11/14/09 - Special Western - 2 CC stops

[Woobie]

Denise - I think I'm going to bribe the old woman across the street to make my FE. She is actually an awesome seamstress. She makes high end draperies in her garage for a living. I think she can handle a FE. Now, if I could just figure out what to put in the others.....

Can I bribe her to make my curtains? LOL I started making ours in Jan & never returned. I have all the materials, but am lacking in the sewing skills (hubby has/had lots more faith in me than I have).

 

[sandiegosusie]

Hi everyone. I'm back! Haven't posted lately, but have been keeping up. Starting to feel like bad mom because I am totally at a loss on the whole fish extender thing. First of all, I would have to acquire one (notice I did NOT say make one). Then I would have to figure out what gifts to give. Then I would have to figure out how to get them to the ship. I can barely figure out how to get the 3 of us there with all of our own stuff. I would like to send a box to the ship, but all of my good ideas involve food and you can't send food to the ship. Then I would have to convince DH that there really is a good reason we are bringing an extra suitcase full of party favors across the entire country. I know DS would LOVE it immensely. How are you all handling the logistics of this?

P.S. - Glindamood: Please don't hate me because my dog looks like a skunk!

Sharen, you crack me up! The skunk comment

My DH is fine with the whole thing now. He was not overly thrilled with the time, expense, logistics of the whole thing until I explained that he doesn't have to do a thing.

I am shipping my box down to the ship with all FE stuff, which includes sealed candy in its original boxes. You can ship edibles as long as they are sealed in the original container from what I have read. I also have everything already packages ready to deliver so I don't have to pack the stuff while on vaca.

Other than that, there is not a whole lot to it in my opinion. Granted I decided what to give out months ago so I have been chipping away at it for a while. The 99cents store is my friend as far as the kids go. It was easy sneezy because they had so many Disney things to choose from. The adults are being handled by DH who if you remember didn't want to do anything. Now he is into it totally! Hope this helps!

 

[xxcell]

I am shipping my box down to the ship with all FE stuff, which includes sealed candy in its original boxes. You can ship edibles as long as they are sealed in the original container from what I have read. I also have everything already packages ready to deliver so I don't have to pack the stuff while on vaca.

Other than that, there is not a whole lot to it in my opinion. Granted I decided what to give out months ago so I have been chipping away at it for a while. The 99cents store is my friend as far as the kids go. It was easy sneezy because they had so many Disney things to choose from. The adults are being handled by DH who if you remember didn't want to do anything. Now he is into it totally! Hope this helps!

I was planning on shipping some stuff down too. Is there a time frame that you need to follow? And is there a limit?

Thanks

 

[big jack 2002]

We are using Happy Limo. They are picking us up at 9. I hope to have everyone loaded and be ready to leave by 9:30 (There are 25 of us) That should get us to the terminal about 10:30-11. We have used them before. My daughter-in-law really wants to try for No. 2 boarding pass!!
Barbara

 

[glindamood]

I was planning on shipping some stuff down too. Is there a time frame that you need to follow? And is there a limit?

Thanks

I copied this from the FAQ thread on the main board. There are restrictions on what you can send as well as size and weight.

Boxes Sent the Ship Ahead of Cruise - PLEASE follow these instructions carefully!!!!!! UPDATED AS OF 2/25/2009
• ONE box per stateroom, no exceptions.
• The package must have the guest full name, ship, sailing date, stateroom number or GTY if you have not been assigned a stateroom number.
• The package also must have a packing slip attached to the outside of the box that details the contents of the package. For prescriptions, a copy of the prescription is sufficient. Your list may or may not be read but it must have one. Write packing slip on the outside of the envelope.
• NO FOODS/DRINKS OF ANY KIND, LIQUOR OF ANY KIND, FIREARMS, ETC.. Items that cannot be shipped to the Disney Cruise Line Warehouse and delivered to the ship include: food products (any and all food products including baby food/formula), beverages (liquor, water, etc.), chemicals, and luggage. These items will not be accepted at the warehouse and will be returned. This may cause the dogs to hit on your box and that would be a bad thing.
• The required size of the cartons you are shipping down have to be about the size of a record storage box 12 inches on a side and should not weigh more than 20 lbs. (This has been asked personally by Dave Adams who is the owner)

Address your package(s) to:
Disney Cruise Line Warehouse
Guest Name / Stateroom # (GTY, if you don't know what it is when you send the package)
8633 Transport Drive
Orlando, FL 32832
Phone: 407-566-8196

In the bottom left corner of the top of the package put the following information: ATTN: HOUSEKEEPING
*Name
*Sail Date
*Ship
*Stateroom Number
*Packing slip that details contents of the package (for prescriptions, a copy of the prescription is sufficient)
• Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00pm for the 7-Night Cruise on the Disney Magic (Saturday).
• Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00pm for the 4-Night Cruise on the Disney Wonder (Sunday).
• Packages must arrive by Wednesday by 3:00pm for the 3-Night Cruise on the Disney Wonder (Thursday).

If your box is hit on by the screening dog or chosen for additional screening they will open the list and the box and look through it. They will close it back up and provided nothing bad is in it then it will be in your room as usual later after boarding. These boxes will be coming on the ship with the crew mail among other things so they may be in the staterooms later then they were before as they are low priority in the scheme of things for Disney.

 

[xxcell]

Thank you for the info.

One more ?

I see the cutoff time, bit is there a pre-arrival time, for example what would is the earliest time to send things?

Thanks Again

 

[glindamood]

Thank you for the info.

One more ?

I see the cutoff time, bit is there a pre-arrival time, for example what would is the earliest time to send things?

Thanks Again

I have shipped twice to the port and both times used UPS and asked them to get it there by Wednesday the week we sail and I have been just fine. I realize that the post office is less expensive and you can get the tracking service but I just feel better with UPS and being able to know when it arrives. I have also considered shipping one box instead of two to OKW and doing it that way. We can mail to the resorts as well so don't forget that in your planning. I will have an extra luggage tag I am sure so I may just do that. There - how much did I muddy the water for you??

 

[xxcell]

Ok, got it. UPS to the ship, arriving the Wed before.
Then we are set.
You were so helpful and informative

Thank you
xxcell and Irish Belle/ A.K.A. Kev & Annie

 

[glindamood]

Ok, got it. UPS to the ship, arriving the Wed before.
Then we are set.
You were so helpful and informative

Thank you
xxcell and Irish Belle/ A.K.A. Kev & Annie

You are most welcome! The more I think about it, the more I think I am going to ship to SSR - then I don't have to worry about size and can maybe get away with just one box. Guess I best check that out.

 

[SJSH Mom]

How is everyone tipping the CM? check? KTTW card? Do we get receipts or something to give to the CM...I can not remember in what form we had tipped in the past.

 

[sharen24]

We always pre-pay the gratuities. They give you a little slip to put in the envelopes instead of cash. We also bring an envelope full of dollar bills that we use for room service. If anyone is exceptional for whatever reason we give them additional cash. You can also go to guest services at any time to add the tips to your account.

 

[xxcell]

How is everyone tipping the CM? check? KTTW card? Do we get receipts or something to give to the CM...I can not remember in what form we had tipped in the past.

I pre-pay myself and do the exact thing sharen24 does. I put a little extra in for exceptional service.
For instance, the Housekeepers do such a fantastic job.

You can pre-pay now or at guest services on the ship.

 

[glindamood]

And were will we all be 10 weeks from today??? To be honest, I have no idea where we shall be but I would think that this early we will still be on the Magic from the week before. Could be I will be in the laundry room getting started on our wash.

 

[fgarza25]

Hypermommy I need your help. I don't know how to pm. It also took me awhile to get back to this web site.
Frances

 

[sharen24]

Hypermommy I need your help. I don't know how to pm. It also took me awhile to get back to this web site.
Frances

I think you have to post at least 10 times before you can PM anyone.

 

[fgarza25]

I think you have to post at least 10 times before you can PM anyone.

Thanks, I think I was able to pm her. We'll see.

I haven't been on since June. We are so excited about our DC. Our last DC was May 2008. I still need to get a hotel for the night before and a rental car. Where is everyone staying. How do I get the best deal for a car rental. I will also be needing a car for the day we get back. Our flight does not leave till 4:00 pm. We want to spend the day at downtown disney and have lunch there.

I am excited about meeting everyone. I will be logging on a lot more.

 

[fgarza25]

We do you guys suggest on dollar amt tipping.

 

[fgarza25]

And were will we all be 10 weeks from today??? To be honest, I have no idea where we shall be but I would think that this early we will still be on the Magic from the week before. Could be I will be in the laundry room getting started on our wash.

Awsome!! Eastern and Western DC.
Wow, I wish I was going on the Nov. 7 DC.

 

[glindamood]

How is everyone tipping the CM? check? KTTW card? Do we get receipts or something to give to the CM...I can not remember in what form we had tipped in the past.

We generally tip in cash but have used rec'ts provided by DCL as well. The advantage to the rec'ts is you have their full name on your receipt which is sometimes nice to have. I always have cash for tipping on excursions and for room service.

 

[glindamood]

Thanks, I think I was able to pm her. We'll see.

I haven't been on since June. We are so excited about our DC. Our last DC was May 2008. I still need to get a hotel for the night before and a rental car. Where is everyone staying. How do I get the best deal for a car rental. I will also be needing a car for the day we get back. Our flight does not leave till 4:00 pm. We want to spend the day at downtown disney and have lunch there.

I am excited about meeting everyone. I will be logging on a lot more.

We are renting the week prior from Avis - picking up in the DTD area (Hilton I think) but Budget is right there in Cocoa Beach as well. There are codes that you can get at mousesavers dot com that are most useful.