March 27, 2012 *SPRING FLING DOUBLE DIPPIN DREAM*

[twinmom108]

So, since the 3/27/12 cruise will be our 1st time on a Disney cruise I am just wondering how the gift process works. Do we buy stuff for each of the families that was listed in purple? Or are we given specific families. Just don't want to mess up do something wrong. I am currently looking for our gifts for fish extenders. So, any ideas of the type of stuff you should do would be great too! Can't wait!!

These are my thoughts on fish extender gifts & since nothing is set in stone I hope others will chime in with their ideas too!

Since it looks like we're going to be a small group we'll probably do gifts for all cabins who are participating in the FE exchange. In the event that we get alot of participating cabins we can split the FE into groups at the discretion of the FE coodinator. I once participated in an FE group that was almost 150 cabins. Believe me, that's way too many cabins & I ended up giving out several postcards of our home town to each cabin as our FE gift.

No worries because there's no way to mess up anything. You can either choose to give one gift per cabin, or you can give (less expensive gifts) individual gifts to each person in cabin. The main thing is have fun with it - don't stress about it - & don't spend more than you're comfortable with

Some of the things we've received in the past: (many being homemade)
Disney stickers for the kids
Magnets
flashlight
Mickey Mouse Clock
bookmarks
pirate tattoos
candy
snacks
tote bag
first aid kit
pencils/pens
Message Board (magnetic)
Glow Stick items
Address Book

 

[modegard]

So, since the 3/27/12 cruise will be our 1st time on a Disney cruise I am just wondering how the gift process works. Do we buy stuff for each of the families that was listed in purple? Or are we given specific families. Just don't want to mess up do something wrong. I am currently looking for our gifts for fish extenders. So, any ideas of the type of stuff you should do would be great too! Can't wait!!

I agree with Twinmom108, whatever you want to do is fine. The minimum is one gift per cabin. I have posted some details in post #51. This is my first cruise too. I think we are at 15 ot 16 cabins right now, so we have a very managable group. I am looking forward to it! Sounds like the FE exchange is a lot of fun.

 

[twinmom108]

Is everyone enjoying their Holidays? Our son in the Marines just came home last night. He'll be here for two weeks We're staying around here & not traveling. Anyone traveling this Holiday Season?

 

[modegard]

Is everyone enjoying their Holidays? Our son in the Marines just came home last night. He'll be here for two weeks We're staying around here & not traveling. Anyone traveling this Holiday Season?

Glad to hear your son is home for the holidays! That is awesome. We are staying home this year. Last year at this time we were in Hawaii and are thinking that was a much better idea than hanging out here in the snow. Already planning to be there next Christmas.

 

[twinmom108]

Glad to hear your son is home for the holidays! That is awesome. We are staying home this year. Last year at this time we were in Hawaii and are thinking that was a much better idea than hanging out here in the snow. Already planning to be there next Christmas.

We've never been to Hawaii. Now with Aulani, the new DVC resort in Oahu, we might go in a few years. Was last year your first time there or do you go to Hawaii often?

 

[modegard]

We've never been to Hawaii. Now with Aulani, the new DVC resort in Oahu, we might go in a few years. Was last year your first time there or do you go to Hawaii often?

Last Christmas was the first time for my kids and husband, I had been to Hawaii when I was a teenager. With 6 of us in the family the flights just kill us. It is getting so expensive to fly anywhere. We loved it though and want to go back soon (planning for next Christmas!).

When we were there we went to the show suites at the Disney Resort, and they are beautiful! It is a very nice resort, but about 20 minutes from Waikiki. Perfect if you are resort people, but we are not. We like to do and see everything so we stayed right in Waikiki which was perfect for us.

 

[Cobbo]

So, as fortune would have it, we've had to reschedule our trip & will not be joining ya'll on this cruise .....finances required that we needed to redirect some cruise $, so pushing it off was the best call for us.....just glad we got it done before the PIF deadline so we aren't losing any $....

In any event, I hope ya'll have fun & know we'll be thinking of you during Spring Break

 

[twinmom108]

So, as fortune would have it, we've had to reschedule our trip & will not be joining ya'll on this cruise .....finances required that we needed to redirect some cruise $, so pushing it off was the best call for us.....just glad we got it done before the PIF deadline so we aren't losing any $....

In any event, I hope ya'll have fun & know we'll be thinking of you during Spring Break

I'm so sorry that you & your family won't be joining us in March. Totally understand having to redirect your resources given the economy & all. Thank goodness you were able to cancel before the PIF deadline! :thumbsup Take care & have a Merry Christmas.

 

[modegard]

So, as fortune would have it, we've had to reschedule our trip & will not be joining ya'll on this cruise .....finances required that we needed to redirect some cruise $, so pushing it off was the best call for us.....just glad we got it done before the PIF deadline so we aren't losing any $....

In any event, I hope ya'll have fun & know we'll be thinking of you during Spring Break

Thanks for letting us know. Hopefully your next cruise will be even more magical.

 

[irisheyes17]

Thanks so much!! That helps alot!! I received my fish extender in the mail yesterday and am getting sooo excited!!

These are my thoughts on fish extender gifts & since nothing is set in stone I hope others will chime in with their ideas too!

Since it looks like we're going to be a small group we'll probably do gifts for all cabins who are participating in the FE exchange. In the event that we get alot of participating cabins we can split the FE into groups at the discretion of the FE coodinator. I once participated in an FE group that was almost 150 cabins. Believe me, that's way too many cabins & I ended up giving out several postcards of our home town to each cabin as our FE gift.

No worries because there's no way to mess up anything. You can either choose to give one gift per cabin, or you can give (less expensive gifts) individual gifts to each person in cabin. The main thing is have fun with it - don't stress about it - & don't spend more than you're comfortable with

Some of the things we've received in the past: (many being homemade)
Disney stickers for the kids
Magnets
flashlight
Mickey Mouse Clock
bookmarks
pirate tattoos
candy
snacks
tote bag
first aid kit
pencils/pens
Message Board (magnetic)
Glow Stick items
Address Book

 

[twinmom108]

Thanks so much!! That helps alot!! I received my fish extender in the mail yesterday and am getting sooo excited!!

You're very welcome! We're now within 3 months of our cruise sailing & I know the time is going to fly by.

 

[Bamfield]

Hello Everyone!

Hope everyone had a nice holiday and is looking forward to a new year. We put our final payment down this week and because we are Silver members I was able to get our spa reservations all taken care off. We decided not to book any shore excursions. I was trying to get DH to do the Aquaadventure but we decided to enjoy the ship. We figure we might get a chance at the pools while everyone is on shore.

Also got that all important boarding time. I was able to get an early spot. We are driving to the port this year, it will be a first for us. We usually take WDW transportation however we are driving due to the skyrocketing airline prices. Flying back on the 1st is just wicked. Have to do some research on port parking.

Happy New Year!
Lisa

 

[mango1818]

Is it too late for our family to join? We are so excited for our first Disney Cruise (technically our 2nd but our daughter was just 2 and doesn't remember. She will now be 12!) My husband and I are going along with our DD who is 12 and our DS who is 4. We would love to be a part of the FE group.

 

[twinmom108]

Welcome aboard Mango1818. The more the merrier.

Happy New Year everyone!!!!!

 

[modegard]

Is it too late for our family to join? We are so excited for our first Disney Cruise (technically our 2nd but our daughter was just 2 and doesn't remember. She will now be 12!) My husband and I are going along with our DD who is 12 and our DS who is 4. We would love to be a part of the FE group.

Happy to have you as part of the group! I will pm you the spreadsheet we are keeping and you can update your info.



Merilee

 

[modegard]

I was thinking of making up Deck Plans like this so we know were all the FE cabins are. What do you think? Should I put more info? For example the Dis name, kids ages, stuff like that? I am not comfortable posting too much personal info on the Disboards about peoples families, but I could PM a link to everyone with the plans if we want all the info on there. What do you think?

Merilee

 

[cschnell]

Also got that all important boarding time. I was able to get an early spot. We are driving to the port this year, it will be a first for us. We usually take WDW transportation however we are driving due to the skyrocketing airline prices. Flying back on the 1st is just wicked. Have to do some research on port parking.

Happy New Year!
Lisa[/QUOTE]

Lisa,
How do you get a boarding time? This is our first Cruise! Thanks.

 

[Bamfield]

I was thinking of making up Deck Plans like this so we know were all the FE cabins are. What do you think? Should I put more info? For example the Dis name, kids ages, stuff like that? I am not comfortable posting too much personal info on the Disboards about peoples families, but I could PM a link to everyone with the plans if we want all the info on there. What do you think?

Merilee

If you have the time, this is a wonderful idea. On past FEs that we have participated in, some of the biggest challenges is to know which way to go when delivering your gifts. The hallways are really long and sometimes you have to go around corners on the MAGIC. We typically delivered by deck.

Lisa,
How do you get a boarding time? This is our first Cruise! Thanks.

Well, some of us have an advantage as we have cruised with DCL before. If you have cruised more than 10 times, you are a Platnium Castaway Member and if you have paid in full you can book online like 120 days ahead. For Gold Castaway Members (5 cruises or more), its 105 days (or close to that) and for Silver (1 cruise or more) its 90 days. The important thing to remember is that you have to be paid in full.

We are Silver members so I went online on December 28th and did our spa/shore/special dining reservations and filled out our cruise documents which the final step is picking a boarding time. I believe for 1st time cruisers you can go in 72 - 75 days ahead. A good place to check for your date is on Disney's Cruise website. You enter your reservation number and it will tell you how many days to go before you can fill out your cruise documents.

If you are a OCP (like me), , then to get a jump on things you can sign up for your shore excursions, Palo or Remy resevervations, or spa treatments at midnight (EST) of the day it says on the website, if you are paid in full. When I tried to do our cruise documents (which is where you get your boarding time) I had to wait until a more normal time after 8am EST.

Hopefully, that helps.

Look forward to seeing everyone on the cruise!
Lisa

 

[modegard]

Tonight at midnight EST all of us first time cruisers can do on line check in. What arrival time do you have? I am hoping for an early one! Fingers crossed!

 

[jvelasco]

Tonight at midnight EST all of us first time cruisers can do on line check in. What arrival time do you have? I am hoping for an early one! Fingers crossed!

I can't believe it's finally here! Now we'll see if I make it to 11:00 CST or if I'll need to set my alarm clock. Time to start making those Fish Extenders!