Cruise Meet -April 21, 2012 - 7 Night Eastern Caribbean

[nikicares]

Welcome! We just joined this group a couple days ago. There is a link to sign up for the FE somewhere on this page.
We are so excited also.

roliepolieoliefan.... I am not showing you on the FE list I have so far, are you signed up? Are you wanting to sign up? If so please PM me the following information:
DIS Board Name:
Names:
Stateroom # (if known):
How many Children: Ages:
Which dining rotation you are on:
Any health concerns (allergies to any type of food)
Celebrations:
Email address (to email the final FE list to everyone) prior to sailing!


Just trying to make sure that I dont miss anyone who is interested Thanks!

 

[nikicares]

I need some input and feed back from you all....

Our FE exchange is getting up there in number of cabins/participants, so far 25 cabins and about 71 people, and this is so far... we still have a few months left to join.

Opinions/thoughts on dividing this up into smaller FE groups?

If this is an option, how do you recommend we divide it up?

Also I think we should set up the FINAL sign up date for at least 1 month prior to cruise date so that everyone has the list and can make sure they have plenty of time to get thier gifts ready... Thoughts?

 

[Donald_Quackers]

This is my first FE so I'm not too versed in it, but the one month deadline is fine by me.

 

[DISNEYJ&P]

I need some input and feed back from you all....

Our FE exchange is getting up there in number of cabins/participants, so far 25 cabins and about 71 people, and this is so far... we still have a few months left to join.

Opinions/thoughts on dividing this up into smaller FE groups?

If this is an option, how do you recommend we divide it up?

Also I think we should set up the FINAL sign up date for at least 1 month prior to cruise date so that everyone has the list and can make sure they have plenty of time to get thier gifts ready... Thoughts?

Think the 1 month idea is great as we are leaving a couple weeks early and will be on the road. As to splitting it into two groups maybe you could split it by date joined. That way, people who have been visiting the dis boards for a while will be exchanging with people who seem to be "friends" already. Whatever way you do it...you're doing a great job. Am looking forward to the exchange.

 

[catgirl]

I'm new to DCL & FE so no suggestion on the split. I do like the idea of the 1 month cut off, so we can make sure to have everyone covered. Thanks Nickicares so much for setting this up, I really appreciate the work that goes into it.

 

[disfunfor3]

Yes, I like the one month before cruise deadline for signing up for the FE.

I think splitting the group is probably a good idea. Some ideas for spliting the group:
in order by how we joined
put cabin numbers in a hat and randomly pick which one into which group
just take the list so far and divide in the middle

It's getting closer... I'm so excited!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

I need some input and feed back from you all....

Our FE exchange is getting up there in number of cabins/participants, so far 25 cabins and about 71 people, and this is so far... we still have a few months left to join.

Opinions/thoughts on dividing this up into smaller FE groups?

If this is an option, how do you recommend we divide it up?

Also I think we should set up the FINAL sign up date for at least 1 month prior to cruise date so that everyone has the list and can make sure they have plenty of time to get thier gifts ready... Thoughts?

I definitely think it would be a good idea to split!! It doesn't really matter to me HOW we split it, but it's so much easier and much more personal when you can concentrate on giving gifts to a smaller group as opposed to a larger group, plus it will cut down on the amount of luggage needed to haul FE gifts, AND the time it takes to deliver all of them on that huge ship!

Oh, and definitely no less than 1 month out for a cut-off date! I think ours on our last cruise was 45 days. Just my opinion....

 

[mom4mad]

We were on Panama Canal 2011, and had over 100 people in FE group. It was doable on a 15 night cruise, but might be a little much for a 7 night. Most people gave things that were easy to pack and didn't take up a lot of room. For example, luggage tags, tatoos, stickers, door
magnets, we gave single load Tide for people to use for laundry while on board-no, not giving this cruise-who has time for laundry with only 7 nights!. How would u split? By location? We are ok with whichever way everyone wants to go.

 

[Colosunn]

Steveston- the kiddos are 13-5-2 (at the time we sail) and yes, this is my first cruise. My husband has been on a cruise before although not Disney. We are SO excited!!!


Nikicares- Thank you so much for all you have done to put together the FE gift exchange!!! I agree with the others who have posted, yes breaking into groups is probably a good idea. What about doing it by the level the rooms are on? This will make it easier on everyone from having to go to all the levels of the ship. I also liked the idea of grouping by the date joined…that way people “know” each other more. And lastly, I agree with the cut off – 45 to 30 days sounds good. It will really help in the planning!


SO EXCITING!!!! I can hardly stand it!! There is so much going on between now and the time we sail, if I wasn’t busy it would drive me NUTS!

 

[Steveston]

Steveston- the kiddos are 13-5-2 (at the time we sail) and yes, this is my first cruise. My husband has been on a cruise before although not Disney. We are SO excited!!!

This is only our second Disney Cruise so we are far from experts but I will say you will have the time of your life! We now say to our friends the worst part about taking a Disney Cruise is you won't want to do anything else!

Don't forget to bring Pirate costumes because Pirate night is the best night of the cruise!!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

This is only our second Disney Cruise so we are far from experts but I will say you will have the time of your life! We now say to our friends the worst part about taking a Disney Cruise is you won't want to do anything else!

Don't forget to bring Pirate costumes because Pirate night is the best night of the cruise!!

I have to concur......you won't want to do anything else after DCL! And, pirate night IS the best night on the cruise!

 

[mom4mad]

Woohoo! Just upgraded from 11b to 8c and got a $26 refund.

 

[Colosunn]

Oh my goodness, I am so excited!

MikellaCinderella & Stevenston- I can already tell that the DCL is going to be the only thing we are going to want to do for a vacation, especially one we do with the entire family!! I get more and more excited everyday!! I am kind of glad the kids have no clue what to expect, if they had any idea they would drive me insane with excitement!!

Mom4Mad- I saw that you posted you just upgraded ” Woohoo! Just upgraded from 11b to 8c and got a $26 refund. “ Since this is our first cruise I am curious if you can tell me if the level we are on is a good one? We are 04D? I really hope it is in a good location on the ship? I have a feeling though- anywhere is going to amazing!

I bought fabric to start making my FE!!! And the pillow cases for the kids!!! OMG I can hardly contain the excitement!!!

 

[nikicares]

You all are so kind... I honestly do not mind doing the FE at all, I love seeing everyone be involved in something so fun.

FE closing date will be March 15th! *This will be the very last day to sign up for the FE* This way those who are traveling early will still have plenty of time to pack and plan gifts

As of right now we have 25 cabins in our FE group... Based on concensus once we get to 30 cabins we will then split them up into 2 seperate groups (if needed). As of now we are going to stick with the single group.

Not sure yet how we will split the groups up, but if we need to, then I will sort that decision out later.

I am soooo ready for this cruise - I keep watching the Fantasy sail out, and can hardly wait to see her!

 

[nikicares]

** FE WILL CLOSE ON MARCH 15th**

*UPDATED* WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 23 cabins, 41 adults and 28 kids

For any newbie’s to our list please PM me your information
DIS Board Name:
Names:
Stateroom # (if known):
How many Children: Ages:
Which dining rotation you are on:
Any health concerns (allergies to any type of food)
Celebrations:
Email address (to email the final FE list to everyone) prior to sailing!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

Woohoo! Just upgraded from 11b to 8c and got a $26 refund.

YAY!!!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

THREE months from TODAY!!!

 

[mom4mad]

Oh my goodness, I am so excited!



Mom4Mad- I saw that you posted you just upgraded ” Woohoo! Just upgraded from 11b to 8c and got a $26 refund. “ Since this is our first cruise I am curious if you can tell me if the level we are on is a good one? We are 04D? I really hope it is in a good location o

You are sailing in a better category than I ever have, so I might not be the best one to ask-but from everything I have read and heard, you should have outstanding accommodatio.s!

 

[mom4mad]

Just did online check in/booking-Palo brunch and tea is sold out for entire cruise But, did get Remy and Palo for dinner! For those interested-port adventures and spa seem wide open at this time.

Does anyone know where we are supposed to enter our flight info? I know I did this in the past, but the form doesn't come up in online booking.

 

[WAbeachfam137]

Woot Woot - we got our Palo Brunch booked for day 6 (at sea), and our Cabana for Castaway, along with our couples massage on Castaway

I believe that each booking window (120 days, 75 days...) each have a select number of ressies for Palo, Remy and such (though not sure about the Cabanas) and typically there are some ressies that open up when you get on the ship...

Hoping everyone gets to experience what they want!

so we booked our excursions today and was happy to get the ones we wanted at st. thomas and st. maarten. however sadly all the cabanas at castaway cay were booked, not too shocking though, but one thing I did notice was when it listed all the sold out ones, cabanas #13 and #16 were not on the list...so this makes me think they didn't release them all at once. I will keep checking back in though and hope someone gives theirs up ;-) did anyone else who got a cabana or who tried to get one notice this too?