May 18, 2013 MAGIC EBTA - Who is with us?

[heatherb819]

We have late dining as well & have a 10 yr old DD she's in 4th grade. It's just the 3 of us so I hope they sit us with another family as well! In 2011 we were with another family with a DD same age & name as mine lol

 

[MandyGirl]

I would be in for the walking!

Right there with ya girlfriend!! If anyone sees me running, please call police/security because that means something bad is going down! But seriously - count me in for walking.

 

[MandyGirl]

Hi Mandy!

We have late dining too. We actually had main dining but the Disney TA convinced me to change to late because of the time change and the kids club. I had no idea, so I was really grateful to her for the advice. Hopefully, they'll put us close to you and maybe we'll still get another family to sit with us.

We have late dining as well & have a 10 yr old DD she's in 4th grade. It's just the 3 of us so I hope they sit us with another family as well! In 2011 we were with another family with a DD same age & name as mine lol

Okay - I think Sarah (binkytell) has offered to coordinate. That would be great to be all in the same area for late dining!!! There were VERY few kids at late dining on WBTA, but of course the time change was going the opposite way. More kiddos will be great!

What she will have to submit is last name of primary passenger on reservation, and reservation number. She can request tables of certain sizes for different groups of reservation numbers, but put all groups as being grouped in same dining rotation. Will be done by email.

Show time... dinner... and hopefully all kiddos somewhere playing so we have after-dinner entertainment.

 

[kyra's mommy]

Okay - I think Sarah (binkytell) has offered to coordinate. That would be great to be all in the same area for late dining!!! There were VERY few kids at late dining on WBTA, but of course the time change was going the opposite way. More kiddos will be great!

What she will have to submit is last name of primary passenger on reservation, and reservation number. She can request tables of certain sizes for different groups of reservation numbers, but put all groups as being grouped in same dining rotation. Will be done by email.

Show time... dinner... and hopefully all kiddos somewhere playing so we have after-dinner entertainment.

Heather, I'll contact her for us. Hopefully, we can get this done.

 

[WVURunner]

Wow. It really impacts a cruise with the service team. I know I had responded on a thread about declining service with our experience, and was flamed on these boards as being "high maintenance", so I just learned to never say anything but absolute perfection about a Disney cruise. (Heck, two months prior I had camped in an 8x8 tent with my family of four with no running water or electricity... guess I really AM high maintenance.) We had other things that we noticed an inconsistency with, and DIS members would talk about something and see how different it could be.

I hear ya! I love these boards for the meet threads but you can't say any negative about Disney on here. Disney is a company and they will not always be perfect and everyone is entitled to their own opionion. I do not think wanting a diet soda with dinner is high maintenance, I am sorry but if these people who flamed you went to their local TGI Friday's and never got the soda they ordered (and asked for many times) I am sure they would have a differant opionion on the matter but since this happened on a disney cruise, it is a differant story. Wanting a drink with dinner, be it water refill at Sandals or a soda on a Disney cruise, it not high maintenance. My best friend and her husband, who we were traveling with on the Fantasy, are both CM servers at WDW, and they had way more complaints than we did so we felt justified.

My family and friends would say that we are a very low maintenance couple.

 

[nitrame]

Hi Mandy!

We have late dining too. We actually had main dining but the Disney TA convinced me to change to late because of the time change and the kids club. I had no idea, so I was really grateful to her for the advice. Hopefully, they'll put us close to you and maybe we'll still get another family to sit with us.

Let me know as well I have a ds6 and a dd 9 but she is a forth grader. My daughter is like your quiet and shy until she gets to know people. My son can have fun with anyone. We are also late seating.

 

[MandyGirl]

I hear ya! I love these boards for the meet threads but you can't say any negative about Disney on here. Disney is a company and they will not always be perfect and everyone is entitled to their own opionion. I do not think wanting a diet soda with dinner is high maintenance

Hahaha - I just wanted tap water.

Yes - been on CruiseCritic for 12+ years on various cruiselines, and never seen such rudeness from some as I have seen here on these boards. I even had to turn off private messages.

 

[kyra's mommy]

Great! We'd love to link up. I guess there is someone handling linking everyone?

 

[twopeasonepod]

Hahaha - I just wanted tap water. :rotfl2

Maybe you should ask for some coffee to keep you up while you wait!

 

[WVURunner]

Hahaha - I just wanted tap water.

Yes - been on CruiseCritic for 12+ years on various cruiselines, and never seen such rudeness from some as I have seen here on these boards. I even had to turn off private messages.

It is sad how rude people can be, it is so much easier to be rude on here when you don't have to know or see the person or be rude to that person's face.
I was so high maintenance that on our second night, unknowing we were going to have new wait staff, we brought cups from the drink station to dinner.

 

[Tink1987]

By the time dessert came, I'll bet Kirby was stuffed.

Woody

Haha - love it!

 

[Tink1987]

Is there any pro's or con's to having late or early dining?

 

[kyra's mommy]

We have late dining as well & have a 10 yr old DD she's in 4th grade. It's just the 3 of us so I hope they sit us with another family as well! In 2011 we were with another family with a DD same age & name as mine lol

Hi Heather,

Trying to pm you but whatever reason, it doesn't seem to be working?? Or, I just can't see it.

 

[sdlong329]

Seeing the stories on CruiseCritic the past 12 years on missing the ship are scary. Never knew any personally, but seeing their stories and circumstances... wow. (ooops - not sure if we can mention other cruise boards)

Again, yes, I know people miss the ship. It happens if they catch a flight the night before embarkation ... it happens if they book their own flight for the morning OF embarkation. People miss the ship at Port Canaveral when they have landed at MCO at 10AM ... people miss their ship while sitting on a bar stool at Senior Frog's. So, I will say again, does ANYONE know of a single person who missed a DCL ship, because there was a flight delay or cancellation on embarkation day? I do not know anyone, nor have I ever heard (1st or 2nd hand) of anyone. Granted, I imagine some have missed the ship (DCL or otherwise). Regardless, my point is / was ... HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE MADE THEIR CRUISE after DCL scheduled their flight on embarkation day. Referencing Cruise Critic (in general) is a non-issue, as we all know they do not have a DCL presence. Referencing Cruise Critic is a non-issue, as it would be improper to suggest posts on Cruise Critic are ONLY of those who booked DCL cruises with DCL air.

ANYTHING can happen on ANY day ... but, unknowingly scaring someone into thinking they WILL miss the ship if they fly on embarkation day isn't appropriate ... NOR is it appropriate to scare people into thinking they will not be able to board the ship until the 11th day.


Steven

 

[NancyIL]

ANYTHING can happen on ANY day ... but, unknowingly scaring someone into thinking they WILL miss the ship if they fly on embarkation day isn't appropriate ... NOR is it appropriate to scare people into thinking they will not be able to board the ship until the 11th day.


Steven

You mean - kind of like you scaring people into thinking that if they book a non-DCL excursion, they will miss the boat?

**To add to my comment above - no one said you WILL miss the boat if you fly to port on the day of embarkation. However, IF there is a flight cancellation or delay that day, one COULD miss the boat. I was the one who said Madeira was the first port with an airport, and we don't get there until day 11. If people can get to Castaway Cay by boating from somewhere in Nassau - more power to them. It's not a risk I am willing to take.

One more thing: I certainly HAVE read of people who missed their Disney cruise because of a flight delay or cancellation on the day of departure.

 

[sdlong329]

.. if looking at business class, here was someone recently looking who may be able to share further insight to what she ended up finding:

I just booked Iceland Air, AMS (Amsterdam) to JFK, ECONOMY COMFORT (which I consider Business Class). Price was about $150 more per person, as compared to Economy / Coach. Iceland Air's website described Economy Comfort as follows:

Economy Comfort is an economy class fare with full flexibility tailored for travelers on business, with focus on productivity and comfort.
Good working space at excellent value.
Four-abreast (2+2) seating in convertible seats.
Legroom 33".
A meal with non-alcoholic drinks, wine and beer is complimentary.
Free access to the In-flight Entertainment System.
Business Class check-in and lounge access.
Extra baggage allowance (includes 2 checked bags @ 50 lbs each, plus 1 carry on)
International electric Socket

On the Boeing 757-200 and 757-300, the seat sizes utilized by Iceland Air for Economy Comfort are the same (or approximately) size as those in Saga (1st class). Granted, Saga likely includes reclining seats, slippers, sleep masks, etc. Iceland Air's Saga class is approximately twice the cost of regular Economy / Coach. In my specific case, Saga would have been under $1,500 to fly AMS to JFK.

Steven

 

[kaseyC]

Are you guys doing early or late dining?

We are doing late because of the time changes and Dine-and-Play being offered with late dining only. Worth looking into. We were able to have it where literally most of our DIS group was in the same section of the dining room, so if kids not at same table, there were other DIS members the next table over. Of our table of 12... we have 5 kids ranging from "almost 3" to 10. Then they can go to Kids Club together when the CMs come through the dining room.

I just put in a request with my TA to have mine changed to late dining. We would be very interested in linking with other Disers. Being in the same area would be nice for me and the girls. Let me know what I need to do.

 

[sdlong329]

We're flying Southwest from Denver the night before - cheapest option for us ... I'm a little nervous about Southwest, but United's fares just aren't competive down there right now, which is odd since both Denver and Houston are hubs for them.

Chuck

- Any reason why you are nervous about flying Southwest? We've been flying Southwest for years!

 

[sdlong329]

Someone from our 2011 WBTA facebook group started researching ports and their port calendars for 2014 this past week. September is showing some ports that are in line with the crossing that has Disney on them. Speculation is the Wonder because she may be due for the next major dry dock but she did post that it said Disney Magic. Ports in May and September, with St Maarten showing up in September.

Of course we had seen the same for 2013 and it didn't happen... but there is possible home for WBTA 2014

We were on the Fantasy in December (podCast 4.0). There was a discussion with various DU personnel, DISers, and a Serior DCL officer (name withheld, as a matter of courtesy). In discussing cruising in general ... the DCL officer had been asked about specific itineraries and cruises. The DCL officer recognized the questions were trying to lock someone into spilling the beans about a future cruise (WBTA 2014) ... and declined to answer. A few minutes later, while discussing another cruise subject, the DCL officer responded quickly (without time to think), saying something to the effect of, "but there's only one T/A" (for 2014). Afterwards, realizing what he had said, there was a bit of back-peddling. I'm guessing the truth is, CURRENTLY, there is only one T/A cruise scheduled for 2014 (EB), and that either no decision has been made regarding a passenger WB T/A, or whether it was possible to be a cast member only cruise ... citing the possibility of interior renovations being made by cast members, on the way to the US. This would be similar to the Fantasy sailing from Europe to NYC ... with cast members completing the interior of the ship on the way to NYC.

So, out of all of this, it is plausible a DCL ship could undergo extended dry-dock after EBTA and/or Med ... but no official response as to whether there would be a WBTA (often at discount rates), of, whether DCL would forgo the (discount) WBTA, in lieu of a working, return crossing. Of course, this information, and $8 will buy you a glass of wine on a cruise ship ... so take it with a grain of salt.

Steven

 

[GoofyNewfie]

Again, yes, I know people miss the ship. It happens if they catch a flight the night before embarkation ... it happens if they book their own flight for the morning OF embarkation. People miss the ship at Port Canaveral when they have landed at MCO at 10AM ... people miss their ship while sitting on a bar stool at Senior Frog's. So, I will say again, does ANYONE know of a single person who missed a DCL ship, because there was a flight delay or cancellation on embarkation day? I do not know anyone, nor have I ever heard (1st or 2nd hand) of anyone. Granted, I imagine some have missed the ship (DCL or otherwise). Regardless, my point is / was ... HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE MADE THEIR CRUISE after DCL scheduled their flight on embarkation day. Referencing Cruise Critic (in general) is a non-issue, as we all know they do not have a DCL presence. Referencing Cruise Critic is a non-issue, as it would be improper to suggest posts on Cruise Critic are ONLY of those who booked DCL cruises with DCL air.

ANYTHING can happen on ANY day ... but, unknowingly scaring someone into thinking they WILL miss the ship if they fly on embarkation day isn't appropriate ... NOR is it appropriate to scare people into thinking they will not be able to board the ship until the 11th day.


Steven

C'mon Steven, that's a little rough. I'm sure no one is trying to "scare" anyone and I think you're adding more than a little stress to the way people worded things. People are sharing stories and opinions. No different than so many other topics we all warn each other about. It's up to each and every one of us to take a considered review of each opinion and decide whether each warning/recommendation/observsation is something we should heed.