April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[scootch]

I just came home after exciting 3 hours of shopping (started with school supplies shopping and ended up with mostly FE gifts purchases). Marie - you inspired me! Nobody will jump of the ship!
Did anybody else have similar dreams? It might give us more ideas

As I was shopping, I realized that the most difficult thing was to find gifts that would be easy to pack.

I also discovered I have questions for everyone (especially for those who have participated in FE exchange before):
1. Do people tend to get one gift for a family or individual gifts for each member of the family? I see how easily I am going over my budget
2. Is it usually wrapped? e.g. if I have a book for a little girl, should I wrap it or just put it in FE ?
3. Is it like a "secret Santa" or participants usually attach a tag/other with their name on it?
4. Among participants, are there any scrapbook lovers?

Please let me know what you think/know. I have never done it before, but I am ready to start packing (P.S. I also bought a 36" raffle bag on wheels at an amazing price; hope it's big enough to fit all the gifts).

I did gifts for the adults(made music CD from some walt disney world music cd's) and then bought the kids each something for themselves. None of ours were wrapped... some had names, some did not. I just made sticky adress type labels and put our names on ours. We did get some cool scrapbook cutouts of the characters in a little tin as one of our gifts. Many people did things specific to where they lived, even got a lottery ticket from Minn. I attached Steeler Pencils to the boys gifts since the Steelers had won the super bowl earlier that year. Really it is all in whatever you want to give, we got some more elaborate things, and then some really simple things. The fun of it is coming back to your room and finding goodies and going around and stashing goodies for others to come back to.

 

[pershing]

Believe in magic but work hard for it to happen

That is a great saying!

I did gifts for the adults(made music CD from some walt disney world music cd's)

That brings back memories of when my kids were little!
We would listen to that 5 disc set over and over again before our first WDW trip. I wanted the kids to know about the rest of Disney history, like the Sunday night show and the Mickey Mouse Club, and not just Toy Story and Finding Nemo.

I also wanted to show them that Walt Disney was a man not a park and was passionate about what he did and was not all about the bottom line.

That was not something they weren't seeing too much of in 2003.

 

[bdink921]

I couldn't keep the secret and had to tell DS we were able to change our booking . I told him about the FE and he definitely wants to do it so count us in!!!! I have a couple of cute ideas for gifts too!!

 

[teachnj]

Just booked family of 5! Phew.... was getting worried!

 

[pershing]

Just booked family of 5! Phew.... was getting worried!

teachnj! (and welcome back bdink )

Does Jersey have this week off too? I grew up in Jersey, but I don't remember.

Yea, this cruise is getting tight. I wouldn't be surprised if we sailed fully sold out!

 

[Deb T.]

No rates yet but you can bet they'll be high being a holiday week--at least that's what it looks like according to this year's rates. The waiting does stink. You can book the rooms with last years rates and they will adjust when the new rates come out. We're staying there anyways--FOTL is totally worth it IMO.

Sorry, folks ~ I've been busy this week, so please bear with me as I attempt to catch up with everything...

Bridget, speaking from experience, I completely agree with you that front-of-the-line access is totally worth the cost of staying in a Universal Studios hotel! You can accomplish so much more in a day, and come out of there less stressed and tired than everyone else. Our favorite is the Portifino, but all of them are really nice. Good luck with snagging a decent rate!

 

[Deb T.]

OH MY G-D! I'm such a ding dong. Here I am making all these friends and I'm on the forum that I wanted to be on in the first place, but couldn't get on because it was booked!! I am on the shorter one starting on 4/21

well, it was wonderful getting to know you all. I'm off to the 4/21 forum.

PS - don't tell anybody about my feux pas!

Hi Again,

It's lonely over on the 4/21 3 night cruise. nobody is talking on that forum

I read on another forum that sometimes rooms open up, cancellations, etc. If anyone hears of any type of quad opening up on this cruise, please PM me.

Thanks so much!

Svcutler

We'll keep our fingers crossed that you can join us after all. As suggested by Yelena, turning your info over to a travel agent and letting them do the footwork for you is a great option. Good luck!

By the way, we're currently booked on that 4/21 cruise, too, but will probably end up canceling it.

 

[Deb T.]

We could have an adult meet after the initial meet with the kids say 2 days in for a quick drink and to compare notes on how the VK's going. I hear about everybodies in depth planning before the cruise and then never hear how it turns out.

I think that's an excellent idea! We've done the same thing on a couple of my longer cruises, and the second meet usually more fun than the first since everyone has already had a chance to get to know everyone else!

 

[Deb T.]

I just came home after exciting 3 hours of shopping (started with school supplies shopping and ended up with mostly FE gifts purchases). Marie - you inspired me! Nobody will jump of the ship!
Did anybody else have similar dreams? It might give us more ideas

As I was shopping, I realized that the most difficult thing was to find gifts that would be easy to pack.

I also discovered I have questions for everyone (especially for those who have participated in FE exchange before):
1. Do people tend to get one gift for a family or individual gifts for each member of the family? I see how easily I am going over my budget
2. Is it usually wrapped? e.g. if I have a book for a little girl, should I wrap it or just put it in FE ?
3. Is it like a "secret Santa" or participants usually attach a tag/other with their name on it?
4. Among participants, are there any scrapbook lovers?

Please let me know what you think/know. I have never done it before, but I am ready to start packing (P.S. I also bought a 36" raffle bag on wheels at an amazing price; hope it's big enough to fit all the gifts).

I did gifts for the adults(made music CD from some walt disney world music cd's) and then bought the kids each something for themselves. None of ours were wrapped... some had names, some did not. I just made sticky adress type labels and put our names on ours. We did get some cool scrapbook cutouts of the characters in a little tin as one of our gifts. Many people did things specific to where they lived, even got a lottery ticket from Minn. I attached Steeler Pencils to the boys gifts since the Steelers had won the super bowl earlier that year. Really it is all in whatever you want to give, we got some more elaborate things, and then some really simple things. The fun of it is coming back to your room and finding goodies and going around and stashing goodies for others to come back to.

To answer Yelena's questions:
1. I always do a couple of special gifts for each couple and then individualized goody bags for each of the kids. But, many people also do one gift or goody bag per cabin.
2. You don't have to wrap anything, just drop it in the FE as is.
3. I always attach something that says the gift is from me. I really enjoy knowing who gave me each item.
4. I never got into the scrapbook thing, but don't mind receiving scrapbook-type items. Who knows, one day I just might get bit by the scrapbooking bug!

So, basically, as scootch indicates above, anything goes!

I'm excited to say that I already have all my FE stuff, I just haven't bagged any of it yet.

To save space when packing for our Northern European Capitals Baltic cruise (since we only travel with carry-ons and refuse to check luggage!), I didn't assemble our gifts until we boarded the ship. Another option I've read that other cruisers have done is to mail a package with their FE gifts directly to the ship. Here is the full list of instructions, taken from the "DIS DCL FAQ - New Alphabetical Listing of DCL Information" sticky at the top of the main cruise forum:

• ONE box per stateroom, no exceptions.
• The package must have the guest full name, ship, sailing date, stateroom number or GTY if you have not been assigned a stateroom number.
• The package also must have a packing slip attached to the outside of the box that details the contents of the package. For prescriptions, a copy of the prescription is sufficient. Your list may or may not be read but it must have one. Write packing slip on the outside of the envelope.
• NO FOODS/DRINKS OF ANY KIND, LIQUOR OF ANY KIND, FIREARMS, ETC.. Items that cannot be shipped to the Disney Cruise Line Warehouse and delivered to the ship include: food products (any and all food products including baby food/formula), beverages (liquor, water, etc.), chemicals, and luggage. These items will not be accepted at the warehouse and will be returned. This may cause the dogs to hit on your box and that would be a bad thing.
• The required size of the cartons you are shipping down have to be about the size of a record storage box 12 inches on a side and should not weigh more than 20 lbs. (This has been asked personally by Dave Adams who is the owner)

Address your package(s) to:
Disney Cruise Line Warehouse
Guest Name / Stateroom # (GTY, if you don't know what it is when you send the package)
8633 Transport Drive
Orlando, FL 32832
Phone: 407-566-8196

In the bottom left corner of the top of the package put the following information: ATTN: HOUSEKEEPING
*Name
*Sail Date
*Ship
*Stateroom Number
*Packing slip that details contents of the package (for prescriptions, a copy of the prescription is sufficient)
• Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00pm for the 7-Night Cruise on the Disney Magic (Saturday).
• Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00pm for the 4-Night Cruise on the Disney Wonder (Sunday).
• Packages must arrive by Wednesday by 3:00pm for the 3-Night Cruise on the Disney Wonder (Thursday).

If your box is hit on by the screening dog or chosen for additional screening they will open the list and the box and look through it. They will close it back up and provided nothing bad is in it then it will be in your room as usual later after boarding. These boxes will be coming on the ship with the crew mail among other things so they may be in the staterooms later then they were before as they are low priority in the scheme of things for Disney.

Hope this helps!

 

[Deb T.]

I couldn't keep the secret and had to tell DS we were able to change our booking . I told him about the FE and he definitely wants to do it so count us in!!!! I have a couple of cute ideas for gifts too!!

Bridget, I have you down for the FE Exchange. Please send me a pm with your cabin number.

Updated list of FE Participants:
Ness2289 & DD12
Deb T. & DH
Tigger1313 & DGD17
Golfnsuch & DH, DS11, DS7
WPoohgirl & DH, DD14, DS12
Z’sDisneyMom & DH, DD12
ydrj & DH, DS16, DD14
princessdaisy & DH, DD18, DS8
goofy4tink & DH, DD17
jeni37 & DH, DS14, DS10, DD6
kim5678 & DH, DD13
lindafish & DH
disneycruisegal & DH
caronjn & DW, DS10, DD7
alenushka & DH, DD10, (and maybe DS in college)
pershing & DS16, DS14, DS13
bdink921& DH, DS12

 

[Deb T.]

Just booked family of 5! Phew.... was getting worried!

Welcome aboard teachnj!

 

[teachnj]

Thanks everyone for the "welcomes." Yes, some schools in NJ are off that week and other schools, the week after Easter. Fortunately, this year my childrens' school and my district have the same week off, unlike last year. This will be our first cruise as a family and we can't wait!!!

 

[Deb T.]

Thanks everyone for the "welcomes." Yes, some schools in NJ are off that week and other schools, the week after Easter. Fortunately, this year my childrens' school and my district have the same week off, unlike last year. This will be our first cruise as a family and we can't wait!!!

Your family is in for an amazing trip! This will be our eleventh Disney cruise, and we can't wait, either!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[svcutler]

I'm working so hard guys to get on this boat....

 

[Ness2289]

Hi Ness,

We'd love to be added as well, although I'm not sure what I'm being added to!? I love this thread, but it's taking so long to read through it and I don't have the patience so I'm asking to be added to everything!

Thanks!

svcuter, DH, DD(15), DD(11)

Hi! I'm just checking in, but I see it's turned out you have different dates.

 

[Ness2289]

bdink921 and teachnj!!
Disney Dream- April 17, 2011

1. Outahere, DW, DS(16)
2. Lildeb724 (Debbie), DH, DD(10) DS(7)
3. Mom 3 mouseketeers, DH, DS(10/11), DD(9), DS(7)
4. Castlegazer, DH, DS(9), DD(6)
5. Muhhhrrisssa (19), Mom, Dad
6. CSX2, DW, DD(15)
7. Curlybop (Amanda), DH (Mark), DD(8), DD(2)0. Irishone21 (Chris), DH (Mike), DS(7), DD(3)
9. Rdevine10 (Robin), DH, DD(5), DD(8)
10. Scootch(Amy), DD-Mattisyn(11), DD-Kenzey(9)
11. Akjtmax, DH, DS, DD
12. Freddyfishsticks, DW, DD(12), DS(9)
13. MissMousey, DH, DD(14), DS(11)
14. Mom2Elliot, DH, Kids(13,9,3)
15. Deb T., DH(Jeff)
16. Ness2289, DD(12)
17. Jilljill, DH, DD(16)
18. Pershing (Sue), DS(16), DS(14), DS(13)
19. Tiger1313 (Cathy), DGD (17)
20. Cleopahd, DH
21. jel0511, Dh, DD(13), DS(10)
22. Disney1fan2002 (Marie), DH, DS(14), DD(12), and DS(11)
23. Mom2BCCC (Barbara) DH, DS(14), DS(12), DS(10), DD(5)
24. KerryDVC, DH, DD(7), DD(5), DS(3), DM, DF
25. Golfnsuch, DH, DS(11), DS(7)
26. WPoohgirl (Wendy), DH, DD(14), DS(12)
27. NYDisneyfamily, DH, DS(13), DS(8)
28. Z'sDisneyMom (Robin), DH, DD(12)
29. ydrj (Yvonne), DH, DS(16), DD(14)
30. Quagmire, DW, DD(14)
31. JasonDVC, DW, DD(2) and DS(6mo)
32. princessdaisy (Steph), DH, DS(8) and DD(18)
33. guarn3md (Debbie), DM (Judy), DF, DS (9), DSis(7)
34. allaboutdisney1967 (Donna), DH (Angelo), DD(13) (Gabby)
35. goofy4tink (Diane), DH, DD(17) (Kate)
36. dmdietz, DH, DD(11), DS(11), DS(11)
37. jeni37, DH, DS(14), DS(10), DD(6)
38. disneycruisegal (Lissa), DH (Brian)
39. lindafish (Linda), DH (Gale)
40. gabby, DH, DS(15), DD(13)
41. caronjn, DW, DS(10), DD(7)
42. alenushka (Yelena), DH (Vadim), DD10 (Katya)
43. bdink921 (Bridget), DH (Mark), DS12 (Jacob)
44. teachnj (Let me know what info. to add.)
45. svcutler, DH, DD(15), DD(11)

 

[svcutler]

Hi! I'm just checking in, but I see it's turned out you have different dates.

OMG - Actually I"M BACK!!!! Just like all you wonderful magical fairies told me - Just keep checking and we got a room!!

Well, I love Disney as much as all of you and definitely wanted my extra day on the cruise, so.... the other day I called DCL and they said, as I already knew, that the cruise was sold out for families for 11 and 15 year olds, but he said that the day's "3 day holds" always cleared from the website at 12:00 midnight and if I waited a few minues past, the new inventory would be in the system and I could try to book a room. So I did. I tried 3-4 times in a row and no such luck. I was about to close up the laptop when the magic number April 17, 4 night cruise popped up as a possibile April cruise.

So I yelled at my DH to get his credit card and we'd deal with cancelling from cruises.com later! I actually took a screen shot of my confirmation and can't stop looking at it (and triple-checking the dates!!)

Anyway, long story even longer - I can officially read this forum and be happy instead of jealous and do my happy dance all night long since I cannot go to sleep!!

Of course, DH is snoring soundly next to me with a cute little disney smile on his face.

Thanks again everyone for your advice. Disney Dreams - here we come!

 

[Ness2289]

OMG - Actually I"M BACK!!!! Just like all you wonderful magical fairies told me - Just keep checking and we got a room!!

Well, I love Disney as much as all of you and definitely wanted my extra day on the cruise, so.... the other day I called DCL and they said, as I already knew, that the cruise was sold out for families for 11 and 15 year olds, but he said that the day's "3 day holds" always cleared from the website at 12:00 midnight and if I waited a few minues past, the new inventory would be in the system and I could try to book a room. So I did. I tried 3-4 times in a row and no such luck. I was about to close up the laptop when the magic number April 17, 4 night cruise popped up as a possibile April cruise.

So I yelled at my DH to get his credit card and we'd deal with cancelling from cruises.com later! I actually took a screen shot of my confirmation and can't stop looking at it (and triple-checking the dates!!)

Anyway, long story even longer - I can officially read this forum and be happy instead of jealous and do my happy dance all night long since I cannot go to sleep!!

Of course, DH is snoring soundly next to me with a cute little disney smile on his face.

Thanks again everyone for your advice. Disney Dreams - here we come!

Woohoo!!!!!!!!! Great news!!
I've added your family to the roster!!

 

[bdink921]

OMG - Actually I"M BACK!!!! Just like all you wonderful magical fairies told me - Just keep checking and we got a room!!

Gotta love that Disney magic !!!! Congratulations!!!!

 

[svcutler]

Thanks for your congratulations!

I wish that Disney magic applied to cruises.com's cancellation policy. They slapped me with a non-refundable $100 cancellation fee.

Now I'm off to check out the comfort suites site to see about that Atlantis idea....!