Mexican Riviera Cruise April 3, 2011

[dizbubbles]

Hi Everyone

Although this is my first post, I have been reading through the posts here over the past few days. All of your great ideas have gotten me even more excited about our upcoming vacation!

This will be our families 2nd cruise on the Wonder - we did a 4 day in January 2009.

I know some of you are excited about the (possible?) itinerary change, but I am actually a bit bummed. My DH was not excited about traveling to Mexico (actually the only way he'd go was on a cruise with sponsored excursions) so this may be my only trip there and I had hoped to see more than 2 ports. Also, my kids were excited about our planned excursion in Mazatlan to see the folkloric dancers and the cliff divers. It looks like all the Cabo excursions are for age 5 and up? Has anyone been to Cabo with young children (3-11) who could reccommend excusions we would all enjoy. I do not feel comfortable leaving them on the ship.

We were excited about the cliff divers as well! I think we're now opting for the beach resort day --- the whole family can enjoy and it should still be fun.
Waited on hold FOREVER to find out that we can't book new excursions yet. Hopefully soon!

 

[dizbubbles]

Hi Erin,

send me a PM with your names, ages along with your room number (if you have it) and I will put you on the list for the FE! Let me know if you have any questions!
Alisha

Hi Alisha--
I can't send PM's until I reach 10 posts. Hmm.. will try to do that tonight. But we're still interested!!

Thanks,
Erin

 

[ZDARA1999]

I have some input on FEE...

On ours in the past, it was more honesty policy - surprise at will - kind of exchange... We all promised to deliver something at least 1 time, most people did much more. Everyone on our FE exchanges always made it special. Pretty much every single day we came "home" to something in our FE, usually it was several times a day!

Basically we would focus on kids, and do a little for the adults, too, or make a family gift and stick it in the pocket for the adults...

For my last cruise, I had 4 gifts that I passed out for the kids and 1 family/adult gift, plus candy for the adults. If I remember correctly, we had about 15 families, and 4 gifts for each kid (there were 20 kids). That was 95 gifts. I put small ziplock baggies with each person's gift, then put all of those in a large gallon sized baggie for each day. Then I could just grab the baggie and go out delivering. This barely took up any space in my suitcase (maybe 1/4 of a suitcase), and we used that space to carry home souvenirs, so it worked out. The big gallon sized baggies were reusable for things like wet swim suits, toiletries, and bringing home our FE gifts.

It sounds like a lot, but it really increases the "magic" value of the cruise, and is totally worth it.

Hi everyone!!

Ok majority rules We will be doing the Fe gift excanges as below!

We currently have 14 families participating and it sounds like most of you are on board with the "honesty" FE exchange. so basically each family will provide at least one FE gift to each family member (i.e 14 familiesx4 membersx1 day=48 gifts). If you would like to deliver more, than that is GREAT! It will not matter what day you deliver, you decide We had a split decision on the "cut off date so I am going to make a decision and do the cut-off date at 45 days. This is a little bit of everyones input. Each time a family isadded I will send out a current count. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you everyone for helping on the FE exchange. I have received a lot of fabulous input I will send out another message regarding a meet and greet unless someone would like to volunteer to take this event

Thanks,
Alisha

 

[capntavis]

Hey everybody I have two questions for the group.

1. Is anybody going to DL after the cruise?

2. Are there any other DVC members here?

 

[pthuhges2]

Hey everybody I have two questions for the group.

...

1. Is anybody going to DL after the cruise?
Nope ;( want to but when the cruise ends, Spring break is over

2. Are there any other DVC members here?
Yep! We are and I know at least two more going on this cruise!

 

[Tracie Wallace]

Just wanted to say "hello!" We're going on this cruise during my daughter's spring break. It is me, DH, and DD (age 14). She's looking forward to checking on the teen club. I wonder how many kids will be on this cruise! I'm a GTY, so I keep checking for my cabin number. I'm waiting for the official notice from Disney regarding the itinerary change. I don't know why they don't put something up on their website. I wish there was another port they could substitute for Mazatlan. Ixtapa? But I know that would be extra fuel but I would prefer that over two Cabo visits. We'll have fun whatever. Any day I'm on a cruise and not at work ...

 

[ZDARA1999]

Hey everybody I have two questions for the group.

1. Is anybody going to DL after the cruise?

2. Are there any other DVC members here?

DL after cruise is a no for us. The kids will be done with spring break.

yes we are DVC members since 1999.

 

[capntavis]

DL after cruise is a no for us. The kids will be done with spring break.

yes we are DVC members since 1999.

Yeah I'm going to run into that one day once my Son gets old enough. For now its travel when we want to and for as long as we want to!

 

[dizbubbles]

Hey everybody I have two questions for the group.

1. Is anybody going to DL after the cruise?

We're going to DL BEFORE the cruise... we get into town on March 30th and will be sightseeing (DH has never been to CA) and hitting DL. Fun times!

 

[Jen24]

We're going to DL BEFORE the cruise... we get into town on March 30th and will be sightseeing (DH has never been to CA) and hitting DL. Fun times!

We get there March 31st and will do DL then. DH, and DD (24) and myself. Can't wait! 64 days until we leave!

 

[IWannaBeAPrincess]

1. Is anybody going to DL after the cruise?
We are going before.

2. Are there any other DVC members here?
Not us

 

[MagnoliaWhite]

Hello, here is the new itinery posted on DCL website:

Day Port Ashore Onboard
4/3/2011 Sunday 1 Los Angeles, California - 4:00 p.m.
4/4/2011 Monday 2 At Sea - -
4/5/2011 Tuesday 3 At Sea - -
4/6/2011 Wednesday 4 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 7:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
4/7/2011 Thursday 5 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 7:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
4/8/2011 Friday 6 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 7:15 a.m. 2:30 p.m.
4/9/2011 Saturday 7 At Sea - -
4/10/2011 Sunday 8 Los Angeles, California 9:30 a.m. -

I also called the customer service and was told that the formal night is on the third night, pirate on the 4th night, and the semi formal on the 6th night.

 

[MagnoliaWhite]

On the 2nd Cabo day, I booked a dolphin swim for DH and DS. What would you recommend for the other Cabo day?

 

[capntavis]

Hello, here is the new itinery posted on DCL website:

Day Port Ashore Onboard
4/3/2011 Sunday 1 Los Angeles, California - 4:00 p.m.
4/4/2011 Monday 2 At Sea - -
4/5/2011 Tuesday 3 At Sea - -
4/6/2011 Wednesday 4 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 7:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
4/7/2011 Thursday 5 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 7:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
4/8/2011 Friday 6 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 7:15 a.m. 2:30 p.m.
4/9/2011 Saturday 7 At Sea - -
4/10/2011 Sunday 8 Los Angeles, California 9:30 a.m. -

I also called the customer service and was told that the formal night is on the third night, pirate on the 4th night, and the semi formal on the 6th night.

I wish they would post it correctly then. It shows something different when you look at the excursions. I'm concerned because we have a dive booked on the second Cabo day that is scheduled to end at 2:30.

 

[pthuhges2]

I wish they would post it correctly then. It shows something different when you look at the excursions. I'm concerned because we have a dive booked on the second Cabo day that is scheduled to end at 2:30.

I have read on other threads that Disney Excursions will be allowed to return late. They will either cancel you before you leave or hold the ship till you return. If you book a non-Disney excursion, better be back on-time...

Pat

 

[capntavis]

Hahaha ok your gonna love this. According to the rep I just talked to the Itinerary with the back to back Cabo days is incorrect. We are actually doing Cabo on Tuesday and Thursday. Its reflected correctly in the excursions but not under the details. Also they havent loaded the extra excursions for the Cabo days. I should just really step away from the computer for a week and hopefully they will get everything fixed by then.

 

[Tracie Wallace]

I keep wondering when we're going to be officially notified that Mazatlan is no longer on the itinerary. And I noticed the two different itineraries when I was booking spa appointments and such. Everyone's reservations are going to be so screwed up! However, I'm going to be on a cruise so I'll just go where the ship ends up!

 

[emiliesmom]

Hi Wendy and Kathy - (I'm Wendy, too, BTW)

My DD Kennedy is 7, too! She'll be excited to meet girls her age! Hope they can be friends!!

Hi Wendy and Kennedy! Emilie and I are looking forward to meeting you!

 

[emiliesmom]

Welcome aboard! While it's just my daugther and I always, I love the disney cruise cause it gives us both an awesome vacation.


Well I don't know if my daughter will be into the kids club, although I think she probably will... assuming she ditches me, I will probably try and get to Palo one evening. If I get a reservation, feel free to join me!

Kathy

 

[emiliesmom]

Hi everyone!!

Ok majority rules We will be doing the Fe gift excanges as below!

We currently have 14 families participating and it sounds like most of you are on board with the "honesty" FE exchange. so basically each family will provide at least one FE gift to each family member (i.e 14 familiesx4 membersx1 day=48 gifts). If you would like to deliver more, than that is GREAT! It will not matter what day you deliver, you decide We had a split decision on the "cut off date so I am going to make a decision and do the cut-off date at 45 days. This is a little bit of everyones input. Each time a family isadded I will send out a current count. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you everyone for helping on the FE exchange. I have received a lot of fabulous input I will send out another message regarding a meet and greet unless someone would like to volunteer to take this event

Thanks,
Alisha

Alisha, can you send out a list of the ages (and gender) of the kids participating? I would like to start stocking up on gifts and want to make sure they are appropriate. Maybe it is on this thread somewhere; if so, my apologies, just point me in the right direction.
Thanks!
Kathy