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

[TBRox]

Nearly one foot of snow in NJ today! A snow day...in March! I suppose this is that 'in like a lion' thing! Can't wait for smooth seas and sunny days! Hope everyone is warm and safe!

 

[Had2disneycruz]

Nearly one foot of snow in NJ today! A snow day...in March! I suppose this is that 'in like a lion' thing! Can't wait for smooth seas and sunny days! Hope everyone is warm and safe!

Virginia Beach has nearly one inch of snow and it's still snowing (barely)!! DD's are out playing in it! Looking forward to warm weather soon too!

 

[cruising fun]

I hope you are all making it through the snow you are getting. I have to say it is nice that someone other than Buffalo is getting snow!!! We have snow days built into our school calendar but we have used them all up. If we do have another day off we loose it at spring break too. I will keep my fingers crossed for all you!!!

 

[itutorfortravel]

We had a great snow day today! Glad to hear you all in VA got some, too and that your kids got to enjoy it. Ours melted quickly, so DD and a friend of hers got to play in it for about an hour and a half. This has been a fabulous day off, though! We got together with some mommy and little girl friends and just played and chatted the day away...

I think they are going to take our last Friday of spring break away. But we won't be there and I would guess neither will a lot of people. The teachers should have a quiet, easy day. That is, those who aren't skipping b/c of their plans!

DD's "island themed" birthday is just a few weeks away! It better warm up soon or else that theme is going to be harder to pull off - LOL!

 

[anjiellisvt]

Warm weather is coming. Although I hope it doesn't get too warm. It can keep a little chill in the air until after we get back. That will make the warm weather on the cruise seem soooo much sweeter.


Love, Life Is Short

 

[TBRox]

Hi All!

Any past Cruisers know if I can get "Easter Baskets" delivered to our stateroom for Easter? We've never vacationed over a holiday before and it's just starting to sink in that I don't have to color eggs this year! BUT, then also remembered that it might be kinda tough to pack Easter Baskets for the kids!

 

[oatmealdiva]

Hi All!

Any past Cruisers know if I can get "Easter Baskets" delivered to our stateroom for Easter? We've never vacationed over a holiday before and it's just starting to sink in that I don't have to color eggs this year! BUT, then also remembered that it might be kinda tough to pack Easter Baskets for the kids!

Hi Everybody,

There are Easter Baskets available on the cruise...if you go on disneycruise.com, click on "My Disney Cruise" and then click on "Cruise Gifts and Amenities," they are in a section called "Easter Gifts." My mom is insisting on getting a basket for DS, even though the selections are a little "stuffed animal-y" for his taste. ;-)

 

[oatmealdiva]

Hi Everybody,

I can't stand it...the cruise will be here in 6 weeks!!!!

I still haven't figured out how to tell DS (nearly 8) that we'll be going on a Disney Cruise. He didn't bat an eye when we applied for our passports in January (he thinks the passports are for a trip to Paris, dunno where he got that idea ). He hasn't questioned me pulling out all of his flip flops to see if they still fit. We DID have a long discussion about what a cruise is, based on a radio commercial for Norwegian Cruise Line that we heard in the car on the way to school one day. But he hasn't put any of these pieces together.

I am thinking about telling him next Tuesday, which is my birthday, and will be exactly one month out from the start of our trip. But HOW to tell him? Ideas please!!

Thanks in advance!!

 

[TBRox]

Fabulous! I'll check it out - just to have a little something to surprise them with will be great! Thanks for the info!

 

[PPFQP]

Hi All!

Any past Cruisers know if I can get "Easter Baskets" delivered to our stateroom for Easter? We've never vacationed over a holiday before and it's just starting to sink in that I don't have to color eggs this year! BUT, then also remembered that it might be kinda tough to pack Easter Baskets for the kids!

Yes -- as someone else mentioned they are featuring them in the "gifts" section on the Disney Cruise Line site. You could also arrange something with Shirley from The Perfect Gift. She's a florist in Cape Canaveral who can deliver to the ship. If you want something more custom, that would be the way to go. We have used her on 2 past cruises and highly recommend her. If you need her contact info, let me know, but it should be available in the FAQ section of the board.

 

[TBRox]

Awesome! Thanks for the lead - I wasn't that impressed with the ones I saw on the DCL site (my kids are a little old for the stuffed animals) - I'll check out The Perfect Gift (If I have trouble finding her - I'll give you a shout out!) Thanks again!

 

[Grumpymom73]

Hi Everyone!

I'm SOOOOO excited. We just booked!!! We sailed last year on a 3 day and knew that next time we would have to do a 7. Honestly I thought we would have to wait a while longer, but we got a great FL resident deal. So we will be joining you all!!

Our family includeds my DH, DS15, DS10 and me!

The kids don't know yet since we just booked this morning but I think we will tell them tonight. They usually know something is up when Mom spends hours with the computer, checkbook and Disney Guide Books!

I'm sure in another hour the excitement will change into complete panic when I realize all that we have to do in such a short time. I'm already stressing trying to decide if we should apply for passports and hope then come back in time or just use BC. While I know most people are getting theirs back really quick it seems the Miami office is behind. Of course that's where ours will go and I know of several people who have been waiting over 3 weeks and still haven't received them.

Anyway, thanks for listening to my rant. Looking forward to talking to you all more.

Janine

 

[AnaRN]

Hi Everyone!

I'm SOOOOO excited. We just booked!!! We sailed last year on a 3 day and knew that next time we would have to do a 7. Honestly I thought we would have to wait a while longer, but we got a great FL resident deal. So we will be joining you all!!

Our family includeds my DH, DS15, DS10 and me!

The kids don't know yet since we just booked this morning but I think we will tell them tonight. They usually know something is up when Mom spends hours with the computer, checkbook and Disney Guide Books!

I'm sure in another hour the excitement will change into complete panic when I realize all that we have to do in such a short time. I'm already stressing trying to decide if we should apply for passports and hope then come back in time or just use BC. While I know most people are getting theirs back really quick it seems the Miami office is behind. Of course that's where ours will go and I know of several people who have been waiting over 3 weeks and still haven't received them.

Anyway, thanks for listening to my rant. Looking forward to talking to you all more.

Janine

Hello and welcome!

We did an expedited passport for our DD - 17 earlier this year. She was headed to the Philippines with the grandparents when we realized that her passport had expired. We got the passport back in ONE WEEK!

If you were to send for one regular service this week.....you would have a good chance at getting it back before the cruise.

Isn't the Fl. Resident rate CRAZY?!? This will be our second DCL this year!

 

[AnaRN]

Hi Everybody,

I can't stand it...the cruise will be here in 6 weeks!!!!

I still haven't figured out how to tell DS (nearly 8) that we'll be going on a Disney Cruise. He didn't bat an eye when we applied for our passports in January (he thinks the passports are for a trip to Paris, dunno where he got that idea ). He hasn't questioned me pulling out all of his flip flops to see if they still fit. We DID have a long discussion about what a cruise is, based on a radio commercial for Norwegian Cruise Line that we heard in the car on the way to school one day. But he hasn't put any of these pieces together.

I am thinking about telling him next Tuesday, which is my birthday, and will be exactly one month out from the start of our trip. But HOW to tell him? Ideas please!!

Thanks in advance!!

One of the other cruisers posted an idea about doing a scavenger hunt type thing and at each stop would be a word and at the end it would spell out You are going on a Disney cruise --- or something to that effect. I think it is a tremendous idea and tons of fun too!

 

[itutorfortravel]

Hi Everybody,

I can't stand it...the cruise will be here in 6 weeks!!!!

I still haven't figured out how to tell DS (nearly 8) that we'll be going on a Disney Cruise. He didn't bat an eye when we applied for our passports in January (he thinks the passports are for a trip to Paris, dunno where he got that idea ). He hasn't questioned me pulling out all of his flip flops to see if they still fit. We DID have a long discussion about what a cruise is, based on a radio commercial for Norwegian Cruise Line that we heard in the car on the way to school one day. But he hasn't put any of these pieces together.

I am thinking about telling him next Tuesday, which is my birthday, and will be exactly one month out from the start of our trip. But HOW to tell him? Ideas please!!

Thanks in advance!!

We are doing a scavenger hunt for DD after everyone leaves her birthday party in a few weeks. I have already made all the verses and I am ready to go! At each stop along the way, she will get a little bag of letters (scrabble tiles). Once she collects all the bags, she will then take each set of letters to spell out "You are going on a Disney cruise". She is going to FREAK! I am making DH buy a video camera just to capture it all!

 

[anjiellisvt]

Hi Everyone!

I'm SOOOOO excited. We just booked!!! We sailed last year on a 3 day and knew that next time we would have to do a 7. Honestly I thought we would have to wait a while longer, but we got a great FL resident deal. So we will be joining you all!!

Our family includeds my DH, DS15, DS10 and me!

The kids don't know yet since we just booked this morning but I think we will tell them tonight. They usually know something is up when Mom spends hours with the computer, checkbook and Disney Guide Books!

I'm sure in another hour the excitement will change into complete panic when I realize all that we have to do in such a short time. I'm already stressing trying to decide if we should apply for passports and hope then come back in time or just use BC. While I know most people are getting theirs back really quick it seems the Miami office is behind. Of course that's where ours will go and I know of several people who have been waiting over 3 weeks and still haven't received them.

Anyway, thanks for listening to my rant. Looking forward to talking to you all more.

Janine

Welcome. I wish I lived in Florida. I hear so many people talking about the great deals. Good luck with the passports!


Love, Life Is Short

 

[anjiellisvt]

I had read on some old posts that you could drop off a shirt or pillowcase in a labeled plastic bag when you check in at the boat and they will have the characters sign it and return it to your cabin. Does anyone know if this is something they still do or not?

Love, Life Is Short

 

[cruising fun]

Yes -- as someone else mentioned they are featuring them in the "gifts" section on the Disney Cruise Line site. You could also arrange something with Shirley from The Perfect Gift. She's a florist in Cape Canaveral who can deliver to the ship. If you want something more custom, that would be the way to go. We have used her on 2 past cruises and highly recommend her. If you need her contact info, let me know, but it should be available in the FAQ section of the board.

My DD is writing to the Easter Bunny to ask him to come a week early since we will be on the cruise. We are bringing a little something special for her to give to her on Easter (something small and easy to pack)

I would love Shirley's contact info. My husband and I want to do something special for my parents who are traveling with us. They do so much for our DD and have provided child care for us the last 5 years when we are at work and DD is not at Pre K (which saved us tons of money!). Anyways, maybe we can do something through the Perfect Gift. It would be a nice surprise.

 

[Grumpymom73]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

AnaRN It really is a small world! We are also from Clermont!

I don't think we will be doing any Easter baskets for my boys as they are older. I have heard that Shirley is great though so if you were interested I would check her out. She seems like a really sweet lady.

I still don't know what to do about the passports. We sailed before without them but it makes me nervous. However, spending almost $400 to apply and not getting them in time is a bad thing too. I only have 1 copy of each of our Birth Cert. so if the passport didn't come back at least 10 days before we leave I will be spending another $100 to get certifided copies of our Birth Certs! Then with my luck the passport would come in the mail the day AFTER I ordered fast copies of the Birth Certificates. Uugh! I just don't know what to do. Someone told me that if you had an emergency and could hold on til the ship reaches St. Thomas that you could fly back to US from there with just Birth Cert. because it is a US territory. Does anyone know if that is true? I've read on other threads that there seems to still be a lot of people who said without passports. Is anyone here going with just Birth Certs?

I guess I need to change my countdown clock! LOL

 

[PPFQP]

Awesome! Thanks for the lead - I wasn't that impressed with the ones I saw on the DCL site (my kids are a little old for the stuffed animals) - I'll check out The Perfect Gift (If I have trouble finding her - I'll give you a shout out!) Thanks again!

Shirley will customize it with whatever you might want in it - that's probably a better way to go. The only thing is that it will be delivered on the day you board (not Easter Sunday). You could always try to hide them for a day!