Any rumor when 2014 dates come out?

[mom4fun]

I am going to up the ante on stirring the pot. Since there are so many rumors floating around on DIS, I am going to make a guess as to why the delay.

Rumor #1: the magic will be undergoing a 12-18 month major refit not the initial drydock that was discussed.

Rumor #2: Release will be delayed until January.

With Disney big wigs meeting this past week to discuss future operations, here is my conjecture:

I feel DCL is putting off the improvements to the magic to see if demand for their product will change with one less ship in service and to see whether or not the economy improves. I would not be surprised if they mothball the magic or sell it if they feel it is not financially viable anymore.

Therefore, this change in plans has led DCL to restructure itineries based on the fact the magic will be out of service for an extended period of time leading to a delay in the 2014 release.

This makes a lot of sence but what I still don't understand is, according to word on the forum, the dream and fantasy are under contract with current ports so why wouldn't they just release their dates and not wonders?

 

[mmouse37]

I just called and the woman (rebecca) said that if you're signed up on the Disney Cruise Line Website that you'll receive an email when the dates are released.

I have been signed up at the DCL website for years and never get any email notifications of release dates or anything else other than my booked cruise info.

MJ

 

[NancyIL]

I am going to up the ante on stirring the pot. Since there are so many rumors floating around on DIS, I am going to make a guess as to why the delay.

Rumor #1: the magic will be undergoing a 12-18 month major refit not the initial drydock that was discussed.

Rumor #2: Release will be delayed until January.

With Disney big wigs meeting this past week to discuss future operations, here is my conjecture:

I feel DCL is putting off the improvements to the magic to see if demand for their product will change with one less ship in service and to see whether or not the economy improves. I would not be surprised if they mothball the magic or sell it if they feel it is not financially viable anymore.

Therefore, this change in plans has led DCL to restructure itineries based on the fact the magic will be out of service for an extended period of time leading to a delay in the 2014 release.

The Magic has cruises planned beginning in Oct. 2013 - so I doubt they plan a longer drydock. RCI and Princess have done major overhauls of their ships, and it doesn't take more than a few months for that.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Rumor #1: the magic will be undergoing a 12-18 month major refit not the initial drydock that was discussed.

This is highly unlikely, though not impossible. As you see below, what can be done in a 10 day dry dock is enormous. That is just one example. The Magic has not had cancelled cruises or other upsets such as mid-cruise breakdowns that would indicate the entire engine system has failed and needs to be rebuilt.

Unless they were to actually gut the whole ship and stretch it (rebuild length) I cannot think of what kind of retrofit would require that length of time.

Here is my excerpt on dry dock:

The Disney Magic entered scheduled 10-day drydock refurbishment on October 1, 2005 at the Norshipco shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia. Several enhancements took place during this time. The Vista Spa and Salon received a 1,700-square foot expansion including three new spa treatment suites. Three conference rooms on deck 2 were transformed into an additional children's area called Ocean Quest. A 24-by-14 foot LED screen was affixed to the forward funnel in the family swimming pool area where movies and major sporting and broadcast events are shown.

 

[JimmyJackJunior]

My travel agent(with Expedia Cruise Specialists) spent about half an hour on the line with a supervisor at Disney Cruise Lines. It sounds like they have not decided their final schedule yet. Evidently unrest/mass protests in Spain and Greece have thrown the initial plan of Med cruises in 2014 in to doubt. It has also created exchange rate uncertainty for they with the Euro's troubles.

So the upshot - it does not sound like anything is imminent. Really unfortunate because the Med Cruise is what we were wanting to do.

 

[RedSox68]

I have been signed up at the DCL website for years and never get any email notifications of release dates or anything else other than my booked cruise info.

MJ

I second this! I even called them last month to check my email status and they have the correct email information and the rep told me I should be receiving email notifications. I've never received one. The only notifications I get are from my travel agent!

 

[Princess_Kayla]

I've tried to change my profile on the cruise line site to add that I get notifications, but it won't let me change it. GRRRRRR Keeps saying "invalid user name" which is correct. Soooooo frustrating!

You have to call the Disney people to change it. They're changing/ updating the website so somethings y aren't working properly. My mom went to change her Email and it wouldn't let her she called in and they did it and its all good.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

True. But usually a day or two after release.

That's exactly what I was thinking!

 

[mom4fun]

My travel agent(with Expedia Cruise Specialists) spent about half an hour on the line with a supervisor at Disney Cruise Lines. It sounds like they have not decided their final schedule yet. Evidently unrest/mass protests in Spain and Greece have thrown the initial plan of Med cruises in 2014 in to doubt. It has also created exchange rate uncertainty for they with the Euro's troubles.

So the upshot - it does not sound like anything is imminent. Really unfortunate because the Med Cruise is what we were wanting to do.

If there is unrest in spain and Greece, won't that cause 2013 cruises to be revised as well?

 

[Princess_Kayla]

That's exactly what I was thinking!

II check 8 times a day on the website xD Once at midnight then around 8 or 9 then noon then like 2 or 3 and then again around 6 and then at 8 and once more at 10 then it starts all over

 

[minnieandmickey]

Well hubby said last night he like to do a B2B on the Fantasy in 2014. So for me who has been anxiously waiting with you all now is ok for the dates to come out later (like Dec 23 or later) So I can save up the additional deposit. Saying that and my luck, well the dates should be out any day now

 

[Tink1987]

If there is unrest in spain and Greece, won't that cause 2013 cruises to be revised as well?

Please don't say that, I am on the EBTA in May

 

[smeecanada]

I have been signed up at the DCL website for years and never get any email notifications of release dates or anything else other than my booked cruise info.

MJ

Same here. For some reason in my profile - Disney Cruise Line is not an option. Yet we receive emails about our upcoming cruises, Disneyland offers and the occasional WDW offer.

 

[jmb910]

I am constantly getting emails from DCL for the Sowa family (that's not us). I emailed Disney and they said they fixed it, but they still continue to come. It's annoying, too, because some are for offers I wouldn't mind using, but they specifically say must be used by the Sowa family .

 

[JulieL0616]

I've tried to change my profile on the cruise line site to add that I get notifications, but it won't let me change it. GRRRRRR Keeps saying "invalid user name" which is correct. Soooooo frustrating!

We had the same problem and called DCL, easy fix go to www.disneyworld.com and sign in and update it there. He said they are updating the DCL website

 

[alenushka]

II check 8 times a day on the website xD Once at midnight then around 8 or 9 then noon then like 2 or 3 and then again around 6 and then at 8 and once more at 10 then it starts all over

that is what i am doing on a daily basis now
I just sent you a PM.

 

[Mariellen102]

The person i spoke with on the phone from DCL stated there would not be an email notification sent out unless there was new iternaries being posted?! ?! So many conflicting stories...who knows what to believe!!

Does anyone know how many days in advance the people on the phone from DCL get before they are posted on the internet??! Bc he said ooo yah we know before so we can be prepared...forgot to ask him that one!

 

[lbgraves]

The person i spoke with on the phone from DCL stated there would not be an email notification sent out unless there was new iternaries being posted?! ?! So many conflicting stories...who knows what to believe!!

Does anyone know how many days in advance the people on the phone from DCL get before they are posted on the internet??! Bc he said ooo yah we know before so we can be prepared...forgot to ask him that one!

It honestly depends. A couple years ago an email went out to gold CC members with the silver opening date on the email. If it wasn't for info posted here on the DIS many would have missed out on that date. In fact, when I called that morning at 8, then again at 10 the CSR said that it hadn't been busy at all and they were surprised. This was the year Alaska 2011 was released and we ended up switching to a different date on opening day. I told her that the email had the wrong date.

The last half of the Fantasy's 2012 dates were released without any kind of anouncement at all. Later on in 2011, the other ships had their late 2012 dates released with an email -- probably the morning it was available -- even though those itineraries were pretty much the same as previous ones.

I think that DCL simply sends out an email if it feels like it or not. Same thing goes for offering platinum/gold cc members an extra day to book or not. It has not been consistent.

Oh, and every single time I call opening day to move a dummy date the CSR has told me that they found out about the release that morning. Most times the computer server has not been ready for the release and this causes delays.

 

[o&smom]

If there is unrest in spain and Greece, won't that cause 2013 cruises to be revised as well?

There really is no "unrest" in Spain or Greece. This kind of protest is fairly common in Europe and doesn't usually affect travel. Most guides will know ahead of time to schedule alternate routes to destination, etc. Much of their economy is based on tourism and they really don't want to impact that.

Marni

P.S. There is an article on Rick Steve's website about this

 

[mom4fun]

My travel agent(with Expedia Cruise Specialists) spent about half an hour on the line with a supervisor at Disney Cruise Lines. It sounds like they have not decided their final schedule yet. Evidently unrest/mass protests in Spain and Greece have thrown the initial plan of Med cruises in 2014 in to doubt. It has also created exchange rate uncertainty for they with the Euro's troubles.

So the upshot - it does not sound like anything is imminent. Really unfortunate because the Med Cruise is what we were wanting to do.

So do you think the travel agent really talked to the disney supervisor or is this just a bunch of hoowey?