...and a happy New Year! 12/30/2010

[KikiMouse]

Hey.. at least I know I am PIF (I booked through a TA), in the past the website never really gave any indication if you were PIF if you had booked through a travel again. But up until Monday everytime I checked my account online, it said I could start booking activities on Oct 1st, if I was PIF. Now it says I can start booked on Oct 1st and does not indicated I must be PIF. Good to know... Now I just have to figure out what I want to book.. We haven't done any planning.

I know we want to do Dinner and brunch and still trying to figure out what to do at ports.

Wow I forgot about the Oct 1st date. Guess I need to pay it off! I was putting it off to make sure we could actually go- my husband has a somewhat uncertain work schedule so often he does not know what dates he can get away. This is our 5th cruise so I guess I can book them Oct 1st?

We booked through Disney so I wouldn't have to wait for a travel agent to get back to us if we wanted to make changes.

In terms of the excursions, this will be our third Eastern so I have a pretty good idea about which excursions we want to do. Last year we were able to get dinner, brunch and high tea at Palo. We love Palo!

 

[lucky1]

Wow I forgot about the Oct 1st date. Guess I need to pay it off! I was putting it off to make sure we could actually go- my husband has a somewhat uncertain work schedule so often he does not know what dates he can get away. This is our 5th cruise so I guess I can book them Oct 1st?

We booked through Disney so I wouldn't have to wait for a travel agent to get back to us if we wanted to make changes.

In terms of the excursions, this will be our third Eastern so I have a pretty good idea about which excursions we want to do. Last year we were able to get dinner, brunch and high tea at Palo. We love Palo!

Yup.. Oct 1st is the date. Your next cruise you can book 15 days earlier Any good excursions you would recommend for families?

I think we are going to try for Brunch on NYE or NYD.
For Dinner we are trying to Jan 2, because we don't want to NYE and Jan 3 is DD birthday.

Laura

 

[sdchickie]

Laura, I'm so glad someone else on here can relate to all the Jan. B-days in my house! My Hubby's is the 6th, my son's is the 7th, and my daughter's B-day is on Christmas. I can't stand trying to figure out what to give all of them for Christmas and Birthdays, plus all my realitives want me to come up with gift ideas for the kids too. I have to start thinking about what they all want in August. We have 4 other b-days in the family in Jan. too! We usually just have one big party for the January gang.

That is a bummer that we get off the ship on your B-day. I guess you'll have to spend the day at Disney oh well.

 

[lucky1]

Laura, I'm so glad someone else on here can relate to all the Jan. B-days in my house! My Hubby's is the 6th, my son's is the 7th, and my daughter's B-day is on Christmas. I can't stand trying to figure out what to give all of them for Christmas and Birthdays, plus all my realitives want me to come up with gift ideas for the kids too. I have to start thinking about what they all want in August. We have 4 other b-days in the family in Jan. too! We usually just have one big party for the January gang.

That is a bummer that we get off the ship on your B-day. I guess you'll have to spend the day at Disney oh well.

Wow.. a lot of January birthday's. Is your DH not going on the cruise? I didn't see it on the roll call. Otherwise we could have had a pre-birthday drink the night before to celebrate.

We will be hanging out at DTD on my birthday and doing La Nouba. Then flying home the next day.

We are only 98 days away!!!

 

[TXCruisemom]

I've looked at this board for years when planning for trips to Disney. I guess I've been a "lurker." I am finally getting around to posting because I would love to be a part of the FE group! My husband and I, along with DS 11 and DD 6 will be driving in from Texas and staying at the Country Inn & Suites the night before the cruise. We've taken many cruises but this will be our first Disney cruise! Our kids have no idea. We'll be surprising them on Christmas morning! We got in on the great deal for a Cat.12 GTY. I check everyday to see if we have a cabin number! Positively cannot wait!!!

 

[sdchickie]

Wow.. a lot of January birthday's. Is your DH not going on the cruise? I didn't see it on the roll call. Otherwise we could have had a pre-birthday drink the night before to celebrate.

We will be hanging out at DTD on my birthday and doing La Nouba. Then flying home the next day.

We are only 98 days away!!!

Nope, I'm bringing friends instead. Hubby is going north to snowmobile for NYE, since I don't love the ice and snow like he does I'm taking the kids to my happy place then to a tropical place for NYE. I am bummed that we won't be there for his B-day but at least he will have his family with him.

I've looked at this board for years when planning for trips to Disney. I guess I've been a "lurker." I am finally getting around to posting because I would love to be a part of the FE group! My husband and I, along with DS 11 and DD 6 will be driving in from Texas and staying at the Country Inn & Suites the night before the cruise. We've taken many cruises but this will be our first Disney cruise! Our kids have no idea. We'll be surprising them on Christmas morning! We got in on the great deal for a Cat.12 GTY. I check everyday to see if we have a cabin number! Positively cannot wait!!!

Welcome lurker! A few of us are staying at the CI&S the night before. My kids are getting this for Christmas too, I hope they are as excited about it as I am!

 

[twokats]

I've looked at this board for years when planning for trips to Disney. I guess I've been a "lurker." I am finally getting around to posting because I would love to be a part of the FE group! My husband and I, along with DS 11 and DD 6 will be driving in from Texas and staying at the Country Inn & Suites the night before the cruise. We've taken many cruises but this will be our first Disney cruise! Our kids have no idea. We'll be surprising them on Christmas morning! We got in on the great deal for a Cat.12 GTY. I check everyday to see if we have a cabin number! Positively cannot wait!!!

We are so glad to have you join us and especially to be your 1st post. I will add you to the group and we look forward to getting to know you. Where in Texas are you from?

 

[lucky1]

I've looked at this board for years when planning for trips to Disney. I guess I've been a "lurker." I am finally getting around to posting because I would love to be a part of the FE group! My husband and I, along with DS 11 and DD 6 will be driving in from Texas and staying at the Country Inn & Suites the night before the cruise. We've taken many cruises but this will be our first Disney cruise! Our kids have no idea. We'll be surprising them on Christmas morning! We got in on the great deal for a Cat.12 GTY. I check everyday to see if we have a cabin number! Positively cannot wait!!!

aboard TxCruisemom Glad to have you and your family join us. Disney cruises are such a blast.

We Cat 12 too... I suspect that we will get our cabin assignment in Mid November. At least on our last cruise, we got our assignment at 45 days out.

Kathy posted this to get to know everyone better a while ago.... if you go back and take a look and post your answers

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36874853&postcount=52


Laura

 

[twokats]

Hi Guys, Its KikiMouse here...
Sorry I have been gone for awhile, I've been very busy! Here are my thoughts...

FE cutoff dates:
We did the Christmas cruise last year and our group had a cutoff date a month before the cruise, which was (Dec 19-26). The FE cutoff date was around Nov 19th. That seemed OK with everyone in our group.
Last year we had 17 cabins participating in the FE exchange. If I counted correctly we have 7 cabins in this cruise?
I can certainly understand if you want an earlier cutoff with the holidays and all. We kept it open because we had some people that booked late, and also some people decided later that they wanted to join the FE.

Door and Cabin Decorations-
Another question: Are you going to decorate your cabins with lights etc? I love the holidays, and will miss doing the cruise at Christmas. We are thinking of DisneyWorld a few days before the cruise, we have annual passes. I know its very very crowed (we used to live in South Fl.) but I love the Christmas decorations at DW, and the decorations on the ship. So, I'm going to decorate my door, cabin etc. but it will incorporate New Years decorations.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
KikiMouse

FE cutoff
I am okay with 1 month or 2 month cutoff date. We haven't been having much action on this list, so wondering if they will offer a Florida or Military rate after the PIF date to get more business and we will see more folks joining and wanting to do FE. I kind of like a small group because keeps my luggage light.

Door decorations yes definitely planning on decorating the door with Magnets. We have some from last year's cruise and I plan to create some NYE magnets and some birthday magnets. I doubt we will do lights, but you have given me an idea for some magnets.


Good to see you back KikiMouse!

Glad to see you again KikiMouse.

Well, I am leaning more towards a 1 month cutoff for the FE also. I would hate to cut it off and latecomers be left out. On my 2009 cruise to the best of my memory we had about a month cutoff and we did just fine. For me as long as I have a couple of weeks I am ok.

I have quite a supply of graphics for my magnets, so very soon I will be deciding what I will take this year. I have to make a few new ones for my DD since she was not with us last time. Have not totally made up my mind on the theme that I will use or if there will be one. I am knee deep in tax extensions right now, so as soon as Oct 15 gets here, then I can really get busy.

 

[twokats]

Ad me to the January birthday list. Mine is later in the month (the 25h).
I also have one of my older sons whose BD is Jan 3.

 

[lucky1]

Ad me to the January birthday list. Mine is later in the month (the 25h).
I also have one of my older sons whose BD is Jan 3.

woot woot Jan 3 is my DD birthday. She will be turning 9. If you see us on the ship that day, be sure to wish her a happy birthday!!!

Jan 3 is the day we are in St Thomas and we told her she can pick an excursion.
DH would love to do the ECO Hike, but she is not leaning towards that. We might just take the tram up for the view and then hang out at the ship all day.
She may be leaning towards a day at the beach.
I will make sure she has a birthday button so you will know she is celebrating.

Laura

 

[TXCruisemom]

Your name or what you go by...Sharron or Mom

State I reside in...Texas, north of Dallas in McKinney

Traveling with...DH Jeff, DS11 and DD6

Land and sea or sea only....This time will be sea only

Have you cruised before...Oh yes! Many times but never on Disney

What will you celebrate...NYE but also DS's bday. He turns 11 on 12/3.

Dressing up for pirate night. ..I'm making all of us different but pirate-themed shirts using the awesome DISigns found here!

Dressing up for semi and or formal night. . . yes!

Favorite character...DD and I love all the princesses! DS loves Phineas & Ferb. DH just loves it all!

Favorite Disney memory...In 2008 we took the kids to a hotel by the airport for an overnight. We woke them at 5am, handed them Disney shirts and told them we were getting on a plane and going to WDW in an hour! They were shocked!

3 must do's...EAT, dig my toes in the sand, see lots of characters!

Time of dinner seating...early!

Just for laughs...I already have over 130 magnets made, laminated and cut for our cabin door! Can you tell I'm excited??

Coke, pepsi, or pina colada's... WHAT?!? You mean there's no Diet Coke onboard? Oh my. Then I guess I'll go with iced tea and pina coladas!

Sun or shade...Both! I'm just happy to be going, whatever the weather may be!

Morning or night person...On cruises I'm morning and night. Don't want to miss a thing!

Last book read...something by Nicholas Sparks. Been a little too busy reading boards lately!

Taking a book on the cruise...yes, several

 

[lucky1]

DS loves Phineas & Ferb.
Morning or night person...On cruises I'm morning and night. Don't want to miss a thing!


Taking a book on the cruise...yes, several

We are big Phineas & Ferb fans too.

I am also a morning person, but I like you on the cruise, I don't want to miss anything. While we let our DD8 stay in the clubs as long as possible. Eventually we have to head back to the stateroom and settle in.

Ok wondering if we should start a book recommendation list and then we can swap on the cruise? I hate running out of reading material. Don't have a kindle or ipad yet, so still living with paperbacks.

 

[castaway3]

I've looked at this board for years when planning for trips to Disney. I guess I've been a "lurker." I am finally getting around to posting because I would love to be a part of the FE group! My husband and I, along with DS 11 and DD 6 will be driving in from Texas and staying at the Country Inn & Suites the night before the cruise. We've taken many cruises but this will be our first Disney cruise! Our kids have no idea. We'll be surprising them on Christmas morning! We got in on the great deal for a Cat.12 GTY. I check everyday to see if we have a cabin number! Positively cannot wait!!!

Welcome aboard...You are going to love Disney Cruise...what a great Christmas surprise..see you real soon

Christine

 

[castaway3]

Hi Guys, Its KikiMouse here...
Sorry I have been gone for awhile, I've been very busy! Here are my thoughts...

FE cutoff dates:
We did the Christmas cruise last year and our group had a cutoff date a month before the cruise, which was (Dec 19-26). The FE cutoff date was around Nov 19th. That seemed OK with everyone in our group.
Last year we had 17 cabins participating in the FE exchange. If I counted correctly we have 7 cabins in this cruise?
I can certainly understand if you want an earlier cutoff with the holidays and all. We kept it open because we had some people that booked late, and also some people decided later that they wanted to join the FE.
Cabin Upgrades-
Last year we booked a cat 12 and got an upgrade offer for $150 to a cat 9, the last week in October. Then we upgraded to a navigators veranda at the port. Although we enjoyed the veranda, since there are only 2 of us, I think we will not upgrade at the port this year. It was really nice having the extra room and breeze, etc. and also I used the bench to sort my FE gifts, that was fun! I really enjoyed the FE exchange and so did my husband.
Door and Cabin Decorations-
Another question: Are you going to decorate your cabins with lights etc? I love the holidays, and will miss doing the cruise at Christmas. We are thinking of DisneyWorld a few days before the cruise, we have annual passes. I know its very very crowed (we used to live in South Fl.) but I love the Christmas decorations at DW, and the decorations on the ship. So, I'm going to decorate my door, cabin etc. but it will incorporate New Years decorations.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
KikiMouse

Hi
I am all for 2 month cut off I don't know about you but with the holidays I am going to be so busy with that I won't have time to think about FE gifts. I am decorating our door with lots of magnets. I have now decorated for the past 4 cruises and just love it. I usually make extra Mickeys aka paint chips from Home Depot lol and when my neighbors comment on how much they love my door I will decorate theirs with a few and when they come back they are very surprised and happy.

 

[lucky1]

Hi
I am all for 2 month cut off I don't know about you but with the holidays I am going to be so busy with that I won't have time to think about FE gifts. I am decorating our door with lots of magnets. I have now decorated for the past 4 cruises and just love it. I usually make extra Mickeys aka paint chips from Home Depot lol and when my neighbors comment on how much they love my door I will decorate theirs with a few and when they come back they are very surprised and happy.

In our last cruise we never saw our neighbors. We must have been running around the ship too much.


Ah... Friday we get to book Palo's and excursions. We still haven't figured out what we are going to do yet!!

 

[sdchickie]

Does anyone know if you can use Disney gift cards to book excursions and Palo? I'm totally strapped for cash right now since I leave for Disney on Friday morning (at 4AM) but I do have lots of gift cards from my B-day. Isn't that sad that I ask for Disney gift cards for my B-day?

 

[lucky1]

Does anyone know if you can use Disney gift cards to book excursions and Palo? I'm totally strapped for cash right now since I leave for Disney on Friday morning (at 4AM) but I do have lots of gift cards from my B-day. Isn't that sad that I ask for Disney gift cards for my B-day?

Terri, DH would love Disney gift cards for his birthday. Actually you don't pay for Palo's or excursions until they happen. Think of it like a reservation, you are reserving your spot at the excursion or at Palo's or with the Spa. YOu can change your mind at an time and cancel ( up to 3 days before sailing for excursions).

I hope that helps.

 

[lucky1]

92 days till we sail!!!! 90 days until we arrive in Orlando!

 

[sdchickie]

Terri, DH would love Disney gift cards for his birthday. Actually you don't pay for Palo's or excursions until they happen. Think of it like a reservation, you are reserving your spot at the excursion or at Palo's or with the Spa. YOu can change your mind at an time and cancel ( up to 3 days before sailing for excursions).

I hope that helps.

Awesome, on the Carnival cruise that I'm going on next week you have to pay in advance with a credit card. I guess I'll be up at 3:00AM booking my stuff since I have to leave for the ariport at 4:00AM