3/21/2010 -- 4 Night Disney Wonder Spring Break Cruise

[KSDisneyDad]

It was so exciting to get our cruise docs in the mail! Is this a bit early?? Anyway, we were bumped up a level to deck 7. The room is now a cat 5 instead of cat 6 - everything is the same except for the level. We're now on the starboard side, which is a switch. We were a bit surprised, since we specifically requested our previous room. Everyone is starting to have dreams about the trip - this next 5 weeks better fly!

Deb, DH, DS14, DS10

We got ours a couple of days ago as well. It does seem early. We're in the same room we originally booked. We've never been upgraded, but that's okay as we've enjoyed every cruise in the rooms we booked.

The cruise docs are a lot different than in the past. It's a nice little customized booklet this time.

 

[debmomof2]

We got ours a couple of days ago as well. It does seem early. We're in the same room we originally booked. We've never been upgraded, but that's okay as we've enjoyed every cruise in the rooms we booked.

The cruise docs are a lot different than in the past. It's a nice little customized booklet this time.

My husband listens to the Dis podcasts, and said that they retired "Ursula" the giant computer used to spit out the documents. The new Ursula must be the reason!

 

[mommyofthreeboys]

I just checked the mail...I got our docs too!!! This is our first cruise so this is all new to me. We are in the same room as we booked--of course I expected this since we booked a cat 4.

5 more (short) weeks!!!!!

 

[alwaysabuckeye]

Aaaaahhhhh...I KNEW we were going to get our documents while I was traveling. Now I can't wait to get back home. Plus...it is twice as hard to search the board on my BlackBerry. Yes! I am addict!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

My husband listens to the Dis podcasts, and said that they retired "Ursula" the giant computer used to spit out the documents. The new Ursula must be the reason!

The new Ursula can sure print a prettier packet! I like the heavier paperstock and the spiral notebook style. However, it did remind me that I need to go on-line to check-in.

When does everyone arrive in Florida? We're arriving the 19th for two nights at POR.

 

[twins-and-1]

We have not received our documents yet! It is making me crazy! I am dying to get them. It will make it even more real! We booked through a travel agent friend. Will they go to her first or come directly to us?

We are driving down to Florida from Indiana through the night on Friday. My grandma lives in St. Augustine so we will stop and say hello then go on down to Port Carnaveral and spend the night there on Saturday night. We are out of school AGAIN today because of more dreaded snow so I think I will try to Priceline a room today! So nervous! I have using Priceline, but love the prices!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

We have not received our documents yet! It is making me crazy! I am dying to get them. It will make it even more real! We booked through a travel agent friend. Will they go to her first or come directly to us?

We are driving down to Florida from Indiana through the night on Friday. My grandma lives in St. Augustine so we will stop and say hello then go on down to Port Carnaveral and spend the night there on Saturday night. We are out of school AGAIN today because of more dreaded snow so I think I will try to Priceline a room today! So nervous! I have using Priceline, but love the prices!

Perhaps the snow is slowing things down for document delivery. We used a TA and my MIL/SIL & BIL used a different TA. We have all received our docs. I've always received the docs directly through Disney and not through the TA.

 

[mommyofthreeboys]

When does everyone arrive in Florida? We're arriving the 19th for two nights at POR.

We are leaving on the 18th, driving through the night, arriving on the 19th as well. Guess where we are staying? POR!!!!!

When we arrive we might go to AK for a few hours before crashing and then on Saturday, the 20th, we are going to Epcot.

 

[jephmom]

Thought I would chime in here too! We are taking our first cruise on 3/21 with all of you! It will be myself, DH and our 14 y.o. DS, 10 y.o DS and 9y.o DD. I am nervous our 10 yo has special needs but I have read sveral things here and talked to a few people and think it will go well. We too live in Indiana and are driving down on the 19th part way and arrive in PC on the 20th. We are so looking forward to it! I picked up our cruise docs from the TA today! Might as well do something fun on this snow day!!!!!

 

[twins-and-1]

jephmom- where are you from in Indiana? We live in Yorktown, IN which is near Muncie (1 hr. north of Indy). We have missed the last 5 out of 7 school days due to snow and drifting and will probably be out tomorrow! I am so ready for the cruise!!!

 

[mfortune]

Got my documents today! No upgrade, but thats fine...at least I will be on the ship!!! We are driving from Indiana as well...driving part way on the 19th, finishing up to Port Canaveral on the 20th. Yippee!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Thought I would chime in here too! We are taking our first cruise on 3/21 with all of you! It will be myself, DH and our 14 y.o. DS, 10 y.o DS and 9y.o DD. I am nervous our 10 yo has special needs but I have read sveral things here and talked to a few people and think it will go well. We too live in Indiana and are driving down on the 19th part way and arrive in PC on the 20th. We are so looking forward to it! I picked up our cruise docs from the TA today! Might as well do something fun on this snow day!!!!!

Welcome! I've added your family to the roster on page 1.

 

[debmomof2]

Hi Folks,
I saw this on another thread and was pretty happy - it seems like we have a lot of "tweens" going on this cruise. Anyone hear about it?

"there is currently programming (at least on the Wonder) just for tweens (10-12). The group is called "Out and About" and has scheduled activities outside of the Oceaneer club/lab. Our daughter (10) was thrilled to have a group of her own!

They travel together in activities such as dodgeball on deck 9, private game show in Studio Sea, lunch together at beach blanket buffet and even scheduled use of teens space aloft. DD's group consisted of about 8 or so last week.

One thing to consider however, is that you'd need to feel comfortable registering your child as a "self-check," as this is required for participation. So they'd be able to check in/out without an adult. We were okay allowing our dd this privilege, with confidence she'd go nowhere without communication. You can locate your child thoughout the day through the "out and about" schedule on PN. I had my daughter request the counselor send us a text on beeper if she wanted to opt of of an activiy and stay in the club/lab ( group stops there in between scheduled activities). It all worked out very well"

Deb, DH, DS14, DS10

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Hi Folks,
I saw this on another thread and was pretty happy - it seems like we have a lot of "tweens" going on this cruise. Anyone hear about it?

"there is currently programming (at least on the Wonder) just for tweens (10-12). The group is called "Out and About" and has scheduled activities outside of the Oceaneer club/lab. Our daughter (10) was thrilled to have a group of her own!

They travel together in activities such as dodgeball on deck 9, private game show in Studio Sea, lunch together at beach blanket buffet and even scheduled use of teens space aloft. DD's group consisted of about 8 or so last week.

One thing to consider however, is that you'd need to feel comfortable registering your child as a "self-check," as this is required for participation. So they'd be able to check in/out without an adult. We were okay allowing our dd this privilege, with confidence she'd go nowhere without communication. You can locate your child thoughout the day through the "out and about" schedule on PN. I had my daughter request the counselor send us a text on beeper if she wanted to opt of of an activiy and stay in the club/lab ( group stops there in between scheduled activities). It all worked out very well"

Deb, DH, DS14, DS10

I hadn't heard about this, but it sounds better than what we experienced on the Magic for the tweens. When we were on the Magic in 2008, there was a Tweens group (11-13) at Ocean Quest. It was a horrible experience for our kids as it was poorly supervised and there were a lot of misbehaved kids. There was no choice either regarding self-check in and out for the tweens. If they were at Ocean Quest, they were automatically given self check-in/out privileges. This caused large groups of kids to congregate on the mid-ship stairs between Decks 2 and 3 (and elsewhere). The Wonder's tween program seems better and it's probably better because the Wonder had to figure it out without the fourth kids area on Deck 2 -- Ocean Quest. I agree that the Lab is too "childish" for most 10-12 year olds, so this program on the Wonder sounds like a better alternative for those too young for the Stack.

We let our older two boys roam the ship on their own. This has worked out well for our family as our oldest two seem to always be in different clubs. They prefer to hang out together (or together with friends made on the ship). They keep us informed as to where they are and we check up on them often during sea days/evenings.

Our youngest has to be in the club or with us at all times. It'll be good this time because his cousin will join him in the club so he's not "alone".

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Okay -- one month from today!!! I thought I'd share some Embarkation photos from our first two cruises:


The Terminal:

Inside the Terminal:

Through the "Ears" heading toward the Welcome Aboard Picture:

On the gangplank at Port Canaveral:

Walking onto the ship for the first time: "Welcome Aboard"

Brunch at Parrot Cay:

Goofing off:

Exploring the Top Deck:

Looking back at the Terminal:

 

[KSDisneyDad]

A few more day 1 pictures:

The Lifeboard Drill (yes, some of us had it indoors!)

Sailaway Party:

Leaving Port Canaveral:

 

[mommyofthreeboys]

Thanks for sharing the pics!

I am getting so excited! I got my FE in the mail yesterday. One more thing I can check off the to-do list!

 

[alwaysabuckeye]

Woohoo! I made a countdown paper chain with the girls today.

Thanks for the pics! We can't wait.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

One month from today: Nassau Day. I've never been to Nassau, but here are some typical port day pictures:



Breakfast on Deck 10:

Coming into Port:

Docked:

And Day 2 I believe is the dress-up night. Here are the three restaurants:

Tritons (The pictures are Lumiere's on the Magic)

Animators Palate:

Parrot Cay:

And for those who have an evening at Palo:

Disney themes for the evening shows (technically Golden Mickey's is Night 1, I believe. Day 2 is the Toy Story show and I'm looking forward to seeing it for the first time.)

 

[5CruisersCruising]

We got our documents too. I am super excited...can't wait to get to the ship! Thanks for sharing the pictures - it just adds to the anticipation!

I've been busy planning the clothes we'll bring...hoping to keep the luggage to a minimum (famous last words!). I've also been reading tons of posts and finding lots of helpful info - so glad I found DIS.

With all the snow in KC, we are SO ready to get out of here! March 20 can't come fast enough!

Hope all of you are staying warm!