MICKEY'S PARTY PIRATES! September 7th 2008 - Disney Wonder

[tinkerbell34]

Days that is until our cruise....

It feel SOOOOOOOOOOOOO long away! I am trying to pass the time by pre cruise shopping. Got my new capri crocs in the mail! Feels like walking on a cloud! cruise shoes. check.

 

[TLP127]

Can someone please explain the dining situation to me? I know that my dinner time is assigned, but is that for a main dining room? What is the story with Palo's? Is it a place you need reservations? Is the meal there included with the cost of the cruise? I'm just trying to figure out what the best thing to do for DD birthday night. Any suggestions?

Also, does anyone know if you can use Disney gift cards on the cruise? My plan is to have a small bday party for DD on Saturday with her class. Then at the end of the party I want to give her a Disney gift card inside something that represents the cruise. Then it's off to the airport!!

Oh, one more thing. Should I get us passports?

Thanks- got to go hit the treadmill now! Only 50 pounds to go before the cruise!

 

[yazee1]

Can someone please explain the dining situation to me? I know that my dinner time is assigned, but is that for a main dining room?

There are three restaurants in the assigned rotation for dinner. They are Triton, Parrot Cay and Animator's Palate. Obviously, if there are three restaurants but four nights, your first restaurant will also be your last one. If your rotation is TPAT then you are eating at Triton, then Parrot Cay, then Animator's Palate, then back to Triton on the last night.

What is the story with Palo's? Is it a place you need reservations? Is the meal there included with the cost of the cruise? I'm just trying to figure out what the best thing to do for DD birthday night. Any suggestions?

Palo is not part of the rotation. This is how it works if you want to go to Palo. First of all, yes, you have to have a reservation. Second, each stateroom is allowed one reservation (except the highest categories). You can make your reservation online before the cruise. I think it's 75 days in advance. Or, if you can't get one online, you can make it on the ship as soon as you board. Third, you must be 18 or older to dine there. The dress code is enforced there. Also, there is a 15.00 per person surcharge. Most people tip on top of that because Palo is a very special dining experience. You can read all about Palo -ad nauseum - on the regular forum.

Also, does anyone know if you can use Disney gift cards on the cruise?

I'm not sure about the gift card. What I do know is that, onboard, anything she wants to buy (gift shop, smoothies, snacks at the movie theatre) she would use her Keys to the Kingdom card to charge the item to your room account. If you want to limit how much she can charge on her card (those smoothies add up), you can arrange that with DCL's guest services. If you give her Disney Dollars, you can apply the Disney Dollars to how much she is allowed to charge with her card.

Our children's grandparents gave our kids Disney Dollars. We went to Guest Services ahead of time with their Disney Dollars and arranged a limit on the kids' charging privileges.

Oh, one more thing. Should I get us passports?

Yes, all the passengers will need a passport

Keep up the good work on that treadmill.

 

[TLP127]

Thanks Yaz!

 

[yazee1]

TLP, what are you going to give dd as a cruise-theme birthday present?

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

191 Days today!!

Got my Baggallini in the post yesterday - bought it off Ebay from an American seller and she turned out to be a DISer! Small World!!

I am sooo excited now! I bought the Birnbaum's Disney Cruise Line 2008 Guide... to be honest, I was expecting more, and since it's an 'official' guide, it isn't really a candid look at the cruise - but it did get me excited with all the photos!

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

Yaz... would you like me to add you to the first post?

 

[yazee1]

Sure, here's our info.

Yazee1 - Warren and Monica - Parents Only Cruise

 

[tinkerbell34]

TLP, I just wanted to add that I would suggest getting everyone's passports ASAP. They can take a couple of months and if they need additional documentation it can be even longer. My family all got ours within about 6 weeks or so but I did have a friend who waited 6 months for hers.

I'm with you on the work out! I'll be bicycleing my way to swimsuit time! So glad you will be on the cruise. I was speaking with my mother about everyone here on the board. She said she hoped she could meet everyone because you all sound nice and fun. My mother asked if anyone had kids around the boys ages and I told her your daughter, TLP, will be turning 10 a day before Christopher's. Maybe they can be lab friends together. (My oldest is very shy. The perverable big toe in the sand.) We are so excited!!!

 

[Judah722]

Hey wooopeee!

I am sitting in the midst of the longest great lakes winter that I can remember in a very very long time so I decided to just check out if there was a thread for this cruise....cool.
This is so helpful. I don't have time to read all the posts...but its just fun to build anticipation.
We are going with our entire extended family 29 in all!
Our immediate family DSW and DSK (6) will fill 2 staterooms by ourselves!

couple questions - anyone set up a dis meet yet? Anything beyond the new show - for the wonder right now?

We are really excited - oh by the way we just booked airfare out of indy last night - finally the price dropped to a decent rate.

Passports - I noticed someone mention this - they just announced the passport card thing which is a great savings for larger family's (like mine) it is limited but can save money.

Blessings
Ben

ps
To all of whom this is your first cruise.....it is amazing! Everyone of our kids is anxiously awaiting the next cruise. My oldest son now has a job with the Disney store....he now just loves Disney!


Magic - 10 night (25th anniversary) Med - 07
Wonder - 4 night - 07
DSW and DSD Wonder - 4 night - 05

Disney trips
Lots and lots 92 - 07
Favorite Water park - Typhoon Lagoon
Favorite Park - Magic Kingdom

 

[pjstevens]

Hey wooopeee!

I am sitting in the midst of the longest great lakes winter that I can remember in a very very long time so I decided to just check out if there was a thread for this cruise....cool.
This is so helpful. I don't have time to read all the posts...but its just fun to build anticipation.
We are going with our entire extended family 29 in all!
Our immediate family DSW and DSK (6) will fill 2 staterooms by ourselves!

couple questions - anyone set up a dis meet yet? Anything beyond the new show - for the wonder right now?

We are really excited - oh by the way we just booked airfare out of indy last night - finally the price dropped to a decent rate.

Passports - I noticed someone mention this - they just announced the passport card thing which is a great savings for larger family's (like mine) it is limited but can save money.

Blessings
Ben

Ben

Welcome aboard!!! I don't think that anyone has set up a dismeet yet. Wow got to be amazing to have such a large group sailing. This is our first Disney Cruise and we are renewing our vows on board. Looking forward to 'meeting' all our new friends.

 

[TLP127]

TLP, what are you going to give dd as a cruise-theme birthday present?

I'm not sure yet. Any ideas? I was thinking about giving her several small gifts as clues, like maybe getting a toy boat, a stuffed captain Mickey, and the 2008 DCL pin. Oooooh, how about this!? Have her cake made to look like a beach/ocean and put a toy Disney Wonder on it!

Tink- It would be great if we could get our kids together! I'm a little bummed that my 2 will not be in the same place. I didn't realize they separated the ages like that. I'm more concerned about my 6 year old not being with my daughter. Do you know if there is any place on the ship that a 6 & 10 year old could stay together? Also, do you know if there is any kind of child care so I could maybe do something in the evening? BTW- I'll be looking into getting our passports tomorrow.

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

29 Ben?! That's crazy!!!! If you want to give me your info, I'll edit it into the first post

How many DISers are going to be on this cruise?! It's crazy! Sounds like I chose the right one to be on

I got another letter/invoice from DCL the other day saying I owe them nothing now

We have to have passports anyway coming from the UK - well, to go anywhere really It is getting very expensive now, so I'm glad I got mine around 5yrs ago... renewals are every 10 years and it now costs around £70 ($140 for a passport) - yikes! Compared to what it was 5 years ago, anyway.


I am SO EXCITED! 190 days now people!

How do you make those magnets I see on people's doors? I really want to make some for our cruise

 

[tinkerbell34]

Tink- It would be great if we could get our kids together! I'm a little bummed that my 2 will not be in the same place. I didn't realize they separated the ages like that. I'm more concerned about my 6 year old not being with my daughter. Do you know if there is any place on the ship that a 6 & 10 year old could stay together? Also, do you know if there is any kind of child care so I could maybe do something in the evening? BTW- I'll be looking into getting our passports tomorrow.

The kids labs are open till 11pm - 12am from what I understand.
My two kids will also be seperated. My oldest is pretty brave with little brother around (can't be out done) but turns very shy without him. My 4 year old is Mr Social. In fact, his doctor said I needed to make him afraid of strangers because he is SO social. I haven't quite figured out how I'm soppose to do that. It sounds like our two youngest will being shareing the club too. I think the kids will be having a lot of fun in these clubs.

 

[TLP127]

HELP! I'm looking into getting our passports and I found info about a new passport card. Has anyone seen this? It is half the price of a regular passport and is not valid for air. It says it is good for travel to Canada, Bermuda, Mexico and the Carribean. So, would it be okay for the cruise?

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

I have no idea about US passports, but I bet if you called/emailed DCL to confirm, they would know

 

[Judah722]

HELP! I'm looking into getting our passports and I found info about a new passport card. Has anyone seen this? It is half the price of a regular passport and is not valid for air. It says it is good for travel to Canada, Bermuda, Mexico and the Carribean. So, would it be okay for the cruise?

My Sister in law just got all the passport stuff - you should be able to get this at the post office - but yes you can use the passport card on the cruise - it seems the only wrinkle is this - you cannot FLY into any of these countrys with the card - so like for us with our kids its a cheap idea seeming that the passports for them only last 5 years. For our older children we are going with booklets - they are good for 10 years and will help them on future mission trips and such.

blessings
Ben

 

[Judah722]

29 Ben?! That's crazy!!!! If you want to give me your info, I'll edit it into the first post

How many DISers are going to be on this cruise?! It's crazy! Sounds like I chose the right one to be on

I got another letter/invoice from DCL the other day saying I owe them nothing now

We have to have passports anyway coming from the UK - well, to go anywhere really It is getting very expensive now, so I'm glad I got mine around 5yrs ago... renewals are every 10 years and it now costs around £70 ($140 for a passport) - yikes! Compared to what it was 5 years ago, anyway.

Princess H

What info are you posting into the first post....would that be your first post?
just let me know what you are looking for...
We are all from Indiana - Father in law is burning our inheritance on an incredible memory!

Ben

I am SO EXCITED! 190 days now people!

How do you make those magnets I see on people's doors? I really want to make some for our cruise

As for the magnets - they are cool - we saw more of those on the med cruise - but if would appear that all the supplies were found at an office supply house -

 

[Judah722]

As for the magnets - they are cool - we saw more of those on the med cruise - but if would appear that all the supplies were found at an office supply house -

Sorry Princess - I posted in the middle of your quote...I am not that savvy at the whole boards...

Looking foward - its snowing AGAIN

Ben

 

[Judah722]

Ben

Welcome aboard!!! I don't think that anyone has set up a dismeet yet. Wow got to be amazing to have such a large group sailing. This is our first Disney Cruise and we are renewing our vows on board. Looking forward to 'meeting' all our new friends.

PJ
The dis meet on the med was awesome we met folks from all over the place....it was great. We scheduled the met one hour before the mandatory safety drill and just exchanged simple gifts said hello - then we knew folks alll over the ship from day one. The gifts were as simple as post cards or state quarters from our state. Just a simple thing. Now one of our disers on the med made up magnets for all the disers on the meet....that was kinda cool. But more that what I could do for instance.

They kept track of those going to the meet by editing the initial post for those who said - I'll be there!

Then we just met in the promonade lounge....sorry for my awful spelling it really is a wonder that I graduated college.

Still snowing......in Indiana.....uhhhhh I just want some sunshine!

Blessngs
Ben