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

[Hygiene99]

We Also shared internet Access with 2 other rooms

We always went to the Cove Cafe to use the internet ..

they have 3 computers in there ..For Adults only...

And when we did Go to internet cafe we never saw anyone...


Any one coming over for the pre sail away party at our house it starts At 5pm...

 

[Lisa F]

Sorry that no one believes me but yes, she did yell at me ... she didn't raise her voice, but it was a nasty encounter nonetheless. Everyone seems to remember my husband no matter where he goes and she came over to me after I signed in (they can tell who is signed in from the desk) and asked me why I was using my "roommate's" account. I told her that he wasn't my "roommate", he was my "husband" and she said that didn't matter, the accounts were PER PERSON, not PER STATEROOM. At that point my husband walked by with a couple of drinks and she told him the same thing, the accounts are PER PERSON, not PER STATEROOM... BUT, she would be willing to look the other way if my husband was with me while I checked my email. It was pretty ridiculous so I just assumed they actually crack down on stuff like that, but maybe it was just this particular person who had a bug up her butt. And yes, she was only there during posted hours BUT I always felt like I was sneaking around and doing something wrong so I just didn't check my email for the rest of the trip (and then got into some trouble for missing some time sensitive email when I got back) so the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth.

I had no idea account sharing was so common since we got ripped a new one for sharing between husband and wife. I wonder if things have changed since wireless came on board since it's harder to monitor who is using the account? We haven't been on the magic since January 2002 (which is when this happened). I don't know if they had changed things but DH got quite friendly with the internet manager on our 2001 Magic cruise and she said basically that she was hired by Disney just to do the internet manager job and that she is normally in IT but burned out and decided to do this for a while to recharge her batteries and that it was the cushiest job on the ship because that was her ONLY duty (most CM's have tons of duties other than what you see them doing so they are busy all ady long).

Speaking of which, can you actually get wireless in your stateroom? Where else can you get signal? My husband works from home and will likely need to work on the cruise, at least a few hours here and there, because of the length. If he can get wireless connectivity from his laptop it will make the whole thing more pleasant as we can both sit out on deck 4 and I can nap while he works!

 

[Cap]

Lisa,

I definitely believe you. I just don't think it's right that they were trying to charge on a per person basis. When I bought internet service at Disney's Boardwalk last January, it was $10 / night, and was 24/7 with whatever / whoever connected to those jacks in the room.

 

[Lisa F]

It sounds like things have changed since our last cruise. Oh and I didn't complain about her because she made it sound like I was trying to steal and I figured I had nothing to complain about since I was the one doing something wrong! It was just embarassing for me, if that makes sense, which is why I brought it up. I'm not trying to wag my finger and tsk tsk at anyone or anything but I am probably permanently traumatized against using a computer anywhere in eyeshot of the internet manager desk, whether the CM is sitting there or not!

 

[jin diesel]

Originally posted by Lisa F
Oh and I didn't complain about her because she made it sound like I was trying to steal and I figured I had nothing to complain about since I was the one doing something wrong!

Lisa,
It sucks that she made you feel like that, and totally explains why you're warning us!

Obviously I don't know what the wireless/internet situation is on board, but it certainly is ridiculous for them to think they can charge PER PERSON!!

 

[DisneyPinDiva]

Good evening everyone!

I am all for sharing internet access! My friends who are going and I actually had this discussion and were trying to figure out how we could do it. The more the merrier right!!! Can you really hook up a laptop from your room? I have a laptop and I think if I get some sort of cable I can hook it to my cell phone?? Is that right? Remember I am technologically impaired here.... Is that what you mean or does Disney have connections in the staterooms now for their access?

Linda: As you know I'm also going on the Christmas cruise so I'd be willing to share access then if you want to test it out!! I can't imagine going all that time without checking my PinPics!! LOL

 

[seaulater]

When we just went on our cruise last October over in Hawaii, I needed to get into my laptop cuz it had my account number stored in the Bank One homepage and I couldn't remember the dumb thing. So the internet cafe person, said, okay, for $10 (maybe $20, I don't remember), they "RENTED" me a wireless internet connection that would work anywhere on the ship. They just changed my settings for me on my laptop on the control panel (I have no idea what they did), and they put this thing in my drive (the one that you put stuff in like disks and stuff) and it stayed in my computer while I was on the ship. I could carry my laptop anywhere on the ship (so they said) and access my unlimited internet access account I purchased from them. It was pretty cool. But the only place I actually tried it was from the stateroom and while I was there in the internet cafe. Then on the last night of the cruise you had to turn back in your wireless connection or got charged $50 for it. I don't know what they sell for.

I bet TiggerFanJeff knows! He knows all about computers!!!!!

Anyway, since I didn't get the wireless thing until the day before the last day of the cruise, I only had it for a little over 24 hours. I had to take care of a money transaction that day and do a wire and had to get in to that number!!!!

It worked, took care of my needs.

What they told me is that the wireless connection is hooked up to their system and then it hits the satellite and then.....beam me up Scotty, hits the satellite in the sky.

Leslie, I don't think the cell phone idea will work. It will as long as we are within telephone range, but I know when we did PC last year, we had no service from Aruba until Acapulco.

Okay, now that you all know I am computer illiterate, that's what I did (in a roundabout way!)

Leslie-you bet I'll share on the Christmas Cruise. Anything to bring the cost down!

Linda

 

[moocow35]

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[Tigfanjeff]

Originally posted by moocow35
I definately would like to be in on the "internet sharing" It is of course completely illegal. I also am one that was scolded by the internet manager. I always get the unlimited package for my DD, and myself. Somehow we got "caught" and was also told it was per person, not per stateroom. However as Peter said, now they have the few terminals in the Cove cafe, and that is where I used it everyday just this last February. I loved going in for a coffee and there was never a wait to use the internet. I wonder if they will try to charge double since the cruise will be double the amount of days? $180.00 does seem a bit steep!

One more year to go!

Robin

I'm guessing it will be double. To my knowledge Disney still doesn't have wireless available on the Magic.

To whoever asked, the device they installed in your laptop was a wireless network card. $50 is about the street price for a good one, though they have come down recently.

I do have a couple of additions to make to the cruise list at http://www.tiggerfan.net/canal but It can wait till tomorrow.

The magnet is moving along. I've been working pretty exclusively on the map. In order to get it to print well it is taking a good amount of work in photoshop, but its definitely improving and rapidly. It just takes time. (Right now 90% of the words are fixed, the mouse ears are fixed, and I'm cleaning the rest up so it prints ok. Its definitely going to look REALLY good while printed.)

I'm also going to add a line between the www.disboards.com and your dis name for a hometown.

I'll be driving monorails tomorrow night. 364 nights to go!!!

 

[dianthus]

I was on the 4/17 cruise. I didn't see availability of wireless in the staterooms. No tent cards, etc... There were no internet cafe CM "monitors" in there when I was there, but I have seen them there on previous cruises, mostly to help people get up & running, or solve problems. Cove Cafe is nice if no one else is in there, as the terminals are close together & there is little privacy. The Stack also has terminals, so parents with Teens beware if you have not purchased the unlimited package... This wasn't a problem with my DD. She had no need to email her friends as she was having too good a time.

The ship connection is very slow. If you plan to be online alot, get the unlimited package. Technically it is $89 per user, not a stateroom. I was told by the GS CM to set up a user from the stateroom & everyone use that ID to log on with. You can then log onto your email providers from there. Just make sure they are web based- AOL, yahoo, hot mail. If not, set one up to use before you go. I paid the .75 a minute & was billed about $50 for a daily email home to DH, since he wasn't with us. If I spent anymore time on the internet, it probably would have been worth it for me to buy the unlimited package. 2 hours is the breakeven on the 7 day. If the unlimited for our 14 day is $180, that's $13 a day- expensive. I'm sure DCL looks at the Internet Cafe as one of their profit centers. If you want to use it, you'll pay...

On the Eastern cruise, I had cell phone service in St. Thomas - clear as a bell. St. Martin it didn't work. I have Verizon as a provider. Hope this helps!

 

[Tigfanjeff]

updated the cruise list and the deck plans. The magnet is still coming along slowly (But we've got time )

http://www.tiggerfan.net/canal/

PM or e-mail me at jeffc@tiggerfan.net if you wish to be added or to change any of your info.

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Originally posted by jin diesel
Hey Jeff,

That dolphin-academy site is definitely the one that isn't working.

Thanks for the link to the holland america site! I sent you a PM.
-jindy

The link was working again this morning.

 

[dianthus]

Jeff~ I just noticed we have the exact time to the second on our count down timers- how wierd is that!?

 

[SandraLee]

I saw the Dolphin Information is open on the Curacao Sea Aquarium website. After looking through it, they ONLY take reservations Wednesdays from RCL Adventure of the Seas clients. It looks like Royal Carribean has booked the whole thing! I sure hope this changes before we get there on OUR Wednesday next year.

I sent an email to info@dolphin-academy.com to see if DCL has contacted them. And, I aske if they knew the Magic would be there next year. Hopefully, we may be able to 'preselect' a few spots in the encounter program.

I'll let you know if I hear back from them.

*updated* That email address just got rejected! Ugh.

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Originally posted by SandraLee
I saw the Dolphin Information is open on the Curacao Sea Aquarium website. After looking through it, they ONLY take reservations Wednesdays from RCL Adventure of the Seas clients. It looks like Royal Carribean has booked the whole thing! I sure hope this changes before we get there on OUR Wednesday next year.

I sent an email to info@dolphin-academy.com to see if DCL has contacted them. And, I aske if they knew the Magic would be there next year. Hopefully, we may be able to 'preselect' a few spots in the encounter program.

I'll let you know if I hear back from them.

*updated* That email address just got rejected! Ugh.

The Adventurer is switching to a dual itinerary. Unfortunatley it is *STILL* in curacao every other week and it will be there the same day as the magic.

 

[DisneyPinDiva]

Good Morning Everyone!

Just wanted to check in and say Hi.
Got to thinking about ending up on the west coast... and when I booked didn't even think about how we would get from the port to DLR. I don't remember the reservation agent asking me... but did they offer a transfer? Seeing as DLR doesn't have the busses out there like we do here... does anyone know if they are going to make transportation available from the port to DLR and how much?
Also... I never thought about it but my car would be at Port Canaveral!! I guess I better start thinking about how to get there without our car! DUH! I guess my mind was on getting on the ship and not all the logistics of getting there and getting back! Since we live in FL and it's never been a problem before... I guess I have a lot more planning to do than I thought!
Ah well.. it will all be worth it!

Did anyone look into the DVC points for this cruise yet?

Okay.. enough rambling....

 

[moocow35]

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[Hygiene99]

DPD..

Leave your car at or near the Airpot would save u time and money in the long run.. u will not have to go all the way to the port after the cruise... i get depressed when we go to the port and we dont get to go on the ships lol

unless u could park it at the Radisson that is were we plan to stay before our cruise would be happy to tell them it is mine...

Free parking.. while u are on your cruise...


Just throwing out some ideas

Boston Pétér

 

[jin diesel]

LAX (Los Angeles International) is about 30 miles from Disneyland. It's a 35-40 minute drive and I think I paid $30 or $40 bucks to take a taxi. I've never purchased a Disney "transfer". Just be careful - some of the shuttle services charge per person, which ends up costing more than everybody chipping in 3 or 4 bucks for a cab/limo/towncar.

LGB (Long Beach Airport) is about 20 miles from Disneyland. Which would be a 25-30 minute drive.

SNA (John Wayne Airport in Orange County) is only 14 miles from Disneyland. But it's still like a 25 minute drive.

 

[SandraLee]

What about from the Port to the airports? How far and are there car rental agencies closeby the port?