August 17, 2013 - A Fantasy Cruise to Paradise

[shmoogrrrl]

Hello everyone!

I hope that you are all doing well! My girlfriends and I are back from our child and husband free Disney trip. I survived the Princess Half Marathon. It took me three hours, if you are interested. Not the greatest time, but it was my very first race EVER (Go big or go home!) and something like five thousand people came in after me, so I am pleased with my time! We are already planning on next year!

The trip itself was great. It is very different going without kids. Waiting in line wasn't crazy, getting around was quick (well, once you got over the soreness from running!)

Anyway, I think I've updated the front list. If you want me to add names, just let me know and I will. If I left you out, or got information wrong, just let me know that as well!

 

[UltimateDisneyFan]

Yes, I really liked the restaurants on the Dream, but sometimes at the end of the day, I just didn't want to get dressed and sit down for a big dinner. Burgers by the pool was great. And I really like amusement parks and roller coasters, so getting to go on the aquaduck with no line was worth skipping a big dinner!

There's no question parasailing is more exciting! But now we'll also be stopping at some ports that have ziplining, and I'm thinking about that. If we do that, I may be ready to not do much of anything by the time we get to Castaway Cay.

There isn't too much posted about the Fantasy yet, but have you seen this link to their video journal? They're posting new video as they cross the Atlantic to get ready for their first trip. It looks very similar to the Dream, which is fine!


So many choices of what to do - I'm an environmental engineer, and did you know Disney also works hard at keeping up with environmental issues? I'm fairly certain they're the first entertainment company to use a new kind of fireworks that are less toxic - that's my geeky science fact for the day.

I've seen some of the videos of zip lining and it looks great - unfortunately we can't fit all of it into one holiday.

Sadly no ones had a chance to upload a online tour of the ship but I'm guessing it'll be almost identical to the Dream. I was watching the videos and I can't wait to have a go in animators! It looks amazing! I thought the one on the Dream was amazing!

I know what you mean about the restaurants. The worst thing about the restaurants on the whole, for me, is how most people bother to get dressed up and then one family come in in jeans and a t-shirt! Maybe that's just me...

I've also heard people say that if you miss out on a Castaway Cay day the queue for the aquaduck is a lot shorter, but no matter how good the slide is, i doubt I could miss an opportunity to see the beach.

What do you do for your job? I'm afraid I'm going to (probably) be a bit naive here and say I'm not too sure on what an environmental engineer is. Oops!

Sarah

Sorry about the late posting, it seems that lately I'm always busy!!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

So many choices of what to do - I'm an environmental engineer, and did you know Disney also works hard at keeping up with environmental issues? I'm fairly certain they're the first entertainment company to use a new kind of fireworks that are less toxic - that's my geeky science fact for the day.

I knew that. Only because I used to work IT at The Nature Conservancy before I became a full time Mom, and I used to hope that our Disney offices would end up needing IT support.

Never happened, though.

 

[mominva]

I knew that. Only because I used to work IT at The Nature Conservancy before I became a full time Mom, and I used to hope that our Disney offices would end up needing IT support.

Never happened, though.

That's so funny! I work across the street from the Nature Conservancy in Ballston. I'm also a girl scout leader and we just had a cookie booth sale tonight at the metro stop there. And I was chatting with the father of one of the girls - turns out he works in IT at the Nature Conservancy. Small world!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

That's so funny! I work across the street from the Nature Conservancy in Ballston. I'm also a girl scout leader and we just had a cookie booth sale tonight at the metro stop there. And I was chatting with the father of one of the girls - turns out he works in IT at the Nature Conservancy. Small world!

Wow! It really is a small world. I stopped working there 10 years ago, but I remember staring longingly at the Disney offices and thinking that it would be awesome to have a trip there.

 

[mominva]

I've seen some of the videos of zip lining and it looks great - unfortunately we can't fit all of it into one holiday.

Sadly no ones had a chance to upload a online tour of the ship but I'm guessing it'll be almost identical to the Dream. I was watching the videos and I can't wait to have a go in animators! It looks amazing! I thought the one on the Dream was amazing!

I know what you mean about the restaurants. The worst thing about the restaurants on the whole, for me, is how most people bother to get dressed up and then one family come in in jeans and a t-shirt! Maybe that's just me...

I've also heard people say that if you miss out on a Castaway Cay day the queue for the aquaduck is a lot shorter, but no matter how good the slide is, i doubt I could miss an opportunity to see the beach.

What do you do for your job? I'm afraid I'm going to (probably) be a bit naive here and say I'm not too sure on what an environmental engineer is. Oops!

Sarah

Sorry about the late posting, it seems that lately I'm always busy!!

I don't think we'll see much video until the first trip on the Fantasy, but that's coming up quick! I think it will look a lot like the Dream, but I did hear they added some more water features - not a whole pool, but some splash or spray areas. I think I heard that they're making all new animated artwork and detective agency clues too, so that'll be fun.

Well, the jeans and t-shirt family is probably us! The last thing I want to do on vacation is get dressed up! I didn't really notice a lot of people dressed up, but that's probably me - I just didn't pay too much attention to that. Our clothes are clean, but not dressy, when we head to the restaurants!

Environmental engineers do a lot of things, mostly dealing with cleaning up something in/from the environment (water, soil etc). My specialty has been developing ways for cleaning up hazardous chemicals in the environment, mostly those that have found their way into groundwater.

I was checking the times we're in the ports and I don't see how there's time to do some of the activities, but maybe the times will change as we get closer the our departure. I'd be happy just poking around and seeing a new place too!

 

[mominva]

Wow! It really is a small world. I stopped working there 10 years ago, but I remember staring longingly at the Disney offices and thinking that it would be awesome to have a trip there.

I didn't know there was a Disney office around here. I started about 10 years ago, so maybe they've moved on since then. There's been a lot of building in the past few years and I think rents must be ridiculously high. My office is moving too, sometime within the next few months.

 

[shmoogrrrl]

I didn't know there was a Disney office around here. I started about 10 years ago, so maybe they've moved on since then. There's been a lot of building in the past few years and I think rents must be ridiculously high. My office is moving too, sometime within the next few months.

I actually meant staring at the list of offices and seeing the one that was at Animal Kingdom (although I don't know if there is still one there!) and wishing that they would need some work.

I am pretty sure that Disney had offices in Tysons Corner at some point. It wouldn't surprise me if they still did. I imagine a company that big would have people involved in Washington politics. Maybe not the Republican/Democrat way, but in ways that affect their business.

 

[UltimateDisneyFan]

I don't think we'll see much video until the first trip on the Fantasy, but that's coming up quick! I think it will look a lot like the Dream, but I did hear they added some more water features - not a whole pool, but some splash or spray areas. I think I heard that they're making all new animated artwork and detective agency clues too, so that'll be fun.

Well, the jeans and t-shirt family is probably us! The last thing I want to do on vacation is get dressed up! I didn't really notice a lot of people dressed up, but that's probably me - I just didn't pay too much attention to that. Our clothes are clean, but not dressy, when we head to the restaurants!

Environmental engineers do a lot of things, mostly dealing with cleaning up something in/from the environment (water, soil etc). My specialty has been developing ways for cleaning up hazardous chemicals in the environment, mostly those that have found their way into groundwater.

I was checking the times we're in the ports and I don't see how there's time to do some of the activities, but maybe the times will change as we get closer the our departure. I'd be happy just poking around and seeing a new place too!

The videos that have been shown look amazing - I cant wait! When I was younger I would have loved to play in the new water feature but now I'm not to sure. It still looks great though! Maybe it'll keep people off the aqua duck - although I highly doubt that.

I'm talking about the families who turn up in jeans and t-shirts that obviously haven't been washed! I've seen one group of people before who have come in their swimming costumes with a baggy t-shirt thrown on top! I'm very excited about trying the food and meeting the waiters/waitresses. Last time we had amazing servers called Hidi and Robert. I think I'd have to say Animators is my favourite, especially the newer ones. What about you?

That sound so cool! My Mum and Dad both work with computers so the only person Iv'e known who works to help the environment is one of my old teachers - Mrs Brown.

It doesn't seem like we've got enough time to do everything and this is probably one chance I'll ever get to do something like parasailing or zip lining etc... I'm pretty sure it's impossible to go scuba-diving in the middle of London!

Sarah

 

[mominva]

The videos that have been shown look amazing - I cant wait! When I was younger I would have loved to play in the new water feature but now I'm not to sure. It still looks great though! Maybe it'll keep people off the aqua duck - although I highly doubt that.

I'm talking about the families who turn up in jeans and t-shirts that obviously haven't been washed! I've seen one group of people before who have come in their swimming costumes with a baggy t-shirt thrown on top! I'm very excited about trying the food and meeting the waiters/waitresses. Last time we had amazing servers called Hidi and Robert. I think I'd have to say Animators is my favourite, especially the newer ones. What about you?

That sound so cool! My Mum and Dad both work with computers so the only person Iv'e known who works to help the environment is one of my old teachers - Mrs Brown.

It doesn't seem like we've got enough time to do everything and this is probably one chance I'll ever get to do something like parasailing or zip lining etc... I'm pretty sure it's impossible to go scuba-diving in the middle of London!

Sarah

I think I liked Enchanted Garden best. We were lucky enough to get one of the circular booths that line the main entrance. I liked how it transformed from day to night during the meal - it's just a really pretty restaurant. Our head waiter was from Trinidad - so that was a nice homey touch for us. They often seemed really rushed though, so I don't think we actually chatted with them very much.

We have spring break coming up in 2 weeks and I can't wait. We're going to Virginia Beach for a few nights just to relax. It'll probably be too cold to go in the ocean, but it'll be nice to sit on the sand and watch the ocean!

 

[NYCDVClover2000]

It's Official we just booked, Fantasy here we come!!!! It will be me DW(44), DH (44) & DD (madison 8). We have already done the wonder & magic now it's the Fantasy.

 

[dizneeat]

Hello fellow cruisers!

We just changed our vacation plans for 2013 and have decided to take this cruise as the second leg of a back to back on the Fantasy.

We is my DB Tom and me, Karin, both from Austria and loving DCL! These two cruises will be no 11 and 12 with DCL.

Anyone interested in doing a Fish Extender exchange? So far we have done it every cruise and it is so much fun ..... we're hoping there will be some families that will join in!

Karin

 

[NYCDVClover2000]

Hello fellow cruisers!

We just changed our vacation plans for 2013 and have decided to take this cruise as the second leg of a back to back on the Fantasy.

We is my DB Tom and me, Karin, both from Austria and loving DCL! These two cruises will be no 11 and 12 with DCL.

Anyone interested in doing a Fish Extender exchange? So far we have done it every cruise and it is so much fun ..... we're hoping there will be some families that will join in!

Karin

Can you remind me what we have to do for a fish extender.

 

[dizneeat]

Can you remind me what we have to do for a fish extender.

Sure I can!

Here's a picture of our first FE.

You hang it on the fish/seahorse outside your stateroom.
People sign up to participate and it works kind of like a secret Santa kind of thing. While you leave a small surprise in the FEs of people participating, they will do the same for you.
It is so much fun. In February on our last cruise we literally had a surprise in our FE every time we returned to our stateroom!

Just ask if you have any more questions!

 

[NYCDVClover2000]

Sure I can!

Here's a picture of our first FE.

You hang it on the fish/seahorse outside your stateroom.
People sign up to participate and it works kind of like a secret Santa kind of thing. While you leave a small surprise in the FEs of people participating, they will do the same for you.
It is so much fun. In February on our last cruise we literally had a surprise in our FE every time we returned to our stateroom!

Just ask if you have any more questions!

What kind of stuff did you get or put in it? How did you make your Fish Extender?

 

[dizneeat]

What kind of stuff did you get or put in it? How did you make your Fish Extender?

ALL kinds of stuff! Candy, little homemade trinkets, pencils, pens, emergency packs (band aids, safety pins aso), postcards from people's home towns, hand sanitizer, homemade picture frames, .... there is a whole thread of home made FE gifts.
I don't want to "give away" our presents as we do fairly the same stuff for every cruise and I want the participants to be surprised!
We include Austrian candy .. that much I can tell you!
No big things, just fun little things that might remind you of the fun time you had.

This is the first one I made, here is a photo of our current one.

I sewed mine - it was about two hours until I had it finished (including the fake Lederhosen and Dirndlkleid).

 

[shmoogrrrl]

It's Official we just booked, Fantasy here we come!!!! It will be me DW(44), DH (44) & DD (madison 8). We have already done the wonder & magic now it's the Fantasy.

Awesome! Welcome to you! Can I add you to the front list?

We have done five cruises, and they have all been on the Magic, so I am looking forward to seeing a new ship!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Hello fellow cruisers!

We just changed our vacation plans for 2013 and have decided to take this cruise as the second leg of a back to back on the Fantasy.

We is my DB Tom and me, Karin, both from Austria and loving DCL! These two cruises will be no 11 and 12 with DCL.

Anyone interested in doing a Fish Extender exchange? So far we have done it every cruise and it is so much fun ..... we're hoping there will be some families that will join in!

Karin

Hello! Welcome to our little sailing. Can I add you all to the front page?

I would assume that we will plan a Fish Extender exchange as the group gets more populated. We really enjoyed our last one!

 

[dizneeat]

Hello! Welcome to our little sailing. Can I add you all to the front page?

I would assume that we will plan a Fish Extender exchange as the group gets more populated. We really enjoyed our last one!

Sure you can add us!
You are really going to enjoy the new ships!
We have sailed on the Wonder three times and 4 times on the DREAM and loved every minute of it!
Going back this summer for a back to back!

And as I said, glad there will be a FE exchange - so much fun!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

What kind of stuff did you get or put in it? How did you make your Fish Extender?

The last one we did was six years ago, but we put in pencils from the Pentagon, some candy and Washington DC magnets (We live in Northern VA). Some people make things, some people just get small cheapy kinds of things. It really is an 'Anything goes' kind of thing.

Technically you don't even need the Fish Extender. We didn't have one six years ago (although we will probably get one for next year just because they are cute) and they just attached things to the actual Fish that Disney has outside of every room.