Christmas/Holiday 2011 on the Wonder: 8 night Mexican Riviera 12/18/2011

[Dchachos]

I know it's almost over but I want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, and if you are brave yet a little crazy Happy Black Friday!

 

[SanDeeKath]

Happy Thanksgiving, all! What a great day we had with family. Now we don't have to feel guilty about deserting them all to go on this cruise!

I ordered the wetsuits from Amazon.com. I have Prime membership so shipping is free and there is no tax (for now).

Here is the one I got for my 7yo. Only $30. It came already and looks great and fits perfect. SHe's a size 7 in clothes so I ordered the 7/8 and it was the right size for her:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002MPH3PQ/ref=oh_o05_s00_i00_details

 

[Double Trouble]

Hope everyone had (or is still having) a great Thanksgiving! I've been off the boards for a few weeks taking care of some family business, but with only 3 weeks and some change to go...it's time to get into "cruise" mode.

Anyway, called DCL today and got the movie lineup for our cruise for those interested...

Toy Story 3 (Regular & 3D)
Tangled (3D)
Gnomeo and Juliet
I Am Number 4
African Cats
Prom
Pirates of the Carribean, On Stranger Tides (Regular & 3D)
Cars 2 (Regular & 3D)
Winnie the Pooh
The Help
Fright Night
Real Steal
The Muppets (just released a couple of days ago)

Unfortunately, no new "premiers" for our week, but not a bad lineup.

 

[Double Trouble]

There have been several posts with ideas about meetups so maybe it's time to settle on some times/places. I'd be happy to orchestrate this unless someone else is so inclined. We can discuss options and exchange ideas but I'd like to go "final" by December 4th (so I can get everything else ready!). All inputs are welcome. So, some options....

Cruise Terminal: We are early arrivers (just can't wait!) and will set up in the area just in front of the large wall-size TV so the kids can watch Disney movies. I will have a Santa hat on (or at least have it on the extended handle of my carry-on bag) to help find us. I like the ideas others had about wearing something red (wrist bands, hair ribbons, etc) to help find each other initially as well. We can refine this further as desired. This is just very informal and a way to put faces to names for those who arrive prior to boarding time. We've found it a great time for the kids to get to know each other as well (and to keep busy!), so they're already BFFs by the time they hit the lab/club/etc.

On Board - Predeparture: I know there are several options, but I suggest the Promenade Lounge on Deck 3 port side at 3:00pm. It's comfortable, easy to find, out of the weather, has plenty of room, and it's family friendly. The 3pm time generally works out well as it's after lunch and the opening of the staterooms, and it's just before the lifeboat drill and subsequent sail away party. Along with getting to know your fellow travelers, this is the best time to update the FE lists based on upgrades or any other changes. If you're in the FE or Secret Mickey and you can't make this meetup, you will want to contact "Silly Little Pixie" or "Brooklyn", repectively, ahead of time so they can pass on any changes to/from you. This is also a great time to compare dining assignments/rotations and exchange ideas on activities, excursions, etc. Ideas/comments?

Day 1 - Sea Day: We might consider a "tasting" for the adults, or possible just a meetup in the Outlook Cafe which would be much less structured. It's typically pretty cool on deck this day, so it's a good day to do something inside.

- Tastings (see Post 131 for more info): I've got an email in to DCL to check on putting together a private tasting just for our group. Or, we can sign up (individually) for one of the scheduled tastings. Typically the Day 1 (Monday) tastings are Wine at 1pm, Beer at 3pm, and Tequila/Margarita at 5pm. The problem with the 5pm tasting is it runs into the Captain's Reception and dinner for the early/main seating diners. I've never understood why they don' t do this one at 4pm?? We could probably do a private tasting at 3pm in the Cadillac Lounge (the 3pm Beer tasting is in Diversions normally). Anyway, please advise if you are interested in a tasting, and if so, what type, and private or group. There are also tastings available on Tuesday (sea day). All other thoughts/ideas are appreciated!

- Outlook Cafe: The recently remodeled Outlook Cafe is a great place to just hang out and relax/talk/whatever. You can just grab a drink on your own as desired, and mingle throughout the room. It's a much better venue for just getting to know people. If we don't have a consensus on a tasting, maybe we can just do a meetup here. We can still coordinate to get together for tastings as mini-groups with like interests as desired.

Other: Any other ideas/suggestions? Usually once we meet people and things get going, we tend to just wing it. Events like joining others on shore excursions or sitting together at a show just seem to come together. Please remember all of this is strictly optional...no pressure at all. Do what you want to do and hang with who you want to hang...it is a vacation after all. We've met a lot of nice people through this experience and gained some great friends. We can't wait to meet all of you.

Lastly, we did a Pre-Meet on Saturday evening before the cruise for those staying at our hotel (we're at the Doubletree as of now), and others met up at DLR on Saturday and/or Sunday as well. Please share other ideas.

 

[Double Trouble]

For those with internet savvy DDs like my two 8-year-olds, are any of them interested in emailing pre-cruise to get to know each other a little bit? Our girls did this for the first time befrore our April cruise and had a blast. It made them "instant" friends when they eventually met at the terminal/ship.

It would be totally supervised, of course, and nothing too personal. You can either use one of your email addresses, or open a "throwaway" one to use just for this trip.

It looks like we have over a dozen girls in the 6-10 year-old window that could join in this time. If your DDs are interested, send us a PM with the email address you'd like to use, and I'll have my girls send out the first email to the group. My daughters are Skype fanatics as well, so they can go that route too.

If anyone wants to set up something for the boys (pretty spread out in age), or the age 12 and up girls (looks like maybe ten or so), you might do something similar.

 

[Double Trouble]

Thanks to Brooklyn for posting the Navigators from her recent cruise.

Here's another thread with some excellent info.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2833820

See Post 2 for info on the port, parking, navigators (6 Nov MR cruise), laundry, stateroom accounts, and the Spa.

See Post 3 for all the Menus.

If you're not already, it's time to get excited!

 

[mdlove2cruise]

I will be there fairly early on Saturday and will try to have something red on the kids. We are flying in from the east coast and staying at Embassy Suites El Segunda so we won't be near port for a Saturday pre meet. All the other options for meetups sound good. Three weeks from now we will be on the boat!

 

[chernabogfamily]

My husband and I would do a tasting...any of them. He did the beer one last time, but I did not-so that is one I'd happily do. I wish the Wonder did the Champagne tastings like the Dream. Has anyone ever experienced a champagne tasting on one of the other ships?

 

[SanDeeKath]

Wow, just watched World of Color at CA Adventure for the 4th time in 2 days. That show is amazing! If you have not seen it and have a chance to go before or after the cruise, I would say this is a must do!!! I will try to post a video when we get back home tomorrow night. Incredible!

Katherine

 

[Tinkerbellll]

Promenade Lounge on Deck 3 port side at 3:00pm sounds like a plan! Any of the tastings sound great to my husband and me. Thank you for organizing this!

Do we make reservations for making Gingerbread Houses, too? Definitely do not want to miss that!

Oh, and one of us will be wearing a Stitch ears Santa hat. It's my oldest son's, but I am not sure if he will wear it. He surprises me sometimes, so we'll see.

See you all in a few weeks!!!!

 

[Tinkerbellll]

Oh, and I vote for the 1:00 p.m. wine tasting on 12/19...spa appointment at 3:30, so 3:00 won't work. (o: Such a busy schedule I am going to have!! Love it.

 

[SanDeeKath]

Oh, and I vote for the 1:00 p.m. wine tasting on 12/19...spa appointment at 3:30, so 3:00 won't work. (o: Such a busy schedule I am going to have!! Love it.

Is it possible to do wine tasting later? Like early evening. Somehow 1pm seems very early after lunch. Not sure my tummy could take the alcohol then?! Or my head.

Katherine

 

[Double Trouble]

Do we make reservations for making Gingerbread Houses, too? Definitely do not want to miss that!

As I understand it from talking to DCL and reading a post from a previous holiday cruiser, you sign up for the Gingerbread House making just like you sign up for the Tea Party (used to be Alice...now it's a princess and Peter Pan). Just go to the guest services desk after boarding to sign up and they will give you tickets. You must do it onboard. If anyone knows differently, please advise.

Our friends just got back today from the Wonder and I'll confirm with her after they have a day or two to unpack and reaclimate to reality.

 

[designertravels]

There have been several posts with ideas about meetups so maybe it's time to settle on some times/places. I'd be happy to orchestrate this unless someone else is so inclined. We can discuss options and exchange ideas but I'd like to go "final" by December 4th (so I can get everything else ready!). All inputs are welcome. So, some options....

Lastly, we did a Pre-Meet on Saturday evening before the cruise for those staying at our hotel (we're at the Doubletree as of now), and others met up at DLR on Saturday and/or Sunday as well. Please share other ideas.

my votes - see you in the terminal with something red around your wrist (I'll bring xtra ribbon to share) , we'll be wearing hats too.

3:00 Promenade lounge - see you there with a beer!

We will sign up for the beer tasting...also somewhat new if they offer mojito tasting, it is great.

My girls will want to email their future friends. We'll bring DS so they can picto chat in the terminal.

We decorated our 3' "disney vacation" Christmas tree last night. We had several ornaments from our last X-Mas FE exchange. It brought back some great memories. We are really looking forward to it!

Jill

 

[Julie1]

Thank you!! I just signed up my son. This will be our first Disney Cruise. We are so excited!! Grandparents are cruising with us as well.

 

[Double Trouble]

Thank you!! I just signed up my son. This will be our first Disney Cruise. We are so excited!! Grandparents are cruising with us as well.

Welcome Aboard!

We have an open Fish Extender (FE) group (Group 2)...it's like a little gift exchange...so if you'd like to sign up, check that out fairly quickly (it closes out on Friday, December 2nd). Otherwise, take a few days to check out our thread, then fire away with your questions.

Three weeks to go!!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

We're great with any tastings on the first sea day! We do have early dining so not too close to that. A private tasting for our dismeets group would be awesome, no matter what kind it is. Whatever DCL can do. We have enjoyed the tastings before, and learned a lot! Thanks Double Trouble for hooking this up.

We'll also be at the Doubletree the night before. A Pre-meet would be fun. Who else is staying there? The more the merrier!

Any teens/Tweens on Facebook? If there are then I can set up a closed group page just for them on Facebook. My last cruise did this and it seemed to go over well. My kids couldn't participate then because it was a surprise cruise!

Christine

 

[SanDeeKath]

Just got back from DL! What an awesome weekend. Spectacular weather (mid-80s) the whole weekend and practically no crowds on Sat or Sun despite it being TGiving weekend. The Grand CA was in incredible shape and our 2br villa looked right over WOC and paradise pier. Awesome all around. We are all totally wiped out but ready to really start thinking about this cruise now that all of our other trips are over and done with!

Can someone help me out about all the different things we need to do when we board? I am getting so confused about all the stuff we need to sign up for.

1) Can we check what sort of table we were assigned (4 person, 8 person...)?
2) Do we need to do anything for the kids club if we filled out stuff on line
3) What else do we need to sign up for (Gingerbread making, tea, etc???)
4) When are we getting the final cabin list for the FEs and Secret Mickeys? Who is giving out the list in case we have something happen and don't hook up at 3pm?

Thanks so much for all the help!! I am feeling confused suddenly!

Oh, and before I forget: 20 days!!!

Katherine

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I can answer #4... I'll send out maps and a final FE list as soon as everyone's rooms are assigned. So any of you in GTY status on the spreadsheet, update it, or let me know and I'll update it for ya.

Any cabin changes will be noted and passed out at the 3:00 meet. If you know you won't make the meet, no worries ... let me know and I'll leave it for you in an envelope at Guest Services (I'll need your first and last names to leave stuff I believe). I'll do this if you're in group 1 or 2. But if you're a cabin that had a change you'll definitely need to send someone from your group to the meet!

Christine

 

[SanDeeKath]

I can answer #4... I'll send out maps and a final FE list as soon as everyone's rooms are assigned. So any of you in GTY status on the spreadsheet, update it, or let me know and I'll update it for ya.

Any cabin changes will be noted and passed out at the 3:00 meet. If you know you won't make the meet, no worries ... let me know and I'll leave it for you in an envelope at Guest Services (I'll need your first and last names to leave stuff I believe). I'll do this if you're in group 1 or 2. But if you're a cabin that had a change you'll definitely need to send someone from your group to the meet!

Christine

Thank you! Just updated... K