August 25 2012

[cjnix29]

Ok, anyone in the FE list have last names that begin with N F Z or U?

I don't need to know the actual last name, just your DIS name, so I can match it up for my FE gift.

 

[Lynne G]

At the risk of complete alienation, I'm getting concerned that we keep adding people. I know 2 more were just added and it would be unfair to not add the latest request, but...this is my very first FE, and I really, really want to participate, but I am completely overwhelmed in general and overwhelmed with the continued growing size of the group, not only with the cost and transport of all the materials, but worried about the potential amount of time that will be spent delivering gifts. Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way, but I've already purchased/ordered what I need and had to go back and get more for the additions (which I'm guessing it would have been smarter for me to make sure I had room for extras). Perhaps those who have experience can offer up some suggestions to ease my anxiety and some tips on how to get this all done in time.

No experience on my part, but I hope you can relax. It will be fun and things will get done, and if they don't, so what. I too would like a hard and fast "This is it", as it is getting close to not alot of time and changes aren't my favorite thing to hear. I like to be organized.

I am hoping the handling out of gifts won't be a big burden. You can deliver whenever you want, night or day. I may enlist my kids to help, and I was thinking of doing the Muppet Caper at the same time, so it's not just deliveriing or walking the halls. It seems that many of the cabins are close together and are on the same deck, so I don't see delivery as a huge chunk of time. If I don't finish because I want to do something else, I will just finish at another time when I have some time.

And don't feel bad, I had to buy more supplies too. And, since I am not the craftiest, my FE may be the most boring at sea! Though I too am stressing some, I keep thiniking for the all the work I put toward this FE, it will be fun to get to know so many people and it will be a fun thing for sure for my kids.

 

[JKSWonder]

No experience on my part, but I hope you can relax. It will be fun and things will get done, and if they don't, so what. I too would like a hard and fast "This is it", as it is getting close to not alot of time and changes aren't my favorite thing to hear. I like to be organized.

I am hoping the handling out of gifts won't be a big burden. You can deliver whenever you want, night or day. I may enlist my kids to help, and I was thinking of doing the Muppet Caper at the same time, so it's not just deliveriing or walking the halls. It seems that many of the cabins are close together and are on the same deck, so I don't see delivery as a huge chunk of time. If I don't finish because I want to do something else, I will just finish at another time when I have some time.

And don't feel bad, I had to buy more supplies too. And, since I am not the craftiest, my FE may be the most boring at sea! Though I too am stressing some, I keep thiniking for the all the work I put toward this FE, it will be fun to get to know so many people and it will be a fun thing for sure for my kids.

Excellent idea about doing the Midship Detective agency thing at that same time. I hadn't thought of it, but seems like a great plan since you have to walk all over for that too.

Honestly, on our last cruise, FE delivery for me was pretty quick. We had a very large group, but I went armed with a map of the ship, with cabins highlighted, took it floor by floor, doing forward, mid, then aft. We didn't have assigned days, but I wanted to make sure the FE gift giving went on throughout the cruise, so I didn't hand ours out until I think the fourth or fifth day in the late afternoon. I left DH and the kids in our stateroom (they were having a snack and a nap). I'm pretty sure I got the whole thing done in 45 minutes or less tops.

I mailed the FE gifts to the ship ahead of time and they were waiting for us in the cabin. I transferred the gifts to a tote bag for delivery.

That was my first time participating in the FE. I admit, I freaked out at first worrying about how it would all work out, but after I got everything together and mailed, it ended up being totally painless and a lot of fun.

 

[i12go2wdw]

HI Everyone,
I feel very responsible for this little upset in the FE. I said no more additions after the cut off date, and I originally said we would split into two groups and I have not held true to that, I am sorry.

I know a few people have already made or bought gifts and splitting would be a problem for those who are organized (not me) for the whole group. But if we split with the option to join both groups that would make the groups at least a little smaller (assuming a large # of cabins will participate in both) so I propose that we split the group in 2, one group being decks 8 and above, and the other group being decks 7 and below including GTY, GTO, VGO etc. This will make the groups smaller and the delivery slightly easier with less travelling.

The option is still open to be on both groups if you want, which means you will give and receive from both groups, so even though we split the groups they won't necessarily be only 20 per group as other decide to join both.

All agreed?

 

[krisgils33]

Thanks. I'm not crafty at all, but I am trying to make some cool/interesting things, in addition to buying stuff. I want to make people smile when they receive our gifts. My daughter is pretty excited about participating. I hadn't plotted the delivery map, so that's good news that there will be clusters of cabins. I am also looking forward to meeting the people fromt this board!

No experience on my part, but I hope you can relax. It will be fun and things will get done, and if they don't, so what. I too would like a hard and fast "This is it", as it is getting close to not alot of time and changes aren't my favorite thing to hear. I like to be organized.

I am hoping the handling out of gifts won't be a big burden. You can deliver whenever you want, night or day. I may enlist my kids to help, and I was thinking of doing the Muppet Caper at the same time, so it's not just deliveriing or walking the halls. It seems that many of the cabins are close together and are on the same deck, so I don't see delivery as a huge chunk of time. If I don't finish because I want to do something else, I will just finish at another time when I have some time.

And don't feel bad, I had to buy more supplies too. And, since I am not the craftiest, my FE may be the most boring at sea! Though I too am stressing some, I keep thiniking for the all the work I put toward this FE, it will be fun to get to know so many people and it will be a fun thing for sure for my kids.

 

[Lynne G]

its not a problem. Sorry to have offend or upset anyone that was not intended.

I don't think it is a problem, as we let 2 others in, 1 more to me isn't a big deal. However, since we are close, I would again, like an end to additions sooner than later. I don't mind the large group. I don't think 3 more cabins will take me more than a few minutes more to deliver.


So, Fimguy, would you kindly tell us cabin number (if known), who's in the cabin, kids' names and ages and likes. As you can see in Pudo's spreadsheet a few pages back, the kids' likes are listed to help if wanting to have a requested theme gift. My DD likes Tink, Minnie and Aurora.


Less than 7 weeks to cruise!!!

 

[krisgils33]

Well, several have allayed my fears, so maybe I'm just being overly anal and I shouldn't stress about the whole thing so much. I definitely DO NOT WANT Filmguy to feel slighted or abandoned , so perhaps if I'm the only overwhelmed/terrified one in the group, I would suggest we add Filmguy and that be it forevermore.

HI Everyone,
I feel very responsible for this little upset in the FE. I said no more additions after the cut off date, and I originally said we would split into two groups and I have not held true to that, I am sorry.

I know a few people have already made or bought gifts and splitting would be a problem for those who are organized (not me) for the whole group. But if we split with the option to join both groups that would make the groups at least a little smaller (assuming a large # of cabins will participate in both) so I propose that we split the group in 2, one group being decks 8 and above, and the other group being decks 7 and below including GTY, GTO, VGO etc. This will make the groups smaller and the delivery slightly easier with less travelling.

The option is still open to be on both groups if you want, which means you will give and receive from both groups, so even though we split the groups they won't necessarily be only 20 per group as other decide to join both.

All agreed?

 

[krisgils33]

okay, I have to say it completely freaks me out that you're not getting started until the end of July!!!

Previously, I have seen people split a large group into two. Sometimes people would then decide whether or not they wanted to participate in both groups (give and receive in both groups). Or whether they wanted to give and receive just from the group they were assigned to.

Another suggestion would be that after the established FE close date, the original group would be closed, but a second group could be created for late comers. The second group would give and receive among themselves and then the people in the original group could decide if they wanted to give and receive to both groups or just the original group.

I haven't yet bought any stuff for my FE and probably won't until the end of July since that is the first breather from work I am going to have.

Edited to add: Coincidentally, I had seen a post about Facebook groups for cruises so I ran the name of our ship and cruise dates through the Facebook search option. Nothing popped up, so I don't think there is a Facebook page for this cruise. At least, not currently anyway.

 

[Lynne G]

Well, several have allayed my fears, so maybe I'm just being overly anal and I shouldn't stress about the whole thing so much. I definitely DO NOT WANT Filmguy to feel slighted or abandoned , so perhaps if I'm the only overwhelmed/terrified one in the group, I would suggest we add Filmguy and that be it forevermore.

Krisgils, you are not the only one overwhelmed, by far. Only maybe the first vocal about it!

I would like to deliver to the whole group. So, if you do split, please put me in both groups. 32 to 35 families wasn't a big jump for me, so I don't mind not splitting.

I agree, this is supposed to be a fun little thing to do on the shp. I hope everyone will enjoy each others' deliveries and not worry.

 

[JKSWonder]

okay, I have to say it completely freaks me out that you're not getting started until the end of July!!!

It should be freaking me out too I guess, but since I have done it once before I think that is helping my anxiety. Also, I have some ideas. Mostly, I'm trying to keep it simple. I know if I pick a project that's too ambitious I will just end up making myself crazy when the whole point of a vacation is to relax!

 

[JKSWonder]

HI Everyone,
I feel very responsible for this little upset in the FE. I said no more additions after the cut off date, and I originally said we would split into two groups and I have not held true to that, I am sorry.

I know a few people have already made or bought gifts and splitting would be a problem for those who are organized (not me) for the whole group. But if we split with the option to join both groups that would make the groups at least a little smaller (assuming a large # of cabins will participate in both) so I propose that we split the group in 2, one group being decks 8 and above, and the other group being decks 7 and below including GTY, GTO, VGO etc. This will make the groups smaller and the delivery slightly easier with less travelling.

The option is still open to be on both groups if you want, which means you will give and receive from both groups, so even though we split the groups they won't necessarily be only 20 per group as other decide to join both.

All agreed?

I'm not sure I understand how splitting up by decks would work (although, admittedly, I'm kind of under the weather today). I am fine with splitting it up into two groups, but it seems like it would be difficult to split those groups up according to deck assignments.

First, so many people are GTY and don't have and won't have their cabin assignments until just a few days before. Also, some will have their cabin changed (pixie dust upgrade) or will opt to pay for an upgrade at the Port. It would make it impossible to tailor a gift to specific stateroom occupants or to even know which group everyone belongs to until onboard.

Second, I haven't counted it up or anything, but it might lead to an uneven split, since I don't know if there would be an equal number of families in each group. A whole bunch of us may be on Deck 7, but only one or two on deck 8.

I'm all for less walking, but really don't mind visiting each deck if I need to.

I think it might just be easier to simply cut the list in half....So, if we have 40 cabins, 20 in one and 20 in the other. People could give to just their assigned group or sign up to be on the list for both groups. Cabin changes could be given at a Dismeet (I think Pudo suggested this) and/or posted on one person's cabin door.

 

[cjnix29]

I don't want anyone to think I was offended, I just want a hard and fast drop dead date. If it's later than now, that's great. I think now that we are this big, we should split it it in two. But the next question I have is whether or not we are going to cut it off now, or still let people in?

 

[i12go2wdw]

I don't think there is going to be a good answer to this but if we say right now, as of today, for the very last time

THE FE EXCHANGE FOR AUGUST 25 IS CLOSED
I think everyone will be happy. If you have finished your gifts before we added the last 3 cabins then just leave them out.

SO it is over, no more add ons, we will say no if anyone asks

 

[Lynne G]

To date, here the total numbers I have, including Filmguy - assuming they are1 adult and 2 girls:

35 faimilies, 23 boys, 36 girls. 133 people. 59 kids (all 20/21 years old and under), rest are adults. Only a couple of cabins have only adults.

And I too have yet to start my craft project. End of July sounds about right!

 

[Lynne G]

[(although, admittedly, I'm kind of under the weather today).

Hope you are feeling better.

Yeah, you may not start until end of July, but I can see me madly working on my FE even in August! Darn work and kids' schedules get in the way!

 

[Lynne G]

I don't think there is going to be a good answer to this but if we say right now, as of today, for the very last time

THE FE EXCHANGE FOR AUGUST 25 IS CLOSED
I think everyone will be happy. If you have finished your gifts before we added the last 3 cabins then just leave them out.

SO it is over, no more add ons, we will say no if anyone asks

Thank you! You have been so great to organize this FE. I am so appreciative. We are so exited and the FE gives us something to keep reminding us of the fun we will have on the shp.

 

[borgthe]

Lynn,


I have the list at 37 cabins/families. No?

 

[cjnix29]

I don't think there is going to be a good answer to this but if we say right now, as of today, for the very last time

THE FE EXCHANGE FOR AUGUST 25 IS CLOSED
I think everyone will be happy. If you have finished your gifts before we added the last 3 cabins then just leave them out.

SO it is over, no more add ons, we will say no if anyone asks

Thanks so much for all your hard work putting our FE group together!!!!!!

 

[Patricia1]

HI Everyone,
I feel very responsible for this little upset in the FE. I said no more additions after the cut off date, and I originally said we would split into two groups and I have not held true to that, I am sorry.

I know a few people have already made or bought gifts and splitting would be a problem for those who are organized (not me) for the whole group. But if we split with the option to join both groups that would make the groups at least a little smaller (assuming a large # of cabins will participate in both) so I propose that we split the group in 2, one group being decks 8 and above, and the other group being decks 7 and below including GTY, GTO, VGO etc. This will make the groups smaller and the delivery slightly easier with less travelling.

The option is still open to be on both groups if you want, which means you will give and receive from both groups, so even though we split the groups they won't necessarily be only 20 per group as other decide to join both.

All agreed?

I already ordered more FE stuff, so I'm good know with additions. If we split, then will I be stuck with extra FE gifts?

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

I already ordered more FE stuff, so I'm good know with additions. If we split, then will I be stuck with extra FE gifts?

It is my understanding that even when the cabins are split into groups that we still have the option of giving to everyone