Disney Wonder - Galveston to San Jaun - January 20, 2017

[Jason P]

Here is a fun one. I hid an idea for a name with in the puzzle.

View attachment 146854

This looks very good. I am impressed how creative it is! Honestly just thinking about the cruise makes me happy so anything is good!

 

[Jason P]

Are any of you guys on the Disney Cruising site on FB? Well I tried to let other fellow cruisers know about this page and they deleted my comment with the link saying I am violating there rules of the page sharing this link. All I was trying to do was to share with them our FE group etc. and I feel you guys are so informative. It really annoyed me. I even tried to tell them to PM me for the link and they deleted that too. Oy vey....

Yeah the same happened to me. I wasn't trying to violate any rules but it looks like we both did...oops!

 

[pixiehallow]

Yeah the same happened to me. I wasn't trying to violate any rules but it looks like we both did...oops!

I am so sorry to hear about other cruisers being so anti -social (I am sure there is a better word to describe it, but while keeping it Disney, I am at a loss for words ). To my understanding, neither of you broke any rules. The only rules concerning this, are about posting things on the DIS with the intent to lure participants to FB our a third party site. What was happening was that travel agents were phisching for information. I think the person over that group probably has had a bad prior experience with the intermingling of the 2 groups.

By the way, Yeah Jason! !!
You made 10 posts. I will send the FE PM to you shortly. And your vote for small groups is counted.

~ Tink ~

 

[zoiejmvs]

Yeah the same happened to me. I wasn't trying to violate any rules but it looks like we both did...oops!

I find the FB group to be am little to strict.

Yeah the same happened to me. I wasn't trying to violate any rules but it looks like we both did...oops!

Yeah I find the FB group to be a little to strict. I don't like the big brother aspect of it. But it is informative.

 

[pixiehallow]

Yeah I find the FB group to be a little to strict. I don't like the big brother aspect of it. But it is informative.

I knew there were individual cruise pages, but wasn't aware of that one which is apparently run by a "cruise / travel specialist " (travel agent ). Now the reaction that you each got makes sense. The main support for dis is Dreams Unlimited, and the creators of the page y'all were referring to, doesn't want to direct others to a competitor.

 

[zoiejmvs]

I knew there were individual cruise pages, but wasn't aware of that one which is apparently run by a "cruise / travel specialist " (travel agent ). Now the reaction that you each got makes sense. The main support for dis is Dreams Unlimited, and the creators of the page y'all were referring to, doesn't want to direct others to a competitor.

I don't know how that link got there...My phone is crazy!!

 

[pixiehallow]

I don't know how that link got there...My phone is crazy!!

No worries!
Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a great weekend (despite the way Sunday night turned out. .... even the commercials were off their game).

~ Tink~

 

[pixiehallow]

How do you know you picked the right cruise?
When it makes the top 10 in almost every category for Mid-sized ships in the 2016 Cruisers Choice Awards.
To top it off, the Dream and the Fantasy were #1 and #2 in just about every category for large ships.
Check out the winners here: http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/cruiserschoice_index.cfm?Category=Overall&sort=large

 

[pixiehallow]

Happy Early Valentines Day!

Also, next week, Feb. 17th is National Random Acts of Kindness Day (better known by Disney fans as Random Acts of Magic {RAM for short} Day).
So, even though we are not at the parks, or on the boat, next Wed. is a good day to spread a little Disney Magic. I also think it may be fun to share some personal RAM experiences (either a ram that you have received, or one that you have been a part of sharing).

I have a few, but I think my favorite is one that has to do with our boys. On one of our first Disney cruises, our boys were selected to be honorary officers and got to take part in the Officers Pin Trading event as officers. They were given cast member lanyards full of pins to trade with all of the guests. This started as a RAM that our boys received, but turned into a chance for them to share some magic. While standing with the officers, they learned about magic pockets, and had a chance to use them. During the event, a young boy was admiring the pins on one of our sons lanyard, and asked how he could get one. Having not only pins in his magic pocket, but his castaway member lanyard as well, he pulled them out, and put the lanyard around the boys neck, and pinned a few pins on it, and said now you are all set to trade for what ever you want. I think I got as emotional as the little boys parents did. And our family tradition of finding a way to create magic for someone on each Disney trip still continues to this day.

How about y'all. I would love to hear how the magic of the mouse has touched your families lives.

~Tink~

 

[zoiejmvs]

Hi Everyone!! I started to look into flights and I guess it is still too soon. I just want to get things booked and be done...aaaaahhhhhh I am too impatient. How far out can we book things? Even the hotels wouldn't let me book yet on line.

 

[zoiejmvs]

Happy Early Valentines Day!

Also, next week, Feb. 17th is National Random Acts of Kindness Day (better known by Disney fans as Random Acts of Magic {RAM for short} Day).
So, even though we are not at the parks, or on the boat, next Wed. is a good day to spread a little Disney Magic. I also think it may be fun to share some personal RAM experiences (either a ram that you have received, or one that you have been a part of sharing).

I have a few, but I think my favorite is one that has to do with our boys. On one of our first Disney cruises, our boys were selected to be honorary officers and got to take part in the Officers Pin Trading event as officers. They were given cast member lanyards full of pins to trade with all of the guests. This started as a RAM that our boys received, but turned into a chance for them to share some magic. While standing with the officers, they learned about magic pockets, and had a chance to use them. During the event, a young boy was admiring the pins on one of our sons lanyard, and asked how he could get one. Having not only pins in his magic pocket, but his castaway member lanyard as well, he pulled them out, and put the lanyard around the boys neck, and pinned a few pins on it, and said now you are all set to trade for what ever you want. I think I got as emotional as the little boys parents did. And our family tradition of finding a way to create magic for someone on each Disney trip still continues to this day.

How about y'all. I would love to hear how the magic of the mouse has touched your families lives.

~Tink~

I wish I had a story to share but I don't I love your story though!!

 

[zoiejmvs]

So how do I do start pin trading? Where do I get pins to start?

 

[pixiehallow]

Hi Everyone!! I started to look into flights and I guess it is still too soon. I just want to get things booked and be done...aaaaahhhhhh I am too impatient. How far out can we book things? Even the hotels wouldn't let me book yet on line.

We began looking at prices and flight times as soon as we booked. We were using the 2015 times and prices (until we past Jan. 27 anyways).
Spirit has schedules up thru January 6th. I checked into times and prices, and then went back 1 month at a time until I found the 'sweet spot' (the time when the priced looked like they were the best). The big price change seemed to happen about 3 to 4 months out. For us uber planners, that is a bummer, but I also do not want to over pay. I am keeping a running note of what prices I find, and when it gets to an acceptable range, and I find the days / times I want, I am going to book. That said, I do not expect that window to open up until the end of summer for flights.
As for hotels, in Galveston, Dee (the wonderful lady at the front desk ) at Harbor House told us to start looking to book around the end of Feb. We are assuming (I know that can be dangerous) that San Juan will be about the same. Currently, on line the dates are open at the beginning of January 2017. I have also contacted the hotels we are interested in directly via email, and received quotes for those dates. So, you could possibly book with the hotel directly. I am not sure you will get the best available price though.

 

[pixiehallow]

So how do I do start pin trading? Where do I get pins to start?

Starting pin trading is actually easy. It is the stopping once you are addicted that is tough.

We usually get our pins for trading (or hundred mile gifts....another subject for long car trips, and keeping kids focused on something other than 'are we there yet') either at the local Disney Store outlet or ebay. We have an outlet mall just up the road a bit, and they get pins in every few months. When they get them, they are usually about 1/2 price. Also, they are not usually out on display. We have to ask the cast member if they have any.
Another good place to get starter pins in on ebay. You can find a lot of say 20 for under $12.
If you decide to start trading, please let me know. I might be able to put together a special (bonus) FE for you!

 

[pixiehallow]

P.S. It is not like I would be enabling you or anything.

 

[zoiejmvs]

Starting pin trading is actually easy. It is the stopping once you are addicted that is tough.

We usually get our pins for trading (or hundred mile gifts....another subject for long car trips, and keeping kids focused on something other than 'are we there yet') either at the local Disney Store outlet or ebay. We have an outlet mall just up the road a bit, and they get pins in every few months. When they get them, they are usually about 1/2 price. Also, they are not usually out on display. We have to ask the cast member if they have any.
Another good place to get starter pins in on ebay. You can find a lot of say 20 for under $12.
If you decide to start trading, please let me know. I might be able to put together a special (bonus) FE for you!

Yes I want to start. I was looking on Amazon at them but I wasn't sure if they were authentic. Does that matter?

 

[zoiejmvs]

P.S. It is not like I would be enabling you or anything.

LOL

 

[pixiehallow]

Yes I want to start. I was looking on Amazon at them but I wasn't sure if they were authentic. Does that matter?

Yes. If you see a cast member with a lanyard, or a trading book (they keep one at each cash register in the shops on the boat), they are required to allow you to trade with them (one pin at a time) as long as you are trading an authentic pin for one of their pins.
I am not sure about Amazon (I have never looked there to be honest), but on ebay, you can find sellers that guarantee the pins are official, and that offer 100% satisfaction guarantees.

 

[pixiehallow]

Yes I want to start. I was looking on Amazon at them but I wasn't sure if they were authentic. Does that matter?

Oh, and by the way, 'Want to start'.....I added a note!

 

[pixiehallow]

I am currently searching for a power wheelchair rental for the cruise. If anyone knows of a good company, please pass on the information.
I currently have a power chair, but it is big and heavy. This usually is not a problem when we are just driving, but for flying, it becomes difficult.
All I have currently been able to find for rentals is either a manual wheelchair, or the scooters with handle bars similar to a bike. Because of a problem with a disk in my neck, I would not be able to use the scooter type one.
Thanks in advance for any help.

~Tink~