Anyone on Sept2-Oct31 Dream/Fantasy or Oct2-29Magic NOT KNOW they're Halloween sailings?

[BWV Dreamin]

I'm booked for the Oct. 16, 2017 4 night sailing on the Dream. How would I know if this is a Halloween cruise?

 

[Bettyscruise]

I'm booked for the Oct. 16, 2017 4 night sailing on the Dream. How would I know if this is a Halloween cruise?

Under "things to do" on the main web page of DCL, there is a holiday listing. Follow to Halloween cruises...

Disney Dream Halloween schedule as listed September 2, 2016 - October 31, 2016

Also your online reservation page should be labeled similar to this;
"September 24, 2016 — 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral with Halloween on the High Seas"

 

[canyoncam]

I'm booked for the Oct. 16, 2017 4 night sailing on the Dream. How would I know if this is a Halloween cruise?

I'm taking it you did not get an email?

Also your online reservation page should be labeled similar to this;
"September 24, 2016 — 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral with Halloween on the High Seas"

Unless it is does not show up that way until after PIF! But I suspect they may have fixed that by now.

 

[Jwhittin]

 

[DisneyBelle_x]

I'm confused to what the problem it? if you don't celebrate then just don't join in with any halloween specific festivities is surely the obvious solution, but moaning about DCL not being clear about it seems a little OTT surely, it's only a Halloween cruise, not like they're forcing you into joining in with something you're against

 

[chik1987]

When researching September/October cruises it took me about 2 min to find out when Halloween things started. I was looking mainly because I wanted to see how intense the decor was because we are getting married on the cruise and I'm not huge into halloween so I didn't want halloween overloaded wedding pictures. The information was there to find and I believe it wasn't disneys fault for not mentioning it to you before since the information is readily avaliable with minimum research into the cruise.

 

[Hundredacre]

Unfortunately canyoncam, you are _. Disney has really REALLY good lawyers who have written into your cruise contract that they can pretty much do anything with your cruise and you are just along for the ride. You are supposed to be happy with whatever Disney gives you because they are "that good." Before our first disney cruise my husband read the contract and threw it up in the air and said okay sign it but you are giving up all your rights. "Mickey is more louse than mouse." Now whether or not that contract would 100% stand up in court- ? Probably not. But they will never give you any kind of acknowledgement of "wrongdoing" because they are definitely worried it would be used against them.
As for their IT department, it is full of foreign national novices on H1B visas who have replaced more experienced americans. I am not expecting much from their IT department. http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/01/2...lace-us-workers-with-immigrants.html?referer=
I don't expect much from disney period actually. I still like their cruises but when I go on them I am aware that there is an extent to which I am being emotionally manipulated out of money.
Just be glad you don't work for them. If this is how they treat their customers, imagine being an employee.

 

[arlopop]

We sailed last October there was a Halloween theme. We booked it a year in advance and we're fully aware at the booking that Halloween would be indulged. It was clear to us.

While I understand your desire to avoid the holiday, it seems to me if you feel that strongly about it it is incumbent upon you to be certain it isn't on the cruise you are booking. It is a cruise line that caters to children. Children (generally) indulge in Halloween. It follows that there was a likelihood of a Halloween theme. Five minutes of checking before booking would have made all this much easier.
You seem familiar with DCL. You are on this board where there are an ample supply of posts regarding various cruises. That DCL somehow didn't inform of the theme is certainly frustrating, but based on what you've shared they seem to have tried to make reasonable amends for that.

If it's important to me that I have a gluten-free option for every meal (it isn't), then it is my responsibility to research that and be sure it's available. If something that might ruin my trip is even remotely possible I want to know and depend upon myself to get the info.

I am sorry you are so upset by how this played out, but you could have avoided all of it with a little research. I do hope it gets resolved to your satisfaction and you enjoy your cruise.

 

[anricat]

I'm booked for the Oct. 16, 2017 4 night sailing on the Dream. How would I know if this is a Halloween cruise?

Disney hasn't officially announced Halloween dates for 2017 sailings. Historically, this information has come in the April/May timeframe. Based on the past few years, it's extremely likely you are on a Halloween cruise. In fact, I'd eat my socks if this weren't a Halloween cruise.

 

[hanscarlet]

I'm actually secretly (or not so secretly) hoping our 9/27/2017 cruise is Halloween Themed, it's on the Magic though so I am not holding my breathe but it would be neat

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Disney hasn't officially announced Halloween dates for 2017 sailings. Historically, this information has come in the April/May timeframe. Based on the past few years, it's extremely likely you are on a Halloween cruise. In fact, I'd eat my socks if this weren't a Halloween cruise.

Disney hasn't officially announced Halloween dates for 2017 sailings. Historically, this information has come in the April/May timeframe. Based on the past few years, it's extremely likely you are on a Halloween cruise. In fact, I'd eat my socks if this weren't a Halloween cruise.

Thanks. This may explain why I don't see any info about this. If 2016 sailings are any indication, it looks like my cruise WILL be a Halloween cruise. Thanks for the info.

 

[canyoncam]

View attachment 175804

I feel I have now. I am sorry people feel I overreacted. I am only back to address these two comments.

I'm confused to what the problem it? if you don't celebrate then just don't join in with any halloween specific festivities is surely the obvious solution, but moaning about DCL not being clear about it seems a little OTT surely, it's only a Halloween cruise, not like they're forcing you into joining in with something you're against

I guess it is probably the fact it showed up the DAY penalties went into effect. I would not have felt the same had it showed up on reservation anytime between their announcement in April and oh lets say end of May-I kind of feel four weeks is sufficient to make these changes. So it sort of threw me for a real loop since now I felt locked into it and having to explain to others who know us and feel the same about Halloween. Though as others have pointed out Disney did offer to move us, just the fact we are pretty locked in with all our other arrangements finalized just last week in peeperation of final payment, so yes I still feel locked into an uncomfortable situation.

We sailed last October there was a Halloween theme. We booked it a year in advance and we're fully aware at the booking that Halloween would be indulged. It was clear to us.

While I understand your desire to avoid the holiday, it seems to me if you feel that strongly about it it is incumbent upon you to be certain it isn't on the cruise you are booking. It is a cruise line that caters to children. Children (generally) indulge in Halloween. It follows that there was a likelihood of a Halloween theme. Five minutes of checking before booking would have made all this much easier.
You seem familiar with DCL. You are on this board where there are an ample supply of posts regarding various cruises. That DCL somehow didn't inform of the theme is certainly frustrating, but based on what you've shared they seem to have tried to make reasonable amends for that.

If it's important to me that I have a gluten-free option for every meal (it isn't), then it is my responsibility to research that and be sure it's available. If something that might ruin my trip is even remotely possible I want to know and depend upon myself to get the info.

I am sorry you are so upset by how this played out, but you could have avoided all of it with a little research. I do hope it gets resolved to your satisfaction and you enjoy your cruise.

I booked in December before it was a Halloween sailing. I did not feel I needed to research it as I have sailed Disney in September three other years they were not Halloween sailings. 2000 may have been before the Halloween sailings but 2012 and 2014 surely were not. As you bring out I am a researcher for trips and criticize others who do not research. Believe me I will be researching my behind off in the future, probably to the point of asking so many "obvious" questions people get as over me as they are here.

ETA that what I guess I wanted to accomplish with this thread was make others know to double check their sailings and if this has happened to others to let Disney know so "maybe" they can look into fixing it.

 

[clten]

Look, I get what you were trying to do with this thread and I'm sorry it that turned on you saying you should have done more research. I don't think it was your fault, you researched your cruise before you booked it and had no reason to keep researching it. But I don't think it was Disney's fault either. They made their announcement on their website and in several media outlets trying to get the word out. E-mailing is difficult -- doesn't always reach it's intended targets due to anti-spam software. I think they were actually trying to do just what you want -- letting people know that these are special sailings by changing the title of the cruise in how it shows in your reservations and in their bookings

What I think is that you were in a spot of unfortunate timing. They changed the title of these cruises as some were reaching final payment (ours hasn't reached final payment yet). I think they also changed the title of the cruises that are Christmas sailings as well. So I think they are on the track you are calling out for them to be on.

What I think it is quite funny how every quotes that "historically" DCL has done this for Halloween or that for Halloween. It has actually only been a couple of years that they have rolled out this Halloween on the High Seas to all the ships. I think 3 years ago, they tested it on only the Dream and the last two years it has been on all the ships and into the September cruises as well as October. So "historically" my foot. So if you hadn't sailed at this time of year in a couple of years, I can see this coming as a surprise to you.

I did see the announcement in the spring but I think at that time I wasn't sure if our Magic cruises would be included (don't remember if the Magic dates were not in the initial announcement or if I missed them or if I questioned if DCL would do them while they were sailing from NY). So to be truthful, I was not 100% sure my sailings would be HOTHS sailings either. The first "official" word I got was seeing the title of the cruises changed in My Reservations list. But it wasn't a big deal to me either way.

 

[micknme]

Wow. I am just thrilled with Disney to be enabling us to be on the best cruiseline there is, enjoying excellent care in every way and not behind my desk back home or having to cook meals for my family. Whether I am glad it is a Halloween cruise or not, I will thoroughly enjoy myself and will partake in any activity that suits my and my family's interest. Much bigger problems exist in this world and I truly hope you board this cruise with an open mind and get to enjoy DCL in every way. Take care and enjoy your planning.

 

[godde8ss]

I'm on a 9/3 sailing. I did not think it was going to be Halloween, as I thought it was too early. However, found out when they released the dates that it was the first one. However, I was excited by this as I know my kids will enjoy the extra activities. That being said, I have been on Halloween on High Seas on smaller boat and really, there is not much Halloween. I do not think you will be bothered. It is the tree in the atrium, which is quite pretty, Halloween activities that can be avoided by reading the navigator, pumpkins on the windows and a dress up night- not everyone dresses up. But, this is a DISNEY cruise, people can be found in costume pretty much any day, any time - especially children. (and let's not forget Pirate night, where MOST are in costume)