March 13th 2011 Fiesta time on the Wonder!

[hopelea]

We are getting off the ship in PV & Cabo but not Mazatlan. I am sure DCL is watching things closely. I feel that they will take us only to safe places. But if a person has concerns then stay on the ship. I do feel bad for not getting off in Mazatlan, but we will enjoy the day on the Wonder.

I wonder what they would do if they did cancel? Surely there is another port they could go too. How about San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, & Vancouver???

 

[mtgdisney]

This was on the news today:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Pe...aign=Feed:+canwest/F229+(Vancouver+Sun+-+News


This one, more then the other reports makes me nervous.

How close to where we're going to be?

 

[mtgdisney]

How close to where we're going to be?

Wow, we booked and paid for an excursion in Mazatlan. I'm such a chicken, when I hear everyone saying they are staying on the ship it makes me want to cancel my excursion (that's not Disney) and forfeit my money.

 

[Kap@abq]

Since this is my first time doing a Disney Cruise and FE, I will take the lead from you more experience Disney goers.

Previously on other cruise lines, if the lines feel that its unsafe they stop but do not let you enter the city, you go through the port station with some vendors get your photos off the boat and then you get back on the boat. RC is known to do this if they feel its unsafe, I'm sure Disney is taking all precaustions necessary and will not put any of us in danger. The last thing Disney wants is bad press. No worries, if your not comfortable stay on the boat for that day.

Still very excited about our first Disney cruise.
Kathy

 

[lmhall2000]

Wow, we booked and paid for an excursion in Mazatlan. I'm such a chicken, when I hear everyone saying they are staying on the ship it makes me want to cancel my excursion (that's not Disney) and forfeit my money.

If it's a planned excursion, I would feel fine doing it, I wouldn't feel so fine winging it and doing it on my own...if it were just me and a buddy I'd go out and have a blast, but I have 3 extra kiddoes (in addition to our own 3)with me...just too much worry and responsibility to really enjoy any excursion...plus my husband's company most likely will not allow him to go there due to security issues...we're waiting to get the clear on Cabo, but I don't think that will be a problem.
But to answer your question, it did happen in Mazatlan..
HTH!
Tara

 

[LDS4me]

Amazing responses. A few years ago foreign tourists were being targeted and murdered in Florida.

Last week some nutzo psycho killed 6 people in Tucson and injured a bunch more.

Daily there are stories of murder and violent activity on the news in EVERY media market in the US, and yet people are in a panic frenzy about Mexico. And the media does their best to stoke the panic by using key words like AK-47, gangland, gang violence, etc.

But they never bother to put it in perspective. Playa del Carmen is on the wrong side of Mexico from Mazatlan.

A quick look through online headlines this morning in the US:

Los Angeles: Student who shot up his high school in Gardena will be charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Spokane, WA: FBI says someone left a "potentially lethal" backpack bomb along a MLK parade route.

Salt Lake City: Centerville man accidently shoots his mother-in-law and his toddler son. (More Gun Violence!)

Atlanta: Cobb County man arrested for beating his father to death when the older man attempted to stop him from beating his girlfriend.

Orlando: Slain woman's son questioned about roommate's homicide.

Victoria (BC): Two found dead in home on B.C. beach, first homicide of the year in Saanich.

New York: 2 beat, rob man in home

• Violence rises in NYC housing projects
• Car trunk gang hunted in Queens
• Alleged cop killer arrested in N.J.
• Teens hurt in shootout after H.S. hoops game
• Rape vic: He said no one would believe me
• Slay witness warned to zip it
• Qns. hubby admits guilt in wife's fatal stabbing

And the list goes on and on. Dang, I guess we should stay away from major tourist areas in the US, too.

The police blotter for the first week of January in Anaheim (home to DL) is full of scary stuff. Burglary, robbery, assault, robbery, armed robbery, commercial robbery, grand theft auto, narcotics assault, gang activity, etc.

This type of thing happens every day in the cities of the US. And yet, we are so desensitized to it that it doesn't even register anymore. Yet, let something happen elsewhere and it's "OMG! I'm Not Going!"

Mexico is 761,600 square miles in size, with over 112 million people, spread across 3 time zones.

Your chances of dying in a traffic accident are much greater than the chance of getting shot in gangland violence in Mexico.

Next time you read the "horrific stories of violence and murder" in Mexico, look at a map. And think about it.

Dave,
normally I would have to agree with your argument. I have been cruising since 1987, been to Mexico six times on cruises and have had no worries. But when I see three cruise lines pull ships out of an area for security reasons, which would be at an substantial expense, I see red flags galore. I tend to agree that Cabo and P.V. are a lesser threat and feel comfortable taking in the sights. But even with the latter two I would not go off on a excursion that doesn't have plenty of people around.

I talked with a Disney rep. not more than 15 minutes ago and they said they are trying to stay abreast of the situation(s) in Mexico, but he was not aware of the Canadian incident until I pointed out the posted link. I tend to agree with lmhall2000 that the News source in Mexico leaves some to be desired, especially those that are influenced by the cartels.

We are planning on a great cruise, we will, as always be aware of our surroundings and sensible about which activities we chose off the ship.

Mark.

 

[BigRed1]

Since this is my first time doing a Disney Cruise and FE, I will take the lead from you more experience Disney goers.

Previously on other cruise lines, if the lines feel that its unsafe they stop but do not let you enter the city, you go through the port station with some vendors get your photos off the boat and then you get back on the boat. RC is known to do this if they feel its unsafe, I'm sure Disney is taking all precaustions necessary and will not put any of us in danger. The last thing Disney wants is bad press. No worries, if your not comfortable stay on the boat for that day.

Still very excited about our first Disney cruise.
Kathy

Princess does this in Colón Panama. When they go through the locks into Lake Gatun, they unload everyone with excursions by tender. When they go back out of the Gatun Locks, they pull into Colón to pick everyone up. There are vendors in the terminal and they advise you not to leave the terminal because you are in a "industrial" area and there are no tourist attractions near.

Told y'all I would put my 2 cents worth in!!

 

[tracielynn]

We are going to Aquaventuras park in Puerto Vallarta to swim with the dolphins and hang out at the waterpark. Is anyone else interested in joining us? I would feel a bit safer in a larger number. I think it should be safe since we are going to just take a taxi straight there, stay in the park all day, and take a taxi straight back. Mazatlan we are staying on the ship, and in Cabo we are taking a water taxi to and from Medano Beach which I truly believe will be totally safe.

I still wonder what the chances are that they will cancel it, or at the least skip Mazatlan.

I did read that the shooting was on the other side of Mazatlan and not near the port, but it was still in a tourist area.

 

[CopaDave]

I did read that the shooting was on the other side of Mazatlan and not near the port, but it was still in a tourist area.

Although the Vancouver story doesn't specify which part of the city, there is indeed a large tourist area on the north side, along the beaches. It's known as the Golden Zone.

And from what I read about RCCL pulling Mariner of the Seas, it was because of a loss of revenue from people not wanting to travel down there that caused them to pull the ship. Officially.

 

[ThePedersonFamily]

Tracielynn, Hi! I had not heard of Aquaventuras until I read your post. I looked it up online and lit looks like a lot of fun!! We are seriously considering booking my husband and daughter into the Sea Lion adventure, but we aren't certain how we would get there. I read on the Disney site that their Dolphin encounter is also in Nuevo Vallerta and it is a 30 minute. Are you planning on taking a taxi there, and if so how much do you think it would cost? Thanks for the help!!

 

[CopaDave]

I am totally STOKED! Sometime tonight/early tomorrow, Wonder should arrive in Los Angeles!

I Cannot Wait! Wish I was there this weekend to see her. Hmmm.... honey?

 

[hopelea]

Got my room assignment today!! It wasn't there this AM, but it is there NOW!! Booked an 11A GTY & got an 11A #6045. All is good, not upgrade, but we are going and we are going to be happy!!!

 

[son3disfan]

Got my room assignment today!! It wasn't there this AM, but it is there NOW!! Booked an 11A GTY & got an 11A #6045. All is good, not upgrade, but we are going and we are going to be happy!!!

That's great news Hopelea! We are still anxiously awaiting......

 

[Fire Ohana]

We got our room assignment today as well We booked a 5C GTY and received a little bit of pixie dust and got a 5B, #6598

Woot! So Excited!

 

[hopelea]

Did you check today????

 

[son3disfan]

Did you check today????

Yeah! Just checked . Finally a room assignment.
Booked 4 cat. 11c's and were assigned 4 cat 10 c's. ALL TOGETHER!
Very happy.

 

[tracielynn]

The Pederson Family...
We are going to take a taxi. I am being told that it is about 20mins from the port. If I a feeling brave that day then we are going to save ourselves some money and venture out of the port to the cheaper taxis which should cost about $15 (3 people). In the port the taxi will be approx $25. The dolphin adventure that Disney sells is not at Aquventuras. You have to tell Aquaventuras when you book it that you are coming in on Disney and that Disney is not contracted with them or they will tell you that they cannot sell to cruise ship passengers. I have friends who did it last year and they really enjoyed their day.

We are in 6087 so all of you that just got your room assignments we are all pretty close to each other.

 

[hopelea]

tracielynn...we are booked into 6045 right now. I think we will be switching with a friend of ours just down the hallway into 6085, so we will be neighbors!!

 

[tracielynn]

Hope...forgive my memory, but do you have any kiddos? We have an 11 year old daughter. Does that mean Denise and her whole family will be able to stay in one cabin? I know she needed a cabin for 4. If so, that is great!!

 

[ThePedersonFamily]

Tracielynn, Thanks for the info!! I think we might very well head out to Aquaventuras!! It looks like a blast! I have a 9 year old that would love to do the sea lion adventure with my husband...I'm far too chicken to do it with her, but my 4 year old and I will totally love watching!! And the water park looks like so much fun!! I'm going to give them a call this weekend! If I can get an appt. maybe we can cab over together...safety in numbers!!!