November 18, 2012 ~ Turkey day on the Wonder

[adnil530]

Stateroom:Room # GTY, Category VGT, Verandah Stateroom with Restrictions this is what our reservation says. Any of you who are experts in the field would love to hear when you think we might get our cabin assignment. Not that it really matters, we are going or not, even if we had to sleep on a deck chair! LOL!

Has anyone ever done an independent shore excursion in PV or Cabo? Found the dune buggy tours through a number of independent tour operators. Looks like a lot of fun! Would love to also do the dolphins, but through disney we just can't afford the extra expense.

Here's a thread tracking the VGT and OGT assignments: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2919036 You should be getting an assignment soon if you haven't already. I know the waiting is excruciating.

We booked off the pier in Cabo and we've prebooked through Puerto Vallarta Tours & Cabo San Lucas Tours by Joahhn and Saudra and used Cabo. They are 2 separate websites by the same company. No problems with either excursion and they have good reviews on Trip Advisor.

 

[norcalcruiser]

Thanks so much for your advice and expertise. Sure look forward to meeting everyone.

 

[RHreha]

Welcome aboard! We are a small group of disers here which surprises me. I would have thought a lot of people would want to cruise Thanksgiving week. Maybe most schools don't have the whole week off? Anyway, glad you guys can join us! Like you, I wonder about the water temps.

Linda

We don't actually have the whole week off of school just Wednesday thru Friday but we decided to pull them out the rest of the week anyway.

 

[GhostlyHitchhiker]

Oddly my youngest DD has the whole week off, oldest DD does not (Two different school districts), so we're pulling oldest DD out for the whopping two days. The schools really should know that a lot of people travel that week darnit!

 

[Goofy's_Gal]

16 days, 14 hrs and 37 minutes until I head down the road for the best Disney vacation yet! DD has finally reached 40" so we must hit the parks before and after the cruise. That 40" mark has been on the wall for 4 and a half years now

 

[sranes]

I tried to book an adventure through Vallarta-Adventures.com - which also does most of the Wonder tours - and they did not want to reserve outside Disney bookikng process. Must be protecting their main guest source, although with Wonder ending Mexican trips, I was surprised. They are considerably cheaper on their website than through Wonder Port Adventures. The website was buy 2 and get the third free, plus at least 15% off list price. Wonder Port Adventures booking remains full list price. Was looking for off roading or zip lining in PV. Any suggestions

 

[adnil530]

Here's our border collie Bernie. He's almost 16 years old. His hat carries a message for all of you

 

[adnil530]

16 days, 14 hrs and 37 minutes until I head down the road for the best Disney vacation yet! DD has finally reached 40" so we must hit the parks before and after the cruise. That 40" mark has been on the wall for 4 and a half years now

I know you've been waiting for that 40" milestone and I know which ride is going to be first.

 

[adnil530]

I tried to book an adventure through Vallarta-Adventures.com - which also does most of the Wonder tours - and they did not want to reserve outside Disney bookikng process. Must be protecting their main guest source, although with Wonder ending Mexican trips, I was surprised. They are considerably cheaper on their website than through Wonder Port Adventures. The website was buy 2 and get the third free, plus at least 15% off list price. Wonder Port Adventures booking remains full list price. Was looking for off roading or zip lining in PV. Any suggestions

That stinks! So they are only taking Disney reservations that day? Do they have to know you are on the ship? Might be worth calling again and hopefully getting another agent.

Puerto Vallarta Tours mentioned above has some of these adventures also. We booked the dune buggys through them for last April. Unfortunately, we cancelled. We did switched it to the resort pass with the wave runners. That was a lot of fun and the switch was without penalty.

 

[Disneymama30]

Disneymama30 here again! Our info on roll call looked a little confusing. Thought I'd post it again so its clear. In one stateroom we have DW, DH, and DD (age four). In the stateroom across the way we have my adult DD and teen DS (age 15).

 

[adnil530]

Anyone CRUISING this month??? See ya real soon!

 

[kennedyparalegal]

Heck yea! I can't believe its almost here, but I can't wait to see my college son again and enjoy some much needed family time.

 

[GhostlyHitchhiker]

I think the next two weeks are going to be rough on my family. Now that it's TWO WEEKS and counting, I'm so excited I'm bouncing in my chair like my teenage daughter!!

The packing/gathering phase has begun. In full force. Driving down to the port means I can take my whole house if I can fit it in my car, right?!

 

[Goofy's_Gal]

Anyone CRUISING this month??? See ya real soon!

I think I am

 

[tammie33]

Two weeks from now we will be getting close to sailing away I'm planning to pull out the suitcases tonight after I finish the last load of laundry.

And for anyone who hasn't booked their hotel for the night before yet... hotwire has a 3* for $69 in San Pedro. We took a chance and it was the Doubletree... $86 total including taxes.

 

[sranes]

Anyone CRUISING this month??? See ya real soon!

I THINK THAT I AM :

 

[norcalcruiser]

13 days before the cruise our cabin has been assigned. Cabin on Deck 7 midship, category 5A. Pretty happy with our assignment, can't wait for 13 days to pass!

 

[nym]

Does anyone have details on what will be on each day for this cruise? I mean, with Thanksgiving on Thursday will they move around the Pirate night and any other changes from the "normal" itinerary? We have a Palo reservation for Wednesday night at 8:30, but thinking now that it might conflict with Pirate night.

12 days!

 

[Double Trouble]

Does anyone have details on what will be on each day for this cruise? I mean, with Thanksgiving on Thursday will they move around the Pirate night and any other changes from the "normal" itinerary? We have a Palo reservation for Wednesday night at 8:30, but thinking now that it might conflict with Pirate night.

12 days!

I've been told by multiple agents Pirate Night is Wednesday this trip, but I believe another poster may have been told it was Friday(?). It was Wednesday last TDay if that helps.

Check out post 205...link below...

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46545683&postcount=205

Pirate Party usually starts around 9:50 pm with fireworks around 10:40.

 

[Double Trouble]

FINAL MEETUPS SCHEDULE:

Meetups are a fun way to get the cruise started and a great opportunity to put faces to the disnames, meet some new friends/drinking buddies, and exchange ideas about everything from dining to excursions to "whatever".

Attendance at meetups is your option (although see note about FE and cabin changes)...it's your vacation after all, but I think you'll enjoy them. Here is a what we have set up...

DLR/Hotel Pre-meets: Three of the more popular places to stay pre-cruise are Disneyland Resort (DLR), the DoubleTree (San Pedro), and the Crowne Plaza (San Pedro). If you are staying at any of these (or any other hotel) on Saturday or earlier) and would like to get together to hit the park, have a drink, or just a quick meet, just post it (or send a PM if you prefer). Those staying at the same hotel/area can coordinate via PM to meetup as desired.

I know us (Double Trouble) and Tammie33 are staying at the DoubleTree. Anyone else? Anyone at the Crowne Plaza or at/near Disneyland?

Cruise Terminal Prior to Boarding: Meet by the largest TV display where Disney movies/shows are playing. It's obvious...once you're through security, just go straight ahead past the restrooms towards the far wall and look on your right. There's plenty of seating, and TV for the kids while we wait for kids registration to open, Mickey's arrival for photos, and boarding to begin. I'll post a DIS sign as well to help you find us. You'd be surprised...it's actually pretty easy to figure out who's in our group jsut from what you learn online. We are usually very early arrivers at the terminal so just look for us. I'll be looking chilled, but anxious to board, while my twin DDs will be running around to meet all their new friends and get the social activities going. This (and the onboard meet) is a great opportunity for the kids to premeet some friends and get over their shyness before hitting the Stack/Edge/Lab/Club/etc. Disney to my knowlege has never really enforced arrival times at the LA/San Pedro terminal, so I wouldn't stress over showing up early.



Onboard After Boarding: Everyone meet at 3:00pm in the Promenade Lounge, Deck 3, Port Side. I'll have a sign there as well, but we usually sit to the the right of the dance floor (the bar is to the left). If you are in the FE and have any cabin changes (port upgrade, Pixie Dust, etc), PLEASE make sure someone is there from your group so we can all update our FE delivery spreadsheets.

A quick summary for the newbies...lunch is available until 2:30, cabins open at 2:00 (although bags may not arrive until around 5:00), and meeting from 3 to 3:30 or so allows plenty of time to get to the lifeboat drill afterwards; and, then it's sailaway party time! We'll take a few minutes to introduce our familes, coordinate any similar interests (like running/walking/exercising, excursions, beverage tastings, sports, games, etc), and field any questions anyone may have about anything at all. After that, you'll be running into your new disfriends everywhere! We've made some amazing friend through DIS, so don't be shy.

Some additional meetups for now...

Monday (Sea Day) - Adults: Casual meetup at 2:00 pm in the Outlook Cafe, Deck 10 just aft of the adult pool area, off the midship elevators. It's right above the Cove Cafe (Deck 9) so make sure you come upstairs to the right place. Bring your own beverage, or you can get one there as desired. It's a nice place to just hang out for coffee, a drink, or just to read a book. Check it out on the DCL site.

Tuesday (Sea Day) - Everyone Welcome: 5:00 pm on the "secret verandah" (Deck 7 all the way aft...just keep walking and go through the door at the very back center of the ship). We typically hang out here for cocktails every evening around 5:00 before early dining. We generally bring our own "spirits", or you can get them onboard and bring them.

Tastings - Adults (Individuals/Small Groups): As desired. I will bring a Guest Services projected schedule of tasting opportunities to the Promenade Lounge meetup so we can arrange some mini-groups as desired. These are held 3-4 times a day when the ship is at sea, and the final times/beverages are posted in the daily Navigators. You sign up individually at Guest Services, $15-20 per person...very educational and lots of fun to boot!

Please, if you have any inputs, suggestions, whatever....let me know. This is all for fun, and very flexible.

If you have any particular interest, please post it on this thread ahead of time so you can possibly find others to enjoy it with.