2006 DVC Member Cruise - SSMC06 - October 22, 2006

[cgcw]

If the cruises are so popular, why not have a seven day and a four day cruise? They also need a cruise that does not conflict with school. Disney Cruise Line, there are people waiting in line to spend money with you!

There you go!! Good option for them. DVC are you reading??

 

[sanddune]

Duckieluckey,I think that idea would work too.

 

[cgcw]

I wouldn't like these options at all.
Dvc makes money on these cruises.Why not charter both ships? Plus it would be a first for DCL haveing both ships sail together.Just a thought. Could you see the phones ringing then? We need more phone lines.

I kind of think they already need some extra phone lines. Wasn't the overload of calls on Saturday part of the problem with being disconnected?

 

[sanddune]

We do need more phone lines. We also need events for families with kids.I thought DVC was sold for families. Why do we always have special events during the school year? DVC do you hear us?

 

[sanddune]

I know since the first member cruise ,some of us have been asking for the 7 day. I asked on the 2nd member cruise too. So I know that's been asked more than once. We can always keep asking.

 

[#1Mouse]

Ok everyone, get those pens ready...
From the BCV annual meeting
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=972860

The cruise has been so popular that DVC is considering two options to ensure everyone gets on:

1) Once you have gone on two cruises, you might become ineligible for a 3rd the following year. DVC may "ask" you to lay out to allow others to go, or

2) A lottery where you call to sign up, and receive a phone call back from MS in the order your name was drawn to pick your cabin, or

3) Have two member cruises next year.

No decision has been made yet, but I think JL was getting a little "chewed" by some people who don't like spending 5 hours on the phone on the day ressies are made.

Not sure if I even want to get into this mess but, imho, Options 1 and 2 will create alot of problems and complaints for DVC. That's the way things are - something that is in demand and you want it, will cause you to have to go out of your way to get it. That's why stores had lines of people the day before X-Box was being released. Those that wanted them, braved the cold and waited. It happens all the time, concerts, cabbage patch dolls (dating myself here), Black Friday sales etc... If you want any of those things you need to make extra effort to get them.

Too bad some felt the need to rag on JL, because they don't want to have to go out of their way for something that is in demand.

Maybe they need to look into doing multiple cruises each year. Limiting members to only one of the DVC chartered cruises for each year would be acceptable - but using option 1 or 2 sounds like it would be setting themselves up for alot of headaches and complaints! I'm sure they will hash it over many times before deciding what to do, but whatever they do, I hope they continue to offer these special trips!

 

[Romandel]

I went to the Disney cruise site to ensure that they had the correct info and I note that the itinerary is still showing the usual 4 day one and not our special one. Thankfully all the other info (spelling etc) is correct but I was really looking forward to seeing Castaway Cay x2 listed.

 

[rsschneck]

I went to the Disney cruise site to ensure that they had the correct info and I note that the itinerary is still showing the usual 4 day one and not our special one. Thankfully all the other info (spelling etc) is correct but I was really looking forward to seeing Castaway Cay x2 listed.

I noticed that as well and sent DCL an email Saturday afternoon.

 

[sanddune]

I wouldn't worry about the cruise site. It's just an oversite. Every Member service agent said Castaway cay,day at sea and castaway cay. No worries. Hope this helps .

 

[rsschneck]

I had to make my before/after DVC ressies today so I asked a couple of questions.

1. Will ME still be FREE in October. Answer: As of right now ME being Free will end Sept. 2006. However, the CM said to call back closer to October and see what the status of ME is at the time of our trip. So, Disney has no definate end date to the FREE ME bus service.

2. Sending in email. CM said to check the member sight for updates on the cruise. She said DVC will not be sending out emails like they did with the last member cruise. Too many folks did not receive their emails and DVC received a lot of complaints.

3. Airfare and DCL transfers will be offered closer to our sail date. There will be no $75 change fee to add any of these services. Change fees are only if you change rooms, people, etc.

 

[chipscinderelly]

We took the bus from the resorts to Port Canaveral and back. We were glad that we did not have a car at Port Canaveral since we were deverted to Port Everglades because of weather at Port Canaveral. There were a lot of people who had to travel back to Port Canaveral then onto Disney. We were bused from Port Everglades right back to Disney.

I'm a few pages behind here in my reading, so forgive me if someone commented already. Yep, we went back to the Port to get our car, however, we arrived on property and were checked in prior to many on the buses from Lauderdale (oh and Diana we got food - lol)

 

[sanddune]

I had to make my before/after DVC ressies today so I asked a couple of questions.

1. Will ME still be FREE in October. Answer: As of right now ME being Free will end Sept. 2006. However, the CM said to call back closer to October and see what the status of ME is at the time of our trip. So, Disney has no definate end date to the FREE ME bus service.

2. Sending in email. CM said to check the member sight for updates on the cruise. She said DVC will not be sending out emails like they did with the last member cruise. Too many folks did not receive their emails and DVC received a lot of complaints.

3. Airfare and DCL transfers will be offered closer to our sail date. There will be no $75 change fee to add any of these services. Change fees are only if you change rooms, people, etc.

Thanks for the info.

 

[chipscinderelly]

Ok everyone, get those pens ready...
From the BCV annual meeting
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=972860

The cruise has been so popular that DVC is considering two options to ensure everyone gets on:

1) Once you have gone on two cruises, you might become ineligible for a 3rd the following year. DVC may "ask" you to lay out to allow others to go, or

2) A lottery where you call to sign up, and receive a phone call back from MS in the order your name was drawn to pick your cabin, or

3) Have two member cruises next year.

No decision has been made yet, but I think JL was getting a little "chewed" by some people who don't like spending 5 hours on the phone on the day ressies are made.

Um hey JL - if you don't want our money we can take it somewhere else!
Soo maybe that was a bit sarcastic but I don't like the fact that they may ask us to lay low - our membership is just as good as anyone elses and we should not be penalized for wanting to cruise.

Perhaps they better go with option 3

 

[chipscinderelly]

2. Sending in email. CM said to check the member sight for updates on the cruise. She said DVC will not be sending out emails like they did with the last member cruise. Too many folks did not receive their emails and DVC received a lot of complaints.

Ok not trying to be a negative nelly here but we didn't get a SINGLE mailing from DVC about the cruise like others did - no coconut, nothing - until our docs came. I liked the emails - they worked for a good majority I bet. Hopefully they will come up with another option that works for all!

 

[#1Mouse]

I'm a few pages behind here in my reading, so forgive me if someone commented already. Yep, we went back to the Port to get our car, however, we arrived on property and were checked in prior to many on the buses from Lauderdale (oh and Diana we got food - lol)

We had to go back to the port also, I think it took us about 3 hours and within 45 minutes we were meeting up with iluvdisney and her dh in the Wal-Mart parking lot. I think all the bus service was very well run, well except for Diana's clean bus!

 

[rsschneck]

I have checked out different transportation options. I have made 3 different rental car reservations depending on the status of the FREE ME transportation to and from the airport.

In case others want to check out the options here is what I came up with.

If ME is still FREE:
1. Renting car from National 2 the Car Care Center (free shuttle service)
pick up 10-22-06 drop off 10-26-06
Intermediate with all taxes $132.19
Parking @ Port $12 x 4 days = $48
Total $180.19
Car Care Center Code ORLR02

2. Renting car from Avis
Pick up (free shuttle) Hilton on Hotel Plaza Blvd. (code LB3)
Drop off (free shuttle) Port location (code P3F)
10-22-06 (1 day rate) $50.62 with all taxes
10-26-06 (1 day rate) $46.43
Total $97.05

3. Using Disney Transfers for 3 people are going to run about $177

If ME is not FREE. We will get a car at the airport and drop it off near the Port. Get another rental from the Port and drop it off at the airport. This saves 4 days of car rental and $48 of parking fees. I found Budget to be the least expensive at this time. Budget has a free shuttle back and forth from the port.

10-19-06 pick up @ MCO/ 10-22-06 drop off near port (code CC5)
Intermediate with taxes $106.56
10-26-06 pick up @ Port/ 10-28-06 drop off @ MCO
Intermediate with taxes $119.22
Total $225.78

All of these options are less expensive than a town car service. Anyone find anything better please post.

Roxann

 

[#1Mouse]

Ok not trying to be a negative nelly here but we didn't get a SINGLE mailing from DVC about the cruise like others did - no coconut, nothing - until our docs came. I liked the emails - they worked for a good majority I bet. Hopefully they will come up with another option that works for all!

Julie I think those mailings (the coconut etc) came from DCL. Of course ours come to our home address with John's fathers name on them. He has never been on a Disney cruise and he's not a DVC member Oh and by the way, just because his name is on them doesn't mean I give them to him

 

[Scratch42]

Ok everyone, get those pens ready...
From the BCV annual meeting
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=972860

The cruise has been so popular that DVC is considering two options to ensure everyone gets on:

1) Once you have gone on two cruises, you might become ineligible for a 3rd the following year. DVC may "ask" you to lay out to allow others to go, or

2) A lottery where you call to sign up, and receive a phone call back from MS in the order your name was drawn to pick your cabin, or

3) Have two member cruises next year.

No decision has been made yet, but I think JL was getting a little "chewed" by some people who don't like spending 5 hours on the phone on the day ressies are made.

Here goes with my 2 cents worth!

I for one, would not have known without your kind help and support, that when I got the "DEAD AIR" to hang on! Wonder how many, who did not have your support, just hung up and tried again!

JL, look to fixing your phone system!

Phoning in on Saturday was like a lottery!

Want a solution ~ Have more than One Member Cruise! Then limit members!

Thanks for listening!

janet

 

[cherylp3]

Regarding emails - Oh no!! Boo I want my cruise news!

That being said I found out why you may not have gotten an email. Turns out if you ever have listed a DVC email as SPAM they can not email you unless you send a letter to them stating that you noted them as SPAM in error and state you want emails from DVC.

Apparently Todd listed them as SPAM once.

Cheryl

 

[4greatboys]

I for one, would not have known without your kind help and support, that when I got the "DEAD AIR" to hang on! Wonder how many, who did not have your support, just hung up and tried again!

Same here. I had one phone that just rang about 20 minutes before I ever got a recording and my other phone just had dead air. If I wasnt in chat with everyone I probably would have hung up thinking my calls werent going anywhere.