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

[dianthus]

I'm hoping they do something like they did at the opening day of AKL, which was awesome. Each guest got a special lanyard with 5 first AKL guests pins & a AKL pin. One per room. They said any left over were going to be destoyed, so it was a very limited #. Only the guests checking in on the first day got them. We felt very special! That would be cool if they did something like that!

We are DVC members too- HH & BWV since 1998. Love DVC!

After the cruise we are planning a 3 day stay at DL, as we've never been. That should be fun!

A group picture would be nice, as we are part of a very special cruise! Our fav ship photographer is Nes. She is so sweet!

I "shutter" to think how much we'll spend on pics for this cruise, as it's always so hard to leave them behind. They are always so good!

 

[Juli]

So I thought I'd check what happened after the May 10th deadline for deposits. Well, all categories are available for the 5/14/05 sailing of the Magic, but the prices didn't drop as we hoped they might.

I'm obsessing about this as DU has been unable to transfer our 10% onboard discount and $200 OBC to the reservation we hold for 5/14.

Just hoping it would come down and we could modify our old reservation like we should have done in the first place.

Juli

 

[moocow35]

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[Tigfanjeff]

Hang in there robin. The onboard booking thing has always been a back and forth issue from what I've seen. I guess it really depends on the agent you talk to.

Cap had a great suggestion which was to build a list of threads on the DISboards relating to this cruise. I'm going to get that going this morning and hopefully have it up in a little while (Things like the panama canal webcam, the book, the tipping etc).

I did get the counter installed on the pages.

Off to do more web magic.

Originally posted by moocow35
Hi everyone!

Count me in for the group photo. What a great idea!

Our stateroom is now about $1500 more. I know for sure we did not get lowest tier pricing, since the bookings opened back up for all categories I feel slightly better to see the increase. At this moment we are still waiting to hear also about our onboard booking discounts that we were promised. Not getting the promised discounts would be losing nearly $1,000 for us I just hope that in the end Disney decides to do the right thing and not break a promise out of greed. I may not be their best client, however this Panama cruise will be our 6th with DCL. I'm not feeling too much pixie dust at the moment!

Robin

 

[Cap]

And... Jeff's Web Magic is Great! Thanks.

 

[kellib36]

Originally posted by bonzie1
Hello to all. We just paid our deposit to DU for the FL-CA repositioning cruise! Cat 6 room #6076. It's surprising how many are on this deck!

The 2 cruises Keith and I have done were Cabins 6086 and 6066! I'm sure you'll be VERY happy with the location! 6066 was a TAD too close to the elevators when the Oceaneers decided running through the halls and up and down the stairs was WAY more fun than doing something constructive!!!

You hsould be just right for convenience and quiet!!! Kelli

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Glad I booked early on. Cat 7 is $2000 more then what I paid. There is no WAY I'd afford it now. A category 10 is only 300 less then my reclassified category 7.

 

[dianthus]

I second that WOW Jeff!

Just checked- Our CAT 5 went up $2300 since our booking 5/5. A CAT 9 now is going for more than we booked for 2 adults+ 2 teens.

Thanks so much for doing our group's web page! It's really great!

Robin~ I am patiently awaiting DCL's onboard credit/discount decision too. I don't want to transfer to Costco until this is in place, so I'm just waiting... I see you are from Norwalk! We're in each other's backyards. Given your DIS name, you must be a STEW'S fan! Stew Leonard's rocks! The Disney Land of Dairy stores! LOL!!

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Originally posted by dianthus
I second that WOW Jeff!

Just checked- Our CAT 5 went up $2300 since our booking 5/5. A CAT 9 now is going for more than we booked for 2 adults+ 2 teens.

Thanks so much for doing our group's web page! It's really great!

Thanks, I'm sure we'll enjoy it MUCH more knowing each other and whose going. Plus having the meets scheduled somewhat helps greatly in everyone knowing whats going on. Would really be a bummer if we didn't know where everyone was meeting and you get back to found out that there were a hundred disboarders and we never saw each other.

I do think though that we'll want to keep things a little bit flexible since we will have absolutely no idea at all as to what is going on during the cruise (activities etc), but I think a fun time will be had by all.

 

[Tigfanjeff]

just wondering if everyone likes the current logo design I have on the cruise page. I was thinking of taking it and turning it into our door magnet base image (For those not familiar, we basically print up a bunch of sheets with that image and our disboard names, slide them into plastic sheets, and put small magnets on the back for door decorations. It can get more advanced then that, but thats the simple way to do it).

<IMG SRC=http://www.tiggerfan.net/canal/panamalogo.jpg>

Of course I can gladly modify this up a bit, or even start from scratch and design a few other things. I'm no graphic's artist, but I am at least handy in photoshop.

I'd like to at least hammer this out over the next two or three months so we can start looking at costs of various options (I know last december they also did a regular floppy magnet for everyone) and finalize from there.

Yes, I'm WAY ahead on the organizational stuff, but its better to be ahead then behind.

 

[bonzie1]

tigfanjeff... Wow! You've done so much already! The magnet idea is great. I've done some stuff with printshop... shirts and such, but nothing with magnets.

Thanks for your organization and taking the lead!

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Originally posted by bonzie1
tigfanjeff... Wow! You've done so much already! The magnet idea is great. I've done some stuff with printshop... shirts and such, but nothing with magnets.

Thanks for your organization and taking the lead!

No problem. I've learned that its much more enjoyable if someone does some organizing. Believe me I won't be organizing even a third of the DIS events on this trip.

You'll find that there will probably be 4 or 5 large gatherings on this trip where everyone gets together, and the rest of the time everyone will kind of get together in smaller groups. Sometimes you'll just walk into the promenade lounge and see some other DISboarders there and sit with them having a beer. Its a lot nicer when you know people you're sailing with then when you don't, particularly for cases like that.

It doesn't take much time for me to set the pages up and maintain them, especially since we are a year out, and the reward is MANY times what you put into it in just having other people that you know.

Heck, if it wasn't for Eric organizing Cruisetoberfest 2 last year, I would have never met Silentshot, and this year we ended up spending 10 days in Europe as their guests.

Life leads you in interesting places. Its more fun to go with the current and see where it takes you then it is to fight it to go where you want.

 

[Maleficent59]

Hi Tigfanjeff! Thanks for organizing things and working on a logo. We just made an offer on the other repositioning cruise thread about making t-shirts (Verandah Man is making the magnets). We priced out screen printed t-shirts for $6.50/shirt for 100 and about $6.00/shirt for 150 (and a little less for increments of 50). Maybe we can coordinate this?

Thanks,
Sarah

P.S. I need to send you some info.

 

[JenKatt]

Originally posted by bonzie1
tigfanjeff... Wow! You've done so much already! The magnet idea is great. I've done some stuff with printshop... shirts and such, but nothing with magnets.

Thanks for your organization and taking the lead!

Yes he's this organized when it comes to stuff on the computer or his beloved GTO... his office, not a chance...

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Originally posted by JenKatt
Yes he's this organized when it comes to stuff on the computer or his beloved GTO... his office, not a chance...

Messes can be organized too

Malificent, I don't know if there is enough demand here for t-shirts, but if there is, definitely something can be figured out.

Guess we'll find out as people start posting

 

[Turnwrench]

Oh, my, I'm way, way behind! But then isn't that to be expected of a newbie?

I'm pleased beyond words that my very first post is to announce that I'll be joining you all (or y'all, depending on your geographic preference) on this fantastic cruise!

I was fortunate enough to get through to DCL at 1:01 p.m. eastern on the 5th and booked a wonderful Cat 6, stateroom 6580, at a fantastic price! Please count me in and keep me in mind as group activity planning proceeds.

Now a couple of questions for you experienced cruisers and a tip for those considering a Disneyland stay after the cruise:

Question 1: Anyone have any experience with stateroom 6580? I'm somewhat concerned about being near the laundry area as I am a very light sleeper and very much dislike hot, humid rooms. I've read some horror stories about the noise, heat, and humidity that the laundry generates, and I'm afraid that a 14-night cruise will only exacerbate the problem.

Question 2: For you experienced Panama Canal cruisers. Is one side of the ship preferable to another for viewing scenery and/or machinery while transiting the canal westbound as we will be?

Tip: For those of you considering a Disneyland stay after the cruise, here's a little inside info. Disneyland's 50th anniversary celebraion will be in full swing when we debark. Disney will offer special hotel/admissions packages for the celebration, but they will not be offerred until the end of the year. The reason is becuase they don't want to offer them now and have people decide to put off this summer's trip until next year. They are trying hard to keep attendance up this summer and don't want to offer anything until the busy summer travel season is over. So if you're wanting to do Disneyland after the cruise watch Disney's site or work with your travel agent to snap up a discounted package sometime in December/January.

- Turnwrench

 

[seaulater]

Welcome Bonzie1-we are right across the hall from you, 6067,6069,6071 and 6055!!! Deck 6 is the happening place.

Hey Turnwrench-we went through PC last year on RCCL Radiance of the Seas. It doesn't matter which side of the ship you are on. We were on deck 10 aft, exactly in the middle back. It was great, but every side and angle had a great view. Since there is a set of locks on the right and a set on the middle, you won't know until the ship is directed in which side it will be told to go in to, so either side is great, I'm just grateful we have staterooms and got it at the beginning!!!

My parents (only 1 three day Disney Cruise that I took them on for retirement), and then my brother and sil and sister and bil and me and my DH are going. Both my brother and sister have never even been on a ship. They really debated about the money for this cruise but I told them about $1,500 each if we got an inside stateroom for each couple. We all figured we would do it since this might be the last time my parents and all of us could vacation together. It's been over 30 years since we did a whole family vacation!!!! No kids, (well, just us grown ones). We actually ended up paying $1,427.29 each which includes all our port taxes, government fees. We did not add the insurance. So we did pretty darn good!!!

Anyway, just think, this time next year we should all be about packed and ready to head off to Florida for our cruise. We are planning on going a couple of days early (my sister thought it would be great to use our DVC condo at OKW since I have offered it since 1994!), so I guess I'll just have to go along early too!!!!!

Love the idea on the tshirts and the door signs. What about buttons? I have access to a button machine if someone can come up with a great design!!!

See ya later

Linda

 

[moocow35]

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[seaulater]

With DVC, you can't book with points until 11 months before the cruise. I mark my calendar and call first thing on the first day that it is open.

Yes, you can use points and cash. You must use all points for at least the 1st person. Then you can use points or cash for 2nd, 3rd, etc.

The only bad thing is that when you book with DVC, if you are doing part points and using cash (like we did for this Christmas) for 12 yr. old DD, you have to pay the cash $$$$$ at the time of booking, IN FULL. The only thing I can say about that is that I already have our stateroom paid for completely for Disney's 1st ever 10 day Christmas Cruise this Dec. 18. Now, I only have to pay for the grown kids since I am paying for those. At least I have until Oct. 17 to do that!

My suggestion is that if they really are going, do like I did for the Christmas one. Book it now, put down the $250 deposit each which is totally refundable and then when the 11 month window opens, call immediately to see if points are available to use. If they are book through DVC and then call back DCL and cancel your cash reservation. I wouldn't transfer over the DCL to a TA until you know whether you are going to use the cash reservation or cancelling it.

That's my two cents worth!!

Linda

 

[moocow35]

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