Dec. 7, 2008 4 nite Mousefest Cruise - who's all going?

[Hanover]

Jen,

From looking at recent cruises, it should be:

Sunday- Port Canaveral/Embarkation-Golden Mickey's
Monday- Nassau- Toy Story
Tuesday- Castaway Cay-Ventriloquist & Pirate Night
Wednesday-Day at Sea- Disney Dreams

We too booked Palo dinner on CC night thinking it would be like our last 4 day cruise (this past Aug.) with Pirate Night on Nassau day. We are going to try and add our friends to our Palo ressies and switch the dinner to Monday. We'll be getting "dressed up" anyways that night and will take the kids to eat somewhere on deck 9 or room service before seeing the early Toy Story and going to Palo dinner afterwards. If we end up with not being able to change nights, we may still do Palo and ask to make sure we're out before the pirate party & fireworks. We've been to Palo dinner a few times and been there anywhere between 1 1/2 hours to almost 3 hours (big group of people). The Pirate Party dance party lasts for quite a while, with late diners streaming in after they are finished. I really don't want my friends to miss it though and I'm willing to skip Palo dinner altogether and just do brunch with them.

 

[J_LO]

GEEZ it figures! We booked the "Romance Package" so we could book 105 days before the cruise (since we have never cruised with Disney) and secure a Palo reservation at 7pm that night (does dinner take all of 2 hours?).

What time does the party actually start and when do the do the show/fireworks happen?? Is it hard to change reservations at this point? I know there is nothing open online at this point but would they have any openings if we tried to change this as soon as we board the ship? What a bummer!!

 

[mkmommy]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Lisa, I am sorry about your tooth. I agree that it's better to get it done now then to have it bother you during your vacation. That would be no fun! I

bmazsmith - sorry about your husband's tooth too--I am glad that he was able to get in so fast with the holidays and all.

I can't wait to meet everyone and get on the ship!!!!! I was up late last night packing and hope to get most of it done with the extended weekend. 1 week from today we head down in our camper Can't wait!!

Have a great day everyone!

Vicki

Hi Lisa,

I am sorry that things didn't go as planned for you for your root canal. I hope it goes better for you next week, so that it won't bother you on the trip. It is about a 21 - 22 hour drive for us. We plan to drive around 11 hours each day --I know that's a lot with 4 kids, but we we did that in Aug and it worked pretty well for us. We plan to leave really early in the morning and then make little stops along the way. We hope to be in the Orlando area Fri nite and to go to Ak on Sat. If the weather seems icy/snowy next week--we plan to leave a day early to give ourselves an extra day.

 

[Hanover]

GEEZ it figures! We booked the "Romance Package" so we could book 105 days before the cruise (since we have never cruised with Disney) and secure a Palo reservation at 7pm that night (does dinner take all of 2 hours?).

What time does the party actually start and when do the do the show/fireworks happen?? Is it hard to change reservations at this point? I know there is nothing open online at this point but would they have any openings if we tried to change this as soon as we board the ship? What a bummer!!

The length of time dining really depends on how fast you want to eat and if you want appetizers, soups, etc. When we have eaten dinner there, we've had multiple appetizers, main courses, dessert, plus the sorbet they give you and the shot of lemoncello tasting stuff. I did see a couple come in that were seated next to us and only order entrees and dessert and leave with in an hour. We have always gone with other couples or grandparents so we've sat around taking our time chatting and sharing appetizers, etc. I think you could let your waiter know you wanted to be out by a certain time and he/she would try and make that happen. I think the pirate party doesn't start until around 9:45 and there's lots of music/dancing before the fireworks. If you have little ones, I'd suggest having them rest/nap in the afternoon because it took 3 cruises before my now ds7 saw them without falling asleep. It gets really packed near the Goofy stage and I've seen a lot of younger kids just get too tired/hot from all the dancing.The characters come out in a sort of story line that I don't want to ruin, so it is entertaining even though it is a bit long before the fireworks. I wouldn't miss the fireworks at sea for the world and they choke me up and give me goosebumps every time they begin.


They do keep some Palo reservations available for embarkation day. I'm not sure how many, but we are always there early and have managed to get them or have people added after boarding around 2PM. They also have a wait list. I think we'll try and switch it to Monday and if we can't we'll just try and get out before the pirate party starts.

 

[Hanover]

I'm not sure if anyone is interested in sponsoring a Christmas tree for US soldiers serving overseas, but I just watched a news segment on operationchirstmastree dot com (spaced so it's not **'d on here) about a service that will send a decorated small atrificial tree to Iraq, etc. for $25. They will accept donations of any kind. It says a 11/28 deadline, but they extended it until Monday due to the shortfall. Like a lot of non- profits this year, they are in immediate need of donations from a $11,000 short fall. This news piece really got to me with thinking about everyone serving our country, away from their families at Christmas while I'm here with my family getting ready for our vacation.

Speaking of which, I'm hoping to get some packing done later. This time next week, we'll either be at MK or Epcot! I sure hope the next 6 days go quickly!

 

[Jazmine8]

Well things did not go as planned at the dentist and I still have to go back to finish the root canal , so I now have an appointment for next Thursday, talk about last minute. I was planning on leaving Friday after work, but the girls are now off school on Friday for a PD day so I think I will try and take Friday off and leave about 3:00 so I can avoid the drive to Buffalo in the dark.

Vicki- how long is your drive?

Kim- I am sure that your surgery will be fine so don't worry about it.

Lisa

Thanks I'm sure it will be now that I've opted to have anethesia. At first I was just going to have my foot numbed but I think ppl moving around and noises of whatever instrument is going to shave down my bone would un-nerve me. Can you all believe one week from today we'll be sailing and about half of us are first time cruisers?! This is so exciting now. I haven't done my door magnets yet and just ran out of time with that business trip thrown in. Let's see 5 planes in 5 days crazy! Guess I'll have to get it done this coming Friday before I fly out on Saturday. Can't wait to meet other diser's.

 

[memobrien]

We are very excited too. My daughter can't get over that she has just 4 days of school till we go. hehe I haven't done my magnets either. I ordered the paper and expected it in last wednesday or friday. I figured I could do them over the weekend. Well unfortnately it didn't come yet. I'm just not sure I will have time over this week to get it done. So we might have to be without magnets. I do have my fish extender however - need to remember to pack that. hehe


yeah i think that getting anethsia is a good choice. I have to say that its usually the noise that bothers me the mosst with things. like when you have dental work... i can't feel it. but the noise will flip me out. so i have to say i think i would make the say choice as you.

maura

 

[pluto1979]

Hi All,
Can you believe it, in less than we week we will be on the High Seas enjoying Disney, the water, the Wonder and the friendships we have or will foster! I hope to meet many of you and do just that. Anyways I do have a few questions that I am hoping anyone can answer. Here they are:

1. Have any of you done the Bon Voyage Package which includes Champaigne and strawberries and other stuff? If so, how was it, what do you get and is it worth it?

2. Will they have any special events to partake in such as build your own gingerbread house (for adults) or anything like that? Maybe even a cooking class?

Thanks for letting me know your thoughts. Cant wait to meet you!

 

[mvlimmex]

Hi All,
Can you believe it, in less than we week we will be on the High Seas enjoying Disney, the water, the Wonder and the friendships we have or will foster! I hope to meet many of you and do just that. Anyways I do have a few questions that I am hoping anyone can answer. Here they are:

1. Have any of you done the Bon Voyage Package which includes Champaigne and strawberries and other stuff? If so, how was it, what do you get and is it worth it?

2. Will they have any special events to partake in such as build your own gingerbread house (for adults) or anything like that? Maybe even a cooking class?

Thanks for letting me know your thoughts. Cant wait to meet you!

Hi Pluto1979,

I can't wait for this cruise either. I am really looking forward to meeting everyone!!!!!!!! Last year when we were on a 4 nite cruise in Dec., they had build your own gingerbread houses during the day at sea. My kids did that, but I am sure it would be for adults too. They really enjoyed that. I am hoping that they will have it on this cruise too.

I can't help you with the bon voyage package, but I thought about it too...it just seemed kind of pricey. Talk to you soon!

Vicki

 

[pluto1979]

Oopps, I have another question:
1. Has anyone done the Exotic Rasul spa package? What are your thoughts and feelings as far as worth the cost etc...?

 

[Hanover]

Our first cruise we were sailing with my parents and sister/spouse and we ordered the Bon Voyage strawberries, etc. with champagne. If I remember correctly, there were little petit fours as well. I will say it was nice but we were so full from the buffet we hardly ate any of the food. The champagne was also nice but they didn't provide glasses and we had to go to our rooms for the bathroom glass cups. Looking back we could have probably called room service and asked but it was our 1st cruise and we were just taking it all in.

I will say that I have ordered and did order for this trip champagne from Shirley at the Perfect Gift and she's cheaper than doing it through DCL. Shirley said she'd add glasses in too. I'm sure they are plastic, but at least we will have them.

I can't help you with the rasul. I've read lots of nice things about it and it seems to be a fun experience.

 

[Hanover]

Thanks I'm sure it will be now that I've opted to have anethesia. At first I was just going to have my foot numbed but I think ppl moving around and noises of whatever instrument is going to shave down my bone would un-nerve me. Can you all believe one week from today we'll be sailing and about half of us are first time cruisers?! This is so exciting now. I haven't done my door magnets yet and just ran out of time with that business trip thrown in. Let's see 5 planes in 5 days crazy! Guess I'll have to get it done this coming Friday before I fly out on Saturday. Can't wait to meet other diser's.

I'm the same way about surgery and anesthesia. I don't want to know what's going on if someone's cutting something on me. I'm ok with the dentist, but I couldn't stand the smell of my tooth when I had to get a root canal/crown and they grinded it down. I was gagging from it.

I ordered magnet paper from decalpaper. com and was pretty happy with it. I did a bunch of about 3 X 5 magnets for the boys to decorate the doors each day. Some are bon voyage/embarkation ones, some Christmas ones and some pirate/Castaway Club ones. I had about 6 made from " Disigners" over the last several months on here. I made a bunch for our friends who will have 2 rooms on midship deck 2 so their kids can decorate their doors each day too. I'm starting to get worried though because I ordered her an FE a month ago from someone I bought ours off of last year and it's not here yet. My friend hasn't joined on here and isn't doing our FE exchange, but I wanted them to have one so I can drop off a couple of small things for her kids each day. I didn't want their kids to see ours and wonder why they didn't have one. I emailed the lady that's making it but haven't heard back. I certainly won't be paying that paypal order if it's not here by Thursday.

Our boys are off of school today for the 1st day of hunting, which we do not partake in so I am hoping to get their packing totally done. Looks as if we'll be getting some nice weather!

 

[mkmommy]

I was just checking the 10 day forecast for Cape Canaveral, it does not look that warm for next Sunday, so everyone should make sure to bring a sweater as it does get very windy up top.

I got all my packing done yesterday and the bag is under 35 pounds now I have room for some shopping next Saturday.

 

[the2princessesmom]

Thanks I'm sure it will be now that I've opted to have anethesia. At first I was just going to have my foot numbed but I think ppl moving around and noises of whatever instrument is going to shave down my bone would un-nerve me. Can you all believe one week from today we'll be sailing and about half of us are first time cruisers?! This is so exciting now. I haven't done my door magnets yet and just ran out of time with that business trip thrown in. Let's see 5 planes in 5 days crazy! Guess I'll have to get it done this coming Friday before I fly out on Saturday. Can't wait to meet other diser's.

I'd go for the anethesia too. I think hearing the noise would really bother me.

I don't have any magnets made yet. Maybe tomorrow I'll get some done. I'm so excited for the cruise and to meet everyone I couldn't sleep last night. We leave in 5 days I think I'll have to try a pot of camomile tea before bed or I'll never sleep this week at all. The trip is still a surprise I'm so proud of myself for keeping it these past 11 months. Thusday after school is the big reveal!

Lill

 

[mkmommy]

I'd go for the anethesia too. I think hearing the noise would really bother me.

I don't have any magnets made yet. Maybe tomorrow I'll get some done. I'm so excited for the cruise and to meet everyone I couldn't sleep last night. We leave in 5 days I think I'll have to try a pot of camomile tea before bed or I'll never sleep this week at all. The trip is still a surprise I'm so proud of myself for keeping it these past 11 months. Thusday after school is the big reveal!

Lill

Please let us know how the reveal goes. I am starting to think that I will keep the March cruise a secret. My oldest dd is so excited about Christmas already that she is going to be so worn out by the time Christmas comes, that I am thinking that is best to keep the trip a secret as she gets too excited.


Lisa

 

[TiggerTails57]

Oopps, I have another question:
1. Has anyone done the Exotic Rasul spa package? What are your thoughts and feelings as far as worth the cost etc...?

We did it Oct, for our 25th Wedding Anniversary cruise, we loved it!
Next time we will try the lotions first and then have a mud fight!

 

[memobrien]

so i just talked to shirley. she is sooo nice! i got a basket for georgia. i think she will get a BIG kick out of it. Thanks for the tip!

maura

 

[pluto1979]

Have you all heard that Disney is doing away with the fuel surcharge! Does this apply to our cruise?

 

[goofy4tink]

Have you all heard that Disney is doing away with the fuel surcharge! Does this apply to our cruise?

I 'think' that most of us booked before the fuel surcharge was added, so it won't impact us as they do away with it.

 

[WonderlandsMostWantd]

We're doing the Land and Sea package, so we leave on Thursday! 2 more days of work, and then I'm in Disney World!! 48 hours from now, my flight will be half way to Orlando!! I can barely stand it! Is anyone else losing their mind right now, or is it just me?



(Sorry for the smiley assult... just can't contain myself!