Um, it's Tuesday....no chat scheduled on Tuesday.

Monday, Thursday and Saturday......


LOL! I had a panic attack there and had to try to remember what day it was today!!! That is soooo bad!!! Thankfully laptops have that time/calendar thingy in the corner!!! Whew!