Disney Wonder Sept 3-7, 2006

[LCTsMom]

Lisa, it sounds like you had a great weekend with the kids. Did you play any games yourself or did you hide in a nice quiet?

I'm not big on the video games but I LOVED the Pirates of the Caribbean Adventure ! We had a blast on that one! It was definitely my personal favorite!!

 

[Piecey]

Hmmm anyone notice that you can't book the lower categories on our cruise anymore? Only 9 and up to 4..
hmmm.. seems quick, to me! For hurricane season anyway-- but I guess we're really not very far away!

Wonder if any of us will get an upgrade?

 

[purplern]

I hope so!

O.k., I like bears, but I prefer the teddy bear variety. My parents went on an Alaskan cruise last year and saw black and brown bears. So, Vicki, I perscribe to you an Alaskan cruise!
Just kidding.
I would love to go on an Alaskan cruise!

 

[purplern]

I'm not big on the video games but I LOVED the Pirates of the Caribbean Adventure ! We had a blast on that one! It was definitely my personal favorite!!

We liked that one too!

 

[Luv2Travel]

Hmmm anyone notice that you can't book the lower categories on our cruise anymore? Only 9 and up to 4..
hmmm.. seems quick, to me! For hurricane season anyway-- but I guess we're really not very far away!

Wonder if any of us will get an upgrade?

You all probably will, I was one of "those" who caught a great discount to go on this cruise. Allearsnet advertised a special given by mousefantravel that sold out cat 10s pretty quickly. I thought it was a good price to pay this close to the cruise - it's probably about what all of you smart people paid when you booked waaayy ahead of time. I'm lucky to be in a category 10! I'm just hoping I can "upgrade" to adjoining rooms before the cruise so my DH and I don't have to split up. Good luck to the rest of you in getting upgraded!

 

[Ker-Bear]

My DH and I are sailing on this cruise for our 20th anniversary. We brought our daughter and her cousin two years ago, tried Carnival last year (actually pleasantly suprised) but decided to do Disney for our anniversary. I can't believe the trip is so soon.

Maleficent, esq.

Welcome

 

[Ker-Bear]

Thanks everybody!

So to try to keep up.. who all is going to be swimming with the dolphins? I think that's what people were talking about booking through Shore Trips for, right?

I am doing Shoretrips. It will be me, my dad, my DS, and my friend and her DD. My mom and bf will be observers.

I haven't booked it. Just waiting until my friend is 100% sure she is cruising. She has had some doubts I know, I know. How could you have doubts? But she does

 

[markncheryl]

From passporter.com:

Shore excursion reservations can now be made online up to 75 days before embarkation (90 days for Castaway Club members and 105 days for Concierge guests). Your cruise must be paid in full in order to reserve online.

By my calculations (counting backwards on a calendar) that equals:

75 days -- Tuesday, June 20th (this is me )
90 days -- Monday, June 6th (Tae Ja, this is you, right?)
105 days -- Sunday, May 21st

Of course, I have no intention of waiting for Disney to make my reservations! I'm gonna book through dolphin swims themselves, or Shore Trips, depending on the travel insurance.

Thanks, any problems with just letting Disney handle the reservations?

 

[Piecey]

You all probably will, I was one of "those" who caught a great discount to go on this cruise. Allearsnet advertised a special given by mousefantravel that sold out cat 10s pretty quickly. I thought it was a good price to pay this close to the cruise - it's probably about what all of you smart people paid when you booked waaayy ahead of time. I'm lucky to be in a category 10! I'm just hoping I can "upgrade" to adjoining rooms before the cruise so my DH and I don't have to split up. Good luck to the rest of you in getting upgraded!

We had a heavily discounted Category 10 as well. I had money to do more- at the time, but was happy with a 10. I plan on spending small amounts of time in the room.
If you don't mind me asking, how much DID you pay? We're under 1000 for the two of us- which I thought was good.

 

[Blackunicorn]

Hmmm anyone notice that you can't book the lower categories on our cruise anymore? Only 9 and up to 4..
hmmm.. seems quick, to me! For hurricane season anyway-- but I guess we're really not very far away!

Wonder if any of us will get an upgrade?

Well, I'll bet that at least part of the reason is that they don't have any other 4 day cruises until the end of September--they'll be doing 10 night cruises, instead. I had originally booked a cruise for mid-September, but they cancelled that one and kindly rebooked me on this one WITHOUT TELLING ME. They charged me MORE for the privilege, but my wonderful TA was having none of that. He got me my original price, and got us an upgrade to a category 8. I don't think that I can ask for more than that! We were actually a little disappointed, because we had managed to snag one of the elusive "hidden porthole" rooms, but I think we'll be able to get over it.

Dawn

 

[Blackunicorn]

Thanks, any problems with just letting Disney handle the reservations?

Oh, no, I haven't heard anything negative about Disney at all. But there is a significant difference in price-- booking the dolphin swim through Disney is $113.50, while going directly through the dolphin swim company is $65, and I believe that ShoreTrips is $75. Going through Disney does get you some extra perks, like lunch is provided, and Disney will refund the cost of the excursion if for some reason they don't make port, but I prefer to save the money and take care of my own lunch. I also like being autonomous--I can leave the ship when I want, instead of waiting for the group, and I can return when I want.

You watch--I'm going to get lost in Nassau and miss the boat. That'll teach me to be independent!

Dawn

 

[Luv2Travel]

We had a heavily discounted Category 10 as well. I had money to do more- at the time, but was happy with a 10. I plan on spending small amounts of time in the room.
If you don't mind me asking, how much DID you pay? We're under 1000 for the two of us- which I thought was good.

Spending little time in my room is my plan too , I'm worried I'm going to get claustrophobic without a window. The older I get, the weirder (sp?) I get! I paid $2250 for two cat 10 cabins for 5 people ($450/each). I want to go at a different time (closer to fall break), but just can't find a deal anywhere close to that. And of course now I've met some great people that will be on this trip so I can't change.

 

[taeja71]

Spending little time in my room is my plan too , I'm worried I'm going to get claustrophobic without a window. The older I get, the weirder (sp?) I get! I paid $2250 for two cat 10 cabins for 5 people ($450/each). I want to go at a different time (closer to fall break), but just can't find a deal anywhere close to that. And of course now I've met some great people that will be on this trip so I can't change.

So glad you're staying w/us. 'Cause we'd have to cry traitor and make ye walk the plank!

 

[Luv2Travel]

So glad you're staying w/us. 'Cause we'd have to cry traitor and make ye walk the plank!

hee hee!

 

[NJBILL]

Spending little time in my room is my plan too , I'm worried I'm going to get claustrophobic without a window. QUOTE]

I thought the same thing, but was wrong..we had an unexpected surprise on our first Disney cruise..we booked (2) insides and got upgraded at no cost to Oceanview rooms...our next two cruise were insides..and I felt no different..this year instead of two adjoing inside rooms (we have 5 or 6 pass)
we decided to spend a few extra $$ for the family room and verandah..., but I had no problem with inside cabins

 

[taeja71]

Spending little time in my room is my plan too , I'm worried I'm going to get claustrophobic without a window. QUOTE]

I have claustrophobic problems too. I don't like tight quarters and I don't like waterbeds either. I'll get to the waterbed part later. The inside cabin actually feels roomy b/c your cabin is long. There should be a round porthole looking mirror over your bed and there's a mirror over the vanity table. Both are at the opposite end of your stateroom door. However, this time I'll ask for our coffee table to be removed b/c we didn't really use it and I could really could use the walking space in the cabin.

Now to the waterbed part. B/c your on a ship it rocks. You'll either go side to side or back and forth (I'm getting queezy already). We went side to side in '04 and I had to get used to moving while I was sleeping. I didn't sleep well the first night.

Are you all packing Bonine, wearing a patch, or taking Dramamine? I'm interested in bringing/taking ginger pills. I need one good burp and then I should be fine w/ Bonine at my side.

 

[NJBILL]

For Anyone who is interested in such things, the link below will take you to a copy of the latest Center For Disease Control (CDC) inspection report on the Disney Wonder. It received a score of 98 out of a possible 100. Eighty Five (85) or below is a failing score.

http://www2a.cdc.gov/nceh/VSPIRS/ReportPreview.asp?intInspectionID=5816150

 

[LCTsMom]

Well, I'll bet that at least part of the reason is that they don't have any other 4 day cruises until the end of September--they'll be doing 10 night cruises, instead. I had originally booked a cruise for mid-September, but they cancelled that one and kindly rebooked me on this one WITHOUT TELLING ME. They charged me MORE for the privilege, but my wonderful TA was having none of that. He got me my original price, and got us an upgrade to a category 8. I don't think that I can ask for more than that! We were actually a little disappointed, because we had managed to snag one of the elusive "hidden porthole" rooms, but I think we'll be able to get over it.

Dawn

Same thing happened to us! We were also originally booked on a mid September cruise. They didn't rebook us, I was the one who found out that our cruise had been cancelled and replaced with a longer cruise BEFORE my TA. She booked us on this cruise, in our exact same rooms. The funny part is, that we have two connecting SPH rooms. We bumped the people in those rooms into an upgrade. Too bad WE didn't get the upgrade since we were inconvenineced! At the time, I didn't realize that I could have pushed for an upgrade or other compensation. We probably could have gotten some kind of deal. Once again, my TA dropped the ball.

 

[taeja71]

Same thing happened to us! We were also originally booked on a mid September cruise. They didn't rebook us, I was the one who found out that our cruise had been cancelled and replaced with a longer cruise BEFORE my TA. She booked us on this cruise, in our exact same rooms. The funny part is, that we have two connecting SPH rooms. We bumped the people in those rooms into an upgrade. Too bad WE didn't get the upgrade since we were inconvenineced! At the time, I didn't realize that I could have pushed for an upgrade or other compensation. We probably could have gotten some kind of deal. Once again, my TA dropped the ball.

may I ask who your TAs are? I went through ******. But I feel like we had more control when we booked directly through Disney. Now I have to go through my TA (the middle man).

 

[Blackunicorn]

Lisa and Dawn, may I ask who your TAs are? I went through ******.

Hmmm...looks like they might be editing out names, but I'll give it a try. My TA is a local guy I met online. His name is Tim Larison, and as far as I know, he's not affiliated with any company. I think he specializes in cruises, but since we're DVC members, we usually don't book our vacations through normal means, so I don't really know if he is good for anything else.

LCTsMom, ugh, I'm sorry your TA dropped the ball. I hope you get an upgrade anyway! Honestly, I've looked, and I don't think there's a difference between the secret porthole rooms and the regular porthole rooms, other than the obstructed view--they're the same size, and they've got the split bathrooms.

Tae Ja, I don't think I'm going to bother with Bonine, because the one I'm seriously worried about is my 7yo, and I doubt she can take it. Instead, I'm looking seriously at ginger, either the real thing or the tablets. I've heard that crystalized ginger tastes like candy, so that would make my life easier. Celestial Seasonings makes a tea called Persian Mint that has mint and ginger, and it saved my life when I had some kind of stomach flu not too long ago. Though, it occurs to me that I read somewhere that you can't bring food on the ship, so I don't know if that would count as food. I guess I'm going to have to do more research. Fun!

We just got our travel insurance! If you haven't already gotten insurance, it's worth it to take a look at insuremytrip.com--we missed out on that pre-existing condition window because we didn't get it within X days of our first trip payment (really, I can't even fathom trying to get trip insurance for airfare I was going to purchase one year later), but we got some good insurance anyway. We went with Travelex, which apparently doesn't charge extra for kids under 16. So we saved some pennies!

Dawn