**@@** October 6th, 2007 Magic**@@**

[stenogoddess]

Did anyone else get their little book from DCL showing the excursions and things? I got mine yesterday. It's really pretty!

Is anyone else thinking about doing the Royal Swim? I'm trying to decide between Disney and doing it on our own. Anyone have any opinions on that one way or the other? Please, opinions, please anyone????

And also, how do you know your dining rotation? Have I just totally missed that? I'm trying to pick a Palo time, but I don't want to miss some of the other things at the same time. Is my dining rotation somewhere I'm just not looking?

 

[Laurabearz]

YOU DOG!!! We have to wait until the end of July!!! Not Fair!

We have to sit here and wait...and wait... and wait while you have fun taking all the reservations!!

hey - add us to your reservation so we can do ours too!!! I won't tell anyone!

No, really - have fun ... when it comes time!

rofl Well if it makes you feel any better I booked this cruise a total of 585 days out... so my excitement over being 29 days away from finally being able to book something for this cruise got the best of me.

I have NOT recieved that from DCL, but I sure hope I do! As far as the Dolphin swim, we will not be doing it since two out of three kids are not old enough lol BUT I had some friends do it and they LOVED it! As far as whether to do it via disney or directly, directly should be a bit cheaper and Chank park is easy to get to from the port. A short 10-15 buck cab ride.

NOW what I found out is... the cruise ships often take up the premiere time slots. Take a look and see what times are availble directly for what you want to do..... For example the ONLY time availible for the Encounter if I book directly is at 330 in the afternoon, but I have read that DCL excruision for the same thing offers it a couple of times earlier in the day. So, in our case if we do it, it would HAVE to be via Disney, because that will be pirate night and at 330 I hope to be back on the ship and napping! lol

HTH

 

[Rellyrooly]

Did anyone else get their little book from DCL showing the excursions and things? I got mine yesterday. It's really pretty!

And also, how do you know your dining rotation? Have I just totally missed that? I'm trying to pick a Palo time, but I don't want to miss some of the other things at the same time. Is my dining rotation somewhere I'm just not looking?

Yes, got our kit a couple of days ago but haven't really looked at it yet. I'll really focus when I get back from our trip to Alaska. I just NEED to get out of this heat! Man, it's going to be a long summer!

You won't know your dining rotation until you check in and get your key to the world card. Technically, you can only request late or early seating. I happened to put a request in for the dining rotation I'd like at the time we booked, but I'll probably have to have concierge change it once we board if we don't get what we want. The restaurant rotation dictates the actual seating times in 15 minute intervals. Hope that answers your question.

 

[gouodux]

We received our travel kit a few days ago as well. The kit is nice, but it would have been more helpful had this been our first cruise.

We are planning on booking the Royal Swim apart from Disney. We did the swim in Costa Maya on our own and it was quite easy, alot less expensive, and our youngest (4 year old) was allowed to participate.

Guess we should look at booking that pretty soon. Today was the last day of school for our 1st grader and the Fall will be here sooner than we think.

 

[lenzs4]

We are planning on booking the Royal Swim apart from Disney. We did the swim in Costa Maya on our own and it was quite easy, alot less expensive, and our youngest (4 year old) was allowed to participate.

Do you have a link - I do not know what that is.... Is it the dolphin experience?

 

[Laurabearz]

Do you have a link - I do not know what that is.... Is it the dolphin experience?

The link is listed in the bottom of the first post

http://www.cozumelparks.org.mx/eng/parks-chankanaab.asp

From the above link, look on the left side for the dolphin info

 

[lenzs4]

Thanks! My only reservation about the dolphin experience is that if my kids decide it looks scary or they do not want to do it - I am out a lot of money. - same fear for the stingray experience on Castaway Cay... I really want to do that one, but they would not even feed the stingrays at the zoo and they were in a pool - not in the same water that the kids would be in
SIDE NOTE** For all of you that know my sunshine rewards obsession . I have completely paid for this cruise with my rewards money (minus the down payment - it was already paid) and I am now earning the money for the excursions and Bingo on board!!! I made 1219.00 this year alone!!! Thank you rewards sights!!!!

 

[Laurabearz]

I think the kids would do better with dophins than with sting rays.... We have sting ray's coming to our local Zoo this summer so we can do a test run ourselves. lol

 

[stenogoddess]

Sunshine rewards?? Do tell.

But congrats on paying off your cruise. That's always a bonus!

Thanks! My only reservation about the dolphin experience is that if my kids decide it looks scary or they do not want to do it - I am out a lot of money. - same fear for the stingray experience on Castaway Cay... I really want to do that one, but they would not even feed the stingrays at the zoo and they were in a pool - not in the same water that the kids would be in
SIDE NOTE** For all of you that know my sunshine rewards obsession . I have completely paid for this cruise with my rewards money (minus the down payment - it was already paid) and I am now earning the money for the excursions and Bingo on board!!! I made 1219.00 this year alone!!! Thank you rewards sights!!!!

 

[gouodux]

Thanks! My only reservation about the dolphin experience is that if my kids decide it looks scary or they do not want to do it - I am out a lot of money. - same fear for the stingray experience on Castaway Cay... I really want to do that one, but they would not even feed the stingrays at the zoo and they were in a pool - not in the same water that the kids would be in :

Our oldest Jenna really, really wanted to swim with the sea turtles in Barbados on the 11day Southern. She was almost 7 years old at the time. Our four year old didn't know how to swim well enough to be in open water - so she didn't have any interest. We went to Monkey Beach got in the water and then the loudest shriek you have ever heard emitted from a snorkel. Look over and Jenna is almost running on water! She couldn't get out of the water fast enough. She thought the turtles would look like the smaller turtles she had just seen at the Beach Club. She loved these much larger turtles from the boat!

Then fast forward a few days later at CC. When Jenna was three, we were at SeaWorld in SD and she loved the Stingrays, petting them for hours. Went to the Stingray excursion at CC and she flew out of the water again. Think she was still tramatized from the turtles. Eventually she got back in the water with them, but not REAL close.

So this past March we are in Costa Maya and she says she wants to swim with the Dolphins (she's now 7) and so does our youngest Kayla. Jenna says don't worry, I am much more brave now. Sure enough, both of the girls almost ran to get in the water with the Dolphins. The fed them, rubbed them, and had pictures taken with the dolphins kissing and dancing with them. It was the highlight of the trip. So, with that long story, depending on the child, they should have a great time!

 

[lenzs4]

Sunshine rewards?? Do tell.

But congrats on paying off your cruise. That's always a bonus!

I sent you a PM with a link since I do not know if I can post the address... It is a rewards program run by Sunshinegirl here on the dis boards. It pays money for reading emails and doing free offers (I have a junk mail email address dedicated to the rewards sight so that my real email does not get clogged up with the offers I do... Also, she has a large list of merchants and you get cash back when you shop online (Disney Shopping is my favorite). I started small - just reading emails, then a month later I tried the free offers (signinig up for weekly emails for various companies), finally I was brave enough to try credit card offers (25 dollars to sign up for blockbuster) and now I am hooked! I do 3 offers at a time to make sure I do not forget about what I am doing and what the stipulations are (like a 14 day free trial that if I do not like, I need to cancel before I am charged...) I have not had any problems and it really does not take to much time - 10 minutes in the AM and maybe another 10 in the PM and next thing you know - FREE CRUISE. OH and if an offer charges a fee (blockbuster was 9.99) I cash out the reimbursement in paypal cash instead of disney cards!
Shirley

 

[BoosGram]

Did anyone else get their little book from DCL showing the excursions and things? I got mine yesterday. It's really pretty!

We haven't seen anything from Disney other than the new Castaway Club cards. Did you book directly through Disney or through a TA? We're not completely paid off yet, so maybe that's why we haven't gotten it yet .

Hey, it won't be that long before we're all in a 2-digit countdown!! Woohoooooo!

 

[Laurabearz]

We haven't seen anything from Disney other than the new Castaway Club cards. Did you book directly through Disney or through a TA? We're not completely paid off yet, so maybe that's why we haven't gotten it yet .

Hey, it won't be that long before we're all in a 2-digit countdown!! Woohoooooo!

Are they sending out NEW NEW CC Cards or just sending out people who hadn't gotten them in the first place...

And No planner here either.. We booked via Disney, but transfered to Dreams Unlimited (the sponser of this board, got us some stateroom credit baby!) and have paid in full. (woot woot)

Also.. I noticed that through Dreams Unlimimted this looks like they have a group pricing. Anyone Booked directly through disney might want to check them out, and get a nice stateroom credit and posibly a group pricing...

 

[Rellyrooly]

They are sending out new CC cards to everyone...we already had them and got new ones last week. Something about a new look and new discounts.....

You guys also should have received your kit with the excursion book whether you are paid in full or not. We aren't paid up yet and still got it. Maybe they are sending them by region? You may want to check...

For those who booked while still on board, we get a credit as well. Are the prices any better with DU? I didn't think that could be; that DCL was pretty price fixed?

 

[Laurabearz]

For those who booked while still on board, we get a credit as well. Are the prices any better with DU? I didn't think that could be; that DCL was pretty price fixed?

Hmmm I do know that if you rebook onboard, you get DCLs deal and if you then transfer over to DU you can get their stateroom credit as well, not sure about the group pricing though... But for sure you get the stateroom credit. I hve a few friends who work for DU and when they log into MSN messagner I can double check all the details for you.

I also know if you have paid in full via DCL you can't transfer your ressie....

 

[Laurabearz]

I just talked with my friend who works for DU and she said often the group discount is BETTER than the onboard booking 10% off deal.

Soooooooooo if anyone is interested, just click on the Dreams Unlimited title box a the top of the screen and request a quote. There is a section (scroll down) where you can add your own text. Explain in there the deal you have with DCL and they will let you know if they can beat it.

I did just now check and the current DU group rate is more than 10% off what DCL shows... so even if you rebooked on board, you could save even more by switching.

AND NO I dont work for DU, I just know they have some of the best pricing around, and when you toss in a group deal like they have for our cruise. it's really good!

 

[Laurabearz]

What's two birds worth?

Been an exciting morning here....

Anyone know what kind of birds they are??

and 26 days until my 105 day booking window woot woot

 

[threeCsmom]

Hey everyone! Gosh - it has been soooo long since I have been here. This whole going back to work thing really gets in the way!

Here is our info:

Cabin 6612
DH - Greg, 39
me - Melissa, 38
DD - Chappel, 12
DD - Chloe, 9
DS - Cole, 4

Cabin 6614
my mom, Wilma
my dad, E

This will be our 3rd DCL and we can not wait! Our kids talk about going back to the "big boat" all the time. We have never done any excursions before and we would really like to branch out this time.

We were thinking about the Royal Swim and the Pirate ship excursion. I was really wanting to book on my own to save money, but after reading several posts, that does not seem to be an option because of time restraints. Hmmm

My girls used to post on the kids chat thread for our cruise but there does not seem to be any activity lately. I know at one time LauraBear was going to hook the kids up in a private site. Has that happened? They are anxious to make some new friends.

LauraBear - thank you so much for all the time and info you have put on our thread! You have made it so easy

Does anyone know the web site to view the recent navigators? Thanks so much!!

See you all soon!

 

[rdy2bpampered]

Anyone know what kind of birds they are??

Don't know what they are but they sure are pretty... Hope you managed to get them out before they did an UH-OH!!

And don't worry having bad luck the second bird in the house cancels it out!!

And don't use up all the reservations!!! Save some for the rest of us poor people that have to wait F..O..R..E..V..E..R.. to go online and make reservations!!

 

[Laurabearz]

Don't know what they are but they sure are pretty... Hope you managed to get them out before they did an UH-OH!!

And don't worry having bad luck the second bird in the house cancels it out!!

And don't use up all the reservations!!! Save some for the rest of us poor people that have to wait F..O..R..E..V..E..R.. to go online and make reservations!!

I have since found out they are Barn Swallows. And yes, we got them out of the house in about 5-10 minutes minus the time it took me to find the camera! And thankfully they didnt leave any 'deposits'

As far as my booking everthing in sight... not going to happen... 3 massages, 1 excrusion, and maybe, just maybe one Palo, but prolly not even that. Although I am tempted to book the Dolpin Encounter via Disney even though it kills me that it's more expensive than booking directly, but DCL's times are better (booking it directly I could only get 330, and that is way to late)