MAGICal Christmas 2008 - December 20, 2008

[alikat99]

oops I meant Jan 07 when I booked

Hey, sorry, wasn't trying to correct you. I didn't even notice what date you put in. I just remembered when I had booked, since it was the first day it was available, and we had been planning a Christmas 08 cruise for years, since it was our 10th anniversary!!!

 

[DisneyZell]

Still no docs for us There is a chance it will still come tonight, but I doubt it. I would not be happy if we didn't get an OBC for the fuel charge if we paid it. I didn't even know if we did pay it since we booked sooooo long ago. I had to email DU to find out if we did pay it! We didn't, so I don't have to call and get that credit. Just went out and got some special candy for our stateroom host and servers for Christmas day. I just don't know what else to get them. Anybody have any other ideas?

 

[alikat99]

I also bought some candy for our servers and stateroom host. Here's my plan for Christmas - everyone says that they enjoy $$$ more than anything. So, since Christmas is Thursday, my plan is to make homemade cards before we leave, and giving them their tips on Thursday night, instead of Friday - along with some extra $$$ for Christmas.

I know that they all don't celebrate Christmas, but they all know about it significance for Christians. So, I hope that the gesture of an over-and-above tip, some candy and a homemade card will be appreciated.

 

[cataworm]

We got our new room assignment! we were upgraded to a veranda! we are # 6558 im pretty sure

 

[psharrock]

Hey, sorry, wasn't trying to correct you. I didn't even notice what date you put in. I just remembered when I had booked, since it was the first day it was available, and we had been planning a Christmas 08 cruise for years, since it was our 10th anniversary!!!

We booked the first day too

I have spoken to my TA, and been told that if the oil price is less than $70 on the 18th Dec, then I'll get my fuel surcharge as on OBC

Its $154 more to spend

Paul

 

[psharrock]

Still no docs for us There is a chance it will still come tonight, but I doubt it. I would not be happy if we didn't get an OBC for the fuel charge if we paid it. I didn't even know if we did pay it since we booked sooooo long ago. I had to email DU to find out if we did pay it! We didn't, so I don't have to call and get that credit. Just went out and got some special candy for our stateroom host and servers for Christmas day. I just don't know what else to get them. Anybody have any other ideas?

Unless you booked since June 08, then you will not have paid a fuel surcharge.

 

[psharrock]

We got our new room assignment! we were upgraded to a veranda! we are # 6558 im pretty sure

Congrats on the upgrade

 

[ShannonR]

Hi everyone!! I haven't posted in a while because I have been so busy with work, and all my parties! I have 3 more to go: one quinceneara, one Christmas party for work, and a wedding! I went to another quinceneara this past Saturday and it was SSSOOOO boring, we ended up leaving at 9pm. The food was horrible, the music was ALL mariachi, and it was FREEZING inside the salon. I hope the next one is better!

We still have not received our travel documents! We got them 10 days prior to cruising last time, so there is still hope!

I am so behind this time around! Last cruise, I was all packed with everything bought by January with a cruising date in March. This time I STILL have so much to do and buy. I have my FE gift bought, but not put together, I have to buy clothes for myself and DH, I need to figure out what and buy my secret santa gifts, etc... I am going to have to go power shopping with DH on my next days off that I don't have a party to go to!

We have ALL been sick with the respiratory flu. I am SSSOO glad it is now and we will be over it by cruise time. Last cruise it was the GI flu the week before cruising. I swear, we can be healthy ALL year long and come vacation time, we get sick.

Anyone who is staying a the Hyatt the night before the cruise and would like to get together that night, PM me and we can set something up! I know the kids would love to meet some fellow cruise kids before getting on the ship!

We are pretty lucky down here in the south of Texas! It is cold at night (50 degrees is cold for us) and still in the upper 70's lower 80's during the day.

Talk to everyone soon!
Shannon

 

[dbxazd]

I was trying to think of any other group Christmas gifts to show our appreciation (like for the CMs in the kids clubs etc.) and small gifts other than more tip money (but that's a great option for our servers and host/ess etc.).....any ideas for the kids club CMs? I was thinking candy and liked that idea - but if everyone else is doing that - I would like to do something else? Hmmmmmmm????? Lots of heads are better than one so I'd like any ideas

Robin

 

[minnie1]

No documents today
When do we get worried that they are not here yet?

Angie

 

[njmom23grls]

Hi Everyone = We got our Documents today

It was interesting (annoying really) but we booked in Jan 07 - 2 rooms - but added my mom to the second room in Sept. 08. Because we "changed" the reservation (by adding my mom) ALL of us booked in the 2nd room were charged the fuel surcharge.

Sorry to hear about your lost box. Thats frustrating!

Getting excited now! It seems real now!

 

[gardengirlco]

Is everyone getting their docs from UPS? We don't have ours yet and we leave next Friday for a week at the World before our cruise. Eep!

 

[gardengirlco]

Is everyone getting their docs from UPS? We don't have ours yet and we leave next Friday for a week at the World before our cruise. Eep!

Never mind - got my own answer just now when I got back from walking the dog and guess what was on our doormat? Cruise docs are in the house!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Never mind - got my own answer just now when I got back from walking the dog and guess what was on our doormat? Cruise docs are in the house!

LOL - congratulations!

 

[gardengirlco]

LOL - congratulations!

Thanks, Cindy. Now I suppose I should call and find out where our Magical Express transfer tags are.

 

[njmom23grls]

Aren't they usually a page out of the cruise document book - like at the end? - Are they missing?

 

[Az Pirates]

OMG What's going on?? I looked at the DCL website, and you're right, it says 11 - 4:30pm there too. NOT GOOD!!! I wonder what's going on? I thought that originally we were there kind of early, but leaving early too. I guess we'll find out later, huh?!?!? Or, maybe we can call DCL and ask???

It might be that 11 o'clock will be the time for non-DCL excursions guests to disembark, and that DCL booked excursions will be tendering over earlier. Also the excursion time that you book is the time you meet for them to get you checked in, etc., so there is a little leeway. My guess is that if you're able to book an early excursion through DCL that you will be accommodated.
But it probably wouldn't hurt to confirm with DCL / your TA.

I think Cindy is right.
I booked an outside excursion on Grand Cayman and the gal I worked with checked the port schedule for me. The Magic is actually scheduled to arrive much earlier than 11:00

I'm also assuming DCL is just allowing themselves plenty of leeway in tendering time for those of us not on one of their excursions.

Except I'm going with the assumption that 11:00 is when they expect everyone to be able to be ashore... not when they expect tendering to start for non-DCL excursion folks.
I hope I'm right.


We didn't pay the fuel surcharge, so that's a non-issue for us.
But I did receive an e-mail about it from my TA. The most recent info she was aware of is that our cruise will be eligible for the OBC, but that DCL will not make that call until they see where prices are on 12/18.
From what I can tell, unless something wacky happens between now and then, fuel prices will probably still be down... so some of you should have a nice little chunk of spending cash onboard.


No docs here yet.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Dec. 3rd - Check your bills to make sure that any that will come due while on the ship can be set to be pre-paid or automatically paid.

And if you have Disney Visa Rewards points, make sure to transfer them if you plan to be able to use them on the trip!


For some reason I've been typing 12-04 all morning and it's only the 3rd. I'm rushing ahead, I guess.

Hope everyone who is still waiting on cruise docs gets theirs today. And those who have been dealing with illness - get better! I started taking the (walmart version of) airborne last night.

 

[alikat99]

And if you have Disney Visa Rewards points, make sure to transfer them if you plan to be able to use them on the trip!

I did that over the weekend. Thank goodness!!!

 

[Diana Lyn]

I did that over the weekend. Thank goodness!!!

Me too!