August 19, 2007 Disney Wonder

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

The fish extender idea came from someone on another thread, so I will check with her about where to find a fish extender, how to "do" the whole fish extender thing and whether or not people steal things from them. That would just be terrible! I will get back to everyone as soon as I get the information. BTW, we just paid off our cruise today! Yeah!

 

[benseven]

I just read through all the pages of this thread. I was so excited to find it the other day, I just posted. Can't wait.
To the "jen"s - my son (Ben) will still be 7, and can be clingy. Would really love to connect in some way before, and definitely onboard.
I'm also in for the fish extenders, looking forward to checking them out.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Today I checked the DCL website to see how much I would have to pay if I bought my connnecting rooms now as apposed to last September. The website disclosed that I have saved $840.00

I guess it does pay to be an early bird

Joe

 

[Jen76b]

I just read through all the pages of this thread. I was so excited to find it the other day, I just posted. Can't wait.
To the "jen"s - my son (Ben) will still be 7, and can be clingy. Would really love to connect in some way before, and definitely onboard.
I'm also in for the fish extenders, looking forward to checking them out.

My DS still had about 4 weeks before he finds out we're going, but when he does, i'll tell him about the message board and see if he wants to chat with your son and Jen's. He's an only child and is use to being alone, so he gets along well with new kids, but I think it would be cool for him to have kids to meet up with on the ship.

I checked my trip a few weeks ago and it nearly doubled what I paid. I saved almost $4000 for the three of us by booking it early. Boy am I thankful!

 

[jenanderson]

Alright - I do tend to get long winded so I am sorry in advance for how long I am sure this will be with my questions!

1. I will get a call this week to book Palo's (we have the REAS package). When should I book it? We have late dinner and will want to see the shows. I feel it is rude not to be there the first night to meet our other table mates. I want to be with the family on the second night for the semi-formal dinner - the kids are looking forward to getting dressed up. I can't wait to do a pirate night dinner since we will dress up. Would you do the last night or what would you change about my plans?

2. I had asked a while back on the main cruise board about what to wear to Palo for dinner. I got a whole lot of different answers. I really want to be able to dress up and have this wonderful dress - very simple but goes to the floor. I know some people hate dressing up but I love it and rarely have a chance to do so. If I wear the long dress, will I be out of place? Please be honest. As badly as I would like to wear it, I do not want to look silly.

This will be the first ever cruise for our family and we really want to be able to experience everything possible. I am concerned though about the attire especially though. If it were up to us, we would really do up each night (dressy for Palo, very nice for semi-formal, costumes for pirate night, etc). The more posts I read though the more concerned I get that people just throw on casual clothes and stay that way for the whole cruise. I would really love to hear other people's opinions on this who have been on the Wonder before.

Thanks you guys!
Jen

 

[Jen76b]

I can't answer your questions about Palo b/c I've never been before. I've only been on 1 DCL and based on my experience (and what i've read on the DIS boards) no one went over the top dressing up for dinner. A few were in costume on Pirate Night, but not many. All other nights it was pretty much like people would dress business casual at work- khakis for men (tan or black) and a polo or button down short sleeve short. Women wore casual dresses and I saw lots of capris.

There are plenty of photo opportunites before and after dinner, so I say if your family actually likes to dress up, why not. My family on the other hand doesn't. My DS thinks a polo shirt is dressy, so he only wears it to dinner and the show and will change before going to the Oceaner's Lab later that night.

Jen

 

[goofyfam]

I'm new to posting things. Not very good at the computer nor do I know how to use the appreviations, but I'll try. We'll do WDW for 7 days prior to the cruise (Shades of Green). DH and DS (12) will take three days and go SCUBA diving on the coast somwhere. DD (9), DM (my mother is coming with us, but she may be upset if I told her age, let's just say, she's a wild and crazy senior) and myself will spend the whole time touring the parks and probably getting ourselves in trouble. Since this is all new to me, where do you find out all of the information about door signs, pirate night, fish extenders, etc? This is our first cruise and we can't wait. DS and DD are extremely excited about all the activities for them. DS is very happy that DD will be in two different age groups. Someone suggested we take walkie-talkies on the cruise to keep in touch with our kids. Any suggestions on that?

 

[Olaf]

Yes, Walkietalkies are always a good thing while at WDW and on the cruise.

Goofyfam, you might want to check out these links. Lots of good cruise info.

http://www.allearsnet.com/cruise/cruise.htm
http://www.allearsnet.com/cruise/mdcg.pdf

 

[goofyfam]

Thanks for your help Stephanie, I truly appreciate your info. And for us, it's where the Army takes us.

Jan G.

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

Add us to the list of Aug 19 DIS'er cruisers!

Three of us (me, DH, and DS6), plus some DINK friends who love to cruise. It will be my family's first cruise.

We'll "bookend" our cruise with short stays at VWL. DS6 knows about the cruise, but not the "land" portion. Shhh! That's a surprise for later!

I know Dale is really looking forward to the OC, but it would sure be nice for him to meet some kids the first day and make a connection.

Look forward to meeting y'all on-board!

mk

 

[benseven]

Hi again -
DS & I actually sat and watched the countdown clock on our DVC change from 106 days 7 hours 6 minutes to 106 days 6 hours 59 seconds. It's going to be a very loooong 106 days!
Happy to see a number of DS close to 7 - great if we can meet. Saw posts where teens look in, don't know anyone, and leave. Don't want that for DS.
Forgive my newbie-ness, but what is a DINK?
Also, can anyone tell me if there is snorkeling gear available on the cruise, or should I bring my own?
Thanks so much. -D.

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

Could be "double income no kids", but also could have some other "disney" meaning. Anyone?

 

[Jen76b]

So it's official... I broke down and told my DS8 about our cruise. He's so excited!! He kept asking me where we're going this summer and I told him it was a surprised, but he just wore me down and I finally told him.

He was so disappointed last year that I didn't let him spend more time in the Oceaneers Lab. So I told him this time "I'll let you spend as much time in the Lab as you want". His eyes got so big with excitement!

I can't remember who else had a so around my son's age except Jenanderson, so if anyone wants our kids to chat, PM me your email address. My DS has his own email, but I can't remember what restrictions we have on it right now (I'll have to ck that).

Also, my friend and her DD9 will be coming with us. We all cruised together last summer, but her DD isn't too excited about going again this summer (I know.. what's wrong with her ) It's not like she didn't like the cruise, I think she just wanted to do somthing different. But I'm sure she'll have fun once she gets there. So, I was hoping there are so girls around her age also for her to chat with. Maybe if she knows another girl her age, she'll have something to look forward to.

Jen

 

[benseven]

Jen 76b-How great you got to tell your son. We have a surprise on the end of our cruise, and it's killing me not to tell him because I know he'll be so excited!
I have a DS7 (8 in Oct) who would love to get to "know" other kids before we go. I'll pm you.

I have a few questions, now that we're watching the DVD almost every day, and I don't seem to be able to stay away from these boards! Any answers, or guidance of where to get answers, is appreciated.
1. Is there any way to get DCL merchandise before the trip? My BIL brought back the cutest mickeyDCL towel a few years ago, with a tail & ears in nautical uniform - I'd love to get an updated version for DS. Also would like a coffee mug or such for self.
2. Do they refuse anyone entry to the restaurants if they are too casual? We're a very casual family & I don't want to have to get everything new.
3. Who decides where you eat on which night? Do you get to choose your last night's restaurant?
4. Is there enough to do on the ship? All the excursions seem so $$, and it's our first cruise, so I don't know what to plan! Help!
Thanks for any info. you can give.

 

[Jen76b]

I've only been on 1 cruise but read a lot on the board.. so I'll try to answer your questions...
1) As far as I know, you can't by DCL items anywhere except on the ship..or maybe eBay.

2) You'll find this question asked many times on the boards. The general answer is no shorts or swim wear to dinner, yet people have been known to wear shorts anyway. The dress is "cruise casual" so for woman the typical would be capris and a nice shirt. My DH will wearing polos and kahkis each night (same for my DS). You only have 1 night were you really need to dress nice, but it's not formal. HTH

3)When you arrive to your room you will have tickets that have your table # and dinner rotation. It tells you what restaurant you are assigned to and what time.

4) I only went on one excursion. In Nassau we went on the historical tour. I really wish we had skipped it and stayed on the ship. There was so much to do in 4 days that I missed a lot. That's the main reason why we booked for this summer again. Have you cked out any of the 4 day Navigators? They have so much to choose from. You won't be bored.


I hope this helps. I'm sure someone else can add something I may have missed.

Jen

 

[StewieL]

Hello all,

Sorry for the long silence....things have been hectic, and have had a deadline to meet for a project.....just about there now.

Anyway, had to take time out to make final payment, which I did Friday....soooooo all 8 of us are "in".

I see many new folks, and that's great. Looks like there are a few boys at the 7-8 age range, and my DGS (8 in June) is also a little shy at first, but has been on the Magic 1 week cruise, so will be at ease with the layout...the boats are basically twins. I am still hoping we can arrange a meet in one of the lounges....Voyager, for example...at 3PM on sailing day. If some of us can't hook up before (at WDW) then we can meet then. On the Magic, we had kids of all ages bring postcards and keychains from their home city to exchange with other kids. Turned out to be a great way for kids to meet. As I remember, it was great for teens as well.

Beverly J, my DGD is 5.5 and is also into everything "Princess". She will surely be a "guide" for your DD if we can get them to hook up...

ANswer regarding excursions: We did the swim with dolphins..definitely worth it...in Mexico with the Magic...probably could have booked this without DCL....probably less that way. Otherwise, I don't know about DCL excursions.

Pirates! Where are you??? We will be decked out....Just love any excuse to get a costume.....hope a few of you will be joining us. On Magic, probably leass than 10% were all dressed up as Pirates....but all the Characters were! It was a lot of fun that night.

New cruisers....get ready for a lot of fun. Why do you think we're back?

Will be back on site soon. Looking forward to meeting all soon.

Stewart

 

[acman]

Time is slipping away and the cruise is close at hand I hear that snokeling in the Bahama's is great. To do a little does DCL have any excursions or do I try to set something up with the natives. Actually sound adveturous (like my spelling)and a bit scary how do I know who's safe and who's not. A little help from my friends would be apperciated

 

[Dizzyworld]

Okay it is 3:13 AM...where is everybody? Made our brunch reservation and the beloved fishing excursion for my DS. This was a highlight of his last trip. This time he wants me to go instead of his dad. I don't fish, this should be interresting. Since he is almost 13.5 years old, I'm grateful he wants to still do things with me.

For those of you getting your reservations, good luck. I hope everyone gets what they wish for.

Time for bed. Good thing I teach an afternoon class today.
Nite.

 

[hetherp]

Hi all

I expect the question has been asked before, but we are trying to decide when to make reservations for Palo's and not knowing the dining rotation is causing problems.

I believe from some other posts that the rotation can depend on your seating time and the number and make up of your party.

There are 3 of us including DD 14.

I think we would like to swap when the rotation is on PC any ideas?

Thanks


Phil

 

[acman]

More questions less time. We are doing the land and sea pac and is there any opinions on the Diseny dinning packages. It sounds reasonable but that reservation thing at place in the evening scares me because who knows where well be at certain times of the day or night at DW. Please help a clueless rebel