3/14/09 Spring Break Aboard the Magic

[redmomof4]

So how is everyone doing, getting excited counting down the days. I am so excited as we haven't told the kids yet and we are hoping to suprise them at Christmas.

 

[SB's Mom]

Our family is so ready for this trip. . . dear friends just went on the 4 day cruise and had a wonderful time (I knew they would). This will be our 4th Disney cruise!

We'll start planning our excursions soon. Our DD (10) wants to parasail again at Castaway Cay. She did that in 2006 and is totally hooked on it!

What is your family planning for excusions?

Charlene

 

[JoRy]

Hello all....it is not like me to take so long to post, but here we go. My name is Josh and my wife and three kids (DS12, DS9, DD5) will be going on the Spring Break cruise. We did the Thanksgiving Wonder Cruise in 2006, and loved it, and this time we decided a little longer will be fun.

We are from Nashville, and another family is going with us. The have DS12 and DD6.

WE are very excited and now that I have posted here, I will go back and see who else is coming.

One thing to mention...i own an embroidery company and on our last cruise we made tshirts for all the people i met on the Dis boards. I sent them out a week or so before the trip and many of us wore them when we got on the ship so we would know who everyone was. We called ourselves the Dorky Disney Cruisers...and it was a lot of fun having a fun shirt for the trip. I am happy to do it again...the only catch is I cannot charge you guys for them...nice catch isnt it. The reason is that we use some logos that are owned by Disney, so we cannot sell the shirts, but we can give them away. So...let's think of a fun name for ourselves, and then we can make a fun shirt.

Let me know what you all think...and this is my first of many posts...so it will be a lot of fun.

 

[mkmommy]

Hello all....it is not like me to take so long to post, but here we go. My name is Josh and my wife and three kids (DS12, DS9, DD5) will be going on the Spring Break cruise. We did the Thanksgiving Wonder Cruise in 2006, and loved it, and this time we decided a little longer will be fun.

We are from Nashville, and another family is going with us. The have DS12 and DD6.

WE are very excited and now that I have posted here, I will go back and see who else is coming.

One thing to mention...i own an embroidery company and on our last cruise we made tshirts for all the people i met on the Dis boards. I sent them out a week or so before the trip and many of us wore them when we got on the ship so we would know who everyone was. We called ourselves the Dorky Disney Cruisers...and it was a lot of fun having a fun shirt for the trip. I am happy to do it again...the only catch is I cannot charge you guys for them...nice catch isnt it. The reason is that we use some logos that are owned by Disney, so we cannot sell the shirts, but we can give them away. So...let's think of a fun name for ourselves, and then we can make a fun shirt.

Let me know what you all think...and this is my first of many posts...so it will be a lot of fun.

Welcome aboard, and what a nice offer, I am sure someone will come up with a catch phrase.

I keep meaning to check up on everyone, but I have been just thinking about my Dec cruise. My girls are so unimpressed with me that I am going in December without them, I think I will tell them when I get back that they are returning to the Magic in March, they will be so thrilled and maybe not be so upset with me.

I have been on cruisecritic reading about the ports and I think for St Martin we will just take a taxi to Maho Beach, my girls would just love to sit and watch the planes come in, would love to go to Trunk Bay, on St Thomas but it seems like it will take so long to get there. Has anyone been on the Eastern and what are some nice beaches?

I think there is a change of season's here today as it is much colder so it is nice to have a warm weather vacation to look forward too, winter is not my favorite time of the year, that is for sure.

Lisa

 

[SB's Mom]

JoRy

What area of Nashville?? I lived in the Green Hills area for 18 years. . .

The 7 day cruise is wonderful. . .this will be our 3 (all the the eastern carribean). On our last Disney Cruise (March 2007), our tablemates were from Mt Juliet/Lebanon area.

Lisa. . . I assume your cruise in December is also Disney?
Our family usually does a tour of the island and saves beach time of Castaway Cay (so beautiful and peaceful). We are considering going to St John's this time. We've done the dolphin encounter while at St Maartin (at Anguilla). Very eye opening boat ride that day. . .stormy weather. . .

We received our shore excusion option package yesterday. . .YEA. . .Parasailing is back on Castaway Cay! Our DD who is 11 loves to parasail and was so disappointed in 2007 that it wasn't available.

Have a great evening.
Charl

 

[mkmommy]

JoRy

What area of Nashville?? I lived in the Green Hills area for 18 years. . .

The 7 day cruise is wonderful. . .this will be our 3 (all the the eastern carribean). On our last Disney Cruise (March 2007), our tablemates were from Mt Juliet/Lebanon area.

Lisa. . . I assume your cruise in December is also Disney?
Our family usually does a tour of the island and saves beach time of Castaway Cay (so beautiful and peaceful). We are considering going to St John's this time. We've done the dolphin encounter while at St Maartin (at Anguilla). Very eye opening boat ride that day. . .stormy weather. . .

We received our shore excusion option package yesterday. . .YEA. . .Parasailing is back on Castaway Cay! Our DD who is 11 loves to parasail and was so disappointed in 2007 that it wasn't available.

Have a great evening.

Charl

Charl

Yes I am doing 4 days on the Wonder, I am really looking forward to it, as I am leaving my girls home and will get to do all the things I missed on the Magic last spring

We did a dolphin swim in Cozumel last year, so I want to do something different this year. An Island Tour might be a good idea, but my girls are not big into being on busses, so it would have to be fairly short. Once I tell the girls about the cruise we will have to talk about what they would like to do.

Lisa

 

[mkmommy]

It is amazing how fast time will go, I was looking at a calender and soon I will be able to book excursions for this cruise.

Are people still interested in having a Fish Extender gift exchange?

Lisa

 

[mkmommy]

Well I just got back from 4 days on the Wonder, it was a great trip but 4 days is way too short. I am so looking forward to March and getting 7 days on the Magic.

I was able to book excursions yesterday and everything was available including tea in Palo's so I am assuming that the ship is pretty empty still.

Is everyone still going?

Lisa

 

[hopelea]

Hi!! We were going to take advantage of the buy 4 get 3 free at DW, but I just checked the disney cruise web site and for 300 more, we can cruise. We are going to cancel DW and get on the Magic!!! We are so excited.
This will be our 3rd trip on the Magic. We just got off Carnival Glory and had to look at the Magic as we were pulling away.

The big difference is that we are going to book a GTY 12 for a family of four. I really don't care where we stay. I just want to cruise. Has anyone stayed in a cat. 12? We have stayed in a 11 & 10. Are they pretty close in size??

I am trying to make my reservations through dreams unlimited right now.
I can't believe my DH agreed to this.

We are a party of four, me (41), dh (42), two dd's 15 & 12!!!!!

 

[mkmommy]

Hi!! We were going to take advantage of the buy 4 get 3 free at DW, but I just checked the disney cruise web site and for 300 more, we can cruise. We are going to cancel DW and get on the Magic!!! We are so excited.
This will be our 3rd trip on the Magic. We just got off Carnival Glory and had to look at the Magic as we were pulling away.

The big difference is that we are going to book a GTY 12 for a family of four. I really don't care where we stay. I just want to cruise. Has anyone stayed in a cat. 12? We have stayed in a 11 & 10. Are they pretty close in size??

I am trying to make my reservations through dreams unlimited right now.
I can't believe my DH agreed to this.

We are a party of four, me (41), dh (42), two dd's 15 & 12!!!!!

Welcome aboard, a cruise is a much more relaxing vacation than the parks. I downgraded to a CAT 12 and saved over $2000 so I am very happy. I stayed in a CAT 12 a couple of weeks ago on the Wonder and I liked it and I loved the location.

Since there are 4 of you in your cabin you will be at least in a CAT 11 none of the CAT 12 have the 4th bed from the ceiling.

Here are some pictures of the CAT 12 I stayed in,

The main difference between a CAT 12 and 11 is in most 11's the bed does not face into the room, the end of the bed would face the wall, and there is a single bunk bed that folds out of the ceiling above the couch.

You will be fine in a 12 and it is a great price.

Lisa

 

[hopelea]

We actually stayed in an 11 on our first cruise. It was very nice. I really think I could sleep in the broom closet as long as I was on the cruise!!

We just got off the Carnival Glory with a balcony. It was nice, but it wasn't disney!

So, what has changed since our last trip on the Magic in 2005?

My dd's are 12, (three months shy of 13) & 15. What are the activities like for 15 year olds? I am worried that she will be bored.

 

[hopelea]

Let's keep this roll call on page 1.

Hope everyone is having a good holiday season.

We are really excited. It is a difficult thing to NOT know what room you are in. I have always picked my rooms. I can't wait to get my room assignment.

What time is everyone getting to the port. I think check in has changed since we last cruise with Disney. Last time, after we were checked in, we just lined up by the big Mickey head and waited for them to let us in. I think I read some where that you are now given a number to board? Well, that means I am just going to have to get to the port a lot earlier so I can get a lower number

We are driving down from Alabama. We can't leave until around 2 PM on Friday. That means we will be driving until wee hours of the morning. I want to stop around 2 hours away from the port so we won't have too long in the morning.

I am ready to go now!! I feel like we just unpacked from our Thanksgiving cruise on the Glory. I haven't even washed out our bathing suits yet....guess I will do that today .

Hope to talk to some of you soon!!!

 

[mkmommy]

We are staying in Cape Canaveral the night before the cruise, but I do not plan on getting to the terminal until about noon, my girls are not great at waiting.

You are correct in saying that you get a boarding number when you arrive in the terminal. In December when I went I got to the terminal about 11:00 and got a number 6, I think they started boarding aroung 11:45 and I was on by noon. I think most of the buses from the resorts arrive around 12:45-1:00 so I want to hit the terminal in between the early arrivals and the resort busses.

Lisa

 

[hopelea]

How old are your girls?

My oldest, Megan 15, is so excited. She wasn't thrilled about going back to DW. She now is on cloud nine!!

I don't know how I will pass the days I am wondering how cold the water will be at our stops. If it will be too cold to snorkel?

Have you planned your excursions? We booked ours this week. We are going to Magen's Bay Beach on St. Thomas. On St. Martin we are doing the Golden Eagle Catamaran excursion.

We just got off the Carnival Glory. We had a good time, but it wasn't disney!!

Have a good evening.

 

[mkmommy]

My girls will be 6 and 8 and they are most excited also, they prefer the cruise over the parks too, it is just a much more relaxed vacation.


I booked excursions through DCL, we are doing a submarine one in St Martin and then in St Thomas we are going to do the one to Trunk Beach, Castaway Cay we may rent bikes but we will see. I think the water will be fine in March. In December the water at Castaway Cay was a little cool when you first got in but after a few mintures it was fine and I know last March it was good.

I am sure the time will go fast and it will be here before we know it.

How was your cruise on Carnival I am thinking after this cruise that we will try another cruise line?

Lisa

 

[hopelea]

How was Carnival?? Well, it was okay. It was so crowded. My girls had a good time. I didn't like the shows, too Las Vegas. I don't like seeing girls dressed that way, you know with thongs and their backsides exposed. Also there was a show that my kids went to and the men did a "full monty", well that is what my husband called it. They stripped and covered their privates with a hat. My girls were shocked. The food was okay, buffets were crowded. We had the worst server on all the cruises we had been on, but we talked to other people and they had wonderful servers. The ship was in good shape, but the crew just doesn't keep it as clean as the disney ship.

Things carnival couldn't do anything about, it was so cold. We froze. I wore my winter coat around the ship. It was really rocky the first two nights. No one in my family got sick, but a lot of people were.

We have taken two cruises on the Magic "03 & '05. We went to Alaska on NCL in '06 & then CC in '08. I am ready to get back on the Magic!!

One other thing that bothered me was that the age group (10-14) that my dd's were in, didn't have a certain room dedicated to them. They would rotate to different clubs or conference rooms. There wasn't a room they could go to and play games. They just "hung out". Okay, I am done venting, sorry.

 

[hopelea]

Okay, our thread was lost on page 3 again......When I joined this thread, everyone else dropped out, hum....maybe it is me

Anyone else going? Anyone else excited? I am!!!!

 

[mkmommy]

How was Carnival?? Well, it was okay. It was so crowded. My girls had a good time. I didn't like the shows, too Las Vegas. I don't like seeing girls dressed that way, you know with thongs and their backsides exposed. Also there was a show that my kids went to and the men did a "full monty", well that is what my husband called it. They stripped and covered their privates with a hat. My girls were shocked. The food was okay, buffets were crowded. We had the worst server on all the cruises we had been on, but we talked to other people and they had wonderful servers. The ship was in good shape, but the crew just doesn't keep it as clean as the disney ship.

Things carnival couldn't do anything about, it was so cold. We froze. I wore my winter coat around the ship. It was really rocky the first two nights. No one in my family got sick, but a lot of people were.

We have taken two cruises on the Magic "03 & '05. We went to Alaska on NCL in '06 & then CC in '08. I am ready to get back on the Magic!!

One other thing that bothered me was that the age group (10-14) that my dd's were in, didn't have a certain room dedicated to them. They would rotate to different clubs or conference rooms. There wasn't a room they could go to and play games. They just "hung out". Okay, I am done venting, sorry.

Sounds like Canival was not the ship for you. I keep thinking about booking the new Carnival Dream for spring break 2010 as it looks like a fun ship, but I too do worry that it will be too " Las Vegas" for a kids trip and think I will end up on the RCCL Freedom ship as I want to try something beside DCL.

I think a lot of people have cancelled this cruise as it is so quiet on this thread, oh well the trip will still be lots of fun, hard to believe only a little over 2 months to go.

Lisa

 

[hopelea]

I wonder what CAT room I will get. We booked two GTY 12's. I am hoping they keep our family together.

This board is quiet. I was wondering the same thing about people canceling. I guess with the economy the way it is, I can understand.

We are still waitlisted for first dinner seating. My dd's told me that if we have 2nd they will not be eating with us because there are too many cool things to do in the evening besides eat. They are right and I understand. I am hoping that we will get first seating.

I just made a couple of door signs. I found the thread on how to make the stick people. They are so cute. I made one for my door and one for my parents door.

 

[mkmommy]

I wonder what CAT room I will get. We booked two GTY 12's. I am hoping they keep our family together.

This board is quiet. I was wondering the same thing about people canceling. I guess with the economy the way it is, I can understand.

We are still waitlisted for first dinner seating. My dd's told me that if we have 2nd they will not be eating with us because there are too many cool things to do in the evening besides eat. They are right and I understand. I am hoping that we will get first seating.

I just made a couple of door signs. I found the thread on how to make the stick people. They are so cute. I made one for my door and one for my parents door.

I know it is hard waiting for the cabin assigment. I booked a CAT 12 and I really hope we get a CAT 12. One of the favorite things my girls liked to do was sit in the big port hole windows on 3, and the CAT 12 are like a minute walk from them so they would be in heaven.

I got early dining and I think late would not work for us, but I also think that we will not eat in the dining rooms every night this cruise. Sitting for 2 hours is just too much for the girls and all they would eat last cruise was, pizza and hamburgers so we can get that without sitting for 2 hours in the dining room. We will play that by ear, but I know on the first cruise I felt we were missing something if we did not eat there.

Lisa