11/30/06...The Wonder

[Zim]

From what I've read in the book I've got about the cruise, they have pin trading meets on the ship just like they have wine tasting and other gatherings. Whether or not they have the pin trading meet on the 3 or 4-night cruises, I'm not sure...

 

[tiadeg]

Hi everyone - are you all packed? Or am I the only loser to wait til the last minute. We're leaving Tues 11/21. I have to pack for 5 and haven't even started. Good news is that I received a call last week that we had our rooms upgraded from Cat 8 to Cat 6. Now we have a verandah. Nothing like that ever happens to us so we're really excited. I had the docs mailed to our inlaws because we're leaving on the 21st, no sign of them yet though. Do alot of you guys have your docs already? One question, are kids allowed to wear "nice" shorts in the dining room or do they have to wear long pants. I'm already making them wear dressshoes on the dress up night so if you a couple of boys not smiling - that would be us!

 

[Zim]

No - you aren't the only one not packed. I've had a paper box from work labelled DISNEY BOX for about 6 months now. Every time I run across something in the house I want to take with and won't need until then, I throw it in the box. I'm a horrible planner and always forget a lot of little things, so I'm hoping a lot of those little things have made it into that box.

We're leaving the day after Turkey Day - but I should be pretty much packed by Sunday night - I know next week will just FLY by.

We got our traveling information this past Wednesday. Seems like there have been a lot of upgrades on this cruise. I kind of hope I don't get one - we're in a 7 now in the aft very close to both the secret deck and the laundry. I'm pretty happy with that!

I know it's a short cruise, but any of you planning on bringing any pirate attire??

 

[Jeanne B]

I got our docs yesterday and when I checked the DCL website this morning we were upgraded from a Cat 12 GTY cabin on deck 2 to a Cat 11 cabin on deck 7!! We were just upgraded in the past few days because DCL called me Monday about an address problem and they were still showing me in 2519 on Monday. I'm thrilled because we were on deck 6 last year in an oceanview cabin and I really like decks 6 and 7, we're midship this time so it will only be a short walk to the "secret" aft deck.

And no, I haven't begun to pack but we're not leaving until the 29th so I've got another 11 days before I'm likely to start packing.

 

[Fabinva]

I'm still not packed either and we leave after turkey day as well, need to do that this weekend.
We got our documents yesterday only after calling our travel rep (Cotsco), I suggest calling your rep about them if you haven't gotten yours yet just to be safe.
Congratulations to the lucky ones that got upgraded

 

[4fromMT]

We got our documents yesterday! Guess I'd better look at them more closely to see if we were lucky enough to get an upgrade??!!! I'll be packing this weekend. So far everything has just been going in a pile. I wasn't smart enough to lable a box
Has anyone seen a weather forcast??
What is the "secret deck" you all are talking about?

Tiadeg - We've never been on a disney cruise before, but everything I read says no shorts in the dining rooms. My 10 year old won't be very happy either.

 

[Jeanne B]

What is the "secret deck" you all are talking about?

It's not so secret anymore but click on this link and then click on "Deck 7 & 8 secret areas". We went out on the deck 7 verandah area last year when the Wonder docked in CC and we were the only ones there.

http://www.castawayclub.com/

BTW, the no shorts in the dining room rule is more for adults. Younger children are fine in shorts. I would just suggest shorts that are more on the dressy side, not jean shorts although your 10 yo could probably even get away with jean shorts. The Wonder is more casual than the 7-day cruise.

 

[Rachie0507]

I know it's a short cruise, but any of you planning on bringing any pirate attire??

We are not. Our last cruise, they gave out pirate bandannas for people to put on their heads if they wanted. That will have to be enough for us. It is short trip for us, I am hoping to pack light.

I have actually packed, for my kids only though. Since they don't know about the trip, I put their clothes straight into the suitcase at the end of the summer. I have bought myself almost all new clothes for the trip and DH is going to have to take care of himself.

 

[tiadeg]

Well, I started packing tonite and I'm feeling overwhelmed! We're staying at my in-laws for 4 nights, Grand Floridian 4 nights and cruising for 3 nights and since we're driving we have 2 travel nights. I figured 1 large luggage for each segment and duffle bags for the travel nights, a shoe bag and bathing suit bag. Come to find out, my boys don't have 11 pairs of shorts each (that fit) so I'll be washing at my inlaws before we leave for Disney and even then I don't think they'll have enough. (Them boys is growing like weeds and I can't keep up!) Anyways here I sit with clothes laid out on everyone's bed - boys and DH went scout camping for the weekend - and I'm tired and overwhelmed. Can I shoot out over the weekend and find more shorts - in CT - I don't think so. Packing for 5 people for 13 nights (and I refuse to do laundry at Disney or on the cruise - I just refuse!!) is more work than I thought. (ok I should have problems like this all the time!) The kids in dirty clothes on the cruise will be mine, the lady on the lounge chair drinking a bahama mama will be me!!

 

[Jeanne B]

The kids in dirty clothes on the cruise will be mine, the lady on the lounge chair drinking a bahama mama will be me!!

 

[Fabinva]

Originally Posted by Zim
I know it's a short cruise, but any of you planning on bringing any pirate attire??

My husband and I will be wearing POC shirts, I am packing the kids pirate costumes, they are very excited about the Pirate party.

Originally Posted by tiadeg
I refuse to do laundry at Disney or on the cruise

I feel the same way and feeling overwhelmed as well, we are spending 6 days prior to cruise at the parks and not sure if I'll have enough clothes to avoid the laundry room, husband thinks I'm overpacking but when I asked him if he'll do laundry for us he just left the room and returned with a bigger suitcase.

 

[charandtim]

Living in FL, we've been to the parks a bunch, but this is our first Disney Cruise. We are sooooo excited. We didn't even tell our girls (9 and 5) where we were going, just somewhere very special, until the other night when I sent them on an indoor scavenger hunt that led up to a picture of the Wonder along with a note from Mickey. Yep, I guess you could say I'm a bit excited.

Orignally booked an inside cabin back in March. We were just happy to be going and figured we would try to save some $$. But then disounted rates came out and we were able to upgrade past a window to a verandah for a mere $100 more (total, not pp).

Wondering if the weather will be warm enough to actually enjoy the water. (?)

2 weeks from now, we will be there!!!!!

 

[4fromMT]

I'm wondering about the upgrades you are chatting about - Does Disney hand them out randomly or is it something I should call and ask about?

 

[tiadeg]

"I'm wondering about the upgrades you are chatting about - Does Disney hand them out randomly or is it something I should call and ask about?"

My TA called me last week. She said "I have DCL on the other line and they would like to offer you an upgrade" I had not requested any type of upgrade. Two things though - I had asked the TA to call DCL about 1 week ago to mention that my inlaws (who are traveling with us) had celebrated their 48th anniversary in Aug and this was our present to them. Also, I was online a few days before the call looking at upgrades. I got nervous when the board started talking about being towards the front of the ship (which we were). Now we are mid ship. DH's theory is that they are balancing out the ship.

 

[Jeanne B]

I'm wondering about the upgrades you are chatting about - Does Disney hand them out randomly or is it something I should call and ask about?

Yes, they're very random and free when Disney does the upgrade. You can sometimes pay to upgrade when you get to the port at a cheaper rate than if you paid to upgrade prior to the cruise, but if the ship is sailing full than no upgrades will be available at the port (I've read some threads saying DCL puts a sign up in the terminal if no upgrades are available).

 

[jgc]

I'm packing over the long weekend next weekend......thank goodness we are local to the port....I'm freaking out over packing for 3 days let alone another 4 or 5 days at the parks!!

Julie

 

[tiadeg]

Packed all day Saturday, luggage #1 down, starting on luggage #2. Leaving Tuesday night. Watching the weather everyday. Why am I obsessed with leaving with a clean house? For some reason everytime I leave on a vacation, I have to clean my house - just adds to the stress!! But it sure is nice coming home to a clean house - the feeling lasts for 10 mins. until everything gets piled inside!

 

[Narnian_Princess]

Packed all day Saturday, luggage #1 down, starting on luggage #2. Leaving Tuesday night. Watching the weather everyday. Why am I obsessed with leaving with a clean house? For some reason everytime I leave on a vacation, I have to clean my house - just adds to the stress!! But it sure is nice coming home to a clean house - the feeling lasts for 10 mins. until everything gets piled inside!

Oh, yeah, DMom always gets that way too! Clean house before leaving, no matter what.

I'm so excited! I'm not sure if I will do everything I want because I get embarrassed to do what the brothers and dad call 'kiddie stuff', but if I go off by myself I should be a little better. I think I'll start packing next Monday. I can't believe it's so close!

 

[Rachie0507]

Packed all day Saturday, luggage #1 down, starting on luggage #2. Leaving Tuesday night. Watching the weather everyday. Why am I obsessed with leaving with a clean house? For some reason everytime I leave on a vacation, I have to clean my house - just adds to the stress!! But it sure is nice coming home to a clean house - the feeling lasts for 10 mins. until everything gets piled inside!

I do the same thing! I guess I want my house to be clean if something happens while we are gone and people have to go inside, for a repair or whatever! We are actually moving to a new house on 12/15, so this time I am going to leave my house packed up in boxes

I managed to get most of my clothes packed today. DS4 was sitting right with me, but never questioned why I was trying on summer clothes , so I guess it is still a surprise!!

 

[tiadeg]

Can't believe the van is loaded and we are leaving tonite! Two large luggages, 1 garment bag and 3 duffle bags later - not too bad for 5 for 13 days (told you I'm not doing laundry). Of course, I mostly packed warm weather clothes - positive thinking - or maybe I want a new winter wardrobe! The weather looks alittle iffy for now, but we're heading for disney (after our family visit) on sunday 11/26 and it looks like it will be beautiful. Thursday, 11/30 calls for thunderstorms, but warm. (anything over 40 works for us CT natives!) DH says weather doesn't matter cause we're going to have quality family time for 13 days! (We'll see what he's saying on the 6th day!!!) Can't help but to want everything to be perfect - but I guess it already is! See ya on the 30th -