December 15, 2012 A Yo-HO-HO-HO Holiday Fantasy!

[taswira]

We got our cruise welcome letter last week! Woop!Woop! In it though it mentioned a formal night. Is that true? Like formal, wear a long dress formal?

Absolutely! That is DCL's "official" word on the 7-night and longer sailings and that is what those who follow their guidelines do, myself (happily) included. Some people wear their semi-formal evening attire for formal night as well though.

BUT ... What to wear to dinner, formal or not, has to be THE most controversial topic on the Dis, with a lot of "advice" that does not come from DCL and leans towards what people can "get by with" or "get away with." I'm not judging here, just telling it like it is. Search the threads and you'll find a world of varying opinions on the VERY hot topic!

 

[davidls]

Absolutely! That is DCL's "official" word on the 7-night and longer sailings and that is what those who follow their guidelines do, myself (happily) included. Some people wear their semi-formal evening attire for formal night as well though.

BUT ... What to wear to dinner, formal or not, has to be THE most controversial topic on the Dis, with a lot of "advice" that does not come from DCL and leans towards what people can "get by with" or "get away with." I'm not judging here, just telling it like it is. Search the threads and you'll find a world of varying opinions on the VERY hot topic!

I agree with Shari here. DW and I always dress according to Disney's guidelines. And we have read many reports, like Shari said, where you will read what some are saying how they intend to dress because they are on vacation and will dress the way they want to.

Well, everyone, in a couple of hours DW and I are leaving to go over to WDW for a couple of days before our B2B cruise on the Dream. We both are really looking forward to this cruise. I'll let ya'll know all about it when we get back. See you in about 10 days!!!

 

[taswira]

Well, everyone, in a couple of hours DW and I are leaving to go over to WDW for a couple of days before our B2B cruise on the Dream. We both are really looking forward to this cruise. I'll let ya'll know all about it when we get back. See you in about 10 days!!!

If you by any chance end up with a server named Szilard from Hungary, please tell him Shari Meyr (pronounced like My-er) said hello and hopes to see him in February.

Have an AWESOME B2B and WDW visit!

Shari

 

[finkerbell]

We are booked on this cruise too so I just wanted to say hi to those all ready here Just got back from Alaska & HAD to book another one on board Really looking forward to checking out the Fantasy- especially during the holidays.

Also, we will be dressing formal for formal night and semi-formal for semi-formal night There was such a range on our cruise but I wore a gown and so did my daughter and we loved it I was really surprised that so many didn't! Unfortunately, while I was sipping on an appletini during the Captain's Reception (standing still and chatting) some woman dashed by me in a hurry - hit my elbow and the glass hit my tooth. It hurt but fortunately is ok now (my daughters beautiful gown however was not so lucky and got appletini all over it
).

 

[taswira]

finkerbell, and thanks for joining our cruiser list! I moved your daughter to the "Adults" column instead of kids, since you listed her as 25. I hope that's okay with you.

So sorry about the mishap at the Captain's Reception. Yikes!

We are happy to have you sailing with us!

 

[finkerbell]

Eek double post sorry

 

[finkerbell]

Thanks Tazwira I'm glad to be here! It's impressive that you all are so organized so early


You know I wasn't sure where to put my daughter when I filled out the form so thanks for fixing it She is still in school so I always tend to still think of her as a kid lol (I'm sure she would thank you for fixing this too )

Yes, the appletini incident was unfortunate but could have been a lot worse - there will always be those individuals who are lacking in manners (either on a cruise ship or off). She barely even apologized and then she ran off not knowing or caring to know if my tooth was broke or not and didn't even acknowledge that my daughters dress was damaged. Accidents happen but this was just rude. But you know, other then this small incident our trip was PERFECT so no complaints here

 

[davidls]

Thanks Tazwira I'm glad to be here! It's impressive that you all are so organized so early


You know I wasn't sure where to put my daughter when I filled out the form so thanks for fixing it She is still in school so I always tend to still think of her as a kid lol (I'm sure she would thank you for fixing this too )

Yes, the appletini incident was unfortunate but could have been a lot worse - there will always be those individuals who are lacking in manners (either on a cruise ship or off). She barely even apologized and then she ran off not knowing or caring to know if my tooth was broke or not and didn't even acknowledge that my daughters dress was damaged. Accidents happen but this was just rude. But you know, other then this small incident our trip was PERFECT so no complaints here

First off I too would like to finkerbell and family to the cruise!!! Glad you are joining us on this cruise!!! Sorry to hear about your appletini incident. But, glad to hear everything turned out fine for you.

DW and I got back from our back2back Disney Dream cruise yesterday around noonish. We had a GREAT time. The weather was picture perfect for both the 3 and 4 day cruise. We rode the AquaDuck soooooooooo many times, we lost count!!! The Dream is one beautiful ship. It didn't take us long to find our way around the ship. We had such wonderful servers in our dining rotation. We had Gilbert as our server and Edith as the assistant server. They did a fantastic job. Gilbert kept us entertained with his magic tricks all thru out both cruises. He is good, never could figure out how he did some of his tricks!!! If you are lucky enough to get Gilbert and Edith you will love them as much as DW and I did!!! Mario was our stateroom host - and he also did a fantastic job with our stateroom. Hope you get him as well!!!

Getting off between our two cruises was easy and painless. We got off around 9:15 am after breakfast, sat in the terminal until around 10:00 am when they checked in all of us who were getting right back on. They had us set in the concierge lounge by the Mickey Ears until they walked us back on. Smooth and easy. We were back on by 10:40 am. We were told our room would be ready by 11:30 am. We had the same stateroom for both cruises. It was ready and we took back our things we didn't want to carry around with us and then enjoyed the ship. This was one GREAT and WONDERFUL cruise for DW and I. Shari, we didn't see the server you mentioned. Although, we probably did but didn't realize it. All of the servers looked like they were doing a great job. We have no complaints at all with this back2back cruise.

We did have one incident that upset us. On the last day of our back2back cruise, someone stole our 4 pocket fish extender. We were packing things up before our last dinner - I opened the door to take down our magnets, but forgot to remove the fish extender. When I opened the door up again about 15 minutes later it was gone. It was personalized with our family name, so no one else can use it. It was not an expensive item, it was just the idea that someone stole it that bothered us. So sad.

Well, DW and I are really looking forward to this cruise. We are as excited as two kids in a candy store!!!!

 

[taswira]

>> Shari, we didn't see the server you mentioned. Although, we probably did but didn't realize it. All of the servers looked like they were doing a great job.>>

I'm so glad you had such an awesome time! Judging from Dream reviews, it could have gone either way, so it's reassuring to know things went so well for you. Major bummer that your FE was stolen. I had a couple of bad experiences with "door thieves" years ago. I'll never understand why anyone who sails with Disney could do such a thing. Very UN-magical!

As for Szilard - He may be on break right now, as I know he will be aboard when I'm on the Dream in early February. I'm happy to know you had a wonderful serving team!

 

[Happy Goofy]

We have been following the building of this ship since the beginning. We can't wait until we are on it.We hope to be at Port Canaveral when she arrives. We were there when The Dream came in and it was awesome. It came in at 4am and there were thousands of people there to welcome her. DCL had fireworks and a special escort for The Dream as she came into Port. I am sure they will have something similar when The Fantasy arrives.

I see some familiar names here that are also on the Hawaiian cruise.

 

[AmandaRG]

davidls, so sorry about your FE! I don't understand why someone would do that. Glad that the rest of your trip was great, though! Our b2b is in May.

We are having a great time watching the Fantasy changing on the MW webcam.

I downloaded Shipmate onto my phone this weekend, so I have a portable deck layout for the Dream and will get the Fantasy before our cruise! It helps me to look at it and remind myself where everything is.

Hope everyone has a great week!

 

[davidls]

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week.

DW and I go back to work tomorrow!!! We have had a GREAT 2 weeks off - but it would be great if it was just another week longer!!! But all good things must come to an end - I guess.

DW and I couldn't understand why anyone would steal our FE either. Like I mentioned before it wasn't an expensive FE - but it was ours and it was the idea that someone would steal it. Seems so sad.

Oh well, we have this cruise to look forward to. We talked to our server and assistent server on the Dream and both said they were scheduled to be on the Fantasy on this cruise. So DW and I are going to request them for this cruise. They were both so great.

 

[LuvEeyore]

DavidsLS, cant wait to hear more.
Welcome Finkerbell and family.

Anyone heard anything about the Float out of the Fantasy?

 

[taswira]

I posted the latest construction update photo on the Building of the Fantasy thread and HERE on the Links page of our cruise website.

 

[davidls]

DavidsLS, cant wait to hear more.
Welcome Finkerbell and family.

Anyone heard anything about the Float out of the Fantasy?

Well, LuvEeyore, to start off - we had picture perfect weather on our b2b cruise. Disney must have waved their magical wand for us in this department. Couldn't have asked for any better weather. We rode the AquaDuck sooooooooo many times. We never waited more the 15 minutes to ride. Many times we could have literally walked up and got right on - no waiting. IT WAS A BLAST to ride the AquaDuck. You will love it!!! The ship is beautiful. It certainly has that WOW factor. I don't know how many were on board for our b2b cruises but we never at any time felt it was crowed. We played the Detective Agency game twice - that is fun too. We had a 5B verandah - even though the rooms are smaller we never felt cramped at all. The bed is raised up higher off the floor so you can store all of your luggage under the bed with ease.
If you have any specific questions you want me to answer, let me know and I will try my best to answer them for you.

 

[AmandaRG]

Well, LuvEeyore, to start off - we had picture perfect weather on our b2b cruise. Disney must have waved their magical wand for us in this department. Couldn't have asked for any better weather. We rode the AquaDuck sooooooooo many times. We never waited more the 15 minutes to ride. Many times we could have literally walked up and got right on - no waiting. IT WAS A BLAST to ride the AquaDuck. You will love it!!! The ship is beautiful. It certainly has that WOW factor. I don't know how many were on board for our b2b cruises but we never at any time felt it was crowed. We played the Detective Agency game twice - that is fun too. We had a 5B verandah - even though the rooms are smaller we never felt cramped at all. The bed is raised up higher off the floor so you can store all of your luggage under the bed with ease.
If you have any specific questions you want me to answer, let me know and I will try my best to answer them for you.

Is the AquaDuck like most waterslides where you fall into a pool of water? Our daughters are not great swimmers, but have seen the AD, and would like to ride it. Do you end up underwater at the end?

Glad to know the b2b was nice. We have one in May and cannot wait!!! Did you try Palo or Remy for dinner? I think we are hoping to do it on the 3-night portion. Not sure what we will do the 3rd night?

 

[davidls]

Is the AquaDuck like most waterslides where you fall into a pool of water? Our daughters are not great swimmers, but have seen the AD, and would like to ride it. Do you end up underwater at the end?

Glad to know the b2b was nice. We have one in May and cannot wait!!! Did you try Palo or Remy for dinner? I think we are hoping to do it on the 3-night portion. Not sure what we will do the 3rd night?

No not at all AmandaRG. At the end of the AquaDuck you come out in a long section that actually slows you down some and the water is only about 12 inches deep. The water is moving like in the tubes of the AquaDuck so it is hard to tell how deep - but not deep at all. You just put your feet down and stand up. (Of course for us of the little older generation just putting your feet down ans standing up is not that simple!!!) DW and I had a ball riding the AquaDuck and so will you and your daughters. There is a height limit for kids who are riding by themselves of 44 inches I believe. But we saw some kids who were with their moms or dads who were much shorter then the 44 inches riding. The attendent put a wrist band on the child who was riding with their moms or dads.
We didn't do Remy's but we did do the Palo Brunch. We do enjoy that brunch!!! The brunch is only offered on the 4 day cruise - on your day at sea day. We have been to Nassau a few times. We did get off on our first stop there on our first leg of our b2b. But on the second leg we stayed on board the ship and enjoyed ourselves and that beautiful ship.

 

[davidls]

First off I want to thank you Shari for all of your work in setting up our own cruise page. I learned yesterday from this page who was going to on the back on the Fantasy when she is completed. Dumbo - GREAT choice.

And also.................Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me........Happy Birthday dear David........Happy Birthday to me!!! (Some you you out there were a little off key!) But it is the thought that counts!!! Thank you all soooooooooo much!!! I'm sixty fou..............no,no,no,no, I am forty six............yes - that's it...........I'm forty six today!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you all so much!!! It was such a surprise - I had no idea ya'll would remember!!!

 

[taswira]

First off I want to thank you Shari for all of your work in setting up our own cruise page. I learned yesterday from this page who was going to on the back on the Fantasy when she is completed. Dumbo - GREAT choice.

Thanks, David - Although I posted it the day it was released and then updated after, the news was all over the Dis and other places that same day. But thank you so much for utilizing the website.

And ...

 

[jilljill]

First off I want to thank you Shari for all of your work in setting up our own cruise page. I learned yesterday from this page who was going to on the back on the Fantasy when she is completed. Dumbo - GREAT choice.

And also.................Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me........Happy Birthday dear David........Happy Birthday to me!!! (Some you you out there were a little off key!) But it is the thought that counts!!! Thank you all soooooooooo much!!! I'm sixty fou..............no,no,no,no, I am forty six............yes - that's it...........I'm forty six today!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you all so much!!! It was such a surprise - I had no idea ya'll would remember!!!

Happy Birthday to another Sept. baby. Mine is the 7th.