Early Check In for Labor Day Cruise on the Wonder Sept 2nd-6th

[almondjoy]

Hi Angi - It's should be interesting having the boat to ourselves!

 

[angipoo]

Hey, maybe everyone will book last minute and we'll get upgrades!

 

[disneyfanatic60]

I can't believe I finally found someone else going at the same time!

We just booked a few weeks ago. It's our first cruise. My husband is taking me for our 25th wedding anniversary (so no kids!) My birthday is just a few days before so we are planning on some serious celebrating!!!!

I have never wanted summer to hurry and get over so badly.

I was just at WDW in June with my DD-19. I would love to add a few days at the end of the cruise. She's somewhat upset that she's not joining us this trip. My DS-23 normally does not want to go on vacation with "mommy" any longer is also wishing he was tagging along this time around. Maybe next time guys!

 

[angipoo]

Me and Almondjoy thought we were the only ones going. Ok, let me introduce my family - me (Angela, 36), DH (Joe, 38) and DD (Jessica, 7). This will be our first cruise and we are doing a double celebration - 15 yr anniversary for us and DD's 8th birthday (she actually turns 8 on the cruise).

We are coming in a few days early to do Pirate and Princess party and we are staying a few days after to do some resort hopping.

What is everyone else's plans?

 

[disneyfanatic60]

Hey Angipoo and Almond Joy!

I was really starting to think "we" were all alone because I could not find any other posts. Sounds like you have a great vacation lined up.

We are flying in on Saturday night from Buffalo and staying at the Crowne Plaza near the airport. We have to take a late evening flight that night since my DH works at the airport and has to work that morning. We won't arrive until around 8:00. I would have preferred to go early morning and hit WDW for the day.

We thought about staying at a WDW resort that night but the downfall to us was not getting picked up on the DCL transfer until 12-12:30. We want to be at the ship earlier in the morning. Since it is only two of us, the DCL transfers were the easiest way for us this time around.

We also got a day room at the Hyatt for the 6th. We pushed our flight back from 3:25 to 8:00 pm to enjoy the hotel, pool, restaurants, and shopping! Unfortunately, having just been to WDW in June, it was out of our budget to head over to WDW for a few days---booohoooo!!!!

So as I said earlier, it is myself (46) and my DH (47) on this trip. Seems like we all have reason to celebrate on this cruise.

Do you have excursions planned? Are you planning on doing Palo's? We are hoping to snag reservations once onboard (another reason for getting to the ship earlier in the day).

I can't wait to hear back from Almondjoy and join in on this party!

 

[angipoo]

Congratulations on your upcoming 25th wedding anniversary! How was your Disney trip in June? We were last at Disney in Nov-Dec of last year. Had a great time, just want to go back so we can do more of the Christmas stuff.

We are not planning any excursions since this is our first cruise and also to save $$$ (we didn't count on the passport costs when we first booked over a year ago). We aren't doing Palo either because it is our first cruise and we want to experience all of the dining.

We are hoping to get to the port early (10:00 - 10:30 am). I think that is the earliest they let you in???

I scrapbook and am really looking forward to all the unique experiences that are in store for us. Praying for good weather (no hurricanes).

Maybe as it gets closer, others will join us. Are you planning on decorating your room door? We decorated our window when we were at Disney last year - it was lots of fun. I think you have to have magnetic signs only.

Well, hope to hear more back from y'all soon!

 

[disneyfanatic60]

Thanks Angipoo. Our trip in June to WDW was absolutely wonderful. It was just my daughter and myself and it was the most relaxing vacation. We did everything we wanted to and more. It has been 2 years since our last trip. Before that we had been going about twice a year so we really missed being there. We did December on our last trip before this one. It was absolutely amazing. There is just so much beautiful stuff to see and things to do at this time of the year. It was just breathtaking. We had stayed at the GF and the trip flew by. If I could go again, my first choice would be in December.

We aren't doing any excursions either. We figured there was so much to see and do, we didn't want to strap ourselves down too much. We are getting off in Nassau and planning on doing the carriage ride. I love carriages rides and it's a quick way to see some sights. I think we'll hit the straw market or a few shops and head right back to the ship to relax by the pool.

We are hoping to get ressies at Palo for the "duplicate" dinner night. Since we'll have our dining room rotation once we get onboard we can immediately head over and try and book something. This way we won't miss any other dining experiences either. We have the late seating. How about you?

We are also planning on being at the ship by 10-10:30. We are staying at an airport hotel and will head back to the airport around 9ish. We want to get as much out of the first day as we can.

My big project right now is finding a way to get wine on board. Since we aren't driving and using DCL transfers, we can't stop along the way. I don't want to pay the $100 plus for 4 bottles from DCL.

I will be doing a door decoration. Oddly, we never have decorated our windows at WDW. I'm actually thinking about doing more than one. Since my kids won't be joining us, I want to do a Tink and a Pluto one. They are their fav two characters.

So do you have any good tips you've read that you can share? I've been all over the boards taking in as much as I can.

 

[disneyfanatic60]

Angipoo....

I forgot I had another question for you. Why did you have to get passports? You don't need them to take this cruise (not until 2008). We don't have them though because we live right on the US/Canada border, we are going to shortly to make crossing the border easier. We are just using our certified birth certificates and photo ID. I did not get them now because like you, I did not want the expense on top of this trip.