**Fantasy Becomes Reality** Group--5/19/2012 (INDEX/ROLE CALL, PAGE 1--ENTRY 1)

[shoes99]

If you are flying on Continental/United check your flights. We were originally arriving at 5:15PM the night before the cruise, then they changed it to 4:10PM. We were going to stay at the Hyatt, but now I booked All Star Music Suites at the AP 20% discount for pre-cruise. Now we will take the DCL transfers from the resort instead of the airport. We don't need to get to the port early. We have done transfers from resort to port several times. We really like the luggage handling. It works well for two seniors like us. I then called CO and changed our flight to arrive at 2:12PM with no change fee. That will give us time to go to Epcot for the last weekend of the Flower & Garden festival. Who knows, I might change again..
My Sis and BIL moved to FL last year, so I invited them to come and stay with us at ASMu Suites the night before our Fantasy cruise.
Michele & Milton

 

[Elaine Dragonlady]

RE: Disney Dream
Question: Glad you had fun! Any thoughts on the cruise? Were the crowds out of control?
My Answer: The ship felt more crowded than in January (right after the Costa disaster, I wonder if people canceled as we saw lots of empty tables at dinner in Jan)...people did complain about long lines for Aqua Duck. We noticed that the theater filled up pretty quickly also. They did add a matinee on the 3rd night for Disney's Believe (their best show, IMHO). We opted to stay on board at Castaway Cay (crummy weather and we had been there several times) - however, it is worth leaving the ship for the BBQ lunch, as lunch in Cabanas was nothing remarkable...lesson learned!

Question: three books! Anything good?
My Answer: "Cutting for Stone" - excellent fiction book about doctors in Ethiopia (my bookclub is discussing this week)
Also read Tami Hoag's new book, "Down the Darkest Road" and Patterson's "Private" which is the first in a series about people in a security agency - really liked that one! Love my Kindle Touch!

Seriously hoping that the new Earth Day movie about Chimpanzees will be showing when we sail on this Disney Fantasy cruise...saw both Oceans in 2010 and African Cats in 2011 on cruises!

Comment: Good luck today at your new job orientation.
My Response: TY DH says if I work more, I can go on more vacations

Love my Kindle too!! Less space needed for books in luggage - more shoes?
And three months today will be the first day of our holiday, and I'll be seeing my eldest daughter for the first time since September 2011. She works at the Studios on the Great Movie Ride/Star Tours - please say hello to Elisa if you see her - she's the only Elisa and only Englishwoman on these attractions.

 

[gailg3horses]

Paid my cruise off in full so I can make my reservations next week. Hoping to get some good stuff still. It's getting so close now.

 

[sues14]

Wow-- lots of activity in the last couple of weeks!!! Great artwork to all of you who are so talented! I don't mix well with computers, so I'm grateful for those of you who can do that and share!!!! Thank you!!!! And welcome to the newcomers! So excited to have a big group! We had a big group in our last FE and I was a little overwhelmed at first, but it was fun. We're great with it being split up to make it easier, but I think we plan to do all of the staterooms as well

Getting ready for what the news is calling a "winter blast" to come in tonight... We're getting a whopping one inch of snow, lol They've even started announcing plans for if school is delayed (my kids go to a private school and have a half day tomorrow, so if the county has a 2-hour delay, we get cancelled... kids are excited!). I guess the one inch is a big deal for the hills here, but, being from the snow belt, I find it pretty humorous... Especially since my parents got almost a foot on the second of January and still had school on the 3rd

Time to browse for FE gifts! Can't wait!!!!!!!

I know you are back home after surgery, but how you doin?

A big welcome to all the new cruise friends! This is going to be such a great big group!!!

Bought the stuff to make some of our FE gifts... So excited! Feels a little closer now I keep counting the months on my fingers like a little kid and it's so nice to be less than a hand, haha

*Finally* got the call from the surgeon and surgery is scheduled for next Thursday. VERY glad because I was afraid he was just going to tell me to watch what I eat (which I do-- eat healthy and work out every day-- but I don't want to eat all the yummy stuff on the cruise, where I DON'T watch what I eat and I DON'T worry about it, and then be miserable because my gallbladder declares war...). Just about any time I don't watch what I eat it gets very upset So the surgery is good news

I hope everyone else is doing well and surviving snow and ice if you have it. I know we'll be staying in where it's warm today!

I can't believe you are buying stuff for FE I'm getting worried!

[

Hi Everyone! Quick update for those of you following, Sabrina is doing really well now. My DH flew her up to Philadelphia to visit the Shriner's there and she had a FABULOUS check up! She does NOT need additional surgery on her back but will wear a brace when she is at home (not school). I won't make her wear it on the cruise except at night.

anyways, I feel like a huge weight is off of my shoulders and I can focus on this cruise. 90 days is creeping up fast!!!!

Has anyone tried the Hyatt stay certificate? Looking into that today....

Mati, I am sooooo happy that no surgery is needed

Hey all! I can't believe I missed the 100 day mark, but it's been crazy as usual around here! We had to put our Princess Puppy to sleep that day, so it was not so fun around here... Slowly getting better though as we realize that she is in a much happier place.

I looked into the allears.net group but didn't think we could do it because we used DVC to do our cruise. Did you have to book through All Ears to be in the group? I'm going to be really bummed if I misunderstood that! It sounds really fun!

Port Adventure question: Does anyone know of a for-sure modest beach trip that would be appropriate for the kids? I'm not sure I'm ready for my 7 and 9 year olds to experience the French side of life We really wanted to do the Sea World Explorer glass bottom boat, but even the beach that visited sounded a little questionable. Maybe we'll just shop, do lunch and go back to play on the empty boat I'm of the "as long as I'm in the sun, I don't care where I am" frame of mind

Hope everyone is surviving the winter snow if you're up here. We only got a couple of inches, but they're getting hammered just north and south of us. Stay warm everyone!!!!

Jen, sorry about your dog. When Tony's mom passed she had two dogs, they stayed with his sister but found their new home in TN with Tonys dad. One of them died about two weeks ago. It was sad and they weren't my dog. It just seems like so much loss so close. My life will be upside down if I lost our dog.
I hope you are doing well health wise, I know I got a little freaked out in aug. with my surgery because my kidneys were slow to respond. I'm a nurse and knew the drill but my mom and dad died from kidney failure. Plus four other family members have kidney issues! It could have been any other organ but that and I would have been fine. All is well now, no worries.

Mati----sure you should take the kids to Typhoon Lagoon! It will be three kids (because we all become kids in the disney confines, right?) having a blast!!! We did Blizzard Beach on our last go around, and we are psyched to return back to Typhoon Lagoon this time!

Mati, don't listen to tony! Lol we would love to see you at typhoon lagoon but they have a wave pool and with only one parent there I would be concerned. He forgets our babies are 18 and 22 and have had a pool most of their lives. If you want to do a water park I would consider blizzard beach (no wave pool) once the waves come it is hard to keep and eye on your group. Some might be next to you while some have been carried all the way back to the beach area. Sorry Tony but that's my two cents!

Hey group! Made final payment this weekend so I am ready for check in and excursions on March 5.

I am also booked through the all-ears group - hope they have some good events scheduled.

I have all of my gifts for FE, just need to prepare the bags. I will be ready for these 2 weeks when they get here - my boss has a lot of projects planned plus we are preparing for a financial audit over the summer.

I hope everyone is doing well. Enjoy folks and we'll all be meeting soon.

Barb

yea barb

RE: Disney Dream
Question: Glad you had fun! Any thoughts on the cruise? Were the crowds out of control?
My Answer: The ship felt more crowded than in January (right after the Costa disaster, I wonder if people canceled as we saw lots of empty tables at dinner in Jan)...people did complain about long lines for Aqua Duck. We noticed that the theater filled up pretty quickly also. They did add a matinee on the 3rd night for Disney's Believe (their best show, IMHO). We opted to stay on board at Castaway Cay (crummy weather and we had been there several times) - however, it is worth leaving the ship for the BBQ lunch, as lunch in Cabanas was nothing remarkable...lesson learned!

Question: three books! Anything good?
My Answer: "Cutting for Stone" - excellent fiction book about doctors in Ethiopia (my bookclub is discussing this week)
Also read Tami Hoag's new book, "Down the Darkest Road" and Patterson's "Private" which is the first in a series about people in a security agency - really liked that one! Love my Kindle Touch!

Seriously hoping that the new Earth Day movie about Chimpanzees will be showing when we sail on this Disney Fantasy cruise...saw both Oceans in 2010 and African Cats in 2011 on cruises!

Comment: Good luck today at your new job orientation.
My Response: TY DH says if I work more, I can go on more vacations

Might check out private and welcome to the group

 

[sues14]

Hi all! I'm caught up. I have been reading and reading. It's hard not to respond to every post. I will try to check in more often. I can't believe that it is only 95 more days away. We have the cruise payed in full and we are so pumped. I can't get enough Disney until then! Happy valentines day to you all

Susan

 

[carouselkr]

I just read (on Disboards) that cabanas on Castaway Cay can now be booked on line under Excursions....so I looked, and all 20 Cabanas on this cruise are sold out! (not that I was looking to pay for 2 people to be in one, even though I would have loved it)...anybody who already booked one and is looking to "share" - please let me know via PM!!

One week til my 5K Princess race (walk)! Today's time was under 53 minutes so I have a week to shave off a couple more minutes (and maybe a pound or two)

See you real soon!

 

[gailg3horses]

I just read (on Disboards) that cabanas on Castaway Cay can now be booked on line under Excursions....so I looked, and all 20 Cabanas on this cruise are sold out! (not that I was looking to pay for 2 people to be in one, even though I would have loved it)...anybody who already booked one and is looking to "share" - please let me know via PM!!

Oh no, they are all gone??? I was hoping to snag one too for our family of 4 adults and 2 kids.

If anyone else would want to share one that has one booked, please let me know.

 

[cncDisney4]

I would love to get a Palo brunch reservation for our anniversary celebration, but figure it probably won't happen since I cannot check-in online until March 5th. I figured I would just check once we board the ship, right?

Also, another question ... we will be traveling from BCV to the port via town car. For those of you with the cruise experience, what time should I have the service pick us up if we have a board time around say 11:30? I don't know our board time, but that will help me in the planning once I do get one.

 

[sues14]

I would love to get a Palo brunch reservation for our anniversary celebration, but figure it probably won't happen since I cannot check-in online until March 5th. I figured I would just check once we board the ship, right?

Also, another question ... we will be traveling from BCV to the port via town car. For those of you with the cruise experience, what time should I have the service pick us up if we have a board time around say 11:30? I don't know our board time, but that will help me in the planning once I do get one.

I want to know about brunch at palo's? Is it the same food as dinner? Is the price the same?

 

[DizDaddy]

I want to know about brunch at palo's? Is it the same food as dinner? Is the price the same?

...and to add to that, I think I've seen on the boards where some try to book Palo for lunch on the day of boarding the ship. Is that even an option? Does it get you on the ship sooner?

 

[kimistry6]

Can anyone tell me how "exposed" Orient Beach is in St. Maarten? We are wanting to do the excursion there but I'm not wanting my kids to see nudeness while we are there. We have decided to stay at Country Inn and Suites the night before the cruise so just wondering if anyone else is staying there?

 

[Pirategirrrl]

I have all of my gifts for FE, just need to prepare the bags. I will be ready for these 2 weeks when they get here - my boss has a lot of projects planned plus we are preparing for a financial audit over the summer.

I hope everyone is doing well. Enjoy folks and we'll all be meeting soon.

Barb

I'm so jealous! I started buying materials last spring. And that is all I've done so far. Now I need to figure out what to do
I'm looking forward to meeting everyone!

 

[reimero]

Can anyone tell me how "exposed" Orient Beach is in St. Maarten? We are wanting to do the excursion there but I'm not wanting my kids to see nudeness while we are there. We have decided to stay at Country Inn and Suites the night before the cruise so just wondering if anyone else is staying there?

I have no personal experience, but *every* review I've read says that one (clearly-marked) section of beach is no clothing, but the entire beach runs a high risk of no tops. If this is a concern, the strong recommendation is to seek out alternate beaches.

 

[shoes99]

Can anyone tell me how "exposed" Orient Beach is in St. Maarten? We are wanting to do the excursion there but I'm not wanting my kids to see nudeness while we are there. We have decided to stay at Country Inn and Suites the night before the cruise so just wondering if anyone else is staying there?

We went on the Disney excursion and were on the family beach side, but we saw topless and even one man kept walking along the water completely naked. You will see nudeness to some extent..

 

[nonni]

Paid in full!!!

 

[reimero]

Paid in full!!!

Us too!!

 

[kimistry6]

We went on the Disney excursion and were on the family beach side, but we saw topless and even one man kept walking along the water completely naked. You will see nudeness to some extent..

I think we can handle a little nudity. My boys are still young (8 & 5) and may not even notice any thing. I'm just thinking that any of the beaches there will have nudity so we might as well grin and bare it!

 

[kimistry6]

Paid in full!!!

Us too!!

We are too!!! It makes it feel more official for us. We were on the fence about canceling this cruise up until last week and then just decided to go for it.

 

[Elaine Dragonlady]

Paid in Full, and FE gifts finished

 

[LivingtheWDWdream]

Wish we could say we were paid in full because we would love to make our plans on the 19th but our pay schedules aren't normal so we have to wait until the 1st to pay ours off. Gets us in before the 1st time cruisers for booking everything but we figure we'll be lucky if we even get a Palo dinner.

We did come into a small little windfall so the cruise is half paid for by someone other then us WHOOHOO! So now we will have extra for things onboard so that is a positive.

I would love to do the FE but with so many people participating trying to go around the boat would be really hard physically for us. So we will wish everyone good trading this cruise.