Disney Wonder Sept 3-7, 2006

[LCTsMom]

But I did get a puppy!

OH MY GOSH, HOW ADORABLE! What's your puppy's name? What a cutie!

 

[NJBILL]

What an ADORABLE puppy!!

I haven't gotten my passporter yet either, but I read on either their website or in their newsletter that it would probably be more like the second week of April. I just hope it's soon - I'm not a patient person!

5 more months!!!

PLease forgive my ignorance, but what is a Disney Passporter? Cruise Doc's?

 

[Piecey]

It's just a really, really nice.. travel book? I have the one for Walt Disney World and LOVE IT.. Can't wait to finally get the cruise one! Maybe it'll show up in time to read on the airplane ride down?

www.passporter.com

 

[NJBILL]

The Colorado State University team led by Dr. William Gray, a pioneer in forecasting storm probabilities, said it expected 17 named storms to form in the Atlantic basin during the six-month season starting in June.

Nine of the storms will likely strengthen into hurricanes, with winds of at least 74 mph, the team said, reaffirming their early prediction in December.

The forecasters said five of the hurricanes were likely to be major storms, reaching at least Category 3 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity, and boasting winds of at least 111 mph.

But they also said there was less chance of major storms making landfall in the United States compared with 2005's record-breaking hurricane season.

"Even though we expect to see the current active period of Atlantic major hurricane activity to continue for another 15-20 years, it is statistically unlikely that the coming 2006-2007 hurricane season, or the seasons that follow, will have the number of major hurricane U.S. landfall events as we have seen in 2004-2005," Gray said in a statement.

Last season -- at $80 billion the costliest on record in terms of damage -- saw 27 named storms, of which 15 developed into hurricanes.

In addition to Katrina, Hurricane Rita hammered Texas and Hurricane Wilma briefly became the most intense Atlantic hurricane ever observed before slamming into the Mexican resort of Cancun. Wilma then curved back over South Florida, where it wreaked $10 billion worth of damage.

The long-term statistical average is for about 10 named storms per season, of which six become hurricanes.

 

[Blackunicorn]

We got our airfare! Now we can get to Florida, and we've got a place to stay. No park tickets yet, and no food paid for! LOL I'm scared stiff that I did something wrong on the airplane tickets, I've never bought airfare before.

 

[taeja71]

The Colorado State University team led by Dr. William Gray, a pioneer in forecasting storm probabilities, said it expected 17 named storms to form in the Atlantic basin during the six-month season starting in June.

Nine of the storms will likely strengthen into hurricanes, with winds of at least 74 mph, the team said, reaffirming their early prediction in December.

The forecasters said five of the hurricanes were likely to be major storms, reaching at least Category 3 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity, and boasting winds of at least 111 mph.

But they also said there was less chance of major storms making landfall in the United States compared with 2005's record-breaking hurricane season.

"Even though we expect to see the current active period of Atlantic major hurricane activity to continue for another 15-20 years, it is statistically unlikely that the coming 2006-2007 hurricane season, or the seasons that follow, will have the number of major hurricane U.S. landfall events as we have seen in 2004-2005," Gray said in a statement.

Last season -- at $80 billion the costliest on record in terms of damage -- saw 27 named storms, of which 15 developed into hurricanes.

In addition to Katrina, Hurricane Rita hammered Texas and Hurricane Wilma briefly became the most intense Atlantic hurricane ever observed before slamming into the Mexican resort of Cancun. Wilma then curved back over South Florida, where it wreaked $10 billion worth of damage.

The long-term statistical average is for about 10 named storms per season, of which six become hurricanes.

I hope all that's been said by them comes true.

Congrats, Dawn on making your flight arrangements. You should be fine. Have hope!

 

[taeja71]

Okay so I still haven't gotten my Disney Cruise Passporter yet.. not sure what the hold up is?..

But I did get a puppy!

Ahhhh One question, aren't you moving?

 

[Piecey]

Haha.. yes.
Luckily my friend has been wanting a puppy.. but her grandparents, which is who I'll be living with... haven't let her.
Well I called her before I went back to buy Rink (his name, by the way) and she got all excited because she knew her Granny would let me bring MY puppy down.
Sure enough she was right and I started packing to leave soon. :-D

At least I have a two hour drive to the port from there instead of a two hour flight :-D

 

[NJBILL]

We got our airfare! Now we can get to Florida, and we've got a place to stay. No park tickets yet, and no food paid for! LOL I'm scared stiff that I did something wrong on the airplane tickets, I've never bought airfare before.

Just curious..did you book your airfare through Disney?

 

[Dawn M]

Hey everybody 151 days, 7 hours, 5 min and we will be cruising!!!

 

[Blackunicorn]

Just curious..did you book your airfare through Disney?

No. Everyone I've talked to--including Disney!--says that Disney generally doesn't have the best fares, though they had some good ones the day I booked my cruise. I believe that the fare they offered was the exact same one I would have gotten by calling AA itself. We figured that we could do better on our own, though I've got to tell you, it was nerve-racking on the days that the fare was $300+ per person. I was also advised that the best rates for September wouldn't come out until July or August, but I cracked under the pressure and bought the first fare that met our requirements--morning departure, afternoon return, and below $150 (before fees). I would have also liked non-stop, but I'm very happy not having to worry that I'll miss a great fare and cost my family a ton of money.

 

[NJBILL]

Sounds like you made a good choice..for the correct reasons... A few $$$ is not worth the trouble..

My neighbor and I were having a conversation the other day about trips to Disney. We have both been before, and basically agree that if you are going to disney.it's difficult to watch every penny, and it is sort of expected to spend more than you would at another location. a few other neighbors are going a week after us..one family has never went, and are going with a family that has gone many times, and agree with the "it's and experience" philosophy. The first time family is complaing everyday about how expensive everything is, and they do not really understand the entire Disney "environment". The fact is things at Disney cost more, and I think you need to accept that going in..I think they are in for a very long week at Disney..

 

[Ker-Bear]

I have a random and somewhat dumb question:

I am about to book my Dolphin Swim. It is cheaper to book direct than through Disney. My only question is this: what if we are unable to dock in Nassau and we don't get to do the excursion? DCL would refund us the money but if we book direct will the vendor refund the money?

I have trip insurance so I am inclined to think it could be covered by that. Haven't looked at the insurance docs because my eyes glaze over as I try to read the very fine print

 

[taeja71]

I have a random and somewhat dumb question:

I am about to book my Dolphin Swim. It is cheaper to book direct than through Disney. My only question is this: what if we are unable to dock in Nassau and we don't get to do the excursion? DCL would refund us the money but if we book direct will the vendor refund the money?

I have trip insurance so I am inclined to think it could be covered by that. Haven't looked at the insurance docs because my eyes glaze over as I try to read the very fine print

Not sure of the answer, but I know when our DCL parasailing was cancelled at CC, we were refunded/not charged b/c the event didn't happen. Not sure what or how a non DCL company handles things. Sorry.

Bill you are so right about disappearing money. When we cruised in '04 and got our stateroom bill, we had no idea we racked up so much. The KTTW card is a very dangerous card! After the shock we just shook it off and paid the bill and went on our Disney way. I think you can budget for a certain amt., but I won't be able to stick to it 100%. I believe you can get a balance during the cruise to see where your stateroom bill is at, but where's the fun in that?

 

[NJBILL]

I have a random and somewhat dumb question:

I am about to book my Dolphin Swim. It is cheaper to book direct than through Disney. My only question is this: what if we are unable to dock in Nassau and we don't get to do the excursion? DCL would refund us the money but if we book direct will the vendor refund the money?

I have trip insurance so I am inclined to think it could be covered by that. Haven't looked at the insurance docs because my eyes glaze over as I try to read the very fine print

I have read that non-disney excursions are cheaper,but not refundable if you miss your Port of Call, whereas I believe Disney does not charge you if the Port is missed. I would ask the vendor before booking,and then ask for it in writing before your pay.

 

[NJBILL]

Bill you are so right about disappearing money. When we cruised in '04 and got our stateroom bill, we had no idea we racked up so much. The KTTW card is a very dangerous card! After the shock we just shook it off and paid the bill and went on our Disney way. I think you can budget for a certain amt., but I won't be able to stick to it 100%. I believe you can get a balance during the cruise to see where your stateroom bill is at, but where's the fun in that?

I do not even look until we check-out....Our biggest expense is my wife's bar tab...we have been able to bring some of her favorite beverage with us, so it does help minimize the cost somewhat....

 

[Ker-Bear]

I do not even look until we check-out....Our biggest expense is my wife's bar tab...we have been able to bring some of her favorite beverage with us, so it does help minimize the cost somewhat....

me too!!!! I have the rolling cooler with the plastic bottles of Malibu rum (one of the main ingredients to most all my favorite tropical drinks. Now if I could find tequila in a plastic bottle

 

[Ker-Bear]

Here is what Shore Trips said:

Thanks for your inquiry. If your ship is not able to dock or the
excursion is cancelled by the tour operator, you will receive a full
refund. Below is our cancellation policy, which you can see on our
website.
"ShoreTrips will allow fully refundable cancellations, by the traveler
or the agency, prior to 10 days from the day of the trip. At 10 days
outbound, ShoreTrips will not allow any refund of payments except if
conditions make it impossible for the ship to dock and disembark
passengers in a timely manner, or if your flight is delayed or
cancelled, or if the vendor must cancel due to equipment or weather
problems. Your cruise ship and its employees and agents do not have the
authority to cancel ShoreTrips. The passenger must notify ShoreTrips
within 12 days after the ShoreTrip date that a problem occurred. The
notification must be in writing. Emails and faxes will be accepted

Here is what the Dolphin Encounters website says:

No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less than 24 hours prior to the reserved program. Groups may require a longer cancellation period depending on size.

No refunds will be issued for guests that do not meet the program requirements for age, physical fitness, maternity reasons or who violate company policies.

We go rain or shine! So, no refunds for bad weather unless Dolphin Encounters cancels the excursion

So although it will be a little more expensive (I think $10.00) I will probably go with Shore Trips just in case. Thanks for your help!

 

[Blackunicorn]

NJBill--I agree, Disney's very expensive, but you're paying for an experience. I know I'm preaching to the choir But they really have to understand that this is not an amusement park, and there really is a difference. For me, the ability to walk on property and be immersed in a fantasy is the epitomy of getting away. Oh, well, I guess that's why we go every year and other people don't.

Kerry--I was going to tell you, but you found all the info yourself. You could get travel insurance to cover the dolphin swim, but I tend to think that for $10 going with Shore Trip is the best deal. (I'm swimming through travel insurance policies right now trying to find something that makes sense. It's not going well. )

I was going through our paperwork late last night, compulsively confirming the little details we have covered right now, and I discovered that we mistakenly made our reservations so we check out the day before we fly home! So at 1am I was running around the house panicking because we used DVC points and there was no way we were going to be able to add on to our reservation at this late date! My husband called this morning, though, and we're covered. Phew!

Dawn G.

 

[NJBILL]

Dawn,
See... men are good for something..sometimes...
Glad it worked out for you..........