Gigi

I think those beach loungers are definitely a great value. It seems like everyone that gets one, raves about them!
 
There is a path that you can definitely run on the island.  There's a dirt road that leads from the interior of the main beach area down to the opposite end of the island (look for signs for the nature walk).  It's maybe a mile, so you will have to do some laps but it's your best bet.
 
If you have your own equipment, you can go out on your own.  Obviously an excursion may take you out further but you absolutely can bring your own snorkel and jump in the water.
 
Must do's on CocoCay: Try Barefoot Beach for the least crowded experience and definitely have one (or many) Cocolocos!

I was very skeptical of CoCo Cay and boy was I ever wrong! CoCo Cay is plain and simple a great day at the beach. Plenty of space, plenty of activities, and it's well organized.
 
Bringing your own snorkel gear is a good way to save some bucks. They will make you wear a vest, so bring one along. I've found the best snorkeling to actually be where they want you to go! In particular, head out to the island that will have a lifeguard and beach umbrella on it, then vere left twords the ship to the end of the roped off area. Being deeper water, there will be some large fish there. It is quite impressive. Having snorkeled on just about every Royal Caribbean snorkeling excursion, this area of CoCo Cay is my #3 favorite of all time--and it's free! 

I think based on your preference for how Disney does dining, traditional dining would be the better fit.  You have set times and the same waiters and tablemates.  The only real difference is you do not change restaurants every night.

Raye, That is so funny because I am like you. I enjoy eating at 6:00 PM and if I am really daring I eat at 6:30 but mostly 6:00 PM. The reason I  choose MTD is because I prefer a table for 2 and I found with traditional dining downstairs I could never get a table for 2. So I stick with MTD as well. I think for our group cruise however, one night I will choose to dine al fresco on my balcony since its such a cool room.

Actually, you CAN replicate the traditional dining experience with My Time Dining (MTD), but as I am often reminded, why would you ?
 
The purpose of MTD is to allow you to eat at [almost] any time you wish vs having to eat at 1 of 2 assigned times.
 
Having said all of that, I will say (as I have many times) I do MTD at the same time every night SO THAT I get the same waiters and have the same table. How is this different from traditional dining ? It is not. I am a MTD abuser. The reason I do MTD instead of traditional is b/c I like getting a private table and I have always believed that it was easier to get a private table (MTD upstairs) than it was downstairs at traditional. Since joining this blog I have been assured that I am completely wrong and that it would be JUST as easy to get a private table downstairs as it is to get one upstairs so I truly have no real excuse to continue using MTD like traditional dining except....it's habit by now.
 
Truly, I do believe that the line is shorter waiting for a MTD table since you don't have a horde of people all trying to be seated at the same time but that's just my opinion. I'm probably wrong.
 
So I will continue to abuse the MTD system and eat at 5:30 every night instead of going downstairs with the rest of the early diners...because I can.

At present I don't believe Freedom of the Seas has the option of either of the Dynamic Dining styles it is purely Traditional Main Dining Room vs. My Time Dining.
 
I will also be on her in November but thought the rumors of DD on Freedom class had died so I am addressing my comments as Traditional vs My Time, if you were implying changing to a different ship to have access to the Dynamic Dining options that would be a whole 'nother answer !
 
In terms of Traditional vs My Time; there are a lot more similarities than there are differences since they both refer to eating in the same restaurant with the same menu. The only real difference is whether you prefer a fixed dining time, at a set table, with the same wait staff and tablemates or prefer the flexibility of dining at the time of your choice, in which case you can either make reservations or just show up and you will be seated at a table with possibly the same wait staff.
 
Personally we have always been very happy with the Traditional approach and have no interest in trying My Time so read into my comments some bias if you wish :)
 
I do know it is possible to try and replicate the Traditional experience using My Time, by asking for the same table/wait staff and that many people have reported it working fine.