How Far Ahead Do You Need To Book To Get One Of The Secret Porthole Rooms???

[BABYJOSIE98]

We have a cruise booked for Feb and I just know that we are going to love it!!! So I was thinking of looking into the 4 day cruise on the Wonder and try that next. I have read lots about the secret porthole rooms. How hard are they too book???? I have been checking prices lately and the cruise prices seem to be more expensive than what we booked for. No specials or anything? I guess it is such a popular vacation that they can charge what they want??? Our Aunt and Uncle tried to book a couple weeks ago with us and for the exact same thing was about $800 more than what we are paying.. Glad I booked when I did!!!!!!;)

[DawnL]

We were on the 7/6 Western and absolutely loved it!! We booked 18 months out and were able to secure one of the secret porthole rooms, we also booked a 4 day before we even went on the 7 day, figuring we could always cancel if we really didn't enjoy it. Of course that is not an option, we can't wait to go again, even pre-booked another 7 day, this time Eastern for 2004 while on board to get the $200 shipboard credit. We booked this past April for the 3/30/03 (4 day) and were lucky enough to get the same room again #5020. There were only 2 secret Port hole rooms left when we booked. They are very popular so as soon as you can pick your date, I would call. Our cruise had gone up by over $1,500 from the time we booked to the time we sailed. The best savings is to book as early as possible.

[BABYJOSIE98]

Dawn,

Did you like the secret porthole rooms??? Heck for the price I would think you could not beat it. Did you still get plenty of sunlight and could you see atleast a bit out your window? We are in a Cat 9 oceanview deluxe for our Western sailing Feb 1. I just wanted to have some sunshine in the mornings and my 4 year old DD has to much energy for the verandah. That would make me nervous.

I am thinking of booking us a 4 day like you did before we even go on this 7 day cruise. My Aunt and I are thinking of her and I taking our 2 kids and leaving the men at home....... They are booked on a 4 day in Nov and my family in Feb and so next time we thought just us girls and the kids would go and split everything. Thanks for the info and your help....;)

[disneychic]

We booked in March and were able to get a secret porthole room for our upcoming Sept. 8th 4day Wonder cruise. I guess it's just a matter of luck! Have a great cruise!

[wovenwonder]

We booked the adjoining rooms that we had in April of this year (5522/5524) about 11 months ahead of time. They were terrific! I have pics of these rooms on my website -- linked below.
:D

[BABYJOSIE98]

THANKS EVERYONE! I was thinking about next year Nov 2 wonder cruise for 2003 and we could go down early and the Halloween party at MK. We will see... Hubby will think I am crazy if I tell him I want to book another before we even do the first one!!

Michelle;)

[DawnL]

We absolutely loved the room. The location is wonderful, just a few steps from the forward elevators and stairs. There is hardly any traffic because there aren't that many rooms down the hallway. The deck as a whole is very quiet, nice wide hallways, not a lot of cabins, just the kids club and movie theather so there isn't a lot of traffic anywhere. Our view was hardly obstructed at all, very clear view and never saw anyone outside the porthole. The porthole is very large. There is a heavyweight curtain on the window and also a lightweight one that will let the light in, but still offers privacy. I would only pull the light weight one closed at night so we would see the light in the morning, otherwise I think we would have slept very late each day.

[my3kids]

We booked 19 months in advance to get our secret portholes for November. Can't wait!

[atigeg]

We generally book a year in advance and have managed to get non-adjoining secret porthole rooms for all of the cruises where we wanted one. Be sure to ask for them specifically by room number...some of the DCL agents know about them, but many don't!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[Otisp]

We booked 16 months in advance for 5020. DawnL is absolutely right about the great location. It's also just down the hall from the Lab and the Club (but far enough away to not hear any kids screaming as they were dragged back to their rooms at night).

[buzz5985]

I just booked room 5020, 4 day cruise on the Wonder, October 12, 2003.

Janis

[Rock'n Robin]

I considered booking those rooms for next June 29 and they were all gone!Oh well, DH wanted a veranda anyhow!;)
Robin M.

[Roxie A]

In May I called and had the rep check all the secret port holesrooms for me for the whole month of Sept. as we were talking one came open for Sept. 1st sailing so I booked it. I ended up canceling when final payment was due in July because we decided to do a 7 day. So sometimes you can get lucky, not only did I get that one but someone got it when I canceled.

[BABYJOSIE98]

Yippee!!! Got room 5020 for my Cousins trip Dec 2003!!!! I asked our TA to check for room 5020 while I was up paying on my cruise. It was available and the TA new nothing about the secret rooms. So funny cause she asked Disney while on the phone and they denied them (Imagine that????) I told her that I know they are there cause I had seen them on line and talked about the with others on the DIS board. So then the rep came back and said ok they do have a porthole,but 100% obstruction!!!! I said oh no they don't!! We will take it. So they got booked for the Land and Sea vacation the week after Thanksgiving next year and got room 5020. My Cousin was so happy!!! My TA was impressed that I knew so much and I told her I love searching info and planning trips. I told her that I had checked into Travel school and she told me to save my money.... She said she could really use a Disney specialist that could help book her Disney cruises and that if I was interested she would take me on and train me and I could work through her!! Woo Hoo!!! The DIS boards info may have gotten me a new Career!!! She runs a cruise only Agency and her DD has went back to school and she said she could use an Assistant!! I was just thinking that I could really get a good discount on my own vacations. TA said she had been every where in the last 9 years she had owned the Agency.
I am so excited........ Thanks for eveyones help.;) ;)

[SC Minnie]

We tried to get room 5020 for a March 2004 Magic sailing and it was already booked! We were able to get one of the others though. When DH asked the CM if these rooms were available the CM said-' You have been doing your homework haven't you?!?'

If you want these rooms book as early as possible.

[dgroet]

Wow, we really lucked out. My inlaws booked the cruise about a year ago, really only requesting cat. 10 rooms. back in Dec. the TA had us in two rooms on one floor and 1 on another floor. She kept looking, and eventually got us all together. They told her to put us up as high as possible. So Monday the cruise doc's came, and lo and behold we got 3 of the secret port hole rooms:Pinkbounc :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

17 DAYS !!!!!!!

[imgoingtodisney]

It wasnt available for our Nov 30th cruise when I booked through DVC Dec 31st. However, just yesterday morn (after I got a tip from a fellow cruisemate - thanks Michelle) I was able to book room 5520!!! Yahhoo
16 wks from today we leave for the airport

[jlmcantwait]

Hi,
I booked 2 weeks ago and confirmed 5022....and cabin
5024 is still available. This is for 11/30/02
I think like anything it depends on demand for the week you are trying to book. School vacations, summer you will have a hard time, off peak will be easier.
Then again it could just be the luck of the draw! :)

[Mom of 4 Princesses]

I booked for the 11/29/03 Eastern about 2 months ago and was able to get 5524 and 5522 connecting!!

[Tink Fans]

Secret Port hole rooms are great. On our first cruise in 2001 we were lucky to get one (Rm. 5020). At the time of booking, we didn't even know they existed. While browsing for cruise info, I came across someone else looking for information on the "secret porthole rooms" - 5020, specifically. We traded some emails and since their cruise was after ours, I took a picture of my kids standing in the secret porthole window to send them. They loved it. Anyway, tried to figure out how to put it in here but . . . uhmm couldn't figure it out.

Glad to know it is possible to still get those rooms if you book far enough in advance. For our Feb. 15, 2003 cruise they were not available . . . but I figured it would be a tough week to snag one. Just happy to be on that ship!

Enjoy the cruise.

[el_tigre]

I just booked 5524 for the 8/16/03 Magic and was told that was the last secret porthole available for that sailing.

With these rooms getting so popular (how can they call them secret, we should call them the well known porthole rooms now), I'm ecstatic just to get one.

[Hygiene99]

out of 4 cruise we have been in A well known porthole room 3 times and had it booked for our 4 & 5 cruise but on the 4 cruise we decided to upgrade day of cruise to cat 4.. 3 was not avaliable
so 5022 was empty on our May 11,2002 cruise was looking for some one on ship with cat 10 inside stateroom to Tell that if they asked the could get switched to this room........... no luck

5th cruise in dec we have 2
but we upgraded to cat 7 so mom is in one and BIL is in ther other.. Brother inlaw did pay $99.00 for the cruise so it is only right that he get a secret porthole room ....
when he booked THE $99.00 cruise disney could not Garantee room but Could Garantee catagory ... so we booked 2
secret porthole rooms and when he got his room # it was not a secret porthole room so he and i switched rooms thanks to donna at dreams and then we upgraded to cat 7 .......
bla bla bla they r a great value ....... peter