August 26, 2013 - Mickey Mouse, Midnight Sun & Whales!

[son3disfan]

Meeting up sounds great!! This is our first cruise so we're taking our lead from others with more experience - hope we can manage to find the Promenade lounge by 3pm (or by day 3, for that matter . . . )

Great! Looking forward to meeting everyone!
The Promenade lounge is an open lounge area between the two restaurants on deck 3, Tritons and Parrot Cay. Its on the same deck that you will be on when you enter the ship. There is a piano and and bar along the back wall. You can't miss it! Lots of chairs. I would say its the most easiest place to set up a casual meet.

 

[son3disfan]

For those DISers cruising for the first time, I hope you will come and meet up with us DISNEY FANATICS. It's a great way to start the cruise , meet some new peopke and the kids have an oppurtunity to meet some new kids their age as well.

Usually, boarding the ship wraps up by 1pm. We have been lucky enough to board as early as 11:30 am. The staterooms will not be ready until at least 2 pm so what ever you carried on the ship with you, is yours until the rooms are ready. We usually wear our swimsuits underneath our clothes and hit the pool on deck 9 even before we hit the buffet! The buffet is open as is Parrot Cay, if you prefer a sit down restaurant. That gives lots of time for a quick meet at 3 pm !

Then, at 4 pm there is a mandatory drill that everyone is required to do, then the sail away party on deck 9 (or great viewing on deck 10) at 4:30 so find your spot!
And then it's time to get ready for dinner, or for us late diners, the pre-dinner show in the Walt Disney theatre!

 

[lsutigger2]

meet and greet at 3 in the promenade lounge sounds great. That has always been a good time for that.

if folks would like i will volunteer to bring some type of name tag and a sharpie.

Welcome to any new folks that have joined us. It is just five short weeks until the Sail Away Party!! Woot! Woot! Woot!

 

[Keurigirl]

All Aboard!! Group Details As of 7/22...

1. The FE Exchange is officially CLOSED. If you have missed the roll call date and would like to be included we will have an "optional" group (or if there are enough latecomers, a whole separate group). You will still need to sign up on the spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au6ZjSAKNCdBdEFiQlhnMjRqbVBGSVZTY19aTlNKckE&pli=1#gid=0

2. If you are participating in the FE exchange, PLEASE VISIT THE SPREADSHEET and verify your cabin numbers are correct. You MUST have a cabin number listed to participate. If you are GTY or VGT, please list "GTY" on the spreadsheet. I have highlighted cabins in red that need cabin numbers listed.

Once cabins have been updated I will finalize the Excel Sheet that allows you to organize by cabin/women/men/teens/age/etc.

I will also be making a ship map with FE cabin numbers to help facilitate delivery of FE gifts.

Lastly, I will have a white board outside my cabin (2111) that will have any changes/upgrades that FE participants may have done at the port.

3. Meet & Greet will happen on Embarkation day, at 3:00pm in the Promenade Lounge. I've created some nametags for us to print out and use during the meet & greet if you'd like. Feel free to print them out and wear them to our meetup! You can find them here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-6ZjSAKNCdBYlJiVzF6RkxobGs/edit?usp=sharing

One month to go!

 

[lsutigger2]

Hey gang!! So excited that it is getting closer to sail away day!!

I will volunteer to print out enough name tags for the group. And will bring markers so each family can fill in family names at the meet and greet.

if I get creative, I may even try to fill in the name and print them......

Take care

 

[Wshop]

I love the meets. It's great to put faces to all the Disers. One month until we head to the airport!!! And after the series of delayed flights I encountered this week for work, I am soooo glad, we are leaving early.

 

[Wshop]

I am laughing at this as my kid makes a Bee line for the pool as soon as we are on the ship. Forget the weather, straight to the empty Mickey pool.



QUOTE=son3disfan;49028560]For those DISers cruising for the first time, I hope you will come and meet up with us DISNEY FANATICS. It's a great way to start the cruise , meet some new peopke and the kids have an oppurtunity to meet some new kids their age as well.

Usually, boarding the ship wraps up by 1pm. We have been lucky enough to board as early as 11:30 am. The staterooms will not be ready until at least 2 pm so what ever you carried on the ship with you, is yours until the rooms are ready. We usually wear our swimsuits underneath our clothes and hit the pool on deck 9 even before we hit the buffet! The buffet is open as is Parrot Cay, if you prefer a sit down restaurant. That gives lots of time for a quick meet at 3 pm !

Then, at 4 pm there is a mandatory drill that everyone is required to do, then the sail away party on deck 9 (or great viewing on deck 10) at 4:30 so find your spot!
And then it's time to get ready for dinner, or for us late diners, the pre-dinner show in the Walt Disney theatre![/QUOTE]

 

[son3disfan]

Hey gang!! So excited that it is getting closer to sail away day!!

I will volunteer to print out enough name tags for the group. And will bring markers so each family can fill in family names at the meet and greet.

if I get creative, I may even try to fill in the name and print them......

Take care

Thank you Isutigger2!
My printer is messed up... DH says its from putting all that magnetic paper through.....
( oops!)
Magnets are a priority!

 

[Donna3271]

Argh! I was capitulating on joining the FE. I just feel this cruise needs so much packing, and I was afraid of going overweight on my suitcases.

I think I may take the FE plunge for our first Gold cruise this Nov out of Miami. I think it will be less stressful.

The meet and greet sounds great!!! I am at Disney's Hilton Head resort until Sunday getting into the Disney spirit.

Getting Closer!!!

 

[son3disfan]

All Aboard!! Group Details As of 7/22...

1. The FE Exchange is officially CLOSED. If you have missed the roll call date and would like to be included we will have an "optional" group (or if there are enough latecomers, a whole separate group). You will still need to sign up on the spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au6ZjSAKNCdBdEFiQlhnMjRqbVBGSVZTY19aTlNKckE&pli=1#gid=0

2. If you are participating in the FE exchange, PLEASE VISIT THE SPREADSHEET and verify your cabin numbers are correct. You MUST have a cabin number listed to participate. If you are GTY or VGT, please list "GTY" on the spreadsheet. I have highlighted cabins in red that need cabin numbers listed.

Once cabins have been updated I will finalize the Excel Sheet that allows you to organize by cabin/women/men/teens/age/etc.

I will also be making a ship map with FE cabin numbers to help facilitate delivery of FE gifts.

Lastly, I will have a white board outside my cabin (2111) that will have any changes/upgrades that FE participants may have done at the port.

3. Meet & Greet will happen on Embarkation day, at 3:00pm in the Promenade Lounge. I've created some nametags for us to print out and use during the meet & greet if you'd like. Feel free to print them out and wear them to our meetup! You can find them here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-6ZjSAKNCdBYlJiVzF6RkxobGs/edit?usp=sharing

One month to go!

Yeah! Your back! Thought we lost you there for a bit! ( to Facebook)
We are not participating in the FE but wow! You are organized! How nice of you to organize this for everyone!
Did you end up booking with GREEN JEEP TOUR in Skagway?

 

[son3disfan]

! I am at Disney's Hilton Head resort until Sunday getting into the Disney spirit.

Getting Closer!!!

Wow! Lucky you! Soak up that sun!
I am anticipating a wet, cool cruise in Aug! It's been so warm in July , it will probably cool down considerably by sail date. So many clothes - and shoes to pack! Ugh .

 

[Keurigirl]

Yeah! Your back! Thought we lost you there for a bit! ( to Facebook)
We are not participating in the FE but wow! You are organized! How nice of you to organize this for everyone!
Did you end up booking with GREEN JEEP TOUR in Skagway?

I'm still here Just trying to have less of an internet presence these days and a real life

I did book the green jeep tours, am very excited about it! I love Skagway.

 

[a167453]

Welcome!
This is a great cruise meet ( although a bit quiet) with some great people!
First cruise! How exciting!
This is a good place to ask any questions you might have about sailing Disney, or cruising in general, or even any questions about this sailing ( ports/excursions).
Some of us have been on a few Disney cruises.
All I can say is be very careful.....Disney cruises can be very addictive!
Our first cruise was suppose to be our " big splurge" for my husbands 40th birthday. A one time thing. Well, 6 years later, we have managed to cruise every year!
I keep saying, this is it for a while, but we keep making our way to the future cruise desk and well, We just can't say no! So be warned! Lol!

Oh no! I booked this for my family on a whim as I saw an add, and we are located in Vancouver so I thought it would be a painless way to try. What have I done?

We have booked one of the Yukon train adventures in Skagway (so I can say I went to the Yukon) but have otherwise left things open. I thought I might book a car/cab and travel to the Mendenhall glacier ourselves, but would be happy to have suggestions.

Oh, and anyone have questions about Vancouver for pre/post cruise, please ask.

 

[Wshop]

Oh no! I booked this for my family on a whim as I saw an add, and we are located in Vancouver so I thought it would be a painless way to try. What have I done?

We have booked one of the Yukon train adventures in Skagway (so I can say I went to the Yukon) but have otherwise left things open. I thought I might book a car/cab and travel to the Mendenhall glacier ourselves, but would be happy to have suggestions.

Oh, and anyone have questions about Vancouver for pre/post cruise, please ask.

I would love restaurant recs in Vacouver. We will be at the Four Seasons. We have an 8 year old who is used to eating out in better restaurants. Thanks!

 

[a167453]

I would love restaurant recs in Vacouver. We will be at the Four Seasons. We have an 8 year old who is used to eating out in better restaurants. Thanks!

I have tried 1/2 of the list at

straight.com/goldenplates/2013/results/all

(add a w w w to the front I am too new to post links)

and would say that this is a great place to start. Chains get overrated as they have several locations getting votes, but all are OK.

I would add Imperial Seafood for Chinese dim sum lunch in the historic Marine building (close to cruise ships) and maybe Vij's fusion Indian across the Granville bridge as that sort of sums up Vancouver.

 

[Donna3271]

Wow! Lucky you! Soak up that sun!
I am anticipating a wet, cool cruise in Aug! It's been so warm in July , it will probably cool down considerably by sail date. So many clothes - and shoes to pack! Ugh .

son3disfan,
It's actually not that hot down here, and has been a little overcast. I keep thinking I need to get home to start packing! I am not enjoying this trip as much as I should because I have "Alaska on the Brain!!!"

 

[Con5421]

Finally got the booklet from Disney.

 

[cswitz]

I've been checking the cruisecritic message boards to see if there was anything for this cruise, and I finally found out that for disney, everyone uses this site. It looks like we are too late to join the FE thing, which I had never heard of before. It sounds fun, especially for the kids, but it also seems like a lot of work. We will try to join for the meet and greet. One question I have is whether anyone has or will contact the cruise. On a prior cruise on NCL, someone from the group contacted the cruise director in advance, and they helped to organize the meet and greet - had some snacks, and also different staff members introduced themselves - e.g. head chef, etc. It might not have been on embarkation day, but on the first sea day (I can't remember). I do remember however, that they took a list of names and cabins, and then on one of the sea days, we got an invitation to take a bridge tour. It was really great. They know that people on these message boards report back in detail, and seem to go the extra mile to make a good impression. I'm going to sign up on the google document. Look forward to meeting you all.

 

[Con5421]

Welcome aboard

 

[son3disfan]

I've been checking the cruisecritic message boards to see if there was anything for this cruise, and I finally found out that for disney, everyone uses this site. It looks like we are too late to join the FE thing, which I had never heard of before. It sounds fun, especially for the kids, but it also seems like a lot of work. We will try to join for the meet and greet. One question I have is whether anyone has or will contact the cruise. On a prior cruise on NCL, someone from the group contacted the cruise director in advance, and they helped to organize the meet and greet - had some snacks, and also different staff members introduced themselves - e.g. head chef, etc. It might not have been on embarkation day, but on the first sea day (I can't remember). I do remember however, that they took a list of names and cabins, and then on one of the sea days, we got an invitation to take a bridge tour. It was really great. They know that people on these message boards report back in detail, and seem to go the extra mile to make a good impression. I'm going to sign up on the google document. Look forward to meeting you all.

Welcome to the DIS!
I have not heard of contacting Disney for a meet. I would think that there is a cruise meet ( big group or small) on pretty much every Disney cruise..... You will have cruise staff introduce themselves to you quite frequently!
One thing I do know is Disneys service is beyond comparison. The attention to detail is remarkable. And if you have younger children , the entertainment offerings and clubs are spectacular !
Wait until you see how you are welcomed aboard the ship! Have a video camera ready! ( we missed filming it the first time). Just a little something special! Disney has many special little extras!