Don't shoot me, not happy!

[markey]

I'm glad that there are so many people happy about the Magic in California over the 2005 summer, but we always cruise in August 2000,01,02,03 and 04 and I am going to miss my cruise. Other months are not an option, will not take kids out of school. I don't want to go to California to Disneyland, bin there and done that 4 times when my daughter lived there, just not WDW, miss the other parks and would not pay the extra to fly there just for the cruise. I guess maybe we will have to do the 4 day. Just wondered if I'm the only one out there who would rather have the Magic stay where it's at.

 

[MickeyB426]

That's understandable. You are perfectly entitled to your opinion, and, more importantly, your preference.

I have a question, however, since you raised a concern that may not really be that bad. Are you certain that flying to California would be that much more expensive than flying to Florida? I've done both and the costs are not that far out of whack.

Also, assuming that you've done the Magic all these years, have you considered doing a 4-day and a 3-day Wonder back-to back?

This way you get TWO days at Castaway Cay. It might be a decent tradeoff.

Either way, I hope it all works out for you.

 

[AOPI57]

We totally agree with your sentiments. We are not happy at all about the Magic's move to Ca. We were planning a summer 2005 7 day cruise with about 20-25 family and friend to celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. It's been planned for 2 years. Elderly parents will not fly to Ca. DcL should have still found some way to keep 7 day cruises out of Fla. I feel they have abandoned many of their guests- forcing us to go to another cruise line for 7 day Carribean summer cruises. I will not take my kids out of school and i substitute teach. Definitely E-mailing DCL after the offficial announcement about how disappointed we are.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

You aren't the only one. We were hoping for a late May 05 7-day cruise. Looks like that won't be happening.

 

[Zandy595]

I don't understand why the Wonder can't do 7 day cruises every other week. Anyone know why they didn't consider this?

 

[CAMICKEY]

I can understand your frustration but being on the West Coast and having to travel out to Orlando every year is not fair as well. I will be glad when they expand and put a ship out here permanently. These CA ones are going to book so rapidly, I'll be lucky just to be able to take advantage of it. Have you thought about celebrating on the Wonder. I also have a child in school and my DW is a teacher, so we are also limited to what times of the year we can travel. - So Yes I can relate to what you are saying. - Mike

 

[WDWLVR]

I think the reason they can't (or won't) do 7 days one week and 3/4 days the next is the port costs. Disney has to sign an agreement with the ports as to when they will be using them. Pulling the Wonder out of the Nassau berths it had might have come at a penalty. Since Disney already had alternating East/West routes I think they might not be able to just get something every 3rd week. Plus which would they do East or West - that decision would make people unhappy as well.

I have no plans to sail on the west coast cruises (but would have if they had shorters ones out there). Bottom line is Disney is doing a test. If it is a success they may open up the purses and order those extra ships.

Sorry you are disappointed. I'm sure there are those on the west coast who have been disappointed for years that they couldn't afford to take an east coast cruise. It is only for a short period of time.

I respect your opinions and am just sharing my own.

 

[markey]

I'm lucky with my air fare, I catch specials every year. This year flying out of Central Pa. it's the same as last year, out of BWI ticketes were $76 with out taxes making it a little over $400 for the four of us. The cheapest I ever flew to California was $252 per person, so yes there is a big difference. As far as the 4 day goes we did go the first time on the Wonder, and after being to CC 4 times already with the 5th one coming up 2 days doesn't excite me. I would rather go to the other places, Cozumel, GC, and St, Thomas are favorites. And as far as e-mailing DCL, I already did this morning as soon as I was sure it was a go for the California cruise, just to much info out there to think different at this point. I too agree I would have liked the 7 day 3/4 day rotation schedule, would like to go back on the Wonder then.

 

[ivanova]

DCL probably didn't want to "tip their hat" by announcing alternating 3/4 and 7 day itineraries for summer 2005, because that would've made a lot of people suspicious (why have 7 days on the Wonder if the Magic weren't moving; which they STILL won't admit regardless of the newspaper articles) ... and having a "hole" in the Wonder itineraries (and announcing them 5/5 with the announcement of the Magic movie) would've really fried a lot of folks' nerves.

 

[jrabbit]

We have to pay at least $350 per person to get to Orlando. Spending a day to drive to LA will be cheap (unless those gas prices keep climbing a nickel every day )

Even if my family doesn't get to go on a DCL west coast cruise, I'm very glad that they are out here for a short stint.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I can identify with everyone. I'm a teacher so we can only vacation in non-teaching periods, and we're an old fashioned district with only summer, Easter and Christmastime--no February break, no "jersey week", etc. My own parents' 50th is luckily this summer--their 1st anniversary was the day DL opened!--or we wouldn't be cruising either. On the other hand, I'm sure the west coast contigent has long deserved to have cruises in their neck of the woods for even a little while.
Talk about risking flames, but have you thought about other cruise lines? Maybe 2005 can be the summer you tried Carnival, RCL, etc. Or if you only want to do Disney you can have a nice week at WDW.
Robin M.

 

[MrsPete]

I also am unhappy about the move. Those of us who live close enough to drive to Florida have had it easy! Plane tickets + cruise x 4 people = more money than I'm willing to spend on vacations!

I might be tempted to do the 3 and 4 day back-to-back thing, but I really want to go somewhere other than Nassau. Sadly, I suppose we will look into other cruise lines.

 

[abitjaded]

We have flown to DL many times. Price the flights. Check John Wayne County and Orange County, even San Diego and other towns within an hour. Often we can get cheaper flights from Colorado to Orlando than California. But with persistence, you can get cheap air fare to CA. Even open jaws, into San Diego out of LAX.

I've campaigned before, to the DIS, all you crazy East-Coast-Centric types, and MY relatives. There is more to California than just a Disney Fix. San Diego is wonderful, there is the Zoo, the Animal Park, museums. LA has the Getty, the most amazingly strange art museum in the U.S., Legoland in Carlsbad, the original Universal Studios, not to be confused with the behemoth in FL, a huge Sea World, wine tasting at little small places where your kids can play on the grass and you can taste, and on... Most of the guidebooks on California, even just Southern California are very thick for a reason. C'mon, all you who want to cruise with Disney, give California a chance. Mexico is wonderful, the ports will be fun. You can be the first East Coaster to ride Soarin'. (This from a native Coloradan, we NEVER cut California a break. And also someone who must abide by a traditional school year, a track school year, a University schedule and a pocket-book that cannot afford the projected California sailing prices. And who drags her 86 year-old mother and wheelchair across the U.S. at least once a year.)

Carla

 

[Amberle3]

I love Disneyland, and I love California, and if Disney were putting a 3rd ship there I'd be overjoyed. That being said I am in no way happy about the Magic moving out there for summer '05.

I'm getting married next summer. For many, many years I've said that WDW would be my honeymoon of choice. When Disney added a cruise line, I knew I had to do the cruise for my honeymoon. Lucky me, I'm engaged to a Disney freak too. So next summer we're headed to Orlando for our honeymoon. We'll be at disneyland just before that, so it's not like we're neglecting it. But I've been planning on doing the Western Caribbean itinerary for the honeymoon, and now that's definitely out.

I wouldn't mind doing a Baja or Mexican cruise, but next summer has to be Caribbean. So it'll be the 4 day Bahamian, and I won't get to the ports I wanted.

So I'm not happy about the move either. Any other time I'd be thrilled, but for me the timing stinks.

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

I guess DCL could not put the Wonder in California, because overthere they have ONLY 3 ( rather SMALL) Disney resorts, The Californian being SOOOOOOO beautiful ... but still with few rooms- compared to the WDW resorts.
So, in my opinion, they have no place for people doing sea and land packages !! ( unless they "give" their customers to Fairfield or Marriot or ... all the other hotels around the two parks).

Coming all the way from Italy ...we 've been many times to Ca too, I believe THAT Magic Kingdom does have SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL... you cannot find in Florida !!...... so maybe we are going to "follow" the Magic in Ca !
Having said so ... nothing can compare to SUPER-MAGIC WDW ...
I truly hope there will be SOON a THIRD ship !!!!


And ... another DREAM : how would you like an Hawaian Disney cruise ? sort of big,long,marvellous Polinesian luau ?

 

[justmestace]

I'm sorry, but I'm not going to tip-toe around this one.....

DCL is a business...a business that is out to make money. If it were YOUR business, and you had been missing a HUGE market (being the West coast) wouldn't YOU want to make more money??

Sure, some people won't be able to have their dream wedding, or their family reunion....but you can do like those of us out here, bite the bullet and make different plans.

The Wonder does a spectacular job with large groups and weddings......we know from experience. You would find that you are so busy with the wedding, you wouldn't know which port you were in, anyway.

Those of us out here that have cruised Disney have been paying big $$ to fly to Florida. And it is just for a short time. The timing is always going to stink for some people, no matter what. I would have liked to have done the repositioning cruise, but the kids are in school both ways....oh well, such is life.

You can't please all of the people, all of the time.

 

[paulcrsb]

I might get flamed but the world does not revolve around the East coast! We West coasters have to deal with long, expensive, time consuming flights to get to WDW and cruising. Hey I don't complain about it because it's something that I am willing to do because I know that the end result will be worth it. I would hope that the East Coasters will understand that we West Coasters want some Disney Magic love too!

Paul

 

[dalmationlover]

I'm another person excited about the Magic coming West. It is more expensive for us to go to Florida. Also we need to take at least 1 or 2 more days off for travel. We were going on a Disney cruise again in 2005 no mater what, but now we will have more money to spend because we do not need to worry about airfare or hotel cost. After 2005 it will proably be at least a couple more years before Disney puts a perment ship on the west coast if at all. So at least for one year we will be able to drive to port and for the following years we will gladly pay the extra because we love Disney. I know this will cause others to have to cancel there plans and I feel bad for that.

 

[CAMICKEY]

Just remember where Disney all started out at. - Mike

 

[Amberle3]

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that Disney is looking at west coast cruises. I'm at Disneyland every year, haven't been to Florida for over 20 years.

That being said, I'm just not thrilled with the timing of it, or that they're reducing the Florida offerings in order to be able to provide this.