Disney Wonder Jan 23, 2011

[jkrislc]

excellent analysis, Kris

Thanks. If I say enough, I'm bound to be right at least once

 

[googles111]

Found a recent thread with a few cute crafts for the kids (or the kids at heart) if anyone is interested.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2596844

Thank you!! That site will be great to have! I am doing a scavenger hunt for my kids on Christmas Day. I am going to make the ship as the last clue

 

[Kidlette]

Kris - do you mind if I pick your brain a second, please?

How long after I contact the professors (about missing time for the cruise) do you think I should wait until I contact them again? Also, is there usually a way for the school to send my question to the professor (in case he/she doesn't check their school email)?

Thanks! I owe you for hasseling you so much!

Jessica

 

[jkrislc]

Kris - do you mind if I pick your brain a second, please?

How long after I contact the professors (about missing time for the cruise) do you think I should wait until I contact them again? Also, is there usually a way for the school to send my question to the professor (in case he/she doesn't check their school email)?

Thanks! I owe you for hasseling you so much!

Jessica

Are we talking frontal lobotomy or something more gentle?

Ideally, the professor should respond within 24 to 48 hours excluding weekends. If he/she doesn't respond by Friday, I'd follow up with a second email and a voicemail. Then after Thanksgiving, I'd follow up with the division office. You don't want to call the office yet as it may reflect poorly on him/her and then make him/her less sympathetic to help you. However, my guess is that the voicemail will work if the email doesn't.

Keep in mind that he/she can't drop you for missing the second week as I'm dilute school policy allows for a week's absence. The loss of points is the only problem. If it was the first week of classes, then that would be a different issue.

Kris

 

[jkrislc]

Has anyone heard about the Wave Phones that will appear on the DCL ships starting next month? Apparently, each cabin will come with two and you'll be able to call each phone and the cabin. They're also suppose to replace the pagers for the clubs.

Here's the link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2599324

 

[airtime247]

Thanks for posting the link Kris. It sounds like a neat idea but I sure hope they are set to vibrate-only. I can imagine how distracting it would be to have all the constant ringing during dinner and shows. Much like the existing pagers, we won't be carrying ours around unless Emma is in the club but it would be a nice feature if we split up to do different activities and want to call each other when we are done.

-steve

 

[jkrislc]

I Would have to think that Disney considered the ringing phone problem. Perhaps they're even set to automatically go to vibrate when you pass through certain doors (e.g., theater). Since they're wireless, there's no reason they couldn't be programmer to do so.

The only time I actually see the need to use the phone is when DS is in the club or on the preceding two day cruise as we'll have extended family with us. Otherwise, I'm also with my DS and DW, so I know where they are.

Kris

 

[SueTGGR]

Thank you, Kris for posting this. Now I don't have to dust off our old walkie talkies and check to see if they work. Well. maybe I will after reading how expensive they are to replace. I think if we are going to let Alec go off with some others, I will give him the old one. But then I am not sure I can handle that yet as he is only 10. But it will be nice to have those when he is in the club.

Is anyone else thinking Christmas needs to be over & done with? especially since all the stores are having pre-Black Friday sales! Christmas starts earlier and earlier.

Jessica (& anyone else that might want to meet up), we are still on the fence about our trip down next month. We are definitely going but not sure the date. Jeff got his end of the year bonus and wants to stay on site but the rates are cheaper for some reason for the weekend of the 17th-19th. I am thinking that will be crazy but then the SoCal passes are no longer good so maybe??? Oh, and I found out there is a Cheer competition (convention center) and some groups performing in the parade the weekend of the 10th so we are torn. Jeff is checking to see what will be a better time to get time off work. I will keep you updated.
Later,
Sue

 

[Kidlette]

Jessica (& anyone else that might want to meet up), we are still on the fence about our trip down next month. We are definitely going but not sure the date. Jeff got his end of the year bonus and wants to stay on site but the rates are cheaper for some reason for the weekend of the 17th-19th. I am thinking that will be crazy but then the SoCal passes are no longer good so maybe??? Oh, and I found out there is a Cheer competition (convention center) and some groups performing in the parade the weekend of the 10th so we are torn. Jeff is checking to see what will be a better time to get time off work. I will keep you updated.
Later,
Sue

Hey sue,
No worries, just let me know. We were initially thinking we would go to Vegas the weekend of the 17th, but it looks like that might not happen now. Ryan's work might be making them shut down the office for all of next week plus two weeks at Christmas - unpaid and previously unannounced. If they do, this is going to screwup everything for us! Let me know when you decide to go and we'll let you know if we can make it! I just realized too, if the 17th is a Friday then I'm 99% sure that is the day of my office Xmas party. Woops - hey Dudley - I didn't think about that! Maybe we couldn't leave for Vegas that Friday anyway.

Kris - thanks for the tips! I will heed that advice and do just what you said. You're the best!

 

[SueTGGR]

Hey sue,
I just realized too, if the 17th is a Friday then I'm 99% sure that is the day of my office Xmas party.

Funny...this is the exact reason Jeff thinks the boss won't let him take that day off. Jeff is not much of a "Party" person and hates these but the big boss has the final say. We should know and make our plans this weekend.
Off to work for me!

 

[jkrislc]

Kris - thanks for the tips! I will heed that advice and do just what you said. You're the best!

Any time. Glad I could help and I'm always willing to do so in the future as well.

Kris

 

[jkrislc]

Does anyone think that something "special" will happen aboard the Wonder due to the new ship's maiden voyage while we're onboard?

Just watched "Disney Parks: Disney Cruise Line" during lunch as it was new to Netflix and could be streamed. Basically a rehash of what we've all seen before, but really makes me want to be on the cruise right now. Two holidays and we're there.

Kris

 

[airtime247]

I kind of doubt they will do anything special for the cruise since the Magic has already been to Mexico. I hope I'm wrong though. It would be nice if they had some special pins, shirts or other souvenirs or maybe had a special guest speaker or entertainment acts that are bigger than they would have on a normal cruise.

The only other maiden voyage I've been on with Disney saw a ton of merchandise and pins and had Bob Saget and Boys II Men on board performing. They also had talks by author and Imagineer Jason Surrell and artist Don "Ducky" Williams as well as the former and current presidents of DCL.

I'm sure they won't do that much again but something extra would be cool!

-steve

 

[jkrislc]

I guess I'm being hopeful since this is the first time for the Wonder and her new home port. I also heard they're building a dedicated terminal for the Wonder, which suggest a long term commitment. In addition, the new resort in Hawaii is adjacent to a cruise port, adding to the speculation of the importance of a West Coast home port.

 

[Kidlette]

Hey guys! My opinion doesn't count for much because I've never been on a cruise where it's the first time in its home port, but I'd like to think they'll do a little something special! I did work in the travel industry for almost 10 years though, and a "maiden voyage" is technically the first voyage of a ship, not it's first time in a new port; therefore, I don't think it will be treated as an actual maiden voyage. Then again, if it's true that they are dedicating a terminal to it, they may do some kind of christening in which case they may treat it like a maiden voyage. LOL - in the end - I have NO idea!! But Kris - I like the way you think! I'll be crossing my fingers that you're right!!

 

[Sailing Sue]

Hello Sailing Sue,

We have an 11 year old (aside from our toddler) who is also into gymnastics, chorus and music, funny enough. Are there any groups (tweens) meeting? Anyhow, i hope they meet but since ours will do the kids club stuff about half the time and will look for other friends the other half, who knows. We are in 2002, I think.

Cool! We should definitely get them together. All four of my girls do gymnastics, chorus, and girl scouts as well. It's much easier for me if they all do the same thing, and thank goodness, they all like the same things so far!

 

[airtime247]

I'm sure Disney will probably have something special for the first Alaska cruise. I'm just excited to be sailing with Disney again and experiencing the Wonder for the first time!

On another note, I finally got our main FE gift ordered tonight. It should give me plenty of time to "plus" them before the cruise. I want to shop a little more for the gift bags tomorrow too.

Have a great weekend everyone!

-steve

 

[F&A]

For the first Voyage out of the new port, I bet they have the usual cruise specific t-shirt you can buy to commemorate it. Not sure if anyone took a cruise earlier this year like we did, if you booked an Alaskan cruise, you got a magnet for you cabin door saying you are headed to Alaska. I read the Magic will join Wonder out of L.A. in 2013. The Fantasy has is her maiden voyage in April 2012. Both the Dream and Fantasy are too big to go through the Panama Canal until the new lox are finished around 2016 so no chance of them coming to the West Coast until them. Most people don't realize the Magic and the Wonder are the size they are because they were spec'ed to go through the Panama Canal.

I did hear the the Wonder and the Magic would get retrofitted with some of the new technology from the Dream, specifically the virtual port holes in the inside staterooms.

My wife finally deleted the Disney Cruiseline travel channel special from our DVR. It was on there for over a year. Cruise director Brett is unmistakable. Too bad he is on the Magic. "Don't forget your sunscreen sun protection folks..."

OK I'm ready to go too. Is it time yet?

 

[jkrislc]

I did work in the travel industry for almost 10 years though, and a "maiden voyage" is technically the first voyage of a ship, not it's first time in a new port; therefore, I don't think it will be treated as an actual maiden voyage.

I agree with you here, but after reading the trip reports from the first 2005 MR cruise of the Magic, I started wondering. What they received were really cute captain's hats with Mickey ears; that would be awesome.

Thought I'd add a link to this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2595083

Apparently, the poster just got off the Wonder, where she states they were testing new menus for the Panama Canal and MR cruises.

Kris

 

[Kidlette]

I agree with you here, but after reading the trip reports from the first 2005 MR cruise of the Magic, I started wondering. What they received were really cute captain's hats with Mickey ears; that would be awesome.

Thought I'd add a link to this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2595083

Apparently, the poster just got off the Wonder, where she states they were testing new menus for the Panama Canal and MR cruises.

Kris

I hope you're right because that would be awesome! Like I said, I don't know much and I definitely don't read message boards and stuff like everyone else does (no time) - so you would have a better idea than me. I think they have to have shirts, special pins, and other merchandise for purchase, but about "freebies" I have no idea. I would almost expect Disney to give us all a special pin, but that's just because my expectations are high and I truly think it's a "Disney thing to do" since it is the wonder's new home. Lately we've noticed they've been giving a lot of patches for things, so that's a possibility too.

Hey - what about for the people who ALWAYS get something in their room, do you think those will be "special"? For instance, we are castaway club and DVC, so we always get the free sports bottles, lanyards, bags, etc. Maybe those things will be Mexico and "1st cruise" related! That would be cool too!