Dream 9/14/15 4 night

[party-of-five]

Nothing yet but I talked to my travel agent and she said as soon as she gets them, she'll mail them out. I have gotten our WDW magic bands that we'll need to get into the parks. That was nice. I really, really, really want my cruize docs though! *Insert whiny voice here*

Sorry you still haven't received your cruise docs. Hopefully they'll arrive this week!

 

[party-of-five]

Hi all! Just back from HHI last night and now onto full planning!! Some thhings I didnt even put away when unpacking since I know Ill be using at Disney and the cruise. Soooo excited.

Im not participating in the FE group and know you are all excited in your planning but wondered if there was an official or unofficial meet planned?

I came home and found my Mickey Mail but havent opened it yet.

Need to book my transportation from Disney to Port and Port to MCO. We usually use FL Tours or a driver we have used the last few years. Need to price out and do that this week.
I am planning pick up for 9:00 am. What about the rest of you?

Less than a month!! Cant wait!

Party of Five, thank you for calling and finding out the movies playing. My dd-21 saw Inside Out and said it was good so Ive been hoping it would be playing. Its just a mother daughter trip with my mom so not sure if we will enjoy any of the other movies. Was Tomorrowland good?

Party of Five, I hope you got your HS letter! Im very Type A and it would be on my mind constantly if I was still waiting. If you use to get back confirmation in two weeks and its going on almost six, is there a phone number you can call to make sure they actually jave your plan?

Happy packing and planning all!!!

Welcome back, hope you had a good time. Did your daughter enjoy her time in Boston?

Wasn't me who called, but super excited to see Inside Out. The preview for Tommowland looked good, but I don't think it got good reviews. I'm looking forward to seeing it!

Still no letter from the school district. I called two weeks ago and was told that I was all set, the letter should be going out soon. One would say... So, you're all set. Maybe it's my type-A personality, maybe I don't trust enough, but I want the letter in hand. I don't want to just take their word for it. Besides, with that letter I get discounts at Michaels, JoAnns, Barnes and Noble, and museums. I will be calling again first thing tomorrow morning.

Because we need a car before and after the cruise, we are renting a minivan and parking it at the port. It actually worked out to be the least expensive option for us.

Haven't seen anything regarding a meet up, but we would be open to the idea. This being our first cruise, I'm not sure what's best to suggest. Maybe meeting somewhere before the muster drill? I know my kids would especially appreciate meeting the other kids.

Everyone's pirate costumes are ready, and Halloween costumes are all set. Hope we're not the only ones dressing up.

4 weeks til we fly south!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!

 

[js]

So we are using Star Trans to get from WDW to port and port to MCO. I don't know anything about them and quite frankly have never hired a car service but it was ultimately cheaper (though not by much) than the transportation and I must say I'm completely psyched about not waiting around for a bus. I'm glad to hear it has worked out for you though...calms the old-woman nerves. Our pick up is also at 9am. I thought that would give us pleanty of time to get there early so we can sit around waiting.

We've never been on a cruise before so the sooner I can get on that boat, the better.

Is anyone else planning on taking a car service? Anything I should know about?

Hi dizmom6. Was it you that called Disney to see about the movies? If so, THANK YOU so much!
I have not heard about Star Trans so can't speak about them but maybe do a search on the dis transportation board and see
if they have any comments from dis'ers good or bad. Where did you get their name? I'll take a look at their prices. I'm like you,
I rather sit around at the pier than at the hotel so we will be on the road with you!

Welcome back, hope you had a good time. Did your daughter enjoy her time in Boston?

Wasn't me who called, but super excited to see Inside Out. The preview for Tommowland looked good, but I don't think it got good reviews. I'm looking forward to seeing it!

Still no letter from the school district. I called two weeks ago and was told that I was all set, the letter should be going out soon. One would say... So, you're all set. Maybe it's my type-A personality, maybe I don't trust enough, but I want the letter in hand. I don't want to just take their word for it. Besides, with that letter I get discounts at Michaels, JoAnns, Barnes and Noble, and museums. I will be calling again first thing tomorrow morning.

Because we need a car before and after the cruise, we are renting a minivan and parking it at the port. It actually worked out to be the least expensive option for us.

Haven't seen anything regarding a meet up, but we would be open to the idea. This being our first cruise, I'm not sure what's best to suggest. Maybe meeting somewhere before the muster drill? I know my kids would especially appreciate meeting the other kids.

Everyone's pirate costumes are ready, and Halloween costumes are all set. Hope we're not the only ones dressing up.

4 weeks til we fly south!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!

Hi Party of 5!
Thank you for asking. Yes, my dd loved Boston. She visited Boston and DC for the first time this summer and loved them both.
Taking her back to school a week from Sunday But, she will be back in December (graduating a semester early) and then law school in
September and back home while going to school. DS starts his senior year in HS and now the stress. I work in a private college so he will most likely
be coming here since tuition is free My dd goes to school in PA but they pay a large amount towards her tuition so can't complain.

All caught up at work after being out and will start playing my Disney music at work tomorrow and drive everyone crazy LOL Also, must locate
my tiara. Think I may be wearing it onto the cruise and I do wear at Disney LOL

So hope you get your letter NOW! Great you will be driving to the port! Enjoy!!!

 

[Bama0914]

Welcome back, hope you had a good time. Did your daughter enjoy her time in Boston?

Wasn't me who called, but super excited to see Inside Out. The preview for Tommowland looked good, but I don't think it got good reviews. I'm looking forward to seeing it!

Still no letter from the school district. I called two weeks ago and was told that I was all set, the letter should be going out soon. One would say... So, you're all set. Maybe it's my type-A personality, maybe I don't trust enough, but I want the letter in hand. I don't want to just take their word for it. Besides, with that letter I get discounts at Michaels, JoAnns, Barnes and Noble, and museums. I will be calling again first thing tomorrow morning.

Because we need a car before and after the cruise, we are renting a minivan and parking it at the port. It actually worked out to be the least expensive option for us.

Haven't seen anything regarding a meet up, but we would be open to the idea. This being our first cruise, I'm not sure what's best to suggest. Maybe meeting somewhere before the muster drill? I know my kids would especially appreciate meeting the other kids.

Everyone's pirate costumes are ready, and Halloween costumes are all set. Hope we're not the only ones dressing up.

4 weeks til we fly south!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!

Our pirate costumes are READY, too! So you aren't alone dressing up!!! We still haven't received our documents either, but if one thing I have learned from our travel agent, is patience....

 

[perditax]

I think you can print out the same stuff in the booklet from the part of the website that says custom pre-arrival guide. You can get to this even if you booked through a travel agent.

 

[dizmom6]

I am not the saint that found out which movies will be playing while on the cruise. I would like to be...but it "ain't" me. Whoever it was...you are loved.

Still no cruise documents and my patience is strand of hair thin. If I don't get them soon...bad things could happen. I'm not sayin', jus' sayin.' You don't stand between a Disney addict and her first cruise. You might as well be standing between me and my night cheese!

JS- thanks for the advice about checking out the dis transportation board. I stumbled across Star Trans...I think it was from the TA website but I can't rememeber now.

For all of you that have started packing....it's great to know I'm in good company. I have the "cruise only" suitcase full of FE items, snorkel equiptment for CC, extra candy for the movies and sunscreen....loads-o-sunscreen.

 

[js]

Hi all! Boy, this week flew by! I think I am going to finish taking out all the things I need for Disney and the cruise this weekend, Friday/Saturday.
My ds/dh will be away all day Sunday for baseball, my dd will be taking a practice LSAT test and I think I will iron the clothes that I am brining.

For those that are doing Disney and then cruise, are you taking two sets of clothes? I have a washer/dryer in the unit and will be doing the laundry but
HATE to have to iron all over. Not sure what I should do!!

Will everyone be at the sailaway? We have done it with our family but thinking of looking for a more adult way to sailaway since just my mom and me.
Perhaps drinks outside Meridian bar or in the adult only pool area or maybe we will just go to sailaway or spa. hhhmmmmm, maybe spa LOL

dizmom6, I just requested a quote from Star Transportation. Right now I'm down to FL Tours and the driver we usually get. We use the driver a lot when we go to Disney and/or cruise and now he is telling me to just give him a price and it will be fine with him but I'm not sure what I should do....ggggrrrrrr From GFV to Port and Port to MCO is coming out to $250 with FL Tours. If I told the driver $200, I'm still thinking that for an extra $50 I have piece of mind knowing that if something happened with a car or driver that FL Tours would just send someone else. $50 would be piece of mind for me and not stress. I guess I just made up my mind LOL

Three weeks from today I leave! How about the rest of you? Go us!

 

[dizmom6]

Hi all! Boy, this week flew by! I think I am going to finish taking out all the things I need for Disney and the cruise this weekend, Friday/Saturday.
My ds/dh will be away all day Sunday for baseball, my dd will be taking a practice LSAT test and I think I will iron the clothes that I am brining.

For those that are doing Disney and then cruise, are you taking two sets of clothes? I have a washer/dryer in the unit and will be doing the laundry but
HATE to have to iron all over. Not sure what I should do!!

Will everyone be at the sailaway? We have done it with our family but thinking of looking for a more adult way to sailaway since just my mom and me.
Perhaps drinks outside Meridian bar or in the adult only pool area or maybe we will just go to sailaway or spa. hhhmmmmm, maybe spa LOL

dizmom6, I just requested a quote from Star Transportation. Right now I'm down to FL Tours and the driver we usually get. We use the driver a lot when we go to Disney and/or cruise and now he is telling me to just give him a price and it will be fine with him but I'm not sure what I should do....ggggrrrrrr From GFV to Port and Port to MCO is coming out to $250 with FL Tours. If I told the driver $200, I'm still thinking that for an extra $50 I have piece of mind knowing that if something happened with a car or driver that FL Tours would just send someone else. $50 would be piece of mind for me and not stress. I guess I just made up my mind LOL

Three weeks from today I leave! How about the rest of you? Go us!

I may look at FL Tours since that quote is less than Star Transportation. I know what I'll be doing tomorrow!

 

[dizmom6]

I'm not sure what happened to the rest of my post....I'm sure it was user error though.

JS - We will be at WDW the week prior to the cruise and that means that my little fam of 6 will need clothes for 2 weeks. I am not packing that many clothes. I think I'm going to have the kids pack what needs to be washed down to the Wilderness Lodge laundry room (I had them for this specific reason) either the Sat or Sun before the cruise and I'll do a couple of loads. I would much rather pay someone to do it but I just don't see that happening.

 

[party-of-five]

Feeling good this Friday morning! School letter finally arrived yesterday! We're approved and all set for the year! So happy and relieved to have that settled.

On Wednesday we received a thoughtful little gift basket from Dreams Unlimited. The return address on the label said Port Canaveral - the kids were bouncing off the walls excited to open it, you would have thought it was Christmas morning!

Haven't gotten out the suitcases just yet, but I've started making piles of stuff to be packed. I'm stressing how much luggage will be needed to pack clothes/shoes/costumes/etc for 6! I'm really hoping not to have to do laundry, but I need to get the luggage and 6 bodies in a minivan!

JS - best wishes to your DD taking the LSAT

Dizmom6 - hope you get your Mickey Mail soon. You're really not missing much - the luggage tags were really the only important thing in there and I've read you can get them at the port when you check your bags. But still, fingers crossed that it comes soon!

We leave 3 weeks from Sunday!!!!

 

[ahill]

I thought I read somewhere that as of August 30, 2015, you can no longer drop 2 items off at guest services for autographs. is this true?

 

[Bama0914]

I thought I read somewhere that as of August 30, 2015, you can no longer drop 2 items off at guest services for autographs. is this true?

I'm curious too? I had not heard that...

 

[perditax]

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/201...y-mail-character-autograph-service-in-august/

No more autographs.

Incidentally, we will also be one of the last sailings where you can bring liquor aboard in carry ons. After September, it will be limited to one bottle of wine or six bottles of beer per person (or something very close to that).

My first DCL cruise will probably be my last--I really loved my NCL cruise in June and I'm not sure what Disney will be able to do at this point to offset the price differential.

 

[Bama0914]

This is HORRIBLE. I have spent over $70 on a monogrammed pillowcase and custom photo matte and special markers for both. And of course, my "fabulous" travel agent hasn't told me. This is very frustrating.

 

[Bama0914]

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/201...y-mail-character-autograph-service-in-august/

No more autographs.

Incidentally, we will also be one of the last sailings where you can bring liquor aboard in carry ons. After September, it will be limited to one bottle of wine or six bottles of beer per person (or something very close to that).

My first DCL cruise will probably be my last--I really loved my NCL cruise in June and I'm not sure what Disney will be able to do at this point to offset the price differential.

Thank you for the post.

 

[party-of-five]

I had things to be signed too. Kids were bummed. I only learned of it here on the boards, our travel agent never told us either. Very frustrating.

I find all of these changes disappointing and disheartening too. I understand things will change, but it's the way Disney is handling the changes that bothers me - not communicating the changes, making the changes applicable to cruises past their PIF date.

I'm happy we're still able to bring liquor for our cruise. I have to imagine there will be long lines and unhappy cruisers starting in October. For us, it's a convenience thing - we enjoy a night cap, and we're not big on beer and wine. Having kids, it will be easier for us to get them settled into bed, fix a drink in the room, and sit on the verandah and enjoy a quiet moment.

 

[Bama0914]

This type of information should have been listed in the items prohibited, especially when they know how many people are investing in such items.

 

[Karen6th]

we too have not received any mickey mail :-(
Just finished making our FE, ummm yeah should have just bought one off of etsy but was feeling crafty.... well not perfect but it will do!! I don't know who is more geeked up for the cruise me or my kids!! 3 weeks left!! and yes I too have started packing!!

Dizmom6 would you be will to send out the updated FE list because i know there have been some changes. Thank you.

 

[Karen6th]

can i ask a silly question being our first cruise... do the kids have to dress up for dinners??

 

[party-of-five]

can i ask a silly question being our first cruise... do the kids have to dress up for dinners??

Our first cruise too. From reading threads here on the Dis, it sounds like not many "dress up" for dinner these days. And one person's definition of "dress up" might not be the same to another. I'm planning on bringing button down shirts/polos for the boys and either pants or nicer shorts for the boys and my daughter plans to wear sundresses. (But she likes to dress up). I think almost anything goes as long as it's not a swimsuit.

BTW... Two of our cruise nights are themed - one pirate, the other Halloween. We plan to dress in costume for both.

Hopefully someone who has cruised DCL will add their two cents.