Random questions from the first-timers....

[sweetpee_1993]

It seems like every 2 1/2 minutes I think up another question. LOL! We'll be cruisin' noobs in September (3-nights on the Dream). Poor Tammy has entertained my overactive brain since yesterday. I thought maybe I'd bug the rest of the cruisers out there to help with my questions and see what the vets out there have to say.

Okay. Question of the moment. I was reading some Navigators and saw on the schedule that early at Castaway Cay they do a 5k island run. Anyone do this? How was it?

Debate of the last hour: to get transfers to/from WDW for the cruise or drive our own car. We're driving down to WDW for 3 nights, cruising, then returning to WDW for 6 nights. Hubby's vote is pay the transfers to/from the property and let them handle the baggage. Does the baggage work the way he thinks where they take your suitcases before boarding the bus then the next time you see them is in your stateroom? Or do we have to juggle them any in between? I'm voting for driving our own car. I want to move at our own pace, get to the terminal before the buses, and when we leave be able to get back on property as fast as possible. What have you done and what would you do?

Debarkation w/the luggage. Okay. I don't know how I feel about this one. I generally pack all my clothes, appliances (blow drier & flat iron), make-up, and toiletries into a single suitcase. I strive to condense everything into the fewest number of bags possible. Here's my dilemna: if I wash & dry my hair, pack my suitcase, & place it out in the corridor the night before debarkation then the next day I'm still stuck with my purse plus a substantial bag that contains my pjs, flat iron, toiletries, and make-up. I'm just not liking this. If I have a bag to carry aside from my purse it'd be no more of a hassle for it to be my rolling suitcase. No? Plus, when you exit the ship I don't think I like the idea of adding another step in the process to leaving the terminal by having to go to the luggage pick-up spot. Wouldn't it be easier to just exit the ship with your suitcase rolling along and proceed to Customs rather than exit, luggage pick-up, Customs? Am I missing something here?

Okay. That's all for now. I'll have more questions soon. You can bank on that. LOL!

 

[PixieMichele]

These are all very valid questions, and congrats on being a cruising newbie....you are going to loooooooove it! I just got back from my third Disney Cruise and can't wait to get on another one!

Here is the thing with the suitcases...i'm also all about putting everything I can into something with wheels, i don't like feeling like a pack mule! However, us ladies need all our goods in the morning and i feel completely naked without access to my stuff! I have done two things: left the toiletries and clothes that i needed out for the morning and sent the bags ahead, at the time i thought this was the only option that you HAD to part with your luggage the night before. Then i ended up carrying all these other random bags with my last minute stuff.
The second cruise i learned and just kept my suitcase and wheeled it down with me in the morning. I only had the one bag so it wasn't a problem. The only problem is the elevator situation in the morning. The elevator situation on a cruise ship period is a problem. Take the stairs! Just be prepared to wait a few minutes in the morning of disembarkation for an elevator if you don't want to lug your suitcase down the stairs. Also, when you get into your stateroom you'll want to unpack and squish your suitcase down and slide it under the bed, this saves a ton of room.

Transportation: how many people are in your party? The disney transportation is not as economical as you might think. When you are traveling with a party of 4 of more, you can get a better deal with a car service in Orlando (Happy Limo, etc) however, you also have to look at the cost of parking @ the port vs. the transportation so that's something to consider when you have a vehicle. Also, the time factor. If you want to get to port early, beat the lines to check in and hopefully board early, take your own car or the earliest Disney transportation out or you'll get stuck waiting!

HAVE FUN!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I have to chime in on one. My dh did the Castaway 5K and really enjoyed it. They gave everyone a certificate when they finished.

 

[Phonedave]

It seems like every 2 1/2 minutes I think up another question. LOL! We'll be cruisin' noobs in September (3-nights on the Dream). Poor Tammy has entertained my overactive brain since yesterday. I thought maybe I'd bug the rest of the cruisers out there to help with my questions and see what the vets out there have to say.

Okay. Question of the moment. I was reading some Navigators and saw on the schedule that early at Castaway Cay they do a 5k island run. Anyone do this? How was it?

This is the first I have heard of it, but now it is something I will have to do.

Debate of the last hour: to get transfers to/from WDW for the cruise or drive our own car. We're driving down to WDW for 3 nights, cruising, then returning to WDW for 6 nights. Hubby's vote is pay the transfers to/from the property and let them handle the baggage. Does the baggage work the way he thinks where they take your suitcases before boarding the bus then the next time you see them is in your stateroom? Or do we have to juggle them any in between? I'm voting for driving our own car. I want to move at our own pace, get to the terminal before the buses, and when we leave be able to get back on property as fast as possible. What have you done and what would you do?

I would drive. Luggage is easy to handle, really. I do it as a single parent with two girls. With two adults it should be very easy. You are not moving it a half mile. It is from the car to the check in. In fact you can drop one adult and the kids with the luggage at the curb and then park the car.

Debarkation w/the luggage. Okay. I don't know how I feel about this one. I generally pack all my clothes, appliances (blow drier & flat iron), make-up, and toiletries into a single suitcase. I strive to condense everything into the fewest number of bags possible. Here's my dilemna: if I wash & dry my hair, pack my suitcase, & place it out in the corridor the night before debarkation then the next day I'm still stuck with my purse plus a substantial bag that contains my pjs, flat iron, toiletries, and make-up. I'm just not liking this. If I have a bag to carry aside from my purse it'd be no more of a hassle for it to be my rolling suitcase. No? Plus, when you exit the ship I don't think I like the idea of adding another step in the process to leaving the terminal by having to go to the luggage pick-up spot. Wouldn't it be easier to just exit the ship with your suitcase rolling along and proceed to Customs rather than exit, luggage pick-up, Customs? Am I missing something here?

Okay. That's all for now. I'll have more questions soon. You can bank on that. LOL!

As was said, you don't have to put all your stuff out in the hall. You can 'save' a suitcase for the morning.

Again, it is not really a far walk to your bags. It is all right there. And they have skycaps (oceancaps ?) with carts that will assist you if you need it.


-dave

 

[sweetpee_1993]

These are all very valid questions, and congrats on being a cruising newbie....you are going to loooooooove it! I just got back from my third Disney Cruise and can't wait to get on another one!

Here is the thing with the suitcases...i'm also all about putting everything I can into something with wheels, i don't like feeling like a pack mule! However, us ladies need all our goods in the morning and i feel completely naked without access to my stuff! I have done two things: left the toiletries and clothes that i needed out for the morning and sent the bags ahead, at the time i thought this was the only option that you HAD to part with your luggage the night before. Then i ended up carrying all these other random bags with my last minute stuff.
The second cruise i learned and just kept my suitcase and wheeled it down with me in the morning. I only had the one bag so it wasn't a problem. The only problem is the elevator situation in the morning. The elevator situation on a cruise ship period is a problem. Take the stairs! Just be prepared to wait a few minutes in the morning of disembarkation for an elevator if you don't want to lug your suitcase down the stairs. Also, when you get into your stateroom you'll want to unpack and squish your suitcase down and slide it under the bed, this saves a ton of room.

Transportation: how many people are in your party? The disney transportation is not as economical as you might think. When you are traveling with a party of 4 of more, you can get a better deal with a car service in Orlando (Happy Limo, etc) however, you also have to look at the cost of parking @ the port vs. the transportation so that's something to consider when you have a vehicle. Also, the time factor. If you want to get to port early, beat the lines to check in and hopefully board early, take your own car or the earliest Disney transportation out or you'll get stuck waiting!

HAVE FUN!

There's going to be 4 of us: me, DH, & our 2 teenage boys. A limo would be fun...maybe I should look up some rates. Thanks! Glad I'm not nuts for considering just keeping my luggage with me for debarkation. Thanks for the elevator tips. Definitely something to consider!

I have to chime in on one. My dh did the Castaway 5K and really enjoyed it. They gave everyone a certificate when they finished.

Oh now I really want to do this! Would you ask him if it's paved trails, gravel, or sand? Sand could be a deciding factor. That and sleeping in, of course. LOL! I'd love to go run it. I think it'd be a unique way to be introduced to the island!

This is the first I have heard of it, but now it is something I will have to do.



I would drive. Luggage is easy to handle, really. I do it as a single parent with two girls. With two adults it should be very easy. You are not moving it a half mile. It is from the car to the check in. In fact you can drop one adult and the kids with the luggage at the curb and then park the car.




As was said, you don't have to put all your stuff out in the hall. You can 'save' a suitcase for the morning.

Again, it is not really a far walk to your bags. It is all right there. And they have skycaps (oceancaps ?) with carts that will assist you if you need it.


-dave

Dave, you being a runner I thought for SURE you'd have done the 5K run.

Your suggestion for bringing the luggage is EXACTLY what I told DH: get to the terminal around 9:30-ish, drop me & one of the boys at the curb to line up, and he takes one of the boys with him to park the car. Sounds simple enough to me. I mean, sheesh, if it's that horrible I suppose he could go sit with the luggage and I'll park the car. Well, no...wait...exactly how far is it from the parking lot to the terminal? I guess I should ask this stuff before I go volunteering! LOL!

Oh! Now there's a thought that I hadn't thunk yet! Set out 3 of the 4 suitcases with all the stuff we don't need (I expect we'll each have one) out the night before debarkation then throw everyone's last minute stuff/gear into the last suitcase to tote off in the morning. That'd definitely be a good compromise between the two and have 1 suitcase for us to take turns dragging around vs. 4. Think of all the elevator space we'd be saving!!! LOL!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Next question! ((You're all groaning now, huh?! If you stop answering I **might** stop asking. :lol: ))

Ironing! Of course if there's a dress-up night of any sort I should think of how I'll keep my 3 handsome devils' pants & shirts looking ship-shape. I know there are irons/ironing boards in the laundry rooms on the ship. Is there generally a big wait for these? Can you recommend good/bad times of day to try to hit the irons? Would it be a better idea to pay to have them pressed once we get onboard? I think I saw that this is offered for a fee. At first I was thinking a jacket, khakis, and tie for them but then I'm thinking maybe they'd be alright with some nice khakis and a button-up. No? Debarkation day we'll be checking in at the Yacht Club and hope to have dinner at the Yachtsman that night because it's our 18th anniversary. I need to make sure I get those dress pants cleaned & ready to go again for that night. I guess maybe the jackets & ties would be better for Yachtsman. Hhhhmmmmm...

 

[Phonedave]

Next question! ((You're all groaning now, huh?! If you stop answering I **might** stop asking. :lol: ))

Ironing! Of course if there's a dress-up night of any sort I should think of how I'll keep my 3 handsome devils' pants & shirts looking ship-shape. I know there are irons/ironing boards in the laundry rooms on the ship. Is there generally a big wait for these? Can you recommend good/bad times of day to try to hit the irons? Would it be a better idea to pay to have them pressed once we get onboard? I think I saw that this is offered for a fee. At first I was thinking a jacket, khakis, and tie for them but then I'm thinking maybe they'd be alright with some nice khakis and a button-up. No? Debarkation day we'll be checking in at the Yacht Club and hope to have dinner at the Yachtsman that night because it's our 18th anniversary. I need to make sure I get those dress pants cleaned & ready to go again for that night. I guess maybe the jackets & ties would be better for Yachtsman. Hhhhmmmmm...

Ah, time for my favorite tip. - Laundry service.

On a 3 night cruise they will be fine without a jacket and tie (but I would wear one, or at least the jacket). It is recommended (and I wear one on the 'nice' night) but I would say 80% of the people in there don't. It is pretty sad really. They send out enough prior notices, and then put it all over the ship "this night is dress up night" and still our table mates show up in shorts and t-shirts. Well, I continue to fight the good fight and wear a sport coat.

Now, as to the laundry. I never found a wait for the iron. But then being the retentive person I am, I iron my girls dresses and my slacks after dinner the first night we are there and hang them, so they were all set for the rest of the trip. If you try to do some ironing just before the dress up dinner you may hit a snag. I have walked by the laundry room a number of times and can't reacall ever seeing a line for an iron.

I get my jacket cleaned and presses on board. For these prices, how can you not? Rather than struggle with a garment bag and hope it is not all wrinkled, throw it in your normal suitcase and your first night there, hand it to your porter. It is back in your room the next day looking spiffy. If you want, they will press items (as opposed to clean them) for half the below prices.

Dry Cleaning
Suit (2 Piece) $ 7.00
Suit (3 Piece) $ 9.00
Coats $ 7.00
Pants $ 4.25
Jackets $ 4.50
Shirts $ 3.50
Ties $ 2.00
Sweaters $ 4.00
Blouses $ 4.00
Evening Dress $ 8.00
Skirts $ 4.50


-dave

 

[Phonedave]

Dave, you being a runner I thought for SURE you'd have done the 5K run.

I never noticed it. I looked around on line a bit and it seems it is all on paved paths. Start at the ship, run through the 'normal' areas, then onto the old runway, then out a (paved) bike path. Water stops are all along the route.

It seems like it is a slow slow slow run. The one report I looked at had people walking AND taking pictures. No sub 18 minute times there.

Now I have to decide if I want to drag my kids on this or not


Oh, and as distances at the cruise port. I have never parked a car there, but looking at the map, and from what I saw when I was there. You are looking at a 5 min walk or so - max.

-dave

 

[mickeysshoes]

I have only cruised once and it was not Disney...but were are in August. We are using Quicksilver for our transportation...they willo pick up at MCO and take us to the Boarldwalk Inn and then pick us up and take us to port and then pick us at the port and take us back to MCO. THis three leg cost is only a little more then it would cost for Disney to only take us on 2 legs (from resort to port and from port to MCO..using ME from MCO to resort) So check with them for a quote on what you will need!!

Second...We spent the money and now have LLBEAN x-Large rolling duffle bags...One they lay flat and take up less space in a cabin and second you can pick a wild bright color or print to make locating your luggage a breeze when getting off a ship or at the baggage claim. These duffles hold everything plus the kitchen sink...but just be careful of your weight.

 

[StageFrenzy]

I drove to the terminal and they take your bags at the curbside, my wife went inside and i left to park the car. By the time i got upstairs she was done with check in and we got on the ship

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Oh now I really want to do this! Would you ask him if it's paved trails, gravel, or sand? Sand could be a deciding factor. That and sleeping in, of course. LOL! I'd love to go run it. I think it'd be a unique way to be introduced to the island!

I never noticed it. I looked around on line a bit and it seems it is all on paved paths. Start at the ship, run through the 'normal' areas, then onto the old runway, then out a (paved) bike path. Water stops are all along the route.

It seems like it is a slow slow slow run. The one report I looked at had people walking AND taking pictures. No sub 18 minute times there.

Now I have to decide if I want to drag my kids on this or not

It's all paved. There are people going at every pace. Some walking and running, some running the whole way. Dh did it in about 24 minutes and there were people ahead of and behind him.

He said there were about 20 people the day he did it.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I drove to the terminal and they take your bags at the curbside, my wife went inside and i left to park the car. By the time i got upstairs she was done with check in and we got on the ship

That's what we do. When we are with a lot of family, some of whom drive, someone drops most of our party and the bags off. Then they go park the cars. We take their passports in and get checked in.

If it's just our family and we have a rental car, dh drops me and the kids off and he goes to drop off the rental car. We go in with his passport, check us all in, and wait for him to get back on the shuttle.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Ah, time for my favorite tip. - Laundry service.

On a 3 night cruise they will be fine without a jacket and tie (but I would wear one, or at least the jacket). It is recommended (and I wear one on the 'nice' night) but I would say 80% of the people in there don't. It is pretty sad really. They send out enough prior notices, and then put it all over the ship "this night is dress up night" and still our table mates show up in shorts and t-shirts. Well, I continue to fight the good fight and wear a sport coat.

Now, as to the laundry. I never found a wait for the iron. But then being the retentive person I am, I iron my girls dresses and my slacks after dinner the first night we are there and hang them, so they were all set for the rest of the trip. If you try to do some ironing just before the dress up dinner you may hit a snag. I have walked by the laundry room a number of times and can't reacall ever seeing a line for an iron.

I get my jacket cleaned and presses on board. For these prices, how can you not? Rather than struggle with a garment bag and hope it is not all wrinkled, throw it in your normal suitcase and your first night there, hand it to your porter. It is back in your room the next day looking spiffy. If you want, they will press items (as opposed to clean them) for half the below prices.

Dry Cleaning
Suit (2 Piece) $ 7.00
Suit (3 Piece) $ 9.00
Coats $ 7.00
Pants $ 4.25
Jackets $ 4.50
Shirts $ 3.50
Ties $ 2.00
Sweaters $ 4.00
Blouses $ 4.00
Evening Dress $ 8.00
Skirts $ 4.50


-dave

We've done this too. It's so convenient!!

 

[erstwo]

Well, I'm pretty excited about that 5K!

I wish you were going on your cruise BEFORE me, instead of after. Then I could just read your trip report and know exactly what to do!

 

[happymom52003]

As everyone else has said, I think you should definitely drive your own car. We also debated over whether to drive or take the transfers, and we were SO happy we decided to drive. It was so easy, plus we were able to leave for the port when we wanted to. And after the cruise, it was nice to get off the ship and go straight to our car. No waiting around.

About the iron...our stateroom was very close to a laundry room, so we passed it frequently. The only times I noticed people waiting for the iron was during the time that most people would be getting dressed for dinner. Most other times there was no one using it.

 

[devoy1701]

what is the per day cost for parking at Prot Canaveral? Also what is the cost of round-trip transportation to/from WDW?

 

[lovepooh]

Ah, time for my favorite tip. - Laundry service.

On a 3 night cruise they will be fine without a jacket and tie (but I would wear one, or at least the jacket). It is recommended (and I wear one on the 'nice' night) but I would say 80% of the people in there don't. It is pretty sad really. They send out enough prior notices, and then put it all over the ship "this night is dress up night" and still our table mates show up in shorts and t-shirts. Well, I continue to fight the good fight and wear a sport coat.

Now, as to the laundry. I never found a wait for the iron. But then being the retentive person I am, I iron my girls dresses and my slacks after dinner the first night we are there and hang them, so they were all set for the rest of the trip. If you try to do some ironing just before the dress up dinner you may hit a snag. I have walked by the laundry room a number of times and can't reacall ever seeing a line for an iron.

I get my jacket cleaned and presses on board. For these prices, how can you not? Rather than struggle with a garment bag and hope it is not all wrinkled, throw it in your normal suitcase and your first night there, hand it to your porter. It is back in your room the next day looking spiffy. If you want, they will press items (as opposed to clean them) for half the below prices.

Dry Cleaning
Suit (2 Piece) $ 7.00
Suit (3 Piece) $ 9.00
Coats $ 7.00
Pants $ 4.25
Jackets $ 4.50
Shirts $ 3.50
Ties $ 2.00
Sweaters $ 4.00
Blouses $ 4.00
Evening Dress $ 8.00
Skirts $ 4.50


-dave

Thank you so much for posting this! We are leaving on our mexican rivera cruise on the 5th of March. I was thinking of taking our garmets to the cleaners and take our garmet bag on board. This seems just as reasonable as going to a regular cleaners!

 

[Phonedave]

Thank you so much for posting this! We are leaving on our mexican rivera cruise on the 5th of March. I was thinking of taking our garmets to the cleaners and take our garmet bag on board. This seems just as reasonable as going to a regular cleaners!

Those prices are maybe from a year ago.

They may be a dollar or so more, but they should be pretty close.


-dave

 

[Atomicmickey]

After much worrying about dress code on our first cruise on the Dream a couple of weeks ago, it was all for nothing.

It felt great to dress up, so no worries there, but it seemed that the rest of the ship did not agree. Yes, there were others dressed up but the majority didn't, it seemed. It was weird in a lot of ways. Weird that we had worried about it so much, weird that others didn't, weird that Disney didn't enforce it--but, then again, what would you expect them to do? "Hi, you've paid thousands to be here, and without a jacket we will not feed you."

We didn't go to Palo or Remy's, I wondered if anyone flaunted the dress code in those places. Since there is an upcharge, I'd imagine that it would be easier to do so, but Disney is never about criticizing a guest, so it could be a tender situation.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

After much worrying about dress code on our first cruise on the Dream a couple of weeks ago, it was all for nothing.

It felt great to dress up, so no worries there, but it seemed that the rest of the ship did not agree. Yes, there were others dressed up but the majority didn't, it seemed. It was weird in a lot of ways. Weird that we had worried about it so much, weird that others didn't, weird that Disney didn't enforce it--but, then again, what would you expect them to do? "Hi, you've paid thousands to be here, and without a jacket we will not feed you."

We didn't go to Palo or Remy's, I wondered if anyone flaunted the dress code in those places. Since there is an upcharge, I'd imagine that it would be easier to do so, but Disney is never about criticizing a guest, so it could be a tender situation.

I have seen people turned away from Palo. The dress code is absolutely enforced. When one person insisted he hadn't brought any pants they instructed him where to buy them in the gift shops. And he did!