April 1 - 8, 2006 - Magic - Eastern

[ColtsFans]

As for a cruise guide book I don't know of one, but there probably is.

As for DH, DD, and DS, I just assumed it was for da' husband, da' daughter, and da' son, or Disney husband, Disney daughter, and Disney son.

We were in a category 9 on our last cruise, and we had a "cooler" in our room. It was like a refrigerator, but didn't really chill like a refrigerator, but if stuff was cold when we put them in there, it did keep things cool, . We'd alway get our ice bucket filled a couple times a day, and kept it in there and that seemed to help cool things down.

My son, neice and nephew, really didn't do much of the club stuff last cruise and spent most of the time during the day in the pools. Us adults, spent our days relaxing in the lounge chairs on the deck above the pools overlooking things, so we could keep an eye on things if we wanted to. Even without sending the kids to any of the kids activities, we still found it very relaxing. My brother's family just took a cruise in October, and their kids did some of the club stuff and they were happy with how things seemed to be run, and the kids had a good time.

As for dinner, I'm not sure hiow to check to see if your status has changed from the late to the early seating. We had the late one last time, and have the early one this time. The late one was o.k., but we were usually so exhausted that by the time dinner was over we didn't have energy for much night life. We'd typically spend until 3 or 4 at the pool, then go to our room and take a nap (our son was 5 at the time), then we'd get up, dress for dinner, and maybe catch a show before eating.

As for dinner attire, there are a couple nights that are supposed to be more dressy, but we decided to not take suit jackets, and such (too much luggage already), and were planning on eating at one of the more casual dining options on these night. We let our waiter know that we probably wouldn't be at dinner, and he assured us that we should come and dress as we had on the previous nights and it would be fine. We did, which was more of a "dressy business casual", and we didn't feel at all out of place.

Hope some of this helps.

 

[angelsinmyarms]

Thanks for the feedback ColtsFan. It's nice to know that everyone won't be dressed in tuxedos and full length ball gowns all the time. I'm just getting a complex from seeing all the beutiful people in the Cruise Line DVD they sent us. LOL

What does it mean to "register your kids for the clubs?" I know I can't do that until 75 days out - which I think will be the 25th or 26th of this month, but do I have to go ahead and specify what days and times they will be in the clubs at that time? Or am I just letting Disney know they may be there some? Doesn't Disney know that already since we provided their names and ages when we paid for our tickects? Does that mean if I'm late registering them there won't be room in the clubs for them?


Thanks!

Linda

 

[nursegan]

I always thought dh, ds, etc was darling husband, son etc..
There is a passporters field guide book for disney cruises, i have not read it but hear many do.

My husband and i brought mostly cruise casual wear last cruise, i brought 1 dress and 1 skirt dh brought 1 suit 2 shirts and 2 ties.

Registering your kids lets disney know you be using the kids clubs. you do not have to pick specific days or times just drop in when you like. the only appts needed are for flounders baby care.

I remember a small refrig in our room last cruise i believe cat 6. I don't know if all have.

Finally, you can request a change in your dining time immediately upon boarding the ship, you should arrive at port early to try and get what you want.

 

[jk8]

Linda,

I bought the Passporter Cruise book and it was great. It will tell you everything you need to know and more!

Registering your kids is not for time but just more info. I would guess things like allergies or notes you want them to know.

My ds is 6 and is so exited about the kids clubs. He spent a couple of hours at a Simbas Clubhouse at WDW for childcare and loved it. I think he will be spending a lot of time in there.

Oh and I think it is Dear Hubby, Dear Daughter, etc. But you've got the jist.

 

[angelsinmyarms]

So what is the earliest you can board? I know you have to be on board by 4PM but when do they start allowing people to check-in?

We'll be leaving ATL Friday afternoon and will stay overnight somewhere in Orlando or Port Canaveral. I hear the hotels are less expensive in Orlando but I'm afraid they'll all be booked since it's spring break for alot of people.

 

[angelsinmyarms]

We have a digital camera with a memory stick that can hold a ton of pictures - but I'm sure I"ll take two tons of pictures! If I was at home I'd dump the pictures off the memory stick onto my computer. What will I do onboard the ship? Is there a way to use their computers to put the info on a CD or DVD? SHould I bring my own CD and/or DVD?

On one of the previous posts, someone said something about going broke buying pictures. Does that mean Disney will have photographers everywhere taking pictures that they will then sell back to us?

Linda

 

[goofydadeo]

So what is the earliest you can board? I know you have to be on board by 4PM but when do they start allowing people to check-in?

We'll be leaving ATL Friday afternoon and will stay overnight somewhere in Orlando or Port Canaveral. I hear the hotels are less expensive in Orlando but I'm afraid they'll all be booked since it's spring break for alot of people.

angelsinmyarms - We live in Atlanta too! This will be our 3rd spring break cruise (I think). For most of our cruises we drive down to Orlando on Friday and usually stay at a hotel in the airport or lake buena vista area. From there you are only 45 mins to the port. We usually leave our hotel at 9:30am to arrive and park by 10:30am. DCL usually starts boarding between 11:45am and 12:30pm. We just got back from the 12/29 4 night Wonder and DCL has implemented a new boarding procedure (no more standing in a long boarding line for a couple of hours!) When you enter the cruise terminal your family is given a boarding card with a group number (much like the zone numbers used by the airlines). We arrived at 11:00am and were in zone 4 and we boarded the ship at about 12:30pm. This was our best boarding ever since we pre-registered for all of our spa, kids club and palo activites on line before we left!

 

[JoeLisaAllison]

Hi,

We live in Newnan, GA and will be driving down on Friday also. I'm not sure where we're going to stay.

Have y'all decided on excursions yet? We've only been on the Eastern itinerary one time and didn't take our DD. She's 7 years old -- any suggestions on what she might enjoy?

I can't believe we have less than 90 days to wait!!!! Maybe some of us in the Atlanta area could plan to meet prior to the cruise for dinner. Let me know if anybody is interested.

Lisa

 

[Mom24Princesses]

Hi everybody,

There seem to be a lot of greater Atlanta folks here too. Since we all have the same Spring Break it makes since.

JOELISAALLISON we're in Fayetteville!!!

DH and I have to work Friday 3/31. I'll get home @3:00. DD 6 (on 3/31) and DD 8 will be on the bus at 3:00 too. DD 14 will arrive at 3:40 and dd 12 at 4:00. DH should be here by 4:15?? and we should be in the road by 4:30. When we last drove to WDW we left at 4:30 a.m. and were checking in at 11:30 a.m. (sorry folks from far away) I figure it will take longer on a Friday night. We went down on a Monday last time.

I am afraid to try to go all the way to Orlando. I am thinking about stopping in Ocala. We will have had a full week and I figured we'd get in bed and head out the next morning from there. BUT all of you mention going on to Orlando+. So now I am thinking about going to Orlando. Do you always get ressies for that night. We've never stopped anywhere BUT WDW. I'll check into it. Please share your 2 cents on that.

Just this week I have really gotten overly excited again. Last night at supper I told the girls "13 weeks from right now, we'll be at Pirate Night !" Every trip to any store brings home some item for the cruise. Today it was 2 1/2 gallon slide-zip bags. (I know that I will use them for something.) I have started "pre-packing" since Christmas. I plan to really start late February. We live very hectic, never home lives and I figure I may have MY suit case sitting by the door by March 15.

Left Turn . . .
OK, you all who have been on THIS trip before. That week in April can prove important as some TV shows are "winding" down. They'll show Lost being a ABC show BUT we are addicted to 24 and they will not show that. Anyone else deal with that?

Take Care All and Happy Day Dreaming!!
Melanie

 

[angelsinmyarms]

I just went back and counted and 6 of the people who have posted to this board are from the Atlanta area. I guess that's not too surprising since we're within driving distance to Port Canaveral and we're all on spring break that week. (Indiana has 5 posters though - what's up with that?)

Those of us in the Atlanta area also have at least one daughter who is 7, 8 or 9 years old too! We really should all get together downtown somewhere and have a Bon Voyage Party!

Hey how about the new Aquarium? Would fit right in with the cruise theme! LOL

Seriously though - I worried that I'm going to get so hyped for this cruise that it will never live up to my expectations. Anyone else feel that way?

So do people dress up like pirates for pirate night? I'm still worried about what to do when I fill up the memory stick on my camera - anybody have any ideas?

Linda

 

[Mom24Princesses]

I am feeling everything you described. For us it really is like "once in a lifetime". We've been planning for 5 years! With 4 kids it has taken a lot to save for this one. We may do a 3 or 4 nighter someday. BUT this will probably be our only 7 nighter with everyone. (College for 4 kids!! Oldest will be 15 in May.) This trip is more than 2X our usual WDW budget! ( and we usually stay 8 nights on property at WDW)

SO that said I do worry that something will go wrong!! I think it will be all good but I worry about everything. DH has a real bad cold this week. No voice. I wonder if they would consider that too sick to board. With 4 kids you never know. I plan to run to the Dr. at the first sign of anything the 2 weeks before.

My youngest will turn 6 on 3/31 and we have one that will be 8 1/2 then. She is a great kid she'll jump right in and try anything. Because of a September Bd she is in 2nd grade BUT you'd never know it.

I deceded to stop in Ocala afterall. We'll be real tired that night and traffic or weather may be bad. I HOPE we can get to Ocala before 11:00 get some sleep and leave by 8:00-8:30. We should get to PC by 10:30. That should work.

Happy planning everybody.

Melanie (Rachel asked to be the cheerleader this time)

 

[shelbyprincess]

DH, DD6, DS(almost 3) and I will be joining you all . It sounds like there's a lot of little girls close to my DSs age but wondering if there's anyone out there with younger children.

Also, we need some advice on excursions that would be good to go on with my DS. We went on the 4-day Disney Cruise just before my DS's 3rd birthday and found the excursion we chose in the Bahamas to be extremely boring. Is there anything that would be good for younger children that is not going to put us parents to sleep?

Also, would love to get together with some of the families from our area before the cruise.

Lanna from Atlanta

 

[goofydadeo]

Sounds like everyone is starting to get excited with only 13 weeks left!!!

We just returned from a fantastic 4-night New Years cruise on the Wonder and were delighted when Captain Henry took us took Castaway Cay on the final day instead of a day at sea...

We were certainly looking forward to joining all of you on the 4/1 Magic sailing however we've decided to cancel our trip due to a very hectic spring schedule.

Perhaps we can still be of assistance to those of you who might have questions, etc. since we've done a few DCL cruises. Just let us know and we'll keep up with this thread until you all "sail away".

Best wishes for a fantastic cruise!!!

Goofydadeo (a.k.a. John)

 

[cinlyn]

Hi all - thought it about time to check out the thread for this cruise. I, along with DH and DS(7) will be happily joining you. Can't wait as I hate the winter here in Cincinnati and adore the MAGIC!!!!. This will be our 8th Disney Cruise, 7th on the Magic so needlesstosay we feel like we "are coming home" when we board the ship. For those who are DCL first timers - I really feel that you will have a great time and the ship will live up to all the hype. Disney has such a great kids program - my son can't wait to go to the Oceaneer's Club and we have a hard time getting him to eat dinner with us. We all get a vacation(including mom)!!!!

Re: Pirate's night - if you are so inclined, I would definately dress up. Many do and it's fun to get into the spirit of the evening.

Is anyone up to having a "thread" gathering onboard? The Disboarders on the Panama Canal crossing got together for a wine tasting - it was a lot of fun finally getting to meet all the folks we "chatted" with in the Disboards.

As with "Goofeydadeo" - I am happy to help answer questions that I can.

Look forward to "chatting" with you!!!

 

[goofydadeo]

DH, DD6, DS(almost 3) and I will be joining you all . It sounds like there's a lot of little girls close to my DSs age but wondering if there's anyone out there with younger children.

Also, we need some advice on excursions that would be good to go on with my DS. We went on the 4-day Disney Cruise just before my DS's 3rd birthday and found the excursion we chose in the Bahamas to be extremely boring. Is there anything that would be good for younger children that is not going to put us parents to sleep?

Also, would love to get together with some of the families from our area before the cruise.

Lanna from Atlanta

Lanna - when our kids were the age of yours we did the Island Tour/Coral World - our kids really liked Coral World (like a small open air aquarium/zoo). Coki Beach is right next door to Coral World so you could get in a little beach/snorkel time as well. Magens Bay is also a nice calm beach on St. Thomas but it can get crowded if a lot of ships are in port. As our kids have grown older we do St. John on our own (snorkeling of course). Trunk Bay (St. John) is also great for small kids that can swim. It has an interesting beginners underwater snorkeling trail supervised by lifeguards.

 

[JoeLisaAllison]

Hi,

Are we the only ones NOT getting a passport of this cruise? I've completed the forms, but I'm having a hard time spending $300 (3 of us) when I could use that money for 'fun' stuff (excursions, etc.). It seems like the opinions are mixed on whether to get it now or wait. I guess the reality is that we'll have to get either way - now or later.

Lisa

 

[angelsinmyarms]

We've decided not to get one based on the latest info on disneycruise com. There's a link on the page to "New Passport Regulations". it reads:

Important Passport Information
New Passport Regulations from the U.S. Government
Proposed federal regulations would require all cruise travelers to the Caribbean (including The Bahamas) and Mexico to have valid passports when entering or returning to the United States on or after December 31, 2006. Therefore, guests who are booked on sailings on or after December 28, 2006 need to obtain a passport for each member of their family and provide us with the passport number at least 75 days prior to vacation commencement.​

 

[angelsinmyarms]

GoofyDadEo, so sorry we won't be cruising with you. Hope you have a great spring break anyway!

 

[angelsinmyarms]

Welcome Lanna from Atlanta!! (Cool name!)

DH, DD6, DS(almost 3) and I will be joining you all . It sounds like there's a lot of little girls close to my DSs age but wondering if there's anyone out there with younger children.

Also, we need some advice on excursions that would be good to go on with my DS. We went on the 4-day Disney Cruise just before my DS's 3rd birthday and found the excursion we chose in the Bahamas to be extremely boring. Is there anything that would be good for younger children that is not going to put us parents to sleep?

Also, would love to get together with some of the families from our area before the cruise.

Lanna from Atlanta

 

[jk8]

We will not be getting passports either. You are not alone.