April 11th 2009 Magic Eastern Easter cruise--UPDATED WITH ROLL CALL PG 1

[Had2disneycruz]

Hi, got room for three more?

We (myself, DM and DS) will be joining you on this sailing. My mom has cruised too many times to count; this will be my 6th cruise, and this will be DS's first cruise. We are all DCL newbies and very excited! Well, my mom and I are excited...DS has no idea that this is going on. I haven't figured out when to tell him either!

We will be celebrating a couple of milestone birthdays on this trip. I turn 40 one month before the sailing, and my mom turns 70 in June. DS will turn 8 in May.

We'll be flying in from Los Angeles on Friday. I have been such a slacker that I have not made ANY reservations for us. Hopefully my mom and I will be able to get a Palo reservation for brunch or high tea once we board.

See you on board!

Welcome Oatmealdiva! Congrats on all your milestone birthdays! What a great surprise for your DS! Wow...all the way from LA! Hope you all have a great flight!

 

[Had2disneycruz]

I wanted to ask what you ladies and gentlemen plan to wear on formal night? Do you go all out with evening gowns and tuxes or just suits and cocktail length dresses? I have a beautiful dress I thought of wearing and DH was thinking about a tux but then we read less and less people are getting that dressed up and we don't want to look like the oddballs...I know I shouldn't worry about what other people are wearing, but we don't want to look like the DCL newbies, even tho we are!

I asked my DH if he wanted to rent a tux and he said no. He will wear a nice suit. My four DD and I will wear dresses from a wedding we went to last summer. All the dresses are above the knee length. I don't have a gown and I don't know if I want to buy one. I love the shoes I have for the dress I already have! I read about a few dis'ers getting awesome deals on formal gowns on ebay. They were beautiful dresses. I would rather spend my money on DOTD's instead of a new formal dress! I have no idea what I'll wear for semi-formal night! Itutorfortravel...if your DH wants to rent a tux, go for it! Don't worry about being oddballs! When else do you get to go all out!?

Nice family shot, PPFQP!!

 

[AnaRN]

I wanted to ask what you ladies and gentlemen plan to wear on formal night? Do you go all out with evening gowns and tuxes or just suits and cocktail length dresses? I have a beautiful dress I thought of wearing and DH was thinking about a tux but then we read less and less people are getting that dressed up and we don't want to look like the oddballs...I know I shouldn't worry about what other people are wearing, but we don't want to look like the DCL newbies, even tho we are!

We were slightly concerned as well....from all the reading I've done....It appears that some people have VERY firm ideas of what you should wear at formal night.

For us...we have a 2 year old....I am not and refuse to wear anything too fancy that I know will end up with food all over it.

And....I just cannot see myself running down the hall ways after her trying to hike up a big ole fancy dress either. Although I'm sure tons of people would get a kick out of it!

I'll wear a nice cocktail dress and hubby will wear slacks with a shirt and tie -- he absolutely refuses to wear a jacket. We considered Palo until he read about wearing a jacket.

I say - it's your vacation - wear what you would feel comfortable with. If others don't like it, they can look the other way.

 

[kellimomo3]

I just realized that our flight leaves in 39 days!!!!!! OMG! We fly to Orlando on the 8th. I better start getting organized. We are dressing up for formal night but not doing the tux thing this time around. There will be so many different clothing styles, you will see some people wear jean shorts on formal night and some wearing tuxes. Whatever you want to do, I say do it!!

Kelli

 

[cruising fun]

My husband refuses to wear a tux so he is wearing a suit for formal night and I am bringing a nice cocktail dress to wear.

As I was searching and checking out some other treads I came across someone's pics from their cruise and they had some beautiful family portraits taken onboard. My family is looking to update our family photos and are thinking of doing it on the boat since we liked this other family's pics so much. Does anyone know is there a "portrait studio" onboard and if there is came we make appointments now or do we have to wait until we are onboard?

And can you believe........

6 WEEKS UNTIL WE CRUISE!!!!!

 

[anjiellisvt]

Hi everyone. I've never posted a thread before, but we are only six weeks away and I can hardly stand it. I can't be excited at home because we are going to surprise the kids with it. So this will be a nice place to get out some of my excitement.

We have never been on a Disney Cruise before but have been on a couple of others. My kids love to cruise and have been asking to do this. I have a DD that is 6 and a DD that is 10.

We plan on telling them on Thursday night that we are heading to the beach. We live in NC and will be driving down on Friday to the Radisson. I think we will try our best to wait until Saturday morning to tell them where we are really going.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

 

[cruising fun]

Hi everyone. I've never posted a thread before, but we are only six weeks away and I can hardly stand it. I can't be excited at home because we are going to surprise the kids with it. So this will be a nice place to get out some of my excitement.

We have never been on a Disney Cruise before but have been on a couple of others. My kids love to cruise and have been asking to do this. I have a DD that is 6 and a DD that is 10.

We plan on telling them on Thursday night that we are heading to the beach. We live in NC and will be driving down on Friday to the Radisson. I think we will try our best to wait until Saturday morning to tell them where we are really going.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

WELCOME!!! This is our first Disney Cruise too. We are really excited! I give you credit, I would have a really hard time not talking about it at home! What a great surprise for your girls though!! Our DD is 5 so maybe the girls will meet at the oceaneers club!

 

[AnaRN]

Hi everyone. I've never posted a thread before, but we are only six weeks away and I can hardly stand it. I can't be excited at home because we are going to surprise the kids with it. So this will be a nice place to get out some of my excitement.

We have never been on a Disney Cruise before but have been on a couple of others. My kids love to cruise and have been asking to do this. I have a DD that is 6 and a DD that is 10.

We plan on telling them on Thursday night that we are heading to the beach. We live in NC and will be driving down on Friday to the Radisson. I think we will try our best to wait until Saturday morning to tell them where we are really going.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

Oh wow!!! How exciting!!! You and the kids will LOVE it. You have will power that I can only envy.

Could you imagine when the shuttle pulls up to the ship??? A total "Kodak moment" for sure.

 

[AnaRN]

My husband refuses to wear a tux so he is wearing a suit for formal night and I am bringing a nice cocktail dress to wear.

As I was searching and checking out some other treads I came across someone's pics from their cruise and they had some beautiful family portraits taken onboard. My family is looking to update our family photos and are thinking of doing it on the boat since we liked this other family's pics so much. Does anyone know is there a "portrait studio" onboard and if there is came we make appointments now or do we have to wait until we are onboard?

And can you believe........

6 WEEKS UNTIL WE CRUISE!!!!!

Isn't it exciting??!!??

We just went on a 4 day DCL in Jan. so I think the pricing should be the same.

Each night, there will be "photo stations" set up so you can have pics taken by yourselves or in front of places, ect. You can then purchase the pic individually or purchase a picture package. I believe the least expensive picture package was around $80 and it was for a few 8X10. They went all the way up to $200 for a whole bunch of pics.

They also had a Lifestyle portrait available -- where you were photographed with a white background...they had those packages for around $20.....and you got a 8X10 and a few smaller sizes...around 5 photos total I think.

Now....I have to tell you...these Disney photographers are GREAT. And they will take a picture for you using your own camera as well. Soooooo....you may not have to purchase too many if you get what I mean

 

[PPFQP]

Hi everyone. I've never posted a thread before, but we are only six weeks away and I can hardly stand it. I can't be excited at home because we are going to surprise the kids with it. So this will be a nice place to get out some of my excitement.

We have never been on a Disney Cruise before but have been on a couple of others. My kids love to cruise and have been asking to do this. I have a DD that is 6 and a DD that is 10.

We plan on telling them on Thursday night that we are heading to the beach. We live in NC and will be driving down on Friday to the Radisson. I think we will try our best to wait until Saturday morning to tell them where we are really going.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

We will see you at the Radisson Friday night. Don't worry, we will keep the secret!

 

[Had2disneycruz]

We will see you at the Radisson Friday night. Don't worry, we will keep the secret!

Hey PPFQP! Speak for yourself! You know how well I can keep a secret! I raise my future DOTD (drink of the day) to all of you who have not told your kids! I could not do that! I would blow it the very first day. I booked some cool excursions and I couldn't even keep that to myself! I would love to hear the reactions of your kids when you tell them!

I started shopping yesterday! Got very important things like Pepto, Imodium and Bonine! With all that I've read about upset stomachs from rich food, I thought it would be best to be prepared. I don't want any one in our group having to go to the medic for Imodium and have the possible threat of 24 hour lockdown.

I read some great tips about having a separate toiletries bag for Friday night so we won't have to root through the luggage for toothbrushes, so I bought extra of those. Also bought a small baby powder for removing sand at the beaches. (Something we don't go to the beach without!) I got our shoe organizer for the bathroom. We will need it since we are cat. 12 and don't have the split bath. (Still hoping for an upgrade!) It was so much fun to start shopping! Even looked at bathing suits for DD. We need a few more of those.

I booked the Radisson today for Friday night! We will be in late but we will see everyone at breakfast! I wish we could leave a day early just so we can enjoy the hotel!

Six weeks to go......six weeks to diet!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait!

 

[cruising fun]

Isn't it exciting??!!??

We just went on a 4 day DCL in Jan. so I think the pricing should be the same.

Each night, there will be "photo stations" set up so you can have pics taken by yourselves or in front of places, ect. You can then purchase the pic individually or purchase a picture package. I believe the least expensive picture package was around $80 and it was for a few 8X10. They went all the way up to $200 for a whole bunch of pics.

They also had a Lifestyle portrait available -- where you were photographed with a white background...they had those packages for around $20.....and you got a 8X10 and a few smaller sizes...around 5 photos total I think.

Now....I have to tell you...these Disney photographers are GREAT. And they will take a picture for you using your own camera as well. Soooooo....you may not have to purchase too many if you get what I mean

AHHHH...thank you for the "tips"!!!!! We will definitely keep that in mind!!

 

[anjiellisvt]

Thanks for the tip on the photos. My husband doesn't get excited about vacations until we get there and then he goes a little nuts. Our last cruise he bought wayyy too many of the photos they took. Although they were really cute.

Yes, the secret is extremely hard to keep. One of the hardest parts is getting my growing girls to buy new summer clothes when we are expecting 6inches of snow today.

So can anyone give me into any insight into what sort of activities they have at the kids clubs. My oldest DD is 10 and is can be shy around other kids her age. Do the kids get confined to a playroom or do they have shipwide activities that they can do on their own? Do parents have to check that age group in and out? Do they have a way of contacting their parents if they aren't enjoying it?


Love, Life Is Short

 

[PPFQP]

Hey PPFQP! Speak for yourself! You know how well I can keep a secret! I raise my future DOTD (drink of the day) to all of you who have not told your kids! I could not do that! I would blow it the very first day. I booked some cool excursions and I couldn't even keep that to myself! I would love to hear the reactions of your kids when you tell them!

For our first cruise in 2005, we kept it a secret for a looooonog time. I think my husband booked the cruise in May 2004 and we didn't tell the girls until February 2005 (for an April 2005 cruise). I even took them to buy formal dresses and told them it was for their grandfather's birthday party.
Now that they're older, they figure things out too easily.

 

[PPFQP]

I booked the Radisson today for Friday night! We will be in late but we will see everyone at breakfast! I wish we could leave a day early just so we can enjoy the hotel!

Yay! We'll keep the light on for ya. (Oh wait, that's a different hotel chain.)

 

[Had2disneycruz]

Yay! We'll keep the light on for ya. (Oh wait, that's a different hotel chain.)

Leave the POOL light on for us! We are trying to figure out a way to leave earlier and get to the hotel sooner! We want to enjoy the pool and the very cool room we have booked!!!!!!! Regardless, a light would be nice...thanks!

 

[Had2disneycruz]

Thanks for the tip on the photos. My husband doesn't get excited about vacations until we get there and then he goes a little nuts. Our last cruise he bought wayyy too many of the photos they took. Although they were really cute.

Yes, the secret is extremely hard to keep. One of the hardest parts is getting my growing girls to buy new summer clothes when we are expecting 6inches of snow today.

So can anyone give me into any insight into what sort of activities they have at the kids clubs. My oldest DD is 10 and is can be shy around other kids her age. Do the kids get confined to a playroom or do they have shipwide activities that they can do on their own? Do parents have to check that age group in and out? Do they have a way of contacting their parents if they aren't enjoying it?

As much as some of you are going to CRINGE at what I am about to say, I actually jealous of the snow! We can't BUY snow here. We actually had a fake snow day this year. The kids stayed home from school and the snow never came! They are calling for 6" of snow tomorrow, but all we've had is rain nonstop since yesterday. It has been cold and windy. Anyway, can anyone send some snow our way? Even northeastern Carolina gets more snow than us! Just one snow day would be nice!

Anyway, my DD (9) and two other friends (9) that are traveling with us will be in the Oceaneer Lab. I hope your DD will meet them. They are very sweet and can understand being shy. The kids will have shipwide activities that they can participate in. Your DD is old enough to check herself in and out of the club and yes, you will have a pager so your daughter can reach you if needed. (I consulted my Passporter to answer your question!) The kids can participate in Ocean Quest, check out the lab, make flubber (my DD (15) loved that when she was little). According to the Passporter, the Navigator will post all activities such as games, crafts, movies, dancing, and theme parties. My DD's are all looking forward to it!

Keep us posted on when you tell the kids! Can't wait to hear!!!

 

[itutorfortravel]

Hi everyone. I've never posted a thread before, but we are only six weeks away and I can hardly stand it. I can't be excited at home because we are going to surprise the kids with it. So this will be a nice place to get out some of my excitement.

We have never been on a Disney Cruise before but have been on a couple of others. My kids love to cruise and have been asking to do this. I have a DD that is 6 and a DD that is 10.

We plan on telling them on Thursday night that we are heading to the beach. We live in NC and will be driving down on Friday to the Radisson. I think we will try our best to wait until Saturday morning to tell them where we are really going.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

Hey there! I know where Mooresville is - my in-laws live there! We are in Union County, near Weddington...we are getting lots of snow now - how about you?

We are also waiting to tell our DD about the cruise for another few weeks. Actually, we are telling her after her birthday party. I've made a scavenger hunt for her and at each stop she'll get a set of letters. Each set of letters will spell a word in the message "You are going on a Disney cruise". She's going to be so excited! She is turning 7 - I hope our DD's meet in the kids' club!

Only downer...with this snow, we now have a snow day and it is my understanding that they will now take away from our spring break (we've already lost Memorial Day for the last snow day). Anyhow, we of course will not be making up the day during spring break (LOL), but I just hate getting the nasty-grams that come in the mail whenever your child misses more than 3 days in our district...DD has only missed 2 days so far this year, so that week will probably be our 3rd absence. Oh well, I'm sure the schools expect lots of absences if they have make up days on weeks like spring break.

Can you all believe it's less than 6 weeks till we sail? It sounds SO CLOSE when I think about it!

 

[anjiellisvt]

Yes, we got about 4-5" of snow here so the entire place is shut down. I'm a little concerned that we won't get much melted today and they might be out of school tomorrow too. I think our next make up days come out spring break too but I won't lose too much sleep over it. The girls did lose some days when they got the winter bug a few weeks ago but until then they both had no absences. I'd rather they get sick now instead of in six weeks!! (I know that's terrible)

I like the scavenger hunt idea. I think I may use that for telling them we are actually going on vacation and they don't have to spend the week at grandma's.



Love, Life Is Short

 

[Had2disneycruz]

We got snow too!! Granted, you can HARDLY see it, but we did have a two hour delay!!! WooHoo!!! Yes, you can see all the grass through it, but it does count as snow. Thanks for sending some our way. If anyone sends more, we'd appreciate it! I don't care if it's on the weekend or during the week. My kids just want to play in snow this year. If we were to have a make up day, I doubt they would take it from spring break. One year, after a hurricane, the kids missed a week of school so they added 10 minutes to the school day for a few months. It was nutty! We do have the Friday off before Easter so maybe they would take that away! Who cares....we'll be on our way to sunny Florida!

40 days to go!