4/14/2012 7-Nights Western Caribbean on the Fantasy

[BigDogHU75]

Hey guys I'll be sailing this cruise. I found about dis boards on my panama crossing on the wonder. I tried to get on your facebook group I sent a request I hope there is some meet ups. Roll call las Vegas If Anyone having magnets made I want one.

Hi all. We just booked this cruise on 1/2/12, after switching from the 4/13 Magic cruise. this is the second DCL cruise (Dream 4-day in October). Me (39), DW (??), DD(8), and DS(6). We are looking forward to this trip very much.

to the both of you.

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

Hey all ... look who is back.

Thanks to everyone who expressed concern - things have really been tough lately ... I ended up having back surgery, not working for a while, then coming back to work part time, then raising it up to full time, we weren't sure we would have the funds to pay off the cruise ... there were other personal issues that we have been dealing with ... 2011 will go on record as being the most devastating year of my life ... and this cruise is our family's fresh break ... our clean slate starting over point and it couldn't have come at a better time.

I'm so sorry for falling off the planet where you all and my duties here were concerned. I am so thankful that Marsha picked it up, dusted it off and gave it new life.

Is everyone here also in the FB group? I'm joined over there but I haven't posted on it yet - will get to that today hopefully as well. I have a few PMs but I'm guessing that by now, everyone who sent me a PM is set either here or on the FB group.

So, wow ... staying out of the loop and out of a cruise planning mindframe sure does make a girl freak out when there are only 78 days left. I feel SO behind. I haven't booked any excursions yet ... we aren't HUGE Palo fans and we didn't plan on Remy's either so I'm not that worried. I also know that there are plenty of private tour companies that I can get with if they are all book through Disney so I'm not losing any sleep over that stuff.

So again, thank you all for your concern ... so glad to have been able to pull ourselves together enough to still make this happen ... looking forward to getting to know all of the new additions to our group!!

Kat

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

Goodness, I am realizing how much work I really DO have to do.

I need to book hotel pre-cruise. We usually stay at the Residence Inn because it was close and we got up nice and early and used to get to the terminal early before they were giving away cruise arrival times ... that really is a change that I don't love. We were always early risers getting there and always got a #2 boarding pass. I have no idea why they changed it ... what a bummer. What are everyone's arrival times so far? I'm paying the cruise off in full today so I'm sure I will have mine as soon as I do my check in. I'm hoping for a miracle (like a 5 but that won't happen) but preparing myself for a 160 or so.

I guess I will be just looking for the cheapest rate now unless the Residence Inn is comparable and so many people from here are staying there now too so maybe since it is what we know and are familiar with, maybe we will just do that instead.

Does anyone know if Budget is still pretty much the closest car rental place to the Port? We usually use Budget ... again, not sure what has changed since we cruised last but I need to get these things done today. We are booked on the latest flight home into Westchester so I need a car on the end of the trip too ... we usually make our way leisurely back to MCO ... stop at a few fun places along the way. We take off at at 7:50pm.

We are coming in on Thursday morning so we have an extra day ... even when you added up what the extra day was going to cost in extra hotel and extra car fees, it was STILL LESS than what it would have cost us to fly down on Friday so I said to heck with it ... let's just go another day and have a nice relaxing time before we board.

I am a planner from hell ... my husband calls me a vacation warrior with the way I do things ... from the extensive research to the excel spreadsheets, lol ... I think maybe this time I'm just gonna go with the flow ... and let things just happen as they may. We get there when we get there. I used to drag my kids through Disney for character meals, meet and greets, etc ... nothing more demeaning as a mother than waking your (seemingly ungrateful at the time) child up in a hotel at Disney that you have been saving up to stay at for THEM at 6am when they only went to bed at 1 am and they are kicking and screaming as you drag them to have breakfast with Pooh at the Crystal Palace because it's on your spreadsheet but by the time you get there, they hate Disney, hate Pooh and hate you too, lol. Yeah, that was me. They are 22 and 14 now so I think I can slow down a bit.

OK ... I have work to do ...

 

[talb714]

Welcome back Kat so glad everything worked out for you. I am the planner also. We are staying at the Residence Inn that is the only place we have stayed, as I am a marriott girl with points to stay free. Ya I didn't like the time change either, we arrived before 11 for our last cruise and they made us circle the port several times. We are all on Facebook now with a big group. Good luck in your planning. We did set up a time to meet at 3pm, everything is in the docs on the facebook group. It is coming so fast!

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

Welcome back Kat so glad everything worked out for you. I am the planner also. We are staying at the Residence Inn that is the only place we have stayed, as I am a marriott girl with points to stay free. Ya I didn't like the time change either, we arrived before 11 for our last cruise and they made us circle the port several times. We are all on Facebook now with a big group. Good luck in your planning. We did set up a time to meet at 3pm, everything is in the docs on the facebook group. It is coming so fast!

Thanks so much ... yes, fast is right ... now suddenly I feel stressed that there's not enough time for all of the planning. If this was my first cruise and not my 4th, I would have shot myself in the head by now.

I joined the group on FB, just need to post an intro and a hello. How do we know who is who over there? LOL I know that everyone there is not here and I don't yet know if everyone from here is over there as well.

 

[talb714]

Thanks so much ... yes, fast is right ... now suddenly I feel stressed that there's not enough time for all of the planning. If this was my first cruise and not my 4th, I would have shot myself in the head by now.

I joined the group on FB, just need to post an intro and a hello. How do we know who is who over there? LOL I know that everyone there is not here and I don't yet know if everyone from here is over there as well.

I would be stressed too. It is hard to know who is there without Dis names. But we hope that with all the postings everyone has joined the facebook group. Good luck with all your planning, it will all work out great!!

 

[Disney52303]

Glad to see you back Kat!

Marsha, will you switch the FE list on the first page to me? I have been chatting with Kat via FB and she's in agreement (and relieved) that I've offered to organize things.

Regarding the FE, I am only planning on making ONE list (but may split). If there is anyone on DIS that is NOT on FB and wants to join, please please post here by 2/22. If you've given me your info via FB, I have it or will have it if you post there.

My executive decision (lol) is final call by 2/22, which leaves a little room for GTY, and final "final" call in case anyone pops up last minute.

As it stands right now, I am at 20 families. If I get 6ish more, I will go to consensus on splitting the list or not. So far, plan for definitely 12-13 but it could be more.

So who's getting super excited besides me!??!?!!?

 

[Tinknalli]

Welcome back Kat! Good to hear from you!

 

[bret]

I haven't joined the FE exchange and I would like to, but I don't know who to PM I am in room 8670 on deck 8.

 

[Disney52303]

I haven't joined the FE exchange and I would like to, but I don't know who to PM I am in room 8670 on deck 8.

Just also I've me names/ages in your party! I will add you!

 

[tootsiemr]

HAVNT POSTED ON HERE IN A WHILE BEEN ON THE FACEBOOK DISCUSSION INSTEAD HOW IS EVERYONE WE HAVE LIKE 77 DAYS LEFT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Stagemaster]

ready to go love facebook easier to keep up with all day your guys rok cant wait to meet you all

 

[hgon76]

Goodness, I am realizing how much work I really DO have to do.
Does anyone know if Budget is still pretty much the closest car rental place to the Port? We usually use Budget ... again, not sure what has changed since we cruised last but I need to get these things done today.
OK ... I have work to do ...

We have Budget for the day we get off the ship. But I got Dollar for $27 (or $29, can't remember??) from MCO -> PC. Budget is the closest though.

 

[tootsiemr]

Getting close to the one year mark!

Welcome and hello to all of the new members!! I will be making the list updates soon. Once they are done, please refer back to post #116 on page 8 and let me know what else you would like added!

So is anyone super excited about the announcement for the Magic coming to NY next summer? I have to say, I'm not too thrilled. I will probably get myself onto at least one of the 2-night "no where" cruises just to be on the ship. I can't wait to drive down the West Side Highway in NYC and see that ship there!!

Hope that everyone is well despite this horrible weather!!

Kat

i heard about you and you were the one doing the FE thread we were waiting for you on facebook and here for a while my info is out there i want to the the FE on April 14 - 21st with everyone are you coridinating with Leslie? Anyway im Natasha with DB William we are from NY and our room is 9568 please update me with info ive been going crazy making gifts

 

[Disney52303]

i heard about you and you were the one doing the FE thread we were waiting for you on facebook and here for a while my info is out there i want to the the FE on April 14 - 21st with everyone are you coridinating with Leslie? Anyway im Natasha with DB William we are from NY and our room is 9568 please update me with info ive been going crazy making gifts

I think Kat has a lot on her plate right now, I am handling the FE exchange and making ONE list (from both FB and those on DIS who contact me)!

 

[pamcarey]

I am handling the FE exchange and making ONE list (from both FB and those on DIS who contact me)!

Hi. I just want to verify that I'm on the FE list. I signed up here, before the FB group was created. (I am also in the FB group, but only signed up for the FE once, here.) Thanks!

 

[Disney52303]

Hi. I just want to verify that I'm on the FE list. I signed up here, before the FB group was created. (I am also in the FB group, but only signed up for the FE once, here.) Thanks!

Hi Pam, I don't have you on the list. So I don't have to scroll through 40+ pages, can you let me know names/ages, stateroom #, any allergies. I will add you tonight!
Thank you!

 

[MTH]

Getting VERY excitedonly 10 weeks to go

Out of curiosity...this is my first time doing Disney single, so I'm a little apprehensive about it...anybody else done this? A little worried it might be a bit awkward...any other singles on this cruise?

 

[Disney52303]

Okay FE participants, I am up to 34 families (I split the list and mixed everyone up). I am going to create a doc today on FB. Is there anyone here that isn't on our FB page that I will need to email/PM the list to as I have it so far?

I wanted to wait a couple weeks but I know some people are anxious to get started on gifts, especially ones that are more personalized. I will add to my master list as I get more people, if there are any more!

 

[Oihane]

Hello! Checking in...apparently my father already did (Billm3360), but it's going to be 7 of us now from MN. We're in Staterooms#6020 and #6022 (connecting). We haven't done a cruise since 2008 so we're long overdue. Our party is: Myself (Alicia), my bf (Ian - 1st time cruiser), my dad (Bill/billm3360), his fiance (Sue - also a 1st Timer), my brother (Chris), my grandmother (June), and my aunt (Becky).

Finally got the hotel reserved...now we're just looking at flights

Very excited!!