October 31, 2009

[Jaime]

Here are some pictures taken from the glass bottom boat tour in Castaway Cay. It was a lot of fun...we were finished around 11:00...just in time to have lunch and go and relax on the beach. For best location on the boat I would try to arrive a few minutes early...that's what we did and we got by the benchs...by the viewing window and the side.

The Family Beach

The Adult beach

Here the fish are jumping around the side of the boat.

 

[wdwfan]

Hello Everyone! I'm back! I've been busy with 4th of July weekend. We had so much fun at my son's baseball tournament. The team did not do as well as they should of, but we still enjoyed it. My son is a pitcher and pitched his best game ever on Saturday night in the minor league stadium of the Aberdeen Ironbirds in Maryland.

Jamie, I love your pictures! It gets me excited about our upcoming cruise! Although we are still 16 months away Keep sharing!

Hi Parrothead365! My name is Charlene and I'll be sailing with my dh, ds (14 at the time of the cruise) and dd (12 at the time of the cruise). We also took a 3 day cruise, but took it back in early December of 07. We enjoyed it so much that I just had to book a 7 nighter! So here we are, waiting patiently.

 

[parrothead365]

Glad to meet you guys. We booked rm 6100 I think. I'm already checking out shore excursions.

 

[wdwfan]

Hi parrothead365! I have booked a cat. 12 guarantee, as a few other people on this thread have also. We're a family of four, so we'll atleast get a catagory 11. I'd love a catagory 6, but those chances are next to none, so I'll be happy with a cat. 11. I'm really just glad to be on this cruise! What type of a room is 6100?

I'm starting to think about excursions too. I like the idea of XCarat on Cozomel, but I'm beginning to think it is not enough time. What I really have to do is spend more time researching the excursions. Do you have anything in mind for excusions?



Hey! Where is everybody? Our thread has been buried lately I know I have been busy with my kids and their activities. I'm guessing everyone else is too.

 

[Jaime]

Glad to meet you guys. We booked rm 6100 I think. I'm already checking out shore excursions.

Hi...we have a cat 12 gty booked too for our family of 4 so we will have at least a cat 11. We pay the same for airfare as we do for the cruise so we figure booking a lower cat allows us to spend a few days at WDW too. I would prefer to pick where my room is but didn't feel it was worth the extra $450. Last time we got upgraded to cat 10 deck two by the midship elevators.

Hi parrothead365! I have booked a cat. 12 guarantee, as a few other people on this thread have also. We're a family of four, so we'll atleast get a catagory 11. I'd love a catagory 6, but those chances are next to none, so I'll be happy with a cat. 11. I'm really just glad to be on this cruise! What type of a room is 6100?

I'm starting to think about excursions too. I like the idea of XCarat on Cozomel, but I'm beginning to think it is not enough time. What I really have to do is spend more time researching the excursions. Do you have anything in mind for excusions?

Hey! Where is everybody? Our thread has been buried lately I know I have been busy with my kids and their activities. I'm guessing everyone else is too.

I would only book XCarat through DCL...since you have to leave the island if you were delayed and you were with DCL they would wait otherwise they will not.

It has been very quiet here maybe everyone is on summer vacation

 

[NJMomma]

Hi Parrothead! Welcome I am cruising with DH, DS & DD. We cruised this same itinerary in April and liked it so much we re-booked on board

Hope everyone is having a great summer so far!

To all my Jersey friends (non-Jersey people can appreciate this too), I have two words - BON JOVI!! I am going to see him on Monday night, even though he traitoriously (is that even a word?) ended his tour in NY.

 

[Jaime]

Hi Parrothead! Welcome I am cruising with DH, DS & DD. We cruised this same itinerary in April and liked it so much we re-booked on board

Hope everyone is having a great summer so far!

To all my Jersey friends (non-Jersey people can appreciate this too), I have two words - BON JOVI!! I am going to see him on Monday night, even though he traitoriously (is that even a word?) ended his tour in NY.

What did you do in the different ports on your cruise in April? Do you have any pictures?

He was here twice...both times I couldn't go I would love to see him...have fun!

 

[jnadelman]

We are very excited to have just booked our first Disney cruise. We thought that 15+ months out would be ok to be booking. How wrong we were. We wanted a Cat 9 room on deck 2. ALL GONE! So instead we are on deck 1. We hope 2 portholes instead of 1 isn't a big deal, (one for each kid so no fighting right).

Our details...We go to WDW every 12 to 15 months. Holding off a bit this time to do our first cruise. me, DW, DS7 and DD4 (at time of cruise). Grandma and Grandpa coming too. As I'm sure you all guessed, we are from central NJ. There are so many of us, why don't they just get the ship to pick us up a day earlier from the port in Bayonne.

Questions for everyone.
Anyone else ever been on deck 1 cat 9? If we wanted deck 2 rooms, is there any good way to find out if/when they might free up? How are the 2 small portholes? Any pictures?
Also, do people typically book their own flights or go with Disney? We booked with Disney at the moment $416 pp, and we were told we could cancel that part at any time. We were told to book through them because if we get delayed, they will either hold the ship or get you to the next port. Is that worth the higher price? What does everyone else typically do.

Can't wait to go. Its only what, 450+ days away?

 

[Queenie16]

see post below

 

[Queenie16]

***The following information can also be found on the Disney Cruise Meets under October 31, 2009. I posted this list here just in case any cruisers haven't made it over to that site yet. Please PM me if you have any additions or changes to this list.

Ok, here is our "Roll Call" list that I have put together between posts here and PMs that I have received. I will update this list as I receive information from people.

I am including the following information about each family: screen name, where you are from, members of the family including names and ages of children at sailing if you wish and cabin number if you are participating in the fish extender.
***Please do not feel obligated to share any information that you don't wish to. This is all for "fun," of course, as well as getting to know our fellow cruisers before we set sail.
"Jaime" suggested that the cabin numbers and personal information be kept "private" if people choose this option. This is perfectly fine!!! I can keep track of those people who wish to participate in the fish extender activity but do not wish to have their personal information posted on line. I will simply post your screen name under confirmed participants. As the time gets closer, I will send a group PM to those participants with all of the pertinent information in order to participate.
***I prefer if you would PM any information that needs to be included and/or updated rather than put it in this post!

The following is a list of CONFIRMED participants in the fish extender activity: If you have changed your mind in participating, please let me know so that I can update this list.
Queenie16 -- myself, the organizer
Central NJ
cabin 8530 -- Roy Disney suite
myself -- DW -- Susan
DH -- Carl
DD -- Kyla, age 4
my mother -- Joyce

bdette1971
Matawan, NJ
cabin 7007
DW -- Bernadette
DH -- Tim
DS -- Josh, age 9
DD -- Julia, age 6

kbtennant
Hazlet, NJ
cabin 6108
DW -- Kristen
DH -- Bob
DS -- age 5
DS -- age 8

suzieqmomof4
Southern, NJ
cabin 6080
DW -- Susan
DH -- Joe
DS -- Scott, age 14
DD -- Amy, age 12
DD -- Lisa, age 9
DD -- Jill, age 6

suziemomof4
cabin 6088
MIL (mother in law) -- Nancy
FIL (father in law) -- John

NJMomma
NJ
cabin 1054
DW
DH
DS -- age 11
DD -- age 6

Jaime
Canada
cabin GTY
DW -- Jaime
DH -- Glen
DD -- age 7 -- Kierra
DD -- age 5 -- Alicia

The following is a list of maybe fish extender participants:
jnadelman
Central, NJ
deck 2
DH
DW
DS -- age 7
DD -- age 4

The following is a list of CONFIRMED sailers:
CRSNDSNY
PA
CW
DH
DD -- Amelia, age 4
DS -- Ernie, age 2

jnadelman
deck 1

whayes
WA
deck 6 midship

buzzlightyear
NJ
deck 8
DD -- age 13
DD -- age 11
DS -- age 6

mish
Mt. Vernon, NY
deck 2, category 9
DW -- Michelle
DH -- Jaime
DS -- Jonathan, age 11

broadway917
mish's DD -- Stephanie, age 24
DDF (darling daughter's friend) -- Josephine, age 30

kaygee10
deck 6 midship
DH
DW
DD -- age 9
DD -- age 3
both sets of grandparents

parrothead365
North Florida
cabin 6100
DH -- Doug, age 49
DW -- Connie, age 46
DS -- Kevin, age 16

MADCLFAN
MA
DH
DW

wdwfan
Sewell, NJ
GTY category 12
DW -- Charlene
DH
DS -- age 14
DD -- age 12

LaurieWDW05
Marlton, NJ
category 12
DW -- Laurie
DH -- Carmine
DS -- Dominic, age 13
DS -- Anthony, age 10

 

[Jaime]

Thanks Susan for gathering all our info

We had so much fun with the fish extenders last time...I'll know my room number about 30 days out so will pm you when we get it.

My dd's Kierra and Alicia will be in the clubs with Kyla for some activities...we are waiting until next summer to tell them we are going again but they are always asking to go! They loved everything about the trip...

 

[Jaime]

Welcome jnadelman

Did you ask to be waitlisted for deck 2? Since all the cat 9 rooms are the same price maybe they would waitlist your family. A CM told me upgrades though rare usually take place when they assign the GTY about 30 days before sailing. We seen the rooms and personally thought the portholes were small and prefered our inside stateroom over the dual porthole rooms. I know a few people who booked cat 12 GTY and got assigned deck 1 Cat 9 so maybe they do tend to upgrade families who book these rooms. We stayed in a cat 10 on deck 2 on our last cruise and loved the location however if you are located in any room from the midship elevators to the front of the ship you can hear the music from Beat Street so maybe deck 1 wouldn't be too bad...also you will have easy access to the gangways for the days we are at port making it easier to get on and off the ship.

Here's a picture of the portholes closed...

Here's one with the covers open...

 

[NJMomma]

What did you do in the different ports on your cruise in April? Do you have any pictures?

I don't know if this work or not, but here's a link to my pictures from our trip. Be prepared to see lots of my kids

http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowseP...634_127132976605&UV=322887681634_127132976605

At Key West, we did the Pirate Museum Scavenger Hunt. After that on our walked around Key West - walked out to Hemingway's House and the Southernmost Point.

In Grand Cayman on our own we went to Smith's Cove. I read in a guide book it was the closest beach. Later, we went on the island tour with butterfly farm.

In Cozumel we went to Xcaret. I don't have that many pics of that because most of our day was spent in tubes floating down the underground river. We really enjoyed that trip.

In Castaway Cay, my DD and I did the Stingray thing, while DS & DH did the Parasailing.

If you can't view the pictures, let me know. I can email you the link.

Queenie16 - Please count us in for the fish extenders. I don't have my ressies handy, I'll get you our cabin # next time. It would be me, DH, DS11, DD6.

 

[Jaime]

I don't know if this work or not, but here's a link to my pictures from our trip. Be prepared to see lots of my kids

http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowseP...634_127132976605&UV=322887681634_127132976605

At Key West, we did the Pirate Museum Scavenger Hunt. After that on our walked around Key West - walked out to Hemingway's House and the Southernmost Point.

In Grand Cayman on our own we went to Smith's Cove. I read in a guide book it was the closest beach. Later, we went on the island tour with butterfly farm.

In Cozumel we went to Xcaret. I don't have that many pics of that because most of our day was spent in tubes floating down the underground river. We really enjoyed that trip.

In Castaway Cay, my DD and I did the Stingray thing, while DS & DH did the Parasailing.

If you can't view the pictures, let me know. I can email you the link.

Queenie16 - Please count us in for the fish extenders. I don't have my ressies handy, I'll get you our cabin # next time. It would be me, DH, DS11, DD6.

Great pictures thanks Did you walk to the Southernmost Point with your children? How long of a walk is it? We want to go the butterfly farm next to the souternmost point and we would walk if it wasn't too far. You get to see more when your walking...

In Grand Cayman was Smith's Cove walking distance or did you get a cab? Is it a nice place? TIA

 

[jnadelman]

For all of you NJ people who have cruised before...Did you book flights with Disney or on your own? If we book with them, what time will should we expect to arrive at MCO? We are flying out of Newark, do they typically get you a direct flight, we would hate to make connections.

 

[NJMomma]

Great pictures thanks Did you walk to the Southernmost Point with your children? How long of a walk is it? We want to go the butterfly farm next to the souternmost point and we would walk if it wasn't too far. You get to see more when your walking...

In Grand Cayman was Smith's Cove walking distance or did you get a cab? Is it a nice place? TIA

We walked to the southernmost point. It was a long walk for the kids. They did it, but it was longer than they were happy with it. It was also a hot day when we went. Key West has many places that rent these cute little electric cars that look like golf carts. I think we might get one next time. They aren't cheap though. I can't really say how long it was time wise to walk there, since we stopped, rested, and had ice cream along the way. DH guesses it was about 2 miles in each direction. On the flip side, like you said, we did see more walking, and my kids still talk about seeing roosters walking in the streets there. I guess it depends on your kiddies, mine are kind of used to mom's ideas of vacation (DH still refers to our last trip to WDW as The Forced March ). It might be good to walk one way and cab it the other way.

Smith's Cove was a little too far to walk. We took a cab there, but he didn't come back, and there were no others around to take us back so we had to walk back. It's not far by cab, it's just too long to walk with young kids. It was a nice enough beach, but small and dropped off fairly quickly. I think it was more for locals. The bathrooms were icky. I wasn't that impressed with the island tour. Hell was really no big deal, small and a total tourist trap, and the butterfly house was just OK for us. The kids really liked the turtle farm though.

 

[NJMomma]

For all of you NJ people who have cruised before...Did you book flights with Disney or on your own? If we book with them, what time will should we expect to arrive at MCO? We are flying out of Newark, do they typically get you a direct flight, we would hate to make connections.

We booked on our own. We flew a direct flight out of LGA because it was much cheaper than Newark. Newark is really closest, and it was a PIA to get to LGA, that's for sure. We landed around 11AM and had no issues.

 

[Queenie16]

The following information found in my post #150 in this thread has been updated today:

I am including the following information about each family: screen name, where you are from, members of the family including names and ages of children at sailing if you wish and cabin number if you are participating in the fish extender.
***Please do not feel obligated to share any information that you don't wish to. This is all for "fun," of course, as well as getting to know our fellow cruisers before we set sail.
"Jaime" suggested that the cabin numbers and personal information be kept "private" if people choose this option. This is perfectly fine!!! I can keep track of those people who wish to participate in the fish extender activity but do not wish to have their personal information posted on line. I will simply post your screen name under confirmed participants. As the time gets closer, I will send a group PM to those participants with all of the pertinent information in order to participate.
***I prefer if you would PM any information that needs to be included and/or updated rather than put it in this post!

The following people have been updated and confirmed as fish extender participants:
Jaime
NJMomma
kbtennant

Looking forward to hearing from more of you October 31, 2009 cruisers!!!

 

[suzieqmomof4]

Hi! We are from Marlton, NJ - not far from you at all!!! I am Laurie - I will be cruising w/my husband Carmine, and two sons - Dominic will be 13 at cruise time, and Anthony will be 10! This will be our 4th DCL cruise. We are also late seating, and Category 12 - I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOO hoping they bump us to something GREAT! LOL (I can dream, right?)

Hi Laurie, Well we are neighbors, I live in Medford. This is our first cruise, going alonge with me (Joe) is my DW (Susan), DS(Scott), DDs (Amy, Lisa, Jill).

Looking Forward to meet you.

 

[suzieqmomof4]

I do know where willowbrook mall is - and have heard of Pompton Plains!!! We used to live in Middlesex County, right near Menlo Park Mall. We moved south to Marlton at the end of 2005.

Hi again Laurie, I had to run out to a Scout meeting and still getting caught up on the Baords. I was born and raised in Edison, right by the watertower that backs up to the Turnpike. I rember Menlo Park Mall when it was a dump, not the upscale place it is now. Small world