Disney Dream 12/29/2011

[SnowWhite2]

We booked this cruise on 12/29/09...two years prior...when we were on for NYE 2010. It was a great time!

Hi Renee! Hi Shannon! (Shannon- you are the OB nurse right?) Back again for holiday times!

My youngest DD took the SD card from my camera and I lost all of my pics. So I have to go again to re-create them all!

 

[ShannonR]

Hi Laurie!! You got it right!! I am indeed the OB nurse! I am still delivering babies left and right here in the south of Texas.

This makes 3 of us from the 12/08 Christmas Cruise that will be on this one! How exciting....its amazing how you can meet up again after all this time!

We fell in love with our first Christmas Cruise and have decided that holiday time is the only time to cruise for us! Our first DCL cruise was during spring break of 2007 and it was alright, but NOTHING like the Christmas cruise of 2008 so we are booked for the 12/23/10 Christmas Cruise this year on the Wonder and then the 12/29/11 New Year's cruise on the Dream!! We are so excited about both!

How many people are going to combine this cruise with a side trip to WDW?? We will be going beforehand, since it seems to fit the kids school schedule better that way.

Talk to everyone soon
Shannon

 

[cmclaura]

All you previous holiday cruisers will have to tell us what to expect on a holiday cruise that's different from the everyday ones.

For instance, are all the Christmas decorations still up for New Year's Eve? They are at my house......

We've decided to celebrate my daughter's 18th birthday on this cruise, as she turns 18 just 2 weeks prior.

 

[SnowWhite2]

hey Shannon I know what you mean. My kids school and sports schedule dictates a Thanksgiving ((our2010 cruise) OR Christmas/NYE (2011) cruise.

I was surprised that the decorations on CC were down on Jan 1st when we hit the island. Very disappointed.

But all of the other decorations were still up around the ship.

 

[adnil530]

Hello everyone. We're booked on this Holiday Cruise! It will be me (Beth), DH (Steve), our twin DD's (Hope and Skye) who will have turned 8 the month before, and my mom (Sue). We are from Northern Virginia and Gram is from Denver. It will be our second DCL outing, the first one happens this October -- the Magic Halloween Cruise to the western Caribbean!

Hi Beth We are also on the 10/30 Halloween Cruise. It's approaching quickly and I look forward to meeting you then.

Hi Laurie!! You got it right!! I am indeed the OB nurse! I am still delivering babies left and right here in the south of Texas.

This makes 3 of us from the 12/08 Christmas Cruise that will be on this one! How exciting....its amazing how you can meet up again after all this time!

We fell in love with our first Christmas Cruise and have decided that holiday time is the only time to cruise for us! Our first DCL cruise was during spring break of 2007 and it was alright, but NOTHING like the Christmas cruise of 2008 so we are booked for the 12/23/10 Christmas Cruise this year on the Wonder and then the 12/29/11 New Year's cruise on the Dream!! We are so excited about both!

How many people are going to combine this cruise with a side trip to WDW?? We will be going beforehand, since it seems to fit the kids school schedule better that way.

Talk to everyone soon
Shannon

We are going to arrive around the 16th of December. My sister, Sara*s_Mommie, and her daughter will be on this cruise also. I don't know what date she coming out. We'll probably be able to find some WDW time before the cruise. It will be a mad dash getting home for school to resume.

All you previous holiday cruisers will have to tell us what to expect on a holiday cruise that's different from the everyday ones.

For instance, are all the Christmas decorations still up for New Year's Eve? They are at my house......

We've decided to celebrate my daughter's 18th birthday on this cruise, as she turns 18 just 2 weeks prior.

I don't know about New Year's Eve, but the ship was beautifully decorated when we did our December cruise in 2008 without being overdone. It was nice to get pics with the characters in front of the Christmas trees and other holiday decorations.

I just got back from a 8 day trip to Florida and my daughter and I did 4 days @ WDW. It was very nice. We managed to miss most of the rain and the crowds were very manageable. We don't feel that we missed anything. It was a very nice trip.

 

[jeroen1970]

I have to fill in my profile, i will do that later
We are just back from our 4the cruise, the 10 days med cruise from 5 may until 15 may, it was great.
And we also booked on-board for the cruise that start on my birthday, 29 december 2011.
We are from holland (Netherlands), Nijmegen. Our kids Tycho will be 12 then and Quinty will be 10..

Bye bye

Jeroen

 

[Harlemgirl720]

Hi all,

This will be my first Disney cruise and my son's first cruise ever. We will be spending 3 days at AKV and then onto the Dream. Not only do I get to see Disney at Christmas but celebrate my son's 12th birthday on New Years Day.

Is there anything I can order ahead of time to have in the room for his birthday? Any suggestions?

 

[ShannonR]

Good morning from the south of Texas!! I hope everyone is doing well this weekend. It's already 80 degrees here and it's only 7:30AM I am sure it will get into the high 90's today which is good because we are going to the water park on South Padre Island for my DD5 birthday that is on the 26th.

I have been looking at buying two tickets for MVMCP this December when we go on our Christmas cruise. We are going to WDW for 4 days prior to the cruise and the last day for the party is the 1st night we get there. Now, on the last Christmas cruise of 2008, we missed the ending of the party dates by one day and I was so upset because I have ALWAYS wanted to go to MVMCP. However, my DH says that it would be a waste of a night that we could be riding rides in another park. He says that since we only have 4 days, I shouldn't take DD5 this time around. Has anyone ever been to this party? Is it worth giving up one of my nights in the parks? I would really like to take my little one, but if it isn't that great, then I will skip it. Does anyone know????

Thanks,
Shannon

 

[adnil530]

I have to fill in my profile, i will do that later
We are just back from our 4the cruise, the 10 days med cruise from 5 may until 15 may, it was great.
And we also booked on-board for the cruise that start on my birthday, 29 december 2011.
We are from holland (Netherlands), Nijmegen. Our kids Tycho will be 12 then and Quinty will be 10..

Bye bye

Jeroen

Welcome aboard! I am jealous...I would have loved to have gone on one of those Med cruises. A birthday is as good a reason as any to book a cruise! My daughters will be 15 and 11 when we cruise.

Hi all,

This will be my first Disney cruise and my son's first cruise ever. We will be spending 3 days at AKV and then onto the Dream. Not only do I get to see Disney at Christmas but celebrate my son's 12th birthday on New Years Day.

Is there anything I can order ahead of time to have in the room for his birthday? Any suggestions?

You can look at the selection of gifts and room decorations that you can pre-order through Disney here:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/planning-center/gifts-and-amenities/

I've also ordered gift baskets through Shirley. She did a birthday pail for my daughter's birthday and I had her do an unbirthday pail for my unbirthday daughter. Here is a thread discussing Disney vs. Shirley for gift baskets: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2403852 A link to Shirley is located in the thread.

Good morning from the south of Texas!! I hope everyone is doing well this weekend. It's already 80 degrees here and it's only 7:30AM I am sure it will get into the high 90's today which is good because we are going to the water park on South Padre Island for my DD5 birthday that is on the 26th.

I have been looking at buying two tickets for MVMCP this December when we go on our Christmas cruise. We are going to WDW for 4 days prior to the cruise and the last day for the party is the 1st night we get there. Now, on the last Christmas cruise of 2008, we missed the ending of the party dates by one day and I was so upset because I have ALWAYS wanted to go to MVMCP. However, my DH says that it would be a waste of a night that we could be riding rides in another park. He says that since we only have 4 days, I shouldn't take DD5 this time around. Has anyone ever been to this party? Is it worth giving up one of my nights in the parks? I would really like to take my little one, but if it isn't that great, then I will skip it. Does anyone know????

Thanks,
Shannon

Hi Shannon. We are in Northern CA and it is cold! Very unusual weather and we have rain forecast this week...just in time to bring our 8th graders graduation indoors. They had their waterpark day last Friday and the temp didn't get much more than 70 degrees. Send some sunshine our way!

In December 2008, we got off the Disney Wonder and went to MVMCP that night. It was fun. The lines were short and it wasn't crowded. For us it worked out fine. We went and got settled into our house, swam for a bit and made our way over to the party around 4 p.m. The only young one we had was my niece (1 yr) and she feel asleep in the stroller. I don't know how late a 5 year old be able to hold out. Hopefully my sister will chime in on this one for you.

 

[Harlemgirl720]

You can look at the selection of gifts and room decorations that you can pre-order through Disney here:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/planning-center/gifts-and-amenities/

I've also ordered gift baskets through Shirley. She did a birthday pail for my daughter's birthday and I had her do an unbirthday pail for my unbirthday daughter. Here is a thread discussing Disney vs. Shirley for gift baskets: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2403852 A link to Shirley is located in the thread.


Thank you. Will definitely look into it.

 

[Sara*s_Mommie]

I have been looking at buying two tickets for MVMCP this December when we go on our Christmas cruise. We are going to WDW for 4 days prior to the cruise and the last day for the party is the 1st night we get there. Now, on the last Christmas cruise of 2008, we missed the ending of the party dates by one day and I was so upset because I have ALWAYS wanted to go to MVMCP. However, my DH says that it would be a waste of a night that we could be riding rides in another park. He says that since we only have 4 days, I shouldn't take DD5 this time around. Has anyone ever been to this party? Is it worth giving up one of my nights in the parks? I would really like to take my little one, but if it isn't that great, then I will skip it. Does anyone know????

Thanks,
Shannon

Hello Shannon...I don't know if I'm a good judge for you...I love everything Disney and would be in the parks 24/7 if I could If you only have 4 days in the parks, including the day you arrive, you'll have to consider the "tired" factor - it could ruin your chances for a next day early morning start - which its highly recommended to be at rope drop especially Christmas week. If the idea is that you'd be in another park that night, why not let it be MK? A lot of the rides are open, plus the other entertainment make it worth going to at least once. The downside, of course is that its an extra ticket event so it makes for an expensive trip if you visit another park that day. When my sister (Adnil530), her family and mine went, we only did the party on that day and had many more days to enjoy the parks so there wasn't any pressure of doing/seeing everything. You might want to post an another board to get more opinions.

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Good morning from the south of Texas!! I hope everyone is doing well this weekend. It's already 80 degrees here and it's only 7:30AM I am sure it will get into the high 90's today which is good because we are going to the water park on South Padre Island for my DD5 birthday that is on the 26th.

I have been looking at buying two tickets for MVMCP this December when we go on our Christmas cruise. We are going to WDW for 4 days prior to the cruise and the last day for the party is the 1st night we get there. Now, on the last Christmas cruise of 2008, we missed the ending of the party dates by one day and I was so upset because I have ALWAYS wanted to go to MVMCP. However, my DH says that it would be a waste of a night that we could be riding rides in another park. He says that since we only have 4 days, I shouldn't take DD5 this time around. Has anyone ever been to this party? Is it worth giving up one of my nights in the parks? I would really like to take my little one, but if it isn't that great, then I will skip it. Does anyone know????

Thanks,
Shannon

Hi Shannon,
We spent a few days right after Christmas at WDW last year and had a blast. We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and it was beautifully decorated. I have twin girls who were five at the time. They loved seeing the Christmas lights and decorations, especially at Magic Kingdom. I'd say go for the MVMCP tickets too. It is a once in a lifetime thing for little ones whose imagination knows no bounds. I'd take that any day over doing rides someplace else. The key is not to wear the the little one out (because when they crash they really crash) so some down time in the afternoon worked well for us last year. Whatever you decide will be magical!

Beth

 

[Sara*s_Mommie]

We are going to arrive around the 16th of December. My sister, Sara*s_Mommie, and her daughter will be on this cruise also. I don't know what date she coming out. We'll probably be able to find some WDW time before the cruise. It will be a mad dash getting home for school to resume.

I haven't really thought about my travel dates until now. Since I don't have a kid in school, I'm thinking I might arrive a day before cruise or do a red eye (if I can find one) day of and then stay a few days after the cruise - or is this too risky? Crowd levels should be very managable after we return - most certainly better than Xmas week!

I went to look at times to be on board but the system came back with an error...Anyone know what time you can start getting on board, what time I absolutely have to be on board?

 

[MrandMissVacation]

I haven't really thought about my travel dates until now. Since I don't have a kid in school, I'm thinking I might arrive a day before cruise or do a red eye (if I can find one) day of and then stay a few days after the cruise - or is this too risky? Crowd levels should be very managable after we return - most certainly better than Xmas week!

I went to look at times to be on board but the system came back with an error...Anyone know what time you can start getting on board, what time I absolutely have to be on board?

When we went in May 09 we boarded at 11:30 ish. The port opens at 9-9:30. We wanted to be on board asap. We wanted to see the terminal and register the kids for the clubs. Plus a few special guests make an appearance befor you board.
However you have to be on board by 1 hr prior to sailing, so 4:00 pm.
Of course rules change.

 

[ShannonR]

Hi everybody!! Thank you so much for the input on the MVMCP! I asked DD6(today is her birthday) what she would rather do and her reply was....BOTH!!! In the end, we will probably opt not to go because it is another cost that DH really doesn't want to pay for. And DD6 LOVES all the rides...I have been blessed with really tall children so they have all been able to get on most of the rides by the time they were 2 or 3. Even the big roller coasters and she loves them all!! Oh well, thanks to everyone for their thoughts! I wish we had more time than 4 days at WDW and then we would definately go!

I don't know about all of you, but I am so excited school is almost out for the summer...YAY!!!

Shannon

 

[Harlemgirl720]

I am glad summer is almost here. We are off to WDW the end of August. 2br Savannah view at Kidani.

I'm really looking forward to the cruise. I never went to Disney during the holidays. We will do 3 nights at AKV before the cruise. Get a chance to go to the hotels to look at decorations.

 

[Sara*s_Mommie]

When we went in May 09 we boarded at 11:30 ish. The port opens at 9-9:30. We wanted to be on board asap. We wanted to see the terminal and register the kids for the clubs. Plus a few special guests make an appearance befor you board.
However you have to be on board by 1 hr prior to sailing, so 4:00 pm.
Of course rules change.

That's good to know...I'll have to fly in at least the day before. Don't think I'll do Disney before though - that week is insane (or so I've heard)

 

[Sara*s_Mommie]

I never went to Disney during the holidays. We will do 3 nights at AKV before the cruise. Get a chance to go to the hotels to look at decorations.

It's beautiful...but it's been the only time of year I've been to WDW..so far .

 

[adnil530]

I haven't really thought about my travel dates until now. Since I don't have a kid in school, I'm thinking I might arrive a day before cruise or do a red eye (if I can find one) day of and then stay a few days after the cruise - or is this too risky? Crowd levels should be very managable after we return - most certainly better than Xmas week!

I went to look at times to be on board but the system came back with an error...Anyone know what time you can start getting on board, what time I absolutely have to be on board?

You remember the crowds from 2008 don't ya? You will practically have the parks to yourself after the New Year.

I would not fly in from CA the day of your cruise. I don't know of any flight that will leave early enough to get you there, not to mention winter delays that are likely. We've done the red-eye also and Mike and I both were sleeping by noon! Wore us out and the kids were chomping at the bit to get to the parks! There are no direct flights from Sacramento so you have to change planes. Sleep is fitful, you might get a 3 hour stretch of sleep at best. A very long day and it took us elderly folks a bit a recover.

At any rate, the girls and I are slated to come in around the 16th or 17th of December. I don't know yet when Mike will fly in. We all will need to go straight to the airport after disembarking from the ship. The kids will miss that first day back to school.

When we went in May 09 we boarded at 11:30 ish. The port opens at 9-9:30. We wanted to be on board asap. We wanted to see the terminal and register the kids for the clubs. Plus a few special guests make an appearance befor you board.
However you have to be on board by 1 hr prior to sailing, so 4:00 pm.
Of course rules change.

We went in April 09. Did you do Tortola? It was an awesome cruise for us. We got to port early, when it opened in fact! And, we were not the first ones there. We sat and watched everyone disembark, the girls with their braided hair, all the packages people are carrying from different ports. We met a few people from the Disboards also while waiting. I like getting there early for many reasons. The excitement is contagious!

Hi everybody!! Thank you so much for the input on the MVMCP! I asked DD6(today is her birthday) what she would rather do and her reply was....BOTH!!! In the end, we will probably opt not to go because it is another cost that DH really doesn't want to pay for. And DD6 LOVES all the rides...I have been blessed with really tall children so they have all been able to get on most of the rides by the time they were 2 or 3. Even the big roller coasters and she loves them all!! Oh well, thanks to everyone for their thoughts! I wish we had more time than 4 days at WDW and then we would definately go!

I don't know about all of you, but I am so excited school is almost out for the summer...YAY!!!

Shannon

It's still early. You have plenty of time to set your plans into cement. I like planning my vacations out, but always manage to change things around if needed. It's good lay out your options and see what's available.

Summer has started for our girls here. Yesterday was their last day of school. It's odd to be sitting here on a Thursday morning not running around getting everyone ready for school! We are still waiting for summer weather though. Rain and hail here, snow just up the road. A very strange spring we are having.

Linda

 

[MrandMissVacation]

You remember the crowds from 2008 don't ya? You will practically have the parks to yourself after the New Year.

I would not fly in from CA the day of your cruise. I don't know of any flight that will leave early enough to get you there, not to mention winter delays that are likely. We've done the red-eye also and Mike and I both were sleeping by noon! Wore us out and the kids were chomping at the bit to get to the parks! There are no direct flights from Sacramento so you have to change planes. Sleep is fitful, you might get a 3 hour stretch of sleep at best. A very long day and it took us elderly folks a bit a recover.

At any rate, the girls and I are slated to come in around the 16th or 17th of December. I don't know yet when Mike will fly in. We all will need to go straight to the airport after disembarking from the ship. The kids will miss that first day back to school.

No. We didn't visit Tortola. We were on the Wonder with the Dis Boards podcast cruise. It was only a 4 night trip with CC abd Nassau.


We went in April 09. Did you do Tortola? It was an awesome cruise for us. We got to port early, when it opened in fact! And, we were not the first ones there. We sat and watched everyone disembark, the girls with their braided hair, all the packages people are carrying from different ports. We met a few people from the Disboards also while waiting. I like getting there early for many reasons. The excitement is contagious!



It's still early. You have plenty of time to set your plans into cement. I like planning my vacations out, but always manage to change things around if needed. It's good lay out your options and see what's available.

Summer has started for our girls here. Yesterday was their last day of school. It's odd to be sitting here on a Thursday morning not running around getting everyone ready for school! We are still waiting for summer weather though. Rain and hail here, snow just up the road. A very strange spring we are having.

Linda

OOPS, operator error.

No we didn't go to Tortola. We did a 4 night on the Wonder w/ Nassau (ICK) and CC (yeah). I can do without Nassau, so we did the dolphin encounter. It was pricey, but one of those things on the bucket list.