Oct 30 2010 7 Night Western

[nenner1]

Nenner.....have a great time!!!! yes we have been through alot with all this havent we!!!! HAHA!!!

But yes we are doing what is best for now.......WE can still take a vaca but just not one of this expense i just cant justify it.....We will take a cruise out of Fort Luaderdale on A GENERIC SHIP.....Maybe Carnival or soemthing....WE have seen prices as low as $399 pp for a 7 night to the same ports.

yeah Carnivore Cruise Lines (LOL) isn't all that bad. I have been watching a lot of CCL videos. Cant beat the price. Heck I would do it in a heartbeat.

I am currently using them right now. I love them. Tracey is my agent.

Yep Yep Tracy Whipple...Two thumbs up She is the best! Really helped us out with an odd situation one time where we (might) have been left without a room- long story...but she was great. Even called me on my cell (you hear a lot that Dreams will only deal over email but I've dealt with her on the phone quite a bit!) So yeah....I recommend them also since they let you retain control over a lot of the details like Palo Ressies, etc. So some things aren't out of your hands (which I hate)..I've had great experiences with them so far. This is our 3rd cruise with them.

OK I'm leaving now...promise!

 

[Royfam]

We had several families from our last cruise do this...i'm just not sure what company ...but they got the extra credit, this is something we are looking into.
This is our first cruise not using DVC points...so I would like to get as much on board credit as possible!!!!

 

[lsjones]

Another question about transfering a reservation to DU, does your price change? Is there an additional charge to go through them?

 

[Fastpaks]

Another question about transfering a reservation to DU, does your price change? Is there an additional charge to go through them?

Not that I know of for a charge. You can always ask them first before you rebook. When I talked to them earlier about dummy booking, they told me that if the price changed and I rebooked I would be subject to that pricing. So I decided to book all at one time.

 

[eyes4mickey]

Another question about transfering a reservation to DU, does your price change? Is there an additional charge to go through them?

No, there's no addl fees when you transfer the ressie. They just get a commission from Disney so they give you a gift for doing it. Then they are responsible for your taking your payments and sending you your documentation for the cruise. You will still receive any obc that was promised to you by Disney.

 

[knewton64]

We plan on going to MNSSHP as well but since we'll be at WDW Sunday - Friday before the cruise (but moving Friday to a Port Canaveral motel to take advantage of cruise parking) I'm not sure we'll be attending the same one as everyone else. I'm up in the air as to attend the Tuesday or the Thursday party that week.

We'll be at the Poly for the week before the cruise - I'm thinking of buying WDW Snacks for my FE gifts (like the 95cent bags of mickey head pretzels or the 2 pack coconut heads) but I'm also a little crafty (as is my mom) so we're thinking of making something instead. If my mother keeps adding ideas, everyone will need to pack an extra suitcase just to bring home their FE gifts. It's almost as good as figuring out what to give people for Christmas (which is believe it or not, one of my favourite parts of the holiday - I love finding that great, special gift that people actually use or appreciate).

Anyone planning on doing the wine tasting (assuming it's offered)? I would like to find a buddy since I can't drink red wine and would like someone who could benefit from my allergy (by having my glasses of red wine while I enjoy my white wines).

You bring up a good point as this was brought up a while back.

**COUNT ME IN **. Read my pre-trippy report & if ya feel comfortable, give me a holler.

Get a group together for this?? Anyone else wanna head out??

On a similiar note, I am tempted to do some wine tasting while out at Disney's California Adventure in a few weeks. that oughta be fun.

Anywho -


MNSSHP INFO: - it is a seperate ticket and IF my memory serves me right, they went on sale in April '09. So I am thinking they are on sale in approx 60 days this year?? Again , just a guess.
So, to any of us who are intererested in this event, it sure would be kind for all of us to keep us up to date on when they go on sale.
So far, we have MNSSHP DISsers of:

1) Knewton64
2) Lisa0503
3) Beachbumpirates
4) Nenner1
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

-------------------------------

Don't forget about out PJ breakfast - to those who are interested, feel free to sign up on page one of our DISmeets thread.

 

[Pudo]

We had several families from our last cruise do this...i'm just not sure what company ...but they got the extra credit, this is something we are looking into.
This is our first cruise not using DVC points...so I would like to get as much on board credit as possible!!!!

I am VERY interested in this!! Can someone tell me how this works?

Most Cruise Travel Agencies offer an incentive to take over the reservation from Disney. Basically DCL does all the work and the commission gets passed to the TA who takes over the reservation. All you need to do is give your DCL confirmation number to the TA and he/she will do the rest.

I am not a big fan of giving my reservation to a company who may or may not do as good a job as DCL for the trade off of a few extra dollars in my pocket. I know, the typical response is $100 is $100 (one day somebody is going to have to explain to me when $100 is not $100).

Anywho, just be careful transferring your reservation. DCL cannot speak to you about your reservation and will cut the phone conversation short since they no longer hold it, so just be sure the company you choose is a good one.

 

[Pudo]

Mostly, the communication is done over email. You do receive a phone number for $$$ transactions if you don't feel comfortable with online ones. I have yet to have a problem being online.

As a whole I think DU has more happy than upset customers, but limiting most communications to email only was the big reason I never used them. I like to pick up the phone and talk to a human being, but that's just me.

Since DU sponsors these boards there is a bias towards them. Those that are happy with DU are free to post their praise, but the opposite is not true.

If you rail against DU or suggest other TAs you run the risk of having you post edited or deleted all together.

Just a little food for thought...

 

[eyes4mickey]

Most Cruise Travel Agencies offer an incentive to take over the reservation from Disney. Basically DCL does all the work and the commission gets passed to the TA who takes over the reservation. All you need to do is give your DCL confirmation number to the TA and he/she will do the rest.

I am not a big fan of giving my reservation to a company who may or may not do as good a job as DCL for the trade off of a few extra dollars in my pocket. I know, the typical response is $100 is $100 (one day somebody is going to have to explain to me when $100 is not $100).

Anywho, just be careful transferring your reservation. DCL cannot speak to you about your reservation and will cut the phone conversation short since they no longer hold it, so just be sure the company you choose is a good one.

I've turned my last 3 Disney Cruises over to Costco travel and never had a problem. For this cruise I will receive a $400 Costco Cash card when I return. To me it's worth it and they have great customer service.
I don't think they are taking any new ressies over though.

Anyone ever go to Stingray City in Grand Cayman? Any interest in going over there? Looks great from what I saw on the website.

 

[Pudo]

I don't think they are taking any new ressies over though.

DCL has changed their policy on how much commission is paid to travel agencies who take over existing reservations.

At this point, based on recent changes Costco stopped taking over existing reservations because the comssion isn't worth it to them, although they will book new reservations since the commission is higher.

 

[Grandma4ever]

I've turned my last 3 Disney Cruises over to Costco travel and never had a problem. For this cruise I will receive a $400 Costco Cash card when I return. To me it's worth it and they have great customer service.
I don't think they are taking any new ressies over though.

Anyone ever go to Stingray City in Grand Cayman? Any interest in going over there? Looks great from what I saw on the website.

I will be booking directly with Capt Marvin's to go to Stingray City. WE have done this 2x before and he is great. You book with a CC to hold the ressie and pay in cash when you check in for the excursion. It is about 4 hours and you snorkel in two places and then go to Stingray city. They have someone to video the excusion and then sell you copies at the end. You can view it while returning to the port but it will be sent to the address you provide. It was very good. Also not cheap if I remember correctly it was about 70.00 USD. When we get closer we can book together - might be fun Lois

 

[dizzi]

We booked directly with costco for our first Disney Cruise,worked out well.

 

[sssteele]

You bring up a good point as this was brought up a while back.



Anywho -


MNSSHP INFO: - it is a seperate ticket and IF my memory serves me right, they went on sale in April '09. So I am thinking they are on sale in approx 60 days this year?? Again , just a guess.
So, to any of us who are intererested in this event, it sure would be kind for all of us to keep us up to date on when they go on sale.
So far, we have MNSSHP DISsers of:

1) Knewton64
2) Lisa0503
3) Beachbumpirates
4) Nenner1
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

-------------------------------
I'm hoping DH and I will be going to MNSSHP, but not sure what date. I seem to remember that on certain nights there is a discount for annual pass holders. If that is available when we are there, that will be the night we choose. Save a bit there, spend a bit more on the cruise

 

[JKSWonder]

Just received a pin code for 20% off values, 30% off moderates and 40% off deluxes. So now we are considering staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge for 2 nights before the cruise and going to MK on 10/29. We have never stayed at Animal Kingdom and I think my kids will get a kick out of it.

Plus, this morning my 3 1/2 year old started singing "Yo, Ho, Yo, Ho, a pirate's life for me" out of the clear blue sky. I think it was a sign, or at the very least, a request!

Anyone ever stayed at AK and gotten DCL bus from there? If so, how was it? We have taken DCL from the Poly, and it worked out fine but we did get to the port later than I would have liked.

P.S. Am I nuts to even be considering this?

 

[eyes4mickey]

I will be booking directly with Capt Marvin's to go to Stingray City. WE have done this 2x before and he is great. You book with a CC to hold the ressie and pay in cash when you check in for the excursion. It is about 4 hours and you snorkel in two places and then go to Stingray city. They have someone to video the excusion and then sell you copies at the end. You can view it while returning to the port but it will be sent to the address you provide. It was very good. Also not cheap if I remember correctly it was about 70.00 USD. When we get closer we can book together - might be fun Lois

Sounds great. Please let me know when you're ready to book.
Thanks,
Kim

 

[tjbaggott]

I will be booking directly with Capt Marvin's to go to Stingray City. WE have done this 2x before and he is great. You book with a CC to hold the ressie and pay in cash when you check in for the excursion. It is about 4 hours and you snorkel in two places and then go to Stingray city. They have someone to video the excusion and then sell you copies at the end. You can view it while returning to the port but it will be sent to the address you provide. It was very good. Also not cheap if I remember correctly it was about 70.00 USD. When we get closer we can book together - might be fun Lois

I just briefly looked at their website. Would this be considered the 1/2 day excursion? If so, I think I can actually swing that cost for my family.
And the $70.00 you mentioned is for the DVD? If it is DVD, perhaps as a group, one could be purchased and copies made and mailed to everyone else? Let us know too when you are ready to book. How many will fit on the boat?

 

[tjbaggott]

Payment question? On Dec. 30th, I had my TA, Pay DCL a $1000.00 USD payment onto my Amex card. The same day I paid my Amex Card by the same amount. Two weeks ago, I checked my AMEX statement online and noticed I still had the $1000.00 Credit in my account. I called me TA to ask if for sure DCL has gotten the payment because it is not showing up on my credit card. She said the payment DID go through to them, and that she wouldn't have sent me the updated invoice if DCL hadn't received the payment. Well, today is January 26th, tomorrow will be a full 4 weeks since the payment was sent to DCL, and my credit card has STILL NOT been charged with the amount. I called AMEX, and even they say, there is no such charge on my credit card.
Obviously, there was likely a typo at some end when entering my credit card number, either my TA or DCL has made an error, and I think someone else's credit card has been charged.
I've called my TA now and have left a message, but have yet to hear back from her.
Is there much else I can do? She says, DCL has my payment, yet I haven't been charged for it and I'm horrified to think that someone else inadvertantly has

update: TA double checked my CC number and then did check again that number with DCL. YES they have the right number. AND DCL HAS the money, BUT the charge has never showed still, onto my Amex account! So did I just get a thousand off the cost of my trip? LOL. The CC company says DCL will have to call Merchant accounts to verify the info, but really, why would they? They have their money. (I would like them to, to clear this up, but TA says they likely won't as they've made no mistake, they have their money). I've never heard of anything like this happening before!
I just told my TA to have DCL charge another thousand onto that card (I've got the money), and we'll see if this one goes through, and then I'll only be one month away from having our trip paid for instead of two months away. Then DS12 can get his much needed braces!!

 

[eyes4mickey]

Payment question? On Dec. 30th, I had my TA, Pay DCL a $1000.00 USD payment onto my Amex card. The same day I paid my Amex Card by the same amount. Two weeks ago, I checked my AMEX statement online and noticed I still had the $1000.00 Credit in my account. I called me TA to ask if for sure DCL has gotten the payment because it is not showing up on my credit card. She said the payment DID go through to them, and that she wouldn't have sent me the updated invoice if DCL hadn't received the payment. Well, today is January 26th, tomorrow will be a full 4 weeks since the payment was sent to DCL, and my credit card has STILL NOT been charged with the amount. I called AMEX, and even they say, there is no such charge on my credit card.
Obviously, there was likely a typo at some end when entering my credit card number, either my TA or DCL has made an error, and I think someone else's credit card has been charged.
I've called my TA now and have left a message, but have yet to hear back from her.
Is there much else I can do? She says, DCL has my payment, yet I haven't been charged for it and I'm horrified to think that someone else inadvertantly has

update: TA double checked my CC number and then did check again that number with DCL. YES they have the right number. AND DCL HAS the money, BUT the charge has never showed still, onto my Amex account! So did I just get a thousand off the cost of my trip? LOL. The CC company says DCL will have to call Merchant accounts to verify the info, but really, why would they? They have their money. (I would like them to, to clear this up, but TA says they likely won't as they've made no mistake, they have their money). I've never heard of anything like this happening before!
I just told my TA to have DCL charge another thousand onto that card (I've got the money), and we'll see if this one goes through, and then I'll only be one month away from having our trip paid for instead of two months away. Then DS12 can get his much needed braces!!

Has anyone else done a stingray excursion in the Caymans? My friend recommended Moby Dick tours has anyone used them?

 

[dizzi]

tj that is crazzzyyyy

 

[threeiscrazy]

I agree with Lynn, it seems like somewhere along the line they will let you know you owe that money, but right now they can't figure out where the mistake is.