Cruisin' MAYniacs - May 14-17, 2009

[CHES94]

Woohoo welcome aboard Jessica!

I have cruised before, but not with Disney. I am really looking forward to all of the "magical" touches that a Disney cruise will include (characters, shows, and of course Castaway Cay!) Are you planning anytime in the parks before the cruise? We are doing the land sea package, and for right now it is a complete surprise to our boys.

Where in Texas do you guys hope to relocate to?

The other gals in the thread have been great! Although we need to hurry up and get someone on board older than Maria!

Hey Shannon-
looks like you get cowgirls after all!!!

 

[wachnicki]

I pm'd kat to be added to the official list but forgot our ages...I guess we can "officially" join since we're both over 39. (lol)
Me: Denise 40
DH: Mike 47
We're from Redding Ca. This will be our first ever cruise and it will be a kid free vacation to celebrate our 20th anniversary.

And what are fish extenders? I saw the picture but I'm still not sure what it is.

Thanks!!

 

[leagirl12]

I pm'd kat to be added to the official list but forgot our ages...I guess we can "officially" join since we're both over 39. (lol)
Me: Denise 40
DH: Mike 47
We're from Redding Ca. This will be our first ever cruise and it will be a kid free vacation to celebrate our 20th anniversary.

And what are fish extenders? I saw the picture but I'm still not sure what it is.

Thanks!!

20 years...that's AWESOME! Congratulations!!

Welcome to the group! This is our first cruise too so I'm not the best one to explain fish extenders. I'll leave that to the pros!

 

[CHES94]

Welcome Denise!


Let's see....I haven't done a fish extender exchange, but they are decorated fabric pockets they come in all shapes and sizes and they hang by a wood dowel usually from the fish outside of your stateroom door (hence the name fish extender )

If we all agree to do the FE exchange, then we bring small gifts to put into other fish extenders during the trip. So each day someone would put a little gift in your fish extender. There are tons of threads showing the different gifts people have gotten. The idea is not to spend a lot of money, but to just add a little something special for the trip!

I wish I knew how to put in a thread link, but I don't

I hope all of you guys have had a great weekend! Oh, and congratulations on reaching twenty Denise! Our first cruise was for our 10th and it was without kids! This will be the boys' first cruise.

Later gators!

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

Welcome Denise!


Let's see....I haven't done a fish extender exchange, but they are decorated fabric pockets they come in all shapes and sizes and they hang by a wood dowel usually from the fish outside of your stateroom door (hence the name fish extender )

If we all agree to do the FE exchange, then we bring small gifts to put into other fish extenders during the trip. So each day someone would put a little gift in your fish extender. There are tons of threads showing the different gifts people have gotten. The idea is not to spend a lot of money, but to just add a little something special for the trip!

I wish I knew how to put in a thread link, but I don't

I hope all of you guys have had a great weekend! Oh, and congratulations on reaching twenty Denise! Our first cruise was for our 10th and it was without kids! This will be the boys' first cruise.

Later gators!

Here you go!!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

Oh, and I have a question ... do you leave gifts for EVERYONE participating or do you get paired up with another family and only exchange with them??

Kat

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

Welcome to all of our newbies!!

So exciting to have a nice group forming here!!

I've added the info to our who is who section ... please check your info and update me with what you would like to have added ... Jessica, let me know if you'd like your children's names added!!

Kat

 

[Texasblue]

We are:
Jessica (36), Michael (39), Anna (9), Sarah (nearly 7), Emily (4). We are currently in Bradenton, FL but will be relocating this year (we think) to either the Austin or Dallas area. We are excited to be going back to our home state soon!

I'm in for the fish extenders - I think It'll make the cruise that much more fun for our girls. This is their birthday presents and we will be celebrating our 12th Anniversary the day we disembark!

 

[Cruiser1969]

Welcome to the newcomers!! We've got quite a group!!



We can do our fish extender exchange any way we want really (ie. every person gets something or families matched up) I guess it depends on how many groups we have joined up in the end . . . I suppose we have lots of time to figure it out before our cruise Whatever way you guys want to do it is fine with me!!

 

[Cruiser1969]

I pm'd kat to be added to the official list but forgot our ages...I guess we can "officially" join since we're both over 39. (lol)
Me: Denise 40
DH: Mike 47
We're from Redding Ca. This will be our first ever cruise and it will be a kid free vacation to celebrate our 20th anniversary.

And what are fish extenders? I saw the picture but I'm still not sure what it is.

Thanks!!

What a relief that someone joined who is older than 39 . . . I was beginning to think this was an under-40 only cruise thread !!!

Oh, I'm just kidding!! I love being 39!! However, now that you are the oldest cruiser posting, YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF THIS THREAD . . . WHATEVER YOU SAY GOES . . . until someone else comes along and dethrones you. Use your power wisely!!!

Seriously, my DH and I will be celebrating our 16th Anniversary on May 15 while onboard this year. When is your 20th exactly?

 

[leagirl12]

We are:
Jessica (36), Michael (39), Anna (9), Sarah (nearly 7), Emily (4). We are currently in Bradenton, FL but will be relocating this year (we think) to either the Austin or Dallas area. We are excited to be going back to our home state soon!

I'm in for the fish extenders - I think It'll make the cruise that much more fun for our girls. This is their birthday presents and we will be celebrating our 12th Anniversary the day we disembark!

Welcome!!! I see your oldest DD and my DD are close in age. Kasey will be 10 next month.

Is this your first cruise or have you guys cruised before?

Shannon

 

[Cruiser1969]

We are:
Jessica (36), Michael (39), Anna (9), Sarah (nearly 7), Emily (4). We are currently in Bradenton, FL but will be relocating this year (we think) to either the Austin or Dallas area. We are excited to be going back to our home state soon!

I'm in for the fish extenders - I think It'll make the cruise that much more fun for our girls. This is their birthday presents and we will be celebrating our 12th Anniversary the day we disembark!

Oh my . . . with so many pretty little girls, you will have to pack a lot of shoes!!!!

 

[CHES94]

Evening ladies!

I am so excited to see the group getting bigger!

Hope that everyone had a great day.

We have an anniversary of sorts in May as well-Reece got a new lease on life when he got his new liver 5/30/2006. So this year he is 3 years old!! Reece was born with a disease that trashed his liver, maybe sometime I will bore you our story (parts are really funny ). We were originally going to book the week of his birthday (and DS turns 8 on the 31st of May) but it was quite a bit more expensive than the 14th.

Anyway-congrats to all celebrating an anniversary in May. One thing we have learned is to seize the day and take nothing for granted-each moment is a treasure.


Have a wonderful night

Cheryl

 

[leagirl12]

So I am asking my Cruise Girls to keep your fingers crossed for me. I scheduled our cruise knowing it would mean taking the kids out of school a few days but with DH's schedule it was the only time we could go. I figure with it being the end of the year it shouldn't be an issue. Well today I read the Attendance Policy for the school system and it says if students miss three or more days in a 9 week period they will get a failing grade for that nine week period. My kids are going to miss exactly 3 days.

I called DD's school and found out that her principal will usually give students a principal approved excuse for two days in a year. So I have sent her an email.

I have not had a chance to talk to DS's school but I am hoping it is the same situation. DD is in 4th grade and DS is in 5th grade. He is in the middle school while she is at the elementary.

So I am asking that you keep your fingers crossed for me that we don't have any worries and everything gets approved!!!!

I have always said at this age I wouldn't take them out of school but we didn't really want to pass up the kids free deal. I just hate that DH's schedule meant we had to go when school was still in session.

Good News!! DS got excused for missing school. Woo Hoo!!!

Still waiting to hear about DD but I am not too worried about hers like I was DS.

Just had to share cause I am pretty darn excited!!!

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

Good News!! DS got excused for missing school. Woo Hoo!!!

Still waiting to hear about DD but I am not too worried about hers like I was DS.

Just had to share cause I am pretty darn excited!!!

That is great news, Shannon!! I don't have to worry about my son, he is in special education classes so he doesn't have as much loss associated as my daughter who is in the 6th grade at a different school. It's a paid school, so I would like to think that ultimately, I call the shots, lol.

Kat

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

So this morning, I booked our airfare. Jetblue out of White Plains, NY on May 9. My daughter has her dance recital that day so we will be in a slight scurry, but not too bad. I also booked our rental car.

Usually we get two reservations: one for before the cruise and the other for the day when we get off the ship to get us to the airport but Budget is having a sale right now which is basically the longer you rent, the more of a discount you get. I got a standard SUV (like a Ford Explorer) for $459 and we are keeping it the entire time and are going to park at the port instead of all the shlepping back and forth with the shuttle and whatnot. I priced it out the other way and it was well over $600 to have two reservations.

We are going to be staying in our timeshare and are going to go to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. I'm still trying to decide how to deliver the surprise. I'm now thinking that maybe we will do a character breakfast nice and early ... we love Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort. I think it would be nice to have Mickey and Minnie give them their boarding passes at breakfast.

Anyone else have any ideas for surprising the kids THE MORNING OF??



Kat

116 days!!!

 

[leagirl12]

I LOVE the idea of Mickey or Minnie or giving them their boarding passes. Of course I liked the waitress idea too. LOL! I just love the boarding pass idea...that is too cute!

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

Oh Goodness, I found us on the 3rd page today. That is just unacceptable cruisemates!!

So, who has preliminary or solid plans for the ports?? The first time we cruised, we got off in Nassau and did the Pirate Museum and walked through the straw market.

The next time we sailed, thankfully, we didn't stop in Nassau. I had planned to just stay onboard if we ever found ourselves there again and now that we will be there, I think I changed my mind. I've been reading that the beach at the Nassau Colonial Hilton is within walking distance and there is a $15 fee to use the beach there, there is a bar, spot for food, etc and bonus, you can see the ship from the beach. This is probably the most I am willing to do in Nassau.

If anyone is considering parasailing at CC ... I HIGHLY recommend it!! My daughter and I did it the first time we sailed (she was 9 and it was HER idea) and then I forced my husband and my son to do it the next time we sailed and they were very thankful that I pushed them to do it. It's soooo peaceful and tranquil. I have a video clip of us up there ... maybe I will post it later.

I also have an awesome clip of the Pirate party if anyone wants to see that. (SPOILER ALERT!) lol

Kat

 

[CHES94]

Good evening from Texas!

Kat I would LOVE to see a clip from the Pirate's Party!

Shannon I am so glad you got the kiddos all squared away with school.

I haven't told the boy's teachers yet, but I don't think I will have any problem (or so I hope! )

I just ordered my FE and character pillowcases for the boys (jedi mickey) to take to guest services and have signed. Is anyone going to do picture mattes to have signed? Kat-did you get any on your other cruises?

Gotta run and get the youngsters in bed.

Have a great evening!

Cheryl

 

[Cruiser1969]

Is anyone going to do picture mattes to have signed?
Cheryl

We got a matte signed the last time we went May 2008. I will try to remember to take a picture and post it I love it!!!

Maria

 

[Cruiser1969]

Oh Goodness, I found us on the 3rd page today. That is just unacceptable cruisemates!!

So, who has preliminary or solid plans for the ports?? The first time we cruised, we got off in Nassau and did the Pirate Museum and walked through the straw market.

The next time we sailed, thankfully, we didn't stop in Nassau. I had planned to just stay onboard if we ever found ourselves there again and now that we will be there, I think I changed my mind. I've been reading that the beach at the Nassau Colonial Hilton is within walking distance and there is a $15 fee to use the beach there, there is a bar, spot for food, etc and bonus, you can see the ship from the beach. This is probably the most I am willing to do in Nassau.

If anyone is considering parasailing at CC ... I HIGHLY recommend it!! My daughter and I did it the first time we sailed (she was 9 and it was HER idea) and then I forced my husband and my son to do it the next time we sailed and they were very thankful that I pushed them to do it. It's soooo peaceful and tranquil. I have a video clip of us up there ... maybe I will post it later.

I also have an awesome clip of the Pirate party if anyone wants to see that. (SPOILER ALERT!) lol

Kat

When we stopped in Nassau last time, we just did the straw market and closeby shopping. I'm really torn whether to stay onboard this time and enjoy the ship or go to Atlantis (book at room at Comfort Suites).

I guess if a great deal comes out for Comfort Suites before May, this might help me make my decision!

Maria