Fantasy Holiday Cruise 12/21/13

[gumbo1009]

I was pricing rental cars the other day and ended up booking Budget, which was the cheapest option at the time (and it really was not all that cheap). Hertz did not have free mileage for PC drop-off.

OK, dumb question - how did you know Hertz did not have free mileage? Did it mention this online? (When I did a search on the Hertz web site it just gave a daily rental price for the vehicle, it did not mention anything about whether mileage was included or extra...)

 

[linkandclover]

Hi there,

My family and I will be joining you on this cruise. It is myself, DH, DS 16 and DS 14. We are in room 8020. Would love to join the FE. Not really into facebook.

 

[Gansleclan]

Dear Cruisers,

We have discovered today, thanks to Tonja Parkin that Facebook (FB) is now charging $1.00 fee for speaking to those outside of your normal realm of friends or groups you may encounter with others. In the future, I would suggest that in order for one to become part of the FB group to please PM here on DisBoards, and I will follow up with both you and Tonja her on getting everyone added in a timely. In the meantime, until you are a member of the group, I would suggest checking your “other” folder on FB as any messages from the DisBoards request will go to this folder at no charge.

I am sorry about this inconvenience, but as my husband says…”You gotta love modern technology!”

 

[cardidog]

Hi! I was actually working on my FE gifts when we lost power during Hurricane Sandy so I'm super-excited about this cruise!

I still plan to arrange the Secret Mickey gift exchange---you know--where people are given the info about other people's likes so you can give them nice little yet thoughtful items. I plan to send out the questions in August and have them back by October so people have enough time to find items. The cost for the items should not be over $15.00. I've done it on other cruises---it is a lot of fun!

Tom and I are still interested in participating in any and all fun events that might be scheduled!

I'm off to PM Becky----I joined Facebook on Saturday (just for this cruise group---and I'm not sure what I am doing there---the instructions -- to the eyes of this 46-year-old dinosaur) are non-existant. Sigh.

Susan

 

[linkandclover]

Hi! I was actually working on my FE gifts when we lost power during Hurricane Sandy so I'm super-excited about this cruise!

I still plan to arrange the Secret Mickey gift exchange---you know--where people are given the info about other people's likes so you can give them nice little yet thoughtful items. I plan to send out the questions in August and have them back by October so people have enough time to find items. The cost for the items should not be over $15.00. I've done it on other cruises---it is a lot of fun!

Tom and I are still interested in participating in any and all fun events that might be scheduled!

I'm off to PM Becky----I joined Facebook on Saturday (just for this cruise group---and I'm not sure what I am doing there---the instructions -- to the eyes of this 46-year-old dinosaur) are non-existant. Sigh.

Susan

I have done the FE for several years now but I know nothing about the Secret Mickey Exchange ( sounds interesting). Can you tell me more about it.

 

[cardidog]

I have done the FE for several years now but I know nothing about the Secret Mickey Exchange ( sounds interesting). Can you tell me more about it.

A list of questions is sent out and filled-in and returned to me---the person who assigns people---some of the questions are: favorite Disney character, food/candy, hobbies, sport's team, color, etc... along with name, cabin number, early or late dining, celebrating anything special and if there are any allergies or extreme dislikes. On longer cruises the gifts can be spread out over a few days/nights---I expect on 7 nights---maybe 1 or 2 deliveries with the final night/day a reveal --this being over Christmas week---a holiday card with your name and Disboard name and maybe cabin # would be good---sometimes even Thank You cards are given---certainly a shout-out here

The little gifts themselves are based on the person's likes. I had a travel agent once and I gave her pretty luggage tags, a Hallmark ornament of her favorite Disney Princess and some of her favorite candy bars. The cost should be under $15.00 and small enough yet thoughtful.

I try to match kids with other kids---I find it easier to match individuals and not couples---as many or as few people in your cabin can participate---you don't need to have a fish extender to participate.

I hope that this helps explain things---and I also hope that lots of people will want to participate---it is really a lot of fun!

 

[Gansleclan]

A list of questions is sent out and filled-in and returned to me---the person who assigns people---some of the questions are: favorite Disney character, food/candy, hobbies, sport's team, color, etc... along with name, cabin number, early or late dining, celebrating anything special and if there are any allergies or extreme dislikes. On longer cruises the gifts can be spread out over a few days/nights---I expect on 7 nights---maybe 1 or 2 deliveries with the final night/day a reveal --this being over Christmas week---a holiday card with your name and Disboard name and maybe cabin # would be good---sometimes even Thank You cards are given---certainly a shout-out here

The little gifts themselves are based on the person's likes. I had a travel agent once and I gave her pretty luggage tags, a Hallmark ornament of her favorite Disney Princess and some of her favorite candy bars. The cost should be under $15.00 and small enough yet thoughtful.

I try to match kids with other kids---I find it easier to match individuals and not couples---as many or as few people in your cabin can participate---you don't need to have a fish extender to participate.

I hope that this helps explain things---and I also hope that lots of people will want to participate---it is really a lot of fun!

--------------------
Thank you Susan for explaining this more in depth. I have a couple of people listed on the spreadsheet who are interested, and I am sure we will have others as time gets closer!

Becky..

 

[Gansleclan]

Dear Cruisers,

Please find the latest spreadsheet that runs through today, February 28. I will be making changes (additions, corrections, etc.) through 3/28 and will publish the next one at that time. If there is anything that needs corrected or added, please feel free to contact me via PM.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Agd6OBhB6DiNdF9saVF5UjFDYWx0VVoxUGhUWnhIYUE&usp=sharing

 

[DVCMagic966]

We are also joining this cruise. We booked back in August while on the Magic ! This will be our 7th cruise but 1st on the Fantasy ! Will be myself, DH and DS 16 .

 

[Gansleclan]

We are also joining this cruise. We booked back in August while on the Magic ! This will be our 7th cruise but 1st on the Fantasy ! Will be myself, DH and DS 16 .

Hi,

Welcome to the list. If possible could you please PM me the answer to the following questions, as we try to allow for some anonymity on the DISBoard site

* family's last name, as well as first names for yourself, spouse and son
* cabin number if known?
* state you are from?
* would your family like to participate in FE?
* is your son a Boy Scout ( as we will be exchanging regional patches)?
* would your family like to participate in an ornament exchange?
* would your family like to participate in Secret Mickey's?
* would your family like to participate in a cabin tour?
* Is your family celebrating any special events?
* is your family looking for dining partners?
* would you or your family like to host an event that you participated in on a previous cruise?

In addition we do have a Facebook group that has been established for our cruise date. If you would like to be included, please let me know your FB name and I will forward the information on to Parkinfamily, who is the administrator of this site.

I look forward to getting to know you as time gets closer, and if you have any questions please feel free to contact members of this site or me.

Becky

 

[randster]

Hi everyone - We will be on the 12/21 Fantasy cruise and this is our family's 2nd DCL trip. I'm new to the boards here, reading up on FE and Secret Mickey, and Lee family - we are also a Jewish family traveling on this trip! Our kids will be 6 (girl) and 3 (boy). Looks like the FE is something we would like to do but do I need to PM someone in particular about it? Looking forward to this trip and meeting many of you.

 

[oldpatterns]

Welcome to the group! From looking at the spreadsheet there are at least 4 families who are Jewish!

Regards,

The Lee's from MA

 

[Gansleclan]

Hi everyone - We will be on the 12/21 Fantasy cruise and this is our family's 2nd DCL trip. I'm new to the boards here, reading up on FE and Secret Mickey, and Lee family - we are also a Jewish family traveling on this trip! Our kids will be 6 (girl) and 3 (boy). Looks like the FE is something we would like to do but do I need to PM someone in particular about it? Looking forward to this trip and meeting many of you.

Randi,

Please watch for a PM from me in regards to answers needed for participating in the FE for our cruise. If you don't see anything today, please email me at rebeccagansle@gmail.com.

 

[Gansleclan]

We are also joining this cruise. We booked back in August while on the Magic ! This will be our 7th cruise but 1st on the Fantasy ! Will be myself, DH and DS 16 .

I responded to this email approximately 9 days ago, and have not received a response from you as of today. I will reach out to you once again, via PM in hopes that there wasn't any confusion in my previous email. If you don't see an email from me today, please feel free to email me at rebeccagansle@gmail.com

 

[Gansleclan]

Dear Families,

I had posted a question to our own FB community, and as well as to members of several other groups that have traveled or will be traveling. It seems that many of the groups are requesting gifts for every cabin or individual traveling in a party. At this point we have approximately 27 cabins, consisting of 51 adults and 42 children traveling. When this brought up to the FB community, they thought the idea of a split approximately 6 weeks prior to travel would work. I would also like to see the thoughts of others on this lists regarding their opinions.

Thanks!
Becky

 

[randster]

I personally think gifts just for the children works as well, but do not mind having a split. Since it's a holiday cruise, my request would be that we also note whom is celebrating Xmas and whom is not in case anyone wants to do holiday-themed gifts (i.e. at least 3-4 of the parties in our group are Jewish?).

 

[Gansleclan]

I personally think gifts just for the children works as well, but do not mind having a split. Since it's a holiday cruise, my request would be that we also note whom is celebrating Xmas and whom is not in case anyone wants to do holiday-themed gifts (i.e. at least 3-4 of the parties in our group are Jewish?).

Thank you for your thoughts in regards to the split. As I have mentioned, the decision would be of a consensus of families and if you would prefer I will note on the spreadsheet that your children will be participants, not the adults in your party. In addition, if you have viewed previous spreadsheets I have already noted which families be celebrating Christmas or Hannukah. Just as it would be noted if a family would celebrate Kwanzaa.

 

[cmcadoo66]

Here's my two cents on splitting the FE into groups: speaking as a first time FE participant, I think I would find it more overwhelming and less fun if the numbers get too big. I want to be able to enjoy gathering and making gifts and not stress the process. I'm sure the closer we get, the more participants will join in. That means a lot more time spent traveling all around the boat locating everyone participating. So my vote is for a split to keep it fun and manageable if the numbers get bigger.

 

[gretchenk]

I agree with cmcadoo66. Smaller will be better for this trip. Too many things going on.

 

[mickeyteachers]

We are booked and going on the Christmas Cruise. I am so excited.