April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[mommybean]

I tend to keep a lot of notes, but dining isn't one of the things I keep track of. There were a lot of posts at the beginning of this thread where some posted their dining times and then about half-way through this thread there were more dining time posts when we first learned there were assigned show times. If anyone kept track and would like to share that info, please let us know.

As for rosters, most meets threads typically don't list cabin numbers because some people prefer to stay private. In many cases, you'll notice that only codes have been given out, (ie. DH, DW, DD, DS, etc.). However, full information has been gathered for people participating in the FE Exchange, but I only send that out through private messages.

I wondered because on a few roll calls we've been on (Disney & Carnival) the final spreadsheet that went out had names, ages, cabin numbers and any facts that cruisers wanted listed (where from, pre & post stay hotels, etc). I think the kids used it more than anybody to keep up with what rooms their friends were in - lol. Most would just send the info in a PM or email (though some did post it on the boards ) and then the final sheet was emailed out.

 

[mommybean]

I have to admit that the table seating makes me nervous. I guess I didn't realize that we would possibly sit with other people. We have five in our party - three adults and two children (ages 9 & 7). I think it would rather link with someone here than wind up with complete strangers. What are the chances that they will sit us by ourselves? This is our first cruise and I don't know anything about the dining seating, etc... We have the second seating...

Debbie

You can call your TA (or DCL if you booked directly) and request a table for 5. As always, they will try to accomodate, but can't guarantee. Usually though, if you don't have special requests they try to "match you up" with similar guests (children of the same age, etc).

 

[outahere]

Well, color me DIS GREEN with envy!

How fantastic for your family to have an unplanned Disney cruise right between now and our cruise! Too much fun! I guess you really do live up to your DIS name, "outahere"!

It was truly unplanned...... on Sunday afternoon we found out that a friend's 4 year old DD was going on her first DCL cruise, so when DW came home she just wanted to check to see if it was an eastern or western. Suddenly she was practically screaming "it's a western and there is an open cabin - let's go too!!!". Since western is our favorite itinerary and both DW and DS were not feeling well on our last 7 night (DS came down with noro virus and was quarantined right after the Key West stop), I agreed to put the cabin on a courtesy hold and check flights, etc. Next thing you know we're booked. Funny thing was, DW didn't realize until last night that she only has 2 weeks to get ready - almost panic mode!

So I guess you're right - we're "outahere" (well, almost).

 

[WPoohgirl]

I wondered because on a few roll calls we've been on (Disney & Carnival) the final spreadsheet that went out had names, ages, cabin numbers and any facts that cruisers wanted listed (where from, pre & post stay hotels, etc). I think the kids used it more than anybody to keep up with what rooms their friends were in - lol. Most would just send the info in a PM or email (though some did post it on the boards ) and then the final sheet was emailed out.

I think it is nice that it is kept somewhat private in a PM. I do not think I would like all that info posted on the boards! Maybe I had been living in NY too long

 

[lildeb724]

I own a cookie company and I make hand decorated cookies. Not only are they beautiful but very yummy. I was planning on making those for the FE exchange and I was afraid that we may be approaching 300+ people by the time 4/1 rolls around. I was concerned about my ability to not only produce that many but to transport them. I have had orders for 160 for wedding favors and that was not a problem so I am sticking to my original plan. Don't worry about spoiling the surprise, you will still be suprised when you see them.

It is way to big for me to participate in anyway - I am an overpacker to begin with lol

 

[svcutler]

Do you have a store in VA?

I have requested a few things - one with our itinerary and a few others with the dates. I will share with you. PM me if you are still interested!

Debbie

Hey Debbie, Is it possible to send me a PM with the links to the images they've made for you? I've noticed you and I have been looking and requesting some of the same things. Now that I know how to edit those images, I'd love to see what you have.

I promise not to use any of yours for FE gifts just in case you are....

Thanks!
Sandy

PS - Ladies (and Outahere who I think is our only DH) - Day 8 of snowday and just got a call from the superintendent (sp??) and tomorrow is another one due to building safety, etc. C'mon People - ever hear of OVERTIME??? Clean it up!!

 

[princessdaisy]

Oh really? Now that sounds like a great job. I love, love, love to bake. In fact, I'm making a lot of cupcakes and cake pops for Valentine's Day. Our local school is doing a fundraiser for a bus driver who has been diagnosed with cancer. It's an addictive hobby and I'm glad to help out though. I just came back from spending my lunch hour buying supplies. I spent, um, well, more than I intended.

Do you use royal icing or fondant? I currently use the almond sugar cookie and royal icing recipes by Bake at 350. I love tweaking the flavorings though, just to see how it turns out. So far, so good!

Sounds great! One cruise we had a Dis'er from New Orleans make homemade Pralines for FE gifts! They were SO good! I didn't want to share with my family

 

[Deb T.]

I have to admit that the table seating makes me nervous. I guess I didn't realize that we would possibly sit with other people. We have five in our party - three adults and two children (ages 9 & 7). I think it would rather link with someone here than wind up with complete strangers. What are the chances that they will sit us by ourselves? This is our first cruise and I don't know anything about the dining seating, etc... We have the second seating...

Debbie

Please don't be nervous about dinner seating. You might just become lifelong friends! We've really enjoyed most of our tablemates! It's fun to compare notes on what each spent the day doing on the ship or in port. It gives you a completely different perspective on all the different cruise experiences one can have on the same ship! On our Baltic sailing last July, one couple had the entire table laughing hysterically every night with their quirky humor and funny stories.

Only once did I have a bad experience, and it wasn't because of bad tablemates. Three years ago, DH had a work conflict at the last minute and wasn't able to go on our 3-night spring break cruise after all. Since we were already paid in full, we decided I'd go anyway... solo. It was my 6th Disney cruise, so I pretty much knew what to expect. The first night, though, I was led to a table for six where I sat alone eagerly waiting to meet my tablemates... and waiting... and waiting... but no one ever showed. To say I was uncomfortable and feeling awkward is an understatement. I asked the server and head server MANY times to please move me to another table, but they wouldn't! In hindsight, I should have gotten up and left after the appetizer course because I had such a stomach ache that I couldn't even enjoy the meal. But wait, this story has a happy ending!!! The next day, I was relaying my pitiful experience to two of my new DIS friends and wouldn't you know that they had been randomly seated together at the earlier dining time AND the DH of one of them wasn't planning to eat in the dining room, so they invited me to join them and their children! It did cause a bit of a stir among the servers and head servers, but eventually it was officially approved and I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the cruise! Aren't DISers the BEST!?!?! And now the epilogue... I sailed again with one of those wonderful DISers (who I now call my friends and we've kept in touch all these years!) last July in the Baltic Sea and I get to sail with the other one again on THIS cruise!!! Anyone want to guess who this very sweet person is??? hehe

 

[svcutler]

That was a good story Deb. Who is it?? Let me guess -
Alenushka?
Ness?
Guarn?
BDink?
Mommyof3musketeers..... OK, I give up. WHO?

 

[guarn3md]

Hey Debbie, Is it possible to send me a PM with the links to the images they've made for you? I've noticed you and I have been looking and requesting some of the same things. Now that I know how to edit those images, I'd love to see what you have.

I promise not to use any of yours for FE gifts just in case you are....

Thanks!
Sandy

PS - Ladies (and Outahere who I think is our only DW) - Day 8 of snowday and just got a call from the superintendent (sp??) and tomorrow is another one due to building safety, etc. C'mon People - ever hear of OVERTIME??? Clean it up!!

Not a problem - I will send you the links when I get on my good computer upstairs. Right now I am using DS's Laptop - he is not very happy. But hey - I paid for it, so I can use it once in a while!! I am not using any of the designs for magnets. I saw a really nice idea on the FE gift board that involved Vistaprint and post it notes...then I went overboard...AND that is all I'm saying!! Connor and Asia collaborated together and are making a gift from them for all the kids...plus the stuff I am putting together and on top of all that - the stuff from my parents. We may need a Uhaul when we drive down to Florida. My Dad knows nothing of this and I am anticipating a lot of eye rolling when we start to pack the car.
Just wait till you get the call that they are cancelling school for Friday also - why heat the schools for one day???!!!!
Oh - I'm guessing that Outahere is a DH - yes??!!

Debbie

 

[guarn3md]

Please don't be nervous about dinner seating. You might just become lifelong friends! We've really enjoyed most of our tablemates! It's fun to compare notes on what each spent the day doing on the ship or in port. It gives you a completely different perspective on all the different cruise experiences one can have on the same ship! On our Baltic sailing last July, one couple had the entire table laughing hysterically every night with their quirky humor and funny stories.

Only once did I have a bad experience, and it wasn't because of bad tablemates. Three years ago, DH had a work conflict at the last minute and wasn't able to go on our 3-night spring break cruise after all. Since we were already paid in full, we decided I'd go anyway... solo. It was my 6th Disney cruise, so I pretty much knew what to expect. The first night, though, I was led to a table for six where I sat alone eagerly waiting to meet my tablemates... and waiting... and waiting... but no one ever showed. To say I was uncomfortable and feeling awkward is an understatement. I asked the server and head server MANY times to please move me to another table, but they wouldn't! In hindsight, I should have gotten up and left after the appetizer course because I had such a stomach ache that I couldn't even enjoy the meal. But wait, this story has a happy ending!!! The next day, I was relaying my pitiful experience to two of my new DIS friends and wouldn't you know that they had been randomly seated together at the earlier dining time AND the DH of one of them wasn't planning to eat in the dining room, so they invited me to join them and their children! It did cause a bit of a stir among the servers and head servers, but eventually it was officially approved and I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the cruise! Aren't DISers the BEST!?!?! And now the epilogue... I sailed again with one of those wonderful DISers (who I now call my friends and we've kept in touch all these years!) last July in the Baltic Sea and I get to sail with the other one again on THIS cruise!!! Anyone want to guess who this very sweet person is??? hehe

Thank you for the great story!! I think I'll leave it up to chance...unless anyone here is looking for tablemates and wants to share with us. We have really well behaved children - honest!!!

Debbie

 

[alenushka]

Anyone want to guess who this very sweet person is??? hehe

My first guess would be "E" for Elizabeth

 

[svcutler]

Not a problem - I will send you the links when I get on my good computer upstairs. Right now I am using DS's Laptop - he is not very happy. But hey - I paid for it, so I can use it once in a while!! I am not using any of the designs for magnets. I saw a really nice idea on the FE gift board that involved Vistaprint and post it notes...then I went overboard...AND that is all I'm saying!! Connor and Asia collaborated together and are making a gift from them for all the kids...plus the stuff I am putting together and on top of all that - the stuff from my parents. We may need a Uhaul when we drive down to Florida. My Dad knows nothing of this and I am anticipating a lot of eye rolling when we start to pack the car.
Just wait till you get the call that they are cancelling school for Friday also - why heat the schools for one day???!!!!
Oh - I'm guessing that Outahere is a DH - yes??!!

Debbie

Thanks Debbie! Boy, you are gonna need more than a uhaul from the sound of it!

I sent you a PM with my email and thanks!

I did mean DH, by the way. I edited my last post!

 

[Deb T.]

That was a good story Deb. Who is it?? Let me guess -
Alenushka?
Ness?
Guarn?
BDink?
Mommyof3musketeers..... OK, I give up. WHO?

My first guess would be "E" for Elizabeth

And now you know it isn't Alenushka.

 

[bdink921]

I am not using any of the designs for magnets. I saw a really nice idea on the FE gift board that involved Vistaprint and post it notes...then I went overboard...AND that is all I'm saying!! Connor and Asia collaborated together and are making a gift from them for all the kids...plus the stuff I am putting together and on top of all that - the stuff from my parents.
Debbie

Um -- I think we both saw the same thread

 

[Karen from VA]

I don't want to be a downer, but please look into if there are any DCL rules/regulations about bringing on homemade edible gifts. I thought I read on DCL's site at one time that it was a no-no.

Thanks for pointing that out.

To clarify, I am a fully inspected and licensed business so my products are no different than any other packaged snacks or food items that you would buy in a store and have been included in previous FE exchanges.

 

[guarn3md]

Um -- I think we both saw the same thread

I'm cool with that...hope you are...

It was such a great idea - I had to do it!!

Good Night All!!
Debbie

 

[Karen from VA]

I had magnets personalized from many people -- Jordak, millipie, tjbaggott, Tom, and shadowryter and they are beautiful. I got the itinerary one from milliepie and many others. Loved in milliepie's 4shared the deckchairs and surfboards. Had a few made in pirate theme, some of the mickey heads, name tags, etc. All but the name tags are dated. The DISigners were great and some were made the next day, some in a couple of weeks. I have to go through them and start printing but not til I'm finished with the FE gifts .

Did you happen to request any magnets with just our sailing info without the names of your party? I have looked at the designs that were already created and found some of our names. I have also requested some name tags from Tom, they are very nice. I have been doing lots of looking and wanted to pick some of my favorite designs to get personalized for our party. I also wanted to see what the designers came up with for the Dream since it was a month or so since I did my research. Some of the designs don't require names, just sailing dates. I didn't want to duplicate any requests of anyone here which is why I asked if anyone had already requested those. I feel for those nice folks volunteering their time and I thought I would do the courtesy of checking in with my fellow cruisers and save them the trouble of any duplication. Thanks for your feedback on your experiences with requesting designs. I look forward to seeing your door!

 

[Karen from VA]

New (at least for me) info on Atlantis from my friend who just visited it last weekend:
"Y -We purchased our wristbands at a kiosk right in the middle of the Atlantis Casino. Unfortunately the prices weren't displayed on the brochures there so you had to ask about each tour price but from what I recall here are the prices- Dig alone $35 adult, $25 child, The Dig& Beach day combo wristbands were about $60 per adult and $40 per child 12 and under and the AquaAdventure wristband passes were around $115 per adult and $80 kids 12 and under, this wristband gives access to everything the dig, beach, pools and water rides. These wristband purchases also include a voucher to eat lunch at one of several of the snackbars around the waterpark, pool and beach areas. With this voucher you get a soda or tea, large fries and basically a choice of a burger, hot dog, conch fritters, chicken sandwich or chicken nuggets with the wristbands purchased at Atlantis Kiosk. I had the conch fritters because I figured we were in the Bahamas while the boys all had cheeseburgers and they were quite large. The menu price of a burger is $9 so the voucher helped save on the lunch cost, also the sodas are refillable so we saved the cups for all day use. Towels are also freely available all over the place so no need to bring your own. The restrooms have no specific areas to be used as changing rooms but the restrooms are plentiful so still can be used for changing. The employee look at the color of your wristband most specifically on the rides to make sure it is an aquapark pass, the beach wristbands were gold while the aquapark passes were white the day we were there. It seemed that beach wristbands were overlooked if just using a pool but aquapark wristbands a must for the rides. ..... Anyhow, hope this helps in your planning!"
and then another one:
"Sure please share! Also check to see what your total amount is including all surcharges & taxes etc because sometimes they add up to more than you think. Also inquire as to how early you can "check in" and have use of wristbands so that you get the longest time possible. Maybe you should also see if their wristbands include lunch being that will probably run you at least $40."

Hope it is helpful!

Yes, your friend's Atlantis info was very helpful. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Karen from VA]

Oh really? Now that sounds like a great job. I love, love, love to bake. In fact, I'm making a lot of cupcakes and cake pops for Valentine's Day. Our local school is doing a fundraiser for a bus driver who has been diagnosed with cancer. It's an addictive hobby and I'm glad to help out though. I just came back from spending my lunch hour buying supplies. I spent, um, well, more than I intended.

Do you use royal icing or fondant? I currently use the almond sugar cookie and royal icing recipes by Bake at 350. I love tweaking the flavorings though, just to see how it turns out. So far, so good!

That is how I started. I did it for many years for friends and family then I got requests for weddings and birthdays and baby showers. After lots of prodding by my respective customers I got a business license and started a company. It is really interesting to learn about all the laws and regulations. I enjoy designing the packaging and coming up with new product ideas and flavors.