April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[lildeb724]

I was thinking about it today - I think, you are right, it makes more sense to eat where we are staying. I guess, I got excited we are staying an extra night and that we might have an opportunity to eat at Disney one night : Thank you for letting me know about dining ressies online, may be on our way there I will check what they have available. Any place would be good, right?[/QUOTE
I would not drive from universal to Disney just for dinner. Maybe you want to go to downtown Disney and tr wolfganag pucks or bongos Cuban cafe or house of blues. And then hang out and shop

 

[lildeb724]

I was upset about missing the special cookies described months ago. And now the bracelets. I will just have to wear the pin I am making everywhere. Lol

 

[WPoohgirl]

Oh, Pershing, I thought it was only going to be one night of bar hopping. I can not do multiple nights, one will be a miracle for me to pull off but is an absolute goal to do because its so rare to see the bars for me also. I also don't think there is any way I can do it the first night out nor the last night, so I guess that only leaves two nights to plan to meet up with whoever can do that night. Can we maybe whiddle it down with the nights planned so more people are likely to show up? I am worried that everyone gets so caught up in what happens on the cruise and gets exhausted that if its an every night thing, people will tend not to come. It also gives me an excuse to the husband - "honey, it's the only night I can do this, so please stay with the kids tonight while I go out and have fun! You can have some other night off!" Its a tough sell to begin with in my household under the best circumstances.

What do you think?

I totally misunderstood this too. I thought it was one night and you went to each club for maybe a half an hour and then moved on to the next. If I tried to stay up that late every night there is no way I would make it as old and decrepit as I am

I think I will show up on the second night, the 18th while I am still fresh and raring to go! Since I do not drink it will not make much difference. I am curious to see pink although it seems like it would be all women! Can you see a bunch of the men going clubbing at a place called pink??? On the other hand they might think thats where all the women are at!!!! I am perfectly in love with my DH so I don't care who is where, but it might make for interesting people watching! I don't get out much

 

[Deb T.]

Ooohhh, that feels good!!! FE gifts are finally on their way!!! I had to wait until the list was final for mine! So excited!!! You guys are going to love being able to spot everyone easily with these!!



I will break the code of silence and let you all know that normally I organize the wrist band orders for Dis meet groups and we all share the costs but this time, I realized how important they were and how silly it was to do that and not just provide them for everyone!

So everyone will be getting a DIS green silicone wrist band to wear and in this way we will easily be able to spot each other on the ship!! It really was the only way I could identify people on any of my cruises and start conversations out at the pool or at shows even after we had all shared pictures of each other - I never could quite get the names and DIS names straight in my head... which I am sure everyone else, other than our intrepid leaders, are similarly struggling with.

So, I will get these out on the first day of the cruise for everyone in the large and small FE group, so we can get them right on!!

So excited!!!!!

Sooooo awesome!!! Can't wait to put mine on!

I know exactly how you feel! I just bagged and tagged the last of the FE packages. Yes, its an entire carry on suitcase when all was said and done, but I'm thrilled with how everything turned out.

DH just asked, "Why do you make so much extra work for yourself?" Um, yeah, go ahead and add him to the doesn't get it list. Now I'm off to study...

Have a great weekend everyone!
E.

Your wish is my command.

The “My DH Doesn’t Get It” (and we’re assuming by this we mean our DCL/DIS Boards Obsession, right?) List :
alenushka
svcutler
guarn3md
mommybean
curlybop
Deb T.
Mom2BCCC
golfnsuch

My FE's are finally finished and ready to be packed. I am so exicted I could burst!

Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! Great idea!! I did the best thing to organize, bag and tag all the FE's...I brought all the finished products to my mom, with the lists and labels and had her finish it all. She has been putting it all together for the the past two weeks and I think she finished today. Hmmm, pretty smart of me - I think!

Clever! Very, very clever! You've got a great Mom!

I am toast and ready for bed already on a Saturday night. I was up at 5:30am to take Connor to a local elementary school where his Taekwondo Demo team did three Demo's throughout the mornning and the Connor participated in a one mile fun run. He did that as part of Leadership team and was there to cheer on and motivate the runners while he was running! It was freezing cold but lots of fun. Tomorrow it is up early and out again because Connor has endurance day - lots of running, push ups, sit ups, and other insane exercises for three hours. He has to pass endurance day as part of his black belt test. Tomorrow is just a practice, get to know it day - his real endurance day is the end of July, since his Black Belt test is scheduled for the end of August.

Great job training, Connor! Keep up the good work!

Anyone have any idea how long the zip tie should be to secure the FE? I wasn't sure what sea creature (fish or seahorse) we might get and if that would require a longer (shorter) zippy thingie.

Thanks! E.

Another great question! I think the width of the note holder part of the fish/starfish/seahorse is around 4 inches, but it's also fairly thick. You need a zip tie that's around 12" longto have that little bit of extra room to be able to cut it off at the end of the cruise. An 8" zip is too small. However, one great feature of zip ties is that they can be connected, end-to-end, in order to make them longer! So really, you can bring any size as long as you bring extras! Be sure to double check that your FE is secure after attaching the zip tie because you definitely don't want it to be loose enough to be worked over the fish/starfish/seahorse.

 

[Deb T.]

Small vent coming...I'm pretty much sick to death of all of the negatives written about the Dream. The reports of crowds kinda take the wind out of my sails. Anyone else feel this way?? I try not to read them but sheesh... it's a little frustrating. Maybe it's better to have some apprehensions before we cruise. For our Wonder cruise, we had such high expectations of certain things that although good or great, fell a little flat compared to the hype, KWIM? Half of me is so pumped for this trip and the other half is just a little nervous. This is our big vacation this year and I just want it to be awesome.

Awww, please don't be anxious about this cruise. It will be whatever you make it to be! So, let's make it be a great vacation!

Here comes another Deb T. pep talk!

Yes, there are going to be lines. Lots of lines. But, we already encounter lots of lines in our everyday lives. It's part of life, and especially part of life on a contained vessel at sea with 4,000 people. I already know and accept that I'll be standing in lines from start to finish of this trip... airport security, car rental, hotel check-in, entering theme parks, theme park dining, etc., etc., etc. We've cruised 10 times on Disney, and I've always encountered lines everywhere on the ship, but they always move quickly. The longest lines tend to be at the buffets and when getting on and off the ship at ports. I'd be really egocentric if I thought everyone was going to clear the way for me so I wouldn't have to wait in a line. I'm not sure why all the TR posters felt they would never have to stand in a line on the ship. We already know going in that there are going to be 4,000 people onboard and they all want to do the same things we want to do. When standing in a line, you can bet that I'll be striking up friendly conversations with those around me - enhancing my trip!

So, how can we adjust to the lines? Well, the same way we do when we're at WDW... anticipate them and plan accordingly. I wouldn't go to Space Mountain at 2pm and expect there not to be a line... but I would get up early for EMH and make that my first ride of the day! It's the same for the Aqua Duck - I anticipate it will be crowded mid-day, so if I don't want to wait 20 minutes (which I really don't think is unreasonable, IMHO), I'll get up early and ride it first thing! The pools fall into this same category - we already know they are going to be crowded mid-day - so plan to take the kids early and/or late, and then do other activities when the pool is packed. See a movie, go to a craft session, play bingo, there will be several great options listed in the Navigator. Or better yet, send the kids off to their kids' club! After all, they can swim practically anytime but there is only a 4-day period this year that they'll be able to enjoy those kids' clubs, and this is it!

Dinner lines are the easiest to avoid - don't go even a minute before your assigned dining time! There is absolutely no reason to stand in line for dinner. You already have a reserved table waiting for you. As soon as the doors open (and they open at exactly your assigned dining time) all of the servers and head servers are waiting to whisk everyone to their tables. It's an amazingly quick process!!!

Breakfast, lunch, and Pirate Dessert buffet lines are not avoidable, so plan to be patient. But, you do have the option of having a sit-down breakfast in Royal Palace or Enchanted Garden without a line.

As I said earlier, your trip will be what you make it. I chose to make it fun!

 

[castlegazer]

Hi everyone!!! Well, Jacob is all set for clothes finally. Yay!!!! Only 11 more days until we leave for Florida!! Really looking forward to the warmth and palm trees

Small vent coming...I'm pretty much sick to death of all of the negatives written about the Dream. The reports of crowds kinda take the wind out of my sails. Anyone else feel this way?? I try not to read them but sheesh... it's a little frustrating. Maybe it's better to have some apprehensions before we cruise. For our Wonder cruise, we had such high expectations of certain things that although good or great, fell a little flat compared to the hype, KWIM? Half of me is so pumped for this trip and the other half is just a little nervous. This is our big vacation this year and I just want it to be awesome.

Totally, totally know what you mean and totally happened to me on our first cruise on the Magic. We were not new to cruising, but had never taken our kids previously and I had spent months researching every little detail to the point that I had spreadsheets of each activity every day. Well, I ended up being really disappointed with so many things that had never even occurred to me prior to going (we had a 4 year old and 14 month old on the cruise). For example:
1) we had so much trouble feeding the kids prior to going to Palo one night because I didn't realize what a pain in the katooskus it would be to not have a 24 hour buffet on board to get milk and healthy food for a toddler if you hadn't thought to get room service sent in a timely manner.
2) I had no idea that they shut down the nursery during the hottest time of the day each and every day - so when I have an almost albino child, I can not get her out of the sun for a few hours while we enjoy the mid day sun, but instead had to take her to the room to get some respite for her.
3) I had no idea how hard it would be to pick the kids up from the clubs, get them ready for dinner and get there on time for dinners.
4) The lines for EVERYTHING almost got the best of me! I could not wait to get off the ship and away from lines!!!

These seem like little things, but the fact that I can still recite them here from our 2006 cruise means that they really bugged me. I came back really negative about the whole experience.

Our second cruise, we were so much more prepared - knew which lines to actually stand in and which ones, like for dinner, were stupid lemmings and there were better things to be doing than standing in a line. The kids were older and in the same club - no more being held hostage by the nursery times. And I just went with the flow rather than scheduling every minute. I came back from this cruise feeling like this was the BEST VACATION EVER!! For both adults and children!!! It was great!!!

Kinda makes me nervous about the new ship and new routines, but we have a respite area on our verandah and I am a little less concerned about getting pictures of the kids with the characters as we have them already and really what may be most important this cruise is the family photos.

So long story short, I TOTALLY KWYM!!!!

 

[castlegazer]

yesterday I got alot accomplished for the cruise. My Mom works at JC Penney and she took us shopping yesterday. I got my son shorts for 13.00! and the rest of us got a few things. I have everything I need to finish my FE's and my youngest got started packing!
I keep checking flight prices and praying for a miracle but so far no luck. We went to dinner last night at a restaurant 15 minutes from my house and the kids were driving me crazy in the car!! How am I going to survive 24 hours??!!

Where do you live? I am trying to sell 5 tickets on Direct Air out of Worcester for April 10-April 24th. The only problem is that they are for two weeks and the flights to make that shorter are sold out. We are flying Southwest instead to not take so much time off.

I am selling all five for $600!!! Roundtrip to Sanford!!

 

[castlegazer]

I was upset about missing the special cookies described months ago. And now the bracelets. I will just have to wear the pin I am making everywhere. Lol

I am so sorry about that! Normally we open it up for the whole cruise to buy them on the 7 days, but this is such a short cruise, with so many people, I couldn't deal with the organization of that. So, I needed to just do it for the FE people and didn't want to reveal it so people didn't just jump on to the FE to get these. It will help you also being able to identify some of the people from the thread! If it helps any, they are much less elaborate than the ones I normally order!

 

[momtoleasawav]

Where do you live? I am trying to sell 5 tickets on Direct Air out of Worcester for April 10-April 24th. The only problem is that they are for two weeks and the flights to make that shorter are sold out. We are flying Southwest instead to not take so much time off.

I am selling all five for $600!!! Roundtrip to Sanford!!

we live in Middleboro ma which is close to Taunton. are you saying I would have to leave on the 10th to be able to use them??

 

[momtoleasawav]

ok I thought of a question that I hope someone can answer:
first if I am doing the snorkeling with the stingrays do I get to keep my snorkeling equipment for the whole day?

 

[pkmingo]

Last year we got our 12 inch (sturdy) cable ties at Walmart but this year, we only can find 8 inch and they don't seem very sturdy. Anyone find any 12" yet? Deb T., where do you find yours?? If we do have to put them end to end as Deb T said - Do you do it like a chain link? Thanks for the info - just trying to get all these loose ends worked out!
Carol

 

[Deb T.]

Last year we got our 12 inch (sturdy) cable ties at Walmart but this year, we only can find 8 inch and they don't seem very sturdy. Anyone find any 12" yet? Deb T., where do you find yours?? If we do have to put them end to end as Deb T said - Do you do it like a chain link? Thanks for the info - just trying to get all these loose ends worked out!
Carol

Most hardware stores sell them, like Home Depot and Lowes.

If you use two or more, I wouldn't make them like chain links. What I've done before is just slide the rounded end of one zip tie into the slot of a second zip tie a little ways, then connected the whole thing onto the silver fish (or starfish or seahorse) and FE as if it were one long zip tie.

 

[pkmingo]

Most hardware stores sell them, like Home Depot and Lowes.

If you use two or more, I wouldn't make them like chain links. What I've done before is just slide the rounded end of one zip tie into the slot of a second zip tie a little ways, then connected the whole thing onto the silver fish (or starfish or seahorse) and FE as if it were one long zip tie.

Didn't think about Home Depot or Lowes! Will check them out tomorrow! Thanks!!

 

[Deb T.]

Didn't think about Home Depot or Lowes! Will check them out tomorrow! Thanks!!

Always happy to help! Good luck!

 

[bdink921]

Bridget - it will be AWESOME! because we are such a great group and just that will make it very special! don't worry about the crowds; yes, there will be crowds but Disney will do their best organizing us and we will try to concentrate on all the positive! First of all - no patients to see these 4 days, no notes writing, no aggravating phone calls from permanently unhappy people, no cooking, no cleaning, no laundry - JUST FUN, FUN, FUN, with lots of people and lots of new friends.

Awww, please don't be anxious about this cruise. It will be whatever you make it to be! So, let's make it be a great vacation!

Kinda makes me nervous about the new ship and new routines, but we have a respite area on our verandah and I am a little less concerned about getting pictures of the kids with the characters as we have them already and really what may be most important this cruise is the family photos.

So long story short, I TOTALLY KWYM!!!!

Thanks guys -- I guess I was just having a 'moment' -- I knew I could count on you to snap me out of it. Great pep talk Deb, I knew when I hit 'submit reply' it was coming. On our Glory cruise, it was a packed sold out ship and sure the pools/pool deck were crowded but we usually did other things during the day and hit the pools early or later. We really never had a problem, it's just the way some posters make it sound...

Last year we got our 12 inch (sturdy) cable ties at Walmart but this year, we only can find 8 inch and they don't seem very sturdy. Anyone find any 12" yet? Deb T., where do you find yours?? If we do have to put them end to end as Deb T said - Do you do it like a chain link? Thanks for the info - just trying to get all these loose ends worked out!
Carol

I picked up a pack of 100 multicolored zip ties the other day for about $4. They are 8 inch ones though.

 

[bdink921]

I FINALLY finished bagging and tagging my FE's and most are already packed. Um, they fill more than one carry on and my DH is having a bird. He thinks I'm the ONLY one doing this . DH finally went and picked up some clothes for the trip -- he'll be easy to spot. Everything he bought is in shades of gray or black . Oh well, it'll all go great with his dis green bracelet -- hooray for color!!!! I'm making a 'do not forget to do' list. Hold mail, dog to kennel, withdraw cash for trip. What am I forgetting ???

 

[Disneydrg]

Hi Everyone! My DD (mommybean) just got me set up on the Disboards This will be the 4th Disney cruise for DW & I. We're doing a B2B this time (also on the 4/14 cruise). She mentioned that there were a few people also doing B2B the same dates. We're traveling with DD, DSIL, DGD, and friends.

Getting excited to be on the new Dream Can't wait to meet everybody!

 

[Deb T.]

Thanks guys -- I guess I was just having a 'moment' -- I knew I could count on you to snap me out of it. Great pep talk Deb, I knew when I hit 'submit reply' it was coming. On our Glory cruise, it was a packed sold out ship and sure the pools/pool deck were crowded but we usually did other things during the day and hit the pools early or later. We really never had a problem, it's just the way some posters make it sound...

We all have our moments. I had one this afternoon. Became completely overwhelmed with everything I absolutely have to do this week before Saturday morning - on top of everything else I have to do over then next two weeks - on top of working full time. I had a nice timeline going, and then unexpected major projects were dumped in my lap, both with the wedding and at work. Even with my insomnia and active Type-A personality, I don't see how it's going to be possible to get everything accomplished. So, I started making... wait for it... more lists.

I picked up a pack of 100 multicolored zip ties the other day for about $4. They are 8 inch ones though.

No worries. They'll be fine if you use two, end-to-end, to make one longer one.

I FINALLY finished bagging and tagging my FE's and most are already packed. Um, they fill more than one carry on and my DH is having a bird. He thinks I'm the ONLY one doing this . DH finally went and picked up some clothes for the trip -- he'll be easy to spot. Everything he bought is in shades of gray or black . Oh well, it'll all go great with his dis green bracelet -- hooray for color!!!! I'm making a 'do not forget to do' list. Hold mail, dog to kennel, withdraw cash for trip. What am I forgetting ???

You can assure your DH that you are most definitely not the only one. Tell him there are several cruisers who are doing FE's on B2B cruises!! I've got a carry-on duffel full of surprises and I haven't even put together the ones that DD will hand out on the 4/21 cruise.

 

[Deb T.]

Hi Everyone! My DD (mommybean) just got me set up on the Disboards This will be the 4th Disney cruise for DW & I. We're doing a B2B this time (also on the 4/14 cruise). She mentioned that there were a few people also doing B2B the same dates. We're traveling with DD, DSIL, DGD, and friends.

Getting excited to be on the new Dream Can't wait to meet everybody!

Welcome Aboard, Disneydrg! We're glad mommybean got you started on our cruise thread! We're a friendly bunch! The cruise is going to be a blast!

 

[guarn3md]

AHHHH! I just booked my airfare for return trip in May - just 17 days after we return from this trip! This is why my DH is on the "doesn't know what him list"! He was adament that Connor and I were not crashing his PSTC Convention. Just to let you kow what an engineer husband I have, PSTC (Pressure Sensitive Tape Council)!! What fun! Anyway - so I argued for it...then came back and said you know your right, it is asking too much - the cruise/WDW in April plus the week at Thanksgiving. Forget it, I am grateful for what I get! Then he came back last week and said - you know I think you should go and you should go the whole time I am there. So now airfare has been purchased - we are all going Tuesday 5/10 - Sunday 5/15. We are staying at Hyatt Grand Cypress because that is where the convention is. Not happy about being off property but not going to complain!! On my way to basement to show DH and DS the official confirmation of airline tickets! Hopefully no buyers remorse...
Debbie