Playa Del Sol question

[PartiesNBalloons]

Playa Del Sol? We're trying to decide on this. I contacted them and they are pushing me to book thru Disney vs. on our own. Booking on our own would save about $50 but they said they have a 'special area reserved' for people booking thru disney. Has anyone done this excursion before and can you give me the pros and cons on it??

Thanks!!!

13 days and counting down!!

 

[Kajunswty]

I'd save the $50 and book on your own ~ since they have a contract with Disney and you told them that you would be on a Disney cruise it doesn't seem unusual that they would be pushing you to go with Disney. Keeping in good graces with DCL

When we were there with CCL I didn't see any "special" area of the beach or eating area for that matter.

I have some pictures if you are interested -- - -

Jon

 

[amoto]

We just got back week ago and went to Playa Del Sol (booked on the ship).

There was a section marked off for DCL people, but when we got there, it already had people from Carnival in it, so it isn't exclusive. We got there early enough in this area to get a great seat right at the water. The other areas (not for cruise lines) was already very full. By afternoon, the cruise line area was also full.

I knew I could do it on my own, but sometimes having someone else deal with the hassle is easier (taxis, buying tickets, etc).

Either way, it will be a great day. Just playing in the warm water, soaking up the rays, plus an open bar.

Have fun.

 

[PartiesNBalloons]

Hey, I'd love to see some pictures!! Thanks!! BTW, we are practically neighbors... we live in Diamondhead, Ms.

 

["Ginger"]

I contacted Playa Sol also and got the same response, book your visit with us through Disney Cruise Lines. My question is, will Disney accept Playa Sol's coupons and give us 15% off of their excursion price? No, I don't think so. Do it on your own and save.
For the coupon visit their site


Prices for the packagaes:
Basic $6.00
Fiesta Package $25.00
All Inclusive $35.00
The taxi ride round trip from the ship to Playa Sol is $30.00. The price is per taxi, not per person. All money quotes are in U.S. dollars.

 

[PartiesNBalloons]

Do you know if there are different prices for kids?? I have a 12 yrs old and cannot imagine that he would use $35 in drinks and food.

 

[JOANNEL]

We just came back from the 6/22. We went to Mr Sanchos beach which is right next door. It is a free beach and they also have an open bar and restaurant. We talked to people that went to Playa
de Sol and were very disappointed. I wasn't impressed with the beaches on that side of the island. My DH and DS went on the jeep safari and had a blast. We had friends that went on the Fury Catamaran sail & snorkel. They said that was well worth it and they had alot of fun.

 

[Sea Breez]

I don't know what price DCL charges but at Playa Sol the childrens entrance is $ 6 (no food or drinks) and I believe we paid $12 for all you want to drink - which I would do differently next time. I wouldn't recommend getting the all you can eat for the kids - I know mine don't eat much when there is so much fun to be had!

 

[PartiesNBalloons]

How would you do Playa differently?. We were thinking of getting the middle package that includes the water 'toys' and drinks. My DS really wants to do the iceberg. He also wants to parasail. Is this available at Playa Sol or Mr. Sanchos?

 

["Ginger"]

From what I was told children pay the same as adults. If we go to Playa Sol we will just get our DD the basic package for $6..
She is 5 years old not interested in food or drinks from there. I'll get her, her favorite lunch a jelly sandwich on the ship and carry it with us along with juice boxes and bottled water.

Sea Breez please tell us how you would do it different.

 

[Sea Breez]

before I start please don't take this negatively - we really enjoyed ourselves and do recommend Playa Sol highly.

** I would have only gotten the basic package $6 for my 2 girls (9 & 7). Instead we paid $14 each ( I thought it was $12 put I found my paperwork). Between the two of them they had 2 soft drinks and 2 frozen virgin drinks (that they didn't even drink). So it wasn't worth the extra $$. Plus, each adult can order 2 drinks at a time. (hint..hint)

here are a few other mentionables

** the taxi ride could have cost less had we not jumped into the 1st van that we saw. We paid $30 for the ride there and $15 (car) for the ride back. Now, we didn't have a/c but we were all sandy and sweaty anyway.

**bring swim / beach shoes the sand is really tough on your feet because the sand is actually ground shells.

**bring lots of $$ (cash) for the extra stuff - here are a few prices
$55 for 30 min. for the jet ski's (non-negotiable - we tried!)
$10 for 15 min. to jump on the land trampoline that you are connected to by your waist and it allows you to flip (think the circus)
$$ for hair braiding - we paid $28 for 4 corn row (sp?) style braids which I thought was high but what are you going to do ?? my girls absolutely "needed" them. Oh, I don't want to confuse you they each got one braid on each side (i.e 4 rows)

we didn't get a massage but I would've just not enough time. sorry, don't have the price but I heard it wasn't bad.

The place itself is really nice and clean and the food is good. We bought 2 cheese quesadilla plates $8 each and they came with the best chips and salsa.

oh, and they do have lockers if you are interested

I think I rambled enough

 

["Ginger"]

Thank you so much for the extra information. It has helped me plan for Playa Sol better.

 

[PartiesNBalloons]

On the site it says that they have all sorts of beach toys such as kayaks, pedal boats, air iceberg, etc.... Did you notice how this was done. Is it on a time limit or is it just luck of the draw if you can get any of those to use? As I said before, my DS really wants to do the "iceberg". Was this there and how was that done?

Also, can you bring your own cooler with you? We may do this and bring our own sodas.

thanks for being to patient with us

 

[Sea Breez]

No problem ~

kayaks & pedal boats you have to leave a license or some sort of id / room card for them. you sign them out and they take your id you can keep them as long as you are using them but you can't just leave them on shore.

as for the ice berg - it was in "rehab" when we were there But I know cruisecritic has some info on it. just go to www.cruisecritic.com and do a search and you should find lots of postings to look through.

we did make use of the water trampoline but it was harder to get to than it looked. there was no way the kids could do it so we got intertubs and pushed them so they could jump. it was even hard for them to get on the thing. but they enjoyed the heck out of it (we were too tired to jump..ha ha)

I don't recall seeing any signs about bringing food or drinks in. We had several bags of towels - beach toys - snorkel gear etc and no one checked them or anything.

 

[PartiesNBalloons]

When were your there? THis is one thing my son really wants to do. I think I'll email them to see if its going to be ready when we cruise in 9 days. If it is not, I want to make sure we tell him before we get there.


thanks for your help. You've helped me decide that we will be getting the basic package for our 2 kids and the drink package for my DH and I. It will be much cheaper doing this on our own.

 

[Sea Breez]

don't worry! it was back 2 weeks after we returned ~ how's that for luck

he'll have a great time - and so will you! you'll love the pool with the swim up bar

 

[PartiesNBalloons]

Pool with a swim up bar.... Ahhhh!!! Can't wait!! I'm happy to hear that the 'iceberg' should be there. He'll be happy to hear that! We only have 9 days to go and can hardly wait!!! I feel like a kid before Christmas

Thanks again for you help. I really appreciate it.

 

[DARWIN91]

On our 5/11 magic cruise we went to Mr. Sanchos Beach. It was a $15.00 each way taxi ride for 3 adults and 2 children. Mr. Sanchos is a great beach with sand (not rough or rocky), free admission, plenty of chairs and tiki huts, clean bathrooms. lockers & showers. They have a freshwater pool also. There is a bar right on the beach with swings all around it, great food(reasonable prices for drinks and food), live entertainment and there is also some local shopping before you enter Mr. Sanchos beach. There is a trampoline right in the water and they only charge $4.00 for 2 hours. Banana boat rides I think were $12.00. They do massages right there for $35.00 1/2 hour. We had a great time here and would definitely go back. The music was great and gave you that "this is the life feeling".