Wonder's EBPC 9/12/14 Who's Going With Us!

[mmbl]

I know I saw it somewhere in one of these pages how far it is from DL to San Diego but I can't find it anywhere now. Trying also to determine whether to fly from NY to San Diego directly and whether it's better to do it early in the day or in the evening, so as to not have as much jet lag. Anyone flying from NY to San Diego? Are there multiple airport choices in San Diego? Advice please
Also trying to figure out if I should rebook the cruise through DVC using my vacation points or leave it as a "cash cruise"

Shelljay,
Distance: It is 95 miles (appx 2 hrs per Mapquest) between SD-DL.
Points: We looked into DVC and had lots of questions about points and cruising. The sales reps said it really wasn't worth it as it was an exorbitant amount of points for cruising. That's one reason we didn't buy in; but you may have a lot of points to use so it may be worth it for you. Time to fly: This is personal preference but I like early morning flights (we are central time, only an hour earlier than you) because we get to our destination early enough to actually do something. You shouldn't have much jet lag, if any between NY and Ca.
Airport: I believe there is only one airport in SD (SD International) if you fly in on a commercial flight. There is Long Beach Airport near DL and LAX about an 45-60 minutes drive north of Anaheim. Check online and with your carrier to see which of these airports they serve.
In any case, regardless of where you fly in, you'll need a car to either get to DL or the port UNLESS you fly into SD and go directly to the port. You can make arrangements for airport transfers with the cruise line or take a taxi- it's easier IMO.
I found ALL this info on the web. We may fly into SD and rent car RT ( round trip) to go to DL and then back to the port OR if the cost is significantly less, then we will fly into Long Beach and after a couple of days at DL, rent a car one way and drive to the port.
Researching, planning and organizing is- to me- a lot of the fun of travel! I'm sure whatever decisions you make will be just fine AS LONG AS YOU'RE IN BOARD BEFORE THE SHIP SAILS!
Happy planning,
Maria

 

[mmbl]

We are now booked on this cruise. We are hoping that we will both be able to get the time off work but it is too early to make the requests. Fingers crossed that it all works out. We have been wanting to do a Disney cruise again and the Panama Canal so this will be perfect. This will be our fourth Disney cruise and second on the Wonder.

I have not read the previous 38 pages in this thread yet. Any word on whether or not there will be a FE exchange on this cruise?

Dumb question: what is a FE exchange?

 

[mmbl]

I'm not sure about Florida AP rates at the CA properties. Couldn't hurt to ask. They do have AP rates for DL AP's and during off season (which September would certainly qualify) and sometimes the savings can be substantial. During peak times though, I don't think that the savings is more than 10%. I've never stayed at the Grand Californian but I've walked through it often and it is a magnificent Hotel. Rooms are small than the DL Hotel though. As far as Paradise Peir goes... I'd rather stay at a good neighbor hotel. Cheaper with better quality.

Thanks Dsnydad! The Pass that covers both parks is suppose to have the same benefits /perks at both locations. At WDW we get 30-40% off and only once did we have to modify our hotel choice because they had no Passholder rates available there. For a 10% discount , it may not be worth getting the pass it but I'll have to do the math on Fla. PAP plus day tix in Ca. vs. PAP that covers both. If I'm not mistaken, and David can confirm, that we get a higher discount with the premium annual pass as opposed to the other types of AP. it may not matter in Ca. I'll call the DL hotels or reservations to get their take. I'm also thinking maybe booking one of the hotel chains where we have points to earn more~ saving for another trip to Aruba using points! I do love planning!

 

[davidls]

(I didn't want to bash anyone who does 3-4 days. It was just funny that this woman was going on and on.

No offense here on my part either kdeans. I too think it is funny how people get these ideas in their heads.

 

[davidls]

We are now booked on this cruise. We are hoping that we will both be able to get the time off work but it is too early to make the requests. Fingers crossed that it all works out. We have been wanting to do a Disney cruise again and the Panama Canal so this will be perfect. This will be our fourth Disney cruise and second on the Wonder.

I have not read the previous 38 pages in this thread yet. Any word on whether or not there will be a FE exchange on this cruise?

spacecanada to the cruise. Glad ya'll are joining us. My DW has the same problem as you. It is too far out to ask for the time off for this cruise. We don't believe there will be a problem to get the two weeks off for the cruise, but we were hoping to stretch it out to 3 weeks and visit Disneyland for a few days before the cruise. That may be a problem. DW has 5 weeks of vacation, but her company frowns on taking more then 2 weeks at a time.

 

[Robin"D"]

Thanks, I don't have a way to share any photo's on the boards....
The night before the crossing began, we were anchored outside the beginning of the crossing with two others. We awoke @ 5:45 @ the start of the crossing. It was so nice to have a veranda for the crossing....I was surprised of the crossing, had no idea there was 3 different locks, huge lakes to cross and it took over 10 hrs to make it to the other side.
Side note, we are also booked on the 4 day repo cruise from VC to SD. We thought about going to DL, but we saved $$$ by doing repo cruise.

The Sea days were awesome.....so much to do if you wanted, or just relax and enjoy your time on the great Disney Wonder, our Favorite Disney Ship!

If anyone has any other question, will be happy to answer them...

one thing I am disappointed about is NO stop on CC

Robin & Angel "D"

to Robin "D" (Robin & Angel "D") to the cruise. So glad ya'll are joining us on the cruise. We are really looking forward going thru the Panama Canal locks, and for this longer cruise. Thanks for offering to answer our questions. I'm sure there will be some questions for you as we go along here. To start things off here, question wise, how early did you get up the day of the crossing to get a good spot up on the top deck for a good view? And, do you have a pics you wouldn't mind sharing of your crossing?

 

[kdeans1010]

Here's my soap box about Southern California airports (grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, CA- which 6 years ago was about 90 minutes north of San Diego via the 15 freeway.) :

Airports---
San Diego- never been to. Haven't heard anything one way or another.

LAX- super big, super complicated. It always makes me feel like I'm in some 1970s spy movie. I also HATE the driving in that airport. My sister picked me up once from there and it was sucky. My uncle nearly got into a car accident. But my two uncles that live in that area love this airport. My brother likes it because he lives in hipster part of LA. I just don't like traffic and people driving like tushy holes.

Burbank- my uncle really likes this airport. It's small.

Long Beach- A lot of my friends used this airport when I lived in Fullerton/Anaheim. I've heard it's small and quick.

Palm Springs- this is the airport my grandparents use. This is... if you take I-10 ALLLLLLL the way out to Palm Springs, this is that airport. My grandparents live in Banning, CA (a retirement community about 40 minutes from Palm Springs.). It's a small airport. When we have family reunions in Palm Desert, my uncles and aunts use this airport. One perk? You can get to Guide Dogs of the Desert and see how awesome they are when you're driving through. It's hot though. Hot and lots of super old people...

John Wayne in Irvine- this one has expensive tickets. It's a nice airport. I like picking people up from it because it's small and easy to get around in. The ticket prices are expensive, but it's a fairly "quick" jaunt from Disneyland. They have weird flight times relating to city ordinances.

Ontario- this is the one I'm flying into. It's a small airport. Really small. But it's easy to get around. You're kinda' out in the boonies (although considering So Cal is really going east, you're not really.). If you take the side streets to the 60 west freeway, then to the 57 you can be at Disneyland within about 40 minutes pending on traffic. I am going through this airport because it's my home airport. It's right near where I grew up; we are staying at a hotel across the street from the mall I would walk to, I get to see my best friend. Plus it's a straight shot down the 15 to San Diego.

Okay that's all the airports I can think of. Unless CA got some new ones.

 

[Robin"D"]

Just do what we are doing, get on the 4 day before this cruise!!!


Just a thought

Robin & Angel "D"

Here's my soap box about Southern California airports (grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, CA- which 6 years ago was about 90 minutes north of San Diego via the 15 freeway.) :

Airports---
San Diego- never been to. Haven't heard anything one way or another.

LAX- super big, super complicated. It always makes me feel like I'm in some 1970s spy movie. I also HATE the driving in that airport. My sister picked me up once from there and it was sucky. My uncle nearly got into a car accident. But my two uncles that live in that area love this airport. My brother likes it because he lives in hipster part of LA. I just don't like traffic and people driving like tushy holes.

Burbank- my uncle really likes this airport. It's small.

Long Beach- A lot of my friends used this airport when I lived in Fullerton/Anaheim. I've heard it's small and quick.

Palm Springs- this is the airport my grandparents use. This is... if you take I-10 ALLLLLLL the way out to Palm Springs, this is that airport. My grandparents live in Banning, CA (a retirement community about 40 minutes from Palm Springs.). It's a small airport. When we have family reunions in Palm Desert, my uncles and aunts use this airport. One perk? You can get to Guide Dogs of the Desert and see how awesome they are when you're driving through. It's hot though. Hot and lots of super old people...

John Wayne in Irvine- this one has expensive tickets. It's a nice airport. I like picking people up from it because it's small and easy to get around in. The ticket prices are expensive, but it's a fairly "quick" jaunt from Disneyland. They have weird flight times relating to city ordinances.

Ontario- this is the one I'm flying into. It's a small airport. Really small. But it's easy to get around. You're kinda' out in the boonies (although considering So Cal is really going east, you're not really.). If you take the side streets to the 60 west freeway, then to the 57 you can be at Disneyland within about 40 minutes pending on traffic. I am going through this airport because it's my home airport. It's right near where I grew up; we are staying at a hotel across the street from the mall I would walk to, I get to see my best friend. Plus it's a straight shot down the 15 to San Diego.

Okay that's all the airports I can think of. Unless CA got some new ones.

 

[kdeans1010]

Just do what we are doing, get on the 4 day before this cruise!!!


Just a thought

Robin & Angel "D"

Or do that.... I want to visit home before I go.

 

[spacecanada]

Tank you for the welcomes!

I started a new job last year and only get two weeks vacation, so using it all at once could be tricky, but doable. It's just making sure my supervisor doesn't want to take that same time off. My husband has four weeks of vacation, so I am not worried about him getting the time off. We'll do our best to make it work out.

Dumb question: what is a FE exchange?

There are no dumb questions, and you will be very happy that you asked this one! A FE is a fish extender. There is a little fish outside your stateroom door where stewards can put stuff like invitations, papers, etc. A fish extender is something you hang from that fish with one pocket for each person in your cabin. Then, everyone signed up for the fish extender exchange makes or buys small gifts for the other people on the FE group. Throughout the cruise, you deliver little presents to other guests and they deliver things to you. It is a fun little thing to do and you will get some really special cruise souvenirs that other people have made. There are sometimes get togethers with the FE people and it can be a great way to make friends and meet these DIS personalities in person.

Also, wandering the ship to see all the decorated doors and unique fish extenders is a great way to spent some spare time. Some people make really magnificent displays. Something we have never seen on other cruise lines and really enjoy.

 

[gramfrog]

We just got off the Disney Magic EBTA (so fun! 14 days are not even long enough!) and booked the EBPC 2014. Yay! We had booked the WBTA for Sept 2014, but on board they gave a 20% discount booking fee for the two 2014 Panama Canal trips--- hard to pass up! Looking forward to going on this voyage-- have never been on the Wonder before. Now, need to tell all the crazy friends we made on the EBTA that we're not sailing with them next fall....

 

[gramfrog]

Could someone please direct me to the EBPC 2014 Facebook page? I can't figure out what it's listed as. Thanks!!!!!

 

[Shelljay]

MMLB.... thanks for the info gives me lots to think about. We've decided not to use the points...we'd only have enough for about half the cost of the cruise and then we wouldn't have any points to stay at WDW after the cruise for a few days.

re: the FE...what do some people give...the last two cruises we did were in 2003 and 2004 and didn't know anything about FE then. Do you make stuff with items from your area? I know when our daughter went to a Youth Triennium, they traded pins with each other, she came home with pins from all over the country.

 

[kdeans1010]

FEs are fun. The first one I gave a first aide kit (Johnson and Johnson's 90 cent one with added Mickey, Muppet, and Spiderman band aides- the latter were tegaderm type bandaides... that's how I justified it. I added Mickey bandaides.). I had just graduated nursing school. This last cruise I did travel alarm clocks. Last cruise someone gave me a canvas tote that I use as my school bag... I've been pinteresting ideas for this cruise.

 

[#1Yepod]

Still on the fence on this cruise, but here a couple of 2011 wbpc pics. The first is waiting to enter the canal after refueling..second entering on of the locks, third Centennial Bridge and Contential Divide, then Panama City Skyline, fifth Bridge of the Americas leaving the canal, and the Panama Passenger train.

 

[mmbl]

FE's-- sound like fun but could you please share more info. I know these are really basic questions but we've never been involved and have never even seen these on either of our two prior Disney cruises (Wonder, Dream.)
Questions:
Do you hand a basket, tote or hook or what on your Fish?
How often do you give something? Any price or type of gift considerations?
Do you get a 'cabin' to be your 'giftee' or do you get an individual in the cabin?
Is there a FE get together at some point to meet the others?
Thanks and really appreciate your time!

 

[mmbl]

CAR POOL-- DL -PORT:
DAVID and anyone else driving from DL area to Port. I confirmed with my friend and it looks as if they will fly directly into San Diego. We will therefore have a car either the entire time we are in Anaheim or at least to drive from DL to Port the morning of the sailing. If you are pretty certain you want to car pool, message me and I'll start list so we can best determine size of vehicle ,appx cost per person based on one way rental, gas, number of people and appx. amount of luggage- I always seem to overpack and each trip I determine to pack less but I always fall short

 

[mmbl]

Still on the fence on this cruise, but here a couple of 2011 wbpc pics. The first is waiting to enter the canal after refueling..second entering on of the locks, third Centennial Bridge and Contential Divide, then Panama City Skyline, fifth Bridge of the Americas leaving the canal, and the Panama Passenger train.

http://s1281.photobucket.com/user/yepodgram/media/panama/136_zps1662d23b.jpg.html

http://s1281.photobucket.com/user/yepodgram/media/panama/190_zpscca7af6c.jpg.html

http://s1281.photobucket.com/user/y...1188890902_img_1408_0930_zpse1178a31.jpg.html

http://s1281.photobucket.com/user/yepodgram/media/panama/293_zps3bd0a6a2.jpg.html

http://s1281.photobucket.com/user/y...1188966949_img_0638_1637_zps14d7bd9e.jpg.html

http://s1281.photobucket.com/user/yepodgram/media/panama/247_zps311dcf8c.jpg.html

HOW DID YOU GET PICTURES TO POST? I spent an hour yesterday watching their video tutorials, cropping, resizing a picture -and got it small enough- yet, NOTHING would post. I was just trying to put a profile picture up. I'm at a loss. Any help or guidance you have would be appreciated.
THANKS!
Maria

 

[davidls]

Still on the fence on this cruise, but here a couple of 2011 wbpc pics. The first is waiting to enter the canal after refueling..second entering on of the locks, third Centennial Bridge and Contential Divide, then Panama City Skyline, fifth Bridge of the Americas leaving the canal, and the Panama Passenger train.

Great photo's there #1Yepod!!! Thanks for sharing them with us. Hope you decide to join us on this cruise.

 

[davidls]

FE's-- sound like fun but could you please share more info. I know these are really basic questions but we've never been involved and have never even seen these on either of our two prior Disney cruises (Wonder, Dream.)
Questions:
Do you hand a basket, tote or hook or what on your Fish?
I'll try to answer your questions Maria. These are allot of fun and gives you a chance to tour the ship. Donna and I like to give out our gifts late when not very many people are out and about, and we take our time to enjoy seeing the ship and how everyone has decorated their doors. You do hang your fabric Fish Extender from the fish by your cabin door. This usually has any where from 2 to 4 pockets on it. Go to ebay and search for Disney Fish Extenders. There are some people on ebay that - for a price - will make one for you. This will give you an idea as to what they look like. And if you are handy and sew you can make your own.

How often do you give something? One time per cabin per cruise.

Any price or type of gift considerations? Anything you want to give as a gift. Some give small gifts that are specific to the town or state they are from. Not expensive gifts, whatever you would like to give.

Do you get a 'cabin' to be your 'giftee' or do you get an individual in the cabin? You give your gift or gifts to all who sign up for the Fish Extender exchange. On one of our cruises we had so many sign up for the fish extender the person in charge of keeping the list broke it down into 3 different groups. It was up you if you wanted to give to everyone, all 3 groups, or just to the group you were in. We kept the groups to 25 in each group.

Is there a FE get together at some point to meet the others? There can be. But, in the couple of the exchanges we have been in we didn't have a meet. I hope this helps.

Thanks and really appreciate your time!

See above!!!