Jan. 18 2009 Wonder - who's cruising?

[VA_mouseman]

We're signed up for the Dolphin Encounter at Nassau, but to be honest we may end up canceling it, partly for the reason you cited -- you're only with the dolphins for a few minutes. For our family of four, that's a few hundred bucks spent.

Snorkeling should be fun; at least it was when we did it in Cozumel on our last DCL cruise. Not sure if there's an advantage to bringing your own gear. You should also factor in the weight of the gear in your overall baggage, given the airlines weight restrictions.

Atlantis resort seems to be a popular choice, and there's an option to reserve a room at a nearby hotel which then gives you waterpark access at Atlantis -- cheaper than the DCL excursion price. Search the DCL forums for this topic.

 

[knewton64]

We're signed up for the Dolphin Encounter at Nassau, but to be honest we may end up canceling it, partly for the reason you cited -- you're only with the dolphins for a few minutes. For our family of four, that's a few hundred bucks spent.

Snorkeling should be fun; at least it was when we did it in Cozumel on our last DCL cruise. Not sure if there's an advantage to bringing your own gear. You should also factor in the weight of the gear in your overall baggage, given the airlines weight restrictions.

Atlantis resort seems to be a popular choice, and there's an option to reserve a room at a nearby hotel which then gives you waterpark access at Atlantis -- cheaper than the DCL excursion price. Search the DCL forums for this topic.

Hidy Ho fellow DISer!

Tis I - Kris....from 01-11-08 Wonder 2009 dis meets board. Gotta ask you a question as you seem to be in the know on a lot of things all Disney -

Q: Can I pack some food (Key Lime cookies) & have them in my luggage (when it gets transfered from CBR on over to DCL) or is that a "no-no" & is frowned upon by DCL??

Reason: I mean hey.....I gotta have my Key Lime cookies with my DCL Margaritas!!

P.S. I have my fins & mask,etc all packed for Castaway Cay as this is my very 1st trip to WDW (01-07-09) & DCL (01-11-09 to 01-15-09) so.... I am thinking what a way to see Castaway Island for the 1st time than by participating in the 5-k 'Fun run."

 

[VA_mouseman]

Hidy Ho fellow DISer!
Q: Can I pack some food (Key Lime cookies) & have them in my luggage (when it gets transfered from CBR on over to DCL) or is that a "no-no" & is frowned upon by DCL??

I know you can't bring perishables onboard as a carryon. I also know you can bring your own wine aboard (corking fees apply), but I'm not sure if wine has to be checked or can be a carryon item.

To be honest, I don't have the answer to your question, so I'd suggest you post that question on the DCL forum.

 

[iu97alum]

Hidy Ho fellow DISer!

Tis I - Kris....from 01-11-08 Wonder 2009 dis meets board. Gotta ask you a question as you seem to be in the know on a lot of things all Disney -

Q: Can I pack some food (Key Lime cookies) & have them in my luggage (when it gets transfered from CBR on over to DCL) or is that a "no-no" & is frowned upon by DCL??

Reason: I mean hey.....I gotta have my Key Lime cookies with my DCL Margaritas!!

P.S. I have my fins & mask,etc all packed for Castaway Cay as this is my very 1st trip to WDW (01-07-09) & DCL (01-11-09 to 01-15-09) so.... I am thinking what a way to see Castaway Island for the 1st time than by participating in the 5-k 'Fun run."

My understanding is as long as it's pre-packaged (like oreos, doritos, etc) and in your carryon you can take it on the ship.

 

[Cellthing]

For those of you coming in town the day before we leave, where are you staying? Since we just booked, I'm trying to get some small details taken care of and that would be one.

Another detail, we are getting a rental car for a day (Jan. 17-18) and was wondering if anyone has any good codes or deals on a day rental for those companies that have rental car returns at port. I know to check the transportation board and possibily the cruise board itself, but thought I'd ask while I'm looking for info.

Thanks bunches.

 

[knewton64]

My understanding is as long as it's pre-packaged (like oreos, doritos, etc) and in your carryon you can take it on the ship.

A huge thank you to all on this board in pointing me in the right direction per the above header as yes...(PER DCL) it has to be prepackaged & you have do declare it in your carryon (so DCl knows what you are doing).

Thanks again.

 

[Cellthing]

Ok. I got to wondering where everyone was from and we did this on another cruise site for a past cruise DH and I went on a year ago. So, those of you who are on this cruise, I would like to know who you are cruising with and where you are from (city, state). You never know, you might have a neighbor joining you and you didn't even know. I'll try to complile a list once we seem to have most ppl accounted for.

I'll start.

cellthing - Maumelle, Arkansas Kristen(DW), Craig(DH), Carly(9), Claire(5)

If your not comfortable giving name, then just give your city and state. If your not comfortable with that, then just answer "here" for a roll call.

 

[jennymc]

Butler, PA - Jennifer (34), Jason (34), Caden (7) & Terann (5) and the in-laws Linda (60) & Ted (62)

 

[VA_mouseman]

Jamie (me), 43
Suzanne (aka The Desperate Mousewife), 41
Benji, 11
Jonah 7

Additionally, we'll be cruising with friends who are not on the DIS. They'll be celebrating their 10 year anniversary, and have a son (7) and 2 yr old twins (boy and a girl).

 

[iu97alum]

Dana (me) 34
Jim (DH) 39
Emily (DD) 5
Samantha (DD) 3

We're crusing for Emily's Make a Wish trip!! I started a PTR and the link is in my siggie!

 

[TNLaura]

Oak Ridge Tennessee.

Tim (DH), Laura (me), Sarah (5), Lucas (4) plus my brother and his wife from Michigan and my mom and dad from here in Oak Ridge.

As this is our first, it is nice to "meet" friends before we go. I can't believe that we are FINALLY almost there!!

 

[VA_mouseman]

Sometime after 7:30 this morning, when the kids woke up and tromped downstairs (which makes me wonder, how is it they can wake up at 7:30 on a weekend, but never on a school morning?!?), I managed to fall back asleep ...

And then I had a very bizarre dream, that as we were heading on the bus to Port Canaveral, we were told that there were problems with the ship. We were given $400 vouchers to compensate, and I was already mentally spending it (hmm, another Mickey watch!). Well, we got to the port and we saw that the back of the Wonder was semi-submerged -- and the ship wasn't remotely seaworthy! The rest of the dream was me trying to figure out what was going to happen next. I woke up with no resolution to it. Very bizarre! I wonder if the recent news about the gangway damage at Port Canaveral had anything to do with it. It's going to take up to eight weeks to repair it, so our cruise embarkation/debarkation may be affected by it.

 

[Cellthing]

Let's just hope nightmare doesn't turn into reality!

 

[Cellthing]

Here's a list of who replied to the "roll call"

cellthing - Maumelle, AR - Craig, Kristen, Carly(9), Claire(5)
jennymc - Butler, Pa - Jennifer,Jason,Caden(7),Terann(5),Linda,Ted (inlaws)
VA Mouseman - Dunn Loring, VA - Jamie,Suzanne,Benji(11),Jonah (7) +extras
iu97alum - Irving, TX - Dana, Jim, Emily(5), Samantha(3)
TNLaura - Oak Ridge, TN - Tim, Laura, Sarah(5), Lucas(4) + brother/wife, mom/dad
Gypsy Gal - Mechanicsburg, PA -Stacy, Rob, Becca-16 1/2 & Katie 16

Hopefully we can add to this list as time gets closer. Anyone coming in the day before and staying in the area? If so, anyone want to maybe get together for dinner somewhere? Just a thought. We can work on that as it gets closer.

 

[VA_mouseman]

Anyone coming in the day before and staying in the area? If so, anyone want to maybe get together for dinner somewhere? Just a thought. We can work on that as it gets closer.

We're staying at POFQ January 16th and 17th. We're actually getting in quite late that Friday night (long story; AirTran scheduling nightmares). We're going casual on Saturday before our cruise, mainly hanging around our resort and Downtown Disney. We're having dinner at Boatwrights at POR that night, then hanging around to catch Yehaa Bob perform. Look him up on YouTube to see his zany acts. Anyone in the area is welcome to join us!

 

[VA_mouseman]

Been kinda quiet lately. Everybody got their shore excursions booked? It's starting to hit me that this event is really coming up!

Is anyone doing door decorations? The stateroom cabin doors are metal and magnetic stickers can be used on them. You can get flexible magnetic printer paper (Staples, etc) and print off family/Disney pictures. I'll have to dig ours up from our last cruise.

We start off the holidays with Hannukah in our house and then we travel to Indianapolis (my family) for Christmas and maybe new years. When we return I think this cruise/WDW vacation is going to front and center on my radar!

Any updates from anyone?

 

[iu97alum]

Been kinda quiet lately. Everybody got their shore excursions booked? It's starting to hit me that this event is really coming up!

Is anyone doing door decorations? The stateroom cabin doors are metal and magnetic stickers can be used on them. You can get flexible magnetic printer paper (Staples, etc) and print off family/Disney pictures. I'll have to dig ours up from our last cruise.

We start off the holidays with Hannukah in our house and then we travel to Indianapolis (my family) for Christmas and maybe new years. When we return I think this cruise/WDW vacation is going to front and center on my radar!

Any updates from anyone?

]
We are!!! I already printed off Tom's DCL name tags for all of us and name flags for us too! I've collected some more clip art but haven't had a chance to print yet! I'm taking off the week between Christmas and New Year's so I'll have some time then I hope!! I've already gotten fabric markers for autogrpahs on the pillow cases, just need to find the pillow cases!!

We didn't book any shore excursions. I think this one will be just about R&R and activities on the ship.

 

[DiznNut]

Hello to all ! Not much longer and we will be sailing!!!! We are all anxious and have finally booked our pre-cruise night stay.. after much long thought we have booked a 2 bedroom at Saratoga Springs and thought we would hang out one night at the world and show my parents around. We also plan on taking them to dinner somewhere in Downtown Disney. Will get up early the next morning and drive over to the port, got to be one of the first ones there. Still fretting over what shore excursions to take. We will most likely take the tour of the forts or the boat ride around Paradise Island so my parents won't have to do too much walking. Plan on mostly relaxation this cruise. Also, thinking about making some type of sign to go on our doors to help make them more recognizable for everyone, because you know all those doors look the same late at night.

 

[Gypsy Gal]

Mechanicsburg, PA
Stacy (me), Rob (DH), Becca-16 1/2 (DD) & Katie 16 (DD)

So looking forward to some down time. We are not planning on any excursions this cruise. Have always done something on our past cruises so decided to just take it a bit slower this time around. We are all looking forward to a relaxing day on the beach at Castaway Cay. I say that as I look out at the snow in my front yard. BRRRRR!

Counting down the days......

 

[weired88]

Any suggestions on what time is best to arrive Sunday morning? We are staying in the area the night before. Buses from the airport don't start levaing until 10am. Should we plan on getting there before the rush of peole from the airport? We are doing Palos the first night and would like time to unwind before that...

And sisters: Heather (24) and Jen (28)