October 14, 2007 - 10/14/2007 Wonder

[Kborn]

I agree. However, our DS would be disappointed if he did not have lots of friends to play with on the ship. My bet is most of the people don't realize how important it is to plan ahead of time. I know I have April in mind for when I have to have everything nailed down as to what we want to do at Disney World in case we want to make any type of reservations. I know my DH and some friends we mentioned that vacation to thought I was crazy for booking so far in advance. Now, a year later after booking the cost has gone up almost $1,000 for the same thing. Basically, we are going to get the concierge level at Disney World for the same price that people joining for the regular level are getting it now.

There may be more people just monitoring as there were close to 200 views of the post. And, I don't think the four families on the board now have looked at it that many times . . . but, perhaps we have.

I know I have looked a lot at this thread and not posted, I know, shame,shame, I could at least say hi. From now on, I will at least post something.

How old will you son be? I know of at least 2 7 yr olds...I know Josh will be at the Mickey Slide every chance he can. You know it's bad when the lifeguards get to know your son by name. On our last cruise, he went down 26 times none stop. That was only the first day, I lost count after the second day...

I always book in advance, it's so much easier to pay small monthly payments, than to come up with the bulk sum at once. We have already booked the 15 Panama crossings as well, and we will probably book the 2008 double dip for Christmas on this cruise.

 

[lbcrosby]

Our DS will be 8 so he will be a different room then both your boys. We gave him the option of going last year or this year and knowing that we wanted to push him off a year we told him he would be with the bigger kids if he went when he was 8. It worked and it gave us more time to plan and save. I wanted to spread the cost out over a longer period of time and that way you don't ever realize how much you spent.

 

[iankh]

Someone I met on our December cruise, who has now become a friend, is taking the tactic on her next cruise of paying a bit over time and paying a little more on top of it. She is calling it, giving herself an Onboard Credit. Her goal is to have everything completely paid for, including her tip and extras, rather than get hit with a bill at the end.

 

[lbcrosby]

So, who is she paying? Can you overpay the cruise and put money into the shipboard credit or is she just put money in a savings account back in her home town? My theory is out of sight out of mind. If I have money I spend it. So, that would be great if you could put money in an account somewhere. I paid originally through AAA so I am not sure if I can pay directly to Disney or through AAA. I guess I will find out when I get closer.

I think when you book all the character meals that you have to pay for those ahead of time so that should be taken care of in April.

 

[iankh]

So, who is she paying? Can you overpay the cruise and put money into the shipboard credit or is she just put money in a savings account back in her home town? My theory is out of sight out of mind. If I have money I spend it. So, that would be great if you could put money in an account somewhere. I paid originally through AAA so I am not sure if I can pay directly to Disney or through AAA. I guess I will find out when I get closer.

I think when you book all the character meals that you have to pay for those ahead of time so that should be taken care of in April.

No, she'll be paying to DCL. I think you can do that, also through a TA and specify that it is for your on board account.

The westbound cruise is 14 months away, so I imagine that she start hitting the credit side in the last month or two before the cruise.

It's sort of a good idea for tips. For ourselves, we didn't spend much aside from the tips, a couple of coffees in the Cove Cafe, and float rentals, and just a couple of things we bought in the shops. That was about it.

 

[Kborn]

No, she'll be paying to DCL. I think you can do that, also through a TA and specify that it is for your on board account.

The westbound cruise is 14 months away, so I imagine that she start hitting the credit side in the last month or two before the cruise.

It's sort of a good idea for tips. For ourselves, we didn't spend much aside from the tips, a couple of coffees in the Cove Cafe, and float rentals, and just a couple of things we bought in the shops. That was about it.

I wish we could say the same about not spending much on the ship, I think my wife owns atleast 1 of everything from Mickey's Mate and Treasure Ketch...I know we have every beach towel they sell on Castaway Cay. My wife loves to buy from the ship, because she knows it's the only place to buy DCL merchandise. We also collect the limited edition Cruise watches, we have everyone except 2000...we did not sail that year. We were building a house and having a baby.

 

[lbcrosby]

That is a great idea about the tips. Those always come out of nowhere. You know you have to give them out but in the same breath it seems like a lot of money when it comes time. Can you pay them out of your onboard ship credit or do you have to pay cash?

I know I spend a lot of money in the picture area and also in the gift shops. I am sure we will be in trouble in those places. I have never been on DCL and I am thrilled to hear they have watches. That is where I normally splurge in the jewelry department.

My DH and I love cruises because they are all inclusive. Especially since we don't drink alcohol where a lot of people can rack up the expenses. Isn't ice cream even included on the DCL? On Princess it wasn't so we just avoided the ice cream shop. However, we were in Alaska so it wasn't as tempting as it will be in a warm climate.

 

[iankh]

That is a great idea about the tips. Those always come out of nowhere. You know you have to give them out but in the same breath it seems like a lot of money when it comes time. Can you pay them out of your onboard ship credit or do you have to pay cash?

I know I spend a lot of money in the picture area and also in the gift shops. I am sure we will be in trouble in those places. I have never been on DCL and I am thrilled to hear they have watches. That is where I normally splurge in the jewelry department.

My DH and I love cruises because they are all inclusive. Especially since we don't drink alcohol where a lot of people can rack up the expenses. Isn't ice cream even included on the DCL? On Princess it wasn't so we just avoided the ice cream shop. However, we were in Alaska so it wasn't as tempting as it will be in a warm climate.

Onboard credits can be used for anything, including the tips.

We had had the October cruise already booked when we went on the December cruise. I rebooked anyway while on board and was able to get the 10% discount and the $100 per cabin credit. Fortunately, my TA was able to take over the booking and switch out the cabins with the SPH cabins we previously had reserved. The on board credit will cover our tips, so we'll probably only have the few extras. ... Though I say that now, it might be different since we traveling with family.

The ice cream in included on DCL, though it is soft serve. I understand that it used to be more elaborate. The ice cream is located next to Goofy's Galley, one of my favorite snack places on board

 

[Kborn]

That is a great idea about the tips. Those always come out of nowhere. You know you have to give them out but in the same breath it seems like a lot of money when it comes time. Can you pay them out of your onboard ship credit or do you have to pay cash?

I know I spend a lot of money in the picture area and also in the gift shops. I am sure we will be in trouble in those places. I have never been on DCL and I am thrilled to hear they have watches. That is where I normally splurge in the jewelry department.

My DH and I love cruises because they are all inclusive. Especially since we don't drink alcohol where a lot of people can rack up the expenses. Isn't ice cream even included on the DCL? On Princess it wasn't so we just avoided the ice cream shop. However, we were in Alaska so it wasn't as tempting as it will be in a warm climate.

Tips can be charged on the KTW card, just visit Guest services and they will print tickets to give to the servers. We always by phone cards to give to the servers and room attendants as well, you would not believe the 'extras' they will do for you. My wife loves to scrapebook, so we always ask for extra navigators, plus we collect the menu's from all the dinners. Your not supposed to get them, but with the extra phone card we give them, they always seem to make there way to our state room or they seem to always be looking in the other direction as we walk out with them under our arm... They make great "framed art". Our son's room is nautical/Disney Cruise line. My wife has made several shadow boxes, from our past DCL cruises. Can you tell we are DCL CRAZY!

 

[Kborn]

Just checking the board....as I promised, I'm saying hi.

 

[iankh]

I'm trying to figure out where to stay the night before the cruise. Right now I'm leaning towards staying near the port. Any recommendations on accomodations and how to get from the hotel to the port?

 

[Kborn]

I'm trying to figure out where to stay the night before the cruise. Right now I'm leaning towards staying near the port. Any recommendations on accomodations and how to get from the hotel to the port?

We have stayed at the Hyatt, it is located in the airport. It is nice, but your limited to the hotel. We have also taken the Magical express (it's free) to Pop Century or one of the other value resorts, I guess it all depends on what time you arrive the day before. Staying at Pop Century is cheaper, plus you can take the disney buses into downtown Disney. When we fly, we always take the DCL buses to the port, they show a movie about the ship and it gets everyone excited about the trip. Plus you can see the ship as you cross over the causeway. Everyone usually claps...

You might want to check with Disney and make sure the hotel your staying at is a pick up point for the Cruise Line buses, I would think they would pick up from all the resorts, but I would call anyway. I have heard of some people renting cars, it all depends on how many people you have in your party. The rental car companys are close to the port and will shuttle you back to the port.

I hope this helps...

 

[iankh]

We really liked the DCL bus to the port, but this time with 5 of us, that's sort of pricey. I am knuckling under and renting a car. It came down to $50 vs. $350.

I'm not sure what time we're going to arrive. I'm still waiting for the UK side of the Atlantic to decide when they are coming in.

I had thought about Pop Century, but am not sure if I want their first Disney experience to be there or Wilderness Lodge.

I was looking at Hotwire today and found an airport hotel for $39 a room. Not bad. We used Hotwire for this past December and had a very nice hotel that was fine for the one night. I think it comes down to whether I prefer to fly in, drive to the port and stay near there or, fly in, check into a hotel and then drive to the port in the morning. I'm just not sure.

You know, I found a hotel near the port called "Fawlty Towers." Now that is extremely tempting.

 

[lbcrosby]

We most likely will be renting a car but the question is when to rent it. We come in the day before our package and we will be most likely going to the Kennedy Space Center the day we dock and maybe hang out at one of hotels near the beach before heading back to Orlando. So, we have to decide if we want to rent a car from the airport and keep it the entire time or take the shuttle to Disney and get a rental car from Disney to the port or take the shuttle to Disney, take the shuttle to the port and then get a rental car afterwards. Wow. There are sure a lot of options. My DS is sitting right here and told me to put that smiley face in.

 

[Kborn]

We most likely will be renting a car but the question is when to rent it. We come in the day before our package and we will be most likely going to the Kennedy Space Center the day we dock and maybe hang out at one of hotels near the beach before heading back to Orlando. So, we have to decide if we want to rent a car from the airport and keep it the entire time or take the shuttle to Disney and get a rental car from Disney to the port or take the shuttle to Disney, take the shuttle to the port and then get a rental car afterwards. Wow. There are sure a lot of options. My DS is sitting right here and told me to put that smiley face in.

I would not keep the car rented while we are on the cruise, the rental car companies have pick up & drop off at the port....why pay for it to sit there?

Tell your son, I like his laughing smilie! I just wish they would turn mine back on!

 

[Kborn]

We may try and stop by the Space Center on the way home, we drive down from AL, so we will have our car there. My son will have to miss 2 days of school, so we may as well make it worth his time. He loves the Space and Rocket center here in AL, so I know he will like that one as well. Plus my wife read where you can make an appointment and have lunch with one of the astronuts, if they are there training.

 

[iankh]

I've got a car reserved for the day we arrive. I'll use it to get us to the port. It was about $35, which is 1/10 as much as the DCL bus would have been.

I figure we all go return it and take the rental car shuttle to the port. I also have a car reserved for when we get back from the cruise and will use it to get to WDW and keep it for about 7 of our 8 days. I'll be returning the car at one of the DTS hotels, so we'll all take Magical Express to the airport.

I still haven't figured out where we're staying the night before. I still can't decide if it will be near MCO or the port. Currently I'm leaning towards near the port. That way when we wake up we'll be all that much closer.

 

[Kborn]

I've got a car reserved for the day we arrive. I'll use it to get us to the port. It was about $35, which is 1/10 as much as the DCL bus would have been.

I figure we all go return it and take the rental car shuttle to the port. I also have a car reserved for when we get back from the cruise and will use it to get to WDW and keep it for about 7 of our 8 days. I'll be returning the car at one of the DTS hotels, so we'll all take Magical Express to the airport.

I still haven't figured out where we're staying the night before. I still can't decide if it will be near MCO or the port. Currently I'm leaning towards near the port. That way when we wake up we'll be all that much closer.

I think we will drive down on Sat. and try and do a day at the park and stay on property that night. We always breakfast w/Chef Mickey before we head down to the port. We used to drive down to the port early, but since they will not let you in the parking lot until 10:30, there is no need to rush. Plus, it is one of the 'traditions' we have started...

 

[Kborn]

There will be a wedding on Castaway Cay! Ok, it's only our renewal vows, but's it's the wedding we have been looking forward too....our first wedding was on a very tight budget, so this one will make up for it.

My wife found the dress and it's on order, She would not go for the 'White Thong Bikini and veil', she said something about this being a family cruise... So, she has found a dress we both could live with and for some odd reason, she nixed the black SPEEDO and bow tie for me! (Man, I wish my smilies were working). She is getting to be no fun in her old age!

Everyone have a great Wed...

 

[Kborn]

Hope I didn't scare everyone off with the Speedo and bow tie comment....

Either that or everyone else is still frozen in after last weeks snow storms.

We had it rough here last week, it was only in the 70's, thats right the 70's.
Short pants weather!

Till next time...