Western Caribbean April 30, 2011?

[hhislandmama]

Pre-cruise/post-cruise. What are your plans?

We are arriving the day before & staying in a park & cruise hotel (RI). Still not sure about post-cruise. DS is working us for a day at WDW.

Sooooooo, what about the rest if you?????

You are going to love the cruise! We took our first Disney cruise (first ever for our kids) last October (also a Western Caribbean) and had so much fun, I HAD to go back! Leaving hubby at home and taking my parents and two daughters. My kids are 5 and 7 and I know that anything before and after the cruise would be too much for them - they would be exhausted. If it were maybe a 3,4 or 5 day cruise we would consider a pre-post cruise but not for this one.

 

[4 Ears]

Hello all, yes I have recvd 2 PM's was waiting to get more before I post the list.
blodg is sailing with us

Did everyone get the excursions they wanted?

Who has started packing?

Headed off to work, it is my Monday, you all have a great day

 

[Planetneutral]

As a first-timer, I don't get to play the excursion game until midnight.

 

[Planetneutral]

So here's what we're planning at this point.

Key West: We'll do the Conch Train on our own and get our pic at Southernmost Point.

Grand Cayman: We're looking at the Atlantis.Ttheir website says "Children must be a minimum of 36" in height or 4 years old to ride the submarine." So although DCL will only allows us to book at 4 or older, we have a question in to the folks who run it to confirm that they will allow our very tall 3YO if we book directly through them. Cheaper that way anyway.

Cozumel: We're gonna take a taxi over to Chankanaab and hang out. Low key day.

Ditto for Castaway Cay.

So what are my odds on getting Palo reservations when midnight rolls around? Is the demand down with all the veterans riding on the Dream?

 

[debc1212]

Ok, first-time cruisers.... Who is with me in staying up til midnight to book excursions?

It looks like you might, Planetneutral? That is, if there is anything left for us lowly cruise newbies!

 

[debc1212]

Ok, first-time cruisers.... Who is with me in staying up til midnight to book excursions?

It looks like you might, Planetneutral? That is, if there is anything left for us lowly cruise newbies!

 

[Audria407]

Hello all, yes I have recvd 2 PM's was waiting to get more before I post the list.
blodg is sailing with us

I haven't sent you a PM yet, but I hope you still have my info. Now that this is my 5th message, I can PM if you need me to!

Ok, first-time cruisers.... Who is with me in staying up til midnight to book excursions?

I'm right there with you Deb, 1:08 left! (Do all first timers do this? )

Our plans are:
Key West ~ Do our own thing, maybe head over to the KW Toy Factory (I've heard it's a lot like the FAO Schwartz that used to be in Orlando so my DD will get a kick out of it), maybe do some shopping and walking around taking photos of all the important spots
Cayman ~ Island Tour and Stingray City. I've heard mixed reviews about the Island tour but I'd like to see as much as I can, including the Turtle Farm, and definitely don't want to miss Stingray City. This excursion seemed like the best way to go.
Cozumel ~ Either Fury or Xcaret, DD's first choice is Fury.
CC~ On our own! We're bringing our own snorkeling gear and can't wait to check out the Cay.

Ok, only one hour left now!

 

[Planetneutral]

Do all first timers do this? )

I sure hope not. 18 minutes and counting. Knowing my luck, my internet connection will crap out in about 17 minutes.

 

[Planetneutral]

Bingo! Brunch at Palo on the first sea day, dinner at Palo on the second. Exactly what i hoped for. Children registered for the clubs. At this point, not doing any excursions through DCL, so i think I'm done.

I am a little confused about the whole "My Online Check-In" thing. Should I be able to do something under that tab right now. All it says in "Check-in begins 2/14/11." You know, like, right now. Is this something different from the reservations and whatnot that I'm already making? the video seems to suggest it is, but then why is it not available?

 

[Audria407]

I am a little confused about the whole "My Online Check-In" thing. Should I be able to do something under that tab right now. All it says in "Check-in begins 2/14/11." You know, like, right now. Is this something different from the reservations and whatnot that I'm already making? the video seems to suggest it is, but then why is it not available?

Maybe it's on PST? Mine's not enabled yet either. Guess I'll check it again tomorrow. I got the important stuff out of the way, Palo Brunch was available!

 

[debc1212]

Well, my computer froze up completely.....which, I guess, is why I have two posts with the same message?? Sorry about that!

Anyhow, I finally got it to unfreeze just in time to book excursions, brunch, & nursery time! Woo Hoo!!!

Feeling pretty good now!

Still looking for some sort of beach excursion to do on our own in Cozumel, anyone have suggestions?

I have looked up a few, but the reviews seemed to range from "don't miss this place we had the best day ever in our entire life", to "don't go to this place unless you want to waste your money and ruin your vacation". Seems like there is nothing in between on these reviews of the SAME PLACE it's just
crazy!

So if anyone has done a Cozumel beach, or found a place to go, I'd love to hear about it....thanks

 

[Planetneutral]

Still looking for some sort of beach excursion to do on our own in Cozumel, anyone have suggestions?

I have looked up a few, but the reviews seemed to range from "don't miss this place we had the best day ever in our entire life", to "don't go to this place unless you want to waste your money and ruin your vacation". Seems like there is nothing in between on these reviews of the SAME PLACE it's just
crazy!

So if anyone has done a Cozumel beach, or found a place to go, I'd love to hear about it....thanks

We had the same research experience. Decided to just take a taxi to Chankanaab since it seemed like a good mix of sun, shade and relatively safe place for the kids to run around.

As for our check-in, it was available when I woke up this morning, so I went ahead and completed that too. I think we're ready, except for waiting for confirmation from the Atlantis Submarine place in Grand Cayman that they will allow our tall 3YO to ride if we book through them.

 

[debc1212]

We had the same research experience. Decided to just take a taxi to Chankanaab since it seemed like a good mix of sun, shade and relatively safe place for the kids to run around.

Ok, thanks. I'll check that out.

Deb

 

[Audria407]

Still looking for some sort of beach excursion to do on our own in Cozumel, anyone have suggestions?

A friend just recommended I check out Paradise Beach ... good reviews on TripAdvisor, clean, nice, inexpensive, and things for the kids to do. Decisions, decisions...

 

[Audria407]

I was just looking at Navigators today to do some prelim planning...
Alecia

Where does one find Navigators?

 

[4 Ears]

Hi Audria47, check out wdwinfo.com or disneycruiseline.com for the them. Or look under cruise reports. If I can find one of them I will post a link

 

[Planetneutral]

Where does one find Navigators?

The DIS DCL FAQ has some listed under Navigators: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2068966

Lots of other good info as well.

 

[4 Ears]

On the Disney Cruise Lines Trip report, look towards the bottom 3/4's of the page for a 3 2 1 western Magic trip report 10/16 by cowboyprincess. sorry not being able to copy and paste... hope this helps

 

[Audria407]

Thank you both, this ought to keep me busy for a while!

 

[debc1212]

Hello fellow cruisers. I have a question for those of you who have already been on a Disney cruise: How long does the dinner each night last?

Reason I ask is we have a little one who may not be able to sit in a high chair through a two-hour dinner.

I did a search on the boards, but can't seem to find anything about how long the nightly dinners usually last.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Deb