I'm so surprised no one's talking about the Wonder

[Disney Fool]

Moderators: Please don't move this.
Aren't you Californians happy about the Disney Wonder coming to Long Beach and being housed there? I haven't seen many posts about that and I'm rather surprised that few are discussing the Mexican Riviera cruises and the Long Beach to Vancouver trips and the Alaska cruises. There may be some special deals for the parks to coincide with the move. Maybe a combo deal, like the ones they have at Orlando: a few days at the park, a few days on the ship. Maybe DCA will be finished by the time the Wonder docks in January of 2011. Any thoughts?

 

[PinkBudgie]

Well, I have heard only little bits about it and that's only because I wander over to the WDW side once in a while and I listen to the podcast. As far as I know Disney hasn't made a point to tell us or promote it. I haven't seen anything.


As for myself, I'd love a cruise to Alaska or Canada (not interested in Mexico) but they are too pricey for us now. So, for me, nothing to get excited about since I know I won't be going.

 

[LuLusApple]

They announced it at the D23 expo, but no specifics regarding deals yet that I have heard of. I am not too interested in park packages since I have an AP.
Nor am I very interested in cruises in themselves. I just love Disneyland

 

[Disney Fool]

Well here's all the info:

BREAKING NEWS - Disney Cruise Line® Sets Sail for Alaska!

It's a Disney Cruise Line® first! The Disney Wonder® Cruise Ship is sailing to Alaska for a four-month season of 7-night cruises in 2011. Departing out of Vancouver, B.C., the ship will call on popular ports such as Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway.

The first Alaskan cruise sets sail on May 3, 2011, with the last cruise of the season scheduled for August 30, 2011. Bookings open to the general public on September 28, 2009. However, if you are a Castaway Club member who has completed five or more sailings with Disney Cruise Line®, you can book as early as September 21, 2009.

Also announced, was the return of the Disney Wonder® to the Mexican Riviera. 7 Night cruises will depart from the Port of Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Sailings will take place January 23 - April 17, 2011 and then again September 25 - December 18, 2011.

In response to Guest demand, the Disney Magic® Cruise Ship will once again return to the Mediterranean in 2011 with 10- and 11- night cruises sailing out of Barcelona, Spain.

Also available will be the opportunity to enjoy a number of repositioning cruises and special sailings including a 15-night Panama Canal Crossing, two 14-night transatlantic voyages; a 6-night cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, B.C.; a 5-night cruise from Vancouver, B.C., to Los Angeles, and 10- and 11-night holiday sailings to the Mexican Riviera and the eastern Caribbean.

 

[Sherry E]

I know you said not to move this thread, OP, but it is really not a Disneyland planning-specific thread. That's why you won't see any discussion of it here, on this section of the board - because this forum is just for DLR planning. Until we begin to hear about combo package deals which may (or may not) include a cruise on the Wonder as well as a visit to DLR in some capacity, then this won't be a Disneyland-related topic. But that potential scenario is a long way off.

DCA's work is not supposed to be complete until at least 2012, and I have a hunch it may even extend a bit beyond that as they keep making little changes and additions here and there.

 

[kkmcan]

I'm super excited about the Wonder coming to this side of the US! We can drive to the port. Definitely interested in Alaska but it may be too pricey. We'll see in a few weeks!

 

[DangerMouse]

I know you said not to move this thread, OP, but it is really not a Disneyland planning-specific thread. That's why you won't see any discussion of it here, on this section of the board - because this forum is just for DLR planning. Until we begin to hear about combo package deals which may (or may not) include a cruise on the Wonder as well as a visit to DLR in some capacity, then this won't be a Disneyland-related topic. But that potential scenario is a long way off.

DCA's work is not supposed to be complete until at least 2012, and I have a hunch it may even extend a bit beyond that as they keep making little changes and additions here and there.

I agree, Sherry. If I wanted to discuss the Wonder then I would head on over to the DCL forums.

 

[Disney Fool]

I know you said not to move this thread, OP, but it is really not a Disneyland planning-specific thread. That's why you won't see any discussion of it here, on this section of the board - because this forum is just for DLR planning. .

I agree that it's not purely DL-related, but I have been reading this board for a long, long time, and several posters always lament that they're at a distinct disadvantage on the west coast because it not only costs so much to fly to Orlando, therefore they can't get to WDW, or they complain that the East coasters have all the advantages and can easily get from WDW to the Disney cruiseline. Well, now that they have it, nobody's talking!!!! I do think that DL and the Cruiseline will be interconnected. Why would Disney miss out on an opportunity like that? I would think that there would be the potential for MORE visitors to DL than ever. I was thinking about the impact this news would have on the park, and businesses nearby.

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

Having been on a Disney cruise and loving it I still would not pay the price for another one. My kids are 11 & 13 currently and the thrill of seeig characters is just not important to them. We cruise annually but prefer Carnival or Princess as their pricing is better. I do like the fact that there is no casino on board and that soda is available but other than that I woudl not cruise Disney. I do see a nice perk though for people coming to CA and Disneyland to book a package.....

 

[DizMe]

I just don't remember seeing many posts on *this* board about cruising or lamenting the lack here . I might be interested in a package but I doubt it as I don't think it would be in our price range.

" I would think that there would be the potential for MORE visitors to DL than ever." In that case, I'm agin it!

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

I do admit that NOT having to travel to FL for a Disney cruise is cool ....however I doubt we'll ever go bc DH hates cruises. I'm STILL working on an hour ride to Catalina!

I know I'm the minority in this - but I don't know any other boards like I know this one. When you talk to the usual people, straying to another board is sometimes daunting when you were looking for answers from "the usuals"....so bc I don't go to different ones, I never would've known about this. Whether it belongs or not...not sure - it's just nice for a heads up into other Disney things occasionally. Even if it's a "Hey did you hear? Come to ____ board for more info!"

 

[Disney Dreams]

We LOVE cruises. Our honeymoon was a 7-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera. DH has been wanting SOOOO badly to go on an Alaskan Cruise. I have been dying to go on a Disney Cruise (being a cough-minor-cough Disney fan), but the airfare to the east coast has stopped us.

We tried to make our anniversary trip last year (wow! that was 11 months ago!!) a WDW visit / Disney cruise, but there just weren't enough days. We tried to plan another trip this year, but can't swing the airfare AND the cruise fare. It's FANTASTIC that there are going to be west coast Disney cruises.

We are already talking about taking an Alaskan Disney cruise.

When it was announced at D23, two things happened:
1 - The audience went crazy.
2 - I instantly sent a text to my DH!

Yep, excited!

- Dreams (who probably should take a cruise on the Disney Dream. )

 

[Sherry E]

While there have been a couple of exceptions made (for example, one of our DIS-ers wanted WDW planning advice from DLR DIS-ers), for the most part, if we (as mods) do not re-route things which do not pertain to DLR planning to the other sections of the board where they fit in better, then this part of the board becomes too cluttered and the more appropriate threads drop down the pages at warp speed. So sometimes a little housekeeping is necessary. That's why, this year, there has been more emphasis on the Disneyland Community section, so that all of those fun threads that are not specifically pertaining to the actual planning of DLR trips have a place to go that is Disneyland-related. This thread should be in the DCL section - maybe even in the DL Community section. Yes, eventually, it may tie into DLR planning, with special promos or hotel rates or whatever, but for right now it has little to do with DLR planning because those special rates and promos do not exist. We have a long way to go before that happens.

Oh, and MagicalMomAZ - I hope you can work out that Catalina boat thing (maybe try the helicopter option)! It's a fun, worthwhile trip. I love it there almost as much as I love DLR! (See my TR below for Catalina photos.)

 

[debdreamsofdis]

I think it's a great thing! Of course, I'm in the same 'boat' as everyone else who thinks the cost may be prohibitive. They will have to have some amazing promos for us to be able to afford it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but one thing I think still puts the west coast at a disadvantage is that there is no private island like Castaway Cay. Also, doesn't it just still seem like West Coast is getting the "hand me downs" while the East coast gets new ships?

Also, will they have a Hawaiian cruise?? They're building a Disney resort in Hawaii aren't they? Wouldn't that be a perfect land and sea vacation package?

 

[bumbershoot]

...and several posters always lament that they're at a distinct disadvantage on the west coast because it not only costs so much to fly to Orlando, therefore they can't get to WDW, or they complain that the East coasters have all the advantages and can easily get from WDW to the Disney cruiseline.

This board isn't just for people in CA, or even people on the west coast. It's for DLR enthusiasts. And if a DLR enthusiast hasn't yet done something else, it's b/c they don't want to, or because there's truly not enough money to do it yet. Also, a west coast cruise isn't the same as the east coast cruises (and vice versa).

I've seen some posts a few months back by people doing some sort of cruise/disneyland thing...

But from what I've read about the land/sea packages is that they are NOT deals, from a financial sense...that you could do much better booking alone...

Regardless, I'm still partial to RCCL (Radiance in particular), though I admit I'm in trouble b/c DS finally really noticed that there's a cruiseline with Mickey on it.... Time to get the kid into modeling so he can help pay his way!

 

[DizneyDogs]

I was at the talk where the Pres. of Disney Cruises announced the west coast move and the Alaska itinerary and handed out Disney Cruise Alaska scarves to everyone. I have a bunch of pictures too from the talk and once I have them uploaded I will post them. Anyway there were a lot of cheers from the crowd which I would assume most were locals. Anyway since I am on the West Coast I am excited for Disney to be moving out here and looking forward to booking the Alaska cruise. I do hope they will be or it's in the works to also have a Castaway Cay Island out West as well and to combine it with a land/sea package but of course nothing was mentioned of either.

 

[PHXscuba]

I am a cruising fan AND a Disneyland fan, but that doesn't mean I take Disney cruises.

For me, part of the appeal of ever doing a Disney cruise vs. any other cruise line is Castaway Cay. Unless Disney is taking over a Channel Island (hmm...), there won't really be an equivalent that distinguishes Disney cruising for me to the Mexican Riviera. The Disney cruises that have left from the Left Coast up until now have cost so much more than the same cruise on RCCL or Carnival than I'd rather spend half the money on the cruise and then go to DLR after!

We were docked next to one of the Disney ships in Nassau a couple years back while on another cruise ship (one of RCCL's oldest and smallest). Even on the "small" RCCL ship, we were looking down on the smaller Disney ship. With RCCL and Carnival parking big amenity-filled ships on the west coast, I'd rather take one of them than pay double for a smaller, older ship.

The most I can hope is that increased competition in the LA-area cruise market (and Alaska) means more affordable cruises for everyone!

PHXscuba

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I went ahead & moved this to the DL Community board since this is not a Disneyland planning thread, however, it's relevant to those of us on the West Coast.

I've been on a few Disney cruises, and am looking forward to the Wonder coming to California. It will make taking a Disney cruise more affordable for the families out here on the West Coast, and hopefully we can get some DISers to cruise together, since that seems to make cruising that much more fun/special.

 

[PinkBudgie]

So, to get to Alaska I have to cruise to Canada and then cruise from there to Alaska?

 

[jlmarr]

You could take the train to Canada (Coast Starlight & Cascades) then take the cruise.

Actually we're interested in the repo cruises but are wondering if Disney will charge the usual premium fare even though there's no stop at Castaway Cay. I guess we find out in a few days.