20060902--Eastern Sept 2nd, 2006

[racrj]

Hi everyone: I posted a bit a few months ago, then got busy, so have not been a regular poster. I hope it's okay if I join back in! On this cruise it will be myself, DH, DD11, DD6, DS4 and my mom and dad. We are very excited. We leave Friday for a week at the parks before the cruise. We are a little concerned because we are flying Northwest and that's the day the Flight Attendants are going to start their work disruptions.

We sailed on our first cruise in Oct 2005. We had so much fun, we decided to do it again! Our DD's are missing the first 4 days of school which probably isn't the greatest, but that's the way things ended up working out.

We are down on Deck 2, in connecting cabins. This is the same arrangement we had in Oct and it worked out great.

Krista

Hi..Welcome back. We are on deck 2 also!

I wouldn't worry about the first days of school. The first few days are all about adjusting and reviewing concepts from the year before. Did you have to fill out papers for them to miss the days? We have to fill out an Educational Trip form for the district to approve the leave. Maria will still be marked absent, but it doesn't count toward illegal days.

Jen

 

[alexandmaddie]

Hi..Welcome back. We are on deck 2 also!

I wouldn't worry about the first days of school. The first few days are all about adjusting and reviewing concepts from the year before. Did you have to fill out papers for them to miss the days? We have to fill out an Educational Trip form for the district to approve the leave. Maria will still be marked absent, but it doesn't count toward illegal days.

Jen

Hi Jen, thanks for the welcome back! We don't have to fill out any special paperwork for their absences and they will be counted as excused. When I chatted with our principal about the Alexandra and Madeline missing the first week she said "One of the best indicators of future success is travel". So, she is very encouraging, which is nice. They will be doing "Travel Journals" on a daily basis and I might bring some worksheets as well. I still am feeling guilty though.

We will probably run into you on good ole deck 2. We are Aft this year, in Oct we were midship (2079 and 2081). I wanted those same rooms because they were great, but when we booked they were already taken.

Krista

 

[CaptainJack]

Hi everyone: I posted a bit a few months ago, then got busy, so have not been a regular poster. I hope it's okay if I join back in! On this cruise it will be myself, DH, DD11, DD6, DS4 and my mom and dad. We are very excited. We leave Friday for a week at the parks before the cruise. We are a little concerned because we are flying Northwest and that's the day the Flight Attendants are going to start their work disruptions.

We sailed on our first cruise in Oct 2005. We had so much fun, we decided to do it again! Our DD's are missing the first 4 days of school which probably isn't the greatest, but that's the way things ended up working out.

We are down on Deck 2, in connecting cabins. This is the same arrangement we had in Oct and it worked out great.

Krista

One of your daughters is the same age as my twin daughters (11). My DDs practically lived at the club in 2005, and want to do the same this year. As you probably are aware, most everyone is meeting in the Promenade on Saturday, September 2. My daughters will be there anxiously awaiting the opening of the club. If you are on the ship, I am sure my daughter would love meeting ours.

 

[BigBlueMan]

WOW!! We have a LEADER!?!?.....all hail Capt. Blue

You guys have NO idea what havoc ye have wrought on the Caribbean!

Hey robtraci, what part of Indiana you guys in? I'm in western Ky!

Arrrrrrrgggg....

 

[alexandmaddie]

One of your daughters is the same age as my twin daughters (11). My DDs practically lived at the club in 2005, and want to do the same this year. As you probably are aware, most everyone is meeting in the Promenade on Saturday, September 2. My daughters will be there anxiously awaiting the opening of the club. If you are on the ship, I am sure my daughter would love meeting ours.

That would be great. Alexandra is the 11 year old. She can be shy, so that would be nice to be able to meet! Alexandra also loved the club and spent the majority of her time there.

Krista

 

[Monstro]

I'm from that "other board". I hope I won't be made to walk the plank for posting here! From Indiana, taking on this cruise besides myself, my husband, 4 kids (10,8,6,4), my mother in law and her boyfriend. Deck 2 (side by side cabins) and this is our first Disney cruie although we've taken several other cruises.
Getting very excited!!!!

Welcome aboard!

 

[Monstro]

Our family DH, DW and DD4 (Princess Beth) have decided to join the ranks on this cruise. My DW has been on me to go on a vacation and this was the choice. This will be our DD first cruise, but she has been to WDW 2 times and will be more than excited when we tell her. There is not a lot of time to review all the posts, but look forward to learning lots. We will be flying in from New Mexico on Saturday and taking the Disney Shuttle to the Port. I am very interested in learning what activities there will be for my DD4 (Princess Beth).

ZCrew
We cannot get any flights from Salt Lake that I'm comfortable flying the day of the cruise. What time does your flight get into MCO?

 

[CaptainJack]

That would be great. Alexandra is the 11 year old. She can be shy, so that would be nice to be able to meet! Alexandra also loved the club and spent the majority of her time there.

Krista

Well one of my girls and your daughter already have one thing in common. My daughter Rebekah's middle name is Alexandra.

 

[racrj]

We will probably run into you on good ole deck 2. We are Aft this year, in Oct we were midship (2079 and 2081). I wanted those same rooms because they were great, but when we booked they were already taken.

Krista

Krista -- we are Aft, also. Room 2139. DD7 and DS3 are excited to meet your DD6 and DS4. I just hope the DS wants to stay and enjoy all that there is for him to do. He is a "Momma's boy", although I say there is nothing wrong with that!!

Question - I have been searching for Pirate outfits or something similar. I think I am okay with what I am wearing and the kids, but I am stumped at what Joe can wear. What are the guys, who are dressing for Pirate night, wearing?

Also, we were not able to make Palo ressies for brunch or tea. Do they have brunch and tea available all days or just sea days?

 

[CourtneyMc]

That would be great. We haven't told our little princess yet, but I know she will be excited. DW and I are a little concerned that she will want to cling to us instead of hook up with some DD's and DS's. This will be her first cruse and sometimes she has a tendancy to by super shy, but she usually perks up especially if meeting Princess Aurora or Minnie Mouse is on the agenda. What is your or anyone else's experience with kids of this age on the cruise? Do they still offer "kid food" if they will not eat what is on the menu? Also, how is the Oceaner's Club?

You haven't told her she's going on the Disney cruise?! I never could keep that a secret! If you're worried about her not wanting to go in the club/being clingy, would it totally wreck the surprise to start talking up how many fun things there are to do in the kids clubs on a Disney cruise (without necessarily telling her she's going on one)? There's Pumba's PJ Party, Do-Si-Do with Snow White, etc- there's a list on the DCL site by age group. You can also show her the DVD if you got it. The kids mostly love the club, so hopefully your DD will too.

They have a special kids menu at all the meals, and if she's eating with the club they go thru a kids only buffet line with mac-n-cheese, chicken fingers, etc, or I've heard for the younger kids they bring meals to them in the club and I assume that's the same stuff they bring them.

-Courtney

 

[robtraci]

You guys have NO idea what havoc ye have wrought on the Caribbean!

Hey robtraci, what part of Indiana you guys in? I'm in western Ky!

Arrrrrrrgggg....

Greenwood, just south of Indianapolis. We did some time in Bowling Green and Scottsville Ky after college. At times I miss it but Scottsville was a dry county and that got old real quick!

 

[robtraci]

A couple of questions now that I've gone to the dark side.

For those of you that have had connecting cabins, how did that work out? When we first booked this cruise (connecting cabins deck 2) my mother in laws boyfriend was not going, now he is. It's a little strange for me to have my kids in a room with a stranger (we've only met him once). Is it even possible to put 4 kids and 2 adults in one cabin?

Did I see someone has extra brunch reservations? I would be willing to trade my dinner reservations for brunch if anyone is interested.

 

[BigBlueMan]

Maybe we ought to plan on leaving the Promenade Lounge at some point Saturday afternoon and taking a group photo of the people involved from Disboards. (I guess we could even try and do it IN the lounge, but we need a place that will stagger us height wise, as it sounds like we'll have a lot of folks there.)

Gotta wait for Holly & Tyler to get there tho!

If we don't do it Saturday, we'll never do it.

 

[CaptainJack]

A couple of questions now that I've gone to the dark side.

For those of you that have had connecting cabins, how did that work out? When we first booked this cruise (connecting cabins deck 2) my mother in laws boyfriend was not going, now he is. It's a little strange for me to have my kids in a room with a stranger (we've only met him once). Is it even possible to put 4 kids and 2 adults in one cabin?

Did I see someone has extra brunch reservations? I would be willing to trade my dinner reservations for brunch if anyone is interested.

Since you are probably in cat 9 or 10 cabins, you can put 4 kids and 2 adults in a cabin only if you double up the kids in the bunk beds, or some of the kids sleep in the queen size bed with mom and dad, or you have children you are willing to sleep on the floor. If you cannot do any of those, I cannot see how you could put 4 kids and 2 adults in one of those cabins.

 

[CaptainJack]

Maybe we ought to plan on leaving the Promenade Lounge at some point Saturday afternoon and taking a group photo of the people involved from Disboards. (I guess we could even try and do it IN the lounge, but we need a place that will stagger us height wise, as it sounds like we'll have a lot of folks there.)

Gotta wait for Holly & Tyler to get there tho!

If we don't do it Saturday, we'll never do it.

If I recall correctly, the Promenade had a small stage that we could use for the picture. I personally think the picture would also look great taken right outside of Lumieres. We could use the steps to stagger people.

 

[ZCrew]

Please delete

 

[ZCrew]

ZCrew
We cannot get any flights from Salt Lake that I'm comfortable flying the day of the cruise. What time does your flight get into MCO?

Monstro...we are scheduled to arrive at MCO at 1:30 p.m. I am a little nervous about the time, but hopefully we are ok. I am not sure how and when we are to catch the Disney Shuttle, but I hope my DW is figuring that out. We might have to catch a towncar to the port.

 

[alexandmaddie]

Well one of my girls and your daughter already have one thing in common. My daughter Rebekah's middle name is Alexandra.

Very cool! Alexandra will get a kick out of that!

Krista -- we are Aft, also. Room 2139. DD7 and DS3 are excited to meet your DD6 and DS4. I just hope the DS wants to stay and enjoy all that there is for him to do. He is a "Momma's boy", although I say there is nothing wrong with that!!

We are in 2507 and 2509. Neither of my younger kids spent a whole lot of time in the kids clubs. DD6 did better than DS4, but both were pretty sporadic. I'm hoping they'll spend more time in there this year, but if not, that's okay too. We still ended up having a blast last year! Looking forward to meeting you guys.

Krista

 

[ZCrew]

You haven't told her she's going on the Disney cruise?! I never could keep that a secret! If you're worried about her not wanting to go in the club/being clingy, would it totally wreck the surprise to start talking up how many fun things there are to do in the kids clubs on a Disney cruise (without necessarily telling her she's going on one)? There's Pumba's PJ Party, Do-Si-Do with Snow White, etc- there's a list on the DCL site by age group. You can also show her the DVD if you got it. The kids mostly love the club, so hopefully your DD will too.

They have a special kids menu at all the meals, and if she's eating with the club they go thru a kids only buffet line with mac-n-cheese, chicken fingers, etc, or I've heard for the younger kids they bring meals to them in the club and I assume that's the same stuff they bring them.

-Courtney

It kind of helps that we just decided and purchased the tickets this last Thursday. My DW is having difficulty not telling DD, but I think she can hold out until this Sunday. Yes, that is a good idea about telling her some of the activities that will be going on in the club. As long as there is a princess she should be good. I ordered the DVD, but alas they said it would be 3-4 weeks before we got it. A little late. I will have to check out the list on the DCL website. That's great to know about the kids menu. My DW and I went on another cruise (non DCL) and had great meals, but would not appeal to DD. I should have known that DCL would have taken care of the kids.

 

[crainbow]

Monstro...we are scheduled to arrive at MCO at 1:30 p.m. I am a little nervous about the time, but hopefully we are ok. I am not sure how and when we are to catch the Disney Shuttle, but I hope my DW is figuring that out. We might have to catch a towncar to the port.

When you exit to the main terminal it is hard to miss the Disney buses. Don't worry. They are the folks with the big white mouse gloves and clip boards. Blue blazers also.

Buses depart from the near the Delta baggage return.

Chuck