April 29, 2012 ~ Aloha! ~ Inagural Wonder to Hawaii-Part 4

[JenDen]

I don't understand about the specific time I had to identify for boarding the ship. We are scheduled for 12:30. Why is this different from port canaveral?

Another question: How are folks traveling from the Double Tree to the port?


Thanks, Jennifer

 

[dolphingirl47]

I don't understand about the specific time I had to identify for boarding the ship. We are scheduled for 12:30. Why is this different from port canaveral?

Another question: How are folks traveling from the Double Tree to the port?


Thanks, Jennifer

I was under the impression that this was introduced specifically because of the Dream and the Fantasy so this is also happening at Port Canaveral. Essentially you should arrive within the slot that you have chosen. In any case, your boarding number will be based on your check in time. So even if you are there at opening time, you should be given a higher boarding number than somebody who has an 11:00 slot and checks in at the allotted time.

Corinna

 

[LindaBabe]

I don't understand about the specific time I had to identify for boarding the ship. We are scheduled for 12:30. Why is this different from port canaveral?

Another question: How are folks traveling from the Double Tree to the port?


Thanks, Jennifer

The short answer is - the port at San Pedro isnt as large or well organized as PC. However, it is now necessary to pick a time at PC too, especially with the bigger ships

 

[MrsMork]

Hello all....one more day closer to this WONDERful cruise....anyway, this is the first time we are participating in the FE giveaways, and so we are only in one group. Could you please let me know if you identify yourself when you drop off the gift in the FE. Do you put little notes in the goodies?
I know the experts are out there....so please advise.
Thanks much.
Tom & Marilou

Some do, some don't. FE is really a very unregulated activity. Give as much or as little as you want, identify if you want. It is fun and you will enjoy!

 

[jdb in AZ]

Glad the Fantasy pin/souvenir buying went better than last year's Panama Canal mess. I don't "need" pins enough to wait in line for hours to get them.

As far as the group photo, could we do it sooner rather than later on the cruise? Before the shirts need washing, and all the DCL food makes the shirts fit tighter? Wasn't someone going to touch base with the ship's photographer and see he/she is available?

 

[cdndisneydaddy]

Does anyone know if DCL's hold a DVC information session? I never bothered to look on the last couple cruises.

Thanks

Roy

 

[chip&dale&fun]

I was under the impression that this was introduced specifically because of the Dream and the Fantasy so this is also happening at Port Canaveral. Essentially you should arrive within the slot that you have chosen. In any case, your boarding number will be based on your check in time. So even if you are there at opening time, you should be given a higher boarding number than somebody who has an 11:00 slot and checks in at the allotted time.

Corinna

You are exactly right. We sailed in January and somehow (silly me) I had not selected the boarding time. We were given 3:00. I got to the port at the normal time 10:30. I was given boarding card number 39. I asked to speak to a supervisor. We were given boarding card number 10.

There is no one in the port. They are calling groups 2 at a time. The gentleman asked me what number I had as I was the only one in line, I said 10, they were on 7 - so he said come ahead.

Mind you, had the lines been packed that would not have happened.

I learned my lesson.....

 

[chip&dale&fun]

The merchandise situation on the Fantasy went WAY better than the Dream....DCL sure did learn. There was tons of MV merchandise even left on the last night. Personally, I thought the quality of some of the MV merchandise was the reason some was left. There were tons of the new Dooney's onboard (I heard they had everything in the warehouse onboard) and was told I would not need to wait in line because all the stores would have stock, but I found the perfect placement on a purse so I waited 1.5 hours for the store to open to get my "perfect" purse but no one "had" to wait in line.

I'm hoping that the merchandise will be just as organized on Hawaii as it was on the Fantasy however, in talking to people on the MV that are also doing Hawaii, I found out that some people did not receive the email from DCL about pre-ordering the Hawaii merchandise and when I tried to forward the email, the link no longer worked.

I'm glad we had the MV before Hawaii....because I now know that I only need 1/2 the stuff I took!!!!!

I have still never seen anything about pre-ordering pins for the Hawaiian.

???????????????????????????????????

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Good Morning, Happy Cruisers!

Boy! I was going through withdrawls there

Yes good morning as well. Everytime I tried to log on, I ended up with the maintenance screen....

 

[chip&dale&fun]

The port opens at 10:30 officially.

We took DCL transportation from Grand Californian in October. We had to have our baggage ready for collection at eight and the bus left at 12:15.



A bunch of us are travelling with stuffed friends of one kind or the other. So the idea was born that the stuffed friends and their owners may want to have a meet and greet as well. I am trying to get this off the ground at the moment. The idea is that we will meet one afternoon on a sea day coming back from Hawaii.

Corinna

Thank you for the stuffed friends meet.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Right, I think it is time to take this particular bull by its horns. I think the consensus was that we will have a group photo with the Hawaiian shirts. The question is where and when. I was kind of hoping that somebody would come forward and make an executive decision, but I don't think this is going to happen. So lets see if we can sort this out between the lot of us.

I think the location is easy: the atrium and probably on the staircase. Time-wise, I think 4 PM would probably work great. It won't clash with Palo Tea, anybody's dinner or the shows and in my experience the character photos and photos against the various backdrops usually start around 5:00 PM, which means we are not in anybody's way. So all we need now is a date. Does anybody have an idea?

Corinna

I'll pipe up - DAY 2.....if this won't crowd the folks with early dining for Formal night.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

We were on the Fantasy MV - DCL did an INCREDIBLE job of avoiding lines and mobs (and for those of us that were also on the Dream's MV this was a difference of night and day)!

They had an RSP for pins & limited edition collectibles - apparently everyone got what they wanted because by the 3rd or 4th day the stores had many of these out for sale.

The MV champagne flutes were in our stateroom when we arrived - one per person. They still had free champagne at the sailaway but it was in plain plastic flutes. (The Dream MV saw people collecting cases of the glasses, while many others were unable to even get one).

The Ducky Williams litho was given out already signed by Ducky - thus avoiding the near riot that occurred at his signing on the Dream MV when crew members attempted to re-direct the line.

And best of all - in the embarkation Navigator and on signs placed all around the stores:
"Maiden voyage, inaugural, & fantasy logo merchandise is limited to two per person, per size, per style." Because of this, the stores were fully stocked with tee shirts, hats, hoodies & all other maiden voyage merchandise for the entire cruise.

Debbie

How FANTAStic for you, I was on the DREAM MV and can attest to all the negativity. I even wrote a letter with suggestions....along with many others and it does seem like the merchandising team was well on top of this. I am glad that you had a pleasant experience. I acturally swore off another maiden because of the DREAM.

Thanks for updating us all.

 

[cdndisneydaddy]

OH YEA....doing the dance you all did when your doc's arrived!

 

[DisneyManFamily4]

I have still never seen anything about pre-ordering pins for the Hawaiian.

???????????????????????????????????

I didn't get it either. Do you think it has to do with going through a TA? My docs went to my TA first and then she sent them to me.

 

[kmitchel]

Does anyone know if DCL's hold a DVC information session? I never bothered to look on the last couple cruises.

Thanks

Roy

Yes, they have several functions, but I think you can always go to the DVC desk if you just want information.

 

[JLSE50]

Hi Judy-

Go into her 4 shared. Click the Requests completed folder
Then click on the cruise filled subfolder
Then you'll see a folder that says Hawaii
They are in there

could you post a link? I have no idea what this means but would love to see her work. THANKS!!

.

 

[cdndisneydaddy]

Yes, they have several functions, but I think you can always go to the DVC desk if you just want information.

Excellent! Thank you!

 

[LindaBabe]

I'll pipe up - DAY 2.....if this won't crowd the folks with early dining for Formal night.

Since you DID pipe up I hate to disagree with you - BUT - Formal night is probably not the best choice - becausee thhere are lots of special backdrops - the photographers are going nuts with set up, and people who 'care' about formal photos are busy geetting dressed in their formal wear, hair done and all that.

How about the night AFTER formal night - we're at sea but I don't think anything special is on the agenda?

 

[kmitchel]

The Candy swap spreadsheet has PaulaSillars in room 2538 and the FE list has her in 2583. Does anyone know which one is correct?

Thanks!

 

[JLSE50]

I considered this, but I checked a second suitcase in October and

A) I have to take all my baggage to work as I am heading straight from work to the airport on April 25th and I commute by train. I think I just about can cope with one suitcase and a carry on, but not with a second suitcase.

B) It was quite cramped with the extra suitcase in an inside cabin. I am pretty sure I have to bite the bullet and check a second bag coming back, but I am sure they will sell me a nice bag either on the ship or at Disneyland.

Corinna

Good POint! Although we stuff the cases under the bed, I had a giant one once that wouldn't fit. The room host took it away to store elsewhere.

We discovered that our larger suitcases would fit under the bed if we lifted the edge of the bed a bit to slide the suitcases under.

We were on the Fantasy MV - DCL did an INCREDIBLE job of avoiding lines and mobs (and for those of us that were also on the Dream's MV this was a difference of night and day)!

They had an RSP for pins & limited edition collectibles - apparently everyone got what they wanted because by the 3rd or 4th day the stores had many of these out for sale.

The MV champagne flutes were in our stateroom when we arrived - one per person. They still had free champagne at the sailaway but it was in plain plastic flutes. (The Dream MV saw people collecting cases of the glasses, while many others were unable to even get one).

The Ducky Williams litho was given out already signed by Ducky - thus avoiding the near riot that occurred at his signing on the Dream MV when crew members attempted to re-direct the line.

And best of all - in the embarkation Navigator and on signs placed all around the stores:
"Maiden voyage, inaugural, & fantasy logo merchandise is limited to two per person, per size, per style." Because of this, the stores were fully stocked with tee shirts, hats, hoodies & all other maiden voyage merchandise for the entire cruise.

Debbie

YES
I sure hope this system netted DCL a LOT of compliments so that they continue these ideas!!

.