HallsofVA
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2005
- Messages
- 4,411
Here's part 1 of my trip report. More to follow.
Just returned home to DC (and 38 degree weather with snow on the ground) from the 12/3/05 Western Magic. We really didn't want to leave. We had an absolutely wonderful time. So good, that we never did post while on board. So, here's my first attempt at a trip report. I tend to be verbose, so pardon me if this gets too long or had too much information. One other qualification before I begin. I was travelling with husband and my 23-month old son, so my experience is a little driven by my son's age and schedule. But, we also had the grandparents and my brother along, so I got some of their perspective as well.
Pre-cruise
The DISboard was great to help with the planning and preparation. And all the folks from the Cruise Meet/Chat that I've been talking with the past 10 months had loads of great information. The Passporter book helped as well. Birnbaum's book wasn't worth the money.
Night before - 12/02/05
We flew to Orlando the Friday afternoon before the cruise and stayed at the Airport Hyatt. We'd originally reserved the Embassy Suites near the airport, but I ended up getting three rooms at the Hyatt for $64/night each on priceline. It was so convenient. We have folks coming in from different cities at different times, and it was so easy just to meet up at the airport hotel. It was a bit confusing, though, because Disney puts up folks at the hotel the night before the cruise as well, so we had to be careful that our bags didn't end up going somewhere without us. We ate dinner in the hotel. The food was good, but the service was slow. The hotel had cribs available which was nice for my son, and they even included some nice baby toiletries that we ended up taking and using on the ship, including baby wash, a package of baby wipes, and some baby powder. My husband and I spend the evening before going to bed ironing transfers that we'd made at home onto t-shirts to wear the next morning celebrating our 10th anniversary cruise. It was a bit crowded in the bathroom with my husband and I and an ironing board, while my son slept in the bedroom, but I can't fault the hotel for that one!
Morning of cruise - 12/03/05
Here it is! The morning we've been looking forward to for 10 months since booking our cruise. I prebooked a van through FL Tours to take the seven of us to the port, picking up from the Hyatt and returning us to the airport after the cruise. For the seven of us, with a car seat for the toddler, and a 30 minute grocery stop, it was $200 RT, which was cheaper than the Disney transfers. The driver picked us up at 9:00 am as we'd requested, but we were all ready earlier, and could have gone with a 8:30am pickup. With all of the Disney bus passengers there at the hotel, we were anxious to get on the road before they left. The van was very comfortable, with leather seats, expanded head room, cup holders, and a power station where we could recharge my son's DVD player during the trip while he watched it, though we just about maxed out on the luggage room. Our driver down to the port that morning was very nice and pleasant. Even with a slightly delayed start to load all the luggage, and grocery stop to buy bottled water and other stuff, we were at the port before 10:30.
We had a bit of a wait at the entrance to the terminal to get into the building, with about 20 or so people ahead of us waiting for the terminal to open. Once it opened, we went in through security, got a number 2 boarding card at the bottom of the escalator (they said number 1 was reserved for handicapped folks) and headed up the escalator to check in. My in-laws, who were about 5-10 people behind us, were given a number 3 boarding card, so there were probably about 20-25 people who got the number 2 cards. After filling out the Bahamas form we got in line to check in. Since this was our first cruise, we got in the regular line, but only had a few families ahead of us so we didn't have to wait very long. During check-in, we were informed of the change from Nassau to Costa Maya. The Disney staff said they'd just found out about it that morning as well.
We were booked in a Category 4, but asked for and got an upgrade to a Category 3 room that was just fantastic. We ended up in room 8100, which is a handicapped Category 3 suite that only sleeps 4, but it was totally awesome and incredible. Words can't describe it, but it's completely spoiled us for any other type of room. As Greyfal Pat mentioned, the concierge staff was wonderful, and the perks (early boarding, welcome reception where you take care of all reservations, personalized itinerary, concierge receptions, priority reservations, in-room treats every day, personalized character schedules and other treats) were great. We were able to board the ship right at 11:45, and went straight to the Concierge reception. It was nice that they had the Spa and Children's program folks down there as well, so you could take care of everything at once. Even nicer, with the change in itinerary back to the original schedule, Disney had already flipped the nursery and spa reservations so they stayed on an at sea day if that's hoe you'd originally scheduled them.
After taking care of the concierge stuff, we headed to lunch at Topsiders since the rooms weren't available until about 1:30pm, and Parrot Cay was packed since it's on the same level where you get on the boat. Lunch was good, especially the shrimp and the bahama mamas, but not the beef stew. After lunch, we wandered around until the rooms opened up, then spent the next few hours enjoying our room and unpacking, while my son napped. While he slept, I stopped briefly by the DIS meet to see everyone. It was great to put names and faces together! (Thanks again for the custom M&Ms!)
Just returned home to DC (and 38 degree weather with snow on the ground) from the 12/3/05 Western Magic. We really didn't want to leave. We had an absolutely wonderful time. So good, that we never did post while on board. So, here's my first attempt at a trip report. I tend to be verbose, so pardon me if this gets too long or had too much information. One other qualification before I begin. I was travelling with husband and my 23-month old son, so my experience is a little driven by my son's age and schedule. But, we also had the grandparents and my brother along, so I got some of their perspective as well.
Pre-cruise
The DISboard was great to help with the planning and preparation. And all the folks from the Cruise Meet/Chat that I've been talking with the past 10 months had loads of great information. The Passporter book helped as well. Birnbaum's book wasn't worth the money.
Night before - 12/02/05
We flew to Orlando the Friday afternoon before the cruise and stayed at the Airport Hyatt. We'd originally reserved the Embassy Suites near the airport, but I ended up getting three rooms at the Hyatt for $64/night each on priceline. It was so convenient. We have folks coming in from different cities at different times, and it was so easy just to meet up at the airport hotel. It was a bit confusing, though, because Disney puts up folks at the hotel the night before the cruise as well, so we had to be careful that our bags didn't end up going somewhere without us. We ate dinner in the hotel. The food was good, but the service was slow. The hotel had cribs available which was nice for my son, and they even included some nice baby toiletries that we ended up taking and using on the ship, including baby wash, a package of baby wipes, and some baby powder. My husband and I spend the evening before going to bed ironing transfers that we'd made at home onto t-shirts to wear the next morning celebrating our 10th anniversary cruise. It was a bit crowded in the bathroom with my husband and I and an ironing board, while my son slept in the bedroom, but I can't fault the hotel for that one!
Morning of cruise - 12/03/05
Here it is! The morning we've been looking forward to for 10 months since booking our cruise. I prebooked a van through FL Tours to take the seven of us to the port, picking up from the Hyatt and returning us to the airport after the cruise. For the seven of us, with a car seat for the toddler, and a 30 minute grocery stop, it was $200 RT, which was cheaper than the Disney transfers. The driver picked us up at 9:00 am as we'd requested, but we were all ready earlier, and could have gone with a 8:30am pickup. With all of the Disney bus passengers there at the hotel, we were anxious to get on the road before they left. The van was very comfortable, with leather seats, expanded head room, cup holders, and a power station where we could recharge my son's DVD player during the trip while he watched it, though we just about maxed out on the luggage room. Our driver down to the port that morning was very nice and pleasant. Even with a slightly delayed start to load all the luggage, and grocery stop to buy bottled water and other stuff, we were at the port before 10:30.
We had a bit of a wait at the entrance to the terminal to get into the building, with about 20 or so people ahead of us waiting for the terminal to open. Once it opened, we went in through security, got a number 2 boarding card at the bottom of the escalator (they said number 1 was reserved for handicapped folks) and headed up the escalator to check in. My in-laws, who were about 5-10 people behind us, were given a number 3 boarding card, so there were probably about 20-25 people who got the number 2 cards. After filling out the Bahamas form we got in line to check in. Since this was our first cruise, we got in the regular line, but only had a few families ahead of us so we didn't have to wait very long. During check-in, we were informed of the change from Nassau to Costa Maya. The Disney staff said they'd just found out about it that morning as well.
We were booked in a Category 4, but asked for and got an upgrade to a Category 3 room that was just fantastic. We ended up in room 8100, which is a handicapped Category 3 suite that only sleeps 4, but it was totally awesome and incredible. Words can't describe it, but it's completely spoiled us for any other type of room. As Greyfal Pat mentioned, the concierge staff was wonderful, and the perks (early boarding, welcome reception where you take care of all reservations, personalized itinerary, concierge receptions, priority reservations, in-room treats every day, personalized character schedules and other treats) were great. We were able to board the ship right at 11:45, and went straight to the Concierge reception. It was nice that they had the Spa and Children's program folks down there as well, so you could take care of everything at once. Even nicer, with the change in itinerary back to the original schedule, Disney had already flipped the nursery and spa reservations so they stayed on an at sea day if that's hoe you'd originally scheduled them.
After taking care of the concierge stuff, we headed to lunch at Topsiders since the rooms weren't available until about 1:30pm, and Parrot Cay was packed since it's on the same level where you get on the boat. Lunch was good, especially the shrimp and the bahama mamas, but not the beef stew. After lunch, we wandered around until the rooms opened up, then spent the next few hours enjoying our room and unpacking, while my son napped. While he slept, I stopped briefly by the DIS meet to see everyone. It was great to put names and faces together! (Thanks again for the custom M&Ms!)
Keyon is a total hoot. Tell him "Dorothy" said Aloha! 
Also, I'm not sure who gave us the magnet for our door, but it was perfect! Our kids were able to find our room easier. So thank you mystery person! Hey Pat, I haven't noticed that you mentioned that you FINALLY stepped foot into Studio Seas! That's still amazes me!
Linda and Ed, their DD chichi honey Sarah 
23 and me GrayFal 
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Bus to the Cruise Terminal
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Jeanna about the change in the itinerary from Nassau to Costa Maya.
