May 6, 2007 - 4 night Wonder

[DisneyPhD]

AP rates are out for this time so we booked a room for the 2 days before at ASsports. This is my last choice for value resorts, but the only one that would give me a AP rate room. I will try back a few times and see what we can get if I can change it to at least ASmovies. We booked the airfare today too, so we got 2 major things done. I have to wait for Monday to call and get member services to book a room for Thursday after we get off the boat. We fly out on Friday.


Anyone else staying at WDW before and after the cruise?

 

[bethzfl]

Hi all,

I've registered our children for the nursery / clubs. Don't know if we will use them at this point.

When we booked, we could only get the late seating for dinner. So, we have been put on the waitlist for the earlier seating. DCL won't look at the list until about 30 days before the cruise sails. So that is when they will let us know if we can get the early dinner seating. Any one else have the late seating at this time?

We have late seating.

 

[DisneyPhD]

We have early seating. I know it will be a bit cramped to fit it in, but I wanted the kids to enjoy the dinning experience too and I knew they couldn't that late at night. If I just wanted them to go to the club for dinner then I think it wouldn't matter and we could have a late and kid free dinner (or at least with them passed out at the table.)

During the school year they go to bed at 8:00.

 

[skylynx]

We have late seating, too. We're staying off property the first two nights at a two bedroom condo near Sea World and then after the cruise at Old Key West on our first DVC visit.

 

[ktstewart]

We have the late seating also. Hopefully our daughters will make it through!!(12,10 and 6) we will be at the Beach Club for 4 nights before the cruise.

 

[Heironymous]

I 've heard the late seating can be rough on younger children. Our kids go to bed early (8:30pm) every night. We're crossing our fingers we get the early seating, as it makes things much easier for us to plan.

We are planning on staying at the Polynesian before (5/4 - 5/6) and after the cruise (5/10 - 5/13). Now that the AP rate for May was announced, we have been shopping around. We had hoped to get the AP rate for the Poly, but it seems no discount has been coming up in Disney's reservation system for that resort. So we've decided to look at other resorts just to see if we can catch a deal.

 

[bethzfl]

Boy, time is finally moving. Let's hope the next two months go quick! I was looking at the DCL food thread, and it made me even more excited

 

[cindrelly31]

Welcome to everyone joining us on this fun filled adventure.

Since I originally started the post, I figured I might as well try to set up a Meet.

I plan on getting to the port as early as DCT will get me there. I would like an upgrade, but understand that if the boat is not filling as the DC would like then they will sell you an upgrade, not give you one. Be sure to check the cruise documents when you get them to see if you got upgraded without advance notice. Sometimes if DCL is trying to get people to buy at special prices they will upgrade those already paid.

The idea of meeting at the port would be nice, but if others are trying to setup the kids activities, they may feel left out. We could meet over by the windows that look out at the boat (or even on the deck out side if it's warm enough).

To meet on board before we set off could be time crushing since many will just be "getting their feet wet" finding their way about the boat. **Flashback to previous post on page 3):

Let's see what I remember...

Sail away starts at 4:30...Boat actually pulls away right at 5pm...party lasts about an hour, so that puts us at 5:30ish.

(Coming back to reality)...We could meet at 5:45pm in the Promanade Lounge (it will be quieter in there). Do you think that would be enough time everyone to get together before the FIRST first seating at 6:15??

Happy, happy, joy joy to meet more people!!! I am so excited!!

I am willing to make bracelets and or pins for us to wear. They won't be anything hokey, so even the men might wear them. Please PM your address to me and wrist measurements for bracelets if you are interested. If you have "cruise attire" already picked out, you could let us know what to watch for.

We also have the late seating. We booked this before knowing this is good so your children can enjoy the earlier stage show and just relax at dinner. We are on the list for the earlier dining, if permitted, so we may eat with DisneyPhD. Our DD is used to eating at a later time and usually goes to bed a bit later anyway (Helps for letting mom sleep in mornings!!).

I look forward to meeting as many new people as possible.

 

[ktstewart]

we are interested in meeting as well!! I am not sure what time we are expected to be at port...does anyone know when the DCL picks you up at the resort?

 

[Lesley Mahler]

Welcome to everyone joining us on this fun filled adventure.

Since I originally started the post, I figured I might as well try to set up a Meet.

I plan on getting to the port as early as DCT will get me there. I would like an upgrade, but understand that if the boat is not filling as the DC would like then they will sell you an upgrade, not give you one. Be sure to check the cruise documents when you get them to see if you got upgraded without advance notice. Sometimes if DCL is trying to get people to buy at special prices they will upgrade those already paid.

The idea of meeting at the port would be nice, but if others are trying to setup the kids activities, they may feel left out. We could meet over by the windows that look out at the boat (or even on the deck out side if it's warm enough).

To meet on board before we set off could be time crushing since many will just be "getting their feet wet" finding their way about the boat. **Flashback to previous post on page 3):

Let's see what I remember...

Sail away starts at 4:30...Boat actually pulls away right at 5pm...party lasts about an hour, so that puts us at 5:30ish.

(Coming back to reality)...We could meet at 5:45pm in the Promanade Lounge (it will be quieter in there). Do you think that would be enough time everyone to get together before the FIRST first seating at 6:15??

Happy, happy, joy joy to meet more people!!! I am so excited!!

I am willing to make bracelets and or pins for us to wear. They won't be anything hokey, so even the men might wear them. Please PM your address to me and wrist measurements for bracelets if you are interested. If you have "cruise attire" already picked out, you could let us know what to watch for.

We also have the late seating. We booked this before knowing this is good so your children can enjoy the earlier stage show and just relax at dinner. We are on the list for the earlier dining, if permitted, so we may eat with DisneyPhD. Our DD is used to eating at a later time and usually goes to bed a bit later anyway (Helps for letting mom sleep in mornings!!).

I look forward to meeting as many new people as possible.

I am interested in meeting also, but I have no idea how to PM anyone! Also, I heard that early seating can be as early as 5:45, so I don't know how that would work meeting right after the sail away party if some of us with early seating have the 5:45 rotation???

 

[DisneyPhD]

I am interested in meeting also, but I have no idea how to PM anyone! Also, I heard that early seating can be as early as 5:45, so I don't know how that would work meeting right after the sail away party if some of us with early seating have the 5:45 rotation???

That is a good point! We have early seating too. I think cindrelly31 will too, even though they still are signed up for late. Our ressies are hooked and when I signed up for early seating the cm said that would make it easier for them to move up to our time.

 

[Heironymous]

I am not sure what time we are expected to be at port...does anyone know when the DCL picks you up at the resort?

From what I have seen on this board, the DCL busses begin to pick up people at the designated resorts around 11:45am. This would have most passengers at the port terminal between 12:45pm and 1:30pm.

We were planning on hiring a shuttle service to get us to the port at 11:00am rather than taking the DCL bus.

 

[ktstewart]

This Is Our First Cruise. What Benifit Do You Have By Getting To The Port Earlier? Aren't We Akready Checked In Because Of The Land And Sea Package? Is It Expensive To Have Your Own Transfer?

 

[ktstewart]

Sorry For The Spelling Errors...6yr Old Is Sitting On My Lap!!!

 

[DisneyPhD]

From what I have seen on this board, the DCL busses begin to pick up people at the designated resorts around 11:45am. This would have most passengers at the port terminal between 12:45pm and 1:30pm.

We were planning on hiring a shuttle service to get us to the port at 11:00am rather than taking the DCL bus.

This is what we have been dealing with all day today. 1st we were at ASsports, and they don't pick up there. Then we called to move, and ended up doing that to CSR. Guess what? They don't pick up there either. We did know that ahead of time though. We were planning to take a hired van. Now they can't get us 2 car seats, only 2 boosters and 1 car seat. The 6 year old can use the backless booster no problem at all, but we are traveling with 2 kids around 20 lbs so not sure how we are working this out, but we will. Lily is too tiny for a booster (even a backed one.) I weighed her today. She was 21.5 pounds. Maybe most almost 3 year olds could use a booster, but not mine.

What a headache. I am thinking we will go with the van for the group of 8 of us, but not sure what we are going to do about the car seat. We could bring one, but I really don't want to. We have enough to manage with out a car seat, and then store it in the cabin where space is tight. Bad enough we will have a double stroller to fit in the room with us.

 

[cindrelly31]

ktstewart, I do believe that if you are part of a Land and Sea package then you are automatically checked in. I would verify at the port though so they know you are actually there. But the KTTW card you get at the resort will also be used for the cruise. So you won't have to go about putting your CC on file again and such.

 

[Heironymous]

If you have booked the Land/Sea package when you check into your resort, your resort key is the key to your room on the ship. However, I think for security reasons, everyone still needs to check in or go through security at the port. Perhaps, the L/S package may speed you through this process, but I am not sure.

I booked everything separately to take advantage of the AP discount for our resort stays (before and after).

Over the last few weeks, I have been reading various trip reports on the DIS. From what I have gathered, if you take the DCL bus, you arrive with everyone else, which means you arrive to board the ship with a much larger group. If you arrive at the port earlier than when the DCL buses arrive, you are pretty much one of the first in line. This advantage allows you more time to relax, book excursions, additional Palo reservations, spa reservations, nursery time, or things you didn't reserve online. I've also read that once on board, you can go get lunch, go to the pools, without having to deal with the crowds, as most will be just getting settled themselves. So it seemed to me that with our 2 small children, that arriving early would be an advantage to us.

It was also less expensive. Hiring a shuttle was cheaper than the DCL ground transfer for our family of 5.

 

[cindrelly31]

As soon as comfort levels are reached with DisneyPhD (My DSIL) we will more likely be taking a van instead of DCL to the port. They will also make a shopping stop for you, so we are thinking of stopping at the outlet mall she knows of to gather more clothes.

The comfort level is because of her youngest's weight and having to be in a booster seat instead of a car seat. I would trade, but my DD is only going to be 14 months so that is out of the question, even though she weighs a couple pounds more than my petite niece.

One of the ways my DH sees it is that if we took the bus, she wouldn't be in any restraining device except her mom's arms. I agree, but I think a bus is less likely to be in an accident than a van.

Can some of you please offer some encouragement for her to read up on when she returns? Her and her DH are leaving early in the morning for 3 nights at "home". It is a much needed vacation for just the two of them, since they haven't left the children with anyone longer than a day. (I happily took my nieces in since I haven't spent much time with them since we had our daughter .) I am glad they are taking the break together and hope they come home very refreshed and even more in love.

 

[cdhheidi]

Hi!

We are going to be on the Wonder, for our first cruise and are SO looking forward to it! We have 2 boys, ages 10 and 12, the 10 yr old is sometimes in a wheelchair as he tires easily. We are planning on driving to the port, as we will have our van with us since we are driving across the country (we homeschool so are going to do "school on the road and the high seas" so to speak!). Is there any benefit to getting there earlier than the busses bring people in from the hotels? We are part of a group who all have special health care needs, but most of them will be on the bus.

Thanks,

cdhheidi

 

[cindrelly31]

Hi!

We are going to be on the Wonder, for our first cruise and are SO looking forward to it! We have 2 boys, ages 10 and 12, the 10 yr old is sometimes in a wheelchair as he tires easily. We are planning on driving to the port, as we will have our van with us since we are driving across the country (we homeschool so are going to do "school on the road and the high seas" so to speak!). Is there any benefit to getting there earlier than the busses bring people in from the hotels? We are part of a group who all have special health care needs, but most of them will be on the bus.

Thanks,

cdhheidi

Cross Country,eh? When are you leaving?? That should be a fun school lesson for the kids.

The best reason to get there before the busses is the likelihood there will be less people at check-in. We did that for the first cruise and it was a breeze at check-in. Total time - 10 minutes!! There were no lines and all 28 (I think) counters were open. You can also stake out an area for your group to meet and contact another family to let them know where to meet you.