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

[FloridaFun]

My kids love Epcot the most, so I plan to start at Epcot. Does anyone know if you can book different busses for different people in the same cabin? My mom may want to sleep in and catch a later bus, but I would love to be on the 6:30 with the kids.

We can’t book until November 17th either and I am traveling the 16th and 17th. I hope I am at a place where I can get internet connection when the booking time starts. Does anyone know if it is 12:01 eastern? I had read somewhere else that it is not until 3:01 eastern?

Ichiban – Glad you were able to get a KSF room! Our kids are also close in age. Mine are DS12, DS10, and DS5. There is a great group here with kids close in ages.

I Heart Mickey – We also have passports and passport cards for everyone. Just makes us feel more comfortable. However, last March my Step-Dad’s passport did not come for our Mexico cruise until after we left, so he went just with his birth certificate then and had no problems at all.

Gina- Good thought about what happens when we get to PC after being at CC. I wonder how that works. I so need a “cruise box”. When I get off one cruise all I can think about is how to get myself onto another one. I am a total type A personality and cruising is the most relaxing thing I have ever done. Perhaps looking at a cruise box will help me relax at home.

Kim – That is hilarious about your daughter and the “no fair”. I can’t wait to hear how happy she is on Christmas.

FEE- Confirmed for the FEE I have FloridaFun (me with 2 cabins), Dismom73 (2 cabins), Kimbo71 (1 cabin), I Heart Mickey (1 cabin), Gina (1 cabin), Duck Window (1 cabin), The Great Cornholeo (1 cabin). Anyone else want to join in?

[jzandmeplus3]

Originally Posted by FloridaFun

My kids love Epcot the most, so I plan to start at Epcot. Does anyone know if you can book different busses for different people in the same cabin? My mom may want to sleep in and catch a later bus, but I would love to be on the 6:30 with the kids.

We can’t book until November 17th either and I am traveling the 16th and 17th. I hope I am at a place where I can get internet connection when the booking time starts. Does anyone know if it is 12:01 eastern? I had read somewhere else that it is not until 3:01 eastern?

Ichiban – Glad you were able to get a KSF room! Our kids are also close in age. Mine are DS12, DS10, and DS5. There is a great group here with kids close in ages.

I Heart Mickey – We also have passports and passport cards for everyone. Just makes us feel more comfortable. However, last March my Step-Dad’s passport did not come for our Mexico cruise until after we left, so he went just with his birth certificate then and had no problems at all.

Gina- Good thought about what happens when we get to PC after being at CC. I wonder how that works. I so need a “cruise box”. When I get off one cruise all I can think about is how to get myself onto another one. I am a total type A personality and cruising is the most relaxing thing I have ever done. Perhaps looking at a cruise box will help me relax at home.

Kim – That is hilarious about your daughter and the “no fair”. I can’t wait to hear how happy she is on Christmas.

FEE- Confirmed for the FEE I have FloridaFun (me with 2 cabins), Dismom73 (2 cabins), Kimbo71 (1 cabin), I Heart Mickey (1 cabin), Gina (1 cabin), Duck Window (1 cabin), The Great Cornholeo (1 cabin). Anyone else want to join in?

You can book different people on different buses from the same cabin. It's 12:01 eastern time you can start booking activities. A cruise box is a great help come time to pack I find. Highly recommend doing so.

[jzandmeplus3]

Originally Posted by Kimbo71

Thanks-I have never been on a cruise with kids, so this is a lot of new territory for me, lol! (I mean, we have to pack princess dresses & a Buzz Lightyear costume!!) The packing is already starting to overwhelm me! Ha! Ha!

How many nice outfits do you bring for the kids, for instance?

The 8 night Disney cruise I went on before had one formal night and 2 semi-formal nights. My boys wore a suit the formal night and a nice shirt and dress pants the semi-formal nights, the other nights they wore jeans with a polo shirt. On pirate night they wore Hawaiian shirts. The best thing to do is pack things that will go with everything to help from over packing, but pack enough that you have enough clean clothes. There are washing machines on the cruise, but the laundry room I hear is always busy and who wants to do laundry on a cruise?

[Kimbo71]

Originally Posted by jzandmeplus3

The 8 night Disney cruise I went on before had one formal night and 2 semi-formal nights. My boys wore a suit the formal night and a nice shirt and dress pants the semi-formal nights, the other nights they wore jeans with a polo shirt. On pirate night they wore Hawaiian shirts. The best thing to do is pack things that will go with everything to help from over packing, but pack enough that you have enough clean clothes. There are washing machines on the cruise, but the laundry room I hear is always busy and who wants to do laundry on a cruise?

No laundry for me!

Ok, this info helps. I didn't even know where to find info on the formal/semiformal nights.

[Gina]

So glad to hear a bunch of you also do the cruise box thing! I don't feel so weird now! Lol I'm always getting free samples of stuff, so those go in the box... and I found neoprene holders at Dollar Tree that should exactly fit the Wave phones so those just went in there the other day... It's mostly little stuff like that that I put in the box. And as others have said, it does make it so much easier at packing time. And it makes me happy to see the box! Keeps the cruise at the front of my mind, and makes the planning that much more fun. I like planning.

Got our reservations for 'Ohana all set. I briefly thought about Be Our Guests, until I saw both the menu and the prices. Holy smokes! I don't even really like the very few entrees they offer, and it's just so expensive... I'd rather have one set price for all the yumminess I can handle, for food I already know DS & I both *love*.

I need to start looking for a new tux for my son... his barely fit him for our cruise in February, so I know it'll be a no-way by this next cruise. I think the pants might still fit him -- it's his chest that has bulked out more and he looks like he's going to pull a Chris Farley in the jacket when he puts that on, lol. Time to start the Ebay hunt!

[jzandmeplus3]

Spoke to someone from DCL today regarding transfer from WDW back to Port Canaveral. She said you do not have to sign up for return to boat ahead of time, you can get on bus without reserving space. If you want to return to boat in afternoon there will be buses to transfer back to Port Canaveral. I forgot to ask how often the buses will be running to return to ship.

[SnipsNSnails]

I need to start a box now that I know we are going. We just returned from two nights at Great Wolf Lodge and I don't think we will be going anywhere overnight until the cruise so I am ready to start putting things like the shoe holder, dirty clothes bag, etc. into the box and then I need to start working on getting the things on my list that we need yet. I love this part of vacation planning!

I will probably bring the boys a pair of dress pants and 3-4 polo shirts and then a more formal type outfit, pants, vest, tie. I don't even plan on bringing a dress for me. Just my black dressy pants and 4 nice tops, one of them fancier for formal night. If my DH was coming along, I would probably put more effort into it but we aren't going to get really dressed up this time.

I'm also hoping to find a good deal on some pirate outfits for the boys since 'tis the season at the moment. Just super excited!

[jzandmeplus3]

Originally Posted by Kimbo71

No laundry for me!

Ok, this info helps. I didn't even know where to find info on the formal/semiformal nights.

Bring a pop up hamper too!

[I❤MICKEY]

Originally Posted by Kimbo71

My 11 YO DD loves to meet new friends & I want her to have a good time!

My DS are 2 and 4. Guessing your DD11 wouldn't be too thrilled with them.

Originally Posted by SnipsNSnails

I will probably bring the boys a pair of dress pants and 3-4 polo shirts and then a more formal type outfit, pants, vest, tie. I don't even plan on bringing a dress for me. Just my black dressy pants and 4 nice tops, one of them fancier for formal night. If my DH was coming along, I would probably put more effort into it but we aren't going to get really dressed up this time.!

This is what I was thinking for my boys too.

My DH is less than thrilled with the idea of dressing up for dinner while on vacation. We may end up eating in the dining room to experience the rotation one time and then find alternative options. Nothing worse than having a miserable DH.

[Kimbo71]

Originally Posted by I❤MICKEY

My DS are 2 and 4. Guessing your DD11 wouldn't be too thrilled with them.

Normally,she likes little kiddos......but in this case, you're probably right, lol!

[I❤MICKEY]

Kimbo71 - My sister lives in Arvada. We visited last Thanksgiving and went to Santa's Workship just outside Colorado Springs. Had a great time. I actually prefer the Colorado Springs area over Denver/Boulder.

[Kimbo71]

Originally Posted by I❤MICKEY

Kimbo71 - My sister lives in Arvada. We visited last Thanksgiving and went to Santa's Workship just outside Colorado Springs. Had a great time. I actually prefer the Colorado Springs area over Denver/Boulder.

Love us some Santa's Workshop! I am super thankful I live in Colorado Springs! Can't beat it for gorgeous mountain views & super fun hikes!

[jzandmeplus3]

When I planned my first Disney Cruise I had no idea where to start. I purchased the book PassPorters for Disney Cruise Line and it's Ports of Call. It was so helpful and informative for the Type A kind of girl I am. It's new edition is the 10th edition available on Amazon.com for pre-order (November 13 is the publish date) or you can also visit their website http://www.passporter.com/disney-cruises/home.html

[dismom73]

My DH just talked one of his friends and their family into switching to this cruise. They were booked on the Fantasy in May. This will be their first DCL, they have two boys, 10 and 4. Not sure yet if they will join the FE or the boards, but I'm super excited, because now my DH has to stick with this sailing. He was starting to say something might come at work during February (but I knew it was something optional), now he's saying it's not going to happen.
It's also looking good for us to get the airline employee discount, which will really help since we have 2 cabins booked for our family of 5.
Now I just need to get on the planning...I'm pretty sure we will be spending the day in MK, but might try to get on the Monorail to Epcot if we are able to, so we can check out the new Test Track. My booking window opens on Nov. 2nd.

[dismom73]

Originally Posted by samily

I was able to book our excursions this morning - yay! It makes it feel more real!!

For those looking for this info...the busses are starting at 7:15 for all parks except Epcot, which starts at 6:30. For Magic Kingdom they are leaving every half hour, to the other parks it is every hour , all ending at 9:15am. (Epcot has a 6:30, then a 7:15, and then every hour to 9:15am. Epcot also has a 4:45pm listed). You can reserve your time under port adventures. I didn't see any info on the return busses.

There are 6 cabanas left on the family beach and 2 on SB.

Palo brunch is offered on the sea days, every half hour, 10:00 - 12:30.
Palo dinner is offered each evening, every half hour, 6:00 - 8:30.
No high tea offered anymore.

Pirate night is listed as night 6.

Hope this info is useful!

Thank you for posting this...where did you find Pirate night listed? I can't find it anywhere on the website. Is it because I'm not paid in full yet?