09/29/2005 SEPTEMBER 29th I REFUSE TO GIVE UP!

[Laurabearz]

Just thought I would update here...

I booked our before cruise hotel today!!! We are staying the night at the COntemporay resort. We are DVC members and I had some points that had to be used, so I figured why not try the Contemporay! I booked two rooms and requested they be connecting. I sure hope they are.

We will also take advantage of Chef Mickey's for breakfast before heading to port.

Our flight gets in at noon, and we plan on hitting Magic Kingdom as soon as we arrive, then regroup before going to Epcot for dinner. Right now I am leaning towards Rose and Crown.....

I am still waiting for a copy of my marriage licence so we can start the passport process. I hope we are not to late... I know we dont need them, but I think it will be smoother if we have them. Plus I know this is the first of many cruises for my family.

Sooooooooo ANYONE OUT THERE??? How are YOUR plans going???

 

[Grandma D]

Hi, I didn't think there were any others out there going on the 9-29-05 cruise so I started my own thread. Only one person replied back that they were going at the same time. Thank goodness she did. It really began to look lonely.
This will be our first Disney Cruise. I have been to Disney World many times and can not get enough of it- so much to see and do.
On the Cruise with me will be my DD, Kim; DGS -Greg and DGD - Aimee. Our room is 2608. Greg's Birthday is the 30th and he will be 7.
I am more excited than the kids. We are making signs for our door, tags for our luggage- anything to pass the time until we can go.
I hope we can meet everyone of you on board.

Grandma D

 

[Grandma D]

Have you ordered the Disney Cruises Planning DVD? It is great! The kids are able to see what there is to do on board. They can watch it right in there own living room!. It shows everything there is to do and more. If you haven't ordered it from Disney you really should. So many questions are answered on the DVD.

 

[oscarmoraz]

Good Morning Laura and Wahoowa and GrandmaD,

Well our days are getting closer and closer! Everytime I speak to Sierra I ask her…how many more days till the Disney Cruise…

Laura the couple’s mud spa sounds so refreshing! I am not sure if Troy and I will dress up on Pirate Night. It sounds like great fun though. I still have to figure out which costume Sierra should wear and to which dining room… ! But hey it is a Disney Cruise and I am sure she will have the time of her life either way! We are very excited!

We are planning to stay on the boat in Nassau, unless Sierra wants to go for a horse and buggy ride again. Last time we tried this, she fell asleep as she had been going and going since we arrived on the Sovereign. Troy had to carry her back to the ship…lol. So I think I will have her take a nap around 2:00 so she can be refreshed for the evening fun. I am sure she will be wired while on the Private Island. At least this is a plan for now ready to change at a moments notice.

Laura, what is a REAS package? Have you already booked your 7 day? And last question if we book another Disney cruise while on board do we received a ship board credit on the sailing we booked? We decided that if all goes well we will book again for next year, at about the same time.

Laura your pre-cruise package would get anyone in the mood for the Disney ship! We will be driving the morning of embarkation, as it is only 3-4 hours from us. However, it would have been a great idea if we visited the park prior. It sounds like you have your plans under control! What would our men do without us and all of our planning… .

Wahoowa, have any of the excursions opened up? Wow I just did not realize how full the ship will be. Any word if you found out if there is a corporate party on board?

I am packing her Autograph Book and a Pillow case with markers this week. Am I forgetting anything?

Well, Everyone have a Wonderful Day!
Cindy

 

[oscarmoraz]

PS Laura any luck on your marriage license arriving yet?

C

 

[oscarmoraz]

Hi Grandma D,

I am right there with you being more excited than our GD, Sierra. What great ideas to pass time on making the crafts. I never thought about that. I hope you don’t mind me copying your ideas so Sierra and I can pass some time together. And what a wonderful Birthday present for Greg!

This is our first Disney cruise as well. It will be my DH, Troy and GD, Sierra. Sierra 4 years, was on the Sovereign of Seas with us last December and had a little bit of an issue with missing her mommy each time she seen the water. Her mother was unable to cruise with us as she was in her 3rd trimester with our other little GD Hannah who is 5 months now. I am sure that this cruise will be more accommodating with the Disney characters and programs.

We have another GD on the way which our other daughter Diana, was due August 22, but is scheduled to be induced on August 16, as she is measuring ahead of time and has already dilated 1 cm. So this is the next big event in our life!

DH and I have already spoke about taking all the grandchildren on future Disney Cruises, as they turn 3 years old, unless of course their parents are able to join us.

We were able to get the Disney DVD. Whenever Sierra spends the night, she always asks me to put it in and drifts off to sleep! I will watch it again prior to us leaving to refresh my memory.

Let the poster on your board know we are over here.

Have a Wonderful Day and Welcome!
Cindy

 

[Laurabearz]

REAS package is some romance package for $339 bucks, you get champainge breakfast and a couple of other things, the biggest being you can book Palos and spa treatments at the 105 day mark, which is the reason we would get it...

NO sign of my marrigae Lic. yet, but I am not too worried... worst case is we pay a few more $$$ and get expedited passports. The Lic.. should come this week... I hope I hope! (as a side note... DH and I were married by the same guy who married Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman and he swears neither were drunk! )

I have not ordered the Disney Cruise Line vacation planner thing yet... This trip is a total surprise for our girls (well the boy too but he is 2 so everytrip is a surprise to him... lol) But I think I will order it and then the girls can watch the CD on the plane or in the hotel before bed....

GD.... mice to meet you!! Love the magnetic door sign idea too, but alas... since this trip is a surprise.... hmmmmm maybe I can bring stuff we need for a door sign and put it all together at the hotel..... I dont know... lol I highly doubt I will be able to pack secretly as it is.....

I am still trying to get 1 hour at flounders... I am checking everyday. I pick up slots here and there and do have the 8 hours we are allowed booked but I nned 130-230 for the Rasul.... If I cant get the last two slots I need for it, I will try on board. If not.... DH and I still have the couples massage covered so the Rasul can wait until our 7 day.

Cindy... REBOOKING on board. If you rebook a 7 day on board you get 10% and $200 stateroom credit and then any deal your TA has if you switch the reservation. Not sure what the offer is for a 3 or 4 day cruise though....

I am booked with Dreams Unlimited for this cruise and they already saved us a bunch. Right before we leave for this cruise I have to price out the double dip (8/19/06) cruise we already have book too see it the 10% and $200 stateroom credit can beat it.

Also I dont think the ship is full... The shore excruisions that Wahoowa mentioned always book up qquickly because they only have room for a few people. Last night while I was poling around I saw that Palo had openings everynight... and the couple massage at Castaway Cay had openings too...

 

[princessh]

Thanks Laura for directing me to this thread!
Atleast there will be a few families from the DIS on this cruise. Myself, DH, DS9 and DS2 will be going. This is our first cruise, and we are so excited! We will be setting sail the night of our 10th wedding anniversary! So far we have gotten flounders res. for each night from 9-12 or 10-12 (depending on the night). We also have booked the Nassau walking tour and the Castaway Cay glass bottom boat tour. Though, I am not sure if we will end up doing these or not. We have the early dinner. We did not book Palo's as we wanted to experience all three dining rooms. Well I think that sums up our plans. There is just so much to do! We hope to run into all of you on the ship!

 

[Laurabearz]

Thanks Laura for directing me to this thread!
Atleast there will be a few families from the DIS on this cruise. Myself, DH, DS9 and DS2 will be going...................... This is our first cruise, and we are so excited! We will be setting sail the night of our 10th wedding anniversary! So far we have gotten flounders res. for each night from 9-12 or 10-12 (depending on the night)............ There is just so much to do! We hope to run into all of you on the ship!

YAYAYAY We are definatly a gaggle now!!! (read early in this thread... lol)

Princessh... I think we will definatly run into each other at Flounders dropping our boys off! I am missing 2 time slots... but I have hope that I will get them... If not, such is life! LOL

This is also our first cruise... and, as you may have read, a surprise for our kids. (if I can pull off the packing part! LOL)

Ooooh Ooooh I just remembered... Late September here in Chicago, the girls will be wearing long pants and turtle necks... I can just take all their summery clothes out of their closets and then pack them for the trip... WHew... I feel soooooooo much better now... all the pieces are falling into place!

Now I can focus on booking our ADR's for our Christmas trip with friends!!

When it gets a little closer to our cruise, we should try and figure out a place to meet. I beleive alot of DISers prefer to hook up before the sail away party, I will do a bit more reading up on it and get back to everyone.

 

[princessh]

I have heard, from other people on the board, that they do save some time slots for people who do not have a comuter to book flounders as soon as they board. If you can not find an opening before then, maybe you can get one the day we board. We booked flounders later at night, because we wanted Jacob with us during the day, and at the shows at night. We figured that later in the night could be Mommy and Daddy time ( especially our anniversary night ). With any luck he will sleep while there. Although I doubt it. I am afraid he is going to be really bored in flounders. I do daycare (while the kids take their nap, I play on the DIS) he is used to playing with older kids. He does not do well in the nursery at church, and ends up in the class with the 3-5 year olds. Hopefully he will enjoy it. We have been trying to work on the potty training, but have not had great success with it yet. DCL did tell me that we could take him in the kids club to play as long as we stayed with him.

I also forgot to mention that my DH booked a message for me at 1:00 the day we sail. I can not wait. I look after up to 9 kids each day. I am always tired. A message would be a great way to start my vaction!

We are staying at the Raddison the night before and have the 10:00 shuttle to the port. We are then spending eight days at the Contemporary after the cruise. Only 57 more days!

 

[Grandma D]

Princessh, I am glad you found your way here. I am very new to the DIS board. Communicating this way is a bit different for me-the abreviations and stuff. Takes me a while to get the hang of it.
We booked our trip with Dreams Unlimited also- so far it has not been that smooth. I will be traveling with my Daughter and two of my grandchildren ages 5 & 6. The early seating for Diner is full so we are waitlisted for it. The late is going to be hard on the children. I called Disney to get info on the cruise-it was hard to get it from the TA. The agent said there was a Pirate dinner one of the nights. We went to the party store and Greg now has a Pirate hat, hook and sword - we all will have eye patches.
They will serve a Birthday cake one of the nights so we can celebrate his birthday. Also bought the room decorations from Disney they will have them in the room - so he will really be surprised when we go to the room.
It sounds like everyone is very ready for a Disney Magical time on the boat. I can't wait.

 

[Laurabearz]

We booked our trip with Dreams Unlimited also- so far it has not been that smooth. I will be traveling with my Daughter and two of my grandchildren ages 5 & 6. The early seating for Diner is full so we are waitlisted for it. The late is going to be hard on the children. I called Disney to get info on the cruise-it was hard to get it from the TA.

We have early seating and we are thinking about changing it to late seating... lol

With late seating... you could feed the kids in the room (or at a buffet) go see the show, then drop them off at the kids clubs and enjoy an adult dinner in the diningroom.

But dont worry, you can always check with the head of dinning once on board.

Sorry Dreams Unlimimted wasnt on the ball with you. I have heard mixed reviews from them as far as helpfulness (is that a word) I guess they figure if people found them via the DISBOARDS the everyone would come to the boards for questions. ((((Hugs)))) The good news is... now that your on this thread... I am the queen of researching anwsers so ask any quesiton you have and I will see what I can do!

I belelive Pirate night is Nassau day.... I still havent bought anything for the kids to wear. I also want to put together a Smee outfit outfit for my DH (against his wishes of course! LOL) and I would like to find a slutty (yet decent) wench outfit for myself... LOL So much to do.... so little time.


We have a 7:40 breakfast at Chef Mickeys, then we will be heading to portI am guessing we will get there around 11ish..... I hope the disembarking from the 4 day goes smoothly so we can all board early! I must remember ANT SPRAY for the car, since we are leaving it at port while we cruise. I read there are wicked ants in the lot that will find even the tinest piece of french fry and convergere on it in mass! LOL

 

[Laurabearz]

Hey Cindy.... I was just thinking... your Cindy... your husband is Troy... so who is Oscar???

 

[oscarmoraz]

Welcome Princessh,

Great picture, I showed my GD Sierra your picture and she asked me to find more pictures, so we spent a few minutes looking at Disney family photos!
Thank you for sharing the picture. I told her the boys in your picture would also be on our cruise...she asked what about Mickey...I said of course silly!

What a wonderful way to spend you 10 year Anniversary! Congrats! The massage will totally get you in the mood for the celebration…and one can relate to the quiet time mom and dad will need for the special occasion !

Glad you found us and Welcome Aboard!
Cindy

 

[oscarmoraz]

Hey Cindy.... I was just thinking... your Cindy... your husband is Troy... so who is Oscar???

Hi Laura,

Long Story Short…when our girls were teenagers and soooo into AOL, I created the name Oscarmoraz for both to share. It was only created as a decoy, so they would not receive undesirable IM’s and Emails. Now they are grown and have their own screen name identities, but I have continued to use ‘oscarmoraz’ on boards, just out of habit.

One of my GF copied it and uses the name on a board/blog she frequents often, also.

It truly served its purpose...as being a very unattractive name…lol!
Cindy

 

[oscarmoraz]

GrandmadD,

Greg is going to be decked out on Pirate Night. Are any of the adults dressing up as well? I believe I read they pass out eye patches and bandanas, but is this only for the children?

If I ever abbreviate and you are unsure what I am saying just ask away!

Thank you again for those great ideas with the signs~!
Cindy

 

[oscarmoraz]

Laura, that is a riot about Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra…they had to be on something if not alcohol...lol. As for additional time at Flounders, is there a time when the website is specifically updated? This way you can check it each day at that time, just a thought. I hope it works to your favor Laura as much help as you have given me you do deserve the break! Maybe call Disney Cruise lines and see at which time of the day their website is updated.

Since checking the Disney Board, I have heard of Dream Unlimited. If I would have had a clue sooner and did my homework beforehand I could have checked into the fares…but it is great info to know for the future.

Is there a way to sign up for a Disney cruise club/membership? Or is this only offered after the first sailing or not offered at all?

And Great idea on hooking up before the Sail away party…then all of our children can meet as well as us! I am game for whatever everyone decides.

We are 99% sure we are staying on the ship in Nassau. With the pools being less crowded she will get more out of the day. So you are thinking 2nd seating works fine as well? That is great that they offer the shows earlier! I think we are going to spend the day at the pool, take a nap, grab some ‘quick’ food, see the shows then off to dinner.

Laura your children are going to be totally ecstatic! I can already see Sierra in a deep sleep driving home…

I can’t wait!
Cindy

 

[oscarmoraz]

With late seating... you could feed the kids in the room (or at a buffet) go see the show, then drop them off at the kids clubs and enjoy an adult dinner in the diningroom.

((((Hugs)))) The good news is... now that your on this thread... I am the queen of researching anwsers so ask any quesiton you have and I will see what I can do!

I belelive Pirate night is Nassau day.... I still havent bought anything for the kids to wear. I also want to put together a Smee outfit outfit for my DH (against his wishes of course! LOL) and I would like to find a slutty (yet decent) wench outfit for myself... LOL So much to do.... so little time.

My thoughts exactly on the late seating!

And indeed you are the Queen of researching as you have helped me so much!

Not sure my DH will dress up ...but who knows we could tell the guys its a way to role play...lol!

If I find any decent, slutty wench outfts over the net I will post the link!

Cindy

 

[Laurabearz]

Cindy... as far as I can tell the Flounders times update LIVE.. When I canceled a time slot for one day, I noticed it was then availible right away. I check a couple of times a day... lol but even with all that, I am still debating about the Rasul... not the treatment itself, but the fact that it would be just a couple of hours after the massage... and dumping the boy off for 2 two hours sessons so close might not go over well. LOL Plus I am hopeful that something will turn up either online or on the ship!!

Later tonight I will post a picture of my kids for Sierra

Late vs Early... the debate! There are plus's and minus's to each. But they do offer the main stage show twice and night. If you have late seating you go to the early show, and ifyou have early seating you go to the late show. SOme people find that the kids are too tired after the long day to stay awake for the later show, so it works out better to hit the first show. Our kids are night owls so it wont matter!

As far as getting a better deal for Disney Cruises... it is hard to do. The best deal is booking early and rebooking on board. I plan on rebooking on board then transfering it to a Travel agent that offers rebates and or stateroom credit. I dont need a TA (travel agent) to help me in planning... Im LOVE planning, but I will switch to one for the money! LOL

 

[Kimmielee]

<sniffle> Not going with you on the cruise... but it is my birthday (9-29) so... wish you all the best cruise ever and have a drink to me!!