5/31/11 -- Chilling on the Wonder

[chus]

i was scanning through allllll the previous posts and i saw that most people have already made dining reservations for tea and such.......will there be anything left by the time i'm allowed to book on march 17th??

do i need to register ahead of time for the kid's activities??

thanks so much!

 

[shwarren70]

i was scanning through allllll the previous posts and i saw that most people have already made dining reservations for tea and such.......will there be anything left by the time i'm allowed to book on march 17th??

do i need to register ahead of time for the kid's activities??

thanks so much!

I would register... you can always cancel. I was shocked at how much was booked last week when I could start booking. My parents are traveling with us and can't book until the 17th. I have it on my calendar to try to register them as quick as I can on the morning of the 17th so that they are on the excursions with us. Some of my 1st choices where gone.

 

[poohj80]

I would register... you can always cancel. I was shocked at how much was booked last week when I could start booking. My parents are traveling with us and can't book until the 17th. I have it on my calendar to try to register them as quick as I can on the morning of the 17th so that they are on the excursions with us. Some of my 1st choices where gone.

I am cruising later this summer and will be trying to do the same thing. I'm curious which excursions folks are finding are filling up the fastest?

Thanks!

 

[adnil530]

Welcome to the newcomers! I am getting so excited! I can't wait to be onboard.

I'd love to participate in a group meet and greet and get a group picture.

Chat soon.

Linda

 

[shwarren70]

I am cruising later this summer and will be trying to do the same thing. I'm curious which excursions folks are finding are filling up the fastest?

Thanks!

The main one I saw was Whale watching... you can get it, just have to chose alternative times.

Also, Palo for the at sea days is very picked over.

 

[poohj80]

The main one I saw was Whale watching... you can get it, just have to chose alternative times.

Also, Palo for the at sea days is very picked over.

Thanks! We're hoping for high tea and brunch at Palo and at least I can book those (if available) when my booking window opens, but excursions we will have to really juggle. May I ask what level of CC you are when you found everything picked over?

Thanks again!
PJ

 

[auntlynne]

Not a cajun, but from Louisiana and a huge LSU fan.
Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Auburn tiger here, not LSU Bengal tiger. One of the Geezer retired engineers that my Dad lunches with each week is an LSU grad, so there car has the Geauuuux Tigers decal.

it's our first time cruising on disney......just booked last month......

our stateroom is 6556 .....

i was scanning through allllll the previous posts and i saw that most people have already made dining reservations for tea and such.......will there be anything left by the time i'm allowed to book on march 17th??

do i need to register ahead of time for the kid's activities??

thanks so much!

If you can't get it booked online, don't give up hope. When you board, you can go to Wavebands (that's the usual - ask the crewmember who talks with you right after your family's arrival is announced to the ship - they can direct you). It's just down the hall to the right, and they can handle requests for dining changes/Palo... You might not get tea; they only offer a few tables for tea, not the entire Palo dining room (I don't think you're missing much; go for brunch or dinner for a better food experience - and only $20 pp vs $10 for tea). Seems there's often empty tables when I've been in Palo's - I think they don't offer all of them for online reservations.

I think the only advance sign-up for kids is Flounders Nursery. When you are in the cruise terminal, they often have sign up for the kids' areas - a good use of your time if waiting around to board.

I am cruising later this summer and will be trying to do the same thing. I'm curious which excursions folks are finding are filling up the fastest?

Thanks!

The dog sledding went really fast; early in the booking window for Gold.

 

[chus]

are most people staying in the downtown area before the cruise?? we arrive the day before......i'm wondering if we should stay in richmond.....1/2 the price!

 

[adnil530]

are most people staying in the downtown area before the cruise?? we arrive the day before......i'm wondering if we should stay in richmond.....1/2 the price!

We are coming in on Monday the 30th and touring the area. We are actually staying in Burnaby at the Howard Johnson's, not too far from downtown and we booked our room at $101. I felt it was a good price.

 

[TravelinCyn]

This will be our first cruise- ever, not just DCL. There are 4 us in 2 cabins- my mom, and then my husband, son (8 at time of cruise), and I. Believe it or not, we have not told the kid yet. He has no clue.

 

[poohj80]

Believe it or not, we have not told the kid yet. He has no clue.

That should be fun! Be sure to have a camera ready when you tell him or he figures it out when you arrive. We haven't told DD we are sneaking in a Dream cruise in May yet either.

 

[lmcarr]

we have surprised my son twice--once on the way to disney world and once on the way to port canaveral! it was so awesome to see his reaction

 

[lmcarr]

we are super excited to be on the 5/31 Alaskan cruise! it will be our 5th disney cruise (after recovering from our 4/3 dream cruise). I'm looking forward to meeting with some of yall and sharing tips! our troop is made of up 3 (me, 39; hubby, 43 and son,11)

 

[lmcarr]

I think my husband is trying to get ready for Alaska. He decided to go swimming in our pool this morning. It didn't last long.

my son went swimming this past weekend!

 

[famviramontes]

We are staying in the Blue Horizon. I just booked and many of the hotels are already full. I meant to book awhile ago and thought I did but......basically I need this vacation.

 

[chus]

so since my day to finally book some stuff is coming up......can someone tell me what i should be trying to get first??

sorry i have no idea how disney cruises are!!

 

[auntlynne]

are most people staying in the downtown area before the cruise?? we arrive the day before......i'm wondering if we should stay in richmond.....1/2 the price!

We are staying across from the stadium at the YWCA Hotel. A room with 5 single beds for $131 (YMCA member rate) for 2 nights. We'll sell a bit of Vancouver and Stanley Park on Sunday and Monday. Use the public transportation to/from airport and around town.

This will be our first cruise- ever, not just DCL. There are 4 us in 2 cabins- my mom, and then my husband, son (8 at time of cruise), and I. Believe it or not, we have not told the kid yet. He has no clue.

we are super excited to be on the 5/31 Alaskan cruise! it will be our 5th disney cruise (after recovering from our 4/3 dream cruise). I'm looking forward to meeting with some of yall and sharing tips! our troop is made of up 3 (me, 39; hubby, 43 and son,11)

my son went swimming this past weekend!

Outside?

so since my day to finally book some stuff is coming up......can someone tell me what i should be trying to get first??

sorry i have no idea how disney cruises are!!

Check out the DCL port excursions to get an idea of what could be available - they seem to offer the same excursions you'd get in any port (I'm sure there are some others out there). You can check the Cruise Critic website or other cruise lines for ideas, too. I only booked one excursion from an independent supplier - a Floatplane trip in Ketchikan.

My tip - if there is something you want to do, book it first - and confirm the reservation, then go back and book another reservation. You can lose a spot if you try to reserve and confirm all your choices at once (someone else can reserve it at the same time you do - but confirm it before you - and you won't get it).

On cruises, it seems there are more things to do than you can squeeze in; I try to do the one thing that is most important, as though I wasn't returning again. Then, on the next cruise , I do something else I was interested in.

 

[chus]

thank you lynne for all the info........

how about dining?? will there be anything left? can you still get reservations on board?? i remember you posted that tea was not all that....but i would like to try palo if i can.........

are there any absolutely don't miss things to do while on the cruise?? i heard there is a pirate night?? and there is some friendship show where the kids participate and get a t-shirt?? my friend just came back from the mex riviera cruise and told me about those......

 

[auntlynne]

I'd check out the Palo options during online booking; but don't give up if none show up. (1) check back several times before we cruise - people sometimes drop their reservations or (2) go to Wavebands upon embarkation and request a time or a spot on a waiting list.

I enjoy both the brunch and the dinner. Brunch has complimentary champagne and champagne cocktail of the day. Dessert is better at dinner, including gelatos and chocolate souffle; the price is the same for either meal ($20 pp - and as much food as you'd like - maybe more).

Yes, there's a pirate night - there will be a show at the Goofy Pool on Deck 9, along with a buffet around 10:45pm. I think I read that there won't be fireworks in Alaska. There will be folks decked out in full pirate outfits.

Friendship Rocks, I think is the children's program they do at the end of the cruise; t-shirts and a chance to perform on stage as a group? Never been, myself, not having any family involved.

You (or a cast member) can take a photo of your kids when they are with the characters; you don't have to buy the expensive ones from Shutters (although they will have a nice border).

Early morning and late night are very peaceful up top; I love watching nearly anything late night (on the Ariel jumbotron) on a lounger (or at a table, munching on pizza).

Free movies! in Buena Vista theatre - grab a coke from Deck 9, bring along a snack (I bring packaged popcorn - already popped) from home (or bought in Vancouver). No worries - outside food allowed. Some grab hotdogs, french fries, etc from uptop for a snack.

The fountain drinks are 12 oz cups - if you want more (or less melted ice), bring an insulated cup onboard. Just use a new cup in the dispenser.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

We will be there too!!! Me & DH for our long awaited honeymoon!!!

Also, I did a bad wife thing and booked the wrong excursion...if anyone comes across the Dog Musher for a Day (Juneau) could you give me a heads up please...I have to redeem myself!!!

Can't wait! See ya real soon!