Dec 4, 2011 Dream

[tessasmom]

Welcome Karen to The DIS and the cruise!! This will be our 1st Disney cruise, but my 9th cruise, DH's 2nd and DD's (21 mos at cruise time) her very first cruise!
You will find a wealth of info here and if you are like most of us, it will become addicting! Enjoy and join in on some discussions. Are you going to participate in the Fish Extender exchange?

 

[TLinden16]

Hey, anyone want to get together six months from today on a big huge ship? Who's in?

My friend and I thought we had someone lined up to share a towncar to port with, but they decided to take Disney transportation instead, so we'll probably wind up taking Disney transportation unless we find someone else interested in sharing a ride to port.

Is anyone here interested? I have a driver that I use that drives a huge Chevy Suburban. It seats seven, but I wouldn't do more than four or five unless we didn't have a lot of luggage. With four people, the cost is usually a bit cheaper than Disney transport. The driver I use is willing to do a quick water stop on the way to the ship, and will also do a grocery stop on the way back to Disney if we want. He also doesn't mind doing pick ups at more than one resort (I usually just tip him a bit extra if that happens).

So, let me know if anyone is interested.

 

[Karen89]

Yeah, I'm officially booked! Thank you everyone for the warm welcome.

dvc deernut - Thanks for the tips, and feel free to keep them coming! Now that I don't have to research which trip to take, which room to get, and which dining time is best...... I can read more about the little tips and tricks so that I won't ask TOO many newbie questions! At least I'll try not to.

Beth - Thank you for the tip, I will absolutely bring some green apples if that's allowed. Of course they probably have green apples on the ship, right? I'll have to read up on that one too!

TLinden/Karen - Small world. I'm also north of Boston, north west actually. I will make sure to read back a few pages to see what other kids are going to be on the cruise. My son can sometimes be shy and it helps to talk about who we'll see once we get there.

tessasmom - I'll be curious to hear how you compare the Disney cruise to other cruises, since you've been on so many. As for the fish extender exchange, I'll have to admit I'm intrigued. When I first read something about it I thought "What the heck is that?" so I searched and found a thread about it. I'm curious as to how many people are usually involved? Do you give a gift for each pocket? Say 20 families are involved and each has 4 people in their family, is that 80 gifts you should be bringing, or 20? Do you bring age appropriate gifts for kids, such as something for babies, toddlers, teens, etc or the same thing for each cabin? You know, I really should research this a bit more, as I just said I wasn't going to ask so many newbie questions!

Karen

 

[dvc deernut]

Hey, anyone want to get together six months from today on a big huge ship? Who's in?

My friend and I thought we had someone lined up to share a towncar to port with, but they decided to take Disney transportation instead, so we'll probably wind up taking Disney transportation unless we find someone else interested in sharing a ride to port.

Is anyone here interested? I have a driver that I use that drives a huge Chevy Suburban. It seats seven, but I wouldn't do more than four or five unless we didn't have a lot of luggage. With four people, the cost is usually a bit cheaper than Disney transport. The driver I use is willing to do a quick water stop on the way to the ship, and will also do a grocery stop on the way back to Disney if we want. He also doesn't mind doing pick ups at more than one resort (I usually just tip him a bit extra if that happens).

So, let me know if anyone is interested.

Thank you for the offer, but we have 4 in our party. We usually do Disney transportation but i think we are going to rent a car for the day and rent one for the day to get back. I just have to remember the rental company we rented from the last time that has shuttle service to the port nearby.

 

[dvc deernut]

Yeah, I'm officially booked! Thank you everyone for the warm welcome.

dvc deernut - Thanks for the tips, and feel free to keep them coming! Now that I don't have to research which trip to take, which room to get, and which dining time is best...... I can read more about the little tips and tricks so that I won't ask TOO many newbie questions! At least I'll try not to.

Beth - Thank you for the tip, I will absolutely bring some green apples if that's allowed. Of course they probably have green apples on the ship, right? I'll have to read up on that one too!

TLinden/Karen - Small world. I'm also north of Boston, north west actually. I will make sure to read back a few pages to see what other kids are going to be on the cruise. My son can sometimes be shy and it helps to talk about who we'll see once we get there.

tessasmom - I'll be curious to hear how you compare the Disney cruise to other cruises, since you've been on so many. As for the fish extender exchange, I'll have to admit I'm intrigued. When I first read something about it I thought "What the heck is that?" so I searched and found a thread about it. I'm curious as to how many people are usually involved? Do you give a gift for each pocket? Say 20 families are involved and each has 4 people in their family, is that 80 gifts you should be bringing, or 20? Do you bring age appropriate gifts for kids, such as something for babies, toddlers, teens, etc or the same thing for each cabin? You know, I really should research this a bit more, as I just said I wasn't going to ask so many newbie questions!

Karen

HI KAREN, glad your on board. We did the FE for the first time on our Member cruise last Sept. We had over 60. I had my cousin sew us a FE to hang. Since we were the only Canadians involved I had a Niagara on the Lake Canadian theme. My carry on was jammed tight. I just barely got it in the overhead on the jet. Its like Christmas and looking in your stocking stuffers. Its fun to come back to your room and look to see what has been added.

 

[dvc deernut]

[COLOR="Blue"[COLOR="Blue"]Im trying to run this one like the person ran ours in Sept. I keep track of all the names and cabins and ages of cruisers under 20. Then when it becomes maybe the begginning of Oct have a cut off so everyone will have time to organize. But im open to suggestions. Our list isnt that big yet.[/COLOR][/COLOR]

 

[dvc deernut]

If all works out I will be down just west of Boston in Oct for a weekend. Our call in day to book the next member cruise usually is in Oct. I drive to our friends house from the cruise to have a call in get together rotfl2: Its about a 7 hour drive from here. We have been to Boston once for 4th of July. Right after 911. We stayed in the Boston Harbor Hotel and walked over to the where the Pops play. We got in line at 8am, and were lucky enough to get wristbands. Because im a talker, the man i was talking to invited us to sit with his group. We were thrilled, right infront of the stage. Ive never experienced that before. We want to do it again sometime. I always watch it on TV here in Canada.

 

[Karen89]

If all works out I will be down just west of Boston in Oct for a weekend. Our call in day to book the next member cruise usually is in Oct. I drive to our friends house from the cruise to have a call in get together rotfl2: Its about a 7 hour drive from here. We have been to Boston once for 4th of July. Right after 911. We stayed in the Boston Harbor Hotel and walked over to the where the Pops play. We got in line at 8am, and were lucky enough to get wristbands. Because im a talker, the man i was talking to invited us to sit with his group. We were thrilled, right infront of the stage. Ive never experienced that before. We want to do it again sometime. I always watch it on TV here in Canada.

I've only been to the pops once for the 4th of July, and it was on a boat right by the esplanade. Very nice to have an unobstructed view and no crowds, but one of these days I want to go in town to experience it up close.

What is a "call in"?

 

[dvc deernut]

I've only been to the pops once for the 4th of July, and it was on a boat right by the esplanade. Very nice to have an unobstructed view and no crowds, but one of these days I want to go in town to experience it up close.

What is a "call in"?

We are DVC MEMBERS. Once a year in SEpt they have a member cruise. After the cruise is over about a Month later they tell us when the call in day is for the next years cruise. The phone lines open at DVC at 8am. At 8am you start calling in and press redial redial redial until you get thru, then you wait another hour or so to get a booking agent. By 3pm the cruise is sold out. Our friends from the previous DVC cruises in MASS. seem to get in after only half hour. So I drive 400 miles or so to call inThats how crazy DVC members can be and how special Disney cruise are. If you meet up with the right group of people on board you can make new friends from all over. We have made friends with others on disboards from cruising same Disney cruise.

 

[dvc deernut]

This is me on pirate night.

 

[dvc deernut]

Looking out from Adult beach at CC

 

[dvc deernut]

THIS IS OUR FE hanger and Cabin door.

 

[Karen89]

What is the difference between a DVC member cruise and a regular cruise that has DVC members calling so faithfully on their call-in day? Great pirate night outfit!

 

[TLinden16]

What is the difference between a DVC member cruise and a regular cruise that has DVC members calling so faithfully on their call-in day? Great pirate night outfit!

Karen, each year, DVC rents a ship for a four night cruise, and only DVC members are eligible to book it. They usually have special guests (I think they had Jodi Benson one year), and they leave special gifts in the cabins. It's hard to get a room, as it's a very popular event for members.

 

[dvc deernut]

What is the difference between a DVC member cruise and a regular cruise that has DVC members calling so faithfully on their call-in day? Great pirate night outfit!

Every year they have a different theme. One year they brought on the 3 leading lady singers from their Broadway shows, like Mary Poppins , Lion King and Little Mermaid. They also bring on a couple Animators of the movies depending on what is being re released that year. Example, last year they redid Beauty and the Beast, we saw it first on top of the ship. 4 years ago i got to meet Richard Sherman and hear him talk and perform. Last year one of the guests was Bill Farmer the voice of Goofy. They have special seminars with the special guests and its so cool to just sit down with one of them by the pool or on the beach and just talk.

Thats me and Bill Farmer, I was in the elevator with him and his wife (she took the photo). There is a funny story about that and my Pirate outfit photo, and Bill Farmers wife.
If your ever thinking about taking the DVC tour, they dont High Pressure you. We have been members since 1998 and wish we bought into it in 92.

Hope i didnt scare you off in my Pirate outfit I will be wearing it on Pirate night on the DEC cruise. Im not crazy, just DISNEY CRAZY

 

[Karen89]

TLinden/Karen, The DVC cruise sounds like a great idea and a nice perk for the DVC members.

DVC deernut, Ha, you didn't scare me. I hadn't even started to think about pirate costumes yet though. It's lots of work getting ready for a Disney cruise! What percentage would you say dress up for pirate night?

 

[dvc deernut]

TLinden/Karen, The DVC cruise sounds like a great idea and a nice perk for the DVC members.

DVC deernut, Ha, you didn't scare me. I hadn't even started to think about pirate costumes yet though. It's lots of work getting ready for a Disney cruise! What percentage would you say dress up for pirate night?

The DVC cruise is a special cruise but we dont get special rates for it. The percentage of people who dress up is a lot higher on the member cruise. But on the member cruise your dealing with a full ship of disney crazed DVC ers. They know what to expect and bring. Generally on a DCL cruise not as many dress up. When you cruise on a non member cruise its fun dressing up,the looks you get Dont feel shy about wearing a pirate outfit. I always have a blast in costume.

 

[dvc deernut]

Here is a shot of the whole Island as we arrived

 

[TLinden16]

TLinden/Karen, The DVC cruise sounds like a great idea and a nice perk for the DVC members.

DVC deernut, Ha, you didn't scare me. I hadn't even started to think about pirate costumes yet though. It's lots of work getting ready for a Disney cruise! What percentage would you say dress up for pirate night?

Karen, on the cruises I've been on, I'd say that less than a quarter of the people have been dressed up for pirate night. There will be some people dressed in elaborate costumes like DVC deernut, and others will just have on hats and eye patches. Since it also say caribbean dress, I usually wear my Disney Hawaiian shirt, and this bandana hat with Goofy ears that I bought on my last cruise.

If you don't want to get dressed up in an elaborate costume, they sell some pirate gear on the ship (like the hat I mentioned above), so you could always get something on the ship, too.

Perhaps you can talk your sun into being a pirate for Halloween this year so you get double use out of a costume.

 

[TLinden16]

I've updated the list to put our newest cruising buddies Karen89 and her family on the list!

Dynamic DisneyDuo (Dan) and Imanazd (Mandy)
Weich1001—party of 20-25
Dvc deernut (Ian) and DW Laura
MickeyBella and DH
Buckeye Princess, DH, DD2, and DS1
Mlissa88 (Melissa) plus DH and DS3
Rhode Island Quahog (Valerie) and DBF Joe
MoranClan
CherylSue (Cheryl) plus DH Sean, and DD13
Donutday (Joan) and DH Kevin
Jennybinflorida (Jenny) plus DH Angelo, and 2 DS Keegan and Landon (ages 10 & 4)
Gydell, DD and DGS
CruznLexi (celebrating her birthday)
BethC1952 (Beth) and DH Jim
Matheke (Dan) and DW Sue
Sistert plus DH, in-laws, and mom (Roadweaver)
JacksMama (Olivia) plus DH, and DS, who will be turning four on the cruise!
Cardidog (Sue) and 3 friends
DZ mom plus DH, and DS, who will be turning five on the cruise!
Tessasmom (Julia) plus DH Sam, and DD Tessa, 21 months
TLinden16 (Karen) plus my friend Masayo in another cabin
Eeyore77 (Jennifer) and her Grandmother
Karen89 plus her DH and DS5