Very Early Meet - Aug 26, 2007 Wonder

[colleensauctions]

Just wanted to give a tip - i had five free flights on air tran left from a wendys promotion - i tried to call every day to get the flights for august - they told me that they had nothing available and that those free flights dont open up until about a month or two prior?? well how was i supposed to rent a house and a car and make cruise reservations?? so wht i did was email customer service - and guess what?? I got all five flights!! I just told them that I would like to make other vacation arrangements and I felt like I was getting penalized for being a good flyer - i told them the names and ages of each passenger - along with each acct that i wanted to use (we had three accts for free tickets) told them the days and times i wanted to fly - i got everything i asked for, one change in outing flight - instead of leaving at 6:00am, we are leaving around noon - hey i can do that for five free flights - so fyi - if you are trying to use airtran - try and kill them with kindess through customer service - see you all onboard
colleen

 

[colleensauctions]

i know a little dumb - finally able to post my countdown tracker!!!
YAHOO

<a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/">
<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10708;2/st/20070826/e/Disney+Wonder+Cruise/k/6fbd/event.png"></a>

 

[colleensauctions]

come and join in a yahoo group email list - when you email to the group all members recieve the emails - its fun - send an email to

disneywonder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

also to see the group i started - just go to yahoogroups.com and search for disney wonder

hope we all meet up

colleen

 

[manntra]

Count us in too! I will be joining you with my 11 year old niece. It will be our first cruise for the both of us and we are beyond excited. I can't thank everyone enough for all of the helpful posts and information provided here.
We took a week long vacation last year to WDW and stayed at BW and AK and we had such a great time (I have been to DW about 10x when younger but hadn't been in years.) that I booked a cruise (land/sea) for us this year.
I am thinking about the Atlantis excursion but will probably look into the Comfort Suites option for the braclets. I stayed at Atlantis about 4 years ago and the pools/slides are amazing and it would be a bummer just to walk around the property and not be able to use the amenities. Although I probably won't be going down the big slide again, I did it twice and that was fine with me. Having my picture is good proof enough!
We are located in Upstate NY and are planning for some warmer weather!

 

[manntra]

To Coleen...we are near Binghamton, about an hour South of Syracuse....I saw that you sent me a message about where in Upstate NY we are and I couldn't reply because I am "too new" and need to have more posts! I have been spending too much time reading and not enough posting I guess!!
Tracy

 

[silmarg]

we are near Binghamton

I am a SUNY Binghamton Alum (class of 90) and will be on the cruise.

 

[colleensauctions]

other than sunshine rewards - what other rewards has anyone used to get credit on disney things? i know chase offers a credit card (no fee) when you sign up and use the card once for at least $25.00 you get a $50.00 onboard credit - i am just waiting for mine to come in - i applied last week. Just wondering what else is out there from all you vetrans -
thanks
colleen

 

[silmarg]

what's sunshine rewards?

 

[colleensauctions]

thats a program that allows you earn points and then redeem them for disney dollars - its free and you can use the credits for disney stuff - i beleive they are good for disney cruises as well - its an easy program - you can sign up here

http://www.sunshinerewards.com/signup.php?r=5388

good luck and enjoy earning cash rewards!!!!!

colleen

 

[tmli]

Has everyone decided what excursions (if any) they will be doing?

Does anyone know how much we will pay for a cab to Atlantis and for admission? Trying to decide if we should just do this on our own as we don't want to do anything but look around. We also were wondering if we would have time to visit the straw market. I know it has mixed reviews but I feel we should at least experience it once! I have been to Nassau before and actually don't enjoy it there at all--I just think it would be nice to see Atlantis to tell my clients about it! Fiance has never been anywhere in the Caribbean before--it is his first cruise!

In Castaway Cay, I was considering the Parasailing but have NO experience with this at all and not sure if I am capable of doing it on my own. Doing it Tandem may not be an option because of maximum weight (not sure what that is).

All that being said....I love being on the ship when it is in port.

 

[colleensauctions]

Welcome!
I have parasailed before - I dont know anything about weight requirements - however it was much fun - it was years and years ago.

I personally think the tour to Atlantis is a rip off - you dont get to use the slides or anything - its purely a tour - thats up to you.

The straw market? Its an experience for sure lol - its fun, but I would not devote more than 1 hour to it.

I did the dolphin adventure one time there - totally recommend it - however what they offer on cruises is not the best - the best is the one you book on the net - you actually swim - not just meet and greet the dolphins!!!! Its expensive - but totally woth it - its about 165.00 pp - I did it a few years ago with 3 of my kids - my kids were the only kids there - all adults - it was fun fun fun!!!

If you want to do water slides and good beach at atlantis you will have to book a room at the comfort suites or atlantis - thats the only way you get wristbands into the place

The other advebture thats nice is ardastra gardens - that was fun - i did that many many many many years ago

I think we might just do the gardens with the kids and then go back to the ship to hang out - you get fewer crowds and can enjoy yourself - but if your fiance has never been there - you shouldnt spend the day on the ship in my opinion - take him out to see the island!

enjoy and see you there
colleen

 

[silmarg]

pretty sure I will do the day room at the Atlantis or the confort suites...

not sure about CC yet... I have not done enough research on CC as of yet.

 

[colleensauctions]

pretty sure I will do the day room at the Atlantis or the confort suites...

not sure about CC yet... I have not done enough research on CC as of yet.

every time i call atlantis - i am told they do not have day rooms, and if you rent a room - its super expensive!!!!!! but another woman told me to check back closet to the cruise date - what do you know about day rooms at atlantis and pricing?
thanks
colleen

 

[manntra]

I remember seeing a post somewhere here in my travels about the Comfort Suites and a price of around $225 for a day room. That particular family booked a day room (Comfort Suites) and checked in / out at the same time, got some bracelets and were good to go for the slides and pools.
Atlantis is an amazing hotel and property. As I think I may have mentioned I stayed there for a week about 4 years ago. Amazing and verrrryyyy expensive. That was a great trip though and I would like to see it now that they added on more slides and rooms. I know someone who was on the Wonder last year in Feb and booked a room at Atlantis and was over $400 and he didn't know about Comfort Suites. Not prepared like I will be with all of my research!!
I am now torn between booking the room at Comfort Suites or doing the dolphin swim. I missed out on the dolphin swim last time I was there b/c it was booked so far in advance. That was back before I discovered the wealth of information you can find on message boards lol.) I know that my niece would probably choose that over Atlantis so we will see. So....maybe the dolphin encounter and then back to the boat.
On CC thinking about the Eco tour, a lot of people have good things to say about that. I know dn (I will call her dn disney niece from now on, I think that is the proper way??!! I am new to the boards!) wants to have her hair braided but I think I will do that before we leave so she can get used to it sleeping etc. When I was at Atlantis before, my other niece (dn lol) that I took there got her hair done by the beach from some locals and it took quite a while and hurt quite a bit.
Tracy

 

[colleensauctions]

I am now torn between booking the room at Comfort Suites or doing the dolphin swim. I missed out on the dolphin swim last time I was there b/c it was booked so far in advance.
Tracy

I would book the dolphin swim - but the full encounter - what an experience and do buy the pictures they offer - you wont find them any clearer and you can scan them into your computer - they turn out wonderful!!!!! but dont book the one on the ship - book straight through the web, the ship doesnt offer the full dolphin encounter

colleen

 

[silmarg]

I have only heard about day rooms on these boards. I have not booked anything as of yet.

 

[tmli]

We were all the way back on the 4th page....that will not d0!

How are everyones plans coming along? Anyone planning on planning on doing the pirates and princess party at Disney before or after their trip?

 

[manntra]

Well as I look at the snow falling outside tonight (we are potentially getting a foot--but that's ok, more snowboarding!) the cruise seems so far away!! We might do the pirates/princess during our land stay before the cruise. It might score points for me for the character breakfast I reserved and then forgot about last year! I am also leaning towards the dolphin swim for our time at nassau but I don't know a good time to book....to get there etc. Well I am going to go shovel a path for Ziggy to go outside. It's freezing!!!

 

[colleensauctions]

I am also leaning towards the dolphin swim for our time at nassau but I don't know a good time to book....to get there etc. Well I am going to go shovel a path for Ziggy to go outside. It's freezing!!!

make sure you book the good one online - the ships dont offer it - its the full swim with the dolphins about 165.00 each - but totally worth it - you need to plan time to get there and pay your own transportation to the dock that takes you there - super fun - book the mid afternoon one, then you wont be rushed at all!!! theres not a lot to do in nassau - shop a little and ardastra gardens - atantis is great - but not the tour - you dont get to use the slides on teh tour at all - you need a room booked there or the comfort suites to use the slides - good luck - book at dolphin adventure - you wont be sorry - cost me about 700 a few years back and i saved and saved - 4 of us did it - it was awesome

 

[manntra]

Just a fyi for anyone looking for a cheap (very cheap!) costume idea for kids on pirates night. It is at Target and was only $2.64. I handed the cashier $3.00 and even got back change! It is in the toy clearance dept (clearance is on the end of the aisles at our Target.) It's from the Pirates of the Carribean 2 movie. It is really kind of cheesy but if she uses one thing or even nothing I would'nt care. There is a sword, 3 toy rings, Jack Sparrow's compass, some tatoos, and a bandanna with some beading and braids.
Thanks Coleen for the dolphin advice...I knew that was what I wanted to do I just wasn't sure of what time of day...but like you said, early afternoon. I stayed at Atlantis for a week a few years ago anyways so although that would be fun again I need something different. Thanks again!