Dec. 2, 2010 3 day Wonder

[Momfong]

Awesome. Thank you for all the info. I think we will plan on getting there between 9:30-10. No kids so getting there early and waiting won't be a problem.

Hi Donna - You guys going on the cruise for a "second honeymoon"? Are the kids coming for the second half of the vacation?

 

[Disneydonnam]

Hi Donna - You guys going on the cruise for a "second honeymoon"? Are the kids coming for the second half of the vacation?

We are celebrating our 20th anniversary. My husband loves boats and has wanted to go on a cruise for ever but I have always been afraid. I figured it was time to overcome my fear and just do it. No family this trip just the two of us.

 

[WiscBill]

Thought I better expand on some things in an earlier post.

1. The approximate time that the cruise terminal opens is around 10 AM. It may open later. It all depends on when DCL says the last passenger is off from the previous cruise and they can open the terminal. On the one time we got there early (in order to change to main dining), they did not let people into the terminal until 1030.
2. Getting there later does not necessarily mean the lines are going to be longer. They may actually be shorter. The really long lines start to occur when the buses start to arrive from the resorts, which is somewhere between 11 and noon. "Long " is relative. That means a wait time of about 15 minutes based on my experience versus just walking up and getting your key to the world card and photo. If you wait till 1 PM or later, you can usually find no lines and will be processed and on-board very quickly. It all depends on when you want to start your cruise vacation.
3. Boarding starts around noon. Again, times will vary. If you are not concierge or platinum castaway club (who board in group 1), you will be given a card with a boarding group number (2 to about 14) when you enter the terminal. After a certain period, they stop boarding in groups and just let people on after they check-in.

It's really up to you whether you arrive early or late. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. If you get there early, you have the advantage of being in an early boarding group and first chance at purchasing upgrades if available. You also get to start your vacation a little earlier. The disadvantages are waiting in a terminal for two hours that is going to get crowded and not being able to get to your cabin till 130. Arriving late, you probably can just walk on and go to your cabin directly if its past 130. You may have fewer lunch options (Parrot Cay shuts down around 2PM) and the pool might be crowded if the weather is nice.

 

[Disneydonnam]

Wow not sure what to do now.

 

[CrazyBoutDisney]

1. The approximate time that the cruise terminal opens is around 10 AM. It may open later. It all depends on when DCL says the last passenger is off from the previous cruise and they can open the terminal. On the one time we got there early (in order to change to main dining), they did not let people into the terminal until 1030.

Very true--I did some research and found things have changed a bit since our first cruise. Used to be they opened the gates at 9:30 and started check-in about 10. I'm now seeing the terminal opens between 10 and 10:30, with check-in starting shortly thereafter. The terminal is actually undergoing an expansion right now(to get ready for the Dream, I'm sure!), which is supposed to be complete this month.

So, sleep a little later, enjoy a nice breakfast at the hotel and get ready for a WONDERful trip!!

 

[Disneydonnam]

That seems to make the most sense. We will plan to arrive at the ship after we have breakfast.

 

[japeer1980]

Hi Everyone!!! I am very excited for our families 1st ever cruise and its a disney cruise, so chances are we will never set sail on any other cruiseline!!!

We are staying at the country inn and suites the night before the cruise. Does our whole party have to be at the port in order to get a boarding number Or can my husband and myself go and leave our kiddos with Grandma at the hotel??? My guess is probablly not, but i thought i would ask the experts!!!

I would also like to sign us up for the FE. It sounds like a lot of fun and I know my 3 yo will love it!!!

 

[WiscBill]

Hi Everyone!!! I am very excited for our families 1st ever cruise and its a disney cruise, so chances are we will never set sail on any other cruiseline!!!

We are staying at the country inn and suites the night before the cruise. Does our whole party have to be at the port in order to get a boarding number Or can my husband and myself go and leave our kiddos with Grandma at the hotel??? My guess is probablly not, but i thought i would ask the experts!!!

I would also like to sign us up for the FE. It sounds like a lot of fun and I know my 3 yo will love it!!!

One person can check in your party but they have to have all the needed documentation: signed cruise documents, credit card (or what ever you're using to settle your on-board account) and all the passports (or equivalent). The rest of you will need some sort of identification (drivers license, photocopy of your passport) to enter the terminal along with a copy of your cruise documents. All of your party will have to have your picture taken for the DCL identification system which is a separate step from the check-in.

Normally, we drop off the luggage, then one of us checks in with DD while the other person drops off the rental car and takes the shuttle bus back to the ship.

 

[Morsel (Chris/Lynn)]

One person can check in your party but they have to have all the needed documentation: signed cruise documents, credit card (or what ever you're using to settle your on-board account) and all the passports (or equivalent). The rest of you will need some sort of identification (drivers license, photocopy of your passport) to enter the terminal along with a copy of your cruise documents. All of your party will have to have your picture taken for the DCL identification system which is a separate step from the check-in.

Normally, we drop off the luggage, then one of us checks in with DD while the other person drops off the rental car and takes the shuttle bus back to the ship.

Hello WiscBill, and all others on this cruise.

My wife Lynn and I will also be sailing. We are celebrating a belated anniversary, Oct. 24, and Lynn's B-day, Dec. 4. We just returned a couple weeks ago from WDW with the two grandboys. When we returned we decided we had to find a few days to ourselves to relax, so we decided to cruise a few days, thus the Wonder.
We are scheduled for the Dream this time, first week of December 2011 for back-to-back 3 & 4 days cruise. Could not wait that long to relax.
We have done a 3 day Dis cruise for our first ever cruise and liked it very much. When we got home DCL had announced that they were starting 7 day cruises. We have since done 7 of those, both East and West.
Will be going down the day before, as many of you have indicated doing yourselves. We will stay at the Country Inn and Suites at the port. We have done that a few times. We found it to make the morning we board more relaxing. Plus, if you really are early birds you can take a short drive to the jetty at the state park at the port at 4:30am to watch the Wonder come into port.
Will be dropping in from time to time to see how excited everyone is getting. For as many times we have cruised DCL and done WDW we still get excited. Can't wait to see Christmas decore on the ship. We did a Thanksgiving Dis cruise and the ship was being decorated for Christmas. They were also constructing a real gingerbread house during the 7 days. It was completed before the end of the cruise. It had a winter theme to it and it was beautiful.
By the way WiscBill, are from Wisconsin? Also, where is your hometown located in N.Y.? We are 25 miles Northwest fo Rochester.

Chris

 

[japeer1980]

Also, where is your hometown located in N.Y.? We are 25 miles Northwest fo Rochester.

Chris[/QUOTE]

I am originally from the Buffalo area and my Mom who is going on the cruise with us too still lives outside of Buffalo!!!

We are staying at the Country Inn and Suites too. DO you know what time the shuttle leaves or how many trips it makes??

Thanks in advance

 

[Tweet]

japeer1980: Can I have your info for the FE exchange?

 

[WiscBill]

I am from Racine, which got hit by a tornado this week. Ripped the roof off the Case tractor factory.

Quogue is on Long Island. We are not far from the Islip airport, which is a Southwest airport which makes for inexpensive flights to Orlando.

Since we are using up DVC points, we are staying at the Boardwalk Villas before the cruise and the Villas at Wilderness lodge after the cruise.

 

[Morsel (Chris/Lynn)]

Also, where is your hometown located in N.Y.? We are 25 miles Northwest fo Rochester.

Chris

I am originally from the Buffalo area and my Mom who is going on the cruise with us too still lives outside of Buffalo!!!

We are staying at the Country Inn and Suites too. DO you know what time the shuttle leaves or how many trips it makes??

Thanks in advance[/QUOTE]
Good Early Morning.


Just got home from work not long ago. The Country Inn & Suites site for Port Canaveral did not have times for the shuttle. I called the "800" number and they did not have that info either. They stated to call the hotel directly to get that info. We rent a car at the Orlando airport and drive to the port the day before the cruise. The morning of the cruise boarding we return the car to the rental location at Port Canaveral just down the road and take the car rental shuttle to the ship terminal. We usually drop the car off about 9:30. The car rental schuttle runs about every 15-20 minutes. The hotel has a nicew breakfast and it seems to get better each time. It' more a buffet type breakfast.

Chris

 

[Morsel (Chris/Lynn)]

I am from Racine, which got hit by a tornado this week. Ripped the roof off the Case tractor factory.

Quogue is on Long Island. We are not far from the Islip airport, which is a Southwest airport which makes for inexpensive flights to Orlando.

Since we are using up DVC points, we are staying at the Boardwalk Villas before the cruise and the Villas at Wilderness lodge after the cruise.

My wife is from Milwaukee, Greenfield to be exact. I met her while I was attending a Navy school at Great Lakes. We try to get back there every year or two to visit her family. We were visiting a few summers ago when the Racine area, and central Wisconsin, got hit by tornados. Debris was coming down in Greenfield from the one in central Wisconsin. One piece was a picture ID card. We sent it back to the owner. Who knows what they went through that something like that was taken across the state. Here in western N.Y. we just get a lot of cold and snow. Just like Wisconsin. I can live without the tornado weather. Lucky you having access to Southwest air. Rochester has high fares in general. Going to Buffalo, the near
est Southwest access, creates a cost in itself that does not help reduce cost of flying from Rochester, not to mention it takes an hour each way to get there. Oh well, in the scheme of the cost of cruising with DCL the airfare is not that much of a burden.
Enjoy the trick-or-treaters. We have not had anyone since 1992. I still buy candy, my favorites of coarse, so that I have some for myself. What an excuse for having candy.

Chris

 

[Julie Mouse]

Hey - I've finally got a room # - 2046.

 

[Julie Mouse]

I've got a room # - won't be long now

Only 50 days to we set sail!

Upate on FE list:

John & Lori 2A #5509
Steve & Marilyn 2A #5505
Ed, Sharon, Dennis, & Jennifer 4A
Brandon, Michelle 2A, & Jaden (2 yrs old)
Dave & Beth 2A #6099
Marc & Kyrie (2A), Jacob (6 on Dec. 2nd!), Max (4), and Ella (22months) #6639
Julie, Category 12 #2046
Todd & Wanda (2A), Noah (10) and Abby (8) #6048
Robert & Jenny (2A) room#6624
Ron and Marnie Bourque (2a) Ronnie (13) Rhianna (9) #2106
Donna & Curt 2A #
Christine, Frank, and Isabella (age 3), Room 2058

 

[Tweet]

Its coming fast!!!!!! New update for FE:
John & Lori 2A #5509
Steve & Marilyn 2A #5505
Ed, Sharon, Dennis, & Jennifer 4A #2134
Brandon, Michelle 2A, & Jaden (2 yrs old) #2077
Dave & Beth 2A #6099
Marc & Kyrie (2A), Jacob (6 on Dec. 2nd!), Max (4), and Ella (22months) #6639
Julie, Category 12 #2046
Todd & Wanda (2A), Noah (10) and Abby (8) #6048
Robert & Jenny (2A) room#6624
Ron and Marnie Bourque (2a) Ronnie (13) Rhianna (9) #2106
Donna & Curt 2A #6094
Christine, Frank, and Isabella (age 3), Room 2058
Jim & Chris 2A #8558

 

[dr&momto2boys]

So far for the FEs, I count 13 cabins with 25 adults and 9 kids, right? I'm starting to work on mine. When will the official cut-off date be? We'll need time to make/buy for everyone and we usually ship ours ahead. I'm getting so excited now!

I'll go back and search the thread, but I'm wondering if there is a plan to get updates after boarding in case someone on our FE list upgrades/switches to a different room.

 

[Momfong]

So far for the FEs, I count 13 cabins with 25 adults and 9 kids, right? I'm starting to work on mine. When will the official cut-off date be? We'll need time to make/buy for everyone and we usually ship ours ahead. I'm getting so excited now!

I'll go back and search the thread, but I'm wondering if there is a plan to get updates after boarding in case someone on our FE list upgrades/switches to a different room.

Hi - I counted 27 adults. There was also someone who wanted to join, but we don't have any info on their room or family yet. I am progressing on our FE gifts ... some ideas have "hit the dust" and will never be seen in the daylight.

I never thought about changes in room numbers ... wow .. you guys are good.

I'll keep watching for new updates. It's almost time ...

 

[CrazyBoutDisney]

I am progressing on our FE gifts ... some ideas have "hit the dust" and will never be seen in the daylight.

I never thought about changes in room numbers ...

Yeah, I got frustrated with some of my FEs and trashed them this morning. Back to the drawing board.

I never thought about cabin changes either and ran into it on our last cruise! It apparently happened at check in and because the bus got us there so late, we missed our DIS meet. Thank goodness a kind room steward gave me the new cabin number when I was out delivering.