Wonder in Alaska!!! May 27, 2013

[SpeedFigure]

since we kids got pushed off the boards, we ended up forming our own FE group and made a list via Google documents. It was a secure link and unless you were invited, no one else could see the information. If worked well. Just an idea. I'm all for a cutoff cause it gets too hectic to add people last minute-- especially for those that make things. I'm a crafter and get a big crazy about Disney crafts.

Also how do you join the FB group?

 

[jilljill]

Brumbie I had forgotten about the 'person'. So glad no one had any known problems from them. It's really a shame someone would even threaten to do such things.

 

[dolphingirl47]

Sounds great!! Please look into it as we get closer and I will be glad to help in any way I can. Also I will be bring Macadamia nuts from KAU where I live to taste along with the Champagne!! Looking forward to meeting you Dolphin Girl

I will get going on this early next year. I am still in touch with the person who organized this on our Panama Canal cruise so I am sure she can give me some pointers.

since we kids got pushed off the boards, we ended up forming our own FE group and made a list via Google documents. It was a secure link and unless you were invited, no one else could see the information. If worked well. Just an idea. I'm all for a cutoff cause it gets too hectic to add people last minute-- especially for those that make things. I'm a crafter and get a big crazy about Disney crafts.

Also how do you join the FB group?

I did the same thing for our Mexican Riviera cruise where I organized the Fish Extender exchange.

If you PM me your details on how to find you on Facebook, I will add you to the group.

Corinna

 

[Brumbie13]

since we kids got pushed off the boards, we ended up forming our own FE group and made a list via Google documents. It was a secure link and unless you were invited, no one else could see the information. If worked well. Just an idea. I'm all for a cutoff cause it gets too hectic to add people last minute-- especially for those that make things. I'm a crafter and get a big crazy about Disney crafts.

This sounds like a really good idea!
I think that would be much easier than doing a PM chain to keep things straight!

Also how do you join the FB group?

Looks like DolphinGirl has got you covered.
Another thing you can do is this. If you click here you will find the group, then you can click where it says join group and then you will be added by either DolphinGirl or myself. (We're both admins who can add people.) The Facebook group is a private group that requires approval to join and to see anything.

 

[annichan]

I will get going on this early next year. I am still in touch with the person who organized this on our Panama Canal cruise so I am sure she can give me some pointers.

Oohh, I would be so interested in joining the Champagne Girls group! Now if only I could finally be sure I get my time off work (and it looks like I will know as soon as the new boss has settled in, sometime around September) I could start freaking with anticipation for the cruise!

Another thing you can do is this. If you click here you will find the group, then you can click where it says join group and then you will be added by either DolphinGirl or myself. (We're both admins who can add people.) The Facebook group is a private group that requires approval to join and to see anything.

I've just asked to be approved to the FB group as well, and pm'ed DolphinGirl about it (couldn't pass up the chance to write a message in German to a Diser, that is just so rarely possible! )

 

[dolphingirl47]

This sounds like a really good idea!
I think that would be much easier than doing a PM chain to keep things straight!

If required, I would be happy to help set up the Google form. I have become the Queen of Google Docs in the planning stages for the last two cruises.

Corinna

 

[dolphingirl47]

Oohh, I would be so interested in joining the Champagne Girls group! Now if only I could finally be sure I get my time off work (and it looks like I will know as soon as the new boss has settled in, sometime around September) I could start freaking with anticipation for the cruise!



I've just asked to be approved to the FB group as well, and pm'ed DolphinGirl about it (couldn't pass up the chance to write a message in German to a Diser, that is just so rarely possible! )

That is the the reason why I won't start planning anything until early in the new year. At the moment people have the best intentions of making this cruise, but life can get in the way. The PIF date is relatively early in the new year so it should then be safe to plan those kind of activities.

Your PM somehow did not make it, but I was on Facebook when I had a pop up letting me know that you were asking to join. So you are now part of the group.

Corinna

 

[SpeedFigure]

Are any of you booked with a travel company? I never have used one, but am thinking of moving my reservation with Dreams Unlimited. Just don't like not having all the control over my reservation.

Also- as for the Crew Gifts. They weren't that excited about candy or food. But I gave our girl assistant server all my magazines I had read on the plane/ship and she was SO excited. She couldn't wait to catch up on 'American gossip'. Haha
Mainly the gifts they would like are toiletries and laundry items. They said they have to pay for those on their own. We bought them some small lotions with matching bath gel from bath and body works and also these tiny clip on air freshners. They really liked that. The men mentioned shaving gels, body wash.. The girls were more about body wash and lotions, hair supplys. I would recommend by nice brands, no non-name brand. Cause I know I'd get use out of like a Pantene pro-v product over dollar store stuff.
As for laundry, I guess it gets expensive for them since they have to pay for the laundry and then the soaps. (remember most of these people are paying for homes or families back home). There is a Purex 3 in 1 sheets someone got our stewards and they were super happy about that. I think those are the best deals.
Some of our friends bought them card games, small stuff for their rooms and they appreciated the new entertainment and again magazines were a hit.

Those are just suggestions the crew gave us and we took note. I always think the staff does an amazing job and deserve to be a little spoiled for making my vacation awesome. We bring gifts for the servers, stewards and then the nursery staff for our son, but also extra for the crew members in the bars/entertainment areas that make our trip fun. (we usually friend a bunch of crew).
Don't feel pressured to do this!! That's just some ideas

 

[jilljill]

I book all my cruises with Carol at www.dfwcruises.com. Been using her for years and got her name from a couple of DIS'er back in 2003 or 2004. We've been know to email each other and very odd times and it's nice to know she's there when I need her.
While it's true you can't call DCL with specific questions about your ressie, you can still do you own online check in and online reservations. But a good TA is there for you when you need them and can back you up if there are problems.

I know I've made Carol work for her money over the years with all my questions and requests, but she's been there with answers and fulfilling the requests when she can. But I've also given her some new clients based on my recommendations.


Thanks for the info on the gifts for the crew. I'm sure it would be much easier to give them the smaller size bottles in case they get a lot of them from guests.

 

[Brumbie13]

I choose to stick with reserving through Disney's website.
I don't think that there is any benefit to having a middle-man when Disney makes it so easy themselves.

That's my own opinion.

I know they can help with some things. For example, jilljill really wanted a cabin that would be next door to mine, so she had her TA make sure to reserve that specific room. But overall, I haven't had a need for something like that.

 

[OKW Lover]

I thought I had already posted on this thread, but can't seem to find my post. Must have hit the wrong key or something.

Anyway, my wife (Val) and I (Jeff) will be on board this cruise. We're making this the second half of a B2B with the West Coast Repo cruise. We are DCL veterans, having done six so far and 3 more (counting these two) planned.

 

[jilljill]

I know they can help with some things. For example, jilljill really wanted a cabin that would be next door to mine, so she had her TA make sure to reserve that specific room. But overall, I haven't had a need for something like that.

That's hilarious! Thanks for the morning laugh.
Let's be real.....you wanted me next to you so you were guaranteed a non-smoker up-wind from you.

 

[jilljill]

I thought I had already posted on this thread, but can't seem to find my post. Must have hit the wrong key or something.

Anyway, my wife (Val) and I (Jeff) will be on board this cruise. We're making this the second half of a B2B with the West Coast Repo cruise. We are DCL veterans, having done six so far and 3 more (counting these two) planned.

Another member of the B2B club.

 

[Brumbie13]

That's hilarious! Thanks for the morning laugh.
Let's be real.....you wanted me next to you so you were guaranteed a non-smoker up-wind from you.

That was a hilarious thread!

I'm sure many people missed it, but it was a pretty funny story.

Shortly after I booked my Navigator Verandah, I made a thread asking about the privacy of the Navigator Verandah because in some pictures it looks like it's sealed off, and in others it looks like there's a gap. I was curious about privacy as well as whether it would keep away some of the cigarette smoke from other verandahs. jilljill responded that she was in the stateroom to my left (upwind) and she didn't smoke, so we had no worries there.Then, a little while later, chiasgirl came and said she was on our right, and she doesn't smoke either! It was just a pretty funny coincidence that we all happened to get our staterooms right next to each other!

 

[Brumbie13]

I thought I had already posted on this thread, but can't seem to find my post. Must have hit the wrong key or something.

Anyway, my wife (Val) and I (Jeff) will be on board this cruise. We're making this the second half of a B2B with the West Coast Repo cruise. We are DCL veterans, having done six so far and 3 more (counting these two) planned.

Cool!
I've seen you around a lot on these boards!
Happy to be cruising with you!

 

[dolphingirl47]

Are any of you booked with a travel company? I never have used one, but am thinking of moving my reservation with Dreams Unlimited. Just don't like not having all the control over my reservation.

I have been dealing with Dreams Unlimited since our third cruise and my travel agent is Kelsie, who is worth her weight in gold. Initially I was very reluctant to give up control as I work in the travel industry and in my experience a lot of travel agents are either incompetent or dishonest. It was pure greed that made me decided to give Dreams Unlimited a try. I am so glad I did. Kelsie sorted out some complications for me like an unwanted upgrade on our Med cruise (I do not do split bathrooms) or getting the Repo part of this B2B reinstated at the original terms when DCL screwed up taking the deposit. She also managed to snag me a cabin on the Hawaii cruise at opening pricing and with an assigned cabin from day one. I was at work when the reservations opened and would have missed the chance to book it at that price if it had not been for her.

Corinna

 

[Magic3forme]

We also use Dreams Unlimited. ( 4th time using them). We did it mostly for the extra booking credit. Tammy is our agent and has been great to work with too.

As for the FE... that is insane!! This will be my 3rd one to organize and havent had any problems like that. Our last crusie (5-26) we had a few ask to join late, at that point a few said they would add them. ( but it was optional, and everyone understood.) We had 44 cabins last time.

I do all the main contact thru personal emails.. really dont want to have to resort to PMs.

 

[Brumbie13]

Our last crusie (5-26) we had a few ask to join late, at that point a few said they would add them.

Our cutoff date was Thanksgiving (Our cruise was 1/8/12) but, like you, we let some people join late, since they had either just joined the forum or just found the thread.

But two weeks prior was just too soon, especially for people who had planned out and bought stuff online in specific quantities.

 

[Chiasgirl]

That was a hilarious thread!

I'm sure many people missed it, but it was a pretty funny story.

Shortly after I booked my Navigator Verandah, I made a thread asking about the privacy of the Navigator Verandah because in some pictures it looks like it's sealed off, and in others it looks like there's a gap. I was curious about privacy as well as whether it would keep away some of the cigarette smoke from other verandahs. jilljill responded that she was in the stateroom to my left (upwind) and she didn't smoke, so we had no worries there.Then, a little while later, chiasgirl came and said she was on our right, and she doesn't smoke either! It was just a pretty funny coincidence that we all happened to get our staterooms right next to each other!

Alas, we are no longer neighbours. My husband convinced me that we just had to have a cat 5 instead of the cat 7. I hope I don't regret it when I'm sitting outside freezing breathing all my neighbour's smoke!

We are looking forward to the cruise but it still seems so far off - we have one more cruise and a trip to WDW in the meantime. I will probably get more excited when we get back from those...

 

[Brumbie13]

Alas, we are no longer neighbours. My husband convinced me that we just had to have a cat 5 instead of the cat 7. I hope I don't regret it when I'm sitting outside freezing breathing all my neighbour's smoke!

Awe shucks.
I thought it would be cool to be surrounded by DIS people.

That's okay though. As long as the person upwind from me doesn't move, I think I'll be good.

Enjoy the smoke!