April 18, 2010 - 4 night Wonder

[outahere]

Yeah, thats what I'm afraid of. I got a rate from Budget of $132.00 including all taxes and fees from the 15th-18th. We could save that amount if we just use the cruise transfers and magical express. We won't be on the meal plan though so a car while we're there would allow us to eat offsite a couple times and make a grocery stop for breakfast items and waters/sodas. I still haven't decided what to do!

Given what I've seen of the meal prices at the hotels and in the parks, you might come close to saving that amount by having some breakfast items and water/soda in your room and eating dinner offsite. Plus, I don't know for certain what your meal choices are at ASMovies, but I'm guessing it's probably limited to "fast food", or a food court. If you didn't want to eat there, you would have to take the Disney bus somewhere else (and still pay high prices).

 

[CherylA]

Given what I've seen of the meal prices at the hotels and in the parks, you might come close to saving that amount by having some breakfast items and water/soda in your room and eating dinner offsite. Plus, I don't know for certain what your meal choices are at ASMovies, but I'm guessing it's probably limited to "fast food", or a food court. If you didn't want to eat there, you would have to take the Disney bus somewhere else (and still pay high prices).

Yup thats my thoughts too. I'll probably wait until a few days before the trip and then see what my hubby wants to do. We certainly do like having a car and I'd love to get to the cruise terminal by noon so we can get on the ship ASAP. I thought $132 was a good rate for picking it up at the Orlando airport and dropping off in Port Canaveral plus having it for 3 days. What do you think?

 

[outahere]

Yup thats my thoughts too. I'll probably wait until a few days before the trip and then see what my hubby wants to do. We certainly do like having a car and I'd love to get to the cruise terminal by noon so we can get on the ship ASAP. I thought $132 was a good rate for picking it up at the Orlando airport and dropping off in Port Canaveral plus having it for 3 days. What do you think?

I hope you booked a reservation at that price. I just checked the Budget site and even using the Wal-Mart discount code, the best total price I could get was higher than that. If you don't have a car ressie yet, you might want to shop around and book one, just in case. That's a pretty busy time of year down there, and you can always cancel if you decide not to do it. If you book at Budget, I suggest signing up for their Fastbreak program. The lines at Budget can be long, but if use Fastbreak, you just walk across the street to the garage and pick up your car - a couple of minutes, tops.

Just a reminder..... the port opens at 10:00 and boarding usually starts right before noon, so if you want to get on early, you might want to get there before noon.

 

[CherylA]

I hope you booked a reservation at that price. I just checked the Budget site and even using the Wal-Mart discount code, the best total price I could get was higher than that. If you don't have a car ressie yet, you might want to shop around and book one, just in case. That's a pretty busy time of year down there, and you can always cancel if you decide not to do it. If you book at Budget, I suggest signing up for their Fastbreak program. The lines at Budget can be long, but if use Fastbreak, you just walk across the street to the garage and pick up your car - a couple of minutes, tops.

Just a reminder..... the port opens at 10:00 and boarding usually starts right before noon, so if you want to get on early, you might want to get there before noon.

Yes I did already book at the 132 price, I learned the hard way to book when I see it, even if I think I might not use it or think the price will go down I still just book. Cna always cancel. I didn't know they let you on the ship so early, if we were trying for an upgrade I know you have to get there right at 10:00 but if we just want to be one of the first on the ship what time do you recommend we get to the port?

 

[outahere]

Yes I did already book at the 132 price, I learned the hard way to book when I see it, even if I think I might not use it or think the price will go down I still just book. Cna always cancel. I didn't know they let you on the ship so early, if we were trying for an upgrade I know you have to get there right at 10:00 but if we just want to be one of the first on the ship what time do you recommend we get to the port?

Glad you booked the car - I learned that lesson the hard way too.

As for boarding - if you want to be one of the first ones on, you should try to get to the port no later than 10:30, preferably earlier. The "Family of the Day" boards first, followed by Concierge guests and Platinum CC members (group 1), and that has all started around 11:45 on the last few cruises we've been on. If you're there by 10:30, you will probably be in boarding group 4, 5, or 6 and those groups are usually boarding about 10 - 15 minutes after the Concierge guests. If you want to try for an upgrade, or be in group 2 or 3, I would be there at 10:00. It's pretty easy to have the driver drop off passengers and luggage and then go to Budget to return the car. The driver will need a photo ID to get into the terminal area when they come back. As long as one adult has all the paperwork, they can check in the entire family.

 

[CherylA]

Glad you booked the car - I learned that lesson the hard way too.

As for boarding - if you want to be one of the first ones on, you should try to get to the port no later than 10:30, preferably earlier. The "Family of the Day" boards first, followed by Concierge guests and Platinum CC members (group 1), and that has all started around 11:45 on the last few cruises we've been on. If you're there by 10:30, you will probably be in boarding group 4, 5, or 6 and those groups are usually boarding about 10 - 15 minutes after the Concierge guests. If you want to try for an upgrade, or be in group 2 or 3, I would be there at 10:00. It's pretty easy to have the driver drop off passengers and luggage and then go to Budget to return the car. The driver will need a photo ID to get into the terminal area when they come back. As long as one adult has all the paperwork, they can check in the entire family.

Awesome thanks for all the help!

 

[Vailcruiser]

Hi everyone, we just booked the April 18th cruise with all of you, we can not believe they still had room! This will be our 5th DCL cruise and 4th on the Wonder. We are very excited! YEAH! We are only three going this time - daughter 10, hubby and me.

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Jocelyne

 

[Verandah Man]

Hi everyone, we just booked the April 18th cruise with all of you, we can not believe they still had room! This will be our 5th DCL cruise and 4th on the Wonder. We are very excited! YEAH! We are only three going this time - daughter 10, hubby and me.

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Jocelyne

to our little group of cruisers!!!!

 

[CherylA]

Hi everyone, we just booked the April 18th cruise with all of you, we can not believe they still had room! This will be our 5th DCL cruise and 4th on the Wonder. We are very excited! YEAH! We are only three going this time - daughter 10, hubby and me.

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Jocelyne

Hi! Nice to have you aboard!

 

[outahere]

Hi everyone, we just booked the April 18th cruise with all of you, we can not believe they still had room! This will be our 5th DCL cruise and 4th on the Wonder. We are very excited! YEAH! We are only three going this time - daughter 10, hubby and me.

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Jocelyne

Welcome Aboard!

 

[Verandah Man]

Happy February 1, 2010--we are another month closer to our cruise!!!

 

[outahere]

Happy February 1, 2010--we are another month closer to our cruise!!!

If I could hibernate for the next couple of months, that would be great! I'm getting really tired of the cold weather and I'm ready to leave NOW!!

 

[Vailcruiser]

If I could hibernate for the next couple of months, that would be great! I'm getting really tired of the cold weather and I'm ready to leave NOW!!

I am with you! Too bad the groundhog saw his shadow!!!!!! Have a great day!

 

[Verandah Man]

If I could hibernate for the next couple of months, that would be great! I'm getting really tired of the cold weather and I'm ready to leave NOW!!

I hear you Ed, and I'm ready to join you. We are expecting light snow by tomorrow morning, with a possible snow "event" this weekend.

 

[outahere]

I hear you Ed, and I'm ready to join you. We are expecting light snow by tomorrow morning, with a possible snow "event" this weekend.

Did you get any of the snow from the storm this past weekend Andy? This year it seems to be snowing more down your way, than up here. We're supposed to get an inch or so tonight/tomorrow morning, but I don't even break out the shovel for that small amount.

 

[Verandah Man]

Did you get any of the snow from the storm this past weekend Andy? This year it seems to be snowing more down your way, than up here. We're supposed to get an inch or so tonight/tomorrow morning, but I don't even break out the shovel for that small amount.

We got about two inches this past Saturday night, tonight we are expecting another couple of inches, then Saturday "could" be a major snow event.

 

[*disgal*]

It's me, DH, DD17, DD14 and DS10. I think we got the last connecting rooms on the ship, cat 10, deck 2. The one room is next to the elevator so I thought the kids could be in that one. LOL they sleep through anything.

It's all paid for and we booked with 3D Travel Company. Amy is our agent and everything has gone well so far although I have no experience to compare it to. I usually do everything on my own for our disney trips but decided to go with an agent this time. I thought about Dreams Unlim. and was going to get a quote from them, but Amy got back to me pretty quick and it just seemed to snowball from there. I thought, why not. So, here I am.

Now, I know we don't officially need passports but we are going to get them anyway. We have an appt. at my local post office during my kid's winter break, Feb. 17th. She said they have been running 4-6 weeks which would be good. We will have 8 1/2 weeks from that date until we cruise. All this does make me a little nervous.

We aren't flying, we are driving right to Port Can. and staying at Country Inn and Suites the night before and leaving our van parked there for the $20 fee. My sis who cruises a lot said that was a good deal.

Today I was able to arrange Palo and our excursion. I think I'm a little confused about the Palo thing. I've read on the boards how as soon as you can (1pm) you are supposed to go to this certain place to get your Palo reservations. I just did mine online(got 6:30pm on the Sea day which is exactly what I wanted). Are they talking about if you want multiple Palo ressies?? Am I missing something? I don't want to mess anything up.

Also, excursion........we are going to do the Blackbeard's Cay stingray adventure. I booked it online but it didn't charge me. Do they wait to charge until we check in at the port?

Anyone else stay at Country inn before the cruise? Does the transportation to the port start early because I want to get to the terminal about 10/10:30am.

I'm sure I'll have other questions so bare with me. It's funny, I'm such a WDW expert that my friends call me for advice but I find myself totally ignorant as far as cruising goes. It's not a nice feeling.

 

[outahere]

Today I was able to arrange Palo and our excursion. I think I'm a little confused about the Palo thing. I've read on the boards how as soon as you can (1pm) you are supposed to go to this certain place to get your Palo reservations. I just did mine online(got 6:30pm on the Sea day which is exactly what I wanted). Are they talking about if you want multiple Palo ressies?? Am I missing something? I don't want to mess anything up.

The Palo reservations that are available as soon as you board are primarily for those who did not book online. They typically will not allow you to book multiple dinner ressies at Palo, but they will put you on a waitlist. Sounds like you are all set with Palo.

Also, excursion........we are going to do the Blackbeard's Cay stingray adventure. I booked it online but it didn't charge me. Do they wait to charge until we check in at the port?

Charges for excursions, booked through DCL, are charged to your onboard account, so you don't pay anything in advance.

Anyone else stay at Country inn before the cruise? Does the transportation to the port start early because I want to get to the terminal about 10/10:30am.

Sorry, I have not stayed there so I can't help on this one. You might want to post the question on the main cruise forum. I'm sure you'll get a quick response.

I'm sure I'll have other questions so bare with me. It's funny, I'm such a WDW expert that my friends call me for advice but I find myself totally ignorant as far as cruising goes. It's not a nice feeling.

If you have questions, ask away. We've all been in that situation at some point.

Welcome Aboard!!

 

[Verandah Man]

to the group disgal & family!!!

 

[*disgal*]

thank you, thank you, outahere and VerandahMan. We're getting pretty excited around here.