October 30, 2011 Wonder - A Haunting on the High Seas

[carebear2002]

Hello!

Kind of new to these boards....

We will be on the October 30th cruise (unless we get that WDW pin code!)

It will be:

Self - Kristin (41)
DH - Brad (41)
DD9 and DS5 (just 5, his birthday is October 18)

This will be our first cruise. Originally, we were booked on MR for October 16, but canceled and moved our deposit to the Fantasy for October '12 and our vacation to WDW. However, with the kids sail free promo we are back on board the Wonder!

Besides, isn't there priority for returning guests (for next year's cruise.)

I have heard about the FEs, but need to read more. Basically, besides having booked the cabin, I have no idea what we are doing!

 

[stefanie.cadell]

Welcome Kristen!! Super excited to have you & your family to meet! Please don't hesitate to ask questions. We have a WONDERful group of people here with various expertise in different areas of cruising with the mouse. Can't wait to hear more from you!!

 

[valbob89]

Hello!

Kind of new to these boards....

We will be on the October 30th cruise (unless we get that WDW pin code!)

It will be:

Self - Kristin (41)
DH - Brad (41)
DD9 and DS5 (just 5, his birthday is October 18)

This will be our first cruise. Originally, we were booked on MR for October 16, but canceled and moved our deposit to the Fantasy for October '12 and our vacation to WDW. However, with the kids sail free promo we are back on board the Wonder!

Besides, isn't there priority for returning guests (for next year's cruise.)

I have heard about the FEs, but need to read more. Basically, besides having booked the cabin, I have no idea what we are doing!

Kristin, So glad you will be joining us on this cruise. Also, looking forward to planning for our trip here on the DISboards. I think planning the cruise can almost be as much fun as the actual cruise. I do know that getting to know a bunch of great people will be great fun.

What part of the country do you and your family live in? Do you want to add your family to our spreadsheet? Only fill in the info you want.

Look forward to sharing ideas and info with you.

Val

 

[DoomBuggyHitchhiker]

I'm all signed up.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

I can't wait!!! I really want to be on vacation NOW

Plus my sister Disney_Alli and my mom and dad and DH and I have decided to sail on the Fantasy Oct 6th 2012. I'm going to book onboard so we can get the OBC and the discount so I really want to get on the ship.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Maybe we could all do a wine tasting? That could be a lot of fun as a group!

 

[valbob89]

I'm all signed up.

Stephen, looking forward to meeting you. I am sure we would all be interested in hearing about your experience on your first Disney cruise and your recommendations.

I can't wait!!! I really want to be on vacation NOW

Plus my sister Disney_Alli and my mom and dad and DH and I have decided to sail on the Fantasy Oct 6th 2012. I'm going to book onboard so we can get the OBC and the discount so I really want to get on the ship.

Are you going to look at the cost and options of getting a Royal Suite for all of you? Wouldn't that be something?

Maybe we could all do a wine tasting? That could be a lot of fun as a group!

I've organized a number of tastings, Dorothy, at DCL has been very helpful and if we get enough people who are interested, I would be happy to give her a call. She helped me with a champagne and wine tasting. We tasted five wines. Bonnie, the Sommilier was a lot of fun and because it was a private tasting we could control the length of time and what she talked about. It cost the same as the tastings you book on board, $15. Something else Dorothy helped me with was a drink of the day tasting. Craig and Angus from the Outlook Bar gave an overview of how to make a drink of the day cocktail. They let volunteers try their hands at it, and drink them, we all made a cosmo. Then, we got into small groups to invent and name our own drink of the day. We made them, got to try all of them and voted for the best. That was really fun and they only charged me $5 a person. I don't think they would do a session for less then 15 people though. I organized a champage girls event, in the Cadillac Lounge, that included a champagne tasting, that was fun, but we had over 75 girls at that. I've been to champagne girls, as a guest, in one of the 2 bedroom suites, we each brought a bottle of champagne and just girl talked. I also was a guest at a wine and cheese tasting. DCL provided the cheese and fruit, we each brought a bottle of our favorite wine and shared wine stories. That was at the Cadillac and we paid the corkage fee. If someone wants to organize any of these I would be happy to help.

 

[stefanie.cadell]

We vote for the drink of the day tasting! Just sounds pretty fun!

 

[valbob89]

We vote for the drink of the day tasting! Just sounds pretty fun!

To be honest, some people loved it and others thought it was a waste of their time. I thought it was fun. If we can get a least 15, I'll call Dorothy and see if Craig and Angus are available and what they would charge us. I did a Hawaiian Shirt contest with the tasting, just to add a little more fun.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Wes and I would be interested in the Drink of the Day tasting as well so I think that makes 6 who would go. Any more takers?

Val,

Because Wes has to bid on his vacation time we won't know we can absolutely go on the dates we want until Feb 2012 so booking a suite would be a problem in case we have to move the cruise! Plus I think we all need little more privacy, the current plan is 2 verandah staterooms which we hope to get beside each other and maybe connecting so we can do the big combo verandah.

 

[iluvmmdsm]

We are getting married in a week June 25th, 2011 having a Mickey/Minnie Wedding and Honeymooning OCT 30 TO NOV 6TH, I have on a ton of cruises
my hubby this will be the first one, Super excited this will be my 2nd Disney
Cruise, can hardly wait.

Debbie & Scott

SELLING all our Disney stuff after wedding

 

[valbob89]

We are getting married in a week June 25th, 2011 having a Mickey/Minnie Wedding and Honeymooning OCT 30 TO NOV 6TH, I have on a ton of cruises
my hubby this will be the first one, Super excited this will be my 2nd Disney
Cruise, can hardly wait.

Debbie & Scott

SELLING all our Disney stuff after wedding

Welcome Debbie & Scott, so glad to will be joining us. Hope you add your name and information to our roll call spreadsheet. Here is a link to the sheet,
https://spreadsheets1.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?authkey=CM2SpuMB&hl=en_US&key=tQW07ZuA8a4izKy3q3VMR9Q&hl=en_US&authkey=CM2SpuMB#gid=0

Congratulations on your wedding, look forward to hearing all about it in the coming months.

Based on the feedback regarding the drink of the day, mixology session, I have added a column to our spreadsheet to collect info on the number of people who are interested in attending a mixology session (understand more info would be needed, i.e. cost, before making a firm commitment).

 

[DoomBuggyHitchhiker]

Stephen, looking forward to meeting you. I am sure we would all be interested in hearing about your experience on your first Disney cruise and your recommendations.

I don't have any exciting information to impart from my first Disney cruise. It was all a bit overwhelming (in a good way) as there was lots to do and experience. I had been wanting to go on a cruise (esp a Disney one) for years so actually being on one I was somewhat giddy most of the time. I was very lucky on my last cruise as I got partnered with some amazing table-mates for dinner. We spent the week laughing at ourselves and that was much fun. I am hoping that this cruise will be equally as enjoyable.

 

[valbob89]

This morning DCL posted a Southern California Residents discount. It is currently 25% and for their 2011 Mexican Rivera cruises. I am disappointed it is only for Southern Cal residents. For those of you in Southern California I would find out if you can get a discount on your cruise under this new offer.

 

[valbob89]

WOW!! I just priced our cruise for an oceanview room, category 9D. They ARE offerring the southern california residents discount and the price is as follows:

Category 9D with discount $876

without discount $1,169.

You lucky S Cal people really should look into getting this discount or at least an upgrade while you still qualify to cancel and rebook with no penalty. Wish we qualified.

Val

 

[Gr00vyChc]

This morning DCL posted a Southern California Residents discount. It is currently 25% and for their 2011 Mexican Rivera cruises. I am disappointed it is only for Southern Cal residents. For those of you in Southern California I would find out if you can get a discount on your cruise under this new offer.

Hi everyone! We just booked our cruise this morning.... Better late than never We booked ours through Costco and wasn't aware of the DCL discount.

This is only our 2nd Disney Cruise... But we're super excited to go during Halloween! Will your kids (or parents) be in Halloween costumes? What are the some of the activities on board for Halloween?

 

[valbob89]

Hi everyone! We just booked our cruise this morning.... Better late than never We booked ours through Costco and wasn't aware of the DCL discount.

This is only our 2nd Disney Cruise... But we're super excited to go during Halloween! Will your kids (or parents) be in Halloween costumes? What are the some of the activities on board for Halloween?

Welcome, glad you are joining us. Bob & I, Valerie, are looking forward to this our 7th DCL cruise. We live in San Francisco.

This isn't a large group, at least not yet. We have agreed that some of us want to do the FE exchange. There is a link on posting 158 if you wish to add your cabin to the roll call. You can indicate if you want to be a part of the FE or not. There is a list of things we could consider doing on posting 160. You might have some other ideas we would be glad to hear. On the roll call we are also tracking those who might be interested in doing a mixology session.

Look forward to hearing about your past cruises and ideas you have to help with planning a great cruise.

 

[Gr00vyChc]

Thanks Val! I looked into the 25% off but we're sticking with our kids sail free discount coz of the verandah

We've sailed once before on the Magic - Eastern itinerary and loved it! We would love to cruise with Disney every year.... But there are so many other vacations to go to We spent 3 weeks in Europe last summer and decided against going on the DCL med cruise coz we wanted to spend longer days in different cities.

Anyway, it seems like Mexican Riviera cruises aren't that popular or else they wouldn't be giving up so many promos? I hope they upgrade us to a regular verandah, we currently have a navigator's

 

[valbob89]

Thanks Val! I looked into the 25% off but we're sticking with our kids sail free discount coz of the verandah

We've sailed once before on the Magic - Eastern itinerary and loved it! We would love to cruise with Disney every year.... But there are so many other vacations to go to We spent 3 weeks in Europe last summer and decided against going on the DCL med cruise coz we wanted to spend longer days in different cities.

Anyway, it seems like Mexican Riviera cruises aren't that popular or else they wouldn't be giving up so many promos? I hope they upgrade us to a regular verandah, we currently have a navigator's

We've done the navigator's and it was fine. How they decide to upgrade is one of the great mysteries of life. It is usual GTY that get upgraded.

I think many people are concerned about going anywhere in Mexico due to the potential violence. Princess cruise line has announced they won't be going to PV. I don't worry to much about the violence issue in part because it is fine with me if we don't even get off the ship. We did the WBTA last year and agree with you that you need to spend more then a few hours in a place to see it. We spent 5 days in Barcelona before the cruise and didn't get to see near everything.

How many children do you have and what are their ages? I haven't been on a cruise over Haloween but from what I read there may be a costume parade and candy give away. They may do a little decorating but not much. It is not like Christmas were they go all out.

 

[Gr00vyChc]

On our last Disney Cruise, we also had a disgroup going. A bunch of us moms agreed to bring some goodies for the kids, and the 2nd day of the cruise we all got together to make each child a goody bag, booked a lunch together and gave them away during lunch. The kids were so happy to receive them. We stuffed pirate earrings, eye patch, tops, some candy, etc (something that you could buy in bulk). Even though we didn't spend all of our time with the disboard group, it was nice to see them around the ship and that you know there's always a friendly smile or wave coming your way when you see them.

Someone also made tags for all of us in the group that we attached with our DCL lanyards which was very cool. Someone made door magnets and even made a special magnet for my daughter who turned 4 while aboard the ship.

All this was + of course Disney magic made our cruise fantastic!

I have a feeling that we'll have another WONDERful experience this time around