PixarPrincess
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2012
- Messages
- 31
Hello fellow DISers! This is my first post and hopefully a helpful one to any other Mom's or Dad's hoping to book their first DCL Cruise! I know that I have read numerous trip reports and other posts - and have taken all the help I could get, into account. It's also another way to share my bubbling excitement with you all!
As some background - I grew up in Cali, and had seasons passes to DL, but I can't say the same for my family who now reside in T.O., Canada. I took my husband to DL for the first time EVER just before we got married and he finally GOT it. The magic and wonder doesn't compare to anything else, and I want to be able to share some of those great memories with both my hubby and my son.
A few months ago we starting looking at planning our first ever DW/DCL park/cruise to introduce our now 2 yr. old to the fun and magic! As we can't make this trip too often, we settled on taking it when he was 3 going on 4 (so that he can enjoy more). I did a TON of research on what age is the perfect age, and such ~ but in the end you just should go when you can...they'll love it at any age!
We decided on early 2014 as it's BRUTALLY cold in T.O. at that point of the year, and everyone is dying to get out of the snow as Winter seems to drag on, and on. It also happens to be Value Season at DW - so it would afford a mini visit post cruise. Only downfall for an excited future cruiser is the wait for the itineraries to come out! An upside is knowing when you'd like to go ahead of time so that you can get the lowest pricing when it's released. Unlike other vacations, cruises tend to have the lowest prices on release and they ramp up the closer it gets to the date. This is when it really pays off to be a planner, as sometimes it can save you money!
We're planning on booking a 4 night Bahamas trip on the Dream, followed by 2 - 3 days at the Magic Kingdom! Soooooooo excited!
I'm told by DCL (and my travel agent) that they won't post the new 2014 cruises until Mid to Late October (for any of you wishing to know). The countdown is on. Although I've done sooooo much pre-planning, it won't feel absolutely real until we've put down the deposits and reserved our DW Resort. I've never been more excited in my life to part with my well earned money! LOL!
After creating a careful budget and splurging on the items that will mean the most (for us, it's atomosphere and comfort - i.e. the Cabin Level and DW Resort), I started planning how to make the 500+ day wait, part of the fun of our vacation.
I started with some fun Disney themed surprises for this 2012 Holiday Season. I purchased a cool Disney Dream Ornament as a memento for our Xmas tree this year, as a reminder next year that when we put it up, the trip is upon us! Also - Hawthorne Village/Bradford Exchange has their Xmas Disney animated tree. As a collector, I couldn't resist and I went ahead and ordered it, then fashioned a fun note from Santa and his friend Mickey to my family as a Dec. 1st Advent Gift that would remind them of the fun to come and the fun that was had in the years that pass after our "Dream" vacation.
I've started to plan our "Sail Away" gift as well. I've olanned a fun family tote, Lanyards, Customized Shirts, Waterbottles, Hats, Autograph Books/Pens and some DW Transportation Vehicles to kit up in Cellophane & decorate with some Disney Ear Balloons. The plan is to deliver this to our home the week before we travel. Another way to get the family all excited on our departure!
In the terms of fish extender - I LOVE this idea! For those of you who are unaware of what a fish extender is, I'll explain briefly below. They are a mail delivery system of sorts that you handg on the fish ornament outside of your cabin door. You can decorate them up and personalize it with your names and such - or even just put a shoe organizer or bag to the "Fish". Througout the cruise (if you sign up on a group) you can give and receive little gifts (ranging from CD's, candies, small toys/trinkets) from other members partaking in the exchange. Kind of like a secret santa with a bit of fairy dust! Well - I knew I had to take part in this, but also knew that our budget and packing room was limited (you can sometimes be doing gifts for 100+ rooms!). Instead - I arranged for small gifts to appear from "Mickey" each day of the cruise for my little guy. This means I can manage our budget as well as anticipate the room available in our luggage (as we'll want space for shopping!). I'm looking forward to booking our next cruise on board, so for the next one he'll be a little older and able to help Mommy create some fun homemade FE gifts (where we'll really take active part in this exchange).
Well - that's all for now until booking date! I'll post some of the deals we received and other planning tips as things materialize in the coming months!
Hope that you are planning a dream vacation too!
As some background - I grew up in Cali, and had seasons passes to DL, but I can't say the same for my family who now reside in T.O., Canada. I took my husband to DL for the first time EVER just before we got married and he finally GOT it. The magic and wonder doesn't compare to anything else, and I want to be able to share some of those great memories with both my hubby and my son.
A few months ago we starting looking at planning our first ever DW/DCL park/cruise to introduce our now 2 yr. old to the fun and magic! As we can't make this trip too often, we settled on taking it when he was 3 going on 4 (so that he can enjoy more). I did a TON of research on what age is the perfect age, and such ~ but in the end you just should go when you can...they'll love it at any age!
We decided on early 2014 as it's BRUTALLY cold in T.O. at that point of the year, and everyone is dying to get out of the snow as Winter seems to drag on, and on. It also happens to be Value Season at DW - so it would afford a mini visit post cruise. Only downfall for an excited future cruiser is the wait for the itineraries to come out! An upside is knowing when you'd like to go ahead of time so that you can get the lowest pricing when it's released. Unlike other vacations, cruises tend to have the lowest prices on release and they ramp up the closer it gets to the date. This is when it really pays off to be a planner, as sometimes it can save you money!
We're planning on booking a 4 night Bahamas trip on the Dream, followed by 2 - 3 days at the Magic Kingdom! Soooooooo excited!
I'm told by DCL (and my travel agent) that they won't post the new 2014 cruises until Mid to Late October (for any of you wishing to know). The countdown is on. Although I've done sooooo much pre-planning, it won't feel absolutely real until we've put down the deposits and reserved our DW Resort. I've never been more excited in my life to part with my well earned money! LOL!
After creating a careful budget and splurging on the items that will mean the most (for us, it's atomosphere and comfort - i.e. the Cabin Level and DW Resort), I started planning how to make the 500+ day wait, part of the fun of our vacation.
I started with some fun Disney themed surprises for this 2012 Holiday Season. I purchased a cool Disney Dream Ornament as a memento for our Xmas tree this year, as a reminder next year that when we put it up, the trip is upon us! Also - Hawthorne Village/Bradford Exchange has their Xmas Disney animated tree. As a collector, I couldn't resist and I went ahead and ordered it, then fashioned a fun note from Santa and his friend Mickey to my family as a Dec. 1st Advent Gift that would remind them of the fun to come and the fun that was had in the years that pass after our "Dream" vacation.
I've started to plan our "Sail Away" gift as well. I've olanned a fun family tote, Lanyards, Customized Shirts, Waterbottles, Hats, Autograph Books/Pens and some DW Transportation Vehicles to kit up in Cellophane & decorate with some Disney Ear Balloons. The plan is to deliver this to our home the week before we travel. Another way to get the family all excited on our departure!
In the terms of fish extender - I LOVE this idea! For those of you who are unaware of what a fish extender is, I'll explain briefly below. They are a mail delivery system of sorts that you handg on the fish ornament outside of your cabin door. You can decorate them up and personalize it with your names and such - or even just put a shoe organizer or bag to the "Fish". Througout the cruise (if you sign up on a group) you can give and receive little gifts (ranging from CD's, candies, small toys/trinkets) from other members partaking in the exchange. Kind of like a secret santa with a bit of fairy dust! Well - I knew I had to take part in this, but also knew that our budget and packing room was limited (you can sometimes be doing gifts for 100+ rooms!). Instead - I arranged for small gifts to appear from "Mickey" each day of the cruise for my little guy. This means I can manage our budget as well as anticipate the room available in our luggage (as we'll want space for shopping!). I'm looking forward to booking our next cruise on board, so for the next one he'll be a little older and able to help Mommy create some fun homemade FE gifts (where we'll really take active part in this exchange).
Well - that's all for now until booking date! I'll post some of the deals we received and other planning tips as things materialize in the coming months!
Hope that you are planning a dream vacation too!
Can't wait!!
