December 11, 2011 Mexican Riveria

[LG123]

Looks like we might be on a different sailing. Trying to fit this around DH's work and DD's work schedule. I'll let you know when we make a decision.

 

[chasshan]

Hello fellow cruisers!

I'm Shanna and have been quietly reading this thread. We booked this cruise a few weeks ago and are so excited to finally be going on our first ever Disney Cruise! In fact for most of our family, it is the first cruise ever.

There is just a small chance that we may need to cancel or reschedule before the deadline, so I didn't want to get my hopes up by participating in this thread. But I just couldn't wait!
It's looking like things will work out, but just wanted to be up-front about that.
We are a family of 8, well technically 9 right now. Our primary reason for this special vacation/ Christmas Gift for our family is that it will most likely be the last one we'll all take together as our two oldest sons are 18 and 22, working, going to school, time with girlfriends etc. It's getting harder and harder to get our family together for anything, let alone a family vacation. We really want to take one last vacation with all the kids, giving them memories of special times together.

I'm pretty sure this is my first ever post on the disboards, but I do searches and enjoy reading trip reports when I have the time. So, I have no idea how to insert photos, do countdowns, or anything above just typing this message in this little white box. I wonder if there is a tutorial or somewhere on the disboards that would give me some pointers? I'll start looking. My husband is great with computers, so I'll try to get him to at least help me get a picture for my "user name" or ID and maybe one of our family.

If I'm following the thread right I believe Barb is the one organizing the FE exchange? We would love to participate in that! For now, no one knows about this besides myself and my husband (I guess I'm supposed to put DH??I'm not sure what the D stands for but I'm guessing "Dear"???? )

Until we pay that final payment and are sure that everyone's schedules are going to work, we don't want to get the kids' hopes up just to then later give them a great disappointment. We plan to surprise them with the news when we know it is for absolute certain.

I'm wondering if this post is getting a little too long? Sorry, almost done.
I earlier mentioned that we were technically 9 right now. We have an adorable little foster son, 4 yrs old, with special needs. He has been a part of our family for almost 2 years now! Between now and probably Thanksgiving break we are transitioning him to a wonderful new family who will adopt him.
They live nearby and are now our newest and dear friends, so we will always be a part of his life, and he ours. So this is just one of the reasons we might need to reschedule or cancel. I want to be very confident on Sept. 26th that his transition is going well and at a steady pace, before committing that last final payment. His life and future is more important to us than a 7 day cruise.
Because of his special needs, we can not rush him.

So Barb...if you'd like to add us to the FE list, here is our information below.
If you'd rather wait until I confirm with you at the end of the month that's fine by me. Thank you for your time and efforts with this endeavor!

Two Staterooms, both GTY
Our last name is Rutter.

Stateroom 1:
Charles
Shanna
(our two daughters)
Caroline, age 15,by cruise date,
Carlee, age 4,by cruise date,

Stateroom 2:
(our 4 sons)
Christopher, age 22, (turning 23 on 12/30 so we'll probably celebrate on trip)
Conley, age 19, by cruise date,
Carson, age 13,
Cameron, age 11,

I am so excited to participate in a FE exchange and have been jotting down ideas when I see one on the boards I really like. Once my kids are told the big surprise, they will enjoy helping prepare for the FE too.

If you've read all this....thanks.....and I'll try to keep future posts much smaller!

Oh yeah, did I mention our whole family Loves Disney?!!! We are in CA so have done DLR many times, and WDW just twice in 2008 and 2009, both three week stays to get our moneys worth out of our airfare and season passes we bought in 2008.
We also love the Christmas season, so what could be better than a Disney Cruise and a DLR visit in December?

Shanna

 

[Jackson's grammie]

welcome Shanna. It should be a great cruise so close to xmas with the ship all decorated.

 

[Jackson's grammie]

We are certainly well represented in CA on this cruise.

 

[Leshaface]

Hi Shanna!

Hopefully this sailing date will work out well for you and your family! You have a fairly big family and what FUN you'll have!

If you ever need help trying to post a picture, edit your signature, or anything else, PM me and I'll be glad to help!

 

[chasshan]

Thanks for the welcome both of you!

I hope it works out too!

And thanks for the offer to help me with pictures, too. I'm going to try and educate myself a little first. When you say PM me, does that stand for Post Message? Is that what I'm doing now or is a PM private between two people?
Sorry I'm so new at this.

 

[Leshaface]

Thanks for the welcome both of you!

I hope it works out too!

And thanks for the offer to help me with pictures, too. I'm going to try and educate myself a little first. When you say PM me, does that stand for Post Message? Is that what I'm doing now or is a PM private between two people?
Sorry I'm so new at this.

No worries!

Yes, PM is a private message. So as soon as your ready, just send me a PM. To do so, click on my profile name, and go down to 'send a private message to leshaface'.

 

[Sillyputty31]

I would like to be added to the fish extender list. This is my family's first cruise with Disney. I didn't think I could be more excited for the cruise, then I seen this. All i can say is WOW!

Screen name: sillyputty31
Room # to be determined
# of people: 5
# of adults: 2
# of children: 3
Sons: Braydon (14), Tytan (4)
Daughter: Keylee (9)
My name: Stacy
Husbands name: Eric
Family's last name: Rawlings
No allergies

Thanks for getting this organized.

 

[emilyann415]

Wow.....our group is really growing!!!!! How exciting. I am wondering if any of you plan on using a car service to get to port. I am having a hard time committing to one as I have heard many bad reviews. Does anyone hear have any suggestions?

 

[surf2di4]

Wow.....our group is really growing!!!!! How exciting. I am wondering if any of you plan on using a car service to get to port. I am having a hard time committing to one as I have heard many bad reviews. Does anyone hear have any suggestions?

Where are you coming from, the A/P?.....

we are local to so cal, so were meeting Family and dropping our car off with them. there are some larger shuttle buses that do the airport and cruise port.

Karl

 

[Sillyputty31]

I haven't heard anything about being added to the Fish Extender. I would PM but I don't have enough posts yet. What should I do?

 

[Leshaface]

I haven't heard anything about being added to the Fish Extender. I would PM but I don't have enough posts yet. What should I do?

Try re-posting your FE information again...she may not have caught your last post.

 

[Sillyputty31]

I would like to be added to the fish extender list. This is my family's first cruise with Disney. I didn't think I could be more excited for the cruise, then I seen this. All i can say is WOW!

Screen name: sillyputty31
Room # to be determined
# of people: 5
# of adults: 2
# of children: 3
Sons: Braydon (14), Tytan (4)
Daughter: Keylee (9)
My name: Stacy
Husbands name: Eric
Family's last name: Rawlings
No allergies

Thanks for getting this organized.

 

[chasshan]

I'm sorry to say, but we will not be sailing after all with you, on the December 11, 2011 MR trip. The good news is that we are sailing, but due to some scheduling conflicts with my kids' dance studio and their annual holiday performances, we had to switch to the Dec. 4th sailing.
Thanks for being so welcoming and a kind bon voyage to you all!

I'm not sure what the rules are on this, but if there is any kind of "pixie dust" I could leave behind for those of you boarding on the same day we disembark, I'd be happy to try. A message for the kids? Or a door decoration of some kind?
As long as we know the stateroom hostess or crew member will leave it there for you, I would enjoy helping out.

Thanks again,
Shanna

 

[Sillyputty31]

Well now you have 7 less days of waiting.

 

[surf2di4]

Well now you have 7 less days of waiting.

90 days i think now

Karl

 

[chasshan]

Yes you are right!
7 days less of waiting.
We went to DL 6 years ago on almost the exact days, Dec. 1-3rd and there was hardly anyone in the park, except for Saturday, which wasn't too bad either.
It was almost eery it was so empty, and some food stands were closed, but, no wait for most rides and short rides for the big top 3. With a big family it always takes a little longer to move from ride to ride so "no wait lines" are a much appreciated time saver.

I just counted, you are at the 90 day mark for your Dec. 11th cruise!
So I guess that makes mine, 83 days!

Happy Sailing!

 

[Leshaface]

90 days i think now

Karl

Will be booking dining and excursions later today! Hopefully they'll be spots open for Palo Brunch and Dinner!

 

[Juney]

I have a 14yo daughter looking for a friend. She loves musical theatre and marvel comics. On our last cruise we met someone in line at the port and my daughter had a friend for 7 days. I hope she is as fortunate this time.

 

[Sillyputty31]

I just got done making our fish extender. It doesn't look to bad for my first time.