PS/cruise dilemma! Help/advice needed!

[PattiPB]

We are coming up on the 90-day mark for the beginning of 10 days at WDW. My group of 11 people have two "must-do's" on their list. Of course, they have to be the hardest two things to snag!

My question is which is harder and/or which should I try first. I've already told them I get them for whatever days I can, and we plan around them.

They are CRT and an Illuminations cruise. So...I need suggestions for which I should concentrate on first.

Please keep in mind I'm on the west coast, so every PS attempt is a 4 am event for me! The other people are relatively Disney-illiterate, and I can't trust them to get either of these done. It's just me, DH, and our telephones.

 

[mom2cinderella]

There are four pontoon boats, and (I thought I read) 126 tables available for Cinderella's....so I guess I'd try for the cruise first. Or maybe you could use one phone to try for the cruise and your dh could use another one for CRT?

Just make sure you do a trial run a day or two before so you know what prompts there are, and do NOT go the route where you have to enter your home phone # - that wastes valuable time!

Good Luck! With 10 days available, I bet you'll get what you want!

Pixie Dust -

Michele

 

[RLewis]

the cruise will be much harder to get. Note that you should call first and see if they allow 11 people on one boat.

Nor will you likely get a table for 11 at CRT (you should call first).

I suggest also that you try the Wishes curise. there are many more boats and you have a better chance at getting it. It's not quite the same experience, but still special.

 

[eblondie]

If there are children in your party then you can have 12 on your pontoon boat.
Good luck

 

[eblondie]

As there are over 8 of you in your party you could also have a magical grand gathering - we went on a pirates cruise with other DIS members - you get to view the water pagent and the MK fireworks.

 

[PattiPB]

Thank you all for the PD!

I didn't include a lot of details, sorry! The cruise is 6 adults, 2 teens and 3 kids. Cindy's will be 3 adults and 2 kids (all the females of the gang!)

I'm going to hit it hard for the cruise, and I think I'll try for a max of 5 days. If I don't get it by then, I'll give up and go for the breakfast instead.

We'd really prefer the Illuminations cruise, so keep sprinkling the PD!

We are renting a house off property, so the MG is out. That had been my first intention, but I got outvoted!!!!!

 

[B'rer Karen]

Do you have a cell phone? Is DH willing to help? If so I say one person use the land line, one use the cell phone and you try for the cruise and he tries for CRT. That way you have 10 days to try for each one, not just 5 and 5. And if DH isn't willing to help and neither is anyone else, then I say only try for the one you want. Since these are everyone's "must-dos" everyone should be willing to help (although I guess I could let the kids slide )

 

[MINNIEBOWSER]

GOOD LUCK!!! It took me 3 mornings to get an Illuminations cruise, but I DID get it. YEAH!!! I did go the route with the phone #, I did not know that there was another way. I started dialing at 6:58 a.m. and kept pressing redial. When I finally got through, I had my numbers written down on a piece of paper so I would not forget them because I was nervous. I did not wait to hear the full instuctions, I just pressed 4, waited a second for the next prompt, 2 waited a second, my phone number with a # after it, then a 1, and another 1. I waited on hold for about 3 minutes thinking that I was not going to get it because I was on hold for too long. Then I quickly said , when she answered, "I need a specialty cruise at 8:00 p.m. on (the date I wanted)". When she said it was available I was soooo excited! Good Luck!
And if you do not get CRT, there is always a Cinderalla dinner at 1900 Park Fare which is very good.

 

[LJC1861]

I also suggest several trial runs for the Illuminations Cruise. Also, and this is crucial......ask them what time they have on their official clock. That is the one they go by, not yours. What may be 7:00 on your clock might not be on theirs and you might lose out. Also, as a previous poster suggested, write down the prompt numbers so you don't have to wait for them to stop speaking. That wastes valuable time. Good Luck!!!

Linda

 

[PattiPB]

Thank you all! I can't concentrate on my upcoming trip because I'm focused on getting these two PS's!!! LOL!!! September trip is a relaxed one---not a single PS!

I know I should delegate---but I can't! I really don't think I'm a control freak, but anytime I talk Disney with my family, they get this faraway gaze and I know they are thinking of commitment---me to a rubber room, not my commitment to making a great vacation!!!

Thanks again! I'm warming up the cell phones and practicing this week.

 

[georgina]

I got through for an Illuminations cruise when I called on a Sunday morning. I think fewer people are up that early on a Sunday. Also remember that people do cancel both cruises and CRT reservations, so if you don't get through 90 days out, try back periodically and you may get lucky.

 

[BethC1952]

Hi, PattiPB! Nice to see you here, to, and not just on our cruise thread!

Good luck with getting your Illuminations Cruise! We're also attempting an Illuminations Cruise for that week for a party of nine (I think). We did one last year, and had a great time. Our agent at DU said she would take care of the attempt to get the cruise. For us, it's not an absolute "must do" because we know there's always the next trip (which will be in the early spring, I think).

We're also not interested in CRT (or any other character meals), but DS and his family and their friends are going to the Hoop De Do.

Beth

 

[PattiPB]

I thought my CRT scramble days were over, but my niece has never been and it is her one "must do". She is 15 years old!!!!! So I'm just trying to get that one for the women, hopefully I'll have luck.