From WDW to DL With Love - January 06, 2011 part 3

[granmaz]

Those of us on the TA cruise went through the GTY shuffle about a month ago. What we all concluded was there is no logic behind how upgrades are done. Many of us called DCL and asked and the all of us got the same answer (this is about the only question that the same answer was given to) customer service does not know how the GTY assignment and upgrade process is done (if they do they aren't telling) and you can not talk with the people who do. The upgrades are not done based on your CC grade, some people on their first DCL cruise were upgraded while those on their 10+ were not. It is not done based on number of people in the room. Some with a party of 2 were upgraded while one with a party of 4 was not. It is not done by graduated steps, i.e. cat 11 to a 10 and cat 6 to a 5. We heard of a cat 11 being upgraded to a 4 while a cat 6 got no upgrade. I don't remember hearing of anyone with an assigned room (not GTY) being offered an upgrade, but I might be wrong. So the only thing we can say is it appears they have a huge dart board that they use. We did find that if you called and complain about your room assignment you will not get any help. However, one person did find that while her complaint was denied when she checked her reservation on-line they had moved her. Of course her complaint was so reasonable, she had purchased two GTY rooms and was told they would do everything they could to put them close together (one for her and her husband one for her tween age kids). GTY people were assigned rooms near hers but her second room they assigned to on a different deck! She wasn't looking for an upgrade just two rooms near each other. I wish Disney would do like Princess does, they offer upgrades to people based on their CC grade first and then move people up a grade at a time. More people get upgraded and more people are happy. Although that means I would never get an upgrade it seems fair and you can understand it. val

It was all very strained around that time wasn't it? Upgrades also weren't given on a first booked gets the upgrade either as a friend who only booked a couple of weeks before was upgraded whereas others who booked on day 1 weren't!! I don't think the system is fair at all. Oh, and we didn't want an upgrade, so no axe to grind.

That is a point also. If you are happy with your choice of room, if you managed to book a room number, then you can ask your TA, or DCL if you booked direct to put a note on your reservation than you don't want an upgrade. I would be mad if they moved us to a worse positioned cabin on this cruise.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

We make our PIF tomorow with tips included! My TA wanted last Friday but a different billing cycle will make a big difference. Have to work today so no holiday here but will take it Jan 2! Also getting closer to our Oct vacation. Saw an add on TV about the Panama Canal expansion. Would like an upgrade to a balcony but am not going to sweat over it. My OV will be just fine. How many cabins are we thinking for a FE? Never done one. So far I am signed up for the SM but might do the FE too. Is the FE an every day thing? Is the SM an every day thing too? Just want to get my ducks in a row so I am in the know.

The Secret Mickey is a total of 4-5 small gifts. The total spent should be in the $25-$30 range (no less then $25 - no more then $30 basically) When you deliver the gifts is your choice however, there is a final reveal day on the last sea day. The location for the reveal will be announced once I know how many people are participating. you should identify them as SM gifts with a small tag - I find that asking the room steward to place them in the cabin for you helps a lot so they don't walk away

As for the FE - it is not an everyday thing - Most people give 1-2 items for the length of the cruise. Itis up to you when you deliver them. I have 2 items I am giving out but am not sure what days I will do so. I will probably do it over a couple days a deck at a time or so. One item for each week. It's completely up to you. I believe a few posts back stated something about approx 100 cabins on the FE. It does not have to be a big item..just something fun. In other cruises, we have recieved temp. tatoos, candy, pens, notebooks, etc.. just have fun with it!

 

[sak0526]

Thansk Kathy and Robin and whomever else for the info.

I guess the nav veranda is white. well, 90% of the time i'm up top or walking around, so i guess i can live with the white wall. Though maybe with it so enclosed if the snoring gets to bad i can sleep out there! LoL!

This change of category names and all is crazy!

Sherri

 

[ACDSNY]

We have good news and bad news today. The good is Merrie at Dreams Unlimited was able to move us to our cousin's cabin when they cancelled, it's a secret verandah, cat. 7. The bad is both our dogs are missing.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

We have good news and bad news today. The good is Merrie at Dreams Unlimited was able to move us to our cousin's cabin when they cancelled, it's a secret verandah, cat. 7. The bad is both our dogs are missing.

Congrats on the cabin change but I am so sorry about the dogs! I hope you find them soon.

 

[sak0526]

We have good news and bad news today. The good is Merrie at Dreams Unlimited was able to move us to our cousin's cabin when they cancelled, it's a secret verandah, cat. 7. The bad is both our dogs are missing.

oh, sorry to hear about the dogs. Good thing about many dogs is they can "sniff" their way home, so i hope they do soon. I dont have dogs but i know they are precious.

and what's a "secret verandah"? we're cat 7, and Wondering!

 

[aan1701]

We have good news and bad news today. The good is Merrie at Dreams Unlimited was able to move us to our cousin's cabin when they cancelled, it's a secret verandah, cat. 7. The bad is both our dogs are missing.

Oh man I hope your dogs turn up.

 

[granmaz]

We have good news and bad news today. The good is Merrie at Dreams Unlimited was able to move us to our cousin's cabin when they cancelled, it's a secret verandah, cat. 7. The bad is both our dogs are missing.

I hope your dogs turn up soon. It is so worrying and upsetting when that happens. Did they just run out and away. Lets hope you are back here with good news very soon.

Pleased about your cabin change!!

 

[Tracyvp]

Would a Saturday or Sunday work better - for some who may have to travel a bit -maybe Saturday would be better. Either way.. how about the weekend of October 23/24?

I had been thinking that Saturdays tend to be really busy for families,especially if they have kids in fall sports like Soccer. Also that if we ARE doing it at DL or DTD a lot of people have APs that are blocked out on Saturdays. So NORMALLY (at least for most of the folks I know) Sunday afternoons are quieter and more available.

But we're open for either one, as long as it's after October 10. We're pretty free from then on.

 

[tlungstrum]

BTW, we only have 2 seasons in FL - Summer and January.

Really? I always thought of the 4 seasons more as January, hot, rainy, and "I can't move it's so hot"....

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

I had been thinking that Saturdays tend to be really busy for families,especially if they have kids in fall sports like Soccer. Also that if we ARE doing it at DL or DTD a lot of people have APs that are blocked out on Saturdays. So NORMALLY (at least for most of the folks I know) Sunday afternoons are quieter and more available.

But we're open for either one, as long as it's after October 10. We're pretty free from then on.

Then Sunday the 24th sounds good....as for a time.. how about we go ahead and just pick 11:30? We can pick a place for lunch in DTD and then those that have passes and want to go into the park together can?


Ok.. who's up for the Dis-meet? And we need suggestions for lunch in DTD?

 

[Tracyvp]

We have good news and bad news today. The good is Merrie at Dreams Unlimited was able to move us to our cousin's cabin when they cancelled, it's a secret verandah, cat. 7. The bad is both our dogs are missing.

Oh NO! That's awful! Please keep us posted. We have cats, not dogs but it's just as worrying when one or more of them goes missing. You just can't rest easy till they're home! But to have BOTH of them gone at once? You must be beside yourself! We'll keep a good thought!

 

[JenKatt]

Want to thank everyone who messaged me, emailed me, left me a message on the thread. It means a lot. I've talked more to my friend since then, and the newest isn't *as* bad. She's not going to Afghanistan, but Qatar. She's aerovac (she's a critical care nurse who will airlift wounded troops out). So she's mostly out of harms way. She may still wind up on the cruise. She broke her arm this year and has many issues with her wrist since. She may wind up needing surgery. If she does, she won't deploy. She then may still go with us. Her husband is pretty much 100% assured to go. There's always a chance, but they have canceled the cruise for now. Ironically if they rebook later, it will probably be much cheaper since they'll get the military discount.

For those of you going on the TA cruise, can you find out what's going on with Sasha in Palo? Is he staying there? Someone said something about him becoming a head server.

 

[Tracyvp]

Then Sunday the 24th sounds good....as for a time.. how about we go ahead and just pick 11:30? We can pick a place for lunch in DTD and then those that have passes and want to go into the park together can?


Ok.. who's up for the Dis-meet? And we need suggestions for lunch in DTD?

I think Alan said they'd be gone that day. How about the weekend before (the 17th)?

Either that our push it back 2 weeks (because of Halloween) to Nov. 7. Any one of those would work for us but we'd have to make it just a bit later in the day (we have obligations at church). Say 1:30?

 

[aan1701]

I think Alan said they'd be gone that day. How about the weekend before (the 17th)?

Either that our push it back 2 weeks (because of Halloween) to Nov. 7. Any one of those would work for us but we'd have to make it just a bit later in the day (we have obligations at church). Say 1:30?

Don't worry about me. First off I can't do Sundays. I ways work Sundays. Go have your meet. I will see you a on the ship. I am either at WDW or on the Wonder from 10/11-10/27. I can really only get to DL on Fridays. So enjoy your meet.

 

[valbob89]

Want to thank everyone who messaged me, emailed me, left me a message on the thread. It means a lot. I've talked more to my friend since then, and the newest isn't *as* bad. She's not going to Afghanistan, but Qatar. She's aerovac (she's a critical care nurse who will airlift wounded troops out). So she's mostly out of harms way. She may still wind up on the cruise. She broke her arm this year and has many issues with her wrist since. She may wind up needing surgery. If she does, she won't deploy. She then may still go with us. Her husband is pretty much 100% assured to go. There's always a chance, but they have canceled the cruise for now. Ironically if they rebook later, it will probably be much cheaper since they'll get the military discount.

For those of you going on the TA cruise, can you find out what's going on with Sasha in Palo? Is he staying there? Someone said something about him becoming a head server.

Glad to hear the news isn't as bad as you first feared and there is hope. Are they offering a military discount on this cruise now? If so, you can rebook before making final payment. I always check before making the final payment but haven't seen a discount on this cruise yet. Of course we got a pretty good deal by booking while on-board originally. Thanks for any info. val

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

I think Alan said they'd be gone that day. How about the weekend before (the 17th)?

Either that our push it back 2 weeks (because of Halloween) to Nov. 7. Any one of those would work for us but we'd have to make it just a bit later in the day (we have obligations at church). Say 1:30?

I have a Girl Scout obligation on the 17th and November is completely full for me due to Girl Scout and family obligations. If everyone else can do the 17th or in November - I completely understand and will meet everyone on the ship.

As for the time change - that is no problem at all.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Just a quick reminder about the Secret Mickey exchange - the deadline to sign up in this Wednesday 9/8/10. Anytime during that day is fine - I won't be starting to figure everyone out until Thursday. I hope to have everyone thier SM assignment by Sunday the 12th.

Here is the link to sign yourself up:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHA0c3N0RWhSYTNHeW5EWEx5NXNSakE6MA

As a reminder, by doing the Secret Mickey, you are agreeing to give 4-5 small gifts to your SM during the cruise. The final gift will be given at the reveal on the last sea day. I will notify you of the location and time for the reveal as soon as I see how many we have and what area we need. the final gift does not need to be a large gift, just a gift that you can give to your SM and reveal your identity. To answer one question I have recieved, your gifts are annonymous until the reveal day.

The SM exchange is in the $25-$30 range. If you signed yourself up as well as your kids, it is that amount for each SM that you signed up for.

You should put a small tag on the SM gift so that your SM knows its a SM gift and not a FE gift. I encourage you to have your SM room steward place the gift in the cabin while your SM is not there.

Although not required, you should try and pay attention to your SM likes and dislikes etc. - it makes it more enjoyable. Please pay attention if your SM has allergies! Most of all - have fun with this! I will try to match up children in age range as best as possible but it is not always possible.

If you have already signed up and have changed your mind, please just send me a PM so I can delete your information. I do need this info as well by the 8th.

If you have any questions at all - please let me know. Also, some of you will recieve a SM that is in a GTY room - as soon as I have thier cabin number. I will forward it to you. You may also want to check the website as it may get updated there first.

Thanks for playing!

 

[ImprovGal]

Glad to hear the news isn't as bad as you first feared and there is hope. Are they offering a military discount on this cruise now? If so, you can rebook before making final payment. I always check before making the final payment but haven't seen a discount on this cruise yet. Of course we got a pretty good deal by booking while on-board originally. Thanks for any info. val

Military discounts (and FL resident) discounts are the few discounts that can be applied even after final payment without needing a cancel/rebook. Neither seem to be offered yet for our cruise.

 

[DisneyCruiser83]

We love Steakhouse 55. It is on the pricey side but we feel worth it for a nice dinner. It is one of those restaurants where you order your entree and the side is additional. I love the creme brulee...sometimes we go just for that and a cup of coffee

Enjoy!

Have you ever been to the Capitol Grill? It sounds similar to Steakhouse 55. DH and I go twice a year, plus we will be doing Palo at least a couple of times, so I am wondering if it will be overkill if we do Steakhouse 55 as well. But, I also want to do as much as possible while at DL. If you had to choose, would you do Steakhouse 55, or Napa Rose? Thanks for any information!

ACDSNY: I hope your dogs find a safe return home soon. You may want to check Craigslist or something if they are not home tomorrow. Many years ago (when DH was in HS) his dog went missing, and the person who found it put an ad in the paper. But, hopefully, they will sniff their way home before that is necessary. Good luck!

I will be crossing my fingers for a FL resident rate, but not holding my breath. Jen, I hope your friend is able to go, and the military rate comes out so she can do it for far less than originally thought.