April 1 2010 cruise meet

[Deb T.]

One question regarding the FE gifts -- is it one gift/packet per cabin???

Hi mmmears and welcome to our FE. Gifts can be anyway you want them - one per cabin, one per day, one per cruise. Anything goes. We experienced all of the above last year. Don't think I have ever seen so many for a 3 day! ?Great!

ppiew and I were both on last year's spring break 3-night cruise, and she's right - there was a big variety of what cruisers did for their FE surprises!

Honestly, anything goes! FE gifts we've received on past cruises have ranged from one small magnet for our cabin to Disney travel mugs for each person. From a post card for our cabin to Disney luggage tags for each of us. From mardi-gras type plastic beaded necklaces for each person to a handmade scrapbook for our cabin.

Silly as it may sound, for us, the FE exchange isn't so much about what we receive... it's the fun of peeking in our FE several times a day to see if something's been left for us! It's hard to explain the simple excitement of it all! But, you will surely experience it, I promise!!!

 

[Deb T.]

Deb -- we found those navigators last week, but they were really hard to read. DH printed them out, and they are still really hard to read! Can't tell the times on things -- it's just fuzzy. I'll keep my eyes out for clearer copies and post here if I find any. I was very curious to see the new kids programming since they changed the kids clubs and they are no longer truly age-based.

I agree, they were really hard to read, but I was able to figure it all out. (Maybe I was able to from experience and familiarity??? Or my bifocals! ) If there's something specific anyone would like for me to "translate", just let me know. I was even able to make out all the tiny little fuzzy times!

 

[Deb T.]

Happy Monday all! I just wanted to pop in and thank Deb T. for all of the informative and fun posts! I am so excited for this cruise - it is our first one on DCL! I keep getting lured away from what I should be doing during the day to think about Fish Extenders and what gifts we will give, what to pack, which cruise to plan next, etc. Disney fever has taken over.

Hi Mouseskis!

Thanks for your kind words! I'm having fun posting everything I can think of! I'm really excited about this cruise, too!!! In my mind, I'm already there!

We spent a good part of yesterday trying to narrow down which cruise(s) to rebook while onboard. We've decided to do the 4-night Dream on our next spring break and then probably book a dummy date for a future to-be-determined cruise.

ppiew - are you planning to rebook for next year, too? A family that I cruised with two years ago has already booked next year's 4-night spring break cruise.

We've been on enough cruises now that we always know at least one other family onboard from a previous cruise! On our upcoming Baltic cruise, we already know nine different families from previous cruises! It's always fun to see familiar faces!

 

[ppiew]

Hi DEb . Yup we are booked on the 4 day Dream (couldn't resist the opportunity) For March 27-March 31. (haven't told anyone in the family yet) either will be a surprise or I will drop the $$$$$ gently!!!!

 

[mmmears]

Hi mmmears and welcome to our FE. Gifts can be anyway you want them - one per cabin, one per day, one per cruise. Anything goes. We experienced all of the above last year. Don't think I have ever seen so many for a 3 day! ?Great!

Thanks for the information!

Re: our baggage. As we are going to be gone for over a month, i thought we would have lots of bags. Have cut it down like u wouldn't believe! 1 Bathing suit, 1 pr. shorts, 2 capri's, 4 tee's, 1 skirt, 2 decent tops (dinner); shoes - i will wear a pair, pack a pair of sandals and my croc's - that is it! I know, not quite appropriate for the 'Roy' suite, but I think I will be forgiven!

ppiew-- you pack like we do! Gone for a month!!! I haven't been able to do that in a long, long time! IMO it's just easier to pack lighter and do laundry. Thank you for being so generous about showing us your suite!!!

ppiew and I were both on last year's spring break 3-night cruise, and she's right - there was a big variety of what cruisers did for their FE surprises!

Honestly, anything goes! FE gifts we've received on past cruises have ranged from one small magnet for our cabin to Disney travel mugs for each person. From a post card for our cabin to Disney luggage tags for each of us. From mardi-gras type plastic beaded necklaces for each person to a handmade scrapbook for our cabin.

Silly as it may sound, for us, the FE exchange isn't so much about what we receive... it's the fun of peeking in our FE several times a day to see if something's been left for us! It's hard to explain the simple excitement of it all! But, you will surely experience it, I promise!!!

Great! That gives me some flexibility when packing/figuring out what we can take.

 

[mmmears]

I agree, they were really hard to read, but I was able to figure it all out. (Maybe I was able to from experience and familiarity??? Or my bifocals! ) If there's something specific anyone would like for me to "translate", just let me know. I was even able to make out all the tiny little fuzzy times!

I was getting a headache trying to make out the times... So DH printed it and it's still giving me a headache. I've seen other Navigators that were so easy to read... I'm going to keep looking out for one. I can figure out most of the stuff, but not in the relaxed way I would like to when planning our cruise.

 

[Deb T.]

Hi DEb . Yup we are booked on the 4 day Dream (couldn't resist the opportunity) For March 27-March 31. (haven't told anyone in the family yet) either will be a surprise or I will drop the $$$$$ gently!!!!

Awwww, our spring break is in mid-April next year. I will miss you, my new friend.

 

[Deb T.]

I was getting a headache trying to make out the times... So DH printed it and it's still giving me a headache. I've seen other Navigators that were so easy to read... I'm going to keep looking out for one. I can figure out most of the stuff, but not in the relaxed way I would like to when planning our cruise.

Maybe my post on the main cruise page will generate some clearer Navigators. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

 

[Deb T.]

Fellow Cruisers, I have some very exciting news regarding our DIS Meet onboard!

ppiew is going to host it... in her ROY DISNEY Concierge Suite! (That's a Category 1, folks!!)

Where: Cabin #8530 - Deck 8 mid-ship - ring the doorbell!!!

When: Thursday at 3:30pm*

BYOD: Please stop by the 24-hour Drink Station on Deck 9 to pick up something to drink before stopping in. ppiew is working on providing light snacks for our gathering!

*This is an excellent time for our meet as DCL suspends all ship services from 3:30pm to 4:15pm. And don't worry, the Lifeboat Drill does not start until 4pm, so you will have plenty of time to meet everyone, chat for a little while, and then get to your cabin by 4pm, don your life jackets, and report to your drill station. To clarify - you only need to be putting on your life jackets at 4pm, not be at your station by 4pm.

No RSVP is necessary, just stop in and say hi!
Thanks, ppiew!!!

 

[mmmears]

Thanks ppiew!!!

 

[mmmears]

I've been squinting at the navigators online and have a few general questions. I thought I'd ask them here before putting them out on the main page (maybe I won't have to...)

1 -- My DD will be a week from turning 13 on the cruise. I was told the "rules" for Aloft are a bday within 30 days, so she definitely falls within that range. Does anyone have experiences with "younger" teens in Aloft? We'll be checking out the Lab, too, of course and letting her decide where to spend her "free" time (probably will just hang out with us, but I want to be prepared).

2 -- Are the family activities -- Who Wants to be a Mousketeer, Pirates Life for Me, Family Karaoke, Think you know your music -- fun? Any information/explanation of them (or any other suggestions) would be appreciated!

We're usually the laid-back family resting on a beach chair and watching the ocean (from the beach), but I'm considering trying a few group activities on the cruise. Any advice is welcome!

 

[ppiew]

hi mmmears. be sure to have your group come to our cabin. we will have a 13 yr old DGD and her 13 yr old friend. I am sure they would luv to meet someone else.

 

[Deb T.]

I've been squinting at the navigators online and have a few general questions. I thought I'd ask them here before putting them out on the main page (maybe I won't have to...)

Let's see if I can help...

1 -- My DD will be a week from turning 13 on the cruise. I was told the "rules" for Aloft are a bday within 30 days, so she definitely falls within that range. Does anyone have experiences with "younger" teens in Aloft? We'll be checking out the Lab, too, of course and letting her decide where to spend her "free" time (probably will just hang out with us, but I want to be prepared).

Hmmmm... I think the best plan would be for your family to check out Aloft Thursday afternoon while it's open to everyone, talk with the counselors there, and meet some of the kids who will be hanging out in there. Then do the same for the Kids' Clubs. And then your DD can decide what activities sound like the most fun. In our experience, our kids always ended up hanging out with a couple of new friends that they bonded with on those first couple of days.

2 -- Are the family activities -- Who Wants to be a Mousketeer, Pirates Life for Me, Family Karaoke, Think you know your music -- fun? Any information/explanation of them (or any other suggestions) would be appreciated!

Yes! Lots of fun! My advice would be to go in and check them out. You can always leave if it's not something you want to stay for.

We're usually the laid-back family resting on a beach chair and watching the ocean (from the beach), but I'm considering trying a few group activities on the cruise. Any advice is welcome!

One great thing about a cruise is that you can do both - spend time as a family when you want AND join in on group activities when you want. We've always felt that our cruises have been enhanced by meeting and getting to know other cruisers, so by all means do try some group activities! One of the things we personally enjoy is being pared with other families at dinner and hearing about the cruise from their perspectives.

 

[CarolinaBlue]

We have the stateroom assignment for the girls, now. They've been upgraded to a Cat. 10! Not the same as getting the Roy Disney suite, but still a good upgrade. At least now they have the split bathroom.

 

[Deb T.]

We have the stateroom assignment for the girls, now. They've been upgraded to a Cat. 10! Not the same as getting the Roy Disney suite, but still a good upgrade. At least now they have the split bathroom.

Hooray for the upgrade! We booked a GTY12 for our adult children in '07 for our Mediterranean cruise and didn't get an upgrade, so I think it's fantastic that you did!

 

[Deb T.]

Ahoy Mateys! I am pleased to announce that there are finally some really good, really clear, really recent Navigators posted on the DIS! Woohoo!

Below are the links for each day. They load small, but I was able to enlarge them by changing the "view" to a larger percentage. Please remember that these were for a previous sailing and our Navigators will most likely be slightly different. For example, the movies and movie times could be different, as well as the sunset and sunrise times. But, it's been my experience over the last three years that the theatrical show times, breakfast/lunch/dinner times, kids club programming, all ashore and all aboard times, and various other extra activities have remained the same day/time each sailing, so these Navigators will give you a pretty good idea of what's offered and when. (As always, however, Disney reserves the right to change activities and times without any notice.)

Happy Reading!

Day 1 http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/DCL-Navigators/2-11-10/DAY 1.pdf

Day 2 http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/DCL-Navigators/2-11-10/DAY 2.pdf

Day 3 http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/DCL-Navigators/2-11-10/DAY 3 (ORIGINAL).pdf

 

[mmmears]

That is wonderful!!! Thanks for posting the links! Now we can stop squinting and start planning our trip!

 

[Panther]

We just got our room assignment for this cruise. Booked Category 11 GTY and was assigned Cat 11 Deck 5 Sideways cabin. No upgrade this time but still like the location and, from what I have heard, the illusion of more room with the sideways cabin.

This is our second Disney Wonder Cruise.

Me - Greg
Wife - Maria
DS - Nicholas - Age 12
DD - Amanda - Age 8

First cruise was upgraded from GTY Cat 12 to a Cat 9. Form what I have read first-timers seem to get first shot at upgrades.

 

[Deb T.]

We just got our room assignment for this cruise. Booked Category 11 GTY and was assigned Cat 11 Deck 5 Sideways cabin. No upgrade this time but still like the location and, from what I have heard, the illusion of more room with the sideways cabin.

This is our second Disney Wonder Cruise.

Me - Greg
Wife - Maria
DS - Nicholas - Age 12
DD - Amanda - Age 8

First cruise was upgraded from GTY Cat 12 to a Cat 9. Form what I have read first-timers seem to get first shot at upgrades.

Welcome Aboard! Thanks for posting on our thread! Would you like to join in on our Fish Extender Gift Exchange?

 

[Deb T.]

It’s Thursday, and just six weeks from today we have just entered our stateroom for the very first time. We are thrilled this will be our home-away-from-home for the next three days! In a few minutes, some will have their first experience a cruise ship “power flush”. (You repeat cruisers are snickering right now… hehe… “Stand back kids!!!”) We’ll hurry and snap photos before our cabins look “lived-in”. Then, families will look at each other and say, “What’s next???” Let the vacation begin!

Some will do more exploring of the ship. Some will do some more swimming. Some will do some more eating! Gotta love that ice-cream station on Deck 9!

About 3:25pm, we’ll all brush shoulders at the 24-hour drink station, not yet realizing we’re all DIS friends! Then, we’ll head down one deck to ppiew’s fantastic Roy Disney Suite for a tour and our Meet ‘n Greet! It will be really nice to put faces to names!

Around 3:55pm, we’ll head to our own (much, much smaller!) cabins to don the latest in cruise wear… those oh-so-ORANGE life vests and wait for the signal to start heading toward our life boat stations. A bit of trivia here: these life vests are new and improved from the original version which were, believe it or not, even more awkward and uncomfortable!

Afterward, it’s time to party – really party! – Disney Cruise style! We’ll all head up to decks 9 & 10 for Adventure’s Away! The family Goofy Pool has disappeared and a large dance deck is in now in front of the stage! The music starts and the energetic entertainment staff appears out of nowhere to get the party started! You can’t help but to start moving to the upbeat music! So much fun!!!

About 45-minutes into the party and with great fanfare, the countdown begins! The moment we’ve been waiting for! The moment we’ve been dreaming of! It’s finally the moment we get to hear that magical seven-note horn blast… “When You Wish Upon a Starrrrrrrrrrr”! Woohoooooooo! And with that, the ship starts gently easing away from the dock and toward the open sea! And some of us cry…

More to follow at the 5-week mark.