DIS Dads The DIS Dad's Club VI - Man's Room

[Disney Commando]

I've seen the tags, but haven't had a chance to seek you out until today. I love the criteria list and found myself checking off several. My first name is Matt and I'm planning for summer 2012 (mini family reunion trip.) I work in a tech support call center for a wireless provider in the Public Safety division (supporting smartphones & mobile broadband cards for police/fire/ems/military/govt accounts.) I'm also the media pastor at church (I get to play with all the cool toys), my wife and I have 2 daughters ages 8 and 6 and I just ordered my first HD TV today. (I gotta say I'm pretty stoked about that.) I feel the urge to flatulate when ever someone sends "pixie dust" my way and I enjoy mocking those who take themselves too seriously.

To The Dis Dads Emma's Dad will be around to give you your official #

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Hello Boys,
I've been in a bit of a funk recently. Too much stuff going on to really get in the Disney spirit. That all changed today, however. Disney streamed the Christening of the Disney Dream this morning live online.

I seriously can't wait until I'm on that boat in October!!!!!

Sorry about the funk. With a WDW vacation recently completed, a cruise on the Dream booked, and your Packers 2 wins away from a title, I can see why you'd be down...

Just kidding. Hope things perk up for you. I'm sure watching the ceremony helped.

These are great! Thanks for the "talking points" to sell my wife on a cruise!

No problem. If you really want to sell her, just start talking about how wonderful Castaway Cay is. Let us know if you need bullet points.

I've seen the tags, but haven't had a chance to seek you out until today. I love the criteria list and found myself checking off several. My first name is Matt and I'm planning for summer 2012 (mini family reunion trip.) I work in a tech support call center for a wireless provider in the Public Safety division (supporting smartphones & mobile broadband cards for police/fire/ems/military/govt accounts.) I'm also the media pastor at church (I get to play with all the cool toys), my wife and I have 2 daughters ages 8 and 6 and I just ordered my first HD TV today. (I gotta say I'm pretty stoked about that.) I feel the urge to flatulate when ever someone sends "pixie dust" my way and I enjoy mocking those who take themselves too seriously.

Welcome Matt! I've seen you around commenting on some mutual friends' TR's, good to have you here as well!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

I've seen the tags, but haven't had a chance to seek you out until today. I love the criteria list and found myself checking off several. My first name is Matt and I'm planning for summer 2012 (mini family reunion trip.) I work in a tech support call center for a wireless provider in the Public Safety division (supporting smartphones & mobile broadband cards for police/fire/ems/military/govt accounts.) I'm also the media pastor at church (I get to play with all the cool toys), my wife and I have 2 daughters ages 8 and 6 and I just ordered my first HD TV today. (I gotta say I'm pretty stoked about that.) I feel the urge to flatulate when ever someone sends "pixie dust" my way and I enjoy mocking those who take themselves too seriously.

Welcome!

With an introduction like that, you are not only accepted for membership, but you're officer material!*



*We don't have officers.

 

[tutter99]

Hello Boys,
I've been in a bit of a funk recently. Too much stuff going on to really get in the Disney spirit.

Sorry to hear you were a funky Monkey.

its funny, we will watch old tapes of epcot and dd will ask, were was that? i think the land ride is the only thing thats still the same other than theres not a guide on the boat with you. i still miss horizons and the gm building.(now test track) ya well, someone said thing will always be changing and discovering new ideas.

I read somewhere they were looking into recreating all the old rides as part of a virtual reality attraction. Can't remember where I heard it though.

I feel the urge to flatulate when ever someone sends "pixie dust" my way and I enjoy mocking those who take themselves too seriously.

Welcome! Can we rename you Great Air Biscuit?

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Welcome!

With an introduction like that, you are not only accepted for membership, but you're officer material!*



*We don't have officers.

 

[Emma's Dad]

I've seen the tags, but haven't had a chance to seek you out until today. I love the criteria list and found myself checking off several. My first name is Matt and I'm planning for summer 2012 (mini family reunion trip.) I work in a tech support call center for a wireless provider in the Public Safety division (supporting smartphones & mobile broadband cards for police/fire/ems/military/govt accounts.) I'm also the media pastor at church (I get to play with all the cool toys), my wife and I have 2 daughters ages 8 and 6 and I just ordered my first HD TV today. (I gotta say I'm pretty stoked about that.) I feel the urge to flatulate when ever someone sends "pixie dust" my way and I enjoy mocking those who take themselves too seriously.

Hey, Matt! Welcome! I worked tech support for an internet service provider for 3 years... don't want to do it again! Congrats on the new TV! We're looking for a new one...possibly this year. Not sure if we are going to look at the 3D TV's or not. They sure are impressive in the store! Another crop duster!!

You are member # 554!

WELCOME TO THE DIS DAD'S CLUB!

You have been added to the DIS Dad's Club list

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Sorry about the funk. With a WDW vacation recently completed, a cruise on the Dream booked, and your Packers 2 wins away from a title, I can see why you'd be down...

Just kidding. Hope things perk up for you. I'm sure watching the ceremony helped.

It was just a perfect storm of things. Post-vacation & post-holiday blues, winter weather, home remodeling projects (which are still on-going), and a ton of stuff at work to do. Plus, this past weekend we had to make a last-minute, 6 hour drive (in a snowstorm) to be with DW's ailing grandfather.

But, now the bathroom is remodeled, so that's out of the way. We still have to get everything moved out of the master bedroom and DS' room so carpet can be installed on Thursday. Oh, and we're going to paint our room before the carpet goes down.

But it is amazing how just watching a Disney video can brighten your day. Well, that and the prospects of beating the Bears on their home turf this weekend and bringing the Lombardi trophy back home in 2 1/2 weeks.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Sorry to hear you were a funky Monkey.

 

[GoHerd1028]

Thanks for the warm welcome and my name in lights on page 1

Glad to see you made it here with the rest of us Dan!

 

[GoHerd1028]

Most important meal of the day...every meal!!!

How do the meals on board the DCL's work? 1st time on any cruise for me and DW for her birthday cruise. Looking for info for when we sail on the Dream in Oct. Im used to the meal plans at WDW but how does it work on board? Do you get so many meals a day? Snacks a day? Do you have to eat at certain times? Can I eat with my elbows on the table? Can I slurp the soup without getting yelled at?
Thanks for any and all help!!

You can even take your teeth out to eat if you like. We had a gentleman at our table do that and I kept thinkin he looked different and it was not until the last night of the cruise that I saw him sneek his teeth into his napkin right before dinner was served LOL Sign your kids up for the kids club...they have a blast there...and the added bonus is the wristband they give them has a GPS in it so if the get lost they can be found easily...we had to use that little bit of technology on the last cruise with our daughter who decided to wonder off with a group of little girls while we had our head turned for a second I wish our cruise was this year instead of on the Fantasy next year! I am so ready!!!

 

[prattpak]

You can even take your teeth out to eat if you like. We had a gentleman at our table do that and I kept thinkin he looked different and it was not until the last night of the cruise that I saw him sneek his teeth into his napkin right before dinner was served LOL Sign your kids up for the kids club...they have a blast there...and the added bonus is the wristband they give them has a GPS in it so if the get lost they can be found easily...we had to use that little bit of technology on the last cruise with our daughter who decided to wonder off with a group of little girls while we had our head turned for a second I wish our cruise was this year instead of on the Fantasy next year! I am so ready!!!

KIDS ARE STAYING WITH THIER NANA!! WOOOHOOOO Adults only trip!!!

 

[stopher1]

It was just a perfect storm of things. Post-vacation & post-holiday blues, winter weather, home remodeling projects (which are still on-going), and a ton of stuff at work to do. Plus, this past weekend we had to make a last-minute, 6 hour drive (in a snowstorm) to be with DW's ailing grandfather.

But, now the bathroom is remodeled, so that's out of the way. We still have to get everything moved out of the master bedroom and DS' room so carpet can be installed on Thursday. Oh, and we're going to paint our room before the carpet goes down.

But it is amazing how just watching a Disney video can brighten your day. Well, that and the prospects of beating the Bears on their home turf this weekend and bringing the Lombardi trophy back home in 2 1/2 weeks.

Well it's good that things are coming along Barry, with the house and all, and that you've moved out of that funk a little bit. I can't wait to be on that ship myself, but sadly we don't have a cruise booked like you do. We were supposed to... but we'll just take the few trips we do have scheduled. Which reminds me, I still need to reset my trip tickers... so until I do, let's just go with this for now.... 2. That helped my funk last week, and I can't wait to board that plane.

Of course slowly creaking out updates to my two TR's helps a bit as well - of course I have another one waiting to be started, so I move a couple of inches, only to move back one. Whatever.

Just dropping by to say hey to everyone.

 

[Rental01]

Basically all food on the ship is included in the price of the cruise (except alcohol and a few room service items). Dinner is the biggest production. There are two different seating (one early, one late) and three main dinning rooms (“Enchanted Garden”, “Royal Palace” & “Animators’ Palate”). You’ll be assigned a rotation (printed on you key card) and will dine in each restaurant on different nights. As you move from on venue to the next each night, the servers that are assigned to you will follow along. There are also two “signature” restaurants that you can get reservations for with an additional fee (“Palo” - Italian in style and “Remy” - more French in style).

For every other time of the day that your feeling peckish, you either call up room service, or just walk up to any food service counter and ask for something on the menu and they hand it over. There are several counter service spots on the main deck and a cafeteria style restaurant (“Cabana’s” on board the Dream) that you can walk into most any time of the day. You can also go to one of the three main dinning rooms for either breakfast or lunch. The only differences from dinner are that they will seat you (rather that using your assigned table) and that you’ll be served by which ever CM is assigned to that table at that time (not you regular server).

Well that’s the basics. I can give you more specifics as the questions arise.

We're planning on the Fantasy in 2012 and through talking it through with my friends who have been on traditional cruises, they recommend tipping upwards of $100/day for wait staff, room service, etc. How would tipping work on a Disney cruise, especially when you have the same people each day? What would be appropriate for room service and mousekeeping?

In other news, we're also very interested in looking at DVC. All y'all DVC DisDads - what's the minimum buy-in now? Can you start as low as 100pts or is it still in the 180 range?

 

[dadio]

sent ya a PM Stopher...

...well my bags are packed,
I'm ready to go....

one more nite and were off in the am!
excited to check out the boarkwalk....
fingers crossed for no rain......
crowds should be nice.....

 

[dvczerfs]

I've seen the tags, but haven't had a chance to seek you out until today. I love the criteria list and found myself checking off several. My first name is Matt and I'm planning for summer 2012 (mini family reunion trip.) I work in a tech support call center for a wireless provider in the Public Safety division (supporting smartphones & mobile broadband cards for police/fire/ems/military/govt accounts.) I'm also the media pastor at church (I get to play with all the cool toys), my wife and I have 2 daughters ages 8 and 6 and I just ordered my first HD TV today. (I gotta say I'm pretty stoked about that.) I feel the urge to flatulate when ever someone sends "pixie dust" my way and I enjoy mocking those who take themselves too seriously.

WELCOME MATT!!! flatulates and mocking, two things we do well around here!!

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

(Caught one… Page 142: Owned)

We're planning on the Fantasy in 2012 and through talking it through with my friends who have been on traditional cruises, they recommend tipping upwards of $100/day for wait staff, room service, etc. How would tipping work on a Disney cruise, especially when you have the same people each day? What would be appropriate for room service and mousekeeping?

In other news, we're also very interested in looking at DVC. All y'all DVC DisDads - what's the minimum buy-in now? Can you start as low as 100pts or is it still in the 180 range?

DCL is one of the few cruise lines that actually still allow you to control the tips. Most of them add a standard set of tips into the price of the cruise up front (which in some instances does not give the staff much incentive to perform at their highest standards). DCL also simplifies the process by allowing you to pay tips at the purser’s desk. They actually encourage this, because you can simply charge the entire transaction to your cabin, and they can make direct deposits into each CM's account.

Now, how you go about deciding what to tip is a personal decision and you may want to go up or down from the standard based on your experience during that sailing, but… The generally agreed upon standard works like this:

Room Steward - $4.00 per-person/per-day
Head Server - $4.00 per-person/per-day
Assistant Server - $3.00 per-person/per-day
Dinning room Manager - $1.00 per-person/per-day (optional)

So… for two people sailing seven days it would be $24.00 per day or a total of $168.00.

Here’s a site that will calculate the average tip for you:
http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

If you order room service, you would generally tip a couple of bucks to the CM that delivers the order. We take an envelope with a bunch of dollar bills in it and keep it somewhere near the cabin door.

 

[dvczerfs]

well, just had my final sitting for my root canal. yes, i cant wait to get this thing over with! now i got to wait 2 weeks than have a new post put in and a perm. filling in my cap. $800.00 later and ill be done. (thank god for in surance!)

 

[prattpak]

DCL is one of the few cruise lines that actually still allow you to control the tips. Most of them add a standard set of tips into the price of the cruise up front (which in some instances does not give the staff much incentive to perform at their highest standards). DCL also simplifies the process by allowing you to pay tips at the purser’s desk. They actually encourage this, because you can simply charge the entire transaction to your cabin, and they can make direct deposits into each CM's account.

Now, how you go about deciding what to tip is a personal decision and you may want to go up or down from the standard based on your experience during that sailing, but… The generally agreed upon standard works like this:

Room Steward - $4.00 per-person/per-day
Head Server - $4.00 per-person/per-day
Assistant Server - $3.00 per-person/per-day
Dinning room Manager - $1.00 per-person/per-day (optional)

So… for two people sailing seven days it would be $24.00 per day or a total of $168.00.

Here’s a site that will calculate the average tip for you:
http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

If you order room service, you would generally tip a couple of bucks to the CM that delivers the order. We take an envelope with a bunch of dollar bills in it and keep it somewhere near the cabin door.

Great info!!

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Great info!!

Thanks and you're welcome.

We (DW and I) absolutely love being on board nearly any ship (if I had the funds, I head out to sea as often as the DVC folks head down to the world). We also have a bad habit of over-researching everything (a little like Ron and his commando planning tactics for the parks). As such, I’ve learned way too much about cruising in general and DCL in particular, so ask your questions and if I don’t know the answer, I Beverly well know where to find it.

 

[stopher1]

We're planning on the Fantasy in 2012 and through talking it through with my friends who have been on traditional cruises, they recommend tipping upwards of $100/day for wait staff, room service, etc. How would tipping work on a Disney cruise, especially when you have the same people each day? What would be appropriate for room service and mousekeeping?

In other news, we're also very interested in looking at DVC. All y'all DVC DisDads - what's the minimum buy-in now? Can you start as low as 100pts or is it still in the 180 range?

160 is stll technically the min. Buy-in, direct from Disney. There are some places I've read about 100, even 50 direct, but those reduced amounts aren't commonly marketed. You can of course buy via the resale market too. A great place to start some research is DVCNews.com, they have lots of good info, and keep pretty current on the special incentives. I'd be happy to be referral for you if you go direct. There's a pretty nice deal going on right now, & you need a referral to get the incentive.

You can also venture in to the DVC boards and ask questions there.