April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[svcutler]

Which one of you ladies is Leah's mom btw?

I"m Leah's Mom! We live in Massachusetts. She is very excited to go on the cruise and has taken charge of making our FE and gifts. I am really happy she is talking to kids before the cruise. Hopefully they will have a great time hanging out on the ship!

Maybe you can tell Leah to tell Maddie to make the gifts or to at least help her mom!

Here's my problem with those darn gifts. I moseyed on over to the Disigns section of the forum (listed under FUN). I got so LOST! I am not kidding! They are crazy over there!! I mut have had about 10 windows open, my ipad and a printer going all at the same time. There are waaayyy to many creative fun things out there to make any type of decision that I just decided on a few things with the hopes that it makes sense later on!


Then there's DIS protocol. Very interesting - What is the proper way to ask someone basically to drop whatever they are doing in their normal lives, and focus all their time and effort on making me a magnet?? Do you send a PM, do you just reply to a thread that may or may not be the appropriate thread, do you go to an email or website..... Yeesh! I had to get outta there before I went nuts! Seriously, I'm somewhat frazzled now!

I'm not sure but I think 2 people are now making magnets and what I hope is an image that I may be able to iron on to a tshirt. Who really knows at this point! I just hope I know where to go to retrieve those things when they are ready!

Oh, and while I'm on a roll.... do any of you know a good way to organize all your threads that you are watching, and/or reading? I first thought that once we write on the thread, we are subscribing to it, but now I'm not sure so I always offficially "subscribe". Now that we are getting much closer to the actual cruise date, I'm on this thing all the time....

 

[alenushka]

I'm not sure but I think 2 people are now making magnets and what I hope is an image that I may be able to iron on to a tshirt. Who really knows at this point! I just hope I know where to go to retrieve those things when they are ready!

Oh, and while I'm on a roll.... do any of you know a good way to organize all your threads that you are watching, and/or reading? I first thought that once we write on the thread, we are subscribing to it, but now I'm not sure so I always offficially "subscribe". Now that we are getting much closer to the actual cruise date, I'm on this thing all the time....

I wish I had an answer... I am just as confused as you are
Magnets and iron transfers are my projects for this week - but I did not figure out how to do it yet....

 

[pkmingo]

Hi everyone! Just got word that we all can go so we will be on cruise with you. Scanning all posts but didn't see where who we check in with and also if you are still taking new ones for the FE exchange. It will be my 7th DCL cruise and cannot wait to sail the Dream! We have 3 staterooms - me & dh; DS, DIL, DGS (almost 3 yrs); and DD, SIL, DGD (age 5 mos). We are in northern VA and settling in for a snow storm. Thanks for letting us join in the anticipation, look forward to meeting you all!

 

[guarn3md]

Maybe you can tell Leah to tell Maddie to make the gifts or to at least help her mom!

Here's my problem with those darn gifts. I moseyed on over to the Disigns section of the forum (listed under FUN). I got so LOST! I am not kidding! They are crazy over there!! I mut have had about 10 windows open, my ipad and a printer going all at the same time. There are waaayyy to many creative fun things out there to make any type of decision that I just decided on a few things with the hopes that it makes sense later on!


Then there's DIS protocol. Very interesting - What is the proper way to ask someone basically to drop whatever they are doing in their normal lives, and focus all their time and effort on making me a magnet?? Do you send a PM, do you just reply to a thread that may or may not be the appropriate thread, do you go to an email or website..... Yeesh! I had to get outta there before I went nuts! Seriously, I'm somewhat frazzled now!

I'm not sure but I think 2 people are now making magnets and what I hope is an image that I may be able to iron on to a tshirt. Who really knows at this point! I just hope I know where to go to retrieve those things when they are ready!

Oh, and while I'm on a roll.... do any of you know a good way to organize all your threads that you are watching, and/or reading? I first thought that once we write on the thread, we are subscribing to it, but now I'm not sure so I always offficially "subscribe". Now that we are getting much closer to the actual cruise date, I'm on this thing all the time....

I'm pretty sure that whatever thread you write on or start is automatically added to your user CP - but that may also be a setting that you would have to choose. Also - I don't think there is any way to organize your threads. I always click on user CP whenever I first come to disboards or have been away from the boards for a while. However, I have noticed that if you come to the website but then something calls you away - when you return whatever was considered new before is no longer new...so I just click on show me my subscriptions and I figure out which threads I am watching have been updated. Wow - I hope that makes sense.

When I first found the DISign board I was pretty obsessed with it!! I have had several, well ok let's be honest - maybe hundreds - of graphics made for me. Whenever I see something that I like I request it then save it to my computer for a later use. I have so many magnet images from "jordak" and now I have to figure out how to make them! If anyone has suggestions or learns how - let us know!!!

Crazy, crazy weather here! We have had it all! Now I think it is sleeting and DH just left to take DS to Taekwondo ( nothing stops Connor from going to class and he takes 4 different classes a week). A little while ago we had thunder and lightening!! Thinking we will have a snow day tomorrow, our second.

Ok - I need to stop writing. I have definitely surpasses the limit for looooong posts!!! Shhhh - don't tell the tweens!
Debbie

 

[mommybean]

Then there's DIS protocol. Very interesting - What is the proper way to ask someone basically to drop whatever they are doing in their normal lives, and focus all their time and effort on making me a magnet?? Do you send a PM, do you just reply to a thread that may or may not be the appropriate thread, do you go to an email or website..... Yeesh! I had to get outta there before I went nuts! Seriously, I'm somewhat frazzled now!

I'm not sure but I think 2 people are now making magnets and what I hope is an image that I may be able to iron on to a tshirt. Who really knows at this point! I just hope I know where to go to retrieve those things when they are ready!

Oh, and while I'm on a roll.... do any of you know a good way to organize all your threads that you are watching, and/or reading? I first thought that once we write on the thread, we are subscribing to it, but now I'm not sure so I always offficially "subscribe". Now that we are getting much closer to the actual cruise date, I'm on this thing all the time....

I can help with the magnet designs pick me! pick me!
I've actually done a bunch for our cruises and for family and friends and for our WDW trips. I have to give most of the credit to the Dis-igners though - I use their blank graphics and add the names and tweek things
If y'all want to give me an idea of the designs you want, I will be happy to put the names on there for you and email the graphics to you. From that point, people make the magnets differently. I've found the easiest and least expensive way to do this is to print off the graphic, cut the shape out, laminate it (then trim again), then get some of the magnet strips with the sticky back (you can get these in packs at WalMart, etc and you don't need to buy certain sizes because you are going to cut them into small rectangles and stick them to the back of your laminated design. Iwill try to find the link to Milliepie's blank graphics so y'all can actually pick from certain designs. And if I can figure out how to post pictures on this thread I will try to upload some of mine for you to see. If anybodywants me to make any, please email me mommybean@comporium.net
And it may take me a bit to do them and email them back, but I will do my best to help everyone that wants them

Wow....that post was SOOOOOOO long!!! lol

 

[alenushka]

Ok - I need to stop writing. I have definitely surpasses the limit for looooong posts!!! Shhhh - don't tell the tweens!
Debbie

I can help with the magnet designs pick me! pick me!
...Milliepie's blank graphics so y'all can actually pick from certain designs. And if I can figure out how to post pictures on this thread I will try to upload some of mine for you to see. If anybodywants me to make any, please email me mommybean@comporium.net
And it may take me a bit to do them and email them back, but I will do my best to help everyone that wants them Wow....that post was SOOOOOOO long!!! lol

"Yay!!!!!!!!!"
I will be emailing you!
I just came across Milliepie's graphics last night (literally, night, around 1:30 am )...I got overwhelmed, excited, and confused and went to sweet land of dreams This thread is still "minimized" on my screen . My green light is always "on" because of those "minimized" windows (when I am not surfing ).
Thank you so much for your offer. I hope you don't back off from it when we bombard you with our requests
Please tell, what is the best way to do it?

 

[Deb T.]

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Deb T it is a really good thing I did not see your post earlier because you would have missed your root canal. She goes out on my birthday and I would have actually taken you up on your offer and charged the whole thing to a credit card to worry about later! I would have sold my soul to Elvis to get on that MV. Your platinum status made me drool all the more!!!!!

Sorry kids Mommy won't be home on her birthday, I am blowing you all off for a cruise with a nice dis'er who I met on-line. If I thought there was a way to do it I would fly out tonight only guess what? More snow here in Maine on the coast! 6 - 10 inches I hear. But thank you Deb for the offer because I am just crazy enough to do it!!! And it was so tempting to "DREAM" about it.

It was 14 below here the other night for pity's sake!!!!

Darn, I wish you'd seen my post earlier, too!!! I definitely would have gone on that MV!

I've had two other root canals, but this one has hurt the most. That side of my mouth is soooooo sore right now, two days later. I would have gladly postponed it to cruise on the MV.

I could not get any reservations for Palo. I went on the 18th and everything was pretty much gone, seriously! My DH says honey, not to worry we are going to have a great time no matter what. Love him.

Keep the faith! Here's Pixie Dust that you can book it as soon as you're onboard!

 

[Deb T.]

Hi Wendy,
FE is already fun, fun, fun!!!

You just made my day!

 

[Deb T.]

Good morning everyone! Excuse me for not knowing some of the abbreviations, but what is FE?

We are booked on the 4/17/11 Dream!!!!
I'm ridiculously excited and can barely thing of anything else

We have only been on one prior Disney cruise back in 2002 with our children. Now they are at college, and we decided to do an adults only trip on the newest ship. My DH loves Disney as much as I do, but has some reservations about going on a Disney cruise without kids. I absolutely do not

We are in a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with veranda in a guaranteed category 6A. Since I've only done this cruise once before, and only one other cruise on a different line, I really don't know what this means?

Can any of you tell me? When will I know what our room # is? Is this an undesirable thing?

Thank you for any info you can provide, and see you on the ship!!!!

Welcome aboard!!!

DH and I have been on 4 Disney cruises without kids!! (And I've been on 2 Disney cruises solo!!!) It is a different experience without kids - part of the time you miss them like crazy, but mostly you have the time of your life! The nice part is that you can do whatever you want without having to coordinate with what your kids want to do. And it's great having the cabin to yourselves.

Keep checking your reservation on disneycruise.com and eventually you'll notice that your "GTY" has changed to an actual cabin number. Good luck!

Now, about the Fish Extender (FE) Exchange...
Here's my best explanation:
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 an update to all the FE Exchange participants so far:
Deb T. & DH
Ness2289 & DD12
alenushka & DH, DD10, (and maybe DS in college)
bdink921& DH, DS12
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
Z’sDisneyMom & DH, DD12
kim5678 & DH, DD13
pershing & DS16, DS14, DS13
momtoleasawav & DH, DD15, DS13, DD9
MissMousey & DH, DD14, DS11
CANCELLED - Rlbren & DH will not be sailing with us after all

 

[Deb T.]

Hi everyone! Just got word that we all can go so we will be on cruise with you. Scanning all posts but didn't see where who we check in with and also if you are still taking new ones for the FE exchange. It will be my 7th DCL cruise and cannot wait to sail the Dream! We have 3 staterooms - me & dh; DS, DIL, DGS (almost 3 yrs); and DD, SIL, DGD (age 5 mos). We are in northern VA and settling in for a snow storm. Thanks for letting us join in the anticipation, look forward to meeting you all!

Welcome aboard! Wow! Two new families in one day!

It is definitely not too late to join our FE Exchange! You can either send me a PM or post your info here on this thread. I'll need the three cabin numbers, the names of who are in each cabin, and the ages of the kids. As soon as I get your info, I'll send all FE participants (including you) a PM with everyone's updated information.

 

[alenushka]

She goes out on my birthday ...Wendy

Happy Birthday, Wendy!

It is our DS B-day too, and, for the first time ever, he is not home with us to celebrate it because of the snow storm #8 I guess, my umbilical cord is being cut once again...

 

[Deb T.]

I got all excited when I saw your post Deb, but we're still #GTY . I've been checking for a while now. Will I get that aft balcony I really want (a 6B and that's what gty category I booked) or will we get pixie dusted??!! The anticipation is killing me .

I'm GTY also and just checked to see if my cabin has been assigned yet and it hasn't.

So sorry! One of our FE participants sent me a PM yesterday saying that their GTY cabin had been assigned and gave me their new cabin number, so I assumed that everyone else would be getting theirs now, too. I apologize for getting everyone's hopes up. Soon, maybe??

 

[Deb T.]

Here's my problem with those darn gifts. I moseyed on over to the Disigns section of the forum (listed under FUN). I got so LOST! I am not kidding! They are crazy over there!! I mut have had about 10 windows open, my ipad and a printer going all at the same time. There are waaayyy to many creative fun things out there to make any type of decision that I just decided on a few things with the hopes that it makes sense later on!

Then there's DIS protocol. Very interesting - What is the proper way to ask someone basically to drop whatever they are doing in their normal lives, and focus all their time and effort on making me a magnet?? Do you send a PM, do you just reply to a thread that may or may not be the appropriate thread, do you go to an email or website..... Yeesh! I had to get outta there before I went nuts! Seriously, I'm somewhat frazzled now!

I'm not sure but I think 2 people are now making magnets and what I hope is an image that I may be able to iron on to a tshirt. Who really knows at this point! I just hope I know where to go to retrieve those things when they are ready!

I've asked jordak to personalize several designs for me by posting on that thread and have been very pleased with what was done for me. I also found a clever design and asked if it could be altered a little, which jordak did. However, there have been two times that jordak couldn't/wouldn't make a desired change for me. So, my advice is to ask and if it's possible, then you'll get it, but if it's not possible, jordak will certainly let you know.

As soon as I receive a graphic, I cut and paste it into a word document. Then I adjust the graphic to the size I want. Then I print directly onto a sheet of magnet paper. I get my magnet paper from Staples, but any office supply store carries it. I love it when my graphics end up looking like a regular store-bought magnets.

Oh, and while I'm on a roll.... do any of you know a good way to organize all your threads that you are watching, and/or reading? I first thought that once we write on the thread, we are subscribing to it, but now I'm not sure so I always offficially "subscribe". Now that we are getting much closer to the actual cruise date, I'm on this thing all the time....

Whenever I find a thread I want to stay current on, I go to the top of that thread (just under the page numbers) and click on "Thread Tools". A box will pop up and I click on "Subscribe to this Thread". The next page will ask for "Notification Type" and I always click on "Instant notification by email". I love this because I can access my email from my Blackberry, so I am always current with new DIS news! The only hitch in this system is that you'll get one email notification as soon as there is a new post, but then you won't get additional notifications until you sign back into the DIS website again.

 

[alenushka]

Deb T. is back!
I hope you feel better!

 

[svcutler]

I'm loving these FE threads! Cannot make up my mind though!!!

 

[svcutler]

[I can help with the magnet designs pick me! pick me!
I've actually done a bunch for our cruises and for family and friends and for our WDW trips. I have to give most of the credit to the Dis-igners though - I use their blank graphics and add the names and tweek things
If y'all want to give me an idea of the designs you want, I will be happy to put the names on there for you and email the graphics to you. From that point, people make the magnets differently. I've found the easiest and least expensive way to do this is to print off the graphic, cut the shape out, laminate it (then trim again), then get some of the magnet strips with the sticky back (you can get these in packs at WalMart, etc and you don't need to buy certain sizes because you are going to cut them into small rectangles and stick them to the back of your laminated design. Iwill try to find the link to Milliepie's blank graphics so y'all can actually pick from certain designs. And if I can figure out how to post pictures on this thread I will try to upload some of mine for you to see. If anybodywants me to make any, please email me mommybean@comporium.net
And it may take me a bit to do them and email them back, but I will do my best to help everyone that wants them

Wow....that post was SOOOOOOO long!!! lol

Well that's good to know Mommybean! Thanks so much

Is there a way we can do this on our end as well? I figured out how to take save the images, but I can't figure out how to write on them and get the disney font. Any advice??

 

[svcutler]

]

I'm pretty sure that whatever thread you write on or start is automatically added to your user CP - but that may also be a setting that you would have to choose. Also - I don't think there is any way to organize your threads. I always click on user CP whenever I first come to disboards or have been away from the boards for a while. However, I have noticed that if you come to the website but then something calls you away - when you return whatever was considered new before is no longer new...so I just click on show me my subscriptions and I figure out which threads I am watching have been updated. Wow - I hope that makes sense.

Debbie

Thanks Debbie, I do manually subscribe, but sometimes I don't want to actually "subscribe" but rather just be able to go take a look at the thread on occasion, especially if I posted on it. What's the user CP mean? I know, probably very easy but I have snow on the brain these days...!

 

[golfnsuch]

So for those of you that print directly onto magnetic paper, can you do it through a laser jet or only inkjet? Do you find its more wasteful, since you may only use a portion of a sheet?

When printing and then laminating, do you use a laminating machine, or just the two ply paper? If so what brand?

I'm a whiz with a sewing machine, but not so much the whole magnet business. I have bunch of magnet designs, but need to print them all out.

Thanks, E.

p.s. glad you're feeling better, Deb!

And Happy Birthday shout outs to everyone I missed!

 

[golfnsuch]

Oh, and while I'm on a roll.... do any of you know a good way to organize all your threads that you are watching, and/or reading? I first thought that once we write on the thread, we are subscribing to it, but now I'm not sure so I always offficially "subscribe". Now that we are getting much closer to the actual cruise date, I'm on this thing all the time....

I actually have a draft email that I maintain for each cruise where I can drop in any item of relevance for the trip like confirms, etc. At the very top, I keep all of the relevant threads I'm keeping track of whether I'm subscribed or not. After every addition, I resave the draft, then right before the cruise, I print the whole thing out to have all of my information in one place.

E.

 

[mommybean]

Well that's good to know Mommybean! Thanks so much

Is there a way we can do this on our end as well? I figured out how to take save the images, but I can't figure out how to write on them and get the disney font. Any advice??

It's pretty easy actually, it just takes a little time to get everything to look exactly how you want it. I get my fonts from The Disney Experience website http://www.disneyexperience.com/services/customize_index.php
and then open my image in Microsoft Publisher and add the names, sayings, etc that I want. Then save and print
Here's the link to Milliepie's designs. Some of the others that I got designs from in the past are not on there anymore (and my old laptop with all my links and graphics crashed )
If anybody wants some help, just let me know! If you can email me what you want and links to the graphics, I will see what I can do