2/15/2013 - 8 Night Western Cruise, Galveston, TX

[SunshineCruiser]

Is anyone spending the night in Galveston on the 14th? I was trying to figure out the best place to stay.

We are staying a Hotel Galvez. You can book it directly through DCL, but we booked it on our own, and DCL still gave us free transfers from the hotel to the ship the next morning. Disney loads your luggage right at the hotel, and you don't have to handle it again, as they send it right to your stateroom on the ship. It is a bit more expensive - we paid $165 for a room for 5 people, but we wanted to splurge a bit for Valentine's Day. We are also going to get there very early in the afternoon, so we will have all day to enjoy the hotel. I don't know anything about parking there though as we will not have a car.

 

[dismom73]

Gina, nice pics. You will have to book an aft balcony on the Dream or Fantasy next. Those are pretty big too.
So, I have the list of things I need to buy for my adult FE gifts, I just have to get out there and buy them. I have a monster sinus infection right now and it's slowing me down. I have all this motivation in my head and I can't seem to get it to the outside of my body.

 

[Gina]

We are staying a Hotel Galvez. You can book it directly through DCL, but we booked it on our own, and DCL still gave us free transfers from the hotel to the ship the next morning. Disney loads your luggage right at the hotel, and you don't have to handle it again, as they send it right to your stateroom on the ship. It is a bit more expensive - we paid $165 for a room for 5 people, but we wanted to splurge a bit for Valentine's Day. We are also going to get there very early in the afternoon, so we will have all day to enjoy the hotel. I don't know anything about parking there though as we will not have a car.

Have you stayed there before? The Galvez is so beautiful... she's called The Queen of the Gulf for good reason.

Gina, nice pics. You will have to book an aft balcony on the Dream or Fantasy next. Those are pretty big too.

That's what I hear! Unfortunately, unless DCL offers some sort of fly-free-to-Florida deal, this'll be it for us and DCL for a while. But we also have had such a good time on RCI -- I have no trouble sailing with them again. Princess is the only one I wouldn't really do again.

So, I have the list of things I need to buy for my adult FE gifts, I just have to get out there and buy them. I have a monster sinus infection right now and it's slowing me down. I have all this motivation in my head and I can't seem to get it to the outside of my body.

Awwww, that's no fun! But hey, better to get the germs out of the way now than next month, right?? Feel better!!

 

[KPetty725]

Do we put who it is from on our FE gifts? It hadn't occurred to me, I was thinking like secret santa but a question on the main board made me wonder what we should do.

I was wondering the same thing. That and whether we should wrap it or not. Anyone who has done a FEE before have thoughts?

 

[Gina]

I definitely have never wrapped ours, but usually do put our names on there somewhere. I know that I like to know who the gifts were from when I get them! But I'm sure others might have a different preference.

I have an FEE question myself... there are an awful lot of people on the spreadsheet who *never* post -- Are these people still even on our cruise?

 

[tryin]

We are staying at Harbor House. This may change if I find a cheaper rate. I'm not sure I will though with it being Valentines Day and needing a room for 5.

 

[Tass]

Is anyone spending the night in Galveston on the 14th? I was trying to figure out the best place to stay.

I've never stayed there, but we are booked at the Hotel Galvez on the 14th. We made it easy on ourselves and booked everything through DCL - the hotel and ground transfers from Hobby to Hotel Galvez, Hotel to Port on the 15th, and from Port to Hobby after the cruise. Everything I've read has been favorable for the Hotel Galvez - we're hoping that's true for us as well

 

[FloridaFun]

Lets do a FEE check in to make sure everyone is still cruising now that the 3 groups are closed. Please post or email me at beth@sitesandsounds.com to let me know that you are still in.

Thanks,
Beth

 

[FSU88]

Do we put who it is from on our FE gifts? It hadn't occurred to me, I was thinking like secret santa but a question on the main board made me wonder what we should do.

I'm going to put our names on the ones we hand out.

I definitely have never wrapped ours, but usually do put our names on there somewhere. I know that I like to know who the gifts were from when I get them! But I'm sure others might have a different preference.

This mirrors my thoughts exactly.

I have an FEE question myself... there are an awful lot of people on the spreadsheet who *never* post -- Are these people still even on our cruise?

Good question. I'm still making something for all the cabins in my group. Hopefully everyone on the list is at least looking at the FEE document it even if they do not post here.



Also - for those listed as GTY, when do you usually get your cabin assignments?? Will it be before the 14th? If not, make sure to put your cabin number on the FEE gifts you leave for the group so we can find you.

 

[KPetty725]

Lets do a FEE check in to make sure everyone is still cruising now that the 3 groups are closed. Please post or email me at beth@sitesandsounds.com to let me know that you are still in.

Thanks,
Beth

Pretty sure it's obvious but I'm definitely still in. So excited!!

 

[SnipsNSnails]

Of course I'm still in. I've already bought all my stuff and started making gifts today so I'm sure that I will deliver to everyone on our list anyway unless they have no FE, then some other people on the other lists might find some extra things in their FE LOL I might design some little slips of paper to include with our gifts, though we plan on delivering more than once. We have two things for each person and then something for just the kids for pirate day. So I'm not sure whether we will deliver twice plus pirate day or just both things at once plus pirate day.

 

[dismom73]

I'm still in too! Although, I'm not included in the "never post" group . I ordered the stuff for the kids today...note to self, don't wait until last minute next time, not only is the time crunch stressful, but the amount spent on everything(kids and adults) at the last minute cuts into spending money.

As far as the questions, we've done the FEE a few times, I've never put who they were from, and I've delivered both wrapped and unwrapped. By wrapped I mean clear plastic bag so everything is all in one bag. I think you will see it done both ways....

 

[glorib]

We are definitely still in for the FE! Got most of the kids' gifts done and think I have a plan for the adults as well!

I have two questions - Beth - it looks like your son has a peanut allergy? If we were to do treats - what kind of stuff is OK? Obviously no peanut or PB products, but what about things that may have been processed on a plant that processes peanuts as well? I noticed even candy and such like Skittles say that anymore...

Secondly - for those of you who've done Animator's Palate before - can you tell me a few characters seen in the drawings there? I'm trying to plan DD an outfit with a few of the characters on it... I did a google images search, but the same photos keep showing up and they're not really helpful... Looks like Sorcerer Mickey and Pinocchio? I'd like maybe 2 or 3 more, though...

 

[KPetty725]

Secondly - for those of you who've done Animator's Palate before - can you tell me a few characters seen in the drawings there? I'm trying to plan DD an outfit with a few of the characters on it... I did a google images search, but the same photos keep showing up and they're not really helpful... Looks like Sorcerer Mickey and Pinocchio? I'd like maybe 2 or 3 more, though...

I have a pic of samba and I remember Ariel as well. In my pic I see pretty much everyone in little drawings on the wall. Will try to scan tomorrow to show you what I mean.

 

[the great cornholeo]

I'm still in.

 

[SunshineCruiser]

Have you stayed there before? The Galvez is so beautiful... she's called The Queen of the Gulf for good reason.

No we have never been to Texas before, actually that is wrong, my husband did travel alone to Houston for business about 15 years ago. I had never heard of the hotel before, I just searched sites like trip advisor and picked it. I may never be back to Texas, so I wanted to pick somewhere memorable or interesting to stay.


FloridaFun: We are still in for the FEE!

 

[FloridaFun]

Based on confirmations and posts both here and on the Facebook page, I have the following confirmed:

Gina
The Great Cornholeo
SunShineCruiser
Kimbo71
Florida Fun (2 cabins)
duck widow
Dawncala
DisMom73 (2 cabins)
KPetty725
Glorib
Snipsnsnails
dgmommie
FSU88
Castawaygirl
Tryin
Dishy24
Fatfish
Threeofhearts (all 3 cabins)
nickiB
sasbass
juliefsu
marblesphx
kreedham
bluenorthern
I Heart Mickey
BlueGreen
Dolores Rader
diannacarole
betsy2010

Everyone that signed up has confirmed that they are still in for the FEE.



Please excuese me if you have been posting lately and I missed it, but please let me know if you are still cruising and doing the FEE

Thanks,
Beth

P.S. I will be putting who my gifts are from, don't plan to wrap them. My son is highly allergic to peanuts and since we can't get to a hospital for treatment while on board, we will also be staying away from anything that was processed in a factory with peanuts as well. He likes Oreo's, Wheat Thins, and Pizza Goldfish. He loves chocolate, but that would turn you all into label reading nuts as I typically have to look though a 100 items before I can even find one that he is able to eat.

 

[glorib]

P.S. I will be putting who my gifts are from, don't plan to wrap them. My son is highly allergic to peanuts and since we can't get to a hospital for treatment while on board, we will also be staying away from anything that was processed in a factory with peanuts as well. He likes Oreo's, Wheat Thins, and Pizza Goldfish. He loves chocolate, but that would turn you all into label reading nuts as I typically have to look though a 100 items before I can even find one that he is able to eat.

Thanks for the info! I'm a pediatric RN, so I am all too familiar with life-threatening allergies. Luckily, neither of my own kids have allergies, but I certainly understand your caution!

Not sure if we were going to include treats with our gifts, but wanted to double check just in case!

Oh, and for what it's worth, I was planning on putting "From the Thompson family" or something on our FE gifts, possibly "wrapping" in cellophane bags tied with ribbon or something...

 

[nickiB]

We are still in..but we just joined.. Having so much fun with the FE and gifts..So glad we found this info before it was too late.

 

[duck_widow]

I definitely have never wrapped ours, but usually do put our names on there somewhere. I know that I like to know who the gifts were from when I get them! But I'm sure others might have a different preference.

I have an FEE question myself... there are an awful lot of people on the spreadsheet who *never* post -- Are these people still even on our cruise?

I'm still here reading along. I had to contain myself until Christmas when we told the kids. It wasn't the crazy freak out I hoped for. It took them a while to process it all. Once I popped in the cruise planning DVD they got really excited.

I've PM'd a few people. I have a 12 year old DD who would like to make new friends before the cruise. If you have a DD close in age who'd like to chat, please PM me. I know she's already having fun chatting with NickiB's DD.

I've been thinking of what to do for a FE. I'll probably do something very easy like using oven mitts or attaching tote bags together. I have a few ideas for FE gifts too. Need to finalize it and get working on those....and figure out door decorations too.

Time has flown. I can't believe how close we are to the cruise. Wow. I'm going to Disneyland too in a couple of weeks, for a trip I planned with a friend almost a year ago way before I booked the cruise. So much Disney to do.