Sept. 23, 2012 Pacific Coast - Wonder Cruise

[DisDiana]

Hello, everyone! I was able to book our excursions and Palo reservations last night and Shane and I are all checked in.

Does anyone know about the dates for formal, semi-formal, and pirate nights? I'll be pretty bummed if I booked Palo only to miss out on pirate night (which happened on our last cruise). I noticed that the DCL website listed the Sail Away Party and Disembarkation, but everything in the middle is missing.

 

[erbie]

I booked the zoo for us. I don't drive and didn't want my mother to have to stress about driving in a strange place. Plus I have learned from experience that public transit in California is iffy! Seemed safer to just book it with Disney and not worry
We are going to do San Fran on our own. Alcatraz, a ball game and some strolling in the Wharf area. Wish we didn't have to wait three more months!

The zoo isn't really public trans distance, I don't think, so if you want to do it, the excursion is a good way. We live in LA, so we'll just plan a trip down to SD another time. My DH is happy to just stay on the ship the whole time, except SF.

If yo'ure going to do Alcatraz on your own, you'll want to book now. A lot of the operators are already sold out for our dates in SF. We're planning to do it on our own as well and we're looking for the best price. When I find it, I'll post it.

 

[jetskigrl]

Hello, everyone! I was able to book our excursions and Palo reservations last night and Shane and I are all checked in.

Does anyone know about the dates for formal, semi-formal, and pirate nights? I'll be pretty bummed if I booked Palo only to miss out on pirate night (which happened on our last cruise). I noticed that the DCL website listed the Sail Away Party and Disembarkation, but everything in the middle is missing.

This was the schedule for the 7-night MR cruise in April:

Night 1 - Cruise Casual
Night 2 - Formal
Night 3 - Cruise Casual
Night 4 - Cruise Casual
Night 5 - Pirate Night
Night 6 - Semi-Formal
Night 7 - Cruise Casual

But of course we have no idea if they will change it up for the Pacific Coast cruises.

Well, I am all checked in now!!! WOO HOO!

 

[bbangel]

If yo'ure going to do Alcatraz on your own, you'll want to book now. A lot of the operators are already sold out for our dates in SF. We're planning to do it on our own as well and we're looking for the best price. When I find it, I'll post it.

We booked directly through Alcatraz Cruises (the boat company that takes you to the island) on our previous trip and I don't think they even sell the tickets until a couple of months out.

 

[erbie]

This was the schedule for the 7-night MR cruise in April:

Night 1 - Cruise Casual
Night 2 - Formal
Night 3 - Cruise Casual
Night 4 - Cruise Casual
Night 5 - Pirate Night
Night 6 - Semi-Formal
Night 7 - Cruise Casual

But of course we have no idea if they will change it up for the Pacific Coast cruises.

I called and here's the schedule for our cruise:

Sunday - cruise casual
Monday - at sea - formal
Tuesday - SFO - cruise casual
Wednesday - SFO - cruise casual
Thursday - at sea - cruise casual
Friday - SD - pirate
Saturday - Ensenada - semi-formal

Seems weird that semi formal is the last night, but that's what the CM said just now. Maybe someone else wants to call and ask and see if you get the same answer? My kids don't want to miss pirate, formal or semi-formal night so I need to schedule Palo dinner on one of the cruise casual nights.

 

[GromMom]

Welcome, and congrats on your new little one!

Yay, that's great, erbie.
Great tip, bbangel. Thanks for posting this to the list!

Welcome GromMom and dennisbryce and families

Thank you for the warm welcome!! I'm sure my sister will be joining this thread soon as she's confirmed our reservations...hooray!

 

[GromMom]

Also thanks to Big DisneyOE for the great PM Idea, unfortunately I'm still a new user and can't send a PM until I have 10 posts under my belt, so I'm going to look around and try to respond to some stuff so I can reply

 

[GromMom]

I called and here's the schedule for our cruise:

Sunday - cruise casual
Monday - at sea - formal
Tuesday - SFO - cruise casual
Wednesday - SFO - cruise casual
Thursday - at sea - cruise casual
Friday - SD - pirate
Saturday - Ensenada - semi-formal

Seems weird that semi formal is the last night, but that's what the CM said just now. Maybe someone else wants to call and ask and see if you get the same answer? My kids don't want to miss pirate, formal or semi-formal night so I need to schedule Palo dinner on one of the cruise casual nights.

Oh boy I'm really looking forward to pirate night and it's in my home town of all places

Do you know if they are docked when they do the fireworks or are you sailing? B/c theoretically I could go check out the fireworks of the week prior's cruise...I do often see fireworks when we're out on the bay in the summer.

 

[peja]

@ erbie: Thank-you for getting the itinerary for the formal, Pirate night and semi-formal. Also, we are super busy winding down with school once things settle my princess with email your princess.

We are so excited for this cruise we actually all played hookie from work and school today. 16 of us in total hit up a major water park here in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada...and all are frequent flyers of Disney or DCL...we all miss Disney that we thought heck with life and spent the day with the kidlets and parents at the water park reminiscing about our DCL or Disney experiences. LOL

Got my port time for 11 AM now to recomfirm my transfers. And we are all set for DCL and Disneyland. Want to book a few things for SAN FRAN privately...San Diego will definitely hit up sea world, just hit up a taxi cab...I know Cali has new laws about car seats, but I really do not want to carry them around so I plan to just take the risk and cab it without the boosters (I know bad mom ) Opinions would be appreciated!?!

EXCITED, EXCITED
Regards all

 

[erbie]

@ erbie: Thank-you for getting the itinerary for the formal, Pirate night and semi-formal. Also, we are super busy winding down with school once things settle my princess with email your princess.

We've been busy with end of school business too. My dd6 is looking forward to emailing. We were going to do it tonight, but my DH set up the account and can't remember the password, so he needs to recover it and tell me and then we'll email.

San Diego will definitely hit up sea world, just hit up a taxi cab...I know Cali has new laws about car seats, but I really do not want to carry them around so I plan to just take the risk and cab it without the boosters (I know bad mom ) Opinions would be appreciated!?!

Since your kids are younger than 8 years old, the law says they have to be in a booster or carseat in the back seat. It's a pretty hefty ticket (minimum of $475, plus court fees and a point on your driving record ). Each. That sure would take a bite out of the vacation spending money! I would think most taxi drivers would not want to risk it, so they'd refuse to take you without the booster. If yours is too big, you can get a couple of small low-back boosters at Target for $20 each when you land. There's a Target a couple of miles from LAX. I can't imagine Sea World doesn't have lockers like all other amusement parks. The smaller booster should fit.

 

[BigDisneyOE]

We are hauling our own carseats from New Zealand. DH made sure that they comply with the US standards and the kids are comfortable in them / fit them.

Can you let fireworks off from a ship in San Diego while in port? Just thinking how close the military base is to the port.

Booked some stuff up for our family today. We are going the independent route. I want to ride the trolleys and visit Telegraph Hill (it's a bit of a 'thing' for me as I want to see if I can spot some of the 'stars' of special film). Plus we are visiting Lefty's for DH and one son.

My sons want to know if cupcakes are on the menu on the Wonder. Anyone shed any light? They've got a thing for cupcakes at the moment.

I got the kids formal footwear for the wedding today. I'm hoping their feet still fit them in September and then they are sorted. I could have done without one child kissing the back of the Assistant Manager over and over as she fitted out the other boy.

 

[glindamood]

I called and here's the schedule for our cruise:

Sunday - cruise casual
Monday - at sea - formal
Tuesday - SFO - cruise casual
Wednesday - SFO - cruise casual
Thursday - at sea - cruise casual
Friday - SD - pirate
Saturday - Ensenada - semi-formal

Seems weird that semi formal is the last night, but that's what the CM said just now. Maybe someone else wants to call and ask and see if you get the same answer? My kids don't want to miss pirate, formal or semi-formal night so I need to schedule Palo dinner on one of the cruise casual nights.

I am so shocked that semi-formal is not our second sea day - very weird. I may give them a call and see if I can get another answer or get someone to confirm this one. I booked Palo for the day we are in San Diego but I also have no issue missing Pirate night, just thought it would be fun to see us sail away during dinner.

Not much else to report. The wedding shower Sunday was very nice. I could use a shower myself - new towels, kitchen gear and all as some of my things are beginning to get a bit worn looking after our 32 plus years.

to those that are new to our group. We are going to have so much fun, I am so looking forward to all the ports. I am kind of confused as to exactly what to do in SF - I booked the Walt Museum through DCL but based on everything that I read from the locals, it appears to me that I can do that on my own. Anyone one out there care to share a cab?? I also want to get in Alcatraz and it is good to know that it is so close to the pier that it can be done. We are doing Muir Woods and Sausalito with DCL but we can wander around ourselves after we return from that.

OK, have a grand day everyone!

 

[jetskigrl]

I called and here's the schedule for our cruise:

Sunday - cruise casual
Monday - at sea - formal
Tuesday - SFO - cruise casual
Wednesday - SFO - cruise casual
Thursday - at sea - cruise casual
Friday - SD - pirate
Saturday - Ensenada - semi-formal

Seems weird that semi formal is the last night, but that's what the CM said just now. Maybe someone else wants to call and ask and see if you get the same answer? My kids don't want to miss pirate, formal or semi-formal night so I need to schedule Palo dinner on one of the cruise casual nights.

Thanks for calling and checking on that!!! Yeah, I don't really care for Semi-formal on the last night. I wonder what will happen with the themed menus then (semi-formal should be captain's gala and the last night should be the till we meet again menu). They better not skip the Captain's Gala menu. I'm looking forward to that lobster tail again

I wonder if they have to do pirate night on a night that they don't have to travel as far since it seems we are usually floating or moving very slowly during the fireworks. And that would rule out either of the San Fran nights because we are docked the first night and leave really late the second. But I would think that they would have no problem making it back down the coast in time for fireworks on the sea day

I am so shocked that semi-formal is not our second sea day - very weird. I may give them a call and see if I can get another answer or get someone to confirm this one. I booked Palo for the day we are in San Diego but I also have no issue missing Pirate night, just thought it would be fun to see us sail away during dinner.

Not much else to report. The wedding shower Sunday was very nice. I could use a shower myself - new towels, kitchen gear and all as some of my things are beginning to get a bit worn looking after our 32 plus years.

to those that are new to our group. We are going to have so much fun, I am so looking forward to all the ports. I am kind of confused as to exactly what to do in SF - I booked the Walt Museum through DCL but based on everything that I read from the locals, it appears to me that I can do that on my own. Anyone one out there care to share a cab?? I also want to get in Alcatraz and it is good to know that it is so close to the pier that it can be done. We are doing Muir Woods and Sausalito with DCL but we can wander around ourselves after we return from that.

OK, have a grand day everyone!

We want to do the Walt Museum on our own too. I was also going to see if anyone wants to share a cab. So maybe we can work that out, at least for the way over there I'm not sure what we are going to do after that but we have already done the Alcatraz tour so we probably won't be heading over there.

 

[erbie]

I am so shocked that semi-formal is not our second sea day - very weird. I may give them a call and see if I can get another answer or get someone to confirm this one.

Please post if you do. I'm interested to see if you get the same answer, which, as we all know, isn't guaranteed when you talk to more than one CM.

Not much else to report. The wedding shower Sunday was very nice. I could use a shower myself - new towels, kitchen gear and all as some of my things are beginning to get a bit worn looking after our 32 plus years.

I think that should be a new tradition! After 20 or 30 years, everyone gets a new shower because all the stuff they got for their wedding is cracked, worn, broken, or chipped. lol!

 

[atmail35]

Hi all, I am GromMom's sister from the Boston area and we are coming out to CA to cruise with you all! I have a 7-year-old daughter who is a big Disney Fanatic (been three times now) and we are keeping it a surprise for the moment.

I have a few questions, I hope I haven't missed the boat on these.

1) I just made our deposit over the weekend through DCL directly. I'm considering transfering our ressie to Costco to get the Costco cash cards...any idea if I should do this before or after my final payment? Will I retain the same cabin # and requests (i.e. pack n play, early dinner seating etc.)

2) I see some of you have checked in....whoa, should I make the final payment now so I can do that ASAP? (I am assuming that is necessary to check in, righ?) This is all coming up so quick! ETA: Okay I think that is because you have cruised before that some are on 90 days vs 75? Is that right?

3) Any recommenations for a hotel in the LA/Port of LA area? We are flying in the day before. I was considering Santa Moncia so we can go to the pier.

Sorry for all the newbie questions, my DH and I cruised on NCL once, but that was 10 years ago so we are new to DCL (and very excited!)

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

I look forward to trying to catch up with this ginormous thread!

 

[erbie]

Hi all, I am GromMom's sister from the Boston area and we are coming out to CA to cruise with you all! I have a 7-year-old daughter who is a big Disney Fanatic (been three times now) and we are keeping it a surprise for the moment.

Welcome! My 6 year old daughter will be on the cruise as well. If you're interested in having them be penpals before the cruise please PM me. My dd10 had a penpal before our last one and she had a great time in the clubs with her new friend.

2) I see some of you have checked in....whoa, should I make the final payment now so I can do that ASAP? (I am assuming that is necessary to check in, righ?) This is all coming up so quick! ETA: Okay I think that is because you have cruised before that some are on 90 days vs 75? Is that right?

Yes, Silver, Gold, and Platinum have earlier check-in dates. I'm silver and our date was this past Sunday. You have til July 10th, I believe. The cruise is only half full at this point, so you should still be able to get ressies for stuff by then.

3) Any recommenations for a hotel in the LA/Port of LA area? We are flying in the day before. I was considering Santa Moncia so we can go to the pier.

Depends on your budget. Santa Monica has some very nice hotels and some very gross hotels. The nice ones can be pretty pricey. I'm very familiar with SM, so if you want to run the hotels by me that you're considering, I can tell you what the neighborhoods are like. There are a lot of hotels near LAX as well. Marina del Rey is also a nice place to stay.

 

[glindamood]

Well, I made my DCL call as promised - bet if I called again I would get yet another response. I was told that since this trip was going out of CA that they had no idea which night was which but that our second night would be Formal night. She also said that there are no fireworks on pirate night because California doesn't allow it (and neither does Alaska and Canada) so clueless in regards to if we will have them. I do know that we had pirate night on our PC trip but maybe we did it before the canal or before we really got back up to CA. I do find CM's interesting..... She could see my wine tour for SD though on my list of excursions so that was a good thing (except I may cancel it in favor of the HOHO trolley tour. We shall see there as well.

again to our new cruisers. We are growing - and growing which is good.

 

[jetskigrl]

Well, I made my DCL call as promised - bet if I called again I would get yet another response. I was told that since this trip was going out of CA that they had no idea which night was which but that our second night would be Formal night. She also said that there are no fireworks on pirate night because California doesn't allow it (and neither does Alaska and Canada) so clueless in regards to if we will have them. I do know that we had pirate night on our PC trip but maybe we did it before the canal or before we really got back up to CA. I do find CM's interesting..... She could see my wine tour for SD though on my list of excursions so that was a good thing (except I may cancel it in favor of the HOHO trolley tour. We shall see there as well.

again to our new cruisers. We are growing - and growing which is good.

Hum....that makes me wonder (no pun intended, LOL) if the reason for Pirate Night being on the second to last night is to get us out of California in time to do fireworks (wishful thinking maybe). Although leaving SD at 9:30 pm doesn't give much time (I can't remember if the fireworks went off at 10:00 or later). But we had fireworks on the MR cruise, so I know they can do it in Mexico. We were right off the coast of Cabo when they went off.

 

[dennisbryce]

Hello everyone
It seems so unreal that we are going to be cruising again in just a few short months We are also going on our very first visit to Disney World in about 48 days so I am in total panic
I have a few questions for everyone if you don't mind helping a crazed planner:
Where is everyone staying before the cruise? Are you flying in the night before or the day of? We have not decied if we should chance flying in the day of the cruise or the day before. I have never been to LA and don't know of where the best place to stay would be. We are planning on using disney transfers unless I can find something better
Does anyone know how far the port is from the airport? Has anyone cruised out of LA?
Do we have a meet scheduled for this cruise onboard? We have been to one on all our othe cruises and it is fun and exciting to meet those we have been talking to
I finally had a chance to read all posts and I am totaly excited to be taking my dear friend and daughter Can't wait to be sailing again

 

[erbie]

Does anyone know how far the port is from the airport? Has anyone cruised out of LA?
Do we have a meet scheduled for this cruise onboard? We have been to one on all our othe cruises and it is fun and exciting to meet those we have been talking to

No transfers for me because I live in LA. My mom will drop us and pick us up. Of the four DCL cruises I've been on, three were out of LA. The port is not far from the airport, but with traffic, you never know how long it will take. When we have gone, we've left from about ten minutes north of LAX, and to get to the port for 10:30 check in time we left at 9:30 and arrived around 10:00. Since its a Sunday, traffic going south in the morning shouldn't be bad at all, but as it *is* the 405, there could be a leaf falling in Sao Paolo and the freeway would back up. I'd plan for an hour from the airport and then be happy if it takes less.

No talk so far of a meet, but we should try to plan one.