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

[branv]

Cruisin, you ROCK!

I can never get enough detail!

Ok, if you can bear with me, I have one more tiiiiny question.

Like with airport skycaps, do you tip the people taking your luggage, or is it more like the counter service in airports when you check in - they take your luggage but you don't tip them?

Gracias!

 

[Cruisin]

I honestly don't recall ever tipping those people but maybe my husband did it? I can ask him tomorrow and let you know.

We will most likely be there early also.

The kids are booked on a 9:50 am flight out of MCO, so we will be dropping them off on the way to the port. I'm guessing they need to be at the airport a few hours ahead of the flight. We will probably go into the terminal with them but once they have gone past security they are on their own.

That's when we make a run for the coast and let them worry about getting themselves home.

 

[VickiHD]

Thank you Cruisin for the details. It is so helpful I am actually going to print it out so when I start stressing on what to do and where to go I will simply pull out the piece of paper with all the information on it.

 

[Cruisin]

Thank you Cruisin for the details. It is so helpful I am actually going to print it out so when I start stressing on what to do and where to go I will simply pull out the piece of paper with all the information on it.

You are very welcome. Glad to help.

 

[JoyCrazy]

Thanks for the info Crusin I have a question though. I read that if you're staying at WDW before you cruise you can pre-register at your hotel. Do you know how that works and what steps it lets you skip?
Also I'm a total travel newbie how much stuff am I allowed to buy that is Duty free? If I buy something while at WDW and take it with me on the the cruise will I get Double Dutied? Do children get an Duty allowance? Will I get charged Duty for anything I bought in the bahama's by the US and then again by Canada? I'm totally confused and terrified by these Duty Dilemmas!

 

[VickiHD]

Thanks for the info Crusin I have a question though. I read that if you're staying at WDW before you cruise you can pre-register at your hotel. Do you know how that works and what steps it lets you skip?
!

Another good question!!!! Isn't only for the higher cabin cats?

Also wondering, if we are NOT using DCL provided transportation, would we be able to still check in?

To all my fellow compulsive planners.......see we are not done planning yet!

 

[branv]

I asked this question early on in my planning, and if I remember correctly they said you can only do that if you are signed up for the Land and Sea pkg? But maybe it also includes people who are taking DCL transportation too? That last part I'm not sure of.

I know I was pretty disappointed to learn that while you CAN check in for your return flight for major carriers at the port when you disembark, and they will take your luggage right then and there, that it's only offered for people using DCL transportation Which irritated me the most when a few posters said that that USED to be something they offered for all passengers.

 

[sapphire33]

Thanks for the info on check in and when the ship returns to port, Cruisin! As much as I would like to look out to sea and see the Wonder return, I don't know if getting up at 4 a.m. is a good idea and it will be dark out anyway. If I can't sleep due to excitement, and if we have a window with a view, maybe...

I am eagerly awaiting those docs in the mail, any day now!!

 

[attagirlx2]

Just noticed when I checked on our reservation today that under the dining preference it stated "main seating" when before it would say "main seating 6:00". I think it is interesting that they changed the wording. I knew that 6:00 didn't mean that it was the actual time of my rotation. And I'm sure some were confused by that. But what I am wondering is if that means they might start posting when your assigned dining time actually is.

 

[Cruisin]

JoyCrazy, I believe that you can only pre-register at your WDW resort IF you are doing the Land/Sea package that Disney offers.

The duty questions ~~ I suppose it depends on how much money you are planning on spending. We have never had to pay duty for anything we have bought while on a cruise, either in the US or when we reentered into Canada.

Yes children are allowed the same allowance as adults, usually they look at it as a combined total per family, not a per person total. When we cross the border they always ask, are you bringing anything back with you, the value of the items, whether you have cigarettes or alcohol (which I think is an automatic duty charged). I don't remember the exact amounts allowed when you return to Canada but it depends on how long you've been away. I'll see if I can find the answer for you in a bit.

I'm not familiar with what is duty free and what is not. Never been an issue with whatever we have bought.

sapphire ~~ when we went on our cruise out of Los Angeles in November, I was up early and just happened to look out the window just in time to see our cruise ship docking at the port. I wasn't planning on it but the timing was just right.

 

[Cruisin]

JoyCrazy, check this out for personal exemptions when returning to Canada and other helpful info.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4044/rc4044-e.html#P185_22732

 

[branv]

Yes children are allowed the same allowance as adults, usually they look at it as a combined total per family, not a per person total. When we cross the border they always ask, are you bringing anything back with you, the value of the items, whether you have cigarettes or alcohol (which I think is an automatic duty charged).

I can see it now, "Well customs officer, I am carrying 2 bottles of Jack Daniels, but little Janey here, she's hauling at least 2 liters of Bacardi"

Thanks again for helping us out Cruisin, you're the best.

 

[JoyCrazy]

Thanks again Crusin you rock!
That information was really helpful!

We're putting up our tree today. Work was crazy this month and everybody's been sick so we're behind. This is the cloest to xmas we're ever been. My niece has been really anxious about it. I bet she was starting to believe we wouldn't get it done till new years.

 

[Cruisin]

another day almost done

 

[lacourre]

Hi Everyone!

Has anyone done the Atlantis tour? I made a ressie online and wanted to know how do you get to Atlantis... is there a van for Disney groups? Do you have to try and get a cab? About how much should you spend and tip for the ride there and back? Thanks for any info and tips!

 

[branv]

Yay! We're getting so close now!! I came this close to buying the Passporter Cruise book b/c I got a Barnes and Noble Gift Card at DH's family Christmas thing, but I kept reminding myself that a) I've looked at it before and didn't see anything in it that I couldn't and hadn't found online and b) we're so close to the trip, what's the point! So instead, I bought a box set of Paula Deen Recipes

Lacourre - I hope someone here can answer your questions, but if not, I can tell you that a search for "Atlantis" on the main Cruise board will give you TONS of answers. I checked the tour out over there, but we decided against it since it doesn't offer pool access, I can get to that beach myself by just hopping a cab (these excursions take you to the same beach, you're not allowed in their pretty little calm lagoons), we weren't interested in looking at aquariums, and people will tell you over and over that it really DOES involve EXTENSIVE walking. I know that if you want to do this on your own, you can take a cab and just buy a tour (I think $25/pp, but not sure) through the Dig area at Atlantis, but I don't know if it's cost prohibitive or not.

Here are some posts:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=922428&highlight=Discover
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=863299&highlight=Discover
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=738832&highlight=Discover



Now, if you do want to see The Dig AND use the pools, I think they've said that booking a room at the Comfort Suites across the street gives you access. I think it's limited to four people though? Again, you'll get firmer answers doing a search My memory isn't always what it should be. Like this recent post: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=981597

 

[Cruisin]

Hi Everyone!

Has anyone done the Atlantis tour? I made a ressie online and wanted to know how do you get to Atlantis... is there a van for Disney groups? Do you have to try and get a cab? About how much should you spend and tip for the ride there and back? Thanks for any info and tips!

We have done the Atlantis tour.

You will have your transportation provided by the tour. You will most likely take the water taxi over to Paradise Island (you walk from the ship to the water taxi). From the dock there, it is quite a little hike over to Atlantis. You will have a tour guide with you.

They will take you into the resort and show you around. You will follow the group through the aquariums and around the resort. After you will be given some free time and told when the water taxi leaves.

Then you have to take the hike back to the taxi.

I will admit that those water taxis really scared me. They pack so many people on them sometimes, it just doesn't feel safe to me.

We are going to Atlantis but we are going to do it on our own this time. It apparently costs approx $4.00 each to take a taxi to Atlantis. I don't know how much it costs to get into the aquariums once we get there though.

 

[branv]

Oooooh, someone on the 1/5 Wonder just reported they got their docs today. Just a matter of time...

 

[Cruisin]

Oooooh, someone on the 1/5 Wonder just reported they got their docs today. Just a matter of time...

Yes, I noticed that too.

I wonder if ours will come before Christmas, between Christmas and New Years

Hopefully they come before we leave on Jan 3. If not then no big deal really because all the necessary forms are available on line or at the terminal. You don't get your luggage tags that way though.

 

[sapphire33]

Branv, my mom loves Paula Deen and has made us a few of her recipes. Sounds like money well spent!

It seems like we received our docs for the last cruise sooner than three weeks before, but I could be so eager to get them that I have a selective memory!

Has anyone preregistered their kids for the club/lab and mailed in the medical forms? I preregistered but have not sent in the forms - would doing so make the checking in process at the club/lab go faster? Anyone else have some club/lab experiences to share... like what programs were the most enjoyable for their kids or the best time to go on the four day? Thanks!