Disney Dream - April 3, 2011 - 4 nights

[Disney On A Dime!]

Hello everyone!

By the skin of our teeth, we made it onto the Dream 4/3/11 cruise! I say "skin of our teeth" because I think we may have gotten the last 2 quads on the ship! Anyway, sailing will be my family (me - 42, DH - 37, DS - 9, DD - 7) and our neighbors (36, 36, 6, 3). I don't have our room assignments yet, but I wanted to say please DEFINITELY put us on the FE list!

We are the Dunn family, and our neighbors are the Acker family.



If we can have distribution on the same days, that would be great!

Leslie Ann

Welcome to the Cruise!


Glad that you all were able to catch those quad cabins! For the FE information...PM kikids (Cindy)...and she will put you all on the list. The information for everything that has been set up so far is on the first post of this thread. The FE list is being compiled via email...so as to not give out our info. on the boards. We also have a "Mango Rum Run"...that started a few months back...but we all are planning on going into Nassau together to grab some rum! We also have several cruise DISigns that have been made for us. Anyhow...take some time and get acquainted with what we have going on...please...if you have any other ideas or such...let us know...we are a friendly bunch and are planning on a great cruise!


Crystal

 

[jetskigrl]

Hi All,
Just checking in to see how everyone is doing....

I received a letter in the mail from DCL on Friday (luckily DH found it before the kids could see it). It said that our show time was set for 5:00 pm and dinner was at 8:30 pm. Opps, not what the TA had told me before, but I guess they are still playing around with the times. But after a quick email to the TA, she said that she got the show time moved to 7:00 for me.

We went to DLR weekend before last and while we were eating inside the Grand Californian, DS said he wanted to go by the lobby to look at the boat they have on display there. OMG, Christmas can not get here soon enough. I can't wait to tell the kids about the cruise.......

I was cleaning out the bedroom of our back house over the weekend (to clear out a spot for Christmas gifts) and I found a few things that I have already purchased for the cruise. So I guess I officially have a "cruise pile" started, LOL.

We are heading back to DLR this Friday for Mickey's Trick-or-Treat party. The kids love it because we spend the night across the street from DLR after the event (instead of driving home). Plus DS is excited to go to the Duffy Meet-and-Great at CA on Saturday.

What is everyone else have planned for Halloween?

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

Our school system just released the proposed 2012 school calendar. Spring break is during the maiden cruise of the Fantasy... oooh I am SOOOOOOOO tempted. If we didn't have to pay the huge deposit I would totally book it, but that deposit for 4 people is pretty steep!

I have a "Cruise pile" going too, plus we have an idea for our FE gifts

 

[Michele325]

Halloween, that got me thinking. Trying to decide if we are going to wear pirate costumes for this cruise. What do you all think? If so, I need to find them all, and see what fits in order to replace pieces after halloween. Maybe we'll just wear hats this year?? Last 2 cruises I got good pictures for out wall with all 3 in their costumes

 

[jetskigrl]

I bought two pirate costumes for pretty cheap a couple of months ago. I don't know how the kids will feel about it yet (since they don't know about the cruise) but I'm hoping they will be able to use them for all three cruises (if they do a pirate night on the 2-night mini cruise).

I just bought some accessories for me and my Mom. Plus I am still planning on getting the pirate princess ears at DLR before we go.

 

[DontRushMe]

Glad you guys are thinking about dressing up. My family is already planning our pirate attire. The girls and I are trying to decide how we can get DH to wear eyeliner like Johnny Depp. We will see!

 

[3luv2travel]

I just changed our reservation for this cruise to the June 9, 2012 Fantasy. I am a bit sad that I have to wait about 600 days to cruise for the first time but DH actually gave some input and said that he'd prefer the 7 day cruise over a shorter one. Our main goal with cruising DCL was to go with the best cruise line in the industry and travel on one of the ships while it was still "brand new". I guess we'll still make it on both counts but it's going to be hard to wait!

I'll miss this group and will definitely be thinking about all of you on 4/3/2011. We are taking our 12yr old DD to Washington DC instead for the Cherry Festival. Not Disney entertainment but I'm sure we'll appreciate it just the same!

Have fun with your trip countdowns .....I'll have to change my ticker once I'm done with this post.

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

I just changed our reservation for this cruise to the June 9, 2012 Fantasy. I am a bit sad that I have to wait about 600 days to cruise for the first time but DH actually gave some input and said that he'd prefer the 7 day cruise over a shorter one. Our main goal with cruising DCL was to go with the best cruise line in the industry and travel on one of the ships while it was still "brand new". I guess we'll still make it on both counts but it's going to be hard to wait!

I'll miss this group and will definitely be thinking about all of you on 4/3/2011. We are taking our 12yr old DD to Washington DC instead for the Cherry Festival. Not Disney entertainment but I'm sure we'll appreciate it just the same!

Have fun with your trip countdowns .....I'll have to change my ticker once I'm done with this post.

So sorry to see you go...but at least you didn't have to give up a cruise all together! The Fantasy looks great and you all will have an excellent time on a longer cruise. Which route are you doing...the eastern or the western? If it is the western...be sure to check into Nachi Cocom on Cozumel (Our favorite all time port stop) and Seven Mile Beach (Sea Grape) on Grand Cayman (A gorgeous beach with crystal blue water!)


Enjoy the Cherry Festival in DC! It should be prime time in early April!
Crystal

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

I just changed our reservation for this cruise to the June 9, 2012 Fantasy. I am a bit sad that I have to wait about 600 days to cruise for the first time but DH actually gave some input and said that he'd prefer the 7 day cruise over a shorter one. Our main goal with cruising DCL was to go with the best cruise line in the industry and travel on one of the ships while it was still "brand new". I guess we'll still make it on both counts but it's going to be hard to wait!

I'll miss this group and will definitely be thinking about all of you on 4/3/2011. We are taking our 12yr old DD to Washington DC instead for the Cherry Festival. Not Disney entertainment but I'm sure we'll appreciate it just the same!

Have fun with your trip countdowns .....I'll have to change my ticker once I'm done with this post.

Oh no! I am so sorry you won't be joining us in our Mango run madness

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

EcbLovesMickey - You booked the Fantasy! Great new ticker and congratulations! Another vacation to look forward too! Are you all doing the maiden voyage? Let us know the details...we're excited for you!


Crystal

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

Yes, we crunched some numbers and decided to do the MV of the Fantasy. It lines up with DS's Spring Break in 2012 and how many times do you get a chance to do a MV? Maybe one day our kids will bring their kids and say "we were on this ship way back in 2012 on her very first cruise"

Not super happy about the new 20% down, but we got a decent price I think and we'll be back on Deck 7 again!

The weather's getting colder here and I am daydreaming every day about that warm Castaway Cay sand...

 

[jetskigrl]

Yes, we crunched some numbers and decided to do the MV of the Fantasy. It lines up with DS's Spring Break in 2012 and how many times do you get a chance to do a MV? Maybe one day our kids will bring their kids and say "we were on this ship way back in 2012 on her very first cruise"

Not super happy about the new 20% down, but we got a decent price I think and we'll be back on Deck 7 again!

The weather's getting colder here and I am daydreaming every day about that warm Castaway Cay sand...

WOO HOO!! That is awesome!! The MV will be incredible!

I have a feeling that I will be looking to book something when I am onboard, LOL. But I don't think we will be ready to cruise again in 2012. I am hoping for something else out of the West Coast (on the Wonder)...like Hawaii maybe?? The airfare to Orlando really jacks up the price for us.

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

I have a feeling that I will be looking to book something when I am onboard, LOL. But I don't think we will be ready to cruise again in 2012. I am hoping for something else out of the West Coast (on the Wonder)...like Hawaii maybe?? The airfare to Orlando really jacks up the price for us.

We were going to wait to be onboard to book our next cruise to get the discount and all, but since the MV is not allowing any discounts, and some categories are already sold out, we figured we had better go ahead and pull the trigger!

I can imagine that airfare adds up fast. It is just so outrageous! I wanted to take my son to my University reunion this past summer, but airfare alone was going to be like $3k (I went to university in England). When I used to live there you could get flights for maybe $500 rt, even cheaper in off season.

My folks get deals on Airtran every once in a while, and they bought some free flight tickets at a silent auction a while back and go to fly to Seattle and back for pretty cheap. I think without the voucher that would have been impossible price wise

 

[Michele325]

FE question: How many families do we currently have? How many families do you think we will wind up with buying things for? I am trying to figure something out for our gifts. I am assuming we will get more as time goes on, etc.
Thanks (and we got airfare down to FL, but still not sure how we are getting back!)

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

I haven't gotten the FE list in a while, but last time I believe we had over 25 kids, and that was some time ago

 

[kikids]

Hi all. I sent the last FE list September 1st and plan to email an updated list on November 1st. I think we've only had one...maybe two...families added since the Sept list. So far it's only 13 families with just under 30 kids total.

If you haven't sent me a PM with your families' info, and are intersted in being on the FE list, let me know before Nov 1 so I can get you on the next list! I always send a return PM saying "okay, got you down" or some such thing when I receive it.

Cindy

 

[disneytraceyl]

Thought I would check-in with everyone. Life has been busy. Coaching a 9u AAU basketball team and the start of dry land for ski season. The snow will be flying before we know it. So excited about our cruise. I love watching the clips on facebook on the building of the different locations. Can't wait to see everyone. Hope all is well.

 

[jetskigrl]

Good Morning everyone. I thought I would do a quick check in with you all too! We got a little sprinkling of Pixie Dust over the weekend and I thought I would share it with people that could relate, LOL.

We attended Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland on Friday night. We went dressed up as "Mickey's Road Crew." DH got us all safety vests and hard hats (which he had attached Mickey ears to). DH, DD and I wore those outfits and DS went as a traffic cone. OMG, I would have never imagined the attention my little traffic cone would get. CMs and guests just went crazy for his costume. We got so many wonderful compliments and many people asking for his (our) picture. The security guard and firemen CMs gave him stickers, etc. But the best part was when we were walking down Main Street and three CMs were commenting on the costumes and asked if they could speak to us for a minute. We said sure and then they said that they loved our costumes and then invited us to be in the parade!!!

Since the party was new this year (being in DL instead of DCA), I had no idea what to expect. The previous years they just pulled kids out of the crowd to dance. But this year they selected 10 people for each parade (so a total of 20 a night) to ride in a special car the entire parade route. The sign on the door said "Honorary Costume Party Guests." What an incredible experience (a definitely first for us)!!!

Anyway, thanks for letting me share my Disney story, LOL.
Is everyone ready for Halloween? Funny, but after our evening at the trick-or-treat party, I feel like it is over already, LOL. Maybe I am just in too much of a hurry for Christmas to get here so I can tell the kids about the cruise!!!

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

jetskigrl - Wow! What an experience! We'd love to see a pic of that traffic cone and crew! What a great idea! And what a great memory! Disney is the best...and your year just keeps getting better and better...Christmas is going to be the ultimate in your house!


To All: I hope that everyone is having a great week! It's good to see many checking in...only months to go! For the FE list...I predict it getting longer as the balance due date approaches. Wonder what the total will be?


Crystal

 

[jetskigrl]

Thanks Crystal. I'm going to try posting some pictures for you.

At the hotel before we walked over:

On Main Street Disneyland:

The car we rode in for the parade: