From WDW to DL With Love - January 06, 2011 part 5

[KayR]

I am in a quandary about how to handle the cruise certificates.

There are 3 'issues' that I am contemplating and I am not sure about the best way to do this

Signing of the certificates

-do I ask at guest services if they can get the captain to sign all the certificates in one go and distribute them later on in the cruise? (This would have to be done early on in the cruise and I am not sure if we can give a dealdline for the certificates to be signed by)
-do I hand out the certificates and leave it up to each individual family if they want to get the captain to sign the certificate (at the signing sessions) or just write in the captain's name themselves?

Seal

Several people have offered to bring embossers or suggestions on how to emboss the seals. (They stick over the navy seal on the certificate)

-do we have a seal embossing session early on in the cruise and try and emboss all the seals for everyone?
-do we have people drop by and emboss seals for their own family?
-do we just hand out the unembossed seals and let families do their own thing?

Distribution

There are several items to put together for the certificates
-the certificate itself
-the seal
-the ribbon for the seal
-a wallet 'certificate'
I do have ziploc bags to put all the smaller bits together.

Two thoughts on distribution:
-deliver all the certificates to the rooms (but I am not sure if everything would fit under the door, especially for families that have ordered several certificates.
-have a distribution time/place where everyone can collect their certificates.

Obviously the timing on the distribution depends on how the other items get handled.

My thoughts at the moment are to have a certificate session where people can meet, help emboss the seals and collect their certificates. Everyone would then be responsible for getting the captain's signature on their own certificate(s). This would have to be done early on in the cruise, either on embarkation day or the next couple of days. It could be done in the Promenade Lounge - maybe tie in with an embarkation day 3pm meet and greet? And perhaps another session the next day.

What do you all think? How has it been handled before? Suggestions? I want to ensure that everyone who bought certificates gets them as quickly and painlessly as possible.

-Kay

 

[dolphingirl47]

I am in a quandary about how to handle the cruise certificates.

There are 3 'issues' that I am contemplating and I am not sure about the best way to do this

Signing of the certificates

-do I ask at guest services if they can get the captain to sign all the certificates in one go and distribute them later on in the cruise? (This would have to be done early on in the cruise and I am not sure if we can give a dealdline for the certificates to be signed by)
-do I hand out the certificates and leave it up to each individual family if they want to get the captain to sign the certificate (at the signing sessions) or just write in the captain's name themselves?

Seal

Several people have offered to bring embossers or suggestions on how to emboss the seals. (They stick over the navy seal on the certificate)

-do we have a seal embossing session early on in the cruise and try and emboss all the seals for everyone?
-do we have people drop by and emboss seals for their own family?
-do we just hand out the unembossed seals and let families do their own thing?

Distribution

There are several items to put together for the certificates
-the certificate itself
-the seal
-the ribbon for the seal
-a wallet 'certificate'
I do have ziploc bags to put all the smaller bits together.

Two thoughts on distribution:
-deliver all the certificates to the rooms (but I am not sure if everything would fit under the door, especially for families that have ordered several certificates.
-have a distribution time/place where everyone can collect their certificates.

Obviously the timing on the distribution depends on how the other items get handled.

My thoughts at the moment are to have a certificate session where people can meet, help emboss the seals and collect their certificates. Everyone would then be responsible for getting the captain's signature on their own certificate(s). This would have to be done early on in the cruise, either on embarkation day or the next couple of days. It could be done in the Promenade Lounge - maybe tie in with an embarkation day 3pm meet and greet? And perhaps another session the next day.

What do you all think? How has it been handled before? Suggestions? I want to ensure that everyone who bought certificates gets them as quickly and painlessly as possible.

-Kay

I think it sounds like a great idea to hand the certificates out at the embarkation day meet.

Corinna

 

[granmaz]

Kay, last time we got them individually and just left them at Guest Services where we picked them up at the end of the cruise. I guess if all the certificates are dropped off at once then the Captain can sign them at his leisure.

 

[ACDSNY]

I am still in shock as I type this, I cant believe it is real- but I have a reservation for Club 33 in Disneyland at the end of our trip!!!

I just cant believe it. I am so excited for this entire trip, it really feels like my Ultimate Disney Vacation now, with WDW at the beginning, an amazing 2-week cruise to all new ports for me, and DL at the end, including Club 33.

I'm so happy for you Nicole, I'm glad it all worked out! I know just how you feel.


Tami - I looked at that link and I could find the Crown Royal DH wanted, but no Corona Extra or bottled water. I search some more when I get home tonight.

 

[disneymum2201]

What is the Ducky Sessions and how much do they cost?

They are a private session with Ducky. We signed up in Treasure Ketch early in the cruise and paid $40. You have 10 minutes with Ducky where he sketches at your request. We choose Dumbo on the EBTA, he then wrote a little note to our family and signed the bottom. They do fit in the Lithograph envelopes and that is how we bought ours home. Ducky also ran two public sessions in the theatre (1 x adults, 1 x family) where he spoke about his career while sketching. As you arrived at the theatre you were given a ticket and they then drew numbers out and the sketches were given away maybe 15 each session. We were very fortunate at the family session I won Jiminy and my husband the white rabbit. Those are much larger and we did get a mailer tube on board to bring those home. We have had them all professionally framed and they are a beautiful reminder of our cruise.

 

[aan1701]

I just want to vent really fast. I just looked at the DCL site. For our cruise they still are showing 11C,11A, 9C, 7A,6A available. I still can't get a interline rate. I must say this does not sit well with me. If travel agents are getting a rate and FL residents can get a rate then interline should get a rate. I am really thinking about writing a nasty letter to DCL about this. I just fo not think it is fair. I am not at all upset about cast or mil. discounts. I think Disney should take care of there own and our troops and families. But to offer FL rate on a cruise on a ship that is going to home ported in CA. Come on!!!! Vent over.

 

[valbob89]

Be sure to pack those tiaras and pink boas; fold those tropical-print shirts just so! I just got off the phone with Dorothy at DCL and she had some info for me on the Champagne Girls and Mixology activities. Both will be scheduled for us.

First off: BOTH EVENTS ARE NOW CLOSED. She said the numbers I last gave her, 53 for champagne girls and 75 for mixology, are a max.

Second, the price is $18 per person per event, whether you choose to taste alcoholic or alcohol-free beverages. There is no age limit on being in attendance; of course, under 21 cannot be served alcohol.

She does not have a date, time or location yet; that is pending the cruise director list of events. But the tastings are approved.

I will not provide her your names until she confirms times and locations, and I have posted that info for your review.

The Champagne Girls will meet as one group.

We may need to have more then one mixology tasting session -- the sommelier is concerned that one large group would not make for a good learning experience on how to mix the drinks. Therefore we may need to split into more then one session.

Dorothy hopes to have the additional info firmed up by the end of this week.

Should you no longer wish to be included, please let me know ASAP. If you wish to be on a waiting list, to replace anyone who does not want to be included, please send me a PM ASAP.

The list of those who have signed up to be in both groups is on page 19 of this thread.
Val

 

[OH 6]

I just want to vent really fast. I just looked at the DCL site. For our cruise they still are showing 11C,11A, 9C, 7A,6A available. I still can't get a interline rate. I must say this does not sit well with me. If travel agents are getting a rate and FL residents can get a rate then interline should get a rate. I am really thinking about writing a nasty letter to DCL about this. I just fo not think it is fair. I am not at all upset about cast or mil. discounts. I think Disney should take care of there own and our troops and families. But to offer FL rate on a cruise on a ship that is going to home ported in CA. Come on!!!! Vent over.

I hear ya! We watched for Interline rates on the last 2 PC cruises and they never happened. So we're not surprised.

I'm more intrigued by the available staterooms and very little celebration on here about 'pixie dust' upgrades...maybe they're counting on selling them at the port or something.

We are happy to be going and cut back on expenses in the excursions to make up for any better discounts we would have gladly accepted.

BTW - Mike's with Delta.

 

[OH 6]

I am still in shock as I type this, I cant believe it is real- but I have a reservation for Club 33 in Disneyland at the end of our trip!!! I have spent the past 2 weeks emailing hundreds of people- friends, coworkers, associates, school alumni, everything, and I got nowhere trying to find someone who could get me a reservation. I came close a few times, with people who worked for corporate member companies, but they required the employee to be there too. But I didnt give up, I kept reaching out, and just when I thought all was lost, the day before Christmas Eve I got a reply from an alumni from my college who said he goes to the Club so often, he had a friend from grade school whose dad's small firm had a membership, and he said he'd be happy to help! I just got the reservation confirmed this afternoon, I just cant believe it. I am so excited for this entire trip, it really feels like my Ultimate Disney Vacation now, with WDW at the beginning, an amazing 2-week cruise to all new ports for me, and DL at the end, including Club 33. I dont see how I can ever top this vacation. This was the best Christmas surprise ever, so priceless that I was this close to giving up, and when I least expected it, found someone who was willing to help me!

Cool! Congratulations! Sounds like you're really going to enjoy this trip!

 

[aan1701]

I hear ya! We watched for Interline rates on the last 2 PC cruises and they never happened. So we're not surprised.

I'm more intrigued by the available staterooms and very little celebration on here about 'pixie dust' upgrades...maybe they're counting on selling them at the port or something.

We are happy to be going and cut back on expenses in the excursions to make up for any better discounts we would have gladly accepted.

BTW - Mike's with Delta.

Oh I love the way Delta treats non-revs. I like the fact they put us in first class if there is room first. I just think the fact that there is no interline rate but every other type of discount is BS.

 

[OH 6]

OK - I know I saw something about this earlier on - and of course lost it...so let me ask to see if any of you can 'remind' me, please.

We are staying at the Hyatt inside the Airport on the night of the 5th. We will have our luggage with us - do we just go down early in the morning on the 6th and drop off our luggage and get a 'time' for the bus to the port and go back down later for the bus?

I know that DCL usually just grabs the bags from the airline, but since we are flying in a day early we'll have the bags this time, I'm confused.

And did anyone else get a DCL tranfer to the Long Beach airport? We have an LAX transfer but need to go to LGB for our rental car. We asked for LGB and got LAX, so I'm just not sure if it's a mistake or if they don't do the LGB transfer.

Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom...

 

[TJFrack]

I just want to vent really fast. I just looked at the DCL site. For our cruise they still are showing 11C,11A, 9C, 7A,6A available. I still can't get a interline rate. I must say this does not sit well with me. If travel agents are getting a rate and FL residents can get a rate then interline should get a rate. I am really thinking about writing a nasty letter to DCL about this. I just fo not think it is fair. I am not at all upset about cast or mil. discounts. I think Disney should take care of there own and our troops and families. But to offer FL rate on a cruise on a ship that is going to home ported in CA. Come on!!!! Vent over.

When I called last week I was told it was sold out! So not sure where these rooms are showing up from.

 

[dolphingirl47]

I just want to vent really fast. I just looked at the DCL site. For our cruise they still are showing 11C,11A, 9C, 7A,6A available. I still can't get a interline rate. I must say this does not sit well with me. If travel agents are getting a rate and FL residents can get a rate then interline should get a rate. I am really thinking about writing a nasty letter to DCL about this. I just fo not think it is fair. I am not at all upset about cast or mil. discounts. I think Disney should take care of there own and our troops and families. But to offer FL rate on a cruise on a ship that is going to home ported in CA. Come on!!!! Vent over.

I hear you. I was hoping for interline rates earlier on. I am not sure how DCL handles interline rates as I have only cruised on interline rates on NCL. If they were to release them now, would it not be too late for us that booked before now that we are so close to the cruise? I have always given up looking for interline rates as soon as we entered the cancellation period.

I am still hoping that DCL will see the error of their ways and introduce California residents rates. Two of our table mates from our Med cruise this year live in Los Angeles. She even works for the port. I am really keeping my fingers crossed that there will be California Residents rates for our MR cruise in October. They would love to join us and I so want them to be there for our vow renewal.

Be sure to pack those tiaras and pink boas; fold those tropical-print shirts just so! I just got off the phone with Dorothy at DCL and she had some info for me on the Champagne Girls and Mixology activities. Both will be scheduled for us.

First off: BOTH EVENTS ARE NOW CLOSED. She said the numbers I last gave her, 53 for champagne girls and 75 for mixology, are a max.

Second, the price is $18 per person per event, whether you choose to taste alcoholic or alcohol-free beverages. There is no age limit on being in attendance; of course, under 21 cannot be served alcohol.

She does not have a date, time or location yet; that is pending the cruise director list of events. But the tastings are approved.

I will not provide her your names until she confirms times and locations, and I have posted that info for your review.

The Champagne Girls will meet as one group.

We may need to have more then one mixology tasting session -- the sommelier is concerned that one large group would not make for a good learning experience on how to mix the drinks. Therefore we may need to split into more then one session.

Dorothy hopes to have the additional info firmed up by the end of this week.

Should you no longer wish to be included, please let me know ASAP. If you wish to be on a waiting list, to replace anyone who does not want to be included, please send me a PM ASAP.

The list of those who have signed up to be in both groups is on page 19 of this thread.
Val

That is wonderful news. Thanks so much for organizing this.

Oh I love the way Delta treats non-revs. I like the fact they put us in first class if there is room first. I just think the fact that there is no interline rate but every other type of discount is BS.

I know. I could not believe my ears when we flew Delta for the first time and they actually apologized to me that they did not have a First Class on our flight when they found out that I work for an airline. They treated us like royalty though. I love Delta.

Corinna

 

[TJFrack]

So I was trying to do the online check-in....

First night Bay Lake And everything went great

Second night Animal Kingdom and it wouldn't let me do the online check-in. It told me to call and I did but then they were closed. So do I need to worry about the online check-in process or can I just show up the day of to this hotel?

 

[aan1701]

Corinna interline is one if the few that they wave the cancelation policy for. I have a friend that was booked on a western. Called two days before, and was changed over.

 

[Tracyvp]

New Development!​

I've been in contact with those folks who run the very popular "scavenger hunt" type events at Disneyland twice a year and more recently at WDW. (Not allowed to mention the name because in the parks they're sponsored by a competing Disney-related website, but I'll PM the full event details to Jeff to be included on the Cruise Website, and PM you any details if you ask). Anyway it turns out that several of their staffers are going to be on our cruse and I'm so excited to announce that they have offered to run an event just for us!

Here are the preliminary details in the email I JUST received confirming their willingness to do this.

We'll send the game materials with our staffers and they'll handle distribution and grading. If you want there to be prizes, your group is responsible for that - you tell us how many winners you want there to be, and we'll give you the results. We're still trying to decide what day to have the game, but it will definitely be a sea day. (Just trying to work around Palo ressies and spa appointments). The packets will be distributed at a time/place to be determined, and will need to be returned at a designated time/place for grading.

We need to know how many teams you expect to have participating so we can print enough packets. As you know space and weight are tight, so we're not bringing a printer (as we have during past events), so we need to know how many packets to have ready. If you need more packets once you get on the ship, you'll be responsible for getting copies made onboard, which is NOT cheap.

Our rules have always stated that each stateroom is one team, just for simplicity sake. We don't allow cabin mates to split into two teams. We are tentatively planning one quest using the WAVE phones, so any cabin wanting to participate in the game should make sure that they don't turn in all of their phones if they want to participate in that quest.

These folks are on vacation just like the rest of us, so I'm really pleased that they're willing to work this out to make it happen. For the sake of simplicity, I'm thinking we won't do prizes, just bragging rights, with a 1st, 2nd and possibly 3rd place winner, depending on the number of participants. (Unless someone has some great prizes they want to donate to the cause!)

So, here are the details so far
1. There is no cost to participate, (however a DOD or at least a thanks to those folks surely wouldn't go amiss!)
2. The date and time of this event is still TBA, but at sea it's normally done rather casually and you get pretty much all day to complete the various quests and turn in your score sheet for grading, so it allows you to still do other things during that day.
3. Please PM me if you want to participate or want more details.
4. The rules are no more than 4 people to a team and/or no more than one team to a stateroom
5. Because of the late notice and their need to print the packets before they leave, I've requested that they give me a final deadline. I'll post that as soon as I hear back from her, but I expect it will be fairly close.

 

[sak0526]

New Development!​

I've been in contact with those folks who run the very popular "scavenger hunt" type events at Disneyland twice a year and more recently at WDW. (Not allowed to mention the name because in the parks they're sponsored by a competing Disney-related website, but I'll PM the full event details to Jeff to be included on the Cruise Website, and PM you any details if you ask). Anyway it turns out that several of their staffers are going to be on our cruse and I'm so excited to announce that they have offered to run an event just for us!

Here are the preliminary details in the email I JUST received confirming their willingness to do this.

We'll send the game materials with our staffers and they'll handle distribution and grading. If you want there to be prizes, your group is responsible for that - you tell us how many winners you want there to be, and we'll give you the results. We're still trying to decide what day to have the game, but it will definitely be a sea day. (Just trying to work around Palo ressies and spa appointments). The packets will be distributed at a time/place to be determined, and will need to be returned at a designated time/place for grading.

We need to know how many teams you expect to have participating so we can print enough packets. As you know space and weight are tight, so we're not bringing a printer (as we have during past events), so we need to know how many packets to have ready. If you need more packets once you get on the ship, you'll be responsible for getting copies made onboard, which is NOT cheap.

Our rules have always stated that each stateroom is one team, just for simplicity sake. We don't allow cabin mates to split into two teams. We are tentatively planning one quest using the WAVE phones, so any cabin wanting to participate in the game should make sure that they don't turn in all of their phones if they want to participate in that quest.

These folks are on vacation just like the rest of us, so I'm really pleased that they're willing to work this out to make it happen. For the sake of simplicity, I'm thinking we won't do prizes, just bragging rights, with a 1st, 2nd and possibly 3rd place winner, depending on the number of participants. (Unless someone has some great prizes they want to donate to the cause!)

So, here are the details so far
1. There is no cost to participate, (however a DOD or at least a thanks to those folks surely wouldn't go amiss!)
2. The date and time of this event is still TBA, but at sea it's normally done rather casually and you get pretty much all day to complete the various quests and turn in your score sheet for grading, so it allows you to still do other things during that day.
3. Please PM me if you want to participate or want more details.
4. The rules are no more than 4 people to a team and/or no more than one team to a stateroom
5. Because of the late notice and their need to print the packets before they leave, I've requested that they give me a final deadline. I'll post that as soon as I hear back from her, but I expect it will be fairly close.

thanks, this might really be fun! But can you tell me what a DOD is?
(I my world it's Department of Defense, LoL!)

 

[Tracyvp]

thanks, this might really be fun! But can you tell me what a DOD is?
(I my world it's Department of Defense, LoL!)

HaHa! It's a Drink of the Day!

 

[LindaBabe]

I am in a quandary about how to handle the cruise certificates.

There are 3 'issues' that I am contemplating and I am not sure about the best way to do this

Signing of the certificates

-do I ask at guest services if they can get the captain to sign all the certificates in one go and distribute them later on in the cruise? (This would have to be done early on in the cruise and I am not sure if we can give a dealdline for the certificates to be signed by)
-do I hand out the certificates and leave it up to each individual family if they want to get the captain to sign the certificate (at the signing sessions) or just write in the captain's name themselves?

Seal

Several people have offered to bring embossers or suggestions on how to emboss the seals. (They stick over the navy seal on the certificate)

-do we have a seal embossing session early on in the cruise and try and emboss all the seals for everyone?
-do we have people drop by and emboss seals for their own family?
-do we just hand out the unembossed seals and let families do their own thing?

Distribution

There are several items to put together for the certificates
-the certificate itself
-the seal
-the ribbon for the seal
-a wallet 'certificate'
I do have ziploc bags to put all the smaller bits together.

Two thoughts on distribution:
-deliver all the certificates to the rooms (but I am not sure if everything would fit under the door, especially for families that have ordered several certificates.
-have a distribution time/place where everyone can collect their certificates.

Obviously the timing on the distribution depends on how the other items get handled.

My thoughts at the moment are to have a certificate session where people can meet, help emboss the seals and collect their certificates. Everyone would then be responsible for getting the captain's signature on their own certificate(s). This would have to be done early on in the cruise, either on embarkation day or the next couple of days. It could be done in the Promenade Lounge - maybe tie in with an embarkation day 3pm meet and greet? And perhaps another session the next day.

What do you all think? How has it been handled before? Suggestions? I want to ensure that everyone who bought certificates gets them as quickly and painlessly as possible.

-Kay

I vote that you hand them out at the embarkation day meet. If I find the embosser, I'll bring it for people to use.

Be sure to pack those tiaras and pink boas; fold those tropical-print shirts just so! I just got off the phone with Dorothy at DCL and she had some info for me on the Champagne Girls and Mixology activities. Both will be scheduled for us.

First off: BOTH EVENTS ARE NOW CLOSED. She said the numbers I last gave her, 53 for champagne girls and 75 for mixology, are a max.

Second, the price is $18 per person per event, whether you choose to taste alcoholic or alcohol-free beverages. There is no age limit on being in attendance; of course, under 21 cannot be served alcohol.

She does not have a date, time or location yet; that is pending the cruise director list of events. But the tastings are approved.

I will not provide her your names until she confirms times and locations, and I have posted that info for your review.

The Champagne Girls will meet as one group.

We may need to have more then one mixology tasting session -- the sommelier is concerned that one large group would not make for a good learning experience on how to mix the drinks. Therefore we may need to split into more then one session.

Dorothy hopes to have the additional info firmed up by the end of this week.

Should you no longer wish to be included, please let me know ASAP. If you wish to be on a waiting list, to replace anyone who does not want to be included, please send me a PM ASAP.

The list of those who have signed up to be in both groups is on page 19 of this thread.
Val

 

[Phil & Deborah]

We are staying at the Hyatt inside the Airport on the night of the 5th. We will have our luggage with us - do we just go down early in the morning on the 6th and drop off our luggage and get a 'time' for the bus to the port and go back down later for the bus?

I know that DCL usually just grabs the bags from the airline, but since we are flying in a day early we'll have the bags this time, I'm confused.

We are also staying at the Hyatt. They pick your luggage up from your room the morning of the cruise. Don't put your DCL tags on until you reach the hotel.

When you check in they will give you all the info you need.

Phil