January 8, 2006- 4 night Wonder- Anybody else coming with?

[lacourre]

I am also perfectly happy with any cabin at all, that is why we booked the Cat 12's. I wouldn't turn down a better cabin if they offered it either . I also agree that anywhere is fine, just as long as I'm on that ship

With so many of us here booked in Cat 12's I'm thinking that at least SOME of us should get upgrades.

Hi Everyone! I'm new to the group and new to Disney cruises! I am very excited and booked our Cat 12 about 1 year in advance... hey, it's gotta fit in the budget! I am just happy to get a family trip. But it would be very cool if we did get an upgrade.

It is me, my DH, and my almost 3-year old boy. He won't be quite 3 yet when we cruise, so if anyone has any experience or tips for the Nursery please let me know.

Well I just wanted to say 'hi' -- I found this site through another disney board on Yahoo.

-- Larisa

 

[Cruisin]

lacourre and welcome aboard.

We always have room for more.

Hey, I had a thought about those Cat 12's. If none of us get upgrades, we will ALL be in the same part of the ship together

Sorry can't help you with your question but I have never cruised with such a little one.

 

[VickiHD]

Hi and welcome Lacourre (Larisa). I so excited that our group keeps on getting larger and larger. It going to be fun meeting everyone. There are some other family posters on our cruise so maybe they can answer your question regarding the nursery.

DH and I are also in Cat 12. And like Cruisin said.....a lot of us are in Cat. 12 so we maybe in the same area on the ship. Or maybe all of us will be upgraded.

 

[branv]

Welcome! Can't help with the kid's questions, but I know these people at DIS are just peaches about giving good info! I'm sure someone will know.

Any suggestions on where to eat at Downtown Disney?? We will still be on California time so maybe somewhere quiet. It's so hard to adjust to the time change.

I think I want to try out Earl of Sandwich! Such good reviews and a tasty looking menu. Too bad it's counter service though, we spend so much time in line on vacation to WDW you almost hate to add one more

We arrive at WDW on the 5th around 2 pm. We won't go to the park that day, so we're trying to figure out what to do. Either DTD, Jiko's or Trails End Buffet and the campfire/movie at Fort Wilderness. We can't decide

 

[Cruisin]

We arrive at WDW on the 5th around 2 pm.

We will probably be arriving within a few hours of you.

Where are you staying?

We are staying at the POP Century.

We don't have plans for the 5th but will do parks probably the 6th and 7th. Which ones (or all of them) have yet to be decided.

 

[JoyCrazy]

Hello lacourre and Welcome Aboard. Be sure to check out the cruise tips thread. It's full of useful info. (Like take along plain white pillowcases and some sharpies to leave at Guest Services. You'll get them back at the end of the cruise Autographed by the Characters.) Somebody in that thread will definitely be able to help with your nursery question.
I booked our trip a year in advance as well. I'm looking around for trip ideas for our next vacation in 2yrs already. For me planning this trip has been so much fun and these boards have been my main source of info.
BTW we're so excited about our new family member. My sister's new Chevy Optra. She got in on the last day of GM Employee pricing. It's soo cool she's actually paying less a month on her new car then she was on her 4yr old one. Who knew that buying a new car could SAVE you money. lol
We're arriving on the 3rd and staying at POR. I'm going to sneak in a trip to Walmart on the first day and pick up some sand toys for Castaway Cay, lots of Water Bottles and some breakfast food for the WDW.
How many of us are spending a few days in the world before the cruise?

 

[Cruisin]

How many of us are spending a few days in the world before the cruise?

 

[VickiHD]

DH and I are flying in on the 6th, if all goes well we arrive 6:30 pm. It is going to be a very long day for us flying in from the west coast. We are staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort, to keep with the tropical theme of the cruise. We just had a long WDW vacation a couple of months ago, so we only visiting Epcot to hit the other countries we missed. Dinner will be at DTD. And I have to hit the scrapbooking shop to get supplies for my new hobby.

 

[branv]

Disney site shows we're back down to cat 4,5,6,8 & 9. Guess not everyone plans these trips so darn far in advance...heavier on the pocketbook, but much easier on the nail biting anticipation

We're staying at Pop too, but I'm hoping super hard for a discount for January. I really want to upgrade to one of the Deluxe resorts. I don't think the odds are great for our weekend b/c the marathoners have already booked up alot of those rooms. As my TA said, "they all want places with hot tubs" Who can blame them, I get a leg cramp just thinking about vacuuming!

I'm scheming and maneuvering things for our 2 days. I think since Friday is early opening at MK, we're going to go park there, take advantage of Space Mountain a few times :thewave: Then we'll monorail over to do a little Epcot, then either back to resort to nap or straight back to MK. Either way, I want to close down MK. I just love the Kiss Goodnight

Saturday we'll do AK early entry, then MGM for ToT and RnRc...we were going to hit Epcot around 1 pm on this day (Since the half marathon will be over), but I read that they're having a family 5K and special kids races starting at 11 am actually inside Epcot, so want to avoid it. I think we'll just go back to the resort for a rest, then either to the World Showcase in the evening or back to MK again.

Then we ALL know what happens on Sunday

Oh why can't these darn clocks move faster!!

 

[Cruisin]

Disney site shows we're back down to cat 4,5,6,8 & 9. Guess not everyone plans these trips so darn far in advance...heavier on the pocketbook, but much easier on the nail biting anticipation

We're staying at Pop too, but I'm hoping super hard for a discount for January. I really want to upgrade to one of the Deluxe resorts. I don't think the odds are great for our weekend b/c the marathoners have already booked up alot of those rooms. As my TA said, "they all want places with hot tubs" Who can blame them, I get a leg cramp just thinking about vacuuming!

I'm scheming and maneuvering things for our 2 days. I think since Friday is early opening at MK, we're going to go park there, take advantage of Space Mountain a few times :thewave: Then we'll monorail over to do a little Epcot, then either back to resort to nap or straight back to MK. Either way, I want to close down MK. I just love the Kiss Goodnight

Saturday we'll do AK early entry, then MGM for ToT and RnRc...we were going to hit Epcot around 1 pm on this day (Since the half marathon will be over), but I read that they're having a family 5K and special kids races starting at 11 am actually inside Epcot, so want to avoid it. I think we'll just go back to the resort for a rest, then either to the World Showcase in the evening or back to MK again.

Then we ALL know what happens on Sunday

Oh why can't these darn clocks move faster!!

Wow, you've got your days planned out really nicely.

I don't have a clue what we are doing and when. I think we will just go with the flow and do whatever my parents want to do. They move a little slower than us. Also we will (hopefully at least) have tons more years to visit WDW and they won't, so it should be geared to their interests for the most part I think.

I will make a note to avoid Epcot on Saturday though

 

[VickiHD]

I didn't know about the race inside of the park. Uggg the crowds inside of Epcot. I guess we will just put up with the crowds and hit the countries. Oh well it could be worse, worse by having to run in the race. Hehe

 

[branv]

Oh heck ya, I figured with four parks in two days, I had to be. I just love touring plans. I hate lines, so those Passporter and Unoff. Guide plans are like my bible To be honest I think it kicked my planning obsession into overdrive when I heard what a snarl the marathon causes transportation in the a.m., so I wanted to plan our parks around avoiding the marathon routes...ergo, no Magic Kingdom on Saturday morning for me, no thank you!

Vicki, I doubt Epcot will really be that bad. I mean, they wouldn't put it inside the park if they didn't have a plan. You know how those Disney people are, they're a whiz at logistics Although, being trapped in France for a few wouldn't be so bad...kicking back with a glass of wine, cheese plate, an eclair or two. Oh the hardship!

I have to make the most out of this trip I doubt we'll get back to WDW again unless we decide to have children. There's just too many other places we want to see, and too little vacation time. DH has humored me long enough. Who knows though...maybe if DH just looooves the DCL cruise...

 

[Cruisin]

branv..... I don't see how he could NOT love the Disney Cruise.

There really is not much about it to not love.

This will be our 7th Disney Cruise Line cruise and everytime we still see something that we haven't seen before.

 

[VickiHD]

Do you think we have to worry about leaving WDW for the Port early Sun. morning due to the marathon?

I don't know about you guys but I want to get to the port EARLY!!! Come on planners .....what time is everyone leaving?

I guess it's that time in vacation planning when the nightmares start and I start worrying about everything. How much $ in change do we need for the tolls? Since we're driving ourselves, I'm worrying about getting lost driving around Florida, never getting to the port in time. (It's to soon to starting having these worries, we still have a couple of months to go.)

 

[Cruisin]

I have checked the marathon routes and think that we will be okay getting away from the POP Century Sunday morning. I can't say for any other resorts though because I did not look.

We typically leave between 9 - 9:30 to head over to the port. Gets you there about when they open the terminal.

Time to check in and explore around the terminal before they open the ship for boarding.

Once you get on the toll road it is pretty hard to get lost on your way to Port Canaveral. Once you get closer there are plenty of good signs pointing the way. The best and biggest sign of course will be the Disney Wonder itself

I forget how much toll money you need but it wasn't a whole lot, I'm guessing in the 2 - 3 dollar range. Maybe someone else knows for sure.

 

[VickiHD]

Where can I check for the marathon routes?

I guess we'll keep a bunch of quarters in the car for the roads.

 

[Cruisin]

I know I found the routes, I will try and find them back for you and post a link.

 

[Cruisin]

Here ya go......... maps of the marathon routes.

Full Marathon

http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/dwws_v0200/en_US/marathon/events/pdf/06FullCourseMap.pdf

Half Marathon

http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/dwws_v0200/en_US/marathon/events/pdf/06HalfCourseMap.pdf

 

[VickiHD]

Thank you for the links. It looks like CBR is not going to be effected either.

 

[branv]

You want to know what a big nerd my husband is?

We always bring a laptop with us for downloading our digital pics and for watching DVD's while on the flights.

SO, big tech geek bought himself a GPS thing that plugs into the laptop and sync's up to a Microsoft Trip Planner. He absolutely plans to bring it with us to Florida so he can find our way around (shhhh...I'm secretly bringing maps just in case )

Yeah, I plan to haul rear over to PC I just can't imagine being able to sleep in or move leisurely, I'll be way to full of excited energy. Since we're dropping off a rental car at Budget, I think it's a good idea anyway. I figure we'll take everyone's suggestions and one of us will check in while the other drops the car off. Does anyone know what time they start allowing check-ins, or at least start doing curbside luggage checks?