Couple of Questions from a Rookie

[Cornhogio]

Going on our first cruise of any kind on Disney Magic 9 Aug. Please forgive if there's somewhere else I should've looked to answer these questions.

1) We booked the Disney transport along with our cruise, but have been unable to ascertain whom to call to give our flight info to.

2) Daughter's seven, and doesn't know we're going on a cruise yet. Don't want her to wish the summer away. Any suggestions on how far out to let her in on our vacation plans?

3) Talked to a guy who just got back and he got upgraded. Any rhyme or reason to how that happens?

Thanks in advance. Spent a couple hours looking over this board and a few links last nite, and getting more excited by the day.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi Cornhogio. Welcome to the Dis message boards.

1) We booked the Disney transport along with our cruise, but have been unable to ascertain whom to call to give our flight info to.

No call is necessary. Upon arrival at the Orlando airport, you'll see the DCL representatives waiting patiently immediately outside the restricted "passengers only" area.

2) Daughter's seven, and doesn't know yet.

Many "single digiters" are not conscious of their age...

3) Talked to a guy who just got back and he got upgraded. Any rhyme or reason to how that happens?

More than likely he was either exaggerating or drunk...

 

[Cornhogio]

Thanks. Not sure I follow you regarding the single digiters comment....

 

[Poohbush]

BD strikes again!

Cornhogio, you have to watch out for BD! He's just the funniest! He sort of pops up all over this board, leaving his quick-witted, and charming comments all over the place!

Re-read your sentence about your daughter, then re-read BD's reply, you'll get it!

Welcome to the boards! You'll find the neatest bunch of people here!

Tina

 

[lbgraves]

LOL! Regarding #3...there seems to be no rhyme or reason for why people get upgraded. Just the luck of the draw.

 

[Cornhogio]

Originally posted by Poohbush
BD strikes again!

Cornhogio, you have to watch out for BD! He's just the funniest! He sort of pops up all over this board, leaving his quick-witted, and charming comments all over the place!

Re-read your sentence about your daughter, then re-read BD's reply, you'll get it!

Welcome to the boards! You'll find the neatest bunch of people here!

Tina

Well, I sit before you all suitably shamed for my hideous grammar. I have corrected the referenced faux pas, and will try to be more careful going forward.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

BD - I always enjoy reading your comments - We need to put together a "Best of BD" thread!

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

We need to put together a "Best of BD" thread!

Thank you, KaitlinsMom. I think a more apropos title would be "The Worst of BD." At least I could then counter the critics with that ever-faithful refrain, "I'm saving The Best for last"...

 

[inkkognito]

How about "The Best of the Worst?" That would cover all bases.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by Cornhogio
2) Daughter's seven, and doesn't know we're going on a cruise yet. Don't want her to wish the summer away. Any suggestions on how far out to let her in on our vacation plans?

We're going to tell our kids when we get to the airport!

They just cruised in May and LOVED it (better than WDW). We are planning a suprise trip for them in September. We don't want them to look forward to the next trip so much that they don't savor the last trips' memories!

So we have an evil scheme that involves dropping off grandma at the airport b/c she is going on a Disney cruise....yada yada.

I just hope security doesn't come running when two little children start screaming and running around!

 

[DreaminDisney]

My kids will be 7 and 4 when we cruise. They know we're going on a cruise. DS even has a DCL huge poster with a picture of the Magic on the it hanging in his room. They know it's not for a long time but since they've never cruised before, I don't think they really know what to expect. As far as wishing the whole summer away...they're too busy for that
Also, I don't know that I could keep a secret like that. I get more excited about things than my kids!
Happy Planning and good luck with the big surprise!!!!!

BD.......You're always cracking me up

 

[clh2]

We've had a trip planned since last December, and are finally going at the end of October - we are doing a 4-nt cruise and then going to Disney for a couple of days following the cruise.

We opted to tell our DD - 9 about the vacation a couple of weeks ago. I wanted DD to be in on some of the planning - specifically for her input on shore excursions and PS opportunities once we get back on land. There are so many decisions to make - why not just get her input. All the extras that we would do - the shore excursions, PS's, and MNSSHP cost extra - so if she's not interested - why waste my money and time???

Another advantage of telling DD is she has chosen to earn her allowance in Disney Dollars between now and the trip. She is not wasting a penny of her money on anything this summer!

 

[my3kids]

I've done the telling a couple of days before thing, the telling way in advance thing and not telling until we were actually there thing....all Disney trips. I've got to say the not telling until we were there didn't go over as well as I'd planned. It was too confusing. We told about the cruise almost a year in advance. That was actually fine. I think the best was telling 2 days before we went. That gave them a day to be excited with friends and pack some special belongings, but not so long as to wish the summer away.

 

[carole88]

We told our kids when we booked and are not going until the end of October. They have been really good about planning and don't seem to be wishing away the summer. My youngest DD (6) likes to have a special talk at bedtime about the cruise too! I think that she is becoming a compulsive planner like me. Ha Ha Ha!

 

[xnascar2x]

The answer your first question, you can call DCL and give them your flight info. This way they will have it before you arrive at the airport and they can have their baggage handlers claim your luggage and have it transported to the ship.

 

[Crowsie]

As far as when to tell the kids about the trip...here's my story:

We planned a 4 day weekend at Ft Wilderness Resort for the middle of September, 1991.
I made the plans 6 months out and didn't tell the kids because I didn't want to hear "how much longer" for 6 months!
So..I ordered the trip planning video and decided to tell the kids a week before we left....so, on September 10th, 1991 - I showed them the video and about half way through they figured out we were going.
Then, the next day..well..you know what happened.
We were able to reschedule, we went in November instead of September, but boy were they disappointed. They were just too young to understand.
So..my recommendation is to wait til the last minute to spring the surprise!

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

so, on September 10th, 1991 - I showed them the video and about half way through they figured out we were going.

We were able to reschedule, we went in November instead of September, but boy were they disappointed. They were just too young to understand.

Crowsie - I'd imagine I'm older than your children and I don't understand either. Either you're off by a decade or something earthshattering happened in 1991 that I am at a loss to figure out...