Ahoy! Sailing the Wonder 2/8/09

[Ladyw/theTramp]

Here is a list of the cruises as of todays date. Looks like it will be an empty ship for us to play on.....

Nokidz - Ontario, Canada
Ladyw/theTramp - Ohio, USA
NotsoMinnie&Goofy - ?
pjpoohbear - Ontario, Canada
jedijill - ?
Sneeuwwitje - Netherlands
Princesskpt - ?
KathyFG - Florida, USA
Panwannabe - ?

NotsoMinnie&Goofy are my parents... they are from Ohio as well... We also have two other families travelling with us... each with two kids! An empty ship wouldn't hurt my feelings a bit!!!!

We have just purchased our airfare...$1200 from Ohio for 4 of us !! I am getting over that shock and looking into the transfers from the Poly to the cruise... I think we may use Happy Limo, they seem to be the least expensive. I am at the point where I'd like to have everything reserved and know the final prices.. So I can go ahead and have my heart attack, re-start my heart and prepare myself for the $$$ for shore excursions!

We are thinking we'd like to do the dolphin encounter, so there's another $$$. Anyone else wanting to kiss a dolphin???

I also want to start thinking about our door magnets and fish extender if we end up having an exchange. I'd love to have some door magnets done before Christmas, when we reveal the big surprise to the kids!!! Then those can go into the "Family Disney Cruise Gift!"

 

[jedijill]

I can't remember for sure but I think it was around $50. I thought it was worth the money as I had a good place to park and includes everything at the vistor's center with the exception of the bus tour out to the launch pads.

Here is the link with the phone number to order both the regular tickets and the special packages.

http://www.ksctickets.com/stspshat.html

HTH

Jill in CO

 

[Sneeuwwitje]

Hi fellow-cruisers,

We'll be staying in Colorado for a week, then 2 weeks in Orlando and then we'll be boarding the Disney Wonder!
I can't wait!!!

Oh, and my daughter (aged 4) and I are planning on kissing some dolphins as well!

 

[pjpoohbear]

Welcome!

your Daughter will love the dolphins.

Pj

 

[jedijill]

Hi fellow-cruisers,

We'll be staying in Colorado for a week, then 2 weeks in Orlando and then we'll be boarding the Disney Wonder!
I can't wait!!!

Oh, and my daughter (aged 4) and I are planning on kissing some dolphins as well!

Where are you staying in Colorado? I just moved here and I LOVE it!

Jill in CO

 

[Sneeuwwitje]

Where are you staying in Colorado? I just moved here and I LOVE it!

Jill in CO

We'll be staying in Denver with my aunt. That's really close to Aurora, right? Her sister and cousin live in Aurora!
I already visited Colorado a couple of times and I love it too, especially driving up the mountains...we in Holland don't get see to see mountains very often...

I later realized combining Colorado and Florida in 1 trip is not such a clever idea with packing winter and summer clothes and all... Oh well...
I guess I'll have to do some shopping

 

[2gr8brits]

We're onboard too! Just booked this week. We are giving this to the boys as their Christmas present from Santa. We are from South Carolina and have had some pretty cold winters (for all that I know about winter) for the past few and we're loking forward to some milder temps. in Feb. I'm sure the boys will swim no mater what the temps! DS8 will snorkel reguardless. He got a taste of this in '07 and has never forgotten it. DH and I are just looking to RELAX! With high stress jobs (Highway Patrol and school administrator) we need time to unwind and actually have a conversation with each other. We really wanted a 7 day cruise, but budget just won't allow it this year. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that trip when the new ship debut!)

We are in room 8584 - near the back. We stayed mid-ship last year and the ride was smooth I've been told to expect a litle rougher sail being near the rear of the boat. Any advice!!!??

Since this trip is THE Christmas gift, I'm looking for small things to give the boys to reveal the trip to them on Christmas morning. I know there will be shirts to wear when we board and an underwater camera. Probably magnets for our door. I'd love some input from you guys as to what else I might include.

Also interested in fish extenders - I'll read more and let you know when I'm in for good!!

 

[Ladyw/theTramp]

With high stress jobs (Highway Patrol and school administrator) we need time to unwind and actually have a conversation with each other.
Welcome aboard!!! My DH is in law enforcement too! He's a Police Sergeant and I totally hear you about not even having time to talk to each other... Right now, we have different days off and it seems like we just pass while taking kids to different activities... soccer, dance, etc!!! I can't wait to spend this time together as a family!!

Since this trip is THE Christmas gift, I'm looking for small things to give the boys to reveal the trip to them on Christmas morning. I know there will be shirts to wear when we board and an underwater camera. Probably magnets for our door. I'd love some input from you guys as to what else I might include.
It is our Christmas gift too! I have bought a big personalized beach/carry-on bag from Disney shopping for $11 (It was a GREAT DEAL!!) I am putting in new swim suits, sunscreen and sunglasses for each. I bought some pins from Ebay for their lanyards... I have a "Nassau" one and a couple DCL/Mickey ones... as well as some little ones (read "cheap!) to trade.
We are also going to WDW for 4 days ahead of time, so I have bought the "WDW for kids" book, the new Hidden Mickeys book (DS8 LOVED it last time!! and I am getting one of the "Guidebook to the Magic" books to add in as well. I was thinking of getting the one time use underwater cameras for each of them too!! I'm sure I'll add more as it gets closer!

Finally, if we decide to do the Dolphin Encounter, I have decided to make it into a basket/gift for them to open too. (We're spending the money.. may as well get credit for it under the tree!!!) I found a 36" stuffed dolphin that DD6 will love and I'll put it in a basket with the DVD "Flipper" and a couple Dolphin books. I found some that are just the right age for DD6 to read.. and I also found a National Geo book about dolphins for DS8!!! Then, I'll add the homeade gift certificate telling them we will be playing with the dolphins!!! Yeah!!! I am so excited to give it to them... I wish Christmas would hurry up and get here!!!


Also interested in fish extenders - I'll read more and let you know when I'm in for good!!

I hope we do get something started for FE's even if it's really small! Maybe our boys will get a chance to meet in the Oceaneer's Lab.... my DS will just have turned 9 on the 3rd of February!!!

 

[jedijill]

We'll be staying in Denver with my aunt. That's really close to Aurora, right? Her sister and cousin live in Aurora!
I already visited Colorado a couple of times and I love it too, especially driving up the mountains...we in Holland don't get see to see mountains very often...

I later realized combining Colorado and Florida in 1 trip is not such a clever idea with packing winter and summer clothes and all... Oh well...
I guess I'll have to do some shopping

Yep, Aurora is a suburb of Denver. I live in the south part of Aurora. (BTW, I love Holland too. Fields and fields of tulips!)

The mountains in winter are absolutely magical! If you get time, have lunch at Casa Bonita on Colfax Ave. It is kind of cheesy but is really fun. It is a Mexican food restaraunt with entertainment like cliff divers. It is a Denver institution. http://casabonitadenver.com/

Jill in CO

 

[2gr8brits]

Hello Ladywthe tramp - I'm still thinking of ideas for Christmas - I think we are going to put together a slide show of pictures from our last cruise and the last slide will be the "big reveal". I've already got Pirate PJ's, pins, and ones to trade - colorwonder markers, colored pencils & paper (for the car and cabin)
They are already earning points for chores around the house that translate into Disney bucks to use on our next trip (they think we are going to WDW in June 09)
We'll have to keep in touch as we come up with ideas. DS8 will be thrilled to know someone in the Lab.
more from the south later!!

 

[princesskpt]

Are there any veteran DC-ers out there who know if you can reuse a beer mug bought on a previous cruise, or do they change the design each year?

 

[jedijill]

I don't think there is any rule against it.

Jill in CO

 

[nokidz]

as far as I am aware you cannot reuse the beer mug from previous cruises. in order to qualify for the mug refills at the lower cost, you have to purchase that for the cruise you are already enjoying.

 

[Sneeuwwitje]

Yep, Aurora is a suburb of Denver. I live in the south part of Aurora. (BTW, I love Holland too. Fields and fields of tulips!)

The mountains in winter are absolutely magical! If you get time, have lunch at Casa Bonita on Colfax Ave. It is kind of cheesy but is really fun. It is a Mexican food restaraunt with entertainment like cliff divers. It is a Denver institution.

Jill in CO

Hi Jill,

thanx for the tip! Sounds fun!
The tulip fields in Spring are nice, but now we only have lots and lots of rain...
Audrey

 

[anetnmike]

Hello Everyone!
We are very excited to be joining you! My DH is also a fireman and would be thrilled to see the space shuttle launch!! I am looking into altering our trip today for that.He does not know about it yet and will be as excited as a little kid when he finds out!(he also wanted to be an astronuant) My DS is 9 and is really looking forward to making new friends. This is our second Disney cruise,we did the 7 day Thanksgiving Magic last year with DH's whole family and had a BLAST.The fishextender sounds interesting-never heard of it before. We are doing the land/sea with 3 days on land at Riverside. We did do the dolphin excursion on our last cruise and LOVED it! I absolutely cannot wait until it is time to go!

 

[Ladyw/theTramp]

Did you guys all see this???


FALL $99 BOUNCEBACK OFFER



Sail on either a 4 Night or 7 Night Cruise for select dates from January 31 thru March 28 and you'll be eligible to book a 3 Night Cruise for $99* per person. The qualifying sail dates are:

4 Night Sailings
02/01/2009
02/08/2009
02/15/2009
02/22/2009
03/01/2009
03/08/2009

7 Night Sailings
01/31/2009 – Eastern/St. Croix
02/07/2009 – Western
02/14/2009 – Eastern/St. Maarten
02/21/2009 - Western
02/28/2009 – Eastern/St. Croix
03/07/2009 – Western
03/21/2009 – Western
03/28/2009 – Eastern/ St. Croix

BOOKING CODE: FBO

BOOK BY: DECEMBER 15, 2008


This offer applies to guests sailing in categories 4 - 12. You will receive a voucher for the $99 offer while onboard. The voucher is non-transferable and one guest in the stateroom must have sailed during the January/March timeframe. The voucher can be used for most 3 Night sail dates from August 13 thru December 17. The 3 Night cruise can be booked from April 6 thru May 30.

Offer is good for the same category stateroom and the same number of staterooms as the first cruise. Other discounts/onboard credits are not applicable.

*Price is based on double occupancy and does not include government taxes/fees or fuel surcharge. This offer is subject to availability and certain restrictions apply.

To get a no obligation quote from Dreams Unlimited click here.



That works for our dates!!!! Anyone else looking into getting this code added so they can have the option of a late 2009 weekend cruise??? I am so excited!!! Maybe the whole family will go back... maybe just me and DH or maybe it could be a girl's trip

I can't wait to hear from our TA!! This is the week for discounts to be coming out... I'm on an ALL ALERT!!!

 

[nokidz]

Hi all! Just got off the Magic last Saturday. It was a blast. Cant wait for our 4 day cruise on the Wonder. We are only 3 months, 1 week and a bit away! Now with the $99 cruise specials, I think we will rebook a three day as well as a 7 day eastern when we are onboard. Love this cruising thing!!!

 

[jedijill]

My TA called and added the code to my reservation. She said that I would receive a voucher on board. There is more detailed infomation available on mousesavers.com.

Jill in CO

 

[Ladyw/theTramp]

My TA said that it doesn't include the Land/Sea package... and that we would have to separate it and re-book... The prices to re-book right now are $1000 more than my original price... Bummer!!

I guess I will wait to see if there is a discount for VISA cardholders coming out soon for February.... fingers crossed!!

 

[pjpoohbear]

We are on DVC points, so won't get this voucher either. Darn. Would have been very cool to have a late fall quick/inexpensive trip.

Pj