Wonderful Panama Canal Sept 2014

[gregs4414]

Welcome. Should be a fun cruise.

Who is coming along with you?

Hi, my mother, sister and her boyfriend, and my best friend her hubby and 2 kids, with me, my hubby and 2 kids

 

[gregs4414]

On the EBTA last year the cost of the CD was about 400.00. If you take EVERY photo op possible, it might be worth it. You can talk to them about this, but you might be able to "downgrade" the package if you decide you don't want all the photos. The best price is offered either before we board or that day.

The cost of the "all the photos" CD changes depending on the length of the cruise - we mistakenly thought it was one price and found out that it also varies from ship to ship! A 7 day Fantasy disk was as much as a 14 day Magic...go figure.

Does that help at all?

Hi yes!!!! THANKYOU

 

[gregs4414]

We just booked today and are ready to go.....no wait we still need to join in on all of the festivities on page 1. It will be me, my husband and my son (13). This is our 3rd cruise and the first one without our two oldest who couldn't get the time off of their college classes to join us.

My son is asking if there are any other kiddos his age that will be on this trip.

Can't wait for September!!! Wishing the summer will move along quickly, but trying to savor the time off from school/activities that keep us so busy.
Paula

Hi, my son is 13 also!, hopefully they can meet up. This is our first cruise

 

[mmbl]

My last trip to Cabo I was cruising alone for that cruise (it was a B2B2B and this was the first cruise) What kind of info are you looking for? I found that photos were the hardest part - I just got used to asking folks to take my picture for me- got some good ones and some not so good ones! ====================== This is a general announcement/comment about WHY I am keeping the FB group secret. I have gotten a couple of comments via PM that it seems overprotective to keep the group secret. The other FB group that I admin voted to decrease the secrecy - now we are having all kinds of trouble. Since we have links to the FE list which contains personal information on that page, the FE organizer has been spammed beyond belief with request for everything from medications to money requests. All the links have been removed, but the problems still persist. The FE list had to be redone, since the google doc was hacked and all the information was "stolen". Folks emails have been hacked, and posts have been made on their accounts. I warned folks on the Dis that having the FB group private rather than secret group was risky, and the worst I dreamed of happened. Because of that - this group will remain secret. I am sorry that some feel this is a problem, but there is a lot of personal information available to all of us via FB. Each of the lists provides the dates of travel, add to that our names and home towns and we are leaving ourselves wide open for thieves. I can go on and on - but the bottom line is, the secret group protects us all. Cayla

I appreciate the secret status! I really don't want everyone to know when we're traveling. People just don't realize how easy it is to figure out exactly where someone lives, especially if they're looking to cause harm. Thanks!

 

[mmbl]

Whats so special about Palo? My husband thinks im crazy for wanting to spend money on food when all the food is free,,!,,,

If I remember correctly, and this is your first cruise, IMHO ONLY, don't spend money on the extra fee dining. There are so many other options to try. OTOH, this is a 14 night cruise... My his will be our 19th cruise, varying lengths and itineraries, and we only occasionally book one of the specialty restaurants. The food in the MDR and buffets is generally very good to excellent.

 

[padalyn]

Whats so special about Palo? My husband thinks im crazy for wanting to spend money on food when all the food is free,,!,,,

Palo is adult only dining. The service is amazing, the food is very good. BUT, your kids will be in the dining room alone. Even though it is your first Disney cruise, I would suggest trying it. The cost is 25.00 per person (not very much) plus tip and alcohol. We usually manage to escape spending about 75-100. So, if the money is a real issue - skip it. Otherwise, we will be in each dining room many time (4 times for all and 5 times for two).

I WILL suggest that you all make sure to eat upstairs at Beach Blanket one night - a lot of folks forget that there is sit down dining in that area for dinner (free, and all ages). Room service is available 24 hrs a day (I highly recommend the Cesar salad!) And for lunch you have many options as well - the walk-up counters on deck 9, the buffet (Beach Blanket on deck 9) and two of the main dining rooms are also open.

For the foodies in you all - be sure to do breakfast at Tritons.

Hope that helps!
Cayla

 

[davidls]

My last trip to Cabo I was cruising alone for that cruise (it was a B2B2B and this was the first cruise) What kind of info are you looking for? I found that photos were the hardest part - I just got used to asking folks to take my picture for me- got some good ones and some not so good ones!

======================
This is a general announcement/comment about WHY I am keeping the FB group secret. I have gotten a couple of comments via PM that it seems overprotective to keep the group secret.

The other FB group that I admin voted to decrease the secrecy - now we are having all kinds of trouble. Since we have links to the FE list which contains personal information on that page, the FE organizer has been spammed beyond belief with request for everything from medications to money requests. All the links have been removed, but the problems still persist. The FE list had to be redone, since the google doc was hacked and all the information was "stolen".

Folks emails have been hacked, and posts have been made on their accounts. I warned folks on the Dis that having the FB group private rather than secret group was risky, and the worst I dreamed of happened.

Because of that - this group will remain secret. I am sorry that some feel this is a problem, but there is a lot of personal information available to all of us via FB. Each of the lists provides the dates of travel, add to that our names and home towns and we are leaving ourselves wide open for thieves. I can go on and on - but the bottom line is, the secret group protects us all.

Cayla

Thank you Cayla. I agree with you our FB page should be secret. I have been on one other Disney cruise who had a FB page that was not secret. I did not join that FB page, and like that other FB page you monitor it was a nightmare. I was glad I did not join that group.

 

[dee slack]

Has anyone have any experience with shutters,? This is our first cruise with 11 of us going, and for 14 days I would love ALL THE PHOTOS. IS IT WORTH IT..?.
..

The cost for this cruise is $339 for ALL prints if you do it in advance (mycruisephotos.com). Not sure what the price will be on board.
Last year on the EBTA (14 nights) we paid $399 for the CD's and then an extra $75 for the prints as well. There's only 2 of us, so not many permutations but we still managed to get 593 photo's.
This year we have just purchased the prints only, as we never used the CD's.

 

[kerstfan1]

Yes i vote to keep it secret

 

[Cruisin]

======================
This is a general announcement/comment about WHY I am keeping the FB group secret. I have gotten a couple of comments via PM that it seems overprotective to keep the group secret.

The other FB group that I admin voted to decrease the secrecy - now we are having all kinds of trouble. Since we have links to the FE list which contains personal information on that page, the FE organizer has been spammed beyond belief with request for everything from medications to money requests. All the links have been removed, but the problems still persist. The FE list had to be redone, since the google doc was hacked and all the information was "stolen".

Folks emails have been hacked, and posts have been made on their accounts. I warned folks on the Dis that having the FB group private rather than secret group was risky, and the worst I dreamed of happened.

Because of that - this group will remain secret. I am sorry that some feel this is a problem, but there is a lot of personal information available to all of us via FB. Each of the lists provides the dates of travel, add to that our names and home towns and we are leaving ourselves wide open for thieves. I can go on and on - but the bottom line is, the secret group protects us all.

Cayla

I appreciate the secret status! I really don't want everyone to know when we're traveling. People just don't realize how easy it is to figure out exactly where someone lives, especially if they're looking to cause harm. Thanks!

Thank you Cayla. I agree with you our FB page should be secret. I have been on one other Disney cruise who had a FB page that was not secret. I did not join that FB page, and like that other FB page you monitor it was a nightmare. I was glad I did not join that group.

Yes i vote to keep it secret

I am in total agreement to keep it secret. No one but the people that are going on that cruise really have any need to know what we are talking about.

 

[kdeans1010]

======================
This is a general announcement/comment about WHY I am keeping the FB group secret. I have gotten a couple of comments via PM that it seems overprotective to keep the group secret.

The other FB group that I admin voted to decrease the secrecy - now we are having all kinds of trouble. Since we have links to the FE list which contains personal information on that page, the FE organizer has been spammed beyond belief with request for everything from medications to money requests. All the links have been removed, but the problems still persist. The FE list had to be redone, since the google doc was hacked and all the information was "stolen".

Folks emails have been hacked, and posts have been made on their accounts. I warned folks on the Dis that having the FB group private rather than secret group was risky, and the worst I dreamed of happened.

Because of that - this group will remain secret. I am sorry that some feel this is a problem, but there is a lot of personal information available to all of us via FB. Each of the lists provides the dates of travel, add to that our names and home towns and we are leaving ourselves wide open for thieves. I can go on and on - but the bottom line is, the secret group protects us all.

Cayla

Dude I'm so okay with the group being private. Cayla I have said it before and I will say it again: you're awesome. I probably would have more white hair if I had to organize stuff like this...

Whats so special about Palo? My husband thinks im crazy for wanting to spend money on food when all the food is free,,!,,,

My friend Em is the same way. Here's why I love Palo: I am a foodie, but I'm an asomnia foodie. I have no sense of smell (asomnia), so the way I taste (this is going to sound weird so follow me here) is by texture. I'm a HUGE fan of texture. At Palo all the food has a lot of interesting textures. It just is soooooo good. Like the food at the regular dining rooms is good, but the fried cheese at Palo (which has a fancy name) is amazing!

 

[Cruisin]

I am a foodie, but I'm an asomnia foodie. I have no sense of smell (asomnia), so the way I taste (this is going to sound weird so follow me here) is by texture.

Interesting.

 

[sillyspook13]

Thanks for the warm welcome, everybody! We just booked our flight out to Disneyland for a quick pre cruise visit. We're currently trying to decide where we want to stay. Ideally we want to book Grand Californian if we can afford it. Then we need to consider transportation. Our friends who just got back from the westbound Panama Canal took the train from San Diego, and that sounds like the best option for us.

We're also looking at excursions. I've been to Cozumel before, but the last time was twelve years ago and I'm pretty sure a lot has changed (for example when I visited Playa Mia it was still called Playa Del Sol!). The other ports are new to both of us.

I sent a message for hubby and myself to be added to the Facebook group when I first joined this discussion. Hopefully we'll both be able to join all of you on Facebook soon!

 

[sillyspook13]

Preview cruise didn't count, huh? Bummer. We're glad to have you on this one. Get Cayla to add you to out Facebook page. Nice to have cast members aboard. Of course you probably don't like to talk shop. From your DIS name I'm assuming that one or both of you work on the Haunted Mansion? My son would be soooo bummed that he won't be there to meet you on this cruise. He's a HM fanatic. (No he's not goth, just likes the mansion).

I'm a long time fan f the Haunted Mansion. I actually started using this as my go to name well before I started working for Disney! I have never worked at the mansion, but I have brought Guests there on tours.

 

[pepperpike]

My grown daughter, Nancy, is very much a HM fan. She has been to many HM events over the years, collects HM and Nightmare before Xmas pins and and many limited edition collectables. I remember meeting a young lady who works for Disney merchandising on a Disney Dream Halloween cruise and dressed up as the shrinking portraits in the HM entry room (elevator). She would like to meet you. Joe

 

[gregs4414]

If I remember correctly, and this is your first cruise, IMHO ONLY, don't spend money on the extra fee dining. There are so many other options to try. OTOH, this is a 14 night cruise... My his will be our 19th cruise, varying lengths and itineraries, and we only occasionally book one of the specialty restaurants. The food in the MDR and buffets is generally very good to excellent.

ok, thanks! I just hear about how great it is, i am just overwhelmed with everything and dont want to miss out on a good thing, but yes beings this is our first EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE NEW AND EXCITING!!!

 

[gregs4414]

The cost for this cruise is $339 for ALL prints if you do it in advance (mycruisephotos.com). Not sure what the price will be on board.
Last year on the EBTA (14 nights) we paid $399 for the CD's and then an extra $75 for the prints as well. There's only 2 of us, so not many permutations but we still managed to get 593 photo's.
This year we have just purchased the prints only, as we never used the CD's.

OK, GREAT, MY HUSBAND says "we have a good camera, we will take our own," meaning I will take our own...lol but this is our first vacation, so i am seriously considering it!!!

 

[gregs4414]

Palo is adult only dining. The service is amazing, the food is very good. BUT, your kids will be in the dining room alone. Even though it is your first Disney cruise, I would suggest trying it. The cost is 25.00 per person (not very much) plus tip and alcohol. We usually manage to escape spending about 75-100. So, if the money is a real issue - skip it. Otherwise, we will be in each dining room many time (4 times for all and 5 times for two).

I WILL suggest that you all make sure to eat upstairs at Beach Blanket one night - a lot of folks forget that there is sit down dining in that area for dinner (free, and all ages). Room service is available 24 hrs a day (I highly recommend the Cesar salad!) And for lunch you have many options as well - the walk-up counters on deck 9, the buffet (Beach Blanket on deck 9) and two of the main dining rooms are also open.

For the foodies in you all - be sure to do breakfast at Tritons.

Hope that helps!
Cayla

thankyou!! is there characters while dining, ??? or is that a special thing??

 

[gregs4414]

We are from WA state as well.

We are celebrating our 15th anniversary as well this is our first cruise ever also!!! where at in Wa.? a i have a 4 year old daughter

 

[JimmyL47]

Thanks for the warm welcome, everybody! We just booked our flight out to Disneyland for a quick pre cruise visit. We're currently trying to decide where we want to stay. Ideally we want to book Grand Californian if we can afford it. Then we need to consider transportation. Our friends who just got back from the westbound Panama Canal took the train from San Diego, and that sounds like the best option for us.

We're also looking at excursions. I've been to Cozumel before, but the last time was twelve years ago and I'm pretty sure a lot has changed (for example when I visited Playa Mia it was still called Playa Del Sol!). The other ports are new to both of us.

I sent a message for hubby and myself to be added to the Facebook group when I first joined this discussion. Hopefully we'll both be able to join all of you on Facebook soon!

There are several of us here who staying in the Anaheim area pre-cruise (my family will be at the Grand Californian Villas 9/8 to 9/12) we are planning a local group dinner while there. Then also as a group will be taking the train from Anaheim to San Diego on the morning of the 12th. I am sure I speak for everyone else when I say the more the merrier.