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

[Grumpymom73]

We were part of a Fish Extender exchange on our last cruise so I will try my best. I'm really not the best at explaining things. I know what I mean in my own head but putting in into written word... So here goes....

The Fish Exterder (FE for short) exchange is a small token type gift exchange that people on certain sailings organize. Usually the people who want to paticipate say so in a post and then one member makes up a list of everyone participating and their cabin number and posts it so people know how many gifts to get. The gifts are usually just small tokens. Some examples are pirate coins, eye patches, beads, candy, keychains. I know alot of people get their stuff from Oriental Trading Co. Think along the lines of "Goodie Bags" from kid's birthday parties. Of course some people go all out and do bigger gifts, but you get the idea. Depending on the length of your cruise and the size of your gift(s) you can give out stuff on more than one day or just once during your sailing.

The FE themselves hang from the "Fish" outside your cabin door that has your stateroom # on it. If you do a search on ebay you will find some nice homemade ones. I bought mine off ebay last year. It wasn't homemade but it had Mickey on it and worked well. I paid $0.01 for it plus S&H. Really good deal!

Anyway that's just about it. You sign up, buy some 'goodies', print out the list of people participating (remember to pack it), spend some time exploring the ship and making deliveries. Then you are rewarded everytime you come back to your cabin and find a surprise in you own FE.

I know there are a ton of threads on this. I'm sure if you do a search you can find a much better explanation than this. There are also threads on gift ideas and such. Anyway hope this helps a little!

 

[Princess Row]

Yes that helps me to understand it MUCH better! :] thank you!
Is someone on here better at planning?
I would love to participate but as far as making the list- not so much. haha

 

[Had2disneycruz]

We were part of a Fish Extender exchange on our last cruise so I will try my best. I'm really not the best at explaining things. I know what I mean in my own head but putting in into written word... So here goes....

The Fish Exterder (FE for short) exchange is a small token type gift exchange that people on certain sailings organize. Usually the people who want to paticipate say so in a post and then one member makes up a list of everyone participating and their cabin number and posts it so people know how many gifts to get. The gifts are usually just small tokens. Some examples are pirate coins, eye patches, beads, candy, keychains. I know alot of people get their stuff from Oriental Trading Co. Think along the lines of "Goodie Bags" from kid's birthday parties. Of course some people go all out and do bigger gifts, but you get the idea. Depending on the length of your cruise and the size of your gift(s) you can give out stuff on more than one day or just once during your sailing.

The FE themselves hang from the "Fish" outside your cabin door that has your stateroom # on it. If you do a search on ebay you will find some nice homemade ones. I bought mine off ebay last year. It wasn't homemade but it had Mickey on it and worked well. I paid $0.01 for it plus S&H. Really good deal!

Anyway that's just about it. You sign up, buy some 'goodies', print out the list of people participating (remember to pack it), spend some time exploring the ship and making deliveries. Then you are rewarded everytime you come back to your cabin and find a surprise in you own FE.

I know there are a ton of threads on this. I'm sure if you do a search you can find a much better explanation than this. There are also threads on gift ideas and such. Anyway hope this helps a little!

Well said!!!!!!

 

[anjiellisvt]

We're game for fish extenders and meeting before hand. Although I don't know where the mickey emblem and ears are, but I'm sure we will figure it out before then.

 

[kellimomo3]

We're game for fish extenders and meeting before hand. Although I don't know where the mickey emblem and ears are, but I'm sure we will figure it out before then.

You'll see the replica of the Magic ship in the center of the port. I mentioned the Mickey Ears where you enter the ship because that's the side of the replica we can gather on. I wish I knew how to post pics, I would show you. I just realized that we leave one month from today!! April 8th!! We are spending three nights at the Coronando Springs Resort at Disney!

 

[Grumpymom73]

You'll see the replica of the Magic ship in the center of the port. I mentioned the Mickey Ears where you enter the ship because that's the side of the replica we can gather on. I wish I knew how to post pics, I would show you. I just realized that we leave one month from today!! April 8th!! We are spending three nights at the Coronando Springs Resort at Disney!

Coronado Springs is one of my favorites. You will have a great time!!!

 

[anjiellisvt]

I've never done the fish extender thing, but if we need a volunteer to create a list, I can help. What do we need to do? Have everyone send me a note with the number of kids and their room number and then send the list back out to those people the week before?

 

[cruising fun]

Thanks for your thoughts about corkscrews and wine. I think I will just bring screwtop bottles....good idea!!!

We would love to meet everyone, except we are flying in on Saturday. Since we are coming from Buffalo I dont think we will be there by 11. We don't have our exact times yet for our flight...we booked everything through Disney and they won't send that to us for another week or so....I will let you know when I know.

If anyone plans a meeting later in the day let us know...we would love to meet everyone. We have a DD who is 5 and starting kindergarten in Sept. so it would be nice to meet some of the kids her age sailing!

 

[Princess Row]

We agree on the meeting idea. :]
The fish extenders, I think if theres at least five it would be a great idea, hopefully we can get some more. We have 2 adults and 2 kids 14/5. Both would love to participate. Ive been looking and have seen pretty cute ideas for presents to put inside. We still havent recieved our room number yet so i cant tell you that.
Everyone has such short flights. We are flying in from CAlifornia on friday, so we will be traveling almost all day on friday, but Disney is well worth it! haha. It will all pay off.

 

[Grumpymom73]

If everyone decides to do the Fish Extender we would be happy to join in too.

 

[Aunt T to 2]

do any of you previous cruisers know how quickly clothes can be dropped off/picked to be pressed upon boarding? I read in several places about the ships laundry services and I know they have a self-serve laundry area but I am on vacation and do not plan on ironing!!! Have a few outfits I really want to bring....

 

[Grumpymom73]

I believe Regular service is returned the next day by 5pm. I know I put some stuff out for pressing only the day we boarded and we had it back the next afternoon. I believe you can have it back sooner for an additional charge.

 

[anjiellisvt]

Anjiellisvt - No hints on how to upgrade, but you could call and see what else is available. What deck are you on, 1 or 2? Are you traveling with kids old enough to roam the ship alone? I was prepared to be on Deck 2 but I don't think I'd be comfortable with them going to Deck 1 alone. Deck 2 has a lot of rooms, so I'd be ok with that, but Deck 1 does not have many rooms, so I would have asked to be moved. I've heard that you can check to see what kind of upgrades are available when checking in at the terminal. If any are available, you would have to pay, but it could be cheap. I was thinking of checking into an inside and outside room instead of two inside rooms. Not sure how that works, but I've read about a few folks doing that. It can't hurt to call and ask..... The good new is that you must be a Cat. 9 or 10 if you are Deck 1!

Had2disneycruz - Yeah, deck 1 and right behind the elevator too. I think I will take your advice and ask at the terminal if there is any upgrades available cheap. But if not, I really don't plan on spending that much time in the room. The girls are both old enough that they won't need a nap. Althought I'm wondering if that is where they left everyone off for the excursions. We might be hearing everyone leave early in the am.

BTW, for anyone who is staying at the Radisson, I checked today and the rates had dropped about 33% from when I booked back in January. I was able to go in and just make a change to my reservation and get the cheaper rate. FYI - you don't need to get the park and cruise package, the shuttle to the boat is complimentary no matter what rate you choose. Just call ahead to put your name on the shuttle list.

 

[Had2disneycruz]

Had2disneycruz - Yeah, deck 1 and right behind the elevator too. I think I will take your advice and ask at the terminal if there is any upgrades available cheap. But if not, I really don't plan on spending that much time in the room. The girls are both old enough that they won't need a nap. Althought I'm wondering if that is where they left everyone off for the excursions. We might be hearing everyone leave early in the am.

BTW, for anyone who is staying at the Radisson, I checked today and the rates had dropped about 33% from when I booked back in January. I was able to go in and just make a change to my reservation and get the cheaper rate. FYI - you don't need to get the park and cruise package, the shuttle to the boat is complimentary no matter what rate you choose. Just call ahead to put your name on the shuttle list.

You could still call and see what you can find out. See if they have a Cat. 10 on another deck. It can't hurt to call.....and you never know, maybe you'll be surprised when you check in at the terminal. I hope so!

I checked on our ressies for the Radisson and our rate did not change....that's ok!!! They are full!!! No more rooms at the inn!!! So glad I made our ressies about two weeks ago! It would have been a bummer to sleep in the car! At least we'd be first at the terminal!

 

[Had2disneycruz]

do any of you previous cruisers know how quickly clothes can be dropped off/picked to be pressed upon boarding? I read in several places about the ships laundry services and I know they have a self-serve laundry area but I am on vacation and do not plan on ironing!!! Have a few outfits I really want to bring....

Ok, fluff & fold!!! You are worried about wrinkles! Someone get this dis'er a drink of the day!!! Seriously though, another dis'er swore by putting clothes in plastic bags and they will not wrinkle. Not sure if I will do it but she had some great tips. I will try to find them and share with everyone! First round is on me, Aunt T!!!!

 

[Grumpymom73]

I checked on our ressies for the Radisson and our rate did not change....that's ok!!! They are full!!! No more rooms at the inn!!! So glad I made our ressies about two weeks ago! It would have been a bummer to sleep in the car! At least we'd be first at the terminal!

That's strange. I just checked online to see what the current rates were and there was still plenty of rooms available. Oh well, I'm very happy with the rate we got so all is good.

 

[Freddyfishstix]

As far as a meet, my idea would be to try to meet up in the port. This is our fourth cruise and we have only actually made one of the scheduled DIS meets. Once you get on board there is so much to do and you are being pulled everywhere by your fam in those first couple hours. If we all gathered on the side of the Magic replica facing the boarding ears at 11:00ish, does that work? I now some won't be there that early but at least it's a start. Someone else could also organize one for onboard I just thought I would suggest this.

Kelli

Meeting there at 11:00 sounds good. We are on the 2nd shuttle (10:30)
from the Radisson. We are arriving at Raddison on Thursday evening. Looking forward to meeting as many DIS as possible prior to the cruise.

 

[Had2disneycruz]

That's strange. I just checked online to see what the current rates were and there was still plenty of rooms available. Oh well, I'm very happy with the rate we got so all is good.

Honestly, who knows? It's not the first time I got wrong info. When I called Disney last week, they told me that I wouldn't get our stateroom #'s until we checked in at the terminal. Maybe the Radisson doesn't have any more rooms big enough to accommodate our party. So if anyone still needs a room at the Radisson, keep checking.....

 

[Grumpymom73]

Exactly! It depends on who answers the phone when you call and what kind of mood they are in.

I was just wondering if we have decided to do the Fish Extender or not? If we decided to go ahead with it we might want to make a clear date to sign up by. That way we can go ahead and start buying our gifts.

Wow, we are getting so excited around here!

 

[Princess Row]

I think we may have enough people to do the fish extender. I think its a really good idea and cute for the kids to do. (as well as adults!!)
Someone can pick a date to sign up by. Then list the number of the cabin and post the cabin number asap. i started looking into gifts and found some really cute ideas! One month 2 days till the ship leaves!!