EBPC December 9, 2012!!! Who's in????

[dthogue]

Thanks for the welcome Tammy. I am almost as excited to join in on these dis boards as I am about the cruise itself. It sounds like you and I have a lot in common already based on our anniversary dates and kid's ages. My daughter was with us in Disney World at Christmas and she still enjoys it but the thrill of Disney is waning. My son thinks I am crazy to keep going back to the same place. He has the travelling bug and he wants to see the world. I tell him that I travel the world every time I am at Epcot but that just doesn't cut it with him. Kids or not, I am just a big kid at heart so I know that I will have a great time on this cruise. I know that you are in charge of the FE, do I still need to pm you or can you add Gary and I to the list? We are in an IGT but I guess I don't find out which cabin until later. Thanks to all for their hard work in taking on the duties of organizing things for the whole group.

Our oldest DD says she will travel with us if we go somewhere else besides Disney. The middle DD still likes Disney, but also wants to see other places. She is not too happy with us for going on this cruise without her, but her school schedule doesn't allow her to come along - oh boy it's tough growing up

I added you to the FE exhange list - the only other thing I need would be your email address. You can access the online spreadsheet through the cruise website. If you have any question, just let me know. It has been my pleasure organizing the exchange.

 

[Relaxin']

my 19 yr old DD moved away to university in Waterloo

Hi Arlene and welcome,
If you ever come to visit your DD at university, please contact me. We are about a 5 minute drive from campus. We can arrange to meet at a Tim's or William's for coffee/tea. What year is she in? My DD23 is on her way to Egypt for a year. She is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier university. We are lucky to have two great universities within bicycle distance. We have a DS19 who is going to Conestoga college for computer programming - now that is driving distance, so he just bought a new car to commute, and will be living at home for the next 3 years. He plans to join us on the Fantasy NYE Dec 2013 - he will be 21 and legal drinking age for the ship.

You will enjoy your cruise that is a guarantee.

 

[ArGa]

Hi, thanks for the invite. My daughter just finished her first year of Environmental Resource Studies at U of Waterloo. She loved it. She lived in dorm at St. Paul's. This year though she will be moving off campus to a house with 5 other roomates. That will be a big learning experience for her. I sure hope someone in the house knows how to cook.

 

[LindaBabe]

Hello, my husband and I will be joining all of you on this cruise. It is our first cruise ever never mind first Disney Cruise. I have been lurking on these boards for years but I have finally decided to try to figure out how to join because I want to get involved in all the fun things being planned by the group. I am not sure how to work this whole forum thing so I have a lot to learn about everything. Anyways, it will be myself, Arlene and my DH Gary on the cruise. Sadly, our two kids are too grown up now for Disney fun so they will not be coming. We are celebrating our 24th anniversary on this trip. We would love to join in on the FE exchange and the Ornament exchange and get the PC certificate. I guess I can't pm the appropriate people until I have posted so many times so I will keep at it. We are so looking forward to this cruise and getting to know fellow Disney fanatics before the cruise will just make it that much better!

Welcome aboard, Arlene & Gary!

Arlene,

So glad to have you and your DH joining us. You have come to the right place to share your excitement about the cruise - we have a great bunch of people to share the fun.

My DH and I will also be celebrating our 24th anniversary. We have three DD's - 22, 20 and 14. The older 2 are in college and are not into traveling with mom and dad too much anymore our youngest dd will be traveling with us on this cruise DH and I are taking a 5-night DCL cruise in September, just the two of us and like you think it will be bitter-sweet watching all the young couples with little ones. On the other hand we are looking forward to doing the things that we haven't done before becasue we had kids with us. I can hardly wait to go to the adult pool - 5 Disney cruises and I have never been there - a hot tub without kids "swimming" and spalshing sounds heavenly so I guess their is an "up" side to the kids staying at home

LOTS of upsides - just you wait! We've always cruise Disney and NEVER with our own kids,

 

[magicmaker1]

Hello, my husband and I will be joining all of you on this cruise. It is our first cruise ever never mind first Disney Cruise. I have been lurking on these boards for years but I have finally decided to try to figure out how to join because I want to get involved in all the fun things being planned by the group. I am not sure how to work this whole forum thing so I have a lot to learn about everything. Anyways, it will be myself, Arlene and my DH Gary on the cruise. Sadly, our two kids are too grown up now for Disney fun so they will not be coming. We are celebrating our 24th anniversary on this trip. We would love to join in on the FE exchange and the Ornament exchange and get the PC certificate. I guess I can't pm the appropriate people until I have posted so many times so I will keep at it. We are so looking forward to this cruise and getting to know fellow Disney fanatics before the cruise will just make it that much better!

Welcome Arlene!
My dh and I are also cruising without kids (22,20,19,17) who think I'm a "little obsessed" with Disney but are jealous of us going on the cruise. We will be celebrating our 26th Anniversary. Cruising without kids is a little bittersweet but confirms that we can have fun and memories beyond the kid years. Check out Jeff's website--link is found on pg 6 of this thread. It is amazing!
Lynne

 

[magicmaker1]

Oops-I meant pg 1 for the link to website.

 

[Started With a Mouse]

Okay, so forgive me if this is a silly question, but do they have fresh fruit on our cruise? Do they restock at different ports, or just before we leave LA? We go through about 6 bananas a day, and were just curious...

 

[goiu]

Yes our Christmas baby will be 2 years old I can't believe it!

I am really hoping to use the nursery a bunch of evenings but not sure how hard it will be to book time when we won't know the full schedule till we are on the ship. I'll just have to go with the flow and see how she does I guess. I mean toddlers change so fast it's pretty impossible to plan things ahead of time anyhow. Putting her in for the second half of dinner may be needed so we can actually eat, even with early seating. At least they have some cribs so the little ones can nap when it gets late.

I think we don't need to use the diaper service since now we are driving to LA and can bring pretty much all the supplies we need with us. It still sounds so convenient to not have to lug it all and if we were flying to LA I would definitely use them.

I LOVE your idea to "practice pack" and will most certainly try that. I too am a mega-planner so to just see what approximate amount of the planned items will fit in my current bags seems like a great idea. Especially all the baby stuff since we have not gone on a real vacation since she was born.

We used the nursery with our DS when we did the TA. Since there were so few kids we were able to drop him off anytime. We never made a reservation the entire cruise. We would let the kids eat and then take him to Flounders and DD to the club. Then me and DH would eat dinner alone. It was amazing!! I'm guessing this cruise will not have many kids either since it's during school and it's a long one.

 

[JessicasMom]

Sadly, our two kids are too grown up now for Disney fun

Is there such a thing? You're never too old for Disney! Our DD's (28) last trip to WDW before leaving home was as a high school senior, then college and real life happened, complete with a move from PA to TX at age 23. We became empty nesters and traveled without her for a few years, although not to Disney (we used to go at least every other year). DH and I did the 2010 EBTA alone, but we raved about it so much, she just had to be included on the 2011 WBTA, with a few extra days at WDW (and an RCCL western Caribbean earlier that year, as well). We all rediscovered that Magical feeling! Her last cruise prior to 2011 was at age 15, but two in one year rekindled her love of cruising, and now we can't go without her! She will be sharing a cabin with us on the PC. Fortunately, she works for a company with liberal vacation benefits. We LOVE having her travel with us again . So, there is always hope your kids will come back around...give it time!

Welcome Aboard!!!

Okay, so forgive me if this is a silly question, but do they have fresh fruit on our cruise? Do they restock at different ports, or just before we leave LA? We go through about 6 bananas a day, and were just curious...

There are NO silly questions....and yes, they have fresh fruit aboard. I've always heard they stock enough at the beginning, although on a 14-day trip, they occasionally run out of things (may restock at one of the ports...not sure).

 

[mouse66]

First cruise and I have beverage questions.
So what do I have wrong?

Softdrinks - free on deck 9 or at meals. From machine.
canned soft drinks cost $$
Beer - per drink cost
option to buy DCL glass beer mug for $14.95 - refills 3.75 +15% tip
Drinks - per drink cost
free adult drinks at the sail away party?
Drink of day is discounted.
Can bring bottle of wine to dinner $20 charge

====================================
Plan to bring refillable bottle for the kids - mostly for water.
Plan to pack a, small bottle of rum, a bottle of wine, a case of bottled water.

====================================
Is the water drinkable from faucet in room?
Are there limits to what you can bring on board (water, alcohol)?
Do the kids have access to drinks (water, juice, soda) in the Oceaneer Lab?
Any special Christmas drinks or cups?

====================================
I am really enjoying all the information on the cruises.
I am sure I will have other questions.
Thanks for all the information.

 

[Relaxin']

I sure hope someone in the house knows how to cook.

My son's first year of post secondary was at Brock living in Resident town houses. He loves to cook - he has worked at two higher end restaurants in town as extra income. So last year, his deal with the neighbour girls - he would cook dinner, if they would do his laundry. Personally, I think they got the better end of the deal. He was making stuffed pork tenderloin, stuffed peppers Beef stroganoff.
Hopefully I can now fall asleep. I have been up since 12:30 tossing and turning, so thought I would spend some time reading with hopes I will get sleepy. This happens to me about twice a year.

 

[LindaBabe]

GOOD Morning, Happy Cruisers!

. . . Hopefully I can now fall asleep. I have been up since 12:30 tossing and turning, so thought I would spend some time reading with hopes I will get sleepy. This happens to me about twice a year.

Look at what you had for (or after) dinner! Aged cheese and chocolate disturb my sleep like you wouldn't believe.

Summer clothes are on sale , so if you need a new bathing suit or a couple pair of shorts, now is the time!

Happy Day all!

 

[WVURunner]

Hi Arlene and welcome,
If you ever come to visit your DD at university, please contact me. We are about a 5 minute drive from campus. We can arrange to meet at a Tim's or William's for coffee/tea. What year is she in? My DD23 is on her way to Egypt for a year. She is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier university. We are lucky to have two great universities within bicycle distance. We have a DS19 who is going to Conestoga college for computer programming - now that is driving distance, so he just bought a new car to commute, and will be living at home for the next 3 years. He plans to join us on the Fantasy NYE Dec 2013 - he will be 21 and legal drinking age for the ship.

You will enjoy your cruise that is a guarantee.

To bad your DS isn't joining you on the cruise. My DH is a computer programmer (he writes the software for digital mammography machines) and he is always looking for someone to talk "code" with.

 

[Started With a Mouse]

GOOD Morning, Happy Cruisers!



Summer clothes are on sale , so if you need a new bathing suit or a couple pair of shorts, now is the time!

Happy Day all!

Here here!!! I hit up Macy's and they had a ton of things on sale. Not their usual "it's on sale 300 days of the year", the prices on summer clothes were at a great savings.

 

[WVURunner]

First cruise and I have beverage questions.
So what do I have wrong?

Drinks - free adult drinks at the sail away party?

====================================
Plan to bring refillable bottle for the kids - mostly for water.
Plan to pack a, small bottle of rum, a bottle of wine, a case of bottled water.

====================================
Is the water drinkable from faucet in room?
.

The drinks are NOT free at the sailaway party. Drinks that are being served around on trays by CMs in the lobby during the Captain's Gala are free. I believe the Captain's Gala is the first formal night. You can attend both, the early and late seating to maximize the free drinks.

If you plan on bringing a reusable water bottle, then you do not need to bring bottled water. I personally feel the bottled water is a huge waste and hassle. The water on the ship is filtered and perfectly safe and is of equal or higher quality of the bottled water. There is no "funny" taste to it. My DH and I drink lots of water and we just bring two resuable water bottles each when we leave the ship at ports. Invest your money in a reuseable water bottle. We are already doing a ton of harm to the environment being on the cruise ship (Disney ships are big air pollutes) I figure the least I can do is limit my impact from bottled water bottles. Okay, rant over, I swear!

The water from the faucet in the bathroom is the exact same water being served to you in the dining rooms and is safe to drink and tastes the same as the water from the dining rooms. We find it easier to fill our water bottles up on deck 9 as the don't fit under the faucet well but cups fit just fine.

 

[Manon_Paul_Nina]

The drinks are NOT free at the sailaway party. Drinks that are being served around on trays by CMs in the lobby during the Captain's Gala are free. I believe the Captain's Gala is the first formal night. You can attend both, the early and late seating to maximize the free drinks.

If you plan on bringing a reusable water bottle, then you do not need to bring bottled water. I personally feel the bottled water is a huge waste and hassle. The water on the ship is filtered and perfectly safe and is of equal or higher quality of the bottled water. There is no "funny" taste to it. My DH and I drink lots of water and we just bring two resuable water bottles each when we leave the ship at ports. Invest your money in a reuseable water bottle. We are already doing a ton of harm to the environment being on the cruise ship (Disney ships are big air pollutes) I figure the least I can do is limit my impact from bottled water bottles. Okay, rant over, I swear!

The water from the faucet in the bathroom is the exact same water being served to you in the dining rooms and is safe to drink and tastes the same as the water from the dining rooms. We find it easier to fill our water bottles up on deck 9 as the don't fit under the faucet well but cups fit just fine.

Water tastes a little bit funny (chlorine) after several seadays but it still tastes fine!!!!
There are 2 captain gala's 1 the second night (formal night) and 1 on the end of the cruise (that was last year on the WBTA)

 

[decked out]

Wow! There are a lot of couples leaving the children behind. We are celebrating our 22nd anniversary in October and are leaving behind older teenagers at home and in college (grandparents supervising at home). They have to be at school. They have had their fair share of cruising and are happy to see us enjoy ourselves.

We bring bottles and drink the ship's water from the faucet. It is basically distilled water and probably better than bottled water.

Regarding the beer mug deal, I am not familiar with the details, but you can always hedge your bets if you are a beer drinker. Carry on some of your favorite beer, then find out the real deal on the beer mug refills when you board. If it really is a "bottomless mug" with discount refills for the whole cruise, then the mug is probably a no-brainer for a 14 day cruise. Beer and cocktails cost about the same on board as at a nice restaurant and are well worth the price on a sunny afternoon spent lounging by the pool. We always bring some booze and maybe champagne, but we also purchase drinks when occasion is right. No need to over pack in this department either, since you can re-stock your bar at every port of call.

 

[mouse66]

Water tastes a little bit funny (chlorine) after several seadays but it still tastes fine!!!!
There are 2 captain gala's 1 the second night (formal night) and 1 on the end of the cruise (that was last year on the WBTA)

Thanks for the info WVURunner and Manon_Paul_Nina. Captains gala is not the sail away party, got it.

Good to know about the water, whole family is big water drinkers. I did not want to drag cases of water on board.

We are trying to pack as light as possible.

 

[Relaxin']

Look at what you had for (or after) dinner! Aged cheese and chocolate disturb my sleep like you wouldn't believe.

Actually, I think I woke because I heard my DS freaking out over a HUGE spider in the basement, and then I started to think about work. Just a few too many things going on, and I could not stop thinking. In my workoholic days, I would have gotten up and started working, but as of January this year, I have changed my ways, but this time, I think I should have spent a little time working on the issue, and I would have been asleep much faster.

Hmmm, aged cheese and red wine sounds yummy, but not on my diet. 25 lbs to go. And chocolate. I have not had chocolate since the Maiden Voyage of the Fantasy - Chocolate covered Mickey heads. Now that's yummy. Good thought though.

 

[magicmaker1]

Help-anyone know if we will have time to get to Ft Lauderdale for a 12:45pm flight home to Denver after the cruise. I want to book our flights but want to make sure this timeframe is doable. Also, I read early on on this thread about shuttle from port to Ft. Lauderdale, any info would be great!