8/21/08 Wonder 3 night

[Gonecruisin]

booger, safe trip to you and your family. This is nerve wracking, isn't it? Everyone keeps telling me not to worry, but they haven't been anticipating this cruise for 6 months.

I'll feel so much better once we're onboard and they set sail.

If ever there was a need for some pixie dust, it's now.

See you on the Wonder!!!!!

 

[booger73]

We're sittin' here in Port Canaveral at the Residence Inn Marriott...

I hope we don't get the boomerang effect on Fay with it going out and coming right back in.. but, I guess we'll see.

 

[Gonecruisin]

The Booger Family made safely it to FLA!!!!! Hip, Hip, Hooray!!

That is good news. I may not be as lucky. My flight leaves 6:30 am on 8/21. SW cancelled lots of flights to MCO today and the forecast doesn't show Fay leaving anytime soon.

I would love for Sea-n-ski to post from the Wonder to see how they are faring.

I have this overwhelming feeling of impending doom. This may be the cruise that wasn't. (sigh)

 

[booger73]

Nobody's posted recently on the 8/17 wonder trip - i had checked that board just in case, like you said..

We're safe.. thanks much

Even if the cruise is a wash, we do have a week at AKV afterwards.. so that should be fun at least.. just in time for the 94L invest, I believe too... hahah.. I was just telling the wife that we may have to start making Jun/July travel plans from now on...

We'll see.. like someone else said, I think the biggest part is getting down to MCO.. from there I think they'll get us on the wonder.. be it at Canaveral, or at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale

Maybe you should check and see if you can get a Wed night flight in just in case?

 

[Gonecruisin]

Well, my friend, your stormrisk website has Fay turning into a cat 1 hurricane Wed evening through Thurs evening. I don't think SW will fly my plane through that to MCO. I am seriously doubting that I will make it to FLA at all. You stay safe. I am going to have a good cry.

 

[5lilfish]

I am on the 8/17 Wonder..and also on the 8/21 Wonder. Since our niece is joining us for the second cruise, I have been following the storm closely. We finally decided to go to Guest Services today and inquire on what they were thinking/planning. SO FAR, their information gives them the impression that Fay won't alter our ability to reach Port Canveral or to leave again on Thursday. Also, according to the Southwest website (my niece is flying SW from Buffalo to Orlando on Thur morning), they are expecting to resume service on Wed morning.

I'm doing my best to think good thoughts.

I hope everyone makes it to the ship.

Jess

 

[booger73]

Don't give up hope yet cruisin

Lilfish it'd be great if you let us know anything you might hear... I have my doubts about canaveral but I'm not a ship captain... Just seems like too much wind possibly

Keeping fingers crossed

 

[booger73]

I see Orlando airport is open

Come on Fay.. get the flay out of the way..

 

[Gonecruisin]

MCO is open?
SW hasn't cancelled any flights today?
In fact all of their flights from Prov to MCO have arrived on time.

And now they are saying Fay will not reach hurricane status --- will stay a TS?

AND DCL has assured me that if I get to MCO, they will get me to the Wonder -- no matter where in FLA it is docked.

ummmm.... I may have been a little overly dramatic yesterday. Abandoning all hope was really uncalled for. One should never post hysterical comments when in a state of panic. I know that now. Sorry.

So... Guess I can repack that lightup Pirate saber and plastic parrot.

 

[booger73]

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/general/specialMessage?name=SpecialMessagePage

Tropical Weather Update


As of August 20, 2008

We are currently monitoring Tropical Storm Fay very closely.

Tropical Storm Fay has stalled along the eastern portion of Florida near our homeport of Port Canaveral and its path is uncertain.

For this reason, Port Canaveral has been closed to vessel traffic by the Port Authority and the August 21, 2008 sailing of the Disney Wonder will set sail on its 3-night itinerary from Fort Lauderdale, Florida — Port Everglades.

Other than the departure port change, we do not anticipate any additional changes in the upcoming Disney Wonder itinerary. Transportation will be provided for guests with transfers and those arriving by private vehicle at Port Canaveral. It is important that guests still park at our terminal in Port Canaveral as the ship will be returning there on Sunday, August 24, 2008.

The Disney Magic is currently on a 15-night Panama Canal voyage and is scheduled to return to Port Canaveral on Monday, September 1, 2008.

The safety and security of our guests and crew members is always our top priority, and we monitor the weather very closely. If necessary, our Captains are always prepared to alter the ships' courses or itinerary to navigate away from inclement weather.

 

[booger73]

oh boy... i just realized where Port Everglades is.. 3 hr bus trip? with kids?

yuck.

 

[Gonecruisin]

So... Fort Lauderdale, huh? 3 hour bus ride, huh? yippee. Pack a book. snacks. GameBoy.

Not that I'm complaining. Yesterday at this time I thought my cruisin days had come to an end before they even began.

The adults on this cruise will be doing some heavy drinking after what they've been through the past few days. I think free drinks are in order!

We booked Disney transport so we are all set. How are you getting to Port Everglades?

 

[booger73]

Rental car'ing it from the hotel here to Port Canaveral tomorrow am and taking Disney transport from there...

Heavy drinking.. definetly!

(Have a) Safe trip down tomorrow!

 

[5lilfish]

Port Everglades, it is!! At least flights should make it in to Orlando ok and DCL will get you down here. We switched our nieces flight to Ft. Lauderdale.

Terminal 25 at Port Everglades....safe travels everyone!!!

Jess

 

[booger73]

Live report:

Sitting in port canavetal parking lot little delay waiting to drop luggage..
Thank goodness didn't get here any earlier... 10 am for future refernce for anyone who gets diverted

Still raining... Melbourne got 18 inches evidently

About 20-30 cars in lot sitting with me

Drink level is one bottle of wine so far

 

[disnutz]

Well - I assume you are all safe and on board - we left the wonder this morning and drove on busses to get to the car in the port and then to MCO. Flights took off fine, but there was definately flooding in Cape Canveral.

Hope everyone on your cruise made it ok.

 

[CPM]

In case anyone wants pictures of your ship in port today, I took some. They are posted here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1925000&page=4

 

[booger73]

Sitting in the starbucks in Nassau enjoying coffee
3 cruise ships docked total here

Sunny and at least 85
things looking much better

hope everyone is having fun

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Hey everyone, got back home today.

I hope you all made it onboard on Thursday. Us and 5lilfish were already onboard on Thursday. I did head over to the Promenade Lounge at 3pm just in case any of you did manage to get to Port Everglades early.

It was a great cruise but I am so disappointed that we didn't get to meet face to face.

Did any of you make it onboard in time for the sailaway party? It was so lightly attended that it felt like a wedding reception and not a party for 2,700 people on a cruise ship.

Are you ready for this story.....we visited Castaway Cay three times in one week and our shore excursions were cancelled on all three visits. No kidding. The first two times to Castaway Cay it was too windy to run the shore excursions. Then on the third visit our morning excursion got cancelled because of mechanical difficulities then our afternoon excursion got cancelled because of thunderstorms that hit in the afternoon.

Yes, DCL refunded all our money but talk about having bad luck.

How did you all enjoy the cruise? What did you think of the shows?

We thought the CMs were just outstanding. We had so much fun with them. I did make it to one of the night time adult events - the one-hit wonders night in wavebands. I went on my own, DH was too tired. I had a blast. The CMs were so sweet and danced with me.

On the Nassau morning I was happily taking a nice snooze at the adult pool when the CMs did that safety drill and the ship's emergency horn blasted me right out of my sleep. Then a few minutes later my iPod battery died.

I ate so much seafood this past week I think I have gills now.

 

[Gonecruisin]

A quick update to say the cruise was a success!!!

All I can say is "WOW!"
Disney certainly knows how to make your vacation amazing.

Thurs 8/21: I was hoping to make it to the meet and greet on Thurs at 3pm but we arrived at MCO (rough ride for the last hour) at 9:30 am, got on a bus for Port Evergaldes at noon-ish and arrived at the Wonder around 4 pm. We were exhausted. I kept looking for familiar faces. Thought I might've seen Mpaulin in a hallway once???

Dropped bags in room, ate and then explored ship until Muster Drill and Sail away party.

Once we were on board, everything was fantastic. Smooth sailing!

And Thank God for the Disboards!!!! I met people who never got word that the port had changed and got a nasty surprised at PC when they learned they had a 4 hr bus ride ahead of them! One man's wife had bone cancer and the ride nearly did her in.

Sea-n-ski -- 3 castaway visits and no excursions? That must be some sort of record! We were concerned about you on the 8/17 sailing but it looks like it was ok?

Fabulous shows, fabulous CMs, fabulous private island, fabulous ship.

My only complaint? A 3 night cruise is too short. We were busy constantly but still didn't get to do all that we wanted.

Waiting for everyone else to check in and make themselves accounted for.