August 30th 2009 - 4 night Wonder

[Young Pooh]

Hi,

This will be our first cruise. There will be me (Sue), DH (Bill) and DD (Evie) who will be 4 when we sail.

As you can see we are from across the water so will be combining the cruise with around 10/12 nights at Disney (DVC) before and after the cruise. We will also be celebrating my 40th whilst away - the cruise is my extra treat!

I hope we won't have the ship to ourselves so if anyone else is going let me know.

 

[Young Pooh]

Anybody out there???

I'm feeling lonely!!

 

[Carys]

Hi YP!

Looks like you'll be having some Commonwealth company - I have just booked onto this cruise and am very excited as it will be my first ever cruise, let alone Disney cruise. My dad and I are planning on spending eight nights at WDW after the cruise, haven't decided which resort yet. It will be a bit of an international mission as dad will be coming from NZ and I will be living in Taiwan (for my job) at that time. Congratulations on your 40th!

 

[Young Pooh]

Hi Carys

It is nice to know that we won't be the only ones on the ship!!

I think we will be doing a week at BCV and then a few nights at AKL before the cruise and then a few nights after (probably AKL again).

This will be our first cruise also and I am excited already. Only another 16 months to go.

 

[Carys]

We really enjoyed Port Orleans Resort when we stayed there last year for ten nights. Before that, I'd been to Pop Century twice. I'm kind of scared to try the Deluxe resorts because I'm worried I'll get hooked and won't be able to stay Mod or Value again. POR had a nice relaxing atmosphere, with a great piano entertainer in the bar, and plenty of deserted quiet pools. Wilderness Lodge had great grounds, I'm tempted to give it a try.

It's fairly head spinning to read all the tips and advice on this board about Disney cruises. We managed to get the Main dinner seating (8pm is really too late for us to have dinner) and booked a mid ship category six. The pictures of the beach at Castaway Cay look gorgeous, I love ocean swimming.

 

[Young Pooh]

We had always stayed offsite due to cost but one year we were able to stay at CBR and were hooked. We bought into DVC so have been staying on site ever since - we can afford a trip every other year. We usually stay at BCV which is our home resort and have also tried BWV and SSR as well.

We saw the new units for AKL last year and they look fantastic so want to try them next year - also Evie will appreciate the animals.

I know what you mean about all the tips and information on the boards. I've also just got the Passporter Cruise guide so am working through that at the moment.

We are also on main dining (the late one would be too late for Evie) and have a Cat 7 - deck 7 aft. We managed to get one of the secret verandah rooms.

 

[Carys]

What did you think of BWV and SSR? I have been thinking about buying into DVC in the next couple of years and these would be my fore runners, the first for vicinity to Epcot and atmosphere, and the second because I like the construction and vicinity to downtown disney. The photos of AKV are beautiful but we're not big fans of the resort's location.

That's really good luck on the secret veranda! I think it helps to book so far out - now if only resorts had "Secret Concierge Rooms"!

 

[Young Pooh]

Hi

I did like SSR last year - it is very big but we had requested Congress Park so were handy for DTD. It was about a 10 minute walk to get there. The only downside was we were on the ground floor and found the room rather dark due to planting outside. If we stay there again we will ask for a higher floor.

We have only stayed at BWV for a few nights and found it to be fine. We do prefer BCV though. I like the theming of the hotel and also it being well placed for Epot, MGM and the Boardwalk.

I agree about the location of AKV but I think for a couple of nights it is fine. We will probably only do AK whilst we are there plus I do like Boma, which is a pain to get to from other resorts.

I think buying into DVC was one of the best decisions we made. It means that we can stay in accomodation we could never have afforded before and guarantees that we can do Disney every other year if we want. We have also used the points for DLRP a couple of times when I was pregnant and when Evie was a baby. It is not good value to use points for non-DVC accomodation but better than losing them. There are always arguments from people saying you should rent the points instead.

Sorry to be nosy, but what will you be doing in Taiwan? How long does it take to get to WDW from there and NZ?

Bye for now

Sue

 

[Carys]

I'm attracted to the convenience of kitchen facilities in DVC rooms, which would be good for those days I'm not commandoing around the parks, as well as the cost savings and general space. It would also be handy to have worldwide flexibility to at least use the points (even if not such great value) if I can't get back to WDW for a couple of years.

The photos I've seen on BCV (I haven't looked around it in person) don't draw me as much as the other others, perhaps the atmosphere is something best experienced in person. I hear BCV has the best pool by a country mile.

(Actually, the idea of swimming while on a boat is a little hilarious to me, now that I think about it!)

Some of the tips on these boards I'm thinking about using are giving guest services pillow cases for the characters to sign, decorating the cabin door with magnets, and using an over door organiser. I found a pop up hamper to be very convenient last time I went to WDW so I suppose I'll bring another of those along. I haven't heard of the H2O products that are in the cabins - do you have those where you are? Are they any good?

Not nosy at all I'll PM you on Taiwan. With air travel and time in airports figur ein, we tend to book flights back to back where possible and generally take 1.5 days to make the haul off the top of my head - probably a bit longer as it's tricky to calculate quickly because of time zone changes. The most direct path is (internal flight n NZ) - Auckland, NZ - San Fran or LAX - MCO. I like to fly JetBlue so tend to stop over in JFK, NYC. How direct is your route?

 

[Young Pooh]

Hi Sandra,

Wow!! And here's me, just a stay at home Mum! Hopefully by the time we cruise I will be working or about to start as Evie will be starting school full time when we get back.

It is a bit of a trek for you isn't it. We can get direct flights from the UK to MCO which take around 8-9 hours. Even indirect (changing at NY or Chicago) would only take 12 hours ish. The only problem we have now is cost. Flight prices are getting more and more expensive due to fuel costs and the airlines don't seem to be having any offers. Of course, August is also peak travel time in the UK due to school holidays so they are never discounted much at this time of year anyway. Oh well, only another 16 or so years until Evie finishes school!!

I think we will also do the door decorations and, if we get anyone else joining us, see if people want to do a "fish extender gift swap"!! When I first saw this I thought what!! but then I read more and it became clear
We will of course be giving Guest Services somthing for autographs - I quite like the idea of the borders that go in photos frames - I think these would look great around a nice photo from the cruise. I have also read that the Princesses will only autograph something if the other characters haven't. So is you want there autographs you need to send too items -1 for them and 1 for the other characters.

We don't have H2O products over here that I am aware of, but I have read on here that they are supposed to be very good.

Bye for now

Sue

 

[Carys]

Hi Sue

Eh, it puts food on the table There is nothing "just" about being a stay at home mum. We have a generous parental leave policy (up to 2 years, and then part-time if requested) because many women were choosing not missing their kids growing up over time behind a desk. Running a home is, in work jargon, a FTE (full time equivalent job)!

Yes air tickets have rocketed in price over the last 6 years or so, especially when you take into account the strong kiwi dollar which should be decreasing prices. The dollar has really helped the Disney price. In 2000, NZ$1 = US$0.39. This year's high so far is NZ$1 = US$0.82. Big difference!

What's a "fish extender gift swap"? I guess I have some more threads to read! It's been a busy weekend with my parents visiting so haven't had much time on the DIS. One thing I'm wondering is whether I might get sea sick - I've never really been sea sick before (except for one occasion which did not result in any...reverse digestion ) but I've only ever been on smaller boats. Do you get sea sick / do you use anything to prevent it?

Sandra

 

[Young Pooh]

Hi

Sorry it has taken a while to reply but I just don't seem to have had the time to sit down and do anything other than a quick read of the latest posts.

Fish Extenders - you get a metal clip (in the shape of a fish) outside your stateroom door so that DCL can put messages etc for you. People then hang a bag or hanging storage from this to "extend it" so that they can exchange gifts with others from their cruise meet. I think typical gifts are small Disney themed gifts (stickers, pins etc), sweets or gifts from their home town/state/country. There are quite a few threads about this, some have piccies of the extenders and the gifts received.

I'm not too worried about sea sickness for myself but you never know with kids so I will probably take something for Evie as a precaution. I have no idea what they do for kids but will check it our before we go. I have only ever had a problem once - we sailed from the UK to northern Spain across the Bay of Biscaye which is notorious for bad seas. It was fine going but coming back it took an extra 24 hrs (!) as the sea was so bad. I felt really bad but wasn't actually sick - I think it was made worse as we weren't allowed on deck due to the bad weather.

I think the Bahamas in September will be a lot better.

Speak to you soon.

 

[Young Pooh]

Bumping. Anyone????

 

[Carys]

Looks like just us two still! Plenty of time to go yet though. I have arrived safe and sound in Taipei and now have internet at home so am back on the Dis

 

[shasess]

Hello Guys! This will be our first Disney Cruise!! It will be me, DH, and our two DDs. DH and I celebrated our honeymoon at Disney in May and we are returning next August for a family trip. We are a blended family with each of us bringing in one daughter. We can't wait to go!!!

 

[Young Pooh]

Hi Shasess, welcome to our cruise meet thread. For a while there Carys and I thought no-one else was going to be onboard. Now that would be great, a while cruise ship for just a handful of people

Congratulations on your recent wedding - the photo of you is beautiful. How old are your DD's? My DD Evie will be nearly 5 when we travel.

Hi Carys, glad to hear that you are safe and sound in Taipai. For a while there I thought you had disappeared and we might be on our own on the cruise.

Bye for now.

 

[shasess]

Thank You!!!
Our DDs are 12 and 5. The 5 year old has never been to Disney World so we are soooo excited to take her. My DD (12) has been several times with just her and myself but this will be the first time that the four of us have been to Disney together. Before the cruise we are going to spend a week at the parks. DH and I have been on a RCCL cruise to the Caribbean but we do not know anything about Disney cruises. I'm trying to do as much research as I can! I just found out what a fish extender is.
Can you tell that I'm excited?!!!!

 

[Carys]

Young Pooh - no way would I miss this cruise! In fact, I have booked myself on another one for this Christmas holiday so I'll be a castaway clubbie on this cruise, all going to plan.

Shasess - Great to have another family on board (although our family is dad + adult daughter, no young kids). We're planning on doing the parks after the cruise (although I wouldnt be surprised if we stayed a night or two before the cruise too to get in the Disney spirit, it all depends on flight choices). I must say that your signature photos are beautiful. It'll be a magical trip for your 5-year old

Fish extenders are a really cute idea, I would definately be interested in a gift swap.

 

[Young Pooh]

Hi guys,

A fish extender gift exchange would be great. Already we have 3 families from 3 different countries and continents - imagine the varied gifts we will be able to get!

All we need now are some more folks to join us.

 

[silmarg]

Hi folks!

My name is Sil and I am from NY.

My DW and 2 DDs (will be 7 and 10 at sailing) are coming as is my sister in law, her husband and their DS (he will be 8).

We may have additional parties join us as well... I'll keep you all posted.

We will be in adjoining cat 6s.

It will be my sister in laws first DCL.

But it will be our 3rd (by then). We have been on the 4 day in late August in 2007 and in two weeks we are doing the 15 day eastbound repositioning cruise. As a result, you wont likely see me lurking this thread for the next month or so.

Anyway, I am sure this will be a fantastic cruise.... and for you first timers... it will be a trip of a lifetime... its that good!