Confessions of a DVC/DCL Cruise Addict

[CarolAnnC]

I must confess, it is an addiction.

Sweaty palms, palpitations, trembling with anticipation. And this is just while picking up the phone to make the reservations! LOLOL!

We have 3 cruises booked, with the 2011 DVC Member Cruise being yesterday's latest acquisition. We are sailing next August on the Alaskan itinerary on points, and taking my mom for her birthday celebration this week on the 3 day.

Can they come up with a category beyond Platinum club for repeat cruisers? Like the Black VISA Card (which I received an invite to and carefully tore up and burned quickly, lol).

Anyone else out there feeling like their DVC/DCL addiction is worsening with age? I swear I would have died a thousand deaths had I not gotten through on that telephone yesterday, lolol.

 

[Mineu]

I know the feeling!! I really wanted to jump in line yesterday-but, I have 3 Disney cruises booked right now and am anxiously awaiting the 2012 announcement... So, had to resist-it also helped that my son's soccer game was in an area where I couldn't get good reception

 

[CarolAnnC]

I know the feeling!! I really wanted to jump in line yesterday-but, I have 3 Disney cruises booked right now and am anxiously awaiting the 2012 announcement... So, had to resist-it also helped that my son's soccer game was in an area where I couldn't get good reception

LOL! And then there is always next year...

 

[parlay]

If I could choose an addiction it would definitely be yours!!

 

[Havana]

Was anybody on the Dis able to get an inside room? They were sold out by the time our call was answered. We were thinking about waitlisting one, but will probably keep the verandah as booked.

 

[tammymacb]

I'm not going and not happy about it.

I had to work in the ER all day and had it worked out with the charge nurse to hide for a bit at a little before 0800. I started dialing at 0758 and quickly got a ring. Hit "1" for MS and was disconnected. After that I couldn't get past the busy signal again. So, my opportunity was gone.

I wrote MS that if their tech support isn't up for the big job that is booking the Member Cruise, maybe they should look at other ways of doing it.

Next year I will be taking the morning off when I attempt to book again.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Was anybody on the Dis able to get an inside room? They were sold out by the time our call was answered. We were thinking about waitlisting one, but will probably keep the verandah as booked.

We considered going for one of these ourselves as the virtual porthole is intriguing. They were available when I booked, I was finished on the phone around 8:25 am central time. Since there are fewer inside cabins on the Dream, they are now more difficult to obtain plus the virtual porthole is a draw for them as well.

I'm not going and not happy about it.

I had to work in the ER all day and had it worked out with the charge nurse to hide for a bit at a little before 0800. I started dialing at 0758 and quickly got a ring. Hit "1" for MS and was disconnected. After that I couldn't get past the busy signal again. So, my opportunity was gone.

I wrote MS that if their tech support isn't up for the big job that is booking the Member Cruise, maybe they should look at other ways of doing it.

Next year I will be taking the morning off when I attempt to book again.

Sorry to hear this. You may want to call and put yourself on the waitlist for next year's cruise though. They are still accepting waitlist and this early in the game you would have an excellent chance of getting a stateroom.

Good luck!

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

Next year I will be taking the morning off when I attempt to book again.

The way things went yesterday, you'd better take the WHOLE day off.

I went through so many emotions yesterday. First I was a bit excited about trying to get the cruise, after about an hour of dialing I was really determined to get through, after another hour I started getting a little frustrated, followed by depression when I started seeing the "SOLD OUT"s, then I heard a voice and my heart jumped a beat but it was a recording saying "the number you have reached is not in service" (which is odd since I kept hitting redial). Then I went back to determination.....frustration....depression. After over 6 hours of dialing finally got through and carefully listened to the prompts (didn't want to get the busy signal again like some did) and was in the que. I was trying to get a Cat 5 but talked to DH to see if he wanted me to book Cat 4 if 5 wasn't available since everything else was sold out. I was still pretty positive till I had been on hold for 90 minutes and saw that only Cat 4's and 5A was only available - started to get very nervous but shortly thereafter MS answered and I got a Cat 4 stateroom (deck 7). Got off the phone and I was practically shaking. I was definately pumped but DH was too (that suprised me). I never thought it would take that long to get through but I am so happy I did. Now the long, long wait begins.

So glad there is already a thread on the cruise board on it.

 

[Friendofpluto]

Since I only had categories 4 left, I decided to go w/ the one w/ the highest points. A family stateroom for 2. It's our first cruise so I an justifying we probably will not be able to do this again. I was so pumped up before calling and then frustrated when things were not going well. I feel bad for everyone not able to book since I know the emotions I was experiencing yesterday. I have alot to learn in the planning and I am excited to meet new people. So glad that day is over. From start to finish- it took me 8.5 hours.

 

[tomandrobin]

This past Labor Day, we did a three day cruise to test the waters....so to speak. Well, we had a blast. It was just the two us us, Robin and I. We were so impressed with the ship, the staff, everything to do and Castaway Cay. We loved so much, that we book a cruise for next December while still on board the ship. Then two weeks later, we got the DVC Members Cruise announcement and knew that this year we had to go in 2011.

 

[FLWIDisneyFan]

It definitely became an obsession yesterday trying to get through. We called from 7 a.m. until 3:40 p.m. (CST) when we finally got on hold. Unfortunately we ended up on the wait list. I understand that when you have 2,000 or 3,000 people trying for 1,500 slots you are going to have winners and losers. However, why subject people to 8 hours of busy signals and dropped calls. I firmly believe they should allow people to express interest and randomly select the members who will be able to book. If I end up on the wait list in this scenario, at least I didn't have to spend a frustrating saturday redailing thousands of times.

 

[tomandrobin]

It definitely became an obsession yesterday trying to get through. We called from 7 a.m. until 3:40 p.m. (CST) when we finally got on hold. Unfortunately we ended up on the wait list. I understand that when you have 2,000 or 3,000 people trying for 1,500 slots you are going to have winners and losers. However, why subject people to 8 hours of busy signals and dropped calls. I firmly believe they should allow people to express interest and randomly select the members who will be able to book. If I end up on the wait list in this scenario, at least I didn't have to spend a frustrating Saturday redialing thousands of times.

I think there will be cancellations during the next few weeks. I am sure that there were members who grabbed a cabin (cat 4-7) who really wanted a cheaper cat cabin (11-8). The "Buzz" of getting a cabin will wear off and the buyers remorse will set in.

Do you have any idea where you are on the wait list?

 

[friends with mickey]

I'm not going and not happy about it.

I had to work in the ER all day and had it worked out with the charge nurse to hide for a bit at a little before 0800. I started dialing at 0758 and quickly got a ring. Hit "1" for MS and was disconnected. After that I couldn't get past the busy signal again. So, my opportunity was gone.

I wrote MS that if their tech support isn't up for the big job that is booking the Member Cruise, maybe they should look at other ways of doing it.

Next year I will be taking the morning off when I attempt to book again.

We had the exact same experience with getting disconnected at that same time. I believe that they cleared the lines at that time to officially start taking calls for the day. I called for the next 8 hours before finally getting through and the cruise sold out while we were talking to the CM. We have wait listed so we get to wait for an opening to get on board. I feel confident we will end up joining all the lucky folks that booked.

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

..in some ways, i know how you feel.

weird, someone from orlando called us back @ 820 am. i asked
my wife if i should pick up? [ she was trying on the other line.]
she said/screamed "yes", ! well she knew i was "re-dialing",
so she thought i had gotten thru & was cut off, & disney calling
back-wishful thinking. but i told her this number doesn't look
like any disney numbers i know....except the 407 area code.
should have know, it was some guy asking did you just call us? nooo,
we're trying to call disney! well i think you got the wrong number.
"you think?!". my theory, we must have awaken someone having
a wonderful dream, for him to take the time and call a "random",
long-distance number. or maybe a father with teenager daughters?
or even a wife who's a trucker?

so while i am talking with him, my wife is hollering about wasting
time. . i told her the phone broken , that the redial got some
poor guy out of bed. she yells back ..."tough"! i guess that means i
can't go back to bed? . so i s-l-o-w-l-y dial once again.

honey, what this music about? she didn't believe me, but when i gave
her the phone, she about . and i got to go back to bed!


believe it or not, sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.

did anyone else got redirected when hitting the redial?


oh last year, i got up @ 10 am & was shocked seeing how she was
...really? can't be that hard? let me try....got right in. you think she
would have been in a more appreciating mood?

my guess, those wait listed that day will be call.

 

[lilpooh108]

The way things went yesterday, you'd better take the WHOLE day off.

I went through so many emotions yesterday. First I was a bit excited about trying to get the cruise, after about an hour of dialing I was really determined to get through, after another hour I started getting a little frustrated, followed by depression when I started seeing the "SOLD OUT"s, then I heard a voice and my heart jumped a beat but it was a recording saying "the number you have reached is not in service" (which is odd since I kept hitting redial). Then I went back to determination.....frustration....depression. After over 6 hours of dialing finally got through and carefully listened to the prompts (didn't want to get the busy signal again like some did) and was in the que. I was trying to get a Cat 5 but talked to DH to see if he wanted me to book Cat 4 if 5 wasn't available since everything else was sold out. I was still pretty positive till I had been on hold for 90 minutes and saw that only Cat 4's and 5A was only available - started to get very nervous but shortly thereafter MS answered and I got a Cat 4 stateroom (deck 7). Got off the phone and I was practically shaking. I was definately pumped but DH was too (that suprised me). I never thought it would take that long to get through but I am so happy I did. Now the long, long wait begins.

So glad there is already a thread on the cruise board on it.

OMG after all that you deserve the cruise We used up all our points for 2011 so we didn't even try but we're happy for the DVC/DIS'ers who got in!