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

[pjstevens]

I don't know how long until we go but it feels like an eternity.

Tink,

I agree, it seems like it will take forever to get here, but I'm sure it will be here before we know it.

 

[pjstevens]

Ok, I just updated my 'widget' countdown and that's what it says (but I think it's 208 cause it counts from midnight). WOOHOO!!!!

 

[pjstevens]

I see that I'm hogging up the board, so I thought I better combine my posts,

See my new countdown ticker? We're officially going! I booked late last night. We live in Maryland, but my mom lives in Florida. We're going to drive to her house and drop the kids off for a visit with their grandmom. All I have to do now is tell my mom she's getting that visit with just her grandkids she's been asking for all these years. LOL.

Congrats on booking. I can't tell you how excited I was to get off the phone and know we were going on a cruise!!! I was so excited in my email to my TA she called me right away, just knowing the excitement!!! I am sure you mom will be blessed to spend some time with the grandchildren. It's a precious time for both of them.

with just the posts already from all of you, I can tell this will be one lively cruise! all of you sound like a great bunch of people.

I agree Tink, I can't wait to meet some people.

Yeah!! Lots of DISers on this Cruise!!!
We paid off our cruise last week! Only wild dogs can keep us away now!!

Wow, I'm impressed, I just put my deposit down and you are already paid off!!! Way to go.

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

Only 189 til the World for us!!

207 til we board the Wonder

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

We booked way back in November, so have been saving slowly but surely!! I also paid my flight off, so I'm very happy about that!!

Only WDW to go now

 

[pjstevens]

Only 189 til the World for us!!

207 til we board the Wonder

Hayley,

We wont' be spending any time in the world before our cruise. We had to cut back somewhere to do this. So, I'll take my vr over the parks, but I know we'll be back there real soon afterwards.

 

[tinkerbell34]

I have read elsewhere about people giving gift bags to their steward and servers. Does anyone know what a gift bag consists of? Also, do any of you know what is expected for tips? I have been saving for this for four years and want to make sure I have everything covered. Nothing sneaking up on me! Thanks for your help!
Also, I read someone talking about secret porthole rooms. Any idea what this is?
I would like to throw out to anyone going to WDW, if you aren't familar with WDW and need any suggestions, I'd be glad to give you my two cents. I am very well versed in the parks, resorts, and resturants and would be glad to help in anyway I can. Heck, I have to pay you back for all the great cruise advice!
Oh, and one last thing. I would like to pick everyone's brains. My goal is to keep this a secret from the b-day boy until we are actually stepping foot on the sidewalk to board the ship. We are getting a shuttle from the hotel. I figured I could tell my son we are just going to get a closer look at the ship. My only problem is, how do I explain our luggage coming with us? Any suggestions being sneaky?

 

[pjstevens]

I have read elsewhere about people giving gift bags to their steward and servers. Does anyone know what a gift bag consists of? Also, do any of you know what is expected for tips? I have been saving for this for four years and want to make sure I have everything covered. Nothing sneaking up on me! Thanks for your help!
Also, I read someone talking about secret porthole rooms. Any idea what this is?

My goal is to keep this a secret from the b-day boy until we are actually stepping foot on the sidewalk to board the ship. We are getting a shuttle from the hotel. I figured I could tell my son we are just going to get a closer look at the ship. My only problem is, how do I explain our luggage coming with us? Any suggestions being sneaky?

Tink,

Sorry, no idea about gift bags, but my TA told me for a four day cruise the tip is $11 per person per day. So for hubby and I it's $22 per day. You can prepay your tips, then you are giving a 'receipt' type of paper to put in the envelope for each person. Ther is a guideline that my TA emailed me today. If you like, I'd be happy to forward it to you. Just pm me your email address.

As for keeping the cruise a surprise from your son, maybe you and your son can go to the food court or something while dh checks the bags (or leave them in the room for luggage services). Then take the ride to the port and SURPRISE!!!! Or you could leave a gift for him for that morning, so when he gets up, he finds out (if the other isn't an option).

 

[tinkerbell34]

PJ, those are both great ideas! thank you!!
Thank you for the help with the tips too!!

 

[yazee1]

I'm probably in a tiny, tiny percent(along with my husband and 25 other people I've never met) of Disney Cruisers who couldn't care less about WDW. Been there, done that a couple times and would rather be on a cruise or on some other kind of vacation.

On another note, someone posted on the main cruise forum, in response to my observation that dh and I might regret booking an inside room after only staying in category 6 rooms so far, that she (or he) said a person could cruise twice booking a category 11 for what it costs to book a category 6. It might be a slight exaggeration but I'm going to check that out. If we wind up being okay with inside rooms this go-round, I might change our room assignments for our cruise next year.

 

[pjstevens]

On another note, someone posted on the main cruise forum, in response to my observation that dh and I might regret booking an inside room after only staying in category 6 rooms so far, that she (or he) said a person could cruise twice booking a category 11 for what it costs to book a category 6. It might be a slight exaggeration but I'm going to check that out. If we wind up being okay with inside rooms this go-round, I might change our room assignments for our cruise next year.

Honestly we only cruised once before and had an ocean view stateroom. My hubby is clostrophic to some extent, so he needed to 'see' outside. Granted this was a class trip, so it wasn't a trip for us two. We have done Disney quite a few times in the past several years (originally we did in 1992, then 2000, then 2005, 06, and three visits in 07). Since staying on property in 2005, we have only stayed at values. To afford the catergory five that we booked, we aren't doing the land portion with this trip (unless of course we come across a large sum of money)

I have a friend who cruises at least once a a year. (she has not cruised Disney) but they always book an inside cabin (as you don't spend a lot of time there).

 

[tinkerbell34]

My brother, who has been on cruises before, couldn't understand why we didn't get an inside stateroom. He said you are never in you room anyway except to sleep. We have the family verendah, though, because it is the only one that sleeps five (me, grandma, grandpa, b-day boy, and lil one). Besides, I like having my coffee while sitting out on the balcony and if that balcony has a view of the sea, even better!

 

[pjstevens]

Besides, I like having my coffee while sitting out on the balcony and if that balcony has a view of the sea, even better!

Tink,

This is one thing I can't wait to do!!!! My TA told us to order room service for breakfast and relax on the balcony with our coffee and pastries!!! Does that sound like heaven or what!

 

[dolphingirl47]

Dolphingirl... Us too our very first cruise, we absolutely can't wait I went kinda mad and booked a verandah cabin and the Romance at Sea package, but what the heck September can't come soon enough!! We're staying at POFQ for 17 Nights before the cruise, so I vote you stay there You will LOVE WDW onsite... well, I've only been the once mind you but it was awesome

ktmetke - we will look out for you!! It shouldn't be too hard!!

Goodness, this thread has gotten busy since I last checked in. Funnily enough we are seriously considering POFQ for the first three days. We had originally wanted to book Caribbean Beach Resort, but with the Old Port Royale area being closed for refurbishment, this is no longer so tempting. A lot will depend on a friend of mine who lives at the gulf coast of Florida. She has lived in Florida most of her life, but has never been to Disney World even though she goes to Orlando three or four times a year. She suddenly suggested that she might join us for a few days when we are at Disney World. As we are staying at Old Key West after the cruise and this is seriously expensive if paying cash, realistically she would have to join us before we go on our cruise. So a lot depends on where she fancies staying.

dolphingirl47

 

[yazee1]

Tink,

This is one thing I can't wait to do!!!! My TA told us to order room service for breakfast and relax on the balcony with our coffee and pastries!!! Does that sound like heaven or what!

Pjstevens, We've had balcony rooms the last two cruises. The first time was the result of an unexpected upgrade. We had adjoining category 9's and wound up iwith connecting category 6's. Talk about beginners' luck! The fact that we didn't find out until check-in only made the experience more magical. I felt like we had won the lottery.

To me, what's even better than enjoying breakfast on the balcony is leaving all the dirty dishes for someone else to deal with. Leave them in morning, and poof!, they're gone when you come back! I love that part.

 

[Hadjii]

Hey there everyone. We're also on the Sept 7th trip. We're spending 4 days at Port Orleans Riverside then off to the ship. We go to WDW every year but this is the first time we've tried the cruise. I can't tell you how excited we are. Looking forward to meeting up with fellow DIS'ers on board. Bon Voyage all...... Nancy and Sandy

 

[tinkerbell34]

To me, what's even better than enjoying breakfast on the balcony is leaving all the dirty dishes for someone else to deal with. Leave them in morning, and poof!, they're gone when you come back! I love that part.

Yazee1, not only leaveing the dishes, I can't wait not to have to make the beds and leave "what's for dinner mom" up to someone else!

I'm so glad I have other people to be excited with.

 

[tinkerbell34]

Are any of you planning on takeing any excursions? Any "must dos" for anyone that has been? I know we are going to want to bike ride and snorkel on castaway cay. Not sure what we will do in Nassau. I am kind of thinking of the dolphin encounter but that is about as far as I have gotten. I thought I saw a link for a submarine tour but now I can't find it again. Don't you just hate it when that happens? hehe. Anyway, just curious to hear everyones thoughts.

 

[yazee1]

As for Nassau, we'll probably take the tour of the city and then go to Crystal Palace to check out the casino. On CC, we haven't decided. I know dh will want to snorkel. We've never rented bikes. I would like to do that. Anything outdoors in the warm sunshine sounds great right now. I know the people in the Midwest have it much worse than we do in Maryland, but it's still been pretty miserable weatherwise.

 

[yazee1]

Hey there everyone. We're also on the Sept 7th trip. We're spending 4 days at Port Orleans Riverside then off to the ship. We go to WDW every year but this is the first time we've tried the cruise. I can't tell you how excited we are. Looking forward to meeting up with fellow DIS'ers on board. Bon Voyage all...... Nancy and Sandy

Welcome to the thread! Isn't it great to have others to share the excitement with?