April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[Deb T.]

We are totally in on the Cabin Crawl, we are in 9158 which is a category 8B, we are pretty close to the back of the ship. It's a family oceanview, but no verandah.

Awesome!!! This is shaping up nicely!

“Cabin Crawl” Stateroom Tour:
4A - Lildeb724
5C midship - Deb T.
6A aft – golfnsuch
8B aft family oceanview – Mom_3_mouseketeers

Additional Participants:
svcutler
guarn3md

 

[mommybean]

Thanks!

Okay folks... we're off and running with three categories now! Anyone else?

By the way, it's my understanding that concierge guests may bring visitors to their stateroom. However, non-concierge guests may not go into the Concierge Lounge or Concierge Sun Deck.

“Cabin Crawl” Stateroom Tour:
4A - Lildeb724
5C midship - Deb T.
6A aft - golfnsuch

Count us in too please! We've got an 11B inside with the virtual porthole

 

[Deb T.]

Count us in too please! We've got an 11B inside with the virtual porthole

Great! I know everyone is very curious about the virtual porthole! Yours might possibly be the most popular cabin on the tour!

Would you please send me a private message with your cabin number? I need it not only for the Cabin Crawl, but also for the FE Exchange. Thanks!

Here's the latest Cabin Crawl Stateroom Tour info:
4A - Lildeb724
5C midship - Deb T.
6A aft – golfnsuch
8B aft family oceanview – Mom_3_mouseketeers
11B inside virtual porthole - mommybean

Additional “Cabin Crawl” Participants:
svcutler
guarn3md

 

[bdink921]

Great! I know everyone is very curious about the virtual porthole! Yours might possibly be the most popular cabin on the tour!

Would you please send me a private message with your cabin number? I need it not only for the Cabin Crawl, but also for the FE Exchange. Thanks!

Here's the latest Cabin Crawl Stateroom Tour info:
4A - Lildeb724
5C midship - Deb T.
6A aft – golfnsuch
8B aft family oceanview – Mom_3_mouseketeers
11B inside virtual porthole - mommybean

Additional “Cabin Crawl” Participants:
svcutler
guarn3md

I have a 'surprise' cabin, maybe 6B or maybe the Roy Disney Suite if the pixie dust is REALLY flowing . Would like to join, don't know if my cabin will be a repeat or not at this point .

 

[Deb T.]

I have a 'surprise' cabin, maybe 6B or maybe the Roy Disney Suite if the pixie dust is REALLY flowing . Would like to join, don't know if my cabin will be a repeat or not at this point .

I've got you down as an "additional participant" in the tour. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that a very nice upgrade is in your future!

“Cabin Crawl” Stateroom Tour:
4A - Lildeb724
5C midship - Deb T.
6A aft – golfnsuch
8B aft family oceanview – Mom_3_mouseketeers
11B inside virtual porthole - mommybean


Additional “Cabin Crawl” Participants:
svcutler
guarn3md
bdink921 – GTY possibly a cabin for the tour!

 

[DeeCee735]

Sorry to be asking this again, it may have been answered somewhere in this very long thread. Can someone please tell me what the FE exchange means?

Thank you.

 

[Deb T.]

Sorry to be asking this again, it may have been answered somewhere in this very long thread. Can someone please tell me what the FE exchange means?

Thank you.

Sure, Diane. Here's my best definition of what a FE Exchange is:

Beside every cabin door is a large metal silver fish (or starfish or seahorse) with an indentation in the back for cruise personnel to leave information, invitations, etc. Teenagers receive invitations to Teen Club activities and we've also received "rebooking onboard" price quotes tucked in our fish.

DISboarders have taken the silver fish (starfish, seahorse) one step further... by creating hanging pockets (much like cloth letter holders) to hang from the fish (or starfish, or seahorse) - thus the name, "Fish Extender". The Fish Extenders (FEs) can be made of practically anything (cloth, plastic, paper gift bags, etc.), as long as they have at least one pocket that can hold surprises. My FE had always been just a plain canvas bag on which I'd added a tropical scene, the names of the Disney ships, and our names. But recently, a very sweet DISer surprised me with a beautiful "real" FE for this cruise!!!

On each "Cruise Meets" thread (such as this 4-17-11 one) someone usually organizes a little gift exchange during the cruise. People sign up by giving their cabin number, names of everyone in their cabin, and ages of the kids so that everyone will know how many goodies to bring and where to deliver them. Some people give one gift per family, some people give a little gift to each person. It's totally up to the giver to decide what to give and when to give it during the cruise.

There are several threads on the main cruise boards that discuss ideas for FE gifts. Some gifts are from Dollar Stores, some are handmade, and some are bought in bulk from websites that sell trinkets like the Oriental Trading Company. Often, they are stickers, candy, glow sticks, lanyards, etc., with themes such as pirates, beach, cruise, tropical, hometown, holiday, etc. The main idea is just to have fun finding little goodies in your FE throughout the cruise. Kids LOVE running back to their cabin to see if anything's been left in their FE. As an adult, I have to admit that I love it, too!!!

If you'd like to join in on the fun on our cruise, please let me know. You can either post your information here in this thread or send me a private message by clicking on my name in the upper left hand corner of this post and then clicking "send a private message to Deb T.". I will only post your DIS name and gender/ages of children on the public forum. However, I will send private messages with names and cabin numbers to all participants to keep everyone up-to-date. Since some people travel earlier in the week prior to cruising, we will close the list on 4-1-11 in order to give everyone time to purchase/prepare gifts and pack them. You'll also need to print the final list of participants and pack it with your gifts so you'll know where to deliver them once you're onboard the ship.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Also, this thread has tons of info and ideas about FE Gift Exchanges: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

I speak from personal experience that it really is a LOT of fun to participate!

Here is the updated list of DISers on our cruise who are participating in the FE Exchange so far:
Deb T. & DH
Ness2289 & DD12
alenushka & DH, DD10, (and maybe DS in college)
bdink921& DH, DS12 – waiting for GTY cabin number
guarn3md, DS9
DW & DH, DD7
ydrj & DH, DS16, DD14
svcutler & DH, DD15, DD11
jeni37 & DH, DS14, DS10, DD6
disneycruisegal & DH
allaboutdisney1967 & DH, DD13
goofy4tink & DH, DD17
Donnaksmj & DH, DS9
WPoohgirl & DH, DD14, DS12
Karen from VA & DBF, DD6
Tigger1313 & DGD17
lindafish & DH
caronjn & DW, DS11, DD7
golfnsuch & DH, DS11, DS7
princessdaisy & DH, DD18, DS8
Downrivermama & DD12 – waiting for GTY cabin number
Z’sDisneyMom & DH, DD12 – waiting for GTY cabin number
kim5678 & DH, DD13
pershing & DS16, DS14, DS13 – waiting for GTY cabin number
momtoleasawav & DH, DD15, DS13, DD9
MissMousey & DH, DD14, DS11
mommybean & DH, DD14 – waiting for cabin number
riggins & DH, DD9, DD8
hbg4, DM, DD14
pkmingo & DH
FinsFans & DW, DS2
Jamaican Jammers & DW, DD5mo

 

[DeeCee735]

Sure, Diane. Here's my best definition of what a FE Exchange is:

Beside every cabin door is a large metal silver fish (or starfish or seahorse) with an indentation in the back for cruise personnel to leave information, invitations, etc. Teenagers receive invitations to Teen Club activities and we've also received "rebooking onboard" price quotes tucked in our fish.

DISboarders have taken the silver fish (starfish, seahorse) one step further... by creating hanging pockets (much like cloth letter holders) to hang from the fish (or starfish, or seahorse) - thus the name, "Fish Extender". The Fish Extenders (FEs) can be made of practically anything (cloth, plastic, paper gift bags, etc.), as long as they have at least one pocket that can hold surprises. My FE had always been just a plain canvas bag on which I'd added a tropical scene, the names of the Disney ships, and our names. But recently, a very sweet DISer surprised me with a beautiful "real" FE for this cruise!!!

On each "Cruise Meets" thread (such as this 4-17-11 one) someone usually organizes a little gift exchange during the cruise. People sign up by giving their cabin number, names of everyone in their cabin, and ages of the kids so that everyone will know how many goodies to bring and where to deliver them. Some people give one gift per family, some people give a little gift to each person. It's totally up to the giver to decide what to give and when to give it during the cruise.

There are several threads on the main cruise boards that discuss ideas for FE gifts. Some gifts are from Dollar Stores, some are handmade, and some are bought in bulk from websites that sell trinkets like the Oriental Trading Company. Often, they are stickers, candy, glow sticks, lanyards, etc., with themes such as pirates, beach, cruise, tropical, hometown, holiday, etc. The main idea is just to have fun finding little goodies in your FE throughout the cruise. Kids LOVE running back to their cabin to see if anything's been left in their FE. As an adult, I have to admit that I love it, too!!!

If you'd like to join in on the fun on our cruise, please let me know. You can either post your information here in this thread or send me a private message by clicking on my name in the upper left hand corner of this post and then clicking "send a private message to Deb T.". I will only post your DIS name and gender/ages of children on the public forum. However, I will send private messages with names and cabin numbers to all participants to keep everyone up-to-date. Since some people travel earlier in the week prior to cruising, we will close the list on 4-1-11 in order to give everyone time to purchase/prepare gifts and pack them. You'll also need to print the final list of participants and pack it with your gifts so you'll know where to deliver them once you're onboard the ship.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Also, this thread has tons of info and ideas about FE Gift Exchanges: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

I speak from personal experience that it really is a LOT of fun to participate!

Here is the updated list of DISers on our cruise who are participating in the FE Exchange so far:
Deb T. & DH
Ness2289 & DD12
alenushka & DH, DD10, (and maybe DS in college)
bdink921& DH, DS12 – waiting for GTY cabin number
guarn3md, DS9
DW & DH, DD7
ydrj & DH, DS16, DD14
svcutler & DH, DD15, DD11
jeni37 & DH, DS14, DS10, DD6
disneycruisegal & DH
allaboutdisney1967 & DH, DD13
goofy4tink & DH, DD17
Donnaksmj & DH, DS9
WPoohgirl & DH, DD14, DS12
Karen from VA & DBF, DD6
Tigger1313 & DGD17
lindafish & DH
caronjn & DW, DS11, DD7
golfnsuch & DH, DS11, DS7
princessdaisy & DH, DD18, DS8
Downrivermama & DD12 – waiting for GTY cabin number
Z’sDisneyMom & DH, DD12 – waiting for GTY cabin number
kim5678 & DH, DD13
pershing & DS16, DS14, DS13 – waiting for GTY cabin number
momtoleasawav & DH, DD15, DS13, DD9
MissMousey & DH, DD14, DS11
mommybean & DH, DD14 – waiting for cabin number
riggins & DH, DD9, DD8
hbg4, DM, DD14
pkmingo & DH
FinsFans & DW, DS2
Jamaican Jammers & DW, DD5mo

Thank you so much Deb. This does sound like lots of fun, but I'm going to pass for this cruise. This is a trip with just me and DH, and while I know how much fun I'd have with it, I think I'll save the FE for my next time out.

Have a good time with it and have a great cruise!

 

[Deb T.]

Thank you so much Deb. This does sound like lots of fun, but I'm going to pass for this cruise. This is a trip with just me and DH, and while I know how much fun I'd have with it, I think I'll save the FE for my next time out.

Have a good time with it and have a great cruise!

Thanks. There are four other "couples without kids" participants (including me!), so if you change you mind, just let me know.

 

[DeeCee735]

Thanks. There are four other "couples without kids" participants (including me!), so if you change you mind, just let me know.

Thanks! Will do....

 

[pershing]

I'm in a 10A GTY, which I think is the cabin type with the least amount of cabins onboard. (My clever dreamsunlimited TA Tracy! )

So I'm not sure what's gonna happen.

Listening to the podcast about the Dream, it said there are sig. more outside cabins then inner. That must mean GTY's are a better gamble on the Dream then Wonder or Magic.

Ugh! I'm in a pickle. I booked my rental car for the 14th and decided to switch to a cheaper flight on the 13 th. If I try to modify my car rental reservation, it goes from $278 to $680 just for adding one day.

I thought I had modified it after I changed the flight, but I can't find any paperwork or ressie numbers for that.

I'm hoping priceline will come thru for me last minute even. Otherwise, I'll be picking a car up just for Wedsneday and then going back to the airport on Thursday to switch it out. Bother!

 

[Deb T.]

I'm in a 10A GTY, which I think is the cabin type with the least amount of cabins onboard. (My clever dreamsunlimited TA Tracy! )

So I'm not sure what's gonna happen.

Listening to the podcast about the Dream, it said there are sig. more outside cabins then inner. That must mean GTY's are a better gamble on the Dream then Wonder or Magic.

Ugh! I'm in a pickle. I booked my rental car for the 14th and decided to switch to a cheaper flight on the 13 th. If I try to modify my car rental reservation, it goes from $278 to $680 just for adding one day.

I thought I had modified it after I changed the flight, but I can't find any paperwork or ressie numbers for that.

I'm hoping priceline will come thru for me last minute even. Otherwise, I'll be picking a car up just for Wedsneday and then going back to the airport on Thursday to switch it out. Bother!

The podcast is correct! The Dream has only 150 inside staterooms (12%) and a whopping 1,100 outside staterooms (88%)!!! Of the outside staterooms, 41 are suites with verandahs, 860 are non-suite verandahs, and 199 have portholes. (I'm just full of trivia! )

Keep trying on that rental car rate. It can change from day to day!

So folks, here's where we are with our fun Embarkation Day Activities:
Meet & Greet (spot TBD) 2:00-2:30pm
Cabin Crawl start at 2:30pm

“Cabin Crawl” Stateroom Tour:
4A - Lildeb724
5C midship - Deb T.
6A aft – golfnsuch
8B aft family oceanview – Mom_3_mouseketeers
11B inside virtual porthole - mommybean

Additional “Cabin Crawl” Participants:
svcutler – 4A 6606
guarn3md – 4A 10610 that sleeps 5
bdink921 – 6BGTY, so possibly a cabin for tour!
pershing – 10AGTY, so possibly another cabin for tour!

 

[goofy4tink]

Add us to the list of cabin crawlers...at least my dh and myself. Not sure the 17 y/o will be interested. Although she does want to see the virtual porthole. Anyway...we're in a 4A as well...so not much help there.

 

[guarn3md]

I'm in a 10A GTY, which I think is the cabin type with the least amount of cabins onboard. (My clever dreamsunlimited TA Tracy! )

So I'm not sure what's gonna happen.

Listening to the podcast about the Dream, it said there are sig. more outside cabins then inner. That must mean GTY's are a better gamble on the Dream then Wonder or Magic.

Ugh! I'm in a pickle. I booked my rental car for the 14th and decided to switch to a cheaper flight on the 13 th. If I try to modify my car rental reservation, it goes from $278 to $680 just for adding one day.

I thought I had modified it after I changed the flight, but I can't find any paperwork or ressie numbers for that.

I'm hoping priceline will come thru for me last minute even. Otherwise, I'll be picking a car up just for Wedsneday and then going back to the airport on Thursday to switch it out. Bother!

Have you tried carrentalsavers.com... I have been looking for a rental car for President's weekend when we are in San Francisco and that is where I have found the cheapest rental - $90 tota (w/taxes & fees for a 3 day rental). I haven't reserved it yet but I don't see any hidden fees, etc... Might help!!
Debbie

 

[jilljill]

Have you tried carrentalsavers.com... I have been looking for a rental car for President's weekend when we are in San Francisco and that is where I have found the cheapest rental - $90 tota (w/taxes & fees for a 3 day rental). I haven't reserved it yet but I don't see any hidden fees, etc... Might help!!
Debbie

Did you try to Priceline a car? We did one at MCO last year and got it for $13/day plus taxes. They use the major rental companies.

 

[svcutler]

I am making a million shirts which my teen would not be caught dead in, but that's another story..... My boarding shirt will say my disnname so that you guys will be able to put my face to my annoying Posts ! Can't
wait to meet all my new dis friends!

 

[Deb T.]

I am making a million shirts which my teen would not be caught dead in, but that's another story..... My boarding shirt will say my disnname so that you guys will be able to put my face to my annoying Posts ! Vang wait to meet all my new dis friends!

You'll be easy to spot! That's awesome!

 

[Ness2289]

We'd like to "Cabin Crawl" too!

We're in a Cat. 8C which is a Family Oceanview w/porthole just like the 8B already on the Crawl Itinerary but on deck 8. We'll just tag along for the tour.

 

[Deb T.]

We'd like to "Cabin Crawl" too!

We're in a Cat. 8C which is a Family Oceanview w/porthole just like the 8B already on the Crawl Itinerary but on deck 8. We'll just tag along for the tour.

I've added you to the list! Anyone else like to volunteer to show their cabin and/or join our Cabin Crawl?

Embarkation Day Activities:
Meet & Greet (spot TBD) 2:00-2:30pm
Cabin Crawl start at 2:30pm

“Cabin Crawl” Stateroom Tour:
4A - Lildeb724
5C midship - Deb T.
6A aft – golfnsuch
8B aft family oceanview – Mom_3_mouseketeers
11B inside virtual porthole - mommybean

Additional “Cabin Crawl” Participants:
svcutler
guarn3md
bdink921 – 6B GTY, so possibly a cabin for tour!
pershing – 10A GTY, so possibly another cabin for tour!
goofy4tink
Ness2289

 

[hubwriter]

Hi all! Been following a lot of the discussion.

Gonna be on this cruise with my wife and three kids (ages 9, 8 and 5) -- we're very excited about it! First time with DCL and have heard so many good things.

Since it's our first time, our reservations window opens Tuesday (Feb. 1) -- I've read I should get online at midnight Monday night. Are there even any reservation times left at Palo? Are a lot of the excursions already filled? (On Nassau, we're thinking of doing either dolphins at Blue Lagoon or Discover Atlantis -- would welcome any suggestions. Dolphins seems expensive but memorable.)

Anybody have any insight? Thanks!