Questions please!

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Since we had to cancel/postpone our originally planned (first) cruise for Feb 2005 and now we're going on the double dip cruise (woohoo) May-June 2006... I hadn't read on this forum for awhile. And yes I know it's a ways off but I have been trying to read as much as I can here recently to get prepared and I can't find some answers to some questions I have about some changes?

Yes, I know some of the changes (thanks to this board) but I'm finding it WAY time consuming to find the answer to some other questions... and they weren't answered on the sticky thread either. I was hoping you could help me out please?

First question- have things changed about booking things like spa treatments, palo, etc. since last year? I thought that you had to book those on the ship (ASAP) once you board... unless you booked REAS (which I had considered doing mostly for this reason) but I'm seeing references to booking a certain amount of days out even if you don't have REAS booked? Is this the case and if so- how many days out can you book this even if you don't have REAS booked?

Also reminder please (it's been awhile)- you have to find your own transportation from MCO to the port... or you can pay Disney transportation- correct? Where can I find info on how much Disney Transportation costs, do they take your luggage on the bus or some other means straight to the ship, how long it takes from the time you arrive at MCO to get on Disney trans. then to the port/etc.? Is it better/easier/cheaper to be staying at WDW onsite before the cruise instead? Or is it just better to get your own transportation (for family of 5) from MCO to port?

Do they still have the free soda on deck 9 or do you have to buy a certain mug for this? Can you still bring soda with you if you want?

When (or how) do you try to get the rotation that you desire? Is that even possible? I know that seems a petty thing but for us on the 7 day it might make a big difference... we'd rather our semi-formal and formal nights at Lumiere's.. otherwise we'd be expected to dress up MORE nights and well, we're just not the formal dressing kind of family. LOL We'd rather just a couple nights of that please. (otherwise we'll have to buy more clothes and/or wear the same thing night after night LOL)

I think that's all for now.. I know I had more questions but that's all I can remember now after perusing this forum for a couple of hours now. LOL

 

[WDWLVR]

First question- have things changed about booking things like spa treatments, palo, etc. since last year? I thought that you had to book those on the ship (ASAP) once you board... unless you booked REAS (which I had considered doing mostly for this reason) but I'm seeing references to booking a certain amount of days out even if you don't have REAS booked? Is this the case and if so- how many days out can you book this even if you don't have REAS booked?

You can now book online. If you have REAS or are in a suite you book at 120 days out.

If you are a repeat cruiser you book at 90 days out.

First time cruisers book at 75 days out.

This is for the kids club, spa, and Palo. No more ressie rush!

Also reminder please (it's been awhile)- you have to find your own transportation from MCO to the port... or you can pay Disney transportation- correct? Where can I find info on how much Disney Transportation costs, do they take your luggage on the bus or some other means straight to the ship, how long it takes from the time you arrive at MCO to get on Disney trans. then to the port/etc.? Is it better/easier/cheaper to be staying at WDW onsite before the cruise instead? Or is it just better to get your own transportation (for family of 5) from MCO to port?

For the size of your family I think you would be better getting your own transportation. You can use Disney transport - I think it is $50 or so per person for two ways (airport to ship/ship to airport). You can also use Disney transport from a Disney hotel. We've done a one way rental because we come in the night before (highly recommended) and then drop it off near the port. For coming home we have done both a town car and Disney transport. If you use Disney transport and are using a participating airline you can check your bags at the port.

Do they still have the free soda on deck 9 or do you have to buy a certain mug for this? Can you still bring soda with you if you want?

Soda is now available at the drink station on deck 9 and at the buffet. You do not need a special mug. Yes you can still bring your own soda on board if you prefer a brand they don't carry.

When (or how) do you try to get the rotation that you desire? Is that even possible? I know that seems a petty thing but for us on the 7 day it might make a big difference... we'd rather our semi-formal and formal nights at Lumiere's.. otherwise we'd be expected to dress up MORE nights and well, we're just not the formal dressing kind of family. LOL We'd rather just a couple nights of that please. (otherwise we'll have to buy more clothes and/or wear the same thing night after night LOL)

You can call DCL or your TA if you booked through one to request a specific rotation. They won't quarantee it but will try and accomodate you. Once you get your KTTW card you can see what your rotation is and if you didin't get what you wanted there is a place set up on board (usually one of the nightclubs) to request a change.



Last, but not least, you are on the May 27th cruise right? Stop on by the meets thread. I'm sure everyone would love to say hello. There is a lot of fluff there but don't be afraid to stop by and ask your questions there. We are more than happy to help!

 

[musicgirl]

I'll try to help out.

First, yes you can book ressie's on line. if you go to www.disneycruise.com you can put in your ressie # and birthday and it will bring up your info. It will also tell you how many days out. I'm not sure, so I'll try to get back on that. I had trouble at first getting my reservation to come up.

You can also sign kids up for clubs on-line.

Yes, you can still get the free soda on deck 9. I actually think I heard someone say that they might do away with the mug program because the mugs were not getting washed out before refilling. Maybe someone can help on that.

I did request our dinner rotation. They said they would try. However, our tablemates who we had linked dinner with had the REAS and they given their choice of rotation due to ressies.

Transportation-It is cheaper to use a private company for 5. If you use the cruise line, they would meet you in the terminal, they are easy to spot. You wait until they bus fills up and then it is about 45 min to the port. Yes, they do pick up your luggage (you get the tags with your docs) and you will not see them until you get in your room. The luggage arrives at various times throughout the afternoon. Our last bag got to our room about 6.

I personally like to get our own transportation. No lines and it is private. We also go to the port the day before. Unless, you book your air through DCL, there are no guarantees if your flight is delayed or cancelled. But booking through DCL is more expensive, and the flight times seem inconvenient with many stops from what I've read.

If you want to stay at a WDW resort, not all of them have transportation to the port. Also, they do not pick up very early. They start picking up around 12, which gets you to the port around 1-1:30 depending if the bus you are on stops at another resort.

If you do go to a resort, definitely arrange for a private car. Since the terminal opens around 10 or 10:30, and you are sometimes let on the ship around 11:30, I don't personally like to lose anytime that I could be on board.

Also, with the dinner rotation I wouldn't worry to much about extra dressing up. You will be in Lumiere's at least 2 times. We didn't dress up (ties/jackets) the 2nd time we were there. Just nice clothes, not shorts, but khakis/polos for the guys and I wore a sun dress. I noticed the formal and semi-formal nights have switched from time to time, so it can be hard to determine too far out which rotation you want.

Personally, I booked our 6-2006 well over 600 days out and I never think it is too early to plan!!!!

Hope this helps!!!!!

 

[musicgirl]

It looks like Mary and I were on at the same time answering!!!

 

[drizzt117]

Just a minor correction, if you book REAS you can reserve Palo, Excursions, etc. 105 days out.

Thomas

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Thanks for all the info!
That is great news about booking things before the cruise (kids clubs, palo, spa treatments). In the past when reading about how to do this I was NOT looking forward to having to RUSH RUSH RUSH and hope/pray/cross fingers to get what we wanted or get in at all! LOL (ofcourse I know the kids would get in though... I'm talking palo and such).

That's why I was going to do REAS- simply to be able to book palo before the cruise! LOL I figured that was worth the money to just not have to rush when we got there...

Thanks for all the info! I really appreciate it! We booked with allseastravel and I already have confirmation of late dining... maybe I can talk to them sooner to the cruise and see if we can get the rotation we want. I know someone said you don't really have to dress up much for Lumiere's but we'd really just prefer to have a couple of dress up nights and have them at Lumiere's. Is it really true that at Lumiere's you don't have to dress up even more than the other restaurants?? I thought it was a little more "formal" there no matter what night it was on? I'll keep an eye on how the rotations work and such.

I'll have to find that thread (for this cruise) again- I know I posted on it a long time back. LOL Thanks!

We have 2 of the SPH rooms and we're pretty excited about having the rooms so close to the clubs/labs... I'm almost 99.99999 positive that's where our kids will want to be the majority of the time. LOL That's why we chose late dining- we're all nightowls (except maybe DH but he can adjust- all those years of working rotating shifts helps him adjust when necessary LOL) and most likely we'll be dining sans children most nights anyway... I'd lay money on it. LOL

 

[Jsme]

You know this really ticks me off....we booked the REAS package and I was not able to book anything online until 90 days out. And yes I had paid my cruise off in full prior to that.