20050514..May 14, 2005...Official Check in Disney's 1st 14 Day thru Panama Canal Part 2

[kpros]

Hi Guys: This is Shari posting as Ken (can't figure out how to get him logged off and got tired of trying). OK, I'm going on the assumption that I'm not getting a coconut. However, I would use it for scrapbooking so. . . . if anyone would be so wonderful as to save their coconut and bring it with them, I'd gladly take it off their hands.

Hope everyone has a Tiggerific Tuesday.

 

[challada]

14 day cruisers...I need advice please!

Here's the situation: we are booked right now on the cruise after you (the first 7 day west coast) but I really have wanted the 14 day since the beginning (when I booked on day TWO of the announcement). The problem was that DH could not take off that amount from work and I worried about taking the kids out of school for so long.

NOW: DH cannot go on the cruise either way due to some major job shake-ups. I am not canceling me and the kids and the grandparents, so we are going w/out him. Now when I price out the 14 day, we can book the 3 of us and the grandparents two rooms at a cat 12 for about the same price as our cat 9 on the 7 day.

So here is my question since we have never done Disney cruise before: Is anyone staying in a cat 11 or 12 for the 14 days or is that crazy to go backwards in levels?
How many folks are taking their kids out of school for this length of time? DS will have just taken the high stakes state test so I feel he deserves some time off, but I'm not sure about 2 weeks!

TIA for all advice!

 

[seaulater]

14 day cruisers...I need advice please!

Here's the situation: we are booked right now on the cruise after you (the first 7 day west coast) but I really have wanted the 14 day since the beginning (when I booked on day TWO of the announcement). The problem was that DH could not take off that amount from work and I worried about taking the kids out of school for so long.

NOW: DH cannot go on the cruise either way due to some major job shake-ups. I am not canceling me and the kids and the grandparents, so we are going w/out him. Now when I price out the 14 day, we can book the 3 of us and the grandparents two rooms at a cat 12 for about the same price as our cat 9 on the 7 day.

So here is my question since we have never done Disney cruise before: Is anyone staying in a cat 11 or 12 for the 14 days or is that crazy to go backwards in levels?
How many folks are taking their kids out of school for this length of time? DS will have just taken the high stakes state test so I feel he deserves some time off, but I'm not sure about 2 weeks!

TIA for all advice!

Welcome Aboard!!!! I am only saying that because I know you will transfer over your ressie to the 1st ever Kingdom to Kingdom Cruise. We are a fun group and would love for you to come. You will be fine in a category 11 or 12 for 14 days, especially since the grandparents are in the other room! We do 3 (DH, myself and DD 12) but I wouldn't put more than 3 in one of those rooms if you have pre-teens or teenagers needing bathroom time!

Don't know how old your kids are, but two years ago we did PC with our daughter on Royal Caribbean. She was in 5th grade at the time. Teacher said no problem, said she would learn more going through the canal than in the classroom. We made an educational trip out of it for her. Bought the PC book, laminated the pull out map and had her log our trip on the wall as we cruised. Also had her read about the history and do a report for school.

It's a once in a lifetime thing. You can take a mexican cruise anytime!

My two cents! Linda

 

[seaulater]

Someone was talking about transportation to WDW a few pages back I think. They have been advertising here that starting with Disney's birthday celebration on 5-5-05, there is free transporation from MCO to the WDW resorts if you have a reservation on site and back to the airport too. They even handle your luggage for you.

Might be a good thing to try out if you are not renting a vehicle and then you just need your Happy Limo or whatever for Sat. the 14th.

Linda

 

[videogal1]

I just realized that not everyone will be attending the sailaway! (where has my brain been! ) I put together a spreadsheet from Jeff + Jen's great master list, and came up with +/- 267 people cruising and 80 families!!!

Question to everyone: How are those of you bringing sailaway gifts planning on distribution? Will you label bags? Just bring things and put them out depending on the honor code for distribution? Put the room numbers on bags and deliver them to the staterooms? Are you distributing just for the sailaways, or to all families on the master list? I know there will be different ways to go about this.

I began making a gift last weekend thinking there would be around 175, now I'm seeing I am about 100 people off! I realize the only thing our list can do is grow, but right now, I'm not sure how to adjust the amount I make exponentially!!! HELP!

I also see the potential for mass confusion with so many of us at the sailaways. There is really not that much room to put out "gift" bags. Ideally, I'd like to mail everyone's gift, but, that would be a project in itself!

Please help me with your thoughts and suggestions.

Thanks!
Georgie

Hi Georgie
I've made stateroom tags for each bag and I've got 60+ bags so far. My assistant deliverer, DD of 3DAN, and I plan to distribute the bags at the sailaway parties...any left over go on stateroom doors. For those who don't know their stateroom numbers by the time we leave our homes I'll put screen names on the tags. Actually, I realized last week that these sailaway goodies could also be distributed at any of the get-togethers, and that might serve to ease the congestion a bit...

I haven't come up with any other brilliant ideas. I'll be shipping down some of the bags and putting others in my carry-on bags. That way there isn't a huge box to be shipped and, also, there'll be room for my clothes in my luggage. I've dismissed the idea of individual shipping as too costly. Only a few of the bags contain items that are meant specifically for the recipient and I'm sure I can distribute those without a problem..(You're out there and I know who you are).....The rest of the bags have several variations in the contents so it's a real mystery-type grab bag for kids and adults, not a single item...
I was planning to have a box of the bags at the sailaway parties and have my friendly assistant hunt people down while I wait to snag those who come to say hi to Cash... pseudo-chaos.

 

[i12go2wdw]

Challada:
I am pulling three kids out of school (two of them for more than 3 weeks) my 12yo DS will not take the extra week so he will join up with us just before the cruise with DH and DD2. DH couldn't take more than 2 weeks at one time. I know the kids will miss a lot in school but we will do our best to make up what we can. This trip has such potential for so much learning that I am thrilled we can let them experience this. We are going with another family and friends that we made on the Western cruise 2 years ago. Just think how you will feel when you get home. You might say "boy you missed a lot" for a few days but that will pass. For the rest of your life you and your family will be talking about this wonderful Panama experience.

JMHO Christine

P.S. if anyone posts this on those other boards where I will get flamed I will deny the whole thing!!!

 

[bonzie1]

Thanks much Lynda!!!

I like the way you think!

Maybe I'll do it by stateroom along with the DIS id's. I'm excited about the gift, now I must get my plan into action!

Georgie

 

[webray]

Exactly what I was wondering..how are you getting them all on the ship. As I start putting our surprises together, we were going to deliver them to each stateroom so we don't have to be carrying everything around the ship etc.

So..for those of you mailing boxes ahead of time..how do you do it??

Thanks,

Cheryl

 

[DisneyPinDiva]

14 day cruisers...I need advice please!

Here's the situation: we are booked right now on the cruise after you (the first 7 day west coast) but I really have wanted the 14 day since the beginning (when I booked on day TWO of the announcement). The problem was that DH could not take off that amount from work and I worried about taking the kids out of school for so long.

NOW: DH cannot go on the cruise either way due to some major job shake-ups. I am not canceling me and the kids and the grandparents, so we are going w/out him. Now when I price out the 14 day, we can book the 3 of us and the grandparents two rooms at a cat 12 for about the same price as our cat 9 on the 7 day.

So here is my question since we have never done Disney cruise before: Is anyone staying in a cat 11 or 12 for the 14 days or is that crazy to go backwards in levels?
How many folks are taking their kids out of school for this length of time? DS will have just taken the high stakes state test so I feel he deserves some time off, but I'm not sure about 2 weeks!

TIA for all advice!

Welcome aboard! I sent you a PM because I tend to ramble on and on about the cruise... In a nutshell though.... GO FOR THE CANAL! Besides... cruising with this fun group is worth it alone!!

 

[seaulater]

Hi Guys: This is Shari posting as Ken (can't figure out how to get him logged off and got tired of trying). OK, I'm going on the assumption that I'm not getting a coconut. However, I would use it for scrapbooking so. . . . if anyone would be so wonderful as to save their coconut and bring it with them, I'd gladly take it off their hands.

Hope everyone has a Tiggerific Tuesday.

GOT OUR COCONUT!!!!!

Okay, here's the deal. It came in Robert's name. Now, the last 3 DCL we've been on I have booked in my name first, then Robert's. So I am wondering since it came in his name that they think he hasn't cruised in awhile? If they only knew.........

I'll definitely be using mine somehow in scrapbooking!!!

Linda

 

[seaulater]

Welcome aboard! I sent you a PM because I tend to ramble on and on about the cruise... In a nutshell though.... GO FOR THE CANAL! Besides... cruising with this fun group is worth it alone!!

In a Coconutshell

 

[DisneyPinDiva]

GOT OUR COCONUT!!!!!

Okay, here's the deal. It came in Robert's name. Now, the last 3 DCL we've been on I have booked in my name first, then Robert's. So I am wondering since it came in his name that they think he hasn't cruised in awhile? If they only knew.........

I'll definitely be using mine somehow in scrapbooking!!!

Linda

Linda: CONGRATULATIONS on your Coconut...LOL None for us.. Plus I still don't have my Mickey Phones OR my Chadwicks order!!!

 

[videogal1]

Exactly what I was wondering..how are you getting them all on the ship. As I start putting our surprises together, we were going to deliver them to each stateroom so we don't have to be carrying everything around the ship etc.

So..for those of you mailing boxes ahead of time..how do you do it??

Thanks,

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl...

In my case a kind family volunteered to be the reception point and that was FANTASTIC but, as the stack of little bags grew I realized that it would be most unfair to expect these kind and thoughtful people to take responsibility for delivering this huge box of stuff to the ship when I'm certain that their own stack of luggage will be quite enough for them to handle so I decided to distribute the bags in my luggage as well as possible and then ship off the rest to them, a considerably smaller stack, I hope. The only thing I fear is that my carry-on will get lost or the box might get lost in shipping or, or, or...I thought also that shipping something to Shirley at The Perfect Gift for delivery to the ship might be an option but I did not call her...(1-800-950-4559). If my plan to take some more bags in my luggage does not work out I will have to give her a call. I don't know what her charge would be...I doubt that it could be more than the airlines' excess baggage charge...

 

[webray]

Hi Lynda...

Thanks so much for your quick response.

I just got off the phone with DCL...they have a recommended company that delivers your boxes to the ship on sail date....The only charge to you would be mailing them to the company ahead of time...I already called and spoke with them..the girl sounds great. Like you..my little gift is turning into a gift bag of little goodies..lol.

You can call 321-799-9100 I spoke with Kelley at this warehouse.

Hope this helps..sounds like a great option.

I too thought about shirley at the pefect gift, before I called DCL...thought I could get everything ready and just pay her for her time. This new warehouse. option should be painless.

 

[Q's My Princess]

Hi Lynda...

Thanks so much for your quick response.

I just got off the phone with DCL...they have a recommended company that delivers your boxes to the ship on sail date....The only charge to you would be mailing them to the company ahead of time...I already called and spoke with them..the girl sounds great. Like you..my little gift is turning into a gift bag of little goodies..lol.

You can call 321-799-9100 I spoke with Kelley at this warehouse.

Hope this helps..sounds like a great option.

I too thought about shirley at the pefect gift, before I called DCL...thought I could get everything ready and just pay her for her time. This new warehouse. option should be painless.

That is a great! Thanks for sharing. It makes it a lot easier to ship wine and sailaway gifts.

 

[videogal1]

Hi Lynda...

Thanks so much for your quick response.

I just got off the phone with DCL...they have a recommended company that delivers your boxes to the ship on sail date....The only charge to you would be mailing them to the company ahead of time...I already called and spoke with them..the girl sounds great. Like you..my little gift is turning into a gift bag of little goodies..lol.

You can call 321-799-9100 I spoke with Kelley at this warehouse.

Hope this helps..sounds like a great option.

I too thought about shirley at the pefect gift, before I called DCL...thought I could get everything ready and just pay her for her time. This new warehouse. option should be painless.

Wow! A great option! I really worry about imposing on someone who has bags of their own, as well as having to schlep around extra carry-on bags on my little cart, especially since DCL has decided to do a balls to the wall method of assigning my stateroom. I could be wandering the decks for days... I'm so stressed out about the hurdles, one of which I encountered this morning, that I try not to think about the fact that I might not get a proper stateroom assignment until after we sail and then what will become of my box of goodies...eeekkk!

Ok, Lynda, relax, breathe deeply, relax, relax...remember, it's the adventure that's important, not the plan ....

 

[Az Pirates]

Challada,

I booked both this Panama cruise and the first 7 day (knowing we would only be able to do one) for many of the same reasons.
We were not sure DH could take that much time off and we were concerned with school issues as well.

I also wanted the Panama cruise all along, but decided to cover myself just in case things didn't work out. We cancelled the 7 day not too long ago.
We just felt that the Panama cruise was the better value for us.

School is a tough one!
We have one in high school, one in middle school, and two in elementary.
We have notified individual teachers as well as counselors and administration. Most have been very good to work with.
Our school year ends while we are on the cruise - so our kids won't miss a full two weeks (which really helps)
It was not really too much of an issue for our two elementary age kiddos.
If teachers don't have finals ready for our oldest two girls to take before we leave, they will have to take them when we get back, and then will have to wait until fall to find out their grades. Not an ideal scenario, but since their teachers are all aware of the situation.... I think most of them will have the tests ready early.

I'd definitely contact schools/teachers as soon as possible to get a feel of what the reaction will be.

I'm not much help on the stateroom question as this will be our 1st Disney cruise and I have changed my mind a time or two about what I want to do about room configurations as well.
I'm sure that plenty of folks will be occupying inside cabins and just be glad to be onboard though!

Good Luck deciding.
I bet whichever cruise you go with - you'll have a great time!

 

[Hygiene99]

14 day cruisers...I need advice please!

Here's the situation: we are booked right now on the cruise after you (the first 7 day west coast) but I really have wanted the 14 day since the beginning (when I booked on day TWO of the announcement). The problem was that DH could not take off that amount from work and I worried about taking the kids out of school for so long.

NOW: DH cannot go on the cruise either way due to some major job shake-ups. I am not canceling me and the kids and the grandparents, so we are going w/out him. Now when I price out the 14 day, we can book the 3 of us and the grandparents two rooms at a cat 12 for about the same price as our cat 9 on the 7 day.

So here is my question since we have never done Disney cruise before: Is anyone staying in a cat 11 or 12 for the 14 days or is that crazy to go backwards in levels?
How many folks are taking their kids out of school for this length of time? DS will have just taken the high stakes state test so I feel he deserves some time off, but I'm not sure about 2 weeks!

TIA for all advice!

We Have Done A few Cruises and most times Get a verandah Stateroom.. However We took a Step Back on this and Booked a Cat 11.
Inside sateroom, and Leaving it up to the mercy of the Disney Upgrade God.
Just, Disneys First Ever Bare boned 14 Day Panama Canal cruise.. Lol

Happy to Be on the Ship .. if We need a verandah we can use CASH's Hmm 14 day cruise or 7 ?? See You there..Peter

 

[bonzie1]

I just got off the phone with DCL...they have a recommended company that delivers your boxes to the ship on sail date....The only charge to you would be mailing them to the company ahead of time...I already called and spoke with them..the girl sounds great.

Webray... After the company delivers the boxes to DCL, will DCL deliver the boxes to your room? or... will we have to find the box in some holding area?

Thanks for the info!
Georgie (bonzie1)

 

[videogal1]

ok, I called the warehouse and I will send them some stuff...not all...Murphy's law, you know...but a big chunk of it...What a relief!

Thanks sooo much!