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

[Donald_Quackers]

Conceptualice-

This is too our first Disney cruise, although I am going to participate in the FE. I figure it is a one time thing for right now, and I really want my kids to have the full experience! I have been accumulating the FE gifts for quite some time. I do have a couple that I am making custom, just because I love to be crafty and there still is plenty of time. Just think about it, you will not be sorry that you participate
As for the other questions you asked, I am not really able to help.... I can tell you one thing though, I have spent MANY MANY hours on the computer here on the blog, on the disney websites as well as MANY more website researching the cruise...this will help you to see what kinds of things you can expect.
I can tell you one thing- if you call the Disney Cruise phone line for customer service, they probably can tell you when your dining schedule. And everytime I have called they have been AWESOME! Makes me more excited when I talk with them!!

Cindy

Regarding dining, you can see which night is pirate night is on the DCL site, which is showing me as the night we're at St. Maarten.

As for formal/semi-formal, formal should be the first sea day (the Sunday after we sail), and Semi-Formal was the sea day before we reach Castaway Cay.

 

[Colosunn]

Quick Question....

Has anyone done the Dolphin Encounter Port Adventure? I am curious if it is worth it, and what all it includes? It is always hard to tell by the descriptions...and so much better when you are actually reccomended by someone who has done it before!

Thanks everyone!
Cindy

 

[Colosunn]

I have had more activity on this over the past few days than I have since I started!! LOL!

I am excited...can you tell???

I just came accross a thread about "post cards from mickey" when cruisers actually purchase a post card and send it to a fellow cruiser when they return back home but it is from "MICKEY" talking about their upcoming cruise!! Kind of a pass it forward type thing!!!!

Has anyone ever participated in this? How FUN!!!

Cindy

 

[Colosunn]

Quick Question....

Has anyone done the Dolphin Encounter Port Adventure? I am curious if it is worth it, and what all it includes? It is always hard to tell by the descriptions...and so much better when you are actually reccomended by someone who has done it before!

Thanks everyone!
Cindy

Not so sure we will be doing this- I found some reviews...and all were not good. Sad!! But we will be able to spend the money ($$$) on something else super fun I am sure of it!

 

[DMMarla07860]

Okay, now we're all going to be jealous of you.

I finally have everything paid off. Waiting impatiently until the 6th to book excursions. Of course it's on a day I work, and I can't get online at work. I work 12 hour shifts, so I'll be up a little before 5am so I can book.

don't be jealous

 

[Steveston]

After reading several good reviews on this site and Trip Advisor we have cancelled our Ship excursion and booked the group tour with Bernard's Tours in St. Maarten. Thanks to all who recommended!

 

[Conceptualice]

Conceptualice-

This is too our first Disney cruise, although I am going to participate in the FE. I figure it is a one time thing for right now, and I really want my kids to have the full experience! I have been accumulating the FE gifts for quite some time. I do have a couple that I am making custom, just because I love to be crafty and there still is plenty of time. Just think about it, you will not be sorry that you participate

Thank you very much for your input Colosunn! It's nice to hear from someone in the same situation. You are right, there IS time.. I guess I should just go ahead and sign up, I can figure out something. @_@

I apologize for the show being an obvious answer question... I had been to the show section before and had forgotten... so sorry about that. :/ Trying to process a lot of information for two families at once, since I was nominated as trip planner/organizer.

 

[DizzylandDeb]

I submitted the form on Bernard's site today -- can't wait to check this out.

After reading several good reviews on this site and Trip Advisor we have cancelled our Ship excursion and booked the group tour with Bernard's Tours in St. Maarten. Thanks to all who recommended!

Glad everything is working out for everyone! Bernard's is going to make out like a bandit from our sailing!

 

[warrenite]

Glad everything is working out for everyone! Bernard's is going to make out like a bandit from our sailing!

We booked too!

 

[Donald_Quackers]

I got my confirmation from Bernard's. I'm all set now for the cruise - just gotta get one more thing settled for the FE and I'm totally done!

 

[Marcy Mouse]

We were on the 3 day May 3rd but switched to this cruise when I found a great deal on a 9D!

I don't want to have to read the 40 plus pages - can some one fill me in on any info that I may need to know.

BTW I'm Marcy(36) and dh Chris(39) just the two of us on this one! Can't wait!

Thanks!

 

[Colosunn]

Finally able to start booking things...We were able to book Remey, although ALL of Palo is booked I am so sad! I really hope there is a way we will be able to make that work- I REALLY WANT TO have a hot date with my husband there!

The one other question I have for you guys, what is the Online check in? There was no special options for me to choose? I will try again tomorrow, and/or call the Disney Cruise Line and ask them. I thought this is where I could enter the passport information as well as choose the time when we will arrive ont he 21st?

Have a great night everyone! Time for BED! 4:30AM comes really early when I am already 2.5 hours past my bed time!

Congratulations to the NY Giants for winning the Super Bowl!

Cindy

 

[Steveston]

Finally able to start booking things...We were able to book Remey, although ALL of Palo is booked I am so sad! I really hope there is a way we will be able to make that work- I REALLY WANT TO have a hot date with my husband there!

The one other question I have for you guys, what is the Online check in? There was no special options for me to choose? I will try again tomorrow, and/or call the Disney Cruise Line and ask them. I thought this is where I could enter the passport information as well as choose the time when we will arrive ont he 21st?

Sorry you didn't get Palo, don't give up, make a request as soon as you get on board and I bet you'll get lucky.

You're right with on-line check in, it's where you enter, flight information, passport information, credit card information etc. everything they need but you don't want to have to do when you get to the terminal on the 21st.

Try again and if you have troulble call Disney Cruise at 1-800-951-3532 they will walk you through it.

 

[NTOFD]

On line check in doesn't open until the morning of the day you can start booking.

 

[Conceptualice]

Finally able to start booking things...We were able to book Remey, although ALL of Palo is booked I am so sad! I really hope there is a way we will be able to make that work- I REALLY WANT TO have a hot date with my husband there!

I KNOW EXACTLY how you feel Colosunn, I wanted to have High Tea at Palo, but all that is gone too! I was told to pretty much stalk the website in hopes someone cancels their reservation... ::fingers crossed:: There are some Palo brunch options still available... or were this morning.. although I know that's not the same thing.

At least got Remy's taken care of. I would have been heartbroken if that was completely booked too. @_@;;

 

[simbasmom2]

I agree Bernard's will be making a fortune from us! It will be neat having familiar faces on that tour/ in our van. I suspect they would put us together due to the fact that we will all arrive the same time and need to be back to the ship at the same time. Other ships come and go at different times.

Welcome Marcy Mouse!

I have checked every day and still haven't been able to snag a brunch!

Question...our Palo dinner is during the time when we are suppose to put our bags out in the hallways on the last night...what should we do? has this happened to anyone else before? I am afraid to put them out there too early. Should I ask my stateroom host to come in and get them? Would they do that? I don't want to have to deal with all of them the departing morning. I would hate to leave dinner just to haul my bags out.

Another ?- when we take our group photo are we going to ask a CM to take it for us? I know someone mentioned a tripod, but I don't want to bring mine. I would like a picture on my camera of all of us. I have never been in a meet and greet where we took photos. Wouldn't it be cool if a character was in it with us? Speaking of characters - are we sure they wouldn't be there at our picture taking scheduled time doing meets in the lobby? It would be too crowded then.

wahoo it is getting closer

 

[DizzylandDeb]

Question...our Palo dinner is during the time when we are suppose to put our bags out in the hallways on the last night...what should we do? has this happened to anyone else before? I am afraid to put them out there too early. Should I ask my stateroom host to come in and get them? Would they do that? I don't want to have to deal with all of them the departing morning. I would hate to leave dinner just to haul my bags out.

On the two cruises we've done, we had Palo on the last night as well. We packed most of our stuff prior to dinner and finished after dinner and sat our bags out quite late at 11p.m. or midnight. Didn't seem to be a problem.

 

[Conceptualice]

Simba's mom> It's weird, the brunch option IS available, but they don't have space for even two? Is there maybe 1 spot left on every day which is keeping it open? @_@

 

[nikicares]

Nikicares> thank you very much for posting the fe list and information! At the moment I am being flighty and going back and forth on fe, as this is my first Disney cruise and I'm not sure if I sign up I am going to be taking on too much in one go.

Three questions, besides pirate's night and formal night, are there any other themed nights to anticipate?

Second, do we get our dining schedule the same time we can start planning on the website and book excursions etc?

Besides wishes, are there any other shows (golden mickeys, villians, believe, etc) that are going to be on the fantasy?

Hello Conceptualice!

Congrats on your 1st Disney Cruise!! Excited to have you sharing it with all of us!

In my past FE experiences most people tend to "deliver" their FE goodies in the mornings/evenings or during the opposite of dinner they have (example, if you have 1st dinner you deliver after during the 2nd seating) before or after the shows.

I guess I dont really feel it takes a lot of time to deliver our FE gifts... as we enjoy the strolling the hallways together to see the door decorations and such.

Question about the shows... There is a show every evening to enjoy, and I am not sure of the schedule of what the shows are playing

Dining schedule... your rotation is assigned when you get to the port, the dining rotation will be listed on your key to the world card, and you will have the same dinner time every evening But you should have already choosen your dining seating time, 1st or 2nd seating.

I hope that helps with most of your questions... my best advice is to just go with the flow and read the navigators (daily schedules) each evening with your family to plan the next days, dont stress making plans for your cruise (other than port excursions) as there will be plenty to keep you and busy.

I hope that you decide to join us in the FE!! Please send me your information if you decide - I think you will be happy you did

 

[catgirl]

I was up at 2:30am booking excursions and it paid off! I was able to book parasailing & stingrays on CC and a kayak/hike excursion on St. Thomas. Just need to reserve a rental car for before & after cruise and hotel rooms!

Hope everyone else was just as lucky with their bookings!