September 10, 2005 - Western Cruise!

[Bobbybear68]

It usually only take 16 hours but we will take our time and stop somewhere in GA on Thurday night and get to Cocoa sometime Friday afternoon. I know we are looking forward to this. After the cruise we are staying for 4-5 more days in Orlando and visit with DW's Aunt. We plan to visit WDW then.

 

[kellyb2000]

We're starting our drive Wednesday after work. Hopefully we'll get more than half way and then finish Friday morning in WDW. We plan on doing DTD or just relaxing at Old Key West (rented some points from a very nice DISer!) Friday we're going to MK but it closes at 6:00, I believe, so we'll head to the Radisson then. Makes me excited just thinking about it!

 

[mom+3girls]

I can't believe it, 9 weeks from today, anybody else excited?

Are we going to plan a DIS meet?

 

[ImNarek]

Flying from Seattle it takes us a full day of travel time to get to Florida. We'll be leaving Friday morning and arriving into MCO late. I think we're going to stay at the Hyatt in the airport. Does anyone know, is there a better (cheaper) place to get ressies than the Hyatt website? We'll do Disney transfers in the morning to the port.

 

[mcraft17]

We just switched our Sept. 18th 4 night cruise to this cruise and we are so excited!!! It will be my husband and DD 9. We went on the shortened 4 night wonder last September. So here is to hoping for a Hurricaine free sailing!! We live in Florida so we are going to be driving over the morning of. Now I need to change my timeclock....

 

[stina]

Hi everyone~

Just found this thread. Somehow I was oblivious to it all these months!
We are at 56 days... yee haw! Can't wait. This will be our first cruise.

We are two (stressed out) mouseketeers, ages 29 & 29, no kids, first Disney Cruise. But not first Disney experience. We usually go to WDW every year but this year we decided to jump in and try the cruise line. I have to admit it was the Travel Channel special on DCL that really convinced me. I watched that special about a week after returning from Animal Kingdom Lodge last year and I was ready to sign up!

We booked in February of this year, Cat 12, hoping for an upgrade if possible, but if not, I'm sure we'll still be thrilled. We always book all our Disney trips through Small World Travel, they have excellent customer service and keep active at getting us the best deals. We got an amazing price on this cruise PLUS a $50 rebate and a $50 onboard credit. So I'm very happy. While this cruise is adding up to be slightly more than our 8 day AKL trip last year, I think it will be worth it.

We are pre registered for the Back to Nature Kayak Tour on Key West and the Stingray City Snorkel on Grand Caymen. We are planning to go to Chakanaab Park on our own in Cozumel. We also purchased our own snorkel sets ahead of time (great price of $40 at BJs for professional sets with carry totes) to save some money over individual rentals. I was able to get reservations for a Palo dinner. Couldn't get the tea I wanted or the brunch! The tea I don't mind so much but I was really looking forward to trying the brunch. Perhaps I will wait in line the day of and see what I can get.

I am so glad to connect with all my future shipmates, I do hope we can arrange a time for the get-together on board.

stina

 

[Bobbybear68]

Welcome stina,
I will also be in line Sept 10th to see if the Brunch is available. If I were a betting man I would think our odds are pretty good. My guess from this thread and how quickly the reservation went, that we have alot of DCL Vets on board.

 

[JNorris]

Hi all again!

We were planning to drive (we live in S.C.), but now DH is working in Washington DC, so we are all flying, meeting up in Atlanta, flying into MCO, and staying at the Hyatt that night.

It is myself, DH, and DD7. Anyone else out there with daughters about that age? DD would love to have a friend going on the same cruise! We did this on the first Disney cruise we took, and it was great for her to already have a friend that she has e-mailed before the cruise!

Our excursions so far: Key West - we will do on our own, maybe rent an electric car and drive around; Grand Cayman on our own again, renting a car and doing a quick drive around, and going to the beach; Cozumel - Coz. Beach Break (I think it's called that); Castaway Cay - I plan to sit on a float in the ocean for the majority of the day!

Judy

 

[4Smilee]

Hi there. DH, DS (will be 8.5 months), DD (4 yrs) will be on this cruise. We did a western in 2003 and loved it so much we booked onboard for 2004, and moved to this date when it became available. We are cruising with MIL (Cruising Grandma -- I see her on the first page of this thread), nephew who lives with her, and SIL, her DH, and her DD (4 yrs).

So I guess I really need to get to planning for this thing now, huh. It seemed so far off, and then so far this year life has just been SO hectic.

Still haven't decided which excursions we'll do. I'm leaning toward more self-guided stuff this time since options with an 8 month old are sort of limited. MIL booked Palo brunch and dinner for us, and I made Flounder's reservations accordingly. Haven't reserved anything else.

Must get planning . . .

 

[woj68]

Hi everyone. I'm new to this board and just wanted to say hello.

Our family has been planning this trip for almost two years now and can't believe it's almost upon us. We're first time cruisers and are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary the Disney way. Bringing our 8 1/2 yr old son along as well.

Can't believe I didn't stumble upon this sight sooner. What a great place to meet fellow Disney vacationers as well as getting advice/tips from people who've "been there, done that".

My greatest fear is having this trip ruined by a hurricane. Keeping my fingers crossed. We're hoping to meet some people here so we have some "friendly faces" to mingle with onboard.

____________________________________

Disney Magic sept 10-17 2005
____________________________________

 

[JNorris]

My greatest fear is having this trip ruined by a hurricane. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Woj, we are keeping toes and fingers and arms and legs crossed! Have you read about all the problems they had with the September cruises in 2004? We had booked the Sept 05 cruise before Sept 04, and then read in horror about all the problems with the hurricanes last year. I wanted to cancel the cruise and rebook for another time, but now we are just preparing ourselves mentally for the possiblity of missing ports, shortened/lengthened cruises, and cancelled excursions. Actually, my biggest fears are rough water due to hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea, or missing Castaway Cay. We had such perfect weather on our first cruise (June 04), and I don't want to be disappointed.


Judy

 

[woj68]

Thanks Judy. Our initial plans when we booked last year was to take an August cruise. Those changed when Disney sent the boats off to the West coast. So I booked the first cruise available after they return in September but always had "hurricane season" on the brain.

Was hoping the bad weather last year was an aberation and this year wouldn't be so wild. Oh well.


Woj
(rm 6584)

 

[daisy112878]

Two questions for everyone:

1) What's everyone wearing for formal night?

2) Is anyone doing a door sign? And if you are what are you putting on it?

Edited to add: One more questions. What seating does everyone have for dinner? We have late seating and we wanted to see if anyone else did too.

 

[JNorris]

Formal night - don't know. DH just informed me that he wanted to dress up for the pictures. I guess I've got about 7 weeks to put something together. DD7 already has a cute red velvet dress with Mickey heads on the bodice.

Door sign - I had intended to do this for the last cruise, never got around to it. Don't know if I will for this one either, but I think they are very cute.

Dinner seating - we have early. We wanted DD to eat with us, then be able to go to the club if there was something she wanted to do. Last time we were on the 3 day, and went to the shows every night after dinner, so she didn't get to do much of the club stuff.

Judy

 

[daisy112878]

I guess I should have responded to my own questions.

Right now, for formal night DH is renting a tux and I have to find something to wear. I have no clue what.

For the door sign I have no clue how to do one but if I have time between studying for the CPA exam and work I might do it.

 

[woj68]

Can anyone tell me what the door signs are all about. First timer here, just trying to fit in.

We have early seating. For the formal I think I'll be skipping the tux and wearing a suit. Haven't worn it in a while, hope it still fits. Think I need to drop a few more lbs.

Thanks

 

[stina]

For formal night I will be wearing a black cocktail dress type dress with some strappy sandals and sparkly jewelry. I figure that will be formal enough. I do not know what my partner will be wearing, most likely a dress of some kind.

For a door sign, I'm kind of a minimalist, but I can see how have some kind of marker would be helpful. I was thinking of making a magnet of a picture of my cat cut in the shape of mouse ears. She will obviously NOT be cruising with us but I will miss her terribly! I hear they do NOT need any onboard cats to handle the rodent population.

daisy112878 - we have late seating too! we are two adults so we figured this was the best option for us. Also on port days it allows us to stay out later at the port and not miss dinner which I think is an advantage. Which leads me to a question for those who have previously cruised: I want to get the most for my money, as in what I've already paid for food, how easy is it to get back on the ship during port days for meals and such? I mean I plan on eating out at some port locations but I'd like to not spend too much extra $ on food.

New question: How much DIS lime green should I wear to be identified. I don't think I own anything lime green - I look just horrible in that color! Would a lime green scarf or pin or something do? Or maybe we'll just agree upon a pre-set meeting time.

stina

 

[stina]

One more question from me. Have any of you guys gotten your room number assignments? I don't know how to get mine. I asked my travel agent and she said she didn't have the number. How early can you typically find out your room # assignment?

stina

 

[daisy112878]

Stina - who's your TA? We used DU and found out right away when booking last year. We actually moved our room to the other side of the ship so we we're not near the laundry room.

Also it's just my DH and I on the cruise too. As you can see in my sign we have two furbabies that I will be very sad to leave for the week. I will miss them so much.

And maybe some of the more experienced cruisers can help set up a dismeet for everyone. It would be great to meet everyone.

 

[daisy112878]

FYI - the Rasual room can now be reserved online. Also it looks like that more treatments are up online now. Last week there was no more Cabana massages (for one person) available and now it's back being listed.