9/19/09 Western Magic

[MelissaE1]

Hey all you P.I.R.A.T.E.S.! Hope everyone had a great Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

We have had company from the start of our break, relatives and friends both. The last of them left yesterday, and although we will miss them we are kind of glad to have the house back to ourselves.

Looking forward January and getting back to cruise planning. Look at those counters edging closer to 8 months!

 

[gamomof2]

Just checking in after a lengthy absence. Reading the last several pages. My Dad was a Marine and I was born at Paris Island Naval Hospital. We lived in Beaufort for several years.

We're from Macon which is just down I-75 from Atlanta. We're still deciding whether to stay at the beach or in the resorts the night before our cruise.

 

[Yonkrs_Girl]

Happy New Year, everyone!
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! I am excited for the New Year and to really start the Cruise Planning!! WOO HOOO!!!!

I am reposting the current FE List since I know we have had some new people join and since I had a crazy last few months, want to make sure I didn't miss anyone or leave anyone off the list. So, if you want to participate in the FE's - please check to be sure you are on the list I have and if I missed you or you are new and want to join, just let me know. As we get closer, we can set a cut-off date for sign-ups and then I can also add kids ages to the list in case anyone wants to customize their gifts for specific ages or boy or girl, etc. Some did that on our past cruises and others just did one thing or gift bags that were the same for everyone
The FE * Fun Exchange or Fish Extender Exchange* is a cute fun way to add a little more excitment to all our Dis Members and Families/Friends.. There is a Letter Holder next to your stateroom door in the shape of a Fish.. That is where the words "fish extender" comes from... Most people hang something with pockets on it or a Christmas Stocking or anything and everything else creative.. Then all the participants sneak around the ship and drop little fun items into your Fish Extender and try not to get caught .. It could be anything as simple as: Tattoos, Stickers, Mini Note Pads, Keychains, Toys and More.. This is not meant to Break Your Budget.. Even Handmade items are exchanged...some also have included or given as gifts things from where they are from (i.e. - maple syrup from Vermont, Creole Seasoning from Louisiana, etc.)
Just another note...some choose to personalize their Fish Extender. We will definitely be doing this for the next cruise as I didn't for the last one and it was stolen. It was even secured with the Zip Ties that many use so just wanted to make that note in case there are any first-time cruisers. We did not have a problem on our 2nd cruise when we did it and it was not personalized but wanted to put the info. out so everyone can decide what they want to do

Current Participants
3boyslovediz
ChrisLei
CrazyZeus1
dennismcneely
disneyfan551
disneyfanatics
finfans
gamomof2
gwtinkerbell427
hannahguad
Kirstin's Mommy
Lizzy'sMom
LoriS
Martinezfamily1126
MelissaE1
Michelle9343
Pfishgirl
PrincessBelle39
Pumbaa
Yonkrs_Girl

Thanks so much!

Also, my DS will be 9 (almost 10) and DD will be 6 (almost 7) at cruise time so if anyone has kids their ages and want to become email buddies - just let me know. We have done this for our last 2 cruises and it was so cool for them to have "friends" before they get on board and then meet in person and get to hang out in the clubs, etc. together. We still keep in touch with many of the families we met on our cruise in April on the Wonder.

Well, really looking forward to posting much more now and keeping up with everything (going to go back and read what I have missed) and getting to know everyone!

Take care!

Monica

 

[3boyslovediz]

I want in on the FE too! Please add me to the list.

Also, Monica, my boys will be 8 and just turned 10 on the cruise. THey would love a penpal to get to know!!! I PM'd you a few months back I think, but did not hear back from you. Please let me know.

My Mom will be coming with us again too, so maybe there are any older singles who would like to meet up with her!?! Happy New Year!

-Penny

 

[Yonkrs_Girl]

Hi Penny...

So sorry...I didn't see a PM in my box - may have missed it but didn't have any when I logged in Patrick would love to get to know your boys. I will send a PM with our email address so they can start to get to know each other. That will be great!

I will add your name to the FE list as well! Welcome!

Monica

 

[Lizzy'sMom]

So, if you want to participate in the FE's - please check to be sure you are on the list I have and if I missed you or you are new and want to join, just let me know.

Please sign me up

Andrea Dabrowski.. it will be myself & hubby & our daughter Lizzy who is 4

do you need state room #?

Andrea in vegas - who is already planning her fe gifts!!

 

[Lizzy'sMom]

Hi there!

my family is getting ready for our second cruise! we did the thanksgiving 4 day wonder and loved it!

We are soo excited! we are getting a cat 7 thats a secret 6!

We are soo excited.. wait did i already say that?? lol!!!

I cant wait to get to know you all better and have a fab trip!

Andrea in vegas

 

[Yonkrs_Girl]

So, if you want to participate in the FE's - please check to be sure you are on the list I have and if I missed you or you are new and want to join, just let me know.

Please sign me up

Andrea Dabrowski.. it will be myself & hubby & our daughter Lizzy who is 4

do you need state room #?

Andrea in vegas - who is already planning her fe gifts!!

Welcome, Andrea! I will get you added to the FE List - can't wait for our cruise and to meet you! I will collect stateroom numbers as we get closer to the cruise.

We are sooooo excited, too! This will be our 3rd Cruise on the Magic and we did a 4-night on the Wonder last April. Cannot wait!!!!

255 Days to go!!!!!

 

[nvcruiser]

Yay for Nevada cruisers!!!

 

[Fosterk1]

Couldn't find delet option for this message. We have changed our cruise date.

 

[disneyfinatics]

Have we decided how many times we're going to give gifts? I know it's early, but I'd like to start planning my gifts now. I've seen and read about so many great gifts that I'm not sure what I'm going to do. This is our first cruise and we are getting really excited!!!
Can you celebrate birthdays even if they're way off from the time you cruise? They boys b-days are June & September, but they'd both like to have one of the cake slices we've seen pictures of. This might be our only cruise. We typically go to Disney w/ my family in December. My dad's not real happy that we're skipping this year to take the cruise. He bought my sisters & I vacation club memberships a few years ago. I think he's afraid we don't like Disney anymore. Unfortunately we can't afford to do both.
Shelly

 

[Yonkrs_Girl]

Have we decided how many times we're going to give gifts? I know it's early, but I'd like to start planning my gifts now. I've seen and read about so many great gifts that I'm not sure what I'm going to do. This is our first cruise and we are getting really excited!!!
Can you celebrate birthdays even if they're way off from the time you cruise? They boys b-days are June & September, but they'd both like to have one of the cake slices we've seen pictures of. This might be our only cruise. We typically go to Disney w/ my family in December. My dad's not real happy that we're skipping this year to take the cruise. He bought my sisters & I vacation club memberships a few years ago. I think he's afraid we don't like Disney anymore. Unfortunately we can't afford to do both.
Shelly

Hi Shelly...

We have always done just one gift and you can deliver them at any time during the cruise. There is no set time for you since it's all a Surprise and sometimes you will get a bunch of things and other times there will be just one, etc. Your dad will love the cruise. Although, it's much different than Disney - my kids still love both!
Hope that helps with the FE gifts.

 

[Yonkrs_Girl]

Hello,

My family just booked this cruise. Not our first time cruising but it will be our 1st Disney cruise. My daughters are really looking forward to it. They will be 6(almost 7) and 4 at the time of the cruise.

~Karen

Welcome, Karen! My DD will be almost 7 at the time of cruise, too! In the past, we have had email pals for the kids so that they got to know a few of the kids they will see in the clubs, etc. Let me know if you want to do that with our girls

 

[disneyfinatics]

Yonkrs_Girl,
Thanks for the info on the fish extenders. I love not having a set day to do the gifts. I'm sorry I didn't make this clear, but my dad's not going on the cruise. You couldn't pay him or my mother to get on a boat. He's at Disney now w/ my youngest sister, her family, my niece & her family, & Robert & his family(he works for my dad who builds pools). My dad is so Disney crazy he dragged everyone out of the house at 10:30 last night to leave. The kids sleep in the motor home so they were at least in their places already. Both of my sisters would love to go on a Disney cruise one day. I'm really excited about it.
Shelly

 

[PrincessBelle39]

Can you add me to the FE list aswell? Sounds like there will be a few kids around the same age as mine which will make them happy. Mine will be 7 and 4 (nearly 5) when we cruise. The older one (6 at the moment) can't wait to meet new friends. I'm sure we will never get to see her without dragging her from the kids club.

 

[martinezfamily1126]

Hey Everyone,

I haven't logged on in a while. I have been a bit busy since I just changed jobs. Just wondering whats new and where i can find the updated fe list.

Have we planned a place to meet? Are we planning to?

On my last cruisse the group had shirts made but mine didn't arrive in time for my trip. Maybe we can make a standard design that each of us can print on Iron on transfers and pick a shirt color to use. Anyone Interested?

 

[disneyfinatics]

On my last cruisse the group had shirts made but mine didn't arrive in time for my trip. Maybe we can make a standard design that each of us can print on Iron on transfers and pick a shirt color to use. Anyone Interested?

I think this wold be a great idea. I'm willing to try to work on one. I won't be offended if people don't like it. We all have different taste.

 

[Yonkrs_Girl]

I think this wold be a great idea. I'm willing to try to work on one. I won't be offended if people don't like it. We all have different taste.

Some other ideas that groups have done on our past cruises were to choose a color of the Mickey Head Paint Samples at Home Depot and make name tags to wear (you can attach to your lanyards if you have them) so as you walked around - everyone would know those from our thread. We also wore Leis at the port so we could find each other, too.

Just tossing out some ideas

This is going to be so much fun planning with everyone! Cannot wait to get on board!!!

 

[Yonkrs_Girl]

Have we decided how many times we're going to give gifts? I know it's early, but I'd like to start planning my gifts now. I've seen and read about so many great gifts that I'm not sure what I'm going to do. This is our first cruise and we are getting really excited!!!
Can you celebrate birthdays even if they're way off from the time you cruise? They boys b-days are June & September, but they'd both like to have one of the cake slices we've seen pictures of. This might be our only cruise. We typically go to Disney w/ my family in December. My dad's not real happy that we're skipping this year to take the cruise. He bought my sisters & I vacation club memberships a few years ago. I think he's afraid we don't like Disney anymore. Unfortunately we can't afford to do both.
Shelly

Sorry, Shelly...forgot to mention that yes you can celebrate a special occasion even if it's not the exact time on the cruise. Our friends parents celebrated their anniversary last time in September and it was actually in October. If you tell the wait staff on your first night, they will take care of it on whatever night you request. We celebrated my son's birthday one year, too. There is also a Birthday Celebration Cabin Decoration you can order. I think it was $39.95. I have photos if you want to see them. I can post them. We have also done the Bon Voyage cabin decorations once before.
They come with a cake as well.

 

[Yonkrs_Girl]

Can you add me to the FE list aswell? Sounds like there will be a few kids around the same age as mine which will make them happy. Mine will be 7 and 4 (nearly 5) when we cruise. The older one (6 at the moment) can't wait to meet new friends. I'm sure we will never get to see her without dragging her from the kids club.

I added you to out FE List Welcome!!! My kids LOVE the clubs - on our last cruise - I had to drag my DD out of there with her friend because it was 11:45 on the last night and they were closing! The counselors really do a great job and the kids have a great time!

Looking forward to meeting you!

Monica