October 16, 2011 Mexican Riviera on the Wonder

[Jathanis]

Hi All,
another family joining in! We were on the 2/20 MR sailing and as BoiseFlyFisher said it was the best family vacation we've ever taken. We are going to surprise the kids and take them in October. Our 15th Wedding Anniversary is 10/19 and we usually just go to LA (we met at UCLA) for the weekend to celebrate. We're going to drive down on Friday and the kids will think it's just the 'usual' boring mom/dad revisits their youth trip and then voila on Sunday we'll drive to the port. the hardest part will be keeping my mouth shut for the next 6 months!

We are a family of 4 - me, dh, ds (10), ds (6). Looking forward to it!
Betsy

We'll have to compare notes, as we're trying to do the same for DD turning 8 on your 15th (and our 16th is 2 days later)... I read somewhere else of a couple parents that referred to the cruise as the "hiking trip" when around their kids and it kept them fooled right up to the port - we're trying that and it's working so far! Especially with careless friends who come over and say something about the cruise... We just say something like "Oh, yeah, last year was great!" then pull them aside to explain... Best of luck!

 

[tomoyo]

It seems more and more like we're a go for the cruise.

We = Tomoyo and AS. We're both in our twenties and engaged. We're going to Disneyland in the fall and after "discovering" DCL, I really wanted to try cruising, so here we are.

As I said in my first post, I would really love to do an FE. If all it takes is someone to organize it for it to happen, I'd be happy to step up and do so. But please remember I've never cruised before, so be patient with me. I'm going to check past cruise meet threads to see how these things go.

 

[phred84044]

As I said in my first post, I would really love to do an FE. If all it takes is someone to organize it for it to happen, I'd be happy to step up and do so. But please remember I've never cruised before, so be patient with me. I'm going to check past cruise meet threads to see how these things go.

Our DIS group did not do FE on our last cruise, so I'm not going to be much of a help. However, we did get together for lunch one day and handed out treat bags for the kids in our group. A group got together the day before and collected all the goodies that everyone brought and then put the treat bags together. I think it worked just as well as FE's.

 

[tomoyo]

Our DIS group did not do FE on our last cruise, so I'm not going to be much of a help. However, we did get together for lunch one day and handed out treat bags for the kids in our group. A group got together the day before and collected all the goodies that everyone brought and then put the treat bags together. I think it worked just as well as FE's.

I would prefer an FE because it can be done on your own time/schedule, allows you to choose whether or not you want to remain anonymous or not, and maybe it's my love of Christmas speaking, but I personally like the idea of returning to our room and finding a little surprise.

Also, it's our first cruise, so I wouldn't want to commit to doing anything beyond the first day intro meet, unless if what everyone decides they want to do is a lunch, in which AS and I will respectfully bow out of. It's like going on a date, I'd say yes to coffee, but no to dinner.

Anyhow, it all depends on if there's any interest in participating and the participants.

 

[Shunasee]

hello!

New to this thread (thank you Tomoyo)

I just booked our cruise this morning

Just a bit of background. It will be DH and I. At this point he has no idea. I am going to do my best to surprise him with the trip on our anniversery (8/5), I figured since we cant start booking excursions till 8/2, I should be able to hold it in.

DS didn't want to go, which since he turned 18 seems to be normal.

We have never done a DCL cruise. We have done a 3 day and 5 day Mexico cruise and I have done the 7 day western carribean with my mom.

Very excited for this. You will have to pardon me if I post a ton, as I am not able to talk to DH about this quite yet, just a few more months

OH, my name is Kristi, HUGE DLR freak. We have had passes as long as we have been married, almost 11 years now. I think thats about it.

Cant wait to get to know everyone and meet on the ship!!

 

[phred84044]

hello!

New to this thread (thank you Tomoyo)

I just booked our cruise this morning

Welcome aboard!!! Ask away and some of us DCL veterans will help you out!

 

[Shunasee]

Thanks Phred!

I am getting pretty excited. I have to admit, that when I found out we would not be able to afford WDW in Oct, I was pretty bummed. I almost felt like doing the DCL was second prize.

However, the more I read on it, the happier/excited I am getting. I have a couple of questions:

1. Where do you find out what the different shore excursions are? I was on the DCL website and I could not find them.

2. Have any of your seasoned DCL people, done the pre-pay for the photos? If so, how many credits do you order? (I *love* doing the prepaid photopass, so this seems right up my alley)

3. Do you prepay your gratiuties? I was thinking this was a good idea, as its one less thing to worry about while on the boat, and of course we would tip more for outstanding service.

I think that is it for right now. Thank you so much for bearing with me!

have a great day!!

-Kristi

 

[phred84044]

1. Where do you find out what the different shore excursions are? I was on the DCL website and I could not find them.

2. Have any of your seasoned DCL people, done the pre-pay for the photos? If so, how many credits do you order? (I *love* doing the prepaid photopass, so this seems right up my alley)

3. Do you prepay your gratiuties? I was thinking this was a good idea, as its one less thing to worry about while on the boat, and of course we would tip more for outstanding service.

1. Go here: http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/mexican-riviera/ports/ and then click on each destination and then click the tab for Port Adventures.

2. We've never pre-paid for our pictures, but we've never really bought more than 3-5 pictures per cruise. It is my understanding that unlike at WDW where the photopass CD is $99, the photopass CD on DCL is like $400.

3. As all gratuities are, they are discretionary. I have heard of people not paying them (which really blows my mind). Once you see how hard the staff works I can't imagine not giving them their EARNED tip. Prior to the cruise it is my understanding that you can call DCL and have them add money to your shipboard account so that when you arrive on board you have a credit balance. Prior to boarding you will have to provide a credit card to have on file for them to charge things to. If you happen to have a credit balance at the end, they will credit your card that you provided at boarding. Once on board you can also use Disney Rewards dollars (Disney Visa), cash, other credit cards to apply money to your shipboard account. You can charge the gratuities to you account or pay them in cash to the cast members. We've done it both ways. Charging it to the account is the easiest so that you don't have to carry a ton of cash throughout the week.

 

[Shunasee]

Thanks Trent!

I have a tendency to purchase lots of photos. Our first trip to WDW, my husband took all the pictures and we had none of the two of us. After that I swore it would never happen again.

I had planned on putting money towards shipboard credit each paycheck. I know that it will add up by the time October comes.

Quick edit to the post:

I was lurking around on the DCL website, I saw that you can have Mickey/Goofy/Ariel call and tell the intended surprisee about the cruise.

Has anyone done this? I may implode and tell DH prior, but I thought if the calls are cute, I can plan a call for our anniversary and have Mickey call and tell him, then I can give him the gift with the full itinerary after.

 

[Shunasee]

Wow quiet thread.

is October a bad time to do a cruise, or is everyone just waiting to let it all out when we are at the 8/2/11 mark and can start booking things?

 

[tomoyo]

I felt like a creeper reading other meet threads, trying to get a handle on running the FE. But I think I've got it down.

If you would like to participate, please provide (in a reply or by PM) the following information:

Names, age and gender of the people in your party
Room number(s) (if you're GTY, just say GTY for now and update us later)
Any allergies we should know about?

I'd also like to request favorite color(s) if you don't mind providing that. For potential FE gift purposes.

 

[tomoyo]

Wow quiet thread.

is October a bad time to do a cruise, or is everyone just waiting to let it all out when we are at the 8/2/11 mark and can start booking things?

I'm around! Just lurking and reading, trying to soak up as much information as possible.

As of now, I'm mentally packing and trying to decide if we're going to dress up for pirate night and how formal will our formal be.

We're going to Disneyland for a few days before since AS' AP is expiring and we want to get in one more visit, so I need to figure out how to fit it all into carry on bags for the plane. Maybe we'll do laundry on the ship.

 

[Jathanis]

Is October a bad time to do a cruise, or is everyone just waiting to let it all out when we are at the 8/2/11 mark and can start booking things?

We took a 4 day Caribbean last year at this same time, and that thread took a while to come alive - but it never got as busy as some others... Guess we'll have to just wait and see as summer gets closer. If they start doing the KSF offer, we may see a lot more people pop up closer to the actual sailing date...

I feel like a creeper reading other meet threads, trying to get a handle on running the FE. But I think I've got it down.

If you would like to participate, please provide (in a reply or by PM) the following information:

Don't feel bad, at least you're willing to step forward and do it! I might want to add here, as I've seen this on other cruise/FE threads, that anyone joining in may want to also post any allergies here (nuts, etc) so if anyone want to do candy or snacks, they have an early warning!

Off to ask DD what here fav color is this week...

 

[Shunasee]

Huzzah Posts!

I will PM you our info. DH does not know about the cruise, so I will volunteer him.

I hope it picks up as it gets closer.

I have been doing a ton of reading on the trip reports and the general cruise page. I was so on the ball, by now for our WDW trips, that I feel out of sorts at the moment not planning anything.

Thanks for posting!!

 

[Shunasee]

I'm around! Just lurking and reading, trying to soak up as much information as possible.

As of now, I'm mentally packing and trying to decide if we're going to dress up for pirate night and how formal will our formal be.

We're going to Disneyland for a few days before since AS' AP is expiring and we want to get in one more visit, so I need to figure out how to fit it all into carry on bags for the plane. Maybe we'll do laundry on the ship.

I dont know how fancy to go either. The other cruises (not DCL), I just wore work clothes, but I long for a sparkly dress.

We live like 20 minutes from DLR, so let me know if you need help with anything on that front. Course, if you have AP's you should be good.

 

[tomoyo]

I might want to add here, as I've seen this on other cruise/FE threads, that anyone joining in may want to also post any allergies here (nuts, etc) so if anyone want to do candy or snacks, they have an early warning!

Off to ask DD what here fav color is this week...

Thanks for adding the allergy note!

Well, no hurry, I won't know if I'll do what I wanted the color info for until September. But maybe someone else will find the info helpful!

I dont know how fancy to go either. The other cruises (not DCL), I just wore work clothes, but I long for a sparkly dress.

We live like 20 minutes from DLR, so let me know if you need help with anything on that front. Course, if you have AP's you should be good.

I'm the poofy ball gown type, myself; I'm leaning heavily that way as I rarely have opportunities to wear a formal gown.

Thanks for the offer! Aside from transportation, I think we're okay. I'm just trying to find the cheapest way for us to travel between Disneyland/LAX/San Pedro right now. We've been visiting yearly for the last couple of years so we know the parks quite well. This trip is specifically for The Little Mermaid Ride. I wanted to go for the opening, but a few co-workers beat me in putting in vacation time for May and no way I'm going in the summer. Worked out for the better since I wouldn't be here otherwise.

 

[Shunasee]

Thanks for the offer! Aside from transportation, I think we're okay. I'm just trying to find the cheapest way for us to travel between Disneyland/LAX/San Pedro right now. We've been visiting yearly for the last couple of years so we know the parks quite well. This trip is specifically for The Little Mermaid Ride. I wanted to go for the opening, but a few co-workers beat me in putting in vacation time for May and no way I'm going in the summer. Worked out for the better since I wouldn't be here otherwise.

I took 6/3 off since its the "official" opening of Little Mermaid and re-opening of Star Tours. I am hoping in the weeks leading up they may do a soft opening for LM.


Question for the season cruisers:

Ever not get off the boat at all?

We had a pretty icky experience in Ensenada. Did a winery tour (they winerys were amazing), but getting back into town in one piece was quite scary. Our bus driver took a turn to tight, went over the side walk. Then there was smoke/steam coming from the engine, so the drive went to pull over and side swiped two cars. Scared the heck out of me. At that point, I though I would never get off the boat in Mexico again.

However, reading some of the possible excursions, there are a few that I would really like to try (Zipline anyone??).

Most of the excursions are through Disney approved companies right?

 

[Shunasee]

Good Morning!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!

Nothing new on this front. I was successful in another few days of not spilling the bean to my husband about the trip.

 

[tomoyo]

Question for the season cruisers:

Ever not get off the boat at all?

We had a pretty icky experience in Ensenada. Did a winery tour (they winerys were amazing), but getting back into town in one piece was quite scary. Our bus driver took a turn to tight, went over the side walk. Then there was smoke/steam coming from the engine, so the drive went to pull over and side swiped two cars. Scared the heck out of me. At that point, I though I would never get off the boat in Mexico again.

However, reading some of the possible excursions, there are a few that I would really like to try (Zipline anyone??).

Most of the excursions are through Disney approved companies right?

Yikes! It's definitely understandable that you would feel that way. After reading the thread about the car accident, neither of us wanted to be in a vehicle in Mexico. We were planning on walking around the area at the pier, staying close to the ship, but the more I research, the more I want to see.

It can be considerably cheaper to book shore excursions on your own, but if you're unsure and you want the peace of mind of going through Disney, then it'll probably be worth the extra cost.

I spent the weekend looking up Mazatlan, but I don't want to get too excited for that port in case something happens in the fall and DCL pulls out of Mazatlan again.

 

[tomoyo]

Who else is caught up in the excitement of the new itineraries?