Disney Wonder November 27, 2015 Roll Call

[ahoymickey15]

So excited!! We can't wait!

 

[ahoymickey15]

What age ranges is everyone kids?

 

[ahoymickey15]

 

[ahoymickey15]

 

[ahoymickey15]

 

[ahoymickey15]

 

[ahoymickey15]

 

[ahoymickey15]

 

[ahoymickey15]

 

[ahoymickey15]

We have 5 kids within three immediate families: would it be better for us all to join one group or to separate into different groups?

 

[pixiehallow]

Hi all! We are a big family: 11 total. (1 grandma, 5 adults, and 5 kids ages 19 months - 15yrs old). This is our first Disney cruise!

Welcome to the group ahoymickey15.

What an exciting vacation! I always love traveling with friends and family.
Are y'all going to want to do the FE? If so, just let me know, and I will get you added in.
For now I will add you to the roll call.
If you have any questions, please feelfree to ask.

~Tink ~

 

[ahoymickey15]

Yes we want to do the FE. We have 5 kids within 3 immediate families. We've done some research but we don't know if we should keep all the kids in one group or join separate groups. Any advice would be great!

 

[pixiehallow]

Well, you have a few choices, which depends on a few possible variables. If you are all going to be working together to create your FE's, you will know 3 out of the 9 gifts you will be receiving (If you are all in the same group based on our group size of 10). However if y'all will be each creating your own (which would be keeping with the spirit of the anonymous giving), it would be just as much of a surprise to each of you as it will be to everyone else in the group. The perk of being in the same group, and not knowing what the other cabins in your family is creating, is being able to see how excited the rest of your family gets when they get their gifts. Also, if you would like to be aggressive, you can be in more than 1 group.
Currently, we have 2 groups. The first has10 (which if your family chooses to be in separate groups, we can see if anyone wants to switch. ..which I don't see as a problem, we have 2 cabins in our family and I am sure we could make adjustments there if need be ), and the 2nd has 4 cabins (if all 3 of your cabins join this group, the cabin count will be up to 7).
One other idea would be to consider starting a 3rd group. This possibility however, would come with a if / then situation. If we do not get enough cabins to finish filling up the 2nd group, we would probably have to bring everyone back to just 2 groups. Don't get me wrong, in the past, late comers tend to fill out the groups just fine.
I hope this helps.
Now we just need to get you up to 10 posts so when you and your family deside how you want to arrange your cabins, I can get the FE sign up to you through the DIS messaging.

~ Tink ~

 

[ahoymickey15]

I did 10 posts already. We want to stay in the same group, however we will work individually with the kids to keep the anonymity alive among them.

 

[pixiehallow]

Awesome, you got to 10!
These are the ages I know so far : 15, 11, 17, 9, 3.5, 2, 4.5, 2.5, 12, 5, 9 months, 10, 7, and 4.

Also, I don't know if you have read the whole thread or not, but just in case you haven't, we have a group of members w/ toddlers that are thinking about doing a toddler play date.

~ Tink ~

 

[pixiehallow]

Great. I will send the sign up in just a minute. I will need answers for each cabin. For the name on the board part, you can list them as ahoymickey15 + 1, and ahoymickey15 +2.

~ Tink ~

 

[MouseketeerG]

So... I have been trying to quickly go over previous posts in case I miss something big... I think I remember Tink mentioned getting shoe organizers for the bathroom but be sure that they are not 'over the door'... One hack I use because those type are not easily found where I am... I use zip ties and put them on a sturdy hanger... I use extra zip ties to secure suitcases, can secure your fish extender so it doesn't get stolen, and I am sure other uses... Also love them because you can usually get an assortment at the dollar store!

Time is getting close! What other bits of advice does anyone else have?

 

[pixiehallow]

A tip I learned on the last cruise, and that is only because they had just changed the system, is to do your online registration as soon as your window opens. During this process, you are assigned a port arrival time. If you procrastinate, you will be stuck with what ever slots are left.
I will post others later.

~ Tink ~

 

[pixiehallow]

One other while it is on my mind.
Take time to read over the cruise contract you have to sign with your kids, especially if they are of the age that they will be able to sign themselves in and out of the kids area.
The reason I suggest this is because of something we saw during one of our FE distributions. We passed a cabin at which a teenager had decided to decorate her cabin door with duct tape. You know if Disney charges people for the repair of a door on which there are small marks on the top that probably won't even be noticeable left behind after the use of an over the door organizer, that they will definitely put a hefty charge on the parents account for the repairs need for a duct taped door.
We read over them with our boys every time we cruise. I then add on, that if you ever find yourself at a door way where the carpet ends, and metal walk ways or metal stairs begin, stop, do not proceed unless you are with a cast member (the cast member part is important, because some evacuation routes that you may be directed to use during the muster drill do take you through the metal stair ways).

~ Tink~

 

[pixiehallow]

If you find that you need to wash clothes, there are self service washers and dryers on board. However, I would suggest that you do not plan to use them the afternoon or evening after Castaway. After enjoying a day at Castaway, people tend to forget to rinse out their swim wear before tossing them into the machines. So, the sand builds up in the machine, and begins to transfer to the clothes being washed in subsequent cycles.
Before you leave home, if you think you may use the machines on board, pick up some single wash packs from the store, or bring a few pods. This is because, as you can probably guess, the detergents you can buy on board is like buying liquid gold.
When packing laundry detergent (or any other liquids that may leak), make sure you put them in plastic bags, and carry them on. Luggage that has been checked with liquids in it has been known to end up in the naughty room.