Fantasy February 16, 2013 - 7 Night Western Cruise Meet

[DizDragonfly]

We are in for this cruise! Just booked it - still waiting on all the confirmations back from our TA.

I'm not even thinking about Air Fare yet...will wait until Jet Blue and Southwest put out their itineraries which they don't do until about 6 months before.

Welcome aboard! In the past few weeks, Southwest and Jet Blue have both released their schedules for our cruise dates. So, you can book airfare as soon as you find a price/flight you like. Be warned, prices are high! Happy fare hunting!

 

[jandj524]

Hello where in long island are you? I'm in nassau county.
DM, DH,DD 13, DS 9, DD 4

Hi -

We live in Western Suffolk and my DH and I work in Nassau. My kids are DD 10 and DS 9

Happy planning

 

[Mom3NY]

out of which airport??? I don't see those deals anymore..

Out of JFK got them Sunday morning. We're a family of 5, but I redeem miles for my DH. Just checked and they are up 411 pp. No worries just make sure to check everyday. Thank you 4 reading
Me, DH (38), DD (12) now , DS (8) now ,DD (4) now

 

[DizJohn]

I found a one way out of Bradley (Hartford) for $295 for Saturday Morning and booked that last night for my wife and as far as the kids and I we are going to Drive on Friday to VA and take the Auto Train will be off in Sanford around 9:30 pick up my wife at MCO at 11:30 I will have all her luggage in the car then drive to the port and all 4 of us will drive home after disembarkation.

That's our game plan..

 

[DizJohn]

Out of JFK got them Sunday morning.

I hope you meant Saturday the 16th not Sunday the 17th

 

[DisDream09]

I found a one way out of Bradley (Hartford) for $295 for Saturday Morning and booked that last night for my wife and as far as the kids and I we are going to Drive on Friday to VA and take the Auto Train will be off in Sanford around 9:30 pick up my wife at MCO at 11:30 I will have all her luggage in the car then drive to the port and all 4 of us will drive home after disembarkation.

That's our game plan..

Good creative plan!! But-Whew! That's too close for my comfort. Fingers crossed for good weather and for all to arrive safely. I am going to keep watching airfares and hoping for a miracle. But my plan is to drive. Leave Thursday evening and hopefully hit South of the Border for breakfast.

 

[silmarg]

Autotrain sounds like an option. Not sure DW would go for it.

 

[jcarwash]

I hope you meant Saturday the 16th not Sunday the 17th

I think Mom3NY was referring to purchasing the airfare this past Sunday morning.

 

[Mom3NY]

I hope you meant Saturday the 16th not Sunday the 17th

I meant i bought the tickets this past Sunday for Feb 15- Feb 24
Im too excited, my family has no clue I booked this trip.

 

[DizJohn]

I meant i bought the tickets this past Sunday for Feb 15- Feb 24
Im too excited, my family has no clue I booked this trip.

Our kids don't know either we are going to tell them on Christmas...

We are thinking because they both love to pin trade that we will get them each a DCL pin and wrap it up and in another box I'll wrap up a "Auto Train Ticket" and in another the FE and leave the Cruise Docs for last to see how long it takes for them to figure it out...

We are going to sit in Coach lower on the train I figured easier for rest rooms.. did not do a room will save that $$ for an excursion

 

[DizJohn]

Autotrain sounds like an option. Not sure DW would go for it.

we could have a pre-cruise party on the train

 

[DizJohn]

Parking at the Port on port or off port suggestions...

I have seen that there has been price increases by the Port and the off ports look good at 5.99 p/d. The money I save could be more souvenir $$

Stay/Park/Cruise deals are not an option.

My Last DCL we used Transfer's from MCO via DCL

 

[DizDragonfly]

Parking at the Port on port or off port suggestions...

Shirley has been recommending Cruise Parking of Port Canaveral. http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=45579179&postcount=1179

 

[DizJohn]

I was thinking of them saw their web site Facebook page and I liked how Todd was standing up to the Port.. But I wanted others thoughts first..

 

[DizDragonfly]

I was thinking of them saw their web site Facebook page and I liked how Todd was standing up to the Port.. But I wanted others thoughts first..

Shirley, who lives in the area, has met him and used his lot. She has nothing but praise for him. If I were parking there, I'd use his lot on her recommendation.

 

[calypso726]

GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS! WE SET SAIL IN 29 WEEKS! THAT IS 203 DAYS!

​

 

[DisDream09]

Now that most of us are over the airfare shell shock, I have some FE questions. This is my first time doing the FE. I have ideas and I want to get started on making some stuff.
I am personally doing this for my kids. I don't expect anything for the adults in my room. But I am happy to share with adults if that is the norm?
As we get closer to the cruise will the list be divided by floor or section or will we do it for everyone?
Do we do something for everyday or as many as we want?
I am the type of person that really tries to consider the person that I am giving stuff to. So I feel that one thing I might have for kids is not appropriate for adults so I would have something else for the adults. Same thing with different ages of girls and boys.

Am I putting TOO MUCH thought into this?

 

[silmarg]

Now that most of us are over the airfare shell shock, I have some FE questions. This is my first time doing the FE. I have ideas and I want to get started on making some stuff.
I am personally doing this for my kids. I don't expect anything for the adults in my room. But I am happy to share with adults if that is the norm?
As we get closer to the cruise will the list be divided by floor or section or will we do it for everyone?
Do we do something for everyday or as many as we want?
I am the type of person that really tries to consider the person that I am giving stuff to. So I feel that one thing I might have for kids is not appropriate for adults so I would have something else for the adults. Same thing with different ages of girls and boys.

Am I putting TOO MUCH thought into this?

While I havent resolved my transportation from and to Fla... Let me try to give u a hand...

Some folks buy FE gifts, some make FE gifts, some FE gifts are for a family, some are for each person in the room (personalized), some give a multiple gifts, some give gifts that are related to where they are from (or where the cruise is going), many gifts are Disney inspired.

There are some good FE gift idea threads on the Disboards. But if you go there, you may see some of my prior FE gifts there... and while I have not finalized my FE gift for this cruise, it will likely be inspired from my prior gifts.

Some gifts are personalized (if folks are thinking that for their gifts, we need to start collecting names) and some gifts are clearly for adults (mini wine, rum, etc has been found in my FEs). I say be creative and I am sure it will be a smashing success.

I have always given to every room on every FE. The list for this cruise is shaping up to be a modest one (about 20 families), so I think we should not split the list up into smaller groups (but I am biased as I have done FEs with over 100 families before and thought it was great).

Latest FE list (please let me know if I have any of the information wrong):
JCARWASH / TOTORO - DH/DW/DS6 - 2525
THEHOLMESBUNCH - DH/DW/DD10 - 5020
THEHOLMESBUNCH3 (parents) - DH/DW - 5022
THEHOLMESBUNCH (sister) - DH/DW/DD12/DS10 - 5518
LAURITAGODDESS - DMom/DS10 - 6040
MAGRUDERSMAKES3 - DH/DW/DD10 - 6188
SILMARG - DH/DW/DD13/DD10 - 6566
MATTHEWSMOMMY - DH/DW/DS6 - 6690
THEHOLMESBUNCH (friend) - DMom/DS10 - 7192
POETICMOE - DMom/DS12 - 7690
MAKINMEMORIES4MYKIDS - DH/DW/DD13/DD12 - 7570
DIZJOHN - DH/DW/DS9/DD6 - 8080
DISDREAM09 - DH/DW/DD12/DD8 - 8116
KPD320 - DH/DD12/DS8 - 9045
LANI - Lani and Steph - 9064
BROWNIEBITES - DH/DW+DW's parents - 9506
THETHOMSLUVDISNEY - DH/DW/DD16/DD12 - 9536
THREEBOYSNY - DH/DW/DS12/DS10/DS7 - 9540
DISDREAM09's (friend) - DH/DW/DD12/DD8 - 10024
MOMTOLEASAWAV - DH/DW/DD17/DS15/DD10 - 10120

 

[jcarwash]

I have always given to every room on every FE. The list for this cruise is shaping up to be a modest one (about 20 families), so I think we should not split the list up into smaller groups (but I am biased as I have done FEs with over 100 families before and thought it was great).

I agree, the way the list is shaping up it looks like everyone can give to everyone.

 

[momtoleasawav]

We participated in the fe exchange during our last cruise and loved it. My daughter made our fe gifts and it was fun to give them out. It was very exciting, especially for the kids, to come back to our room and see our extender filled with goodies! and such a variety of items, some individual, some not, some clearly for kids, some not.

as far as transportation, with my family of five flying is out of the question. we drove last time and will do it again, staying at the country inn and suites when we arrive. It is not ideal but at 400.00+ a person, I cannot afford to fly- although I look all the time for deals.

anyone thinking of excursions yet? my daughter wants to swim with dolphins and I would like to go to Mr. sanchos and maybe see the turtles. anyone have any information about the excursions?