Sept 20,2011 Wonder Repositioning Cruise

[dee bee]

Thanks for the welcome. We haven't firmed up the Vancouver stay yet. I am on the wait list for the Worldmark there. If that doesn't come through, I will hope to find something near the port.

 

[missj1975]

We would also like to sign up for the Fish Extender gift exchange. It sounds so fun but I do need more details...

Thanks,
Steve and Denise
Room #7620

Yeah, I will add you to the list.

Details? Do you mean how the gift exchange works? I think there is a post in the beginning of the thread explaining it but I can't remember what page so here is a quick summary...

There will be a metal fish clip outside your cabin door. You can hang a bag or a handmade fish extender (can be purchased on ebay) on the fish. Everyone then will come around sometime during the cruise and deposit surprise gifts in your FE. You in turn will go around and give everyone a gift sometime during the cruise.

There are no set rules on the gifts but generally everyone does handmade gifts or relatively inexpensive but thoughtful gifts. The gift exchange just makes the cruise extra special and gives you something to look forward to every time you return to your cabin.

In my signature I have a link to my last two cruise trip reports. My reports include pictures of FEs and different type of gifts

 

[dee bee]

Yeah, I will add you to the list.

Details? Do you mean how the gift exchange works? I think there is a post in the beginning of the thread explaining it but I can't remember what page so here is a quick summary...

There will be a metal fish clip outside your cabin door. You can hang a bag or a handmade fish extender (can be purchased on ebay) on the fish. Everyone then will come around sometime during the cruise and deposit surprise gifts in your FE. You in turn will go around and give everyone a gift sometime during the cruise.

There are no set rules on the gifts but generally everyone does handmade gifts or relatively inexpensive but thoughtful gifts. The gift exchange just makes the cruise extra special and gives you something to look forward to every time you return to your cabin.

In my signature I have a link to my last two cruise trip reports. My reports include pictures of FEs and different type of gifts

Thanks for the info...I will start shopping for our fish extender.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Any bug that bites me deserves everything he gets...

I have a serious question (yeah, it's possible...) for the veteran cruisers.

Have you had any issues with Customs when returning to the US? I'm thinking specifically about cameras and other expensive electronics you take with you on the trip. I'm planning on a DSLR camera with three lenses, flash and assorted accessories, a compact camera, a netbook computer, a two-way radio, and a GPS unit.

The CBP website says I could be charged duty on the items when returning, but it's possible to execute a Form 4457 and register the items before I leave the country. It just means I have to cart the entire load down to a Customs office so they can verify I really did have the items in my possession.

In all my years of traveling in Mexico and Costa Rica, I always took lots of camera stuff with me and never had an issue getting it back into the country. Because I haven't been out of the country since 1995, I don't know if Customs has become stricter about things like this in the post-9/11 world.

WOW - i have never had any problems ever & i always have my Nikon DSLR, 2 lenses, a laptop, an Ipad & Iphone....i AM NOT bringing my laptop this trip though - lol!!!!

Hi everyone - We booked this cruise a few months ago and I am excited that I just found this forum. I have already read lots of useful information on this site.

This is the first Disney cruise for us (my husband and I) but we have taken several other cruises in the past. We will be taking the Amtrak Cascades from Vancouver, Washington to Vancouver, BC arriving on Monday, September 19th. After the cruise we will be visiting Disneyland for four days and staying at the Worldmark in Anaheim.

We will need a shuttle to our hotel in Anaheim and just booked one today for $95 for the two of us. That seems pretty high and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on getting a better deal for a shuttle. Would a taxi be a better bet?

The cruise is getting closer...I can't wait!

Did you book with Super Shuttle??? they are pretty reasonable and it's a charge per person - they can take 7 to 9 ppl...you might even find a few other ppl on this cruise to share a van to Anaheim - we are going to Anaheim but need to go from the port to LAX to pick up a rental car first

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Thanks Crystal for the links to the .png images

 

[missj1975]

Any bug that bites me deserves everything he gets...

I have a serious question (yeah, it's possible...) for the veteran cruisers.

Have you had any issues with Customs when returning to the US? I'm thinking specifically about cameras and other expensive electronics you take with you on the trip. I'm planning on a DSLR camera with three lenses, flash and assorted accessories, a compact camera, a netbook computer, a two-way radio, and a GPS unit.

The CBP website says I could be charged duty on the items when returning, but it's possible to execute a Form 4457 and register the items before I leave the country. It just means I have to cart the entire load down to a Customs office so they can verify I really did have the items in my possession.

In all my years of traveling in Mexico and Costa Rica, I always took lots of camera stuff with me and never had an issue getting it back into the country. Because I haven't been out of the country since 1995, I don't know if Customs has become stricter about things like this in the post-9/11 world.

Hmmm, I've never heard of that issue. I thought you only had to pay duty on purchases while on the cruise. Before you leave the cruise ship you will fill out a customs form of all your purchases.

I've breezed through customs twice now with tons of expensive items purchased before the cruise and purchased during the cruise. I think you would only have an issue if customs decided to actually search you and thought you bought your camera items during the cruise and were trying to avoid paying taxes.

I noticed you said you cart around a GPS unit. Are you a geocacher?

 

[Jule]

Who else is doing Disneyland after the cruise and how many days?

Me and my mum are going to Disneyland after the cruise. Were booked on the Disney Shuttle and were staying at the Grand Californian. Were staying for 4 days.

In Vancouver were staying at the one of the Best Western Hotels on Drake Street.

 

[MsRobbieA]

The one thing I gave was a book on the Hidden Mickeys on the DCL ships and it was well received.

Question: What is a Hidden Mickey? (my dh says it is whiskey . He just doesnt get it - does he?)

Would this make a good challenge for the cabin?

 

[MsRobbieA]

Thanks for the welcome. We haven't firmed up the Vancouver stay yet. I am on the wait list for the Worldmark there. If that doesn't come through, I will hope to find something near the port.

Welcome Steve and Denise -

Worldmark isnt that far from the port. From reading other posts looks like a number are staying at the Pan Pacific which is right at the port.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Question: What is a Hidden Mickey? (my dh says it is whiskey . He just doesnt get it - does he?)

Would this make a good challenge for the cabin?

Hidden Mickey's are Mickey Icons that are subtlety placed in / on items around the ship - some are really easy to spot....other's not so much...yes could be a great activity for your group...see who finds the majority of them by end of the trip....

 

[GrumpyGoat]

Hmmm, I've never heard of that issue. I thought you only had to pay duty on purchases while on the cruise. Before you leave the cruise ship you will fill out a customs form of all your purchases.

I've breezed through customs twice now with tons of expensive items purchased before the cruise and purchased during the cruise. I think you would only have an issue if customs decided to actually search you and thought you bought your camera items during the cruise and were trying to avoid paying taxes.

I noticed you said you cart around a GPS unit. Are you a geocacher?

Unless you have the appropriate receipts, customs could assume you purchased your cameras while outside the country and require you to pay duty on them. They say as much on their website.

Again, in all my years traveling in Mexico and as far south as Costa Rica, I never had an issue with customs over my cameras either, but there's always the possibility you get the inspector that has had a bad day and takes it out on everyone through their station.

I may go ahead and do the registration process just to be on the safe side. I'm not sure I could find all the receipts for my gear, especially since a lot of it was purchased from individuals, rather than a store.

The primary reason I carry a GPS is that I can encode location information into my images that will show where the picture was taken when I upload it to my website. I also like to know where I am most of the time. This stems from being a navigation specialist in the Navy, before they sent me off to learn how to use one of these:

I've done some geocaching, but it's not something I do on a regular basis.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Unless you have the appropriate receipts, customs could assume you purchased your cameras while outside the country and require you to pay duty on them. They say as much on their website.

Again, in all my years traveling in Mexico and as far south as Costa Rica, I never had an issue with customs over my cameras either, but there's always the possibility you get the inspector that has had a bad day and takes it out on everyone through their station.

I may go ahead and do the registration process just to be on the safe side. I'm not sure I could find all the receipts for my gear, especially since a lot of it was purchased from individuals, rather than a store.

The primary reason I carry a GPS is that I can encode location information into my images that will show where the picture was taken when I upload it to my website. I also like to know where I am most of the time. This stems from being a navigation specialist in the Navy, before they sent me off to learn how to use one of these:

I've done some geocaching, but it's not something I do on a regular basis.

WOW - that's quite the "gear".....can't imagine that was easy to get around in....

 

[tinker1bell]

Question: What is a Hidden Mickey? (my dh says it is whiskey . He just doesnt get it - does he?)
Would this make a good challenge for the cabin?

Here is the website of the Hidden Mickey Guy ,,,, Steve Barrett

http://www.hiddenmickeysguide.com/home.php

I love looking for Hidden Mickeys

 

[sanjuan60]

We're going to Disneyland after the cruise. We're taking the Disney Cruise bus to the Grand Californian. That way we don't have to struggle with our luggage. Woo!

And we are also taking the Sapphire Princess to Vancouver. It will be my birthday so I'm really excited. My first time cruising with Princess. The love boat.

steffy-what is the disney cruise BUS? I have not heard of that.

by the way , I 'm also taking the sapphire princess on the one day up to vancouver.
we should meet up on the sapphire. a kind of "pre disney" meet.
thanks.. s.

 

[tinker1bell]

steffy-what is the disney cruise BUS? I have not heard of that.

by the way , I 'm also taking the sapphire princess on the one day up to vancouver.
we should meet up on the sapphire. a kind of "pre disney" meet.
thanks.. s.

Depending which hotel you are staying at, you can use the DCL Cruise Bus, just like at WDW. The charge is $30 pp

 

[CADZNYCHC]

******IT is ONLY 49 DAYS to Sailaway!!!****** 46 days till we board the train!!! SO SO excited!!!

 

[sanjuan60]

In the FAQ section, I saw info on mailing a pkg to the disney cruise line warehouse for them to send onto the ship the day of sailing.
Has anyone heard of sending a pkg to disney warehouse so they could deliver to the ship (in Vancouver?) or is that just in orlando.?

I was thinking of the Fish Extender gifts/so I wouldn't have to carry so much? did anyone else on the FE list have this idea? how are you carrying your FE gifts?

 

[missj1975]

In the FAQ section, I saw info on mailing a pkg to the disney cruise line warehouse for them to send onto the ship the day of sailing.
Has anyone heard of sending a pkg to disney warehouse so they could deliver to the ship (in Vancouver?) or is that just in orlando.?

I was thinking of the Fish Extender gifts/so I wouldn't have to carry so much? did anyone else on the FE list have this idea? how are you carrying your FE gifts?

Hmmm, I've heard of people sending packages to Disney hotels but not the cruise line.

I purposely plan my FE gifts as smaller items so they don't take up too much space. I also make sure I have extra space in my suitcases for any gifts I receive. DH and I always bring two suitcases each so we have space for whatever stuff we buy. DH and I travel a lot so we are old pros in carting our luggage around.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

In the FAQ section, I saw info on mailing a pkg to the disney cruise line warehouse for them to send onto the ship the day of sailing.
Has anyone heard of sending a pkg to disney warehouse so they could deliver to the ship (in Vancouver?) or is that just in orlando.?

I was thinking of the Fish Extender gifts/so I wouldn't have to carry so much? did anyone else on the FE list have this idea? how are you carrying your FE gifts?

Yes it's definitely doable for DCL in Orlando, but i am not at all sure about sending them to Vancouver.....I will be at the Pan Pacific hotel from Sunday night on....it is right next to the harbor. If you would like to send them to the hotel to my attn, we could arrange to meet prior to boarding the ship & i could get them to you...

 

[CADZNYCHC]

I am sooooo bummed....i ordered my FE's this a.m. & just received an email back that says they cannot use our "Logo" as it breaks Copyright Laws....