Sept. 23, 2012 Pacific Coast - Wonder Cruise

[4boons]

Coupons for Africa (well California)

At the bottom of the page is Walt Disney Museum. Also plenty for San Diego. Been awake most of the night, will come back when I'm more human...

http://www.visitcalifornia.com/Fun-Spots/

Thanks. We are staying at the Queen Mary before and there was a 20% off dining coupon for several of the Queen Mary restaurants.

Bill

 

[jetskigrl]

Suggest we meet up at the Cruise Meet Gail has suggested with all the kids, that way we can work out when the Kids Club has an Open Session for the next day if we have a Navigator handy at that time or organise a pool meet if no Navigator.

JSG - our first night is in El Segundo (sp) as the Hyatt Home was the only place we could get a two bed apartment like place. I hope it's okay and safe, the reviews read okay.

If you had asked me 10 years ago, I would have said to stay away from El Segundo. But they have done a great job at cleaning up that area. There is a very nice business district there and with that comes nice restaurants, etc. I'm not familiar with that exact Hotel, but it should be a much better area than the LAX/Century Blvd area. I'll do some checking for you.

Again, not to scare off the people from saying on Century. The hotels are fine and cater to business travelers, etc. Just the neighborhood there is not the best.

 

[Computer Magic]

Disney offical hotel for the cruise is Marriott LAX with all three transfer available.

 

[glindamood]

Coupons for Africa (well California)

At the bottom of the page is Walt Disney Museum. Also plenty for San Diego. Been awake most of the night, will come back when I'm more human...

http://www.visitcalifornia.com/Fun-Spots/

Thanks for the link. I will keep that for our return to SD in Jan 2014 as well.

And I must have forgotten or missed it - Africa??? Surely there is a story there (or you are really tired).

 

[GromMom]

GREAT!!
Thanks so much
and thanks to GromDad

Glad we could help! He is much more observant than I am!

 

[BlondeJungleBookFan]

Disney offical hotel for the cruise is Marriott LAX with all three transfer available.

Well darn.
I asked, and was told only transportation the day of the cruise from LAX...and....only transportation from the 3 Disneyland hotels.


I might cancel my Doubletree reservation and just stay at LAX and take Disney Transport to San Pedro.

Of course, I'm sure it doesn't leave until 11 or Noon.
Any thoughts??

 

[Computer Magic]

Well darn.
I asked, and was told only transportation the day of the cruise from LAX...and....only transportation from the 3 Disneyland hotels.

Did your TA give you this info or the Disney rep?
I might cancel my Doubletree reservation and just stay at LAX and take Disney Transport to San Pedro.

Our TA but this person is a DCL expert. She could be wrong but the fact she called Disney and they said Marriott. I quized the TA pretty hard on transporation and resort stay. I don't want travel screwed up.

We almost missed our ABD Wyoming trip in 2007 because of transportation issues.

Let me know what you find out

 

[jetzfan56]

My name is Bob and we will be joining you folks on this cruise.
Just booked today and have alot to do.
This is my first cruise and I am not sure where to begin...any advice???

 

[BlondeJungleBookFan]

Our TA but this person is a DCL expert. She could be wrong but the fact she called Disney and they said Marriott. I quized the TA pretty hard on transporation and resort stay. I don't want travel screwed up.

We almost missed our ABD Wyoming trip in 2007 because of transportation issues.

Let me know what you find out

Will do!

I have an email into him now.

When we went to Hawaii with Princess, we used LAX Marriott and their transport to San Pedro. But, when I asked on the DisBoards, everyone just kept saying to stay at San Pedro and get transport from the airport through a shuttle service, that Disney just shuttled from their Disneyland resorts. I'm pretty sure I asked my TA and he said the same things...but, I could have mislead him by saying "staying in San Pedro" .

As soon as he emails me back, I'll post.

Thanks COMPUTER MAGIC

 

[BlondeJungleBookFan]

My name is Bob and we will be joining you folks on this cruise.
Just booked today and have alot to do.
This is my first cruise and I am not sure where to begin...any advice???

Hi Bob and family!

My two cents:
Unless you live close to San Pedro, come in the day before.
Are you flying?

Make a cruise book/binder.
Sections for flights, pre-cruise hotel, cruise contract/boarding passes, insurance contract, itinerary, ports and what you'll be doing, etc.

Read this thread and other threads in the Disney Cruise Line area. FULL of information. You'll have more questions.

WARNING: Cruising can be addictive

Ask away...many veteran cruisers on this board

 

[erbie]

My name is Bob and we will be joining you folks on this cruise.
Just booked today and have alot to do.
This is my first cruise and I am not sure where to begin...any advice???

Welcome Bob! There are a bunch of veteran DCL cruisers on the thread, along with a bunch of first timers, so ask away! Any questions you have, others probably do as well.

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Bill - pleasure, something for everyone on that link but you got an awesome save on dining on the Queen Mary.

JSG - well I'm glad where we are staying isn't 'East LA' style!

Gail - it's a phrase we use over here when we have an abundance of something we have 'XX for Africa' (generally because, given the population of the African continent, you are going to need a lot).

Bob - hey, welcome! We are first time cruisers but we've had this cruise booked since July last year. Do have a read around the DCL forum. I guess some of the things that you need to decide is what you want to do in each port (either by yourself or with DCL - there's a mix of people doing each on the thread), book Palo if you want to do that on the cruise and there is still availability, decide if you are going to come to our cruise meet and, also, if you want to take part in the Fish Extender gift swap (Gail - glindamood is our List Master for that).

JSG and Gail - I'm hating these noise polluting dirt bikers, they were at it again when I got home. DH is dealing with it, taking the local Council headon (wrong person to mess with when they say 'we don't own the land' and DH can see who owns every single bit of land in NZ for his work). The bit that worries me is that I took two small kids up the bridleway to walk our dog and they were there racing around going past us. What if they encounter a horse? And the new renters next to the egress land are inviting all their mates over and then tipping their kitchen waste into the egress land! Eeeewwww .

Tip for anyone coming to NZ ever (you never know, you might). Go to Te Papa. Te Papa (Maori for 'Our Place') is our national museum. It's in Wellington and it's free (apart from visiting exhibits). It's the most wonderful museum to visit at any age and I love it as much as The British Museum and The Natural History Museum in London, both of which used to be regular weekend haunts. It's well worth the visit.

I'm off to get stuck further in to FE gifts now, I've been cutting bits of fabric up this afternoon and am onto the next stage.

 

[AussieMumma]

Dennisbryce, My youngest dd is 3½, hopefully your dd and her can play together on the ship?!
We are staying the night before at the Marriott LAX, it’s our regular overnight stop when we first arrive in the USA. We normally catch the Ocean Express Trolley to Manhattan Village Shopping Center, or it goes to Plaza El Segundo also. Have a look here http://www.gatewaytola.org/index.cfm/programs/ocean-express/
We've never walked around at night on West Century but during the day we have walked to Hertz quite a few times and also to Burger King and have never come across any shadey characters lol! It's mainly just car parking and hotels.

ComputerMagic, We are staying at the Mariott LAX and my TA thought that if we wanted to catch the Disney shuttle to the port that we’d have to get the Mariott shuttle back to the airport then go on the Disney shuttle from there. She is an Aussie TA though so obviously wouldn't have the same Disney knowledge that a USA based one would have!
I’ll be keeping an eye out to see what BlondeJungleBookFan comes back with!

Hi Bob, welcome to the thread and the cruise! It’s our first cruise too and I’ve learnt so much from all of the lovely people on here, and I’ve asked many many questions!!

Marian, I bought some fabric today for my attempt to make our FE’s, hopefully I’ll get time next week when the kids are all in school and kindy! Can you let me know what size your pockets are please?

 

[glindamood]

My name is Bob and we will be joining you folks on this cruise.
Just booked today and have alot to do.
This is my first cruise and I am not sure where to begin...any advice???

Bob and family! You are in for an awesome time. My name is Gail, sailing with DH (Disney husband) David and this will be our 14th cruise on DCL. I always nail down logistics first (transport from home to port and anything else required). I guess the next order of business would be to understand the ship and its flow. There are Navigators (daily schedule published by DCL that you will get each evening on the cruise for the next day) that folks have brought back and some can be found on the DIS main cruise page, you might want to read through a few of those to get a handle on what is offered onboard. Port days - don't know where you are from so I don't know what your interests would be while we are in port but the excursions are posted on the DCL website that you can book directly through DCL or they will give you an idea as to what is available and you can then research and book on your own for less $$'s. To me, the biggest thing is to relax and enjoy.

There are several of us here that have sailed before so if you have specific questions, ask away. The main board is also a wealth of information.

 

[Computer Magic]

Remember when checking the facts about Marriott LAX and Disney transportation. Both had to be booked through Disney. You can't book hotel on your own and then use Disney transportation. The price of the hotel though Disney is higher (go figure ) but Disney takes care of everything, even bagage handling.

I also remember her saying Disney transport may stop at both Marriott and LAX before heading to port.

Hopefully all is true and helps people on these boards.

 

[jetskigrl]

My name is Bob and we will be joining you folks on this cruise.
Just booked today and have alot to do.
This is my first cruise and I am not sure where to begin...any advice???

Welcome Bob!!!!
DH and I have done a few cruises (this will be #5 for me and #3 for DH - two of those have been out of LA). We live locally to the Port of LA also so I would be happy to answer any questions you have about the area and port. I just don't have much info on transportation options since we don't use it (we have family here so they usually help us out getting to the port or airport, etc). I have used a cab and Super Shuttle in the past, but that is about it.

I agree with what the others have already told you. Get your online checkin and excursions/Palo reservations taken care of first(if you haven't already done that). Since we live in CA and have been to San Fran and San Diego already (DH has lived in both of those cities in the past), we are just going to do things on our own. But if this is a first for you, you might be more comfortable with DCL excursions.

 

[peja]

Welcome Bob and family!

This will be our second DCL cruise, the first was out of Florida, so this is quite a different experience for us all together. . I have found planning a little bit more complicated than Orlando/Port Canaveral Area. Disney seems to have really concentrated on that market to make everything so much easier. I found planning such a piece of cake, with both Disney and any other private companies in Florida. But, regardless of that; I believe this will be an awesome cruise. Welcome again!

Cruise Booked! Pre-night hotel booked! Transportation Booked! Disneyland Area Hotel Booked! Alcatraz Booked! Southern California Passes Purchased! Now all I need to do is make sure everything on the online check in is double checked and all forms signed and in my possession! Did I miss anything???

PS I did not forget the FE exchange that is in the works too!! LOL

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Marian, I bought some fabric today for my attempt to make our FE’s, hopefully I’ll get time next week when the kids are all in school and kindy! Can you let me know what size your pockets are please?

7" tall (add a 1/4" for the seam allowance) by 10" (add a further 2" for pleats at a 3rd in from either side) wide. 1.5" gap between pockets. I made mine 10" as I know the Wonder FE can take that width and I wanted to use it for other things besides the cruise. I interfaced the pockets and back to give it some stifness so it didn't buckle of move.

 

[glindamood]

Happy Friday! Middle DS and his DW are coming this weekend for a visit - so excited to see them and my grandpups too! Other than that, hot weekend in front of us but I guess it is what it is. Soon enough I will be whining about the cold and snow although I do think I like that better.

Everyone have a great day, evening and weekend!

 

[fshagan]

My name is Bob and we will be joining you folks on this cruise.
Just booked today and have alot to do.
This is my first cruise and I am not sure where to begin...any advice???

You'll have a great time! Here are some things to think about in the planning stages:

1. Insurance: most US health insurance plans do not cover you while at sea, so it's a good idea to get travel insurance that includes medical AND evacuation ($50,000 for evacuation is a good minimum amount). It is not unusual for people who need to be evacuated to pay in excess of $10,000. You can check with your health insurance carrier to see if they cover any of those things but very few do. I have never been able to figure out if Medicare covers that sort of thing (but I suspect not).

2. Don't miss the boat. Travel in at least a day before the sailing date. Even with travel insurance, if you miss the boat because of an air travel delay, an accident on the way to the port, etc., the insurance usually pays only the cost to go to the first scheduled port and board the boat there. And some insurance uses "lowest coach fare" and not the last minute fare you would pay to fly to San Francisco. So avoid all this; fly in at least a day before and allow plenty of time to get to the port. One very common misconception is that if Disney arranges the air travel that they will cover transportation due to air travel delays; they will not -- unless you have travel insurance also.

3. Now that I've scared you, take a deep breath and relax. You will have a great time, won't get sick, and won't miss the boat.

4. It's been a while since I was on a Disney cruise, but the scheduled dining is pretty nice in terms of atmosphere and theme. Most people are familiar with the way Disney does it; you rotate through different restaurants but have the same wait staff, which is nice. The food is OK. Palo, the extra charge dining room, has better food ... I had the best meal on a cruise in Palo a few years back, but even it did not compare to fine dining in NYC or even LA. Have reasonable expectations about the food, and you'll enjoy it.

5. The cabins are very nice on DCL, and the room stewards and managers are usually very good. In my opinion, a verandah cabin on DCL is as large as a mini-suite on Princess or NCL, but usually cleaner and better appointed. If something is not right, just tell the room steward and it will get fixed.

6. Shows: Disney does a good job here, and if you are a Disney fan you'll enjoy them. They have some comedy and music clubs at the bow of the ship, and they can be fun. There is a movie theater at the stern that is very nice; unlike other lines where movies are shown during the day in a lounge, the DCL movie theater is a stadium style theater with regular theater seats, and they run current releases.

7. The Ship: DCL ships are beautiful, and nice to explore. If the weather is good, a late night walk around the ship while at sea can be very relaxing.