April 2, 2005 Magic-First DCL cruise-anyone going?

[RachelTori]

You'll be fine without a porthole. Your family probably won't spend much time in the stateroom anyway; they're used primarily for sleeping!!! I bet your young daughter will sleep well on the ship. April 2005 still sounds so far in the future, but it will be here before we know it!!!!

Laura

 

[anlashokna]

I'm glad you had a good time Laura.

I really liked the wilderness lodge, the theming is just wonderful. Reminded me of the lodges up in the Tetons and Yellowstone.


Don't get to stay at the resorts this time Parents want to play tagalong. So much for a vacation away from the family. We ended up with a Vacation Home Rental. They want to cook there own food since they have problems with food poisoning episodes. Already told them I have a boat to catch so they're on there own if they get sick enroute to Fl So they'll be in Orlando while I cruise. I get a week without them, thank goodness they won't get on a ship.

It's an extremely bad thing for me to wish for winter to just get here ! I keep waiting for the little countdown clock to drop below 200! Then I'll feel like its closing in

You'll be able to find me wandering around in the fresh air with my little digital..probably have 100's of pictures of the water by the time I get off the boat!

It's beginning to look like I may have to invest in a trainer to get the rest of this darn weight off. Considering the doctor is making me eat some of the foods I gave up to help the weight loss because of some of my blood work from my last check up

Can't win. They want me to loose weight..then they want me to eat the stuff that doesn't let me loose weight . HELP !

Bingo sounds like fun but the addiction can get costly it seems. Are there any shows you would skip?

I'll just go stare at the countdown clock for awhile now

Stacey

 

[RachelTori]

I can't think of any shows I'd "skip" but we had something else planned on Hercules night and couldn't make it to the show. We watched it on TV late that night in our stateroom! (some are televised) We enjoy the musical/character shows most of all.

Laura

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

We went to a couple of the shows without our boys. The older (12) didn't think it would be "cool" and the younger (6) wanted to be in the clubs. We sat through the whole production wishing they were there to watch it. So this time we're planning on everyone seeing all the shows

 

[cwf1028]

Definately going to insist that the kids see the main three shows since this is our first cruise. The girls loved Disney on Ice last year and the Cinderella show at MK so I know they will love the shows on the boat. Want to try and make the matinee showing for some of them depending on what the evening versus afternoon activities are for the kids and us.

 

[anlashokna]

On the shows...first come first pick of seats?

 

[RachelTori]

Originally posted by anlashokna
On the shows...first come first pick of seats?

Yes, but we never had any problems with the seating - plenty of room for everyone!!



cwf1028, your daughters will LOVE the shows (you will too!). Also, on the last day they can BE in the show!! They'll go a rehearsal and then do the song onstage with Mickey!! If it's still the same, they'll also get a keepsake t-shirt for being in the show! (Don't share this info with them, though - you know how nothing stays the same forever and I'd hate for them to be diappointed.)

Laura

 

[anlashokna]

Here's a tidbit I found out. Even single cruisers can do the REAS package Now I can relax and not worry about the ressie nightmare ! Probably making a bit more money off me than others but oh well. I'm just looking forward to not running around with my head cut off the minute I get onboard!

I was surprised they would do that package. Did read on another posting where the one gal got two massages because her husband didnt want to do it.

I'm hoping I can just talk them into letting me have the massage I want and I'll eat the extra cost. Find out down the line. Won't complain about two massages though

Otherwise lets see..learned I can snorkel with contacts...WOOHOO! Just not allowed to dive. I can now look at the fishies though

Went winter clothes shopping today...means the trip is just around the corner....what happened to summer??

Stacey

 

[RachelTori]

We haven't been a very active group lately, have we?!! Sorry about that! I've been busy with my kids - the 19 y/o DD leaves for college ("pre-rush" at her sorority!) this Saturday, 8/7. So much to help her with before she leaves!!! My 10 y/o DD starts Middle School Monday, 8/9. Our summer is over already

Of course it's still like 100 degrees down here in Georgia (that's the "feels like" temperature!!). The thought of "winter clothes" makes me break out in a sweat! Actually, I used to live in Minnesota & the Dakotas. When we moved here, I had to get rid of all my sweaters and such -- the weight was way too heavy!!!

Last cruise we didn't do any spa treatments so I don't know a thing about it! I was most concerned with getting Palo ressies. We did the Brunch which was wonderful. We meant to get dessert there one day but ran out of time! Their chocolate souffle is supposedly "to die for"!!! That's near the top of MY list for this cruise!

Laura

 

[anlashokna]

Ohmygosh...please don't cry when you see her off! It's going to be hard. I remember that day many years ago when my mother saw me off to college. She was crying, got me started and dad said she was like that for hours afterwards for the drive home

Dis UL got me a good deal on the package. I guess you can't call Disney until your package is paid off to make the ressies though from what I see on the boards. So it will be a little while yet. I guess you can make your Palo Brunch and Dinner reservation through this and all your spa treatments. I thought that was nice, plus you get to ask for your rotation. Plus other little perks. Sounds neat. Haven't done the massage thing either. Plan to spoil myself since i have to deal with the parents the following week at WDW. Oooh...chocolate...hopefully I can indulge by April Hate diets...

Oh I know about the weather. We moved from Texas to WI right around New Years a couple of years ago. Talk about shock! Two feet of snow on the ground! I like the seasons up here though. I'll get sick of it and move to Florida eventually

Stacey

 

[RachelTori]

I won't cry, I promise! This is Rachel's 2nd year and she's only 90 miles from home so we see her often! Also, I have experience with this as my 27 y/o DS went off to college in 1995.

Could you explain a little more where you hooked up on that package? When we last cruised, as far as I know, you couldn't make ANY ressies, spa or Palo, until you boarded. The 1st hour or so was a mad dash for many!!! Then it was over to Parrot Cay for a wonderful buffet!! By the time of the safety drill (around 4 pm), we were unpacked and ready to go! The sail away party on decks 9 & 10 were so much fun! Lots of locals & tourists wave you off as the ship heads out to sea!! (someone on our last cruise commented about all the "losers" standing on shore -- I got so mad at her. The boating community is very supportive and friendly and these wonderful people were wishing us bon voyage.)

Laura

 

[anlashokna]

Okay..probably had something with me being the only kid too

Anyway...

I set up the REAS (Romantic Escape at Sea) Package.

The big draw of the package is for those who don't want to do the reservation rush. I hate doing the stampede for these things anyway. On vacation after all....

I can't remember everything the REAS includes but I know there is a couples massage. In my case,since its just me, I might get a second massage. I've read cases where this has happened. Also you get to make all your Palo Reservations. One is included in the package but you are allowed to make Brunch and Dinner Ressies at that time. I thought someone noted you can also make all your spa reservations at this time but only for those who are part of the REAS package. Don't hold me to that one. What else...there was a Champagne Breakfast, a basket, and they say you can "pick" your rotation. They will do their best but still can't guarantee it.

I was willing to pay for it just because when I added it all up it came close enough to what I would have paid anywho and now I don't have to deal with the mad rush. Only catch is that you have to have the package paid before you can attempt to make all your reservations. Or they will call you 30-60 days out. I'm probably looking at the 1st of the year to do that myself.

You can search on these boards for REAS to. I know even one person had up pictures of some of the neat little things that you get in the room

Stacey

 

[Molli&Emmas_mom]

This will be my family's second Disney Cruise on the Magic. We will be repeating the Eastern since we loved it so much. Their will be nine in my group. Me and my two daughters, Molli who will be 6 and Emma who will be 2. My mom and my baby sister will be in another cabin. The third cabin will be my other sister and her husband and their two kids, Hannah, 8 and Evan 4. This will be their first experiece.

My Mom, Becki, Molli and I were on the Magic in April 2003. We loved the boat, the crew, the ENITRE Disney experience. Molli has been talking about it ever since we got home and kept asking me if we can go again NOW. Becki and I decided that we could not wait until Emma was 4 to go again so we just booked in early July. The kids are so excited as are the adults

We live in South Bend, Indiana which is about 90 miles east of Chicago. We look forward to meeting you all on the cruise. Let me know if you have any questions..I will be happy to try and answer them.

Kathy

 

[mousecrazy]

Just wanted to say WELCOME! My family (DH, DD7, DS3) are newbies to cruising but, needless to say, very excited. I watched the DVD last night and I think I can say that I'm offically totally obsessed with our cruise.

Lisa

 

[RachelTori]

So glad to hear you'll be cruising with us! I'm Laura; DH is Dwight - we'll have our youngest DD11 with us. We also did the Eastern in April 2003! Were you on the 4/5/03 Eastern by chance? (that's the one we were on!)

Laura

 

[Molli&Emmas_mom]

Laura,

YES that is the same cruise we were on, April 5, 2003...two days after my 40th bday! What a great way to celebrate!


Kathy

 

[RachelTori]

Originally posted by Molli&Emmas_mom
Laura,

YES that is the same cruise we were on, April 5, 2003...two days after my 40th bday! What a great way to celebrate!


Kathy

Wasn't that a great cruise?!! Great weather, calm seas! Do you remember your dining rotation? We were APLAPLA. What deck were you on? We were on 6 with the verandah. Enjoyed it, but since we didn't spend much time on it at all, this time we went with a secret porthole room.

You'll be on the ship for your birthday this time, won't you?!

 

[Molli&Emmas_mom]

Laura,

The weather was GREAT...a bit Windy but very nice. We had the PLA rotation and Clive was our waiter. He was super.

We were on Deck 2, an outside cabin with a HUGE porthole. It was very nice and a good location. This time we are going to an Inside Deluxe on Deck 2, across the hall from where we were last time. Like you said you do not spend much time in the cabin and this time we needed 3 cabins so we thought we would try and save some $$$.

Yes I will be celebrating birthday #42. My daughter Molli's 6th bday is March 22nd so we will be celebrating hers as well.

Kathy

 

[RachelTori]

I forgot about that last day on Castaway Cay until after I'd posted! So windy - we're really lucky we were able to dock. What a beautiful island - I hope this cruise the weather on Castaway cooperates. Tori is still waiting to go on those banana boats!

Was Animators Palate your DD's favorite restaurant?

 

[Molli&Emmas_mom]

Yes Molli loved Animators Palate....she was in AWE!

My sister really wants to try the banana boat this time too. I will stay on the beach and take pictures