September 22-25, 2011 Disney Dream Cruise

[PoeticMoe]

Hi everyone! I haven't checked in for a while, and just wanted to catch up on everyone's posts. Did you all see all the pics and videos of the Dream's float-out today? Very exciting! The message boards are all a buzz about it!

Are any of you doing a resort stay before the cruise? We are, but not sure where to stay. I've never stayed on-site at Disney; we always stay at Marriotts in Orlando. But I was thinking of staying at the Pop Century and taking advantage of the free dining offer. Can anyone tell me about the Pop? Is there an on-site Disney property you can recommend?

 

[1153rsmith]

Hey guys/gals,

I just booked our 3 night on deck 2. I can't wait. It will be our first cruise and it will be my son's birthday, the day we disembark.

I haven't told the kids yet.. I think I am going to try to get Dreams Unlimited to send me something with the ship on it and wrap it up for Christmas.

 

[Crystal_27]

Are any of you doing a resort stay before the cruise? We are, but not sure where to stay. I've never stayed on-site at Disney; we always stay at Marriotts in Orlando. But I was thinking of staying at the Pop Century and taking advantage of the free dining offer. Can anyone tell me about the Pop? Is there an on-site Disney property you can recommend?

Right now, we are planning on staying at the Beach Club (Villas) for 5 nights prior to the cruise. As to the Pop, we've stayed there once, and we really liked it. My DD (then 5) really loved the pool and the food court. My only complaint was that it took so long to get everywhere on the busses, but maybe we had bad timing or just were super impatient - LOL. All of the Disney hotels are wonderful - - you really can't go wrong with any of them.

Hey guys/gals,

I just booked our 3 night on deck 2. I can't wait. It will be our first cruise and it will be my son's birthday, the day we disembark.

I haven't told the kids yet.. I think I am going to try to get Dreams Unlimited to send me something with the ship on it and wrap it up for Christmas.

That's awesome! Welcome to the party!!

 

[1153rsmith]

Thanks Crystal. My wife and I are so excited.... I'm not sure we will be able to keep it from the children till Christmas.

We are also hoping to exchange through RCI for a week in a DVC resort when we get back... Figured while we were already that close, we had to try to see the "World".

Even at their ages, my kids still love the characters, so I'm hopeful, we will get a good character fix while on board.

 

[Crystal_27]

Thanks Crystal. My wife and I are so excited.... I'm not sure we will be I'm hopeful, we will get a good character fix while on board.

I don't know about the Dream, but if the character interaction is anything like the Magic or the Wonder, there are literally character encounters all day long, as much as you want, so much more than at the parks. The ship is *the* place for meeting characters, even some rare ones like Max (Goofy's son).

 

[disney honeymooners]

welcome aboard 1153rsmith.
How has everyone been doing? I watched the float out of the dream and now i am even more excited my husband thought it was cool that we could see our room when they took pictures of the end of the ship we are on deck 10 pretty much in the center of the back of the ship I can't wait
We are doing the Resort stay before the cruise that is what we did last time this time we are staying at AKL I have never stayed there and i can't wait

 

[Crystal_27]

We are doing the Resort stay before the cruise that is what we did last time this time we are staying at AKL I have never stayed there and i can't wait

We can't wait to try out AKV one of these days. I'm sure it's going to be soooooo awesome to stay there!!

 

[1153rsmith]

We can't wait to try out AKV one of these days. I'm sure it's going to be soooooo awesome to stay there!!

Kidani is awesome. The only downside is its size. If you end up with a room near the end of the wings, it is a hike. The pool is fantastic!!!!!!! Parking under the building is really nice; car stays cool and not too far from your room. The staff is amazing.

Make sure you take a couple hours and talk with the CM's that are on exchange from various African countries. They can tell you alot about their country, and are a joy to talk with.

We were there this past May for my DD's 9th birthday and they made it so special.
I am so glad we were able to exchange in through RCI.

 

[1153rsmith]

welcome aboard 1153rsmith.
How has everyone been doing? I watched the float out of the dream and now i am even more excited my husband thought it was cool that we could see our room when they took pictures of the end of the ship we are on deck 10 pretty much in the center of the back of the ship I can't wait
We are doing the Resort stay before the cruise that is what we did last time this time we are staying at AKL I have never stayed there and i can't wait

We are doing great. I would love to stay at the Lodge sometime. If you guys like pools, make sure you head over to Kidani one day and hit that one. Make sure you eat a zebra dome for me either at Boma or the Mara.

 

[disney honeymooners]

i plan on getting a couple of zebra domes i was upset when someone told me that they are no longer in the CL lounge i was looking forward to getting them every night they have the desserts out i guess now i will just have to buy them. I know we will be spending alot of time at the pool we are going down a day earlier than we did last time so that we could relax at the pool at least one day.

 

[Crystal_27]

LOL - all this talk about hotels made me call and book our DVC hotel stay yesterday. Since BLT is our home, I went ahead and booked it (although the night of the 17th was not showing as available so I had to waitlist it). Well, I just got an email today that the waitlist came through, so we've got the full 17-22 booked. We might try and change to BCV at the 7 month mark, but at least that's off my plate for now. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

 

[1153rsmith]

LOL - all this talk about hotels made me call and book our DVC hotel stay yesterday. Since BLT is our home, I went ahead and booked it (although the night of the 17th was not showing as available so I had to waitlist it). Well, I just got an email today that the waitlist came through, so we've got the full 17-22 booked. We might try and change to BCV at the 7 month mark, but at least that's off my plate for now. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

We are waiting on our window to open up in RCI to see if we can snag a DVC property for either the week before or week after. I'm hoping to stay at Wilderness Lodge, but would take anything. Also need to get tickets...

I sure wish this trip weren't so far away.

 

[Crystal_27]

We are waiting on our window to open up in RCI to see if we can snag a DVC property for either the week before or week after. I'm hoping to stay at Wilderness Lodge, but would take anything. Also need to get tickets...

Just curious - - when will your RCI window open? I know that as a DVC member I can exchange through RCI (although I've never done so - LOL) but I think we can start the exchange process at 24 months? Just wondering how it works the other way around.

 

[1153rsmith]

Just curious - - when will your RCI window open? I know that as a DVC member I can exchange through RCI (although I've never done so - LOL) but I think we can start the exchange process at 24 months? Just wondering how it works the other way around.

Crystal, our window opens up at 11 months. Right now, I can see checkins up to about Sept. 6, 2011. I can usually see a few DVC rooms at the 11 month window, but they get snapped up quickly. Then, there seems to be another batch that shows up at the 7 month window. I think most of the rooms are showing up as a result of DVCers like yourself, exchanging out through RCI.

So far, I have been lucky, I have been able to get a week at OKW and a week at AKV. The difficulty is, I can only book in 7 night blocks, I must be flexible about dates, and I must jump on them when the show up.... if you drag your feet too long, the DVC rooms will get gone quickly. My goal is to stay at several of the DVC resorts and once we find our favorite, buy into DVC. The partnership that DVC and RCI now have is finally making my timeshare pay for itself.

I would love to stay at BLT sometime, but it hardly ever comes up on points exchange. I'm hoping to try to get VWL for either before or after our cruise.

 

[Crystal_27]

Crystal, our window opens up at 11 months. Right now, I can see checkins up to about Sept. 6, 2011. I can usually see a few DVC rooms at the 11 month window, but they get snapped up quickly. Then, there seems to be another batch that shows up at the 7 month window. I think most of the rooms are showing up as a result of DVCers like yourself, exchanging out through RCI.

So far, I have been lucky, I have been able to get a week at OKW and a week at AKV. The difficulty is, I can only book in 7 night blocks, I must be flexible about dates, and I must jump on them when the show up.... if you drag your feet too long, the DVC rooms will get gone quickly. My goal is to stay at several of the DVC resorts and once we find our favorite, buy into DVC. The partnership that DVC and RCI now have is finally making my timeshare pay for itself.

I would love to stay at BLT sometime, but it hardly ever comes up on points exchange. I'm hoping to try to get VWL for either before or after our cruise.

That's awesome! Hopefully, you will be able to get exactly what you want once your window opens up!

 

[sullivan.kscott]

Holy Cow! We're another GA family, Paulding Co, nonetheless! From the Cedarcrest side of Dallas, we booked back in May but just found these boards. My 31 month old son (3.5 date of cruise), is so excited when daddy brings up photos of the "Mickey Mouse Boat." This is our first Disney vacation of any type as a family, third cruise for wife and I. If it's not too late for FE, we are:
Kerry (Dad, 31)
Stephanie (Mom, 31)
Montgomery (Son, 3.5)
Keegan (Son, 1.5)

Can't wait to meet you all, and any fellow Buckeyes, as well!

 

[Crystal_27]

Holy Cow! We're another GA family, Paulding Co, nonetheless! From the Cedarcrest side of Dallas, we booked back in May but just found these boards. My 31 month old son (3.5 date of cruise), is so excited when daddy brings up photos of the "Mickey Mouse Boat." This is our first Disney vacation of any type as a family, third cruise for wife and I. If it's not too late for FE, we are:
Kerry (Dad, 31)
Stephanie (Mom, 31)
Montgomery (Son, 3.5)
Keegan (Son, 1.5)

Can't wait to meet you all, and any fellow Buckeyes, as well!

WOW - another Paulding County family - - how awesome (we're taking over the Dream, it looks like - LOL)! You'll have to get your wife on the boards too, so her and I can chat...I'm 31 too and am always looking for other moms to pal around with, and added bonus if they are Disney lovers!! I have yet to convince DH (35) to join The DIS, but maybe one day...

Anyway, welcome to The DIS and to the cruise party. We will probably start discussing the FE after the first of the year, so you're definitely not too late.

 

[1153rsmith]

Holy Cow! We're another GA family, Paulding Co, nonetheless! From the Cedarcrest side of Dallas, we booked back in May but just found these boards. My 31 month old son (3.5 date of cruise), is so excited when daddy brings up photos of the "Mickey Mouse Boat." This is our first Disney vacation of any type as a family, third cruise for wife and I. If it's not too late for FE, we are:
Kerry (Dad, 31)
Stephanie (Mom, 31)
Montgomery (Son, 3.5)
Keegan (Son, 1.5)

Can't wait to meet you all, and any fellow Buckeyes, as well!

Welcome aboard. I've been trying to read a little about the FE and it sounds like something we would like to participate in as well. Hopefully, we will have a large "southern" contingent. My honey is a Carolina girl, and my family has deep roots in NC.

 

[disney honeymooners]

Sullivan.kscott welcome aboard i can't believe we have another Paulding County Family this is too cool!! You are most definitely not too late to join the FE on the other board i was on we didnt start nailing down stuff till the first of the year and i think we did a cut off date of like some time in july since most of us were doing homemade gifts in ours and we needed time to make them. I love the FE gift exchange i didnt do one on my first disney cruise but we did it on our last one and we loved it i think we had a total of maybe 10 cabins my friend on the dreams maiden voyage has a list of over 100 cabins so they split it up into like 3 groups.

 

[Evan&Kimberly]

Welcome all of you DREAMERS, we are going to have a WONDERFUL time on this beautiful ship. Love seeing all my fellow Georgians on the board. I live in Columbia County, outside of Richmond County; I can’t wait to set sail on the Dream. I will be leaving for the Freedom of the Seas in 9 days I needed my cruise fix. September is a long way off!