4/26/09 4 day Wonder

[Our2Girls&Disney]

Hi all! We will be crusing 4/26/09 for a 4 day trip on the Wonder.

So far we have:

Our2Girls&Disney - Me, DH, DD11, and DD7.
jmbleich - jmbleich, DH, DS, DDIL, and grandsons 5 and 2
SleepingBeauty 81 - Sleeping beauty, and DF (Bride and Groom)
Angelgurl - Angelgurl and DH (sister of the bride)
cshell1968 - cshell1968, DH, DD, DSIL, DGC 14 & 6, DS, DDIL, and DGS 6
2taxedmom - 2taxedmom, dh, dd10 and ds6
Spanky - Grandma, Grandpa, Daughter, Son & wife & 2 grandkids [g-4 & b-5].
Mishapary - Mishapary and DS11

 

[jmbleich]

Hi We have booked this cruise also. My DH , son and his family (2 grandsons) are looking forward to going on a Disney cruise. We have been on RCI previously and are looking forward to experiencing the differences. We are newbies to this site also. Any suggestions to help us on this cruise would be apprecited.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

Wow, there is more then just us. How cool!

How old are your grandsons? Our girls will be 11 and 7 when we cruise.

I am new to cruising, but I have been doing tons of research. I recently learned about fish extenders. Not sure if you read about those yet. If not, they are pockets that hang from the fish outside your door. People like us that are part of a cruise meet thread agree to give everyone a special treat for the each member of the family. I'll try to find the thread. You can read about it and let me know if you are interested.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

Thanks for joining!!!!

 

[jmbleich]

Hi My grandsons will be 2 and 5 next April. I was glad to see a group started on this site. I am also on another site and noone has joined the roll call for this cruise yet but us. We have sailed on RCI before and love it. It will the first cruise for my son and his family. It will our first on Disney cruise and we are all looking forward to it. The 'fish extender' idea sounds like fun. I will have to look into it. On the other site the roll call members have a little get together on board ship so they can put faces to the names on the boards.

 

[jmbleich]

Our2Girls&Disney I have done some checking on the fish extenders and it is a cute idea. I think I would be able to make ours. What kind of special treat/gift is given and do you know on an average about how many people on this board participate? I thought if I got busy I could give one to my grandsons for Christmas. The older one, Ryan, is already talking about the trip after he turns 5. It will be fun to meet you and your family on the cruise.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

I am so glad you liked the fish extender idea because I love it. From what I have been reading the gifts are usually small items, nothing expensive. From what I understand the kids get a kick out going to the fish extender and getting a surprise gift. I think there is a thread let me see if I can find it. Here it is:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=19863140#post19863140&highlight=fish+extender+gifts

How many people usually depends on how many people join our thread right here. Right now, it just us. I asked about the idea on another thread and she said there were 12 families on her meet for a 4 day cruise, so she divided it up to 3 families would give gifts on a predefined day. Everyday they got treats, she ended up with a bag full of loot.

I love the idea of a meet and I think we should arrange that.

My girls do not know about the trip. We are hoping to surprise them (if I can keep a secret that long). They ask every year if we can go to the beach, we always blow them off. This year we plan to tell them that we are going to the beach. On the way, we plan to tell them that beach is located in the Bahama's and Castaway Cay. I hope that they will be excited.

I recently read a book on DCL that was very informative from passporters. If you were interested.

 

[jmbleich]

Thanks for the quick reply. Yes I believe we are interested. I think it sounds like fun. I have bought the Passporters guide for 2008 and am just really beginning to get in to it. I wanted to wait until we got back from our cruisetour to Alaska--It was awesome!!! The system of dividing families sounds good too. I enjoy seeing little ones surprised. Keep me posted-I will check the boards often. I am going to do some checking on making one of those fish extenders as well. Thanks again.

 

[son3disfan]

Hi There!

We are on this cruise as well... Me , DH and three sons, 12,10 and 8.
This will be our second Disney cruise. Any questions, ask away!

I am an obsessive planner, and really put months and months ( well maybe more like a year!) of research in to our first cruise.It was only a three day.We rebooked on board for this one, got the 10% discount and onboard credit. Make sure to plan on this, as cruising becomes VERY addictive!! I want to be a little more laid back this time and go with the flow....

The fish extenders sound fun ( we did not do this the first time around..)

But I also want to suggest door magnets. It was a great way for the kids to find the room ( the halls are very long...) . We surprised my hubbie with a big 'Happy 40th " magnet in March. The door is metal, so anything magnetic will stick. Just not allowed to use tape.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

Sons2disfan - welcome to our thread. Now there are 3 of us.

I am so glad you like the fish extender idea because jmbleich liked the idea as well. I have not made my fish extender yet, but they look pretty easy. I think I am going to modify my first post to indlude the names of everyone who joins the thread. This will make it easier when it comes time to divide up fish extenders.

I bought fabric to make dresses for the girls for the pirate night. I'll post pictures when they are finished if anyone is interested.

I love the idea of decorating the door. I bought those plastic magnetic holders that can hold an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. I only bought 2 now, I am kicking myself I should have bought 4-5. Now if I go back, they will probably be out. They were cheap too, $1.69 each. What was I thinking?

 

[jmbleich]

Hi everyone! Just checking back in. This role call seems kind of slow--I imagine it will pick up closer to the cruise date. I hope everyone has been safe from the hurricanes. Even though we are in the middle of the country we got 4.5 inches of rain from Gustav. With family members on the gulf coast and Florida I keep watch on the storms. My grandsons are looking forward to the cruise and everything on it, as are we. Both my son and daughter in law are looking forward to their first cruise. Hope everyone is doing OK!

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

Thanks for checking in! I think people will trickle along as the date gets closer. Has anyone booked their flight? I alomst did yesterday. Jetblue had a great deal, $94 for one way, but they only have fares open until 4/30 so I could not book the return. I decided to hold out for SW. Take care and see you soon!

 

[son3disfan]

Hi guys!

Yes, I did purchase my flights. I got a great deal from AIRTRAN.
$72.00 each way, non-stop from Buffalo. I know AIRTRAN can change their flight times, but it doesn't usually happen from Buffalo.
Great deal!! We are staying for the weekend in Orlando after the cruise, so I booked all our hotels too.
We are staying at Disney before the cruise, and I put a deposit on a room only reservation, hoping that something GOOD will happen in April, like free water park and hopper passes like they had last year.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

Wow that is an incredible price! I would have jumped on it too. We too will be spending a couple days in Disney. Until I book my airfare, I have no idea on the schedule.

Has anyone heard anything about a schedule change for 4 day cruises?
I just read this in the DCL forum:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1945534

I think I will ask my TA if this change is just for Fall cruisers or if it is for us too. I just want to know what day we will be in Nassau. I was thinking about booking a room at the Comfort Suites.

 

[son3disfan]

We were thinking of Comfort Inn suites as well. There are 6 of us, so I need two rooms. It will have to be a good deal!! Let me know if you find anything! I'll keep you posted too.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

I e-mailed my TA, I will let you know her response. I have not booked a room yet because it is $251, add taxes and fees, we are talking close to $300, still divided by 4 people that is only $75 per person, cheaper than Disney's excursion. I have read that the rates drop as your date gets closer, so I will keep my eye on it. If I see anything, I will keep you in the loop.

 

[jmbleich]

We will be driving down to FL. We have family along the way to stop at and visit. Before the cruise we will be in Englewood visiting more family. I am looking into a place to stay the night before the cruise near the Port. I haven't reserved anything yet. Isn,t family great. It will be saving us numerous motel bills. The boys will get to play on the beach in Englewood--my stepmother lives on one of the Key islands there. We(just my DH and myself) will be going out of Port Canaveral in Jan as well so we will get the lay of the land so to speak. I have purchased material to try and make the fish extenders we had talked about earlier. I will let you know how it goes. Take care

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

Wow, you have some nice family. Let us know how the Fish extender comes out. I have not made one yet. I have been busy teaching myself how to sew. I made the girls some cute dresses and halter tops. Want to see an example of my new found skills?

By the way, my TA got back to me. She said that schedule change only effected 4 sailings. Sept 28, Oct 5, Oct 12, Oct 19. Obviously not ours. She said she would let me know if there are any changes in our schedule. On with the planning.

 

[jmbleich]

Those are adorable dresses!!! I like the colors. They put one in the mood for a cruise! Even the doll has her own! I used to sew but with having the boys first(I have 2 sons) and then the girl I was kept busy and making clothes got replaced with repairing and keeping up with them. I do a lot of needlework and craft stuff now. At the moment I am making some jewelry for my sister to wear on our Jan cruise. My daughter is better at that but I am learning. When I get the fish extenders done I will try to see if I can figure out how to put a picture up for you to see. Yes we are lucky with have realtives all over it seems. I also have a sister in SE TX when we head in that direction. That is why we have sailed out of Galveston twice. Got to run-I have homework(papers to grade etc.) before I can do what I want to do tonight. Take care.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

Hi everyone! Just checking in to say Hi. I have been brushing up on my sewing skills. I made this dress for DD7 for Halloween:

Which got me thinking about Pirate night. Is anyone dressing up for pirate night. At first I was thinking about making them just dresses with Pirate fabric, but the more I think about the more I like the idea of a whole costume (which obviously still needs to be made). The question is should I think about a costume for DH and I. Are any adults dressing up?

Oh yeah, I still have not made the fish extender. I have plenty of time though. Ciao!

 

[jmbleich]

Your skills are looking good. The Halloween costume is cute. I don't know about the Pirate night, however I have a friend who does Disney cruises. I will ask her--of course whe doesn't have kids. I have not worked on my fish extender either. It is on the to do list. I have been looking into hotels in the Port Canaveral area. We want to get there a day ahead and stay overnight before the cruise. Any suggestions? I noticed on your signature you stayed at the Wilderness lodge? When my kids were at home we would go to Disney and camp at Camp Wilderness I beleive. It was really nice and convenient for all the kids. Have a good day!