Sept. 23, 2012 Pacific Coast - Wonder Cruise

[GromMom]

Grrrrr, the AP discount is better than the CDN discount I got! I hate knowing that I paid more than someone else for the same thing!

On the FE front my mom and I have completed 8 of our stateroom gifts so we are doing well. We should have time to get everything done

_
I'm so excited for hand made gifts...I'm a crafter so I "get" how excited you must be to gift your items

 

[BigDisneyOE]

since it sounds like many are hand making items, i'd recommend having a max like 20 cabins and if it goes above that, split into 2 groups. That way even if there are only 25 cabins, everyone can still have about 12 cabins to do versus having one group of 20 & one group of 5. I also am new at this so I don't know how many folks sign up at the end of the deadline. This way if someone is making an item, they know at max they will make 20, but may have extra depending on if we get split. I'm also happy to cut off and let a new group form, but I don't know if that will mean we have a huge group and the second group will be small. I think it is just hard for those that are making items, I know personally I wasn't even able to get enough supplies to give everyone the same exact thing, but I convinced myself that variety is the spice of life
My other thought was to make a set amount and anyone added later just gets something not hand made, but it doesn't seem fair that way...but I suppose like you said, it is all in good fun!

I'm making an item per person (plus bought stuff), so a list of 20 makes that a lot more if every cabin is averaging 3 people. I've been reading other trip threads and with the offers out at the moment some groups are getting a minimum of 2 new families join a day around now. Most groups cut off at PIF, which we are past. Hard to know what to do but I think that we should be looking at cutting off pretty soon, I suggested 23rd July but maybe sooner if we are suddenly going to get an exponential influx due to all the offers DCL are putting out.

 

[Computer Magic]

Good point-many might not know they have that option.
Maybe I'll see you at LAX Marriott or on the bus!
Thanks again.

Well at this rate I may be easy to spot with only two families on the bus...lol

 

[dennisbryce]

I agree! Now I need some 3 year olds for my other little one...hahahaha!

I have a 3 year old and she's pretty outgoing. I know she would love to make new friends.

 

[HBmomof2]

I have a 3 year old and she's pretty outgoing. I know she would love to make new friends.

Cool, what's her name? Do you think she'll go in the kids club?

 

[dennisbryce]

Cool, what's her name? Do you think she'll go in the kids club?

Her name is Kaprisha and yes she will be in the kids clubs. She is going to love it!!! What is your daughters name?

 

[sandracox67]

Welcome to the group!!!! Ohhh, Las Vegas!! My favorite getaway place I was just there last Memorial Day with my mom and sister and I'll be back out there in October with my kids.

Las Vegas is beautiful in October. I'm from So Cal, so I'm spoiled, but even I like Vegas in he fall!

 

[HBmomof2]

Her name is Kaprisha and yes she will be in the kids clubs. She is going to love it!!! What is your daughters name?

Cool, I think mine will go since her big sister will be there too. Last time we had to stay with her b/c she wasn't 3. She'll actually be 3 oct 14th but if they are within 1 month of bday they can go....thank the lord! hahaha! Oh her name is Lauren.

 

[AussieMumma]

Hi everyone.
Busy weekend over here, my youngest ds turned 7 on Sunday so it was a birthday weekend.
The sun finally came back yesterday, we are all sick of the continuous rain that we've been getting here lately.
I hope you're not all dissapointed with my non home made FE gifts. I just don't have the time, I won't even get to start on my FE this week as I'd planned, hopefully next week!
I'd be happy to keep it to 20 families as I've ordered something online and I oredered 20 of them thinking we'd end up with around that many

erbie, great idea on the scavenger hunter but I think we’ll sit that one out, being our first cruise and all we just want to take our time exploring and relaxing!

Gail, those cut off dates sound good to me.

HBmomof2. My youngest dd is 3.5yrs, hopefully they can keep each other amused at KC!

BlondeJungleBookFan, that’s great news about the Marriott, I wonder if I’ll be able to book that from here, I’m not sure my TA can ring the Disney Supervisor?! We haven't booked the Marriott yet as we're still waiting for airfares to go on sale so we don't know if it will be one or two nights before the cruise that we need.

 

[jetskigrl]

I guess it comes down to who DCL sees as being the customers on longer cruises. Is it DINKIES or families? Probably most people crusing by the sounds of it are DINKIES. Shame as DCL are missing the family market by positioning the cruises at the wrong time of the calendar.

DH has said this will be our first and last DCL cruise as there are other places and things he wants to see.

Oh....just wait until he is on the ship. He might just change his mind about this being the last cruise. It took everything I had to get my DH to agree to the 2-night cruise to nowhere. Now he is getting ready for his 3rd cruise with the 4th already booked

I am bummed as well. I did my part in trying to keep DCL here on the west coast. With the addition of this cruise, I will have 5 cruises in just 2012, 4 of them being on the Wonder. I am going to have withdrawals in the future!

And 2 of them with us Yeah...I'm going to miss the Wonder for sure. I'm still curious to see what they do with it in 2014. I heard there would be a big refurb that year (Magic is 2013), so I'm wondering if they will even do Alaska.

Grrrrr, the AP discount is better than the CDN discount I got! I hate knowing that I paid more than someone else for the same thing!

On the FE front my mom and I have completed 8 of our stateroom gifts so we are doing well. We should have time to get everything done

I admit, I ran the numbers too but even with the AP discount, the VGT rate we have still comes out cheaper than the least expensive verandah cabin. But it is so frustrating to find out others are getting a cheaper rate.

since it sounds like many are hand making items, i'd recommend having a max like 20 cabins and if it goes above that, split into 2 groups. That way even if there are only 25 cabins, everyone can still have about 12 cabins to do versus having one group of 20 & one group of 5. I also am new at this so I don't know how many folks sign up at the end of the deadline. This way if someone is making an item, they know at max they will make 20, but may have extra depending on if we get split. I'm also happy to cut off and let a new group form, but I don't know if that will mean we have a huge group and the second group will be small. I think it is just hard for those that are making items, I know personally I wasn't even able to get enough supplies to give everyone the same exact thing, but I convinced myself that variety is the spice of life
My other thought was to make a set amount and anyone added later just gets something not hand made, but it doesn't seem fair that way...but I suppose like you said, it is all in good fun!

I like the idea of doing the split if there ends up being more than 20 cabins.

Las Vegas is beautiful in October. I'm from So Cal, so I'm spoiled, but even I like Vegas in he fall!

Yeah, I really love the desert so even Vegas heat doesn't bother me. But that is easy to say when I'm only there for a few days and not dealing with it every day, LOL. I was actually disappointed that it was not very hot when we were there over Memorial Day. But then that was also when the fires were going on and the wind plus the smoke didn't help either.

I wish we were staying longer when we go in October but it is just a quick weekend trip to see a concert. My kids have been begging me to take them because they want to see Vegas. They know I go a lot with my sister and mom (my DH doesn't care for it so it is usually a girls trip when I go). Plus they want to hear my favorite piano players in person so I'll take them for Pizza in NYNY and let them listen from outside

Hi everyone.
Busy weekend over here, my youngest ds turned 7 on Sunday so it was a birthday weekend.
The sun finally came back yesterday, we are all sick of the continuous rain that we've been getting here lately.
I hope you're not all dissapointed with my non home made FE gifts. I just don't have the time, I won't even get to start on my FE this week as I'd planned, hopefully next week!
I'd be happy to keep it to 20 families as I've ordered something online and I oredered 20 of them thinking we'd end up with around that many

Happy Birthday to your DS!!! Well, I'm right there with you on the FE gifts. I don't have a "crafty" bone in my body. I think my sister ended up with the craft gene in our family. So mine will not be homemade either.

 

[BlondeJungleBookFan]

BlondeJungleBookFan, that’s great news about the Marriott, I wonder if I’ll be able to book that from here, I’m not sure my TA can ring the Disney Supervisor?! We haven't booked the Marriott yet as we're still waiting for airfares to go on sale so we don't know if it will be one or two nights before the cruise that we need.

The Supervisor was making sure EVERYONE on the phone reservations knew about this deal. Your TA should just be able to call and add this to your current reservation.

 

[GromMom]

I'm making an item per person (plus bought stuff), so a list of 20 makes that a lot more if every cabin is averaging 3 people. I've been reading other trip threads and with the offers out at the moment some groups are getting a minimum of 2 new families join a day around now. Most groups cut off at PIF, which we are past. Hard to know what to do but I think that we should be looking at cutting off pretty soon, I suggested 23rd July but maybe sooner if we are suddenly going to get an exponential influx due to all the offers DCL are putting out.

I can't wait to see what you're making!
I'm amazed that you're making an item for everyone...this is why my sister and I decided to split up the tasks

I only bought supplies for about 12 cabins, however I can either go get more or make an alternative if we get lots more folks. Since the list I got was 11 cabins including mine, (which I don't need to make one for) I figured that gave me wiggle room of 2, but I can always go out shopping again

 

[erbie]

I only bought supplies for about 12 cabins, however I can either go get more or make an alternative if we get lots more folks. Since the list I got was 11 cabins including mine, (which I don't need to make one for) I figured that gave me wiggle room of 2, but I can always go out shopping again

I've made a couple little things, which at this point, are for everyone. And then I'm making some other stuff based on age. Still looking for ideas for older kids and teens, though so far we only have one in the FE. Still trying to decide if I should do one more thing that would be a one per cabin thing. It's kind of my specialty, so I really want to, but I don't know if I have the energy/time for it if too many more people join. And the material is on sale at JoAnn right now, so if I'm going to do it, I should buy it all now!

I also decided to make a pillowcase Minnie dress for my younger and shirt for my older to wear at embarkation, and bought the stuff. I'm not biting off more than I can chew. Why do you ask?

 

[dennisbryce]

A quick question:
Does anyone know if they have the Tea w/Alice on the Wonder?
If they do, does anyone know how/when you sign up for that?

 

[GromMom]

I've made a couple little things, which at this point, are for everyone. And then I'm making some other stuff based on age. Still looking for ideas for older kids and teens, though so far we only have one in the FE. Still trying to decide if I should do one more thing that would be a one per cabin thing. It's kind of my specialty, so I really want to, but I don't know if I have the energy/time for it if too many more people join. And the material is on sale at JoAnn right now, so if I'm going to do it, I should buy it all now!

I also decided to make a pillowcase Minnie dress for my younger and shirt for my older to wear at embarkation, and bought the stuff. I'm not biting off more than I can chew. Why do you ask?

Oh so cute! The Pillow case Minnie dress sounds darling! Oh to have a little girl to be able to make that cute kind of stuff...maybe on my next cruise . I've been meaning to make my dh and son matching hawaiian shirts (bought the fabric a year ago for dh - before ds was even a twinkle in my eye), but I doubt that will happen before the cruise, since I am also for some crazy reason making everyone in my family a crocheted hat, well not my BIL b/c he doesn't do matching...ha ha! I can sit and crochet while I'm nursing so I get a lot of hours in on the crochet...the sewing machine, not so much. I'm lucky I made my FE already, although it was kind of done poorly b/c I had a heck of a time figuring out how to sew on the pockets...they're on but they're pretty wonky.

So what I'm hearing is that we should cut it off at 12 rooms and then start a new group

 

[glindamood]

I can't wait to see what you're making!
I'm amazed that you're making an item for everyone...this is why my sister and I decided to split up the tasks

I only bought supplies for about 12 cabins, however I can either go get more or make an alternative if we get lots more folks. Since the list I got was 11 cabins including mine, (which I don't need to make one for) I figured that gave me wiggle room of 2, but I can always go out shopping again

OK, we are at 12 cabins now - but that would only be 11 unless you are gifting (or would that be FE-ing) yourselves. Do I watch and cut off after the next person as once I get the PM (and all PM's are read, including today's so no worries there), in my opinion it is too late. Maybe we need to do Friday?? I honestly don't think I ever participated in one that cutoff as early as the PIF date but I will say, groups have a tendency (even without all these offers) to grow a lot the closer the date gets.

So, how about Friday? Sound OK with everyone? That will be my current plan unless I hear lots of concern.

 

[GromMom]

OK, we are at 12 cabins now - but that would only be 11 unless you are gifting (or would that be FE-ing) yourselves. Do I watch and cut off after the next person as once I get the PM (and all PM's are read, including today's so no worries there), in my opinion it is too late. Maybe we need to do Friday?? I honestly don't think I ever participated in one that cutoff as early as the PIF date but I will say, groups have a tendency (even without all these offers) to grow a lot the closer the date gets.

So, how about Friday? Sound OK with everyone? That will be my current plan unless I hear lots of concern.

Friday sounds great! I can't wait to start making up my FE gifts :-D

 

[socababy]

A quick question:
Does anyone know if they have the Tea w/Alice on the Wonder?
If they do, does anyone know how/when you sign up for that?

Yes they do have the tea but it is Tea with Disney Friends. When we did it last Nov we had Tiana and Ariel there. You should go to Guest Services when you board to get tickets since it fills up fast.

 

[dennisbryce]

Yes they do have the tea but it is Tea with Disney Friends. When we did it last Nov we had Tiana and Ariel there. You should go to Guest Services when you board to get tickets since it fills up fast.

Thank you

 

[sandracox67]

OK, we are at 12 cabins now - but that would only be 11 unless you are gifting (or would that be FE-ing) yourselves. Do I watch and cut off after the next person as once I get the PM (and all PM's are read, including today's so no worries there), in my opinion it is too late. Maybe we need to do Friday?? I honestly don't think I ever participated in one that cutoff as early as the PIF date but I will say, groups have a tendency (even without all these offers) to grow a lot the closer the date gets.

So, how about Friday? Sound OK with everyone? That will be my current plan unless I hear lots of concern.

Wait, we're cutting off the FE list on this Friday? I'd better hurry and do my posts so I can PM; my husband and I want in!