MONDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2011
PACKING FOR YOUR CRUISE. COULD THERE BE ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN, WHAT TO PACK? THERE ARE TONS OF LISTS OUT THERE AS TO WHAT TO BRING AND CONVERSATIONS ON BOARDS AS TO WHAT'S BEST VS. WHAT'S NOT. IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO WHAT YOUR WILLING TO BRING. DOES THE AIRLINE YOU'RE PLANNING ON FLYING CHARGE IF YOUR BAG IS OVER A CERTAIN WEIGHT? WILL YOU BE BRINGING ENOUGH BAGS TO SPREAD OUT THE WEIGHT OF WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING? DO YOU MIND HAVING TO BRING EXTRA BAGS, OR HAVING TO CHECK MORE THAN YOU EXPECTED? CARRY-ON RESTRICTIONS HAVE CHANGED DRASTICALLY, SO YOU'LL HAVE TO PLAN ON THAT AS WELL. THIS IS REALLY WHERE YOU NEED TO BEGIN. WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO BRING?
ONCE YOU'VE FIGURED OUT WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO KEEP YOUR LUGGAGE AMOUNT DOWN TO, THEN YOU CAN BEGIN YOUR PACKING LIST. SOME PEOPLE CAN TRAVEL EXTREMELY LIGHT WITHOUT EVEN BLINKING. UNFORTUNATELY, I'M NOT ONE OF THEM. I'M A CLOTHES HORSE AND MY SON'S 8, AND JUST AS BAD. I DON'T NEED SOMEBODY SPECIALS NAME ON MY CLOTHES, I JUST LIKE LOTS OF OPTIONS AND I LIKE THE SAME THING ON VACATION. SO WHAT I SUGGEST FOR EVERYONE IS TO PLAN OUT EACH DAYS CLOTHES. LAY THEM OUT. IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON WEARING PANTS OR SHORTS MORE THAN ONE DAY, YOU'LL KNOW THAT WHEN YOU LAY THEM OUT. KNOW WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE FOR EACH DAY AND YOU CAN PLAN OUT YOUR OUTFITS AS WELL. YOU'LL MOST LIKELY NEED A DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME OUTFIT FOR EACH DAY OF YOUR TRIP. REMEMBER, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WEAR PANTS AND COLLARED SHIRTS (SHORT SLEEVE IS OK) TO DINNER.
YOU MAY NEED A LIGHT JACKET, SWEATER, OR SWEATSHIRT FOR NIGHTS ON DECK. SNEAKERS, SANDALS, AND DRESS SHOES, SWIMWEAR, WATER, & SUN-PROTECTION, PERSONAL TOILETRIES, LOTS OF SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR, SOMETHING TO SLEEP IN. YOU CAN SEE HOW IT ADDS UP FAST. THAT'S WHY LAYING EVERYTHING OUT SO YOU CAN SEE IT, CAN BE A BIG HELP. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, GET EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND THEN DIVIDE IT BY HALF. SO IF PACKING LIGHT IS ONE OF YOUR CONCERNS, THEN ONCE YOU SEE EVERYTHING YOU CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO. IF OUTFITS AREN'T YOUR CONCERN, THEN TAKING BIGGER PIECES OF CLOTHING OUT OF YOUR PACKING LIST CAN LEAVE MORE ROOM FOR THE SMALLER THINGS (LIKE UNDERWEAR) THAT MOST SEEN TO THINK ARE MUCH MORE VALUABLE.
IF HOW MUCH YOU BRING FACTORS INTO YOUR PACKING AT ALL, THEN TRY TO BE AS ORGANIZED AND LOGICAL AS POSSIBLE IN ADVANCE. COOL, LIGHT, AND COMFORTABLE FOR A WARMER CLIMATE MAY FACTOR INTO YOUR CHOICES AS WELL. EVEN IF YOU'RE A LAST-SECOND HAP-HAZARD PACKER, PLANNING AHEAD FOR YOUR CRUISE MAY PREVENT YOU FROM FORGETTING SOMETHING IMPORTANT THAT YOU CAN NOT EVEN FIND ONCE YOUR CRUISE BEGINS. AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, ASK WHILE YOU CAN, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
SEE YA REAL SOON! ºOº
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
55 DAYS TO GO . . .
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2011
SINCE I JUST WENT OVER THE MANY DIFFERENT ROOM TYPES AND THEIR MANY CLASSIFICATIONS BASED ON LOCATIONS AND LAYOUTS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE SHIP, I THOUGHT I SHOULD TOUCH ON CONNECTING STATEROOMS AS WELL.
CONNECTING STATEROOMS ARE EXACTLY WHAT THEY SOUND LIKE. THERE IS ARE TWO DOORS RIGHT BEHIND EACH OTHER CONNECTING THE TWO SIDE-BY-SIDE ROOMS ON THEIR SHARED WALL. IF YOU'VE EVER STAYED IN A HOTEL, ODDS ARE YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN ALREADY. THE REASON THERE ARE TWO DOORS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE CONNECTING DOOR IS SO THE PEOPLE ON EITHER SIDE CAN LOCK THEIR RESPECTIVE DOOR, PREVENTING THEIRS FROM BEING OPENED WITHOUT UNLOCKING IT FROM INSIDE THEIR STATEROOM.
MANY CRUISERS LOOK FOR AND/OR REQUEST CONNECTING ROOMS, BECAUSE THEY ARE TRAVELING WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY AND AT LEAST WANT THE OPTION OF BEING ABLE TO SEE THEIR TRAVELING PARTY WITHOUT HAVING TO GO OUT INTO THE HALLWAY. ANOTHER BIG REASON FOR CONNECTING ROOMS IS IF YOU HAVE 5, 6, 7, OR 8 TOTAL IN YOUR PARTY, INCLUDING SEVERAL CHILDREN. ALTHOUGH DISNEY REQUIRES ADULTS TO BE STAYING IN A STATEROOM WITH MINORS, CONNECTING ROOMS ALLOWS YOU TO ARRANGE YOUR PARTY AS YOU WISH, "UNOFFICIALLY". YOU CAN PUT THE KIDS ALL IN ONE ROOM FOR SLEEPING PURPOSES, OR JUST TO MAKE IT EASIER WHEN GETTING READY.
HAVING CONNECTING ROOMS IS ALSO A WAY TO CREATE YOUR OWN SUITE. BY OPENING THE TWO DOORS BETWEEN THE ROOMS AND KEEPING THEM PROPPED OPEN, YOU HAVE ESSENTIALLY DOUBLED THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF YOUR ROOM, THROUGH ONE OPEN DOORWAY, AND CAN STILL BE CHEAPER THAN ACTUALLY LOOKING TO BOOK SUITES ON-BOARD. PLUS ON THE DISNEY DREAM, MOST VERANDAHS HAVE DIVIDERS BETWEEN THEM THAT CAN BE OPENED UP AS WELL, DOUBLING THE SIZE OF YOUR BALCONY AS WELL. KNOWING HOW MANY IN YOUR PARTY AND WHERE YOU'D LIKE EVERYONE TO BE SLEEPING MAKES THIS DECISION A LOT EASIER AS WELL.
ONE OF THE DRAWBACKS, HOWEVER, IN HAVING A CONNECTING ROOM COULD BE IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT DOOR. IT'S TOUGH TO TELL TOTAL STRANGERS WHAT TO DO. SO WHAT IF YOU LIKE TO GO TO BED EARLY AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE NIGHT OWLS? AND NOT ONLY THAT, WHAT IF YOU PLAN ON YOUR STATEROOM AS BEING YOUR ONE BASTIAN OF QUIET CALM AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE JUST PLAIN LOUD? YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE POTENTIAL FOR PROBLEMS COULD EXIST.
I HAVE HEARD BOTH SIDES OF THIS ARGUMENT. SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD A THING COMING FROM THE ROOM CONNECTING TO THEIRS. SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY'RE NEVER IN THEIR ROOM LONG ENOUGH FOR IT TO REALLY BE A CONCERN FOR THEM. OTHERS HAVE SAID THEY COULD HEAR THEIR NEIGHBORS, BUT IT WASN'T THAT BAD, WHILE SOME HAVE SAID THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF NOISE COMING FROM NEXT DOOR.
MOST PEOPLE ARE ONLY CRUISING FOR 3, 4, OR 5 DAYS, SO MOST FEEL THEY CAN PUT UP WITH SOME NOISE OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO PUT UP WITH? REMEMBER IT'S THEIR VACATION TOO. THAT'S WHY THIS IS SUCH A GREY AREA. THE TRUTH IS THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE NOISE NEXT DOOR IS TO TRY AND HANDLE IT YOURSELF POLITELY, ALTHOUGH PEOPLE RARELY DO. MOST CALL GUEST SERVICES TO COMPLAIN AND SECURITY IS SENT. THERE MAY BE SOME QUESTION AS TO WHO CALLED WHEN SECURITY ARRIVES, BUT ODDS ARE, YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT CONNECTING DOOR, SO THEY KNOW. DOES IT MATTER TO YOU IF YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR HATES YOU FOR THE LENGTH OF YOUR CRUISE? MAYBE NOT. I MEAN, YOU DID SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO HAVE THE VACATION YOU WANT, SO YOU'RE HARDLY AT FAULT FOR COMPLAINING IF YOU DO. JUST TRY TO USE YOUR BEST JUDGEMENT AND ALWAYS CONSIDER THE TIME OF DAY WHEN YOU'RE HEARING NOISE THAT MAY BOTHER YOU. REMEMBER YOU'RE THERE TO HAVE FUN!
SEE YA REAL SOON! ºOº
SINCE I JUST WENT OVER THE MANY DIFFERENT ROOM TYPES AND THEIR MANY CLASSIFICATIONS BASED ON LOCATIONS AND LAYOUTS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE SHIP, I THOUGHT I SHOULD TOUCH ON CONNECTING STATEROOMS AS WELL.
CONNECTING STATEROOMS ARE EXACTLY WHAT THEY SOUND LIKE. THERE IS ARE TWO DOORS RIGHT BEHIND EACH OTHER CONNECTING THE TWO SIDE-BY-SIDE ROOMS ON THEIR SHARED WALL. IF YOU'VE EVER STAYED IN A HOTEL, ODDS ARE YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN ALREADY. THE REASON THERE ARE TWO DOORS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE CONNECTING DOOR IS SO THE PEOPLE ON EITHER SIDE CAN LOCK THEIR RESPECTIVE DOOR, PREVENTING THEIRS FROM BEING OPENED WITHOUT UNLOCKING IT FROM INSIDE THEIR STATEROOM.
MANY CRUISERS LOOK FOR AND/OR REQUEST CONNECTING ROOMS, BECAUSE THEY ARE TRAVELING WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY AND AT LEAST WANT THE OPTION OF BEING ABLE TO SEE THEIR TRAVELING PARTY WITHOUT HAVING TO GO OUT INTO THE HALLWAY. ANOTHER BIG REASON FOR CONNECTING ROOMS IS IF YOU HAVE 5, 6, 7, OR 8 TOTAL IN YOUR PARTY, INCLUDING SEVERAL CHILDREN. ALTHOUGH DISNEY REQUIRES ADULTS TO BE STAYING IN A STATEROOM WITH MINORS, CONNECTING ROOMS ALLOWS YOU TO ARRANGE YOUR PARTY AS YOU WISH, "UNOFFICIALLY". YOU CAN PUT THE KIDS ALL IN ONE ROOM FOR SLEEPING PURPOSES, OR JUST TO MAKE IT EASIER WHEN GETTING READY.
HAVING CONNECTING ROOMS IS ALSO A WAY TO CREATE YOUR OWN SUITE. BY OPENING THE TWO DOORS BETWEEN THE ROOMS AND KEEPING THEM PROPPED OPEN, YOU HAVE ESSENTIALLY DOUBLED THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF YOUR ROOM, THROUGH ONE OPEN DOORWAY, AND CAN STILL BE CHEAPER THAN ACTUALLY LOOKING TO BOOK SUITES ON-BOARD. PLUS ON THE DISNEY DREAM, MOST VERANDAHS HAVE DIVIDERS BETWEEN THEM THAT CAN BE OPENED UP AS WELL, DOUBLING THE SIZE OF YOUR BALCONY AS WELL. KNOWING HOW MANY IN YOUR PARTY AND WHERE YOU'D LIKE EVERYONE TO BE SLEEPING MAKES THIS DECISION A LOT EASIER AS WELL.
ONE OF THE DRAWBACKS, HOWEVER, IN HAVING A CONNECTING ROOM COULD BE IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT DOOR. IT'S TOUGH TO TELL TOTAL STRANGERS WHAT TO DO. SO WHAT IF YOU LIKE TO GO TO BED EARLY AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE NIGHT OWLS? AND NOT ONLY THAT, WHAT IF YOU PLAN ON YOUR STATEROOM AS BEING YOUR ONE BASTIAN OF QUIET CALM AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE JUST PLAIN LOUD? YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE POTENTIAL FOR PROBLEMS COULD EXIST.
I HAVE HEARD BOTH SIDES OF THIS ARGUMENT. SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD A THING COMING FROM THE ROOM CONNECTING TO THEIRS. SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY'RE NEVER IN THEIR ROOM LONG ENOUGH FOR IT TO REALLY BE A CONCERN FOR THEM. OTHERS HAVE SAID THEY COULD HEAR THEIR NEIGHBORS, BUT IT WASN'T THAT BAD, WHILE SOME HAVE SAID THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF NOISE COMING FROM NEXT DOOR.
MOST PEOPLE ARE ONLY CRUISING FOR 3, 4, OR 5 DAYS, SO MOST FEEL THEY CAN PUT UP WITH SOME NOISE OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO PUT UP WITH? REMEMBER IT'S THEIR VACATION TOO. THAT'S WHY THIS IS SUCH A GREY AREA. THE TRUTH IS THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE NOISE NEXT DOOR IS TO TRY AND HANDLE IT YOURSELF POLITELY, ALTHOUGH PEOPLE RARELY DO. MOST CALL GUEST SERVICES TO COMPLAIN AND SECURITY IS SENT. THERE MAY BE SOME QUESTION AS TO WHO CALLED WHEN SECURITY ARRIVES, BUT ODDS ARE, YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT CONNECTING DOOR, SO THEY KNOW. DOES IT MATTER TO YOU IF YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR HATES YOU FOR THE LENGTH OF YOUR CRUISE? MAYBE NOT. I MEAN, YOU DID SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO HAVE THE VACATION YOU WANT, SO YOU'RE HARDLY AT FAULT FOR COMPLAINING IF YOU DO. JUST TRY TO USE YOUR BEST JUDGEMENT AND ALWAYS CONSIDER THE TIME OF DAY WHEN YOU'RE HEARING NOISE THAT MAY BOTHER YOU. REMEMBER YOU'RE THERE TO HAVE FUN!
SEE YA REAL SOON! ºOº
Saturday, February 26, 2011
56 DAYS TO GO . . .
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2011
COVERED THE NUMBER OF STATEROOM DESIGNS AND THE NUMBER OF KIDS CLUBS, SO TODAY I THOUGHT I'D COVER THE THE THREE MAIN DINING ROOMS ON THE DISNEY DREAM.
UNLIKE MOST CRUISE SHIPS THAT PUT YOU IN ONE DINING ROOM FOR YOUR ENTIRE CRUISE, DISNEY SCHEDULES YOU FOR ALL THREE OF THEIR MAIN DINING ROOMS. YOUR FAMILY "ROTATES" THROUGH THESE DINING ROOMS TOGETHER ENJOYING A DIFFERENT MENU EACH EVENING. AND MOST UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE ON THE SEAS, YOUR TABLE MATES AND SERVERS ROTATE WITH YOU. YOU CAN ALWAYS BYPASS YOUR SCHEDULED RESTAURANT AND EAT AT ONE OF THE ADULTS-ONLY DINING CHOICES (PALO OR REMY), ONE OF SEVERAL SNACK COUNTERS, ROOM SERVICE OR THE BUFFET RESTAURANT ON DECK (CABANAS).
YOU WILL LEARN YOUR DINING ROTATION ORDER ON YOUR VERY FIRST DAY WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR (ROOM) "KEY TO THE WORLD" CARD. PRINTED ON YOUR CARD WILL BE THE FIRST LETTER OF EACH RESTAURANT FOR THE NUMBER OF NIGHTS OF YOUR CRUISE IN THE ORDER YOU ARE TO ATTEND. I.E. - AERR (ANIMATOR'S PALATE, ENCHANTED GARDEN, ROYAL PALACE, ROYAL PALACE). YOU'LL NOTICE THE THIRD AND FOURTH NIGHTS REPEAT ON THE 4 NIGHT CRUISE. TWO NIGHTS WILL REPEAT ON ANY CRUISE LONGER THAN 3 NIGHTS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE NIGHTS, DESPITE BEING IN THE SAME RESTAURANT WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT "PIRATE NIGHT" THEMED MENU. YOUR ROTATION MAY BE BASED ON THE AGES OF THE, OR SOME, OF YOUR PARTY OR THE SIZE OF YOUR PARTY AS WELL, ALTHOUGH YOUR ROTATION ONLY APPLIES TO DINNERS. YOU WILL ALSO HAVE THE SAME TABLE NUMBER IN EACH RESTAURANT, MAKING IT EASIER FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
THE DREAM HAS TWO DINNER SEATINGS, THE FIRST AT 6:00PM AND THE SECOND AT 8:30PM. SEATINGS ARE BASICALLY BASED AROUND THEATER SHOW TIMES, WHICH THE DREAM NOW HAS 3 INSTEAD OF 2; 5:00PM, 7:00PM, & 9:00PM, BECAUSE DINNER CAN LAST OVER 2 HOURS.
THE FIRST MAIN DINING RESTAURANT IS THE LARGE SIZED ENCHANTED GARDEN (www.youtube.com/watch?v=twif5qmwpwe), INSPIRED BY THE GARDENS OF VERSAILLES. WITH LOTS OF TRELLISES, A FOUNTAIN CENTERED BY A CHERUB MICKEY, GREENERY AND SCENES OF FRENCH HILLSIDES, IT BRINGS THE OUTDOORS IN. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE RESTAURANT IS IT'S SWEEPING DAYTIME BLUE CEILING THAT CHANGES DURING YOUR MEAL TO A GOLDEN RED OF A SETTING SUN TO A NIGHTTIME CONSTELLATION OF TWINKLING STARS. ALSO, FLOWER LIGHT FIXTURES "BLOOM" AND BECOME FILLED WITH COLOR AND SCONCES CHANGE AS WELL.
THE SECOND MAIN DINING ROTATION RESTAURANT IS THE ROYAL PALACE (www.youtube.com/watch?v=shgp4thkv9a). THIS LUXURIOUS SPACE IS INSPIRED BY THE PRINCE AND PRINCESSES OF DISNEY FILM. DECORATED WITH MARBLE, CHANDELIERS, HAND-PAINTED PORTRAITS, GLASS SLIPPERS AND TIARAS, THE RESTAURANT ITSELF WILL MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN CINDERELLAS BALLROOM. GUESTS TEND TO DRESS UP EVEN MORE FOR THIS RESTAURANT JUST BECAUSE OF THE FEEL AND ATMOSPHERE.
THE THIRD AND FINAL RESTAURANT THAT IS PART OF THE ROTATIONAL DINING IS THE ANIMATOR'S PALATE (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezcd7a407kg & www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjfm0cxdamo). THIS IS THE ONE RESTAURANT THAT CARRIED OVER FROM THE TWO ORIGINAL "CLASSIC" SHIPS, BUT IS HARDLY THE SAME AS IT'S PREDECESSORS. THE ORIGINAL DINING ROOMS ON THE MAGIC AND WONDER WERE ALL BLACK AND WHITE SPACES, AT LEAST WHEN YOU ENTERED, INCLUDING THE WAIT STAFF UNIFORMS. AS THE EVENING PROGRESSED, EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE WALLS, THE TABLES, THE WAIT STAFF UNIFORMS, ALL CHANGED SLOWLY TO COLOR, AS THE MUSIC SWELLED AS WELL.
THE DREAM'S ANIMATOR'S PALATE IS DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE AN ANIMATOR'S STUDIO OR OFFICE, WITH LOTS OF LIGHT WOODS LIKE A DRAFTING TABLE AND SKETCHES, DRAWINGS, AND SCULPTINGS ADORNING THE WALLS AND SHELVES. THE CHAIRS FOR ALL THE TABLES ARE DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE MICKEY MOUSE WITH THE BLACK, RED AND YELLOW BUTTON SPOTS. BUT THE REAL ATTRACTION HERE IS "THE SHOW". AS YOUR DINNER PROGRESSES THE RESTAURANT SEEMS TO MAGICALLY SINK UNDER WATER. THE PICTURES, CORK BOARDS, AND SCREENS ALL TRANSFORM INTO WINDOWS AND PORTHOLES INTO THE OCEAN AROUND YOU WHERE ALL THE CHARACTERS FROM THE DISNEY FILM "FINDING NEMO" APPEAR, SWIM AROUND THE ROOM, BY ALL THE WINDOWS CONTINUOUSLY AND ACTUALLY INTERACT WITH GUESTS. NOT EVERY GUEST WILL GET TO TALK TO CRUSH AND HIS FRIENDS, BUT MANY DO, SO IT CAN GET A BIT LOUD WITH THE KIDS (AND ADULTS) REACTIONS. BUT FOR FANS OF THE SPECTACLE OF DISNEY (LIKE MY SON & I), THIS IS A HIGHLIGHT!
HOPE YOU'RE HUNGRY. SEE YA REAL SOON! ºOº
COVERED THE NUMBER OF STATEROOM DESIGNS AND THE NUMBER OF KIDS CLUBS, SO TODAY I THOUGHT I'D COVER THE THE THREE MAIN DINING ROOMS ON THE DISNEY DREAM.
UNLIKE MOST CRUISE SHIPS THAT PUT YOU IN ONE DINING ROOM FOR YOUR ENTIRE CRUISE, DISNEY SCHEDULES YOU FOR ALL THREE OF THEIR MAIN DINING ROOMS. YOUR FAMILY "ROTATES" THROUGH THESE DINING ROOMS TOGETHER ENJOYING A DIFFERENT MENU EACH EVENING. AND MOST UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE ON THE SEAS, YOUR TABLE MATES AND SERVERS ROTATE WITH YOU. YOU CAN ALWAYS BYPASS YOUR SCHEDULED RESTAURANT AND EAT AT ONE OF THE ADULTS-ONLY DINING CHOICES (PALO OR REMY), ONE OF SEVERAL SNACK COUNTERS, ROOM SERVICE OR THE BUFFET RESTAURANT ON DECK (CABANAS).
YOU WILL LEARN YOUR DINING ROTATION ORDER ON YOUR VERY FIRST DAY WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR (ROOM) "KEY TO THE WORLD" CARD. PRINTED ON YOUR CARD WILL BE THE FIRST LETTER OF EACH RESTAURANT FOR THE NUMBER OF NIGHTS OF YOUR CRUISE IN THE ORDER YOU ARE TO ATTEND. I.E. - AERR (ANIMATOR'S PALATE, ENCHANTED GARDEN, ROYAL PALACE, ROYAL PALACE). YOU'LL NOTICE THE THIRD AND FOURTH NIGHTS REPEAT ON THE 4 NIGHT CRUISE. TWO NIGHTS WILL REPEAT ON ANY CRUISE LONGER THAN 3 NIGHTS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE NIGHTS, DESPITE BEING IN THE SAME RESTAURANT WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT "PIRATE NIGHT" THEMED MENU. YOUR ROTATION MAY BE BASED ON THE AGES OF THE, OR SOME, OF YOUR PARTY OR THE SIZE OF YOUR PARTY AS WELL, ALTHOUGH YOUR ROTATION ONLY APPLIES TO DINNERS. YOU WILL ALSO HAVE THE SAME TABLE NUMBER IN EACH RESTAURANT, MAKING IT EASIER FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
THE DREAM HAS TWO DINNER SEATINGS, THE FIRST AT 6:00PM AND THE SECOND AT 8:30PM. SEATINGS ARE BASICALLY BASED AROUND THEATER SHOW TIMES, WHICH THE DREAM NOW HAS 3 INSTEAD OF 2; 5:00PM, 7:00PM, & 9:00PM, BECAUSE DINNER CAN LAST OVER 2 HOURS.
THE FIRST MAIN DINING RESTAURANT IS THE LARGE SIZED ENCHANTED GARDEN (www.youtube.com/watch?v=twif5qmwpwe), INSPIRED BY THE GARDENS OF VERSAILLES. WITH LOTS OF TRELLISES, A FOUNTAIN CENTERED BY A CHERUB MICKEY, GREENERY AND SCENES OF FRENCH HILLSIDES, IT BRINGS THE OUTDOORS IN. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE RESTAURANT IS IT'S SWEEPING DAYTIME BLUE CEILING THAT CHANGES DURING YOUR MEAL TO A GOLDEN RED OF A SETTING SUN TO A NIGHTTIME CONSTELLATION OF TWINKLING STARS. ALSO, FLOWER LIGHT FIXTURES "BLOOM" AND BECOME FILLED WITH COLOR AND SCONCES CHANGE AS WELL.
THE SECOND MAIN DINING ROTATION RESTAURANT IS THE ROYAL PALACE (www.youtube.com/watch?v=shgp4thkv9a). THIS LUXURIOUS SPACE IS INSPIRED BY THE PRINCE AND PRINCESSES OF DISNEY FILM. DECORATED WITH MARBLE, CHANDELIERS, HAND-PAINTED PORTRAITS, GLASS SLIPPERS AND TIARAS, THE RESTAURANT ITSELF WILL MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN CINDERELLAS BALLROOM. GUESTS TEND TO DRESS UP EVEN MORE FOR THIS RESTAURANT JUST BECAUSE OF THE FEEL AND ATMOSPHERE.
THE THIRD AND FINAL RESTAURANT THAT IS PART OF THE ROTATIONAL DINING IS THE ANIMATOR'S PALATE (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezcd7a407kg & www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjfm0cxdamo). THIS IS THE ONE RESTAURANT THAT CARRIED OVER FROM THE TWO ORIGINAL "CLASSIC" SHIPS, BUT IS HARDLY THE SAME AS IT'S PREDECESSORS. THE ORIGINAL DINING ROOMS ON THE MAGIC AND WONDER WERE ALL BLACK AND WHITE SPACES, AT LEAST WHEN YOU ENTERED, INCLUDING THE WAIT STAFF UNIFORMS. AS THE EVENING PROGRESSED, EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE WALLS, THE TABLES, THE WAIT STAFF UNIFORMS, ALL CHANGED SLOWLY TO COLOR, AS THE MUSIC SWELLED AS WELL.
THE DREAM'S ANIMATOR'S PALATE IS DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE AN ANIMATOR'S STUDIO OR OFFICE, WITH LOTS OF LIGHT WOODS LIKE A DRAFTING TABLE AND SKETCHES, DRAWINGS, AND SCULPTINGS ADORNING THE WALLS AND SHELVES. THE CHAIRS FOR ALL THE TABLES ARE DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE MICKEY MOUSE WITH THE BLACK, RED AND YELLOW BUTTON SPOTS. BUT THE REAL ATTRACTION HERE IS "THE SHOW". AS YOUR DINNER PROGRESSES THE RESTAURANT SEEMS TO MAGICALLY SINK UNDER WATER. THE PICTURES, CORK BOARDS, AND SCREENS ALL TRANSFORM INTO WINDOWS AND PORTHOLES INTO THE OCEAN AROUND YOU WHERE ALL THE CHARACTERS FROM THE DISNEY FILM "FINDING NEMO" APPEAR, SWIM AROUND THE ROOM, BY ALL THE WINDOWS CONTINUOUSLY AND ACTUALLY INTERACT WITH GUESTS. NOT EVERY GUEST WILL GET TO TALK TO CRUSH AND HIS FRIENDS, BUT MANY DO, SO IT CAN GET A BIT LOUD WITH THE KIDS (AND ADULTS) REACTIONS. BUT FOR FANS OF THE SPECTACLE OF DISNEY (LIKE MY SON & I), THIS IS A HIGHLIGHT!
HOPE YOU'RE HUNGRY. SEE YA REAL SOON! ºOº
Friday, February 25, 2011
57 DAYS TO GO . . .
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2011
SINCE I WENT INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE DISNEY DREAM'S DIFFERENT STATEROOMS YESTERDAY, TODAY I THOUGHT I'D GET INTO THE KIDS CLUBS SINCE WE'RE ALREADY "ON-BOARD". THERE ARE 5 DIFFERENT KIDS CLUBS ON THE DISNEY DREAM. THE FIRST IS FOR THE YOUNGEST AGES 3 MONTHS TO 3 YEARS CALLED IT'S A SMALL WORLD NURSERY. THIS IS THE ONLY KIDS CLUB THAT HAS AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE IN THAT THIS IS ACTUAL "BABYSITTING". THE DECOR IS INSPIRED BY THE IT'S A SMALL WORLD PARK RIDE WITH 3 DIFFERENT ZONES. ONE IS FOR KIDS TO GET ACCLIMATED, THE SECOND IS THE MAIN PLAY AREA AND THE THIRD IS THE QUIET AREA FOR NAPS ON MATS OR IN CRIBS. TRAINED COUNSELORS TRY TO KEEP THE CHILDREN ENGAGED BASED ON THEIR AGE AND INTEREST. ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE TO RESERVE THE TIME YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE IN THE NURSERY (SIZE OF THE NURSERY AND NUMBER OF CRIBS LIMITS AVAILABILITY), THIS CAN BE A REAL SAVING GRACE FOR PARENTS TRAVELING WITH INFANTS AND TODDLERS LOOKING TO GET A LITTLE PRIVATE TIME.
THE SECOND AND THIRD CLUBS ARE ACTUALLY CONNECTED. THEY USED TO BE SEPARATED PHYSICALLY AND BY THE CHILDREN'S AGE ON THE DISNEY MAGIC AND THE DISNEY WONDER, BUT HERE THEY ARE CONNECTED LITERALLY AND NOW SHARED AS WELL BY ALL CHILDREN 3 TO 10 YEARS OF AGE (ON THE MAGIC AND WONDER NOW TOO). THE FIRST IS OCEANEER'S CLUB (www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zmcfpzk6ao). JUST LIKE THE MAGIC KINGDOM, THE OCEANEER'S CLUB IS SET UP WITH A CENTRAL HUB AND 4 DISTINCT CONNECTING THEMED PLAY AREAS. THE CENTRAL ROTUNDA IS BASED AROUND A STAGE FOR PLAYS AND PLAYING, STORYTELLING, AND VISITS FROM CHARACTERS. IT ALSO HAS A 103 INCH PLASMA SCREEN FOR WATCHING MOVIES AND INTERACTING WITH DIGITAL CHARACTERS JUST LIKE "TURTLE TALK WITH CRUSH" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixinwnpgoy4).
THE FIRST THEMED PLAY AREA IS CALLED ANDY'S ROOM. IT'S LITERALLY DESIGNED TO LOOK EXACTLY LIKE ANDY'S ROOM FROM THE TOY STORY MOVIES, EXCEPT EVERYTHING IS BIG, SO YOU FEEL SMALLER, OR TOY SIZE AND CAN PLAY AMONGST THE MR. POTATO HEAD, REX, AND OTHER TOYS.
THE SECOND PLAY AREA IS THE MONSTERS ACADEMY. THIS AREA IS BASED ON THE MOVIE MONSTERS INC. IT HAS AN ELABORATELY THEMED MONSTROPOLIS PLAY AREA AND COMPUTERS AROUND THE OUTSIDE WITH UNIQUE INTERACTIVE GAMES.
THE THIRD AREA IS PIXIE HOLLOW. INSPIRED BY THE TINKERBELL MOVIES, IT IS A REPLICA OF THE MAGICAL WORLD INHABITED BY FAIRIES, WITH TREES, TWINKLING LIGHT LEAVES, AND ACORN AND MUSHROOM STOOLS. IT IS DESIGNED FOR DRESS-UP PLAY (INCLUDING COSTUMES), STORYTELLING, AND INDIVIDUAL CRAFT PROJECTS.
THE FOURTH THEMED AREA IN THE OCEANEER'S CLUB IS THE EXPLORERS POD. IT'S A SUBMARINE THEMED AFTER THE FILM FINDING NEMO, SIMILAR TO THE CONVERTED 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA RIDE IN CALIFORNIA'S DISNEYLAND. THE BRIGHT BLUE AND YELLOW SUB IS SURROUNDED BY A SEASCAPE AND FEATURES 16 INTERACTIVE COMPUTER STATIONS WITH VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS TO DISCOVER.
ALL ACTIVITIES ARE SUPERVISED AND CHILDREN MUST BE REGISTERED (FREE) TO ATTEND SO THEY CAN BE GIVEN A WRISTBAND WITH COMPUTER CHIP TO BE TRACKED IN AND OUT.
THE THIRD MAIN KIDS CLUB IS CALLED THE OCEANEER'S LAB (www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t-hq9t3sc4). YOU MIGHT SAY IT'S THE "OTHER SIDE" OF THE OCEANEERS CLUB. IT TOO IS DESIGNED FOR AGES 3 TO 10 AND CENTERED AROUND A MAIN HALL WITH A STAGE AND 103 INCH PLASMA FOR MOVIES AND INTERACTING WITH CHARACTERS LIKE STITCH ON SCREEN. IT IS CONNECTED TO THE OCEANEERS CLUB, SO KIDS CAN MOVE BETWEEN THEM AS THEY LIKE. LIKE THE CLUB, THE LAB HAS DIFFERENT THEMED AREAS. THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THE MEDIA LOUNGE, DESIGNED FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO KICK BACK IN BEAN BAG CHAIRS AND WATCH MOVIES, READ, OR PLAY VIDEO GAMES.
THE SECOND AREA IS THE ANIMATOR'S STUDIO. DESIGNED LIKE A WORKING ANIMATION STUDIO, KIDS CAN CREATE THEIR OWN ARTWORK AS WELL AS LEARN HOW TO DRAW DISNEY CLASSICS. THEY CAN EVEN LEARN HOW TO DESIGN AND BRING TO LIFE COMPUTER ANIMATED CHARACTERS.
THIRD IS THE EXPLORERS ROOM. ALL ABOUT TECHNOLOGY, THIS AREA HAS MULTIPLE COMPUTERS AND HIGH-DEF LCD SCREENS AND IS LOADED WITH ALL THE LATEST VIDEO GAME CONSOLES ON THE MARKET.
THE FOURTH AREA IS THE SOUND STUDIO. THIS AREA IS DEDICATED TO KIDS WHO LOVE MUSIC AND ARE INTERESTED IN CREATING IT AS WELL.
THE FIFTH AND FINAL AREA HERE IS THE CRAFT STUDIO. THIS MORE OF THE BACK TO BASICS STYLE OF CREATIVITY. HANDS-ON CRAFT ARTS AND PROJECTS FOR THE MORE TACTILE CHILD.
THE NEXT AGE LEVEL UP GOES TO EDGE (www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b4tsgst_sg). AGES 11-13, OR TWEENS, AS THEY'VE COME TO BE KNOWN, NOW HAVE AN AREA ALL THEIR OWN. BECAUSE DISNEY ALWAYS TRIES TO IMPROVE UPON WHAT THEY DO BEST, THEY FOUND THAT THIS AGE GROUP WAS GETTING STUCK BETWEEN LITTLER KIDS AND TEENAGERS AND DIDN'T FIT IN IN EITHER. SO NOW THEY GET THEIR OWN SPACE WITH AN ILLUMINATED DANCE FLOOR, NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS FOR GAMES AND DISNEY'S OWN ON-BOARD SOCIAL MEDIA SITE, AN 18' X 5' VIDEO WALL, AND BEST OF ALL, IT'S LOCATED VIA A PRIVATE ENTRANCE IN THE FORWARD FUNNEL OF THE SHIP ABOVE EVERYTHING.
LASTLY IS THE TEEN CLUB CALLED VIBE. THIS IS AN INDOOR/OUTDOOR TEENS ONLY CLUB FOR AGES 14-18 (IF YOU'RE STILL IN OR JUST GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL). IT HAS THE FEEL OF AN URBAN COFFEE SHOP AND STYLISH NIGHTCLUB. IT'S ALL CENTERED AROUND A HI-DEF 103" LCD SCREEN WITH DIGITAL SURROUND SOUND. A SEPARATE STAGE HAS KARAOKE AND DANCING ON THE MULTI-COLORED LIGHT UP DISCO FLOOR AND VIDEO WALL. THERE ARE BUILT-IN WALL PODS FOR PRIVATE MUSIC LISTENING AND COMPUTERS FOR GAMES AND ON-BOARD SOCIAL NETWORKING, AS WELL AS IT'S OWN (NON-ALCOHOLIC) BAR AND BARTENDER. NEW TO THE DREAM IS VIBE'S OWN PRIVATE SUNDECK WITH LOUNGERS, SPLASH POOLS, FOUNTAINS, POP JETS, MISTERS, PING PONG, FOOSBALL, AND BOARD GAMES. SO EXCLUSIVE IS VIBE, THAT PARENTS CAN NOT GAIN ACCESS AT ALL AS SOON AS YOUR CRUISE BEGINS.
THE KIDS CLUBS ON THE DISNEY CRUISE SHIPS TAKE UP WELL OVER 15,000 SQUARE FEET AND BASICALLY ONE THIRD OF THE SHIPS IS DEDICATED TO CHILDREN, FAR MORE THAN ANY OTHER CRUISE LINE. BECAUSE ALL ACCEPT THE TWEENS EDGE CLUB (FORWARD FUNNEL) ARE LOCATED ON DECK 5, THIS MASSIVE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN'S DEDICATED SPACE GOES ALMOST UNNOTICED UNLESS YOU ARE SEEKING IT OUT. SO ALL THOSE KIDS YOU FEAR BEING UNDER YOUR FEET AND RUNNING THE HALLS, ARE NOT. NICE HUH? AND THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I PICKED THE DISNEY CRUISE LINE FOR MY FIRST CRUISE!
SEE YA REAL SOON! ºOº
SINCE I WENT INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE DISNEY DREAM'S DIFFERENT STATEROOMS YESTERDAY, TODAY I THOUGHT I'D GET INTO THE KIDS CLUBS SINCE WE'RE ALREADY "ON-BOARD". THERE ARE 5 DIFFERENT KIDS CLUBS ON THE DISNEY DREAM. THE FIRST IS FOR THE YOUNGEST AGES 3 MONTHS TO 3 YEARS CALLED IT'S A SMALL WORLD NURSERY. THIS IS THE ONLY KIDS CLUB THAT HAS AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE IN THAT THIS IS ACTUAL "BABYSITTING". THE DECOR IS INSPIRED BY THE IT'S A SMALL WORLD PARK RIDE WITH 3 DIFFERENT ZONES. ONE IS FOR KIDS TO GET ACCLIMATED, THE SECOND IS THE MAIN PLAY AREA AND THE THIRD IS THE QUIET AREA FOR NAPS ON MATS OR IN CRIBS. TRAINED COUNSELORS TRY TO KEEP THE CHILDREN ENGAGED BASED ON THEIR AGE AND INTEREST. ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE TO RESERVE THE TIME YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE IN THE NURSERY (SIZE OF THE NURSERY AND NUMBER OF CRIBS LIMITS AVAILABILITY), THIS CAN BE A REAL SAVING GRACE FOR PARENTS TRAVELING WITH INFANTS AND TODDLERS LOOKING TO GET A LITTLE PRIVATE TIME.
THE SECOND AND THIRD CLUBS ARE ACTUALLY CONNECTED. THEY USED TO BE SEPARATED PHYSICALLY AND BY THE CHILDREN'S AGE ON THE DISNEY MAGIC AND THE DISNEY WONDER, BUT HERE THEY ARE CONNECTED LITERALLY AND NOW SHARED AS WELL BY ALL CHILDREN 3 TO 10 YEARS OF AGE (ON THE MAGIC AND WONDER NOW TOO). THE FIRST IS OCEANEER'S CLUB (www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zmcfpzk6ao). JUST LIKE THE MAGIC KINGDOM, THE OCEANEER'S CLUB IS SET UP WITH A CENTRAL HUB AND 4 DISTINCT CONNECTING THEMED PLAY AREAS. THE CENTRAL ROTUNDA IS BASED AROUND A STAGE FOR PLAYS AND PLAYING, STORYTELLING, AND VISITS FROM CHARACTERS. IT ALSO HAS A 103 INCH PLASMA SCREEN FOR WATCHING MOVIES AND INTERACTING WITH DIGITAL CHARACTERS JUST LIKE "TURTLE TALK WITH CRUSH" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixinwnpgoy4).
THE FIRST THEMED PLAY AREA IS CALLED ANDY'S ROOM. IT'S LITERALLY DESIGNED TO LOOK EXACTLY LIKE ANDY'S ROOM FROM THE TOY STORY MOVIES, EXCEPT EVERYTHING IS BIG, SO YOU FEEL SMALLER, OR TOY SIZE AND CAN PLAY AMONGST THE MR. POTATO HEAD, REX, AND OTHER TOYS.
THE SECOND PLAY AREA IS THE MONSTERS ACADEMY. THIS AREA IS BASED ON THE MOVIE MONSTERS INC. IT HAS AN ELABORATELY THEMED MONSTROPOLIS PLAY AREA AND COMPUTERS AROUND THE OUTSIDE WITH UNIQUE INTERACTIVE GAMES.
THE THIRD AREA IS PIXIE HOLLOW. INSPIRED BY THE TINKERBELL MOVIES, IT IS A REPLICA OF THE MAGICAL WORLD INHABITED BY FAIRIES, WITH TREES, TWINKLING LIGHT LEAVES, AND ACORN AND MUSHROOM STOOLS. IT IS DESIGNED FOR DRESS-UP PLAY (INCLUDING COSTUMES), STORYTELLING, AND INDIVIDUAL CRAFT PROJECTS.
THE FOURTH THEMED AREA IN THE OCEANEER'S CLUB IS THE EXPLORERS POD. IT'S A SUBMARINE THEMED AFTER THE FILM FINDING NEMO, SIMILAR TO THE CONVERTED 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA RIDE IN CALIFORNIA'S DISNEYLAND. THE BRIGHT BLUE AND YELLOW SUB IS SURROUNDED BY A SEASCAPE AND FEATURES 16 INTERACTIVE COMPUTER STATIONS WITH VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS TO DISCOVER.
ALL ACTIVITIES ARE SUPERVISED AND CHILDREN MUST BE REGISTERED (FREE) TO ATTEND SO THEY CAN BE GIVEN A WRISTBAND WITH COMPUTER CHIP TO BE TRACKED IN AND OUT.
THE THIRD MAIN KIDS CLUB IS CALLED THE OCEANEER'S LAB (www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t-hq9t3sc4). YOU MIGHT SAY IT'S THE "OTHER SIDE" OF THE OCEANEERS CLUB. IT TOO IS DESIGNED FOR AGES 3 TO 10 AND CENTERED AROUND A MAIN HALL WITH A STAGE AND 103 INCH PLASMA FOR MOVIES AND INTERACTING WITH CHARACTERS LIKE STITCH ON SCREEN. IT IS CONNECTED TO THE OCEANEERS CLUB, SO KIDS CAN MOVE BETWEEN THEM AS THEY LIKE. LIKE THE CLUB, THE LAB HAS DIFFERENT THEMED AREAS. THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THE MEDIA LOUNGE, DESIGNED FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO KICK BACK IN BEAN BAG CHAIRS AND WATCH MOVIES, READ, OR PLAY VIDEO GAMES.
THE SECOND AREA IS THE ANIMATOR'S STUDIO. DESIGNED LIKE A WORKING ANIMATION STUDIO, KIDS CAN CREATE THEIR OWN ARTWORK AS WELL AS LEARN HOW TO DRAW DISNEY CLASSICS. THEY CAN EVEN LEARN HOW TO DESIGN AND BRING TO LIFE COMPUTER ANIMATED CHARACTERS.
THIRD IS THE EXPLORERS ROOM. ALL ABOUT TECHNOLOGY, THIS AREA HAS MULTIPLE COMPUTERS AND HIGH-DEF LCD SCREENS AND IS LOADED WITH ALL THE LATEST VIDEO GAME CONSOLES ON THE MARKET.
THE FOURTH AREA IS THE SOUND STUDIO. THIS AREA IS DEDICATED TO KIDS WHO LOVE MUSIC AND ARE INTERESTED IN CREATING IT AS WELL.
THE FIFTH AND FINAL AREA HERE IS THE CRAFT STUDIO. THIS MORE OF THE BACK TO BASICS STYLE OF CREATIVITY. HANDS-ON CRAFT ARTS AND PROJECTS FOR THE MORE TACTILE CHILD.
THE NEXT AGE LEVEL UP GOES TO EDGE (www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b4tsgst_sg). AGES 11-13, OR TWEENS, AS THEY'VE COME TO BE KNOWN, NOW HAVE AN AREA ALL THEIR OWN. BECAUSE DISNEY ALWAYS TRIES TO IMPROVE UPON WHAT THEY DO BEST, THEY FOUND THAT THIS AGE GROUP WAS GETTING STUCK BETWEEN LITTLER KIDS AND TEENAGERS AND DIDN'T FIT IN IN EITHER. SO NOW THEY GET THEIR OWN SPACE WITH AN ILLUMINATED DANCE FLOOR, NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS FOR GAMES AND DISNEY'S OWN ON-BOARD SOCIAL MEDIA SITE, AN 18' X 5' VIDEO WALL, AND BEST OF ALL, IT'S LOCATED VIA A PRIVATE ENTRANCE IN THE FORWARD FUNNEL OF THE SHIP ABOVE EVERYTHING.
LASTLY IS THE TEEN CLUB CALLED VIBE. THIS IS AN INDOOR/OUTDOOR TEENS ONLY CLUB FOR AGES 14-18 (IF YOU'RE STILL IN OR JUST GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL). IT HAS THE FEEL OF AN URBAN COFFEE SHOP AND STYLISH NIGHTCLUB. IT'S ALL CENTERED AROUND A HI-DEF 103" LCD SCREEN WITH DIGITAL SURROUND SOUND. A SEPARATE STAGE HAS KARAOKE AND DANCING ON THE MULTI-COLORED LIGHT UP DISCO FLOOR AND VIDEO WALL. THERE ARE BUILT-IN WALL PODS FOR PRIVATE MUSIC LISTENING AND COMPUTERS FOR GAMES AND ON-BOARD SOCIAL NETWORKING, AS WELL AS IT'S OWN (NON-ALCOHOLIC) BAR AND BARTENDER. NEW TO THE DREAM IS VIBE'S OWN PRIVATE SUNDECK WITH LOUNGERS, SPLASH POOLS, FOUNTAINS, POP JETS, MISTERS, PING PONG, FOOSBALL, AND BOARD GAMES. SO EXCLUSIVE IS VIBE, THAT PARENTS CAN NOT GAIN ACCESS AT ALL AS SOON AS YOUR CRUISE BEGINS.
THE KIDS CLUBS ON THE DISNEY CRUISE SHIPS TAKE UP WELL OVER 15,000 SQUARE FEET AND BASICALLY ONE THIRD OF THE SHIPS IS DEDICATED TO CHILDREN, FAR MORE THAN ANY OTHER CRUISE LINE. BECAUSE ALL ACCEPT THE TWEENS EDGE CLUB (FORWARD FUNNEL) ARE LOCATED ON DECK 5, THIS MASSIVE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN'S DEDICATED SPACE GOES ALMOST UNNOTICED UNLESS YOU ARE SEEKING IT OUT. SO ALL THOSE KIDS YOU FEAR BEING UNDER YOUR FEET AND RUNNING THE HALLS, ARE NOT. NICE HUH? AND THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I PICKED THE DISNEY CRUISE LINE FOR MY FIRST CRUISE!
SEE YA REAL SOON! ºOº
Thursday, February 24, 2011
58 DAYS TO GO . . .
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2011
THE STATEROOMS ON THE NEW DISNEY DREAM. AS OF RIGHT NOW DISNEY HAS 9 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF STATEROOM LISTED FOR THE NEW DISNEY DREAM. I SAY "AS OF RIGHT NOW" BECAUSE SOME STATEROOMS ARE SOMETIMES RECLASSIFIED BECAUSE OF VIEWS OR BALCONIES OR LAYOUTS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT HAS USUALLY BEEN COMPLAINED ABOUT TO FORCE A CHANGE OF SOME KIND.
WE'LL START WITH THE LOWEST CATEGORY AND WORK OUR WAY UP TO THE RIDICULOUS (IN PRICE ANYWAY). FIRST IS THE STANDARD INSIDE STATEROOM WHICH SLEEPS 3-4 AND HAS 169 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE. IT HAS A QUEEN SIZE BED, A SINGLE CONVERTIBLE SOFA BED AND SOME HAVE A SINGLE PULL DOWN BERTH (BED). THE PULL DOWN IS LITERALLY A SINGLE BED THAT CAN BE PULLED OUT OF THE CEILING AT BED TIME WHEN YOU HAVE THE 3 OR 4 THAT NEED TO SLEEP SEPARATELY. IT FUNCTIONS AS A BUNK BED THAT HAS A LADDER FOR IT STORED IN YOUR CLOSET. IT ALSO HAS AMPLE CLOSET SPACE, A CHAIR AND DESK WITH DRAWERS AND SHELVES, A STORAGE OTTOMAN THAT CAN FUNCTION AS A COFFEE TABLE, 22" LCD FLAT-SCREEN TV, IPOD DOCKING STATION ALARM CLOCK, REFRIGERATOR, IN-ROOM SAFE, VOICE MAIL PHONE, INDIVIDUAL CLIMATE CONTROL AND PRIVACY CURTAIN TO SEPARATE THE COUCH AREA FROM THE BED IF NEEDED. THE BEDS ARE ELEVATED TO PROVIDE STORAGE UNDERNEATH AND WALL SHELVING ELIMINATES THE SPACE TAKEN UP BY NIGHT STANDS. THERE IS A SHOWER/TUB WITH SINK AND TOILET AND ALL LINENS, TOWELS, WASHCLOTHS AND TOILETRIES ARE PROVIDED.
THE NEW SURPRISE IN THESE ROOMS IS THE NEWEST CRUISE LINE INNOVATION, THE VIRTUAL PORTHOLE. THE BED LIES AT THE END OF THE ROOM AS YOU WALK IN, BECAUSE IN AN INSIDE ROOM IT'S NOT BLOCKING ACCESS TO ANY VERANDAH (DECK OR PORCH). OVER THE BED IS A PORTHOLE, ALTHOUGH THIS ONE ISN'T REAL. IT'S AN LCD FLAT SCREEN MONITOR DISGUISED AS A PORTHOLE THAT SHOWS A REAL TIME VIEW OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE SHIP THAT REFLECTS THE ACTUAL STATEROOMS LOCATION ON THE SHIP, VIA CAMERAS ON MOUNTED AROUND THE SHIPS EXTERIOR. THE REAL HIGHLIGHT AND INNOVATION HERE IS THAT NOT ONLY CAN YOU, FOR THE FIRST TIME, SEE THE OUTSIDE FROM AN INSIDE STATEROOM, BUT INTERMITTENTLY MANY DIFFERENT ANIMATED DISNEY CHARACTERS APPEAR ON OR IN YOUR PORTHOLE. PLUS AT NIGHT IF YOU LIKE, YOU CAN SIMPLY TURN IT OFF. COOL HUH? THIS WOULD BE A SMALL ROOM FOR 4 PEOPLE I BELIEVE, BUT YOU'RE RARELY IN YOUR STATEROOM ON A CRUISE OTHER THAN BEDTIME.
THE NEXT STEP UP IS THE DELUXE INSIDE STATEROOM. THIS ROOM HAS A SLIGHTLY BIGGER DESK AND SHELVING UNIT AND A SLIGHTLY BIGGER CLOSET AS WELL. THESE FIT IN EASIER AS THERE IS 204 SQUARE FEET IN THE DELUXE, SOME 35 SQUARE FEET BIGGER THAN THE STANDARD. THE MAIN REASON IS TO FIT DISNEY'S CRUISE LINE EXCLUSIVE "SPLIT BATHROOM". THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FAMILY'S HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY RAVING ABOUT. THERE ARE, FOR ALL INTENSIVE PURPOSES, TWO BATHROOMS. THE ONE CLOSEST TO YOUR HALLWAY DOOR HAS A SINK AND TOILET, WHILE THE SECOND, RIGHT NEXT TO IT, HAS A SHOWER & TUB WITH A SECOND SINK. SO WHEN YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE GETTING READY AT A TIME, THIS CAN BE A HUGE TIME AND SPACE SAVER. GENIUS. MOST OF THE EXTRA SQUARE FOOTAGE IS USED NEAR THE BATHROOMS, CLOSET AND COUCH. MY SON HAD TO HAVE THE VIRTUAL PORTHOLE, SO SINCE FIRST BOOKING THE STANDARD, I UPGRADED TO THE DELUXE FIGURING IF I'M NOT GETTING A BALCONY, I CAN AT LEAST GET A LITTLE MORE ROOM.
THE DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM IS NEXT IN LINE. THERE IS ALMOST NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM AND THE DELUXE INSIDE STATEROOM OTHER THAN THE LAYOUT. THE CONVERTIBLE COUCH AND DESK ARE AT THE END OF THE ROOM BECAUSE NOW THERE IS AN ACTUAL 5 FOOT WIDE PORTHOLE LOOKING OUT OVER THE OCEAN, SO YOU CAN SIT ON THE COUCH AND SEE OUT. THE BED IS NOW PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROOM DOOR INSTEAD OF FACING IT, LIKE IN MOST ROOMS.
NEXT UP IS THE DELUXE FAMILY OCEANVIEW STATEROOM. THIS IS A 241 SQUARE FOOT SPACE THAT SLEEPS 3-5. SOME HAVE THE UPPER BIRTH PULL DOWN BED, BUT MOST HAVE A WALL PULL DOWN BED (OR MURPHY BED) ALONG WITH THE QUEEN SIZE BED AND CONVERTIBLE COUCH. IT STILL HAS THE SPLIT BATHROOMS, BUT NOW THE SECOND HAS A ROUND TUB WITH A BUILT-IN SEAT, A RAIN STYLE SHOWER HEAD AND A HAND-HELD SHOWERHEAD. THERE ARE TWO CLOSETS AND A LONGER DESK AREA WITH A SECOND CHAIR AS WELL AS A BUILT-IN CUSHIONED PORTHOLE WINDOW SEAT. MUCH EASIER TO FIT MORE PEOPLE INTO THIS ROOM AND SIT COMFORTABLY AS WELL.
THE DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM WITH VERANDAH HAS ALMOST THE SAME SQUARE FEET AS THE DELUXE FAMILY OCEANVIEW STATEROOM EXCEPT THE 246 SQUARE FEET HERE INCLUDES THE VERANDAH. THE ROOM, INCLUDING THE BATHROOMS, IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM, EXCEPT NOW THERE ARE SLIDING DOORS OPENING UP TO YOUR PRIVATE BALCONY. THE VERANDAH IS APPROXIMATELY 4 OR 5 FEET DEEP AND 10 FEET WIDE, DEPENDING ON THE ROOM AND IT'S LOCATION ON THE SHIP.
THE DELUXE FAMILY OCEANVIEW STATEROOM WITH VERANDAH IS A MUCH BIGGER 299 SQUARE FEET THAT SLEEPS 4 OR 5 WITH THE DELUXE ROUND SHOWER SECOND BATH, THE QUEEN SIZE BED, CONVERTIBLE SOFA, UPPER BERTH PULL-DOWN BED, AND MOST HAVE THE WALL PULL DOWN BED AS WELL. THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS A DELUXE FAMILY OCEANVIEW STATEROOM THAT NOW HAS A 5 FOOT DEEP BY 10 FOOT WIDE OR SO PRIVATE BALCONY.
THE CONCIERGE FAMILY OCEANVIEW STATEROOM WITH VERANDAH HAS 306 SQUARE FEET AND SLEEPS 5. IT HAS A QUEEN SIZE BED, A DOUBLE CONVERTIBLE SOFA COMPARED TO THE SINGLE IN ALL OTHERS, AND AN UPPER BERTH PULL-DOWN BED. THE BIG DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT THIS ROOM INCLUDES DISNEY'S SIGNATURE CONCIERGE SERVICE. GUESTS CAN PRE-RESERVE ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES 120 DAYS PRIOR TO SAILING WITH A DEDICATED CONCIERGE SPECIALIST AND GET ACCESS TO THE SHIPS CONCIERGE SPECIAL SERVICES AND HAVE EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO DEDICATED AREAS INCLUDING SUN DECKS AND LOUNGES. THE ROOMS ARE APPOINTED IN A MUCH MORE HIGH END STYLE AS WELL.
LASTLY ARE THE CONCIERGE SUITES, FIRST OF WHICH IS THE CONCIERGE ONE BEDROOM SUITE WITH VERANDAH. WITH 622 SQUARE FEET, A SEPARATE BEDROOM, A LIVING ROOM, DINING ROOM, FULL SIZE WHIRLPOOL TUB IN ONE OF TWO BATHROOMS, WALK-IN CLOSET, HUGE DECK PLUS ALL THE CONCIERGE SERVICES, THIS IS ONE SERIOUSLY (EXPENSIVE) NICE SPACE.
NOW JUST IMAGINE THE 1781 SQUARE FOOT ROYAL SUITE. THERE'S NO WAY TO GET IT ALL INTO PERSPECTIVE WITHOUT JUST SAYING, TAKE A LOOK. (www.disneycruise.disney.go.com/.../dream-fantasy/suites/concierge-royal-suite-with-verandah)
EACH STATEROOM IS ASSIGNED A NUMBER, LIKE AN 11 FOR AN INSIDE STATEROOM, BUT THEN IT GETS A NUMBER BASED ON THE DECK IT'S ON OR FORWARD OR AFT. (11A, 11B, 11C) AND YOU'LL NOTICE EACH ONE HAS A DIFFERENT PRICE POINT BASED ON IT'S LOCATION, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS AND PRICES, BUT THAT MAKES FOR MORE CHOICES FOR EACH AND EVERY PERSON TO SUIT EACH AND EVERY NEED AND BUDGET. SO GET LOOKIN!
SEE YA REAL SOON! ºOº
THE STATEROOMS ON THE NEW DISNEY DREAM. AS OF RIGHT NOW DISNEY HAS 9 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF STATEROOM LISTED FOR THE NEW DISNEY DREAM. I SAY "AS OF RIGHT NOW" BECAUSE SOME STATEROOMS ARE SOMETIMES RECLASSIFIED BECAUSE OF VIEWS OR BALCONIES OR LAYOUTS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT HAS USUALLY BEEN COMPLAINED ABOUT TO FORCE A CHANGE OF SOME KIND.
WE'LL START WITH THE LOWEST CATEGORY AND WORK OUR WAY UP TO THE RIDICULOUS (IN PRICE ANYWAY). FIRST IS THE STANDARD INSIDE STATEROOM WHICH SLEEPS 3-4 AND HAS 169 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE. IT HAS A QUEEN SIZE BED, A SINGLE CONVERTIBLE SOFA BED AND SOME HAVE A SINGLE PULL DOWN BERTH (BED). THE PULL DOWN IS LITERALLY A SINGLE BED THAT CAN BE PULLED OUT OF THE CEILING AT BED TIME WHEN YOU HAVE THE 3 OR 4 THAT NEED TO SLEEP SEPARATELY. IT FUNCTIONS AS A BUNK BED THAT HAS A LADDER FOR IT STORED IN YOUR CLOSET. IT ALSO HAS AMPLE CLOSET SPACE, A CHAIR AND DESK WITH DRAWERS AND SHELVES, A STORAGE OTTOMAN THAT CAN FUNCTION AS A COFFEE TABLE, 22" LCD FLAT-SCREEN TV, IPOD DOCKING STATION ALARM CLOCK, REFRIGERATOR, IN-ROOM SAFE, VOICE MAIL PHONE, INDIVIDUAL CLIMATE CONTROL AND PRIVACY CURTAIN TO SEPARATE THE COUCH AREA FROM THE BED IF NEEDED. THE BEDS ARE ELEVATED TO PROVIDE STORAGE UNDERNEATH AND WALL SHELVING ELIMINATES THE SPACE TAKEN UP BY NIGHT STANDS. THERE IS A SHOWER/TUB WITH SINK AND TOILET AND ALL LINENS, TOWELS, WASHCLOTHS AND TOILETRIES ARE PROVIDED.
THE NEW SURPRISE IN THESE ROOMS IS THE NEWEST CRUISE LINE INNOVATION, THE VIRTUAL PORTHOLE. THE BED LIES AT THE END OF THE ROOM AS YOU WALK IN, BECAUSE IN AN INSIDE ROOM IT'S NOT BLOCKING ACCESS TO ANY VERANDAH (DECK OR PORCH). OVER THE BED IS A PORTHOLE, ALTHOUGH THIS ONE ISN'T REAL. IT'S AN LCD FLAT SCREEN MONITOR DISGUISED AS A PORTHOLE THAT SHOWS A REAL TIME VIEW OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE SHIP THAT REFLECTS THE ACTUAL STATEROOMS LOCATION ON THE SHIP, VIA CAMERAS ON MOUNTED AROUND THE SHIPS EXTERIOR. THE REAL HIGHLIGHT AND INNOVATION HERE IS THAT NOT ONLY CAN YOU, FOR THE FIRST TIME, SEE THE OUTSIDE FROM AN INSIDE STATEROOM, BUT INTERMITTENTLY MANY DIFFERENT ANIMATED DISNEY CHARACTERS APPEAR ON OR IN YOUR PORTHOLE. PLUS AT NIGHT IF YOU LIKE, YOU CAN SIMPLY TURN IT OFF. COOL HUH? THIS WOULD BE A SMALL ROOM FOR 4 PEOPLE I BELIEVE, BUT YOU'RE RARELY IN YOUR STATEROOM ON A CRUISE OTHER THAN BEDTIME.
THE NEXT STEP UP IS THE DELUXE INSIDE STATEROOM. THIS ROOM HAS A SLIGHTLY BIGGER DESK AND SHELVING UNIT AND A SLIGHTLY BIGGER CLOSET AS WELL. THESE FIT IN EASIER AS THERE IS 204 SQUARE FEET IN THE DELUXE, SOME 35 SQUARE FEET BIGGER THAN THE STANDARD. THE MAIN REASON IS TO FIT DISNEY'S CRUISE LINE EXCLUSIVE "SPLIT BATHROOM". THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FAMILY'S HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY RAVING ABOUT. THERE ARE, FOR ALL INTENSIVE PURPOSES, TWO BATHROOMS. THE ONE CLOSEST TO YOUR HALLWAY DOOR HAS A SINK AND TOILET, WHILE THE SECOND, RIGHT NEXT TO IT, HAS A SHOWER & TUB WITH A SECOND SINK. SO WHEN YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE GETTING READY AT A TIME, THIS CAN BE A HUGE TIME AND SPACE SAVER. GENIUS. MOST OF THE EXTRA SQUARE FOOTAGE IS USED NEAR THE BATHROOMS, CLOSET AND COUCH. MY SON HAD TO HAVE THE VIRTUAL PORTHOLE, SO SINCE FIRST BOOKING THE STANDARD, I UPGRADED TO THE DELUXE FIGURING IF I'M NOT GETTING A BALCONY, I CAN AT LEAST GET A LITTLE MORE ROOM.
THE DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM IS NEXT IN LINE. THERE IS ALMOST NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM AND THE DELUXE INSIDE STATEROOM OTHER THAN THE LAYOUT. THE CONVERTIBLE COUCH AND DESK ARE AT THE END OF THE ROOM BECAUSE NOW THERE IS AN ACTUAL 5 FOOT WIDE PORTHOLE LOOKING OUT OVER THE OCEAN, SO YOU CAN SIT ON THE COUCH AND SEE OUT. THE BED IS NOW PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROOM DOOR INSTEAD OF FACING IT, LIKE IN MOST ROOMS.
NEXT UP IS THE DELUXE FAMILY OCEANVIEW STATEROOM. THIS IS A 241 SQUARE FOOT SPACE THAT SLEEPS 3-5. SOME HAVE THE UPPER BIRTH PULL DOWN BED, BUT MOST HAVE A WALL PULL DOWN BED (OR MURPHY BED) ALONG WITH THE QUEEN SIZE BED AND CONVERTIBLE COUCH. IT STILL HAS THE SPLIT BATHROOMS, BUT NOW THE SECOND HAS A ROUND TUB WITH A BUILT-IN SEAT, A RAIN STYLE SHOWER HEAD AND A HAND-HELD SHOWERHEAD. THERE ARE TWO CLOSETS AND A LONGER DESK AREA WITH A SECOND CHAIR AS WELL AS A BUILT-IN CUSHIONED PORTHOLE WINDOW SEAT. MUCH EASIER TO FIT MORE PEOPLE INTO THIS ROOM AND SIT COMFORTABLY AS WELL.
THE DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM WITH VERANDAH HAS ALMOST THE SAME SQUARE FEET AS THE DELUXE FAMILY OCEANVIEW STATEROOM EXCEPT THE 246 SQUARE FEET HERE INCLUDES THE VERANDAH. THE ROOM, INCLUDING THE BATHROOMS, IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM, EXCEPT NOW THERE ARE SLIDING DOORS OPENING UP TO YOUR PRIVATE BALCONY. THE VERANDAH IS APPROXIMATELY 4 OR 5 FEET DEEP AND 10 FEET WIDE, DEPENDING ON THE ROOM AND IT'S LOCATION ON THE SHIP.
THE DELUXE FAMILY OCEANVIEW STATEROOM WITH VERANDAH IS A MUCH BIGGER 299 SQUARE FEET THAT SLEEPS 4 OR 5 WITH THE DELUXE ROUND SHOWER SECOND BATH, THE QUEEN SIZE BED, CONVERTIBLE SOFA, UPPER BERTH PULL-DOWN BED, AND MOST HAVE THE WALL PULL DOWN BED AS WELL. THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS A DELUXE FAMILY OCEANVIEW STATEROOM THAT NOW HAS A 5 FOOT DEEP BY 10 FOOT WIDE OR SO PRIVATE BALCONY.
THE CONCIERGE FAMILY OCEANVIEW STATEROOM WITH VERANDAH HAS 306 SQUARE FEET AND SLEEPS 5. IT HAS A QUEEN SIZE BED, A DOUBLE CONVERTIBLE SOFA COMPARED TO THE SINGLE IN ALL OTHERS, AND AN UPPER BERTH PULL-DOWN BED. THE BIG DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT THIS ROOM INCLUDES DISNEY'S SIGNATURE CONCIERGE SERVICE. GUESTS CAN PRE-RESERVE ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES 120 DAYS PRIOR TO SAILING WITH A DEDICATED CONCIERGE SPECIALIST AND GET ACCESS TO THE SHIPS CONCIERGE SPECIAL SERVICES AND HAVE EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO DEDICATED AREAS INCLUDING SUN DECKS AND LOUNGES. THE ROOMS ARE APPOINTED IN A MUCH MORE HIGH END STYLE AS WELL.
LASTLY ARE THE CONCIERGE SUITES, FIRST OF WHICH IS THE CONCIERGE ONE BEDROOM SUITE WITH VERANDAH. WITH 622 SQUARE FEET, A SEPARATE BEDROOM, A LIVING ROOM, DINING ROOM, FULL SIZE WHIRLPOOL TUB IN ONE OF TWO BATHROOMS, WALK-IN CLOSET, HUGE DECK PLUS ALL THE CONCIERGE SERVICES, THIS IS ONE SERIOUSLY (EXPENSIVE) NICE SPACE.
NOW JUST IMAGINE THE 1781 SQUARE FOOT ROYAL SUITE. THERE'S NO WAY TO GET IT ALL INTO PERSPECTIVE WITHOUT JUST SAYING, TAKE A LOOK. (www.disneycruise.disney.go.com/.../dream-fantasy/suites/concierge-royal-suite-with-verandah)
EACH STATEROOM IS ASSIGNED A NUMBER, LIKE AN 11 FOR AN INSIDE STATEROOM, BUT THEN IT GETS A NUMBER BASED ON THE DECK IT'S ON OR FORWARD OR AFT. (11A, 11B, 11C) AND YOU'LL NOTICE EACH ONE HAS A DIFFERENT PRICE POINT BASED ON IT'S LOCATION, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS AND PRICES, BUT THAT MAKES FOR MORE CHOICES FOR EACH AND EVERY PERSON TO SUIT EACH AND EVERY NEED AND BUDGET. SO GET LOOKIN!
SEE YA REAL SOON! ºOº
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
59 DAYS TO GO . . .
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2011
TIME AND WEATHER. TWO THINGS YOU'D HARDLY THINK YOU NEED TO CONCERN YOURSELF WITH WHEN GOING ON VACATION, BUT NOT EVERYBODY LIVES IN THE SAME TIME ZONE AS THEIR DESTINATION. YOU MAY NOT LIVE ON THE EAST COAST AND ALREADY BE IN A DIFFERENT TIME ZONE THAN WALT DISNEY WORLD AND PORT CANAVERAL. OR YOU MAY NOT BE GOING TO CASTAWAY CAY AND NASSAU, BAHAMAS, WHICH IS ON EASTERN STANDARD TIME ALSO. TRIPS THROUGH THE CARIBBEAN TRAVEL THROUGH AND INTO DIFFERENT TIME ZONES AS WELL.
WHY DOES THIS REALLY MATTER AT ALL? WELL DISNEY TIME IS THEIR TIME NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM OR GOING. MEANING: DEPARTURE TIMES FOR SHIPS ARE THE LOCAL TIME IN PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA. SO PLAN ON IT. THEY ALSO KEEP THE TIME ON-BOARD OF THE TIME ZONE THEY ARE IN. SO IF YOU'RE TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF THE EXACT TIME OR HAVE SHORE EXCURSIONS PLANNED, LIKE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, THE CLOCKS CHANGE ON-BOARD. DISNEY ALSO HAS ACTIVITIES PLANNED ON-BOARD AS LISTED ON THEIR "PERSONAL NAVIGATORS". THOSE TIMES THAT THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO START DON'T CHANGE, BUT THE TIME ZONE YOU'RE IN MAY. SO IF YOU DON'T KEEP TRACK OF THE CHANGE, YOU COULD BE AN HOUR OFF FOR SOMETHING IMPORTANT YOU PLANNED ON.
SINCE MOST PEOPLE CAN'T USE THEIR PHONE WHILE ON-BOARD DUE TO POOR RECEPTION OR JUST RIDICULOUS INTERNATIONAL OR ROAMING CHARGES, YOU PROBABLY WON'T HAVE IT ON YOU. SEE? NOWHERE TO LOOK FOR THE TIME. SO GET USED TO WEARING A WATCH AGAIN IF YOU DON'T WEAR ONE NOW. AT LEAST HAVE SOMEONE YOU'RE WITH WEAR ONE, PREFERABLY WATERPROOF TOO. POOLS, SLIDES, BEACH, OCEAN, LOTS OF WATER, SO A WATERPROOF WATCH IS GOOD.
ANOTHER PLAN AHEAD, OR AT LEAST FOR, IS WEATHER. LORD KNOWS WE CAN'T CHANGE THE WEATHER. AND AS I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, I COME FROM THE HOTEL BUSINESS WHERE BAD WEATHER BREEDS TONS OF EXCUSES TO BE ABLE TO CANCEL. UNFORTUNATELY IT'S USUALLY THE OPPOSITE ON A CRUISE. WHEN YOU HAVE A SHORE EXCURSION PLANNED, BAD WEATHER CAN CAUSE THE COMPANY OR PLACE YOU'RE VISITING TO CANCEL THE EXCURSION FOR YOU WITHOUT ANY SAY FROM YOU AT ALL.
BAD WEATHER CAN ALSO CHANGE THINGS THAT ARE PLANNED ON-BOARD FOR YOU, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S TO BE HELD OUTSIDE ON DECK. RAIN AND BAD WIND CAN FORCE THINGS INSIDE AND CHANGE THE AVAILABILITY, SEATING, AND/OR VISIBILITY OF THE EVENT OR ACTIVITY.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, BAD WEATHER CAN CHANGE YOUR ITINERARY OF YOUR CRUISE IN IT'S ENTIRETY. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? CAPTAINS ARE FORCED TO GO AROUND BAD WEATHER FOR THE COMFORT AND SAFETY OF THEIR GUESTS. THIS CAN MEAN YOU MAY HAVE TO SWITCH PORTS OR GO IN A DIFFERENT ORDER OR IN SOME CASES, SKIP A PORT ALL TOGETHER. I'VE FOUND THROUGH READING ABOUT IT, THAT THE HARDEST THING IN THESE TYPES OF CONDITIONS IS DOCKING THE SHIP, DESPITE IT'S SIZE AND WEIGHT. IF IT'S SAFE, THEY'LL TRY, BUT IF IT CAN'T BE DONE, THAT'S THAT. THEY'LL TAKE THE SHIP BACK OUT TO SEE AND TRY AND KEEP GUESTS OCCUPIED, BUT THOSE THINGS YOU HAD LOOKED FORWARD TO IN PORT, YOU WILL MOST LIKELY NOT SEE AT ALL NOW.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT ANY OR ALL OF THIS? PLAN AHEAD. CHECK http://www.accuweather.com/, http://www.weather.com/, or http://www.wunderground.com/. ALL CAN GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT'S UPCOMING FOR YOUR DESTINATION. YOU CAN ALSO, DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR YOU'RE CRUISING, CHECK HURRICANE FORECASTS AT: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ OR LOOK FOR YOUR OCEAN WATER TEMPERATURES AT: www.oceanweather.com/data. HAVING ANY OF THIS INFORMATION CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE AS YOUR TRAVEL DATES APPROACH. ESPECIALLY IF YOU CHECK CLOSER TO YOUR VACATION AND GET THE MOST ACCURATE FORECAST FOR RAIN, SUN, CLOUDS, AIR AND OCEAN TEMPERATURES, ETC. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY, RIGHT? FOR YOU OVER PACKERS, KNOWING THE WEATHER AHEAD OF TIME CAN CERTAINLY HELP YOU DECIDE HOW MUCH EXTRA OF WHAT THINGS YOU NEED TO PACK! ;-) SO KEEP A WEATHER EYE OUT AND THINK SUNSHINE.
SEE YA REAL SOON! ºOº
TIME AND WEATHER. TWO THINGS YOU'D HARDLY THINK YOU NEED TO CONCERN YOURSELF WITH WHEN GOING ON VACATION, BUT NOT EVERYBODY LIVES IN THE SAME TIME ZONE AS THEIR DESTINATION. YOU MAY NOT LIVE ON THE EAST COAST AND ALREADY BE IN A DIFFERENT TIME ZONE THAN WALT DISNEY WORLD AND PORT CANAVERAL. OR YOU MAY NOT BE GOING TO CASTAWAY CAY AND NASSAU, BAHAMAS, WHICH IS ON EASTERN STANDARD TIME ALSO. TRIPS THROUGH THE CARIBBEAN TRAVEL THROUGH AND INTO DIFFERENT TIME ZONES AS WELL.
WHY DOES THIS REALLY MATTER AT ALL? WELL DISNEY TIME IS THEIR TIME NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM OR GOING. MEANING: DEPARTURE TIMES FOR SHIPS ARE THE LOCAL TIME IN PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA. SO PLAN ON IT. THEY ALSO KEEP THE TIME ON-BOARD OF THE TIME ZONE THEY ARE IN. SO IF YOU'RE TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF THE EXACT TIME OR HAVE SHORE EXCURSIONS PLANNED, LIKE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, THE CLOCKS CHANGE ON-BOARD. DISNEY ALSO HAS ACTIVITIES PLANNED ON-BOARD AS LISTED ON THEIR "PERSONAL NAVIGATORS". THOSE TIMES THAT THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO START DON'T CHANGE, BUT THE TIME ZONE YOU'RE IN MAY. SO IF YOU DON'T KEEP TRACK OF THE CHANGE, YOU COULD BE AN HOUR OFF FOR SOMETHING IMPORTANT YOU PLANNED ON.
SINCE MOST PEOPLE CAN'T USE THEIR PHONE WHILE ON-BOARD DUE TO POOR RECEPTION OR JUST RIDICULOUS INTERNATIONAL OR ROAMING CHARGES, YOU PROBABLY WON'T HAVE IT ON YOU. SEE? NOWHERE TO LOOK FOR THE TIME. SO GET USED TO WEARING A WATCH AGAIN IF YOU DON'T WEAR ONE NOW. AT LEAST HAVE SOMEONE YOU'RE WITH WEAR ONE, PREFERABLY WATERPROOF TOO. POOLS, SLIDES, BEACH, OCEAN, LOTS OF WATER, SO A WATERPROOF WATCH IS GOOD.
ANOTHER PLAN AHEAD, OR AT LEAST FOR, IS WEATHER. LORD KNOWS WE CAN'T CHANGE THE WEATHER. AND AS I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, I COME FROM THE HOTEL BUSINESS WHERE BAD WEATHER BREEDS TONS OF EXCUSES TO BE ABLE TO CANCEL. UNFORTUNATELY IT'S USUALLY THE OPPOSITE ON A CRUISE. WHEN YOU HAVE A SHORE EXCURSION PLANNED, BAD WEATHER CAN CAUSE THE COMPANY OR PLACE YOU'RE VISITING TO CANCEL THE EXCURSION FOR YOU WITHOUT ANY SAY FROM YOU AT ALL.
BAD WEATHER CAN ALSO CHANGE THINGS THAT ARE PLANNED ON-BOARD FOR YOU, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S TO BE HELD OUTSIDE ON DECK. RAIN AND BAD WIND CAN FORCE THINGS INSIDE AND CHANGE THE AVAILABILITY, SEATING, AND/OR VISIBILITY OF THE EVENT OR ACTIVITY.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, BAD WEATHER CAN CHANGE YOUR ITINERARY OF YOUR CRUISE IN IT'S ENTIRETY. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? CAPTAINS ARE FORCED TO GO AROUND BAD WEATHER FOR THE COMFORT AND SAFETY OF THEIR GUESTS. THIS CAN MEAN YOU MAY HAVE TO SWITCH PORTS OR GO IN A DIFFERENT ORDER OR IN SOME CASES, SKIP A PORT ALL TOGETHER. I'VE FOUND THROUGH READING ABOUT IT, THAT THE HARDEST THING IN THESE TYPES OF CONDITIONS IS DOCKING THE SHIP, DESPITE IT'S SIZE AND WEIGHT. IF IT'S SAFE, THEY'LL TRY, BUT IF IT CAN'T BE DONE, THAT'S THAT. THEY'LL TAKE THE SHIP BACK OUT TO SEE AND TRY AND KEEP GUESTS OCCUPIED, BUT THOSE THINGS YOU HAD LOOKED FORWARD TO IN PORT, YOU WILL MOST LIKELY NOT SEE AT ALL NOW.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT ANY OR ALL OF THIS? PLAN AHEAD. CHECK http://www.accuweather.com/, http://www.weather.com/, or http://www.wunderground.com/. ALL CAN GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT'S UPCOMING FOR YOUR DESTINATION. YOU CAN ALSO, DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR YOU'RE CRUISING, CHECK HURRICANE FORECASTS AT: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ OR LOOK FOR YOUR OCEAN WATER TEMPERATURES AT: www.oceanweather.com/data. HAVING ANY OF THIS INFORMATION CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE AS YOUR TRAVEL DATES APPROACH. ESPECIALLY IF YOU CHECK CLOSER TO YOUR VACATION AND GET THE MOST ACCURATE FORECAST FOR RAIN, SUN, CLOUDS, AIR AND OCEAN TEMPERATURES, ETC. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY, RIGHT? FOR YOU OVER PACKERS, KNOWING THE WEATHER AHEAD OF TIME CAN CERTAINLY HELP YOU DECIDE HOW MUCH EXTRA OF WHAT THINGS YOU NEED TO PACK! ;-) SO KEEP A WEATHER EYE OUT AND THINK SUNSHINE.
SEE YA REAL SOON! ºOº
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
60 DAYS TO GO . . .
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2011
ADDRESS LABELS AND/OR BUSINESS CARDS. HUH? WHY WOULD I NEED THESE? I THOUGHT THE SAME THING TIL I READ SOME MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR USES ON A CRUISE. WHILE I LOVE TO WRITE, I'M NOT A BIG CHRISTMAS CARD SENDER, AND WITH E-MAIL NOWADAYS, WRITING LETTERS SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME A THING OF THE PAST. BUT, ON VACATION PEOPLE LOVE TO SEND POSTCARDS.
SO, PLANNING AHEAD, INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT NAME SPELLINGS AND CORRECT ADDRESSES, YOU CAN HAVE FRIENDS NAMES AND ADDRESSES ALREADY PRINTED OUT ON COMPUTER ADDRESS LABELS TO AFFIX ON YOUR POSTCARDS WHEN YOU'RE READY.
YOU CAN ALSO PRINT YOUR OWN NAME AND ADDRESS ON ADDRESS LABELS TO BRING WITH YOU SO YOU CAN MAIL PACKAGES, LETTERS, OR CARDS TO YOURSELF OR YOUR FAMILY FROM ANY PORTS OF CALL. ANOTHER BENEFIT OF HAVING YOUR OWN NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED OUT IS SO YOU CAN GIVE THEM TO PEOPLE YOU MEET ON-BOARD. YOU MAY BE PLANNING ON MEETING UP WITH SOME PEOPLE ALREADY THAT YOU'VE MET ON-LINE IN DISNEY CHATS OR BOARDS, OR THEY MAY BE JUST FOR THE PEOPLE YOU DINE WITH EACH NIGHT IN DISNEY'S ROTATIONAL DINING. YOU NEVER KNOW.
IT'S THE "YOU NEVER KNOW" LOGIC THAT INSPIRED ME TO TRY THE ANOTHER OPTION. I HAD BUSINESS CARDS MADE UP JUST FOR OUR CRUISE. AN IDEA I GOT OFF OF ONE OF THOSE DISNEY BOARDS. I THOUGHT, "THAT'S CLEVER". SO I DID SOME SEARCHING AND I CAME ACROSS OVERNIGHT PRINTS. (http://www.overnightprints.com/) NOW THERE ARE TONS OF CHOICES OUT THERE FOR BUSINESS CARDS, ESPECIALLY CHEAP ONES, BUT THIS TURNED OUT TO BE THE BEST DEAL FOR ME THAT I FOUND. I GOT 100 TWO-SIDED COLOR BUSINESS CARDS WITH WHATEVER I WANTED ON THEM FOR $5! I GOT THEM IN ORANGE (MY FAVORITE COLOR - GO CLEMSON TIGERS!) AND WITH A STOCK DESIGN ON THEM ON THE FRONT THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A MICKEY MOUSE HEAD TOO. I PUT MY NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE # (WHICH IRONICALLY I HAD CHANGED AFTER I HAD THEM PRINTED), AND E-MAIL ADDRESS ON THEM ALONG WITH "CLEMSON TIGER AND DISNEY ENTHUSIAST". CUTE, FUN, AND COST NEXT TO NOTHING. NOW I CAN HAND THEM OUT TO WHOMEVER I LIKE ON-BOARD WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT RUNNING OUT OF THEM OR ANYTHING ELSE. THEY'RE MY OWN ADDRESS LABEL.
NOW I'M SURE THERE ARE EVEN MORE OPTIONS OUT THERE, THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN OR THOUGHT OF, BUT THAT'S HALF THE FUN. COMING UP WITH SOMETHING THAT SUITS YOU, OR YOUR FAMILY, PERFECTLY. REMEMBER, IT'S A VACATION, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN! ;-)
SEE YA REAL SOON! ºOº
ADDRESS LABELS AND/OR BUSINESS CARDS. HUH? WHY WOULD I NEED THESE? I THOUGHT THE SAME THING TIL I READ SOME MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR USES ON A CRUISE. WHILE I LOVE TO WRITE, I'M NOT A BIG CHRISTMAS CARD SENDER, AND WITH E-MAIL NOWADAYS, WRITING LETTERS SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME A THING OF THE PAST. BUT, ON VACATION PEOPLE LOVE TO SEND POSTCARDS.
SO, PLANNING AHEAD, INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT NAME SPELLINGS AND CORRECT ADDRESSES, YOU CAN HAVE FRIENDS NAMES AND ADDRESSES ALREADY PRINTED OUT ON COMPUTER ADDRESS LABELS TO AFFIX ON YOUR POSTCARDS WHEN YOU'RE READY.
YOU CAN ALSO PRINT YOUR OWN NAME AND ADDRESS ON ADDRESS LABELS TO BRING WITH YOU SO YOU CAN MAIL PACKAGES, LETTERS, OR CARDS TO YOURSELF OR YOUR FAMILY FROM ANY PORTS OF CALL. ANOTHER BENEFIT OF HAVING YOUR OWN NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED OUT IS SO YOU CAN GIVE THEM TO PEOPLE YOU MEET ON-BOARD. YOU MAY BE PLANNING ON MEETING UP WITH SOME PEOPLE ALREADY THAT YOU'VE MET ON-LINE IN DISNEY CHATS OR BOARDS, OR THEY MAY BE JUST FOR THE PEOPLE YOU DINE WITH EACH NIGHT IN DISNEY'S ROTATIONAL DINING. YOU NEVER KNOW.
IT'S THE "YOU NEVER KNOW" LOGIC THAT INSPIRED ME TO TRY THE ANOTHER OPTION. I HAD BUSINESS CARDS MADE UP JUST FOR OUR CRUISE. AN IDEA I GOT OFF OF ONE OF THOSE DISNEY BOARDS. I THOUGHT, "THAT'S CLEVER". SO I DID SOME SEARCHING AND I CAME ACROSS OVERNIGHT PRINTS. (http://www.overnightprints.com/) NOW THERE ARE TONS OF CHOICES OUT THERE FOR BUSINESS CARDS, ESPECIALLY CHEAP ONES, BUT THIS TURNED OUT TO BE THE BEST DEAL FOR ME THAT I FOUND. I GOT 100 TWO-SIDED COLOR BUSINESS CARDS WITH WHATEVER I WANTED ON THEM FOR $5! I GOT THEM IN ORANGE (MY FAVORITE COLOR - GO CLEMSON TIGERS!) AND WITH A STOCK DESIGN ON THEM ON THE FRONT THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A MICKEY MOUSE HEAD TOO. I PUT MY NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE # (WHICH IRONICALLY I HAD CHANGED AFTER I HAD THEM PRINTED), AND E-MAIL ADDRESS ON THEM ALONG WITH "CLEMSON TIGER AND DISNEY ENTHUSIAST". CUTE, FUN, AND COST NEXT TO NOTHING. NOW I CAN HAND THEM OUT TO WHOMEVER I LIKE ON-BOARD WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT RUNNING OUT OF THEM OR ANYTHING ELSE. THEY'RE MY OWN ADDRESS LABEL.
NOW I'M SURE THERE ARE EVEN MORE OPTIONS OUT THERE, THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN OR THOUGHT OF, BUT THAT'S HALF THE FUN. COMING UP WITH SOMETHING THAT SUITS YOU, OR YOUR FAMILY, PERFECTLY. REMEMBER, IT'S A VACATION, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN! ;-)
SEE YA REAL SOON! ºOº
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