Panama Planning

[lillygator]

is the whole ship getting the mini nav's?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We leave three weeks from tomorrow!!!!

We arrive at WDW Monday night and play all week before joining all you crazies Saturday!!!

I am so excited -- kinda like the commercial -- I'm too excited to sleep -- but I've got three weeks to go

Anyone else staying at the POP? Maybe we can have a mini meet there.

Have some sleep now, you need the rest before this cruise, enjoy, its coming!

 

[granmaz]

Not the ones Linda is doing. those are just for the Dis group.

 

[autodoc]

Sleep is over-rated.

Even though I live in the LA area am I invited to John's place - I promise not to mention the wig.

 

[lillygator]

Not the ones Linda is doing. those are just for the Dis group.

sent you a pm Marilyn....
I know there are lots of DIS'ers who post here on the main boards but don't want to be a part of our thread or group.

 

[autodoc]

sent you a pm Marilyn....
I know there are lots of DIS'ers who post here on the main boards but don't want to be a part of our thread or group.

It's not that we don't want to be part of your group it's that we can't keep up!! Some of you need to join "Talkaholocs Anonymous"

I was trying to keep up one day -- I went in to make a sandwich and missed 5 pages!!!

 

[tink too]

Hi tink, too

Hey, won't be long now

But oh no about the flight We booked with Flyglobespan and flight from Glasgow straight to Sanford Airport.

Stay at Cocca Beach for 2 nights then Cruise. At LA, we stay at Paradise Pier for 3 nights then flight back to Orlando with AA flight and we suppose to be fly next day on 29 May but we changed our flights now we are leaving on Saturday night 31 May Flyglobespan flight home.

We want stay longer in Orlando for our kids, they want see Seaworld and MGM!!! Scottishwee35

Hi Scottishwee

We only booked with BA so we could fly from Aberdeen since that's our nearest airport. It's not usually too bad having 1 stop in London. We have flown direct from Glasgow before, but I don't like having to drive for 4 hours to get home after the long flight.

I'm not going to stress about the luggage problem just now - but if you see headlines in the news "Scottish woman arrested for running out on runway" it'll just be me looking for our cases!

Your kids will love SeaWorld and DHS (MGM) - our DD6 can't wait to go on ToT and wants to see Mater again!

Hope you are getting organised. I'm trying - but then I always seem to remember something else I need to buy.

 

[ibouncetoo]

. I even forgot were to go the day before to get my braclet. Oh well.
.

Where will you be Friday? There are meets at Fishlips for dinner, DTD around 4:30 and the Hyatt at MCO from about 6P tilll the last straggler goes to bed. There will also be a meet at Promonade Lounge at 3PM embarkation day, and laynards and bracelets will be giving out there to everyone who wasn't at an earlier meet.

is the whole ship getting the mini nav's?

Not the ones Linda is doing. those are just for the Dis group.

Everyone who PM'd name and stateroom will get a DIS mini-navigator.

It's not that we don't want to be part of your group it's that we can't keep up!! Some of you need to join "Talkaholocs Anonymous"

I was trying to keep up one day -- I went in to make a sandwich and missed 5 pages!!!

This is pretty much a standing joke...it's not safe to leave your computer for very long.

Please pop in whenever you want to say Hi. And if you have cruise/trip related questions, it might be a good idea to Go Big, Go Bold so it will stand out!

.

 

[minnieandmickey]

Hi there,
If someone has been to the ports before, can you post what can be done on your own at the various ones. DH and I will not be doing excursions with the exception being Cartegena. Never been to any of the place we are visiting and are kind of at a loss of what to do. We do know that we want to rent a car in Aruba, but can't figure out who to do through. I have researched some things on another cruise board, but I continue to read conflicting things on pretty much everything.

 

[Kim Luvs Disney]

Where will you be Friday? There are meets at Fishlips for dinner, DTD around 4:30 and the Hyatt at MCO from about 6P tilll the last straggler goes to bed. There will also be a meet at Promonade Lounge at 3PM embarkation day, and laynards and bracelets will be giving out there to everyone who wasn't at an earlier meet.

I'm one of the ones that can't keep up with the thread, but I may make it to the DTD meet on Friday. Where are you meeting & how late will everyone be there? I'm pretty sure I'm going to PI that night with aan1701.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Kim,

This was posted by Kelly (edna mode)

Downtown Disney Meet



Dismeet for May 9th at DTD. This is the place we can also distribute the lanyards. Guest relations helped me to set up a meeting for 4:30pm at the Dockside Stage across from the World of Disney. Each person/family can pick up food from any location in DTD and bring it to the Dockside stage and we can eat, meet and greet. PM me if you'd like to come and tell me how many in your party. We'll have about 90 min. to visit with each other before they set up for a 6:30 performance. I will keep in touch with the management at DTD to find out what the performance will be and to let them know how many of us will be there.

There you go!

.

 

[Kim Luvs Disney]

Thanks Jackie!

I should be able to make it. As long as I'm packed for the cruise by then I'll be there!

 

[scottishwee35]

When I finally managed to get a booking for the WB, exactly one year out from the sailing date, there was very little choice available. We booked a Cat. 9 GTY and were just thrilled to be able to get on the ship.

Then at 30 days out, we got our stateroom number. I know many people were hoping for an upgrade, but we got what we paid for and were absolutely delighted. All I really wanted was to have a stateroom with one of the large portholes - and we got one!

Then DH had an afterthought - he said he would have liked to have had a verandah since this would be a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. I told him that was impossible since everyone had been allocated their rooms.

Then yesterday, I noticed a thread here on the Dis saying there were Cat. 4 and 5's available. I went into over-drive, emailed our TA and with many thanks to Kelsie at DU, we managed to secure a Cat. 5!

Excited is not the word I would use to describe DH and I right now! We're now trying to keep this little secret from DD6 as a surprise!

Oh, that was a lovely story, as we had been on the Disney Cruise twice without had a verdandh.

And it was sold out and I saw one cancellation for Cat 9 so we booked it and very happy.

Then, I spot Cat 6 available last January. Very tempt to booked it then I emailed to Andrew to ask him about the verdandh. Then

I booked it without my husband know.

On 40th birthday, I gave him a present and he was gobsmacked to have the upgraded

Now he said that he said that it was a good idea and it will be once lifetime and to see the Panama Canal and every country too.

As I love the sunrise and sunset as it is my favourite to take the photos. I always go up on Deck 10 to take the picture, well not now, I won't have to go up to Deck 10 as I can take the picture from our Verdandh

Now I am glad that I booked the Cat 6. We had a laugh last week that our friend Alison and David find out the stateroom that they will be our neighdoor.

Yes, keep the secret for your daughter as it will be surprise for her.

Scottishwee35

 

[aan1701]

Thanks Jackie!

I should be able to make it. As long as I'm packed for the cruise by then I'll be there!

See you there Kim. Don't forget about our drinking at PI later that night.

 

[umber]

our flight back east isn't until the following evening after we arrive in LA. What should we do? Hotel? Transportation? tours?
Thanks for any help.

 

[granmaz]

We're staying at DL for 3 nights. There are some staying only for 1 night, though of course it will be very busy being Memorial Day.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hi there,
If someone has been to the ports before, can you post what can be done on your own at the various ones. DH and I will not be doing excursions with the exception being Cartegena. Never been to any of the place we are visiting and are kind of at a loss of what to do. We do know that we want to rent a car in Aruba, but can't figure out who to do through. I have researched some things on another cruise board, but I continue to read conflicting things on pretty much everything.

This is a post I made earlier covering this.

CABO I say try to go DCL, as you will get off the ship quicker, maybe an early DCL tour then you can go by yourself for a walk in the afternoon and tenders back should be open, there will be a delay getting off here if going your own so if booking the Dolphins there allow time.
http://www.cartagenainfo.net/
http://www.allaboutcabo.com/cabophototour.htm
Canopy tour
http://www.cabosanlucastours.net/Xtreme-Canopy-Tour.htm
Dolphins
http://www.cabodolphins.com/index.htm

Acapulco, Cici water park with Dolphins is the best Dolphin interaction I have ever done, in a salt water pool, no waves, and lots of interaction, better than Cozumel and Costa Maya.

Problem here is on the E/bound we are in very early and leave early, the fort is directly opposite the ship, you will see it, just over a footbridge, The old market is two streets behind that a 5 min walk, but not sure how early they will open, fort I think Will be 9.00am for a cheap trip market maybe 10am, but could be earlier if they know we are in.

Beware of the yellow jacket tourist 'helpers' they are unofficial there and pester you a lot, a firm NO and another NO maybe required.

W/Bound repo in Acapulco , I would say do it on your own, cliff divers by taxi and Market/fort. E/BOUND the issue is the breakfast time we are in.

ARUBA

A great beach pristine is just to the left of the ship a short walk, and no need to book a DCL trip, to the right a big shopping mall with designer shops.
http://www.visitaruba.com/
A pirate boat trip has been booked by the E/bound Cruisers.

Cartagena Columbia.

Do a DCL trip re security there, and take care shopping is reasonable but Gems Emeralds are not the bargain you think. We went to an approved shop and looked over some emeralds, very carefully, and when checked at home they had a flaw and were cost price in London, exactly the same. St Thomas was far better.
http://www.cartagenainfo.net/

Puerto Vallarta

Has a great town and beach, worth a tour of the old villages or go for a tour in the mountains, there is another great Dolphin place here you can book yourself.
http://dolphin-adventures.com/
http://www.vallarta-adventures.com/dolphins/index.html
http://www.virtualvallarta.com/

I recommend the pirate ship here and book by yourself.
http://www.marigalante.com.mx/default.asp
__________________

 

[poohmomof5]

Puerto Vallarta

Has a great town and beach, worth a tour of the old villages or go for a tour in the mountains, there is another great Dolphin place here you can book yourself.
http://dolphin-adventures.com/
http://www.vallarta-adventures.com/dolphins/index.html
http://www.virtualvallarta.com/

I recommend the pirate ship here and book by yourself.
http://www.marigalante.com.mx/default.asp
__________________

I was looking at some tours on my own this weekend in Puerto Vallarta and I think I am going to book one of the Dolphin excursions on my own. They have some time in the afternoon available. Will it be easy to get a taxi at the pier to get there and back? Also, what happens if the ship doesn't stop here? I assume the money is lost if you do it on your own, but not with DCL? Thanks for your advice!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I was looking at some tours on my own this weekend in Puerto Vallarta and I think I am going to book one of the Dolphin excursions on my own. They have some time in the afternoon available. Will it be easy to get a taxi at the pier to get there and back? Also, what happens if the ship doesn't stop here? I assume the money is lost if you do it on your own, but not with DCL? Thanks for your advice!

They are easy to get to by taxi, and I think one or both might provided a shuttle service by van as well, worth looking at their website, Both are highly recommended, very good indeed.

You will have to ask them re cancellation policy, this is different in many places, I know on everything I have booked there was a cancellation guarantee if the ship couldn't dock. PV is safer than Cabo, as PV the ship actually docks so there is more chance of a successful arrival, Cabo is a tender port so in rough seas it will miss this port.

MAP LINK

http://www.vallarta-adventures.com/puerto-vallarta/pv-map.html

 

[autodoc]

Please pop in whenever you want to say Hi. And if you have cruise/trip related questions, it might be a good idea to Go Big, Go Bold so it will stand out!

.

Thanks for that tip -- I guess I am just not BOLD enough to keep up with all those chatter boxes. But I do get a kick out of watching