FEBRUARY 14, 2009 (very early roll-call!)

[vavalynn2]

I wanted to share a thread I found this morning

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23406185&posted=1#post23406185

DH and I began discussing the details of the cruise and I anticipated that we would most likely use priceline and stay the night before near the Orlando airport.

But the link above suggests getting vouchers to stay at Hyatt Hotels and can be used for the one in the orlando airport for only 135.00. We have never stayed there as the cost is usually well over 179.00 and would use priceline to get a 3star hotel for around 65.00 instead- we have 'won' the Marriott, Holiday Inn Select and the Renn.

We would like the added convenience of being able to stay at the airport as we will not be able to get in before 10pm.

I wanted to throw this out there in case case anyone else was considering night before accomodations. I do not know all of the final details, but I will be looking into it.

Happy Sunday!

 

[Jodi]

Thanks for the info, VaVaLynn...has everyone been busy planning?

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hi Girls,

I just booked the Hyatt for I think $145.00 a night. We are booked for 2/13/09 and the night we come back 2/21/09 We're spending the day at Disney 2/21/09.

Since we're staying in the Hyatt, we can spend the day at Disney with our rent a car, & then return it late that night at the airport hotel. Have dinner at (airport)Chillis, and then swim on the roof top (heated pool)

Last Feb, DD & I were bumped from Delta. They put us up in the airport Hyatt. It was one of the nicest Hotel we have stayed in. We had a blast in the roof heated pool. We were swimming while the planes were flying over us. It was really awsome.

Are you girls going to stay there as well? If so, reserve your rooms asap, for they only hold a small amount with the coupons. (that is what the reservationist told me)

Now I have to deceide if we should rent a car (one way) or take the disney bus

Next month my DH DD & myself are going to Disney World for Easter break, just before we leave is when I will buying our airline tickets for 2/09 also, having a high school reunion with the girls in Vegas 6/08 I am going a bit nuts with all of these trips. LOL

 

[vavalynn2]

quick question- do i book the room before i have the voucher, or voucher first?

 

[PURTYPAT1]

quick question- do i book the room before i have the voucher, or voucher first?

Hi I used the voucher, & got a conformation # that directed me to an 800# which then, took my reservation for both of the days.

Have you deceided if you 2 are renting a car, or taking a limo, or are you using the Disney bus to the port?

 

[vavalynn2]

Ok, great. Thanks for the info. I will get my coupon tonight and then reserve once it arrives. I guess I am surprised that you can not print your own voucher and have to have it mailed.

We are leaning towards a limo company. I may have mentioned before, it was really a hassle to use the budget rentacar on our last cruise. And since we will not be going to the parks or anywhere else before or after the cruise, I do not see the need for the rental.

I am looking into happy limo for a town car or something small. I found info on mousesavers.com and have found the site to be a great resource. They highly recommend them and it will not be too much more than the disney shuttle. They offer a grocery stop on the way so we can get some beverages and anything we forgot.

We would love to fly jetblue, but know that their schedules come out later than most other airlines and do not have many different flights to chose from. We will most likely go with Delta or United and try to stay away from connecting in areas like JFK, PHL or PIT in the middle of Feb.

So that is where we are at. Only a year away.....

ps- This past December, I helped arrange a trip to Vegas for myself, DH and my friends w sign others from college- 15 of us all together. So I feel your stress. But it was a great time!!

 

[rubbergypsy]

hi everyone just got off the wonder today and we rebooked onboard for this cruise. we are from rochester ny and it will be dd8 ds 17 and myself, my husband cannot travel in winter due to job, we always do the presidents week trip. the water was a bit cool in castaway cay yesterday but it was about 87 degrees. the entire cruise weather was great. just wanted to say hi and subscribe

 

[disnutt]

Rubbergypsy- How wonderful to be able to book another cruise! We'll have our 8 yo dd on the cruise, too. Maybe they'll be able to hang out/play together.

Vavalynn- which limo company do you use? Our group is getting bigger, now we have 8 and I'm not sure what to do. We want to stay near the port.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

hi everyone just got off the wonder today and we rebooked onboard for this cruise. we are from rochester ny and it will be dd8 ds 17 and myself, my husband cannot travel in winter due to job, we always do the presidents week trip. the water was a bit cool in castaway cay yesterday but it was about 87 degrees. the entire cruise weather was great. just wanted to say hi and subscribe

Hi rubbergypsy, "WELCOME"

I will be traveling without my husband too My DD 13 & myself always go to Disney world for President's week (the last 5 years) this was the first year we missed.

Who were your servers on the Wonder? Did you have a great trip? Any tips for us?

Now that you rebooked onboard, are you going to trasfer to an agent. I did this on the Med cruise, & got the 10% plus we received on board credit from Disney & then from AAA.

Are you flying out next year on the 13th or the day of?

Have you done a 7 day before?

 

[shmoopea]

Hello everyone!
My family and just got back from this cruise and rebooked onboard for the same time next year. The cruise was in a word AWESOME! The weather was around the 80's and although the water was a little bit cool at Castaway Cay, it quickly warmed up after a few minutes. This was our 3rd cruise and second on Disney. The only problem we had was that one of the engines was not working properly so we got to Castaway Cay around noon instead of 9am. The shore excursions were cancelled due to slightly choppy weather. But true to Disney form, we were all given a $100credit (per stateroom) and free drinks in the atrium. At no point did we feel worried nor did we notice the engine trouble.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hello everyone!
My family and just got back from this cruise and rebooked onboard for the same time next year. The cruise was in a word AWESOME! The weather was around the 80's and although the water was a little bit cool at Castaway Cay, it quickly warmed up after a few minutes. This was our 3rd cruise and second on Disney. The only problem we had was that one of the engines was not working properly so we got to Castaway Cay around noon instead of 9am. The shore excursions were cancelled due to slightly choppy weather. But true to Disney form, we were all given a $100credit (per stateroom) and free drinks in the atrium. At no point did we feel worried nor did we notice the engine trouble.

Welcome shmoope

Glad you had a great time. Jodi & I have a question for you.

Was there a 5am wake up call for immagration? Any info on this would be great I read on another thread, that the Magic was so.....crowed, plus he said that the adults were very rude. (he actually said, the North Easterners were the rude ones ) Is this what you saw during the week? Just wondering?

I met a girl last eve, that just got off a cruise ship (brand new not Disney) that left from NYC & went to the Bahamas & Disney World. She said the ship was so crowed, that you had to wait in line for dining, & once there, you couldn't get drinks, or if you did get them, forget about refills. She said, everywhere on the ships, there were mass amounts of people. (The whole time I was secretly thinking, I'm happy we booked with Disney)

How many are you traveling with?

We are all at a point where we are looking into hotel & figuring out transportation to the port. What was your experience on this.

So many questions LOL

 

[rubbergypsy]

Hi rubbergypsy, "WELCOME"

I will be traveling without my husband too My DD 13 & myself always go to Disney world for President's week (the last 5 years) this was the first year we missed.

Who were your servers on the Wonder? Did you have a great trip? Any tips for us?

Now that you rebooked onboard, are you going to trasfer to an agent. I did this on the Med cruise, & got the 10% plus we received on board credit from Disney & then from AAA.

Are you flying out next year on the 13th or the day of?

Have you done a 7 day before?

we had simba and sunil as servers. i do belong to aaa but have never done the transfer to an agent. how does that work?

we plan on arriving on 2/12 so ds can have some time in the world.

my dh and i have done 7 night cruises on rcl and princess
dd and i did the 4 night wonder last year

 

[Jodi]

WELCOME RUBBER GYPSY & SCHMOOPEA?.... love the names!

Wow, this thread exploded overnight.

We can't take advantage of the Hyatt thingie 'cause there are 5 of us & they'll only let 4 in a room. We'll arrive on FRIDAY THE 13TH!!! YIPES, hope this isn't an omen...anyway, we'll stay by the port & definitely get a limo/van deal so we can stop & get water&beer to take on board.

But back to the $1,000,000,000,000 question....what is up with the 5 a.m. wake up CALL??? Is it true?

And what's up with the rude people from the northeast? Was the ship really THAT crowded? ARGHHH! These are things that I have to know now!! . Hey, glad the weather was warm at least! Is it almost thistimenextyear?

 

[PURTYPAT1]

i do belong to aaa but have never done the transfer to an agent. how does that work?

Please tell us about the wake up 5:00 AM immigration


OK, what you need to do, is contact Dreams Unlimited Travel, they are giving out double as of now. Let them know that you booked on Disney, & you are thinking about transferring your booking to them What are they offering.

Believe it or not you will still get Disney's offering & then more from Dreams.
I did this last year with AAA. My agent didn't know what the heck she was doing, I had to walk her thru everything (thank God for these boards) and it worked out great. I would stick to a company that deals with Disney as Dreams Unlimited does.

FYI not only did I get the credits from both, but Disney up graded us as well so, don't think Disney will be mad doing this.

If you have any ??? ask away

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* 2008 Shipboard Credit - Terms and Conditions: Valid on all cruises booked through Dreams Unlimited Travel between now and February 29, 2008. Travel must be completed by 12/31/2008. Shipboard credits are based on room type/category at time of booking. Shipboard credit offer applies only to reservations where the reservation has been made and the deposit has been paid, between now and February 29, 2008. This offer cannot be combined with any other shipboard credit or discount offer from Dreams Unlimited Travel including, but not limited to, those associated with group space or previous rebate and/or shipboard credit promotions. This offer can be combined with the Disney Visa shipboard credit promotion if available and/or with the discount/shipboard credit from onboard bookings. This offer cannot be applied towards any active reservation booked, or any reservation priced, through Dreams Unlimited Travel prior to February 1 , 2008

 

[Wachsdds]

We just got off the Magic President's week and booked our cruise for next year. We also know of few other families that rebooked. My family is DW and the kids will be DS9, DS6, DS3 and DD1 this time next year. We all can't wait to be back on the Magic and in the Caribbean especially since we came back to 10 inches of snow on the ground and more in the forecast! I guess a year isn't too far away. At least that is what I keep telling myself.

See you real soon!

 

[rubbergypsy]

I booked at cat 12 gty and hope for an upgrade although i know it is not a given. the agent onboard said that we prob would get one but she did not know what type. we have sailed in cat 9 and it will be hard to go to an inside cabin. she said the earlier you book the greater chance of being upgraded.

 

[Wachsdds]

We just got off the Magic last week after the president's week Eastern cruise. There is a early customs check at St. Thomas but not 5 am. The earliest check was for morning shore excursions and that was 6:30 am in the Walt Disney theater. The rest of the passengers were cleared depending on which floor you were staying on. The times were 7:15, 7:30 and 7:45 am. The ship must clear customs before disembarkment at 8 am. The whole family must attend with passports in hand. It was handled very smoothly. It took us about 10 minutes then we grabbed some breakfast.

As for the crowd and rudeness, I did respond to the other thread also. This was our sixth cruise and the Magic was full as always. Just about all of our cruises with DCL have been full ships independent of time of the year or vacation schedules. As far as rudeness of the Northeasterners, people are rude from all parts of the country. The thread was started by someone living in the south and commented on the passengers from Boston and New York. People have to understand that the pace of life is different dependent on where you live. I grew up in Maryland and Southern California but now live in Westchester County, New York. Believe me the three areas I have lived are markedly different in types of people and pace. I am sure that people from Hawaii would tell you that the pace of the South is to frantic and rude. Actually, after traveling a lot around the country and Europe, I find the passengers on the Disney Cruises very nice, pretty well mannered and we all have one thing in common, our kids and/or the mouse. This is what keeps bringing us back!!!

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hi Wachsdds Welcome

Glad you had a great time. I have a few questions if you don't mind. When did you buy your airline tickets last year? Did you leave out of NY? Did you get a good fare. I was shocked at the fare of airline tickets.

Also, did you leave the day before? If so, where did you stay? How did you get back & forth to the port.

Please tell, we are all ears

 

[Jodi]

Yeh, yeh, what she said...... I plan on taking SW airlines out of Hartford & am expecting $250 per person. Leaving out of NYC is outrageous w/ Delta being the cheaptest @ around $400-something per person What's up with THAT??

 

[shmoopea]

Hi guys! Here's the scoop. The earliest immigration time was for those going on shore excursions at an early a.m. time. I believe the started around 6 am. They seemed to run on 30 minute increments. The next time slot would be for the lower decks (ie decks 1-3, the 4-7, etc). We were on deck 2 and our time was for 6:30 am, since we felt this was too early, we decided to take a later slot. The last slot is for people who are not going ashore or lazy people like us who didn't want to get up that early. We still ended up going ashore about 1 hr later. Some people just go in their PJ's (we did). They will have coffee and donuts, danish,etc to eat while you're waiting in line. As for it being crowded, well what ship wouldn't be crowded on February vacation. No, we didn't find the people on the cruise rude. Everyone we met was very nice and yes they were from NY or New England. By the way we are from Massachusetts and as you can tell rude is not in our vocabulary. We had the best time and for any of our fellow cruisers who didn't, it was because of their own doing. How could someone be unhappy on a Disney cruise. We never had to wait for dinner and our drinks were plentiful. We absolutely loved our servers and I do mean this sincerely. Usually the one's complaining that loudly, would be complaining regardless of what cruise ship they were on. Let me know if you need anymore info.