75 DAYS TO GO . . .

     MONDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2011

     SINCE THE MAGICAL NUMBER OF 75 DAYS TO GO POPPED UP TODAY, I THOUGHT IT ONLY RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT ADVANCE RESERVATIONS.  LIKE RESERVATIONS AT THE DISNEY PARKS FOR RESTAURANTS AND CHARACTER MEALS AND THE LIKE, THE DISNEY CRUISE LINE ALLOWS YOU TO MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR IT'S FORMAL ALTERNATIVE DINING AT PALO OR REMY, SERVICES AT THE SPA, CHILDCARE FOR THE LITTLINS AND FOR SHORE EXCURSIONS IN ADVANCE.  HOWEVER WITH THE CRUISE LINE, ADVANCE RESERVATIONS ARE BASED ON RETURNING CUSTOMERS.  A MEMBER OF DCL's CASTAWAY CLUB IS SOMEONE THAT HAS CRUISED WITH DISNEY BEFORE.  IF YOU'VE CRUISED 11 OR MORE TIMES WITH DISNEY, YOU'RE A PLATINUM CASTAWAY MEMBER AND CAN MAKE RESERVATIONS 120 DAYS PRIOR TO SAILING.  IF YOU'VE CRUISED 6-10 TIMES WITH DISNEY BEFORE YOU ARE A GOLD CASTAWAY MEMBER AND CAN MAKE RESERVATIONS 105 DAYS PRIOR TO SAILING.  IF YOU'VE CRUISED 1-5 TIMES WITH DISNEY BEFORE YOU ARE A SILVER MEMBER AND CAN MAKE RESERVATIONS 90 DAYS PRIOR TO SAILING.  ALL FIRST TIME DISNEY CRUISERS ARE NOT YET CASTAWAY CLUB MEMBERS AND CAN NOT MAKE ANY OF THESE ADVANCE RESERVATIONS UNTIL 75 DAYS PRIOR TO SAILING.
      AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, THE REAL PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE ON YOUR CRUISE HAVING ACCESS TO THESE RESERVATIONS FOR UP TO 45 DAYS BEFORE YOU (OR I) EVER HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE ONE, IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THERE WILL BE NONE AVAILABLE WHEN YOU DO CALL.  THESE ARE ALSO "CUT OFF" DATES FOR WHEN YOUR PAYMENT IN FULL IS DUE ON YOUR CRUISE, BUT I'LL GET INTO CANCELLATION DATES AND PENALTIES TOMORROW.
      I'M PRETTY FORTUNATE IN RESPECT TO THESE RESERVATIONS IN THAT AS OF RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT REALLY MAKING ANY.  IT'S ONLY 4 NIGHTS AND I'M TRAVELLING WITH JUST MY SON, SO I'M NOT LOOKING TO HAVE ANY PRIVATE ROMANTIC DINNERS IN EITHER PALO OR REMY, MAYBE NEXT TIME.  THIS TIME I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO EATING DINNERS WITH MY SON.  I DON'T REALLY PLAN ON BOOKING ANY SPA SERVICES.  YOU DON'T NEED TO RESERVE IN ADVANCE FOR TIME ON A TREADMILL OR IN THE GYM, AND IF I DECIDE ON A DAY PASS TO THE SPA I CAN GET THAT THEN.  I'VE ALREADY REGISTERED MY SON ON-LINE FOR THE KIDS CLUBS AND SINCE HE'S 8 YRS OLD I DON'T HAVE TO RESERVE BABYSITTING IN THE NURSERY.  LASTLY ARE THE SHORE EXCURSIONS, WHICH I'M STILL GOING BACK AND FORTH ON.  THE ONE I'VE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED IS ATLANTIS RESORT'S AQUAVENTURE WATER PARK, BUT THE MORE READING I DO, THE MORE I'M SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING STAYING ON THE SHIP THE DAY WE'RE IN PORT AT NASSAU.  I'M NOT DYING TO GO SHOPPING, ALTHOUGH I'LL PROBABLY GET OFF TO GO GET A BOTTLE AND A CIGAR, BUT I KNOW MY SON IS GOING TO WANT TO RIDE THE "AQUADUCK" WATER COASTER ON BOARD AND PLAY IN THE KIDS CLUBS AND TAKE PART IN THEIR SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES.  SO I'M HOLDING OFF ON THAT AS WELL FOR RIGHT NOW.  SO FOR THOSE WORRIED ABOUT NOT GETTING RESERVATIONS, THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS OPENS UP FOR YOU.  PEOPLE LIKE ME RESERVE NOTHING, SOME CANCEL, SOME NO-SHOW.  BE PATIENT AND KEEP TRYING.
     ON A SIDE NOTE, I SAVED ANOTHER $25 TODAY BY LISTENING TO A DISNEY VACATION CLUB PITCH ON THE PHONE AND GETTING A $25 DISNEY GIFT CARD FOR DOING SO.  IF WE DON'T END UP BOOKING THE AQUAVENTURE SHORE EXCURSION, THAT'S ANOTHER $300 OFF OF MY ORIGINAL EXPECTED PRICE.  KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN AND PLAN AHEAD AND YOU'LL KEEP SAVING WITH EVERY DAY THAT PASSES.
     SEE YA REAL SOON!   ºOº