Disney Wonder Panama Canal May 01, 2016

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Actually there will be at least two dogs on the cruise. The other dog is a guide dog.

Lots of solos on this sailing!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Hey - NVZolyniak. You finally hit the magic number! Now you have an avatar and can get private messages.

CanyonCam. I was going to stay in Miami, but went with the group staying in Ft. Lauderdale. Hotel was much cheaper and driving to Ft. Lauderdale is an easier drive for me. Plus I know a ton of people staying the night before at the hotel. Should be fun.

 

[canyoncam]

Hey - NVZolyniak. You finally hit the magic number! Now you have an avatar and can get private messages.

CanyonCam. I was going to stay in Miami, but went with the group staying in Ft. Lauderdale. Hotel was much cheaper and driving to Ft. Lauderdale is an easier drive for me. Plus I know a ton of people staying the night before at the hotel. Should be fun.

I would be flying in. As my SW points may not be enough to cover both ends I would have to pay. Cost would be about the same either to FT Lauderdale on SW or Miami on Delta but with a layover. And of course the baggage fee on Delta would make that higher. My biggest hang up would be the fact I want to get on ship ASAP. so if the charter bus is leaving later I really would be unlikely to join. It does sound like fun though.

My reason for being iffy about this cruise is my sister wants to do the Western Caribbean on the Fantasy the same time as this cruise. Which for a solo is the same price as the WBPC inside rooms. I just need to choose. One could argue no real choice to be made. Except it is family.

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Well the charter bus will likely be at the port at 10:00 a.m. with the porters coming out to us. I know the plan is to be at the port as soon as they let us in. Buses tend to get in faster.

Just let us know. I gave you some info on it in a PM so as not to clog up here.

 

[twokats]

Hi everyone. I am booked for this cruise but won't know for sure if I will go until the PIF date. I sailed this year with my Aunt and loved it.

Hope you do join us, but do understand the uncertainty. Feel free to talk and get to know us even if you go the other direction.

 

[canyoncam]

Well the charter bus will likely be at the port at 10:00 a.m. with the porters coming out to us. I know the plan is to be at the port as soon as they let us in. Buses tend to get in faster.

Just let us know. I gave you some info on it in a PM so as not to clog up here.

That sounds good on timing but I have not got the PM. Thanks.

twokats thanks too.

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Canyon Cam. Definitely feel free to join us. It's hard knowing which cruise will work out the best especially when family wants to do a different itinerary! It's all good, you'll be going on a cruise, right?

 

[canyoncam]

I'll definitely be following along. Sis is a little like me as she is also thinking an all inclusive in Riviera Maya. Hmmm, now I have 3 choices......... This one is in the lead though and look forward to finding out more about you guys and if you have questions I "might" be able to help since I took it last year. Though it looks like there are a few repeaters on this one so they probably know more than me.

Thanks all!!!!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Oh wow, you wrote that trip report!! I've followed and read that one.

 

[marblesphx]

We just booked this cruise, and we are SOOOO excited. This will be our 3rd cruise with Disney and our 2nd time on the Wonder. My husband and I will be celebrating our 15 year anniversary. We have 4 kiddos that we are bringing with us. Kaelyn is 14 and she is in the 9th grade, Noah will be 10 and he is in the 4th grade, Elizabeth will turn 4 on this cruise, and the little one, Collin, he will be just shy of 2.
Has a fish extender group been setup yet?
244 days!!! Woohoo!!

 

[twokats]

We just booked this cruise, and we are SOOOO excited. This will be our 3rd cruise with Disney and our 2nd time on the Wonder. My husband and I will be celebrating our 15 year anniversary. We have 4 kiddos that we are bringing with us. Kaelyn is 14 and she is in the 9th grade, Noah will be 10 and he is in the 4th grade, Elizabeth will turn 4 on this cruise, and the little one, Collin, he will be just shy of 2.
Has a fish extender group been setup yet?
244 days!!! Woohoo!!

Glad you are booked with us. Yes we have a FE setup. You have given me some of the info right here, but we usually take names stateroom#, and any other info you want to give us, but that and a big "I want to join the group" is all I need!

 

[marblesphx]

We are rooms #2094 and #2096 (connected) Lynn (dh), Veronica (me), Kaelyn (dd14), Noah (ds 10), Elizabeth (dd 3), Collin (ds1)
"I want to join the group"!!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

The charter bus will leave the hotel in Ft. Lauderdale at 9 AM (for those who are interested in it) That will have us to the port well before 10 AM.

 

[twokats]

We are rooms #2094 and #2096 (connected) Lynn (dh), Veronica (me), Kaelyn (dd14), Noah (ds 10), Elizabeth (dd 3), Collin (ds1)
"I want to join the group"!!

I have you in the group!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Welcome aboard!

 

[NonnaJoa]

How many cabins and/or people are in the FE group? Do you break it into smaller groups if it gets crazy big? I am trying to decide if I want to join. Wondering how much luggage space I need.
Also is it a onetime exchange or do you exchange daily, weekly?

 

[Billie.aht]

I have a question for the experienced cruisers. What happens if your family needs to contact you in an emergency? Do they contact Disney Cruise Line?

Thanks for your help.

 

[canyoncam]

I have a question for the experienced cruisers. What happens if your family needs to contact you in an emergency? Do they contact Disney Cruise Line?

Thanks for your help.

Yes. Directly to DCL. Included in your final documents are a few cards you can cut out and give to family members with the cruiselines number on it. I believe it has printed out your specific cruise information. Keep in mind this is for true emergencies as the cost for using this number is not exactly cheap. The ability to use wifi on the ships now is quite helpful for the not exactly emergencies that may need to be dealt with.

ETA the wifi is sold either in package deals or pay as you go. Recently DCL has offered a very small (50 MB) free package if you sign up on the first day only

 

[SillyInventor]

The other option is "cellular at sea": via a satellite connection cellphone connectivity is offered on the Ships. However the roaming rates could be pretty heavy, so this is only an option if cost isn't an issue or if there is an expected emergency and you have to be reachable 24/7. If the latter is the case with your family I would reconsider going on the cruise at all. Even if an emergency message reaches you, you won't be able to leave the ship when not docked. So if this is at the beginning of two seadays you will be "stuck" on the ship for two more days before there is any travel option and you still have to arrange for short term travel yourself.

 

[twokats]

How many cabins and/or people are in the FE group? Do you break it into smaller groups if it gets crazy big? I am trying to decide if I want to join. Wondering how much luggage space I need.
Also is it a onetime exchange or do you exchange daily, weekly?

We have a limit of 20 cabins in each FE Group. Once one is full we open a new one, so the biggest it can be is 20. Some might get smaller if people have to cancel but they will not be more than 20 cabins. Usually people only exchange once, but that is totally up to you how participate.