"10/23/2010 Seven Days of Magic Sailing to the Saints Looking for Serenity Now!"

[Towncrier]

I'm a software engineer at Philips Healthcare where I work on motion control software for large medical equipment. On three weekends in September, I get to be a town crier at the Yankee Peddler Festival, a colonial arts and crafts show that my wife's family has been involved with since it started in the early 1970's. And I have to agree with Paul2003 about the weather here in northeastern Ohio. That's why my wife and I are so looking forward to the blue waters of the Carribean.

 

[sunshine1259]

Just a question getting to know each other...

What does everyone do for work?

I am a nurse and I work in a hospital. I do 12 hour shifts, 3 times per week, and I have to work every other weekend. I love my job, but it can be very hectic and crazy at times.

What do you do?

I work as an Office Manager working with engineers and techs. I have been with this group for almost 6 year, but I have been with the Department for almost 28 years!!! For the most part I enjoy my work and I work with a great bunch of people which always make going to work a little more pleasant. I work regular people hours for the most part, but I am off every other Friday. But, if I could be on a Disney cruise 24/7, I would be in heaven.

 

[sunshine1259]

Here's a few more questions for everyone...

Are you planning on rebooking while on board? If so, when? And do you have any tips to maximize OBCs?

This cruise is still more than 2 months away and I'm already thinking about the next one. Just trying to work my way up to Gold.

Yes, I plan to rebook onboard. Have done this the last 3 cruises. I will book a dummy reservation for 2012. A dummy reservation is one that you book when you know that you will be changing to a later date. This usually is done when waiting for new release dates. You get x-amount of OBC as well as a 10% discount on the cruise. Right now, there is even 1/2 off on the deposit for booking onboard. There is no risk to doing this, unless you book a suite. In that case, you can change your reservation but you will not be able to totally cancel it without losing your deposit.

But for a regular room you can cancel or change your reservation as often as you like without losing your deposit as long as it is before the PIF date.

Right, now besides this cruise in October, we also have a cruise booked in January 2011 and August 2011. The cruise in January is out of LA and is only for 2 days and is going “Nowhere in particular”. Can’t wait for that one. That will be my mom’s first cruise. It had to be a very short one for her. I am hoping that she will fall in love with cruising and want to go again.

The cruise in August is to Alaska and departs on my DH’s birthday. Both cruises will be on the Wonder. After the Alaskan cruise, I will only need 3 more cruises to be a PLATINIUM Castaway Member.

 

[sunshine1259]

I’ve been in and out for a bit.

Anyway, we have had some pixie dust sprinkled upon us. Over the weekend, I booked 2-day Base MYW tickets for our WDW stay prior to the cruise. At the time, I let the individual know that we were going to be adding the dining plan to our room reservation (which I had given him), once we decided which plan we wanted. So, he books the tickets, tells me they are non-refundable and that was that.

Well, I called the next day to add the dining, only to be informed that because the tickets were not attached to our room, that the dining could not be added. Now, because I was told that the tickets were non-refundable, I was NOT a happy camper . I was told that the gentleman should have added our tickets to our room reservation especially since he was aware of our intent and knew that the dining could not be added without the tickets being attached to our room.

After several phone calls that day, I was instructed to call the ticket office on Monday (they were closed when I tried Sunday), explain the situation and see if they would not refund the tickets. It took awhile before I was connected to the right office, but once I had the right people, there was absolutely no problem refunding the tickets. I thought, “Wow that was easier than I thought it would be”.

So, now I call the reservation office to have the tickets added to our room reservation. The gentleman put me on hold for quite some time. When he finally came back, he said that he had some kind of wonderful news. He said that there was some kind of special offer just for us on the room that we had selected. He wanted to know if we had received anything in the mail. No. Anyway, he said that the rate for the room that we had reserve was now only 409.51, down from 585!! What, 175.49 savings??!! Did I want to book it??!!! Uh, YESSS and throw in the dining and tickets, too. So, we ended up saving 173!!! Now, I am a VERY happy camper!!!

 

[Paul2003]

Here's a few more questions for everyone...

Are you planning on rebooking while on board? If so, when? And do you have any tips to maximize OBCs?

This cruise is still more than 2 months away and I'm already thinking about the next one. Just trying to work my way up to Gold.

I've been rebooking while on board for the 5 yrs. I plan on rebooking this year too, of course it depends on the $$$$. We usually go the last week in Sept. but the Magic was going down the Panama Canal and then off to Dry Dock.

 

[JanDave]

Just a question getting to know each other...

What does everyone do for work?

I am a nurse and I work in a hospital. I do 12 hour shifts, 3 times per week, and I have to work every other weekend. I love my job, but it can be very hectic and crazy at times.

What do you do?

I work at a law firm; I have a paralegal degree. I work 4 10s and have Fun Fridays to spend with the grandkids.

Jan

 

[JanDave]

I’ve been in and out for a bit.

So, now I call the reservation office to have the tickets added to our room reservation. The gentleman put me on hold for quite some time. When he finally came back, he said that he had some kind of wonderful news. He said that there was some kind of special offer just for us on the room that we had selected. He wanted to know if we had received anything in the mail. No. Anyway, he said that the rate for the room that we had reserve was now only 409.51, down from 585!! What, 175.49 savings??!! Did I want to book it??!!! Uh, YESSS and throw in the dining and tickets, too. So, we ended up saving 173!!! Now, I am a VERY happy camper!!!

Nice!!!!

Jan

 

[JanDave]

Here's a few more questions for everyone...

Are you planning on rebooking while on board? If so, when? And do you have any tips to maximize OBCs?

Carla and I will probably book a "dummy" date for a 3rd girls cruise sometime in 2012. Besides this cruise, DH and I are cruising B2B on the Wonder - 11/18/10 and 11/21/10. On the 2nd leg of our B2B, 4 grandkids and their parents are joining us. On October 23, 2011, we are cruising with our daughgter and family and Carla. That is a Mexican Riveriera cruise. DH and I booked that cruise last September when we were on the Magic and we got lots of onboard credit $$$ because I am a platinum. Then, I switched my ressie to Dreams Unlimited for more onboard credit.

Jan

 

[mrsdn5]

Look down at me waving if you notice the day has come to change my waving 33 to 34...It has happened again..it just keeps happening

 

[sirena]

Look down at me waving if you notice the day has come to change my waving 33 to 34...It has happened again..it just keeps happening

 

[mouseears1]

Look down at me waving if you notice the day has come to change my waving 33 to 34...It has happened again..it just keeps happening

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU !!!!!!

 

[coastiewifern]

Carla and I will probably book a "dummy" date for a 3rd girls cruise sometime in 2012. Besides this cruise, DH and I are cruising B2B on the Wonder - 11/18/10 and 11/21/10. On the 2nd leg of our B2B, 4 grandkids and their parents are joining us. On October 23, 2011, we are cruising with our daughgter and family and Carla. That is a Mexican Riveriera cruise. DH and I booked that cruise last September when we were on the Magic and we got lots of onboard credit $$$ because I am a platinum. Then, I switched my ressie to Dreams Unlimited for more onboard credit.

Jan

Ooooh switching to dreams unlimited after is a nice idea for more ob credit. We booked the last cruise with Dreams Unlimited the but not this one. I think I am definately booking a dummy date. Dh said he wants to do the transatlantic or alaskan. I don't know if I want to be on any ship that long (ta). I do have to keep popping pills to keep the sea sick monster away. I am hoping for a DCL Hawaii cruise. Mexican riveria would be an option too. Oh so fun. Keep the info/tips coming

 

[JanDave]

Look down at me waving if you notice the day has come to change my waving 33 to 34...It has happened again..it just keeps happening

Laura!

Jan

 

[sunshine1259]

Happy Birthday, Laura.

Hey, can someone answer this for me? I was wondering if IllumiNations is shown during the month of October? From what I can find out, it doesn't appear that it does.

The reason I ask is if is not showing, then the day that we do Epcot would be the day that we would do MNSSHP. We really only have 2 choices; October 21st and 22nd. No way do I want to do that on a Friday night. So, the 21st it is.

Thanks for the help.

 

[kimpossible]

Happy Birthday, Laura.

Hey, can someone answer this for me? I was wondering if IllumiNations is shown during the month of October? From what I can find out, it doesn't appear that it does.

The reason I ask is if is not showing, then the day that we do Epcot would be the day that we would do MNSSHP. We really only have 2 choices; October 21st and 22nd. No way do I want to do that on a Friday night. So, the 21st it is.

Thanks for the help.

It's always subject to change, but Illuminations is shown every night.

 

[sunshine1259]

It's always subject to change, but Illuminations is shown every night.

That's what I thought, but when I check the calendar, it doesn't show any showing for October at all. There are showings for September and November but not October. Just curious.

 

[minniesota]

That's what I thought, but when I check the calendar, it doesn't show any showing for October at all. There are showings for September and November but not October. Just curious.

Brenda - the calendar on the Dis shows Illuminations every night at 9. (It's in the middle of the listings.) Are you going to MNSSHP on Thursday?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hours/oct10.cfm?requesttimeout=1000

 

[sunshine1259]

Brenda - the calendar on the Dis shows Illuminations every night at 9. (It's in the middle of the listings.) Are you going to MNSSHP on Thursday?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hours/oct10.cfm?requesttimeout=1000

Yes, that is when I would like to go. But if they are showing IllumiNations, then we may have to forgo the MNSSHP. On the WDW webpage calendar it doesn't show IllumiNation for October. Thanks for all of your.

 

[fasttrakphil]

Happy Birthday, Laura.

Hey, can someone answer this for me? I was wondering if IllumiNations is shown during the month of October? From what I can find out, it doesn't appear that it does.

The reason I ask is if is not showing, then the day that we do Epcot would be the day that we would do MNSSHP. We really only have 2 choices; October 21st and 22nd. No way do I want to do that on a Friday night. So, the 21st it is.

Thanks for the help.

Brenda,
I was at Epcot last October before a cruise and if I remember correctly they only had Illuminations 3 or 4 times a week. Not sure if that's the policy this year or not.

 

[minniesota]

Brenda,
I was at Epcot last October before a cruise and if I remember correctly they only had Illuminations 3 or 4 times a week. Not sure if that's the policy this year or not.

Illuminations will be shown every night in October! It is very unusual for this show to be cancelled. Usually only due to bad weather....i.e. lightning.