April 5, 2012 5 Night Bahamian Cruise (Dreamfinders)

[MagicLovinMama]

Hello fellow cruisers!
It's come to my attention that I have too much on my plate and need to eliminate at least one source of stress. The most optional source of stress I have is FE gifts, so my family is going to back out, unfortunately. I just have too much else to worry about between work and kids and house and so on!
I hope we'll have a DISboards meet on board, though.
Can't wait to cruise with you all soon!

PS - To the PP who asked about grandparents: my mother is coming along (and has her own cabin) in order to get some quality baby time in. Looking forward to having free childcare, especially at night!

 

[DutchsMommy]

Hi everyone - we are very late coming to this cruise; we only booked on Sunday! Please count us in for the FE, too.

Look forward to meeting everyone.

Hi - I actually just sent off an inquiry to our TA (using Small World this time maybe, we'll see). I actually just started playing around with dates and such for a trip w/ my sister and our kiddos (ditching the hubbies LOL) so, we'll see if there is still any room for us on this cruise! I'm a little worried about what the quote will come back as given it is so close to sail date. But, with this being Easter we wont have the kids out of school for *as much* time (but they are pretty little, so that doesnt really worry me) and I've found pretty good non-stop flights so fingers crossed we can book, and find some DVC space before hand for a few days at WDW (sister and her son's first time so want to do a little MK etc prior to cruising). OUr family has been on DCL a few times, but never the new ship(s) so definately interested in what's new! Anyway, wish me luck and you'll see me back here if we are successful .

 

[mvlimmex]

Hello fellow cruisers!
It's come to my attention that I have too much on my plate and need to eliminate at least one source of stress. The most optional source of stress I have is FE gifts, so my family is going to back out, unfortunately. I just have too much else to worry about between work and kids and house and so on!
I hope we'll have a DISboards meet on board, though.
Can't wait to cruise with you all soon!

PS - To the PP who asked about grandparents: my mother is coming along (and has her own cabin) in order to get some quality baby time in. Looking forward to having free childcare, especially at night!

I was sorry to see that you won't be joining us for FE, but I can understand.
I have taken your name off of the list.

I think that we should have a Dismeet. Any suggestions anyone?

Vicki

 

[D2stobb]

I was sorry to see that you won't be joining us for FE, but I can understand.
I have taken your name off of the list.

I think that we should have a Dismeet. Any suggestions anyone?

Vicki

I think a dismeet would be fun!

Having never done one, would it be best to do it early, and get kids aquatinted, or later and see who gave what for fun FE gifts?
Just tell me time and place- and we are there!


we just booked our Disney Reservations(dining) for our before cruise adventure.

And booked all of our shore excursions last week ( paid in full!!!)
75 days for me until I am In my "happy place"!!!!

Deedee

 

[soccermom888]

I vote for a Dis Meet early in the cruise, so our kids can have familiar faces in the clubs! I'm hoping that they love the clubs so much that mom and dad get plenty of free time, since it's our anniversary trip

One thought -- my DH thinks that our FE gifts are ripe for stealing. How terrible! But any thoughts on 'security issues'? Sorry, but we're from NY/NJ so perhaps we have too much experience with that...

Looking forward to it! As newbies, we don't get to register until Friday!!!

 

[Beachbumpirates]

I too like the idea of meeting early. What has worked in the past is a first day meet around 3pm in the Promenade Lounge. Having not been on the Dream yet I am not familiar with their lounges -there must be a large central one, right?

On another note - was anyone able to book a cabana on Castaway? They went pretty quick and I keep checking for one to pop open but no luck yet.

Laurie

 

[mvlimmex]

I too think we should have a meet the 1st day. I have never been on the Dream before, so I am not sure of a good meeting spot. Would 3:00 work for everyone? Where would be a good spot to meet?

Vicki

 

[D2stobb]

I too think we should have a meet the 1st day. I have never been on the Dream before, so I am not sure of a good meeting spot. Would 3:00 work for everyone? Where would be a good spot to meet?

Vicki

There are a couple of big lounges in the District- The District lounge deck four aft. Or the Evolution is a big open space- family friendly too
Is an all ages lounge- kids families, etc.

I would say 3 pm is good, however we are at the mercy of Disney transportation, and last year, we didn't get to board until nearly 4 pm.

Maybe after dinner/ second show would be a good time? Or we could all meet at The kids club and drop off at the same time?

Dee Dee

 

[Tammi67]

Hi All!

I apologize but I'm going to have to drop out of the FE exchange. There is just no way I can hold down the responsibilities of a single parent household, work, and be crafty, all at the same time!

I'm really looking forward to this vacation, and meeting everyone. I like the idea of an early meet, and Evolution sounds good, since it is kid friendly. Count us in!

 

[mvlimmex]

Hi All!

I apologize but I'm going to have to drop out of the FE exchange. There is just no way I can hold down the responsibilities of a single parent household, work, and be crafty, all at the same time!

I'm really looking forward to this vacation, and meeting everyone. I like the idea of an early meet, and Evolution sounds good, since it is kid friendly. Count us in!

I am sorry that you won't be able to join us for FE, but can understand. I will take your name off of the list. An early meet sounds good to me -just let me know the time and place and hopefully we can be there.

Vicki

 

[mvlimmex]

We have had a couple join and a couple drop out of FE within the past week or so, so here is the updated list as of Jan 17th, 2012.

Please let me know if you are interesting in joining us. The deadline to join is Feb 23rd (6 weeks before we set sail - to give everyone time to make or buy their FE gifts)

1. mvlimmex: DH Marty, DW Vicki, DD Adriane 13, DS Zach 9, DD Stephanie 8, DS Isaac 4, DS Vincent 2.
2. praisehisname: DH Tom, DW Denise, DS Lee 17, DD Sarah Jo 15, DD Maggie 13
3 labela: DH Matt, DW Lisa, DD Olivia 6 1/2 ,
4. Pastamom DW Sara, DH Andy, DS DJ 12, DS AJ 10
5.Tinkerbell,RN: DW Beth, DH Matthew, DD Megan 14, DD Sarah 12
6.D2stobb: DW DeeDee, DH Justin, DS Andrew 9
7. soccermom888: DH Calvin, DW Lydia, DS Ethan 7, DS Caden 4
8.mjshorses- DW Michelle and DH (newly wed)
9.PRLADY51- DW and DH
10. WDW1974: Melinda and Eli 12 - almost 13
11.JCWolf: DH, DW, DS Brandon 15 (disabled on 9 year old level)
12.JCWolf's older son and his wife: Teague and Jessie
13. Devine5829: DH Tom, DW Paula, DD Elizabeth 14 and DD Ann 15.
14. Cathicool: DW Cathi, DH Jeff, DD Alassia 11 (just shy of 12 on the cruise), DS Zachary 10 (multiple food allergies), DD Victoria 7.5
15. Sarabi's Cubs: DH Brian, DW Laurie, DS Andrew 13, DD Carrie 11, DS Joe 6.
16. mackiemom3: DH Tom, DW Shannon, DD Cassidy, DS Liam, DS Connor 3.
17. Beachbumpirates: DH Rob, DW Laurie, DD Megan 16, DD Mallory 13.
18.ginnymack: DH Mark, DW Ginger, DD Katie 8, DD Meredith 6.
19.Sianrob: DW Sian, DH Russ, DD Robynn 11
20. AlisonUK: DW Alison, DH Nigel, DS Stephen 12
__________________

 

[Pastamom]

Can't wait to set sail!!! We had 3 inches of snow today in WI...yuck

Early meet sounds great....however I know if it's nice, my boys will want to be in the pool at that time...

What is the link for the kid's thread? I'm going to try to get them on it.

Thanks

 

[mvlimmex]

Here is the link:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2684560

Vicki

 

[Beachbumpirates]

Hi All! Finally filled out our online check in today so I guess it is official!

Since this is the first time we will not be using Disney transfers, I was able to request a 'port arrival' time. I was quite surprised that the early times were available - we confirmed an 11:00am-11:30am arrival time. Soooo, hopefully we will be on board by lunch time!

 

[Donna3271]

Does anyone know when Disney will have the in-room Easter gifts available online to order?

Any basket ideas of what people are doing, or previous pics from Shirley? I don't know how I am going to hide baskets. I may just tell them the Easter Bunny is not like Santa and can't get on the ship once it is gone, so they he may leave them on thurs before we leave (LOL!!)

TU!!

 

[littlebitsmom]

Hi everyone!
We are excited to set sail in 75 days! It will be me, DH and DS (7). This is not only our first Disney cruise, but our first cruise ever. My husband and I are celebrating our 10 year anniversary but wanted to bring our 7 year old along. Our DS (1) will be getting spoiled silly by his grandparents while we are gone. I was hoping to meet some others with a child close in age who may need a playmate. My son is excited about the cruise, but is scared he is going to miss his little brother a lot. We are from Charlottesville, Virginia.

 

[Tammi67]

Paid in full, checked in, excursions booked! Even being one of the last to check in, we were still able to get an 11-11:30 arrival time!

 

[MagicLovinMama]

Paid in full, checked in, excursions booked! Even being one of the last to check in, we were still able to get an 11-11:30 arrival time!

Ditto to all of that!! I was very relieved, to say the least. We are getting REALLY excited now.

 

[sianrob]

I vote for a Dis Meet early in the cruise, so our kids can have familiar faces in the clubs! I'm hoping that they love the clubs so much that mom and dad get plenty of free time, since it's our anniversary trip

One thought -- my DH thinks that our FE gifts are ripe for stealing. How terrible! But any thoughts on 'security issues'? Sorry, but we're from NY/NJ so perhaps we have too much experience with that...

Looking forward to it! As newbies, we don't get to register until Friday!!!

Hi,

We have done the FE thing once before and were given a couple of warnings ahead of time:
1. Bring a plastic zip-tie (the kind you have to cut off with scissors) to connect your FE to the fish. This will stop it from "wandering" away.
2. Clear out your gifts regularly so they are not a temptation.

We did not lose any gifts (as far as I know), but someone did take a number of magnets off our door the last night :-( . A few doors down they were covered in magnets and none were gone, I think it was because we were right across from the doorway to the stairs and the others were further down.

It is super-fun to get back to your room and see all the goodies you have received!!

Sian

 

[Beachbumpirates]

Does anyone know when Disney will have the in-room Easter gifts available online to order?

Any basket ideas of what people are doing, or previous pics from Shirley? I don't know how I am going to hide baskets. I may just tell them the Easter Bunny is not like Santa and can't get on the ship once it is gone, so they he may leave them on thurs before we leave (LOL!!)

TU!!

Hi Donna, A few years back, when our girls were much younger, we had Shirley do baskets and they were in the room. My DH stayed with the girls up on deck and I ran down before we went to the cabin as a family. I put the baskets on the top shelf of the closet and covered them with a blanket. On Easter morning we pulled them down and the girls never had any clue they had been in the cabin all week. It worked pretty well without having to explain anything different. BTW - we still use Shirley on our DCL cruises and she does a fantastic job - never been dissapointed. Good luck hiding the baskets!

Laurie