OCTOBER 30th & NOVEMBER 3rd Cruises (FE and Meets)

[disneymagicgirl]

Good day everyone. Wow the board are quiet! I thought I would come back and would not beable to keep up!

I booked our air and hotel this week. We are staying at Coronado Springs for 4 days before the cruise. Not planning on spending alot of time in the parks though. Did get Halloween Tickets for the 28th at the MK. It's my favorite! Also lucked into makeovers for the girls at Bibbity Bobbity in the castle. Anyone else have plans in Disney before the cruise?

We are flying in on the 27th and staying at wdw pre-cruise also. We are also doing the party, but on the 27th, barring unforeseen airline delays. We have a direct flight, so hopefully there won't be any drama.
We are currently booked at CBR in a pirate room, but I am thinking of switching to a 1 br villa at SSR. Really undecided on that part. I don't think we are going to do the parks, other than MNSSHP. Maybe a waterpark, a character meal or two, putt-putt, DTD. I want to try to do stuff that we usually don't make time for, but the family is already complaining about not going to the parks. I just hate the price of the 2 day tickets!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Okay, we're just a little over 3 months out and I'm still working on the rental car. We're doing one ways from MCO to Port with drop off before the cruise then one way from Port to WDW when cruise is over. I have a decent deal right now with Budget, but I'm wondering if anyone is doing the same thing and if so what are you finding? I track the Transportation board for this kind of information but I thought I'd throw it out to our group in case I'm missing something.

Right now I've got a one way from MCO to Port in a Tauras for $58.68 including tax and a one way back from the Port to WDW in a van for $67.16 (dropping off at DoubleTree DTD). Not bad but I'm hoping to do better. We have to have either a full size or van as we are two adults and 3 kids.

As I said this is with Budget, but I don't have to go that route if I find something better.

What are guys finding??? Thanks!!!

I reserved Avis from DTD Hilton one way to the port. We are actually using a reward certificate my husband earned thru business travel, but the cost would have been $52.33 total (incl taxes etc).
I had Budget reserved back to the airport post cruise for $48 incl taxes but I cancelled it and decided to fork out the $$ for DCL transport so I don't have to deal with our suitcases etc.

 

[Princess Olivia]

Yes, I booked CS for access to Atlantis. As for naps it's because CS is closer than the ship. I have two teens who will want to stay all day at Atlantis so if I could have a room available it would be great.

Thanks for the FE count. It will be very helpful!

 

[gismo1554]

Hi all

Well I've been putting off joining the cruise thread for awhile just because I know I'm going to end up getting obsessive over here like on my previous cruise. I recognise some of the names jotting about and hope to recognise some people on the cruise.

Anyway just wanted to say hi and ask if we have any activities planned?

Oh and also has anyone had any luck booking a Palo brunch? Today was our day so got up early to find it not showing on the site! ARRRRGGGG!

Bye for now

oh and we are Sarah and Dan travelling from the UK and we're cruising with our friends Kerrie and Tim.

 

[Mickeygolf]

Just a quick update for Atlantis. I just booked Comfort Suites. 2 rooms for 4 adults, 2 teens and two babies, one night 10/31. I called and CS said I could check in early on the 31st. I may not be able to get in a room but we can get access to Atlantis. The room price is 166 x 2 plus taxes, it came to $463. This is a HUGE savings. If I booked this excursion through DCL it would have cost me $1014 for 6 adults. Plus it will be a bonus if I can get in a room early if the babies need a nap!!

That's a really good deal for two rooms. DId you have a code or some other type of discount? We are a family of 5 and may be interested in this if I could get that price. It was much higher than that a few months back while checking online. Did you call direct or do it online? Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

 

[AmandaRG]

Hi all

Well I've been putting off joining the cruise thread for awhile just because I know I'm going to end up getting obsessive over here like on my previous cruise. I recognise some of the names jotting about and hope to recognise some people on the cruise.

Anyway just wanted to say hi and ask if we have any activities planned?

Oh and also has anyone had any luck booking a Palo brunch? Today was our day so got up early to find it not showing on the site! ARRRRGGGG!

Bye for now

oh and we are Sarah and Dan travelling from the UK and we're cruising with our friends Kerrie and Tim.

Welcome! I think you are in good company with the obsessive part! Hope to "see" you around more in the next few months!

 

[ppartekim]

Hi all

Well I've been putting off joining the cruise thread for awhile just because I know I'm going to end up getting obsessive over here like on my previous cruise. I recognise some of the names jotting about and hope to recognise some people on the cruise.

Anyway just wanted to say hi and ask if we have any activities planned?

Oh and also has anyone had any luck booking a Palo brunch? Today was our day so got up early to find it not showing on the site! ARRRRGGGG!

Bye for now

oh and we are Sarah and Dan travelling from the UK and we're cruising with our friends Kerrie and Tim.

Last night (9pm PDT) was when we could start booking and I was able to get to my computer around 12am and also noticed no Palo's Brunch or High Teas available. Drat... I will be happy when we are Platinum (right after this cruise) then, I might be able to book a Brunch or Tea.

 

[Princess Olivia]

That's a really good deal for two rooms. DId you have a code or some other type of discount? We are a family of 5 and may be interested in this if I could get that price. It was much higher than that a few months back while checking online. Did you call direct or do it online? Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

Hello! I didn't have a code but I did do it online. It was $166 for each room. It worked well for us because we are a party of 8 (although two are toddlers). You'd have to do the math but it still may work. You can get one room at that price and then pay $120 for an extra bracelet to get into Atlantis.

Welcome from the UK! I too become obsessive. This time around I don't seem to have as much free time to post but I'm trying!!

 

[Dagny]

Last night (9pm PDT) was when we could start booking and I was able to get to my computer around 12am and also noticed no Palo's Brunch or High Teas available. Drat... I will be happy when we are Platinum (right after this cruise) then, I might be able to book a Brunch or Tea.

Amen to that, only one more cruise to go and we will be Platinum. I am hoping that I will be able to get High Tea on board. They do hold back some availability for onboard booking. We booked Remy's for the third night since we have never done that. We booked an early time (6:00 pm) so that we could meet up with our son for our late dinner time.

I am working on the FE list, which I have been meaning to do for weeks. We are leaving for our Europe trip in two weeks and that has consumed my life. We have never traveled overseas so my OCD in planning has taken over for the last month!

I am getting super excited about this cruise though!

 

[Jaime]

I have been reading on the boards that brunch ressies haven't been available once onboard on the 4 night cruises on the Dream...lots of guests and little availability. We will board with group #1 as we are platinum. We will try to get them, but if not, we won't starve! I really wish they would offer brunch on all days! Many ports I would rather eat brunch at Palo than get off the ship!

That makes sense. This is our first time doing a shorter cruise. Brunch would be nice but really not a big deal either way. Group #1 would be really neat! We are heading to port with all first time cruisers so I guess we will have to wait for them to get a boarding time before we know what time we will get to board.

Hello. We will actually be heading to Cape Canaveral for a day at KSC and an overnight at CI&S the night before we cruise. I will be doing Disney things before...like working! I am so blessed to live in central FL, and work at WDW, but I get so excited reading everyone else's plans.

We have been done to Disney a lot for someone who lives so far away. Staying onsite but planning on spending alot of time at the hotel. First time staying at the Coronado Springs so it should be interesting.

 

[Jaime]

Hi everyone cant wait to cruise.

Me either...going to be a lot of fun!

I think we're skipping WDW before the cruise this year. We'll be driving down Thursday and Friday (and a bit on Saturday). Right now I have the Holiday Inn Express near the port booked but I'm watching for any WDW discounts because if it's a decent price I might consider staying the night before at WDW and enjoying a disney meal and whatnot.

Where are you drving from?

Okay, we're just a little over 3 months out and I'm still working on the rental car. We're doing one ways from MCO to Port with drop off before the cruise then one way from Port to WDW when cruise is over. I have a decent deal right now with Budget, but I'm wondering if anyone is doing the same thing and if so what are you finding? I track the Transportation board for this kind of information but I thought I'd throw it out to our group in case I'm missing something.

Right now I've got a one way from MCO to Port in a Tauras for $58.68 including tax and a one way back from the Port to WDW in a van for $67.16 (dropping off at DoubleTree DTD). Not bad but I'm hoping to do better. We have to have either a full size or van as we are two adults and 3 kids.

As I said this is with Budget, but I don't have to go that route if I find something better.

What are guys finding??? Thanks!!!

That's about average if it covers your surcharges...it normaly cost around $45 plus taxes/surcharges when I rent full size cars for my clients.

Got our cruise paid off! Need to book airfare, rental car, and hotel now. Summer is flying by! Kids have only been out of school for a month, and the stores already have school supplies out, I am not ready for that yet!
Gotta get packing, I leave for Minot, ND tomorrow to help out with the flood relief.
Have a great weekend, everyone!

Went to Costco today and they had the kids snowsuits out! Not impressed I am so not ready for winter...be safe and have a great weekend!

 

[Jaime]

Just a quick update for Atlantis. I just booked Comfort Suites. 2 rooms for 4 adults, 2 teens and two babies, one night 10/31. I called and CS said I could check in early on the 31st. I may not be able to get in a room but we can get access to Atlantis. The room price is 166 x 2 plus taxes, it came to $463. This is a HUGE savings. If I booked this excursion through DCL it would have cost me $1014 for 6 adults. Plus it will be a bonus if I can get in a room early if the babies need a nap!!

That's a really good rate. It makes visiting Atlantis reasonable.

I am curious about this...
So you booked the room essentially for access to the Atlantis waterpark area at a huge savings vs the excursion, right? That sounds like a good idea. What about the naps though? I am confused as to why you wouldn't take them to nap on the ship? Is it a distance thing? I have never done Atlantis b/c of the cost, but it sounds like it might be doable...

Comfort Suites is within walking distance to Atlantis so it would make an easy break if naps are required and they wanted to go back to Atlantis afterwards. The ship isn't to far but a taxi ride is required.

Hi all

Well I've been putting off joining the cruise thread for awhile just because I know I'm going to end up getting obsessive over here like on my previous cruise. I recognise some of the names jotting about and hope to recognise some people on the cruise.

Anyway just wanted to say hi and ask if we have any activities planned?

Oh and also has anyone had any luck booking a Palo brunch? Today was our day so got up early to find it not showing on the site! ARRRRGGGG!

Bye for now

oh and we are Sarah and Dan travelling from the UK and we're cruising with our friends Kerrie and Tim.

Welcome

 

[Jaime]

We are flying in on the 27th and staying at wdw pre-cruise also. We are also doing the party, but on the 27th, barring unforeseen airline delays. We have a direct flight, so hopefully there won't be any drama.
We are currently booked at CBR in a pirate room, but I am thinking of switching to a 1 br villa at SSR. Really undecided on that part. I don't think we are going to do the parks, other than MNSSHP. Maybe a waterpark, a character meal or two, putt-putt, DTD. I want to try to do stuff that we usually don't make time for, but the family is already complaining about not going to the parks. I just hate the price of the 2 day tickets!

We were planning on going to the party on the 27th but decided to wait until 28th. We will head over to MK around 4:30 for the evening. I like that you can get into the park early with your Halloween ticket. We also have one day pass left over from 2007 so we are going to the AK/EPCOT on 29th I think.

For those on the 10/30 4 night doing FEs....

I just counted up some numbers from the cruise mates list we received a few mths ago. I want to start picking up my FE gifts. This is what I got...
Adults-58
Kiddos- 39
Families- 24

Not sure if I will do one family gift or separate it out and do stuff for kids and adults, so I counted both ways. Hope this helps someone.....

This is great! Thanks

 

[Dagny]

Would anyone be interested in a Stem to Stern Wine Tasting? If we had enough people, we could arrange a private tasting

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Where are you drving from?

Went to Costco today and they had the kids snowsuits out! Not impressed I am so not ready for winter...be safe and have a great weekend!

we're driving from Toronto (well Scarborough - a suburb). It's a long drive but my dad won't fly and with my mom in the wheelchair, it's tough to get her on a plane.

Would anyone be interested in a Stem to Stern Wine Tasting? If we had enough people, we could arrange a private tasting

Any idea how many whites versus reds are usually included? I'm allergic to red wine but would be interested if there were enough whites involved.

 

[Dagny]

As I recall, there were a mixture of reds and whites included last time. If we have a private gathering, I am sure I could request only whites. I am not a huge fan of reds either !!! Ducking for cover!

 

[pjpoohbear]

We booked Remy's for the third night since we have never done that. We booked an early time (6:00 pm) so that we could meet up with our son for our late dinner time.

....

I am getting super excited about this cruise though!

I have heard that Remy takes 3 hr+, you might not make that late dinner meet with DS.

Pj

 

[pjpoohbear]

I know that DCL has done private tastings on the Magic during the Trans-atlantic cruises. I did a mixology, what a blast! And a Martini, a lot of fun, but not my cup of tea. The Dis group also did several wine, a cognac, whiskey and a couple of others, maybe tequila. I think that each class had a up to 36 people. I think DCL does about 5-20 in the regularly scheduled classes.

Pj

 

[Dagny]

I have heard that Remy takes 3 hr+, you might not make that late dinner meet with DS.

Pj

Ugh!!!! Honestly, his father and and I might mind more than he does, unfortunately!

 

[pjpoohbear]

If he has made a friend by then, perhaps he could eat with them or a DIS friend for that evening.

Pj