Greetings one and all. I have a query (perhaps a few) for you

The husband and I have been planning on doing a cruise (our first ever) for our 10 year anniversary...well, since we got back from WDW on our 5 year anniversary.
see link about my first fumbling questions (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=38139&highlight=cruise)

I know it's too early to book at this stage (as I have already called WDW and the DisneyCruise folks) but they even couldnt answer one of my most basic questions. Do the longer cruises come with any land/sea packages? I can only see land/se with the 3 or 4 day cruises, not with the 7. Or, quite frankly, is there a better way to book than what we are already planning....this is the deal....

Hmmm, may need to back track a teensy bit. If you have seen any of my posts in the Lounge you know this but I was diagnosed with MS earlier this year. Heat is a baaad thing in the world of MS.

I am having gastric bypass surgery in a little less than two weeks, it had been scheduled for 7/17 so we thought we'd get in one last fling at disneyland before my surgery, so we went July 1-5. And even though we did everything we could to keep me as cool as possible it was still stinking HOT!!!. We came home on that Wednesday and on Saturday morning I had a seizure. I ended up spending from that Saturday till the next Wednesday in the hospital getting treatments. THAT caused my WLS surgery to be delayed till 8/3. The docs said that more than likely the reason I had the flair up was from the heat and also the stress of the surgery but more than anything the heat.

During our five year anniversary extravaganza we went to WDW for 10 days in May (again anniversary is in July, but May seemed like the better time to go.) We had been planning on doing the 10 year thing in April because on that last trip we learned that even May was way too hot in Florida for us mountain folk. We thought we were going to literally die from the humidity and heat
(Oh yeah, I spent my anniversary this year in the hospital :( not fun).

Anywho, as soon as this little episode happened we realised I would never be able to take the heat in April. So we decided we needed to push our plans up a bit to January (of '08.) What we have finally decided on (since that last thread) is doing 10 days in WDW first and then capping it off with the 7 day Eastern Caribbean Cruise (deluxe stateroom with a verandah). We were talked into ending on the cruise and not splitting the time in Disney because we would be so elated with the cruise maybe WDW would be a let down *shrugs* I dunno, but thats what we were told. So we are doing all WDW up front and ending in luxury. Sounds like a plan :) Also, from prior cruisers we were told having the verandah is the only way to go. So why not? :)

The beauty of it all, is when we started pricing the trip to happen in April the cruise alone was going to be upwards of 6 grand. WAY expensive and we were freaking over the cost of adding ANY time in WDW (thinking maybe we wouldnt be able to do it). But now that we have switched it to January, well unbeknownst to us January is considered their 'value season'.

We are able to do 10 days in WDW including resort (value, I just cant justify the extra for moderate or above), MYW parkhopper tickets and the dining plan for both PLUS the 7 day cruise for LESS than what the cruise alone would be in April!!!!

Its amazing!

I am so excited I could die. And it's still over a year and half away, how silly am I?.

So do the longer cruises have land/sea packages I am not aware of? Disney doenst seem to know...which is odd.
And
What is the difference in category 5 or category 6. Both of them have the 'deluxe stateroom with verandah', so I'm not sure of the difference. Which is better and why?

Thank you all in advance :D

So do the longer cruises have land/sea packages I am not aware of? Disney doenst seem to know...which is odd.

So exciting! anywhooo in answer to your q: you can always "make your own" package. But the 7 days are not sold with land packages. However. Many people add one on (and you can get shuttles from the port to WDW -- but unless you time it right from WDW to the port, you might have to get back to the airport and catch the shuttle from there).

And What is the difference in category 5 or category 6. Both of them have the 'deluxe stateroom with verandah', so I'm not sure of the difference. Which is better and why?

I think the difference is placement on the ship - I don't haev the deck plans in front of me -- but cat 6 might be higher and more midship, 5 might be lower and not as mid. But others might chime in with a more direct answer :)

Newels' got it right, with a reversal of the numbers. Cat 5's are higher up on the ship. Compare pricing on both, sometimes one is less expensive than the other. they are the same staterooms.

I do encourage you to book as soon as you can, as the pricing increases the closer to the cruise date you get, but it sounds like you know that. And i'ts not silly to plan out so far in advance - it builds the excitment. :D

thanks :D

so is higher better? or does it really make a diff? would I just be wasting money to go to the more expensive one since they are essentially the same room just one floor higher. In the long run how much can that really matter?

Thanks for responding :)


I do encourage you to book as soon as you can, as the pricing increases the closer to the cruise date you get, but it sounds like you know that. And i'ts not silly to plan out so far in advance - it builds the excitment.


Yeah we definitely plan on doing that. From what they told me it will probably be Sept or Oct before I can book for Jan '08, being a travel agent expert does that sound right to you?

so is higher better? or does it really make a diff? Speaking as someone who just loves her usual room on deck 2, and spent two weeks on deck 5, I don't see why a higher deck is SUCH a big deal. Sure, you may have a slightly better view of some things, but not enough to justify the price difference.

If motion sickness is your concern, lower mid-ship rooms are the best cabins.

AVP

thanks :) I began thinking about that last night. I remember being told in the other thread to get closer to the middle of the ship. I need to keep that in mind. I have no idea if either of us get seasick, but I pretty much stay in a dizzy quasi vertigo-ish state these days anyway, so better to be safe than sorry. I think we will just go for whichever is the cheaper of the two, since they are the exact same rooms. I coudn't figure out why there'd be a price difference. Weird.

Thanks all :)

Just returned from a wonderful 7 days on the Magic. Learned many tricks of a great vacation at a low cost.
If you want to travel first check the available dates when you can travel and put on paper as a reference. Then call or go on line and check for the availabitity of room number 5020. This is a outside room with a porthole with a obstructed view. This room has a can sitting outside the window. "a white rescue storage devise" if interested I can send you pictures of the view.
We had two adults and a child in this room last week for 4000. The same room next to us without the obstructed view with two adults and 2 children went for 6000.
This is how we based our reservations. I think there are a total of 6 room like this but they have more infront of their windows.
I have more tips if you want them. Just let me know.
We live in Ohio, travel to WDW at least 2 times a year and stay for about 30 days a year. We travel each trip for about $2500 including room, eating at the parks and tickets.:~D

I have more tips if you want them. Just let me know.
We live in Ohio, travel to WDW at least 2 times a year and stay for about 30 days a year. We travel each trip for about $2500 including room, eating at the parks and tickets.:~D
While doing so may be a slight derail to this thread, I would be real interested in how you do your vacations for such little money.

As a regular cruiser, I always get deck plans before I book. It's a real good idea to check the decks above and below. Granted, most ships are built very well, but sounds do have a way of travelling. You don't want to be directly below restuarants or areas of high noises (crew prep areas, the childrens deck), conversly, you don't want to be directly above the nightclubs or restuarant areas. As stated before, the higher you are, the more likely you will feel the ship sway. Especially at the bow and stern. If you are at midship it's not as noticable. And even much less the lower you go.

Greeting to all, as I'm a long time lurker, but a new member.

Steve.

Yeah we definitely plan on doing that. From what they told me it will probably be Sept or Oct before I can book for Jan '08, being a travel agent expert does that sound right to you?

Hi Victoria,

For the past couple of years, the rates have been released in the springtime. While it is possible we may see them in the fall, I would expect to see them hold off a bit longer.

Steve, nice nick, and welcome out of lurk mode. :D

As a regular cruiser, I always get deck plans before I book. It's a real good idea to check the decks above and below. SUCH a good piece of advice. We could definitely hear the restaurant below us when we were on deck 5.

AVP

Hi Victoria,

For the past couple of years, the rates have been released in the springtime. While it is possible we may see them in the fall, I would expect to see them hold off a bit longer.

Steve, nice nick, and welcome out of lurk mode. :D


They have said that it will probably be around October before I can book. I hope so :). I want to book the SECOND I can :D

The best thing to do would be to get in the middle of the ship if at all possible. There are a number of reasons for this which, if you want, I would be more then happy to discuss. Also, try and get a stateroom that is away from the elevators and stairs as these areas can sometimes be noisy. Also, be aware of what is above and below you, in most cases, the type of stateroom you are looking for is on Deck 6 or 7. All of the verendah staterooms are on decks 6, 7, 8. On Deck 6, you have other staterooms above you and the children's area beneath you, on deck 7, you have staterooms above and below you.

As to your question on higher or lower decks being better. That is really a matter of choice. If you want a verendah stateroom, you will be on the higher deck rather then the lower decks as that is layout on the Disney ships. The Verendah staterooms on Deck 5 are in the aft of the ship and do land right on top of the restaurant on deck 4. There are many remedies for seasickness and the location of the staeroom is important. The lower the stateroom, the less movement from side to side you will have the more in the center of the ship the stateroom is the less up and down motion you will have.

As of right now, DCL does not have a land/sea package for the longer cruises and if you are looking to put a package like this together, you will need to work with both DCL and WDW Travel since they are seperate companies. Also, WDW Travel will not issue the 2008 rates and packages until March or April of 2007. They have just started marketing the 2007 packages.

Now for the question as to when prices are issued. In most cases, prices will be issued in September or October depending on the demand. The best advise I can give you is to work very closely with a travel agent. They get to hear things first and can also provide you with the care and assistance that you deserve. By trying and handle a trip like this on your own, there are things you might overlook that a travel agent will remind you of or help you plan for.

You are going to have an amazing time........we have been on four Disney Cruises, including the Panama Canal.

Ted Bradpiece

ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!!!!!!

WE JUST BOOKED!!!

I am SO excited. January 19th 2008 Baby.

I am so excited I could just about die!!!!!