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

[CruisinEars]

Welcome!

We have a friendly roll call, it just isn't too active yet. I will add you to the list on pg. 15 post 224.

 

[justhat]

Welcome! I admit I'm glad this isn't the most active bunch, as I totally lost track of the 9/1/08 cruise thread about 17 months before the cruise! They just talked way too much and I couldn't keep up. I did rejoin closer to the sail date, but felt like I missed out on so much over the year I was gone.

 

[wendyb65]

Hi everyone. I am a complete novice at this, and have no idea what I am doing on the forum, so I hope this gets posted! I don't know all the lingo, but allow me to introduce our family.

Me - Wendy
Husband - Ed
Zachary - 9 (will be 10 at the time of the cruise)
Max - 7 (will be 8 at the time of the cruise)

We had our first Disney cruise this past May on the Wonder and loved it so much we booked the week long on the Magic next August. We don't go back to school here until the day after Labor Day so the timing is perfect, except for Hurricane Season, and I'm nervous about that! We are completely crazy about Disneyworld and the cruises, and wish we lived closer! I look forward to meeting everyone on the ship.

Wendy

 

[CruisinEars]

Wendy,

Welcome! We are glad to have you join us. Just read the threads and you will get the hang of the boards in no time.

 

[wendyb65]

We get down there on the 19th - so we'll overlap a bit. We will be at the Animal Kingdom, where we've never stayed, so I am VERY excited!!!

We hope to do Seaworld, etc. on our next trip, so you'll have to tell us what you think! Where are you staying for that portion of your trip?

Well, I know we'll all have fun!!!!

Hi - VA-Bear - we are also from Richmond - we live in Mechanicsville and will be on the 8/29/09 cruise. We just went on the 4 night this past May, and are ready for 7. Can't wait to meet you.

Wendyb65

 

[eeyoregon]

Hi everyone.

We got back from WDW a few weeks ago and made a decision while we were there: we are not going to go on this cruise afterall . This cruise was to celebrate my oldest sons 16th birthday. He has decided he would rather bring his best friend to WDW instead of the fcruise with me and hsi brother (oh dear that day has come ). In a perfect world I would be able to afford for his friend to cruise with us but that's just not realistic.

We rebooked the free dining for 2009 while we were there for the same time next year so we will be in WDW while you are all cruising on the Magic.

I'm pretty sure my co-worker and his family will still be joining you although they still haven't made it to the DIS boards yet.

Wishing all of you a magical cruise.

Gina

 

[kalikat420]

Hi! DH and I will be on this cruise to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Looks like we are definitely in the minority, as we have no kids! But we are big Disney fans. This will be my 3rd DCL cruise and DH's 2nd. Our previous cruises with DCL were 3-nighters on the Wonder, both times in inside staterooms. We originally booked a 4-night cruise in Cat 9. I booked on DCL's website, but then contacted a TA and was able to upgrade to 7 nights in a Cat 6 for not too much more - I am SOO excited! We've only cruised on one other line that I don't think is even in business anymore!

Me (37 at time of cruise)
DH (47 at time of cruise)
Cabin: 6624
FE: ? (wanna find out more details - I'm kinda new to DIS)

We are both looking forward to doing lots of snorkeling. And to meeting everyone on the ship!

We live in FL, so we'll be driving over on departure day and driving home after. We're in Sarasota, about 3 hours from port.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Hi! DH and I will be on this cruise to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Looks like we are definitely in the minority, as we have no kids! But we are big Disney fans. This will be my 3rd DCL cruise and DH's 2nd. Our previous cruises with DCL were 3-nighters on the Wonder, both times in inside staterooms. We originally booked a 4-night cruise in Cat 9. I booked on DCL's website, but then contacted a TA and was able to upgrade to 7 nights in a Cat 6 for not too much more - I am SOO excited! We've only cruised on one other line that I don't think is even in business anymore!

Me (37 at time of cruise)
DH (47 at time of cruise)
Cabin: 6624
FE: ? (wanna find out more details - I'm kinda new to DIS)

We are both looking forward to doing lots of snorkeling. And to meeting everyone on the ship!

We live in FL, so we'll be driving over on departure day and driving home after. We're in Sarasota, about 3 hours from port.

Congratulations on your 10th Wedding Anniversary. When we reach our 20th Anniversary in a few years, I would love to take just my wife on DCL

I wonder how the kids will feel about that

Joe

 

[kalikat420]

FE: ? (wanna find out more details - I'm kinda new to DIS)

OK, so I've been doing a lot of reading and would very much like to participate in the fish extender gift exchange. Is it OK, even though we're just adults?

 

[justhat]

Sure! I did it for the first time on our last cruise and it was lots of fun. We had tons of DISers on that cruise so everytime we got back to the room there was something waiting for us.

And welcome aboard!

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Hello Everyone,

Now as the real planning begins, I am wondering whether we should:

1) Get our plane tickets early if the price is good?
2) Stay extra days before the cruise and go home the day we get back to PC?
3) Arrive a day early and come back home maybe on Labor Day when school starts the next day

On our two previous cruises we have come in the day before and stayed in Florida for a couple of days when we got back to PC and it helped with the depression of the cruise being over.

Any thoughts???

Joe

 

[justhat]

My plan is to fly in a little early and do maybe 3 days in the parks before the cruise. Afterwards we'll probably fly home that day or stay overnight and fly back on Sunday morning, depending on flight times/prices.

For our cruise earlier this month, we flew in on a Wednesday (cruise left Monday) and then flew home the following Sunday (cruise ended Saturday). Labor Day was the day our cruise began so here's my take on it. Wednesday-Friday was great, no crowds really at all. Saturday things picked up a bit, but not intolerable. Sunday Gustav's outer bands were hitting so it was very windy and I think that kept some of the crowds away cause the parks weren't any worse than Saturday. Sunday night, however, MK was open till 3am with EMH and that place was mobbed! My BIL and I took my kids to see Spectro and it was packed. After the parade we couldn't walk down Main Street at all and just stood there waiting to move. We finally made our way to Tomorrowland and everything had huge waits (and it was 10pm). We rodet he TTA and then went back to the hotel. Walking out of the park was another madhouse. I assume it was the Labor Day crowds, but man, that was bad!

So since we return right before Labor Day next year, I'm anticipating crowded parks so we'll try to avoid that be flying in early instead.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

My plan is to fly in a little early and do maybe 3 days in the parks before the cruise. Afterwards we'll probably fly home that day or stay overnight and fly back on Sunday morning, depending on flight times/prices.

For our cruise earlier this month, we flew in on a Wednesday (cruise left Monday) and then flew home the following Sunday (cruise ended Saturday). Labor Day was the day our cruise began so here's my take on it. Wednesday-Friday was great, no crowds really at all. Saturday things picked up a bit, but not intolerable. Sunday Gustav's outer bands were hitting so it was very windy and I think that kept some of the crowds away cause the parks weren't any worse than Saturday. Sunday night, however, MK was open till 3am with EMH and that place was mobbed! My BIL and I took my kids to see Spectro and it was packed. After the parade we couldn't walk down Main Street at all and just stood there waiting to move. We finally made our way to Tomorrowland and everything had huge waits (and it was 10pm). We rodet he TTA and then went back to the hotel. Walking out of the park was another madhouse. I assume it was the Labor Day crowds, but man, that was bad!

So since we return right before Labor Day next year, I'm anticipating crowded parks so we'll try to avoid that be flying in early instead.

Thanks for the response.

A few years ago when we went to DW, it too was very crowded the Sunday before and on Labor Day. Since the children were smaller we stayed the rest of the week and on the Tuesday after Labor Day you could almost park at the front of the parks.

We too will come in early (how early I don't know). I would like to come in a week early and do the parks because we have 5 days of Park hoppers available. Then we can meet up with the rest of our family maybe the day before the cruise and drive down to PC early Saturday morning.

Joe

 

[Va-bear]

Hi - VA-Bear - we are also from Richmond - we live in Mechanicsville and will be on the 8/29/09 cruise. We just went on the 4 night this past May, and are ready for 7. Can't wait to meet you.

Wendyb65

HI!!!!!!!

Sorry Im just seeing this - its been SOOOoooo crazy. I started a new job the day we got back from our August WDW trip!!! I am still settling in and stressing out!

My boys are very similar in age to yours - when we sail they will be 10 and 6. The 3 older ones will be in the same club area I believe (poor little guy.. ) Were you born in 65 - if so we have even more in common! Nice to meet ya!

Va.

 

[CruisinEars]

Hi Everybody!

I am so excited. My dh booked us on the RCCL Monarch of the seas for 4 days before our disney cruise. I get to cruise for 11 days!! I am glad the Disney cruise is 2nd though so I have something to look forward to in case the RCCL isn't such a great cruise. Our cabin is a porthole room that is only 122 sq ft. We have 4 people we will squish into that cabin. Oh well, I get to go to Nassau where I have wanted to go for a long time.

 

[justhat]

Wow! That'll be really fun! What a great trip to look forward to.

I just noticed that you're from Everett, WA. My husband's dream is to go there to see the Boeing factory. Expect him to drill you on the cruise!

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Hi Everybody!

I am so excited. My dh booked us on the RCCL Monarch of the seas for 4 days before our disney cruise. I get to cruise for 11 days!! I am glad the Disney cruise is 2nd though so I have something to look forward to in case the RCCL isn't such a great cruise. Our cabin is a porthole room that is only 122 sq ft. We have 4 people we will squish into that cabin. Oh well, I get to go to Nassau where I have wanted to go for a long time.

A cruise before the cruise sounds great Now that's how to have a vacation. Even though the RCCL room seems small, I bet you guys don't plan to be in it very long.

Enjoy your planning for this summer. I sure it will make the coming months, weeks and days go by quickly.

Joe

 

[CruisinEars]

Wow! That'll be really fun! What a great trip to look forward to.

I just noticed that you're from Everett, WA. My husband's dream is to go there to see the Boeing factory. Expect him to drill you on the cruise!

Come on out to beautiful Washington. My dh works at that plant so I have been there a few times for family day. I also drive by it everyday when I take the kids to school. It is awesome. Be sure to have your dh find my dh and he will be glad to share about the plant. He has worked for Boeing for 18 years. He is currently a program planner so he sits in an office rather than being on the factory floor.

 

[CruisinEars]

A cruise before the cruise sounds great Now that's how to have a vacation. Even though the RCCL room seems small, I bet you guys don't plan to be in it very long.

Enjoy your planning for this summer. I sure it will make the coming months, weeks and days go by quickly.

Joe

Thanks Joe! I am excited and trying to learn more about RCCL and that ship. It is going into drydock soon since it is moving from LA to PC and then eventually is going to one of the other RCCL companies. I have heard that the crew is tremendous and the ship is in good shape for its age. I just hope the kids have stuff to do. So, I go back and forth between the Dis and the CC boards.

 

[TonytheWop]

Congratulations on your 10th Wedding Anniversary. When we reach our 20th Anniversary in a few years, I would love to take just my wife on DCL

I wonder how the kids will feel about that

Joe

Hi Joe,
We just celebrated our 20th on a NCL cruise ( with the kids ) But thank god for the kids club and adjoining cabins we had a great time.
Now, we are joining you guys for our first Disney cruise
Me DH 45
DW 45
DS 15
DS 7
DS 7
We are from Montreal and are in adjoining Cat 9 on deck 2.