10/15/2011 - Taking the West by Magic!

[LySand]

I would like to get some ideas on how to break the news to my kids that we are going on our first Disney Cruise!

Ashley, 8 has been begging to go for a several years (she will pass out when we tell her). My son Tyler, 15 is not much of a beach person, but I know he is going to love the kayaking and snorkeling.

Anyway, I am having such a hard time keeping it from them, but I know I can't wait to see their faces when we tell them we are going.

So, all you FE friends out there...if you have any great ideas...bring them on!

Thanks...I can't wait....I'm so ready to go. My husband has been working like crazy for the past 5 months and now he is gone for 3 weeks to AZ. I'll be so glad when there will be NO work, NO laptop, NO cellphones on the ship and I'll have him all to myself!

Anyway...can't wait to meet all of you...so excited.

Renee

Wow! A surprise. I wish someone would surprise me sometime - lol.

I have surprised my daughter twice. When she was 11 we told her we were going to visit Gramma (we had to fly there) I printed up a note on special paper (I think there were dolphins on it) that said "You are going to Florida this morning" or something like that, I'm sure it was a little bit more detailed. I handed it to her when we were waiting in line to check-in at the airport. It took her til we arrived at the condo to actually believe we were there!

The second trip I surprised her with a trip to London, England. She was 16. I told her I was taking her somewhere on a plane but couldn't tell her where. She bounced back and forth between "tell me, no don't tell me!" It was pretty funny. Somewhere along the way she figured out that we were going to Aruba so I suggested she pack enough bathing suits, shorts, tshirts, etc. When she left for school the day of the trip I repacked her suitcase.

Good luck with your surprise. Maybe you could tell them you are spending a day at NASA. Maybe even do some online research with them. And you will be heading in the right direction!

I am getting so excited about the cruise

 

[tinkerbelx]

And to all of you who are hitting disneyworld before/after the cruise don't forget that the food and wine festival is going on at Epcot!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/events/index.htm

We are hitting the parks after the cruise, Is anyone else?

 

[Becker5]

We're hitting the parks for a short visit afterwards too. 2 days and then one day at Universal to hit Harry Potter.

 

[tinkerbelx]

We're hitting the parks for a short visit afterwards too. 2 days and then one day at Universal to hit Harry Potter.

I wanted to hit Potter too- only b/c I love harry but DD is 18 months so we decided against it. Are you doing MNNSHP? think we are on sunday night.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

And to all of you who are hitting disneyworld before/after the cruise don't forget that the food and wine festival is going on at Epcot!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/events/index.htm

We are hitting the parks after the cruise, Is anyone else?

Hmm, good point, maybe we won't stay at Beach Club before hand. I'm thinking that the rates are probably pretty high.

 

[LySand]

And to all of you who are hitting disneyworld before/after the cruise don't forget that the food and wine festival is going on at Epcot!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/events/index.htm

We are hitting the parks after the cruise, Is anyone else?

Thanks for mentioning the food and wine festival. I had forgotten about it.

I don't drink wine but I had a wonderful time last year just wandering the World Showcase and using my snack credits to try samples of the most delicious food. It helped that it was free dining then too!

An another topic - was there a group brunch booked?

Lynn

 

[The Browns]

Forgive me if this has been asked already. I would like to know just a general idea of what everyone's kids in the FE may be in to. For example, for the girls I've seen "princess" stuff that is not so adolescent but still says "princess" so Im not sure if that would fly for most of the 6-10 yr old girls? I know Pirate is always a safe bet for boys and girls. But I have a few other ideas and don't want to get anything too young or too old for the age groups.

Thanks!

 

[Onkel Hans]

An another topic - was there a group brunch booked?

Lynn

We dropped below the minimum number of guests to reserve the private room, but I sent off the fax anyway with the folks who were still on board. So keep your fingers crossed, although we may not be at the same table, we might still be able to get a reservation for the group. Keep wishing!

 

[The Browns]

I'm sorry..we probably dropped because of us not coming for brunch.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

We dropped below the minimum number of guests to reserve the private room, but I sent off the fax anyway with the folks who were still on board. So keep your fingers crossed, although we may not be at the same table, we might still be able to get a reservation for the group. Keep wishing!

Hey, I put the list on the first post so that way if someone else joins they can see the list. Terra you can always join us again! There's absolutely nothing wrong with going to Palo multiple times!

 

[Onkel Hans]

I'm sorry..we probably dropped because of us not coming for brunch.

There is absolutely no need to apologize! I'd feel guilty if I thought anyone was changing their vacation plans or wishes to suit me!

We are hitting the parks after the cruise, Is anyone else?

We are spending the next week in Central FL and the Tampa area, but we mostly going to be visiting relatives. I think we will at least do Halloween Horror Nights and see Harry Potter World, but it wouldn't take much arm twisting to get me into the Magic Kingdom or Epcot for a day. My plan is to win big on board at Bingo so I can afford a few nights at the Poly with some Park Hoppers!

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

There is absolutely no need to apologize! I'd feel guilty if I thought anyone was changing their vacation plans or wishes to suit me!


We are spending the next week in Central FL and the Tampa area, but we mostly going to be visiting relatives. I think we will at least do Halloween Horror Nights and see Harry Potter World, but it wouldn't take much arm twisting to get me into the Magic Kingdom or Epcot for a day. My plan is to win big on board at Bingo so I can afford a few nights at the Poly with some Park Hoppers!

 

[ivet]

Forgive me if this has been asked already. I would like to know just a general idea of what everyone's kids in the FE may be in to. For example, for the girls I've seen "princess" stuff that is not so adolescent but still says "princess" so Im not sure if that would fly for most of the 6-10 yr old girls? I know Pirate is always a safe bet for boys and girls. But I have a few other ideas and don't want to get anything too young or too old for the age groups.

Thanks!

Let it FLY!!!

 

[ivet]

Hey, I put the list on the first post so that way if someone else joins they can see the list. Terra you can always join us again! There's absolutely nothing wrong with going to Palo multiple times!

I couldn't agree with you more!!! ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong!!!!

 

[ivet]

I would like to get some ideas on how to break the news to my kids that we are going on our first Disney Cruise!

Ashley, 8 has been begging to go for a several years (she will pass out when we tell her). My son Tyler, 15 is not much of a beach person, but I know he is going to love the kayaking and snorkeling.

Anyway, I am having such a hard time keeping it from them, but I know I can't wait to see their faces when we tell them we are going.

So, all you FE friends out there...if you have any great ideas...bring them on!

Thanks...I can't wait....I'm so ready to go. My husband has been working like crazy for the past 5 months and now he is gone for 3 weeks to AZ. I'll be so glad when there will be NO work, NO laptop, NO cellphones on the ship and I'll have him all to myself!

Anyway...can't wait to meet all of you...so excited.

Renee

I have been thinking about this one for a few days now - I know OCD - anyway what about possibly giving them presents to open up either the night before you leave, depending on what time you depart for the airport or in the morning. The present could be a letter letting them know that one of their favorite characters cant wait to see them on board the Disney Magic or since your son is a bit older (aka cooler) for the characters maybe his could say you have reservation for kayaking on Castaway Cay, instead of letters maybe Disney or Pirate T-shirts, or you can probably make some voyage tickets to board the Disney Magic I think someone mentioned a treasure hunt - that would be kewl o I meant arrrrsome

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

Forgive me if this has been asked already. I would like to know just a general idea of what everyone's kids in the FE may be in to. For example, for the girls I've seen "princess" stuff that is not so adolescent but still says "princess" so Im not sure if that would fly for most of the 6-10 yr old girls? I know Pirate is always a safe bet for boys and girls. But I have a few other ideas and don't want to get anything too young or too old for the age groups.

Thanks!

I forgot, Jillian also loves Tinkerbell and the Fairies. From what I hear on the Theme park board, the line to meet the Fairies is always huge!

 

[Becker5]

My 8 year old Aly would totally dig princess stuff.. In fact she still wants to dress up in a princess dress on the cruise.

 

[Becker5]

We aren't doing MNNSHP.. We did it the last time several years ago and it's just too much money to get park hopper and those.. I'll miss the great parade and headless horseman and trick or treating. But you never know.. we might change our mind last minute and go if tickets are still available.

 

[MouseMadness]

We aren't doing MNNSHP.. We did it the last time several years ago and it's just too much money to get park hopper and those.. I'll miss the great parade and headless horseman and trick or treating. But you never know.. we might change our mind last minute and go if tickets are still available.

I know...it is expensive, but it's the only "park thing" we are doing this trip. We'll probably spend Friday before the cruise at the beach, and Saturday when we get back at Downtown Disney. We weren't originally going to do anything at any parks, but the dates worked out so we felt we had to do it!! The kids know about the cruise, but we haven't told them about the Halloween party yet...they'll be super excited!

 

[MouseMadness]

Has anyone stayed at one of the Downtown Disney hotels before? We're staying at the Holday Inn DD for the first two nights we are in Florida (using rewards points) but we are looking for a place to stay on Saturday night when we get back from the cruise. We won't be using points, so I thought we might try somewhere else. Since we'll be hanging out at Downtown that day/night, I figured it would just be easier to stay there than on-site. Recommendations??

TIA!!