September 30, 2012 - "To San Francisco and Beyond"

[loophole69]

Larry & Marietta

I grew up in San Diego, did my time working in LA (with great results.... found my DH Chuck), been to Ensenada a few times and SF long ago.

I think you should join us in the "pretend we haven't been there done that" delusion. I vote NO Laundry.

In San Diego, I'm thinking we'll make our own "Beach Day" excursion and go to Belmont Park / The Wave House (unless you have a better idea for us). Beach, pool and it's just $5 for one-day spa access. It's not Disney's Castaway Cay, but I figure we'll rent beach chairs and a beach umbrella so we can pretend.

Whoo Hoo for a balcony... any balcony!

Lise

Lise,

Your idea sounds very good. Spa access for us. Does anyone know if we can buy a spa pass for the entire voyage?

 

[LiseG]

Lise,

Your idea sounds very good. Spa access for us. Does anyone know if we can buy a spa pass for the entire voyage?

The Spa Pass I was referencing in San Diego is at the Wave House / Plunge / Athletic Club.

As far as the Wonder's Spa, I just checked the DCL website as I knew I saw something about a pass for the Vista Spa. I found it under "Planning > In-room gifts and shopping":

Rain Forest 1-Day Pass
Item SPA RAIN PKG, $15

Enjoy a one-day pass for the blissfully relaxing Rain Forest. Receive a gift message card in your stateroom to redeem at the Vista Spa & Salon. (A $1 service fee will be charged.)

Oooooohhhh... I think we should check out the Wonder's Spa Villas

Feel like royalty atop a canopied Roman bed amidst breathtaking ocean vistas and warm tropical breezes as tensions melt away, or relax in a soothing whirlpool as the bubbles caress your body. Treatments at the splendid Spa Villas range from 105-minute individual sessions to ultra-decadent 155-minute sessions for couples.

Included with every reservation are:

Tea ceremony
Bathing ritual of your choice
Foot cleansing ceremony

For an extra fee, you can customize your private session by ordering a bottle of champagne, strawberries and additional treatments—for a tailor-made experience just for you or a loved one.

 

[loophole69]

The Splendor, as good as it is, could be a bit of a letdown after this cruise. We have to get over to Long Beach after disembarking. Does any one have a favored method of getting there other than TAXI!!!

 

[LyndaC]

I was on the May 21 Alaska cruise, and I have to say that I'm disappointed in the movies listed. War Horse, The Help, John Carter, Chimpanze, The Avenger and possibly The Muppets were all playing on that sailing. I was really hoping to see other offerings.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Question for you "locals" on things to so in SD. I recently ran into someone who was stationed in SD not too long ago, and asked them, if you had never been to SD, and had a day to spend there, what would you do?

Their reply...The San Diego Zoo and surrounding area.

What say you?

I live 30 minutes from an incredible beach, so seeing a beach is not that big of a deal to us.

Thanks!

Pretty well have plan for the rest of our cruise.

Renting car at LAX...will spend the afternoon driving to some recommended sites...drive to San Pedro that evening to hotel.

SF day one. Bike across GG Bridge to Sausilito...spend time there, then ferry back. Alcatraz tour in late afternoon.

SF day two...have booked The Real SF Tour.

Still making plans for SD...have been told Coronado is worth a visit as well.

Ensenada...staying on the ship...couples massage. May wander around port area.

Thanks!

 

[Seamama]

Hello! This is my first post and we are *this close* to booking IGT for this cruise. I'm expecting to finalize it w/ my TA tomorrow. We're so excited as this is our first cruise ever I guess I can't PM the FE coordinator since I haven't posted enough times but maybe she can PM me? Thanks!

 

[Disney-ite]

Welcome loophole69 and docjonathan to the cruise thread!

Both of you should have a great time...looking forward to meeting you and your families!

 

[mel3073]

We are Larry and Marietta from San Diego. Yes, this cruise will stop in our home town for a day. We may get off and do laundry or not.

That's so funny. I was thinking about going home (in San Diego) to do laundry too!

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

 

[Disney-ite]

Hello! This is my first post and we are *this close* to booking IGT for this cruise. I'm expecting to finalize it w/ my TA tomorrow. We're so excited as this is our first cruise ever I guess I can't PM the FE coordinator since I haven't posted enough times but maybe she can PM me? Thanks!

Seamama ~ Welcome to the cruise thread

Please check your private messages...I have just sent you a PM regarding the
FE exchange

Looking forward to meeting you and your family!


Deb

 

[stsomewhere]

My mom and I just booked this cruise tonight. We got a great VGT rate.
My kids are not happy about staying at home. My daughter really wants to go on this cruise and told me that Ishould go to Hawaii instead. Last year, I went on the 14 night EBTA and it was too hard for my husband to /drop off/pick up the kids from school.

This will be my 5th DCl cruise ( 19 total). I am planning on booking a family cruise onboard.
Our last cruise was a 11 night over Easter on HAl. The kids loved the ports but did not like the lack of kids club.


If there is still room for the group brunch, my mom and I would love to join. I have been in the private room and it is wonderful.

Looking forward to meeting everyone

Christi

 

[MomofM&M]

We live in SD and we love the zoo. I don't think it will be too busy at that time of year but if you must see the pandas, I would do it early in the day. For other things nearby to do, google Balboa Park. You can easily spend the day at the zoo. The hotel del Coronado is beautiful as is it's beach but if you are near a great beach it might not be worthwhile. The Grand Floridian was modeled after the hotel del so there's that Disney connection. It likely will be cold in the water then so, it would be more sand play than water play. If you like to fish and don't mind catch and release, since you wouldn't be able to bring it back, no license is required to pier fish. Most of the public piers like Imperial Beach or Mission Beach pier have bait shops that will rent you poles and sell you bait. It could be fun for someone who lives in a landlocked area. There is also Old Town San Diego and told SD Mission. The missions are unique to California history and we are trying to visit every one in California. The first one was built in San Diego and the last one i San Francisco. Each one is one days walking distance to the next. Actually, that was the ploy I used to convince my hubby to go on this cruise. My daughter did her 4th grade mission report on Mission San Francisco de Solano so we told her we would visit it one day. This will be our third cruise in one year so I had to really sell this to the hubs!

 

[LiseG]

Question for you "locals" on things to so in SD. I recently ran into someone who was stationed in SD not too long ago, and asked them, if you had never been to SD, and had a day to spend there, what would you do?

Their reply...The San Diego Zoo and surrounding area.

What say you?

I live 30 minutes from an incredible beach, so seeing a beach is not that big of a deal to us.

Thanks!

Pretty well have plan for the rest of our cruise.

Renting car at LAX...will spend the afternoon driving to some recommended sites...drive to San Pedro that evening to hotel.

SF day one. Bike across GG Bridge to Sausilito...spend time there, then ferry back. Alcatraz tour in late afternoon.

SF day two...have booked The Real SF Tour.

Still making plans for SD...have been told Coronado is worth a visit as well.

Ensenada...staying on the ship...couples massage. May wander around port area.

Thanks!

Sounds great...

Still working on our plan.

So far it looks like we're doing a car/stuttle combo out of Long Beach airport. Are you doing Enterprise and dropping the car in San Pedro or did you find a better option? Please share.

San Pedro - I have an easy must see for you. If it fits in your schedule Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning...drive down Gaffey and along Palos Verdes to see Wayfarers Chapel. It will take about 15-20 minutes to get there and the views along the way are spectacular. (I have some beautiful sunset shots from our wedding. Hard to share. That was before digital cameras)

San Diego - The Zoo and Balboa Park are a good call. I like the Museum of Man and there's a great Aerospace Museum. Personally I like walking through the Star of India and the San Diego Maritime Museum. It's just down a short walk down the Embarcadero. For just $3, you can add the Historic Bay Cruise aboard Pilot if you time it right.

In February, I took DD Sabrina for the first time. We had fun on The Star and found a new ship to explore...the HMS Surprise,a tall ship built in Nova Scotia, Canada, is a replica of the HMS Rose, which was built in 1757. OK that sounds mildly interesting ustil you hear...

The HMS Surprise portrayed the HMS Providence in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Captain Barbossa lead his crew in a voyage aboard the HMS Surprise through the Atlantic Ocean to find the Fountain of Youth, which led them to the mysterious Whitecap Bay.

The Maritime Museum has a number of vessels to tour. If you have a car, you can also go see them building a giant sailable replica of the San Salvador over by the airport. Admission is reasonable and little kids are free, still I wouldn't pay just to see "the Pirate ship", but it was fun to spend 15 minutes of our time walking around deck and take a few photos at the helm.

 

[Seamama]

Thanks! I just replied to your PM but I'm not sure if it worked- please reply there if it did. If not, I'll just post my FE info here. Thanks again.

Seamama ~ Welcome to the cruise thread

Please check your private messages...I have just sent you a PM regarding the
FE exchange

Looking forward to meeting you and your family!


Deb

 

[erk711]

You all must really love laundry to go home while on vacation to do some! Lol If it was me in my hometown I would enjoy the ship and relax

 

[CasaMartinez]

We are Larry and Marietta from San Diego. Yes, this cruise will stop in our home town for a day. We may get off and do laundry or not.

This is our first Disney Cruise but we have been on two others, Alaska & Panama. We are in the you get the balcony we give you category and have not heard where we are going to be yet. Wish us luck.

This is a great group from what I read in the copious number of posts.

My family are all booked on this cruise - 17 of us in total from NZ, Oz and UK.

I will allow the others to introduce themselves if they wish.

We are a couple from the UK (31) and will be bringing our two Daughters (2.5 and 6m) with us. This will be our first Disney cruise. We have been on one cruise before several years ago.
Jonathan & family

The Splendor, as good as it is, could be a bit of a letdown after this cruise. We have to get over to Long Beach after disembarking. Does any one have a favored method of getting there other than TAXI!!!

Hello! This is my first post and we are *this close* to booking IGT for this cruise. I'm expecting to finalize it w/ my TA tomorrow. We're so excited as this is our first cruise ever I guess I can't PM the FE coordinator since I haven't posted enough times but maybe she can PM me? Thanks!

My mom and I just booked this cruise tonight. We got a great VGT rate.
My kids are not happy about staying at home. My daughter really wants to go on this cruise and told me that Ishould go to Hawaii instead. Last year, I went on the 14 night EBTA and it was too hard for my husband to /drop off/pick up the kids from school.

Looking forward to meeting everyone

Christi

 

[LiseG]

My family are all booked on this cruise - 17 of us in total from NZ, Oz and UK.

I will allow the others to introduce themselves if they wish.

We are a couple from the UK (31) and will be bringing our two Daughters (2.5 and 6m) with us. This will be our first Disney cruise. We have been on one cruise before several years ago.

We are excited but also apprehensive about how things are going to work with the little ones in the evening and whether we will be stuck in our rooms all night or will be able to stay out and enjoy the shows. We have booked them both into creche on two evenings until 11pm so we can at least go out on those nights.

What are other peoples experiences of bringing young children with them. Sorry if this has already been mentioned, I havent managed to read past page 20 of the thread yet!

We look forward to meeting you all on the 30th.

Jonathan & family

Welcome Jonathan and Family. It's great to have your family join the group. It's nice to see folks joinig us from other countries.

Sabrina was nearly 4 on our first Disney cruise, so I'm sorry that I'm no help on having the little ones aboard. My daugher turns 12 just before this cruise... are there any 11-14 year olds in your group?

Lise

 

[wenuwish]

Just received part of my pirate costume in the mail! Meg and I figured, why wear the same pirate outfit twice in the same year? So we are going... creative, this cruise...

 

[LiseG]

That's so funny. I was thinking about going home (in San Diego) to do laundry too!

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

OK... I'll say it again... not on the ship, not in a hotel and definately not at home.

NO LAUNDRY

I buy multi packs of "necessities" ... no laundry before packing.
My BFF has a different idea. She brings the kids oldest undergarments and socks then throws them out as they are worn for the last time.... no laundry after
and more room for all those awesome DCL souveniers.

And don't iron... unless it's changed dramatically, "press only" is VERY reasonable aboard ship.

 

[LiseG]

Just received part of my pirate costume in the mail! Meg and I figured, why wear the same pirate outfit twice in the same year? So we are going... creative this cruise...

I can wait to see a "creative" pirate

 

[erk711]

If there is still room for the group brunch, my mom and I would love to join. I have been in the private room and it is wonderful.

Christi

WooHoo...two more for the brunch brigade!
That should make us just two short for the private room.

Anyone else interested in joining the group?