August 26, 2006 Magic

[Esteri]

Hi Lisa (from NY) -
Looks like our oldest will be with your youngest in the 8-9 club. Jakob is 9 and this is his first cruise. He's into space, airplanes, etc. He recently became interested in sports - particularly baseball. Playing, not following teams.

We're still debating whether to give him check in/out priviledges. Right now we're leaning towards "yes" with certain rules and he has to page us and let us know where he's going.

I asked the question about this on the main board and got loads of great responses. The title of the thread is "Self Check in/out of Lab for 9 yr old". I'd put in the URL, but I haven't figured out how to do that.

Welcome Lisa (from NJ) -
It looks like you're going to have quite the gathering! All family?

Susan -
I think having a "meet and greet" for the kids from this board is a great idea. I have no idea where and when though.

 

[doccath]

I printed out the navigators from the site today so I can read them to DD5 to see if there is anything she might not want to miss. She is very excited to make new friends so we should definately plan a get-together the first day so the 5-7 year olds can meet. What do you return cruisers think would be a good time and place?

Look forward to meeting you all.

Cinderella Mom (Susan)

count me in

 

[pamjb]

Lisa from NY,

I have heard that the radios don't always work so well. It is ok on the outside decks, but the metal of the interior of the ship makes it tough to communicate. My then 11 year old checked himself out last year. He had to leave a note on our door (we had a wipe off board) to let us know where he was. I believe the beepers are only for the staff in the Kids areas.

On our Jan 2005 group cruise, one of the kids was celebrating a birthday on the say we left. We combined the sailaway party with a birthday cake. We had it on deck 9. Somebody just went and grabbed a couple of tables. May be a thought for your 5-7 year old get together.

 

[cinderella_mom]

Are you all getting to the terminal early? We could meet onboard by one of the pools, or even for lunch after we get onboard. If we can board around noon and get to PC by 1:00 we could eat and head to the Mickey pool before it got crowded.

Or we could meet at the Sailaway party (might be too loud)

Or we could meet at the clubs when they open at 5pm. I think we have to check in there even if we did it online, right? We are waitlisted for early dinner, but we could be there until dinner time.

What do you think?

 

[Celestine]

cinderella_mom - count us in for a meet. DD (6) is desperate to make friends & hopefully gain an American penpal too - so if anyone is interested, PM me & we can set them up! I think an early meet would be good. We plan on getting to the terminal early, so I'd be happy to go for that, plus it might keep them amused whilst waiting to board!

 

[Esteri]

Count us in for a meet and greet early. We'll be getting to the terminal early as well. I don't know the lay out of the ship that well, so I can't make any recommendations for a spot.

One thing - if we share pictures of the kids with each other, they can be on the lookout for their new friends while in the terminal - which will give them something productive to do.

Our website is back up - so if any of you want to go look at the page we built for last years cruise you can. Many apologies about the problem, we'll be swithcing providers soon - this is the second year in a row he hasn't renewed our domain name in a timely manner and it's a real pain.

Wonder if I've posted enough to be able to send the URL yet?
www.graenit.com/cruise05.htm

Yipee! I can, I can.

So, here's one more. For those of you wondering how self check in / out works and wether or not to do it - here's that thread I mentioned before.... sure hope this works it's the first time I've tried putting a thread URL in: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1136391

 

[Neverland]

My two kids, DD 16 & DS 12 would love to hookup with someone in their age-group. Anyone have a teen & preteen interested in chatting beforehand?

Also, a question to the experienced cruisers from a newbie - any excursion suggestions teens might prefer? thanks!

 

[Celestine]

Esteri - your dogs are gorgeous, I bet you wish you could take them too! I think the photo idea is great, and although not a complete technophobe, have not go the know-how to do this, but if anyone can & will, I definitely send a photo. It would almost be like a treasure hunt LOL! , but with no prize - except a new cruisemate. Can't remember much about the terminal, so couldn't identify a "good" meeting point - any repeat repeat cruisers out there with any good ideas?

 

[lcborn2run]

I read on the boards that you can go to Topsiders to eat instead of Parrot Cay. It's supposedly less crowded and near the pool. I planned on having the kids wear their suits under their clothes so we can enjoy the pool asap!

Neverland, I have a son who is 11. He is very into all types of sports. Let me know if you want to hook them up to meet beforehand online.

Do the DIS'ers who meet usually have something lime green on? I seem to remember seeng that on the boards. Either a tshirt, a scarf, a hat, etc. Maybe we can order lime green bandanas for the kids (or us!) I know you can probably get them online for about $1 each. Does anyone else have any ideas?

I'll start a post on the regular cruise board asking for ideas from people who have done these meets in the past.

Esteri, I'm gonna check out your link next. See ya later...

Lisa

 

[lcborn2run]

I just went to your link of your last cruise. It's AWESOME!! Do you plan on putting one together for our cruise? I'd be happy to help with the Word documents with the info, but I know nothing about posting to websites.

How did that cruise turn out anyway? Did all of the planning come together to make a great time for all involved?

Also, the dogs really are very cute!

Lisa

 

[Esteri]

I'm happy to do another website for "cruise06" . The problem is content. If folks can get me a word doc with the names of all the folks, digital pictures (I can resize), etc. (For those without digital pictures, you could snail mail me a photo and I'll scan it and get it up.) If someone could be the "keeper of the list". I'm happy to build something similar for this group. It doesn't take much time, provided someone else generates the content.

The cruise last year was terrific! The group on the boards had an excellent rapport from the beginning. In fact, that message board is still active - a year later! And a "reunion" cruise is planned for 2007 - though we aren't going - it's during school.

I think it really helped to have the pictures of folks. It put faces to names.

Thanks for the compliments on the dogs. Graenit.com is actually my kennel site (and woefully out of date). We've been breeding Weimaraners for around 15 years.

Lime green article of clothing? Well, I guess I know what color I'm tie dying this year's shirts! Though it may not be as bright as those Alien Green paint chips.

Say, who's bringing tuxes for the formal? We're going all out and all the guys (little guys too) will be in tuxes. Heck, my brother and dad BOUGHt theirs!

 

[Neverland]

Neverland, I have a son who is 11. He is very into all types of sports. Let me know if you want to hook them up to meet beforehand online.

Lisa

Sure, sounds good. Harrison is also into playing sports (baseball, soccer & boyscouts). Having a pre-cruise penpal would be great. I will try to figure out how to PM you my address. Thanks!

 

[Neverland]

Say, who's bringing tuxes for the formal? We're going all out and all the guys (little guys too) will be in tuxes. Heck, my brother and dad BOUGHt theirs!

My husband & son will be bringing tuxes. By the way, you can get a tux pants/jacket set at JC Penney for $99.00

 

[Cindy B]

I read on the boards that you can go to Topsiders to eat instead of Parrot Cay. It's supposedly less crowded and near the pool. I planned on having the kids wear their suits under their clothes so we can enjoy the pool asap!

Neverland, I have a son who is 11. He is very into all types of sports. Let me know if you want to hook them up to meet beforehand online.

Do the DIS'ers who meet usually have something lime green on? I seem to remember seeng that on the boards. Either a tshirt, a scarf, a hat, etc. Maybe we can order lime green bandanas for the kids (or us!) I know you can probably get them online for about $1 each. Does anyone else have any ideas?

I'll start a post on the regular cruise board asking for ideas from people who have done these meets in the past.

Esteri, I'm gonna check out your link next. See ya later...

Lisa

I also have an 11 year old son. He's not really into sports, but more of a science, band, arts creative soul. He'll play sports but he's not really into it if it gets too competitive.

Let me know if you want to have emails.

 

[Celestine]

DH is wearing a tux, I have a long dress (not a ball gown!) & both DD have longish dresses. DH is looking to get either a Disney bow tie or tux vest (we call them waistcoats!).

Esteri - will conjour up some sort of word doc over the next few days & e-mail. What do you mean by a "keeper of the list"? I'm happy to do it if you let me know what to do!

Celestine

 

[Doctor Pedantic]

My partner and I will be there with our three kids, ages 11, 9 and 5 (they all have fall birthdays, so they will actually be almost 12, almost 10, and almost 6). Two girls and a boy (he's the 9 year old).

We are flying in from California two days early and going to the Kennedy Space Center the day before the cruise. My son is Mr. Math and Science; he and I are really excited about the KSC tour and lunch with an astronaut!

We will probably stay at the Radisson Resort at the Port....although I wish there were a Westin or Sheraton around because most of my hotel points are with Starwood. I have heard terrible things about the new Four Points in Cocoa Beach (I tend not to like them anyway), or we'd consider staying there. Does anyone know if there typically are any meet and greets at Port-area hotels?

See y'all in a couple of months!

 

[Cindy B]

My partner and I will be there with our three kids, ages 11, 9 and 5 (they all have fall birthdays, so they will actually be almost 12, almost 10, and almost 6). Two girls and a boy (he's the 9 year old).

We are flying in from California two days early and going to the Kennedy Space Center the day before the cruise. My son is Mr. Math and Science; he and I are really excited about the KSC tour and lunch with an astronaut!

We will probably stay at the Radisson Resort at the Port....although I wish there were a Westin or Sheraton around because most of my hotel points are with Starwood. I have heard terrible things about the new Four Points in Cocoa Beach (I tend not to like them anyway), or we'd consider staying there. Does anyone know if there typically are any meet and greets at Port-area hotels?

See y'all in a couple of months!

The math as science son will get along great with my son. He's a math science kid as well- not very sporty!

Your girls are close to my kids age. My kids are 8 (turning 9 a few days after the cruise), and 11 - turning 12 later in the year.

As for meet and greets, I don't know much about that.

 

[doccath]

My husband & son will be bringing tuxes. By the way, you can get a tux pants/jacket set at JC Penney for $99.00

Just got tux's for my boys on ebay for 30.00 total including shipping

 

[cinderella_mom]

Just wanted to say "hi" to everyone. Stayed home sick today. Feeling blah. But I got to look over some new info about Key West, so the day wasn't totally wasted. Any decisions about meeting? Also, anybody doing Capt Marvins or Nativeway Stingray City tour in GC? I'm still undecided.

 

[Doctor Pedantic]

Cinderella Mom....I think I have finally talked my family into the stingray excursion. I showed everyone the photos that Royal Vizier posted along with his fantastic summary and I think everyone is now less freaked out about it! Still haven't zeroed in on a company, though.

BTW, congratulations on your husband's graduation. I went to UCLA Law School and took the bar exam back in the Dark Ages...we actually hand-wrote our exams in blue books! I took it at the LAX Marriott and all these years later still shoot that place a dirty look whenever I am at the airport (and yes, that will include the morning we fly to Orlando!)

Anyway, best of luck to him....and to you and your kids as you put up with his studying and stress!