Cruisin' June 24, 2007 -- Wonder

[DisneyJam]

Hey Rag. I think most dissers cruise during other times of the year more. We got our stateroom # when we booked. If you book GTY, then I think you get it about 3-4 weeks before our cruise.

So our boat isn't sold out yet? Thats pretty surprizing.

 

[Ragnrok23]

Hey Rag. I think most dissers cruise during other times of the year more. We got our stateroom # when we booked. If you book GTY, then I think you get it about 3-4 weeks before our cruise.

So our boat isn't sold out yet? Thats pretty surprizing.

GTY?

actually, i had checked last week. I just re-check and it does seem to be sold out- I was really hoping for an updrade (I booked a 12)

 

[Ourtwoprincesses]

Does anyone know when you get your stateroom#?

Also there doesn't seem to be too much availability on the ship, I guess that means there aren't too many dissers onboard?

We have our stateroom #'s already. We got them when we booked the cruise. Not sure if it is because we booked it thru DVC and used our points.

Anyways, when we booked a little over a month ago there was barely an rooms left. Actually when DH did call there was nothing for the week we wanted to go, except a 3 day cruise. That is just not long enough. So I made him call back and I am not sure if he got a better person to book us or not, but there were more options, but not much. Mostly just cat. 11 rooms.

Sue

 

[Ourtwoprincesses]

Of course we are still cruising!!!! We would never change that. But we have changed around some excursions. I wasn't all that hype of doing excursions, but I felt like we should do at least one. Originally we were going to go on a snorkeling cruise in Nassau. This was leaves at around 9:30 and comes back at 1. It is thru Disney. I kept thinking that might be too long, and I really wanted to take advantage of the shopping there too. So this weekend I decided to change it. I cancelled that one and we are going on teh snorkeling cruise at Castaway. It is only an hour and in the morning. We then changed around our couples massage in the cabana at Serenity Bay to the afternoon. I figured the kids then can go to the kids club area at that time. This way I get to snorkel but without the long hours and the girls won't get worn out so easily.

I did finish up our online check in process. I hope I didn't forget anything. Though it sounds like if anything was forgotten, you can fill out a form there at the port.

I am so ready to cruise!!! I need a vacation!!!!

Sue

 

[DisneyJam]

GTY?

actually, i had checked last week. I just re-check and it does seem to be sold out- I was really hoping for an updrade (I booked a 12)

GTY - is a guaranteed room. Just meens that you will get at least the category you choose, but in some cases an upgrade to higher level cabin. I think people book this way because your chances to get an up grade are better and it's a little cheeper. You should get your cabin assignment soon though.

Sue I am with ya, I really need a vacation too!!

 

[marcij]

I'm beginning to panic, as it seems I have so much left to do before our trip! I did manage to talk to Shirley to get the kids sand pails ordered, but I haven't crossed off nearly enough from my LONG list yet.

The boys baseball games may be rained out most of this week, so if I was smart, I'd take advantage of that and get more trip things done. Unfortunately, work just won't cooperate and I seem to be doing an awful lot of that at night!

Have a great day everyone!

 

[Ragnrok23]

GTY - is a guaranteed room. Just meens that you will get at least the category you choose, but in some cases an upgrade to higher level cabin. I think people book this way because your chances to get an up grade are better and it's a little cheeper. You should get your cabin assignment soon though.

Sue I am with ya, I really need a vacation too!!

Ah- Yes, I did book a GTY. I figured since I booked over a year ago, that was the best way. Plus I tried to keep the cost down as the WDW portion was a good chunk of $$$

 

[Ragnrok23]

My stateroom # is now on-line

I got a category 10 room (booked a 12)

 

[marcij]

Okay everyone. This is a pep talk to get this thread moving. Last year at the one month mark for our 2006 cruise, we had 8 families actively posting on the thread. It made the trip so much more fun than our previous two cruises, as we loved saying hi to those DIS families around the ship and on excursions.

I know I haven't posted much -- we had a family tragedy this past year and my heart just hasn't been in posting, although I can tell you that the people from last year's cruise, as well as people on the DISigns board have been so incredibly supportive that I don't think I'd be this far along in my grief recovery if it wasn't for them.

I know not everyone is going to want to give out personal information, so don't if you aren't comfortable. If others want to post info, we can ask the first poster to add it to his post, or I can edit the second post on the thread.

Here goes:

We live in Kaufman, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. It's 40 miles southeast of Dallas. I am 40, (turned 40 on the Magic last summer -- the only way to "go") I'm CAO of a training company and I work a lot of hours a week, but have great flexibility so I can pick the kids up from school, take them to their practices/games, and attend most all events at their school.

Randy, my DH, is 46 and a CPA. He works as the controller for a company in Dallas.

Andrew, DS11 and Jake DS8 are both ADHD and dyslexic. They go to the largest school in the nation for bright children with learning differences. They both love all sports, and have been playing baseball and soccer this spring/summer.

This is our fourth Disney cruise, and fifth with the kids.

Here's two pics from last year's cruise. Sorry there are two different sizes.

 

[Ourtwoprincesses]

My name is Sue, I will be turning 41 in a couple weeks ! Also a week after that we are moving from the 'burbs of chicago to the Ozarks of Missouri -double ! Actually we use to vacation there in teh summer, so we know people, but still it's not like here in Chicago. As my DH says it will take a long time to get the Chicago suburban life out of me! 8 days after we move we are going on our vacation !

I am a stay at home Mom to 2 girls. My oldest is Megan, she turns 11 the day after my birthday. She is looking foward to making new friends on the cruise. My younger one is Kaitlyn and she is 6, though she will say 6 1/2. Megan had a few melt downs on our last cruise 2 years ago, and I beleive she has now outgrown them, thank God! Kaitlyn is easy going and can't wait to meet her favorite princess, Sleeping Beauty! She is wearing the costume too.

My DH is 41 and has his own business and opening one up in the ozarks, which is why we are moving there. He is looking foward to paying less property tax ! Hopefully cheaper gas down there too!

We have a dog, name Paris (no, not after Paris Hilton). She is a malti-poo and I worry about leaving her in a kennel for the first time. She is 2, going on 3. On our last vacation she was able to stay home. But this time I think it will do her good to be staying at a kennel and make new friends. She is so spoiled! If we could, we would bring her with! She has been on many vacations with us.

That is it from us.

sue

 

[DisneyJam]

Hey gratz Rag on the upgrade!!

Marci, I really have to agree with you. The last Disney crusie we took had some 50 active posters. It was so great to see everyone around the ship. Our friends who did not participate in the posting kept asking us how we knew sooo many people. Our crusie last year was on a Royal Carribean and we had a similar experience using the crusie critic message boards.

We are from Maryland out side of baltimore. I am a computer software engineer and my DW (JenLynn) is an elementary school teacher. Andrew and Jake share my in my sons ADD. He is 9 and plays football in the fall. My DW is a gymnast as stated in a previous post. She just finished her meet season and placed in the top 10 on bars in her state meet.

This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise and we are soo excited to be going again. We are also DVC members and love everything Disney! Our two cats are named Disney and Meeko. They are strays that were born in one of our window wells that we adopted. I have never really been a cat person, but I have to say they are pretty cool pets!

Well, our small group will still have a good time!! It's getting sooo close!!

 

[rainbowfish]

Hi everyone! I just found this board. I've been waiting for folks to answer the roll calls on cruisemates and cruisecritic for months. So glad I've found you!!!

I'm am on this cruise with thirteen of my family members. We're celebrating my parents' 47th anniversary and the bonus is my 87 year old grandmother is joining us for her first cruise.

I'm not up on the shorthand so here's a breakdown of our little group:
nephews: 10, 13 & 24
niece & friends: 16, 16, & 18
Then there's my two brothers and their wives (in their 40s), my parents (both 69) grandmother (87) and myself (38). We're all on Deck 6 with main seating.

Middle brother and family have never been on a cruise. One of the friends has never seen the ocean. And other than a trip to Germany once when we lived overseas, my grandmother hasn't traveled much out of South Georgia.

We're all very jazzed about the trip! It's been a year in the planning. So if you see a caravan of cars heading to Port Canaveral on the 23rd down I-75, that'll be us! Thanks for all the great information on this board!

 

[DisneyJam]

Yay!! Welcome rainbowfish!!!

My group has a similar celebration going on. We have 2 families celebrating there 40th anniversary! My parents are one and my two sisters will be coming along. My older sister (now 40) has twin daughters my younger sis is still single. I have 2 kids boy (9) daughter (7). Me... I'm still 30 something . You will notice a JenLynn on the thread. That is my wife also 3 something just a couple years younger then me.

The other family also has 3 children that will be travelling with all their childern. All in all we will have 20 travelling. It's going to be a blast!!

Well, here's to hoping this thread gets jumping!

 

[rainbowfish]

Thanks! I just sent the link to this thread to my brothers. Hopefully they'll get on here and spark some excitement!

I saw a thread about door signs. I made some up in photoshop yesterday and I'm having them printed as dry erase boards. Too fun!

Any suggestions/advice from old timers? This is all of our first time on Disney. I've cruised HAL & Princess. My parents have cruised Princess. And my oldest brother's family has been on Carnival a few times.

 

[DisneyJam]

Any suggestions/advice from old timers?

This will be our 3rd Disney cruise. We have crusied RCI several times as well. Disney is an incredible crusie, but the night life dies down much earlier then other lines.

I would recommend having dinner or brunch at Palo. Also the shows are incredible on board. The rest, just sit back relax, and enjoy as Disney works their magic!

 

[JenLynn]

Hi everyone!! I am back! Sorry I have not been around the past few weeks. Things have been crazy (as I am going to assume DisneyJam has mentioned). I am finishing up the last class for the semester. In addition to working full time, I took 16 credits ... DH teased that even when he was a full time student he didn't take that many credits in a semester And my good news is that I just found out that I got the job transfer I was hoping for and will be teaching 7th grade Social Studies next year.

Great pictures marci! As DisneyJam mentioned, DS is ADHD and we suspect has a learning disability. We will likely be going for a full battery of educational testing this summer to get a better handle on what he is dealing with. He has been lucky so far that his teachers have provided assistive technology for him which has helped greatly but I worry that eventually he will get a teacher who is not so accomodating.

I am so hyped for the cruise now .... only 7 more days of school with students (not that I am counting or anything). We are going to Universal for the first time for several days after the cruise. I am trying to read everything I can about it and can't wait!

 

[rainbowfish]

DisneyJam,
I just realized that you have a single adult in your group. That's great! I was thinking I'd be the only non-partnered, non-parent, non-grandparent on the boart.

See ya'll in 18 days!

 

[marcij]

Welcome Rainbowfish! It sounds like you have a great group!

Jen -- congrats on the job transfer and on taking 16 credits! I'm very impressed! If we don't get to meet on the cruise, feel free to PM or call me with any questions about learning differences. I've found it really helps to talk to other parents to see what has worked/hasn't worked for their kids.

I can't believe we are getting so close! I'm still in panic mode, but have made progress on all my pre-trip projects.

Have a great day everyone!

 

[Muninn]

Thanks! I just sent the link to this thread to my brothers. Hopefully they'll get on here and spark some excitement!

And here I am

I'm looking forward to my first cruise. I've done a lot of traveling but never on a big boat in the open ocean

 

[DisneyJam]

Welcome to the group Muninn!!

Big boat cruises are one of my favorite vacations. There is something for everyone! Kids have a blast, adults get to relax and everything is taken care of for you.

Looking forward to meeting all of you!

Rainbow - yeah my sis is still single and coming along to celebrate and spend time with here neices and nefew. She lives in california now so she can't wait to see them all. Your group sounds like fun, so we definitely have to meet up!

Oh our last part of our planning is complete. I just booked our transfers, so now we are just waiting for the 23rd to get here so we can leave. Are we there yet?