Sept 20,2011 Wonder Repositioning Cruise

[M4travels]

I'm beginning to think Heather and I are coming from farthest away for this cruise. It's about 1400 miles for us. Anyone from further away?

We are coming from Gap, Columbia, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Central Mexico here!! We're about 3 hours north of Mexico City. We get to go through immigration twice, once in the states (MEX - PHX) and then Canadian immigration when we reach Vancouver! Oh joy!!

The packing started in earnest this weekend. Our carry-on bags have the formal attire (for the 2nd cruise) and sport coat and the packing cubes are in one-half of the checked luggage bags. Pirate get-up and other miscellaneous things will go in the other half, making sure there's space for the souvenirs from the rest of the trip (and those things we can't get down here!!!)

Ah, it's gonna be a busy week down here. Though we just got our first cold front for the season so we're not galavanting around town toooooooo much.

Michael

 

[rcchello]

I'm beginning to think Heather and I are coming from farthest away for this cruise. It's about 1400 miles for us. Anyone from further away?

I don't know about the guys from Mexico but NJ is about 2,990 mi away - at least via car. Also, I beleive I noticed someone is joining us from England which should be a bit farther.

 

[M4travels]

I don't know about the guys from Mexico but NJ is about 2,990 mi away - at least via car. Also, I beleive I noticed someone is joining us from England which should be a bit farther.

Hey, Bob!! You beat us by about 77 miles! 2913 for us! Though I'll raise you an extra immigration stop!

Michael

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Hi, Strawberry Brenda. Yes, everyone, please let's take a moment today to remember those who were lost this fateful day 10 years ago.

Brenda, I just wanted to pop over and wish you happy sailing. Look forward to hearing about your trip. See you on our thread when you all return.

i am sooo excited - it's FINALLY almost here! will def get you some updates when i return~ and see you on the 10/20 thread

 

[mommyto3princesses]

Just read this on the main board!

**************

and just got this note from Amtrak. Really didn't want to be on a bus but with less then a week and little desire to drive across the border I guess we will be on a bus. They are doing track work between Seattle and Vancouver. Paid extra for Business Class so we will get that money back.

Our records indicate that you are scheduled to depart on Amtrak number 0510 from Seattle-WASHINGTON at 7:40AM on Sunday September 18 and arriving in Vancouver-BRITISH-COLUMBIA-CANADA.
That schedule has been affected by scheduled track work. Alternate transportation is being provided over some or all of your route. To speak to an Amtrak representative about travel options call us at 8772319448 at your earliest convenience.

We apologize for any inconvenience and want to thank you for being a valued Amtrak customer.

Sincerely,
Amtrak

************
I just called Amtrak and they said our 7:40 train on 9/20 is still running. The runs after ours were transferred to a bus. I'm still nervous and will call daily.

Plains, trains, and cruise ships....here we come!


Congrats to Pam and Nate!!

 

[FergusBC]

Packing. Ugh. Thought I'd get a start this weekend and nearly got divorced instead ! So I guess we'll pack next weekend. I was hoping to use the kids rolling suitcases as carry ons but they measure just a bit over the max dimensions. Darn, they would have been perfect!

Got antsy about taking the ferry over on Tuesday morning. Too many delays & breakdowns in the news nowadays. So we booked a hotel for Monday night. I'm hoping to get away a couple of hours early from work on Monday but even so, it will be late when we get to the hotel (well, 8pm...but it'll feel late to me )

Still have to get my FE stuff organized. I pulled it all out on Sunday and realized I don't really have anything for the adults! Umm...Ooops? So off to look in stores today as well as scouting out a garment bag...and maybe a carryon or two...we're going to be broke before we even step on the ship

So after months of wishing time would move faster now I'm getting panicky that there's only EIGHT MORE SLEEPS!

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Packing. Ugh. Thought I'd get a start this weekend and nearly got divorced instead ! So I guess we'll pack next weekend. I was hoping to use the kids rolling suitcases as carry ons but they measure just a bit over the max dimensions. Darn, they would have been perfect!

Got antsy about taking the ferry over on Tuesday morning. Too many delays & breakdowns in the news nowadays. So we booked a hotel for Monday night. I'm hoping to get away a couple of hours early from work on Monday but even so, it will be late when we get to the hotel (well, 8pm...but it'll feel late to me )

Still have to get my FE stuff organized. I pulled it all out on Sunday and realized I don't really have anything for the adults! Umm...Ooops? So off to look in stores today as well as scouting out a garment bag...and maybe a carryon or two...we're going to be broke before we even step on the ship

So after months of wishing time would move faster now I'm getting panicky that there's only EIGHT MORE SLEEPS!

OH NO!!!!!! no divorces this close to a fabulous vacation!!!!!
only 5 more sleeps for us!! looking forward to just reading & chatting (not only with Teresa & Dianne, but also Heather & John) on the train (& maybe even partake in a drink or two so that i can feel like vacation has REALLY started)

 

[CrystalS]

I always bring my own hairdryer & an electrical strip as the outlets in the SR's are hard to use...especially if you have a lot of things to charge

You actually aren't supposed to bring hair dryers.... If Disney finds it they will confiscate it and hold it until you disembark. I have heard of people going to pick up items after their cruise and there was a table full of hair dryers, lol.

Not saying not to, just to be aware that they *might* find it and hold on to it

 

[CrystalS]

OH MY GOODNESS!
I'm starting to get a little stressed about packing, lol.

We are in single digits now and I have a couple FE items to sew up still and our FE's themselves! My mom is supposed to come by to watch the kids for a bit so I can whip them up without distractions, lol.

I've been worrying about what all needs to be packed and how it will be packed, and how much luggage we will have to tote around.
Also wondering how the parking is going to work out. We want to park at the Vancouver airports long term parking lot, and then take the skytrain to waterfront station near the port. But thinking would be best to drop off all but two people at the port, then those 2 people can take the can to the parking lot and come back to save on lugging stuff around and skytrain fare. Only problem is that none of us want to be the ones to find our way around vancouver, lol. We have a history of our googlemaps not taking us to the right places, and also parking in the wrong lots, lol. I'm guessing it will take an hour to get from port to airport and back....

oh the decisions we have to make... not liking this.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

You actually aren't supposed to bring hair dryers.... If Disney finds it they will confiscate it and hold it until you disembark. I have heard of people going to pick up items after their cruise and there was a table full of hair dryers, lol.

Not saying not to, just to be aware that they *might* find it and hold on to it

that's odd - i've brought my own all 4 trips & left it out....never had a problem & they are not on the "prohibited items" list that DCL has posted...here's all i found that you're not to bring under electical....

Electrical appliances such as rice cookers, hot plates, coffee makers, electric irons, bottle sterilizer and bottle warmers, etc. Please note: A limited number of approved bottle warmers and bottle sterilizers are available upon request through Guest Services. Also all ships offer laundry facilities with irons and ironing boards. Valet laundry service is also available for a nominal fee.


If they don't want us to bring something - they really should post that information....

 

[GrumpyGoat]

You actually aren't supposed to bring hair dryers.... If Disney finds it they will confiscate it and hold it until you disembark. I have heard of people going to pick up items after their cruise and there was a table full of hair dryers, lol.

Not saying not to, just to be aware that they *might* find it and hold on to it

I can understand them restricting personal appliances. The last thing you want on board ship is a fire. That just ruins everyone's day...

 

[chisafam]

Packing. Ugh. Thought I'd get a start this weekend and nearly got divorced instead ! So I guess we'll pack next weekend. I was hoping to use the kids rolling suitcases as carry ons but they measure just a bit over the max dimensions. Darn, they would have been perfect!


So after months of wishing time would move faster now I'm getting panicky that there's only EIGHT MORE SLEEPS!

Does it help to know my hubby and I got in a fight in the middle of Target this weekend over a box of bandaids for the trip? It's all gonna work out just fine.

 

[rosiep]

that's odd - i've brought my own all 4 trips & left it out....never had a problem & they are not on the "prohibited items" list that DCL has posted...here's all i found that you're not to bring under electical....

I brought a hair straightener with me last time and was ok.
On the subject of packing: I need to buy a large suitcase for Tara. Her old one has a wonky wheel and I dread dragging it through customs. Went to borrow my older daughter's suitcase and her husband bumped theirs down a flight of stairs and bent the wheels as well!!

 

[GrumpyGoat]

Does it help to know my hubby and I got in a fight in the middle of Target this weekend over a box of bandaids for the trip? It's all gonna work out just fine.

Heather and I have had a couple of "discussions" about what to bring. I find it's easier to just give in...

 

[chisafam]

Anyone know anything about the Ramada? We're staying there Monday night, and see that it's close to the terminal. But what does "close" mean with a suitcase and two kids? Anyone walked from there to the dock, or is a taxi a better idea?

And our boarding time is at 12:30. Can we get there earlier and stand in line, or is 12:30 the hard time? Never boarded a cruise boat before, not sure of the process. Just seven days and a wake up!

 

[Capn Jack Savvy]

Just some questions regarding boarding and the stateroom closets / storage.

We have finally received our boarding docs from the travel agency. DCL mailed it out on August 9th to the travel agency and the finally shipped it to us and we got it on Sept 9th. Not using them anymore!!! The boarding doc states embarkation is 3:00PM. If I remember correctly from 2005 on the Disney Magic each group received boarding passes for a specific time that way you don't have everyone showing up at once. Is that true? If yes we don't have a time.

Next the staterooms closets. Is there enough room in them to put empty hard shell luggage into? We plan on bring one hard shell luggage for our costume pieces and some toys but the rest will be soft canvas style bags. That way we can unpack and put all the soft stuff into the hard shell luggage and store in closet or ship storage.

Anyone have internal pictures of the closet space?

By the way our stateroom number is 6042 I THINK!!! Port side slightly forward of midship.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

I can understand them restricting personal appliances. The last thing you want on board ship is a fire. That just ruins everyone's day...

exactly - which is why i think they should be very clear about what the cabin's electrical outlets can handle (and not handle)...

Does it help to know my hubby and I got in a fight in the middle of Target this weekend over a box of bandaids for the trip? It's all gonna work out just fine.

hummmm maybe its a good thing that DH refuses to cruise....???

I brought a hair straightener with me last time and was ok.
On the subject of packing: I need to buy a large suitcase for Tara. Her old one has a wonky wheel and I dread dragging it through customs. Went to borrow my older daughter's suitcase and her husband bumped theirs down a flight of stairs and bent the wheels as well!!

i have about 4 sets - too bad you're not closer

Heather and I have had a couple of "discussions" about what to bring. I find it's easier to just give in...

PERFECT!!!!

Anyone know anything about the Ramada? We're staying there Monday night, and see that it's close to the terminal. But what does "close" mean with a suitcase and two kids? Anyone walked from there to the dock, or is a taxi a better idea?

And our boarding time is at 12:30. Can we get there earlier and stand in line, or is 12:30 the hard time? Never boarded a cruise boat before, not sure of the process. Just seven days and a wake up!

too late to change your boarding time?

 

[tinker1bell]

Just some questions regarding boarding and the stateroom closets / storage.

We have finally received our boarding docs from the travel agency. DCL mailed it out on August 9th to the travel agency and the finally shipped it to us and we got it on Sept 9th. Not using them anymore!!! The boarding doc states embarkation is 3:00PM. If I remember correctly from 2005 on the Disney Magic each group received boarding passes for a specific time that way you don't have everyone showing up at once. Is that true? If yes we don't have a time.

Next the staterooms closets. Is there enough room in them to put empty hard shell luggage into? We plan on bring one hard shell luggage for our costume pieces and some toys but the rest will be soft canvas style bags. That way we can unpack and put all the soft stuff into the hard shell luggage and store in closet or ship storage.

Anyone have internal pictures of the closet space?

By the way our stateroom number is 4642 I THINK!!!

Depending on how big it is, your suitcase might fit under the bed.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Just some questions regarding boarding and the stateroom closets / storage.

We have finally received our boarding docs from the travel agency. DCL mailed it out on August 9th to the travel agency and the finally shipped it to us and we got it on Sept 9th. Not using them anymore!!! The boarding doc states embarkation is 3:00PM. If I remember correctly from 2005 on the Disney Magic each group received boarding passes for a specific time that way you don't have everyone showing up at once. Is that true? If yes we don't have a time.

Next the staterooms closets. Is there enough room in them to put empty hard shell luggage into? We plan on bring one hard shell luggage for our costume pieces and some toys but the rest will be soft canvas style bags. That way we can unpack and put all the soft stuff into the hard shell luggage and store in closet or ship storage.

Anyone have internal pictures of the closet space?

By the way our stateroom number is 6042 I THINK!!! Port side slightly forward of midship.

You should be able to access your 'reservation' on the DCL website - you need to be sure that all the online checkin is completed & in there you will choose your boarding time - or perhaps your TA did that for you but it will be listed in your reservation.
If i recall the closet is approx 4.5-5 long - the suitcases can go under the double bed - depending on your room config - there is a single or double wide "CHEST" that has 3 shelves - also next to the closet is a cabinet that has 3 or 4 drawers (diff depths). and the vanity has 3 drawers on each side & a middle drawer...and next to the bed are two small cabinets with more small drawer storage
i always bring this thing that has about 10 different sized pockets & hangs on the back of the bathroom door that i keep all the bathroom stuff in ....along with the stg areas in the 2 br's -it's all pretty neat & organized...

 

[GrumpyGoat]

Anyone know anything about the Ramada? We're staying there Monday night, and see that it's close to the terminal. But what does "close" mean with a suitcase and two kids? Anyone walked from there to the dock, or is a taxi a better idea?

And our boarding time is at 12:30. Can we get there earlier and stand in line, or is 12:30 the hard time? Never boarded a cruise boat before, not sure of the process. Just seven days and a wake up!

We're also staying at the Ramada, and I think there might be someone else also. We were thinking about a cab, just because we don't want to walk with all our stuff. If there's enough people, we can think about sharing a cab and reducing the expense...