DVC Members cruise Oct 5-12 2019 to Bermuda/Boston!!!

[islandsnoopy]

A few more things from the Pacific Coast MC - sorry I cannot get the pic to landscape mode.

Top is a frame that opens to hold the prints in Bobbiwoz photo, there are a total of 5 & the gray box is a heavy felt bag to protect the frame. Middle is a nice tote bag and a Toy Story 4 blanket. Bottom is a small bag that held the hat, insulated mug, lip balm, and a handy travel back back, and then a pin, And last the Lower right is a set of packing cubes,


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Thanks to you and @bobbiwoz for posting pics of the gifts. After taking the DVC member post-cruise survey and seeing your pics, I've discovered that we didn't get a Disney Files Magazine and one of the pics.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Thanks to you and @bobbiwoz for posting pics of the gifts. After taking the DVC member post-cruise survey and seeing your pics, I've discovered that we didn't get a Disney Files Magazine and one of the pics.

Hopefully DVC can get you those missing items. There did seem to be some confusion with gifts and some of the cabin stewards as we got our Victoria Day popcorn on our San Francisco day, a couple of days early.

I should maybe clarify - there were five pics total, the initial one in the frame and then four others one each of the other cruise nights. I think the Disney Files was in our stateroom when we first got there.

 

[bobbiwoz]

You guys are awesome, thank you for taking the time to post photos and info!!!

@bobbiwoz sorry it's another drizzly day here in Vancity, but starting tomorrow the sun is going to shine, just in time for your next sail away

It was beautiful today at MOA! So, we had sunshine this year, too!

 

[islandsnoopy]

Hopefully DVC can get you those missing items. There did seem to be some confusion with gifts and some of the cabin stewards as we got our Victoria Day popcorn on our San Francisco day, a couple of days early.

I should maybe clarify - there were five pics total, the initial one in the frame and then four others one each of the other cruise nights. I think the Disney Files was in our stateroom when we first got there.

We got the Aulani Menehune figure on the first night but it was supposed to be on the day they gave out the Honolulu Cookie Company treats (shortbread pineapple shaped cookies).

 

[bobbiwoz]

If I recall correctly, on last year's member cruise, Terri Schultz and other DVC execs held a reception. Good opportunity to mingle and chat. No such event on this recent cruise. I did see Terri at the Adventures By Disney session but she was in the audience and didn't take questions.

Meeting the executives definitely used to happen. Tom had seen Terri in the elevator at Grand Californian on the day we were leaving the hotel to embark. She asked him about the ABD we participated in. I had hoped she would have made a presentation.

 

[hlyntunstl]

I will say, this is my first MC where the gifts seemed more reasonable in size and pack ability, which was appreciated. No super large game boxes or extra thick blankets like we got on the MC out of NYC in 2016.

I’m hoping for both on our cruise or at least the extra thick blanket. I’m always cold, one of my family member sets the thermostat to “Eskimo” and I’m always freezing. A warm blanket for Boston in October sounds wonderful.

Another thanks to everyone for sharing their photos. I’m even more excited to our trip. T-minus 136 days and counting!!

 

[Mathmagicland]

We got the Aulani Menehune figure on the first night but it was supposed to be on the day they gave out the Honolulu Cookie Company treats (shortbread pineapple shaped cookies).

Thanks - we forgot that one, too!

 

[Mathmagicland]

I’m hoping for both on our cruise or at least the extra thick blanket. I’m always cold, one of my family member sets the thermostat to “Eskimo” and I’m always freezing. A warm blanket for Boston in October sounds wonderful.

Another thanks to everyone for sharing their photos. I’m even more excited to our trip. T-minus 136 days and counting!!

Our NYC to Bermuda is two nights longer, which means two more Days of gifts! We usually get items twice a day, once after the morning servicing of the rooms and again at the evening turndown.

You would like this blanket from the 2016 NYC MC, fleece lined and five inches thick as folded here in a plastic bag. The pillow is there for comparison, a standard 14x14 Disney throw pillow from Grand Cal. This took up a LOT of room in the suitcase!

 

[bcwife76]

@Mathmagicland oh that blanket is gorgeous, would love it!!!! Have already told dh we are all bringing 3 outfits each and will do laundry several times if we have to, just so we can bring more suitcases

@bobbiwoz the sun started coming out here around noon, woohoo!! Glad you had a great time at MOA!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our sunset from Queen Elizabeth Park with Vancouver in the foreground.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Our sunset from Queen Elizabeth Park with Vancouver in the foreground.

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Nice!!

 

[Mathmagicland]

FINALLY booked my airfare to NYC yesterday! This is the latest I’ve ever booked plane reservations in advance of a trip. Was having trouble deciding which airlines due to the flight time options for the return flight, they were either too early, too late, or too expensive. Then Alaska added an early afternoon flight sometime in the past week or two. Hooray, problem solved!

 

[bcwife76]

FINALLY booked my airfare to NYC yesterday! This is the latest I’ve ever booked plane reservations in advance of a trip. Was having trouble deciding which airlines due to the flight time options for the return flight, they were either too early, too late, or too expensive. Then Alaska added an early afternoon flight sometime in the past week or two. Hooray, problem solved!

I still haven't booked our airfare because Hopper keeps telling me to wait on booking the flight I'm wanting. It's barely moved a $1 or $2 in either direction in the past 3+ months! Ugh....at some point I need to bite the bullet and book it but I'm still waiting a bit lol We have airfare booked for trips in January 2020 and March 2020 (just booked that last week) but I still don't have airfare booked for October DH and I are also arguing over hotels (and hotels vs airBnB).....oy......

 

[Mathmagicland]

I still haven't booked our airfare because Hopper keeps telling me to wait on booking the flight I'm wanting. It's barely moved a $1 or $2 in either direction in the past 3+ months! Ugh....at some point I need to bite the bullet and book it but I'm still waiting a bit lol We have airfare booked for trips in January 2020 and March 2020 (just booked that last week) but I still don't have airfare booked for October DH and I are also arguing over hotels (and hotels vs airBnB).....oy......

Here’s a trick I used - check the same flight but for various departures in July, August & September, to see if or when the price might change depending on # of days out from today.

I was doing that with one airline & figured out their lowest price point would be about 90 days in advance of travel dates, or in July. However, then Alaska added this new flight & their price was lower than what I’d get with the other airline in July so I went with them.

You can do that same thing with hotels - book now, but book reservations you can cancel (rather than non refundable) & keep checking back. Last time I was in NYC I rebooked my hotel four times as the price would get lower the closer it got to my travel dates and ended up paying half the price of my initial booking. I also did that three times with the pre-cruise hotel in San Diego last week. Trivago is a great site to play around with hotel rates at different timings out from today to booking dates.

 

[bcwife76]

@Mathmagicland very good tips, thank you!

 

[DVC Kathy]

DH and I are driving up on Friday. We found a park, ride, and cruise deal at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ridgefield Park, NJ. One night at the hotel, breakfast, parking for the length of the cruise, and round trip transportation to the cruise terminal.

Time will tell whether it's a good plan or not.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Reposted

In a Local Candy/Snack Exchange, we use Fish extenders to gift others with a Regional candy or Snack. We pass out the gifts once, and you give enough for the cabin to share. Until the end of August, I will just note interest here, but by September 5, the exchange will be closed. ( I am on the WBTA Cruise, and we leave for Paris on September 11). Depending on the signups, there may be more than one group. On one DVC MC, there were 32 Cabin signed up, I divided the group into 4 groups of 8. On the West Coast DVC MC in May there are just 5 Cabins total involved. I will definitely keep the groups around 8, in case of a large turnout. The food must be packed by a manufacturer, similar to Halloween treats, no homemade food is allowed on board.
In August please send me a conversation stating your cabin number, how many are in your cabin, adults and children and if there are any allergies. In your gift, please put some information about the history of your food.

Interest in a Local Candy/Snack Exchange
bcwife76
bobbiwoz
hlyntunsti

By the way, tonight is our last night in Alaska. We are in Anchorage and sunset is at 11:18 PM! The whole Princess Cruise/Land Experience has been excellent. It’s been a three week vacation that began with the ABD pre West Coast MC Experience.

In case anyone wonders, yes, it is possible to see Dinali!

 

[bcwife76]

Platinum cruisers, you are just a few days away from doing online check in and activity booking!!! Woohoo! We are Gold so have a couple more weeks to wait. Concierge cruisers, you must be at the 125 day mark what - today? Tomorrow? Exciting!!!

 

[DVC Kathy]

Next Friday for platinum. I was happy to see that the Gosling's rum sunset cruise is on the excursion list. We were scheduled for that in April, but it was cancelled at the last minute due to "conditions". It was very windy that day. I think they didn't want to mix alcohol with the possibility of seasickness. We were on the Anthem then.

if shopping is your thing, there's a lot of it right at the dockyard. I recommend checking out the Bermuda Craft Market for things made in Bermuda. Also a shop called the Littlest Drawbridge (in the clock tower building) for Bermuda cedar products.

You can catch a ferry to Hamilton for more sightseeing/shopping. It's a pretty trip. In season, they also run a ferry all the way to St. George's. I don't know if we'll still be in season though. You can buy one or two day passes for the ferries and busses at the Visitor's center at the Dockyard. We bought tokens there for the ferry to Hamilton. I believe you can buy bus tickets as well. If you want to go past Hamilton on a bus, you'll need to transfer there.

 

[bcwife76]

@DVC Kathy excellent tips and advice, thank you!!

My husband and I were going over the excursions in Bermuda yesterday (I think we will explore Boston on our own) and the sunset rum cruise was definitely one we wanted to do.