Disney Dream - 5 Nite Double Dip, April 2012 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Hello everyone. This report is late, but I've been enjoying reading all the trip reports, so thought I'd share our trip from earlier this year.
Intro Grandpa and Grandma (that's me), decided to take the kids on a cruise. We live in Florida, and DD x 2 live in California - (they are actually my step-daughters, but fortunately they haven't annointed me with the wicked-stepmother label ). The eldest DD is married and joining us on the trip were our son-in-law and two granddaughters, ages 12 and 9. The younger DD was traveling by herself, as her SO needed to stay home and work.
The idea of the cruise came up the year before while we were visiting Disney World with the kids. DH, also known as Grumpy Bear, was not keen on the idea, but agreed to go along for the ride. This was our first cruise on a large ship, so we didn't know what to expect.
The kids arrived a day before the cruise, and we had a relaxing evening. The car service picked us up at 10am the next day for the 2.5 hour drive to Port Canaveral. I was glad we didn't have to rush for an early departure.
Here is the younger set - waiting in line to enter the terminal. We waited only a few minutes before having our entry documents checked and taking the escalator to the terminal.
Once in the terminal, a nice gentleman directed us to the check-in lines. It wasn't too crowded, but I asked him "is that also for Concierge check-in?" he looked at our documents, and escorted us to an empty check-in desk at the back of the terminal . Fortunately, I had joined the boards before booking the cruise, so knew a few inside tips. I'd picked a 12:30 boarding time, since I'd read here that this would hopefully be after the morning crush, but before the busses arrived.
No one wanted their photo with Minnie - they were too excited! So we quickly checked in, and were escorted past the waiting line right through those ears. Feeling a little self-conscious, we whizzed by the folks in line for our boarding photo - this, I think, is the one and only photo I have of all of us together:
We were greeted in the atrium and taken to the Concierge Lounge. Our rooms were ready, so the kids quickly set off to explore, and DH and I took a moment to confirm and fix a few dinner reservations. We also grabbed a quick snack. The Lounge was nice, very much like an airport lounge.
We then headed off in search of our room, where we met up with the younger set. Next up - a look at our rooms.
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Glad you're doing this report, Sharon! Funny to think of you two sitting back and letting someone else do the sailing! There's such a world of difference between sailing on a floating hotel and navigating on your own, I guess you really can't compare, but I keep thinking of you resisting the urge to figure out how to get to the next port!
Wow! Off to a great start! Can't wait to read more!
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great start!
Thank you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Glad you're doing this report, Sharon! Funny to think of you two sitting back and letting someone else do the sailing! There's such a world of difference between sailing on a floating hotel and navigating on your own, I guess you really can't compare, but I keep thinking of you resisting the urge to figure out how to get to the next port!
Lol - there was some stateroom navigating going on, and it wasn't being done by me. As I mentioned, this was our first time cruising on a large ship - we've been on a 60+ passenger vessel for an Arctic cruise, but that was strictly low tech.
Since I have a few hours of good internet connection, I'll continue with the report now.
Concierge I'll start by saying I had no intention of booking Concierge for the trip. Originally, we were to have 3 more people in our group - Great Grandma, our Niece, and her husband. They couldn't make it, so we were down to 7. And, since we were paying for the trip, I gulped when I first started researching. I really had no idea how much it cost to cruise. In the end, I found I could get two connecting staterooms on Deck 11 - which meant Concierge. Having 3 less people helped reduce the sticker shock, so I went for it. And, it is seldom that we get a chance to travel with both kids and the grandkids, I decided to try and make it a special trip.
The kids knew nothing about which rooms I'd booked until we got on the boat - the first they knew about Concierge was at check-in. And, they probably just figured that was like their Dad's Frequent Flyer pass or something.
Rooms: We got to our rooms - 1100 and 1102. 1102 is a one bedroom suite with the large verandah due to the bump out. 1100 is the last room on the hall, and is an accessible room - which I didn't know when I booked. It was quite a bit wider than a regular room; it had only one bathroom, but that wasn't a problem, since they could also use the second one in our adjoining room. We would certainly have given up the room if someone needed it, but were never asked about it. Having adjoining rooms was great, but it wasn't an absolute need.
The Hallway in the Suite - looking from the living area to the door
The living area. There was also a second TV in the bedroom. The sofa made into a bed at night, which is where youngest DD slept. She had her own bathroom at the end of the hall, and there was tons of closet space.
The small dining table - looking out from the bedroom. I meant to take some better photos later, but it seems I was distracted by other activities. The bedroom had sliding doors that could be opened during the day, or shut in the evening, and the Master Bath - with a full tub and a separate shower, was right next to it.
The extra large veranda - some folks complain about the partially enclosed top, but we found it good protection from the wind, and occasional rain.
The other room - a bed with a curtain for privacy, a fold out sofa, and a bunk that folded down over the sofa.
The verandah for 1100 was only partially on the bump out, but Kevin, our stateroom host, unlocked the door between the two verandahs, and space was definitely not an issue.
Needless to say - everyone was pleased with my most excellent stateroom selection. Actually, the kids would have been happy with any room at all. I knew, however, that Grumpy Bear needed some space, particularly since he wouldn't be doing a lot of Cruise Activities.
Was Concierge Worth the Cost?This is a tough question. Obviously, it was very nice to have the larger staterooms, and some of the amenities that go along with it. We didn't use the lounge much, but it was very convenient to take care of reservations, photos, and have an occasional cocktail. We didn't have many special requests, other than a request for something special on DD12's birthday.
The two biggest perks were 1) no waiting to board, and 2) the ability to book excursions at the 120 Day mark. We'll get to those "excursions" in a bit, but let's say that they were the highlight of the trip.
Where was I? Oh yes - is it worth it? For us, for this trip as a blended family group, with Grumpy Bear - yes, definitely worth it. For just the kids? Like I said, they certainly enjoyed it, but would have been happy with any cabin, and waiting in line is an adventure for them.
Evacuation Drill Just before 4pm, we headed to the Walt Disney Theater for the Drill. I'm glad this was our location, as this was the one and only time we entered the Theater.
After we learned how to safely get off the boat in an emergency (which everyone took seriously, since the disaster off the Coast of Italy had occurred not long before) the youngsters headed up to Deck 13 to watch the SAIL AWAY.
It was windy, but still a very pleasant day.
Here we are, heading out to sea. I enjoyed cruising past the industrial part of the terminal - in my "working" life, I managed the business unit that was responsible for the Cement Terminals at Port Canaveral. We imported cement from all over the world - Asia, Spain, Sweden, and more. I also had the chance to watch a Shuttle Launch from the top of the silos.
Our group skipped the Sail Away Party. Not sure why, I believe they were still exploring. It turns out we didn't do many of the group activities at all. The only rules for the Cruise were that we would all eat together several nights, and most importantly - Relax! We knew we couldn't do it all, so there was never any pressure to run from one place to another.
Dinner at the Royal Palace: We had the late seating, which worked well, given the kids were still on California time. Our first night was at The Royal Palace. Grumpy Bear insisted we arrive a few minutes early, even though I explained that wasn't necessary. After a short wait, we were seated at our table. A good location, on the second tier/terrace and against the wall, with no one near us. Dwight was our server, and we had an excellent first dinner on the Dream. Everyone was happy with their selections. I'll just share a few photos, and not try to recollect the names of each dish We had a running joke during the cruise with my attempts at food photography.
And, my favorite of the whole trip - the Grand Marnier Souffle:
After dinner, we meandered back to our rooms, where everyone hit the sack - excited about tomorrow's adventure: coming up - Castaway Cay.
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Great Start! My Family and I have never been on a cruise - so I'm excited to read about yours
a Disney Cruise is definitely worth planning ( and saving) for. Fun for the whole family.
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Originally Posted by ctsmom116
Great Start! I can't wait to read more
Thanks for following along and commenting.
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Originally Posted by chezp
What a great first day! The suite looks absolutely amazing - I'd love to stay in one of those one day...
The suite worked out well, and had plenty of room for 3, or 4, adults. The economics weren't too bad, as we probably would have booked a separate room for our younger daughter. There is a problem - once you have the larger suite, it's hard to go back to a regular room.
I did forget to include in the Day 1 summary that the grand kids did visit the Clubs - The Edge for DD 12, and The Lab for DD9. They enjoyed the clubs, and would have liked to have spent more time there.
The suites look fantastic! Love that huge veranda. I love the idea of a double-dip. Starting out with Castaway Cay is so great, and then knowing that you'll be back is even better.
The suites look fantastic! Love that huge veranda. I love the idea of a double-dip. Starting out with Castaway Cay is so great, and then knowing that you'll be back is even better.
You're right, Laurie - the Double Dip was perfect. And, we felt very lucky to enjoy the suite.
Argghhh - just lost my Castaway Cay update to somewhere in cyberspace. Oh well, a chance to relive the day as I redo it.
Day 2 - Castaway Cay, Part 1: We woke up to the cannon-like noise of the crew shooting the ropes to the dock. It was cloudy and drizzly - not the best day for the beach The kids enjoyed watching the docking exercise from the balcony:
...
The kids headed up to Cabanas for breakfast, while we grabbed cereal and coffee from the lounge. As the weather cleared, I went up top to take a photo:
I had read that CC was a small island, 3.1 miles long, but the beach area was much larger than I expected.
At about 9:30am, we gathered up the troop and headed for the exit. After getting hopelessly lost, we did the smart thing and let the 12 year old lead the way. A quick swipe of our key cards, and we were onshore.
We took the tram to the first stop. At Scuttle's Cove we found a wonderful surprise:
CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW
There was almost no line, and we had a chance for some fun photos. Captain Jack was awesome - taking lots of time to interact with the girls, and making them laugh. He was just perfect - much better than some of the photos I've seen.
We took the next Tram to Pelican Landing, where it was time to check in for our surprise of the day - a Cabana on the Family Beach! The cat may have sneaked out of the bag when this was delivered to the cabin the night before:
Grumpy Bear checked us in, while the kids went to get their snorkeling gear. I'm not sure what interaction is taking place at the check-in counter, but I imagine Grumpy was disavowing all association with our group I was lucky to have secured a Cabana for both of our CC Days - another splurge, but well worth it for our group. DH does not like sand, and I have had some skin cancer issues, so no sun for me. For a group with elderly (us), or babies, the cabana helps to make for an enjoyable day at CC.
We were then taken via golf cart to our Cabana. And, who did we see - Mickey & Pluto! This must be Disney
Our own slice of heaven ... Cabana No. 4. Close to Cookies Too, but the foliage gives a sense of privacy.
There was a small refrigerator in the Cabana, with cold drinks, fruit, and wet towels. We also had some snacks and a good supply of sunscreen and towels. We hardly touched the snacks or drinks, as the kids preferred fountain drinks from Cookies Too.
The Cabana Beach - it was empty most of the day. Not sure all the cabanas were in use.
A view of the Family Beach - still lots of chairs available. Perhaps because of the weather?
The Dream in the Distance...
We were fortunate to see the Fantasy on it's warm-up cruise - and to hear the two ships sound off their horns at each other. Very cool
The walkway from the Cabana to the beach
Pelican Plunge - more on this coming up soon
Coming up in Part 2: Food, Pelican Plunge, Heads Up, and more
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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). The eldest DD is married and joining us on the trip were our son-in-law and two granddaughters, ages 12 and 9. The younger DD was traveling by herself, as her SO needed to stay home and work.
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The kids enjoyed watching the docking exercise from the balcony:
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