8/23/09 Wonder

[Lynda Silk]

By picture mattes, do you mean the background on the photos taken onboard?

 

[mylittleprincess]

By picture mattes, do you mean the background on the photos taken onboard?

Lynda,

I just read on here something about the mattes. Is that something extra you pay for? Actually I am totally in the dark with the pictures they take on board. I read the Cd is $400!! Is that correct? Can you purchase individual pics and how outrageous in cost are they?

 

[Happy100]

We just booked and we are soo excited!! This is our 1st cruise! We are on Deck 2, Room # 2103. Does anyone know if the Dolphin Encounter at Blue Lagoon is worth it??? Looks like it takes most of the day there?? Any tips from any of you is much appreciated.

I was hoping you posted on the meets forum!!! Welcome aboard!!! My family is so excited as well...my DS4 just can't contain himself!!! This is our first cruise and the first time my son will be going to anything Disney. We live in Dallas, TX.

Did you get the late dinner seating??? For my family we are fine with it b/c Dallas time is an hour behind plus I hear it is better to see the early show...less people.

 

[mylittleprincess]

I was hoping you posted on the meets forum!!! Welcome aboard!!! My family is so excited as well...my DS4 just can't contain himself!!! This is our first cruise and the first time my son will be going to anything Disney. We live in Dallas, TX.

Did you get the late dinner seating??? For my family we are fine with it b/c Dallas time is an hour behind plus I hear it is better to see the early show...less people.

Hi!!!!!

Yes we did get 2nd dinner seating? What cabin are you in? I have 2 daughters, 7 & 14. This is all our first cruise! . Did you book a room somewhere night before? We are flying into Ft Lauderdale from Phila ( air was much cheaper) we will get a rental car & drive to the Port. So just need a room.

 

[Happy100]

Hi!!!!!

Yes we did get 2nd dinner seating? What cabin are you in? I have 2 daughters, 7 & 14. This is all our first cruise! . Did you book a room somewhere night before? We are flying into Ft Lauderdale from Phila ( air was much cheaper) we will get a rental car & drive to the Port. So just need a room.

We are flying in the evening before to Orlando as well driving to the port and staying at the La Quinta Inn and Suites-Oceanfront It got great reviews on Trip advisor and since we live in the middle of the country and not near a beach we wanted to play in the sand as much as possible. The price is reasonable and comparable to the others in this area. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34145-d248222-Reviews-La_Quinta_Inn_Suites_Oceanfront-Cocoa_Beach_Florida.html

I sent you a private message with our room number.

Did you tell your girls yet???

 

[mylittleprincess]

We are flying in the evening before to Orlando as well driving to the port and staying at the La Quinta Inn and Suites-Oceanfront It got great reviews on Trip advisor and since we live in the middle of the country and not near a beach we wanted to play in the sand as much as possible. The price is reasonable and comparable to the others in this area. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34145-d248222-Reviews-La_Quinta_Inn_Suites_Oceanfront-Cocoa_Beach_Florida.html

I sent you a private message with our room number.

Did you tell your girls yet???

I just wrote you back. Yes my girls know and are so excited!! I just need to figure out the excursions. As of now nothing booked.

 

[Lynda Silk]

mylittleprincess, I'm sorry but I don't know anything about the mattes or the cds. It would probably be best to go to the main DCL board and post a thread there.

Sorry I couldn't help you!

 

[ladypirate]

We are coming along as well. Have a 4 year old girl and 6 1/2 year old girl. We are also traveling with their grandma and 2 cousins from England who are 3 and 6 as well. I am going to get them fish extenders, and maybe the picture mat.

Just wanted to be clear - how i understand it, we can buy any (?) picture mat and bring it to the front desk (?) and all the characters will sign it?? Would love to do an 8x10 for all of them and have these be Christmas presents but want to make sure that they can be ANY mat, not just a "Disney" bought mat. Maybe i will check the Disney Store...

Anyway, can't wait, am counting down the days!!

Sarah and The Deer's

 

[renda460]

mylittleprincess, I'm sorry but I don't know anything about the mattes or the cds. It would probably be best to go to the main DCL board and post a thread there.

Sorry I couldn't help you!

We had the mattes signed on our last cruise. You can use any picture matte. I bought an 11x14 frame at Michaels which came with the matte to hold a 5x7 picture. This left a lot of room for signatures. The pictures I put into my mattes are ones I took myself, not part of Disneys pictures. You need to drop off the matte and markers (which will be returned to you) at the front desk of the boat. I included several colors of markers, but wasn't thinking and added yellow. You cant see the signatures too well in this color, so I would recommend darker colors. I think I put the matte and the markers into a large ziploc bag to keep everything together. I did one for each kid, and will bring another this trip for our new addition (13 months). As for the picture cd, I am not sure of the price. I just remember the disney pictures were great, but cost a fortune. We had many, many opportunities for great pictures of our own, and we only bought one from Disney.

We are also flying in the day before and booked a room at the Residence Inn. It got great reviews on tripadvisor. The rooms are suites and we got the AAA rate for $125 +tax. I read that this is one of the closest hotels to the port and you can see the ships coming in from your room in the morning. It is not a beachfront hotel however.

We rented a car from Budget to get to the port. We have used them before and it is very easy to take their shuttle over to the terminal.

I am excited that this board is finally hopping. I cant wait for the cruise. Less than 1 month to go!

 

[mylittleprincess]

We had the mattes signed on our last cruise. You can use any picture matte. I bought an 11x14 frame at Michaels which came with the matte to hold a 5x7 picture. This left a lot of room for signatures. The pictures I put into my mattes are ones I took myself, not part of Disneys pictures. You need to drop off the matte and markers (which will be returned to you) at the front desk of the boat. I included several colors of markers, but wasn't thinking and added yellow. You cant see the signatures too well in this color, so I would recommend darker colors. I think I put the matte and the markers into a large ziploc bag to keep everything together. I did one for each kid, and will bring another this trip for our new addition (13 months). As for the picture cd, I am not sure of the price. I just remember the disney pictures were great, but cost a fortune. We had many, many opportunities for great pictures of our own, and we only bought one from Disney.

We are also flying in the day before and booked a room at the Residence Inn. It got great reviews on tripadvisor. The rooms are suites and we got the AAA rate for $125 +tax. I read that this is one of the closest hotels to the port and you can see the ships coming in from your room in the morning. It is not a beachfront hotel however.

We rented a car from Budget to get to the port. We have used them before and it is very easy to take their shuttle over to the terminal.

I am excited that this board is finally hopping. I cant wait for the cruise. Less than 1 month to go!

Thank you so much for the tip o the Matte. I really wasn't understanding what people were doing with them. We booked at the Comfort Inn & Suites. They had a $99 park & cruise special. We are flying into Ft Lauderdale from Phila so need rental to drive to port. We also are staying 2 more days in Florida when we get back from cruise. I hope more people jump on this thread as it is getting closer otherwise I am thinking we are gonna be on an empty ship.

 

[ladypirate]

thanks Renda for the clarification on the mats and markers. I didn't know about the markers but that makes total sense. Will go to Michael's at some point to get those, maybe add a Disney sticker on it too.

What about the magnets? Isn't there a template somewhere on the board? Me and mom are going tonite to look at fabric for our extender!

Sarah

 

[renda460]

thanks Renda for the clarification on the mats and markers. I didn't know about the markers but that makes total sense. Will go to Michael's at some point to get those, maybe add a Disney sticker on it too.

What about the magnets? Isn't there a template somewhere on the board? Me and mom are going tonite to look at fabric for our extender!

Sarah

For the magnets, I just created mine in a software program called PaintShop Pro. I found various clip arts and used them to make my own design. Then I ordered magnet paper from ebay for $10 and printed them right on my printer. I am not sure about a template.

How do the fish extenders work? I have never done this. Do you buy gifts for your own kids? Or someone elses?


I am thinking of having pillow cases signed for this trip. Disneystore.com has their create-your-own ones on sale for $9.99. I may order these tonight.

http://www.disneystore.com/pillowcases-create-your-own-disney-pillowcase/p/1237878/13591/

 

[ladypirate]

Bought my fabric for the extender tonite at Hobby Lobby! There is a thread on the boards, i will look for the discussion thread and post it in a bit... but you hang it outside your door and people that you meet ahead of time and on board, leave you surprises. I am traveling with my 2 girls (6 and 4) and two of their cousins (also 6 and 3) and i am making an extender for each of the cabins (but only 2 pockets each, some are 4). I will leave some stickers for them, candy, who knows. once you know what cabin you have, you start sharing ages and cabin # and you do as much as you want i think...

Also bought mats tonite at Hobby Lobby for signing. How much nicer than having to chase characters around and stand in line!

Sarah

 

[renda460]

Bought my fabric for the extender tonite at Hobby Lobby! There is a thread on the boards, i will look for the discussion thread and post it in a bit... but you hang it outside your door and people that you meet ahead of time and on board, leave you surprises. I am traveling with my 2 girls (6 and 4) and two of their cousins (also 6 and 3) and i am making an extender for each of the cabins (but only 2 pockets each, some are 4). I will leave some stickers for them, candy, who knows. once you know what cabin you have, you start sharing ages and cabin # and you do as much as you want i think...

Also bought mats tonite at Hobby Lobby for signing. How much nicer than having to chase characters around and stand in line!

Sarah

Now comes the hard part - keeping the mattes flat in your suitcase while flying to FL. I think last time I put them in between cardboard pieces. I remember being very nervous that they would get a crease in them.

 

[Happy100]

So i have gone back and forth on autographs...matte or pillowcase and even nothing at all...not sure if DS (4) would really care and it is just one more thing to remember. Anyway, I wanted to see what you guys thought about it. I lean to the pillowcase b/c that would be simplest to pack but wanted to see anyone's comments who have done either or both of them.

 

[ladypirate]

Pillowcase is nice, but make sure you get fabric markers and hope that they signing (of course i mean the characters and not just some crew member behind the scenes...) the case use them and not just any markers. Other markers may bleed and they may be hard to write on... Just something to think about... I got the mats. Bought three and all three are to be surprise christmas presents so logistics to get to the desk is going to be an issue. We are driving so hoping they do well in transit...

 

[renda460]

So i have gone back and forth on autographs...matte or pillowcase and even nothing at all...not sure if DS (4) would really care and it is just one more thing to remember. Anyway, I wanted to see what you guys thought about it. I lean to the pillowcase b/c that would be simplest to pack but wanted to see anyone's comments who have done either or both of them.

We did the mattes last cruise and I have to say I love them. I found the best picture I had of my kids with the characters and have them framed hanging in each of their rooms. I am contemplating another one this trip to hang in our family room with a photo of the entire family.

 

[ladyleslie]

I have been reading the boards for months ... it has been a pleasure to hear (i mean read but you knew that) all of your posts over the last few months .... but this is my first post...

My mom, daughter (shes 7yrs old turning 8 the last day of the cruise) and myself will be embarking on our very first cruise with all of you.....

We are very excieted!!!!!!

I am also glad to see other families with children in my daughters age group.....

So for you more experienced cruisers please share....

Sea sickness .... how bad can it get? everyone talks about modern boats and how its not so bad, but seriously how bad does the sea sickness get?? Is there any tried and true medication that anyone can recommend??

The pillow and photo matte... awesome hints!!! thank you !!!

the fish extenders... is there a list you sign up on ?? or do you just run around like crazy level by level filling up FE? is there a logo for the members of the DISBoard I should keep an eye out for- so I can fill those first??

If anyone has any other hints, suggestions or ideas please speak up or write up (?) - but you knew what i ment - I am all ears!!!!

See you all aboard....

 

[mylittleprincess]

I have been reading the boards for months ... it has been a pleasure to hear (i mean read but you knew that) all of your posts over the last few months .... but this is my first post...

My mom, daughter (shes 7yrs old turning 8 the last day of the cruise) and myself will be embarking on our very first cruise with all of you.....

We are very excieted!!!!!!

I am also glad to see other families with children in my daughters age group.....

So for you more experienced cruisers please share....

Sea sickness .... how bad can it get? everyone talks about modern boats and how its not so bad, but seriously how bad does the sea sickness get?? Is there any tried and true medication that anyone can recommend??

The pillow and photo matte... awesome hints!!! thank you !!!

the fish extenders... is there a list you sign up on ?? or do you just run around like crazy level by level filling up FE? is there a logo for the members of the DISBoard I should keep an eye out for- so I can fill those first??

If anyone has any other hints, suggestions or ideas please speak up or write up (?) - but you knew what i ment - I am all ears!!!!

See you all aboard....

Hi, this is our 1st cruise as well!! I have 2 daughters, 7 & 14. I can't answer all your questions since our 1st too. Welcome to the Disboards!!! Our cruise is getting close!

 

[Lynda Silk]

Hi,
I'm very, very prone to motion sickness but I've never had a problem on either the Disney Wonder or Magic. I guess those stabilizers work very well. And I've never had to use a patch or drugs or even Gravol. So I don't think you have to worry about sea sickness.

My DD15 and I just completed a 3 day cruise on the Wonder (the July 23 one) and had a fabulous time! We saw a few of the stars from the Disney TV shows and they were all so nice! The food was fabulous and Castaway Cay was gorgeous as usual. So it looks like we're all set for a fabulous cruise in less than 3 weeks!