Dec 28, '04 - ONE WEEK from today we'll be "fill in the blank"

[GeneralMax]

Hi All-

Thanks to your sound advice we booked the REAS package.

I called Disney today to see if the trip was being altered at all because of the Tuesday sailing. They said same trip, same order just different days. Now we are trying to pick a Palo night. Any advice?

Also does anyone have a favorite dinning order. We did not have great waiters on our last Western cruise. I am hoping we do better this time. They made such a big difference on the first cruise.

Ruth

 

[tecdavidt]

We just found out that our wait listing worked--we are now in a cat. 3 8032!!! This is fantastic. Our daughter thinks we are going Spring Break in a cat. 6. The last two years we were in a cat. 3 so she is missing the perks but that is OK. Well, now she will be surprised Christmas morning and she will also be surprised to find out that we will be in a cat. 3!

We won't be going Spring Break because the prices are sky high because of how Easter falls and how the east coast gets the time off. Rates are really expensive compared to our past Spring Break cruises. In fact, my husband has tried to find a vacation somewhere and the airfair is expensive compared to what we normally pay. All because of how the holiday falls. Oh well, we will just skip Spring Break in '05. Kathy

 

[GeneralMax]

Kathy-

Congratulations on the upgrade!! We are also supposed to be on the waiting list for a Cat 3 room but my travel agent had said it is not likely to happen for anyone on this cruise. I am curious who you booked your trip with and if there were active in getting you the upgarde or if it just came through?

Keeping your fingers crossed for us as well.

Ruth

 

[tecdavidt]

I wouldn't call it an upgrade since we did have to pay the price difference. Our TA is our friend who works for Cruise Holidays here in Des Moines. She put us on a wait list for a cat. 3 and as the cat. 3's get cancelled--if people cancel--then DCL calls the people on the waitlist/ or calls their TA's. The farther up you are on the list the better your chances. We booked this cruise late for us, after our March '04 cruise so cat. 3's were all gone. I believe all TA's and DCL will wait list you if you request it.

Apparently some people have cancelled so hopefully your cat. 3 will come through. Just be prepared for the price difference. It wouldn't hurt to talk to your TA to remind them you would really like a cat. 3.
Kathy

 

[LegalBriefs]

This is interesting... 8032 was mine before I moved up to the Roy suite when someone cancelled, but that was several months ago, I wonder if someone picked it up in the intirim or if it takes that long for rooms to get back in the system...?

As far as what rotation I like the best, I enjoy starting at Lumieres the first night, that way you get to eat there 3 times (or you get to Palo as a substitute on one of those nights). If I had to pick a place to eat 3 times it would be Lumieres of the three available... Whereas I really enjoy AP, it seems to take so long because they have to time everone the same so we end at the same time and they do their little Server Parade....

So, no one has the cruise matrix yet? I am curious about the schedule... Unfortunately, past years' schedules are not very helpful since New Years fals on a different day...

Ron

 

[GeneralMax]

Disney is saying that the trip will not be altered because of the Tuesday start. Treat Tuesday as Day 1 and go from there. I thought they might change something too but they are saying no. It seems like they would make News Year's Eve a formal night.

I am not loving this whole waiting list thing. I have gotten so much conflicting info from my travel agent. First I get an e-mail that a Cat 3 is available. I say go for it !...Three days later I get an opps it was a handicap room so it is not available. One day they are saying they call everyday and the next day they say they are on vacation for a week. Not a fabulous job managing my expectations.

It hard to feel like you are getting bad service when you are in a service industry yourself.

I need some serious Disney magic here. We are not feeling the love....

 

[tecdavidt]

Here is a little pixie dust *'*'*'*'*' for you on getting that cat. 3.

LegalBriefs, I would guess somebody took the room then gave it up later. A thank you to for giving it up first. Ahh, the huge cat. 1, lets have the DIS meet there, please .
I do know that when DCL calls either the actual cruiser or the TA they need to know within 24 hrs. whether or not the cruiser wants the cabin they wait listed for. We actually cancelled a 4 day Wonder cruise that would of been after Christmas last year. We were wait listed for a cat. 3. A couple months out I had a phone call, since they no longer had our TA info, that it was available if we wanted it. Well, I told the cast member that was great but that cruise was cancelled a long time ago. She then found out the reason why she didn't have our TA info. I must admit, after reading how DCL is handling this hurricane season and how they call to say, yes one is available then call back and tell you oops we made a mistake--they need improvements in the customer service department. They just aren't as organized as they used to be.

One nice note. When I was talking to that last cast member she shared a lot on the special cruises that are taking place this fall. She asked me about the islands since I had been too all of the new ports. All of these ports are being tested by DCL. Who knows what the ports will be another year from now. It depends on the feedback they get from the cruisers.
Kathy

 

[GeneralMax]

Thanks for the Pixie dust! We will hope it works.

Ruth

I do believe in fairies... I do believe in fairies...

 

[GeneralMax]

Hi All

This Board has gotten quiet lately... I know between kids and work we are a little hectic. The thought of this vacation is keeping me sane.

For those of you with the REAS package have you gotten Palo and Spa reservations yet?

 

[LegalBriefs]

Originally posted by tecdavidt
LegalBriefs, I would guess somebody took the room then gave it up later. A thank you to for giving it up first. Ahh, the huge cat. 1, lets have the DIS meet there, please .

Well, a long way back in the thread I actually offered to host a "DIS Get together" the only thing we were missing was someone to organize it... I'll take care of ordering up some hors-douvres... Anyone volunteering to coordinate it?

 

[Masonpips]

Hi All! I'm trying to figure out our REAS stuff now. I have the "regular" rotation as follows:

Tues: Port C: Casual
Wed: Key West: Casual
Thurs: At sea: Formal
Fri: Grand Cayman (we hope): Casual (NYE)
Sat: Cozumel: Casual
Sun: At Sea: Semi-formal
Mon: Castaway: Casual

I know they didn't switch Formal last year, but this is an odd sailing (days of week) and I can't imagine they'll have Casual night on NYE, can you?

I think we're going to request APL (we have late seating) as I like being in Parrot Cay on Tropical night and we'll do Formal night in Palo (don't like Luminere's regular restaurant menu). We are traveling with friends who are also doing REAS and their anniversary is Sun so we'll do Palo that night too.

I can't believe we're getting close to the 60 day mark! I need to get looking at travel insurance!

 

[Masonpips]

http://www.ncaafootball.net/index.p...e_id=4941&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2

Came back to add the College Bowl game schedule. This is vital info per my dh. I expect a lot of wives will pack on Monday night while the guys watch the Sugar Bowl! LOL

 

[GeneralMax]

I agree that the REAS thing is confusing.

My travel agent tells me that Disney has changed their minds more than once. She says that she has not been able to book our reservations yet because of it. Has anyone else been able to book yet? I'd bet on a formal or semi formal night on New Years Eve.

LegalBriefs

A DIS meet in your suite sounds GREAT!!

I say you pick the date and we will all be there? Is there anything else that needs to done? I vote for early in the cruise. It would be fun to connect early on. Nice to have some faces to go with names early on.

By the way thanks for the help as you can see I fixed the count down clock. If we had stuck with our original plans I would be packing right now for an October 16th cruise. Instead I am going to India for work. Not quite Disney but interesting anyways.

 

[tecdavidt]

I am assuming New Year's Eve is formal. On other New Year's Eve cruises we have been on the "Eve" has always been formal. We were on Celebrity on the first NYE cruise and we were told 3 casual, 2 semi formal and 2 formal. Well, it ended up being 2 casual, 2 semi formal and 3 formal because of NYE. Our Princess cruise last year had 4 casual and 3 formal because of NYE. FYI the Celebrity NYE party was huge and a lot more fun than the Princess. Celebrity eve let the staff dress up and party with the passengers. It was huge.

Ahh, Sugar Bowl on our last night. We will have it on in the room while we pack .

Final payment has been received! It is getting close and I can't talk about it!!! It is killing me but the surprise on our daughter's face will be worth it.

Legal Briefs, you decide when you want the gathering of the DIS and we will show up. I just realized our room is across the elevator hall from your's. Happy Cruising to all! Kathy

 

[Masonpips]

tecdavidt, I am so with you on not telling! But I've been getting my plan ready (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=657808) and it's helping me so much. I am SO excited for Christmas morning!

Has anyone heard anything on Cayman lately? Last I heard was 4-6 weeks until they open for cruise ships. I really hope it's open when we go!

 

[tecdavidt]

Grand Cayman, I would say 50-50 for stopping. That is after reading the board today 10/12.

Just cleared everything with our daughter's school today! Yeah. We go to Ft. Lauderdale on Oct. 27th through Oct. 31st. She will miss three days of school and it just so happens to be quarter end on the 27th--great. Well, teachers all said no problem. When I was emailing the principal I also included info on the Christmas present--he also said, no problem! I am so relieved that is over.

Well all, it is time for me to make my famous DIS list. What I will do is print out, yes, print out all posts. I then write down all DIS names and any info such as, names, number of children, room number, special occasion etc. AND hopefully, I won't forget it when we come to the DIS meet.

Now, we need the official DIS meet area where we meet quickly and get to put faces to the names. On previous cruises it was always right before and ended up during the sail a way party. Starboard side looking down on the Goofy pool. This is not set in stone. Any ideas anybody else? Of course there is always the additional DIS get together in Mr. Legal Briefs room . If he wants to do that of course. Picture a bunch of us DIS people having a party in the wonderful Cat. 1 suite. Oh my.

Back to business, I will have a new thread labeled: Dec. 28th Cruise list. Any changes or additions just post on that thread or email at kathyt@raccoon.com. The one thing different about this list, I can only work on it when my daughter isn't around . It is getting close, only 75 days! Trust me, it will fly by. Also, don't forget the wonderful limegreen shirts, or whatever you choose to say "I am a DIS board member!" on boarding day.

Kathy

 

[GeneralMax]

Kathy- Thank you for being our offical DIS scribe.

I have to finalize payment etc. on my front soon. I am off to India for work on Oct 22nd and I need to get this all taken care of before I go. I should be working on that trip and I keep poping back to the DIS boards to see what is going on. I am much more excited about this trip.

I have two questions. Has anyone gotten their REAS reservations confirmed yet. I have still not heard.
Does anyone have any good ideas for excursions in Key West? We did not do anthing last time we were there.

Thanks, Ruth

 

[Masonpips]

We are calling on REAS this week or early next week - we are in a Cat 9 so I'm not sure if you're in a Cat 1, 2 or 3 and expect "formal" confirmation? I think those groups get them, but the rest of us do not.

We just walked around in Key West and weren't that impressed (I've btdt before) so we'll either do a water excurion or (more likely) stay on the ship and enjoy it with everyone else off! I think we'll do Palo brunch that day (1 of 2 as we're going with friends also doing REAS and double dipping at Palo's)

Kathy, thank you for doing this, I did it on our first cruise and know it's not an easy task! I had help from NJFamily who put together our DIS-board trick-or-treat and she was a godsend! Let me know if I can help you. I'm going to include my friends who haven't posted much, but probably will as we get closer.

And the DIS-meet sounds fine. Last cruise we were on the edges of the dance-floor, but it's hard to "see" it all from there and I like Deck 10 better honestly. And you must be starboard to see the folks at the terminal waving good-bye with their Mickey hands - count us in!

 

[GeneralMax]

We are in.

We also have friends that are on the cruise with their 9 year old daughter. We will add them to the list too.

Has anyone started planning excursions?

 

[Masonpips]

Ok, I've priced insurance and will buy this week. I also thought I had my dining rotation selected but am now waffling. Will call Debbie this week to make REAS choices and have that done.

Then, the final payment and we'll be ON OUR WAY!

The only excursion we're planning is Captain Marvin's (hopefully). I submitted the online registration a while back but haven't heard anything - will contact Ruth this week to confirm.

We MIGHT do something somewhere else but are taking this one really easy and plan on lots of relaxing!