April 12, 2008, 4-12-08, 4/12/08 Eastern Magic

[gfolchick]

We booked a kids suite at Country Inn and Suites. I think Shirley said Hertz is right in front of CI&S-their prices looked comparable for a one day rental.

We're waiting for Jet Blue too, but we're flying Air Tran in a week from Westchester so I'll see how it goes if I want to fly them again. Jet Blue has some pretty off flight times out of Westchester so I'm not sure which airport we'll use. Bradley has been so expensive lately that we haven't been flying out of there much.

I found boys Pirate costumes for $15 at Party City last week Hubby and I have ours from the last cruise, just need one for my DD now.

 

[aprince&princess]

We did go by Hertz. It is a few buildings over from CI&S, but not far at all. They are off site at the airport. Which would just mean a shuttle bus to get to them.

 

[cindyd1@optonline.ne]

Just wanted to bump us up Jet Blue is up to February

 

[dsnyfangoofy2]

Just wanted to check back in and keep the thread moving.

Questions – does anyone know what the exact rotation of meals will be on the Magic for our dates??? Is it usually PLAPLAP??? How soon can you request your starting restaurant – or can you??

Our family reunion group is now up to 35. We still have one couple reluctant to join us. We have widowed grandma and widowed eldest sister (still in her 50s); seven couples; three single guys ages 25, 21, and 18; two single girls ages 25 and 19; daughters ages 17, 16, 14, 12, 10, 6, 2, and 8 months; and sons ages 16, 15, 13, 12, 11, and 9. I think that is everybody! I’m sure somebody out there has kids that will match up with some of ours!

 

[Skuba2]

You can always put a note on your ressie for the requested rotation. Not sure when they look at it. I think PLAP is what we had. The key is to be in Parrot Cay during the tropical night--so that is how I align it. Formal night isn't as important to us where we are because we usually head to Palo that night---means only one night of dress up.

You do have a large group. Are you doing it on your own or going through a travel agencies? It would seem with that size group, you could book a lot of excursions through private companies and save money. Your gonna need a vacation from your vacation by the end of it all. LOL!

DG

 

[dsnyfangoofy2]

Actually, my brother-in-law is taking care of all the bookings, through a friend-of-a-friend who is a travel agent. My job is trip prep. I'm sending e-mails each week with info and tips so that everybody is on the same page and equally prepared before we go.

I like the idea about group excursion bookings locally. I hadn't thought of that! Thanks!

We are coming from three different locations -- Utah, California, and Kansas. Most, maybe all, of us will fly in on Friday and stay the night, just to be safe.

So, do we know for sure which night is Pirate Night? That's what I want to be sure about, so we are at Parrot Cay, as you said.

Thanks for the help, and keep it coming, please!

 

[TaraMom22]

We will be on the April 12-19 Eastern Caribbean cruise too. This is our first Disney Cruise. We are from California, near San Jose. It is our school vacation too so I hope more Californians will venture cross country for such a great vacation. On the cruise will be me, my DH, our DD who will be 8, and our DS who will be 6. Also my mom is comming from Oregon.

I have been on 3 other cruises, but I am definitely not a cruise expert.
Greece in 1997 (our Honeymoon)
Alaska in 1998
Eastern Caribbean in 2000 (DD was 4 months old - BIG MISTAKE! )

After the last cruise disaster this is my chance to prove to DH that Cruises can be fun with kids -- fun for the kids, but more importantly that they can be fun for DH.

I can use any hints you can give me. I need to book a hotel, a car, flights, excursions, dinner time and rotation, etc. Are there clothes that we will want to have, like costumes or theme clothing? When should we fly in? Where should we stay? Anything we should plan to do or buy before getting on the ship? Timing for boarding? Any hints are appreciated.

 

[Skuba2]

welcome Taramom---you can find pretty much all the answers on the main board. We did a cruise with my 2nd at 2.5 and hated every minute--Carnival Cruise---it was a disaster. She is now 10 and this is her 4th Disney and we love it---so there is hope after a disaster. I would fly in the day before and get a hotel--some people get one a the port and others get one at the Hyatt at the airport. People bring on their own alcohol. We usually grab a tequila, a rum and a vodka to bring onboard. Then we grab some crystal light lime flavored, orange and pink lemonade and mix up margaritas, tequila sunrises and vodka lemonades--all sugar free and all delicious.

dsnyfan---the night schedules can be found on the navigators. They can be found on the main page in the pinned thread. You could print them out or email the link to your family and they can get some idea of the days' activities. The only Caveat I have about booking excursions on your own is that you need to be really careful about what happens if we can't dock somewhere or arrive late. Make sure they know you are on a ship and what cancellation policy they have. Hey---where in Kansas is your party from. I grew up in that neck of the woods before coming to CT. Get your hotel and car booked now as you can always cancel them. Things book up quickly. My son is 6 and he is sooooo excited to go again.

Deb

 

[dsnyfangoofy2]

Our Kansas kin live in Hutchinson, but have only been there a year and a half.

DBIL has the hotel and the car already booked. He's great at that!

I have some hints for folks travelling with little kids. We always tell people that if you are going to take the kids to the parks (and I think the same would hold true for the cruise) you need to make sure it is about THEM. Plan their snacks (take along their favorites), plan their naps, and plan something special for them for as soon as they wake up from their nap, so they'll wake up happy. Take little surprises for them and hand them out a couple of times each day for their good behavior. Finally, if you're comfortable with it, plan to enroll the kids in the nursery and the kid programs so the adults have some time on their own. If the kids ain't happy, ain't nobody happy on vacation! If you take care of their needs first, it's amazing how your own will fall into place.

We're lucky in our group because there are so many adults who will all be helping supervise the kids, trading them around.

Plan well and have a great time!

 

[dsnyfangoofy2]

Deb,

I'm a little tech-inept. Where do I find the "pinned thread" on the main page, which will give me the navigators??

We have some neighbors who just got back from the Western Carib on the Magic and we have all of their navigators, but realize our days will be different in the East.

 

[Skuba2]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1002071

Here is the link to the FAQ thread. It has cross links for the answers. It is a great help.

I want to say tropical night is St. Marteen which would line up with PLAP which I believe is the most sought after rotation. The Eastern was the first cruise we did on Disney about 5-6 years ago. My memory may be fading--heehee.

I am not one to ask about the bringing "costumes" because we never did. For pirate of the caribbean 2 premiere, we bought stuff on the ship like everyone else. LOL! I have seen little girls in princess dresses. My luggage is stuffed full as it is---adding costumes just didn't make sense for us.

On that note, depending on your cabin, luggage storage can be a pain. Suitcases that can be stored inside eachother is a great idea. If you know your cabin number, you can list it on the main thread and ask anyone their opinion about the cabin.

DG

 

[dsnyfangoofy2]

Deb,

Thanks for the link.

How soon can you find out your cabin number? I've seen people on these lists talking about their specific cabins, but on other cruises I've not found out our number until about 2 weeks out.

Bev

 

[Skuba2]

Bev

Are you on a guarantee status? You can request an actual cabin number. The philosophy goes that if you guarantee your status--ie Cat 6, you are more likely to get an upgrade---think they are free. But, who knows where your cabin ends up being. If the level hasn't "sold out" yet, you can request a specific cabin and IMHO it is better to do so. You can take into account noise level upstairs, closeness to elevators, etc. Mid ship is better for seasickness---that is the avoidance of it. If you really want it, you can get it in the front or back sections--LOL!!

Oh yeah---I grew up just north of KCMO and right before we moved, we lived down in Overland Park, KS. My sil is out in Iola--not sure where the heck that is but it is a hole in the wall out there. LOL

To everyone and anyone:

Once the new year rolls around--after the holiday dust has settled--the kids can all start emailing eachother and getting acquainted. That should either help get the shy kids into the camp or drive us nuts with "Can we go see them now?" What is really fun is to get a corner of the Castaway Cay beach and let all the kids play in the water together. There is a club on the island--but the younger set doesn't get to go into the water--they do sprinkler games. The benefit--the more kids get together and play, the less adults have to be out in the water playing with them---unless you want to be. Whoever is keeping the list of names, etc---don't forget to update. There is email access onboard which is a great way to announce any get togethers anyone wants to "plan" throughout the cruise. Sort of like "We are heading up to the goofy pool tomorrow morning first thing if anyone is up to joining us" or "We are heading to Bingo tonight and will try and sit in the back right corner if anyone wants to join in." Anyone can do it on this thread and no one has to feel at all obligated to join in. Absolutely no pressure whatsoever.

Ok--I'm getting totally excited--heehee. Actually, I am counting down the 2 weeks from tomorrow until school.

Deb

 

[aprince&princess]

Good morning everyone. Anyone else joining us for the April 12th Eastern Caribbean cruise?

 

[Skuba2]

LOL---just a few of us. There should be a list somewhere on this thread of names, ages and place of origin. I think Ct is winning by number of families.

Welcome

Deb

 

[cindyd1@optonline.ne]

Welcome Another CT family here

 

[dsnyfangoofy2]

Deb,

Where north of KCMO were you? I taught at Liberty High School -- probably way before you were born -- for three years -- '76-'79. I worked one summer answering phones -- temp work -- saying, "ReMax of Overland Park, may I help you?" Memories!

I'm sending my BIL the info about getting the room numbers. I don't know if "Grandma" has paid the full amount yet, if the rooms are "guaranteed" status or what, since I'm not on that end of it, so I'll let him take it and work with it.

We got our flights -- did I say that yet? We have to fly through Minneapolis -- not my idea of fun in mid-April when Minnesota thinks it's still winter, but it was the cheapest route.

For the kids (or parents) to e-mail each other on-board do they have to buy internet time?

Thanks to those who hae the trip countdown on their messages. We tech-inepts appreciate it!!!

 

[Skuba2]

I wouldn't let the kids email each other while onboard--that could be expensive. What I meant was they can email eachother in the months before the cruise. There is internet access at so much a minute. It is pretty easy to use and you can post on the boards. I usually bookmark my carriers page to get to it quickly. So, any announcement can be posted here and anyone interested can check here. It was just a thought. I wouldn't get internet access just for that. My dh uses the email to keep up with work and stuff. I did also when I did work.

I am sure with all of us going that dinners are going to be a lot of kids waving at eachother and running around. LOL! I always found it so amazing how many familiar faces you see time and time again after a while.

Deb

 

[TaraMom22]

The key is to be in Parrot Cay during the tropical night

This is our first Disney Cruise ... Could you explain what tropical night is, when it is, and why it is key to be in Parrot Cay that night? Or if it is all explained elsewhere, could you share a link to where I can read more.

Thanks, Tara

 

[Skuba2]

On the Disney cruise, you rotate your dining. So, dinner each night is at one of the three different dining rooms. Your servers move with you. Each dining room has a special theme to it--Parrot Cay is tropical, Lumieres is formal and Animators Palate is theatrical. There are also theme nights during the cruise----captain's night (formal), semi-formal and tropical. There is one rotation that will put you in Parrot Cay (P) for tropical night and Lumiere (L) for formal night. That is the PLAP rotation. It just matches the night and mood with the surroundings a little better. Also, each dining room has a "show" put on by the servers on the first night you are in that room. I don't think I've ever seen Lumieres unless it is the baked alaska. We usually end up in Palo that night for some reason. That is why you often see people asking which rotation is best, what night would you miss the dining rooms for and which one would you choose to miss.

Truly, you can either go absolutely beserk planning every last detail or you can hit some of the bigger detail and wing the rest. The important thing to plan right now is a cabin number if you want one specifically, any hotel rooms that you may need before or after, any rental car or transportation to port, and any diet you may want to start. LOL. Flights are good to book now too althought if you are like the rest of us--your airline hasn't opened up the dates yet.

There are some highlighted threads on the top of the main cruise board that are chalked full of information. Also, you can search that board OR you could just start reading it. Pretty much everything is covered.

Deb