feb 15, 2003 cruisers?

[DOCTORRICK]

Haven't seen any threads for this western cruise.
We're going with my brother and his kids, mother and mother in law (total of 15 of us). Getting 3 1 bedroom suites.
Excitement is starting to build! Anyone else?

 

[disneybets]

We are booked on that cruise also. We are going as a group also. Since it is vacation week I expect the cruise to be booked. What deck are you on? We are on deck 6 inside cabin. Our friends are staying in a balcony room on deck 6. Our family members are husband, 2 sons, 12 and 9, and me. Can't wait to go. We are from long island NY.

 

[moocow35]

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Hi fellow 2/15/03 cruisers!!! I have been excited and counting down the days since we got back from the February eastern Magic cruise this year. I've had this Western one booked since September 2001!

Originally it was going to be only my daughter and myself, but just recently my mom, my sister and her family are going and managed to book staterooms just down the hall. We are located on deck 7 aft.

This is a great time of year to go. This will now be our fourth Disney cruise during Presidents week. I can't wait either!!!





Robin ºOº

 

[DOCTORRICK]

bump

 

[VJMorrell]

We will be on that cruise also. This will be our third cruise with Disney. Seems like a lot of us from the East Coast will be on this trip!

 

[moocow35]

Yes, there are alot of east coast people this week. Most all the schools are out that week. My daughter, on our past 3 cruises has met many new friends from all over the tri-state area and has kept in touch with them. In fact many of them are going again in 2003.

I can't wait!!

Robin

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Count us in, too! We're also another group--the four of us, plus MIL and BIL and his wife and 3 DDs. It'll be our first cruise (for the four of us, anyway), and we're all very excited ALREADY! We knew it would be booked quickly, but we couldn't even GET a 1 bedroom (for BIL et al). We have 3 rooms on deck 6, the 4 of us in 1 and MIL/BIL et al in connecting staterooms. We've pretty much decided on which excursions (I'm a type A vacation planner!), but we're going to be playing most ship stuff by ear (i.e., I refuse to lose sleep over dining rotations and stuff). We'll see you all there!

 

[moocow35]

Hi Buzznbelle's mom!

Since we have done the Eastern route 2 times, the second time we did not do any excursions. This will be our first western and I have been trying to make up my mind on the excursions since they were first posted on this board. Which ones are you doing? I definately won't be doing the spa this time around, but I would highly recommend Palo's brunch! I'll be up there making those ressies!

Robin ºOº

 

[VJMorrell]

Hi Again,

MooCow, what part of Connecticut are you from? My DH & I are going with our 11 year old son. My Mom is also coming & she has her own inside stateroom on Deck 6 & we have an outside with Veranda also on deck 6. I had to book ours through DVC (we are members) we were on deck 7 on out last two trips. I chose 6 because I could get two rooms closer together. We did the Eastern in Oct 2001 & the Bahama 4 night last November during Thanksgiving (son's birthday). We will be flying down the Wednesday before and spending three days at Boardwalk till we sail. We are not going on an excursion in Key West; I understand you can walk to the art galleries and shops right from the ship. Caymen we are doing 7 mile beach and still undecided about Cozumel. We are also on the late dinner seating as we did the early one on the first cruise and found it to be too early for us. Keep me posted on all of your thoughts & plans.

 

[moocow35]

Hi VJMorrell,

We live in Norwalk. Originally it was going to be just my 16 year old daughter and myself, we went alone February of this year. But my mom, my sister, her husband, and their 3 girls, 6, 8, 11 (I think?) decided to go just recently, and lucked out to get cabins on deck 7 just down the hall from us.

We all have the early dinner, but I really am leaning towards changing it. It is way too early, especially now since it looks like the dinners are most likely going to be moved up for good. With this new itinerary, I really don't want to cut my day short. I have seen the shows all 3 times each, so missing them except for Disney Dreams I'm not concerned about. I'm sure we will come to a decision by the end of this month.

The only excursion so far planned is the trolley in Key West where you can get on and off. Swimming with the Sting Rays sounds fun, as does the Jeep excursion.

My daughter and I are flying down the day before. This year, our cruise in February we had to be down in New York at the Airport by 4:00am, I was so paranoid I would not wake up I barely slept at all that night. Needless to say day one was like a blurr I was so exhausted. I am hoping Disney will put us up at the Airport Hyatt, however if is full they said they would transport us from whatever hotel they put us in. All the rest of my family is flying down the day of the cruise.

Yes, keep in touch, we are practically neighbors!

Robin ºOº

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

moocow, we are also flying down the day before--I don't call it paranoia, the words "February" and "vacation", together, make us want to be SURE to catch that boat! We've flown many times and had snow impact our trip (we fly out of Albany).

For excursions, we plan nothing in Key West, although we may do the trolley when we get there, also maybe the pirate's museum (is there one? I have to catch up on these boards...). Just no Disney ones. Then it will be Captain Marvin's at Grand Cayman (I'll be booking that soon, waiting for the final head count), and the Dolphin Discovery/Chakanaab at Cozumel. Buzz is 5 and lives to snorkel, so that's our main "draw" (i.e., what convinced him this would be an acceptable alternative to WDW).

I know what you're saying about that new, "improved" seating...for now, we're sticking with early. Mostly because Buzz has this attractive habit of passing out when he's overwhelmed--it doesn't happen often, but it's the last thing you need on vacation, so for now, we're planning early dinner, have a shorter day, but keep him on his schedule. I'm kind of torn on this, I really like the later one, but don't need more ER visits with this kid!

 

[VJMorrell]

Hi,

Yes, Robin we are practically neighbors. We pass through Norwalk on the train from New Haven when we go into NYC which is often. I am a big Yankee fan and we have a Saturday ticket plan. We also like to go to see the shows and shop and eat in the city.

We stayed at the Orlando airport Hyatt on our trip the year before last. It worked out really well & the rooms are soundproof so you can get a good nights sleep. We generally fly out from Hartford.

Last cruise (November) I met some people from Louisiana on these boards. We met up on the cruise and our boys became friends. We keep in touch and even met them for dinner in March when our Disney vacations overlapped by a day. The boys both collect disney pins, so they enjoy sending pins to each other every once in a while.

Hopefully we can all meet up on the cruise. Let's stay in touch!

Valerie

 

[TeamMom011]

Count the Nelson Family in on this cruise! We're from Vancouver USA (in Washington state so we're bucking the east coast trend) Myself, DH and DS-11 (he'll turn 12 the following week when we're at WDW) will be in a Cat 3 aft. Our confirmation paperwork arrived from our travel agent last week so I am in major research mode now that this is ever so slowly getting closer to reality. Mom and Dad are more than excited but DS is not sure how much fun he'll have by himself. It's a relief to see others on this thread with boys his age.

 

[VJMorrell]

Hi Team Mom,

My son is also 11 (and my only). He felt the same way and both times he made a friend on the ship & he looks forward to going again.

Valerie

 

[moocow35]

Valerie,

I'm glad to hear about the Hyatt. I just hope Disney puts us there. We have purchased the whole package from them, so I guess we are at their mercy. They say it will be an area hotel if not the Hyatt and they will transport us to and from. I'm just excited not to have to deal with leaving for the airport at 2:30 am without sleep. I want to be at my best for this cruise!

Yes, it would be fun to meet up. Our cruise this year there was not too much of a group from the Dis boards, but in 2001 there was a large group, one gal made us all lime green ribbons to wear.

BuzznBelle'smom,

Are you using Disney for your air or doing it on your own? How old are the girls in your group? Sorry to hear about your son's "attractive" habit, I'm sure it will all work out. Sounds like you have a great plan for your excursions. I have to start seriously thinking about it, the time is going so fast! My teenage daughter is not really big on going anywhere with "mom" but if she wants to get off the boat, she needs me. It is the rules! Not just mine, but Disney's. (thank goodness!)

Team Mom,

My daughter was about that age when we first started going on the Disney cruises, and felt the same way. But now, if I don't book our yearly cruise you'd think I ripped off her right arm. He will have a blast, and not want to leave the fun.

Any more February 15th cruisers?

Robin ºOº

 

[VJMorrell]

Sounds like a plan. It is always nice to have some enthusiastic people to share the fun with.

Valerie

 

[DOCTORRICK]

We're going with my 3 (sarah-11, emily-9, jack 3 1/2,) and my brothers 6 (henry 10, arthur 8, william 6, francesca 4, anthony 2, TBA not yet born, will be about 4 mos). adult are me and my wife, my brother and his wife, and my mother and mother-in-law.

Quite a crew!

We have 3 catagory 3 rooms.
We all did the 3 day cruise last year, and are very excited for the 7 day.

I'm thinking about the jet ski tour on key west (non disney), sting ray city snorkeling on caymen, and just a beach day on couzemel.

 

[TeamMom011]

Thanks for all the support concerning my little pouter. He's getting slightly better so I imagine by February he'll be all ready to go. Oddly enough, so far he's most excited about Key West and our plans to go to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville for lunch. There's nothing like an 11 year old that knows all the words to "Cheeseburger in Paradise". I originally bought the CD for insprirational, mood music to accompany my cruise frame of mind. Little did I know how well it would influence others.

Can you folks that have kids that have already gone tell me sort of specifically what kinds of activities are in the Oceaneer's Lab. Riley's impression is that it's all science stuff and he has repeatedly pointed out that Science is *not* his favorite subject.

and a note to DoctorRick: my husband would highly recommend the beach day on Cozumel. We took our one and only cruise together a long, long time ago (like 1984) and that's what we did in that port. I think it was even the Playa Sol Beach that we're offered as an excursion. A lounge chair on a tropical beach with an ice cold cervasa, it's one of his favorite memories. It's obviously on our short list of possiblities this time.

 

[VJMorrell]

Hi Tomi,

The lab has all kinds of stuff. My son was a bit aprehensive about going on our first cruise but he loved it. My son is not terribly shy but he is at first when making new friends. They show movies (Disney of course) have great computer games and they also take them around the boat at for special things: sometimes karoke in Studio C or shooting hoops on the sports deck or a planned movie in the theatre together. My son is quieter and chose mostly to watch movies, play computer games and do a few experiments. He opted out of the karoke and more "outgoing" activities. The nice thing is when you sign up the first day, you get a schedule of activities for the whole week, so your son can pick the activities he likes and go during those times, avoiding the things he may not be interested in. I hope this helps!

I am going to the shore for a few days so I will catch up with all of you next week.

Valerie

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

For kids, our crew consists of my nieces (14, 11, and 5) and then Belle is 7 and Buzz is 5. I'm positive Belle will love the club, our biggest problem may be getting her to pass it up to go on excursions! Buzz is likely to be with us more on the boat, which is fine (look for us by the pool, having angina attacks as he practices his dead man's float for hours on end). We plan to insist that he goes to the clubs only long enough for us to do Palo's and the Surial Spa--everything else we'll play by ear.

DoctorRick, you really have a gang going! How far in advance did you have to make your reservations? It's so nice to be able to do something a large group will enjoy!