April 29, 2012 ~ Aloha! ~ Wonder to Hawaii- who is with me?

[Tinkerbel129]

On the PC 2011, I packed 2 large USPS flat rate boxes. The night before we left the hotel I filled them with all heavy stuff, put the box in a large shopping bag so I could get a weight (we have a travel scale), went down to lobby and printed out packing labels. Cost me about $28 for 2 boxes (total weight about 40 pounds, I didn't have to worry about it at the airport and didn't have to lug it around, they were delivered 3 days later. Just an idea
Thinking this year might ship a box or two in advance to the hotel.

ps....planning FE gift....I like to do all staterooms....love the 1 am delivery...gives me a chance to see decorated doors.

 

[CruznLexi]

I do hope those that did the PC and stand in the pin line will email Disney so that does not happen on the Hawaii. Not sure where to stay might be near the port as we have done DL in the past. I did see the Double Tree had an all inclusive rate that had transfers from LAX, hotel, Breakfast and Transfer to the ship for $250. Seems pricy to me.

 

[aan1701]

I do hope those that did the PC and stand in the pin line will email Disney so that does not happen on the Hawaii. Not sure where to stay might be near the port as we have done DL in the past. I did see the Double Tree had an all inclusive rate that had transfers from LAX, hotel, Breakfast and Transfer to the ship for $250. Seems pricy to me.

I am hopping everyone here will let DCL know to do the merchandise right this time. Not only pins but any special shirts and such.

 

[LittleDisneyLovers]

You keep all your OBB $ and get the DU $ on top of that. As long as it is not PIF you can transfer to a TA

Awesome, more drink of the day money I don't know why I'm dancing, they'll have to be virgin drinks, breastfeeding!
I'll make sure I transfer it before I PIF, our dollar is so good at the moment I'll probably pay soon.

DU takes pretty much anything in their stride. As long as you have not paid in full, you are good to go and we normally get the OBC for rebooking on board from DCL and an OBC from DU.

Thanks Corinna, I have had a few recommendations for TA's. DU seems to get the most votes.

 

[UKANGEL]

Hi Jessica,

As for the port of Long Beach, daylight is fine, don't recommend going out walking at night. While its not extremely dangerous, use caution. There is a small area called Port O'Call directly next to the terminal which has a small shuttle that takes you there in like 5 minutes. Its walkable but you'll get tired. Its a place very similar to the area around Jetty Park. Sundays are full of people getting crab legs and hanging out with the family.

Let me know if I can be of any further help, I live about 8 min away from DL.

Great info thanks Laura! always good to have local knowledge....





.

 

[paulasillars]

Even if I did not object to paying for a meal while on a cruise, for some reason I can't figure out a luau is one of the last thing in Hawaii I want to do, I think the beach is the last thing I want to do.

Wow I think we might be twins - you read my mind!

My first reaction was that I would stay on the ship and make this my 10th sea day. However, the more I read about this, the more I am inclined to get off the ship. There is a world class bird reserve near Ensenada and also some interesting marine wildlife. I suppose I have to check out excursion options nearer the time.

I haven't looked at Ensenada yet but I like the sound of the wildlife excursions.

One important point for anyone from countries that require an ESTA to gain admittance to the US. Please make a copy of your ESTA and take it with you. I know on the ESTA website they say you don't need to but....!

This was a complete nightmare doing the WBTA for us. They wouldn't accept Mum's one as the print out didn't have the expiry date on it, Robert had trouble with his one too and it took us 3 hours from arriving at the terminal to get onto the ship! They might have fixed it now but there was an issue with the ESTA website that if you used the big "print" icon on the page, it left half the details off. The stupid thing was, when doing customs in Florida - they didn't even want the stupid forms - they just looked it up on the computer!

You and Robert are SO mean!! FUNNY, but mean!

Who us? <innocent look>

I was thinking about transferring my reservation aswell. My concerns are - Do I lose all control over my booking? Can I book my own excursions and Palo or do I have to go through the TA? How successful are they at securing the bookings you want? Sorry for all the questions, I am a bit of a control freak, OK a lot of a control freak!

I always book my cruises with Dreams - book everything else either directly or with a local TA (such as complex flight bookings) but Dreams have been wonderful to deal with.

I JUST BOOKED THIS CRUISE!

...now to catch up on all the posts..it will be me, Janice and my DS Trevor

It'll be nice to see you both again!

For those of you that want to go to Iolani Palace, it is open that particular Sunday (for now, like DCL, it's subject to change). First Sundays are free to local residents but visitors may also pay the regular rate to enter. It doesn't say whether or not you need to be entering with a local resident:

YAY!! I'm super happy about this!

Oooh Laura, that reminds me we will need some Hawaiian themed clothes I am sure. Coconut shells and grass skirt???

Now where did I put that Hawaiian shirt...?

 

[aan1701]

Wow I think we might be twins - you read my mind!

Cool. I always wanted a twin. I think I don't want to go to the beach because I live about a mile from a beach here in Los Angeles so I don't need a vacation to swim, snorkel or whatever in the ocean. I can do that in my back yard.

 

[castoff]

Yes we do. We have a couple of Frommer's that I used for Europe and liked better then others but we like these better for Hawaii. Here is a link to a website that you can review, including scanning sample pages.
http://www.wizardpub.com/oahu/oahu.html
val

Thank you !

ALOHA and welcome to all new people joining this WONDERful Hawaiian cruise. Looks like DH and I will be going to Hawaii in June as my brother and sister in law will be off on a 42 day cruise and we will be staying at their townhouse in Kailua, which is on the opposite side of Waikiki. It will be SO much fun to settle in for three weeks and not feel rushed. I have always wanted to live there since I was in my 20s and now that DH and I are retired, we may find some fun jobs and settle into island life. Hey maybe I could get a job at Aulalni. That way I will fulfill two dreams, living in Hawaii and working for the mouse.

Lucky you !Looking forward to seeing all the pics.

On the PC 2011, I packed 2 large USPS flat rate boxes. The night before we left the hotel I filled them with all heavy stuff, put the box in a large shopping bag so I could get a weight (we have a travel scale), went down to lobby and printed out packing labels. Cost me about $28 for 2 boxes (total weight about 40 pounds, I didn't have to worry about it at the airport and didn't have to lug it around, they were delivered 3 days later. Just an idea
Thinking this year might ship a box or two in advance to the hotel.

ps....planning FE gift....I like to do all staterooms....love the 1 am delivery...gives me a chance to see decorated doors.

For our Repo I shipped a big box ahead to the Hotel and had no problems. Now we didn't have to fly back because we rented a car. If we did have to fly I could only imagine the fees we would have had. Sooooo much stuff ! I have to fly round trip for this cruise. I wish I could participate for all in the FE......I just would feel better with only 25. Knowing what I am doing for FE, I also couldn't do / make 100 of them.

Does anyone know more info. on FE ? Did I miss a post ?

I am hopping everyone here will let DCL know to do the merchandise right this time. Not only pins but any special shirts and such.

Cool. I always wanted a twin. I think I don't want to go to the beach because I live about a mile from a beach here in Los Angeles so I don't need a vacation to swim, snorkel or whatever in the ocean. I can do that in my back yard.

Only 6 miles for me so I understand. I am interested in seeing a black sand beach for a pic.

 

[castoff]

For those interested in beaches.............here is your top ten.

http://www.bestplaceshawaii.com/tips/10_best/beaches.html

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I am hopping everyone here will let DCL know to do the merchandise right this time. Not only pins but any special shirts and such.

I agree, the Dream maiden voyage special merchandise was a mess and total chaos. They need to rethink how they do it.

 

[gdaneowner]

For those interested in beaches.............here is your top ten.

http://www.bestplaceshawaii.com/tips/10_best/beaches.html

Thank you for this link.. My DS who will be almost a couple months shy of 5 on this trip loves the beach!. He got his first taste of it last Sept when we went on the Wonder for a 4 night Bahama cruise, and the beach was his FAVORITE part!...

 

[MousseauMob]

Yes we do. We have a couple of Frommer's that I used for Europe and liked better then others but we like these better for Hawaii. Here is a link to a website that you can review, including scanning sample pages.
http://www.wizardpub.com/oahu/oahu.html
val

Thanks, these look awesome. I've ordered the Kauai book, and I'm sure I'll be buying the rest once I've finished.

I am hopping everyone here will let DCL know to do the merchandise right this time. Not only pins but any special shirts and such.

I'm a total newbie to this subject, but I can see where I would want a smooth process for merchandise. Can you briefly explain what it was they did wrong before, and what would be a better/preferred method? I'd like to send them a communication, but I don't really understand what occurred. I tried looking back through the posts, but I couldn't find the original one.

For those interested in beaches.............here is your top ten.

http://www.bestplaceshawaii.com/tips/10_best/beaches.html

Thanks for the link.

 

[goofprincess]

I am hopping everyone here will let DCL know to do the merchandise right this time. Not only pins but any special shirts and such.

Absolutely Alan
What a mess that was.

 

[sshaw10060]

Morning everyone. Last night my wife asked me if she thought there would be a special Dooney & Bourke bag for our cruise. My wallet hurts just thinking about it. She can't walk by a Disney themed D&B without buying it.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I am hoping Ducky will be on this cruise!!! If there is a special D&B purse for this sailing, I am saving up now!

 

[mishoe01]

I am hoping Ducky will be on this cruise!!! If there is a special D&B purse for this sailing, I am saving up now!

That would be cool! Not only is he an amazing artist - I love his story & he's a really nice person.

 

[CruznLexi]

I hope Dicky is on the ship too. Hubby did not go on the canal cruise so I hope we get to meet him.

 

[valbob89]

Thanks, these look awesome. I've ordered the Kauai book, and I'm sure I'll be buying the rest once I've finished.

I'm a total newbie to this subject, but I can see where I would want a smooth process for merchandise. Can you briefly explain what it was they did wrong before, and what would be a better/preferred method? I'd like to send them a communication, but I don't really understand what occurred. I tried looking back through the posts, but I couldn't find the original one.

Thanks for the link.

The pins were limited edition so many of us made the choice to wait in line for hours, yes hours, to get a pin. They issued one for each port, except PC, which they sold when the store opened after visiting the port. A dozen or so people slept all night in the chairs outside the store to get the last pin. I figure I spent 10 hours of my vacation in a line. On that last day the line went all the way around the carpet edge outside the store, up to the theater doors, back down, around the walls, down the hallway outside the stores, around the railing overlooking the lobby, past Studio Sea and around again meeting up with the other end of the line. While everyone was pleasant, we were blocking the elevator exit and stairs. When I went down to the lobby and told one of the officers there was no DCL personnel managing the crowd and it was dangerous (I was afraid someone would fall down the stairs) they were to busy to listen. As I said before, everyone was very nice but it was just bad. I always tell people that the difference between DCL and other cruiselines is the way they know how to manage the crowds without making it seem we are being managed. They failed with this.

Morning everyone. Last night my wife asked me if she thought there would be a special Dooney & Bourke bag for our cruise. My wallet hurts just thinking about it. She can't walk by a Disney themed D&B without buying it.

They might, but they didn't with the TA or PC cruises so I think your safe.

 

[Lynn G]

I'm not much into D&B purses, but if there was an Hawaiian one, that I really might like alot!

Ducky on the cruise would be great!

 

[castoff]

Thank you for this link.. My DS who will be almost a couple months shy of 5 on this trip loves the beach!. He got his first taste of it last Sept when we went on the Wonder for a 4 night Bahama cruise, and the beach was his FAVORITE part!...

Your welcome ! Kids that age are so much fun. My kids are older, 17 & 20.

Thanks, these look awesome. I've ordered the Kauai book, and I'm sure I'll be buying the rest once I've finished.

I'm a total newbie to this subject, but I can see where I would want a smooth process for merchandise. Can you briefly explain what it was they did wrong before, and what would be a better/preferred method? I'd like to send them a communication, but I don't really understand what occurred. I tried looking back through the posts, but I couldn't find the original one.

Thanks for the link.

I wasn't on that cruise but heard all about it. It was different on the repo 08. If it isn't broke don't fix it !!! We were given a form to fill out what we wanted. At first we were going to just get some single pins but decided to buy the set. It really was just that simple !!! Here is pic. it came with the mat and I framed it.

Absolutely Alan
What a mess that was.

I am hoping Ducky will be on this cruise!!! If there is a special D&B purse for this sailing, I am saving up now!

I am also hoping for Ducky !