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

[Brooklyn]

Oh my gosh! I'm drooling, those are so cute! I hope you mean a long list for your family, that looks intensive Did you buy the ribbon off of etsy? How about the bottle caps? I just sent my MIL my clothing designs and fabric for our sail away outfits. It will be cutting it close

Jill

Jill,

Yes a long list for my girls plus friends who are on the cruise. I am so jealous that you have a MIL who can sew!!! I buy my ribbon from all over...wheverever I can buy it to match. The DCL ribbon I got from ebay. The bottle caps I make myself. I used to use clay centers but they make the bows weigh more for less comfortable but they are oh so cute! Oh, I wish I knew how to sew!! Well I sew the bows, but no way I can even sew a hem! Can't wait to see the sailaway outfits!!! I LOVE customs, especially for DCL!

 

[Brooklyn]

A good place to meet is Promenade Lounge on deck 3 immediately after the second seating. Or After the safety drill on deck 9 to the right of stage. I just do not know how cold it will be.

Also - if you are interested...wear a red ribbon, bracelet on your wrist to identify yourself in the terminal, meet up. We did this on the last cruise. Most people forgot, but I sure did get a lot of introductions wearing my ribbon.

Any thoughts? Jill

We have always met promenade louge before the lifeboat drill. I never seem to make it though bc we are always busy doing other things. :/

After 2nd seating my kids are usually off to the club and we are getting geared up for Wonder Quest...our favorite adult event!

It would be fun though to meet everyone the first day.

 

[Dchachos]

A good place to meet is Promenade Lounge on deck 3 immediately after the second seating. Or After the safety drill on deck 9 to the right of stage. I just do not know how cold it will be.

Also - if you are interested...wear a red ribbon, bracelet on your wrist to identify yourself in the terminal, meet up. We did this on the last cruise. Most people forgot, but I sure did get a lot of introductions wearing my ribbon.

Any thoughts? Jill

We have always met promenade louge before the lifeboat drill. I never seem to make it though bc we are always busy doing other things. :/

After 2nd seating my kids are usually off to the club and we are getting geared up for Wonder Quest...our favorite adult event!

It would be fun though to meet everyone the first day.

Does anyone else have any thoughts? Jill I like the idea of a red ribbon on the wrist. Easy to do, easy to wear, subtle yet effective. Being new I am unfamiliar with the ship and the activities so I have so ideas.

If this is not something the group wants to do:no worries. I just wanted to volunteer to organize it.

When I post it tells me if I want to add a poll I can do it now. I have no idea how to add one. Can anyone help me with it. That way we can vote and make a decision.

 

[LovesToRun]

We have always met promenade louge before the lifeboat drill. I never seem to make it though bc we are always busy doing other things. :/

After 2nd seating my kids are usually off to the club and we are getting geared up for Wonder Quest...our favorite adult event!

It would be fun though to meet everyone the first day.

Does anyone else have any thoughts? Jill I like the idea of a red ribbon on the wrist. Easy to do, easy to wear, subtle yet effective. Being new I am unfamiliar with the ship and the activities so I have so ideas.

If this is not something the group wants to do:no worries. I just wanted to volunteer to organize it.

When I post it tells me if I want to add a poll I can do it now. I have no idea how to add one. Can anyone help me with it. That way we can vote and make a decision.

On our Nov 5-12 cruise last week, we all had a plan to meet in the Prominade Lounge (deck 3 toward the aft) at 3 PM. It worked great because most people are on the ship by then, and the staterooms are generally available by 1:30 PM, so by 3 PM most people have already been in their staterooms to start to get settled in, and they've already had lunch in the buffet. The lifeboat drill generally is at 4 PM, the ship usually leaves at 5 PM, and the first seating for dinner is 5:45 PM, so meeting at 3 PM really works great... It's the one time during the first day where there isn't a lot going on, and also since it's a lounge, so if you want to get a drink and start celebrating your vacation!

It was really great to meet everyone on the first day because then you knew who everyone looked like, and the whole rest of the week, I'd constantly run into people from our cruise meet group and say hi. It really made the cruise so much more fun because I felt like I knew so many people on the ship.

Also, this gives a chance for all the kids to meet each other, too, so when they see each other in the kid's clubs, they will be a familiar face. Some of the kids in our group meet totally hit it off at the meet in the prominade lounge, and they ended up being friends and being pals on the entire cruise, so that is another benefit to meeting on the first day.

I would say about 3/4 of our group met on that first day at 3 PM, and it was great!

So, that is what I'd suggest... of course, I'm totally new at this. Our cruise last week was the first time I have been part of a cruise meet, so I'm only basiing this off of one experience.

Take care,
Kathy

 

[SanDeeKath]

We have always met promenade louge before the lifeboat drill. I never seem to make it though bc we are always busy doing other things. :/

It would be fun though to meet everyone the first day.

I vote for 3pm too. Promenade lounge sounds great. I would think after 2nd seating is too late for many of the little kids to be up (it's like 10pm, no?). So they wouldn't be able to meet their friends...

I'd love to meet everyone before the cruise starts. What's Wonder Quest????? Katherine

 

[betsy918]

I'm up for 3:00 on the first day, and the red ribbon sounds good, too. I'm soooo excited!

 

[mdlove2cruise]

I am up for 3pm and the red braclets. Thanks for organizing. I am getting excited!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I am up for 3pm and the red braclets. Thanks for organizing. I am getting excited!

3 pm is great! I agree that the time is probably the best choice. I'll have a list there of cabin changes and papers for you to take note of changes. If you can't make the meet, let me know ahead of time and I'll leave the list for you at Guest Services.

On a previous cruise we ordered silicone bracelets (think Livestrong) to wear to identify us throughout the cruise. It was pretty cool, and you could get a youth size as well as adult size. Just doing a quick check, it looks like it would run about $1.10 apiece if we had about 75 adults (for the teens and adults) and 40 kid sizes. They could get picked up at the meet. That way everyone could be identified even if they don't do the FE or join late.
Thoughts? Too much?

Christine

 

[hitormiss]

Four weeks and counting! Woo hoo!

With the two FE groups, I want to make sure I understand how this is going to work:

If you're signed up for:
- Group 1 only - you give gifts to everyone else in Group 1
- Group 2 only - you give gifts to everyone else in Group 2
- Both Group 1 and 2 - you give gifts to everyone in Group 1 plus the people in Group 2 only (i.e., not double up for the people in both groups)

Right?

We currently only have three cabins who are in "Group 2 only". For those from Group 1 considering joining Group 2, I added a column to the spreadsheet to show who is only in Group 2. If that number stays small, I'll join that group too...

We're looking forward to meeting everyone!

 

[Brooklyn]

I'd love to meet everyone before the cruise starts. What's Wonder Quest????? Katherine

It is one of the best adult area games. It is a savenger hunt in wave bands. You never have to leave the room, it is a blast!! Super funny and we never miss it! It is usually on the 1st night.

Four weeks and counting! Woo hoo!

With the two FE groups, I want to make sure I understand how this is going to work:

If you're signed up for:
- Group 1 only - you give gifts to everyone else in Group 1
- Group 2 only - you give gifts to everyone else in Group 2
- Both Group 1 and 2 - you give gifts to everyone in Group 1 plus the people in Group 2 only (i.e., not double up for the people in both groups)

Right?

We currently only have three cabins who are in "Group 2 only". For those from Group 1 considering joining Group 2, I added a column to the spreadsheet to show who is only in Group 2. If that number stays small, I'll join that group too...

We're looking forward to meeting everyone!

Yes you are right...if only in group one then just group 1, if only in group 2 (currrently only three rooms) then you just give to group 2, if in both then you just give to those in group 1 and 2 but not double up those in group 2 and 1.

 

[SanDeeKath]

Yaaaay! We are under a month now, right???

Can't wait. It's cold and rainy here in usually-sunny-San Diego! What's up with that? I am freezing in my long pants and giant sweatshirt.

Brooklyn, I just sent ya PM!

Katherine

 

[LovesToRun]

Yaaaay! We are under a month now, right???

Can't wait. It's cold and rainy here in usually-sunny-San Diego! What's up with that? I am freezing in my long pants and giant sweatshirt.

Brooklyn, I just sent ya PM!

Katherine

I'm the same! Can't wait!! It is soooo cold here now!! 33 degrees today... I'm ready for Mexico temps!

Excited it's under a month now!

Hope everyone had a good weekend! I had a big birthday party this weekend. I turned 40 on Nov 10 , and so the No 5-12 7-day Eastern Cruise we went on was a 40th birthday present/cruise. It was super fun! So, then this weekend, we threw a big party with all my friends and family that could make it (we had a wine and cheese party... really fun!)... so it has been a weekend of fun!

Now, we have to make it through Thanksgiving (which will also be fun), and then it's the real count down to the cruise! I can't believe it's so soon!! Can't wait!! Looking forward to meeting all fo you.

Kathy

 

[SanDeeKath]

Happy Birthday! I turned 40 in May and was on a B2B Alaska cruise to celebrate! It was a blast.

So the excitement for today was that my older DD's best friend is going to be joining us for the cruise!!! Her mom is going to let her go for the week. So I had to look over all of our excursions again and add her to as many as we could. Here is what we have going on. What are you all doing?

1) Manzanillo: snorkle, catamaran at Elephant Beach
2) PV: Paradise Beach resort getaway
3) Cabo Day1: Dolphin Swim
4) Cabo Day2: ?????? What should we do??? Kids love the beach but I think it could be quite cool up North like Cabo in December. I am even thinking of bringing wetsuits. Dunno.

Katherine

 

[jalismoore]

Yaaaay! We are under a month now, right???

Can't wait. It's cold and rainy here in usually-sunny-San Diego! What's up with that? I am freezing in my long pants and giant sweatshirt.

Brooklyn, I just sent ya PM!

Katherine

Iiii'mmmmm ffffreeezingggg tooooo..lol.sitting in front of the fireplace.brrrrr. Is it December 18 th yet.....


Alis

 

[Woodrow]

were doing the same snorkel in manzillo, heading to dolphin swim in PV and heading to san jose on cabo day 1

big time counting down now. we had snow for the second time this winter already this morning.

So the excitement for today was that my older DD's best friend is going to be joining us for the cruise!!! Her mom is going to let her go for the week. So I had to look over all of our excursions again and add her to as many as we could. Here is what we have going on. What are you all doing?

1) Manzanillo: snorkle, catamaran at Elephant Beach
2) PV: Paradise Beach resort getaway
3) Cabo Day1: Dolphin Swim
4) Cabo Day2: ?????? What should we do??? Kids love the beach but I think it could be quite cool up North like Cabo in December. I am even thinking of bringing wetsuits. Dunno.

Katherine

 

[Brooklyn]

Hello Everyone! I have had a few requests for people who want to join in on the Secret Mickey exchange.

The current assignments stay the same. Those who join in now will be assignmed to each other.

Secret Mickey Gift Exchange
Deadline to Sign Up is Sunday, November 27th! ​

Please sign up by Sunday, Nov 27. Assignments will go out on Monday Nov 28th.

We are going to have a great reveal get together so you don't want to miss out!

Please fill out the following form in order to sign up for the Secret Mickey exchange. Please fill out the form for each member of your family who wants to participate. If you have any questions please send me a PM

SECRET MICKEY FORM​

Please take time to fill out the following information thoroughly. The more info you give the better your Secret Mickey will understand what you like. You will receive your Secret Mickey assignment November 18th. The deadline to sign up is Nov 27th. Gifts should have a value of approx. $25.00 - $30.00 total. Toward the end of the cruise we will plan for a "Meet your Secret Mickey" gathering. *Please fill out the following information seperating for each person particiapting in your family.

Thank You!​

 

[SanDeeKath]

Yaay! Thank you, I just signed up my DD's friend. Hope others join toO!

 

[LovesToRun]

Happy Birthday! I turned 40 in May and was on a B2B Alaska cruise to celebrate! It was a blast.

So the excitement for today was that my older DD's best friend is going to be joining us for the cruise!!! Her mom is going to let her go for the week. So I had to look over all of our excursions again and add her to as many as we could. Here is what we have going on. What are you all doing?

1) Manzanillo: snorkle, catamaran at Elephant Beach
2) PV: Paradise Beach resort getaway
3) Cabo Day1: Dolphin Swim
4) Cabo Day2: ?????? What should we do??? Kids love the beach but I think it could be quite cool up North like Cabo in December. I am even thinking of bringing wetsuits. Dunno.

Katherine

Very cool you celebrated your 40th also on a Disney Ship! It was so much fun for me to turn 40 on the Disney Magic! How was the B2B Alaska cruise? Was it the same itinerary for both of the cruises? I grew up in Alaska, and moved to Washington state for college and never left, but I go back up to Alaska often to visit. it is so beautiful there! I think everyone in their lifetime should visit Alaska at some point.

That is great your daughter's friend will be coming on the cruise!

These are the excursions we are doing:

Manzanillo: Tesoro Resort Pool & Beach Bash (my inlaws will be doing this with us, too)

Puerto Vallarta: Las Caletas Hidewaway (inlaws doing this with us also)

Cabo San Lucas (day 1): Canyon Canopy Adventure (only DH, myself and both my DS's are doing this. My inlaws are doing the Dolphin swim). So excited about the Canopy Adventure! We had planned on doing a Canapy Adventure in Puerto Vallarta on our Panama Canal cruise, but had to cancel it because I (sadly) got very injured just before our cruise, and so my Orthopedic doctor said a big N-O to the Canaopy Adventure. I told my DH and kids to still do it, but they decided to cancel, too, because they wanted to wait to do it all together as a family. So, this is try #2 (but at Cabo), and I can't wait!!! It looks like so much fun, and my boys and DH are super excited, too!

Cabo San Lucas (day 2): We're just going to book local things once we get off the ship... probably will parasail, maybe take a water taxi over to a beach... we'll play this day by ear. We were on the Panama Canal cruise, and our stop at Cabo, we didn't pre-book any excursions, but just booked local stuff once we got off the ship, and it worked great!

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving. Our cruise is just around the corner! Can't wait!!


Take care,
Kathy

 

[SanDeeKath]

Hi there,

I think we may play Cabo day 2 by ear too. We are booked on snorkeling but I think we will freeze, even with the little wetsuits I just ordered on line for the kids. I remember Cabo's waters being chilly when we were there last Nov. I guess it's probably because it's more north than PV and Mazatlan.

By the way, it's really too bad we aren't going to Mazatlan. We went to El Cid on our stops in the past and they ahve the BEST beaches and water activities for kids. Plus a super yummy buffet and all you can drink margaritas! I would prefer that to a short, 5h stop in Cabo for another day when you have to fight the tenders again...

Anyway, our Alaska trip was GREAT. We did the Pacific Coastal on the Sapphire Princess just DH and I for 7n. Then the kids flew into Vancouver and met us on the Princess ship with my mom and we did the 7n Alaska. So it wasn't the same itiniary. It was just an awesome getaway and the scenery is spectacular.

I have thought about doing Alaska again and doing Northbound from Seattle or Vancouver to Anchorage for 7n and then back South again, but it would be the identical stops and I figured that's less exciting. This way we saw new ports as we made our way North and then ended up seeing Glacier Bay and the lovely Alaskan Fjords! Alaska is definitely a MUST IMHO!

But for now, I am very happy to be going on a warm weather cruise!

By the way, we are heading to Disneyland this weekend to stay at the Grand CA (our DVC timeshare points in use ) so if anyone wants anything.........

Katherine

 

[designertravels]

Where did you order the wet suits from?

Thanks, Jill