Disney Dream - July 27, 2014 - 4 night

[FormrCastMbr]

This will be our first Disney cruise. How does the Fish Extenders exchange work? What is all involved in it? Thank you.

Michele

HI! I am new to this as well but here are a couple good threads for info:


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2660789


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1944142


http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

 

[boxdoc2]

Hi!, is that 5k something other guests could join or are you all doing it with the running group? I am not a runner but I did do the tower of terror 10 mile in 2012. I run a mile and get bored...I'm one of those people.

I guess it's considered an "excursion" when you get to the island. So it's open to anyone!

 

[jchill]

Basically, I just suggest that we see how many people we have sign up and go from there. If there are a lot of people we can divide up the names, if there a just maybe 15 or so families, we can give to each.

I don't think we should set too many rules but want to make sure that each family (the kids especially) gets something and dont want it to be a financial burden or take up goo much time.

Does that make sense?

Please let me know your thoughts or suggestions..

Oh ya i guess it would depend on how many we get in the group and if we don't have to many maybe we could maybe(just an idea) make it like a secret santa in July type of thing? Ya i guess one family i guess would be ok too.
I know it just depends on how many we get. I'm getting excited for this and of course the cruise. I think it'll be fun either way. Of course i know one wants to be a costly experience and overwhelming either.

 

[jchill]

I guess it's considered an "excursion" when you get to the island. So it's open to anyone!

Both my daughters did the 5k Princess Disney run last year in Feb. They had a great time. They aren't really runners per say. LOL I think they mostly do it just for the tshirts. LOL but have fun at the same time. Maybe someday i'll do one. Not sure if they would do this one being its probably going to really hot. I'll mention it to them anyway.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

I guess it's considered an "excursion" when you get to the island. So it's open to anyone!

Thank you! I will check it out!

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Both my daughters did the 5k Princess Disney run last year in Feb. They had a great time. They aren't really runners per say. LOL I think they mostly do it just for the tshirts. LOL but have fun at the same time. Maybe someday i'll do one. Not sure if they would do this one being its probably going to really hot. I'll mention it to them anyway.

Yes, the heat might be a deciding factor!

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Here is a thread that has some good gift ideas! I am getting excited. Was about to buy some things yesterday and thought I would misplace them by July so I put them back!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2473209

How about a meet when we sail?

 

[Princess Michele]

Here is a thread that has some good gift ideas! I am getting excited. Was about to buy some things yesterday and thought I would misplace them by July so I put them back!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2473209

How about a meet when we sail?

A meet sounds good to me.

Michele

 

[boxdoc2]

Yes, the heat might be a deciding factor!

Can't be any worse than the WDW marathon in 2013. HOT HOT HOT!!! Hydrate!!! Does rum count as hydrating?

 

[Gary Pinkos]

Hello:
I want to chime in on the fish extender.
Two years ago was my first and only time involved with a fish extender. I just want to share how well it worked and how my family loved it.

Our cruise was August 11, the entry for the extender was cut off July 1st. Although two more families joined after this date, but not everyone was able to give them gifts, but many of us had extras so that worked out.

At the cutoff date we had 16 families. Some people gave candy, we got a deck of cards, magnets with our cruise date and picture of ship on them, a few people took reusable type shopping bags and stencled cruise logo and date on bag, all sorts of trinkets. Someone made drink coasters. My wife is a craft person and she made water bottle holders for men that looked like mickey and pink minnie ones for the ladies. I made autograph / cruise journal books for school aged and we made princess wands for the pre school aged girls, we had no boys this age.

We dropped off 4 or 5 families gifts every day so it was never a burden. We also received gifts in the morning and throughout the day....every day. We couldn't wait ti get back to our rooms to see what treasures awaited us.

So my two cents.....lets see how many families join. 16 families was not any problem.

If anyone needs to know more or see a picture of the fish extenders we used (my wife made them) (we had two rooms so two extenders). Let me know.

 

[Gary Pinkos]

Other FE gifts we received. Small tube sun tan lotion, eye patches, tattoo's & bandanna's (all pirate themed) small tissue packets, note paper, pens, burn gel, hand sanitizer, all things we appreciated because we didn't bring. No wrong gifts and gifts don't need to cost alot.

A group meet would be awesome, but last time we scheduled one right after we sailed, but there was also a DVC meeting at the same time that was not known about untill we were on the ship. I went to meet people from our group, my wife went to the DVC meeting. Some people we never physically met because they went to the DVC meeting. Maybe we can come up with a plan so we can contact everyone at the last minute if meeting needs to change time or location. (I think we had a location issue as well?).

Not sure if we can form a group and give our room numbers and give it to main desk so we can somehow use it to contact the group if someone has a idea to meet at different times, or castaway cay or whatever. It might be fun to all get together for pirate night, or fireworks, or a movie, or show. I am sure some want to join this group and maybe keep a distance, but some might want to stay connected a little more. I don't think cell phones work after on ship.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Gary, thank you for the info! Maybe we can do the same if our number are about the same. Give to a certain number of people each day in groups.

As we get closer I am going to put together a spreadsheet with all of our information and them we'll figure out the details. So the end of May cut off should be good...

We'll try and figure out a meet based on your info as well. Again, thank you for sharing your experiences with us!

I think I have a little problem...I started buying things today. Saw some stuff I couldn't pass up that I wasn't sure would be around in a couple months!

Gary or anyone else that has been on a Disney cruise...did you try the adult only brunch? I think we are going to do that one day. My travel agent said she preferred that instead of dinner.

I also chose the early dinner since we have a 5 year old. Did anyone else do the early? I think I might change it.

 

[Gary Pinkos]

Never did the Adult only brunch, so can't offer any information.

We have done late sitting for dinner in the past, but we signed up for early dinner this time. I know most of our friends had kids on the last dream cruise and were at early dinner. DCL automatically put my family at the later dinner, but we are hoping us going to early dinner will allow us more time with friends we will meet here. My wife gets uncomfortable if she eats too late, also a reason we are trying early dinner.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Never did the Adult only brunch, so can't offer any information. We have done late sitting for dinner in the past, but we signed up for early dinner this time. I know most of our friends had kids on the last dream cruise and were at early dinner. DCL automatically put my family at the later dinner, but we are hoping us going to early dinner will allow us more time with friends we will meet here. My wife gets uncomfortable if she eats too late, also a reason we are trying early dinner.

Thank you!

 

[Princess Michele]

I also chose the early dinner since we have a 5 year old. Did anyone else do the early? I think I might change it.

We are doing the early dinner. Our other cruises weren't Disney but we prefer to eat first and then go to the shows if we are interested in seeing any of them. This also gives our kids time to go to the kid's clubs in the evening if they are interested and still get to bed at a decent time.

Michele

 

[FormrCastMbr]

We are doing the early dinner. Our other cruises weren't Disney but we prefer to eat first and then go to the shows if we are interested in seeing any of them. This also gives our kids time to go to the kid's clubs in the evening if they are interested and still get to bed at a decent time. Michele

Thanks for your feedback. I am basically doing it for my 5 year old. My only concern is feeling rushed to get to dinner so early. Did you ever feel that way with the early seating? I've been on 2 other cruises but probably about 20 years ago.

 

[Gary Pinkos]

Another day off work today due to snowstorm. So I have been working on some lose ends for cruise.

We have our flights all figured out and paid for. Actually we got two flights for free due to getting asked to take a later flight home on our last vacation. We will rent a car to drive from Orlando Airport to Coco Beach.

In the past we have just flown in on the day of the cruise, but after getting asked on the way to Orlando, and then actually getting bumped or our return flight, I am guessing it it wise to arrive a day early.

Is anyone else doing anything like this? I will now be looking for a place to stay near cruise ship on Saturday night.

I also will be looking for the best way to get to WDW after the cruise.....any suggestions? I think last time we paid and took the Disney cruise bus.

 

[jchill]

Another day off work today due to snowstorm. So I have been working on some lose ends for cruise.

We have our flights all figured out and paid for. Actually we got two flights for free due to getting asked to take a later flight home on our last vacation. We will rent a car to drive from Orlando Airport to Coco Beach.

In the past we have just flown in on the day of the cruise, but after getting asked on the way to Orlando, and then actually getting bumped or our return flight, I am guessing it it wise to arrive a day early.

Is anyone else doing anything like this? I will now be looking for a place to stay near cruise ship on Saturday night.

I also will be looking for the best way to get to WDW after the cruise.....any suggestions? I think last time we paid and took the Disney cruise bus.

oooh sorry you got blasted with snow. From what i hear, we have a front moving in here tomorrow late afternoon with more snow and mix with freezing rain. UHG I do not want any more snow.

We're flying in the day before our cruise. We're staying at the All Star Sports and doing some downtown Disney shopping and checking out the bowling Alley there. Next day cruise time, then back to WDW staying at the new Animation Resort then spending a day and a half at the parks and flying home on Sat.

 

[Gary Pinkos]

Sunday March 2nd, here in PA we are awaiting another snowstorm. Just looking at my last post.....we have more than our share of snow this year! I am guessing that this will all just be a distant memory come July 27th.

I am hoping to see more activity on this forum, I enjoy thinking about our cruise and WDW vacation. I enjoy making plans and thinking about how hot I will be in 147 days while leaving the cruise terminal heading for fun n sun, I plan to not complain about being too hot.....will see how that goes?

How many states are represented in this forum. Pinkos family is #1 from PA. Check in as you can as #2 and your state # 3 etc. If you are from a state that has been spoken for, check in anyway and use the previous number for your state.

Lets get to know one another a little. Got any ideas on how.....share them here. For any first time cruisers please feel free to ask any questions you might have. For those of us who have cruised before......share what you love about DCL or maybe something you love from another cruise line.

My last cruise was August 2011 and I just saw on Facebook this morning that friends that I cruised with were getting out of town before the storm and they are going on a Disney cruise. I am jealous!

 

[boxdoc2]

Guess we'll be #2 - Morgan family from Kansas! We too are "enjoying" being snowed in today. I swear that it just all melted! I think I posted somewhere above, but since I've got a few minutes.... We are frequent visitors to WDW but this will be our first Disney cruise. Needless to say, it's rather overwhelming! From excursions to door magnets to fish extenders and of course, figuring out how many cases of beer can actually be packed in a carry on! We are participating with a few other runners and are planning on doing the 5K. It was originally planned as a runner's cruise, but we have dwindled down to 4 families. Still planning a GREAT time though! My question to DCL alumni - Excursions. I would like to reserve at 00:00:01 on our day to reserve, but I don't have a clue where to begin. Suggestions for Nassau or must do's for CC? We have a 12 and 11 year old with us, both girls. Thanks and we look forward to sailing with you all when there's NO SNOW!!!!