Disney Dream ~ May 18-22, 2015

[lovemycatkellar]

This is our 2nd cruise on DCL, we did this same exact cruise this past May. My DH and I have a daughter that will be 10 by May 2015. Friends of ours and their daughter will also be fellow cruise mates again and I think maybe other friends of ours and their 2 daughters might be on this cruise.

We loved it so much we booked this before leaving the last cruise.

Our last FE group was 10 rooms per little group and afforded me to nicer little gifts, hope we have smaller great groups again!

Me-Melody
Husband-Mike H
Daughter-Ashley

 

[Farmersue]

Hi everyone, DH (Bob) and I are now booked on this cruise. We treated ourselves and booked the 1 bedroom suite. This will be our first Disney cruise and our second cruise. Just got back from the Duck Commander (Duck Dynasty & Scotty McCreary) cruise on Carnival. Very excited. What is FE?

 

[disnygirl55]

Hi everyone, DH (Bob) and I are now booked on this cruise. We treated ourselves and booked the 1 bedroom suite. This will be our first Disney cruise and our second cruise. Just got back from the Duck Commander (Duck Dynasty & Scotty McCreary) cruise on Carnival. Very excited. What is FE?

Hi Farmersue!

The FE stands for "Fish Extender" - you can probably read more in detail about them on several different posts on the boards. The nitty gritty is that participants hang a "mailbox" of sorts outside their stateroom door. There is a metal holder outside that is shaped like a fish (or another sea creature), from which you can hang your mailbox, which is usually a multi-pocket fabric crafty thing. Kind of hard to explain, but it makes perfect sense when you see a photo of one! Then someone in your cruise group sets up a fish extender gift exchange group, which is usually between 10 - ?? other families, depending on what the group wants. Then you bring little gifts of any theme you want (something crafty and homemade, something from your local area of the world, something disney-themed - anything goes). You leave the gifts for the other people in the group during the cruise in their fish extenders, and those people leave you gifts in return. It is really a lot of fun. We've participated in 3 of the 5 cruises we've been on. It's also a great way to get to know the other families on the cruise. We are also in a one-bedroom suite. You are in for a treat - Disney does Concierge like nobody's business! What other questions do you have?

- Leslie

 

[Farmersue]

What other questions do I have....Where do I start!! Have you cruised before in the 1bedroom suite before? When should we get to the port? We are staying at Animal Kingdom the night before and signed up for the transfer to the port but someone said that I would get there when I get there with that transportation. We would love to get there early to explore, take pictures and take a shot at the Aquadunk. I was told that even though we are concierge, we don't get picked up early. Wondering if we should get other transportation to the port. I think I may try the FE as it sounds like fun. Did look it up over the past few days. Thanks for the information.

 

[disnygirl55]

What other questions do I have....Where do I start!! Have you cruised before in the 1bedroom suite before? When should we get to the port? We are staying at Animal Kingdom the night before and signed up for the transfer to the port but someone said that I would get there when I get there with that transportation. We would love to get there early to explore, take pictures and take a shot at the Aquadunk. I was told that even though we are concierge, we don't get picked up early. Wondering if we should get other transportation to the port. I think I may try the FE as it sounds like fun. Did look it up over the past few days. Thanks for the information.

Hi Sue!

Yes, ever since our first cruise, we've cruised in a 1-bedroom suite, both on the classic ships (Wonder), and the Dream-class ships (Dream and Fantasy). The 1-bedrooms on the classic ships are a bit larger, especially the mid-ship suites, but we prefer the Dream class, due to the lounge and sundeck. They are very comfortable, and the master bathroom is amazing! We try to get a room on the bump-out, so we have a larger verandah, and we've been lucky enough to be in those each time (we book as soon as dates are announced, generally).

We've done both types of transportation. The first time we cruised, we took the DCL transportation like you are considering. It's fun to be with all those other cruisers, and watch the video about the cruise ship. Great way to ramp up the excitement. However, the big drawback is that you probably won't get there until after noon. Ever since then, we've taken a limo or towncar, and prefer to get there sometime between 10:30 and 11:00. There is a small concierge waiting area that you can sit in after you've checked in and gone through security. No matter when you arrive, you'll be able to get right on after the "family of the day". You'll automatically be in boarding group 1. Then you'll be escorted to the concierge lounge on Deck 12 where you'll meet with one of the members of the concierge team, get to confirm your spa and adult dining reservations you've already signed up for, and look at the schedule of tastings to see if you'd like to book any. If you are interested in tastings (wine, martini, tequila, etc.), make sure you ask your concierge host. On our very first cruise, they didn't offer it, so I thought I had to go wait in line at guest services, so I missed out. I didn't realize they were so popular, so they were sold out by the time I asked.

If you arrive around 10:30 or 11:00, there won't be much to do while you're waiting for boarding - usually around 11:30ish - but there will be opportunities to take photos from outside the ship (there's a small smoking deck outside the concierge lounge that looks directly at the ship, so that's a good place to take photos) and you'll also be given that day's navigator so you can see the activities. I just read my book and people-watch. It's such an exciting time for me!!! Even if I'm just sitting in the waiting area!! Don't forget to download the Disney Cruise Line app on your phone. When you get to the port, all the week's activities will also be magically downloaded so you can look at the activities and dining menus that way.

Rooms are generally available sometime between 1:00 and 1:30, but there's plenty to do until then. The concierge lounge will have nibbles, soda, and alcoholic drinks for free, and you can leave and go to lunch or the Aquaduck after you've had your time with the concierge host. I've heard they will take charge of your carry-on bags while you go roam, although I usually sit in the lounge and drink champagne until the room is ready. DH and DS usually change into their swim trunks and go right to the Aquaduck to get a few rides in, but I'm happy to soak up the atmosphere in the lounge.

Hmmmm.... what else can I help you with? You're going to have an awesome time!! Sorry if I missed it, but is it you and DH only, or are you bringing other family members?

-Leslie

 

[onejellyshelly]

I am so excited to say that I booked this cruise for my daughter (10), mom, and myself. This will be our first Disney cruise. We will be in Disney World for three days after our cruise. I am joining the FE group.

 

[JacksonFam]

Hey All- Just changed our Feb date to this May date in hopes it falls right after Star Wars weekends so we can attend that too! This will be our third cruise. Myself, DH and DS! We will def participate in the FE as soon as my TA sends me our room number I will add us to the list.

 

[JacksonFam]

I can't edit the FE to add myself. Please allow it to be edited.

 

[waakn]

I just booked cruise this week...It will be me my 3 kids, my parents, siblings & newphews, 14 in all :0)

I am intrested in joining FE for this cruise.....kids would love it

 

[Bean316]

Hey everybody! It will be my first disney cruise and I would LOVE to do a FE. Hope to get to know you all

 

[RobDoc]

Unfortunately, posts have been removed from a number of Cruise Meets threads including this one.

PLEASE review the Cruise Meet Policy regarding Cruise Meet and Fish Extender programs. - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3353477

Links to Cruise Meet discussion/Fish Extenders other than those on the DIS may not be posted or offered by any other means (PM, email, "search" directions).

Cruise Meet threads are doing just fine still managing meet and FE discussions right here on the DIS as they have since FE began (also here on the DIS).

FE organizers generally need to know how many people (adults/children) are participating in each cabin with child ages for age appropriate gift giving. Other information you would like to share such as names, allergies, favorite characters, etc. is up to you. Other personal information is not really necessary. Those organizing FEs typically ask for the information to be posted in the meet thread or sent to them via PM.

If no one comes forward to organize a FE for this cruise, perhaps someone can start that right in this thread.

DISboards Fish-Extender Basics

Enjoy!


Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

 

[Willsdad166]

Hi everyone. We are booked for this date also. This will be our first cruise. It will be myself DW and My DD 10 along with our DS 3. Hope we meet up and have a blast. I will take any advise we can get because we have not a clue as to what we are getting ourselves into. LOL

 

[MandyLandy]

Hi Everyone! I'm excited for my family's first cruise! We will be on this cruise and very excited to participate in the FE. My husband and I will be bringing our two sons Gary (4) and Gus (2). Just a question for seasoned cruisers...when do you usually start making/ordering gifts for FE? new to this so not sure how long to wait to get a count of children. Thanks!

 

[SDMommyof3]

We are super excited for our family's first cruise! My crew will consist of my DH, my two DS's (13 and 2), my DD (1), mother and father, and MIL! We would love to do the FE.

One Excited Mama!

 

[Ottes4]

I am on hold right now to book this cruise. It will be DH40, DD11, DD8, myself 38. This will be our 5th DCL

I was wondering who is in charge of the FE? Have any guidelines been established? (How many cabins per group, cut off date to join FE, etc)

 

[jgronhoff]

My husband and I will be taking this cruise alone as a graduation present for me (YAY!) and also as a last hurrah before I begin my Master's program over the summer. I would like to join in on the FE as well and look forward to meeting other dis'ers. My husband is supportive of my Disney addiction, but is not a fellow Dis freak. Would love to meet other couples if there is anyone else traveling without little ones

 

[disneyboy87]

Greetings everyone...this is my our first cruise. Surprising my bf with this disney trip he has no idea about. Would love to meet new people, and take part in the FE. Let me know how we are doing it, who is involved, and lets get the countdown started!

 

[Twentyyears]

Happy New Year everyone. So happy to join this thread and we are UK DCL newbies after 25 years of WDW visits and becoming DVC owners. So looking forward to a new obsession.
We will be DH Peter and DS Mike who is 16. Please tell me someone else has some teens on board for the Vibe- he swears there won't be because of the time of year
Would love to do the FE too but is there a lead on this re numbers, groups etc or is it going to you Mrs. Woody as you posted first, lol or is there another sticky. I have missed??
Sandie

 

[disneyboy87]

So how excatly does this all work? Is there somewhere we sign up to partake in doing this?

 

[Ottes4]

It looks like several people haven't posted for 6 months or so... Anyone willing to start a new FE list especially for the last 5-10 families that have recently posted? We could always merge two lists together later if there are 2?

I would, but I am in charge of a huge school fundraiser right now and won't have any free time until March.

My guess the spreadsheet should contain the dis family name, individual members and children's age, cabin number...

My past experience with the FEs were always awesome! I've been on several cruises where there was a cap on number of staterooms participating in the FE, maybe 10-12 after that you start another list. (You can choose to be on more than one list)

What are everyone's ideas and past experiences?