Now that our longest vacation of the year is over it's time to start thinking about our making decision about our December 2012 anniversary cruise on the Disney Dream. Even though it's a year and a half away in order to take advantage of the cheapest (very relative term) rates we have to make a deposit soon.
I'm not yet 2 months into my 20 month systematic savings plan but I'm only a couple of weeks away from having enough to make that deposit.
However in the last few weeks I've seen and heard some things that have caused some concerns about whether a Disney Cruise is right for us.
First of all I'm not too happy about the "threat" of increased rates for staterooms as the dates to the cruise gets closer. I mean availability and or lack of it is a natural occurrence in travel; even Disney travel. But the "penalty" of having to pay more because I book one of the last cabins available is bogus.
If I call Disney reservations today and ask about room availability and rates at a Walt Disney World hotel for the week after Labor Day in September, they'll tell me if which rooms area open and what the price would be. Then if I call back two months from now. There may be fewer rooms but the price will be the same. I mean, unless there was a discount special that was running when I first called (like the "free dinning" offer that's going on right now). The cast member won't tell me, "I'm sorry sir there's only 100 rooms left for those dates and the rates are now $25 more per night". The room rack rates stay the same.
That's not so for the Disney Cruise Line. The faster the ship fills up the higher the prices go. Who does Disney think they are? The airlines? The pressure of having to make such a decision so early or it'll cost you leaves a bad taste in my mouth and isn't the best beginning to our DCL experience.
Next, are some concerns that came up as I watched the segments of ABC's America's Funniest Videos season finale a couple of weeks ago.
Some of the "lead in" portions of the show were taped on the Disney Dream. In one segment Tom Burgeron was standing on a walk way over looking the family pool area of the ship. It seemed like the place was "wall to wall" people. It was crowded. If I wanted to deal with that type of crowd I would go to Walt Disney World and spend a day at one of their water parks or a resort pool during the summer. Better yet, I would stay here in my home town area and go to a public pool or water park on a 100 degree day. Either would cost me a fraction of a Disney Cruise.
I'm a big fan of and subscriber to the website, "touring plans.com". It is the Internet companion to the Unofficial Guide to Disney World book. One of its best features and most useful planning tools is the crowd calendar. It shows a 365 day calendar and ranks the projected size of the theme park crowds (based on extensive date research) on a scale of 1-10. The higher the number the larger the crowd. The site suggests that if the crowd calendar shows anything over a "6" you avoid that park that day.
I would like to know what crowd calendar rating a full Disney Cruise ship would get taking into consideration the availability of common areas, activities and on-board "attractions". I may have to ask Len Testa, co-author of "the unofficial guide" and "touring plans" website contributor, that question. He's frequently a co-host on the WDW radio podcast. I may have to call in on one of their upcoming monthly live show to ask him.
I don't want to have to deal with large crowds on a cruise ship and not be able to get away. Again, I can go to Disney World during Christmas, Easter, or Spring break when the crowds are a their peak if I want to do that.
The next concern is this. Are there places to go on a Disney Cruise to get away from the kids ? I know there's an "adults only" quiet pool But what if you don't want to go swimming? My wife and I are not "party" people. We don't drink or dance. Is there anything for adults to do other than go to the clubs?
I love children and most of the time enjoy being around them. My wife likes kids too but her bar of tolerance limit is quite lower than mine. Don't get me wrong she loves kids but only to a certain degree. Now I realize that anything that has do with Disney involves families. Being around kids is inherent with going to a Disney resort. But there needs to be places that we would enjoy going and things we would enjoy doing where there will be no children. I need to know that there is before I commit to a Disney Cruise.
Until recently another concern had to do with my wife's susceptibility to motion sickness. But on our recent vacation to Chattanooga she discovered that some anti-nausea pills helped her rather effectively. Since this "entry level" of medication helped her on land she could always turn to stronger meds (such as the patch or shots) to go on the ocean. So that's no longer an issue.
Speaking of our trip to Chattanooga, there's another issue that came up as a result to the things we did there. The beauty we saw at Rock City and Ruby Falls got me to thinking. Perhaps I might enjoy going to see some of this country's natural wonders more than I would a Disney Cruise. I'm thinking specifically of the two places my wife wants to go: Nigeria Falls and the Grand Canyon.
The amazement and awe of the pair of relatively small waterfalls we saw on Lookout Mountain has me more anxious to go see Niagara Falls. A vacation there next spring or summer would I think would be amazing. But I would have to choose that trip over the Disney Cruise.
Since that is now a possibility, finding out how my ability to change my mind and get our cruise deposit back will be a factor in how soon I actually commit to that December 2012 voyage.
Well, I've gone on long enough about my concerns and reservations about committing to a Disney Cruise. Now you know what I'm up against. I have some time to address them and get some answers to my questions. I will consult my resources by writing to my travel consultant, Stephanie from Mouse World Travel and contacting some of the hosts of the many podcasts I listen to. Their input, just as it has in the past, is sure to help me. If you have any input for me please feel free to write me at the email address listed in my profile.
