Anyone for the Western cruise 4/9/05???

[Madden6]

Hi Evans family! We cruised with you in March of 2004! We were on the 3/6 Eastern last year, too. What a great trip! I hope we have that great weather again.

As far as the spending... the only things we bought last time were some t-shirts at CC and at ST. Thomas(very cheap-won't do that again) and a Christmas ornament.

Also spent $$ on some booze, but not a lot. We have 4 little girls so its not like we could leave them with a babysitter. They didn't care for the club so they were with us most of the time.

We probably won't do any excursions because my oldest DD's are only 6 and they are happy just going to the beaches!

We may try Palo again because my mother is coming with us so we can have the kids in bed early one night and go off.

Anyway, thats my 2 cents. We spend enough on the cruise to return with huge credit bills too. Besides I am planning a few camping trips this summer!!

 

[MelissaJMuller]

Evans Family- welcome!!! I have two sons also Jeremy 8 and Andrew 5 1/2, so I think our boys would be in the same groups. We would love any emails, send them to rome8@verizon.net.

Melissa

 

[mojodani]

Time is not going fast enough for me either!!

Six weeks from today we will be heading to Port Canaveral. It is time to start going through dd's clothes to see what still fits from last summer!

I am trying to plan our budget. I don't know how much $$ to plan on spending. I know I will need $100 for travel down. I will need $70 for port parking. But, what I can't estimate is how much I will spend on the ship or in the port!

Since my dh hit the deer and we have had to pay to have his car fixed (more disney dollars!) our extras will be slim! I wonder how little I can spend???

Any experience there? For those of you that have cruised, how little have you spent onboard??

Hope

We usually spend $1000. for the extras for the 3 of us. The tips take a sizable chunk out of that. This cruise we will spend less on the excursions since we've been to all of the ports save for CC. We only do the T-shirts and an ornament, also but the daily Bingo and "drink-of-the-day" add up. My goal this time is $800 to include parking, tips, Bingo, drinks, a dive for DH, the Getaway Package on CC for 3.

We were in Key West a few weeks ago with the Zuiderdam. It was an easy walk to the Hemingway Home (wait the few minutes for a guided tour -- it's no extra charge) and neighboring lighthouse. We got the military discount at the HH and AAA discount at the lighthouse. This time, maybe a mojito at one of the watering holes.

Joni

 

[DCDevil2007]

Welcome aboard Evans Family! What rooms are you in? Think, only 42 days! If your sons want to e-mail my younger brotehr Jake (will be 11 at cruise time) its jake_680@hotmail.com

We are in 2022. My oldest DS hasn't had time to watch the Disney video yet. He's going to try and watch this morning. I think I'm still more excited than my kids.I think after my DS has his B'day sleepover tonight I'll pull down the suitcases and start to pack some of the clothes and extras that we will need. I did buy some ginger at the health food store yesterday. They say it helps with sea sickness. I have had problems before on a night cruise to nowhere. Hope this helps if needed. Anyone that has been on a cruise have any problems with sickness?

This is great! You're just across the hall from us, go look @ the deck plans, you're just 2 doors from the elevators, we're 2 doors form the elevator in the oposite direction, thats great!!! Jake and Kyle willbe so thrilled

Mom says you guys will recognize us at the sailaway party, we're going to be the large group with bubles on deck 10 you should be able to spot us only 42days left!!!

 

[hopelea]

I have worked on my budget all day! I believe I have enough money set aside. We are taking two excursions. One in GC and banana boat on CC. Then all I will have to worry about is how much I will spend at Shutters. I am hoping that I can stick to my budget of $100 at Shutters. Oh, I forgot, I was going to try to get my Christmas Cards done there......okay, $150!!

6 weeks from today and we will be in Port Canaveral.

I was hoping to get a few cute Disney outfits for the trip, but the summer catalog hasn't come out yet, has it??

 

[jkssands]

Evans family- Is your oldest DS going in the club or the lab?

Melissa- Sorry! Sean hasn't had to to e-mail Jeremy yet. We will try to get an email out this weekend. We have been very busy.

I haven't even started a budget yet. I just keep putting money away that my DH will not see so he has no idea how much money I spend with the boys. I think I'm up to $350 the excursion we're doing in GC is already paid for by my mother. I paid for the upgrade. I can usally get about $100 a week put away. Then I'll still have the money Dh knows that I spend. We have a big vacation planned for the summer with the boys and this was a suprise to have won this trip. We didn't plan on spending money in April. We just spent all our money on a house. I can't pass the cruise up though.
Here we come Mickey!!!

Jill

 

[tink&cinderella]

We'll also be on this cruise. This is our second one. Last year we went on the 7 day Eastern.

My one daughter is 6 1/2 and the other turns 3 two days after we return (April 18, 2005) so she is still free

We are driving down - about 24 hours for us and are doing WDW the week prior.

I am hoping both my girls will be going to the club. I've noticed that they still appear to have a number of cabins available on this cruise.

This may have been asked before - Is there going to be some kind of DIS meet on the ship - ie; all of us meet at a certain place and wear the green ribbons???

Can't wait!

Thanks

 

[hopelea]

I read a post a while back about spring breaks. It looks like not many people have spring break while we are cruising. I hope that means that our cruise is NOT full. I would love for all of us to get FREE upgrades!!

Six weeks from today, I will be sitting in a dinning room right now watching the ocean go by!!! I hate to wish March away, but I am wishing really hard!

Hope

 

[DCDevil2007]

We sure are getting alot more cruisers this week, but the more the merrier We should definately have a meeting at some point, it would be great to see all of you

where can you get a look at open cabins? I shure would like an upgrade

6 weeks!!!

 

[yazee1]

Welcome Tink&Cinderella. My daughter is going to be four right before the cruise, but she looks two and thinks she's six, so maybe she'll fit right in with your girls. LOL

Upgrades - We don't care about those, but what we REALLY want is an earlier dinner seating. Someone pray for us to get one, please.

I don't think anyone's brought up a Dismeet. This is our first cruise. It sounds like a lovely idea.

 

[yvettpal]

Well, our excursions for Grand Cayman and Cozumel are booked. We will be going on the 2-hour stingray excursion thru Captain Marvins at 11:15 and in Cozumel we will be doing the Dolphin Encounter.

 

[scrappermcl]

Hi everyone! Welcome new cruising friends!
I can't believe how time is flying now! It seemed like only yesterday we were doing the double digit dance-- and now we're well under 50 days. I'm starting to think about packing (and buying --even though I shouldn't).
I'll be trying clothes on DD6 to see what still fits from last summer, but I don't think too much will, she has grown so much since the summer!! The baby is all set, thanks to shower gifts and christmas gifts! Of course, I'll need some new things as well, but I have to see what I have and what fits since I was pg last summer I can't even remember what my summer clothes look like.

I like the idea of a dismeet for our little group-- which keeps growing. Have any of you experienced cruisers done this before? We'll have to figure out when and where.
Mary

 

[hopelea]

On our first cruise we all met at the sail away party on deck 10 over looking the party. I know my dh & I will be on deck 10 during the sail away. That way we can get good video of our girls dancing Some of the disers didn't show up because they were down on the dance floor, but a majority of us were on deck 10.

It is going to be a rainy day here today so it will be a great day to go through clothes for dd's!!!

Have a good day.

Hope

 

[Evans Family]

Ahhhh...the question of the kids clubs....I need some advice.

My DS 7-1/2 will probably be bored with the 5-7 group and I'm considering moving him up. However, my DS 4-1/2 could be moved up instead and be in the same group as his brother. I'm kinda leaning towards this option since my 4-1/2 yr old definitely does NOT like to be left and would probably be happier with his older brother around. My DS 7-1/2 is more adaptable. My 4-1/2 yr old will only be about 2 wks away from his birthday where my 7-1/2 yr old will be more like 8 wks away from his birthday.

Any suggestions?

On our cruise last year the kids spend less than 3 hours in the clubs the whole cruise. They were more interested in hanging out with Mom and Dad. My youngest was only 3-1/2 and did not want to leave us.

We are talking to them already about how they will need to spend more time there. How I envy those of you who's kids love to go! I WISH they would like it...it seems more like punishment! Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[hopelea]

I am one of those who has the dd's that absolutely loved the lab. They were so mad at me when I made them leave. They were crying and wouldn't speak to me!!

I really don't know how much they are split. My dd's were 7 & 9 at the time. The 7 year old was able to move from the club to the lab, which was better for her. In my opinion, the activities were geared for younger kids in the club. My dd wouldn't have stayed in the club for very long. But, she loved the lab.

I looked at the key west web cam just a few minutes ago and the Magic is in port. That will be us in 6 weeks!!

 

[Totally Mickey]

Hi All, My DH and I will be joining you. It is only us our son is staying home he has school. We are celebrating our 25th ann. what better way to celebrate it but with Disney. We are looking at doing Stingray City & Dolphin Encounter maybe we will get to meet fellow DISers.

 

[hopelea]

What a wonderful way to celebrate your anniversary!

Welcome Aboard! Is this your first Disney cruise??

 

[hopelea]

Well, I just looked in my box.......I also got a suitcase down from the attic. I have so many outfits for my 8 yr old dd!!! I think I put 15 outfits in her suitcase. More than 1/2 of the outfits are new . I bought them and told her that she couldn't wear them until the cruise. Now, we have too many outfits. It is mostly capris and sundresses. I don't think I am going to pack her any shorts. If I do that she will have to have a HUGE suitcase. I suppose she can live in capri's for the week.

What is the temperature in the caribbean during April, anyone know? The last time we cruised was in October '03.

Did I mention that I have four pair of flip flops for her, plus a pair of dress shoes and of course her tennis shoes. If I pack that much for her can you imagine the rest of us!

No one else in the family has new clothes so we will be waiting until the week before to pack for the rest of us!

 

[yazee1]

the question of the kids clubs....I need some advice.

We are talking to them already about how they will need to spend more time there. How I envy those of you who's kids love to go! I WISH they would like it...it seems more like punishment! Any suggestions?

Thanks.

I'd try placing the older one in the Lab and the younger one in the Club. A lot can change in a year. This time they are older, and the children's facilities are not strange to them anymore. Just curious. Has your younger son experienced preschool yet? If you go to church, is he in a group in which his brother is not? You said he does NOT like to be left, but how does he do when he realizes it's necessary? Does he calm down or carry on to get his way?

I've been on both sides of this as a parent and as a Sunday School teacher, vacation bible school leader, and one of the care staff at the Playroom at the YMCA for six years. I could be wrong, since I don't know your boys, but I would encourage you to give it a try. I wouldn't make a big deal about it when it comes time to register and later to drop them off. Just be matter of fact and easy going about the fact even if inside you are a little nervous. If you show anxiety, he's going to pick up on it.


I always say prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

P.S. My son Spencer wants me to tell you that he (I typed) wrote Jeremy and email.

 

[Totally Mickey]

This is our 1st Disney cruise. We have sailed twice on Carnival to Canada. We live in the New York area and always left from this area. This will be our 1st trip to the Caribbean. I always love Disney and had to take this cruise I wanted something a little extra for our Ann. and the 7 day cruise is it.Disney always makes everything extra special. To me it's a dream come true to be on a ship surrounded by Disney