April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[Tigger1313]

FE's are bagged, tagged and packed I have also started to pack a few things. I doing make up for a stage show starting Wednesday night through April 9 so my nights are limited until after the 9th. One good thing is we only have shows Thursday - Sunday this year.

Deb I'm loving your posts. and yes they do bring a tear to my eye.
I can't wait

 

[Deb T.]

I don't have a different bag for each child. I have a bag with a child's and adults' gifts in the same bag; for families with more than one child, I could not fit all kids' gifts in the same bag, so I made ONE for kids and one for adults. Then I thought: how will we deliver them if a family has a FE with multiple pockets for each member of the family?
Should we put a bag with gifts for all kids in the pocket for the youngest child, or to the "emptiest" pocket? Should we put a bag with combined gifts (for adults and their child) into the child's pocket?

I would bet that our FE's will be jam packed most of the time we're on the ship, so you might want to just go for the "emptiest pocket" option and let the recipients sort it all out.

Deb - what a beautiful post! Somehow, I got a tear in my eye when I was reading last paragraph

Deb:

I agree with Yelena! Your posts had me tearing up...

You take such good care of us

She sure does! Deb's awesome!

Deb I'm loving your posts. and yes they do bring a tear to my eye.
I can't wait

Awww gee, thanks! I'm blushing over here.

 

[Deb T.]

FE's are bagged, tagged and packed

I stapled gifts together by cabin so nothing got lost in the transport/delivery.

I have a bag with a child's and adults' gifts in the same bag; for families with more than one child, I could not fit all kids' gifts in the same bag, so I made ONE for kids and one for adults. I learned a lot while I was putting all items together last night.

My mom and I put our FE gifts together last night. I think we may have gone overboard - we do have a seperate bag for each child! However, we have so many things we decided to combine into one bag so as not to overwhelm the FE. Plus it cuts down on the amount of bags we have to buy and the bagging process. I am doing the labels this week and next weekend we are stuffing and tagging!

Looks like the FE organizer is the only one who doesn't have her FE gifts ready to distribute!

I had every intention of doing that this weekend, but too many other tasks got in the way. I've got all the stuff... I just need to get it ready. It's really a good thing that I didn't start, though, because we just learned we're having out-of-state company Monday-Wednesday, and the guest room is where I spread out all my FE stuff. I might end up calling in *sick* one day just so I can work on bagging and tagging the gifts. I always do one goody bag for the adults (couples get one bag, singles get one bag, and two adults in a cabin who aren't partners each get their own bag) and a goody bag for each individual child.

 

[goofy4tink]

How was everyone's shopping expeditions today? Any good bargains?

Well, I did get to Old Navy yesterday...didn't spend a ton of time. I upgraded my phone to a Droid which took a ton of time so dh was getting nudgy!! So, I didn't want him to go nuts waiting for me at Old Navy. I did get my dd a couple of sundresses for $9 apiece. Me?? Well, I think that no one needs to see me in one of those Old Navy sundresses!!!! Have to keep looking for something for myself. Ah well.

Haven't quite decided how I'm bagging my FE stuff yet. That has to be sorted out. And have to start getting clothes sorted out. Right about now I'm beginning to wonder why I decided to do our community theater musical this year...that takes the two weekends before the cruise!! I must have been nuts.

 

[castlegazer]

I bet you all wouldn't believe that DH and I spent 9 days touring China with only one pair of shoes each! And no, we didn't buy any while we were there, either. Oh - and no checked luggage! (One carry-on duffel had nothing but snacks!) Eating the snacks and taking "throw-away" clothing left us with plenty of room for all the souvenirs we bought. Oh yes, I am the master packer!!!

I am a superb packer also! We went to China for 10 days in 2009 and I also had one basic pair of shoes for the entire time - except we did need one pair of formal shoes for some of the formal banquets but I was good with one black pair. I still wear my shoes I got for that trip - they are mary jane type bjorn leather black shoes. Super comfortable and look very fancy.

I am a master of that travel material being part of most everything I travel with for formal clothing. Very simple to pack and very space economical!

Oh, and I don't have my FE stuff yet, so no worries on being the last one!

 

[Deb T.]

We left off having just begun sailing away from Port Canaveral. Families are looking at each other and saying, “What’s next???” Let the cruisin’ fun begin!!!!!!!!!!

Some will do more exploring of the ship. Some will do more swimming. Some will get in line to try the Aqua Duck! Some will do some more eating! Gotta love Eye Scream Treats on Deck 11! Those with Main Dining are getting ready to head to your first dinner rotation restaurant! Which will it be? Animator’s Palette? Enchanted Garden? Royal Palace? Our table number, dining time, and dining rotation are printed on our Key to the World Cards. One really nice thing about dinners onboard a Disney Cruise is that there’s no need to arrive at our assigned restaurant early. Seating will not begin before the published time (usually 6pm for Main Dining and 8:30pm for late dining) and we each have our very own reserved table! Seating occurs amazingly fast because all the head servers and most of the servers are lined up and ready to escort us all to our assigned tables in a quick and orderly fashion! There’s no “checking in at the podium” or beepers to contend with, just hold out your KTTW card with your table number and off you go! We will soon meet our server and assistant server who will travel from restaurant to restaurant with us each night. If you are new to DCL, you can't yet even imagine how much you will come to love your servers in these four short nights... and how much you will miss their pampering once you return home. We’ll also get to know our tablemates while looking over the dinner menu! Remember, if you can't decide between two entrees (or appetizers, or salad/soups, or desserts…), it's perfectly all right to order them all!!!

Those of us with Late Dining will be sitting comfortably in the Walt Disney Theatre, getting ready to watch the new and improved Golden Mickeys stage show. We’ll plan to arrive at the Walt Disney Theatre early so we can see the “Red Carpet” interviews that begin 15 minutes before show time! A live camera will be set up outside the theater doors and an emcee will be on hand to “interview” children as they enter the theater. The entire unscripted pre-show is shown on the huge screen inside the theater and often the children’s responses are hilarious! Where do you like to sit? We prefer the upper seats in the lower level of the theater, but might decide to check out the Dream’s balcony this time. If you like being in the midst of all the special effects, then the lower level seats closer to the stage is where you’ll head.

The whole dinner/show process is repeated in reverse a little later when the recently-stuffed-to-the-gills main diners waddle their way to the Walt Disney Theatre in time for the Red Carpet interviews while those of us with late dining head to our designated dinner rotation restaurant for our 8:30 seating.

The kids’ clubs are finally open for children to be checked-in now that tours and family time are over. This is good news to the kids who have been (im)patiently waiting for their fun to begin and particularly good news for the parents who are ready to jettison their children off so they can have a little fun of their own! Adults - if you’ve never watched “Match Your Mate”, I highly recommend it! It’s basically an uncensored version of The Newlywed Game with three couples chosen from the audience: the most recently married couple, the couple married the longest, and then any very outgoing couple. Most of the time, the older couple is not only the funniest, but also the winner! Evenings are the perfect time to stroll the upper decks and look at the stars. You can also catch a movie on either the huge outdoor Funnel Vision screen or in the Buena Vista Theatre. As always, there are several activities listed in the Navigator to chose from.

All too soon, it’s time to pick the children up from the Kids’ Clubs and make our way back to our cabins for the night. As we near our cabin door we notice little bulges in our Fish Extender pockets! Can it be? Have goodies already been delivered in our FE’s?!? Woohoo, they have! Exciting! As we enter the cabin, we are greeted by our first towel animal on the bed! Awwwww, cute! The little wrapped chocolate bars scattered nearby from the turn-down service are quickly gobbled up. We’re tempted to sit down and read through tomorrow’s Navigator, but we’re so tired that we know if we do, we’ll just fall asleep sitting up! While the kids are in the tub, we call room service and order milk and cookies as one last surprise of the day – after all, the kids are on vacation, too! And while we’re at it, we go ahead and put in a "standing order" for milk and cookies to be delivered Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, too! (We are awesome parents!)

After a short discussion over who gets the top bunk with the painted stars on the ceiling , the kids are eventually tucked into their beds. We turn the TV on to one of the Disney music channels and set the volume down low to lull the kids to sleep. Within minutes, they’re out for the night. Now for some quiet adult time! Those with a verandah slip out on the deck , some with a glass of wine brought onboard just for this special time. At 11pm, the ladies head out for the much anticipated, ever popular, first “Pershing's Girls Night Out Night Club Tour”! Afterward, we are back in our cabins, ready to pull the curtains together to close off the kids’ side of the cabin and snuggle into the big comfy bed as the gentle motion of the ship rocks us to sleep. Before long, we’re dreaming about the rest of the fun to come!

 

[pkmingo]

Deb - I am really loving your play by play of our cruise! This excitement is giving me the push I need to get my fish extenders finished and packing started! I love the way you weave many tips into the story, that will certainly help those who are first timers! My FEs are about 1/2 put together so hope to finish next night or two. Got my clothes out from winter hiding and tried them on today to see what worked and what apparently shrunk in storage this winter . Most worked out pretty well, now have to check out hubbys and see what we still need to get. My son was packing up a duffle bag for a sporting event and my grandson (age 2 almost 3) said are we ready to go to Mickey's boat?????? Needless to say, we are all ready and very glad that it will be here very soon!!!!!
Carol

 

[alenushka]

OMG! Why didn't I think of Pokemon cards for boys!!! Connor is so into Pokemon, he got Pokemon Black last Sunday and that is all we have heard about for the past week.
.... I am doing the labels this week and next weekend we are stuffing and tagging!Debbie

Noted!
I am working on labels/tags right now: our printer is actively in action and DH says he is going to buy HP -ink stocks, if we ever decide to go on Disney cruise again .

 

[guarn3md]

Noted!
I am working on labels/tags right now: our printer is actively in action and DH says he is going to buy HP -ink stocks, if we ever decide to go on Disney cruise again .

Tell him to buy it now! That is the printer I use and I buy ink non-stop. I also order from HP because they ship overnight for free!! Makes it too easy for me to keep printing...everything...
I was going to start making labels, just updated my Excel Spreadsheet...but DH is complaining that I have a better relationship with the computer...so I must sign off!!
I'll chat more tomorrow - while I am suppose to be working!

Deb T - thank you so much for the wonderful intro to cruising...what will you do for us three weeks out - a photo walk through...hmmm...
I love it! Keep it coming!!
Night all!
Debbie

 

[alenushka]

Tell him to buy it now! That is the printer I use and I buy ink non-stop. I also order from HP because they ship overnight for free!! Makes it too easy for me to keep printing...everything...
I was going to start making labels, just updated my Excel Spreadsheet...but DH is complaining that I have a better relationship with the computer...so I must sign off!!
I'll chat more tomorrow - while I am suppose to be working!

Night all!
Debbie

So funny! He was having such a hard time when I was printing a million of magnets and an autograph book pages you sent me He thought I was done......
Yes, go - you need to "fix" your relationship with your DH, otherwise he will never agree to book another Dis- cruise. I know my DH keeps threatening me with that

 

[guarn3md]

Hey all! I just got a coupon for 30% off Gap, gap kids, old navy, banana republic, etc... The code is good for March 17 - 20. You can use it in stores or online and if you spend more than $50 online you get free shipping. PM me if you want a copy of the store coupon or if you want the online code.
Debbie

AND Gap Outlet...

 

[guarn3md]

I have two questions...
1) Will there be any communication with the outside world after the cruise has set sail. I have verizon (iPhone) and wondering if I should turn it off for the duration of the cruise or put it in airplane mode so that it won't receive a cell signal. Is there any way to communicate with my DH who I am leaving at home. Is there cell coverage while the ship is in port and just pulling out? Should I bring a laptop and purchase wifi in order to communicate through email?
2) Weird question - why are cruise ships registered in foreign countries? I have never heard of the USA registered cruise ship. So if the ship is registered in the Bahama's does that mean that when you enter the ship you are on international grounds? Just weird conversation DH and I were having yesterday on our drive back from NJ. He told me to post the questions for you all to answer. I think he may be testing you...
Thanks for the answers...
Debbie

 

[Donnaksmj]

I just read that if you rent a car from the airport and bring it to Cape Canaveral location, you can park there free and take the shuttle to the ship for free. Has anyone ever done this?

Well that does not work! You have to have 2 separate reservations which comes to a lot more money. I got a small car for 13 days for $309, so it will be cheaper to pay for parking.

 

[bdink921]

Weird question - why are cruise ships registered in foreign countries? I have never heard of the USA registered cruise ship. So if the ship is registered in the Bahama's does that mean that when you enter the ship you are on international grounds? Just weird conversation DH and I were having yesterday on our drive back from NJ. He told me to post the questions for you all to answer. I think he may be testing you...
Thanks for the answers...
Debbie

The only US registered cruise ship is NCL Pride of America in Hawaii. I know if it's an American registered ship, American labor laws/wages apply and the staff would have to get paid more (I would think at least minimum wage? Please someone correct me if I read wrong). Anyone else....?

P.S We leave one month from today !!!!!

 

[guarn3md]

Hey
Check out the t-shirts I made for Asia, my mom and me...I am going to give them to Asia this coming weekend with her birthday presents. Millipie did the DISign and then I enhanced the tiaras with swavorski crystals. Asia's has pink and clear crystals, mine has blue and clear and my mom's all three (of course). I have never used a hot fix tool before - it is really cool and I think I may bedazzle everything. Connor is hiding his Taekwondo doboks as we speak...

Oh they say - I'm the big/little sister Feel free to treat my like a princess
My mom's - I'm the mom Feel free to treat me like a queen

1 month from today we will be gone...hopefully in SC!!!

Debbie

 

[Z'sDisneyMom]

The t-shirts are simply gorgeous!!

Awesome job.

 

[golfnsuch]

Hey
Check out the t-shirts I made for Asia, my mom and me...Debbie

Nicely done, Debbie. I love hotfix now; its so much faster than embroidery and bling-ier!

E.

 

[princessdaisy]

Hey
Check out the t-shirts I made for Asia, my mom and me...I am going to give them to Asia this coming weekend with her birthday presents. Millipie did the DISign and then I enhanced the tiaras with swavorski crystals. Asia's has pink and clear crystals, mine has blue and clear and my mom's all three (of course). I have never used a hot fix tool before - it is really cool and I think I may bedazzle everything. Connor is hiding his Taekwondo doboks as we speak...

Oh they say - I'm the big/little sister Feel free to treat my like a princess
My mom's - I'm the mom Feel free to treat me like a queen

1 month from today we will be gone...hopefully in SC!!!

Debbie

Beautiful Job!! Love them

 

[alenushka]

Hey
Check out the t-shirts I made for Asia, my mom and me...I am going to give them to Asia this coming weekend with her birthday presents.
....
1 month from today we will be gone...hopefully in SC!!!Debbie

Debbie - these shirts are so beautiful!

 

[Deb T.]

Just poppin' in quickly to apologize for not posting "Monday's" countdown as planned. Full day of work and then out-of-state company has kept me busy! I will try to catch up tomorrow...

Debbie, your shirts are adorable! Such a great idea!

I agree with bdink921 about why ships aren't registered in the U.S. - it all comes down to profit!

There is regular domestic cell phone service in the Port Canaveral area. We usually make calls right up until the ship is entering the ocean by Jetty Park. After that, I believe International rates apply - and they can be expensive. We have always relied on email communication, telling everyone we'll check our email every evening after dinner. DCL charges a fairly hefty rate for the internet, and it is painfully slow, but I still think it comes out cheaper than International phone rates. I've also heard that the Dream doesn't have an Internet Cafe like on the Magic and Wonder, which is a huge bummer for us. But, I've also heard that you can borrow a laptop for short increments of time from Guest Services.