Fantasy Holiday Cruise 12/21/13

[Gansleclan]

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

Hi,

Welcome to the lists, please watch your inbox for additional questions in regards to the FE participation.

If you don't receive an email from me, please email me at rebeccagansle@bellsouth.net

Becky

 

[tyarbrough]

Hi All,

My clan from Tennessee will be on this cruise. It's our 2nd DCL - the first one was Christmas on the Dream 2011 and we loved it.

My family of 4 includes myself & DH (40somethings), DD (12 cruise age) who is an active Girl Scout and will be a Cadette and DS (13), an active Boy Scout. I've PM'd the "spreadsheet keeper" to add us and we'd definitely like to trade council patches.

My parents will be traveling with us as well. It will be their first cruise.

Getting so excited!

See you on the ship!
Tanya

 

[linkandclover]

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?).

As another Jewish family I am actually hesitant now about being on the FE list. Not to be difficult here but I know how holiday themed things can get and I don't want people to have to work around this. Maybe we need to have a non christmas celebrating group.

With regards to giving to the adults, the kids, or all - this is the first time I have seen this as an issue. We have done several FE exchanges in the past and it has always been left up to the ones giving if we get a package for the family, or one for each person. Although I don't mind doing it just for the kids I prefer just making smaller groups to give to.

 

[Gansleclan]

As another Jewish family I am actually hesitant now about being on the FE list. Not to be difficult here but I know how holiday themed things can get and I don't want people to have to work around this. Maybe we need to have a non christmas celebrating group.

With regards to giving to the adults, the kids, or all - this is the first time I have seen this as an issue. We have done several FE exchanges in the past and it has always been left up to the ones giving who they give to. Sometimes we get a package for the family, sometimes one for each person. I don't think it is fair to tell people how to give.

I don't feel that anyone should exclude themselves from the FE, all participants on both the DIS site, as well as those on the FB site need only to look at the spreadsheets and note what families are celebrating Chanukah. With this being said we could also have members who may not celebrate any holiday and have chosen not included this in their information. I would hope all members of this list would be open minded. I know personally that any gifts our family is giving for FE's are not holiday or religiously based and I am assured that those participating would also be as thoughtful. I also know that Brian and I would be personally offended If someone gave us a religious tract as a gift, as practicing Christians coming from a multi-faith family we keep our religious beliefs private unless personally asked.

I have reviewed several options in regards to FE's and gift giving. I have seen where the organizer has said, each person in each cabin receive a gift And I have also seen where it is the choice of the gift giver. I personally feel that it should be the personal choice of the FE families in how they make and distribute their gifts, not a decision of a few. I would hope that all will take into consideration the many religious belief systems of those participating in thoughts of gifts, as well as gift giving.

If you would like to discuss this further with me, or a Administrator of DISBoards, please PM me. .

 

[parkinfamily]

Hi, everyone...I don't usually come over here to DIS...I much prefer Facebook because I find it so much easier to follow conversations and threads. But, here I am, so I might as well weigh in!

I want to reiterate that the FE exchange is meant to be FUN! Not work!

So...having said that, I hope that everyone will be conscious of different people's FE restrictions and/or preferences.

Personally, I enjoy making Christmas-themed gifts and it makes me happy to give them. With regards to families not celebrating Christmas, I already have other alternative gifts in the works! In fact, it was kind of fun exploring other alternatives!

PLEASE DON'T FEEL AWKWARD REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR FAITH IS OR ISN'T.

With regards to family vs. individual, I think it makes sense to have that decision be up to the FE MAKER, not the FE RECEIVER. For example, if I choose to make one cabin/family gift to give to everyone, I would hope that someone who wanted only their children to participate would not be offended, angry, or unthankful.

We teach our children to be thankful for any gifts received and that it's the thought that counts. That being said, it doesn't make sense for each family to have different requests/ideas about who is or isn't participating in each cabin. Conversely, if someone chose only to make gifts for the kids on the FE list, I don't think anyone would be offended, either.

I hope that this nonsensical rambling has at least made sense to someone here and that perhaps it's alleviated some concerns or high blood pressure!

My other input is to finalize OUR FE list waaaaaaaaaaay more than 6 weeks ahead of time! That puts it right during Thanksgiving, pre-holiday, and end of school time for us...an already CRAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZYYYYYYY time in our home! Compounded by the fact that we will need to have holiday gifts purchased, wrapped, and mailed even earlier this year! YIKES!

Is it possible to finalize our FE group more like October to give us time to make and finish the gifts before the holiday season is upon us? It seems like we could finalize it now, if we wanted, since we have so many here already...Just my 2 cents...for whatever it may be worth. Other input?

Thanks...happy surfing!

 

[linkandclover]

Hi, everyone...I don't usually come over here to DIS...I much prefer Facebook because I find it so much easier to follow conversations and threads. But, here I am, so I might as well weigh in!

I want to reiterate that the FE exchange is meant to be FUN! Not work!

So...having said that, I hope that everyone will be conscious of different people's FE restrictions and/or preferences.

Personally, I enjoy making Christmas-themed gifts and it makes me happy to give them. With regards to families not celebrating Christmas, I already have other alternative gifts in the works! In fact, it was kind of fun exploring other alternatives!

PLEASE DON'T FEEL AWKWARD REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR FAITH IS OR ISN'T.

With regards to family vs. individual, I think it makes sense to have that decision be up to the FE MAKER, not the FE RECEIVER. For example, if I choose to make one cabin/family gift to give to everyone, I would hope that someone who wanted only their children to participate would not be offended, angry, or unthankful.

We teach our children to be thankful for any gifts received and that it's the thought that counts. That being said, it doesn't make sense for each family to have different requests/ideas about who is or isn't participating in each cabin. Conversely, if someone chose only to make gifts for the kids on the FE list, I don't think anyone would be offended, either.

I hope that this nonsensical rambling has at least made sense to someone here and that perhaps it's alleviated some concerns or high blood pressure!

My other input is to finalize OUR FE list waaaaaaaaaaay more than 6 weeks ahead of time! That puts it right during Thanksgiving, pre-holiday, and end of school time for us...an already CRAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZYYYYYYY time in our home! Compounded by the fact that we will need to have holiday gifts purchased, wrapped, and mailed even earlier this year! YIKES!

Is it possible to finalize our FE group more like October to give us time to make and finish the gifts before the holiday season is upon us? It seems like we could finalize it now, if we wanted, since we have so many here already...Just my 2 cents...for whatever it may be worth. Other input?

Thanks...happy surfing!

Actually what you said was very well put. I like the idea of closing up the list early but my experience is that since it is so far out there will likely be some changes. We are also cruising in August and there are people canceling, or changing the date. We even added another teen and a second room.

 

[shushh]

I personally feel that the whole FE business should not be this complicated. As mentioned, it's meant to be fun! The FE maker is making an effort to put something together that they think would be nice, whether it be for each member of the cabin, for just the children or for the cabins as a whole. The fun of participating in FE is in finding a surprise when you return to your cabin. I don't think its about the receiver getting what they think they should be getting whether it be the right people in the cabin getting a gift or the 'right' type of gift. I personally appreciate the thoughtfulness of the people who we've received FE gifts from, even if its something which I may not necessarily like or agree with. Life is too precious to get offended too easily.

I do feel though that keeping the numbers of cabins in each group small will help as will having a cut off date.

 

[shushh]

I should also add that we will make sure our gift will not be religiously themed so as to not upset people.

 

[anniedj]

Hello,

Just booked this cruise yesterday! We're a family of four. We have two sons ages 16 & 17 on time of cruise. It will be our 4th Disney cruise. Soo excited!

 

[linkandclover]

Hello,

Just booked this cruise yesterday! We're a family of four. We have two sons ages 16 & 17 on time of cruise. It will be our 4th Disney cruise. Soo excited!

Welcome aboard. My sons will be 14 and 16. I would try to get my oldest to chat with your youngest but i have learned that he just gets annoyed by this ...but maybe they have some common interests?

 

[Gansleclan]

Hello,

Just booked this cruise yesterday! We're a family of four. We have two sons ages 16 & 17 on time of cruise. It will be our 4th Disney cruise. Soo excited!

Annie,

Welcome aboard...I have just sent you a list of questions to you via PM on the DISBoard list. If you have problems reading these, please contact me via email at rebeccagansle@gmail.com and I will send them to you via that forum. Once received Tonja will add you to the FB list.

Becky

 

[anniedj]

That would be great. But I do understand if they'd prefer to just meet onboard

 

[terrierpac]

This will be a first for both my daughter(Caliope 17mths) and I(Cecily) and I'm totally lost on what to expect. My husband(Wayne) has cruised before. I'll be reading the boards to get the inside scoop. My husbands cousins family(The Farbers) are veteran Disney Cruisers and will also be on this cruise. I believe she is somewhere on this board.

Any other families with young toddlers on here???

 

[jamielynn]

Hehehe YOU FOUND US!!! You are in good hands here, many repeat cruisers. Plus, Ian said he has an order in for a Passports for you and Cousin Cali. Should be delivered in the next couple of weeks.

-J

 

[Gansleclan]

This will be a first for both my daughter(Caliope 17mths) and I(Cecily) and I'm totally lost on what to expect. My husband(Wayne) has cruised before. I'll be reading the boards to get the inside scoop. My husbands cousins family(The Farbers) are veteran Disney Cruisers and will also be on this cruise. I believe she is somewhere on this board.

Any other families with young toddlers on here???

-----------------
Cecily and Family,

Welcome to our lists! I maintain the list here for the DIS site. I am currently out of pocket as my family is on vacation on HHi. I will be emailing you this weekend regarding specific FE list questions, to find out more information regarding your family.

Enjoy learning more about the sites and talk to you soon!

Becky

 

[Gansleclan]

Dear Families,

I apologize for the time that has passed since the time I promised to have this posted and now. Both personal illness and family vacation has compromised my time over the last 7 weeks, which to let all know I am personally feeling wonderful and Spring Break was the time my family needed to rebound and renew. I think we will be in great shape until our next vacation in May.

Please note there are several families that have not been added and this was because either I had not contacted them prior to this post, or they have not returned my email questionnaire. This includes:

terripac--unable to send out questionnaire until 4/9
ddplus4--no response to email or fb request

I have also split the list, into two pages so that those who will be participating in the FE's on one page, and those wanting to participate in other aspects of the cruise experience are listed on page 2.

In addition, please double check what I have listed for your families and if there are any corrections, please let me know. However, I do ask that all members of this list to please remember that this is a volunteer position, and with this human error is acceptable (I put my magic powers in a box at night)

On to the link FOR FE FAMILIES:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...&fprt=false&tfe=yh_321&gsessionid=h08k_LFcWC4

On to the link FOR NON FE FAMILIES:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...&fprt=false&tfe=yh_321&gsessionid=h08k_LFcWC4

Again, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions and I will be contacting you within a reasonable amount of time.

 

[matthew517]

I just booked a cabin on this cruise using my DVC points. We just got off the dream this past sunday. This will be my 6th DCL cruise and the second on board the fantasy. The fantasy is my favorite of the DCL ships.
I cant wait to take my DS to the myan ruins at costa maya. We will use natives choice again. Last september they were awesome.
In cozumel we are going to go to paradise beach. Still thinking about Grand Caymon. This will be our first aft cabin.

 

[matthew517]

There shouldn't be any one celebrating Hanukah on the ship it ends the 6th December.

 

[Gansleclan]

I just booked a cabin on this cruise using my DVC points. We just got off the dream this past sunday. This will be my 6th DCL cruise and the second on board the fantasy. The fantasy is my favorite of the DCL ships.
I cant wait to take my DS to the myan ruins at costa maya. We will use natives choice again. Last september they were awesome.
In cozumel we are going to go to paradise beach. Still thinking about Grand Caymon. This will be our first aft cabin.

Welcome aboard, I will be sending you a questionnaire so that your family information can be shared with others in the FE group.

 

[Gansleclan]

There shouldn't be any one celebrating Hanukah on the ship it ends the 6th December.

I as well as others are aware of the dates of Chanukah, and as this is an open forum if FE participants do not wish for themselves or others to receive Christmas items this is their choice. It is no different than those wishing not to receive candy, or foods which they are allergic to.

As you will find, we are a pretty considerate group of individuals who look out for all participants feelings.