Eastern Caribbean Fantasy Oct. 5, 2013

[mrs stevenson]

Awww...but can't we all share the Disney Cruise Cake with friends be it DIS friends or FB friends?

If I remember correctly, the FB friends asked the DIS friends to join in on the mixology class. No one side was hogging that piece of the cake. It was all handled amicably and sociably. Let's follow that example when talking about the the late-late FE group.

Well said Mexifinn

 

[Viking]

Awww...but can't we all share the Disney Cruise Cake with friends be it DIS friends or FB friends?

You once again misinterpreted my post:

I did neither mean nor say 'You're either FB or DIS' - quite contrarily I encouraged people to post on FB.
I just wanted to state that it would be better to do the Late-Latecomer-FE on FB
Of course that doesn't mean you shouldn't be active on both!
I guess an FE needs a lot more communication than a simple event like Mixology, and thus it would be kind of awkward to relay info between both boards as proposed by Tink.

It would be helpful if we all would read a bit more in the lines instead of trying to read between the lines

 

[Mama2Hope]

I am organizing the late late FE on Facebook and people here are also welcome to join.

Everyone is welcome to join. We currently have 4 families.

Several of us, do not have cabin numbers yet, but as we approach the date, I'll solve that issue as well. We are going to close, 1 week prior to embarking. So you still have 2 weeks to join.

Mama2Hope - here (Not very forum savy...)
Elizabeth Landgraf - FB

 

[MexiFinn]

It would be helpful if we all would read a bit more in the lines instead of trying to read between the lines

Maybe it is time for that picture you mentioned before.

We can all benefit from being a little more clear in our statements. It's that online thing again. And maybe a little bit of the English language not being the native tongue for all involved here. Things will get misinterpreted however we can easily clear it up with a frank discussion.

I do have to bring up one funny/ironic thing here - both you and I aren't even involved with the FB late late FE thing. So why are we even throwing in our two cents? We can let those party members work it out without our input.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_two_cents

 

[Deb T.]

It means that if you wanna be part of the 'Last Minute' FB-FE, you should join the FB-group.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_can't_have_your_cake_and_eat_it

This thread has veered off course from being a safe and friendly place to discuss our upcoming cruise. I fear that all the "back and forth" comments regarding FB has already eroded this thread to a very unhappy place.

Eric, with all due respect, please stop stirring the pot pertaining to FB. Anyone who has read through this thread is acutely aware of your thoughts, positive and negative, about this cruise's FB page. We have a saying here in America, "Stop beating a dead horse." You've expressed your opinion (several times). There is absolutely no need for you to continue posting comments each and every time FB is mentioned. Your choice to not participate on the FB site is your personal decision, just as those who are participating have made their own personal choice. In that regard, FB no longer pertains to you, so please let those involved be the only ones to post further FB information. For the sake of keeping this thread a "happy place" where people can share positive and helpful information regarding our cruise, I am kindly asking you to please refrain from further FB comments altogether.

In the same vein, I am also going to respectfully request that everyone else on this thread refrain from "poking the fire" regarding FB. For the sake of harmony from here forward, Mrs. Stevenson should be the only person to answer FB questions on this thread. Mrs. Stevenson should also continue cheerfully inviting new members to the FB page, and it should be solely the new members' decision whether or not to join. NO ONE SHOULD FEEL THEY HAVE TO JUSTIFY THEIR DECISION TO JOIN FB OR NOT TO JOIN FB.

Thank you, everyone, for bringing this thread back to it's original purpose. Hopefully, anyone joining this thread in the next three weeks will find it a safe and happy place again. I look forward to meeting all of you very soon.

 

[Deb T.]

Today is Monday, and exactly 18 days from today (Friday, October 4th) some of us will be finishing last minute preparations before traveling to the port in the morning. Some of us will be in transit, some will be at WDW, some will be at US/IOA, some will be in a hotel near the port or at the airport, and a few of the very luckiest ones will already be onboard and enjoying the first half of a B2B adventure! One thing's for sure... ALL of us will be eagerly anticipating our FANTASY-filled 7-night cruise!! It will seem like it's been forever since we booked our trip and we will hardly be able to believe the day is almost here!

All of our clothing, swimsuits, and accessories have been carefully packed in suitcases and carry-ons. Digital and video cameras are charged and ready to capture every magical moment. Embarkation outfits are laid out and ready to be put on first thing in the morning. Door decorations have been created. FE extenders are ready to be hung and FE gifts are ready to be distributed. Final cruise documents have been filled out online, printed, and safely stowed along with passports in our carry-ons. Mail and newspaper deliveries have been stopped. Pets are boarded. Gosh, we hope to be able to sleep tonight!! There are butterflies in our stomachs and smiles on our faces as we imagine our first sighting of our beautiful ship!

For those of us who've cruised Disney out of Port Canaveral before, we pretty much know what to expect and have been visualizing the entire process in our dreams for months! For those of you who will embark on your very first Disney cruise, you are a bit anxious - hoping that all of your planning and research has paid off and that everything will go smoothly. Don't worry – it will! Fun, adventure, and new experiences await!

Next up, Embarkation Day...

 

[pixiehallow]

Today is Monday, and exactly 18 days from today (Friday, October 4th) some of us will be finishing last minute preparations before traveling to the port in the morning. Some of us will be in transit, some will be at WDW, some will be at US/IOA, some will be in a hotel near the port or at the airport, and a few of the very luckiest ones will already be onboard and enjoying the first half of a B2B adventure! One thing's for sure... ALL of us will be eagerly anticipating our FANTASY-filled 7-night cruise!! It will seem like it's been forever since we booked our trip and we will hardly be able to believe the day is almost here!

All of our clothing, swimsuits, and accessories have been carefully packed in suitcases and carry-ons. Digital and video cameras are charged and ready to capture every magical moment. Embarkation outfits are laid out and ready to be put on first thing in the morning. Door decorations have been created. FE extenders are ready to be hung and FE gifts are ready to be distributed. Final cruise documents have been filled out online, printed, and safely stowed along with passports in our carry-ons. Mail and newspaper deliveries have been stopped. Pets are boarded. Gosh, we hope to be able to sleep tonight!! There are butterflies in our stomachs and smiles on our faces as we imagine our first sighting of our beautiful ship!

For those of us who've cruised Disney out of Port Canaveral before, we pretty much know what to expect and have been visualizing the entire process in our dreams for months! For those of you who will embark on your very first Disney cruise, you are a bit anxious - hoping that all of your planning and research has paid off and that everything will go smoothly. Don't worry – it will! Fun, adventure, and new experiences await!

Next up, Embarkation Day...

I could not have put it any better 'coach'
Excitement, encouragement, and a pre trip check list.
You covered all the bases wonderfully.

 

[ddonner]

I'm so excited. We will 12 people aboard the Fantasy. Myself, DH, DS (9) and DS (6). Joining us will be my mother, sister, mother and brother in law, my aunt and and her 3 DD (17, 12 and 6).

We will celebrate 3 birthdays (my boys and my 12 year old cousin) and also the opportunity to unity the family (we live in Canada, the rest of the family will come from Brazil to meet us at the cruise!).

I've book this cruise 18 long months ago, I've been reading the DISboard non-stop since then, but I guess the proximity of the sail date made me step away from the shadows and post here.

So excited!!!!

See you real soon...

 

[Deb T.]

Exactly 19 days from today we are ready to board The Disney FANTASY!

We wake up early, hardly believing that the day is finally here! A few final morning preparations, and then we all make our way to the port. Some arrive by personal car, some by rental car, some by chauffeured vehicle, some by hotel shuttle, and some on DCL buses. At some point on the trip to the port while crossing over the peak of a big bridge, someone will look to the left and gasp, "There it is! There's the ship! Do you see it?" And now we're REALLY excited! Our vehicle will wind around this way and that, and then approach the ship from her stern. Were hardly breathing at the wondrous sight of her! Look! Theres Dumbo hanging off the back of the ship! A closer look, and you can see little Timothy Mouse, too! We'll drive through a security check point with a silly grin on our faces where we verify we are cruising that day, then hand our luggage over to the porters, tip them, and then walk inside the glass doors. A quick security screening scan of person and carry-ons, and then up the escalator to the friendly cast member who will guide us to the correct check-in line. We show our passports and are photographed... cheese! Then we eagerly trade our signed cruise documents for our KTTW cards, lanyards (if youre a returning cruiser), and boarding card! Woohoo! What boarding number did you get???

We now have a little bit of time to explore the port building, noticing all the little Disney details such as how the ceiling is designed to look like waves and the flooring like sand. Be sure to also notice all the special graphics that are inlaid into the flooring, too. We'll marvel at the large Disney Magic scaled model that is cut in half on the back side, and then peer inside the model to see if we can figure out the differences between Disneys first ship and the one were about to embark on, Disneys latest ship. Those with children will meet Kid's Club counselors and hear about some of the fun planned activities. White wristbands will be attached to kids' wrists signifying they are now a part of the best children's programming on the seven seas! Soon, characters will start appearing in front of the ship model for photos! Look, there's Captain Mickey!!! Some of us will step out on the balcony and stare in awe at what looks like a tall building moored just a few feet away! Can you spot your cabin - your comfy home-away-from-home for the next seven nights? Looking down, we watch some of the preparations underway for our arrival, such as luggage piled high inside huge rolling metal caged bins that are being carefully eased up gangway planks and disappearing into the hull of the ship that will magically appear outside our cabin doors around 3pm! Crates and crates of food products are also being loaded... did you know that over 10,000 cups of coffee will be served EACH DAY onboard the ship?!?!

Believe it or not, even if you were the first to arrive at 11am, time will pass quickly in the terminal. There is so much to observe (people-watching is very fascinating here!)! Most of us won't notice the concierge guests being ushered onto the ship from within their special concierge lounge, but we will be drawn to the big yellow ears as the chosen "Cruise First Family" is announced! Before we know it, the first boarding announcement is made and everyone's hearts beat just a little faster as the platinum guests begin the boarding process! Boarding Number 2's will start surging toward the line for their turn. Another boarding announcement, and off they go, and within 20 minutes the terminal will be empty except for those just now checking in! Through the ears, the first swipe of our KTTW cards, a quick embarkation photo, across the gangway ramp, a request for our family name as the sight of the huge chandelier catches our eye, then we notice twenty or so very impressive white uniformed smiling officers and hear "The Disney Fantasy welcomes the ____ Family!". (A very emotional moment! Some of us cry. Read: Deb T. cries.) We hear clapping and one of the officers approaches to personally greet us! Are we really onboard?!?! Oh my, yes we are! We really, really are! And then we are ushered in the direction of an amazing Welcome Aboard Luncheon Buffet! Which way would you like to go: down the grand staircase one deck to the Enchanted Garden or up the glass elevators to Deck 11's Cabanas?

More of Embarkation Day to follow...

 

[TamaraH]

Today is Monday, and exactly 18 days from today (Friday, October 4th) some of us will be finishing last minute preparations before traveling to the port in the morning. Some of us will be in transit, some will be at WDW, some will be at US/IOA, some will be in a hotel near the port or at the airport, and a few of the very luckiest ones will already be onboard and enjoying the first half of a B2B adventure! One thing's for sure... ALL of us will be eagerly anticipating our FANTASY-filled 7-night cruise!! It will seem like it's been forever since we booked our trip and we will hardly be able to believe the day is almost here!

All of our clothing, swimsuits, and accessories have been carefully packed in suitcases and carry-ons. Digital and video cameras are charged and ready to capture every magical moment. Embarkation outfits are laid out and ready to be put on first thing in the morning. Door decorations have been created. FE extenders are ready to be hung and FE gifts are ready to be distributed. Final cruise documents have been filled out online, printed, and safely stowed along with passports in our carry-ons. Mail and newspaper deliveries have been stopped. Pets are boarded. Gosh, we hope to be able to sleep tonight!! There are butterflies in our stomachs and smiles on our faces as we imagine our first sighting of our beautiful ship!

For those of us who've cruised Disney out of Port Canaveral before, we pretty much know what to expect and have been visualizing the entire process in our dreams for months! For those of you who will embark on your very first Disney cruise, you are a bit anxious - hoping that all of your planning and research has paid off and that everything will go smoothly. Don't worry – it will! Fun, adventure, and new experiences await!

Next up, Embarkation Day...

Thanks Deb T! I do have butterflies and we are soooooooo excited!

 

[Dodieauglis]

Wow! I admit I'm not too active on either board, but I must say the FB page seems much friendlier. I think I'll spend my time there instead of here. Hopefully EVERYONE has a wonderful cruise! I know I will!!!

 

[TamaraH]

Exactly 19 days from today we are ready to board The Disney FANTASY!

We wake up early, hardly believing that the day is finally here! A few final morning preparations, and then we all make our way to the port. Some arrive by personal car, some by rental car, some by chauffeured vehicle, some by hotel shuttle, and some on DCL buses. At some point on the trip to the port while crossing over the peak of a big bridge, someone will look to the left and gasp, "There it is! There's the ship! Do you see it?" And now we're REALLY excited! Our vehicle will wind around this way and that, and then approach the ship from her stern. Were hardly breathing at the wondrous sight of her! Look! Theres Dumbo hanging off the back of the ship! A closer look, and you can see little Timothy Mouse, too! We'll drive through a security check point with a silly grin on our faces where we verify we are cruising that day, then hand our luggage over to the porters, tip them, and then walk inside the glass doors. A quick security screening scan of person and carry-ons, and then up the escalator to the friendly cast member who will guide us to the correct check-in line. We show our passports and are photographed... cheese! Then we eagerly trade our signed cruise documents for our KTTW cards, lanyards (if youre a returning cruiser), and boarding card! Woohoo! What boarding number did you get???

We now have a little bit of time to explore the port building, noticing all the little Disney details such as how the ceiling is designed to look like waves and the flooring like sand. Be sure to also notice all the special graphics that are inlaid into the flooring, too. We'll marvel at the large Disney Magic scaled model that is cut in half on the back side, and then peer inside the model to see if we can figure out the differences between Disneys first ship and the one were about to embark on, Disneys latest ship. Those with children will meet Kid's Club counselors and hear about some of the fun planned activities. White wristbands will be attached to kids' wrists signifying they are now a part of the best childrens programming on the seven seas! Soon, characters will start appearing in front of the ship model for photos! Look, there's Captain Mickey!!! Some of us will step out on the balcony and stare in awe at what looks like a tall building moored just a few feet away! Can you spot your cabin your comfy home-away-from-home for the next seven nights? Looking down, we watch some of the preparations underway for our arrival, such as luggage piled high inside huge rolling metal caged bins that are being carefully eased up gangway planks and disappearing into the hull of the ship that will magically appear outside our cabin doors around 3pm! Crates and crates of food products are also being loaded... did you know that over 10,000 cups of coffee will be served EACH DAY onboard the ship?!?!

Believe it or not, even if you were the first to arrive at 11am, time will pass quickly in the terminal. There is so much to observe (people-watching is very fascinating here!)! Most of us wont notice the concierge guests being ushered onto the ship from within their special concierge lounge, but we will be drawn to the big yellow ears as the chosen Cruise First Family is announced! Before we know it, the first boarding announcement is made and everyone's hearts beat just a little faster as the platinum guests begin the boarding process! Boarding Number 2's will start surging toward the line for their turn. Another boarding announcement, and off they go, and within 20 minutes, the terminal will be empty except for those just now checking in! Through the ears, the first swipe of our KTTW cards, a quick embarkation photo, across the gangway ramp, a request for our family name as the sight of the huge chandelier catches our eye, then we notice twenty or so very impressive white uniformed smiling officers and hear "The Disney Fantasy welcomes the ____ Family!". (A very emotional moment! Some of us cry. Read: Deb T. cries.) We hear clapping and one of the officers approaches to personally greet us. Are we really onboard?!?! Oh my, yes we are! We really, really are! And then we are ushered in the direction of an amazing Welcome Aboard Luncheon Buffet! Which way would you like to go: down the grand staircase one deck to the Enchanted Garden or up the glass elevators to Deck 11's Cabanas?

More of Embarkation Day to follow...

OMG brings a tear to my eye cuz I'm so excited!

 

[jaimelynn4]

Exactly 19 days from today we are ready to board The Disney FANTASY!

We wake up early, hardly believing that the day is finally here! A few final morning preparations, and then we all make our way to the port. Some arrive by personal car, some by rental car, some by chauffeured vehicle, some by hotel shuttle, and some on DCL buses. At some point on the trip to the port while crossing over the peak of a big bridge, someone will look to the left and gasp, "There it is! There's the ship! Do you see it?" And now we're REALLY excited! Our vehicle will wind around this way and that, and then approach the ship from her stern. Were hardly breathing at the wondrous sight of her! Look! Theres Dumbo hanging off the back of the ship! A closer look, and you can see little Timothy Mouse, too! We'll drive through a security check point with a silly grin on our faces where we verify we are cruising that day, then hand our luggage over to the porters, tip them, and then walk inside the glass doors. A quick security screening scan of person and carry-ons, and then up the escalator to the friendly cast member who will guide us to the correct check-in line. We show our passports and are photographed... cheese! Then we eagerly trade our signed cruise documents for our KTTW cards, lanyards (if youre a returning cruiser), and boarding card! Woohoo! What boarding number did you get???

We now have a little bit of time to explore the port building, noticing all the little Disney details such as how the ceiling is designed to look like waves and the flooring like sand. Be sure to also notice all the special graphics that are inlaid into the flooring, too. We'll marvel at the large Disney Magic scaled model that is cut in half on the back side, and then peer inside the model to see if we can figure out the differences between Disneys first ship and the one were about to embark on, Disneys latest ship. Those with children will meet Kid's Club counselors and hear about some of the fun planned activities. White wristbands will be attached to kids' wrists signifying they are now a part of the best children's programming on the seven seas! Soon, characters will start appearing in front of the ship model for photos! Look, there's Captain Mickey!!! Some of us will step out on the balcony and stare in awe at what looks like a tall building moored just a few feet away! Can you spot your cabin - your comfy home-away-from-home for the next seven nights? Looking down, we watch some of the preparations underway for our arrival, such as luggage piled high inside huge rolling metal caged bins that are being carefully eased up gangway planks and disappearing into the hull of the ship that will magically appear outside our cabin doors around 3pm! Crates and crates of food products are also being loaded... did you know that over 10,000 cups of coffee will be served EACH DAY onboard the ship?!?!

Believe it or not, even if you were the first to arrive at 11am, time will pass quickly in the terminal. There is so much to observe (people-watching is very fascinating here!)! Most of us won't notice the concierge guests being ushered onto the ship from within their special concierge lounge, but we will be drawn to the big yellow ears as the chosen "Cruise First Family" is announced! Before we know it, the first boarding announcement is made and everyone's hearts beat just a little faster as the platinum guests begin the boarding process! Boarding Number 2's will start surging toward the line for their turn. Another boarding announcement, and off they go, and within 20 minutes the terminal will be empty except for those just now checking in! Through the ears, the first swipe of our KTTW cards, a quick embarkation photo, across the gangway ramp, a request for our family name as the sight of the huge chandelier catches our eye, then we notice twenty or so very impressive white uniformed smiling officers and hear "The Disney Fantasy welcomes the ____ Family!". (A very emotional moment! Some of us cry. Read: Deb T. cries.) We hear clapping and one of the officers approaches to personally greet us! Are we really onboard?!?! Oh my, yes we are! We really, really are! And then we are ushered in the direction of an amazing Welcome Aboard Luncheon Buffet! Which way would you like to go: down the grand staircase one deck to the Enchanted Garden or up the glass elevators to Deck 11's Cabanas?

More of Embarkation Day to follow...

Deb, you made me cry just reading your post. I'm sure I will also be crying when they announce our family boarding the ship. I hope someone brings lots of tissues!!!

 

[Deb T.]

Embarkation Day continues!

We just stepped onto the Fantasy, and are deciding where to eat our delicious Embarkation Lunch. Some will head straight down the Grand Staircase to Deck 2s Enchanted Garden, which is where the crew will most likely guide you, but some of us will opt go to up to Deck 11 and Cabanas. Both restaurants will have nearly identical buffet spreads, however at Cabanas you will have to carry your drinks on your tray and get your own refills whereas Enchanted Garden has wait staff that will bring you your drinks and refills. Enchanted Garden has all inside seating, but at Cabanas you can choose either inside or outside seating. And, if your little ones are eager to start swimming, it is very convenient to take your trays full of food out of Cabanas to the pool area to eat while the kids enjoy a nearly empty pool! Of course, we can also grab a bite to eat from the pool deck (Deck 11) dining options at Flos Café: Luigis Pizza, Tow-Maters Grill, and Fillmores Favorites. Oh yeah, and dont forget about 24-hour room service! Ahhh yes, theres certainly not a shortage of food on this cruise!

While going through the buffet line, we'll take time to look at all of the ice sculptures and food sculptures! Its amazing what they can do with a watermelon and other types of fruits and vegetables! Very creative! The sculptures are easy to miss, though, because your hungry eyes are focused on all of the food choices laid out before you! My favorite& unlimited shrimp cocktail! Yummmmmmmmmmm!

AquaDuck, AquaLab, Nemos Reef, and all the pools are open and quickly filling with frolicking kids and kids-at-heart. Savvy cruisers came prepared with bathing suits and sunscreen in a carry-on bag or underneath their boarding outfits. (One big tip: if you and/or your children wear bathing suits upon embarkation, be sure to pack a change of clothes, including underclothes, in a carry-on bag to change into after swimming since staterooms arent ready until 1:30pm and checked luggage may not arrive until 5pm.)

After lunch, we have time to wander around and become familiar with the layout of the ship. This is the only opportunity to tour childrens programming (Oceaneer Club, Oceaneer Lab, Edge Tween Club, Vibe, and Its a Small World Nursery), Senses Spa, Europa District (Skyline, La Piazza, Meridian, OGills Pub, The Tube, and Ooh La La), Remy, Palo, Cove Café, and Satellite Falls before they are reserved exclusively for age-appropriate guests after sail-away. Our cabins will be ready at 1:30pm and we can hardly wait to see them! We also can't wait for Shutters to open around 5pm so we can look for our embarkation photos! The gift shops wont open until we are out to sea but, in the meantime, its fun to peer through the glass into shops and also look at all of the gorgeous window displays! Some will get in line at D Lounge to snag a Palo brunch or dinner, or a Remy experience or to try to change their dining time. Heres Pixie Dust that all your desires are granted!

At the 1:30 rope drop, we'll all surge toward our staterooms! Anticipation builds as we use our KTTW card on the keyless RFID lock mechanism  just tap it on the silver panel and were in! Hooray! We'll oooh and aaaah as we run around checking out every nook and cranny of our cabin. And if we remember, well hurry and snap photos before our cabins look lived-in. Ahhhh, smell the H2O shampoo! Cute towels! Look at all the hidden Mickeys in the room! Check out the Wave phones, lets see how they work! Castaway Club Members (returning cruisers) will find their welcome-back gifts laying on the bed, as well as vouchers indicating any OBCs they may have accrued from travel agents, booking onboard, or booking online with their Disney VISA. Those with a Virtual Porthole will keep a keen eye on it, eager to spot the first of a dozen or so Disney characters and their antics! Within a few minutes, some will experience a cruise ship power flush. (You repeat cruisers are snickering right now& hehe& Stand back kids!!!) If you tucked your FE and door magnets into your carry-on, now is a perfect time to hang them up! Our suitcases will start arriving in the hallway soon and we're anxious to unpack and make this cabin ours! But in the meantime, let's all head to Deck 11 to get our first of many ice cream servings from Frozone Treats!

At 2:45pm, we'll all gravitate toward D Lounge (Deck 4 midship) to meet and greet with all of our new DIS friends for the next hour. It will be nice to finally put faces to DIS names. And, we really appreciate DCL's hospitality for allowing us to have this private mix and mingle with refreshments!

Around 3:50pm, well head back to our cabins to meet up with our families again for the 4pm mandatory Life Boat Drill. We are very glad not to have to wear on our bright orange life vests! But, a few of us will still want to snap a couple of photos with them on in our cabins. Very soon, we hear the warning alarms and instructions and make our way to the Life Boat Station that is indicated on the back of our cabin door (and on our KTTW card, and also on our life vests). As soon as its over, we head up to Deck 11 to the Donald Pool area for the lively Adventures Away deck party at 4:30pm! Woohoo! Its time to party  really party!  Disney Cruise style! The Donald Pool has disappeared and a large dance deck is in now in front of the stage! The music starts and the energetic entertainment staff appears out of nowhere to get the party started! You cant help but to start moving to the upbeat music! So much fun!!! About 30-minutes into the party and with great fanfare, the countdown begins! The moment weve been waiting for! The moment weve been planning months for! The moment weve been dreaming of! Its finally the moment we get to hear that magical seven-note horn blast& When You Wish Upon a Starrrrrrrrrrr! Woohoooooooo! And with that, the ship starts gently easing away from the dock and toward the open sea! And some of us cry& again.

As the ship starts sailing away from Port Canaveral, we look at each other and say, Whats next??? Let the cruisin fun begin!!!!!!!!!!

Some will do more exploring of the ship. How about a game of putt-putt at Goofys Golf on Deck 12? Some will do more swimming. Have you tried the AquaDuck yet? Some will do more eating! And some will be having their second (or third or fourth) serving of ice cream. Those with Main Dining are getting ready to head to their first dinner rotation restaurant! Which will it be? Animators Palette? Enchanted Garden? Royal Court? Our table number, dining time, and dining rotation are printed on our KTTW cards. One really nice thing about dinners onboard a Disney Cruise is that theres no need to arrive at your assigned restaurant early. Seating will not begin before the published time (5:45pm for main dining and 8:15pm for late dining) and we each have our very own reserved table! Seating occurs amazingly fast because all the head servers and most of the servers are lined up and ready to hand us a sanitizing hand wipe and escort us to our assigned tables in a quick and orderly fashion! Theres no checking in at the podium or beepers to contend with, just hold out your KTTW card with your table number and off you go! We will soon meet our server and assistant server who will travel from restaurant to restaurant with us each night. If you are new to DCL, you can't yet even imagine how much you will come to love your servers over these next seven nights... and how much you will miss their pampering once you return home. Well also get to know our tablemates while looking over the dinner menu! Remember, if you can't decide between two entrees (or appetizers, or salad/soups, or desserts&), it's perfectly all right to order them all!!!

Those of us with Late Dining will be sitting comfortably in the Walt Disney Theatre (Decks 3 & 4 Forward), ready to watch A Fantasy Come True stage show. Where would you like to sit? If you like being in the midst of all the special effects, then the lower level seats (closer to the stage) is the place to be!

The whole dinner/show process is repeated in reverse a little later when the recently-stuffed-to-the-gills main diners waddle their way to the Walt Disney Theatre while those of us with late dining head to our designated dinner rotation restaurant for our 8:15 seating.

The kids clubs are finally open for children to be checked-in now that tours and family time are over. This is good news to the kids who have been (im)patiently waiting for their fun to begin and particularly good news for the parents who are ready to jettison their children off so they can have a little fun of their own! Adults - if youve never watched Match Your Mate, I highly recommend it! Its basically an uncensored version of The Newlywed Game with three couples chosen from the audience: the most recently married couple, the couple married the longest, and then a very outgoing couple. Most of the time, the older couple is not only the funniest, but also the winner! Evenings are the perfect time to stroll the upper decks and look at the stars. You can also catch a movie on either the huge outdoor Funnel Vision screen or in the Buena Vista Theatre. As always, there are several activities listed in the Navigator to choose from.

All too soon, its time to pick the children up from the Kids Clubs and make our way back to our cabins for the night. As we near our cabin door we notice little bulges in our Fish Extender pockets! Can it be? Have goodies already been delivered in our FEs?!? Woohoo, they have! Exciting! As we enter the cabin, we are greeted by our first towel animal on the bed! Awwwww, cute! The little wrapped chocolate bars scattered nearby from the turn-down service are quickly gobbled up. Were tempted to sit down and read through tomorrows Navigator, but were so tired that we know if we do, well just fall asleep sitting up! While the kids are in the tub, we call room service and order milk and cookies as one last surprise of the day  after all, the kids are on vacation, too! And while were at it, we go ahead and put in a "standing order" for milk and cookies to be delivered Friday and Saturday nights, too! (We are awesome parents!)

After a short discussion over who gets the top bunk with the painted stars on the ceiling , the kids are eventually tucked into their beds. We flip on the overhead nightlight and turn the TV on to one of the Disney music channels and set the volume down low to lull the kids to sleep. Within minutes, theyre out for the night. Now for some quiet adult time! Those with a verandah slip out on the deck , some with a glass of wine brought onboard just for this special time. Afterward, we are ready to pull the curtains together to close off the kids side of the cabin and snuggle into the big comfy bed as the gentle motion of the ship rocks us to sleep. Before long, were dreaming about the rest of the fun to come! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz&&

 

[Deb T.]

I could not have put it any better 'coach'
Excitement, encouragement, and a pre trip check list.
You covered all the bases wonderfully.

Thanks Deb T! I do have butterflies and we are soooooooo excited!

OMG brings a tear to my eye cuz I'm so excited!

Deb, you made me cry just reading your post. I'm sure I will also be crying when they announce our family boarding the ship. I hope someone brings lots of tissues!!!

Thanks! I'm sooooo ready for this cruise that I find myself daydreaming almost constantly about what's to come! Can't wait! Can't wait! Can't wait!!!!!!!

 

[pixiehallow]

Welcome out of the shadows ddonner.

Good news, you still have time to take part in some of the on goings.
I will send you a invitation to our group page shortly.
~Tink

 

[pixiehallow]

Thank You Ddonner

After your post about the new Port Arrival times on the group page, I revisited my on line check in. And sure enough, more times were opened up.

We are now in the 10:30 to 10:45 group as well.

You Rock

 

[pixiehallow]

Embarkation Day continues!

We just stepped onto the Fantasy, and are deciding where to eat our delicious Embarkation Lunch. Some will head straight down the Grand Staircase to Deck 2’s Enchanted Garden, which is where the crew will most likely guide you, but some of us will opt go to up to Deck 11 and Cabana’s. Both restaurants will have nearly identical buffet spreads, however at Cabana’s you will have to carry your drinks on your tray and get your own refills whereas Enchanted Garden has wait staff that will bring you your drinks and refills. Enchanted Garden has all inside seating, but at Cabana’s you can choose either inside or outside seating. And, if your little ones are eager to start swimming, it is very convenient to take your trays full of food out of Cabana’s to the pool area to eat while the kids enjoy a nearly empty pool! Of course, we can also grab a bite to eat from the pool deck (Deck 11) dining options at Flo’s Café: Luigi’s Pizza, Tow-Mater’s Grill, and Fillmore’s Favorites. Oh yeah, and don’t forget about 24-hour room service! Ahhh yes, there’s certainly not a shortage of food on this cruise!

While going through the buffet line, we'll take time to look at all of the ice sculptures and food sculptures! It’s amazing what they can do with a watermelon and other types of fruits and vegetables! Very creative! The sculptures are easy to miss, though, because your hungry eyes are focused on all of the food choices laid out before you! My favorite… unlimited shrimp cocktail! Yummmmmmmmmmm!

AquaDuck, AquaLab, Nemo’s Reef, and all the pools are open and quickly filling with frolicking kids and kids-at-heart. Savvy cruisers came prepared with bathing suits and sunscreen in a carry-on bag or underneath their boarding outfits. (One big tip: if you and/or your children wear bathing suits upon embarkation, be sure to pack a change of clothes, including underclothes, in a carry-on bag to change into after swimming since staterooms aren’t ready until 1:30pm and checked luggage may not arrive until 5pm.)

After lunch, we have time to wander around and become familiar with the layout of the ship. This is the only opportunity to tour children’s programming (Oceaneer Club, Oceaneer Lab, Edge Tween Club, Vibe, and It’s a Small World Nursery), Senses Spa, Europa District (Skyline, La Piazza, Meridian, O’Gill’s Pub, The Tube, and Ooh La La), Remy, Palo, Cove Café, and Satellite Falls before they are reserved exclusively for age-appropriate guests after sail-away. Our cabins will be ready at 1:30pm and we can hardly wait to see them! We also can't wait for Shutters to open around 5pm so we can look for our embarkation photos! The gift shops won’t open until we are out to sea but, in the meantime, it’s fun to peer through the glass into shops and also look at all of the gorgeous window displays! Some will get in line at D Lounge to snag a Palo brunch or dinner, or a Remy experience or to try to change their dining time. Here’s Pixie Dust that all your desires are granted!

At the 1:30 rope drop, we'll all surge toward our staterooms! Anticipation builds as we use our KTTW card on the keyless RFID lock mechanism – just tap it on the silver panel and we’re in! Hooray! We'll oooh and aaaah as we run around checking out every nook and cranny of our cabin. And if we remember, we’ll hurry and snap photos before our cabins look “lived-in”. Ahhhh, smell the H2O shampoo! Cute towels! Look at all the hidden Mickeys in the room! Check out the Wave phones, let’s see how they work! Castaway Club Members (returning cruisers) will find their welcome-back gifts laying on the bed, as well as vouchers indicating any OBC’s they may have accrued from travel agents, booking onboard, or booking online with their Disney VISA. Those with a Virtual Porthole will keep a keen eye on it, eager to spot the first of a dozen or so Disney characters and their antics! Within a few minutes, some will experience a cruise ship “power flush”. (You repeat cruisers are snickering right now… hehe… “Stand back kids!!!”) If you tucked your FE and door magnets into your carry-on, now is a perfect time to hang them up! Our suitcases will start arriving in the hallway soon and we're anxious to unpack and make this cabin “ours!” But in the meantime, let's all head to Deck 11 to get our first of many ice cream servings from Frozone Treats!

Around 3:50pm, we’ll head back to our cabins to meet up with our families again for the 4pm mandatory Life Boat Drill. We are very glad not to have to wear on our bright orange life vests! But, a few of us will still want to snap a couple of photos with them on in our cabins. Very soon, we hear the warning alarms and instructions and make our way to the Life Boat Station that is indicated on the back of our cabin door (and on our KTTW card, and also on our life vests). As soon as it’s over, we head up to Deck 11 to the Donald Pool area for the lively Adventure’s Away deck party at 4:30pm! Woohoo! It’s time to party – really party! – Disney Cruise style! The Donald Pool has disappeared and a large dance deck is in now in front of the stage! The music starts and the energetic entertainment staff appears out of nowhere to get the party started! You can’t help but to start moving to the upbeat music! So much fun!!! About 30-minutes into the party and with great fanfare, the countdown begins! The moment we’ve been waiting for! The moment we’ve been planning months for! The moment we’ve been dreaming of! It’s finally the moment we get to hear that magical seven-note horn blast… “When You Wish Upon a Starrrrrrrrrrr”! Woohoooooooo! And with that, the ship starts gently easing away from the dock and toward the open sea! And some of us cry… again.

As the ship starts sailing away from Port Canaveral, we look at each other and say, “What’s next???” Let the cruisin’ fun begin!!!!!!!!!!

Some will do more exploring of the ship. How about a game of putt-putt at Goofy’s Golf on Deck 12? Some will do more swimming. Have you tried the AquaDuck yet? Some will do more eating! And some will be having their second (or third or fourth) serving of ice cream. Those with Main Dining are getting ready to head to their first dinner rotation restaurant! Which will it be? Animator’s Palette? Enchanted Garden? Royal Court? Our table number, dining time, and dining rotation are printed on our KTTW cards. One really nice thing about dinners onboard a Disney Cruise is that there’s no need to arrive at your assigned restaurant early. Seating will not begin before the published time (5:45pm for main dining and 8:15pm for late dining) and we each have our very own reserved table! Seating occurs amazingly fast because all the head servers and most of the servers are lined up and ready to hand us a sanitizing hand wipe and escort us to our assigned tables in a quick and orderly fashion! There’s no “checking in at the podium” or beepers to contend with, just hold out your KTTW card with your table number and off you go! We will soon meet our server and assistant server who will travel from restaurant to restaurant with us each night. If you are new to DCL, you can't yet even imagine how much you will come to love your servers over these next seven nights... and how much you will miss their pampering once you return home. We’ll also get to know our tablemates while looking over the dinner menu! Remember, if you can't decide between two entrees (or appetizers, or salad/soups, or desserts…), it's perfectly all right to order them all!!!

Those of us with Late Dining will be sitting comfortably in the Walt Disney Theatre (Decks 3 & 4 Forward), ready to watch “A Fantasy Come True” stage show. Where would you like to sit? If you like being in the midst of all the special effects, then the lower level seats (closer to the stage) is the place to be!

The whole dinner/show process is repeated in reverse a little later when the recently-stuffed-to-the-gills main diners waddle their way to the Walt Disney Theatre while those of us with late dining head to our designated dinner rotation restaurant for our 8:15 seating.

The kids’ clubs are finally open for children to be checked-in now that tours and family time are over. This is good news to the kids who have been (im)patiently waiting for their fun to begin and particularly good news for the parents who are ready to jettison their children off so they can have a little fun of their own! Adults - if you’ve never watched “Match Your Mate”, I highly recommend it! It’s basically an uncensored version of The Newlywed Game with three couples chosen from the audience: the most recently married couple, the couple married the longest, and then a very outgoing couple. Most of the time, the older couple is not only the funniest, but also the winner! Evenings are the perfect time to stroll the upper decks and look at the stars. You can also catch a movie on either the huge outdoor Funnel Vision screen or in the Buena Vista Theatre. As always, there are several activities listed in the Navigator to choose from.

All too soon, it’s time to pick the children up from the Kids’ Clubs and make our way back to our cabins for the night. As we near our cabin door we notice little bulges in our Fish Extender pockets! Can it be? Have goodies already been delivered in our FE’s?!? Woohoo, they have! Exciting! As we enter the cabin, we are greeted by our first towel animal on the bed! Awwwww, cute! The little wrapped chocolate bars scattered nearby from the turn-down service are quickly gobbled up. We’re tempted to sit down and read through tomorrow’s Navigator, but we’re so tired that we know if we do, we’ll just fall asleep sitting up! While the kids are in the tub, we call room service and order milk and cookies as one last surprise of the day – after all, the kids are on vacation, too! And while we’re at it, we go ahead and put in a "standing order" for milk and cookies to be delivered Friday and Saturday nights, too! (We are awesome parents!)

After a short discussion over who gets the top bunk with the painted stars on the ceiling , the kids are eventually tucked into their beds. We flip on the overhead nightlight and turn the TV on to one of the Disney music channels and set the volume down low to lull the kids to sleep. Within minutes, they’re out for the night. Now for some quiet adult time! Those with a verandah slip out on the deck , some with a glass of wine brought onboard just for this special time. Afterward, we are ready to pull the curtains together to close off the kids’ side of the cabin and snuggle into the big comfy bed as the gentle motion of the ship rocks us to sleep. Before long, we’re dreaming about the rest of the fun to come! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……

Oh! Oh! Oh! Not to be forgotten......
The Special party for our group in the D Lounge from 2:45 PM to 3:45 PM.

 

[tigerlilly878]

Thank You Ddonner

After your post about the new Port Arrival times on the group page, I revisited my on line check in. And sure enough, more times were opened up.

We are now in the 10:30 to 10:45 group as well.

You Rock

YAY!!!! I love this board!!! I also just changed my arrival time from 11:30 to 10:30 Thanks guys!!

 

[Deb T.]

Oh! Oh! Oh! Not to be forgotten......
The Special party for our group in the D Lounge from 2:45 PM to 3:45 PM.

Ooops! I edited my original post to add this very important event!