2007 DVC Member Cruise - SSMC07 - October 21, 2007

[seaulater]

We chose the late dining. We are in California and my tummy can never get used to the time difference in Florida. As it is eating at "5:00pm tummy time" (8:00pm eastern) will be a bit rough since we usually dine at home around 6:30-7:00.

Does the early dining usually fill up faster than the late dining?

Yes, the early dining always fills up first. If you are debating, I would get DVC to get you waitlisted now for the early dining cuz you can always switch to late later.

In the past, when we have booked with a shorter time period and been forced for the late dining, we have wait listed the early one, and it has always come through (just remember, you might not know until a week or two before that you got moved to the early dining!)

Well.........I'm back from New York. Had a great time with Georgie and Joe on our mini-meet. Loved Beauty and the Beast. It was extremely cold and windy, but I layered my clothes and it was fine. The windows at MACY's were awesome!

Glad to see so many get through and get the cruise booked. We will have a great time. I am going to email DVC about some issues I had with the 06 member cruise that hopefully they can resolve before 07 (i.e. like Mary said, having Golden Mickey's on Pirate Night and having the characters in Golden Mickey attire instead of pirate stuff). There is no reason that DVC doesn't have the clout to get DCL to switch Disney Dreams with Golden Mickeys so the characters can wear pirate stuff on pirate night. How hard can it be?

Also, hopefully, DVC will improve their communications with all of us for the 07 cruise, since the communications were poorly lacking for the 06 cruise. I know for me, I like knowing before I book my plane reservations whether they are doing a member get together prior to the cruise (i.e. Downtown Disney in September 2005 prior to the cruise) (also theme nights for dressing, etc.)

Hopefully with all the feedback they have received and additional feedback forthcoming they will be proactive in 2007 and realize that the members want to know this information so they can plan accordingly!

Okay, back to work. Just wanted to check in for the day.

Thanks to Mark and Mary for buttons, rosters, etc! It really helps in getting to know everyone.

Looking forward to cruising with everyone in 07!

 

[seaulater]

Linda - wanted to pass along a hello to you from Lisa (TKD Lisa). Mark and I ran into her on the Boardwalk while we were down at WDW this past week. She was asking about a number of the 2004 10 day cruisers and asked about you. I told her you were doing the Member Cruise and I would pass on her hello to you.

Thanks! Of course I remember her. I'll be at WDW for the half-marathon in January if anyone is planning on being there!

 

[WDWLVR]

Glad to see so many get through and get the cruise booked. We will have a great time. I am going to email DVC about some issues I had with the 06 member cruise that hopefully they can resolve before 07 (i.e. like Mary said, having Golden Mickey's on Pirate Night and having the characters in Golden Mickey attire instead of pirate stuff). There is no reason that DVC doesn't have the clout to get DCL to switch Disney Dreams with Golden Mickeys so the characters can wear pirate stuff on pirate night. How hard can it be?

Also, hopefully, DVC will improve their communications with all of us for the 07 cruise, since the communications were poorly lacking for the 06 cruise. I know for me, I like knowing before I book my plane reservations whether they are doing a member get together prior to the cruise (i.e. Downtown Disney in September 2005 prior to the cruise) (also theme nights for dressing, etc.)

Hopefully with all the feedback they have received and additional feedback forthcoming they will be proactive in 2007 and realize that the members want to know this information so they can plan accordingly!

Linda - you are right. Communication and details were the keys to what was lacking on the '06 cruise. We sent in a letter when we got home as well and hopefully they will listen to everyone's feedback.

DVC if you are reading here's a few simple requests:

1) Monthly e-mails to us just telling us the basics. I know you like to surprise us but if we could know things like will there be a party the night before, what day/time the group picture will be taken on, and what are the times we'll be at CC. All of these can help us planners.

2) Please don't delay our arrival at CC just to sell points. I know it is a business but we love the island and love to spend time there.

3) Please pay attention to the details like having the right ports on the embarkation pictures.

4) If you are going to have some kind of treasure hunt (like the rocks) make it something that won't play into the greed of a few. Some, like Linda, were lucky and got one. Many however didn't because of what we heard was one family gathering up the majority of them before everyone else hit the beach. Maybe more rocks, but only a few with prizes and only one per family allowed to be redeemed. Or go back to beach balls all over the beach so that each family can get one.

I'm sure others have ideas as well.

 

[gamomof2]

When we were able to book on Dec 2 I specifically asked about a pre-cruise get together like in 2005. The MS rep said that nothing was "definite" yet. I guess that's better than "nothing's planned".

We were in WDW in Oct 2005 and onsite the weekend of the pre-cruise party. I think that's what geared up DH to want to go. 2006 we didn't have the points or money when it was time to book. So this year we were bound and determined.

2007 here we come.

But we do have some stops before cruise time. We'll be at OKW Dec 28 (going to MM that night) then move over to SSR on the 29th. Then on Jan 3 we're doing one night at AKL for our 11 yr old DD. We'll Spring Break in Daytona Beach and do a day trip to WDW and then July 4th we're there on our way to Ft. Lauderdale (actually Weston).

So October we'll be our 4th time to WDW. Maybe we can squeeze in Christmas again next year. 5 times in one year, that will be a new family record.

 

[trishy]

Not having done a member cruise before and not understanding the overall issues involved, I still have to say those are sensible suggestions Mary and I hope DVC takes them seriously. One family was allowed to take multiple gifts from CC? That's plain selfish and greedy. I like the 'one per family' idea.

Question about the information you requested from each cruising family: Will this information, including pix, be viewable by only the 2007 Member Cruisers?

Looking forward to meeting everybody! I know it seems like we've got a long way to go, but it'll be here before we know it.

 

[WDWLVR]

Not having done a member cruise before and not understanding the overall issues involved, I still have to say those are sensible suggestions Mary and I hope DVC takes them seriously. One family was allowed to take multiple gifts from CC? That's plain selfish and greedy. I like the 'one per family' idea.

Question about the information you requested from each cruising family: Will this information, including pix, be viewable by only the 2007 Member Cruisers?

Looking forward to meeting everybody! I know it seems like we've got a long way to go, but it'll be here before we know it.

Thrishy - they weren't really gifts. DVC "hid" some special rocks on CC on our second day and we got a not about it in our rooms the night before. Linda might know more of the story since she was on the beach earlier than us. What we heard was that there were a limited number of these rocks (I heard everywhere from 40-80) and that one family took about 18 of them. Running down the beach and grabbing them as they went. By the time we got off they were no where to be found. You then could claim a prize which I believe was a hat for each rock. We would have just liked the rock as a momento of the cruise. Oh well.

As for the info - it is on our own site which doesn't get a ton of hits but also isn't password protected. We did the password protected version on our 2004 cruise and the feedback we got was most preferred we didn't do that. While we insist on a cabin number if you want a button (so we can deliver it if you don't make the meet) it doesn't have to be published on the site if you don't want it. Also things like birthdays you can just put month and days or the full date. It also doesn't have to be a birthday or anniversary on the cruise. Like I said last year we had someone who would post on the thread when it was someone's birthday just to celebrate.

So how much you want to share is up to each person. We have found in all the times we've hosted these pages (2004 10 day cruise, 2005 Member Cruise, 2006 Double Scoop Cruise,and 2006 Member Cruise) that it has helped people find other families with kids the same ages or someone from the same home resorts etc. On both the 2005 and 2006 cruises we found we had two families that had wives named Ann Marie (one was Annmarie) both married to men named Tom. Both owned at Beach Club and had joined the DIS at pretty much the same time. A true Twilight Zone moment!

 

[krdisneybound]

That was awful having Golden Mickeys and Pirates the same night.

What in the world were they thinking.

Hoping your e-mails/letters make them think that one again

 

[tinytink]

Linda - you are right. Communication and details were the keys to what was lacking on the '06 cruise. We sent in a letter when we got home as well and hopefully they will listen to everyone's feedback.

DVC if you are reading here's a few simple requests:

1) Monthly e-mails to us just telling us the basics. I know you like to surprise us but if we could know things like will there be a party the night before, what day/time the group picture will be taken on, and what are the times we'll be at CC. All of these can help us planners.

2) Please don't delay our arrival at CC just to sell points. I know it is a business but we love the island and love to spend time there.

3) Please pay attention to the details like having the right ports on the embarkation pictures.

4) If you are going to have some kind of treasure hunt (like the rocks) make it something that won't play into the greed of a few. Some, like Linda, were lucky and got one. Many however didn't because of what we heard was one family gathering up the majority of them before everyone else hit the beach. Maybe more rocks, but only a few with prizes and only one per family allowed to be redeemed. Or go back to beach balls all over the beach so that each family can get one.

I'm sure others have ideas as well.

Mary is there a reason why we can't just stay overnight at CC? Can you bring that up in your email about the 06 cruise? I was just "Wonder"ing and I would love to have that extra time at CC.

 

[MarkRG]

Mary is there a reason why we can't just stay overnight at CC? Can you bring that up in your email about the 06 cruise? I was just "Wonder"ing and I would love to have that extra time at CC.

A simple reason, bugs. Armies of them come out at night, the few people who actually live on the island retreat into insect proof housing overnight to avoid them. The ship wouldn't be so lucky.

 

[WDWLVR]

Good morning everyone! Thanks to those who have already sent in your info. Mark and I should have the new website and gallery up by the end of this weekend. We just got back from WDW yesterday and since we didn't know until Saturday morning that we were able to make it on hadn't done any advance work like in previous years.

 

[sugaswim]

well... i checked the first page of threads and i didn't see one of these yet...

so, who else is going??

my mom had been telling herself for weeks she had to remember to get up and call saturday morning to book the cruise. well it was about an hour and a half after the calling could start and my dad made some comment that made me think the cruise had been booked. so i said, oh we got on the cruise then? my mom freaks out because she totally forgot about calling. so at about 1030, mom calls... gets right through... dad gets on the phone, books it, and now... we are going!

 

[WDWLVR]

well... i checked the first page of threads and i didn't see one of these yet...

Holly - there was a thread already started but it seemed to be falling down the page. I went ahead and merged your thread in with it.

 

[sugaswim]

haha thanks... i knew there had to be one somewhere.

 

[seaulater]

Thrishy - they weren't really gifts. DVC "hid" some special rocks on CC on our second day and we got a not about it in our rooms the night before. Linda might know more of the story since she was on the beach earlier than us. What we heard was that there were a limited number of these rocks (I heard everywhere from 40-80) and that one family took about 18 of them. Running down the beach and grabbing them as they went. By the time we got off they were no where to be found. You then could claim a prize which I believe was a hat for each rock. We would have just liked the rock as a momento of the cruise. Oh well.

As for the info - it is on our own site which doesn't get a ton of hits but also isn't password protected. We did the password protected version on our 2004 cruise and the feedback we got was most preferred we didn't do that. While we insist on a cabin number if you want a button (so we can deliver it if you don't make the meet) it doesn't have to be published on the site if you don't want it. Also things like birthdays you can just put month and days or the full date. It also doesn't have to be a birthday or anniversary on the cruise. Like I said last year we had someone who would post on the thread when it was someone's birthday just to celebrate.

So how much you want to share is up to each person. We have found in all the times we've hosted these pages (2004 10 day cruise, 2005 Member Cruise, 2006 Double Scoop Cruise,and 2006 Member Cruise) that it has helped people find other families with kids the same ages or someone from the same home resorts etc. On both the 2005 and 2006 cruises we found we had two families that had wives named Ann Marie (one was Annmarie) both married to men named Tom. Both owned at Beach Club and had joined the DIS at pretty much the same time. A true Twilight Zone moment!

Here's my story and I'm sticking to it!

The ship was to be ready for disembarking about 8:30 a.m. The night before we got the "note" in our stateroom about finding the hidden rocks that were all over CC and you could redeem them for a "prize".

Well, I got up and watched the ship come in, and since I don't generally eat breakfast, I thought what the heck, I'll go for a walk. I was fourth in line to get off the ship. The ship was cleared by customs about 8:25 a.m. and I got off.

Some people (a family) started running towards the beach. I walked briskly to the beach and actually thoroughly enjoyed being the first one to walk along the shore and took pictures of my footprints in the clean, untouched sand, which I thought was pretty awesome!

I walked the whole shoreline, since I could see the "family" running ahead of me. I got to the stingrays and ran into a guy who had about 6 in his hand at that time. He said they (the "rocks") were just sitting on top of tables, chairs, etc.

I at least knew what I was looking for, so I high tailed it over to the bike path. I walked around the airplane on the runway, but didn't find any, then got to the trail. I figured since I guy had just passed me on a bicycle, that instead of entering the trail where it divides into the "entrance" and the "exit", that I would go in through the exit and walk the trail backwards. Well, about 50 yards down the trail I found a "rock" on top of one of the barrels. The rock is engraved "Disney Vacation Club" and on the back side it has a number on it. (I figured so they could keep track.)

The rock is great. More valuable to me than the prize! After getting back on the ship I went down to the member clubhouse figuring I had the lucky rock and had just won a free cruise or 150 vacation points!

Instead, they had me sign on the numbered line for my "rock" and I asked if I won the free cruise. They laughed, and said all rocks got the same exact gift. Yipee, I thought. Then they handed me a hat that says something like Castaway Cay Twice the Magic (which I got to thinking afterwards was the hat that they sold on the first Magic voyage that went to CC twice for the first time earlier in 2006). Figured they were leftovers that they brought over to the Wonder and that DVC bought them for some outrageously low price from DCL in a blowout sale.

I was told by the member clubhouse that there were 80 rocks placed out on CC by the CM's prior to everyone disembarking.

I suggested to DVC that they put a limit i.e. one per person, or one per stateroom, since one family had gathered up 18 rocks before 90% of the guests had even gotten off the ship.

I put my "rock" in my curio cabinet, because the rock is actually more valuable to me than the hat.

I'll take a picture of the "rock" and post it here so everyone can see when I am home and not at work!

Have an awesome day everyone.

 

[tinytink]

A simple reason, bugs. Armies of them come out at night, the few people who actually live on the island retreat into insect proof housing overnight to avoid them. The ship wouldn't be so lucky.

ewwe, no I would rather be at sea. I had no idea there was a bug problem, as usual thank you for your valuable insight.

 

[krdisneybound]

I suggested to DVC that they put a limit i.e. one per person, or one per stateroom, since one family had gathered up 18 rocks before 90% of the guests had even gotten off the ship.

that must be the family that put them all on e-bay for auction. there were a lot of them up right after the cruise. all of them did not sell, tho

 

[WDWLVR]

Good morning everyone! Found us on page 2.

I must apologize as I think I got carried away with the excitement of a new cruise and posted about things I've done for past cruises. Mark and I will still be doing the web site and buttons as that is what we really love to contribute. Kay had pointed out to me that Linda has done navigators on her cruises as well so I've contacted Linda and she is more than happy to do them for us. You can still send the info to me since it is much the same info we need for the buttons and I'll pass it on to Linda when she's ready.

So please forgive me for my overactive enthusiasm.

A question for those of you who have cruised DCL before. Did you get involved with your cruise group, and if so what things did you/they do?

Also to Linda's earlier suggestion. Is anyone who posted on the first page of the thread willing to update it with info as the group makes decisions? Kind of a clearing house to work in conjunction with the website. Linda said this worked well on the repo cruise and 11 day cruise threads she's been on.

 

[sugaswim]

Here's my story and I'm sticking to it!

The ship was to be ready for disembarking about 8:30 a.m. The night before we got the "note" in our stateroom about finding the hidden rocks that were all over CC and you could redeem them for a "prize".

Well, I got up and watched the ship come in, and since I don't generally eat breakfast, I thought what the heck, I'll go for a walk. I was fourth in line to get off the ship. The ship was cleared by customs about 8:25 a.m. and I got off.

Some people (a family) started running towards the beach. I walked briskly to the beach and actually thoroughly enjoyed being the first one to walk along the shore and took pictures of my footprints in the clean, untouched sand, which I thought was pretty awesome!

I walked the whole shoreline, since I could see the "family" running ahead of me. I got to the stingrays and ran into a guy who had about 6 in his hand at that time. He said they (the "rocks") were just sitting on top of tables, chairs, etc.

I at least knew what I was looking for, so I high tailed it over to the bike path. I walked around the airplane on the runway, but didn't find any, then got to the trail. I figured since I guy had just passed me on a bicycle, that instead of entering the trail where it divides into the "entrance" and the "exit", that I would go in through the exit and walk the trail backwards. Well, about 50 yards down the trail I found a "rock" on top of one of the barrels. The rock is engraved "Disney Vacation Club" and on the back side it has a number on it. (I figured so they could keep track.)

The rock is great. More valuable to me than the prize! After getting back on the ship I went down to the member clubhouse figuring I had the lucky rock and had just won a free cruise or 150 vacation points!

Instead, they had me sign on the numbered line for my "rock" and I asked if I won the free cruise. They laughed, and said all rocks got the same exact gift. Yipee, I thought. Then they handed me a hat that says something like Castaway Cay Twice the Magic (which I got to thinking afterwards was the hat that they sold on the first Magic voyage that went to CC twice for the first time earlier in 2006). Figured they were leftovers that they brought over to the Wonder and that DVC bought them for some outrageously low price from DCL in a blowout sale.

I was told by the member clubhouse that there were 80 rocks placed out on CC by the CM's prior to everyone disembarking.

I suggested to DVC that they put a limit i.e. one per person, or one per stateroom, since one family had gathered up 18 rocks before 90% of the guests had even gotten off the ship.

I put my "rock" in my curio cabinet, because the rock is actually more valuable to me than the hat.

I'll take a picture of the "rock" and post it here so everyone can see when I am home and not at work!

Have an awesome day everyone.

hahaha i had the funniest picture in my head while i was reading this of people running around looking for rocks

 

[krdisneybound]

geez, I did a post earlier and it's not here. guess it fell in the twilight zone.

anyway, I was just bumping us up in case new cruisers wanted to find the thread.

hope everyone has a good day

 

[krdisneybound]

hahaha i had the funniest picture in my head while i was reading this of people running around looking for rocks

funny you said that, Holly - I was thinking the same thing.

Next time Linda is going to have to walk a little faster