December 13, 2008 Western Caribbean!! Let's get acquainted!

[SAHMof2]

Hey everyone! We are going to be cruising with you!! It will be DH Bill and I. We are so excited to see the ship and Castaway Cay decorated for Christmas!

Welcome aboard!

 

[Stinasmom]

Welcome Tracy!
You seem familiar... do you cruise a lot? I can see you post a lot. Are you on the Eastbound Repo this summer?

We are glad to have more and more DIS cruisers! It will be fun to have a couple organized get togethers onboard! Wine tasting anyone?

Marcy

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

Katismommy
That is so wonderful. How exciting it must have been to won! We also are planning on hitting the parks before the curise. Friday I think. We have to be careful DD's not missing too much school so we decided just one day for the park and were torn between the MK or Epcot. That would be great to meet and greet before the curise.
Congratulations again to you all!

We are set to come in early Weds morning and stay till we depart for the cruise on the 13th staying at Pop century ( with our code it was $49 a night, couldnt say no!) Katie is in preschool but gets special services as she was severely developmentally delayed but they say she has progressed sooo much this year that they are saying it will be just normal preschool with some speech therapy so being gone wont be too bad for her... we always do December vacations as thats when it is slow for DH. Hopefully we will meet up!!

Well I have talked to both "big" providers for the stingray city tour and neither really think it would work out for us...so....we are doing beach breaks I guess

 

[winotracy]

Welcome Tracy!
You seem familiar... do you cruise a lot? I can see you post a lot. Are you on the Eastbound Repo this summer?

We are glad to have more and more DIS cruisers! It will be fun to have a couple organized get togethers onboard! Wine tasting anyone?

Marcy

I do cruise a fair amount I am on the Eastbound Repo this summer and I did the last Eastbound PC cruise.

I hosted the DCL Virtual House Party in January.

Wine tasting, martini tasting, rum tasting.... I'm up for it all

 

[SILLYANDI]

Hope you all had a nice weekend! Sorry to hear about those of you who are still dealing with snow! We got our snow early in the season... mid November to Mid January. As of today...and JUST today, the last of it melted in the yard.
But it won't warm up for a while yet...

So, I have a question to all of you who have sailed before...
We never took the time to go to Studio Sea while onboard. Do they actually have DJ music and dancing for families in the evenings? or one particular evening? or theme parties? Or is it just for family game show activities and the like?

We went one night- they did the walk the plank game show. It was really fun. We were in bed early most nights so we didn't do much night life!

Mom's only bar night sounds like fun to me!

 

[SILLYANDI]

That being said, is anyone else staying at the Radison at the Port the night before the cruise? I just booked our suite yesterday! Getting more and more excited

We're staying at the residence inn.

 

[SILLYANDI]

I spoke with DD today and talked with her about meeting some other girls who are going on this cruise, she seemed excited How do we get the communications going for the girls? Do they have to have there own login name? As you may notice I am not that computer literate.

So how many DC's has everyone been since now?
What enticed you about coming back to Disney instead of other cruise lines?
Has anyone done the land and sea package before?

Sorry I know these are a lot of questions, I have soooooo many that I'll wait for another time.

We've been on 5 cruises total, once with DCL and as DH said "I don't think we will ever cruise another line again." The overall quality is worth every penny. THe kids LOVED the programs, DH and I LOVED the alone time, spa treatments and food. We travel extensively with the kids and honestly that cruise was the best family vacation we have ever had.
We did the land sea (booked each portion seperately) and it was TOO much for us. We were Disney'ed out and tired by the time we got to the cruise. We aren't planning the WDW part this time to see if we get more out of the cruise.

As far as the girls communicating, DD10 (almost 11 at sailing) e-mailed girls from our last cruise for about 6 months prior. They exchanged e-mails through PM and it took off from there. They would write once a week or so and send pics, etc. When we got to WDW we walked into the Magic Kingdom and walked smack into one of the other families and it was really weird that we knew each other right off the bat.

 

[SILLYANDI]

Hello Everyone,
Well I finally made it on to this message board thing. I see my family has already started a thread so I will add our info. This will be my DH and my second cruise. First one was enough to keep us from trying this again but thanks to my SIL we are making this a family affair and we are excited about this one. There will be DH 37, Me 37, DD 12 DS 3. We are also preparing now as much as we can. We love all the information posted by others DC's and are so thankful for all the suggestions. Looking forward to meeting many of you.


DH-37 Me - 37 DD-12 DS-3

Welcome! Also welcome to Laura, somehow I missed your first post? It is so great that we are growing!

 

[SILLYANDI]

Hey everyone! We are going to be cruising with you!! It will be DH Bill and I. We are so excited to see the ship and Castaway Cay decorated for Christmas!

Welcome Tracy. This is gonna sound weird but I am totally excited to meet you because I feel like I know you after that virtual DCL houseparty! I have never seen so many posts fly by in such a short time as that night!

 

[SILLYANDI]

We are set to come in early Weds morning and stay till we depart for the cruise on the 13th staying at Pop century ( with our code it was $49 a night, couldnt say no!) Katie is in preschool but gets special services as she was severely developmentally delayed but they say she has progressed sooo much this year that they are saying it will be just normal preschool with some speech therapy so being gone wont be too bad for her... we always do December vacations as thats when it is slow for DH. Hopefully we will meet up!!

Lucinda, my son was born 12 weeks early and had a rough start, we had high intensity OT & PT from birth and started speech at 13 months (he had moderate to severe delays across the board). He is now down to only speech once a week and is in a regular 1st grade class. Other than being a bit small and quiet you would never know how rough it was, but I feel your worry. Everytime we miss school, speech, etc I worry about the struggle to catch up. It is so exciting to move ahead, but such a bummer when you have a set back.
We do December because its cheap and we can use the Christmas vacation to make up all the homework that's due!

 

[SILLYANDI]

I just realized that I have almost filled up this entire page with my own rants...so I added one more for good measure.

I'm gonna stop now!

 

[IndyDisneyFan]

Welcome! Also welcome to Laura, somehow I missed your first post? It is so great that we are growing!

I joined a while back. I just don't have much time to post as I am working my way through college and working part time. Plus I have to hide this from my kids as they don't know that we are going yet! I try to catch up with the postings when I can.

Laura

 

[Addler]

Silyandi: got your PM today - been crazy busy with work and a web site I launched, Kristen is going to send off some emails today to your daughter adn to Stinasmom's daughter. She will be 10 at the time of cruising.

My 12 year old is still in "I want to make my own friends mode" i think she's wierded out by emailing people in advance but I know once her sister starts she'll jump in! I figured it would have been the oposite with her wanting to email and Kristen not being so interested oh how I was wrong It's not like she goes online and talks with random people playing webkins and club penquin lol, now theres the new fad, bella sara cards not sure how they work hah

Silyandi - where is the residence inn? near the port? Perhaps a pre cruise meet might be in order if its near by!


Mmmmmm Martini tastings! hey I got a new one... alcohol tastings lol I have never been on a cruise as of yet and not sure if the staterooms would permit, but a neat idea would be a drink tasting type thing. Each family (parents lol) could bring things to make a certain drink, and then we'd have a drink tasting where everyone gets to try each others drinks, not sure how that'd work though. Maby the DH's could play bartender in thier staterooms and then the DW's could pair up. Since the DW's would be half the DH's, half the ppl involved would volenteer as "hosts". Each host would then have two DH's hanging out, and the DW's would go in rotation together from station to station, rule of thumb is bring a drink for the DH hosts with you so eventually everyone gets to try all the drinks - then maby after everyone coudl go to one of the bars for some adult time while the kids hang out together at a kids program... maby there is an easier way to do it not sure? Do they have meet up rooms that people could use?

No I'm not a lush just think it'd be something fun to do...

 

[Addler]

Silyandi and Stinasmom, the emails have been sent!

For anyone else that is interested my DD Kristen (9 now, 10 at time of sailing) is interested in emailing back and forth with other kids going on the cruise. I can not send PM"s as of yet but if you PM me she will email.

 

[SILLYANDI]

It's not like she goes online and talks with random people playing webkins and club penquin lol, now theres the new fad, bella sara cards not sure how they work hah

Silyandi - where is the residence inn? near the port? Perhaps a pre cruise meet might be in order if its near by!


Mmmmmm Martini tastings! hey I got a new one... alcohol tastings lol I have never been on a cruise as of yet and not sure if the staterooms would permit, but a neat idea would be a drink tasting type thing. Each family (parents lol) could bring things to make a certain drink, and then we'd have a drink tasting where everyone gets to try each others drinks, not sure how that'd work though. Maby the DH's could play bartender in thier staterooms and then the DW's could pair up. Since the DW's would be half the DH's, half the ppl involved would volenteer as "hosts". Each host would then have two DH's hanging out, and the DW's would go in rotation together from station to station, rule of thumb is bring a drink for the DH hosts with you so eventually everyone gets to try all the drinks - then maby after everyone coudl go to one of the bars for some adult time while the kids hang out together at a kids program... maby there is an easier way to do it not sure? Do they have meet up rooms that people could use?

No I'm not a lush just think it'd be something fun to do...

Our house is taken over by webkinz and penguins! Also Miss O & friends....

I honestly have no clue where the residence inn is other than somewhere in Cocoa Beach. They have free shuttles, free warm breakfast and jacuzzi rooms. Here's te link http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mlbri-residence-inn-cape-canaveral-cocoa-beach/

I couldn't find an e-mail from kristen, I think her spam filter was on you may have t send it again...

 

[Addler]

Andrea I'm going to resend the email for you, its comming from a @live.com email address. It did not get returned to Kristen so not sure what happened, Kristen already got a reply from Stinas DD.

I'll try to resend now, did you check the junk folder on that end?

 

[Addler]

Andrea checked out that link, looks interesting. Here is a link to the one I have booked but perhaps may change my mind and go to the Marriot or maby you'll like the Radisson lol be neat to stay at the same place.
http://www.radisson.com/capecanaveralfl

I like the look of the pool at the Radisson, I know thier shuttles to the port are free. From the looks of the marriot site they charge $6/person round trip for shuttle to the port, did you get that included with your room charge?

 

[SILLYANDI]

Andrea checked out that link, looks interesting. Here is a link to the one I have booked but perhaps may change my mind and go to the Marriot or maby you'll like the Radisson lol be neat to stay at the same place.
http://www.radisson.com/capecanaveralfl

I like the look of the pool at the Radisson, I know thier shuttles to the port are free. From the looks of the marriot site they charge $6/person round trip for shuttle to the port, did you get that included with your room charge?

I fixed the e-mail problem, I had the settings so she can't receive files. She sent an e-mail.
We got shuttles & breakfast included, I booked through a link I found here or at mousesavers.com. I'll find it and send it to you.
I think we looked at the Radisson and DH chose the marriot instead because of the breakfast & jacuzzi. Also, we can sleep 6 of us in 1 room instead of having to book 2 rooms. I hate to say it, but we won't be changing our minds. But it would be cool to meet before we get to the cruise!

 

[Stinasmom]

Hey all...

Addler... I believe we use to call your idea of drinks in each stateroom "drinking around the world" back in college... of course, it was rooms in Fraternities that we visited! AND it was before I had heard of the one drink per country at Epcot's World Showcase!!
On our first cruise (7 nighter west coast) we did do a tour of each other's staterooms (DIS friends, that is!) to see the different categories. We could make the "drinks available" an interesting part of it!

Also, my DD thought it was so cute that your younger DD wanted to email, especially someone older. She said "oh, she's like me!" meaning that she isn't shy about being around girls older than she.
My DD had experienced a cruise without making friends ahead of time when she was almost 9 and it didn't go well. So many of the kids were with siblings or friends, and you don't always find yourself in the club at the same time as others that you might get along with and have things in common with. She spent way too much time with us (NOT that we don't love her!!! Just hoping for more ADULT time! ) or alone in the stateroom watching movies!
On our second DCL cruise, she had two girls that she'd emailed for a few months. They arranged to be the same places at the same times, spent time together on Castaway Cay and had a great time! What a difference!

Any other DD's 10-12 or so, PM me for my DD's email. She'd loves to have friends!

Marcy

 

[Addler]

Kristen was excited to get emails from both your daughters

She's going to reply again tommorow!

And Carli has come around lol when Kristen was reading the emails her older sister came and was checking them out and i could tell she wanted to get involved so she'll probably jump in as well. Definatly I think it'd be fun to make arrangements so they can go to the clubs together and hang out. I know i'm looking forward to family activities but also looking forward to some nights out with just Catherine - and the kids will love a feeling of "independance" we are going to pick up a set of two way radios with 40km ranges on them so that the kids can keep one and we keep one so we can stay in touch with each other. Anyone know if they work or not on the ship?

Sounds like your intersted in the drinks around the wonder! lol
i'd love to see that come to play - be alot of fun

Andrea - talking to my wife about switching hotels too - as she pointed out worst case we can always meet up somewhere, we wont have wheels but if its somewhere the shuttle goes or a close cab ride or a walk from our hotel we can work something out to meet up prior if we dont switch out our hotel.
Totally understand not wanting to swap out from the Marriot specially if you'd need 2 rooms!

anyone else use that travel guide mike AVP in the past? not sure if it was this thread i read about it or another, i'm thinking about trying it out....

oh cant wait so much planning and so many fun times ahead!