GOBA Mom Lynn

It's been about 10 years since I've been on a cruise, and I wonder if/how dress codes have changed lately? The 7 night we're booked on will have 2 formal nights, and those I'm good with. It's the casual or "smart casual" I'm wondering about. How strict are they (this will be RCL) ? I was planning on capri pants mostly. I know you can't wear shorts to dinner in the dinning room, which is where we'll probably eat our dinners. I'll be following Kelly's trip report, but just thought I'd put the question here, to avoid a random hijacking of her thread. :) Thanks!

Enjoying the report so far. Even with the "not so good" parts. That's funny, cause it was our daughter who had a tooth knocked out, not our son. I was worried she'd be embarrassed, but it turned out she was a celebrity of sorts in her preschool class--first one to loose a tooth. LOL Can't wait to read about the rest of your trip. My mom and I are booked on the Grandeur of the Seas out of Baltimore at the beginning of June. I've never sailed on RCL so I'm looking forward to your impressions.

Very cool. Our first trip was 1985 so a lot of this looks familiar! And we have the family portrait like the one in the brochure. It's hanging on my living room wall right now. :)

That's what I suspected, but with all the mention of multiple cards and bands, it seemed like some hanky-panky could take place. On a separate note, I got a mailing today that says if you book a resort stay and a minimum 5 day ticket, they'll throw in the park hopper option for free. I wonder if they noticed a drop in bookings since the price increase?

Are they still doing finger scans at the park entrances with APs? If not, couldn't you just let a friend "borrow" one of your old MBs to get into a different park? Assuming all the MBs that you have in your possession are active. I think there's a big loophole there for some devious souls......unless I'm missing something vital. (which is totally possible. )

We stayed in tents on the hill a few years ago. Yes, the trains roll on by. But we heard just as much noise from the plant (mining operation?) that is just on the other side of the creek. But, it's a great campground anyway. Loved the shuttle to the park. Have a great time. We may try to get there again sometime. And some year get to the Gettysburg GG, too. :)

Has anyone here been on the RCCLs Grandeur of the Seas? My mother has booked us on a 7 day from Baltimore to Bermuda, & was looking for some honest reviews. Most of the reviews on the cruise review websites and/or Travelocity tend to be either really vague or really negative. There was even one I just read that insisted repeatedly that it was not their "opinion, but fact". It was about as long as a TCD trip report. :) (But of course, not nearly as entertaining...) Thanks!

OK, what about if you don't have a smart phone? (I know, I know, get with the technology old geezer, but hey, we're trying to save some money, here.) If I'd be in line, and then got refused, and then couldn't show the CM my info because I don't have a smart phone, I would be very pissed. Good thing we probably won't be going for another year or so. They should have all the issues straightened out by then, right? Or maybe they'll be back to paper fast passes....

When it gets to be winter, my husband insists that we rearrange the garage so that our 2 vehicles can fit. Now, that would be a Hyundai and a Honda Ridgeline. It's a tight fit. lol we can barely open the doors to get in/out. Can't wait for the weather to get nice, then we can leave at least one of them outside, so much easier to park. Our issue is bikes. We only have 10 bikes, a tandem and 2 unicycles. People always make some kind of comment if they see into our garage.

I wondered about what they might do for all those people in line at Dinosaur when it closed down. So, no bonus FPs. And another downside to FP+, no FPs to give away to people if you're not going to use yours. That's a shame. It was always a small, nice thing people could do to pass along some pixie dust to strangers.

Hey, maybe the Fort will have a new activity... "bat watching at dusk". Canoe down the canal and hope you don't get "attacked" from overhead. :/ How much would they charge for that?

Great report as always. A few remarks: The guy pulling the bike trailer. He doesn't even have the rain cover on. We pulled both of our kids in trailers like that for years. We always used either the screen or rain cover. Bikes kick up stones, etc off of the road, even when it's not raining. (Just a personal pet peeve of mine when I see parents pulling kids unprotected in trailers.) Your photo of the "future parking lot"... It's not just the acreage of concrete, but take that picture and add a what, 10 story building, just beyond it. And I guess that means that nice, big old tree t

WOW Just doing the math on the Ocean Lake Resort.... 3447 sites on less total acreage. How jammed together are those sites? So glad the Fort is not any more crowded than it is.

Nice pictures! We loved walking the Boardwalk to Epcot when we stayed at the Dolphin. Looking forward to the rest of your report.

I think bike trails that would connect the parks and resorts would be used, especially during months that the temps don't get too high, by those who don't want to take the bus or drive their car. Here in Pittsburgh, rail trails along the rivers are extremely popular, when weather permits, LOL. (ie not too much this past month) My DH and I have been road riders since the late 70's, even wearing helmets when no one else did. ( or even knew what they were.) I now mostly ride on the trails, but my DH is still a road rider whenever possible. When the trails were new, it took a few years before m

Great report so far, ladies! I only hope that someday I'll be able to join you all. Can't wait so read and see more!

This is all so interesting, and disconcerting. We've only stayed at the Fort once (so far!) but really don't like how these buildings would impact the area. One thing that I would like to see, is if someone who is good with photoshop, takes a picture of the area that encompasses Pioneer Hall and the field next to it, and can drop in a rendering of the new buildings that would be built there. Right now, PH is the "big" building at the Fort. Those new ones will make it look like a kiddies playhouse. :-

Well, I can see, for liability purposes, why they would want to close/restrict access when there are no lifeguards on duty. But, it still doesn't specify if you would have to have a 'room key' to gain access when the pool is open. They could just leave the gate open for anybody..... I would also hope that they would use a nice looking fence. One of the nice things about the Meadow pool area (to me, anyways) is how it is so nice and wide open with the field, playground, etc. It will be a shame for that to change.

I know I've let things stay in the pantry waaaay over the 'best by' date. My DD will be the one to throw it out. One of the only things I do watch the date on, is diet pop with aspartame. If it's too much past the date, there will be NO sweetness left, especially if it got warm sometime. I just had to pour about 10 cans of diet Pepsi down the drain. Boy did it taste nasty.

Woo Hoo! Can't wait. (Although we stayed at CSR once and rather enjoyed ourselves, so..........let's see where our opinions vary.... :) )

Hey, that was my DH's first car, too. Loved that thing. It took us many places, camping and biking. 2 people + bikes + camping gear = a full vehicle! The biggest drawback is we had to replace the exhaust system every 18 months. LOL

I'm really late to this thread, but anyway... My DD alluded to something similar to this a while back. Finding 'regular' clothes that would remind you of a character. I say it's better than having anyone over the age of 6 running around the parks in costumes.

Well, I guess this would be OK for a one day visit to MK,(except for the fact that it doesn't have enough spaces to be a full bingo card...) but otherwise kind of wimpy. Why so many free spaces? At least put something from at least one sit-down restaurant on there. I say the Fiends can come up with a card (for each park, of course) that would be wayyyyy better than this.

The water level looks soooo high. Like those wings at the Contemporary are almost under water!

Great start! I'm excitedly following along, as the last cruise we did (in 2003!) was from NY to Halifax on Carnival. It will be interesting to see the similarities and differences. Going north during the hot summer months is a great way to beat the heat.