12/16/06 10-day holiday cruise Part 4

[magiroux]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";16730676]WEll have been up since 5am and the phone lines are just totally busy and can't get through..I am waiting also for Inventory Controll to call me ..when I go on line the rooms that we asked for, for the back to back are gone so am hoping that IC has them on hold for me...I want to go online to book but affraid that if I do I will loose the rooms that they may be holding for me...geesh...

So excited for you both...the PC cruise was just so great!!!! the Mexican Riviera for 1 week for the 4 of us in CAT 6 no insurance or transferes is $8,000 for on week...go figure...we were hoping for around $6500 tops...can afford it , it's just do we want to...we do have our points to use so will be using thenm for one of the cruises...

Will let you know what happens as the day goes by!!![/QUOTE]

Hi Robin

I read on your other thread how you got all your requests - Congrats to you .

I am really happy with the pricing - we have a Cat 4 - 2A/1C & with our 10%OBC - $8656. We thought we would be looking at $10,000, so it came in within our budget. Now, I am off to cancel my New Year's Hawaii vaction. Unless someone wants to rent a two bedroom, full kitchen resort condo for a week????

 

["Got Disney"]

Hi Robin

I read on your other thread how you got all your requests - Congrats to you .

I am really happy with the pricing - we have a Cat 4 - 2A/1C & with our 10%OBC - $8656. We thought we would be looking at $10,000, so it came in within our budget. Now, I am off to cancel my New Year's Hawaii vaction. Unless someone wants to rent a two bedroom, full kitchen resort condo for a week????

That is great ...we paid CAT 6 for 4 ...Mexican Riviera...no Transferes and no ins...$7,886.60...you did better than me...lol...and yours is for 15 days...and better cat...

Wish I was going your way.....still need to find out DVC pts for the other one we have booked so we can do our back to back....do you realize to do this cruise back to back is $16,000.....if not for the DVC points there is NO WAY...we would do it...but we cant use our points till than so why not...

hope to find out soon on pts...Congrats !!!!!!

 

[3pirates]

Robin, I'm confused....why was member services open early for the sole purpose of booking the Riviera cruises if they didn't have points listed? How did people book?

 

[Bakerteam]

Hi Everyone-

I also made reservations today on the Repo cruise! I tried and tried to get thru at 8am this morning and then I logged onto the internet and was able to make a reservation. Ya Baby!

This time we're booking our airfare though Disney. Probably won't save much $$$ but hoping to avoid any hassles.

We'll see you on the ship Mary Ann!

Eileen

 

["Got Disney"]

Robin, I'm confused....why was member services open early for the sole purpose of booking the Riviera cruises if they didn't have points listed? How did people book?

They are making ressies for everyone without deposit and such to hold rooms till they can get back to them on how much the points will be...they were also very busy...on hold with them for 20 minutes also...

DVC people wre very upset that they were not givin the pt value...I think that it is one way that DCL can make the prices rise because of avalibility closing in...all these people that have booked may cancel when they see the pt value and than all thes cruises will become available again...

This all makes the prices skyrocket but they do not drop the prices again as availability opens up,,,they just fill it in with there gaurantees. Sure wish that they would just keep the price for each cat the same from beggining to end...

Congrats to you also Eileen wish I was going with you.... I wanted the Repo again soooo bad...dang school schedual I do love Mexico however and my favorite food also...

 

[magiroux]

Hi Everyone-

I also made reservations today on the Repo cruise! I tried and tried to get thru at 8am this morning and then I logged onto the internet and was able to make a reservation. Ya Baby!

This time we're booking our airfare though Disney. Probably won't save much $$$ but hoping to avoid any hassles.

We'll see you on the ship Mary Ann!

Eileen

WooooooHoooooo Awesome Eileen. I look forward to seeing you again too. Our family is sooooo excited for this trip. I knew we would have a hard time with DCL ressies, but it was truly nuts.

I actually got to a live person at 8:06AM, but they had not loaded their computers yet with the dates. Can you believe that?!?! Alma (DCL CM) said, "Just pitcure a HUGE room with about 500 cubicles. Everyone is on the phone with customers and the computers aren't working. Everyone's heads are popping up from their cubicles like meerkats looking for some answers and no one has them". Poor thing, she was in pretty good humor at 8Am - I can imagine how stressed she must have been by the time she went home. Judging by all the dissapointed people on the boards, it could have got ugly by the afternoon.

Robin - I really wish you were joining us on this cruise too , but also hope that you can get the points so that you can do your back-to-back. We are going to Carlseberg, CA for Christmas week, and Julia and I will head out a week earlier for the cruise (don't think Jimmy can get 3 weeks off). Maybe we can meet for a drink , or two .

 

[Bakerteam]

Do you think it will be anyone's 1st time on the Disney Cruise for the EB Repo?

I'm with the rest of the folks...I'm sure more rooms will open up...

 

[HAPPY-AT-DISNEY]

TO EVERYONE ON GETTING WHAT YOU WANTED YESTERDAY...
I CALLED MS AT 8AM AND THY PICKED UP ON THE 2ND RING..I WAS SHOCKD..I BOOKED MEXICAN RIVIERA CRUISE FOR 6/29TH...
ROBIN HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT COST..THEY TLD ME THEY DIDNT HAVE THE CASH PRICE OR POINTS YET?
AFTER I GAVE THEM WHAT I WANTED THE KEPT ME ON HLD FOR 30 MIN..THN TLD ME THY WOULD JUST CALL BACK AND LM ON MY TPE.. I WOULD RATHER GO ON THE REPO BUT CNT GET 2 WEEKS OFF AT ONCE..
ILL FLY IN WED NITE OR THURSDAY NITE AND DO TOURIST STUFF..ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? AND HOW FAR IS SHIP FROM DISNEYLAND? IS THERE TRANSP PROVIDED BY DISNEY IF YOU STAY AT THR HOTEL? OR DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY GREAT HOTEL IDEAS OUTSIDE OF DISNEY NEAR THE SHIP..

 

[3pirates]

Too bad Disney didn't do a better job of getting their ducks in a row. They should have been ready for this...not like they didn't know it was coming, after all, we did! I can't believe they would put their people in a position to not have the computer systems and information people needed when the flood of calls came.

I'll be trying them again today...trying to get in OKW over New Years next year. Shouldn't be a problem this early, but I prefer to go ahead and book it. The kids don't get out of school until December 22nd this year, but then don't go back until January 8. So, what we've done before and really works well is to go late December, spend a couple of days with the crowds, they will have the Christmas parade and we'll be there New Years Eve. Then everyone else leaves, the points go WAY down, and it is really pleasant for a few days.

Well, we have an ice day today...a little ice in trees is all. We live in the Southernmost part of the county, so I think it was worse north of us. The county to our South (1 mile away) has school. So, time to re-arrange the day! Have a good one, everyone!

 

[KSDTink]

I am sooooooo jealous of all you folks going on the repos and Mexican Riviera cruises. Dave doesn't want to go and we really can't afford it.

I will have to make do with WDW this August I wish some of you could go when we are as I'd love to see you all again! Maybe Dave will win the powerball!!

 

["Got Disney"]

Do you think it will be anyone's 1st time on the Disney Cruise for the EB Repo?


I'm with the rest of the folks...I'm sure more rooms will open up...

Yes! have already talked with a lot of people who have never sailed Disney...there is also a thread out thee alreaadystarted for it in Cruise meets I believe...


Absolutly!!!! but they will be at the higher prices....you can call today or whenwver and get a gaurantee with no problem!

Well my sister is supose to be bringing out my niece tomorrow that should be very interesting day for here...sure glad it is not me and the shoe is not on my foot....WE have voed as a family to make Morgan love it here....it will be very hard on her at first...very hard ..but we will all get through it and hopefully it will turn out for the best...

 

["Got Disney"]

TO EVERYONE ON GETTING WHAT YOU WANTED YESTERDAY...
I CALLED MS AT 8AM AND THY PICKED UP ON THE 2ND RING..I WAS SHOCKD..I BOOKED MEXICAN RIVIERA CRUISE FOR 6/29TH...
ROBIN HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT COST..THEY TLD ME THEY DIDNT HAVE THE CASH PRICE OR POINTS YET?
AFTER I GAVE THEM WHAT I WANTED THE KEPT ME ON HLD FOR 30 MIN..THN TLD ME THY WOULD JUST CALL BACK AND LM ON MY TPE.. I WOULD RATHER GO ON THE REPO BUT CNT GET 2 WEEKS OFF AT ONCE..
ILL FLY IN WED NITE OR THURSDAY NITE AND DO TOURIST STUFF..ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? AND HOW FAR IS SHIP FROM DISNEYLAND? IS THERE TRANSP PROVIDED BY DISNEY IF YOU STAY AT THR HOTEL? OR DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY GREAT HOTEL IDEAS OUTSIDE OF DISNEY NEAR THE SHIP..

As for the price they gave that right away...but if you called DVC they have no info on anything....I booked through DCL and will tranfere when the pts come out. The people at DVC were not very happy that they were left hanging and also people who booked with getting no info were also not happy...

I have a feeling that the pts are going to be high and alot of people will be canceling...I am not sure which one I will be transfereing ...dates that is but if we can only do one due to high pts than so be it...but the million $$$$ question will be...do we use our pts and pay cash...or use our pts for something else...????? does that make sence...we have 1200 pts to use...if it is 1600 for all of us than do we use our 1200 and pay cansh for the remaing balance...or save our pts and use it else where...


Either way we will be going for at least a week...could do 1 week with pts at DL and cash for cruise...hard desisions...

 

["Got Disney"]

below is also my post...got caugt in Sherrens post....

Too bad Disney didn't do a better job of getting their ducks in a row. They should have been ready for this...not like they didn't know it was coming, after all, we did! I can't believe they would put their people in a position to not have the computer systems and information people needed when the flood of calls came.


Robin post below

ice ha....drive safe...I have a feeling that Disney did not give pts yet cause they want to see how many people book...if it is all sold out than they can up yhe pts...if not keep the points lower to invite more interest...

Either way the MR prices were high...Repo cheeper...WE love Mexico and the boys and us we dont mind the culture shock. We have been to Mexico and seen the cops with the guns and the poverty..so we know what to expect...Billie and I us to drive in 2 hrs through the boarder and party...man did we have fun

W have no problem taking our own private tours with...did that on the Repo when we were at Alcapolco(went to the water park and Hourse back riding) and in Mazatlan we went on a tour and shopping where no one else was....

But we always keep inmind that we are in a foreign country!!!!!!adn the rules are different...



I'll be trying them again today...trying to get in OKW over New Years next year. Shouldn't be a problem this early, but I prefer to go ahead and book it. The kids don't get out of school until December 22nd this year, but then don't go back until January 8. So, what we've done before and really works well is to go late December, spend a couple of days with the crowds, they will have the Christmas parade and we'll be there New Years Eve. Then everyone else leaves, the points go WAY down, and it is really pleasant for a few days.

Well, we have an ice day today...a little ice in trees is all. We live in the Southernmost part of the county, so I think it was worse north of us. The county to our South (1 mile away) has school. So, time to re-arrange the day! Have a good one, everyone!

 

[HAPPY-AT-DISNEY]

robin,
do points then when they run out..buy more!!

 

[3pirates]

You know what? I just thought of something...can't believe I didn't think of it before. I think you can only use points to officially book a cruise something like a year ahead of time, right? That's why they don't have them out yet! It used to be six months! I know this because it's why we paid cash for our Holiday Cruise. We wanted to be sure we got one of the family suites that sleep 5, and there aren't a ton of those. We had some "incentive" money set aside (incentive from Dave's employer, not Disney) to pay for most of it, so we just booked it.

Robin, I have done a cruise reservation using points for some family members, cash for others. When I looked into changing our cash reservation to a points reservation, Member Services didn't act like that was a good option. I couldn't decide at the time if that was policy or the girl, but decided not to push it. Saved our points, and used them for a couple of days at Disney after the cruise, all of our Spring Break trip, and a short stay at Hilton Head at the end of the Summer! Now I'm using next years points and booking over New Years at WDW.

 

[HAPPY-AT-DISNEY]

You know what? I just thought of something...can't believe I didn't think of it before. I think you can only use points to officially book a cruise something like a year ahead of time, right? That's why they don't have them out yet! It used to be six months! I know this because it's why we paid cash for our Holiday Cruise. We wanted to be sure we got one of the family suites that sleep 5, and there aren't a ton of those. We had some "incentive" money set aside (incentive from Dave's employer, not Disney) to pay for most of it, so we just booked it.

Robin, I have done a cruise reservation using points for some family members, cash for others. When I looked into changing our cash reservation to a points reservation, Member Services didn't act like that was a good option. I couldn't decide at the time if that was policy or the girl, but decided not to push it. Saved our points, and used them for a couple of days at Disney after the cruise, all of our Spring Break trip, and a short stay at Hilton Head at the end of the Summer! Now I'm using next years points and booking over New Years at WDW.

sherrena,
the cruise is in 2008 and they are allowing me to borrow points from 2009 to do this..
even if rules allow you to book a cruise a year in advance..and i think its 11 mnths..its is sill way outside a year..i think this is the first time thy have done this..im glad..

 

[magiroux]

Eileen- I think that if you were not on the DIS or other Disney forums, you don't even know about this cruise yet and it already sold out. Or at least it is showing sold out until they straiten out this GTY cabin fiasco. BTW, were able to get a cabin number, or are you GTY like 3/4 of the rest of the ship? .

Joanie - Congrats on getting through and getting what you want. Sorry you can't do th EBRC. Darn work does get in the way of cruisin' doesn't it?

Sherrenna/Robin& Joanie - Does it really work out to be more cost effective to DVC points for cruising than paying cash. I own timeshares and they can be exchanged for cruises thru RCI and when I price it out it never works out to my benefit. Of course, I can't book DCL with my RCI timeshare . Just curious.

Kat - Throwing some PD your way for winning the lottery. As tempting as WDW this summer sounds, I have to be good. If I don't stop spending money I will not be able to go on this cruise. For the Christmas Cruise I have two full years to save....this one I only have 18 months .

 

[HAPPY-AT-DISNEY]

mary ann
i dont know how the othrs feel,,but to me the points and cash both translate into cash...it depends on how many points the cruise is,, and,if you have cash laying around or left over points wth nothing else to do wth them..i can never get enough of eithr !! hehe

 

[3pirates]

I agree with Joanie...depends on so many things..which cruise, which season, what the values are at that time, what other trips you want to take in that time frame, etc.

The time we did it, we figure we traded 1 1/2 years worth of points for a $4000 trip at the time we went. Disney's plan has so many options that you could compare different alternatives to see what you were giving up and decide if it was worth it. In our case, we just decided that was what we wanted to do, the dues for the points used were about $1500 at the time, so we were benefitting from our purchase...let's go!

And Kat, the cruises sound like fun, but time at WDW isn't so bad either! You and Sam will have a blast!

 

[HAPPY-AT-DISNEY]

mary ann,
anothr way of looking at it is..if maint.fee is around 4.50 plus a point and the cruise is 665 for two..not counting cost of points..maint alone is 3,000..then chk that against the money value of the cruise..