03/01/2008 Eastern!!

[feiste]

Speaking of the famous Green Mickey Heads...

Is everyone getting these as name-tags for easy recognition?

 

[MAD on Disney]

Thank you FEISTE (Jennifer?) for the quick response! This is turning out to be quite helpful and enjoyable. The only downside is that each new answer always seems to lead to new questions as well (Though I'll save on those for now).

- Mike

 

[ranidayz]

Hello,

Just introducing ourselves. I hope I am not interloping into what appears to be a close-knit group of friends. We will be on the 03/01/08 Eastern Cruise. We've been to WDW many times and Disneyland a few times, but this will be our first for a Cruise. If I've figured out some of the jargon we are:

DH, Mike, 37 yrs
DW, Melissa, 36
DD, Kailyn, 7
DS, Jacob, 5

I signed up to the Disboards a few months ago, but believe this only my second post (my first having been about twenty minutes ago on another thread).

Welcome to the board Mad on Disney family! I'm new here, too. This is a great group of people and I'm sure you'll enjoy getting to know them as much as I am.....

 

[ranidayz]

My fault they haven't heard from them.....first the boys' computer got a virus and we've been so crazy with soccer and chess club that they haven't gotten on email for a month! You can have them email me at my account and they they'll definately get email and I'll take dictation!

Rani

 

[MAD on Disney]

Hello Rani, and thanks for the welcome. I believe this is the first time that I have see someone else online at the same time as I.

 

[MAD on Disney]

Okay, these are questions specific to DISers (is that the proper term?) that are going on this cruise and planning things together. I have continued numbering from where my last list of questions left off (I’m an engineer, and very nerdy that way).

7. There seem to be a lot of activities being planned; is there something we should be doing to get involved and help out? Since we have never cruised before, we don’t know a lot that we could do as far as planning is concerned, but we could help out with things like putting together gift bags, making door signs, etc.

8. It sounds as if most of you have done this type of group planning and get-togethers before. Does that work pretty well? Our last trip to WDW was with some friends and our last trip to DL was with some family members, and in both cases it didn’t work out as well as had been hoped – nothing wrong with the people, just too hard to get everyone on schedule, different tastes and activity desires, etc. I have a friend that has experienced the same thing. So, how well does it work for the DISers on the cruise to try to do things together?

9. Does someone have an accurate count of everyone that will be cruising with us?

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Hey we did not plan this but March cruisers think alike. Rani, Jen, Mike, I'm on too.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

I will try to fwd you tonight the list of everyone and the information. The keeper of the list is Kim, she has sent it to me, so I will fwd it to you. I am on call tonight, so will not get back home until about midnight, so I will do it then or tomorrow. I know it is very confusing at first. It will make more sense once you get the list and then you still have to sit down and go through the thread to place a name with a DIS name. It gets easier after you have been reading for a while. Jen you have done major catch up.........

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Okay, these are questions specific to DISers (is that the proper term?) that are going on this cruise and planning things together. I have continued numbering from where my last list of questions left off (I’m an engineer, and very nerdy that way).

7. There seem to be a lot of activities being planned; is there something we should be doing to get involved and help out? Since we have never cruised before, we don’t know a lot that we could do as far as planning is concerned, but we could help out with things like putting together gift bags, making door signs, etc.

8. It sounds as if most of you have done this type of group planning and get-togethers before. Does that work pretty well? Our last trip to WDW was with some friends and our last trip to DL was with some family members, and in both cases it didn’t work out as well as had been hoped – nothing wrong with the people, just too hard to get everyone on schedule, different tastes and activity desires, etc. I have a friend that has experienced the same thing. So, how well does it work for the DISers on the cruise to try to do things together?

9. Does someone have an accurate count of everyone that will be cruising with us? This is a list of usernames and actual names/ages as I have been able to figure them out from a quick review of the thread

See previous post.....

The past post regarding whom was doing what was posted as a joke. Right now, all we really have for sure is that we are all going to do a meet and greet after we board and the Adults are doing Palo's for Brunch. Other than that, things are not too planned. Just vacation....... So many of our kids are the same ages, it will be a blast even without too much planning.

You are doing very well with your new DIS language.

 

[MAD on Disney]

Can they seat that many together at Palo? Can a Castaway Club (is that correct?) member make reservations for the whole group, or will the first time cruisers have to make reservations later separately? What day are you thinking? So many questions!!!

- Mike

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Can they seat that many together at Palo? Can a Castaway Club (is that correct?) member make reservations for the whole group, or will the first time cruisers have to make reservations later separately? What day are you thinking? So many questions!!!

- Mike

Johnna is going to do that. There really are not many of us adults. They have a group spot in the back, from what I have been told. I have cruised with DCL many times, but have never joined the DIS until this year. I had lerked around for about a year, but did not join. So as a DISer is new to me too.

 

[ranidayz]

So do we all know each others stats? Which seating? What stateroom? We're on Deck 8 --

btw, my package asking for payment in full came yesterday. Date is Dec. 17 that we can preregister - although I swear it used to say Dec. 2. I LOVE how it lists all the excursions, but no prices -- where pray tell, do we find those? also, those who have been before - is sunscreen available on board?

rani

 

[Johnna_Story]

Can they seat that many together at Palo? Can a Castaway Club (is that correct?) member make reservations for the whole group, or will the first time cruisers have to make reservations later separately? What day are you thinking? So many questions!!!

- Mike

Mike - We can fit 12 at the group brunch. Because there are so many of us, we may need to have two group brunches. And I think you can only make that reservation about 30-45 days out - last year we made it at the end of July. So we'll plan to coordinate that again this year. We went on Sunday last year; I think the other group went on Monday, but you could also do Thursday.

My advice for everyone is: if you want do make an individual reservation for Palo brunch in advance, and then join the group, you can always cancel the individual one. That way you're covered either way. Just my thoughts...

Getting more and more excited to see more and more DIS friends joining in! Johnna

 

[Johnna_Story]

7. There seem to be a lot of activities being planned; is there something we should be doing to get involved and help out? Since we have never cruised before, we don’t know a lot that we could do as far as planning is concerned, but we could help out with things like putting together gift bags, making door signs, etc.

It's really up to you. Some of the previous group activity planning posts are jokes - don't worry - you'll catch on soon!!

I do know that we are planning an on-board get-together on Saturday around 3:00. This worked well last year - gave everyone enough time to board, eat lunch, go to the room, walk around, whatever, and then to the meet. Last year we met in the Promenade Lounge (mostly b/c there is a bar there!) and it's inside just in case of bad weather. Brenda had a TON of Mickey paint chips for the kids to make into magnets if they wanted to. She's probably still got extras left over! Maybe someone can come up with an activity for the 7-10yr old group. Mostly the littler ones either run around or cling to your legs, but they all want cherries from the bar and the toothpicks shaped like fish or anchors.

8. It sounds as if most of you have done this type of group planning and get-togethers before. Does that work pretty well? Our last trip to WDW was with some friends and our last trip to DL was with some family members, and in both cases it didn’t work out as well as had been hoped – nothing wrong with the people, just too hard to get everyone on schedule, different tastes and activity desires, etc. I have a friend that has experienced the same thing. So, how well does it work for the DISers on the cruise to try to do things together?

The Saturday meet is also a good time to see who you click with. There were definintely some people who clicked better than others. Some hung out more than others too. There were some DISers that we planned to do stuff with frequently and others not at all. But it was kind of nice to say hi to people who you ran into and recognized even if you didn't hang out with them at all the entire week. I planned to go to the wine tasting by myself, and it turned out when I got there, they sat me with 3 other DISers. So spontaneous meetings like that are unexpected surprises too.

9.

Does someone have an accurate count of everyone that will be cruising with us?

Kim S. is the "keeper of the list" and I'm sure once she and Norm break out of their depression of losing the best manager in Major League Baseball and thinking about at least two years of "rebuilding" (I'm talking about the Yankees and Joe Torre), they'll be back on the board soon and update and distribute the list.

Did I catch all the unanswered questions??? I love to give my opininons (which was recently confirmed by one of the personality assessment profiles - tell me something I don't already know) so feel free to ask. This will be our 4th cruise in 4 years, so I'm happy to share what I know. Except how to find the best bartender - that's a secret I have to keep!

Ciao for now, Johnna

 

[Johnna_Story]

I LOVE how it lists all the excursions, but no prices -- where pray tell, do we find those? also, those who have been before - is sunscreen available on board?

rani

The excursion prices are on the DCL website; go to "ports of call" then "excursions" then choose an excursion and click "learn more" it gives you all the details (price, age restrictions, etc.)

DON'T waste your money buying sunscreen on board. I usually buy it at Walgreens or CVS or even the grocery store in Cape Canaveral. As you might imagine, it's ridiculously overpriced on board. They have it (and other toiletries, toothpaste, etc.) but I would only use that as a back up plan if you forgot to pack something or for an emergency. Better to spend money on souveniers or drinks...

 

[ejkjmom]

Who needs to purchase a Pass Porter guide when you have Johnna Story sailing with you LOL!!!!!
Johnna.... you are the best and We ALL LOVE YOU!!!!!!

It's been awhile since I have been on the boards so just checking in with a quick Hello to all...and a big to our newest members...Great to have another fellow Nebraskan family onboard!!!!!!

"MAD on Disney" I joked on our last cruise thread that we would leave our pitchforks at home...a little tough trying to get them through security LOL!!!!

 

[feiste]

Has anyone done DCL's St. John Island Tour? Opinions or other options? Last time we did the Eastern Grace was still pretty young, so we were pretty limited in our activities.

 

[Micday]

Hellooooo !!!

It has been to long but I've been working my tail off (I wish) so we still can go on this wonderful trip. Long story........

I know God is on my side because I was playing on the Disney web site and one of the secret porthole rooms came open and I got it !!!!

I also got us booked for AKL savannah view two days before the cruise. I'm so sleepy. I worked 62 hour last week and I'm trying to reach that this week.

I have to catch up !! I know I've only talked to you guys a couple of time but I've missed you guys. My husband did not even understand about the cabin I got us.

I've got to get to bed but I'll be back !! Yes, that was a promise.

Oh I forgot I also started a new business called MAD TRAVEL. I've had three clients so far and about to start on number four.



Michelle

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Hey Michelle, Which room did you get? COngrats on the new career path and as an independent

 

[ranidayz]

What decks/cabin is everyone going to be on? We're on deck 8. And -- you know, in the effort to make this the most magical, unforgettable, memorable, not leaving anything out except the pin trading which is going to be a huge amound of mula -- I made a door sign, figured out how to make the names with the disney characters in them AND found a see through Pirates of the C placemat in the Dollar Tree that I can put some mags on....whew - it's a lot of work to go on a vacation!