From WDW to DL With Love - January 06, 2011 part 4

[poohs4me]

Just had to share with someone - My DH just surprised me this morning by allowing us to put a deposit on a cruise on the Fantasy. I figured that would never happen.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Just had to share with someone - My DH just surprised me this morning by allowing us to put a deposit on a cruise on the Fantasy. I figured that would never happen.

Congrats.

 

[Tami0220]

They did say the Fantasy would take over the Carribean ports, so at least there is a possibility of a longer cruise. I have no desire to go on either of the new ships for 3-5 nights! So many new things to explore and literally no time...hopefully the Fantasy will offer 10ish day cruises =0)
Val, you really are a stud!! Thanks so much for checking on this...I'm so tempted to change my plans. I hate it when my desire for adventure conflicts with with my desire to learn about an area (I'm the kind of person that if given the option of bungee jumping off St. Peters Basilica or visiting the Sistine Chapel, you probably would have found me bouncing from a bungee! Luckily that wasn't an option as I'm so glad I visited all the amazing places in Rome)! Should I zip through the rainforest or do the tour with you all? Hmmm...decisions, decisions!

So join us and zip with us in PV

 

[ChipperMerlin]

I know it is a legitimate concern.

Right now, our schedule is we start back to the ship from the forest, beach and lunch at about 1:30. It is about a 2 hour trip back to the ship. However, we were planning to take our time, stopping for photos, and shopping/sightseeing at Santa Lucia. So we have built in 4.5 hours to get back in time. If the group thinks it is cutting it to close, we can go straight back.

We have taken private DISboard organized tours on a number of cruises and never had a problem. Also, we have hired the taxi guys you meet outside of the ship pier and had some of our best tours. That said, I always bring the 800 number DCL provided for "if you are delayed on the way to the ship" in their welcome book.


Have any of you known or heard of someone missing the ship or having to call the ship because they were stuck? I guess I have also thought that the private tours I have been on have gone to major tourist places, like we would be and if we experience a major delay others will too, including a DCL tour.

I am written to Alvaro to see what his experience has been as he is doing this everyday.

Val

We were on a safari/cruise/land tour at the end of 2000. One couple decided to look around Nairobi privately, instead of going on an official tour. They didn't pay attention to the time. got stuck in traffic and missed our plane to the Seychelles. The tour sponsors waited half an hour, but the plane had to leave in order for us to land at the next stop in time. Took the couple three days before they could finally catch up with the ship - and at their own expense. They were not "happy campers," but it was their own fault.

My favorite quote regarding being on time came from our tour guide to the Blue Mountains outside Sydney. "The difference between someone on my tour and a hitchhiker is . . . . 5 minutes!" You can bet we all paid attention!
Shirley

 

[carmie3377]

Just had to share with someone - My DH just surprised me this morning by allowing us to put a deposit on a cruise on the Fantasy. I figured that would never happen.

That's awesome! Congrats!!!

 

[ChipperMerlin]

Since there is a meeting at Disneyland this coming Sunday for SoCal cruisers, Val and I were wondering if we could come up with a time and place for the NorCal cruisers to meet.

Anyone interested? Any date - Saturday or Sunday preference? Location? It would be fun to meet ahead of time.
Shirley

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Ok, the cruise list has been updated. I have one more couple that I'm waiting on a stateroom and dining time to add to the list.

The following people will be removed on Friday if I don't hear from them. If you know them, please tell them to respond to PM's.

jj4
Matty204
familyfun5
tiggrlady
ILuvDVC
rocknspots
jcnovak1

All of these groups have received PM's and notice here in the thread. Obviously, I don't mind adding them back in if I hear from them later.

Finally, I've apparently gotten word that someone who had already confirmed decided to cancel. Again, please be considerate of your fellow disboarders who are trying to plan things and drop me a PM. I simply don't have the bandwidth to read every post in the forums.

 

[glindamood]

Just had to share with someone - My DH just surprised me this morning by allowing us to put a deposit on a cruise on the Fantasy. I figured that would never happen.

How cool is that?? I moved my Dec 2011 out to January 2012 but will hopefully move to October once everything is really out there.

My take on private tours is that is how those companies make the money to feed their families and will do their bestest to keep everyone happy and get you back to the ship according to schedule. That said, crap happens but I still be they have a backup plan in place. We have taken several outside tours and they are some of the best we have ever taken.

 

[WDW Princess 71]

I know it is a legitimate concern.

Right now, our schedule is we start back to the ship from the forest, beach and lunch at about 1:30. It is about a 2 hour trip back to the ship. However, we were planning to take our time, stopping for photos, and shopping/sightseeing at Santa Lucia. So we have built in 4.5 hours to get back in time. If the group thinks it is cutting it to close, we can go straight back.

We have taken private DISboard organized tours on a number of cruises and never had a problem. Also, we have hired the taxi guys you meet outside of the ship pier and had some of our best tours. That said, I always bring the 800 number DCL provided for "if you are delayed on the way to the ship" in their welcome book.


Have any of you known or heard of someone missing the ship or having to call the ship because they were stuck? I guess I have also thought that the private tours I have been on have gone to major tourist places, like we would be and if we experience a major delay others will too, including a DCL tour.

I am written to Alvaro to see what his experience has been as he is doing this everyday.

Val

Thanks for looking into it Val. It is definitely something to think about, the tour looks awesome, so pending the answer and some more thought, I'll ponder it and see what feels right to us.

 

[DisneyCruiser83]

Just had to share with someone - My DH just surprised me this morning by allowing us to put a deposit on a cruise on the Fantasy. I figured that would never happen.

Congrats!

 

[izma]

OK anyone interested in a surfing school excursion in Cabo??

I will be talking to Costa Azul - 10 -12 people per excursion. We would be our own group. They provide transportation.

Will post what I find out. Just wondering if we could get the required amount of people. Any interest??

We are interested!!!

 

[rotary2808]

Just had to share with someone - My DH just surprised me this morning by allowing us to put a deposit on a cruise on the Fantasy. I figured that would never happen.

I just got an email from my TA that she booked two Cat 5B's for us for the MV. The whole non-refundable, non-transferrable deposit makes me a little nervous. I don't like the idea that we can't move it to something else if we wanted to.

 

[tinkryansmom]

We are interested!!!

Sent you a PM!!

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Just had to share with someone - My DH just surprised me this morning by allowing us to put a deposit on a cruise on the Fantasy. I figured that would never happen.

Congrats!

I just got an email from my TA that she booked two Cat 5B's for us for the MV. The whole non-refundable, non-transferrable deposit makes me a little nervous. I don't like the idea that we can't move it to something else if we wanted to.

The Dream MV was the same way. Congrats on the booking!

 

[izma]

Regarding doing laundry while on board. For those who have not been on a longer cruise - be prepared. The laundry rooms are ALWAYS busy. I am not exaggerating. I got up one sea morning at 3:45 (yes there is a 3:45 a.m. on the clock) and still had to wait 30 minutes to get a washer. I have found it a highlight of my cruises to observe the people who have never done laundry before (not all of them are men). I never believed the sitcoms that show how --um-- challenged??? people can be by laundry until now. That 4:00 a.m., one problem was a machine that had finished the entire cycles and still had a tub full of suds, which spilled all over the floor. The very nice lady had washed only a tee-shirt, in the HE machine but used an entire box of regular (not HE) soap. Then their was the man who admitted he didn't know how to wash and when I told him not to wash his wives' white bras with his jeans and red shirt took the advise of the other young lady who told him in these machines it would be ok and she knew because she was a platnum DCL passenger (did she think there was pixie dust in these machines maybe?). But the best was the lady who informed me in a very up-crust voice that she had NEVER done laundry in her life - her maid did it. I suggested she could have her laundry sent out - no response. When she put her undies, jeans and tennis shoes in the same dryer, on high and I suggested she use medium and again in her special tone of voice she informed me her jeans would neeeever dry on medium. Am I a b---h for enjoying the show they provide? val

I may do laundry just for the entertainment value!

There are a couple of packing lists. One is on the Disney Cruise website. Click 'planning library'. Then under tools, you will find a link for 'packing list'. Another place I used was the DIS Board DCL FAQ - they also have a packing list link. Thirdly, I read a BUNCH of cruise tips to pick out the items I thought I should take: over the door shoe organizer, hair dryer, duck tape, pins, clothes pins, sewing kit, power strip, spray on sunscreen (for head), dayquil, nyquil, benedryl, lysol spray, downey wrinkle release, febreeze, air freshener, Shout wipes, windex wipes for verandah door, small flashlight, digital clock, beach bag, asst. zip loc bags, insect repellant, aloe, EXTRA sunscreen, water bottles, zip ties for securing your FE and luggage, Sunguard from RIT dye (adds sunscreen to your clothes), large trash bags for dirty laundry, small binoculars, small memo pad to write notes for room steward, portable suction hooks, papaya enzyme, bonine, tylenol, bengay, water booties, photo mat or pillow case for autographs and sharpies in asst colors, sample size toiletries, disposable razors, extra sunglasses, heavy duty folder for papers you want to save, plenty of $1 bills for rm svc tips and excursion tips, prewritten labels for luggage/postcards etc, bubble wrap,.

Some tips I enjoyed: Dont show up for disembark talk - it's shown repeatedly on your TV, order room service, dont over pack, if undecided about buying a souvenier--buy it or you will be sorry later, take a picture of everything or you will be sorry you didnt, make a scrapbook, nice black slacks - you can change out different shirts, get a wake up call from Mickey, order the All Hands on Deck plate from rm svc, take extra fruit from buffet for later in your rm, anchors on carpet - red faces aft/blue faces front, store luggage and life vests under bed, coffee table raises up to table height, dont leave Disney Dreams early, dont disembark early stay on as long as possible, deck 4 has comfy deck chairs, send dressy clothes out the 1st night on board for pressing, boxed wine avoids breakage.

Just a few tips I thought I could use. Got them from trip reports Best Cruise Tips, etc. Hope it helps

This is a great summary of tips!

Just have to share this photo. We went to a dumpling place for dinner last night and the children were so excited when their dessert buns arrived!

SOOOO Cute!

I just found this on the Disney TA website (looks like the tweens are getting a new hangout before we cruise):

Catering to the vacation needs of every member of the family, Disney Cruise Line® provides ultra-cool plush pads exclusively for teens and tweens on each ship. Later this year, the names of these hip teen- and tween-only spaces will be renamed on the Disney Magic® and Disney Wonder®, and will be consistent with the names of the same spaces aboard the Disney Dream™.

The Stack and Aloft, located in the forward funnel of Deck 10 on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, will be renamed Vibe. Vibe, the coolest place for the teens, will be located on Deck 5 forward on the Disney Dream.
Ocean Quest, located on Deck 2 midship on the Disney Magic, will be renamed Edge. This perfect hangout for the tween set (ages 11-13) offers plenty of computer games and custom-created adventures. Edge will be located on Deck 13 on the Disney Dream.

The Disney Wonder will also gain a new exclusive area for tweens. Edge will replace the conference rooms on Deck 2 midship.

This is great news for us! I have two tween and as much as they hate to admit it they HATE to be apart. 12yo and 13yo so they would be in different clubs unless they manage to add the tween club before we cruise.

I hope you decide to join us. I truly think this will be a great tour. And, Alvaro is really receptive to any changes we want. So if you have any questions or recommendations let us know and I'll ask. val

This looks great. We are doing the volcano but my mom and dad are thinking about joining us on this cruise and this sounds right up their alley!

 

[danfromca]

Since there is a meeting at Disneyland this coming Sunday for SoCal cruisers, Val and I were wondering if we could come up with a time and place for the NorCal cruisers to meet.

Anyone interested? Any date - Saturday or Sunday preference? Location? It would be fun to meet ahead of time.
Shirley

I'd be up for it.

 

[Safety Mouse]

I just read a neat article on the new Remy Restaurant on the Disney Dream. Looks like they are taking the Palo idea to a whole new level. Of course it comes with a whole new level of price ... $75 per person! Can a restaurant on a cruise ship get a Michelin Star? They are sure going to try.

http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/10/15/interview-with-chef-scott-of-disney-dreams-remys/

 

[DCLtravler]

Re: Being late to ship...when we were on the Medi cruise a group decided to go to Rome on their own and missed the final train back (the port was an hour train ride away). They ended up having police (or the equivalent thereof) bring them back to the ship. They did not arrive until AFTER midnight (over 2 hours past departure time) and the Magic DID wait. Our servers commented that they will only leave people if it affects their arrival time to the next port. I would say that since Costa Rica and Manzanillo are relatively close AND there is a day at sea inbetween, there should be no problem. Whether or not I personally choose to do this will NOT be for this reason as I would think a smaller group will have far more success at getting back than even the Disney excursions...not to mention the fact that you will have several staterooms represented. I doubt they will leave multiple reservations behind). Of course this is only my opinion...but, it is based on evidence =0). I should also say that we too chose to do Rome on our own and we made it back in time, so it really is about being mindful of you time.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I just got an email from my TA that she booked two Cat 5B's for us for the MV. The whole non-refundable, non-transferrable deposit makes me a little nervous. I don't like the idea that we can't move it to something else if we wanted to.

Congratulations,thats amazing.

Is it only tas that can book?
Can someone on here looks for a price for me for the 8th jan 4 nights on the dream, cat 11 or something?
I will wait til onboard to book, whats the deposit anyboady know?
I am locuming 3 nights next week, hope that covers it.

 

[valbob89]

I'd be up for it.

Sounds like a plan to me too. Let's see where everyone is located (I'll check out the roster) and see where a good meeting place would be. Any ideas? Val