Fantasy 7N Western - July 6, 2013

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Hello all,
Lurking on board for a while. Of late anticipating a stay in WDW in December but seeing that is now behind me (sad) looking forward to our first DCL experience. We will be a family group of 14 (8 adults and 6 kids aged 13 to 5) celebrating my in-law's 50th wedding anniversary. Looking for any helpful hints regarding cruising with a group. Cannot wait until July
Thanks

 

[gatacmke]

Greetings,
My name is Laura, my sons(14, 12) will be joining me. We did the 3 day Dream in October and we loved it so much I couldn't wait to book another one. I haven't told the boys yet, but they'll be very excited since their only complaint last cruise was that it went way too fast.

 

[cathygee]

Hello all.. This is our first cruise of any kind !! We are a family group of 7 adults and 4 children ( age range 7 to 15 )..Cant wait for July!! Looking for any advice or ideas!!

 

[jrbdad]

Hello all.. This is our first cruise of any kind !! We are a family group of 7 adults and 4 children ( age range 7 to 15 )..Cant wait for July!! Looking for any advice or ideas!!

This site is fantastic for ideas. There are a few others that are very good too. If you are interested in a book -- I recommend the Passporters book.

This will be our fourth cruise -- first 7 night. It can't get here soon enough. We are a family of five. Me, DW, DS17, DS15, DD12.

Happy planning!

 

[owensamo]

We've been on three cruises - this will be our fourth -- unless we can figure out a way for DW & I to get in a quick 3 or 4 day between now & then and we've never participated in a FE. Is it more for younger kids? How time consuming/expensive it it to pull everything together?

I don't think anyone ever answered this. We never found it time consuming (we take delivering as an opportunity to explore the decks and see the cool door decorations), and it can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want. Some of the most memorable gifts we've gotten were fairly inexpensive to make - bookmarks, foam coffee cup cozies, scrapbook cutouts (made on a cricut), etc.

I wouldn't say it's just for younger kids, either, though they enjoy it a lot. We've gotten small bottles of alcohol in our FE for the adults in the past. Typically there's a little something for everyone. I usually do something practical for the adults and something fun for the kids. I also have a bad habit of haunting the dollar sections of Target and Michael's to find inexpensive Disney things (tattoos, stickers, etc) to include - they often have lanyards and things as well, which can come in handy!

 

[owensamo]

And welcome to the cruise for new cruisers! Not too much longer now! I'm ready to pack!

 

[maurej]

Hi all. We will be on the July 6th sailing of the Fantasy also!!! This will be our 6th cruise. We've sailed on the Magic and the Wonder. I can't wait to see the new ship. We are DVC members who purchased our membership during our first cruise.

Travelling in our party will be me, my husband and my son who will be 14 at the time of the sailing. My son's 's always had a great time on the cruises and gotten involved in the activities in the kids clubs, so I'm hoping he'll meet a few kids to pal around with.

We'll be in Disney for a week before the cruise, staying for 2 nights at Art of Animation and then 5 nights at Saratoga Springs. We've never stayed at either hotel, so I'm hoping it's okay. My favorite hotel is the Boardwalk and we usually always stay there, but they were booked. We love the Parks too.

I can't wait to go either!!

Maureen

 

[WishesComeTrue]

Hello everyone. I realized I haven't logged on here since August but our cruise is getting closer and closer! My husband and I just returned from a short trip to WDW which got us charged up for July, "Be Our Guest" was awesome and chillin' at Kidani was amazing. Anyway, I am still wondering about Fish Extenders; I started making one but do you think we'll have enough people? Less than 6 months left 'til we cruise!

 

[fisherjenn]

Woot woot my DF and I will be there!

 

[MaryJ]

Anyway, I am still wondering about Fish Extenders; I started making one but do you think we'll have enough people? Less than 6 months left 'til we cruise!

I've been wondering the same thing. I was going to give fish extenders to all my family members that will be on the cruise with us for Christmas, but held off because there seems to be so few of us.

 

[owensjro]

Well, how about everyone who is wanting to do FE post and we can see if there are enough? That way we can reconfirm anyone who showed an interest previously.

Jim

 

[katman2540]

My wife and I will be on this one and it will be our first cruise ever. Can't wait!!

 

[jrbdad]

My wife and I will be on this one and it will be our first cruise ever. Can't wait!!

Welcome!

Counting down the days!

Started booking a few things -- still some more plotting and planning to do

 

[MiamiDisneyFamily]

Cant wait for our summer vacation. Anyone from Miami heading up a few days early?

 

[jrbdad]

Cant wait for our summer vacation. Anyone from Miami heading up a few days early?

Not from Miami (wish we were ), but....

We know we will be at WDW on the 4th & 5th -- staying at Bay Lake. Hoping to get down a few days prior -- but really can't even plan until the end of May due to the boys' baseball schedules. Ideally, we'd be there from July 1st until sailing. We have a few days left on our Disney Water Park Annual Passes.

Still deciding on what to do about park tickets -- our APs expired last summer. Might be time to get new APs -- if we end up going early, that's probably what we'll do.

We so can't wait for the cruise -- we've booked a few things -- a Remy brunch, a spa appointment. That's really been it. Need to finalize things on the excursions. May go outside DCL for those. Wish we had a little more time at the ports. Oh well, can't wait to try out the Fantasy.

 

[MiamiDisneyFamily]

Not from Miami (wish we were ), but....

We know we will be at WDW on the 4th & 5th -- staying at Bay Lake. Hoping to get down a few days prior -- but really can't even plan until the end of May due to the boys' baseball schedules. Ideally, we'd be there from July 1st until sailing. We have a few days left on our Disney Water Park Annual Passes.

Still deciding on what to do about park tickets -- our APs expired last summer. Might be time to get new APs -- if we end up going early, that's probably what we'll do.

We so can't wait for the cruise -- we've booked a few things -- a Remy brunch, a spa appointment. That's really been it. Need to finalize things on the excursions. May go outside DCL for those. Wish we had a little more time at the ports. Oh well, can't wait to try out the Fantasy.

We are heading up on the July 3 staying and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Any good suggestions for excursions for the two stops in Mexico?

 

[kellimomo3]

getting ready to log on tonight to book our Palo/Remy/Spa and excursions. Can't believe it's that time already!!! My boys (13, 15 & 16) always enjoy meeting other kids on line first so if anyone is interested, let me know.

 

[kellimomo3]

So we got everything we wanted except for a cabana on Castaway Cay. There was only one left and it was on Serenity Bay so we passed. We are doing Palo brunch and dinner and Remy brunch and dinner as well as the fishing excursion on Castaway Cay. Can't wait!

 

[owensjro]

We were just booking a couple of excursions this time and got the ones we wanted. Not sure it was worth staying up till midnight to get

Jim

 

[kellimomo3]

We were just booking a couple of excursions this time and got the ones we wanted. Not sure it was worth staying up till midnight to get

Jim

Totally agree Jim. I did not stay up until midnight. I did it about 7am. The only thing that might have helped with are the cabanas maybe.