July 9, 2006 WONDERful Cruise! All Aboard!

[Hollyster2]

Is there a thread for this sailing yet? :)
Let's get one started! It is less than a year away! :sunny:

[Hollyster2]

Hey Tallmidgetgirl! I know you are out there somewhere! Are you going with me or what? pirate:

[TallMidgetGirl]

ya, i can't wait! :cloud9:

[Hollyster2]

Be patient...and they will come. :rolleyes1

[Hollyster2]

Ever hopeful here! Are we on the ship alone?

[Hollyster2]

Ok, I am just going to try and keep this thread alive!
We are going on the July 9, 2006 cruise---4 days on the Wonder. It will be our first trip on the Wonder! We are a group of 6 this time....
Myself, DH, MIL, DD 16, DD 7, DS 11. We are traveling with another couple who have 3 daughers ages 7,5, and 3. We are going to Disneyworld first, then catch the ship, then back for a few days to rest up at a resort. We cruised to Mexico with the Magic this past June, and at that time our group included my twin 19 yr old daughters. We will miss them next summer, but they have jobs and that changes our plans a bit now and again.
If anyone else is going to cruise in July or has been on the 4 day wonder or is planning on it feel free to post here! I love to hear everyone's two cents! :cheer2:

[Hollyster2]

:3dglasses Bump

[Hollyster2]

Hello?????

[jimmiej]

We'll be on the 7/9/06 Wonder sailing! Overall, July 2-13, 2006 to celebrate our 25th anniversary. A week at BCV, followed by our first Disney cruise! Cat. 9, deck 2. Now if I could only get that darned timer to go faster...

[Hollyster2]

HURRAY!!!!!!!!! I am so glad you found this board!
I have been known to talk to myself on occasion, but now I had begun to write to myself. :rotfl:
We are very excited about the cruise next summer. Our first trip on the Wonder. I think it is wonderful that you are celebrating your 25 years together with a cruise. Next month my husband and I will be celebrating our 20th. We celebrated a little early with our June West Coast trip on the Magic.
I look forward to passing the time here on this board, and sharing information as well as our growing excitement! :Pinkbounc

[TallMidgetGirl]

oooh! i'm gonna go! yay! party!!!! :banana: banana!! yesh...thats all....moo...

[Hollyster2]

Hey Ashleigh...Do you think you will have trouble adjusting to a 4 day cruise after being on a 7 day? I think I can handle it, since we are going to Disney World too. ::MinnieMo

[Hollyster2]

We are going to Disneyland today! I am very excited because we have priority seating for Fantasmic tomorrow night. :banana: Can't wait to get on the road after all the kids get home from school! :moped:

[TallMidgetGirl]

tee hee hee...i was gonna say something....hmm...i fergot....oh, does christine ever go on this, cause she should. ohhh!!! i remember! i'm gonna be 16 on this cruise!! :bday: woot woot! party! :cake:

[Hollyster2]

I think once it gets closer she will join the board. I pre-ordered some Birnbaum books for Disneyworld yesterday. I am so excited! :teeth:

[jimmiej]

Just bringing this thread back around again. Anyone else on the 7/9/06 cruise?

:wave2:

[Hollyster2]

If we keep the thread open and alive, I KNOW others will come! Waiting patiently here! Most likely after Christmas we will see more posts here. The closer it gets to the cruise, the more exciting it becomes! :hourglass

[Hollyster2]

Just checking in! Going to Disneyland in a few weeks. :flower:

[Hollyster2]

Hey there and Happy New Year! Any more cruisers yet????

[TallMidgetGirl]

wow...no one has written on here....OOOH! what if someone else started a different post for this cruise and everyone else is writing on there?! hah, i don't know. :wave: but that guy is cool!

[Hollyster2]

I am working on getting some more people to book this date! :daisy:

[Trishde]

We will be on board for July 9th 2006. Just booked it Friday, the kids are very excited since this is their first cruise (5 & 10 year old boys). My husband & I were on a Royal Carribean for our 1st anniversary so this is our 1st Disney cruise.
We have been doing Disney World for a long time. We are also in Disney Vacation Club.
I have heard so many good things about the Disney Cruise and I am very excited that we can all get a little time to do our own thing (I rarely get to do that on a vacation). So this will actually BE a vacation for me.

[Hollyster2]

Welcome to the July 9, 2006 board!!
I hear what you are saying about having a vacation yourself! I have an 11 year old son, a 16 yr old daughter, and a 7 yr. old daughter traveling with my husband and I. Our 19 yr. old twin daughters will be staying home this trip. :worried: We are traveling with another family with 3 little girls. This is our 3rd Disney Cruise, but the first one on the Wonder!
Looking forward to doing more relaxing than on the previous 2 cruises. That is the goal, anyway. My daughter is Tallmidgetgirl, by the way. She is great, and share's her mother's enthusiasm for Disney Vacation planning!

[TallMidgetGirl]

YAY! Another person on the cruise!!

[Trishde]

Thanks Holly!
We are very excited :banana: . I have an older son (who is 19) who will not be going with us. He did just go to Disney World with us in November but I think that might be one of the last trips he'll take with us for a long time :sad: ,
I have been getting a lot of info from these boards. Both of my younger ones have been to Neverland Club and Cubs Den in Disney World but I really needed the info for our 5 year old.
I will definitely be checking back in as it gets closer.
Have a good one!!!!

[Hollyster2]

We are travelling with 2 7 yr olds, a 5 yr old, and a 3 yr old. I have no information on the Netherland club. I would like some! Also, I want to find out exactly what goes on at the Ohana during dinner to keep the kids entertained. We will be celebrating my friend's birthday there!

[Trishde]

We have only been to Ohana's for breakfast & it was ok. It was Stitch with mickey, goofy chip & dale. Not sure what they have for dinner.
Our favorite character meals are Crystal Palace for Breakfast & Chef Mickey's for dinner.
The Neverland club is great. The kids have arts & crafts, movies, games all kinds of thing for them to do.
My soon to be 10 year old loves it (they did cub's den at wilderness but there wasn't as much to do & they ordered & brought dinner in).
Neverland also has a buffet for the kids for dinner. When you walk in it is Wendy's room & the kids go through what is her window.
They give you a pager & you fill out a form with where you plan to be and contact numbers.
I think it is $10 per hour per child but for us it was well worth it to be able to go to dinner (we've gone to california grill & emeril's a couple of times) when we go with just my husband & I and have no other babysitter with us.

[Hollyster2]

Wow, I am going to do a search on the Neverland Club! It sounds really great! We will have a bunch of Peter Pan fans with us this trip. Thanks! I am off to Disneyland for my birthday this weekend. It will be my first time spenging my birthday there. I am pretty excited! :cloud9:

[Trishde]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :cool1:
We have never been to Disneyland, we have talked about going, for us it would mean a very long flight.
My kids love neverland club but from what I hear about the cruise, they are going to be blown away by what there is to do.
One of the hygenists that works for my husband said that the kids will probably want nothing to do with us.
My 9 year old (he is turning 10 before the cruise) found out about the food (he is an eater, my dh is italian so it's a food thing with them, lol), I just started weight watchers myself before knowing we were going on the cruise (my incentive to stick with it) and he even said ya know mom maybe I'd better lose a few before we go with all the food I am going to eat.
Gotta love kids!!!!
Again, have great birthday!!!!
Say Hi to Mickey for me!!

[jimmiej]

Just checking in. DW & I have been discussing spa treatments. We're thinking about the Rasul. Some other DISers have talked me into it.

[Hollyster2]

The Rasul sounds really nice! I have been reading about some of the new spa offerings on the Magic, with the whirlpools out on a private deck? I am going to look into the Rasul and this other treatment I read about with a neck/shoulder massage. I had one of those on another cruise line and it was the MOST relaxing thing in the world. :woohoo:

[TallMidgetGirl]

:offtopic: my birthday is in two months!! :woohoo: yay!!! :thumbsup2

[Hollyster2]

Ok, all of our ADR's are made, and we have our airfare. We have our hotels all lined up, and just need to pay off the rest of the trip! :scared:
We are going to give the Dining Plan a try in WDW, and maybe the Pirate Museum in Nassau. We are still looking for Golf Review in Nassau. Anyone?

[jimmiej]

Hi everyone! Just checking in. Bought our outbound airfare, but not return yet. Prices too high. Hoping for a good DING fare from SWA. :wave2:

[Hollyster2]

Hello!
I love your Don Knotts avatar. I was so sad to hear of his passing. Did you ever see him in "The Ghost of Mr. Chicken?" I have talked about that movie for years to my kids, and I have to track down a copy to show them. Scared the death out of me when I was 7, but I am pretty sure they will think me pretty silly for that once they see it.

[jimmiej]

Hello!
I love your Don Knotts avatar. I was so sad to hear of his passing. Did you ever see him in "The Ghost of Mr. Chicken?" I have talked about that movie for years to my kids, and I have to track down a copy to show them. Scared the death out of me when I was 7, but I am pretty sure they will think me pretty silly for that once they see it.

I'm a big fan of The Andy Griffith Show. I have all of them on tape. Yes, I've seen "The Ghost of Mr. Chicken." My fave is "The Incredible Mr. Limpet."

An update on my previous post:

Bought our airfare. Got good price and good times. :cool1:

[Hollyster2]

"The Incredible Mr. Limpet" is my favorite too!
Good news about your airfare! We got great airfare prices too, and really good times. We also got seats all together for a group of 10, so I feel very lucky!
It just went under the 4th month mark for our trip so that means I need to start going through everyones summer clothes and get an idea what we will need. The other family we are traveling with are in Disneyland now for 5 days and I am green with envy. :thumbsup2 We also received a trip planner in the mail this week and that was fun. It listed the date we could begin making Palo, babysitting and excursion reservations too. Now to just pay the trip off!

[Trishde]

Just checking in to say Hi.
We watched the cruise dvd again yesterday & the kids are getting really excited. My middle guy was going nuts over the menus. Then he kept asking if the sharks could get to us at castaway cay (I told him I read there is a shark net on the family beach).
My little guy's birthday is at the end of July & I was debating on whether or not to pick a night on the crusie to celebrate. I think it would be great for him.
I got my packet 2 weeks ago with the date I can reserve things & register the kids.
I saw travel channel is going to have a special on March 14th & 16th about the cruise.
We are still planning on driving (at any time my dh could change his mind).
Everyone have a good one!!!

[Hollyster2]

OH I would go ahead and celebrate your Son's birthday! Disney celebrates when you celebrate! My friend will have a birthday on the 15th, and I would like to celebrate it on the cruise also.
We celebrated a 15 yr old's birthday last trip, and they gave her a birthday button, and brought a beautiful cake to the table! She also enjoyed the pluto her Mom had sent to her room that she could have signed. She had fun bringing it everywhere and having CM's sign it and characters. It is a really cute Pluto Dog. At dinner, they sang to her, and then cut the first slices in the shape of an "M" for Mickey Mouse, and her name (Melissa)!
We received our packet in the mail telling us when we could book excursions and Palo. It is soooooo close! I am hopefully going to be all paid up in a week or so. We also will be watching Pirates of the Carribean in high hopes the sequel will be playing on the ship!! :thumbsup2 I am still trying to decide on what to do in Nassau. We watched a special on Atlantis, and it really looks amazing.
I am busy planning Tallmidgetgirl's sweet 16 party right now. Planning for the cruise resumes in full swing after we finish that.
Have a good day!

[jimmiej]

Is anyone going to WDW before or after the cruise? We're staying a week at BCV prior. Looking forward to being so close to Epcot (our fave). :cool1:

[Hollyster2]

Our group of 10 is staying at CBR before our cruise, then a few nights at the Poly when we get off the ship. Just paid of the cruise portion of the trip today! YAHOO! :woohoo:
We still need to pay off the land portions. :rolleyes: We are trying out the Disney Dining Plan, tickets/no hopping plus water options on the first part of the trip. On the last part we have hotel only, but our passes will still be good when we get off the ship.
We are taking the kids to the Harvest Feast at the Garden Grill in Epcot. I am a big fan of the Fish and Chip place there also. Any other suggestions you can give us?

[Trishde]

We are staying 4 days at BW before the cruise, we are driving & might stay a night after the cruise in cocoa beach & go to the space center.
Hoping to maybe try to get to Jellyrolls one night.
We only booked 2 priority seatings (one for Japan with the Hibachi tables & one for Sci Fi). Kids are really getting excited :yay:

[Hollyster2]

Disney Cruiseline special this week on the Travel Channel, and one on the Walt Disney World Resort next week! :3dglasses They are oldies, but goodies!

[Marilou]

Hi all
Unfortunately I'm not on the ship with you but I will be disembarking on your sailing date. My cruise is July 6-9th. I started a Meets thread and so far there are like 5 replies....too bad they are all by me :rotfl2:
:confused3 I still can't seem to find anyone on this board on my dates. I keep bumping up the thread every week or two in the hopes that someone will spot it. I'll try and leave the ship clean for you all :rotfl: :rotfl:
Marilou

[Hollyster2]

Hi Marilou! :wave:
You are more than welcome to hang out here as long as you like!
What plans and reservations have you made?

[gowensby]

I found you all! I've been lurking on these boards since we made our reservation in January of 2005! But I just started searching the cruise meets. My wife and I are cruising alone-sans children. Our three boys are 8, 5 and 5. Identical twin boys. We all went together back in 2002 for a family reunion. This time just the two of us celebrating my recent graduation. We've been saving our Disney Reward Dollars for three years. Jimmiej--I noticed you're in New Braunfells, TX. We're in Midlothian--just South of Dallas, TX. Are you flying out of Austin or San Antonio? I settled on an airfare price--but I'm not sure if it was a great deal. Non-stop--which gets us back to the kids faster. We're really looking forward to our first vacation in nine years without children.

[TallMidgetGirl]

Glad you found the July 9th, board! Welcome! pirate:

[Hollyster2]

I have a set of identical twins also! They are girls and nineteen years old! They have summer courses and jobs so they will not be sailing with us this time. It is coming close to when we can make our Palo reservations! :tink:
My husband is also looking at golf in Nassau and Walt Disney World. Time to get those reservations set too.

[Hollyster2]

Hello Ashleigh, Mom here.
I can't believe how close your birthday is getting. :crazy:

[Hollyster2]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!

We are finally under the 3 month mark! :woohoo:
Now it is time to finalize some plans and seriously think about what we will be packing. Let the fun begin! pixiedust:

[Hollyster2]

Hello!
Took care of a few more things today. I notified Disney Dining that we are all on the Dining program, and they adjusted all of our ADR'S. Also, booked the surfing lessons at Typhoon Lagoon for my husband, son and daughter! It will be a very early morning for them, but my husband used to surf when he was a teen, and it is a great oppurtunity for him to show off, in a shark free environment. :lmao: My 7 yr. old is bummed because she is not old enough to go, but all family "Non Surfers" are welcome to go and watch for free. We will either do that, or meet up with the rest of the family and spend the day in Typhoon Lagoon after the lessons are over. :teeth:
Now to work on the Golf reservations. We are looking at one of the Disney World courses, and then one in Nassau. I am going to switch gears and concentrate on Tallmidgetgirl's 16th birthday next week and then Easter but then it is back to packing and planning!

[Trishde]

Hello All!!
90 DAYS UNTIL THE "WONDER"FUL CRUISE!!!!
We are in desperate need of this cruise!!!! The 2 youngest are VERY excited! I am awaiting the current Passporter book, they said it would be shipped out today.
I have 2 pillows I ordered from Crayola Big Yellow Box (with markers) for my kids to bring for the Characters to sign.
Gave my Oldest (who won't be with us :sad1: ) and his girlfriend the info & warning about the house :thumbsup2 (and instructions for the dog).
My parents & in-laws & neighbors will be on the lookout :rotfl2:
(Grandma will probably even pop over to stay a few nights!)
15 days & I can register the kids & book my SPA!!!!!!!!
Yes, I am very excited too! I just hope my husband can have a great time, he really deserves it, he has been so stressed!!
I might even have to try to talk him into getting a massage, maybe even one of those rasul deals for us (what is the whole deal with that? just a little curious, it sound relaxing).
I was reading some of the other boards too, my 5 year old has transient tics
(mostly blinking & clearing his throat) and he is in the kinderchallenge (which is like a basic skills class for kdg) academically he is doing awesome but has some fine motorskill issues along with the tics (which are extremely rare, so rare that even his kdg teacher has not seen any this year, whereas preschool it was very noticeable).
I am going to put this down when he goes to the clubs.
He is very good in group settings and I see that they are very good when they move the kids but just wanted to keep them aware.
He is such a sweet kid.
Do we know how to get our board closer to the top? My computer has been running slow and clicking each page...
Hey and:
Happy Birthday Ashleigh!!! party: :cake: :bday:
Everyone have a good one!!!
(My kids are off this week, Easter bunny will be here soon, gotta get those eggs colored soon!!!)

[Hollyster2]

Yeah, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEIGH DANIELLE!!! :hug: Your Mommy loves YOU!

[Hollyster2]

Hi Trishde!
I booked Palo Brunch this morning!!! I haven't decided on any spa treatments yet. I do know my friend and I want to get to the Rain Forest Spa this trip. What spa treatments are you thinking about??
I have to make a list of instructions for my oldest girls, since they will stay home and be in charge of the cats. I really should start working on that. Thanks for the reminder!

[Hollyster2]

My 11 yr old has a tic too...twitching his nose. Sometimes he doesn't do it much for awhile, and just when I think he has out grown it he starts up again. and he just always tells me his nose itches. He does it while watching TV, but not during video games. Has me baffled. If you have any info or website on the subject I would really like to check them out.

[Trishde]

Hi Holly!
I am not sure yet about spa treatments, when I go to book, do they have spa packages listed? Definitely massage & facial. Maybe pedicure (not sure might have one done before we go since we will be in parks & I like to get a pre vacation pedicure in the summer) I have the gel on my nails so no manicure. Also thinking an open air massage on castaway but not sure.
I have been to Sarasota Springs (used to be the Disney Institute & have been there also for treatments).
The only websites I have checked about tics have to do with tourette's syndrome(mostly because he has had some vocal tics and other things last year that have been associated with it). We had him tested for seizures (when he started blinking uncontrolably (sp?) my dh worried about seizures because when he was born he had a lack of oxygen during delivery) and thankfully he wasn't having them so they diagnosed him with a transient tic, at children's hosp in philly.
The head neurologist told us that alot people have some sort of tic & that it alot of times does run in family (since then we have noticed my oldest/ neck & clearing throat, my mother with her eyes & myself, I never really thought of it as that but I have a thing with rolling my eyes & twitching my nose kind of feels like you have to & if you don't it bugs you), he did say possibility of tourette's (when my husband asked) but the only diagnosis is with observation over a long period of time and they can grow out of the tics (and they can also come back), at this point meds are not an option (and he really did not think necessary) because it doesn't interfere with everyday life or school. The other kids don't notice either. I always know that when he is upset or going through a tough time, that some of these things come out but I give him extra attention and try to steer him into more positive things, it really doesn't happen that often, so if anything it is noted and it is very mild.
I never really tried to look up just on the tics, think I might now just to see.
Gotta get to bed I am sure the kids will be up early even though they are off.
Have a good one!!!

[Hollyster2]

Good Morning and Happy Easter Everyone!
We are heading out of town this weekend, and I have tons to do today to get ready. Lot's of baking. Ashleigh had a great birthday and we all ate too much. :sad2: BUT it was a very happy day around here! She needs to change her Ticker now. (hint hint)
I am pretty sure the spa treatments are listed. I think that some are not and are specials offerred on board. I have had a facial on board Disney and it was really nice, but I recommend if you do not want the heavy sales pitch that you write that down when you go in or state it up front. I really really got roped into all of it because the gals were so nice, and it just got so expensive. I never used all the products.
The one treatment I was considering was the pedicure too, but it is tradition in our family for all of us girls to go get our summer pedicure together right before our vacation. So I don't know, I may need another one by the cruise because we will have been in Disneyworld 9 days before then. I really hope to get into the Rain Forest Room for sure this time! :woohoo: There just wasn't time last trip.
I have to get all the kids off to school now, so I had better get going. Have a great day everyone!

[pacercolt]

Hi everyone! We will be sailing with you on the Wonder! There is my family DH, DD15, DD7 and our firends who have a DD19 and DD13 and also another couple. There is 10 of us all together. We have been trying to talk these friends into sailing with us for some time now and we are very excited. Can't wait until they hear the horn. :banana:

[Hollyster2]

Welcome Pacercolt!
I have a DD 7 and a DD 16 on board with us. We too are a group of 10 since we are traveling with another family. :thumbsup2
We can't wait to hear the ships horn too!! Last trip we were right in front of it and boy did we jump!

[Hollyster2]

Who has early seating, and who has late? We have always had late seating when we have cruised, but this sailing we chose early. We are traveling with young kids in another family and they seemed to have a hard time with late seating last cruise so we are trying the earlier time.

[Trishde]

We have the early seating, says 6PM on our reservation. Today I am registering the kids (Yeah!! :cheer2: for mom!!!) I wanted to book Palo but according to Passporters, Pirates Night is the 2nd night and they repeat 1st night & 2nd night restaurants on the 4day. I wasn't sure that I wanted to book Palo the 1st night and don't want to miss the Pirate Menu. I might just book it for the first night anyway. My son to be 10 DS said no big deal to him but more concerned with his little brother.
Does anyone know what the kids do for dinner in the clubs?
Any advice on Palo would be great!
I am also going to book my spa today!!!! :cool1:
The kids really want to countdown, we leave on 4th of July morning (for that long east coast drive down). We are staying in Brunswick Georgia just for the night of the 4th (they seem to have an old fashioned 4th of July celebration.) Then off to Boardwalk!!
Everyone have a good one!!!!
Looks like here is Jersey it's going to be a nice day (maybe I can start my tan after my weight watchers meeting, get a jump start :sunny: )

[Hollyster2]

Wow, I missed that info in the passporter about repeating the restaurant on 1st and 2nd nights. Thanks! I will have to think about that. I wanted to try Palo for dinner one night, but haven't decided yet. I did make my Brunch reservations because that is one thing not to be missed! I have to register my kids for the kids club still, thanks for the reminder!
The kids went to dinner and lunch at topsiders when my kids were in the club. They ate very early. My kids have also had lunch in animator's palette while in the club. My 7 yr old is mostly impressed by the "secret passageway" they take from the club to the dining rooms. Hope you enjoy the sun today. It is supposed to rain on us today here. I am taking my twins to school early and then hitting the YMCA for my circuit training class. I just started back at it yesterday. Better late than never I guess. LOL
We are counting down the days on our screensaver right now. When we get to 30 days we will make a countdown out of post its and have the kids do a collage for the background or something. We haven't made our door signs yet either. SO EXCITING!!!

[Trishde]

According to these boards (DIS) people who were just on 4-days said that Pirate night is still castaway cay day (3rd night). I am going to e-mail passporter to see if that is a mistake about pirate night being 2nd night. I booked Palo for 7pm on 2nd night & if I find out it is Pirate night, then I will change it.
Still haven't booked spa but the kids are registered & Palo is booked (even booked Banana boat for my DH & DS(10).
I printed the cruise check in papers too.
I'll post what I find out.

[Hollyster2]

That would be great if you could post what you find out. From all of my books it says pirate night is Castaway Cay day. Where did you read that we repeat the restaurant first and second night? You mean we go to our first restaurant the night we board and then return the very next night and repeat the restaurant?? I just assumed we would repeat on the last night of the trip.

[Trishde]

I just got the new Passporter for Cruise 4th edition and now that I have had the chance this evening to check it out in more detail;
page 119 states 2nd night on 4 day is Pirates in the Caribbean menu (also on the dining schedule page (which is next page 120). It also states on page 141 Deck parties that on 3 & 4 night cruises it's held the evening we're in Nassau (which is day 2).
On page 121 (dining worksheet) there is a note that the exception to rotation rule 4 night cruise repeat the 1st restaurant on the 2nd night.
I e-mailed passporter & I am waiting for a reply about the pirate night. They suggest that if booking Palo that you do it instead of Parrot Cay but we wouldn't know our rotation until we ge our 1st navigator. They have an anticipated rotation but that doesn't really help because I am not sure what you would do with a mix of kids, it has for all adults, young kids, older kids (my kids will be 10 & late 5, I would consider that middle unless they are talking older kids as teens).
According to passporter I might be canceling Palo & play it by ear & hope there is a spot.
Ok, with this pressure I think I need to add another spa treatment :)
I haven't even started that yet!!
Find my happy place :cloud9:
I will post when I get a reply from passporter.
Have a good one!!!!

[Hollyster2]

Thanks Trishde!
I just don't know what to do about Palo! I have tried to find a recent 4 day navigator online, but no luck. The first night on the ship we will want to have dinner with the kids. The second night we will want to have the Pirate Menu! The third night we might be in Animators or Triton's and I don't want to miss either one! Oh well...I will wait and see what you are going to do since I can't decide.

With our dinner seating so early we can eat lightly with the kids and go to a late dinner a Palo I guess. The thing is, I have heard they have a lot more movie time in the clubs now and if there aren't many planned activities in the evenings the kids won't be happy with us leaving them in there. Post when you can! :wave2:

[Trishde]

I got a reply from Passporter this morning, it was an error in the book, Pirate night is the day we are at Castaway Cay (which is Tuesday, night 3). I have my Palo for Monday night at 7 (day we are at Nassau) I am so excited!!!! :woohoo:
I am in the same boat, wanted to have dinner with the kids on 1st night & don't want to miss Triton's or Animator's.
Now to decide on spa.
Don't know if DH would go for the rasul thing, I am trying to talk him into at least getting a massage. I would like to do the Stone therapy & one of the facials. Though the Cellulite reductions sounds good since I am on weight watchers & might need some toning up, :rotfl2: The exercising can do only so much.
I also really wanted to take the kids to Atlantis but not sure about spending whole day, my DH & I were there for our 10th annniversary & loved it & I know the kids would. Hubby would rather stay on boat (thinking myself might also be a good idea to do some of the things that might be really crowded on day at sea).
I thought about maybe getting off boat to go to straw market but don't want to bring the kids & not sure if DH wants to do that either.
I have time to think about that but want to get the spa decided I need to be pampered princess:

[Hollyster2]

OH COOL! Ok, no I have to decide about Palo too! It is for sure that we repeat the restaurants the first two nights?
I have read that the ship in Nassau is not as empty as one would think. Many people stay on board. We are trying to decide on Atlantis also, but you know...we are on the ship such a short time that I think we will decide against it. My husband and my friend's husband want to golf there. I would like to find the Pirate Museum with my older kids and check out the Straw Market then spend the day back on the ship.
I am sooooo sore from returning to my circuit training class! I must stick with it until the cruise! Still up a few pounds from the Easter brunches and chocolate feasting. :guilty: I need coffee right now so I had better get moving. Have a great day all!! :surfweb:

[Hollyster2]

Just read on the Trip Reports board that they repeated restaurants on the 2nd and 3rd nights of the trip! Monday Night at Palo still seems like your best bet, unless it is the first night of Animator's Palatte and they still only do the light show the first night of a cruise. I probably will chicken out of Palo, since I am so unsure of what rotation I will have.

[Hollyster2]

Our airline changed our flight times and flight numbers! We had great seats and now we are all over the place. I have never had this happen before. Hopefully they won't change us around too many more times. I think we can work out the new seating arrangements, but I am bummed we will depart from home an hour later, and get to Orlando at least an hour later. :sad2: It will be evening there, and there will be a good chance we won't have our luggage until the next morning. The upside of all this is we leave 45 minutes later going back home so that buys us a little more time. :thumbsup2

[time2relax]

Can't wait for this trip. Our first Disney experience. We are a party of three. DH, DD 5 and myself. Anyone travelling with a 5y/o girl? I am a little worried about dropping her off at the club by herself. I know she will have fun.......just trying to imagine how this is going to work.

[Hollyster2]

We have a 5 yr. old girl traveling in our group! We are traveling with another family and they have a 3, 5 and 7 yr old-all girls! We have cruised together once before, and we left the kids in the Disney Clubs. Of course, they knew each other. My now 7 yr old daughter stayed in the clubs when she was 5, and without knowing anyone. She did however like the time broken up a bit, and still does.

We go over the navigator together and I ask her what activities is would she really like to be in the club for and then she chooses some things she would like to do that are out of the club. Usually that is pool time. THEN after she has her say I tell her when I need her to be in the club-like for Palo Brunch, or when she doesn't want to go into port. If I let her ask her what her ideas are first, and then make pool time for her at least once every day she has a ball in the clubs! Her most memorable event is walking throught the "secret passage" to the restaurants. She can't wait to go back and do that again! :lovestruc

[time2relax]

Thanks Hollyster for the tips. I think letting my DD pick some things she wants to do will be fun for her and much easier for me. I will definitely break up her time in the clubs. We are sooo looking forward to this trip.

Now I just need to make sure our Rasul time can be changed from 8am on sea day to later in the afternoon. :wizard:

[Hollyster2]

:jumping1: Happy Mother's Day!!

[jimmiej]

Hey everyone! Just checkin' in. Anybody excited yet? :banana: :yay:

[Hollyster2]

Well I am! :yay:
Busy here with end of the year school stuff, but I am going to go through the kids summer clothes this weekend and take inventory of what we still need.
We are getting ready to make a countdown to hang in the kitchen that the kids use every day. We usually do that at the 30 days out mark. WhooHOO!

[Hollyster2]

Our house starts counting down tomorrow!!!

We haven't done any cruise shopping yet, and I am behind on going through the kids clothes. With our Memorial Day campout out of the way, I think I can focus on the packing part.

The time is just flying by! I hope the actual vacation crawls by at a snail's pace. :cloud9:

[jimmiej]

I've been counting down for over a year. Course, I don't have children to ask me every day. Enjoy your countdown! :goodvibes

[Hollyster2]

:) Hello!
Well the kids are having fun with the countdown, and I am too!
Hope everyone enjoys the time before the trip, and has plenty of time to pack. The weather just turned warm here this weekend, and it only reminded me how close our trip is. :goodvibes

[jimmiej]

This trip is really sneaking up on me. I guess that's a good thing. :teeth:

[Trishde]

The countdown is on & the clothes & supplies are being collected. Van is being checked out & getting it ready tomorrow.
We leave July 4th for the long drive down the East Coast :drive: WOOHOO!!! :woohoo:
We are due at Boardwalk July 5th. The kids get out of school this coming Monday (now they will really be thinking about it!) :hyper:
My husband is in desparate need of this vacation.
Everyone have a good one!!

[Hollyster2]

We are collecting our clothes and supplies on our dining room table. :rotfl:
I just need to see all that we have, and what we still need. I wish I had a spare room to lay out suit cases, but I don't. :guilty:

My kids are out of school as of tomorrow! We will actually get serious about our packing after Father's Day. I want to go pick up some of those hand sanitizer gel things that hook onto your purse or back pack. They are so handy! Found some "Ariel" (Disney) Sunscreen to bring with us.

Have fun counting down the final weeks! :cheer2:

[jimmiej]

I think I'm going through a "lull" right now. I've planned for so long & now I'm ready, but still a few days left... :wave:

[Hollyster2]

Anyone watching the weather they are having in Florida? What do you think?

[pacercolt]

It's not long now!! :cool1:

[jimmiej]

Anyone else get their cruise package in the mail?

[Trishde]

We got ours today!
Showed the kids, we are so very excited about our 1st Disney cruise.
I have to call about the lugggage tags since we are driving in. I would assume that we put the tags on what will go with us on the cruise.
That I would do when we leave Boardwalk.
Since school is finally out (monday was their last day) they are going crazy.
At least we have the next 2 saturdays filled (10 year old finally sleepover almost a month late & his friend is having a pool party.
During week we are enjoying pool working on base tan & the whole sunscreen (getting them used to it again).
My 10 year old is getting worried about the banana boat, he is the rollercoaster king (i think he is more concerned with the carribean water & sharks but I told them both no sharks)
Getting them really geared since we are leaving nj on the 4th. pirates movie comes out on 7th & the ride opens back up, hoping they make a deal, I did see that they were going to have activities along with the reopening of ride.
My kids are disney channel fanatics & were hoping the hannah montana concert at typhoon lagoon was while we were there but found out it was tomorrow.
I am no where near ready as I would normally be but gotta get a move on it. I need to get some shorts since I finally made goal on weight watchers. I didn't want to get too much to make sure now I don't have enough.
6 weeks of maintenance (2 of which will be vacation) Wish me luck, I am allowing myself 5 lb for the cruise (with all the walking we do at "the world" i have not had to worry about that so I am leaving that for the cruise) so I have leeway before & after for weighins to keep within for lifetime.

Hope everyone is as excited & looking forward to meeting

WOO HOO!!

[jimmiej]

I have to call about the lugggage tags since we are driving in. I would assume that we put the tags on what will go with us on the cruise.
That I would do when we leave Boardwalk.


I was wondering about that also. :confused3 We're staying at BCV a week prior to our cruise. I think you're correct about when to use the luggage tags.


I need to get some shorts since I finally made goal on weight watchers. I didn't want to get too much to make sure now I don't have enough.
6 weeks of maintenance (2 of which will be vacation) Wish me luck, I am allowing myself 5 lb for the cruise (with all the walking we do at "the world" i have not had to worry about that so I am leaving that for the cruise) so I have leeway before & after for weighins to keep within for lifetime.



Congrats on reaching your goal! DW & I do WW also. We just don't worry about it on vacation. ;)

[Trishde]

I called dcl and they said to put the tags on before we leave the resort to drive over.
Thanks!! I am not going to go crazy worrying about what i eat on cruise but I am going to stay active.
I am on maintenance for the 6 weeks so I don't want to mess that up. I have never been a lifetime & that is my next goal.
Have a good one!!

[Hollyster2]

Finally doing the Doc dance here!!!!!!! :banana: :banana: :banana:

The trip is so close!!!!! We are getting so excited!

[Trishde]

Is anyone ordering any gift baskets? Either from dcl or Shirley's. Thought I might order a snack basket for the kids since it is thir frist cruise.
Thanks
It's really here, wow, we leave tuesday morning at 4am (unless dh can't sleep).
I just read that Epcot is having a summer concert series and that a Billy Joel tribute band will be plaing (they are called 52nd strret & I think they have played at house of blues in my area)
I'll have to look into that when we get there.
Have a good one!

[Hollyster2]

I HAVE BUTTERFLIES IN MY STOMACH! :crazy:
We leave on Friday! All packed up except for the last minute things we will use the morning we head out. The house is all clean, and groceries bought for the older ones staying behind. :sad2: I will miss them, much more than they will miss me I am sure.

I didn't order anything to be sent to the ship, but if I had I would have for sure used Shirly. I just couldn't decide on what to order for my group. I did order some things from the Disney Florist to have sent to our resort! :woohoo:

I hope you all have a wonderful cruise, and PLEASE come back and post on this thread about your trips!!! Ok?

[jimmiej]

Is anyone ordering any gift baskets? Either from dcl or Shirley's.

Since we're celebrating our 25th anniversary, I ordered a dozen red roses from DCL for my wife. Aren't I a good husband? :hug:

BTW, we're leaving on Sunday (July 2) at 5 am. I won't be able to sleep! Just like the commercial! :rotfl2: I told DW we need to be in bed no later than 9 pm as we need to get up by 4 am. pixiedust:

Hollyster, we're leaving our kids behind too (20 & 23). I only hope the house is still standing when we return! :rotfl:

[Hollyster2]

OH HOW SWEET of you to send your wife roses!!!! :rose: I hope you have a wonderful Anniversary celebration!

My twins daughters are almost 20, and I will hardly see them before we leave. I think one may have dinner with us tonight, but the other will have to work. In the morning the one working tonight will go with us to the airport to drop us off. SO WEIRD to not have them going on this family vacation!! My 16 yr old is really looking forward to being the "oldest" kid on the trip though. Hope it turns out to be all she thinks it is cracked up to be. :rotfl2:

Our 2 cats definitely know something is up. They keep sitting on top of the suitcases and giving us "the Look". :cat: :cat:
We leave in the morning!

[Hollyster2]

Hello!
We got back on Sunday, and STILL wish we were back in Florida! We had such a wonderful time on the cruise, too! I am still working on laundry around here and getting back in to the routine of home. Is anyone else back yet?

[jimmiej]

We came home when the cruise ended. We spent a week in WDW prior to the cruise. DW & I were blown away back Castaway Cay (especially Serenity Bay) & Palo's.

[Trishde]

We got back last Friday night. We ended up only staying one night in Cocoa Beach. Space center barely took 1/2 the day (since we were off the ship by 7:35 am we were in the parking lot before it opened).
I left our toothbrushes on the ship (think I might have left a couple of other things that I can't find) that is so unlike me.
The days inn we stayed at in cocoa beach went downhill (we stayed there 9 years ago but they had a decent review on orbitz, I am going to add my review since we were dissappointed). We get home and they charged us for both nights when we cancelled the 2nd night within more than the time allowable.
We did book another Disney cruise while on board, we are going same time next year, flying in (no more driving for us).
A couple of days in Disney.
Did anyone get a glimpse of Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom. Rumor was they were staying in Beach Club (we stayed at Boardwalk)?
The kids loved the clubs, we obviously loved the cruise!! We went to Palo Wednesday night, well worth it. We did get to Serenity Bay (hubby thought too quiet but I thought it was perfectly quiet).
I was going to bring a journal so I would have an awesome review for the trip report but will have to do it from memory.
Next time since I will be more aware of what I am doing. We definitely packed way too much. But next time we are going with a one bedroom at boardwalk instead of studio so i have 24 hour access to washer & dryer before cruise.
I also lost 3 lbs during the 10 days we were away (I was comfortable, didn't deny myself anything & drank like a fish) they were amazed at my weight watchers meeting on Tuesday but in Disney one day I clocked in 21,000 steps so we were active, I went to the gym one day on the ship & took the stairs.
Can't wait to go again next year, think we are hooked!!
I am also taking just the 2 younger kids & my friend and her daughter to Disney World in April (my hubby & oldest will hopefully survive alone together without the mediator, lol)
We had the early seating with Coskun & Eva (our rotation was TAAP so I had to change our Palo), they were great.
I was one number off the Bingo jackpot $2700 would have been a nice chunk to help pay for the next cruise, lol.
Hope everyone else had a great cruise!!

[Hollyster2]

Serenity Bay was just the best! We did brunch at Palo and enjoyed that very much. Great seats for the show on Pirate Night! My husband really went all out--he had a stick on beaded beard and everything. I kept losing him in the crowd because he looked so unlike himself! pirate:

[jimmiej]

Holly:

If you were at Serenity Bay, we probably saw you. Were you with some other couples?

[Hollyster2]

HI!
We were with one other couple, but while at Serenity Bay we met some other people. Amoung them was a very nice couple from Pennsylvania that gave us quite a bit of information on some of the sea creatures!
While sitting by the water's edge a big blue crab came up from the sand right under my friend's chair so you may have heard us all yelling about that. LOL