August 29th, 2009--Eastern Magic...Let's Get it Started!

[Luckymommyx2]

It's never too early to check in and start our countdown! Please introduce yourself and your travel companions!!

At the time of the cruise...

DH-38
Me-38
DD-11
DS-10

This will be our third Disney Cruise. We've sailed on the four day Wonder back in 2003 and most recently sailed the Eastern Caribbean on the Magic in Aug/Sept 2006.

Our Magical Cast Includes...

From Toronto, Ontario
mrs potatohead-35
DH - 35
DD - 12
DS - 12
DS - 4

From Salem, Oregon
eeyoregon (Gina 38 at time of cruise single mom)
Son (Hayden 16 at time of cruise)
Son (Jensen 13 at time of cruise)

From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
My4PhillyGirls (Joe) (42 at the time of cruise)
DW (41 at the time of cruise)
DD (17 at the time of cruise)
DD (13 at the time of cruise)
DD (9 at the time of cruise)
DMIL

From NYC, New York
SleepyatDVC 40
DH 40+
DD 10
DD 8

From South Florida
jodifla, 48
DH, 49
DS, 7 at the time of the cruise

 

[mrs_potatohead]

Hi there, I just booked our cruise yesterday so I thought I'd come by and introduce myself and my family...

At sailing, we'll be:

me - 35
DH - 35
DD - 12
DS - 12
DS - 4

DH and I have cruised once before but this will be our first family cruise so we're really excited!!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Welcome aboard!! It looks like your oldest two will be in the same clubs as my two. My DD and DS love, love, love the clubs! They've already started researching what they'll be doing every day.

Hopefully more DIS'ers will be joining us as we progress in our countdown!

Speaking of DIS'ers...WELCOME to the DIS Boards!! Glad you found us!

 

[scrapperjill]

Hey....your right it's NEVER to early to start planning If I've got my dates correct...we'll be onboard at this time as well This will be our 4th Disney Cruise (all on the Magic)...So far we've booked the Western each time...but because of hurricanes we've been rerouted for each of them....except the last one this past fall. WE FINALLY made it to the Western ports So...so far we've actually done one western, one Eastern and one Modifyed Eastern(going to Nassau, Purtro Rico and Castaway....something totally diffrent for a 7 nighter).

As of now it'll be myself (scrapperjill), DH, DD 11 and DD 16. We rebooked onboard our last cruise and booked our friends at the same time..so they'll be joining us as well. PLUS we're hoping to have a few other friends join us on the cruise.

Anywho...I know it's a ways away...but in my book...it's never to early to start thinking and planning

 

[eeyoregon]

Boy, this is a quiet cruise compared to the other August 2009 cruises. I guess it's up to us to get the party started!

90% sure we will be on this cruise with you.

Me (Gina 38 at time of cruise single mom)
Son (Hayden 16 at time of cruise)
Son (Jensen 13 at time of cruise)

This will be our 2nd Disney cruise. 2006 was our one and only and my boys are still talking about it and begging to go on another one so we have picked this one and have made it our family $goal$ to be on the ship!

I haven't booked yet...holding out for the stimulus check in May to make my deposit payment.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Hello everyone,

I thought no one was on this cruise. We actually booked this cruise the week the dates came out and I have been checking every now and then to see if a meet thread has been started.

Below please find our crew:

Me (Joe) (42 at the time of cruise)
DW (41 at the time of cruise)
DD (17 at the time of cruise)
DD (13 at the time of cruise)
DD (9 at the time of cruise)
DMIL (Not allowed to reveal age)

We have booked two connecting Cat 6's as we will be celebrating early High School and Middle School graduations.

On another note we just got our passports today We applied for them on March 1st and they arrived 12 days later.

My children with the exception of the youngest did not participate in dis meet, clubs or fish extenders on the last cruise. Maybe they will this time because of the nice people they met and the gifts that they received last time

 

[eeyoregon]

DH and I have cruised once before but this will be our first family cruise so we're really excited!!

And what an AWESOME family cruise it will be!!

 

[eeyoregon]

fish extenders

Can someone please explain this to me??

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Outside each cabin their are brass fish which are used to hold mail i.e. messages or invitations to events from DCL. The DIS boards groups make or purchase hanging pouches which have been nick named "fish extenders" to collect small inexpensive gifts from families that participate in this exchange.

Some of the gifts were post cards from the city or state that you live in, key chains, small disney items purchased at Target that were under a dollar, one person made a CD with music related to Disney.

If you do a search you can find info regarding "fish extenders."

Last summer our DIS group also had one person of the group purchase lime green rubber bracelets so that we could identify each other when on the ship or while on excursions.

Joe

 

[eeyoregon]

Thank you Joe. Sounds like fun.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Wow, I haven't been on the DIS boards in a few days and our little thread is already taking off. A big to everyone!!

I think the DIS cruise meets are becoming more elaborate. The very first cruise we planned with everyone here but not many got together on board. The second one seemed to have a lot of people but we never met anyone because they met in someone's suite and the time just didn't work for us. I don't remember having any exchanges on either one of them. It's a really nice idea, especially for the kids.

Does anyone know off-hand where to buy the fish extenders? I know there was a large thread a while back that had pictures so if no one knows, I'll go searching.

Happy Planning....

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Hi there, I just booked our cruise yesterday so I thought I'd come by and introduce myself and my family...

At sailing, we'll be:

me - 35
DH - 35
DD - 12
DS - 12
DS - 4

DH and I have cruised once before but this will be our first family cruise so we're really excited!!

I see that you have two children that are 12. Are they twins Because I am a twin too.

Joe

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Just got back from a college tour that I sponsor twice a year for high school students. I took my three daughters while my wife went to Chicago on business.

I was surprise to see that there is no activity on this thread. I know that we are a ways out but we are very quiet to the other threads with dates close to ours.

This year I won't take a DCL cruise but I am looking forward to seeing the Magic when I go to mexico this summer.

Joe

 

[SleepyatDVC]

O'kay, I'm seriously thinking about booking this cruise.

I've been on about 7 cruises but never DCL. EVERYTIME I start to book it, I am lured to another cruise line by a better cabin and a much better price.

But next August I turn 40 and I want to go on a cruise or an AI land vacation as my big gift. However, many of the cruiselines and AI's don't have their schedules out to book yet for the itineraries or locations that I am interested in. But I want to book something NOW!

Soooooo, I'm thinking of a Disney Cruise! I narrowed it down to this sailing because it seems to be the lowest cost.

Our family in 8/09 will be

DH 40+
Me 40
DD 10
DD 8


I'll let you all know if I book and officially become part of this RC.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

I know what you mean about cost. I originally booked a November, 2009 Eastern but I called my girls schools and they frown upon letting them out for vacations during the school year.

So when I did a search and found out that their school year starts late in '09, I got a quote for this date. It was $1,000.00 cheaper than the November cruise

I hope that your family will be join us

Joe

 

[eeyoregon]

It was $1,000.00 cheaper than the November cruise Joe

Ditto. I was originally looking at the same cruise but a week earlier in August and it's $1,200 more to cruise the week before! Then I realized school doesn't start until September 9th and I was a happy camper!

I realize this is the "old" Eastern itinerary, which is why it's cheaper, but it's new to us!!

 

[eeyoregon]

Woo Hoo we are on the 2nd page now!!!

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

I agree because after two four night cruises, this will be our first 7 nighter. I loved the sea day on the four nighter so I am looking forward to a couple of sea days

Joe

 

[eeyoregon]

We have only been on one DCL and it was the 7 night Western. I always enjoy sea days...better on the pocket book too as those shore excursions can really add up!

So, do most of you do the early dining seating? We will definitely be late as we are on Pacific time so eating dinner at 5:30 = 2:30pm on our body clocks! Plus we don't like feeling rushed to get back to the ship and get ready on port days. And my kids are older so I would hate to take an early slot that someone with little ones might need/want.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

We will be early since we usually eat around that time. We have had 6:00 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. respectively on the Wonder. This will be the first time on the Magic and I understand that topsiders restaurant serves casual dinners on nights that you may not want to go your normal assigned dining room.

I am going to San Francisco in November and I might have to get use to eating dinner at what will feel like 10:00 p.m. to me

Joe