Dec 18, 2011 - Disney Dream

[ibela]

Cruisers:
kimgg (Kim), dh, ds12, ds9
kimgg's dd and dd's dh, dd2
CaptainMorgan, dh, ds18, ds14, dn9, dn5 + 6 adult family members (happy 50th anniversary!)
ldavarado (Lisa), dd13, dd9
karenTX, dh, dd6
karenTX's mil and fil
gourt (Laura), dh (Scott), dd14, Grandma Pauline (happy 70th birthday!)
disneyfan21, ds14
sdhines00 (Steph), dd10 (Brianna - happy birthday!), ds6 (Ethan)
sdhines00's mil and fil
LTBigRed (Lynn), dd6 (Char - happy birthday!)
SuzyQTX1969 (Suzy), BF (Gary), DS6 (Christopher), dm (Carol)
PrincessJasmine08 (25), 2 sisters, parents, grandpa, aunt, cousin
disneydawgs4, dh, dd16, ds7
CrusinLattas (Renee), dh, dd7 (Anna), ds5 (AJ)
CrusinLattas' mil
CrusinLattas' friends Karen, Shane, dd Callie, ds Chad
CrusinLattas' friends Paula, Joey, ds5 (Mack), dd8 (Ashlyn), dd11 (Savannah)
CrusinLattas' friends Martha, Bobby
CrusinLattas' friends Amy, Jeff
CrusinLattas' friends Dana, ds5 (Dyson)
eve adkins (Eve, 38), dh35 (Ryan), ds16 (Zack), ds11 (Christopher), ds8 (Jacob), dd3 (Katie)
kkfinley (Krista), dh (Jason), dd9 (Ann), dd5 (Kate), dm (Joyce), df (Pat)
Pixie Dust II
polly5
ShyMiss, dh, dd12, ds9
mamaprincess (Joy), dh (Michael), dd13, dd13, dd8
Irish9697 (36), ds12 (Wyatt), dd11 (happy birthday Anna!)
Irish9697's pawpaw (64) and mawmaw (64)
FLORIDA_DAD, dw, ds7, dd5
4boons (Bill), dw (Laura), dd17 (Katie)
slg, dh, ds16, ds13, ds10
KimmySue, dd13, ds10
clower5luvzdiz, ds26, ds17, dd14
maganspikes, ds9, nana
NewCruiser2011(35), dfi(37)
rebalum (Sandy), dh (Mike), dd15 (Megan), ds12 (Tyler)
rebalum's sis and parents
JaxTeach, dh, dm, df, db, dniece(7), dnephew(9)
joshiegator (Linda), dh (Jon), ds8 (Joshua), dd7 (Caitlin)
joshiegator's sis and parents
Gnfdsuzi, dh (happy anniversary!)
Gnfdsuzi's ds + dw

FE Exchange Thread (thanks Krista!): http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=42179048#post42179048

Tentative cruisers:
Angie_Ohio, DH, DS(16), DS(13), DS(12), DS(28), DDIL
NoodlesMom + 3

 

[IrishCowboy]

I have added your thread to the cruise meet list

 

[4boons]

Thanks for starting the thread.

DD (15) grew up on the Magic and the Wonder but wants to experience the Dream and the Fantasy before she is too old to go to the teen club.

We are currently booked on the 7-night eastern going out on 12-17-11 but we're looking at the possibility of moving to the 4-night Dream that embarks on the 18th.

We'll keep watching the thread while we decide.

Bill

 

[ibela]

Thanks for starting the thread.

DD (15) grew up on the Magic and the Wonder but wants to experience the Dream and the Fantasy before she is too old to go to the teen club.

We are currently booked on the 7-night eastern going out on 12-17-11 but we're looking at the possibility of moving to the 4-night Dream that embarks on the 18th.

We'll keep watching the thread while we decide.

Bill

Hi Bill!! I think my friend may be joining us on this cruise so I have my fingers crossed. I hope you don't use this thread as a deciding factor to switch your cruise, that's too much pressure on me!

I think your dd has a valid reason for switching, smart girl. We've only been on the Magic ourselves but really wanted to try the Dream. We're adding a few days at WDW before embarking, not sure how many days yet or where exactly we'll be staying (we own DVC so definitely one of those).

 

[ibela]

My friend is coming along for the ride! She'll be with her dh and her 2 adorable twins who will be 4 at the time, so dd4 and ds4.

That said, neither of us are sure at this time if we'll get those vacation days approved at work and need to shift this up a week, hopefully not...

 

[kimgg]

I just booked for this cruise!!! Yes it is very far away but I know time flies! My kids (boys) will be 9 and turning 12 on the cruise, and my daughter and son in law will have our grand-daughter who will be 2 by then.

So I can't wait!! I am surprised this cruise is so sparse so far - it is a good price compared to later in the holiday weeks.

Kim

 

[ibela]

I just booked for this cruise!!! Yes it is very far away but I know time flies! My kids (boys) will be 9 and turning 12 on the cruise, and my daughter and son in law will have our grand-daughter who will be 2 by then.

So I can't wait!! I am surprised this cruise is so sparse so far - it is a good price compared to later in the holiday weeks.

Kim

Welcome! I know, although I believe the price has jumped recently. I'm adding you guys to the list!

 

[dato63]

Hi, us too.

We have never cruised before. Our first cruise is booked for next summer with NCL (Alaska), so hopefully we like cruising.

My DD Makayla saw an ad on TV for Atlantis, and begged to go. At 6 she had no idea what she was asking - she thought it was here in Texas. After talking DH and I decided we wanted to make it happen. We first booked the NY eve Dream cruise, but rethought our plans and have switched to this sailing instead. Our DDs do not know about any of this - I'm really hoping to keep it a surprise until next year, but odds are not in my favor. . . I tend to cave in excitement.

So it will be me (Deb) and DH (John) and our DDs (Madison & Makayla) who will be 8.

 

[ibela]

Hi, us too.

We have never cruised before. Our first cruise is booked for next summer with NCL (Alaska), so hopefully we like cruising.

My DD Makayla saw an ad on TV for Atlantis, and begged to go. At 6 she had no idea what she was asking - she thought it was here in Texas. After talking DH and I decided we wanted to make it happen. We first booked the NY eve Dream cruise, but rethought our plans and have switched to this sailing instead. Our DDs do not know about any of this - I'm really hoping to keep it a surprise until next year, but odds are not in my favor. . . I tend to cave in excitement.

So it will be me (Deb) and DH (John) and our DDs (Madison & Makayla) who will be 8.

Welcome Deb! This thread has such little activity that I always forget to check it and for some reason the updates don't come to my e-mail.

Makayla's a smart girl, I want to go to Atlantis too! I think we'll go for the day on the cruise and if we like it (what's to not like?!) then we'll do a full week the following year. My long trip for 2011 is this cruise since we're going to add a few days at WDW beforehand. We own DVC and have started going 2x per year but my friend has never taken her kids so I want to kinda show them around. OK, it should be technically too early to plan this whole vacation for next year.

Anyway, welcome!!

 

[dato63]

I am afraid I'm guilty of planning ahead. It helps me with budgeting, pre-buying things, etc. And it also is nice to imagine being there already.

We are planning to do a back to back dream cruise - doing one Nassau day at the water park and hopefully the other Nassau day at the Blue Lagoon dolphin adventure. Course a lot can happen between now and then. We were originally booked on our first DCL cruise for this December (7 night Eastern Caribbean), but wound up switching it to Walt Disney World due to issues with DH's job. Not complaining (too much), my DDs are excited about going back to Disney World - and the play area on the Dream looks like a great surprise for them.

Do you know if formal nights & fish extender exchanges are done on the shorter cruises?

 

[ibela]

I am afraid I'm guilty of planning ahead. It helps me with budgeting, pre-buying things, etc. And it also is nice to imagine being there already.

We are planning to do a back to back dream cruise - doing one Nassau day at the water park and hopefully the other Nassau day at the Blue Lagoon dolphin adventure. Course a lot can happen between now and then. We were originally booked on our first DCL cruise for this December (7 night Eastern Caribbean), but wound up switching it to Walt Disney World due to issues with DH's job. Not complaining (too much), my DDs are excited about going back to Disney World - and the play area on the Dream looks like a great surprise for them.

Do you know if formal nights & fish extender exchanges are done on the shorter cruises?

I know, everyone thinks I'm crazy for booking so far ahead but I can always adjust and go with the flow (if it's *really* needed). That said, we're booked on Spirit for our Labor Day WDW trip this year so I need to either book elsewhere or consider cancelling.

I'm not sure if there are formal nights on a 4 night cruise to be honest, we've only gone on 7 night cruises. Fish extender exchanges are done if we want to do it.

 

[dato63]

Were you doing the Carnival Spirit to Alaska? Now that you are doing WDW, when you would move your Spirit booking to? I kinda wish we were doing Alaska this year - so many good deals out there right now for it. But DH bought a used golf cart & has been fixing it up for our Disney trip this year. So somehow I think I'd get vetoed if I tried to switch.

I bought a fish extender last year, in anticipation of the DCL Magic Cruise i had to cancel. I was hoping we would have one (an exchange) - being so close to Christmas it seemed fun. But I figured worst case I could leave surprises for my DDs in it.

 

[ibela]

Were you doing the Carnival Spirit to Alaska? Now that you are doing WDW, when you would move your Spirit booking to? I kinda wish we were doing Alaska this year - so many good deals out there right now for it. But DH bought a used golf cart & has been fixing it up for our Disney trip this year. So somehow I think I'd get vetoed if I tried to switch.

I bought a fish extender last year, in anticipation of the DCL Magic Cruise i had to cancel. I was hoping we would have one (an exchange) - being so close to Christmas it seemed fun. But I figured worst case I could leave surprises for my DDs in it.

No, I meant Spirit Air - I'm taking them TO WDW! I definitely want to do a cruise to Alaska once the kids are old enough to really appreciate it.

We have a kinda dinky fish extender which I made for my last cruise that I could use but on such a short cruise I don't know if there will be enough time to go around and handing it out.

 

[dato63]

Oh - Spirit Air. Sorry, not an airline I'm familiar with so it didn't click.

Short cruise not being enough time to fill fish extenders makes sense. I had not thought of that. I'll plan to bring ours and can just fill it with surprises for my DDs. It will seem like Christmas magic to them. It will certainly be easier to pick things to go in it!

We are heading to WDW for Thanksgiving this year.

 

[ibela]

Oh - Spirit Air. Sorry, not an airline I'm familiar with so it didn't click.

Short cruise not being enough time to fill fish extenders makes sense. I had not thought of that. I'll plan to bring ours and can just fill it with surprises for my DDs. It will seem like Christmas magic to them. It will certainly be easier to pick things to go in it!

We are heading to WDW for Thanksgiving this year.

Boy, it's just us chatting on here, oh well!

We thought about going to WDW for Thanksgiving this year, that's right around my DS's birthday. We decided to go away earlier in the month instead, non-WDW and that's when we added the few days for Labor Day instead. Where will you be staying?

 

[dato63]

Boy, it's just us chatting on here, oh well!

We thought about going to WDW for Thanksgiving this year, that's right around my DS's birthday. We decided to go away earlier in the month instead, non-WDW and that's when we added the few days for Labor Day instead. Where will you be staying?

This is only our 3rd trip to WDW. The last two years we went in November also - as my twins' birthday is in November. When is your DS's birthday?

We are staying at Fort Wilderness, in a cabin. The first year we did the Wilderness Lodge - but we all got some kind of bug & found it hard to all be trapped in the room together. Last year we tried Fort Wilderness and it was a hit. We rented a golf cart to get around. . .this year my DH bought a used one and has been fixing it up to take with us. It has added to his Disney spirit.

We are currently booked on this cruise & the one after (12/22), and so far no one has posted for that cruise. Guess it's too early. I love vacation talk - Disney or not.

editing to add: Carnival has announced they are going to move their new ship - the Magic - to Galveston. We are thinking of postponing DCL one more year and doing that. Galveston is a short drive for us. It is hard for me to let go of the mental image of Christmas on DCL though. But I do like the destinations/excursion opportunities with the Carnival & the cost savings (since we are doing Alaska earlier in the year).

 

[ibela]

This is only our 3rd trip to WDW. The last two years we went in November also - as my twins' birthday is in November. When is your DS's birthday?

We are staying at Fort Wilderness, in a cabin. The first year we did the Wilderness Lodge - but we all got some kind of bug & found it hard to all be trapped in the room together. Last year we tried Fort Wilderness and it was a hit. We rented a golf cart to get around. . .this year my DH bought a used one and has been fixing it up to take with us. It has added to his Disney spirit.

We are currently booked on this cruise & the one after (12/22), and so far no one has posted for that cruise. Guess it's too early. I love vacation talk - Disney or not.

editing to add: Carnival has announced they are going to move their new ship - the Magic - to Galveston. We are thinking of postponing DCL one more year and doing that. Galveston is a short drive for us. It is hard for me to let go of the mental image of Christmas on DCL though. But I do like the destinations/excursion opportunities with the Carnival & the cost savings (since we are doing Alaska earlier in the year).

DS's birthday is 11/29, when is your twins birthday?

I've been trying to talk my dh into staying at VWL but he's concerned it'll be too much like camping. Rumor on the DCL board here is that the Magic may be shifted to NY once the new boat comes out in 2012, we'd LOVE that since that's a short drive for us. I can't wait to cruise to Alaska once the kids are old enough to appreciate it.

We initially considered a B2B too but someone else pointed out that the menus, activities, and shows will be the same so now we're doing a few days at WDW instead to see the decorations. Plus we're going with my friend and her family and they've never been to WDW so it'll be great, and I can be their tour guide.

 

[dato63]

DS's birthday is 11/29, when is your twins birthday?

I've been trying to talk my dh into staying at VWL but he's concerned it'll be too much like camping. Rumor on the DCL board here is that the Magic may be shifted to NY once the new boat comes out in 2012, we'd LOVE that since that's a short drive for us. I can't wait to cruise to Alaska once the kids are old enough to appreciate it.

We initially considered a B2B too but someone else pointed out that the menus, activities, and shows will be the same so now we're doing a few days at WDW instead to see the decorations. Plus we're going with my friend and her family and they've never been to WDW so it'll be great, and I can be their tour guide.

WL was nice. It didn't feel campish to us. Fort Wilderness does, I guess that is why we like it. Laid back feeling.

We went back and forth on the back to back idea too. But there were two things we wanted to do in Nassau, and were not sure there was enough time to do both on one stop. So it seemed fun.

I do think we are going to switch though. The Carnival Magic looks like a fun ship - and with us doing Alaska next year, it's nice how much less $ it is to just drive down to Galveston instead of flying to Florida. We've not cancelled DCL and booked Carnival yet - as we are looking at the ports/excursions before deciding. But it is looking likely we will switch.

My twins birthday is 11/13.

 

[ibela]

WL was nice. It didn't feel campish to us. Fort Wilderness does, I guess that is why we like it. Laid back feeling.

We went back and forth on the back to back idea too. But there were two things we wanted to do in Nassau, and were not sure there was enough time to do both on one stop. So it seemed fun.

I do think we are going to switch though. The Carnival Magic looks like a fun ship - and with us doing Alaska next year, it's nice how much less $ it is to just drive down to Galveston instead of flying to Florida. We've not cancelled DCL and booked Carnival yet - as we are looking at the ports/excursions before deciding. But it is looking likely we will switch.

My twins birthday is 11/13.

You'll be leaving this thread? That means I'll be babbling to myself on here...

What 2 things do you want to do in Nassau? We're either not getting off the boat or going to Atlantis, undecided as of now.

 

[dato63]

You'll be leaving this thread? That means I'll be babbling to myself on here...

What 2 things do you want to do in Nassau? We're either not getting off the boat or going to Atlantis, undecided as of now.

LOL well, we've not switched yet. But Galveston is just so close for us.

What started the DCL Dream for us was my DD Makayla seeing an ad on tv for the Atlantis waterparks. But, if we went to Nassau, I'd also want to go to Blue Lagoon for the dolphin encounter. I know that Atlantis does the dolphin encounter as well - but the one at Blue Lagoon had better feedback on tripadvisor. So that was when we started talking about doing the back to back. The only thing we would do twice would be Castaway Cay. Well, the shows/meals on board too. My DH even requested I book two different rooms - one on the port side & one on starboard so we could see different views both ways. It seemed fun.