Wonder's Panama Canal Repo 2011 - AND WE'RE NOT BRINGING IT BACK!

[goslingl]

I am all for crossing the equator!!

Hi! We are from Louisville. Great to know there will be fellow Kentuckians on the boat.

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Man,

You guys are a chatty bunch of thieves!! LOL! Last I looked, we were on page 5!

 

[Tracyvp]

Man,

You guys are a chatty bunch of thieves!! LOL! Last I looked, we were on page 5!

I warned you!!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I know its really early but this seems like a crazy amount of time to make us wait to book this cruise. Don't they know how crazy some of us are??? Geez, it's not like the cruise is 2 years away or something.

I really need to stop thinking about this and plan something for, I don't know, this summer??

Is it too early to put up a ticker???

 

[granmaz]

We could have a ticker for the 1st of the yeat 2011 saying Sometime this Year we will be taking the Wonder to LA!!!

 

[Tink rules]

How about they schedule the cruise so that this event will occur in March on the day of the Vernal Equinox (should be March 20th). Now that would be cool. Maybe cross the line going north at the same time the sun will.

Ohh I can see it now... trying to get the eggs to stand up on end while on a moving ship...

 

[minnieandmickey]

Wow, hard call to make. Well the only TA I know that is a Disney expert is Dreams. For those of you who booked through DU, did you get first tier pricing? Are they starting a waitlist already??

Like hawkaye19 was saying, depending on the exchange rate, we Canadians will be paying quite a bit more so it's pretty important for us to get first tier pricing. I don't know that we could afford it with 2nd or 3rd tier pricing

I emailed DU a couple of days after the news come out the Wonder was coming over and they said they weren't taking a list as of yet since it wasn't a confirmed cruise itinerary. Has anyone else heard different?

 

[HollyTyler]

We could have a ticker for the 1st of the yeat 2011 saying Sometime this Year we will be taking the Wonder to LA!!!

Good idea Marilyn!

 

[KayR]

I emailed DU a couple of days after the news come out the Wonder was coming over and they said they weren't taking a list as of yet since it wasn't a confirmed cruise itinerary. Has anyone else heard different?

I don't know if there is an official list, but I was emailing my DU rep about something else and asked to be put on a waitlist for this cruise. She said she would put me on her / a list. Perhaps the agents are just taking lists of guests to contact when details are announced. I plan to follow up with my DU agent when the info is released, so that we don't miss out.

-Kay

 

[ACDSNY]

I can't believe after 24 pages of posts that no one has become the Great Inspector 12 and found out the date yet?

I'm worried we won't be able to make it since I have such a small window of dates within the first part of the year I could take two weeks off as it one our busiest times. If we have to wait until October to find out the date it will kill me.

We could start the "Guess what page will be on when the date is announced?"

 

[Timon]

I emailed DU a couple of days after the news come out the Wonder was coming over and they said they weren't taking a list as of yet since it wasn't a confirmed cruise itinerary. Has anyone else heard different?

I don't know if there is an official list, but I was emailing my DU rep about something else and asked to be put on a waitlist for this cruise. She said she would put me on her / a list. Perhaps the agents are just taking lists of guests to contact when details are announced. I plan to follow up with my DU agent when the info is released, so that we don't miss out.

-Kay

I just emailed Kelsie today at DU and she confirmed what KayR said, if you contact them, they will put you on their list to be contacted when an official wait list becomes available

 

[BluegrassBelles]

I can't believe after 24 pages of posts that no one has become the Great Inspector 12 and found out the date yet?

I'm worried we won't be able to make it since I have such a small window of dates within the first part of the year I could take two weeks off as it one our busiest times. If we have to wait until October to find out the date it will kill me.

We could start the "Guess what page will be on when the date is announced?"

As chatty as we are, we might have to include which thread and which page.

 

[ACDSNY]

As chatty as we are, we might have to include which thread and which page.

I had the same thought after I posted it.

 

[mishoe01]

Cass - may I say how amazing your scrapbook pages are? What do you do to them? Are they traditional or digital? Do you use a Cricut (or something like that)?

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Wow, hard call to make. Well the only TA I know that is a Disney expert is Dreams. For those of you who booked through DU, did you get first tier pricing? Are they starting a waitlist already??

Like hawkaye19 was saying, depending on the exchange rate, we Canadians will be paying quite a bit more so it's pretty important for us to get first tier pricing. I don't know that we could afford it with 2nd or 3rd tier pricing

I see others have answered you already about the waitlist for DU. I don't know about non-DU TA but would assume if they put clients on the repos perviously, they may have already been contacted.

In our case, we recieved a special perk for DH being a CM so we were not allowed to turn it over to DU if we wanted to keep the perk. DCL did allow us to turn it over to a AAA TA so we did.

 

[minnieandmickey]

I just emailed Kelsie today at DU and she confirmed what KayR said, if you contact them, they will put you on their list to be contacted when an official wait list becomes available

I went through my old PC emails and asked Tracie. Thanks everyone for letting me know.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

I found this in regards to if they willhave their own terminal: (I appologize if this was already posted - I got a little behind on the posts)

The new agreement would give Disney non-exclusive preferential use of Berths 93A and 93B, and non-exclusive secondary use of Berths 90-92.
DCL would provide minimum annual revenue of $1.26m based on an annual minimum passenger guarantee of 52,620 and a per passenger fee of $12, with each passenger counted on embarkation and on disembarkation.

Certain facility improvements related to the terminal’s appearance and passenger services are covered in the agreement. A new gangway system and new fendering are planned, along with improved lighting, a new sound and video system, and a new traffic plan.

The new gangways, fenders and painting of the terminal building were already budgeted and approved at a cost of approximately $2m and will be shared among all users of the terminal.

The new Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are scheduled to operate from Florida’s Port Canaveral. I checked the Port of Los Angeles website, and found anagenda posted (http://www.portoflosangeles.org/Board/2009/April/040209_item11.pdf) this morning that confirms this news.

They will be using primarily Berths 93A&B, which is the same terminal DCL has used for the Disney Magic's two visits. In some circumstances, they may also use the building just around the corner. With the scheduled improvements, it should prove a worthy home for DCL. Interestingly, DCL will be sharing the terminal with other cruise lines, unlike their dedicated terminal in Port Canveral.

 

[minnieandmickey]

I found this in regards to if they willhave their own terminal: (I appologize if this was already posted - I got a little behind on the posts)

The new agreement would give Disney non-exclusive preferential use of Berths 93A and 93B, and non-exclusive secondary use of Berths 90-92.
DCL would provide minimum annual revenue of $1.26m based on an annual minimum passenger guarantee of 52,620 and a per passenger fee of $12, with each passenger counted on embarkation and on disembarkation.

Certain facility improvements related to the terminal’s appearance and passenger services are covered in the agreement. A new gangway system and new fendering are planned, along with improved lighting, a new sound and video system, and a new traffic plan.

The new gangways, fenders and painting of the terminal building were already budgeted and approved at a cost of approximately $2m and will be shared among all users of the terminal.

The new Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are scheduled to operate from Florida’s Port Canaveral. I checked the Port of Los Angeles website, and found anagenda posted (http://www.portoflosangeles.org/Board/2009/April/040209_item11.pdf) this morning that confirms this news.

They will be using primarily Berths 93A&B, which is the same terminal DCL has used for the Disney Magic's two visits. In some circumstances, they may also use the building just around the corner. With the scheduled improvements, it should prove a worthy home for DCL. Interestingly, DCL will be sharing the terminal with other cruise lines, unlike their dedicated terminal in Port Canveral.

Well hopefully they will get somethings moved around. The terminal isn't bad but I did prefer FL terminal where you went through xray before going into the terminal vs LA where you went through before embarking on the ship, just made for more chaos and felt very unorganized. Glad we will be leaving from FL this time.

 

[awoltoday]

I found this in regards to if they willhave their own terminal: (I appologize if this was already posted - I got a little behind on the posts)

The new agreement would give Disney non-exclusive preferential use of Berths 93A and 93B, and non-exclusive secondary use of Berths 90-92.
DCL would provide minimum annual revenue of $1.26m based on an annual minimum passenger guarantee of 52,620 and a per passenger fee of $12, with each passenger counted on embarkation and on disembarkation.

Certain facility improvements related to the terminal’s appearance and passenger services are covered in the agreement. A new gangway system and new fendering are planned, along with improved lighting, a new sound and video system, and a new traffic plan.

The new gangways, fenders and painting of the terminal building were already budgeted and approved at a cost of approximately $2m and will be shared among all users of the terminal.

The new Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are scheduled to operate from Florida’s Port Canaveral. I checked the Port of Los Angeles website, and found anagenda posted (http://www.portoflosangeles.org/Board/2009/April/040209_item11.pdf) this morning that confirms this news.

They will be using primarily Berths 93A&B, which is the same terminal DCL has used for the Disney Magic's two visits. In some circumstances, they may also use the building just around the corner. With the scheduled improvements, it should prove a worthy home for DCL. Interestingly, DCL will be sharing the terminal with other cruise lines, unlike their dedicated terminal in Port Canveral.

I'm sorry you had to do all that digging! This information and more was covered in this thread http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2134728. This thread also mentions that the numbers you quoted can be used, along with the 2008 contract, to conclude that DCL expects a minimum of roughly 30 round trips out of LA.

The one thing you might have missed is that DCL has a preferential right to berths 93A/B on Sundays ONLY.

Vessels operated by the Permitees listed below shall the preferential right to assignment at various berths, per the days indicated below:

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES, LTD. - Sunday, Berths 90-92
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE - Saturday, Berths 90-92

PRINCESS CRUISE LINES - Wednesday, Berths 93A/93B
PRINCESS CRUISE LINES - Saturday, Berths 93A/93B
DISNEY CRUISE LINE - Sunday, Berths 93A/93B

Also there is the list of "Agreed Improvements" in the appendix to the document you found (emphasis added is mine)

Agreed Improvements
1. Replace all fenders with Yokohama fenders.
2. Install 2 gangways, with one capable of reaching Deck 3 of vessel at all times. If space allows, will be able to provide queuing for two lines of guests.
3. Ensure that X-ray and magnetmetor is positioned in an area not visible to guests; may include screening of a specified area on the outer concourse.
4. Ensure that X-ray operations at entrance are not visible to guests; may include screening of a specified area.
5. Establish a Lost and Found desk or area within terminal premises.
6. Upgrade the sound and video broadcast systems with a centralized control station, upon submission of system needs and requirements, and as agreed by both parties.
7. Provide a permanent photo backdrop area within the terminal with adequate power supply and lighting for photography purposes. Disney to provide power and lighting specifications needed.
Port to install lighting, including increased electrical supply, if needed pursuant to the submitted specifications. Disney to be responsible for any other improvements needed, as well as construction of the photo backdrop.
8. Port to explore a Tariff change or other method to allow free visitor parking for two-hours at the Cruise Terminal on cruise embarkation and disembarkation days. Vendors to receive free parking voucher from terminal operator while providing service to Disney.
9. Clearly identify rental car pick-up area with appropriate signage directing the guests and possibly benches.
10. Exterior painting of entire Berth 93A/93B Passenger Building, including an upgrade of the concourse area as agreed by both parties.
11. Vehicle traffic and parking on the Level 2 of the Passenger Terminal shall be restricted only to those designated parking and traffic areas. No parking shall be allowed by any vehicle directly adjacent to the terminal premises, especially on the sidewalk. Current parking area will be restriped to allow tandem parking for increased parking capacity.

There is yet another page documenting "Negotiated Improvements" which appear to be agreements in principle only.

Negotiated Improvements – Require submission of specific information and/or plans.
1. Improve the general appearance of the bus depot area, which may include painting and lighting. Generic sign holders will be provided for the line to use
2. Update appearance of luggage hall area, which may include painting. Updates may also include seating for guests, depending on terminal operations plans, as approved by regulatory agencies.
3. Improve traffic flow to and from the guest pick-up area and drop-off area, upon submission of proposal by Disney and agreed by all affected parties. May include the addition of seating and/or benches, if approved by regulatory agencies, and in accordance to terminal operator’s passenger traffic plan so as not to create a safety issue of a bottleneck of passengers at the exit/entrance areas.
4. Establish an area near the guest check-in area for private discussion with guests (i.e. denied boarding discussions) as agreeable by both parties, with consideration to use a secured portion of the existing VIP area, and/or relocation of staff break room, as agreed by both parties.
5. Add six check-in stations/desks appropriate for child-size use for children’s check-in and shore excursion pre-sales in an area of the terminal to be agreed by both parties.
6. Improve lighting in main terminal, with special consideration to luggage hall area. Disney to provide specifications of lighting needs.
7. Provide an office with work station for manager on duty, adjacent to check-in area, as feasible. Provide two additional offices for DCL staff within the same area, terminal space permitting. Office(s) may be configured using professional office-type cubicle dividers, depending upon building space, configuration and size required.
8. Provide screening and/or partition, agreeable to both parties, to hide back-stage operations within the luggage hall. This is to replace the bike racks currently being utilized for this purpose.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I am so proud of you! It's been 12 years for me. WOW! The time has flown.




And you will be there to be his stop smoking buddy when he does decide.

Thanks for that Angie. Wow....12 years is a very long time.....so good for you. I'm going to think of that whenever I get tempted in the future. It'll lock it in for me.

I will definitely be there for him if and when he wants.