2/21/10 4 Nights on the Wonder

[tigger2on]

Our friends booked the cruise! I'm so excited...... they really deserve some fun after last several months with family changes.

I'm going to sign them up for the FE as a surprise so I will take care of their delivery as well. I'll just plan to do it on the day at sea. Will post stateroom number when I know it.

Will be Mom Jean, DD10 Katie, and DD7 Libby.[/QUOTE

That's great that your girls will have friends almost the same age on the ship!

Let me know if we can still share transport with you...

 

[sonogal]

She's not on the boards as far as I know. The FE will be a surprise for them. Sorry can't help with the screen name. PM me if you'd like specifics to help you out. Thanks

 

[Allesma]

As the cruise is getting closer I wondered if yo guys would like to do some polls or answers to get to know eachother better.

If you would typecast yourself as a disneycharacter who would you be?

Let's start wiht my family:

DH Baloo
DD13 Belle
DD8 Jane
Myself Mrs Potts

Oh and we gave ourselves a cruise name: The Flying Dutch(wo)men as DH and DD13 love to fly (in a Cessna), and we are Dutch. (Doormagnet...)

I'm curious if you want to share which chararcters match with your familiemembers....

Have a Disney day...

 

[tigger2on]

I'll play!

Me (Suzanne the mom)... I would be Mary Poppins... I'm a spoon full of sugar and would make an excellent nanny!
DD5 (Madigan) Tigger... the child NEVER stops moving!
DS3 (Graiden) Flounder.... he is a follower, easy to get along with and scared of everything LOL

 

[msnoble]

As the cruise is getting closer I wondered if yo guys would like to do some polls or answers to get to know eachother better.

If you would typecast yourself as a disneycharacter who would you be?

Ok I'll play too . Though I have to admit to overthinking this a bit

Me (Maureen, mom): Kanga (from Winnie the Pooh), or maybe Mrs. Dr. Possible (from Kim Possible), or maybe Wendy from Peter Pan (see how decisive I can be?! )

D11 (Erica): Belle

S9 (Russell): either Russell from Up (but skinnier ) or Dash from The Incredibles

 

[tigger2on]

It was hard to think of the character you're like.... took me a while!

 

[KerriMomof2NH]

Hi all,

I onvinced my husband that ANOTHER Disney Cruise was just what the kids and I needed!

I'd been on a few Carnival cruises when I was single (mid-90's) and we went on our first Disney Cruise in May 2008 and have been HOOKED ever since.

We did February vacation 2009 in a suite and that was an INCREDIBLE experience, then we got a wonderful offer to cruise again in November 2009 and I just totally couldn't resist the opportunity to book for this February vacation 2010. The winter in NH is SOOO dreary and although my kids love to ski -- I NEED some SUN and FUN!

During our November 3 night cruise, they aired Christmas Carol the movie and we also saw a "Premear at Sea" of Old Dogs (John Travolta and Robin Williams). It was played just after midnight and the large theater was filled. My son fell asleep, but thought he was SO cool to be up so late "at a movie".

Both of my kids LOVE the Oceaneers Club and the Lab, especially on the island.

We've done a few excursions -- Atlantis, Dolphin Encounter and so on this cruise when in the Bahamas will most likely stay on the ship. If the kids are in the club that afernoon, I might step off and go to the small shopping area downtown, but will also be completely content sitting poolside with a nice tropical drink!

I am just SOOO darn excited! I'm not used to traveling with the kids solo, but they're used to flying and love the Disney cruise so I think all should go well!

Hope to be able to meet everyone! Safe travels!

 

[msnoble]

Welcome Kerri! I am sensing a theme to this cruise meet--several of us are moms traveling as the solo parent with kids. I wonder how common that is? I am also excited that one of my friends has decided to come along on this cruise with her DD (leaving her DH and DS at home too ).

I know *exactly* what you mean about needing to get away from the winter--it is gray and cold here in Michigan too, which is why I have to head South every February...let's just hope the weather is actually 'southern' by the time we get there!

 

[Allesma]

Hi Kerri,
Welcome! Nice to know that you already have some recent experience with this cruise and the kids clubs. How does it work at the Island if your kids want to join the clubs there?

And did you like the Dolphin Experience at Nassau?

greetings,
Ellen

 

[Allesma]

Hi All,
As we are from Europe I'm limited to 3 suitcases (have to save 1 suitcase for souvenirs and serious mall shopping) for the cruise for the 4 of us. Part wil be taken with the FEE presents and I'm wondering what you guys do on pirate night. Do you bring an outfit or not?

We are also dubbing if we are going to dress up for 1 evening for the family picture. We've already booked a med cruise in August with 2 semi formal and 1 formal night so perhaps we will skip te formal this cruise.

I always tend to overpack....

The girls would like to dress up for the Pirates night. What are your planns?

Ellen

 

[tigger2on]

Hi Kerri,
Welcome! Nice to know that you already have some recent experience with this cruise and the kids clubs. How does it work at the Island if your kids want to join the clubs there?

And did you like the Dolphin Experience at Nassau?

greetings,
Ellen

Hi Ellen...
It depends on the age group as the older kids will move around like they do on the ship. Otherwise, Scuttle's Landing is beach area away from the water where they run the Oceaneer's Club and I think Lab, have their daily programming. They do NOT take the kids swimming but they do have water activities. My kids will spend some time there when I want to go for a good swim or bike ride.... but they have to be with you to go in the actual water.

I was there in 2001 but I think the only change since then is the new "No Age Restrictions"
Suzanne

 

[tigger2on]

Our cruise documents arrived!

 

[Allesma]

Congratulations,
I'm wondering how long ours will take.
Anything new mentioned in your documents?

Thnx for the explanation about the child clubs at the Island. I'm still doubting if we can send our DD13 Leontine to the teenager club. She's pretty tall for her age 1.74 cm but still very young at heart. A very clever special child with some special needs and somtimes pretty naive...I think I'll have a chat with the manager from Aloft first so we can speak about this before registering. Normally she always loves to join our youngest Alexandra in all kinds of activities during our vacations so I expect myself dubbing until we're at the boat.

Have a Disney Day....
Ellen

 

[tigger2on]

Congratulations,
I'm wondering how long ours will take.
Anything new mentioned in your documents?

Thnx for the explanation about the child clubs at the Island. I'm still doubting if we can send our DD13 Leontine to the teenager club. She's pretty tall for her age 1.74 cm but still very young at heart. A very clever special child with some special needs and somtimes pretty naive...I think I'll have a chat with the manager from Aloft first so we can speak about this before registering. Normally she always loves to join our youngest Alexandra in all kinds of activities during our vacations so I expect myself dubbing until we're at the boat.

Have a Disney Day....
Ellen

Apart from the layout of the document, it is the same as before however, I think they have simplified it so it is easier to go through and understand.

There is limited supervision in the teen areas compared to the kids clubs. However, they will let her try and see if she is ok in them. You however, may be more comfortable in the younger groups as she will be accepted in them as well now due to Disney having lifted most of the age restrictions to the groups. I have a severely disabled 13 yr old girl who is NOT cruising this time, but when we did go, I was told I would have to stay with her for 1 - 1. I probably spent a total of 1/2 an hour the first evening and just dropped her off the rest of our cruise. They loved her and did all they could for her. \
Suzanne

 

[msnoble]

Hi All,
As we are from Europe I'm limited to 3 suitcases (have to save 1 suitcase for souvenirs and serious mall shopping) for the cruise for the 4 of us. Part wil be taken with the FEE presents and I'm wondering what you guys do on pirate night. Do you bring an outfit or not?

The girls would like to dress up for the Pirates night. What are your planns?

Ellen

My DD has her costume as Elizabeth Swann from POTC which she wants to bring. I have a costume, but not sure I'll bring it. DS had me make him a tshirt with a Mickey head with the POTC skull and torches in it, and beyond that he might wear a pirate hat. Overall we'll probably dress up a little, but not a whole lot. We are also not planning to do a ton for the dress-up night, since my DH won't be cruising with us (not any reason to get a 'family' portrait if the whole family isn't there! )

 

[msnoble]

Our cruise documents arrived!

Oh cool! We are up North right now for a ski weekend so I don't know what the mailman brought yesterday or today. Now I have something fun to look forward to when we get home!

 

[tigger2on]

I was going to let Grady bring his Capt. Hook costume but decided against it as it takes up soooo much room. I bought him a pirate shirt from Gymboree and we have hats from the Pirate and Pals cruise from this past Oct. Madigan, however wants me to order her a NightMare before Christmas dress as a pirate dress... I find it very goth but she seems to like it. ???
Not sure what I'll do as it has a tulle skirt and will be huge too..
Michaels has really cute diamond-like bejeweled iron-ons of skulls and cross bones... we did that for my older child... if you want, maybe if they still have them, I can grab them and some t-shirts for your kids and make them/ bring them for you. t-shirts are $7 CDN at most and the jeweled things are like $5???

 

[Allesma]

I was going to let Grady bring his Capt. Hook costume but decided against it as it takes up soooo much room. I bought him a pirate shirt from Gymboree and we have hats from the Pirate and Pals cruise from this past Oct. Madigan, however wants me to order her a NightMare before Christmas dress as a pirate dress... I find it very goth but she seems to like it. ???
Not sure what I'll do as it has a tulle skirt and will be huge too..
Michaels has really cute diamond-like bejeweled iron-ons of skulls and cross bones... we did that for my older child... if you want, maybe if they still have them, I can grab them and some t-shirts for your kids and make them/ bring them for you. t-shirts are $7 CDN at most and the jeweled things are like $5???

Suzanne,
Very nice you would make the girls the T-shirt, but the clothing is not the poblem more the space it takes up! We visit Disney Paris a lot and last time they chose the brown pirate hat with the red hair, and he velvet hat for daddy with a red bandana. So we have the stuff, just wondering what you all would do. Are you planning to go to the party?

The Dis meeting
I still like the idea of meeting at the 7th Deck, what time would be good, perhaps some time before sail away party and then going to the Deck Party with the ones that want to go to the Deck party? But as a fist timer a do not know if this is a god timing, what do you think?

Pixie dust for all of you,
Ellen

 

[tigger2on]

Suzanne,
Very nice you would make the girls the T-shirt, but the clothing is not the poblem more the space it takes up! We visit Disney Paris a lot and last time they chose the brown pirate hat with the red hair, and he velvet hat for daddy with a red bandana. So we have the stuff, just wondering what you all would do. Are you planning to go to the party?

The Dis meeting
I still like the idea of meeting at the 7th Deck, what time would be good, perhaps some time before sail away party and then going to the Deck Party with the ones that want to go to the Deck party? But as a fist timer a do not know if this is a god timing, what do you think?

Pixie dust for all of you,
Ellen

I am hoping to take the kids to the party however, it depends on my son and if he wants to go or go to bed? he's only 3....
I think the Dis Meet would be good if we all tried to make a quick appearance around 3pm on Deck 7 before the mandatory life boat drill... that way we all know who we are... then try an do a couple more mini-meets??? maybe one at the Pirate Party, Castaway Cay and/or at sea day?? These could also be our "meetings with drinks"...

 

[KerriMomof2NH]

Sorry I've been MIA since my original post. It's been a crazy busy weekend! LOVING that there will be a bunch of solo Moms traveling!

Regarding Pirate night, a LOT of people (full families) dress up, but there's a very large amount of people that don't. So you'll feel comfortable either way. We never have, just because it'd be that much more to pack, but they do sell some items in the gift shop on the ship if you don't want to pack/bring stuff from home.

About the kids clubs -- the #1 reason I booked the cruise is because of how much my kids LOVE the kids clubs. We considering a trip to WDW but there's just so much to do on the cruise (and a lot of opportunity to just relax) that I KNEW it was the best choice for us.

Something to consider if your concerned about your teen going to Aloft (if they're open to the idea) is to put them in the Oceaneer Lab. There's a LOT for the kids to do in there -- almost too much, there's so many options and that is completely supervised. They CAN self-check out if a certain age (FYI) as well. Otherwise their leaving can be managed by their parent if you so choose.

I will admit, on our first cruise, I was surprised when on Disney's island that the kids clubs don't have any bodies of water that the kids have access too (ie. either a splash zone or shallow pool; if not a shady spot on the beach) but I do understand that's probably intentional to avoid any liability issues around water safety. They do have water available for the kids to drink, and I think they also play some water related games -- they just don't take them swimming either on the ship (when in the club during the day) OR on the island (FYI).

If you are able to, head to Parrot Cay for the buffet lunch when you first board the ship. The Beach Blanket Bingo Buffet (I think it's called) up on Deck 9 is tasty and has a lot of options, but the Parrot Cay buffet is nice and less chaotic.

My kids have actually skipped the Pirate Party 3 times....they love the kids clubs THAT much! I'm hoping they'll check it out this year, it's a lot of fun!