Just booked my FIRST Disney Cruise!!!!!

iluvwdw · 08-15-2009

I am SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!

I just booked our first Disney Cruise. We are going on a 4 Night Cruise on the Wonder, leaving on Valentine's Day. I can't think of a better way to spend it!!!!

We actually were able to get EARLY dining, too! I was REALLY surprised at that as well, especially since it's during a holiday week!!!!!!

I booked a Category 10 Deluxe Inside Cabin...214 Square Feet! I could have chosen to be midship on Deck 2, or all the way in the front on Deck 7 in an ADJOINING ROOM...which would mean my neighbors would be a LITTLE too close for comfort! So I chose Deck 2, midship. I hope I did the right thing!

Does anyone know where I could find a chart with available cabins? If a better cabin becomes available, I can change it at any time.

Now...my Disney Cruise Line friends...I need TIPS!!!!!!! I have NEVER been on a Disney Cruise, but I am no stranger to Cruising in general. What do I need to know???

Here's our schedule:

SUNDAY 2/14 - LEAVE PORT CANAVERAL
MONDAY 2/15 - NASSAU 9:30AM-7PM
TUESDAY 2/16 - CASTAWAY CAY 8:30AM-5PM
WEDNESDAY 2/17 - SEA DAY
THURSDAY 2/18 - RETURN TO PORT CANAVERAL

Is it worth it to rent a room at the Atlantis for the day, so we can enjoy the day there without spending the Excursion Fee for the four of us?
What do you suggest doing at Castaway Cay...an excursion, or just relax and enjoy it?
I have been on so many cruises, yet I have NEVER done an excursion that you pay for beforehand.

What else can you tell me? How do I know my Dining Rotation? I know I can book Palo 75 days out. Is it worth it? I am thinking of taking my kids to early dinner and then booking Palos for later in the evening. Is this an OK plan?

Anything else?????

After our cruise, we are heading over to Bay Lake Tower for a 3 night stay in a Lake View Studio.

I am kinda wondering about getting from the airport to the Cruise Terminal. We are probably flying in that morning. Is this a NO NO or should we come in the night before? Should I rent a car to get me from MCO to Port Canaveral? Can I drop it off in Port Canaveral? What about the way back...I need to get to BLT. Should I rent a car, take it to MCO and hop on Magical Express?

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited, I can't stand it!!!!!

PeterPansPixie · 08-15-2009

A couple of years ago when we took the cruise they offered bus service not only to MCO after the cruise, but also back to WDW for those extending there vacation. I do not know if they still offer this, but with the number of people that used it I would think they would. I also think, but am not 100% positive they offer bus service from MCO to the cruise terminal, but it might not be in the morning because you are not aloud to board until sometime in the early afternoon if I can remember right.

iluvwdw · 08-15-2009

I just looked at airfare for that week...WOW, is it HIGH!!!!!! JetBlue wants $3000 for 4 of us!!!!!! Delta wants $1600. We might just go back to driving. We shall see...if there's a great deal, hopefully I can get it!

rlcarmichael · 08-15-2009

DCL site has been updated and much nicer.

here's your link... click on virtural tour

Disney Wonder | Disney Cruise Ships | Disney Cruise Line

PhilliesFan · 08-15-2009

What a great way to spend Valentine's Day!
Enjoy all the planning!

leslieh · 08-15-2009

Kim- check out Mary Waring's DCL section on Mousesavers. The last time I read it, it had lots of helpful info.

2nd Star · 08-15-2009

Congrats! We are going on our first Disney cruise in 75 days!
Did you watch the free DCL dvd and podcast?

iluvwdw · 08-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2nd Star

Congrats! We are going on our first Disney cruise in 75 days!
Did you watch the free DCL dvd and podcast?

I have an old DVD I requested quite some time ago (months!) but not the podcast. Where can I find that?

Congrats on your first Disney Cruise! Are you going on the Magic or Wonder and which cruise?

I am BEYOND excited!!!!!

jimbo · 08-16-2009

envy and jealousy are not a good thing - But I'm have a fantastic time

2nd Star · 08-16-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by iluvwdw

I have an old DVD I requested quite some time ago (months!) but not the podcast. Where can I find that?

Congrats on your first Disney Cruise! Are you going on the Magic or Wonder and which cruise?

I am BEYOND excited!!!!!

Thanks! We are doing a 3 night on the Wonder. The link to the podcasts Disney Cruise Podcasts & Videos | Disney Cruise Line

**llama** · 08-16-2009

Congratulations! You are going to love it!

iluvwdw · 08-16-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2nd Star

Thanks! We are doing a 3 night on the Wonder. The link to the podcasts Disney Cruise Podcasts & Videos | Disney Cruise Line

Thanks so much, I'm watching them now!

rlcarmichael · 08-16-2009

Four suggestions.

First is get up and watch the sunrise one morning. It's worth it.

Second is a little more expensive...book a couples massage.

Third. Book Palos for dinner. The choclate suflee is to die for and I'm not even that much of a chocolate nut.

Finally - DON'T do the glass bottom boat tour in Nassau. It was a total waste of time and the absolute LOW point of our first cruise.:

Jen · 08-16-2009

Awesome Kim!! I have no advice for you because i know nothing about cruising but I'm excited for you!

**llama** · 08-16-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlcarmichael

Four suggestions.

First is get up and watch the sunrise one morning. It's worth it.

Second is a little more expensive...book a couples massage.

Third. Book Palos for dinner. The choclate suflee is to die for and I'm not even that much of a chocolate nut.

Finally - DON'T do the glass bottom boat tour in Nassau. It was a total waste of time and the absolute LOW point of our first cruise.:

I agree with three of the four - especially the Glass Bottom Boat!

But as for the couple massage - leave daddy with the kids and enjoy some "mommy" time on your own.

08-15-2009	#1 (permalink)
iluvwdw BLT for me! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Floral Park Village (Long Island), NY Posts: 7,412	Just booked my FIRST Disney Cruise!!!!! I am SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!! I just booked our first Disney Cruise. We are going on a 4 Night Cruise on the Wonder, leaving on Valentine's Day. I can't think of a better way to spend it!!!! We actually were able to get EARLY dining, too! I was REALLY surprised at that as well, especially since it's during a holiday week!!!!!! I booked a Category 10 Deluxe Inside Cabin...214 Square Feet! I could have chosen to be midship on Deck 2, or all the way in the front on Deck 7 in an ADJOINING ROOM...which would mean my neighbors would be a LITTLE too close for comfort! So I chose Deck 2, midship. I hope I did the right thing! Does anyone know where I could find a chart with available cabins? If a better cabin becomes available, I can change it at any time. Now...my Disney Cruise Line friends...I need TIPS!!!!!!! I have NEVER been on a Disney Cruise, but I am no stranger to Cruising in general. What do I need to know??? Here's our schedule: SUNDAY 2/14 - LEAVE PORT CANAVERAL MONDAY 2/15 - NASSAU 9:30AM-7PM TUESDAY 2/16 - CASTAWAY CAY 8:30AM-5PM WEDNESDAY 2/17 - SEA DAY THURSDAY 2/18 - RETURN TO PORT CANAVERAL Is it worth it to rent a room at the Atlantis for the day, so we can enjoy the day there without spending the Excursion Fee for the four of us? What do you suggest doing at Castaway Cay...an excursion, or just relax and enjoy it? I have been on so many cruises, yet I have NEVER done an excursion that you pay for beforehand. What else can you tell me? How do I know my Dining Rotation? I know I can book Palo 75 days out. Is it worth it? I am thinking of taking my kids to early dinner and then booking Palos for later in the evening. Is this an OK plan? Anything else????? After our cruise, we are heading over to Bay Lake Tower for a 3 night stay in a Lake View Studio. I am kinda wondering about getting from the airport to the Cruise Terminal. We are probably flying in that morning. Is this a NO NO or should we come in the night before? Should I rent a car to get me from MCO to Port Canaveral? Can I drop it off in Port Canaveral? What about the way back...I need to get to BLT. Should I rent a car, take it to MCO and hop on Magical Express? Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited, I can't stand it!!!!! __________________ Kim LIFE IS JUST BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE A DISNEY TRIP PLANNED! 1997 Double Tree ~ 1998 Vistana ~ 1999 April Vistana ~ 1999 July Vistana ~ 1999 Sept All Star Movies ~ 2000 Vistana ~ 2001 Vistana ~ 2002 Vistana ~ 2003 Aug Vistana ~ 2003 Dec All Star Sports, Polynesian & OKW ~ 2004 Feb Vistana ~ 2004 Dec Vistana ~ 2005 Vistana/All Star Music 2006 SSR and Vistana Villages ~ 2007 Sheraton Safari, Vistana, POP Century ~ 2008 Vistana Villages, Animal Kingdom Villas My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Our First Stay at BLT as DVC Members - President's Week 2010! 81 days 9 hours 20 minutes

08-15-2009	#2 (permalink)
PeterPansPixie Mouseketeer Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 56	Re: Just booked my FIRST Disney Cruise!!!!! A couple of years ago when we took the cruise they offered bus service not only to MCO after the cruise, but also back to WDW for those extending there vacation. I do not know if they still offer this, but with the number of people that used it I would think they would. I also think, but am not 100% positive they offer bus service from MCO to the cruise terminal, but it might not be in the morning because you are not aloud to board until sometime in the early afternoon if I can remember right. __________________ Upcoming Trips: Sept. 21-30, 2009: VWL March 17-25, 2010: AKV Kidani & BCV October 2010: TBD

08-15-2009	#3 (permalink)
iluvwdw BLT for me! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Floral Park Village (Long Island), NY Posts: 7,412	Re: Just booked my FIRST Disney Cruise!!!!! I just looked at airfare for that week...WOW, is it HIGH!!!!!! JetBlue wants $3000 for 4 of us!!!!!! Delta wants $1600. We might just go back to driving. We shall see...if there's a great deal, hopefully I can get it! __________________ Kim LIFE IS JUST BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE A DISNEY TRIP PLANNED! 1997 Double Tree ~ 1998 Vistana ~ 1999 April Vistana ~ 1999 July Vistana ~ 1999 Sept All Star Movies ~ 2000 Vistana ~ 2001 Vistana ~ 2002 Vistana ~ 2003 Aug Vistana ~ 2003 Dec All Star Sports, Polynesian & OKW ~ 2004 Feb Vistana ~ 2004 Dec Vistana ~ 2005 Vistana/All Star Music 2006 SSR and Vistana Villages ~ 2007 Sheraton Safari, Vistana, POP Century ~ 2008 Vistana Villages, Animal Kingdom Villas My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Our First Stay at BLT as DVC Members - President's Week 2010! 81 days 9 hours 20 minutes

08-15-2009	#4 (permalink)
rlcarmichael Too many DVC points? NST Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chesapeake VA Posts: 1,996	Re: Just booked my FIRST Disney Cruise!!!!! DCL site has been updated and much nicer. here's your link... click on virtural tour Disney Wonder \| Disney Cruise Ships \| Disney Cruise Line __________________ Richard Carmichael, Chesapeake VA DVC Member BLT, VGC & SSR 2009 SSR(x2), AKV, BWV, BLT(x2), VB, DCL Magic; 2008-SSR, WLV, OKW YC; 2007-YC, GF: DCL Wonder; 2006-SSR, SoG, Poly; 2005- Poly (x2), Orange Lake; 1999-Courtyard LB; Disney Inn (RIP - now SoG) '90, '88, '86 Make-A-Wish Volunteer www.wish.org My Wish - no Wish Kids to send to see THE* Mouse.* 2nd Fav Org - Give Kids The World Village www.gktw.org My Disney Countdown Counting down to: BLT Mk Christmas Trip 17 days 4 hours 35 minutes

08-15-2009	#5 (permalink)
PhilliesFan Mouse Meister Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,354	Re: Just booked my FIRST Disney Cruise!!!!! What a great way to spend Valentine's Day! Enjoy all the planning! __________________ Polynesian - July 2006, Hard Rock - November 2004, Polynesian - June 2002, Off Site - April 1997, Caribbean Beach - May 1992, Polynesian - October 1988, Polynesian - June 1987 Honeymoon, Off Site - May 1981 Senior Class Trip Life Is Good! Hello, my name is Lisa My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Wedding in beautiful Destin Florida Time to plan something...

		MouseBuzz.com > Disney Cruise Line > Take a cruise
Just booked my FIRST Disney Cruise!!!!!

08-15-2009	#6 (permalink)
leslieh Drawing a blank here... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Not close enough to WDW Posts: 1,904	Re: Just booked my FIRST Disney Cruise!!!!! Kim- check out Mary Waring's DCL section on Mousesavers. The last time I read it, it had lots of helpful info. __________________ Leslie Avatar: The royal toilet in Cinderella Castle Suite (really!) 1974,1998,1999,2000- offsite 2001- offsite, CBR 2002- offsite, POR 2003- offsite, CSR 2004- PC, FW Cabins, POFQ 2005- off-site 2006- PC, offsite, PC 2007- WL, FW, offsite, WL 2008- PC, AKL, BW, offsite, Poly, FW Cabins, BCV 2009- Beach Club Villas, AKV Concierge, SSR, Beach Club Villas, Bay Lake Tower My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Our first stay at our newest DVC home- BLT! 25 days 22 hours 20 minutes

08-15-2009	#7 (permalink)
2nd Star Big Cheese Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NJ(Wishing it was Forks) Posts: 977	Re: Just booked my FIRST Disney Cruise!!!!! Congrats! We are going on our first Disney cruise in 75 days! Did you watch the free DCL dvd and podcast? __________________ SHANELL I love pirates AP holder DVC member since 9/07(SSR/BLT) WDW 8/80 10/86- Sheraton Vistana 8/92-GF 8/94- AS Sports 4/95- Hilton 7/99-Radisson 2/07-POP 5/07- AS Music 9/07- CSR 12/07-CBR 5/08-AKV 9/08-OKW1/09-VWL/OKW 5/09-AKV-Kidani 10/09-BLT/DCL/OKW Up Coming Trips-5/10-BLT 9/10-1st trip to DL Disney On Ice : Celebrations-11/26 My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Flower and Garden '10 167 days 14 hours 50 minutes

08-16-2009	#9 (permalink)
jimbo Big Cheese Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Yorkshire U.K to far away from Disney Posts: 586	Re: Just booked my FIRST Disney Cruise!!!!! envy and jealousy are not a good thing - But I'm have a fantastic time __________________ *Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.* Walt Disney My Disney Countdown Counting down to: next trip to the magic* on yor way

08-16-2009	#11 (permalink)
llama Practically Perfect Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Slurpee Capital of the World Posts: 7,379	Re: Just booked my FIRST Disney Cruise!!!!! Congratulations! You are going to love it! __________________ Your Moderately Moderate Moderator A PROUD MEMBER OF THE BAD KITTY CLUB "Meowany Are Called, Mew Are Chosen" It's Murdoch with an "H" eleven-twenty-ten My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Christmas in Florida 31 days 20 hours 50 minutes

08-16-2009	#13 (permalink)
rlcarmichael Too many DVC points? NST Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chesapeake VA Posts: 1,996	Re: Just booked my FIRST Disney Cruise!!!!! Four suggestions. First is get up and watch the sunrise one morning. It's worth it. Second is a little more expensive...book a couples massage. Third. Book Palos for dinner. The choclate suflee is to die for and I'm not even that much of a chocolate nut. Finally - DON'T do the glass bottom boat tour in Nassau. It was a total waste of time and the absolute LOW point of our first cruise.: __________________ Richard Carmichael, Chesapeake VA DVC Member BLT, VGC & SSR 2009 SSR(x2), AKV, BWV, BLT(x2), VB, DCL Magic; 2008-SSR, WLV, OKW YC; 2007-YC, GF: DCL Wonder; 2006-SSR, SoG, Poly; 2005- Poly (x2), Orange Lake; 1999-Courtyard LB; Disney Inn (RIP - now SoG) '90, '88, '86 Make-A-Wish Volunteer www.wish.org My Wish - no Wish Kids to send to see THE* Mouse.* 2nd Fav Org - Give Kids The World Village www.gktw.org My Disney Countdown Counting down to: BLT Mk Christmas Trip 17 days 4 hours 35 minutes Last edited by llama; 08-16-2009 at 07:29 PM.

08-16-2009	#14 (permalink)
Jen Go Navy! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Kissimmee, FL Posts: 2,864	Re: Just booked my FIRST Disney Cruise!!!!! Awesome Kim!! I have no advice for you because i know nothing about cruising but I'm excited for you! __________________ Defender of Chit Chat ...11 trips to WDW since 1981 Avatar of the Week: Wicked Step-sisters at the Pirate and Princess Party, 2007 MBer's i've met: erin, cavey, gingita, chastmastr, quakercub, soundgod, catfish1999, slartybartfest, cousin mike, jenbarnwell, lovemysons, val32, wishuponastar, princessalyssa, iluvwdw, mickaholic4077 and empressjenny My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Moving to Florida in... ...we're on our way to our new home in Kissimmee!!

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