Sept. 14, 7 Day Roll Call

[ruvidu]

I have downloaded and printed the Navigators. I have searched the net for good deals. I have read every Western trip report published and this is what I have come up with.


7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
We will drive down from SC to the Orlando area on Thursday. We plan to have dinner at Downtown Disney and then do Sea World on Friday. We will then drive over to Port Canaveral where we have ressies at the Hampton Inn for Friday night.

Sat Travel to Port Canaveral to depart at 5 p.m.
We plan to arrive at the terminal around 10:30 (can’t get in any earlier) and wait in line to get on board.

Sun Arrive in Key West at 12 p.m., depart at midnight
http://www.conchtourtrain.com/?source=floridakeys_com We are going to do the Conch Train tour as soon as we can get off the ship. You can purchase your tickets on line for $20 while DCL gets $22. We then plan to do the Walking Tour of Duvall St. http://seekeywest.com/
I would really like to get to Margaritaville and Hogs Breath Saloon for T-shirts and maybe just one Corona or Margarita.

Mon Enjoy relaxation and fun at sea.
Look for us by the adult pool. I noticed that they are offering a behind the scenes look at the Disney Theater. We will probably do this and then probably have lunch at Topsiders.. Hercules the Muse-Ical is the play for tonight. We will probably miss that.

Tue Arrive in Grand Cayman at 7 a.m., depart at 5 p.m.
http://www.captainmarvins.com/



Half-day Excursion: 10 AM to 1 PM, or 2 PM to 5 PM, seven days a week (add 15 minutes each way for ground transportation)
 Stingray City sandbar, where you may feed and swim with the 'rays
 Snorkel at the beautiful Coral Gardens
 Snorkel at the incredible Barrier Reef!
 Price: US$39/ages 12 and over; US$22/ages 4-11; under age 4, free!
 Price includes round-trip transportation from the Waterfront Centre, or from your condo or hotel on Seven Mile Beach, PLUS snorkel gear, life vest (optional), food for the stingrays, and icewater and fruit punch on board the boat.

This is our planned excursion at Grand Cayman. We plan to do the 10 AM trip, come back to the ship for a shower and lunch. We will then hit the shops looking for a bargain. From the posts I have read so far there are not many good deals to be had.


Wed Arrive in Cozumel at 11 a.m., depart at midnight
http://www.mrsanchos.com/mr_sanchos/front.htm
Have not fully decided yet but this was suggested by Darwin91 who went on the 5/11 cruise. See her trip report at this link. http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=206818
Looks like a real nice place. I would like to find the hammocks I have read about. That is my souvenir of choice from here.




Thu The magic of a day at sea
Laying by the pool eating ice cream and fruit from Scoops. Maybe go to another behind the scenes tour if I am not too tired.

Fri Arrive at Castaway Cay at 7 a.m., depart at 5 p.m.
We are usually a couple of the first ones off of the ship here. It is Miss Vivian’s favorite place on earth. We will spend the day at the Adult beach

Sat Arrive at Port Canaveral at 6 a.m., debark the ship at 8:30 a.m.
We will probably have a light breakfast outside of Topsiders and then be one of the first to disembark. It will be a 9 hour drive home and I have to be at work at Noon Sunday.



I know this looks we are anal but we are really getting excited about this trip. Anyone else got their plans made?
Wesjones - I know you are because I saw your thread looking for Webpages.

Russ and Vivian

 

[westjones]

Oh I can't wait!!!! I was at the movies today with my daughters to see "Spirit" (I know, not a Disney movie but VERY good) and I just looked at one of them and said, "I can't wait until er go on our cruise!!!!" She smiled and said "ME TOO!"

BTW, where did you get the navigators? I haven't seen them yet and I really want to see them!!!

Thanks!
DJ

 

[ruvidu]

http://www.castawayclub.com/
Great Stuff
Enjoy,
Russ

 

[westjones]

Thanks! I just finished printing them off! I hope Barb can get copies of the Kids' Navigators too. I see she is on the Western Cruise right now. Lucky! I'm jealous!!!
DJ

 

[whytcrystal]

Does anyone know where I can get a postcard for the 9/14 cruise? Others have said they called disney for the 50 credit w/o the card. I have tried w/o luck. Any help will be appreciated!

 

[whytcrystal]

All-
I just received a postcard!! Hurray!

I can't wait for this cruise, it is almost less than 100 days! I began counting at 11 months!

 

[ruvidu]

While we are really excited about the cruise we are also excited about our upcoming beach vacation next week. We will be going to Edisto Island here in SC. It is a rustic kind of place with no motels, just houses, enforced lights out at 10 PM (turtle nesting) and 20 MPH speed limits. When we get back from there we will begain getting ready for the cruise.
Glad you found a postcard whytcrystal. I tried to find the one they sent us but to no avail. We are getting a $200 shipboard credit for early booking. We can use it.
Have a great day all.

Russ and Miss Vivian

 

[catts5]

ruvidu:

How early do you need to book to receive the "early booking" credit??

How early did you book your cruise?? And how then did you get the credit. Do you have to call Disney??

Cheryl

 

[ruvidu]

We cruised in May of 2000 and booked in June of 2000 as soon as we heard about the Western route. I wish I could remember the specifics. Seems like it was a combination returning cruiser and early booking special. Our bill at the end of last May's cruise touched 1 grand so this $200 won't go far. I have booked the last two cruises through Disney. They seem to do a better job than any TA around here.
Wish I could be more informative.
100 Days? Can you believe it?

 

[whytcrystal]

Catts5-
The postcard is a $50 credit for being a first-time cruiser. They are given to Castaway Members after their first cruise (you are automattically a Castaway Member after the first cruise). They are then supposed to send the card to Disney with the name of a new cruiser. Boost business. There is a subject on this forum for people interested in giving or receiving one of these. I can't remeber the name of the subject but it is on the first page.
See you on the cruise! Too bad about the 15 year-old dealing with all those girls. I am not taking my son, he is 16.

Good Luck!

 

[westjones]

Hey, it is getting closer and closer. I find myself thinking about our cruise all the time now. It is almost like a dream! Is everyone else getting excited?
DJ

 

[ruvidu]

Our cruise was all we talked about today as we drove back from our beach vacation. I know I bored our neighbors this past week telling them about the Disney Magic.
3 Months From Today.
Russ and Miss Vivian

 

[catts5]

My husband was cranky with me yesterday and when I asked him why, he said ,"all you talk about is the cruise and I'm tired of hearing about it. I'll get excited when it gets closer"

Can you imagine!!! How can he not be excited now!!!!
I have to talk to someone about it!!

I have most of our trips planned and am waiting patiently for the day to call Disney to book parasailing on Castaway cay. This is the only excursion we are doing through Disney because we have no other choice.

Glad to know others are as exicted as I am!!

Cheryl

 

[whytcrystal]

Now I know I'm not alone! Can't stop thinking about it. I am reading all I can get my hands on. I sometimes think I overplan.
My husband's cranky at me too Cheryl! I picked someone up at the airport friday and new on 92 days from that day I would be there!!! I DON"T EVEN NEED MY CLOCK, I'VE GOT THE COUNTDOWN IN MY HEAD!!

 

[pmouse13]

My husband and two (of 4...!!!) kids are going on our first Disney cruise on September 14th. The kids are girl - age 10, and boy who will have just turned 7. I am so excited and so is my husband. It is a surprise for the kids so it is killing us not to be able to discuss it openly. We are staying at the Radisson the night before. After the cruise we are spending two nights at the Swan and Dolphin. Haven't decided what excursions to do yet. I feel like I better hurry up and decide!!! Any one else with children the same as mine going?

Paula

 

[jazzygirl512]

Hi Ruvidu and fellow 9/14/02 Cruisers

This will be our 3rd 7 Day Cruise on the Magic. We are a family of 4. I'm Jackie, my husband is William and my 2 girls are Jasmine, 13 and Brandi 10.

We're looking forward to the Western. If any of the families have teenagers, my daughter Jasmine started a post on the teen board. Her screen name Jazzygirl512.

This way, the children can acquaint themselves before boarding.

Hurry up 9/14. I truly miss that boat.

Jackie

Hello again.

My mistake. I posted under my childs screen name. I guess she was on the boards before me.

My screen name is Jazzbran - Jackie

My daughter is jazzygirl512 - Jasmine

 

[ruvidu]

Glad to hear you are joining us. I will add you to our list and repost it here later this evening.
As I have told the other newbies, you are going to love the Magic.
Miss Vivian and I are looking forward to meeting you and your family.

Russ

 

[ruvidu]

June 19 Updated list.

Our prize for the couple traveling the longest distance to be with us goes to:
paulc traveling from the United Kingdom with his wife.
They will be celebrating their 25th anniversary while on the cruise
It will be their first cruise.

CT Carol RN and her family of 14 adults, 3 girls; 14, 14, 13, 1 boy 16 and 2 toddlers; 2 1/2 and 1 1/2. Staying near the airport on Friday night and they have first seating.

Windermere, Fl - Windermere and her husband are joining us for the first leg of back to back, Western and Eastern cruises.

Hotlanta, GA, Jazzbran (Jackie), her husband and two daughters 13 and 9 years old will be coming on board for their 3rd seven day Magic cruise. Finally, another Southerner.

IN westjones – She, her husband and 9 year old twin daughters will be taking their 3rd cruise. It will be their first 7 day cruise.

ILL Donna G - This family of 5 consists of Mom, Dad, a 14 year old son and twin 12 year old boys.

Portland, Maine Pmouse (Paula), her husband, 7 year old son and 10 year old daughter will be staying at the Radisson before joining us on 9/14.

Mass. rgionet – Renee is traveling with her husband and twin 3 year old sons.
This is their second Magic cruise.
They are bringing the In-laws.

Mass. DeniseHop – 40 something couple celebrating their 3rd wedding anniversary on 9/17. This will be their first cruise.

NH whytcrystal - Cryrstal and David White – They are joining us to celebrate their honeymoon after 17 years of marriage. They are bringing Brother in Law and Sister in Law, Pete and Doreen White. They have first dinning.

OR – stepherella. NOTE: WE HAVE HONEYMOONERS HERE.
This is their first cruise and they have second seating for dinner.

SC ruvidu – Russ and Vivian are a mid 50s couple who will be on their 4th magic cruise, second 7 day.
We have second seating at dinner and will be staying at the Hampton Inn in Cocoa Beach on Friday night.

TX Kaa Tammy – She, her husband and son may join us for this cruise. It would be her 4th and her family’s 3rd.

Wash. catt5, they are a family of 4 with two teens
This will be their first cruise and they will be staying at the Radisson on Friday night.

WI – This is catt5’s brother and family. They will total 5 with two teens and one 12 year old.


If anyone wants to add more info let me know.

Russ

 

[Carol RN]

Hi...our cruisin' group is a party of 20. We are from Connecticut. Our dinner seating is first. The breakdown of our party is:

14 adults, 4 teens (3 girls: two will be 14, one will be 13, and 1 boy, age 16), and two toddlers age 2 1/2 and 1 1/2).

The adults are me, my husband, my parents, my mother-in-law, my two sisters and their husbands, my brother and his fiancee, my sister-in-law and her husband, and the mother-in-law of one of my sister's.

We have seven staterooms booked, (looking forward to the verandah this time!). This will be my family's, one of my sister's family's, and my mother-in-law's second 7-day Disney Magic cruise. For everyone else, it will be their first Disney cruise.

We are flying down on Friday night and staying at a hotel near the airport since we don't land until around 9 p.m. Looking forward to experiencing the Western itinerary and hoping it's as good as the Eastern!

 

[ruvidu]

Just wondering where you are in Conn. We lived there, New London, while I was in the Navy.
I know you and your family will have a ball on the cruise. We are so jealous of the big families that travel together.
Looks like I need to do another update.
Russ