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

[TBRox]

You all look FANTASTIC! (or is that Fantasmic!) Very inspiring!

 

[Had2disneycruz]

Big Willie - Are you sure it hasn't rained for 10 days straight? It sure feels like it!!! We are drowning in VB!!

Love the sail away outfits!!!!!! I don't think our family will be that clever! You all look great!

Anyone start packing yet? We bought bathing suits and sundresses over the weekend. We got our formal gear too. I bought everything we need for Easter baskets and got materials to make a FE!!! (We'll see how that goes!) The suitcases are coming out this week!!

25 days.........

 

[Freddyfishstix]

I talked with my AAA rep. She said the Docs will go to her first. I will have to go pick them up. I told her how everyone is starting to get them and to be on the look-out. Do you think she is holding out on me?

 

[TBRox]

We did some "spring cleaning" and set aside one drawer each to start piling in the "take on cruise" clothes! Figured out where we were short and plan on shopping this weekend... the DS (11) is growing so fast, that he's grown out of all shorts and bathing suits from last year! - Need to run to BJ's to stock up on the sunscreen too! 25 days... 25 days... 25 days!!!

 

[oatmealdiva]

Hooty Hoooooo!



AND

Going to Disneyland this weekend (my college roommate is coming to town and is "forcing" me and DS to go)

Yayyyy!

We'll be in Orlando in 24 days!

PS - Big Willie - LOVE the sailaway outfits!!!

 

[Had2disneycruz]

I talked with my AAA rep. She said the Docs will go to her first. I will have to go pick them up. I told her how everyone is starting to get them and to be on the look-out. Do you think she is holding out on me?

I wonder if she is keeping the docs for herself!????? Both families that we are traveling with have gotten their docs from their AAA agents. Hmmmm.....

 

[Had2disneycruz]

Hooty Hoooooo!



AND

Going to Disneyland this weekend (my college roommate is coming to town and is "forcing" me and DS to go)

Yayyyy!

We'll be in Orlando in 24 days!

PS - Big Willie - LOVE the sailaway outfits!!!

Not fair!!! I want to be forced to go to Disneyland!! After this cruise, I have no idea when we will get back to WDW!! Have fun and tell Mickey we will see him soon!!!

 

[cruising fun]

WE ARE DOING THE DOC DANCE NOW TOO!!!

We picked them up from our TA today! It's official now!!! Started to pack....suitcases are being dusted off as we speak! Our skin is itchy with excitement now!!!!

 

[anjiellisvt]

Willie, I LOVE the outfits. I am so jealous. You all look great.

I've been trying to secretly shop for the girls. My 10 year old has grown out of everything. I told her it was getting warmer and we needed to be ready. We have to go to a hotel in two weeks that has a pool so that was my excuse for buying a new bathing suit.

Shopping is the only thing keeping me sane with this secret. I went out and got a bunch of suntan lotion and have started buying little goodies for the easter basket and FE prizes. I got a new formal dress so I can look snazzy when we all dress up. I need to go through my packing list and see what else I need to buy. Getting closer.

 

[PPFQP]

Picked up one dd's formal dress from the tailor today, and dropped off the other's. Hers will be ready next week.

Next item on the agenda: bathing suits!

 

[Princess Row]

We bought all new clothes this weekend!
The girls got new shorts and tanktops. It's sunny here in california! Finally. :] Still we all cant wait for the cruise with the islands hot hot weather!! So we went to Joanns fabric to get the stuff for the FE. Let me remind you our faimly- not so artistic in that sewing, glueing sense. Well we were destined to try so we went to find all the items. They have the rudest unhelpful people you could find there. (people shooping there arn't to pleasant either.)
We finally got fed up and decided EBAY was the way to go!!

 

[Had2disneycruz]

Willie, I LOVE the outfits. I am so jealous. You all look great.

I've been trying to secretly shop for the girls. My 10 year old has grown out of everything. I told her it was getting warmer and we needed to be ready. We have to go to a hotel in two weeks that has a pool so that was my excuse for buying a new bathing suit.

Shopping is the only thing keeping me sane with this secret. I went out and got a bunch of suntan lotion and have started buying little goodies for the easter basket and FE prizes. I got a new formal dress so I can look snazzy when we all dress up. I need to go through my packing list and see what else I need to buy. Getting closer.

Anjiellisvt - Is your formal gown long short? I have a short one but I was eyeballing some long gowns in the store over the weekend!!! How about the rest of you ladies....long or short!!!???

I keep forgetting that some of you haven't told your kids. Amazing. Can't wait to hear how they take the news!!!

Cruising fun - Congrats!!!!!!! Doc dances are fun!!!!

PPFQP - Missed ya last night....the ladies and I were doing a lot of cruise chit-chat at Bunko! Everyone is getting pumped!! DD 4 and DD 9 are set with bathing suits, formal wear, shoes etc. Now to get the big girls done. Cute suits at Aero yesterday. I bought each one a new suit and they loved them. Couldn't believe I got it right!!!

Princess row - No worries! Who cares about artistic ability? I'm going for it! I found directions for making the FE somewhere on the disboards, so I got the fabric and we'll see what happens. (If I screw up, I will be on ebay too!) Wish me luck!!!!

This week I need to get out a lounge chair so I can practice.....sitting, doing nothing and saying, "Why, yes, I will take another drink!"

 

[Grumpymom73]

Hey everyone. I can't believe it's only 25 more days til we set sail!! I really need to get busy packing or at least deciding what we are wearing. Most importantly what clothes still fit and what we need to replace.

I'm not sure what we are doing for formal night. We don't plan on renting tuxs for DH or the boys. My DH will wear a suit and the boys have dress pants, shirts and ties. Do you think this will be okay? I'm not sure what I will wear. I don't plan on wearing a gown. I don't own one. (Well not one that was purchased in the last decade anyway ) I have a few nice dresses but I'm just not sure they are dressy enough. They are along the lines of what you would wear to a nice wedding. What do you all think? I'd like not to spend too much money on something I probably won't get the chance to wear again. Any sugguestions or opinions anyone??
I'd say last year when we cruised we were more dressed up than most but that was on the Wonder and I know people tend to dress up more on the Magic.

 

[Princess Row]

Lol i am praying it turns out to be the best. We turned to ebay fast.
btw you said you went to Aero, Pacsun also has shorts and tanktops for good prices this week. My whole family mostly has short dresses accept for he little one she's five and very difficult. Our last cruise she was to much to handle at dinner on formal nights so we would feed her before, topsiders or such and then during dinner my oldest would take her upstairs so we could have a peaceful dinner, but she wore princess dresses everynight. Who knows how it will turn out this time.

 

[Aunt T to 2]

I am sorry to ask for more clarification, but I am not totally clear how the F/E thing works...(believe it or not, and I have re-read ALL the threads cuz I am embarrassed to have to ask)....it is one gift per child for everyone registered. Is it one gift per child, per day or just once at the givers discrestion as to which day to deliver? I am traveling with my Sis/nieces and think she is starting to kick into panic mode so I think I will just take care of this as a surprise as one less thing for her to fret over. ALSO...she will be celebrating a birthday while we are cruisin...has anyone seen or done anything creative "birthdayish" other than the b-day celebration pkg. you can purchase/have done by dis? Thanks...just call me Dopey!

 

[anjiellisvt]

I am sorry to ask for more clarification, but I am not totally clear how the F/E thing works...(believe it or not, and I have re-read ALL the threads cuz I am embarrassed to have to ask)....it is one gift per child for everyone registered. Is it one gift per child, per day or just once at the givers discrestion as to which day to deliver? I am traveling with my Sis/nieces and think she is starting to kick into panic mode so I think I will just take care of this as a surprise as one less thing for her to fret over. ALSO...she will be celebrating a birthday while we are cruisin...has anyone seen or done anything creative "birthdayish" other than the b-day celebration pkg. you can purchase/have done by dis? Thanks...just call me Dopey!

I am by all means NOT and FE expert since this cruise will be my first time participating, but I am going off of the belief that it is up to each of us what we want to do. Right now I am planning on doing one present for each family/room for one day and a couple of days of little candy treets and I am trying to come up with an original idea of a little present or two for each child for one day. I probably will not do all seven, but I'm not sure yet. Drop me a PM with your room number and kids names if you want to participate and I will add you to the list. I wouldn't stress about it much. Go ahead and join us. It will be fun.

As far as formal dress I have a couple of dresses that I have had for years. Both black, one short and one long. I figured I would wear one of them for the semi night. I wanted to get a newer formal but didn't want to spend too much money so I went on ebay and found one, long. It was actually new with tags and only cost me $35, and it looks great. Just got it in the mail yesterday. I love shopping.

 

[Big Willie]

As "anjiellisvt" stated its totally up to you. Trust me...there are no hidden unwritten or implied rules. You can give whatever you choose, to whomever you want, whenever you desire. Here's what I've seen in the past. Any of these is acceptable.

1. One gift for the entire stateroom per cruise (Usually done if you are giving higher end gifts. Anything more than about $5 per gift or homemade crafts)

2. One gift for the children in the room per child (Because of the differences in ages some buy gifts specifically for target groups. ie CDs for teens, bracelets for tweens, toys/coloring activities for youngsters)

3. Multiple gifts throughout the cruise. (Usually candy treats, keychains, or Dollar Tree items)

4. Daily gifts for each stateroom during the cruise (Dollar store type items. Family items)

5. Daily gifts for each child in the stateroom (Party Favor type gifts)

On some cruises the leader has given out a schedule detailing who is to give on which day. Who wants a schedule while on vacation? Normally after you have the list of participants you are on your own. I typically give those in my traveling party daily gifts. Those who I have a relationship with via DIS - I give two or three trinkets throughout the cruise. Others - one gift during the cruise on whatever day I'm free. Relax.

 

[PPFQP]

I agree with the anything goes approach -- no rules, no expectations. It's vacation! As for me, I am planning to do two deliveries - one earlier in the week (connected to Easter) and one later in the week. They are little, little, little things - nothing extravagant.

Do we have any estimate at this point on numbers? (number of cabins participating, number of kids, number of adults, etc.)

 

[Had2disneycruz]

I am sorry to ask for more clarification, but I am not totally clear how the F/E thing works...(believe it or not, and I have re-read ALL the threads cuz I am embarrassed to have to ask)....it is one gift per child for everyone registered. Is it one gift per child, per day or just once at the givers discrestion as to which day to deliver? I am traveling with my Sis/nieces and think she is starting to kick into panic mode so I think I will just take care of this as a surprise as one less thing for her to fret over. ALSO...she will be celebrating a birthday while we are cruisin...has anyone seen or done anything creative "birthdayish" other than the b-day celebration pkg. you can purchase/have done by dis? Thanks...just call me Dopey!

Hey Aunt T - call me at home if you have any more questions. I want to do something for your sis's b'day too. Have you checked out Theperfectgift.com? Apparently, you can get amazing baskets customized and delivered to your/her stateroom. If you search the disboards, you can find pictures of what folks have had Shirley (from the Perfect Gift) make. They are beautiful!

For the FE gifts, anything goes. You can do as much or as little as you want. You can do it by cabin or by child....whatever works for you.

Princess row - thanks for the heads up on Pacsun. We will head over there this weekend. Hey, princess dresses work for me! I hope to find one for DD 4 before we go. I am sure we will bring an ariel costume or two. We will definitely have our princess tiaras!!!

Anjiellisvt - Awesome deal on the dress! I have read about other dis'ers doing that and saw pictures of their ebay formal gowns. They were beautiful!

Grumpymom73 - My DH is wearing a suit too. I think what you have planned for your boys sounds good. Everyone will looks so nice!!

24 days? Is that enough time to get it all done?

 

[TBRox]

Hey everyone. I can't believe it's only 25 more days til we set sail!! I really need to get busy packing or at least deciding what we are wearing. Most importantly what clothes still fit and what we need to replace.

I'm not sure what we are doing for formal night. We don't plan on renting tuxs for DH or the boys. My DH will wear a suit and the boys have dress pants, shirts and ties. Do you think this will be okay? I'm not sure what I will wear. I don't plan on wearing a gown. I don't own one. (Well not one that was purchased in the last decade anyway ) I have a few nice dresses but I'm just not sure they are dressy enough. They are along the lines of what you would wear to a nice wedding. What do you all think? I'd like not to spend too much money on something I probably won't get the chance to wear again. Any sugguestions or opinions anyone??
I'd say last year when we cruised we were more dressed up than most but that was on the Wonder and I know people tend to dress up more on the Magic.

Hi Grumpymom - My guys (DH & DS 11) are not wearing a tux this year. We had rented them from DCL last year (1st Cruise and all) - and I loved the look and the pics - but they are both just going for a suit and tie this year (DS needed a new suit anyway) - I think your guys will be just fine.

As for me - I went full gown last year - but this year I'm going with a dress that I wore to a wedding last year (just at the knee) - and I also have a black split skirt that just needs a glitzy top. I really saw every end of the spectrum last year - my confusion was that we had all dressed to the nine's on Golden Mickey/Formal Night - yet it appeared that other guests were more dressed up on the Semi-Formal Night - Any of you veteran cruisers have a "rule" as to what type of dress is more appropriate on which night?