Dreamy Spring Break 4/20/14

[Loriekins]

We have moved our Thanksgiving 2013 cruise to a B2B Spring Break cruise 2014.

 

[IrishCowboy]

I have added your thread to the cruise meet list

Have a great cruise!

 

[MaleficentRN]

Hello, fellow cruisers! Coming aboard after moving from a December 2013 date. I think I'll stick around here.
This will be my family's second cruise, our only other cruise being on The Dream last May.Loved it! Even booked the same cabin. Can't wait!
If I may be so bold, I am going to attempt to organize the Fish Extender Exchange. The kids really enjoyed it. If anyone has suggestions or helpful hints, please jump in.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Fish Extender Exchange Information​

What is a Fish Extender?

Every stateroom has a fish or starfish hanging on the wall outside the door. This is part decoration and part message center. The fish is there for Disney to place important communications to you such as excursion tickets and notes from the cruise staff. It is like a mailbox for your room.

On the DISboards discussion forums, it is very popular to participate in a Fish Extender exchange. This entails having a fish extender hanging off the fish outside your room. If you aren't sure how the exchange works or the size and shape of a fish extender be sure to visit the links below. A fish extender can be made of cloth, plastic or vinyl. It can be very creative or very simple. If you don't care to create your own Fish Extender, you will find many auctions on EBay where one can be customized for you.

All the people in the exchange buy little items and place them in each other's fish extenders. It is great fun to come back and check the items you have received.

Helpful Threads

• What is a Fish Extender?
• Making a Fish Extender
• Map of Disney Dream (I found this helpful for planning my distributions.)

Link to our Fish Extender Sign Up Sheet

Please add yourself. Information needed is:

• Cabin number (of course)
• Name of those in the cabin
• Their ages
• Favorite characters ( some people like to make personalized gifts for each person)
• If anyone is celebrating anything special during the cruise. (again, some folks may leave a little something extra)

You can distribute your gifts at anytime during the cruise. Only one day of gifting is required. You may spend as little or as much as you like. The good rule of thumb is to give something you yourself would enjoy getting. Most of all, have fun with it. It's great to be creative with your gifts and to go shopping for things, but don't let it consume your time and finances.

Let's close the sign up for the Fish Extender on March 8th. Many people make their gifts and/or mail them to the ship so the deadline is important. You may still sign up if you have a GTY and are waiting for a cabin number. Just add the number when you get it, but please sign up before the March 8th deadline.

 

[Loriekins]

I have added your thread to the cruise meet list

Have a great cruise!

Thank you!!!

 

[Loriekins]

Hello, fellow cruisers! Coming aboard after moving from a December 2013 date. I think I'll stick around here.
This will be my family's second cruise, our only other cruise being on The Dream last May.Loved it! Even booked the same cabin. Can't wait!
If I may be so bold, I am going to attempt to organize the Fish Extender Exchange. The kids really enjoyed it. If anyone has suggestions or helpful hints, please jump in.

Welcome!!! This will be our 3rd & 4th but first on the dream. Never did fish extenders on our other cruises

 

[MaleficentRN]

Welcome!!! This will be our 3rd & 4th but first on the dream. Never did fish extenders on our other cruises

You're going to love it. Especially your little guy. My DS is the one that got us on the first cruise because he wanted to ride the Aqua Duck so bad.
Now he's really excited to go to The Edge on the next trip. He won't have to wear the stupid wristband. Maybe they can hang out together?

 

[Loriekins]

You're going to love it. Especially your little guy. My DS is the one that got us on the first cruise because he wanted to ride the Aqua Duck so bad.
Now he's really excited to go to The Edge on the next trip. He won't have to wear the stupid wristband. Maybe they can hang out together?

I'm excited to try the aqua duck! lol My son never did the groups either cruise. He hangs out at the basketball court. He's a big basketball fan, plays most the year. He liked the idea of another boy his age! He still text with a boy from our last cruise.
Where are you guys from? We live in Michigan.

 

[MaleficentRN]

We are in Philadelphia. Not a huge fan of winter weather and an April cruise is just the thing to keep me going. Like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Now I just need to get through this winter, which I really can't complain about so far.

 

[Loriekins]

We are in Philadelphia. Not a huge fan of winter weather and an April cruise is just the thing to keep me going. Like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Now I just need to get through this winter, which I really can't complain about so far.

I have a cousin just outside of Phillly. Went there a few years ago. We loved downtown Philly!
I totally understand about not being a fan of the cold weather! That's why the past two years we took cruises in January! With our son now in middle school that's no longer an option.
Hasn't been a bad winter but I'm already for spring.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Sure is lonely with just the two of us. Did you get a lot of snow this week, Lori? We dodged the Nor'Easter and only had ice this morning that has since melted.
Thinking of doing the Castaway Cay 5k. Never ran before. Figured I have plenty of time to train.

 

[Loriekins]

Sure is lonely with just the two of us. Did you get a lot of snow this week, Lori? We dodged the Nor'Easter and only had ice this morning that has since melted.
Thinking of doing the Castaway Cay 5k. Never ran before. Figured I have plenty of time to train.

I know! Hopefully soon more will join.
We only got about 6 inches or so. Nothing like out east. Good you guys didn't get it either. I could walk it but don't think I could run it. Good for you!

 

[MaleficentRN]

If you are like me, you are a huge overplanner. It must be my nurse mentality.
I've been investigating what to do about Easter baskets on the cruise. At this point I am thinking I'll have baskets for the kids waiting in our cabin. This is what I have found so far:

You can order from Disney Cruise Line
Here it is now, about five weeks from Easter 2013 and they have a couple of things on their site.

$29

$24


Many use The Perfect Gift
AKA Gift Baskets by Shirley. A local florst that can deliver gift baskets and flowers to your cabin before you arrive.The baskets are custom made and can cost as much or as little as you like. Here are some examples:

$50

$45

If you are staying in WDW pre cruise I have heard some of the resorts have pre made baskets there. Or the Easter Bunny can hop over to the store and pick up what he needs.
Here are a couple of stores near WDW:

WALMART SUPER CENTER
3250 VINELAND ROAD
KISSIMMEE
(407) 397-1125

SUPER TARGET
3200 ROLLING OAKS BOULEVARD
KISSIMMEE
(321) 677-3971

Here are some stores that are close to Port Canaveral:

WALMART SUPER CENTER
2700 CLEARLAKE ROAD
COCOA, FLORIDA 32922
321-639-1610

PUBLIX GROCERY MART
2301 STATE ROAD 524
COCOA, FLORIDA 32922
321-636-2583

 

[Loriekins]

I read a forum the other day about what people were doing for their Easter cruise. I don't have a clue what I will do. Those baskets are cute & hopefully others (whenever people join) will like looking at the info you put on there.
At 12 1/2 when we cruise, I don't think my son would like one of those. Anything I can think of he would like he wouldn't be able to use on the ship, like xbox stuff. If we didn't go down a few days earlier before the cruise, we could do Easter gifts before we left.

 

[MaleficentRN]

I read a forum the other day about what people were doing for their Easter cruise. I don't have a clue what I will do. Those baskets are cute & hopefully others (whenever people join) will like looking at the info you put on there.
At 12 1/2 when we cruise, I don't think my son would like one of those. Anything I can think of he would like he wouldn't be able to use on the ship, like xbox stuff. If we didn't go down a few days earlier before the cruise, we could do Easter gifts before we left.

I'll probably have Shirley baskets made for each kid. They won't want any stuffed animals or beach toys. They really love chocolate, though (they get that from me ) so I'll just have candy in their baskets. That's what we'd have at home anyway.
My big dilemma is what to do about Easter services. Right now I'm thinking we'll stay at Hyatt MCO and go to vigil mass at Queen of the Universe on Saturday night or stay at WDW and hope they have services at CR next year. Or maybe stay near PC and go to either mass at a church near there. I gotta let it go and worry about it later this year.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Here are churches near Port Canaveral for those who'd like to attend services before boarding:


Christ Lutheran Church
7511 N. Atantic Avenue, 321-783-3303

Church of Our Saviours 5301 N. Atlantic Avenue 321-783-4554

Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Merritt Island1940 North Courtenay Parkway
Merritt Island 321- 452-5955

First Baptist Church of Cocoa Beach 830 South Atlantic Avenue 321-783-2844

First United Methodist Church 3300 North Atlantic Avenue 321-783-8991

Grace Bible Presbyterian Church 1 Church Lane 321-784-5740

Riverside Presbyterian Church 3400 North Atlantic Avenue 321-783-6085

First Baptist Church of Cape Canaveral (no website) 8711 N. Atlantic Avenue 321-783-5798

Here are churches that are near Walt Disney World:

Queen Mary of the Universe in Orlando 8300 Vineland Avenue
Orlando, Florida 32821 407-239-6600
As of 2013, they also perform Easter Sunday services at The Contemporary at 8am and 10:15am. You should check ahead of time to see if this is the case in 2014

First Baptist Church Windermere
8464 Winter Garden Vineland Road Orlando, FL 32836 407-876-2234

The Cathedral Church of Saint Luke 130 North Magnolia Avenue Orlando, FL 32802
407-849-0680

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church
1600 S. Orlando Ave (Hwy 17-92) Winter Park, FL 32789 407-644-1783

First United Methodist Church 142 East Jackson Street Orlando, FL 32801
407-849-6080

St. Stephen Presbyterian Church 8601 Lake Underhill Road Orlando, FL 32825 407-277-4351

 

[Loriekins]

I'll probably have Shirley baskets made for each kid. They won't want any stuffed animals or beach toys. They really love chocolate, though (they get that from me ) so I'll just have candy in their baskets. That's what we'd have at home anyway.
My big dilemma is what to do about Easter services. Right now I'm thinking we'll stay at Hyatt MCO and go to vigil mass at Queen of the Universe on Saturday night or stay at WDW and hope they have services at CR next year. Or maybe stay near PC and go to either mass at a church near there. I gotta let it go and worry about it later this year.

I don't buy much candy (Usually a bunny & a couple of things) but not sure if I will do that since there will be so many goodies on the ship. I won't do a basket, maybe a special bag he can use on both of our cruises. Maybe a disney gift card. Have to figure out what to get him this year first. lol

 

[kmadison714]

We booked on Sunday for the Easter 2014 sailing!! Can't wait. I've been on Pinterest all day pinning ideas and lists. Love the fish extender idea. We've cruised once before on the Disney wonder and loved it. Never did the fish extender thing but definitely will this time around. We have about 17 people going so far and hoping to get more

 

[Loriekins]

We booked on Sunday for the Easter 2014 sailing!! Can't wait. I've been on Pinterest all day pinning ideas and lists. Love the fish extender idea. We've cruised once before on the Disney wonder and loved it. Never did the fish extender thing but definitely will this time around. We have about 17 people going so far and hoping to get more

Welcome! It's nice to have others join!
What ages are the kids & where are you from? Have you cruised before?
This will be our 3rd (then 4th cruise, we are doing a back to back) but first on the Magic. It will be my husband, my son will be 12 1/2 at cruise time & myself. We live in Michigan.

 

[kmadison714]

Welcome! It's nice to have others join!
What ages are the kids & where are you from? Have you cruised before?
This will be our 3rd (then 4th cruise, we are doing a back to back) but first on the Magic. It will be my husband, my son will be 12 1/2 at cruise time & myself. We live in Michigan.

Thank you!!! There are seriously 402 days (yes, I have a countdown on my phone) until the cruise, but I can't be more excited! Well, I guess I can be once it gets closer!

My kids will be 4 (David) and 2 (Ava) when we sail. The other kids in the group as of right now range from 1 to 10. I live in Lockport, Illinois (about 40 minutes outside of Chicago). This will be our second Disney cruise! We went back in September 2010 and were on the Wonder. We loved it minus the fact that the ocean was pretty rocky. Otherwise the trip was awesome!! I'm super jealous you are doing back to back cruises!! Same trip or another cruise line???

What part of Michigan do you live in?? My husband has family that live in Holland and Fennville.