FANTASY FANTASTIC:::September 8, 2012

[lmhall2000]

Fantasy Fantastic Sailing Crew

lmhall2000: DH, DW, DS (17), DD (14), DD (13)
MrsMinease: DH, DW, DS (4)
uscgmouse: DH, DW, DS (2), FIL, MIL
cruisinmom: DH, DW, DD's (9,8,7)
malacajo: DH, DW, DD, DS
technoarch: DH, DW
wvhokie: 4 Adults, DD (4)
UKMickeyC: 2 Adults, DD (18)
Spoonces: DH, DW, DS (9), DS (7)
alleluia5: DH, DW, DS (12), DS (9), DS (&)
DLWA: DH, DW, DS (11), DS (11)
maxfrench62: DD, DS (27)
cerny: DH, DW, DD 15, DS 13, DS 11
dennismcneely: DH, DW, DD 10
bareacuda: 2 Adults
Magical Tink: DH, DW
Dis Yoda: DH, DW
Cidaliamt: DH, DW, dd (8), ds (8), dd (7)
bluejasmine: DH, DW
Mandymouse: DH, DW
Keira1387: DH, DW
ufpajenn: DH, DW, ds (3)
Tonysmom6093 & LCrain: DSis, Ds (12), DSis
Jackson'sGrammie: DGm, Dd, dgs (3)
rlbren: DH, DW
toontoy: DH, DW
MegaMouseHouse: DH, DW, DD (21)
TheDawnPatrol: 3 adults- DS (11), DS (10), DD (5)
Pwiedower: DH, DW, DS(4)
castmeaway:
Marianner: DH, DW, DS (3), DGMa
Arizona Belle: DH, DW
BrandonbrH, DW
Princess Mindy: (DM, DD)
Slappy32: (DH, DW, DD (2.5), DBS-19)
Boosgram: (DH, DW)
Twinkster: (DH, DW, DS-5)
Dizzland Deb: (DF, DF)
Tukogirl: (DH, DW)
Taormin1: (DH, DW, DD 3, DS 2)
Rubberbootbunny: (DH, DW, DD 11)
Viking 53 DH, DW, DD 4)
LadyJanel:
KaseyC: (DM, DD11, DD9)
Theeighthdwarf: (DH, DW, DC (11, 10, 8, 4)
100PERCENTDISNEY: (DH, DW, DS, DDIL, DGS)
KSHLEHUBER: DH, DW, DS, DFIL

FACEBOOK link https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/219779464742519/
Hopefully, that will link you and you can request to be added! Thanks!!



Ship's Itinerary:Day Date Port Ashore Onboard

Saturday 08-Sep-2012 PORT CANAVERAL 4:00 PM

Sunday 09-Sep-2012 AT SEA

Monday 10-Sep-2012 AT SEA

Tuesday 11-Sep-2012 ST MAARTEN 8:00 AM 6:00 PM

Wednesday 12-Sep-2012 ST THOMAS 7:45 AM 3:15 PM

Thursday 13-Sep-2012 AT SEA

Friday 14-Sep-2012 CASTAWAY CAY 9:30 AM 4:00 PM

Saturday 15-Sep-2012 PORT CANAVERAL 7:00 AM

Hi all!! Wow! Just booked our September 8th sailing to the Eastern Caribbean!

Join in for the cruise and introduce yourself!

We're a family of five celebrating our 20th anniversary and my birthday will be on this cruise as well. This will be our third cruise...all Disney...and can't wait to ride the AquaDuck with my dh and all our kids!

Welcome aboard the Fantasy Fantastic!

MomT

 

[IrishCowboy]

I have added your thread to the cruise meet list

 

[lmhall2000]

FISH EXTENDERS LIST!!!!!

What are fish extenders?
Thread on fish extenders, pictures and ideas

If you would like to participate in Fish Extenders for this cruise..please let Kathy Beattie know! She is spearheading the 2nd FE Group, the first group organized by Elaine Thimes met the limit....You can send Kathy a private message to her username here at kathybeattie [/email] Please send her the following info...
FE LIST
CABIN #
DIS NAME:
LAST NAME:
participants
Need name
age and sex
ANY ALLERGIES:
Special Occasions:
I have also set up closed Facebook pages for our sailing..titled "Fantasy Fantastic!!!" and "Fantasy Fantastic Youth!!!" Let me know if you'd like to join and I can send you an invite! Just PM me here or search for the group and ask to be added there..just let me know your Disboard name so we keep it cruising passengers only.

For the FE group...we will limit them to 24 families per group. We now have two groups! will need your Disboards name, last name, room number, number of guests participating (we just have my kids do it..but some have pockets for the whole family or just kids etc.) and ages/sex of those participating....we try to give items boys would like and girls would like.

Your room list will be emailed to you by your FE Organizer!! Thanks leaders!!



I'll update the list here so we can organize the groups!

Thanks everyone! We have done FE twice and it's a special part of our experience!

 

[lmhall2000]

St. Thomas

Excursion Options:
1. www.doubloon.com
Doubloon Sail & Snorkel Tour (3.5 hours)
Join the excitement! Help raise the sails of Doubloon, a 65-foot classic schooner that will take you to Turtle Cove, near Buck Island. Here, you will anchor and have time to snorkel and swim among a coral garden. Snacks, beverages and snorkel equipment are included.
Price: $49 (ages 10 & up) Child: $32 (ages 5-9)

2. www.rumbabacharters.com
With a maximum of only six passenger guests, there is plenty of room to relax in our shaded cockpit or soak up the sun on our spacious decks. Our sailboat "Rumbaba" is well equipped for your comfort and safety.
Amenities Include:
A fresh gourmet grilled lunch and open bar that is simply the best in the business!
Private head and changing area
Fresh hot water shower
Easy access swim ladder
Premium quality snorkel gear and flotation
Custom itinerary
Expert snorkel instruction

3. Leave St. Thomas and head for St. John! Following is a report from a cruiser:
I'll begin by saying I LOVE St. John. We have been heading there for years (and taking fellow passengers with us) each time our ship docks in St. Thomas. I even love the adventure and anticipation of getting there (grabbing a taxi, arriving at the Red Hook ferry, watching St. John grow closer as we cross the channel). It does take a little bit to get there but for us, it's worth it.

There are several reasons I'd recommend going on your own (or with a small group from your ship): You can go and return on your own schedule; you can go early and beat the crowds (we always get off the ship as early as possible and catch the first available ferry); you'll save money. While a sailboat excursion will give you a sense of the beauty of St. John, I think the experience is better if you take the ferry to the island, explore and enjoy the wonderful views and beaches from on land.

To get there, regardless of where you dock, hop in a taxi and head to the Red Hook Ferry dock. The ferry to Cruz Bay St. John leaves every hour on the hour. If you make the 9:00 AM ferry, you'll beat the crowds and have more time on the island. It's only about a 20 minute ferry ride. When you get off the ferry there are bunches of taxis waiting to take you to the beach or on an island tour or both. It's about $6 per person from the dock to Trunk Bay with a couple of wonderful scenic overlooks on the way (my avatar is taken from the Trunk Bay overlook). It is a spectacular island.

If you want to rent a car, they run about $70 - $75 for the day and are typically small jeep-type vehicles. The drive on the other side of the road here so be prepared for that. If you just want to relax and enjoy, I'd suggest taking the taxi to the beach.

Trunk Bay is by far the most popular beach. It has the marked underwawter snorkeling trail and it is a beautiful beach. There is a $4 admission fee for Trunk Bay. If snorkeling isn't key, I'd suggest going to Cinnamon Bay, the next major beach down from Trunk. It, too, is very pretty, snorkeling not as good but no admission fee.

Trunk Bay and Cinnamon both have a decent beach snack bar (burgers, chix fingers, etc) and a place you can rent beach chairs (not the best shape) and snorkel gear (OK stuff).

There are many other gorgeous beaches along the north shore of the island. Hawksnest (has restroom facilities but not food/chair renta) and Maho (no facilities) are two of my favorites. Taxis will take you to any of them. Taxis are readily available at Trunk and Cinnamon all day long.

If you prefer a nicer lunch, there are also lots of nice restaurants back in Cruz Bay within walking distance of the ferry dock. www.stjohnguidebook.com gives you plenty of suggestions and they are all pretty good.

Heading back, I'd recommend you take a ferry that leaves Cruz Bay no later than 3 hours prior to your ships departuer. If your ship leaves at 6:00, I'd take the 3:00 PM ferry back to Red Hook at the latest. That will get you back on St. Thomas by 3:20 with plenty of time for a cab ride back to your ship. There are always plenty of cabs at Red Hook waiting to take passengers back to ships, too.



4. BEACHES

Sapphire Beach:From cruisers:
Sapphire beach. IT IS BEAUTIFUL!!! THere is a turtle nest just off the beach make sure you go out and swim with them. There is lots of shade on the beach. There are chairs you can rent as well. The food available is just a little mom and pop stand set up selling burgers. But the water is amazing colors of blue and I'm counting the days until we can go back . Take taxis for $7 pp from the port to get to this beach. You can negotiate lower fares if you care to.
Sapphire beach is very nice and it is clean. The sand is course as there is alot of broken coral mixed in. Snorkeling was awesome. There is a little beach hut for food and water toys. Kayaks, paddle boards, peddle boats, sunfish, etc. There is also a nice restaurant just around the marina which serves great food. This is about a 3 minute walk around the marina (look for the white condos on the hill. Follow the trail from the marina. Restaurant is right next to the pool.



Magen's Beach
Magens is beautiful. Soft white sand. No snorkeling. No water toys here. Just water that is clear and flat like glass. If there are more than 4 ships in the same port as us Magens bay can get pretty crowded...hopefully, we will know soon how many ships are joining us that day!


Coki Beach
Coki beach was dirty. The sand was softer than at Sapphire and there is a foot hut there. Trash was everywhere. The stench of pot was rediculously strong. The characters that hang around the beach and entrance to the beach were thugs. We didn't stay long enough to look for water toys. We stayed all of 5 minutes and continued on to another beach.
Just an FYI, last year a cruise teenage passenger was caught in crossfire on an open air bus to Coki Beach...this is isolated but may support the opinion above of this area.

 

[lmhall2000]

St. Maarten Page

Excursion Options:

1. www.bernardstours.com
All day tour includes sightseeing, beach and shopping.
$40 pp (Private tours are available..price negotiable..contact Bernard)
This famous tour will consist of the following stops.
* Pickup at the cruise pier
* 9:00 am to 10:00 am sightseeing including stop at the French and Dutch border
* Brief stop at Oyster Pond over looking the island of St Barths
* Swim at Orient Beach for up to two hours, as time allows.
* Marigot - open market (French Capital).
* Sunset Beach bar ( Maho Beach ) 40 minutes where you can see the planes land right over your head.
* Cayhill overlooking Simpson Bay marina.

2. www.randomwind.com
Snorkeling*

We usually stop twice; at the first stop while you are snorkeling, chillin' or walking the beach, your hostess is cooking you a full lunch in the yacht's galley. Diane always has good sweets for after lunch before sailing out again. The best seat on board is the bowsprit; sitting out over the water, it is a place for contemplation, inspiration and if there is a bit of a swell - exhilaration.

Tarzan Swing**

At the second stop we drop the spinakker pole & swing into the ocean from St. Maarten's only Tarzan swing. We like to call it good clean fun in paradise. Thus far, those between 3 and 87 have had fun with the Tarzan swing; if you are 2 or 88 you can break the record! Your crew can show you how to flip forwards & backwards if you are feeling adventurous. If you just want to watch, they can be quite entertaining!

Reasonable prices

Our trip is $95 per adult and $50 for kids 5-12. Kids 4 and under are free. Can you imagine staying on land - going out to lunch, having as many drinks as you want (including bottled water, juices and sodas), having quality snacks, going snorkeling, fishing and swinging from a Tarzan swing for only $95 for the whole day. You can't stay on land for the cheap!


* Great Bay overlooking Phillipsburg and harbor.
* Return to Philipsburg will be between 1:30 and 2:00, depending on factors.

3. Diamond shopping! Diamonds International, Ballerina Jewelers, Majestic Jewelers...many people go to the islands to buy duty free gems...I won't be one of them, but would love to see what bargains people find!

4. Captain Alan's www.captainalan.com

Great Boat Charters, excellent crew, public or private, try our famous Snorkeling-beach stop and Mud bath adventure, a four hour trip every morning for young and old. Special kidrates for under 12, kids under 4 go for free5. www.loteriefarm.com (St. Martin side/French)...ziplines and more

5. www.octopusdiving.com
With only 6 divers per trip aboard the best custom designed and purpose built power catamaran "Octopussy" its a VIP service to all customers whether you are located on the French side St. Martin or the Dutch side St. Maarten

6. On your own- BEACHES:
Maho Beach: A great place to watch the sunset, this "little stretch of sand" is also just a few short yards from the runway of The Princess Juliana International Airport.
So, get out your camera! Nowhere else in the world will you get this close to a landing jumbo jet. You can lie on the beach, catch some rays, and photograph the underbelly of a 747 just a few yards above your head. What a rush! you can watch the planes take off and land at The Sunset Beach Bar; they're located at the other end of horseshoe shaped Maho Beach . The Sunset Beach Bar is a great place to hang out, listen to some tunes, and slurp down a few frozen mudslides

Mullet Bay Beach
Just down the road from Maho Beach , this is a surfer’s paradise, when the conditions are "right". Mullet Bay Beach borders on the island's only 18-hole golf course and is very popular with locals, especially on the weekends. At the southern end, seagrape trees provide pleasant shade for those who are sensitive to the sun's rays and heat. Lounge chairs and umbrellas are also available. A little snack bar cooks up hamburgers and hotdogs and serves cold beers and soft drinks.

Mullet Bay Beach is also an ideal place to take a long stroll in search of free souvenirs. Make sure you take a little waterproof bag with you. Washed up onto the seashore are all types of tiny shells and little pieces of interestingly shaped coral that could grab your eye - great way to get a tan! - Good sunset beach. (You can actually take a taxi here then walk 15 minutes over to Maho Beach to catch the planes landing in the afternoon, the bigger ones come in around 1-2pm)

Dawn Beach
This wide white sand beach , close to a mile long, is backdropped by the dramatic green mountains of Dutch St. Maarten. There's plenty of room to toss a Frisbee or play some paddle ball. Its rolling waters are some of the best for snorkeling on St. Maarten. Coral reefs, burgeoning with exotic fish, are within an easy swim from shore.

If you just want to relax and work on your tan, it's easy to find a place for a little peace and quiet. Beach chairs and umbrellas are provided everywhere on the beach.

Great Bay
Stretching for two miles in front of the Dutch side capital, Philipsburg, a myriad of cruiseships sail into her harbor daily. The thousands of cruiseship visitors that line Great Beach every day can keep an eye on their floating hotel and shopping in Philipsburg is always close at hand.

Guana Bay
Surfers , get out your boards! Guana Bay is awesome dudes! This is the best beach in St. Maarten/St. Martin for surfing enthusiasts, and is recommended for strong swimmers only, since there is usually a heavy undertow. If this sounds like its for you, bring your own picnic and cooler - there are no services. Beautiful breaking waves make great photographs. Bring a friend

Kimsha Beach
Conveniently close to the action of developing Simpson Bay with its resorts, restaurants, nightclubs and casinos, Kimsha Beach is one of the most central beaches on the island. Beach lounges and umbrellas can be rented and watersports toys are available for the active minded. Kimsha Beach can also turn into a night spot, with occasional concerts and beach parties

Little Bay-Divi
Easy taxi ride $4 pp , maybe 10 mins.
lounge chair & umbrella for $5 each. Great beach, extra clear water & warm. 2 beach huts there, one rents jet skis, snorkel gear, floats, etc. A great beach bar/grill is there too. Good food. Gizmo's, it's named after the resident macaw parrot.


LeGallion
Locals like this beach...kite surfing/wind surfing

Many go to Orient Beach on the French side..just a note..nude beach located here but it is marked well...also, traffic gets crazy in the afternoon..some say to give yourself 3 hours to get back to your ship if you go to this side of the island..

 

[lmhall2000]

Castaway Cay info

Here is a great link to a set of informative videos on what is new at Castaway Cay or what activities you can participate in:
Castaway Cay Tour

Rental prices are as follows:

•Snorkeling Equipment -- $25 for adults, $10 for children for the entire day
•Float Rentals -- $6 for the entire day
•Bicycle Rentals -- $6 per hour
•Castaway Cay Getaway Package - includes snorkeling and floats for the whole day and a 1-hour bike rental, $30 for adults, $15 per child
•2 Person paddle boats $8, 30 minutes
•4 Person paddle boats $10, 30 minutes
•Hobie kats $18, 30 minutes
•Aqua fins $15, 30 minutes
•Sea cycle water bikes $15, 30 minutes
•1 Person sea kayaks $8, 30 minutes
•2 Person sea kayaks $10, 30 minutes
•Strollers, complimentary on a first come basis
•Sand wheelchairs complimentary on a first come basis

• The cabanas on the family beach are $499 for up to six guests (including children), and you can add up to four additional guests to some of the cabanas for an additional $50 per person. The adult beach cabanas are $399 for up to six guests, do not include the sand toys or snorkel equipment rental, and you are generally not allowed to add additional guests, though exceptions may be made.

Great link on the cabanas:
Cabanas: Family and Adult

 

[lmhall2000]

Hotel/Transportation thread

 

[MrsMinease]

Hi! I just wanted to pop in and introduce myself. DH and I have booked this cruise (we booked onboard during our 3-night Dream cruise 2 weeks ago) and hope to be able to keep this sailing date. We're thinking about baby #2, and our decision on that will determine whether we sail on Sept 8 or not. Thank goodness adding another LO to the reservation is so easy with DCL.

Off I go to sub to this thread!

 

[lmhall2000]

Welcome!!!

So excited!! I really was beginning to think we were on a ghost cruise!! Not many booked quite yet! As a mom to three children all very close in age (3 children in 4 years)...I HIGHLY recommend going for it!! Mine are all or near teenager years and I kind of regret not having five or six! And if you bring the baby on the cruise with you...count me as an official babysitter if you need one! I think a cruise would be ideal with a baby b/c you can so easily get back to the room if they're needing a nap or just down time!

How did you like the Dream? We have never been on the Dream...but have loved the Magic/Wonder...hope the size doesn't overwhelm us! I'm guessing since it's larger I will have to walk that much more and burn more calories so I can eat more!

Welcome aboard!!
Tara

 

[DLW8]

Hi there -

we are a family of 4 booked on this cruise (rebooked onboard the Magic in December 2010). I am 99% sure we will keep this date, so decided to join the thread.

Cast:
Me - Disney Lover since a child
DH - has accepted my Disney-fanaticness and loves the cruises
DD - will be close to 11 when we sail
DS - will be close to 11 when we sail

The kids don't know about this cruise (our 3rd) and I'm trying to keep it a secret for as long as I can. We are heading to WDW this September and that is also a secret...which is really hard for me to do!

My kids really want to be in the Edge this time, and they will be turning 11 in December while we sail in September. Anyone know if they will be able to go to Edge? If not, we may have to re-think our sail date!

 

[lmhall2000]

Hi there -

we are a family of 4 booked on this cruise (rebooked onboard the Magic in December 2010). I am 99% sure we will keep this date, so decided to join the thread.

Cast:
Me - Disney Lover since a child
DH - has accepted my Disney-fanaticness and loves the cruises
DD - will be close to 11 when we sail
DS - will be close to 11 when we sail

The kids don't know about this cruise (our 3rd) and I'm trying to keep it a secret for as long as I can. We are heading to WDW this September and that is also a secret...which is really hard for me to do!

My kids really want to be in the Edge this time, and they will be turning 11 in December while we sail in September. Anyone know if they will be able to go to Edge? If not, we may have to re-think our sail date!

Welcome!!

We love surprises!! What fun!! It's our third cruise, too! I think you will be fine with the Edge...I bet if you go to both and have them check out both you can let them choose then..I think my 11 and 12 year old actually would have preferred Oceaneer's Club...the Edge on the Magic was a busy place and some not so nice kids were in there...several were asked to leave while my kids were there...just mean kid stuff going on. Our first cruise they were spoiled b/c there were not many in there and they made some great friends...all very nice kids...this last cruise was a spring break week so I'm sure it was slammed. But, I hated that my kids really did not want to spend time in there...they loved the counselors but the unruly kids just made it not fun at all.
We're sticking to traveling off season so they won't have to deal with the crowds and stuff that comes with it....Plus I think it will be better with the Fantasy...bigger space and more to do. The Edge on the Magic was really too small for their age group which probably did not help much.

We are soo excited to go, hope the time flies!
Have a great trip to the World in September...I wish I could surprise my kids and just go for a couple of days...we haven't been in 5 years!

Welcome aboard!!
Tara

 

[DLW8]

Thanks for the welcome - my DS wanted NOTHING to do with the Lab when we went in December (they were almost 9) and DD only went twice to the Lab. All the events they wanted to do in the Navigator were for the Edge. I was thinking that the Edge was 10 - 12, so when I read it was 11 - 12 it took me back a bit.

Our first 2 sailings were in late November/early December and the weather was not great. While I know we are in hurricane season, I am hoping for much sunnier weather in September!

We did a quick trip to the World in 2009 before the first cruise, and this is another quick 5 day trip to get it in before they turn 10.

We usually celebrate their birthday for these trips, but for our upcoming WDW trip I am excited that DH and I will be celebrating our 15th anniversary - finally, it's a celebration for ME!!!

 

[uscgmouse]

We booked last night and I am super excited. This will be our 1st Disney cruise. It will be dh, self and ds (almost 2 at time of cruise) possibly FIL & MIL will be joining as well. We booked a balcony room on deck 9 on the aft of the ship 9162 I think???.

I am hoping ds will let us take advantage of the nursery. This was a big factor in booking this cruise. Other cruise lines only offer care once child is 3 years and older.

I am so excited!

 

[lmhall2000]

We booked last night and I am super excited. This will be our 1st Disney cruise. It will be dh, self and ds (almost 2 at time of cruise) possibly FIL & MIL will be joining as well. We booked a balcony room on deck 9 on the aft of the ship 9162 I think???.

I am hoping ds will let us take advantage of the nursery. This was a big factor in booking this cruise. Other cruise lines only offer care once child is 3 years and older.

I am so excited!

Congratulations for booking!!

I think we're in room 9500? I think our room is the most forward you can get..not sure if that's good or bad, but we're really close to the laundry room so that's helpful!

I hope you IL's can make it! We took my parents on a cruise last year and it gave us so many memories! We love having family along I saw many on the ship this past March with toddlers..they were having a blast and I think it's a great vacation for families with little ones.

So exciting to see more families joining!!
Not too long now, just 16 months or so!
Tara

 

[lmhall2000]

We usually celebrate their birthday for these trips, but for our upcoming WDW trip I am excited that DH and I will be celebrating our 15th anniversary - finally, it's a celebration for ME!!!

Absolutely!! Congratulations on your anniversary!! What a wonderful thing to celebrate! The new star tours ride is really making our kids want to go back this fall..maybe we'll try and join you!
Have a great time!
Tara

 

[CastMember 02]

If this is an Eastern Cruise why no stop to Puerto Rico

 

[uscgmouse]

I am so excited!!! Just wanted to share my joy!

- - Does anyone know if I set up a family photo session does that cost extra or do those pics come on the cd from shutters?

 

[cruisinmom]

I just booked this cruise for my husband and I and our three girls (9,8, & 7).

I was a little Leary of the September sailing because of hurricanes but frankly, it was the cheapest cruise week on the Disney cruise site so I booked it. We homeschool our girls so we have a lot of flexibility in our schedule.

Anybody have any experience with sailing in September?

I will celebrate my birthday on the cruise (Sept. 11).

This is our second Disney Cruise, we did the Magic in 2001 with our boys. We've also cruised Carnival, Princess, And NCL.

I am looking for info on the fish extenders. I know that they are pocket things that hang off the fish things by your cabin doors. What do you put in them? What is my role for fish extenders? Do I bring things with to put in people's pockets? I am a little confused about their purpose. Please help. Thanks

So excited to cruise!

 

[lmhall2000]

I just booked this cruise for my husband and I and our three girls (9,8, & 7).

!

Welcome!! We homeschool as well, we have traveled to Disneyworld during September and the weather was always perfect...first sailing in September, we've sailed March and May..both great weather.

The FE are there to have families put tokens in the pockets to help make the trip that much more memorable/fun...we usually try to bring items that are Disney related or reflective of our area (certain candies etc. you can't get elsewhere)..it's just a lot of fun and we've always done them...

Typically you bring an item for each family (if there are too many, we try to keep it down to 15 families...and split up into groups if it goes over that) and each day your kids find surprises in their pockets from the various families in your FE group. Just fun stuff..my kids loved coming back and finding gifts and especially touring the ship finding all the rooms to put our gifts in their FE pockets.

HTH!

 

[DLW8]

I just booked this cruise for my husband and I and our three girls (9,8, & 7).

I was a little Leary of the September sailing because of hurricanes but frankly, it was the cheapest cruise week on the Disney cruise site so I booked it. We homeschool our girls so we have a lot of flexibility in our schedule.

Anybody have any experience with sailing in September?

I will celebrate my birthday on the cruise (Sept. 11).

This is our second Disney Cruise, we did the Magic in 2001 with our boys. We've also cruised Carnival, Princess, And NCL.

I am looking for info on the fish extenders. I know that they are pocket things that hang off the fish things by your cabin doors. What do you put in them? What is my role for fish extenders? Do I bring things with to put in people's pockets? I am a little confused about their purpose. Please help. Thanks

So excited to cruise!

Welcome! You can make your own FE (Fish Extender) or buy off Ebay or Etsy (I got mine from Etsy last year and love it). Someone will be the coordinator of the FE group and keeps a list of who is part of the FE (you don't have to join even if you are on the meet thread). The lists we have been on has included:

Family Name
Cabin #
Names of all the people in the room
Ages for the kids (and DS or DD as there are names that can be boys or girls)
Email Address
Are you celebrating anything?

There is usually a cut off date to join the FE list so that everyone has time to purchase/make the gifts. Once the list is final, it is sent out to the group.

Some people do one gift per stateroom, others will do something for the kids only, or others will do something for the adults and something different for the kids. You use the list to deliver your gifts during the cruise. My kids loved coming back to the room to see what surprises were there for us (okay, I loved it too!)

There are many threads on the board about gift suggestions. It doesn't have to be a huge gift, most are small gifts (easier to pack for everyone). Creative people have crafted some fabulous gifts (bookmarks, luggage tags, barrettes, necklaces, frames, ornaments) - there are several threads just for those crafty folks! We loved getting little gifts that represent where the family is from as well.

Typically, the FE coordinator schedules a meet in case there are last minute changes to any rooms (those magical upgrades or purchased upgrades at the port) and so people can meet in person. This is usually on the first day, before the muster drill.

Hope that helps!