August 9, 2011 (8/9/2011) Taking the Wonder to see the AMERICAN CHILD

[starwood]

Yes - I like the fact that if there are any problems you can get your money back through Disney and you know they will do the excursions right.

 

[rsjj]

Yes - I like the fact that if there are any problems you can get your money back through Disney and you know they will do the excursions right.

so true!!

anyone planning on doing a dog sledding excursion? dh wants to...but there are so many to choose from! any thoughts/comments on them? pls let me know, as i would appreciate all of your thoughts before we book anything.

 

[starwood]

I read somewhere that they don't treat their dogs very well. A few months ago there was a report of hundreds of sled dogs being killed because of the economy (fewer tourists).

 

[JoeSchmieg]

Fish Extender (FE) Gifts - This is a fun "game" that is like a Secret Santa type idea.

Participating in the Fish Extender Gift Exchange will be limited to those who sign up PRIOR to the 45 day mark for the cruise. This is to encourcage participation in the thread and to lessen the last-minute sign-ups which could happen. It also gives everyone adequate time to prepare supplies.

This means the deadline to sign up is: Saturday 6/25/2011.

Guidelines for our fish extender:
1. Each cabin is to provide AT LEAST one gift to each cabin participating in the fish extender. You can provide a gift to each person within that cabin, just the kids, or one gift for the whole cabin...that is up to you. Of course, you are welcome to give more than one gift...but the minimum is one.
2. All gifts are to be delivered between the cruise leaving port on Tuesday August 9th until 4 PM on Monday, August 15th. This gives people time to still be able to pack their bags before we leave the ship the morning of August 16th.
3.Please include a tag with your DISboard’s user name on the gift. This way everyone knows who the gift is from.
4. To take part in the FE, please provide JoeSchmieg / Joe (I know my DisBoard name is sooo creative )the following information (see below). I will post the master list periodically in this forum.
-DISboard user name
-stateroom number
-number of adults in the cabin
-number of children as well as their gender and ages
-anything else you want us to know (allergies, etc)
5. Don’t forget to check back to this thread with all the information!!!


After the sign up deadline of June 25th, I will complete master list for us to share. Then you’ll know how many FE gifts to prepare with the cabin number of where to deliver it.

Let me know if I am forgetting anything.
Thanks! I am really looking forward to this!
Joe

PS: Here is a list of IDEAS of what you might want to bring for the FE on the cruise...to add to your packing list if you'd like:
1. The FE gifts that you are making/preparing -- total number will be announced after our June 25th sign up deadline.
2. An FE pocket/hanger to hang outside your cabin. You can find them on eBay by searching "Fish Extenders" or you can make one or search on line other places.
3. A zip tie to help attach your FE HANGER. Some people have commented theirs have sadly walked away...but if you attach it with a zip tie...then it is not as likely to walk away.
4. Scissors to cut the zip tie when you're packing...LOL! Don't want to leave it for someone else.
5. On the forum, some people recommend bringing thank you notes so you can write a quick note to the person who gave you a gift.

 

[JoeSchmieg]

I have updated the FE roster:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc...TA4cF9wS2J2c3VDbXBSZXc&hl=en&authkey=COuB58YD

Note: I will ne PM'ing some of you as I had an issue and over wrote the file with the cabin numbers . Was able to reference some to get the information back but not all.

Joe

 

[rsjj]

I read somewhere that they don't treat their dogs very well. A few months ago there was a report of hundreds of sled dogs being killed because of the economy (fewer tourists).

so maybe we should boycott this activity/excursion? hmmm...have to break the news to dh...

 

[rsjj]

a quick question about fe exchange...do we give a gift/s for only one day? or all 7 (6?) days? i know i read that it's up to us...but what do people who participate in fe exchanges do? this will be our very first one, if we do participate, and i wouldn't want to make whoever i get paired off w/upset or anything! i just want to make sure what the "general" consensus was before i jump into it...

and will Joe pick (the person who we will be giving the gift/s to) for us? or do we pick? how does this all work?

tia!

and while i'm on here, getting excited about this whole thing...are there any other activities planned that i may have missed...since i wasn't really active on here till lately. i'm just curious...

 

[starwood]

Usually it is one give for the cruise. We did the 7 day Tortola cruise and had so much stuff I couldn't figure out how to pack it to get it home. Usually it is spread out over the cruise so some people will deliver on day one, some on day 2.....

 

[MagicMe]

HEY PEOPLE - IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS WE WILL BE IN DOUBLE DIGIT DAYS!!!!

GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
BOYS AND GIRLS!
WE SET SAIL IN
16 WEEKS! ​

For our August 9 th, 2011 Alaska Cruise ​

Let the party begin

​

 

[JoeSchmieg]

a quick question about fe exchange...do we give a gift/s for only one day? or all 7 (6?) days? i know i read that it's up to us...but what do people who participate in fe exchanges do? this will be our very first one, if we do participate, and i wouldn't want to make whoever i get paired off w/upset or anything! i just want to make sure what the "general" consensus was before i jump into it...

and will Joe pick (the person who we will be giving the gift/s to) for us? or do we pick? how does this all work?

tia!

and while i'm on here, getting excited about this whole thing...are there any other activities planned that i may have missed...since i wasn't really active on here till lately. i'm just curious...

Hi,
You give a gift to all those participating either individually or as a cabin. We do not pair people off. I know we plan to give something that can be used during the cruise, like a bag of candy and maybe something else little to the kids, so it is not a burden when packing to leave. Hope that helps!

 

[MagicMe]

a quick question about fe exchange...do we give a gift/s for only one day? or all 7 (6?) days? i know i read that it's up to us...but what do people who participate in fe exchanges do? this will be our very first one, if we do participate, and i wouldn't want to make whoever i get paired off w/upset or anything! i just want to make sure what the "general" consensus was before i jump into it...

and will Joe pick (the person who we will be giving the gift/s to) for us? or do we pick? how does this all work?

tia!

and while i'm on here, getting excited about this whole thing...are there any other activities planned that i may have missed...since i wasn't really active on here till lately. i'm just curious...

Actually what you've kind of described above is more like the Secret Mickey (i.e. Secret Santa) which I don't believe has been planned for this cruise as of yet. Secret Mickey is where one person is assigned to another person (or in some cases cabin to cabin) and given specific likes (hobbies, etc.) and then obtains and distributes gifts to that person throughout the cruise. I participated in the Secret Mickey on the WBTA. My SM left me something every day. Sometimes it was something small like a couple of pieces of candy and sometimes it was more (journal, pin, etc) with the gift towards the end as the highlight. On that cruise we had a luncheon on the last day (basically just set a time that everyone would have lunch in Parrot Cay) and revealed who our SM was. Loads of fun.

A fish exchange is more emcompassing. You basically exchange a gift (either something for each person or a gift for the cabin) to everyone on the FE list. Some larger cruises have so many participants that they will split the list to make it easier. We had so many participants on the WBTA that we split in to five groups. On my 7-day DD, we did not split and there were about 40 some cabins involved. Your FE gift can be something simple or elaborate (there are some very creative people - not me). I've received magnets, bookmarks, pens/pencils/markers (with cruise info imprinted), and baggies that contain candies or pirate trinkets or necessities (bandaids, paperclips, zip tie, rubber bands, etc). I've received hand crafted small picture frames (themed to a cruise) and small scrapbooks. I've also received small items specific to the area of the giver (ie. tiny bottle of tabasco sauce, etc).

You can spend whatever you want and as little as you want. To be honest, it's just a neat thrill to come back to your cabin and see that a treat was left for you in your FE. In that respect, I enjoyed receiving everything and anything. I picked up alot of stuff (especially for the kids) at the dollar store and at AC Moore/Michaels.

When leaving from Port Canaveral, there is actually a place to where people will send a box of their FE's and it will be delivered to the ship. Leaving from other ports, I don't know what options there are. I will be trying to keep it light as I will need to pack this in my suitcase and I don't want to weigh it down. Smaller things I've been able to carry in my carry-on.

 

[MassDisLovers]

I have updated the FE roster:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc...TA4cF9wS2J2c3VDbXBSZXc&hl=en&authkey=COuB58YD

Note: I will ne PM'ing some of you as I had an issue and over wrote the file with the cabin numbers . Was able to reference some to get the information back but not all.

Joe

How do FE participants feel about giving your real names on the FE roster - including children? For some of us who like to personalize the gifts we give, "DD12" doesnt sound quite right!

 

[JoeSchmieg]

How do FE participants feel about giving your real names on the FE roster - including children? For some of us who like to personalize the gifts we give, "DD12" doesnt sound quite right!

I am happy to include whatever details folks are willing to provide.
Joe

 

[rsjj]

Hi,
You give a gift to all those participating either individually or as a cabin. We do not pair people off. I know we plan to give something that can be used during the cruise, like a bag of candy and maybe something else little to the kids, so it is not a burden when packing to leave. Hope that helps!

this helps greatly!! thanx for clariflying!! let me think about this. sounds like fun, but have to come up w/something clever. ok, let me dwell on the thought first...

 

[rsjj]

Actually what you've kind of described above is more like the Secret Mickey (i.e. Secret Santa) which I don't believe has been planned for this cruise as of yet. Secret Mickey is where one person is assigned to another person (or in some cases cabin to cabin) and given specific likes (hobbies, etc.) and then obtains and distributes gifts to that person throughout the cruise. I participated in the Secret Mickey on the WBTA. My SM left me something every day. Sometimes it was something small like a couple of pieces of candy and sometimes it was more (journal, pin, etc) with the gift towards the end as the highlight. On that cruise we had a luncheon on the last day (basically just set a time that everyone would have lunch in Parrot Cay) and revealed who our SM was. Loads of fun.

A fish exchange is more emcompassing. You basically exchange a gift (either something for each person or a gift for the cabin) to everyone on the FE list. Some larger cruises have so many participants that they will split the list to make it easier. We had so many participants on the WBTA that we split in to five groups. On my 7-day DD, we did not split and there were about 40 some cabins involved. Your FE gift can be something simple or elaborate (there are some very creative people - not me). I've received magnets, bookmarks, pens/pencils/markers (with cruise info imprinted), and baggies that contain candies or pirate trinkets or necessities (bandaids, paperclips, zip tie, rubber bands, etc). I've received hand crafted small picture frames (themed to a cruise) and small scrapbooks. I've also received small items specific to the area of the giver (ie. tiny bottle of tabasco sauce, etc).

You can spend whatever you want and as little as you want. To be honest, it's just a neat thrill to come back to your cabin and see that a treat was left for you in your FE. In that respect, I enjoyed receiving everything and anything. I picked up alot of stuff (especially for the kids) at the dollar store and at AC Moore/Michaels.

When leaving from Port Canaveral, there is actually a place to where people will send a box of their FE's and it will be delivered to the ship. Leaving from other ports, I don't know what options there are. I will be trying to keep it light as I will need to pack this in my suitcase and I don't want to weigh it down. Smaller things I've been able to carry in my carry-on.

thanx for the detailed info!! it sounds like fun. i'm going to dwell on the thought first...

 

[Elfinjojo]

I am having to say goodbye to you all on this thread, due to a monumental mess up by DH!

For weeks I have been led to believe that we are sailing the Alaska cruise on 8/9/2011, as that was the date that DH told me, however today while casually having a conversation with DH he starts talking about the flight into Vancouver being on the 15th Aug and that we are sailing in the 16th - as you are all getting off we shall be getting on!!

The mess up came about as we had asked for quotes for both weeks, while on the Dream MV and DH went ahead and booked one, he then told me when we returned home that he had booked the 9th. However he didn;t say anything else until the conversation yesterday about it. So there I was happily planning my FE with all you guys and getting excited about the trip. Now I have to wait one whole week more than you guys to sail!!!

I have PM'd Joe, and JillJill to be removed from lists.

Hope you all have a great trip and leave plenty of pixie dust on the ship for me

 

[MagicMe]

I am having to say goodbye to you all on this thread, due to a monumental mess up by DH!

Sorry that I won't have the opportunity to meet you and your family (unless we happen to bump into you as we are leaving and you are arriving!!!).

Still I am glad to hear that it was just a mixup and that you will still be enjoying the Disney Alaskan cruise.

 

[MassDisLovers]

I am having to say goodbye to you all on this thread, due to a monumental mess up by DH!

We will get the ship all set up for you! Good thing you got his straightened out before it got too close ! You would be ready a week early and DH would wonder what the heck you were up to!

 

[geffric]

I am having to say goodbye to you all on this thread,

sorry to say good bye.. but maybe we will meet again on another DCL cruise

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

How do FE participants feel about giving your real names on the FE roster - including children? For some of us who like to personalize the gifts we give, "DD12" doesnt sound quite right!

I'll be more than happy to provide more information! I know my parent's and sister won't care! My parent's are Janet and Walter and my twin's name is Beth. My name is Amy and my DH's name is Dave.