09/21/08 SSMC08 S.S. Member Cruise 2008

[danandnan]

Good morning everybody thought I would jump on before I head outside to finish cleaning up the yard. I think Spring has finally arrived in Maine.
Yesterday and today are to be in the hight 50's and tomorrow up to 65.
Mary im really surprised to see there are still slots open on the Cruise.
Do you think its because its the same cruise as last year and people want something different or what? I know Nanc and I don't care because we we just like Cruising with our Disney family. As Nancy says we all have something in common.
Speaking of Nanc she is subbing the rest of the week so as usual she shas left me a honey do list besides my outside work.
Joan hope Rog saw the game after work. I think that was great what they did with Bill Buckner. They were sayig this morning the rings were worth $20,000 each. Mary and Joan and all have a Magical Day.
danandnan

 

[JOANNEL]

Good morning all,

Welcome aboard smilingjack, teresa I hope you can make it.

Yes Roger watched the Redsox, it was a nice thing they did with Bill Buchner.

I guess we are not a chatting bunch since most of us have done this a few times. I think they don't fill up because of the cost. We are looking at a 7 day for 2009.

Have a great Wednesday every one!

 

[WDWLVR]

Dan,

I'm not sure why there are still openings but I would think some of the reasons would be:

• DVC dropped the ball quite a few times on the 2006 Member Cruise. I know a lot of the DISers who sailed on that one said they wouldn't go on another.
• DVC got many repeat cruisers mad with the way they handled booking for the 2007 cruise. Allowing a lottery just for first time cruisers (many of who then didn't even book) left a bad feeling for some.
• Yes it is the same itinerary as they have had before and some people prefer ports. As for me I love CC, Sea, CC.
• The shift from October to September. It is less points but it is also hurricane season which turns some people off.
• Also because it is September those with kids just starting school are less likely to be able to go.
• Some just don't find the value in it since it is more costly than a regular cruise.

So lots of potential reasons and everyone is definately entitled to thier own.

For me what makes a Members Cruise special are the guests that they have been able to bring and the experiences offered. When I think back on all the wonderful memories over the years. Touring the ship with one of the Imagineers who helped with the designs etc. Seeing and then getting to meet Art Linkletter. Listening to Roy Disney speak of growing up in the Disney family and organization. Listening to Richard Sherman talk about how all the songs of my childhood came to be. And on and on and on.

Sure there are some other special cruises like the repo cruises that get special entertainment, but I still think DVC does that far better than everyone else.

Add in all the wonderful people we've gotten to meet through these cruises and being able to sail with all our fellow DVC members and that is just icing on the cake.

 

[danandnan]

Mary I fully agree with you . We have been on 2 Member Cruises and the 3rd coming up and loved them both. Maybe they do have repeat stuff so be it .As you said its the friends we have made IE You and Mark,Joan and Roger and all the other great people,and like you and Mark we love CC.
What also is great we all keep in touch with each other each day on the Dis Board. I think what you have done is a great job . You and Mark put a lot of your time into it. Having the Meets are great.
danandnan

 

[WDWLVR]

Thanks Dan. It truly is a labor of love. However we can't take most of the credit. Most of that goes to all of you who join us for the meets and by posting here. It truly is a community and one I'm proud to belong to.

 

[JOANNEL]

I am really torn with this, I really like the member cruise with the special programs. I hope I don't affend any one- but it also seems to attract a more mature crowd. We have met really nice people who we seems to have a lot in common with.(except for our baseball) Not every one gets the disney thing! I wish they would do a seven day. The four is just so rushed, but I bet it would be very pricey! But with what we spend at the parks for the next three days would pay the difference. We had a great couple as table mates last year and they were not disers and another couple we met in the terminal and watching football! I am hoping we see them again since they both have done the member cruise before.

 

[WDWLVR]

Joanne I think many have been asking for a 7 day member cruise since the very first one. I'm guessing $$$ is a big part of it. We'd love it as well. To have ports of call as well as a number of sea days filled with special events.

In fact I remember being up in the Walt Suite with Cheryl and Todd on the '05 cruise talking to a number of the DVC representatives. They were talking at that time about wanting to attract new cruises and we suggested that they do 2 member cruises. A short one open to new cruisers and then a 7 day that more repeat members might want to try.

We're getting the best of both worlds this year with our 7 day Eastern in a few weeks and then the Member Cruise in September.

 

[tinytink]

Good morning all, I totally agree with Mary about the September thing but for a Disney cruise I am willing to take some of my kids out of school. We took the kids out of school for last years member cruise but this year DH-Chris can't skip his classes as he is on a very tight schedule with school, the older two boys would be pretty hard for them to adjust with being in school for 3 weeks then out for a week. That is why I opted to make it a mom/daughter trip but then I realized I will have to take Matthew my youngest, he would be so upset to know his mom and sister went to on a Disney tuise(as he calls it) and he didn't. So it would be the three of us and maybe some other family members. I gotta run to pick up Maddy from preschool so I will have to give DVC a call later. Thanks all.

 

[tinytink]

I see a pirate coming and I won't be back till after 1pm. oh, well good luck guys and gals.

 

[cherylp3]

I also recall that there are limited ports the wonder can use. I also think the double dip works well. That way people can plan if they want a guest session or play on the sand.

 

[tinkerbelle77]

Happy Wednesday to all...Today is sort of an odd day for me, usually we work at noon and stay until 8 or so. But, we had a very early flight tomorrow morning that is now canceled, so we had scheduled the day early. We had planned to attend a continuing education seminar in Ft. Lauderdale, then we seen the same class being offered in Myrtle Beach at a beautiful oceanside resort. We decided to change the dates and bring along our families! So it worked out to be a much better deal! And we added on a day! So now its April 30-May 4. And the best part of the deal was the airfare and room worked out to be less than what was booked for Ft. Lauderdale, so the family went for free!!! Just have to pay for their food! Mine will be paid for. The girls don't know, we figured we'd surprise them because they thought our next trip was a girl scout trip to Mackinac Island in June.

Other good news is that we've added 2 extra days at the begining of our Sept. trip, we now arrive on Thursday evening! Decided to take advantage of the free dining promo for Disney Visa holders, we needed to buy park passes for after the cruise, and figured why not do it before and get the free dining. We basically ended up ahead this way!

 

[tinkerbelle77]

I also recall that there are limited ports the wonder can use. I also think the double dip works well. That way people can plan if they want a guest session or play on the sand.

I agree...My favorite stop is CC...I don't really enjoy the others!

 

[cherylp3]

I really miss key west and nassau sinceI'm not a beach person.

 

[tinkerbelle77]

I really miss key west and nassau sinceI'm not a beach person.

I could sit all day long on the beach(A nice clean one) and just do nothing!

 

[WDWLVR]

I would do Key West again but really don't care for Nassau. To me a CC, Sea, CC cruise is perfect. However I also really love the Eastern and the 3 sea days so I definately see the appear of a 7 day Member Cruise!

 

[WDWLVR]

I could sit all day long on the beach(A nice clean one) and just do nothing!

Me too Tina. Give me a cold drink and a good book and I'm set!

 

[tinkerbelle77]

Like previously posted...A seven day member cruise would be great! I know we would be doing our best to be on it!

 

[tinkerbelle77]

ok so who's going to get the pirate!

 

[tinkerbelle77]

It's between Mary, Cheryl and Myself at this point? I think Mary needs one!

 

[WDWLVR]

Congrats to Tina on her pirate! I was just watching and waiting.