December 24, 2011 Celebrating a Magical 6-Night Caribbean Christmas Cruise

[Bursley2010]

The crowds are huge and the parks do close but it is still a lot of fun. Our favorite park for NYE is MK. What ever park you go to you are going to want to be there by 9am no later and plan on staying the whole day. Last year the MK closed by 9:30 with Epcot not to far behind that. Use Disney transportation that day. Getting out of the parking lots can be a nightmare and the exits are done differently which has you driving around the world to get back to your hotel. After the fireworks wait an hour before leaving. This gives time for the first main rush to be cleared through the park exit and mostly through transportation. If you are at the MK you want to be in the back lot area for the fireworks. The area is a parking lot behind main street that they open up and set up benches and tables. Get there early like @ 8 8:30 to get a spot. Most of all just enjoy the experience and don't worry about whether or not you got to ride something.

Thanks for your tips! We'll definitely be using the busses- we're staying at Pop Century and won't have a car. I'll definitely have to remember to wait after the fireworks... for some reason, we always end up with the crowds leaving the parks even though I always make a point trying to remember to take our time.

 

[tinkerbell_29]

Your welcome. NYE at WDW is really fun but I am really looking forward to being away from the crowds this year. I have to use a wheelchair at the parks and being used as a seat while exiting or being yelled at because they got hit when they stepped in front of me makes a great evening into not so great of one.

We were looking at the excursions for this cruise and I think the only thing we are going to do is the cabanas at castaway cay. This will be the first cruise where we actual don't do excursions. Is anybody else planning on doing the ports on their own?
Melissa

 

[Bursley2010]

We are planning on definitely doing Key West on our own, and possibly Cozumel. My concern with Cozumel is running the risk of missing something or not having insurance, as I've heard it is better to be on the safe side in that port. Anyone have any suggestions or experiences?

 

[HFC1969]

Calgon take me away!!!

Saturday morning... and all 4 Frids are sick! Im guessing its the latest virus making its round through school or Dr. Amy got it at her office...

Last year today Amy & I were returning from court in Moscow.. Vika was offically ours. See the link below:

Fortuantely for us we have been on this interary several times.. Key West is a great town to leave the kids on the ship and have some adult time. Yes we have done that and feel perfectly safe doing that in an AMERICAN port of call.

Cozumel is a bit risky not scheduling with Disney. For us we have only been late getting in once.. but have heard stories of not getting in at all.

 

[tinkerbell_29]

The last time we cruised at Christmas we did Cozumel on our own. My mom did some shopping in the area at the end of the port and I went with a dis group to swim with dolphins which we booked online separate from Disney. I'm not sure what we will do this time as none of the excursions appeal to us. We may just get off and stay right there around the ship.
Melissa

 

[Bursley2010]

C

Last year today Amy & I were returning from court in Moscow.. Vika was offically ours. See the link below:

What a momentous occasion! That's wonderful!

We are not sure what we will be doing yet in Cozumel yet, either.... If we do anything though, I think we are going to go through Disney. With this being our first time in this port, I'm thinking better safe than sorry, especially with this being a first cruise for 3 of the 7 of us. Certainly don't want to risk anything going wrong when I'm hoping to plant the Disney seed in my other family members

What is there to do around the ship? Is it enough to warrant even getting off the ship if we choose not to do an excursion but want to stay close by?

Not sure about anyone else, but being cooped up inside with the snow is starting to get to us.... we're surviving by thinking about the cruise! Looking at ports and pictures... not exactly like being there, but enough to get us by for the moment.

 

[KaryCam]

Not sure about anyone else, but being cooped up inside with the snow is starting to get to us.... we're surviving by thinking about the cruise! Looking at ports and pictures... not exactly like being there, but enough to get us by for the moment.

Well, I don't have the snow to worry about, but I'm going crazy just looking forward to our first cruise. Reading different posts on this message board, thinking about what material to make our FE out of, deciding what special way and when we will tell DS about the cruise, trying to lose some weight, getting the important papers together to get passports, etc, etc.

It's going to be a long..... summer.

 

[Bursley2010]

Well, I don't have the snow to worry about, but I'm going crazy just looking forward to our first cruise. Reading different posts on this message board, thinking about what material to make our FE out of, deciding what special way and when we will tell DS about the cruise, trying to lose some weight, getting the important papers together to get passports, etc, etc.

It's going to be a long..... summer.

One of the ways I'm looking to lose weight is completing the Couch to 5K workouts (C25K)... I definitely don't consider myself athletic, but a friend of mine turned me on to the workout and I've really enjoyed it. It's amazing how much you can build your endurance and your muscle tone just by getting up and doing the little bit of running they have you starting out on. I've even been taking it at a slower pace and have noticed results. Hoping to continue running so I can enjoy a run on the promenade deck as the sun rises while we are on the ship (Also planning to reward myself by running the Royal Family 5K at Disney World next year!)

 

[HFC1969]

Happy Mardi Gras!!!

STL is a huge Mardi Gras town..

293 days til

Enjoy your weekend!!

 

[HFC1969]

Snowing today in STL..

70 degrees on Thursday...

Celebrated Gotcha Day Saturday..

283 days tils

 

[jitsb]

Hey everyone!

Happy to see some new faces. Can't believe it's been so long since I was able to peruse this disboard... we've had some medical issues the last few months with the DH, and now we're all sick with a nasty bug, so it's not been a good time at the Barnes' house!

Needless to say, that makes us look forward to our trip even more! I think I'm going to go crazy making stocking-themed FE stuff this summer...not to mention the door art! But have to manage to find a way to hide it from the DS's... they don't know about it! And we're going to try to convince them we're taking a family trip to Wisconsin instead.

Don't remember who posted it, but my 2 DS's will be just turned 8 and almost 6 by cruise time! Hope to find them some buddies for the Lab.

We are actually planning to head down to Orlando on the 22nd and stay at the Port Orleans hotel for 2 nights before the cruise. It's also our first time at the parks during Christmas, but we're super excited! Not planning on doing too much, just taking it all in. There are several people who are trying to freak us out with doom and gloom stories, but all I say to them is "SCROOGE!" I refuse to believe this trip is going to be anything other than FABulous!

Our previous Caribbean cruise diverted from Cozumel due to the swine flu. So we're definitely doing an excursion... just haven't decided WHAT yet! Possibly the dolphin experience, seeing as my youngest LOVES sea animals.

Looking forward to getting to know everyone!

 

[tinkerbell_29]

jitsb I did the dolphin experience last time we were in Cozumel and it was amazing. Pricey but definitely worth it.

We've talked about excursions and have decided that since I more than likely am going to be @ 22 weeks pregnant we are not going to do any. I have no way of knowing how I'm going to feel and if I feel like doing nothing that day I would hate to have wasted the money. We do plan on getting a cabana for CC though.

Melissa

 

[HFC1969]

since I more than likely am going to be @ 22weeks pregnant we are not going to do any.


We do plan on getting a cabana for CC though.

Melissa

Wow thats some good planning.. We never could get that right..


Also... this past the cabannas should have had heaters in them.. It was cold on CC.. We still loved every minute of the 11 day in 2010...

 

[KaryCam]

Today is March 24th.

9 months from today we will be stepping onto the ship for our cruise. Can hardly wait.

The weather is great here in SW Florida right now but summer with it's heat and humidity is right around the corner.

We're thinking about getting the special Florida resident "Wild 4 Disney Pass" they are offering right now. 4 days for $119.
Need that boost to get me through until Christmas.

 

[Elfinjojo]

Those 9 months will pass so fast but I too am looking for some Disney fun to pass the time - Oh yeah , I have Alaska on the Wonder in August, but really I need something a little sooner

Maybe a trip to my local Disney park is in order(Disneyland Paris) Its just a short hop across the channel Or should I say under the channel if I go by train(eurostar)- (approx 35mins to go under the channel), kids under 12 can currently go free - so its worth a thought! Hmmmmm......

 

[HFC1969]

266 days til

So in need of a trip to WDW...

Hope everyone is ready for Spring... We are!!

 

[Bursley2010]

^ Definitely ready for both spring and WDW! I'm going to be running in the Expedition Everest Challenge in May, so that's helping to tide me over in spite of the fact I am nervous about running my first 5K... looking forward to crossing the finish line and getting to the other side to see you all for a Magical Christmas!

 

[HFC1969]

255 days... til

Vika had her eye surgery this past Friday and everything came out super...

Booking flights this week hopefully for July trip... This could get expensive.

They are saying 34 degrees again this weekend...91 yesterday here in STL... 34??

 

[tinkerbell_29]

The weather around here has been crazy lately we have been going from the 80's one day and in the 50's the next. heck with spring I'm ready for summer. Mom and I are planning an 8 night trip to WDW this summer. Looking forward to that as we have never had a girls only trip. Saw my Dr yesterday and all test have come back with good results she says I should have no problem with getting pregnant by the end of August. I sure hope it works that way.
Melissa

 

[KaryCam]

^ I'm going to be running in the Expedition Everest Challenge in May, so that's helping to tide me over in spite of the fact I am nervous about running my first 5K... looking forward to crossing the finish line and getting to the other side to see you all for a Magical Christmas!

Keep us updated on the 5K.