Question for FIRST TIME Cruisers Only

[taswira]

Of those of you who are about to embark on your FIRST Disney cruise, are there any of you who booked your cruise without having (and reading) a DCL brochure?

 

[pjpoohbear]

I went on the pin trading cruise in May, and the only thing I had seen was the video and the information on the website.

Saw the special sailing info for the pin cruise and called the same day to book, lol.

Still have not seen a DCL brochure, and the second cruise is booked, but I did send away for it last week.

 

[lpursell]

I have booked a Western for next January and have not seen a brochure yet. My TA has ordered some but they're not here yet. I booked by looking at Disney.com and this discussion board!

 

[taswira]

Thanks, pjpoohbear! My curiosity stems from so many questions posted that are clearly and thoroughly answered in the brochures. Of course, the brochures don't give all the "inside info" of the DIS , and I think ANYONE cruising DCL should get the "inside scoop" here! But as a p/t TA, I <I>always</I> make sure my clients have read the brochure before they book, so they'll know what they're getting. The DCL video is a good sales/promo tool, but doesn't provide the detailed info. If someone takes the time to work their way through the entire DCL website, they'll have all the info as well. Anyway, my question is not meant to dissuade anyone from inquiries (<I>There ARE no stupid questions</I>!), but I appreciate input on the "brochure or no brochure" issue. Thanks!

 

[taswira]

And thank you, lpursell! - and EVERYONE who answers my unusual question.

 

[Deniseibase]

We booked before we saw a brochure, too. Read the website thoroughly tho. Don't know how much difference it would have made to have a brochure because we are pretty much first time travelers (I've been on a plane once, DH and DD never, none of us have ever cruised or used a travel agency before) so EVERYTHING is so new and there is SOOOOO much info to absorb that I would be on here asking questions that the answers were already in the brochure anyway After all, a lot of the time the brochure info isn't quite up to date or the 'official' brochure version and what veteran cruisers will tell you will vary somewhat!! Also sometimes you want more detail about how things work than what is in the brochure. Some of us first-timers are just really nervous and want our hand held a lot!!

Denise

 

[my3kids]

After reading the brochure so carefully, I found several errors on the information provided on the website! I emailed the discrepancies. Not sure if they ever changed the information.

But yes....the brochure was thoroughly studied prior to booking a trip.

 

[Doctor P]

I actually studied three iterations of the brochure for about two years, watched the video a couple times, and came to this boards (and various links from it) for several months before booking our cruise last week. Amazingly, the web information and brochures really were helpful only for limited purposes prior to booking. I really needed the DCL brochure for choosing a stateroom (and keeping a map of all the decks available on a single page), needed these boards to pick the location of the stateroom, needed these boards to pick the late seating time, and needed all the information I could gather to pick the 7 day cruise and the Western itinerary. As we move into booking the excursions and planning out other aspects of the trip, the boards and links will also be exceedingly important.

 

[Dopey & Grumpy]

I thoroughly investigated the brochure, books, video, web site - anything I could get my hands on before I booked the Disney Cruise. I still wasn't convinced the prices were worth it but then I got a great deal booking way in advance for the end of September and couldn't pass it up. Also got the "secret" porthole room which I would never had known about if I hadn't read this board. After that, I convinced my son to take his wife and family and go with us on another fall cruise (Oct. 2003). Great rates and secret porthole connecting rooms. I always read everything I can before I actually put money down on one of our yearly vacations.

 

[aseafish]

We've watched the video, read the brochures--again and again--and talked a lot with my sister who loves DCL. I wondered the same thing about many questions. Disney's site has most of the answers, too. I am sure I have asked questions that have been asnwered repeatedly myself. I do try to check previous posts to see if they've been covered.

 

[taswira]

Thanks, all! I think the <I>latest</I> brochure (or going through every page of the DCL website) is the best "foundation" for "official" info on DCL due to the deck plans, FAQ's, general info, photos (to see the attire and "atmosphere" they are trying to create ), etc. Sure, there are a few errors, but no more than in the "Passport to Magic" or "...Wonder" they provide with your docs, and <I>certainly</I> not as many as in <I>some</I> of the posts on this board (Notice - I said <B>some</B>, not the majority, folks ). That's because things change as with anything. <B>THE DIS IS A MUST</B> in order to be informed (such as the recent stateroom reclassification)! However, as the moderators and others will point out, <I>a lot</I> of what is on the DIS, since it is a message board, is just everyone's different opinions, which should not <I>always</I> be taken as fact. The DCL brochure and website is the "official" word on what they expect you to wear, what you can and can not bring, etc. - - BASIC stuff. JMHO, but since I insist my clients have DCL's facts first and then I direct them to the DIS for the "inside scoop" so they'll have the official info plus the latest word from recent cruisers, I was curious about how many other TA's do that. Apparently not many, from responses I've had elsewhere. But I appreciate the input. Thanks everyone!

 

[newbycruiser]

I did not read a brochure, my friend was going and it sounded like fun...duh.

I was then given Disney's brochure, and read it, but there's so much information and the print is so fine. I went to the Disney web site, but the information that was the most beneficial was the Dis boards and the web sites that I found out about on here (Dave's, Barb and Tony's). I'm sure your clients aren't stupid, but who wants to read all that? Go surf the web for what you need to know, that's where the answers to your questions are!

hope this helps

 

[mcnuss]

I confess that I did not get the brochure until after we had booked. By then, I had seen the video and found these boards. The only reason I wanted it was to read the "fine print" before we paid in full.

 

[aseafish]

You're joking, right?

who wants to read all that? Go surf the web for what you need to know, that's where the answers to your questions are!

I love reading everything I can get my hands on about the cruise, including the boards. That's how many of us manage the wait, I'm sure.

 

[ZooMommy]

I stumbled across this board, got hooked and booked our cruise while reading the brochure at my TA's office! Our family are certified Disney-holics and our best vacations have been at WDW. We figured since it's Disney, it had to be good and certainly family-oriented! Our TA was out of the video when we booked, but she ordered it for us and we received it about a week later. For my kids (especially our 6yo DS), the video was great, because he doesn't go anywhere easily unless he's had an opportunity to scope things out in detail (read: I have to peel him off if he's going somewhere new....sigh....he got that from me! LOL) I have to admit, though, after the zillionth time of watching the video, I was sick of the ship before we ever got there!

 

[taswira]

Originally posted by newbycruiser
Go surf the web for what you need to know, that's where the answers to your questions are! hope this helps

Thanks! As I said, it is interesting to hear all sides - those who read everything they can get their hands on and those who just surf the web and grab info. There are some GREAT sites out there, but there are also some not-so-great (read: unreliable, full of misinformation) sites. I think <I>some</I> newbies might not be able to tell the difference. And in the end, it is that fine print from DCL that it all comes down to. I would never tell anyone, "<I>Read the brochure and then book the cruise</I>." I have them read the brochure, view the video, visit DCL's website, then head for the DIS to get more info and a real "feel" for what cruising DCL is like. All that may seem like "a lot of work," but when it will fully acquaint them with all aspects (including facts and opinions) of their cruise, I think (and so far they all seem to think) it is worth their time and effort.

 

[aseafish]

I have to admit, though, after the zillionth time of watching the video, I was sick of the ship before we ever got there!

I have watched that video a LOT, myself. Hadn't considered the sick of it concept prior to this. Yikes!

 

[DisneyLisa]

I'm about to book our first cruise. I've been a member of the DIS for a while so started reading the Cruise board last week. But the first thing I did before checking into anything was get the Brochure. I've since read every web site I could find and think I'm about ready to book it.

I have to admit though, that reading a lot of the web information has me a little nervous about doing a 7-day cruise. It sounds so complicated to make reservations/excursions/transportation etc. that I've decided we will definitely do the 3 day first. And if we like it we'll do a 7-day later.

 

[ZooMommy]

Originally posted by DisneyLisa
I have to admit though, that reading a lot of the web information has me a little nervous about doing a 7-day cruise. It sounds so complicated to make reservations/excursions/transportation etc. that I've decided we will definitely do the 3 day first. And if we like it we'll do a 7-day later.

Oh no, DisneyLisa, PLEASE don't be nervous about the 7 day cruise!!! Yes, there is a LOT of information and I'll admit, it overwhelmed me (my DH is the detail person, not me! LOL) but please don't let that deter you from the 7 day! For our family, the 3 day wouldn't be long enough (we like having at least one day at sea) It's really not complicated to make the reservations for anything. Let your TA handle all that! Although we did book our own excursions thru DCL once we got to the 60-days before.

I printed out this booklet from Deb's Unofficial WDW site.... www.wdwig.com/cruise.htm Look on the left for the link to the Magical Disney Cruise Guide. This booklet was a TREMENDOUS help to us and I'm sure it will be for you, too. Whichever cruise you decide on, I know it will be GREAT for you!

 

[DisneyLisa]

Thanks ZooMommy....I already printed that book and that's basically the one that made it all sound so confusing . It makes the cruise sound so crowded & hectic and I have to admit, I'm still not sure if a cruise is for us.

As of right now, we're probably going to start with the three day cruise added on to a week at WDW. To be truthful, I think for a 7-day cruise I'd prefer some additional company than just DD (maybe DH - he's not interested in WDW (only was when the kids were young) but he loves scuba diving). But this trip wll be our annual Mother/Daughter Disney Trip.

One question I have though is: I know the adult pool & beach at CC is for ages 18 & over but would anyone give us a hard time if we went there (DD will be 15)...I love children (I have 3 of my own) but there are times when we're on vacation when we (DD included) like a more peaceful setting. Would this be a problem (she could probably pass for near 18 anyway ?

Thanks.