Sept 10 2009 "Wonder-ful" Cruise

[Evan&Kimberly]

Since our numbers on this thread are so small (quality not quantity) we could do a meet before the sailaway party if folks are interested.

BTW, we got upgraded from a 12 to 10

Congrtaz on your upgrade, well if we are not going to do the FE, maybe we can wear a certain color and have a meet and greet!

 

[kcashner]

The "standard" dis-meets are at 3 or 3:15. Locations vary--Promenade Lounge or by the Goofy pool are common places. However, on the 3 day, that time will interfere with the shopping talk if anyone is planning on that.

Our last cruise had 2 meets--11:15 in the terminal and 3 on the ship. The obvious problem is that not everyone gets to the terminal and checked in that early.

Guess we're open to suggestions.

 

[CrystalS]

Oh man, how come other cat 12gty'ers got upgraded to cat9's, but we only got up to 11? lol

Did anyone get called about a paid upgrade first? We did and said no thanks, maybe thats why? hmmm

 

[CrystalS]

Not sure if we'll have "time" for an actual meet. Since its a 3-day I don't want to stop my family from getting the most "boat/activities" they can squeeze in, lol.
But I'd love for a quick terminal meet n greet if everyones up to it. We're trying to be there by 10am or so. I'm trying to find some matching shirts for our group. If I find some I'll post what they look like so you can all find us, lol.

 

[kcashner]

We're doing this cruise on the bounceback offer. The deal is that you get the same category as you had on the sailing that got you the certificate.

OK, in Feb. I BOUGHT an upgrade at the port from a 12 to a 5. Didn't know how they'd handle it for this cruise, but we are getting a 5 on the bounceback as well....or maybe it's a 6, I'm not sure. In any event, we got a balcony. They said that because I bought the upgrade, I'd get it for the bounceback; if I had been given a pixie dust upgrade, I would have had the 12 for this cruise. Best upgrade I ever bought!!!!

I may just hang out on my balcony and enjoy the ocean breezes for 2 1/2 days!

 

[Evan&Kimberly]

Do you think they will offer this cruise a bounce back?

 

[Evan&Kimberly]

Oh man, how come other cat 12gty'ers got upgraded to cat9's, but we only got up to 11? lol

Did anyone get called about a paid upgrade first? We did and said no thanks, maybe thats why? hmmm

Hey I called DCL the other day, cause I saw people on here that got their room assignments so I wanted to check mine and she was like you have been upgraded to A category 9, me and Evan prayed before we called DCL! and we got us a big window!!!

 

[crewsin250]

Maybe, this is just a thought we could do a M&G for those who want to attend and the ones with kids could still do the FE and I would do my part to make sure they all had something in there FE before the cruise was over.

I think 2:30 at one of the locations listed in a past post would be great and the folks that are going to hang a FE please post your cabin # and everyone who would be interested in droping something in them for the kids could do so.

Hope evryone had a great weekend.

Paul

 

[kcashner]

OK, this is a thought... We are 2 people staying at the POP for a few days before the cruise. Is anyone out there interested in sharing a rental car or limo to the port?

I don't mind the $70 to get 2 of us to the port, but don't want to arrive at 2 pm. Rental cars from WDW are a lot more than from MCO....etc. I have a back up plan if it's just the 2 of us, but if another family is interested, we'd be delighted to share!

 

[tiggerguy2000]

Since our numbers on this thread are so small (quality not quantity) we could do a meet before the sailaway party if folks are interested.

BTW, we got upgraded from a 12 to 10

Annette,I guess booking a gty room is the way to go.I was wondering what happens and what the strategy is in getting a good upgrade.With my luck they would call me and say they want more money to just keep the room I booked.I was looking at a 7 day that both cat 6 and 5 are GTY so I was going to book the cat 6 with thoughts they woul give me a cat 4.What are your thoughts on this and say hello to amanda for us.

tiggerguy(Billy) & tiggersgal(Terry)
Hung out together on the 07 DVC Cruise

 

[kcashner]

DCL has a policy which is now being strictly enforced that you won't get a FREE upgrade of more than 3 categories. If you book a 12, the highest you could sail in is theoretically a 9. In the past there have been reports of incredible upgrades, but a CM told us that they are following the policy very strictly now.

Yes, you odds of an upgrade are greatest if you book a gty, and if you book a lower cabin. If you've booked a 12, there are 800+ cabins you COULD be upgraded to. If you booked a 2, there are only 2 nicer cabins than what you already have. They're having a hard time selling cat 4s, so those are going as upgrades quite frequently these days....good luck!

Upgrades recently have been a lot more common than in past years....this will probably stop as the economy improves.

 

[sabrecmc]

Interesting about the upgrades. We're in a cat 9 and I would love some pixie dust, but I'd be happy with our cat 9 as well. It was a good deal through DU, so I can't complain. This is our first trip though. If they'd bump us to a cat 4, I'd probably never be able to stay in anything else! Come on, Disney! A little pixie dust now=more money for Disney later! Its only 3 nights though...I don't know that I would really want to pay much of anything to upgrade.

 

[acourtwdw]

Annette,I guess booking a gty room is the way to go.I was wondering what happens and what the strategy is in getting a good upgrade.With my luck they would call me and say they want more money to just keep the room I booked.I was looking at a 7 day that both cat 6 and 5 are GTY so I was going to book the cat 6 with thoughts they woul give me a cat 4.What are your thoughts on this and say hello to amanda for us.

tiggerguy(Billy) & tiggersgal(Terry)
Hung out together on the 07 DVC Cruise

Hey

I say book what category that you will be happy in and then try some pixie dust The only difference between cat 5 & 6 is the floor that they are on. I say go with the gty 6. We had a gty 6 in 2002 and it was the best room we have ever had. It was at the very end of the ship so it was very quiet.
Tell Terry hi from me

 

[LisaRN97]

OK, this is a thought... We are 2 people staying at the POP for a few days before the cruise. Is anyone out there interested in sharing a rental car or limo to the port?

I don't mind the $70 to get 2 of us to the port, but don't want to arrive at 2 pm. Rental cars from WDW are a lot more than from MCO....etc. I have a back up plan if it's just the 2 of us, but if another family is interested, we'd be delighted to share!

We are staying at WDW prior as well, but unfortunatley I went ahead and paid for ME. I looked into getting a rental, but it would be very close to what the cost is for ME as we need a car for 4 and two booster seats for our girls. Then the time to run and pick up and drop off the car....

Sorry!

 

[LisaRN97]

It is nice to see all the upgrades everyone is getting!! Congratulations! I don't think we are eligible for any as our cruise was an incentive for joining DVC.....that is probably why we have had our stateroom # since June! Just a few more weeks!!!

 

[kcashner]

We are staying at WDW prior as well, but unfortunatley I went ahead and paid for ME. I looked into getting a rental, but it would be very close to what the cost is for ME as we need a car for 4 and two booster seats for our girls. Then the time to run and pick up and drop off the car....

Sorry!

Just a note on terms in order to avoid confusion (not trying to be picky, but people DO get confused.)

Magical Express is a free service that runs between MCO and any WDW resort. It does not go to Port Canaveral at all.

DCL transfers are a paid transportation between MCO and Port Canaveral or select WDW hotels and Port Canaveral. You booked DCL transfers for your trip to the port. You are probably using ME to get from the airport to WDW.

 

[LisaRN97]

Just a note on terms in order to avoid confusion (not trying to be picky, but people DO get confused.)

Magical Express is a free service that runs between MCO and any WDW resort. It does not go to Port Canaveral at all.

DCL transfers are a paid transportation between MCO and Port Canaveral or select WDW hotels and Port Canaveral. You booked DCL transfers for your trip to the port. You are probably using ME to get from the airport to WDW.

Yes, you are correct and thank you for the reminder

We are using ME to get to WDW from MCO and paid for DCL transfer from WDW to the port....can you tell this is our first trip home as a family??

 

[acourtwdw]

Lisa,

We are staying at BLT the night before the cruise and BCV after. When will you be at BLT? I can't wait to see it

 

[LisaRN97]

Lisa,

We are staying at BLT the night before the cruise and BCV after. When will you be at BLT? I can't wait to see it

We are staying at BLT the 7th through the 10th. We are looking forward to a few days at MK then a few more resting on the cruise!!

Perhaps our paths will cross? Viewing wishes from the lounge or on the DCL bus? I'll be the one chasing after two little girls going crazy!!

 

[kcashner]

I just read that Christiaan is scheduled to be our Cruise Director on the ship. This info is from another guest and I can't verify it as accurate, but...if he is, we are very fortunate. He is totally THE BEST!