July 9th 2005 - West Coast Cruise.

[mommykeg]

Kim--try not to stress too much. You really should have no problem if you call sometime Sunday morning. Last year I called two weeks after the date so really no surprised the Dolphin encounter was booked, but I kept calling back and there was a cancellation 2 weeks before the cruise. I am with you though -- my son really wants to swim with the Dolphins and by darn it he will!

I am confiden we will get through, get what we want, and the times we want, and then can relax until the cruise

I agree with the group hug!!

sheryl

Sheryl...I'm sure you're right! But I'll be sure to have plan A, B, and C ready when I call. You know...hope for the best, plan for the worst!! Thanks for the calming voice!

Kim

 

[SCOUTER-MOM]

Christine...I've been to DL twice in the past few weeks...took each of the kids for a special day of their own. We LOVED the new Buzz Lightyear ride and the new parades. Of course, we always enjoy a Monte Cristo sandwich at the Blue Bayou (you can only get it at lunch!) and dinner at Ariel's Grotto. They've changed the characters there and made it more interactive like Goofy's kitchen. My son always enjoys the "make your own" pb&j at Carnation Cafe.

Kim

Kim...We also went to DL last week what a zoo!! but worth going.The buzz ride was great my friend and I got a little competitive which made it even more fun .My son also had a blast. Thanks for the tip on the Monte Cristo sandwhich ,we tend to eat mexican at the cafe by thunder mountain.

 

[swcruiser]

Hi, Lori sorry it took so long to respond back but as you all can tell my husbands busy with his novel and dosent want to share the computer.We have so enjoyed all the info provided here and are looking forward to meeting everyone. It seems we live fairly close to eachother,are any of you locals planning to visit DL soon?
Christine

Hi Christine!
We will be going to DL on 4/22. My son is out of school. I guess this will be our last visit before it gets too busy for summer.
Lori

 

[SCOUTER-MOM]

Just made our final payment -We're going on a Disney Cruise!

Owe everyone a big thak you! Eavesdropping on you inspired me. Wasn't going to make my final payment until the deadline, May 10. We had booked back in May before they changed the policy so we had a little extra time. Really wanted to wait until the last minute to make that big payment. Had no idea how exciting it was to finally be paid. Everyone is ready to pack!
...got a novel to finish.

 

[SCOUTER-MOM]

TITLE PAGE​

“ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED, NOT IN KINDERGARTEN, BUT IN THE JULY 9th 2005 - WEST COAST CRUISE THREAD AT www.disboards.com”

CHAPTER 5
…And The Rest​

Just a few of the early digital faces I recognize from my early eavesdropping, before this thread exploded: jel0511, cruzin'gain, BriarRosie, pferrell, jel0511,RENKnt2000. Where did pferrell & BriarRosie go?

…and the race for 90 continues.

 

[SCOUTER-MOM]

TITLE PAGE​

“ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED, NOT IN KINDERGARTEN, BUT IN THE JULY 9th 2005 - WEST COAST CRUISE THREAD AT www.disboards.com”

CHAPTER 6
Our Fortunes Turn​

FOJMO GOT A $5,00 REFUND FROM THE IRS!

…and the race for 90 continues.

 

[SCOUTER-DAD]

Just a little correction. I havn't been checking my log-in name. Appearantly, many of my Posts have been under by wife's name.

Correction:

Scouter-Dad is the one who read all the pages and is writing the novel.

Scouter-Mom is the one who is proud of her gold mickey ears and is going to DL.

 

[hayesktrm]

KIM---CAN YOU HEAR ME? I NEED YOUR HELP, OH WISE EXCURSION ONE! Okay, it's 10:13 PM and I decided we better decide which excursion to do because you said we could call tomorrow. I found the number on the DCL website to call and I have my confirmation number and we are paid in full, so I should be able to make a reservation, right? Anyway, I was looking at the website and it said we could make excursion reservations on or after the final payment due date--it didn't say after you have paid in full. Our actual due date isn't for another month, but we're paid in full, so hopefully we can call. Now that I think about it, that wouldn't be fair because some of us have different due dates so it wouldn't be fair if some could make ressies and some couldn't. Okay, I'm talking myself down now. I'm sure my excursion won't be as popular as yours, and I don't want to tie up the line while you're trying to get through. I really want your kids to swim with the dolphins. I'll be heartbroken for them if they can't . I hope you post in the morning letting us know how you did. Sending pixie dust your way!

-Karen

 

[mommykeg]

Karen...I"M HERE FOR YOU!!!! I called to ask that very same question on Friday...they told me that if you are paid in full, you can reserve excursions at the 90 day mark, which for us is tomorrow. I have my alarm set for 4:55 a.m., since I got conflicting reports from CMs about when exactly they are open for business tomorrow....a few said 8 EST ( 5 PST), a few said 9 EST (6 PST), so I'll try calling at 5 am!!! If they aren't there, I'll hit snooze a few times and call again at 6!!! I will definitely post tomorrow to let you guys know what happened! Thanks for the good wishes!

Kim

 

[renknt]

CHAPTER 5
…And The Rest​

Just a few of the early digital faces I recognize from my early eavesdropping, before this thread exploded: jel0511, cruzin'gain, BriarRosie, pferrell, jel0511,RENKnt2000. Where did pferrell & BriarRosie go?

…and the race for 90 continues.

Who is RENKnt2000? did I miss a memo?


And another thing when did I get fired as the Offical Photographer

Miss a few staff meetings and it like you were never there


Renknt or Mike

 

[cruzin'gain]

Called at 9am and Jan answered and booked my excursions....

PV= Pirate Sail
Maz=Beach Escape
Cabo=Beach Break

 

[jel0511]

Currently on hold.......

 

[cruzin'gain]

Called at 9am and Jan answered and booked my excursions....

PV= Pirate Sail
Maz=Beach Escape
Cabo=Beach Break

Just received a faxed confirmation. If you can, ask for one!!!!

 

[hayesktrm]

Kim, I'm worried, you haven't posted that you got your excursion. Did you go back to sleep without telling us? I just called and got our Jungle expedition in PV. I was very impressed, I got right through and it took about 2 minutes.

I laughed when I logged on at 6:49 AM and there were several posts from our group.

Karen

 

[mommykeg]

OK...the good news is, we'll be doing the dolphins in Puerto Vallarta.

The bad news is...

1. I called at 9 am sharp (6 am our time! ) and was on hold until 9:17. But I'm thinking, no problem, I called at 6 am!! Wrong!!

2. We can't do the experience together. The only swims that were available were 12 and 3...the only dolphin encounter for kids available was 11. So DH and DD will swim at 12, and DS will encounter at 11. Problem solved, right? Wrong!!!

3. The dolphin encounter for kids states that each child must be accompanied by a parent as a dolphin observer. But there were no dolphin observers available at 11 am, so they had to book me as an adult dolphin encounter even though I will need to be with DS and won't be able to do the encounter. Cost difference: $120 vs. $35!!!! Now wouldn't you think that they would "save" dolphin observer spots for the parents that are required to accompany the dolphin encounter for kid spots?

I'm just kind of in shock right now. I can't believe the morning dolphin stuff was sold out in 17 minutes!!! They told me a supervisor will call me...the rep I spoke to didn't seem to know what to do about it.

I also booked the Cabo Beach Break...but will probably do Cabo on our own and cancel that. Not sure, so I thought better safe than sorry.

Kim

 

[mommykeg]

Oh...and they told me that we CAN'T ride together as a family...DS and I will have to go with the 11:00 group and DH and DD will have to go with the 12:00 group. So DH won't be able to see DS's experience!!!

Kim

 

[Dylcal]

Kim -- so sorry they were booked that quickly. I called about 8:59 and waited about 3 minutes. I got everything I asked for and the times I wanted.

PV - Swim with Dolphins at 11
M - Mexican Family Ranch party 9:15
CSL - Beachside Horseback Riding at 9:25

Is it July yet?????????:?? The Reservationist told me that she took several calls yesterday from people trying to book their excursions and she had to tell them to call back today. It seems we have a lively group going!

Sheryl

 

[GrumpyMom1]

I'm glad you were all able to get through and get what you want. Kim - I'm sorry you had such a hard time. I hope they are able to work out something better for you.

And another thing when did I get fired as the Offical Photographer

Miss a few staff meetings and it like you were never there


Renknt or Mike

Mike - I didn't know you were the Official Photographer. Someone said we should have an "Unofficial Photographer" and I volunteered since I have a new camera and LOVE to take pictures. My kids get frustrated with me at DL because they want to go on the rides and I'm stopping to take pictures of everything. But I love it when I get shots like this -

Anyway, the more photographers we have the better!!!

I can't believe we are now down to less than 3 months!

 

[swcruiser]

Well we paid on Friday and booked our excursions today. Kim, I am sorry you had such a rough time. I called about 6:05 am our time and I was on hold for about 10 minutes I think (I fell alseep). We were able to get the following, I am glad to see that several of us will be together.
Cabo=Cabo Beach Break
Mat-Mexican Family Ranch Party
PV=Dolphin encounter at 11 (for me and DS-DH wil be an observer!).

By the way, I told the CM that they are driving us crazy with their lack of info for us. She laughed and said she had heard that. She told me not to worry. She said they did extensive research and planning for a few years to get this ready to go. She said they do have plans but they are subject to change since they have never done this before. Basically they don't want to release info that may change. I tried to get the days out of her for formal night etc. All she would say was that we will have a formal night, a semi, a pirate night, and a character breakfast, which we had all figured anyway. She said that Disney was not going to ruin their rep by not having things together. She also said not to put too much into what the 5/28 cruisers come back saying as they will kind of be the test run (aren't you glad we didn't book that one!) and they will tweak and adjust as things work and don't work. She also said that this was true for the excursions as well. That's all for now.
Lori (swcruiser)

 

[hayesktrm]

Kim, I can't believe that. Can they put you on a waiting list for something together? I can't believe that so many people on the cruise actually knew today was the day to make ressies. My TA never told me so if it wasn't for all of you, I wouldn't have known. Wow, people really have their acts together. I just can't imagine that that many people called at 6:00 AM our time on a Sunday. Did they say how many spots were available total (how big the group is?). I hope they can work something out for you.